Adventures of a Nursing Mom!

Since we are not 100% sure that she isn’t allergic to amoxicillin, they put her on a new drug this time. I think it is making her super gassy, which means she has been waking up 3-4 times each night to nurse. Luckily the last dose was today, but i am not sure how long the side effects will last.

She seems so uncomfortable :(

Is there anything I can do for her?

So far Adelai doesn’t like:
- Avocado
- Sweet Potatoes
- Peas
- Banana
- Rice Cereal ( Made with Breastmilk)

Addy likes:
- BOOBIES

Not sure if she will ever eat solids :/

Any advice on how to proceed from here?

So my husband was selected to go to a course in Washington D.C. for work, and since a week of no Addy just didn’t sound like a good time to him we tagged along.  It was also a super cheap vacation, since our hotel and his meals were all paid for.  He was only in class until around 3:30 each day so we were able to hit up the sights at night, and got to have lunch together each day. 

We booked an insanely early flight out so that we would have most of Monday to see the museums that close early and get settled in.  Flying out of Austin is not the easiest since everywhere you go you have at least one layover, and if your first flight is delayed you are almost guaranteed to not make your next flight, add a baby to the mix and it makes your chances zero.  We did however learn to never try to make the next flight, just go directly to the desk at the gate you are arriving at and get on the earliest flight you can.

Anyways baby girl did so well on the flight.  She nursed during take-off and slept the entire flight! We landed in Dallas way behind schedule and not knowing the above raced to our next gate with no luck.  The next plane we could officially be booked on was in 6 hours.  6 hours in an airport with a 5 month old?!?!?  Are you kidding me?  We were on the stand by list for about 5 flight before we were guaranteed a spot.  No luck on the stand by flights.  We were actually taken off the list at one point, and when we asked if there was anything they could do for us, we were told it was our fault that we didn’t make our connecting flight!  WTF?!?!?! American Airlines sucks!!  We did finally make it to D.C., but it was too late to do anything but go to the hotel and get the baby down. Luckily I have the most amazing 5 month old on the planet and she was amazing the entire day!! Here is a picture of Addy nursing on her first airplane ride.

It was such an amazing trip though, even if it started out a bit rocky.  The hotel had a covered pool on the roof so Addy and I went swimming everyday.  She loved being in the water and also enjoyed the float we bought her.  Here is a pic of her swimming

We got to meet up with Tony everyday for lunch and one day I took Addy to the National Zoo in the morning.  We saw some really cool animals.  Adelai really like the Bear Sloth, she followed it walking back and forth with her head, it was super cute!  We also saw Pandas, Lions, Tigers, Gorillas, and my favorite, Otters!  Here’s a pic of us nursing in front of the Gorilla pit:)  Obviously the cover does nothing, but I wasn’t sure what the public breastfeeding atmosphere was like in D.C..  Being from Austin, where you never need to cover up, I just wanted to be sure.

Nur

We saw all of the big Smithsonian Museums I found a couple of cool breastfeeding exhibits.  This one at the Natural History Museum which talked about how mammal mothers make milk specifically for their children. I love how it says “It’s portable and convenient”.

There there was this picture that was part of a painting from a town hall meeting.  To think that women used to feel this comfortable nursing in public.  I wish all women could live in a place like Austin where it is totally acceptable to feed your child wherever and whenever you want.

So we got to see some really cool history stuff and Addy got to add to her repertoire of places she had nursed in public. Here is the list from the trip:

On an Airplane, at the airport, on the Metro, waiting for the Metro, in front of some bones, next to the Wright Brothers Plane, in front of the American Flag that inspired the National Anthem, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, lots of restaurants, and of course at a hotel.  

Here is a pic of us nursing at the Natural History Museum.

I couldn’t imagine traveling and not being a nursing mom, it would be so much more involved.  We were able to take a vacation with a 5 month old thanks to the fact that I am able to nurse her.  I am so blessed!

Our trip was a success!  We did have one scare, when our plane back to Austin was escorted to the gate by an entourage of fire trucks, but it ended up being ok.

Special shout out to MiaModa strollers for making this trip super easy!!

Wow!  This has been the most exciting month yet!  You have changed so much over the past couple of weeks it is hard to remember everything.  You got your first cold, and I swear the stuffy nose is never going to go away.  Instead of sending you to daycare we decided to keep you home, and you got to spend the whole day with Daddy.  You guys had so much fun he even made a list of everything you did:

• Played in the Excersaucer
• Read 3 Books
• Ate One
• Tummy time
• Walked on the patio
• Did the moonwalk

You started playing in your Excersaucer this month and it has been so cool to see you figure it out.  At first you would sit in it and look at all the toys with this look of wonderment.  Each time you got in it you figured out more and more.  Now I can put you in it and do the dishes or fold the laundry, so finally the house is a little more picked up! 

I was changing your diaper a couple weeks ago and you found your feet!  Now all you want to do is touch you feet when you are on your back.  It is the cutest thing!  You also discovered your ears and like to touch those too. 

We made our first trip up to see Grammy and Papa in Dallas.  You were super fussy most of the way there, but slept the entire way back.  We went up for Easter weekend and you got to do your first Easter Egg Hunt.  Ok maybe it was just us holding eggs for you, but it was still so much fun!  You also got to meet all of Mommy and Daddy’s good friends while we were there.

It is so fun to see how you play with toys now.  You will stuff a toy in your mouth and scream at the top of your lungs.  Your favorite toys right now are Sophie the Giraffe, any fabric book, and a toy we are calling super monkey (Monkey rattle attached to a thumbie blanket).  

You have become very talkative and I love listening to your little voice.  I am really glad you only take a pacifier at nap time, and most of the time you won’t take it then either.  This way I get to see your sweet smile all the time and listen to you talk.

Mommy’s Birthday was last weekend and you and Daddy decorated the house with balloons.  You loved the balloons!  You wanted to play with them constantly. I think the sound they make when you touch them was very interesting to you.  The thrill of the balloon fun made for a very stimulating day for you, and you were super fussy when we took the balloons away for nap time and bed time.  

YOU ARE OFFICIALLY ROLLING OVER!!!  First you rolled onto your side from your back.  If you are in your crib you can get all the way to your stomach, but not on the floor yet. So needless to say we can’t keep you on your back to sleep anymore.  Thank goodness we got the Angel Care Monitor, because I would be so worried about you on your tummy.   This way I sleep much better.  

On the day you turned 5 months old I decided to work with you and try to teach you how to roll from your stomach to your back.  You were so close all day, and as soon as Daddy got home you did it!  It was like you were waiting so he wouldn’t miss out.  I was so proud of you I could hardly believe I could even feel that proud.  Now I don’t think there will be much more tummy time, more like “Mommy constantly rolling you back on your tummy to see you roll over again time”.

You are attracted to the TV.  Last night we had MadMen on while you were playing on the floor and you started watching it so we turned it off.  Well that did no make you very happy.  At least now I know what your tantrum face looks like, and let me tell you it is heartbreaking.

You are still nursing strong at 5 months!  My favorite thing is how excited you get when it is time for bed and we do our nighttime routine, and we get in bed to nurse.  You smile really big and yell with joy.  I love the bond we have created through nursing, you are my little cuddle bug.  Now you like to touch my face when you nurse and it is the sweetest thing ever!

You make every day better baby girl.  I love you so much!