world breastdfeeding week

National Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7th.  It's celebrated to facilitate awareness & support to breastfeeding.

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I think this picture says it all.  People are often more shocked to find out that I am still breastfeeding my 11 month old then they would be to see a 1/2 naked women walking down the beach.

Women are uninformed, poorly educated & have so many misconceptions when it comes to breastfeeding.  Some people physically cannot do it but most think they can't & it's largely because of lack of support.

I am definitely "shy" when it comes to feeding Addison in public. In fact there has never been an "in public" for us. I have never felt comfortable doing it, even with my nursing cover.  I usually would go my car or find a place where I could be alone.  Part of it was being creeped out with people knowing that is what I was doing & the other part was the looks & stares that it brought. It's sad that we have set up a society that makes women feel embarrassed or ashamed for breastfeeding our children.

We certainly don't make it easy for breastfeeding moms, especially in the work place.  We have designated smoking areas but don't provide women a sanitary environment to pump while we are at work.  Not everyone has the luxury of an office with a door that locks so we often have to resort to pumping in a bathroom (if we are even allowed to pump). I am lucky to even get a 45 min meal break at work, let alone a 15 min break to pump. That alone is enough to make somebody not even give it a shot from the get go.

There are so many benefits of breastfeeding: nutritional benefits for baby,  cost, bonding between mom & baby, immunity support, it's natural, it's great for mom....I could go on & on.

In no way is this meant to knock those that formula fed. I am not passing judgement. Breastfeeding came easily for me but that isn't the case for anybody.  This whole last week is designed to educate.

If you’re a new mom or a mom to be educate yourself & find support. Seek out help, there are tons of local & national organizations for breastfeeding support. Don’t be afraid & don't. Know that a lot of doctors and hospitals push formula....in fact, everything pushes formula. Push through it & try to stay positive.

happy 11 months

Stats: 
She weighed in at 16.9 lbs at the doctors last week.  Because it was a sick visit they didn't measure her but she is getting longer by the minute. 
She is still in a size 2 diaper, wearing mostly 3-6 months & 6-9 months.

Teeth:
2 on the bottom. Top right has come in completely, top left has broken the gum line & 2 other top teeth are now visible. This girl deserves a medal...4 teeth at one time & not a peep.

Appearance: 
PIG TAILS!?! By far one of my top 10 "mom moments". I can't wait to be able to do other things with her hair, especially since she is so super cooperative. While she is the spitting image of me as a child I can really see Philip in a lot of her facial expressions. 

Personality:
It's amazing to watch her little personality emerge.  She is so nosy & focused on what's going on around her.  She is a social butterfly & loves to show affection: hugs, kisses, cuddling, stroking your arm, twirling your hair. She loves to share! Her independence is emerging more & more...oh, my she is strong-willed! She is so HAPPY. 

Feeding:
We started the weening process & she is only nursing 3 times a day, eating 3 meals & 2 snacks. Breakfast usually constants of scrambled whole eggs, veggie & egg fritters, coconut toast with sunbutter, coconut french toast, coconut flour pancakes, fresh fruit, bacon...whatever I am in the mode for. She is really into paleo fig newton cookies I make. There isn't a vegetable or fruit she doesn't like & we have recently learned that she REALLY likes spicy food. She drinks water from a sippy cup.

Sleep: 
Bedtime is around 7:30 & she wakes up around 7am.  Lately she has been taking a long morning nap (about 2 hours), going down around 9am after our morning run & breakfast.  She takes about an hour afternoon nap. You will still find her cuddled up with her zebra blanket & Mr. McQuacken (her stuffing-less duck) cuddled up in her arms. If her bum isn't pointed up in the air she literally leans forward from a sitting position (bent at the waist) and falls asleep.

Talking:
People are constantly commenting on the amount of actual words she says & how she babbles non-stop.  She is talking up a storm. "Uh-oh" has now entered her vocab, "oh no", "all done", woof-woof", "Ma-Ma", "Da-Da", "sat" (what's that), "duck", "den-den" (Hampton), "dog", "hi", "bye-bye", "puppa" (my Dad), "off","shoe". She has recently started humming & if you say "la-la-la" she will do it back.

Stuff she is doing:
She is incredibly imitative.  If you clap your hands she will clap her hands.  If you say "ahhhh" after taking a refreshing sip of water, she will copy you.  She bobbles her head all over the place & head bangs to music. She is a dancing machine...there is no sitting still if music is on. Either her foot is tapping or her little bum is wiggling. She can sign "more", "please", "eat" & "milk". She takes a few independent steps but once she falls she is right back to crawling, although, she is standing and cruising constantly.  She races around the house with her push walker & maneuvers herself from piece of furniture to furniture. She loves to put things inside of each other.  She is still twirling her hair when she is tired & still occasionally sucks her thumb. She is in a big kissing phase & has recently learned how to blow kisses.  We are in the process of teaching her how to hold up 1 finger when you ask how old she is.  She cocks her chin to her shoulder in a bashful way & is a big time FLIRT.

Likes:
Not much has changed since last month. She still lights up when she sees Hampton...she completely  adores him. She loves to climb & if there is something "kickable" you better believe she is going to kick it.  She loves being held upside down & falling backwards.  She loves to go running in the BOB & the faster the better.  She loves to eat LAMB...holy moly, this girl LOVES lamb.  I have never seen her get so excited about food. She loves to lay back in your lap & have you play with her hair. She loves being told that she is beautiful or pretty. She loves to climb.  She loves big kids & isn't shy about jumping in and trying to do what they are doing.  She loves to look at herself in the mirror & will play for 20 minutes with a baby doll just babbling away.  She loves her Daddy.  She darts over to the door when she hears him pull into the garage, it completely melts my heart. She loves if you blow in her face or kiss her gently on her neck.  She is never without her Zebra blanket or Mr. McQuacken. 

Dislikes:
Having her diaper changed. Having her face wiped after eating. Being told no. Having something taken away from her.

No sappy words this month...I'll save them all for her 12 month update. 

2 videos

Today is CRAZY BUSY! I had a charity WOD at Crossfit this morning, cookout, we had people stop by the house & I have to be at work at 7.  Here are two videos in lieu of a real blog post.  Addison jamming out on the piano & me climbing a 15ft rope.

this week

 This week...

• 1 of 4 top teeth made it's debut
• I had the realization that I am in BIG time trouble with Hampton & Addison...they are sneaky together already
• Philip turned 32
• We figured out what we are buying her for her birthday, a Melissa & Dough wooden piano
• I started the weening process
• Addison learned how to sign "please"
• We had a lovely lunch/shopping date with my Mum
• Our pool days were ruined by rain...boo
• The countdown to my Grandparents & little brother's visit started
• I finished the scrap fabric banner for Addison's highchair for her birthday party
• Addison took steps by herself 
• We had game night with a group of friends
• More coconut bread from Julian's Bakery came :) score for Addison (she loves it)
• Tons of tomatoes ripened at once...we are in tomato heaven

delay

The "11th Month Update" is going to be indefinitely delayed. My poor girl broke out in a rash again yesterday & it's not any better today. We wound up back at the doctors to ensure it wasn't anything to worry about or anything contagious.
 

Dr. Johnson said it's remnants of last week's ear infection/strep/viral infection. Heat seems to be exacerbating it & it could stick around for 5+ days...ugh!?!  On a positive note it looks like her ear infection is all cleared up.  Thankfully the rash doesn't seem to be bothering her.
Because we have been so crazy busy lately I didn't take a picture in advance & it just doesn't seem right posting an 11th month update without a picture to go with it.

happy birthday philip

32 years ago he was born & even before I was born, I became the luckiest. 


We are keeping it pretty low key. Getting a sitter (non-grandparent, GASP) to stay at the house.  We'll go to dinner at Blue Mango, our favorite Indian spot, after Addison goes to bed.  We'll hang out downtown & just enjoy a little quiet time together :)  Today is also my nephew's 13th birthday so tomorrow night we will have dinner with his family & this weekend grab some dinner with some friends.  That's a whole lot of birthday celebrating.  He deserves it.  Happy 32nd Birthday love! 

dream big

I, just like everybody else I am sure, am completely obsessing over the Olympics. I've always been a super fan but this year it's gone to a whole new level.  This time around I am completely awed & inspired by the extreme dedication & discipline it has taken every athlete in every event to get there. The extreme sacrifices they have made are unfathomable. 

It's awesome because somebody allowed them to dream big. Somebody introduced them to their sport, supported their goals/dreams & gave them the tools to get there.  Sure, there is undoubtedly God-given talent but without the mastery of that talent they wouldn't be where they are.    

10 years ago if somebody told me I'd be running a sub 6 min mile while pushing a baby in a jogging stroller I wouldn't have believed them.  10 years ago if somebody would have told me I'd be doing the things I am doing in Crossfit, I wouldn't have believed them.  Imagine if I had been as passionate about these things or introduced to them sooner?!

I want Addison to be a dreamer. I don't want her to not try something because she doesn't think she can do it.  I will teach her she can do anything. I will give her the tools to accomplish her dreams. I know God has big things for her, it's my job as her mum to help her get there.  No matter what her dreams are in order to accomplish them it will require dedication, discipline and support. I will help her get there. I want her to be a dreamer.