And on 366th day...breastmilk is just as beneficial.

365 days & still going strong...without an end in sight. 

As I sit here and nurse my now toddler on his 1st birthday, I can't help but think back to the first time he latched on (just moments after his birth) and smile. 

I am so proud of us! 

We reached my initial goal of one year without incident and are now embarking on a new journey. I consider us both to be extremely lucky to have the loving support of family and friends and I can only hope that the rest of our nursing story is as pleasant and successful as the first year has been. To all the mommies out there "old" and new...nurse on!! 

xo ~ Jme & GQ

That reminds me...

As I am rapidly approaching the end of my first term, my calendar is starting to look quite hectic and as much as I have attempted to slow the clock down...the holiday season is in full swing and I have no choice but to be prepared...right? Hanukkah fell on Thanksgiving this year and yesterday was nothing short of spectacular. 

A wonderful day filled with family, friends and traditions (both old and new)...but now it's right back to my flashcards and study guides. I have an exam on Monday...but somehow all I keep thinking about is recipes for the holidays, getting our Christmas decorations out, party planning a first birthday extravaganza, our Holiday cards still need addressing, figuring out what to get my parents for their anniversary, how to celebrate our engagement and finalizing details for our nuptials...that reminds me...I still have 400 origami cranes to fold for the wedding. 

Deep breath.

Focus. 

The holidays and milestones are going to keep coming...All that matters is that my family is healthy & I keep getting good grades...everything else are mere details.

 

"My baby ate my homework."

It's official...being a full-time student, GQ's mommy, a doting fiancé, a loving daughter & a conscientious friend is time consuming...AND I LOVE IT. It's taken me a few weeks to get settled into my new routine, but now that I know I can get everything accomplished I feel relieved. I've always had a knack for time management, but balancing life as an adult is totally different than balancing life as a teen or 20-something. Reviewing flashcards in between naps or loads of laundry is my new favorite pastime. Studying for an exam or taking a practice test while breastfeeding is an experience that I am embracing as my new normal. It's also very empowering to know that I have an amazing support system in place. My fiancé has been amazing...even more than usual...by changing his schedule to accommodate my early class schedule & allowing for one-on-one time w/GQ. They love sleeping in & daddy/son playtime...& I love that they're bonding. My mom has also opened her schedule and watches our little human on my other two class days. I'm not blind to the fact that she LOVES spending all this time with him, but it's a commitment that I will forever be grateful to her for. Bottom line...I'm confident I got this whole school thing down & it's because I'm not doing it alone. 

"My baby ate my homework." 

Babywearing for the win.

In honor of International Babywearing Week I would like to share why I love babywearing. The reasons are plentiful, so I'll limit it to 4:

1. Proximity. I love having my favorite lil'human as close as possible. Whether in our Ergo or wrapped up in the Ellaroo, he's close enough to kiss, nuzzle, whisper to, makes faces at, hug, dance around with...in short - enjoy life. Even when he's in a back carry, he can see what's going on and be included in whatever I'm doing. 

2. Hands-free. I honesty don't know what I'd do without babywearing for this reason alone. I can breastfeed, cook, pickup around the house, fold laundry & now do homework all thanks to babywearing. GQ is super content and so am I. Nevermind the fact that I usually just bounce and sway while talking to him. 

3. Meals on heels. Breastfeeding while wearing GQ has become second nature and normalizing breastfeeding is just a silent bonus. Without speaking a word...we're making a statement. We've mastered the art of nursing in public and even though I don't mind if we're covered or not, babywearing has made our nursing journey a very discrete experience. Whether shopping at the grocery store or outside for a walk, GQ can nurse and no one is the wiser. It brings me great joy knowing that my son is full-bellied & smiley all because his next meal is only a simple "tug of my shirt" away. 

4. 100% stroller-free. (When we want to be.) I love that we hardly ever have to worry about including this piece of baby equipment. In the 9+ months since GQ has arrived, I've brought his stroller with us a total of 0 (yes ZERO) times. In fact, it sat unused in our garage until last week when I brought it to my parent's house.  They plan on taking GQ on "walking adventures" while I'm at school and I think that's an excellent reason to use a stroller. Our jogging stroller on the other hand, gets used almost daily. Whether on a brisk walk or jog, GQ loves rolling along in his Schwinn. *Babywearing is NOT suggested for jogging because the bouncing motion causes unwanted stress to a babies joints, neck & back. 

Like I said, the reasons I love babywearing are plentiful...but those are just a few for now. I'm looking forward to all the babywearing adventures the future has in store for us. Just like our breastfeeding journey, I don't see an end in sight and for that I say "Babywearing for the win!"

Lysol and coffee don't mix.

As the clock ticks down to my first day of school (less than 48 hours,) we're navigating GQ's first bout with sickness. After a long night of fighting a fever and an early morning waking up to a runny nose and a cough, the doctor gave us the diagnosis. Our poor little human contracted RSV (*respiratory syncytial virus) over the weekend and it's absolutely heartbreaking to feel this helpless. The good news is that he's an exclusively breastfed baby, therefore shortening the duration he'll have to deal with this nasty virus. ** Breastfeeding for the win. Even better news is that I only have one lab class this week and will only have to be apart from him for 3 hours. I'm saddened just thinking about it, but I know we'll both survive. It could always be worse, he could have the flu.

I'd like to share a tidbit of advice though...Lysol and coffee don't mix. (You're welcome.) Immediately upon returning home from the pediatricians, I covered every surface in our house w/a layer of disinfectant. The dogs look pissed, but I'm confident I've killed any remnant of "daddy's" funk. Keeping our little human hydrated and as comfy as possible is all I'm focused on today. Lots of snuggles and naps, doctor's orders. 

Sweet dreams and healing vibes...

* http://m.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/rsv.html

** http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1442-200X.2009.02877.x/abstract;jsessionid=FC434EB659DD2BD68E86671D65674511.f04t03?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

Orientation

Welp...my days of "freedom" are numbered...16 and counting!! Today was my R.N. Orientation. This mommy is going back to school and although I'm leery about spending time away from my favorite lil'human...I'm excited! 

Three full hours of mundane details are behind me, but I made a few friends for day one. It never hurts to have a familiar face or two in a sea of strangers. It's crazy to think about, but some of these now strangers are going to be my friends before our time spent at Galen is through. 

Two years is long period of time, but if my schooling flies by as quickly as the first eight and half months of GQ's life did...I'll be a happy girl. I can honestly say that having the support of my fiancé, parents, soon-to-be in-laws and my friends is making this entire concept a lot easier to process.

Today was also the longest that GQ and I have been apart since he was born. And although it was only 4 1/2 hours, it seemed like an eternity. It's crazy how obsessed I am with him. Luckily my mom (a.k.a. Gigi) understands this concept and sent me an update and a photo every hour. *THANK YOU Mom!*

Reassuring to know that he's not bored. 

The next two years are going to be a dance and they're not going to be without trials and tribulations...but as long as I can come home to this sweet face and make him smile, all is right in the world. 

Look out! Galen College of Nursing graduating Class of 2015 is ready to go.

How do I explain this to my son?

Earlier this morning, I was snuggled up with my nursling watching the news & reading posts on social media when an overwhelming feeling of confusion washed over me...how do I explain this to my son? Today marks the 12th year since the 9/11 attacks and even though GQ is still a too young to understand, I eventually have to explain this atrocity (and sadly, many many more) to him. How do I explain hate to someone who doesn't understand what hate actually means. How do I help him understand that there's an entire world beyond our home and it isn't always as warm and inviting? It saddens me when I think about his sweet face looking up at me and asking me "why?" Ugh...I don't even know WHY. I know I have (quite) a few years before this conversation will actually take place, but the realization that my job as a new parent is complicated is very REAL. 

This is an example of one of the things you don't think about when you have a baby. Teaching GQ his colors, shapes and animals crossed my thoughts and made me smile while I was pregnant, but the realization that hate, terrorism & attacks on our country's safety are also my teaching responsibility is daunting to say the least. Fortunately, I am not alone in having to explain the good & bad of this world to GQ. His daddy and I will tackle each one of his questions as they come and (fingers crossed) we will do it in such a way that he still feels safe and secure. 

Never forget.

248 days...

is roughly 35 weeks. That means I've experienced 5,952 hours of being a parent. I'm a mom. I've been concerned for the health and safety of GQ since the day I discovered I was pregnant. I'm pretty sure that holds true for every woman...right? The thought of being responsible for a tiny human being changes you and  if it doesn't... well...you're broken. I will forever be thinking of his needs & putting them before mine. It's what parents do and I'm thankful for the opportunity to do so. It's made me a better version of myself. It's calmed me. It's allowed me to become the woman my mother always knew I could be. GQ's presence is a blessing and I am eternally grateful & honored that I get to be his mommy. 

I've spent today wearing my son, like I do every day...but today something's different because I don't want to let him go. It's with a heavy heart that I write these words. Today I learned that one of my dear friends suffered the loss of his newborn son. His beautiful baby boy was born into this world yesterday, but quickly earned his wings. There are no words to express my profound sorrow and I honestly don't know if I will ever know what to say. It's simply sad. So hug your babies extra tight and be thankful for every second you get to spend with them.

Rest in peace sweet baby. We love you & you will never be forgotten.

 

...but he's not even hungry?!?!

As I sit here writing this, my breast pump hating son is attempting to sabotage my current session. He's unsuccessfully gone for the tubing, the wall plug & lastly has tried pulling himself into my lap to replace his little mouth for one of my Medela contraptions.

I get it GQ. You don't like it when I pump. The kicker is, that I nursed him before I started pumping as to ensure this wouldn't happen...wrong! I've managed to successfully extract 5 golden ounces to be stored for a later date, but sheesh! I feel like I just ran a marathon.

It's taken him almost eight months to build up this hatred. He must think it's stealing his milk. Where does he think it all goes? Doesn't he know that I'm stocking up for the Winter (literally?) Poor kid. He's quietly nestled back in my lap, rightfully staking his claim on what's been his all along!

...but he's not even hungry?!?!

I'm crunchy & I know it.

A funny thing about motherhood (there's a ton of humor when you learn to laugh at yourself & your newfound life) is that you have no idea what type of mom you're going to be until you actually are one. Actually, that isn't completely true...for example: when I discovered I was pregnant, I knew that would I breastfeed my baby; but what I didn't know was how passionate I would be on the issue of normalizing breastfeeding and how comfortable I would be with nursing in public. I am truly grateful for the ability to nourish my son (GQ) whenever he needs me to and I'm even more grateful for the confidence to nurse him wherever he deems it necessary. 

But breastfeeding is only one piece. All of the other contributing factors to my crunchiness evolved into mainstays in my parenting style through my journey as a nanny, over the course of my pregnancy & during the first few weeks of GQ's life. I also read endless books and gleaned various bits and pieces of information from many of them, all resulting in my own crunchy concoction. As for my parenting partner, I'm very fortunate that my best friend (who also happens to be my fiancé and GQ's daddy) is an extremely open-minded and supportive man, allowing all of this to simply "be." Lucky is the woman who has a man like mine. 

Never, not in a million years, did I ever think I would be described as a "crunchy mama," BUT I'm proud to say that's exactly what I am. Who knew that being a cloth diapering, babywearing, exclusively breastfeeding, co-sleeping, baltic amber wearing, baby-led weaning, attachment parenting mommy makes you crunchy?...and here I thought I was merely making the best choices I could make for GQ and our new family. Shows you what I know. 

And now for the real reason I'm bringing all of this to light...

Please. Stop. Judging. Other. Parents.

(And stop letting yourself be judged!!)

Being a parent is hard enough without feeling like it's a competition. What one parent does for their child may not be what you do for yours, but that doesn't make them any better or worse than you. Relax. Love and raise your child(ren) the best way you know how. The parent who uses disposables and formula, while letting their child cry it out in a stroller is no better (or worse) than the parent who is breastfeeding their cloth diapered child while wearing them in a carrier. They're simply different. 

With that being said...I absolutely love being a mom and look forward to each day with wonder and excitement now that GQ is in my life. I hope that the decisions I'm making on his behalf help mold him into the amazing person I know he will become and never detract from the amazing human being he already is.

When in doubt...

blog it out!

"Learning As He Grows" is my chosen outlet to vent, share and document my journey as I find myself about to embark on yet another exciting chapter in my life. I've decided to go back to school in the Fall to be an R.N. Sounds simple enough...right? It's only 2 years and I've attended college before, but I'm also currently planning my Spring wedding (May 2014) and busy living each day to its fullest in order to be the best mommy I can be to my almost eight month old son. What's the worst that can happen? I'm confident that with the support of my family and friends and a dash of humor, this will be another fun-filled chapter.

So here I go...