Oh, yeah you look like that "type".

Breastfeeding:
–verb (used with object)

1.

to nurse (a baby) at the breast; suckle.

What does Breastfeeding mean to you? Are you a mother that chooses this way of feeding her child? Well I am, I am a mother that knew that breastfeeding was just what I wanted to do. With my daughter, who is 3 now, I could not breastfeed her long due to her allergy to milk protein. With my son I wanted nothing more to breastfeed long term. Now that I am a full time breastfeeding mom. I get asked all the time "Are you breastfeeding your child", when I answer yes, I get the same answer almost all the time. "You look like the type, the type to breastfeed". Now tell me what is the breastfeeding type? What does one have to look like?

Do I have a look about me the screams breastfeed-er? I don't feel that there is a look about moms that choose to breastfeed. I never thought that breastfeeding was going to be such a defining moment in my life, were my "look" is what they expect. 

 This just makes me know that breastfeeding is not "The Norm" yet. I wish that we would all stop separating mothers that BF and mothers that formula feed, we are all mothers that are doing what we individually feel is right for our children. 

When my son came around I didn't expect to be the mother that becomes all natural and cloth diapers and such, but it did happen. For that I am considered a hippy like tree hugger... why?

I breastfeed as a personal choice and yes I love my relationship with my choice to do so. Do I enjoy it 100% of the time, ABSOLUTELY NOT. There are struggles in everything that a mother does from balancing the laundry, dishes, playtime and baths to breastfeeding. Its selfless and time consuming and takes most my days by hostage, but its what I choose. Does this mean that I feel formula moms are selfish, NO. Moms that choose not to BF are not my issue, they choose that for there babies just like I choose to BF. Here is another question? Do mothers that formula feed have a "look" to them too? 

I feel that there are to many labels and assumptions made on mothers just from the way that they choose to feed there children, why is the way you feed your child even a question that people ask, is it not personal any more? I just feel that there should not be labels made on mothers, we deal with enough in our days. I am a cloth diapering, breastfeeding, baby wearing mother! Call it what you may but there is just nothing wrong with my way I do things, its my children that matter. I come second to these amazing little ones that I brought into this world and doing right by them is my life goal.

I just needed to vent a small bit about this subject. There is nothing more to a breastfeeding mom, but that she is a breastfeeding mom. Same goes for formula moms, what else you choose to be on top of your feeding method is your business too! What are your thoughts? Do you feel the same about this?

BioGaia Probiotic Drops Review

Does your baby cry all the time? Or to the point that you feel that something has to give?

Well I have the answer! BioGaia Probiotic drops. Ill tell you my story. Jack my son that is now 9 months old was the best child ever till her turned 4 months old and started to scream and cry all day and night, I felt like my skin was going to crawl right off my body every time that he started up. I went to the doctors that just kept telling me that he was fine and just was colic or had reflux. Yet they never ran one test, so I took things into my own hands! I started reading on things and searching for the answer, I came across the use of probiotics. The BioGaia Drops are the best that I found to give to infants as you can mix it in there food or put in there cereal spoon. I was lucky to be able to just give them to Jack. 

Just after a few days he started to change, he was happy and didn't cry nearly as often. I realized that this was the reason, he simply just cant digest well and needs help. I love this product and feel that any mom that is suffering from a upset child/infant should give probiotics a try!

Be sure the check then out online

____________________________________________________________

Want to win a bottle of BioGaia Probiotic Drops!

Here is how:

1. Follow our blog via GFC

2. like us on Facebok

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extra entries..

1. Grab out button

2. Follow on twitter

3. Tell me how your child is and how you think probiotics night help.

4. subscribe to out newsletter

Be sure that you leave a individual comment for EACH entry, as they are all counted as one, along with your email and any necessary link for proof. As well as your email address.

Good Luck!

USA only...

Ends: 4/29/2011

*Note that this product was given to TGL free of charge in the reply that we give a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are that of TGL and not associated in any way with BioGaia.

Just Another Reson to Get my Camera Out!

*Photos were all take by me and are not to be copies or used for anything. If used there will be legal consequences. 

Thanks

Oscar's been winning all-night crying game

Elizabeth Withey holds her son Oscar in December 2010.

Photograph by: Bruce Edwards, edmontonjournal.com

Taken from: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Oscar+been+winning+night+crying+game/4510909/story.html

You know when something is really bad, but then there's a new bad that makes the old bad seem not so bad at all?

I'm there.

Oscar used to sleep so beautifully. Which I can't believe I just said. Because my son has never slept well.

Compared to now, though, his sleep patterns at three months were bliss. A few times over Christmas he slept six, even seven hours at a stretch. I'd wake up in the night, wondering why he wasn't screaming his bald head off for a feeding, or lie there awake in anticipation. Jonathan would go and check our baby was still alive.

Those were the good old days.

Now, at six months, Oscar's ability to sleep has deteriorated such that we delight in even one hour of sweet silence. The baby falls asleep in my arms, but the second I lay him down, he complains vehemently, despite his obvious fatigue, and won't conk out until I pick him up again.

My nostrils, I fear, are flared for good; my jaw has set into a concrete clench.

At first, I blamed this new nighttime folly on Oscar's two new bottom teeth. The pediatrician told me otherwise. Worsening sleep patterns at this age are expected, he said, and it's not teething.

"Your baby has this lovely memory of falling asleep in your arms," he explained while measuring my son's head circumference in the examining room. "And you're not there when he wakes up. He's looking for you."

Oh he's looking, all right. The second I go into Oscar's room, his shrieking tomato face melts into a warm and mischievous grin, as if to say, "Hey Mom! Great to see you! P.S.: I win!"

Desperate, shattered, our molars ground down to the gums, Jonathan and I decided to dive headfirst into CIO: the cry-it-out method (much to the chagrin of our dear neighbours). Apparently we're suckers for punishment, though, fingers crossed, the pain will be short-term.

The literature on baby sleep is overwhelming, fascinating, contradictory. Some suggest your life should revolve around the child's 90-minute sleep cycle. Some say a focus on daytime sleeping will solve nighttime sleeping woes. Some insist you soothe your child to sleep, while others say letting your baby bawl himself into shape is the best solution. Of course the vast number of books are a testament to the market: Parents will pay anything, buy anything, to get their kid to sleep.

When you go out with your baby, everyone wants to know three things. His name. His age. And is he sleeping through the night. Cashiers, dentists, taxi drivers, mechanics, everyone's itching to find out.

You tell them, "No, he wakes up a lot." You smile thinly, force out a chuckle because otherwise you'll burst into tears.

They give you those sympathetic, glad-I'm-not-you eyes. And then begins the boasting. "Mine slept through the night at two months."

Fabulous. Like I want to know how easy it was for you. If your kid has or is sleeping through the night, please, lie to me. Spin me something nightmarish that will make me believe my kid's sleeping habits aren't as awful as I know they are. Spare me your WonderBaby bragging session. I know you're trying to give new parents hope, but all it does is make us wonder what we're doing wrong.

So. About the crying. As I write this, it is 12: 50 a.m. and I've just gone in to shush my wide-eyed, howling son for the umpteenth time. I am not to feed him or pick him up, the sleep experts tell me. I am just to keep returning to his crib to reassure him I haven't abandoned him. Which of course is increasingly tempting. It's a good thing he's cute.

When we first left Oscar to cry, I felt guilty and mean. But as the experiment wore on, my negative self-talk mellowed into steely resilience, a determination fuelled by hope all three of us will, one day, get the sleep we require, simultaneously.

There are pros to this method. From an exercise point of view, I'm doing a lot of stairs up to Oscar's room, which means I'm burning off all the orange cake, whipped cream and Montreal bagels that somehow found their way into my belly.

But there are cons, too, not including the sleep deprivation.

Only a few days ago, I was inspecting my deflated, stretch-mark-striped bosom in a bathing suit, the result of weaning the boy at six months. Within 24 hours of embarking on our CIO adventure, my letdown reflex went berserk at the sound of Oscar's wails and my left breast expanded into a stoney pomelo.

Now I'm lopsided, in agony and, worst of all, tempted to bed-share with the baby latched on to relieve some of the pressure.

"I'm sure you'll make it soon," my mother-in-law writes in an encouraging note from England. "Just don't give up, and make sure you have a plentiful supply of cotton wool -for your ears." (As opposed to stuffing it in Oscar's gob, she infers.) It's funny how, as babies, crying is our sole means of communication, while as adults, we'll do anything not to cry in front of others. Especially in professional situations. Imagine if, instead of requesting holiday time via e-mail, you just sat at your desk and cried until your boss came over.

No, no, the only ones crying at their desks are the ones with children at home who aren't sleeping. My loving husband among them. Bless him for not using earplugs, for reminding me we are in this together.

ewithey@edmontonjournal.com

twitter.com/lizwithey

Breastfeeding Struggles take 2

When I became a mom for the second time around I new that I was going to breastfeed as I did with Emma, my first born. I wanted nothing more then to do what was on my heart and that was breastfeeding my children. My kids mean the world and I could not see me not breastfeeding, or at least giving it a try. With my son, he took to it so well. I had small issues in the start but nothing that caused a issue with my BF bond. 


As the months went by pumping stoped as there became no reason to do it, I am a SAHM and truly just went to doctors or family, so there was not to much BFIP, not that I am embarrassed to. I'm not. I feel that what I am doing for my child is what is good for us,I would never want a mother to think their way is wrong, I support all mothers. Anyway back on subject, I have come to a bump in my BF journey.


Little Man is now 9 months old and has no interest in BF during the day! I am just devastated. I tried everything, a dark quiet room, things to help him focus(ie: BF necklaces..) blankets over his head to keep his eyes from wondering. You name is I tried it. Nothing seems to work, so I started to pump again, as I didn't have any BM left, I thought I didn't need it and donated it to a child that did <3. 


Here is were my struggle is, I just am not getting any milk :( I am sad by this as I am not ready to stop, I still feed him in the mornings and at night when he wakes. But I am not getting enough by pumping to give him during the day, and I have to supplement. I went from 6oz each breast each time to 4oz together one time. 


I am glad that he is baby led-weaned and there are a lot of solids in his diet, so there is not much supplement, but I still wish i could wave a magic wand and make this so much easier! In the end all my effort and love for BF is soo worth it! There is not one thing that I would change, I have to tell myself that he is now 9 months old and doing amazing, and Emma only got it for 4/or 6 weeks due to her milk protein allergy. 


So to the moms that tried and stoped, tried and for medical reasons stoped and those that just said its not for them. Remember you tried and baby got that first mama milk and that's what matters! If your baby is healthy and and you love them deeply everyday, that is what it all comes down to!! 


Lets hope I can find answers to my little bump in my BF journey.


Thanks for reading.


Megan

{this moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual from Soule Mama, one of my favorite bloggers. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

Baby Bond Winner

Tina!!! You are a winner!!!!

Tina said...

I follow you

March 10, 2011 7:32 PM 

Tina you were Randomly selected to win our contest! Thanks for participating!

Megan

Enter here to win a Safty First Car Seat!

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/Safe-Ride-Sweeps.aspx

Facebook Giveaway Winner!

Tina you are the winner!

Comment #3

Tina said...

I shared it on facebook!

March 10, 2011 7:32 PM 

You won via using Random.org to get a comment. 

Thanks for participating! 

Grandma El's Diaper Rash Cream

Does your baby have a issue with rashes and you feel like nothing works?
I came across Grandma El's Diaper rash cream and thought nothing can hurt at this point, Jack was getting a rash all the time, even in his cloth diapers. When he would go #2 his butt would get inflamed and red, and when I used the typical zinc oxide cream it seemed to only get worse. When I put Grandma El's on the first time I was pleased! Jack didn't cry or pull away when I put it on. It was like a sigh of relief for the both of us.

into the box.
I love that I can use it at every diaper change to keep any rash at bay! Grandma El's is pediatrician recommended and hypo-allergenic, and for a all natural mom this is the best choice! I love that its not white and sticky, and when I go to whip Little Man when he has made a statement in his diaper I don't feel that I am rubbing his skin off. In turn just making the rash worse and more sore. I truly love this cream. Its affordable and easy to use! The 2oz  tube(what I received) is only 9.99, and trust me it goes a LONG ways. No gooping and globbing it on your child just a thin layer is all that is needed.

Be sure to check them Online and order your own! Grandma El's is offering just our readers a 5.00 coupon! that 1/2 off there regular tube!!!! 

When you are done ordering enter in GREAT into the box. 

Thanks for reading!!!

*Note that this product was given to TGL free of charge in the reply that we give a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are that of TGL and not associated in any way with Grandma El's.

Baby In Bliss review and giveaway

Closed

Baby In Bliss is a great video aimed for children and baby's alike! I was pleased with the great scenes in the movie and the beautiful sounds and music! Its inspirational and uplifting! I have really loved enjoying this amazing movie and the dvd has been great to listen to in our van with the kids, it mellows them down and keeps them at ease.

"Our vision is to provide divinely inspired, beautifully entertaining CDs and DVDs to offer a way for babies and their caregivers interact in a deeper, more connected and spiritual way."- taken from website

There truly is nothing like Baby In Bliss, I feel that any mother that wants there children to connect with themselves as well as you, this is truly something that you should watch and listen to. The music will take you away into another place. I really love it. My son was colic for months and he loves to listen to the sounds of the drums and the simple beats of the music. 

 

Wanna Win One!

1. Follow our Blog

2. Follow Baby In Bliss on Facebook, Tell them @the great letdown sent you.

3. Go to Baby In Bliss online and tell me what you like. 

Extra Entries:

1. Join the bliss club here

2. Facebook this giveaway

3. Tweet about it.

4. Grab my button.

5. Write on our facebook page your favorite thing about movie night with your kid/s(pictures are extra)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ENDS: 4/15/2011 (usa only)

Be sure that you leave a individual comment for EACH entry, as they are all counted as one, along with your email and any necessary link for proof. 

Best of luck to you! 

Thanks for reading!

*Note that this product was given to TGL free of charge in the reply that we give a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are that of TGL and not associated in any way with Baby In Bliss.

{this moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual from Soule Mama, one of my favorite bloggers. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

Boon Review

I received the Boon grass and Catch bowl for review.  opened them and washed them first before use. Boon started by a mother with a messy toddler, she thought to herself there has to be something that I can do with these bath toys. That is when the frog pod was invented and Boon Inc. was created. There dedicated to great easy designs to keep a parent organized and the best, they keep it affordable.












The Catch Bowl: I love this bowl! If you have a messy toddler or even just a little one learning to eat by themselves, this is the bowl for you! I love that it has a suction on the bottom. And the lip that catches all the food and keeps it in the bowl and off my floor. The one thing that I did notice that has been a issue is that the  suction has "worn"? As is my 8 month old can rip the bowl right off! But other then that I do enjoy using the bowl, works great for cereal in the morning with my 3 year old.









The Grass: For all your baby drying rack needs! I love the Grass! Its so easy to clean and allows my bottles and all other things I hand wash dry through and through without water beads inside or mold. They do sell it in a larger size as well, I think that will be a purchase soon. It truly is a great drying rack, better then any other bottle and or dish rack that I have used for my items. I will never lay a towel out and dry on that again.

Overall:

I do love the Boon products and feel there well made and makes a mothers life easy. 

Rank: 8/10

Wanna get your own?

Buy Online at Www.Booninc.Com

*Note that this product was given to TGL free of charge in the reply that we give a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are that of TGL and not associated in any way with Boon.

{coming to grips with reality}

I think I need to share this. I had Epiphany, having children is something that I wanted and needed in my life. ever sense I was little and I was pretty much raising my brothers, I knew that motherhood was what I was destine for. So when I got pregnant with my first I was excited and didn't think much of the changes that would be happening to my body. I knew that my stomach was going to be getting bigger but, I didn't think I was going to have the health issues that would cause a 97lbs weight gain! 

That being said I was overall still happy with my belly, but one day I just woke up and looked in the mirror and there they were, staring me in the face. The bright red, deep, throbbing and disgusting stretch marks. I was devastated! I was so upset that there went 8 months with no stretch marks and boom!!! I then just brushed them off only to forget during the rest of my pregnancy. 

Soon after I has Emma, at 35 weeks. She was a c-section baby due to health related issues. I began to notice the change in my body, I was very much bigger then I was when I started. I didn't fit into any clothing in my closet and could not were anything close to the skin as there was so much extra around my mid-section. This depressed me. I was embarrassed of my "new" look and body. I didn't feel like my husband could look at me the same way. 

All this being said, I was reading a article the other day about motherhood and the changes that happen and I realized this. I NEEDED TO CHANGE. My children made me the way that I am, I got the pleasure to carry and grow them in my body. My body was a sacred vessel! So why would it not change right? Why would I think that pregnancy and bearing a child would not change how my body is formed and the marks on it. Every single mark that both my children gave me are only another reminder that I have two beautiful children! I got all that I have now from becoming a mother, and I want to say this. I am DAMN proud! I am proud that I still cant bend over with my stomach hanging over my jeans, that I cant wear  2 piece swimwear as there are stretch marks in places they should not be. 

I know there are mothers that go back to "normal" after having children, but I am glad and proud that mine altered who I am physically and mentally. Tell me what is "normal" anyway? the average woman is a size 14 and I am a 10, so according to the national average I am SKINNY. So here is to all the mothers with the Mom Body! I love and embrace mine and you should too! 

Patemm Pad Review and Giveaway

I am excited to introduce to you the PATEMM PAD. 

This is a innovative and new way to carry your baby's diapers and wipes without caring a large and heavy diaper bag. It simply unfolds and exposes pockets the put your belongings in such as, diapers, wipes, and butt creams. 

The creator of this great product was inspired by her own motherhood experience of the annoying diaper bags when making quick trips. I have been using it more for that reason, we keep it in our van loaded with all  the things we might need in a pinch. Its got great open pockets on the inside to hold lots of things, and it still fits in my purse when I need it in the store. The great rounded design allows my son to move about without getting onto the dirty surface below.

Theses are the designs, colors and fabrics that the Pantemm Pad comes in, so there is one for every mom or dad out there.

I love this pad and think it belongs in the purses, vans, trucks of all parents. Its truly a great changing pad and it will not let you down, I recommend fully. 

Rank: 9/10

Now for the exciting part!!! A GIVEAWAY! (usa only)

On top of them allowing a giveaway of this great product, you all as my readers are getting a 20% off code to use when you order your own! The code is: PATEMM

This is the design you will win.


Here is what you need to do:

1. Follow TGL publicly through google friend connect. 
2. Like Petemm Pad on Facebook.
3. Email Patemm Pad at customerservice@patemm.com<-- they are building a email list :) just a extra entry.
4. Follow TGL on Facebook.
5. Leave a individual comment for EACH entry! 

Extra Entries to increase your chances.

1. Grab my button.
2. List me on your blog roll. 
3. subscribe to our blog.
4. Facebook about this giveaway.
5. Tweet about this giveaway.

That's it! Good luck to all of you.
Ends: 4/8/2011

*Note that this product was given to TGL free of charge in the reply that we give a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are that of TGL and not associated in any way with Patemm Pad.