Madeline is 3 months!

Blooming Bath

Not sure what I was waiting on to try out this Blooming Bath, but I won't be using anything else until she's able to sit up in the tub herself.

I can't tell you how much we both enjoyed this precious flower bath. Madeline was so smiley and comfortable. I was totally relaxed and didn't have to worry about her sliding in the little infant hammock like I normally do. It's also handy to have the kitchen sink sprayer nearby to rinse her and to keep her warm.

I can't say enough good things about it. Definitely ranks high on my list for baby shower gifts I'll be giving in the future!

Relaxed.

And happy!

Madeline's Christmas 2013

Madeline got new onesies, Rock-a-stack, and a snowman from Santa, and new pacis, bottle nipples, teether, gowns, sleeper, and socks from Mommy and Daddy.

Madeline's loot, which were actually needs. She doesn't know any different. Next year the true spoiling will begin. ;)

Madeline with big sis and her favorite gift, her snowman. I didn't realize how perfect it would be for her. She can grab the snowman's nose, scarf, and earflaps, and because he's round, when she grabs him, he doesn't tip over.

Madeline was blessed to receive really amazing gifts from Grandma and Freddie. We are so grateful for her exersaucer, adorable clothes, Sophie soft giraffe and teether giraffe, and money gift.

Christmas Card 2013

It was my goal to get a picture taken of us as a family of four to use for this year's card, but it just didn't happen. I like this collage, just the same. Does a good job telling our story. :)

Teething Already!

Madeline has been unusually fussy this past week, and we couldn't really figure out why. Then, I finally put two and two together and figured out she is teething. Already.

She has been a little drool machine, but then one night I was rubbing a piece of gauze across her gums to clean them like I do every night, and I felt something hard...a little tooth coming through! It will be so cute when she has a little tooth, but painful in the meantime.

So Teething Tablets (placebo), Baby Anbesol, Tylenol, and teethers are our friends right now! Keeping a damp cloth in the freezer too.

I guess it just never occurred to me that she could get a tooth this early. Anna Claire didn't get her first tooth until four months. But every child is different!

Pumping Woes

It's my first full week back at work, and I have to be honest, all of the running around I have to do to pump and keep up my supply is wearing me out. I'm not giving up, just venting.

I feed Madeline right before Anna Claire wakes up, then get AC ready and take her to school.

Then I drive to school. I get my classroom ready for the day, then Miss Trish (love her) comes and watches my homeroom kiddos while I go do my 7:10 pump.

My designated location for pumping really couldn't be further away. I'm at the end of our 6th grade hall, and the room I go to is at the end of the 7th grade hall. It's a good workout is how I choose to look at it. ;)

I teach three classes back to back after that, then pump again at lunch, at 10:45. After pumping, I'm left with about ten minutes to grab a snack, so I'm not entirely pitiful.

I teach my Enrichment, then have planning. I pump again toward the end of planning, at 12:45 which is the last time I have to pump for the day.

Kids are dismissed at 2:15 and teachers can leave at 2:40, so I try to get home by 3:00 so I can feed Madeline as soon as I get there.

I'm pulling it all off swimmingly, but I can tell you no one has to rock me to sleep at 8:00.

Oh, did I not mention my childlike bedtime? It's necessary since I get up with the birds at 3:30 am. That allows me time to nurse the baby, an hour and some change to get ready, nurse again, then like I said in the beginning get AC up and get her ready. Good times!

2 months!

I can't tell you how much joy this precious baby brings us. Madeline is a very easy baby who cries pretty rarely unless she is hungry or having tummy troubles.

She is beginning to try and roll over. She has rolled over onto her side, but not completely over yet.

Madeline is cooing alot. She will say, "Ah goo," and something that sounds like "Hi," from time to time.

She is smiling at us! Her sweet smile makes my heart melt. She also really focuses on our faces when we talk to her.

Madeline's current likes are: nursing, her paci, sleeping, being held or carried facing out, looking in the mirror, her big sister talking to her, and the feeling of a clean, dry diaper. These are things that always seem to put a smile on her face.

Madeline's dislikes are: losing her paci, trying to make poop, cold wet wipes in the middle of the night, Mommy and Daddy taking to long to get her milk, vaccines, and poop diapers.

So sweet when she's sleeping!

One Month Already?

Sweet dreams...

The stink eye

This expression is very familiar... lol

We love you sweet Madeline!

Outings with a New Baby

If you look back at Anna Claire's baby book to read about the outings I took with her as a newborn, you won't find any. I was a scaredy-cat and a homebody. Babies were brand new to Larry and me, and we had no idea what we were doing. So the idea of trying to take our ignorance out in public, was terrifying. It was just easier to stay home. No risk of the baby crying uncontrollably in public. No risk of being judged by others.

With Madeline, we're feeling more confident. We're armed now with the knowledge of how to soothe our baby. And I know now that Madeline will inevitably cry in public at some point, and I may or may not be able to calm her. But I take comfort in knowing that every mom feels that way at some point and has been in my shoes. I know now that the reality is, if I do find myself with a crying baby during an outing, that others are more than likely sympathizing with me, rather than judging me.

Not only am I feeling more comfortable with the idea of taking the baby out, but I also find myself craving to get out of the house. I am constantly trying to think of short trips we can make to force myself out of my comfort zone, break up our day, and share the world with Baby Madeline (and the Baby M with the world).

So far our outings have been either brief, or in safe places where I can easily and privately feed her.

Publix, doctor's appointments, church, Anna Claire's soccer practice and the public library have all been successful short outings. I will definitely attempt those again. It really has helped to keep an extra Boppy in the car so I can nurse before we make the return trip home. I'm also keeping a diaper changing station in the back hatch, which I never had with Anna Claire. The diaper changing station eliminates the need to pack the diaper bag each time I get out with her. So freeing!

We've been on two longer outings.

We've been to our church small group, which is nice and manageable since our group leaders also have a baby. I'm able to use their changing table and glider if if need to feed the baby. And no one there is averse to crying babies. They've all been there.

We've also been to my Minivan Mayhem group. That one has proven to be more challenging and I doubt I'll bring Madeline with me to that group again. I really need to be giving 100% of my attention to the lesson and taking notes, but instead I'm in and out of the room constantly, nursing and changing diapers, so that the speaker is not distracted by the baby's cry. I've built up a bit of frozen freedom (frozen breastmilk), so I see Larry keeping Madeline for MM meetings in the foreseeable future.

I am looking forward to more outings in the future, especially as one of my favorite times of the year draws near. Halloween! Can't wait to pay our annual visit to the pumpkin patch, Trunk or Treat, and to go trick-or-treating...as a family of four!

Averitt Family Vocabulary

In the past four years, since having Anna Claire, Larry and I have developed our own silly language - how we talk to each other and our babies.

I thought it would be fun have a post that we could look back at ten years from now to remember our silly language, so here goes:

1. Aqua-paste: (verb) to Aquaphor and Butt Paste a baby. Ex - Come here and let me Aqua-paste you.

My adorable view while in Boppy lockdown.

2. Boppy lockdown: (noun) to be stuck on the couch under a Boppy for 15 minutes or longer to care for nursing and sleeping babies.

3. striper: (noun) a baby with a blue striped diaper. blue stripe indicates diaper needs changing.

4. motorboating: (verb) when baby moves head in side to side motion trying to root and latch.

5. has-ing a happy: (phrase) state of the baby after consuming hindmilk

6. puffer/being puffed: (noun/verb) once out of diapers with with indicator stripe, the puffiness of the diaper indicates if diaper needs changing. Ex. - Aww, do you have a puffer?

Nursing Challenges and 12 Tips to Overcome Them

As you might expect, Madeline has been the center of my world for the past week, but nursing in particular has been my main goal and focus.

I remember from nursing Anna Claire how important it was to nurse early and often those first few days and weeks.

Building up a milk supply is a challenge for any mom, and the commitment, time investment, and effort required of moms can be overwhelming in the best of circumstances.

I face challenges with nursing that most don't have to concern themselves with: I have inverted nipples. This is difficult for both mom and baby because latching on is difficult. And without the baby latching on to stimulate milk production, your supply suffers.

The good news is, I've been down this road before and have lots of tools in my toolbox to help correct for this setback. I thought it might be helpful to others who face the same challenge for me to write a blog post that sums up the top 12 tools and tips I use to combat inverted nipples. I spent most of my life embarrassed by this abnormality, but have come to realize it really is quite common and feel so blessed that I am able to care for my child in spite of it.

1.  Determination and stick-to-it-iveness. These two are paramount. Nursing has to be critically important to you, especially if you have complications producing and/or latching. My determination comes from knowing I'm providing my baby with nature's perfect food. I know I'm also passing along my immunities to her through nursing. Anna Claire never got sick once in the 14 months I nursed her. It was month 15 before she ever fell ill.

2. Skin on skin, if possible, after birth, then room with your baby. Research indicates that nursing immediately after birth helps kick start the mother's milk supply. I was able to do this with Anna Claire, but not Madeline. Madeline ended up being a c-section, which I did not want, but her heart rate kept dropping each time I had a contraction after being induced. So with her, I just requested that they bring her to me as quickly as possible so I could nurse. Afterward, I asked that the baby room with us rather than being kept in the nursery. They are reluctant to do this, but will comply if you ask them.

3.  Soft Shells for Inverted Nipples. The most important one that I can't live without are my Medela SoftShells for Inverted Nipples. These do exactly what they promise, they pull the nipple out, giving baby something to latch onto. I seriously would love to meet whoever invented these and give them a huge hug and a thank you. I have no idea what women did before these.

4.  Soft Shells for Sore Nipples. Using the Soft Shells mentioned in number 1 nonstop will likely result in sore nipples that also leak. That's why I like to alternate between the ones for inverted and the Medela Soft Shells for Sore Nipples.

 5.  Nipple shields. I giggled when the lactation nurse mentioned them, but  nipple shields are no joke. These were a huge blessing the first few days until the Shells had time to do their work. Madeline was not able to latch at all on her own, but using the shield gave her something to latch onto and she was able to nurse successfully. The lactation consultant warned not to use these continuously and that the baby isn't able to draw milk from all of the milk ducts when they use the shield. It was, like I said, a temporary solution to get us started.

6.  Drink your water. Just as it was important to drink 8 glasses a day when the baby was in utero to keep amniotic fluid at a healthy level, it's equally important to drink those 8 glasses while nursing to keep up your supply.

7. Fenugreek. I took Fenugreek as a supplement to increase my milk supply with Anna Claire, and it worked like a charm. There are many other herbs and supplements that you can take to achieve this goal, but Fenugreek tops the list. It also adds a maple syrup flavor to your milk which babies like. You  can find Fenugreek at GNC or other vitamin/supplement stores.

8. Increase milk supply through your diet. I've researched foods that increase milk supply and then we buy and eat those things! Here are a few links:
 http://www.mobimotherhood.org/mm/article-diet.aspx
 http://www.justmommies.com/babies/top-ten-lactogenic-foods-foods-that-improve-your-milk-supply

9. Pump between feeding sessions. When I feel frustrated and worry my supply is less than what I need, I follow nursing sessions up with a few minutes of pumping. This send a signal to your body to produce more. This milk can be used at room temp within 4 hours, or if frozen, it will keep for months. Simply place baggie of frozen milk in warm water to thaw.

10.  Resist the urge to supplement. Supplementing will likely result in a decrease of your milk supply, and puts your baby at risk of getting sick. Your baby is only fully protected by your immunities if you breastfeed exclusively.

11. Lanisoh Lanolin.  Lansinoh Lanolin is a must have. At some point, your bound to be sore from nursing, and this is the best thing to use to treat, or you can do what I do, and use daily to prevent soreness.

12. Nurse on all 4 sides. What in the world do I mean by "4 sides?" You only have two breasts! My lactation consultant explained that there are really two main ways to hold and latch a baby, football hold and cradle hold, and you should alternate between each of these on each breast. Hence, 4 sides. The reason this is so important is to ensure you access all the milk ducts. Accessing all of the ducts means an increase in your milk supply, and lowers the likelihood you will have blocked ducts which can be painful.

I use all 12 of these tools and tips daily. It was a bit like riding a bike with Madeline, it all came back to me, but it is all very draining, tiring, and at times frustrating.

Madeline is only one week old, and I have already endured several sleepless nights and shed many tears because she couldn't latch or because I wasn't producing.

The past two days have been perfect, with her latching and nursing like a champ and an ample supply with some milk even left over. I am hoping this is a sign I'm where I need to be and that better times are ahead.

I am no expert, but I do recommend these 12 to anyone determined to nurse their child, especially if you have endured frustration and additional challenges as I have.

Our Hospital Stay

Sweet girl swaddled up nice and tight. See her little hands sticking up at the top?

I love, love, love seeing that birthdate. <3

Just like her sister. Does not like being unwrapped or undressed!

Grandma with big sis

Love these three so much.

Love this face. Again, looks so much like big sis.

Adorable even when crying.

Madeline has the exact same hairline as her daddy and sister. Nothing a spray bottle, detangler, and a comb can't fix. ;)

If our hospital experience is any indication, Madeline is going to be such a good baby. No fussing. She eats, she sleeps. Such an easy baby so far! (knock on some wood!)

Laying on Daddy. So sweet.

My heart is so full!

<3

Anna Claire wants to give her little sis lots of kisses!

Giving Madeline one more hug.

The next couple of days at the hospital brought with it lots of visitors, so many special people we love. They will never know how much it meant to us that they took time to stop by! My sister Kathy, my long-time friend Kelly, Ken and Teresa from small group, Grandma and Freddie, Pop, Clint and Lisa and more! We love you all! Of course, big sis Anna Claire came by to visit too!

Despite her best efforts to hide it, Anna Claire is showing some signs of jealousy. But Larry and I will do everything in our power to make sure she feels loved and special. No need to feel jealous in our family! Too much love to go around.

It's funny how you forget the process of what goes on following the birth of a baby. I feel so blessed to have passed the healthy colostrum on to Madeline through nursing her, and the lactation consultants have been so helpful in reminding me of different holds and positions. I was so worried that nursing might not be an option for me since I had a c-section, but she is a total natural at latching on and nursing. I am still amazed at how babies innately know what to do!

I was super-excited to be removed from monitors and machines. For a full 24 hours, I was hooked up to a blood pressure cuff, compression boots for swelling, IV, and what I call the "ET finger" which took my pulse. Along with the machines, I got to say "sayonara" to the aggravating hospital gown. It was the absolute worst possible garment for a nursing mom, particularly one with lots of visitors. I also have no love for the sexy mesh panties and giganto panty liner that hung out the back of my gown. Bye-bye gown and panties.

Up until last night, I was on a clear liquid diet. They wouldn't allow me off the liquid diet until I could "break wind." So for almost two straight days, I was limited to popsicles, jello, broth, and beverages. Blah, blah, blah. I was so excited when Larry offered to get take out from Noodles and Company. I loved my Bangkok Curry Noodles. I will definitely be ordering that again.

We have had five meconium poop diapers since we've been here! The doctor said Madeline's lost about 7% of her weight, but that its normal for them to lose before they gain, so not too concerned there. She is sleeping so well and is pooping, so we are fairly confident she's getting plenty to eat through nursing.

I can't tell you how excited I am to go home and begin our lives as a family of four!

Madeline Elizabeth Averitt

It's official...she's ours!

Baby stats: 7 lbs, 6 oz.; 20.5 inches. Born at 3:20 PM on September 28!

Precious footprints.

The card taped inside her hospital crib. <3

Madeline's Birth

Larry and I arrived at the hospital at 5:30, as scheduled.

With Anna Claire, it took an hour or so for them to get to us, I remember there was a full moon...the maternity floor was packed that day. (There is a correlation between full moons and moms going into labor. True story).

But with today being a Saturday, and the moon in our favor, I was donning a hospital gown, hooked up to a baby monitor, blood pressure cuff and line of pitocin within the first half hour.

Contractions came on fast. Very painful, partly due to round ligament pain. They did not let up at all. I would finally make it through one, then here would come another.

Madeline did not tolerate the pitocin at all. It really lowered her heart rate. So they turned down the pitocin, repositioned me, and put an oxygen mask on me until her heart rate came back up.

Once it was back to a normal rate, they restarted the pitocin, and here we go again. The process of turning down the pitocin, repositioning me and wearing the oxygen mask would repeat again. I heard one nurse say to the other, "Should I get everything just in case?"

"Just in case what?" I wondered. What did she mean by that??

We repeated this process several more times, until it occurred to me it had been a minute or so since we had heart her heartbeat. I looked at the doctor and nurse's faces and they looked as worried as I was. It was about that time that Dr. Johnston walked over and explained the possibility of a C-section and making sure I knew what that would entail.

I began crying, thinking this wasn't the plan we had discussed. I felt cheated from having the chance to try and deliver her naturally. I couldn't hear Madeline's heart! Was she ok? Would we make it to the OR in time?

The next half hour was a whirlwind, but I can't tell you how impressed I was watching how quick these ladies worked to get me unhooked from monitors and moved into the OR.

The anesthesiologist came back in and increased my epidural, giving me something else to help numbing as well.

When we arrived in the operating room, I remember thinking how bright it was and thinking how weird it was to feel so groggy knowing my baby was coming into the world in a matter of minutes. Tears continued to flow. I was scared. My body wanted to fall sound asleep, right at that moment, but my heart and my mind wanted and needed to stay awake. I didn't want to miss a thing. It was so hard to fight that sleep urge during the hour that followed.

I watched as everyone worked around me. They prepped me for surgery. I saw Larry come in and put on his scrubs. This is happening too fast. I haven't had time to prepare for this mentally.

They poked me with a needle on my shoulder. OUCH! Then the poked me all over my lower half. I felt nothing. I was ready for surgery. 

All of a sudden, they were putting up the paper divider so we didn't have to see all the action. Then within minutes I hear Dr. Johnston say you're going to feel lots of pressure. You shouldn't feel any pain, just pressure. I didn't realize this pressure was the baby coming out already. Unbelievable how fast they were working.

Then, before we knew it, we could hear the baby crying. Larry and I both started bawling like babies. We were both thinking the same thing: SHE'S OK!! WE HAVE A BABY!

Dr. Johnston holding up our sweet girl for her very first picture.

Madeline Elizabeth Averitt

7 lbs. 6.6 oz.

Born at 3:20 pm, September 28, 2013 (My Momma's birthday!)

I have an almost identical picture of Anna Claire. Can't wait to find it and compare. They look so much alike!

Larry couldn't get up for a couple of minutes he was so emotional, but he was able to get up and go see her. They brought her over shortly after for me to see her. So beautiful. Perfect. I felt so much love well up inside when I saw her.

First pic of the 3 of us. That little white bundle is Madeline.

There's my girl! So precious.

Of course, they took her away shortly after, but I was at peace because my baby was thriving. Larry was able to travel with her for a bit and get some pictures.

My mind began reeling. I started thinking of all of the advantages and disadvantages of having a C-section delivery: Having a c-section would mean 8 weeks of maternity leave for me, whereas I would have just 6 with a natural birth. No episiotomy. That was no fun, and a lot to care for after having Anna Claire. I have an incision that's going to be pretty sore though. I'll be in the hospital for a longer stay. How much more will this cost us? How much more is a c-section versus vaginal birth? 

These were just some of my thoughts in back in my delivery room as a lay and wait for my baby so I can nurse her for the first time.

Thoughts the night before Madeline...

39 weeks, 6 days selfie.

• Will I make it to the hospital in time, even though I'm being induced?
• Should I have gone in 3 days ago when I saw what I think was my mp and felt tons of pressure? 
• Is the baby ok?
• Will getting an epidural affect my bulging disc?
• Will I ever go to sleep? Too excited.
• I wonder if Anna Claire is in bed yet. It's so weird not having her here.
• I wonder if there's anyone else I need to send Momma's death certificate to.
• Thankful for Larry's help today and that the upstairs is clean and nice for Madeline.
• The baby just moved. Thank you God.
• I need to start a blog for Madeline.
• I absolutely made the right decision taking the last 2 days off.
• I hope Madeline is as sweet as her big sister. 
• Technology has changed so much since Anna Claire: app to keep track of my contractions, apps for all the week by weeks, Pinterest. With AC we only brought a point and shoot camera and our Flip video. With Madeline we've packed the SLR, smartphone, tablet, laptop (to upload pics from SLR), and Flip.
• I miss my mom.
• Made it past midnight without contractions. It's Momma's birthday, and Madeline's!! :)