Picture time!

In this post I have a bunch of different pictures to illustrate our latest happenings!

This first picture is of Eli at La Casa for his birthday! You can tell he was completely thrilled to be wearing the hat and having the waiters sing to him! If you look towards the bottom of the picture you will find a delicious birthday shot which made the public humiliation worth it! He had a great 25th birthday and appreciated all of the birthday cards, wishes, and gifts!
Last Saturday we went over to our good friends', Rayce and Candi's, home to hang out. They have three little ones who are more precious than ever! This is a picture of their youngest daughter, Shylee, holding Addison. Every time Shy sees her she says, "I just love her!" It is so sweet! Thanks for having us Rayce and Candi; we always love spending time with you and your family!!!

The following pictures were taken after Addi was treated for Thrush (yeast infection). Although she didn't show any signs of thrush, I have had it for several weeks and my doctor was concerned that we may have been passing it back and forth thus the reason for my severe pain during feedings. I think we have almost kicked the problem. I still have pain during feedings but it's tolerable now. I found that breastfeeding has been anything but easy, convenient and bonding. For me, it's been very stressful, time consuming, painful, and emotionally, VERY hard. I'm going to stick it out another two weeks to see if the pain subsides but if hasn't, we're going to switch to formula. This disappoints me to some degree, but in many others, it provides so much relief. We will just have to wait and see!

Many have asked how the puppies are doing with Addison and I think the following pictures explain it better than I can!

This originally started out as tummy time, but instead, Addi decided she would sleep. (AND yes, I do know you are supposed to put babies to sleep on their backs, this was a short time and she was in our supervision so don't worry!)

And finally just some fun pictures of Addison! The first Addison appears to be happy; in the second she's done with pictures and just wants to eat! I love it!

...I think she gets her temper from Eli! haha...right!

My journey: Week 1

So I know it's not Friday but since I went to weight watchers today I thought I would post the results. Now, I am excited to say that my little runner at the bottom of our blog did move slightly towards the right of the screen but I can't say that it was because of hard work and diligently keeping track of my points...nope...I would have to say it was somewhat luck. I really didn't work hard; I tried to eat a little better and was able to make it out for three walks but that's really it...

So the results? I lost 2.8 lbs. this week! Now I need to get busy so it doesn't come back and so I lose some more!

So this week my goals are to:
1) Go for a walk with Addi at least 4 times this week. (We have yet to purchase a stroller so I carry Addi, but I am so thankful to Jan and Ken who gave us a baby carrier!!! Thank you so much...I wouldn't be able to take her on these walks if it weren't for your generosity!!!)

2) Track my Weight Watchers points for at least 5 days. You may ask, "Why not everyday?" Well, let's face it, I'm just not to that point yet...I need more organization in my life!

I'm excited to hear from those who are doing this with me! How was your week? What are your goal(s) for the week? Remember baby steps!!!

And the infamous quote that keeps me truckin': "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!" Good luck!

Look who's a quarter of a century old!!!

ELI IS THE BIG 2-5!!!!

Happy Birthday Eli!!!!

My new journey...

So in an effort to staying on track and being held accountable, I have decided to post about my weight loss journey. I returned to Weight Watchers last Thursday. I am hoping to reach my "goal weight" in 14 months (Nov. 1, 2010) which means I must lose 75 lbs. between now and then. I placed a ticker at the bottom of my page so that I can share my progress....let's hope the little runner moves steadily towards the right of the computer screen and not the left!

So, now that I have divulged the amount I must lose, I am counting on you to help me stay on track! If you have any great healthy recipes or weight loss tips that you would like to share, I would love to hear them! I was also thinking that it would be fun to get a small group of people together who are also hoping to drop a few pounds as well...maybe I can do a post every Friday and everyone who wants to participate can comment about their progress. Let me know what you think!

Bittersweet

FYI: I'm too lazy to proof read this prior to posting it, so please read over any typos and imperfections!!!

I've have discovered many things over the past four weeks...both good and bad. I have come to the conclusion that nothing can prepare a woman for motherhood; nothing can prepare a woman for the emotional roller coaster that comes with motherhood. People always talk about how wonderful and beautiful it is to be a new mom, but rarely talk about the difficulties. I have debated over putting my feelings that have developed over the past month on here for fear of people judging me (you know, showing you the whole picture not just the pretty parts...) I have decided to post about it in hopes of receiving advice and even words of comfort!

Warning: I'm going to talk a lot about breast feeding and boobs so proceed at your own will!

When Addison was born, the nurses had me use a nipple shield immediately because she wasn't able to latch on because my nipples weren't protruding enough. Once I had the shield I felt like breastfeeding was going really well. I had a few bumps in the road and a little pain, but really, it was a breeze but there was a problem...Addison wasn't gaining weight. After three weeks she still wasn't at her birth weight. We have been in and out of the doctor at least once if not twice a week for weight checks. After three weeks, the doctor sent me back to a lactation consultant to wean Addi off of the nipple shield. After my consultation with the nurse, I felt we had just made it over a huge hurtle. Addi was suddenly able to eat A LOT more milk in a much shorter time. I couldn't wait for her to go to her next dr.'s appt. as I was sure she would be at her birth weight. Three days later, Addi weighed only 1.5 more ounces. Throughout this time I had been back to the lactation consultant as I was having SEVERE pain while breastfeeding. (I told Eli that I would rather give birth a thousand times over than breastfeed one more time...it was HORRIBLE.) I began to feel like I was failing at breastfeeding and being a mom. Here my baby was having difficulties gaining weight and I was hesitant to feed her because of my pain.

Just last Wednesday I went back to the lactation consultant because Addi's doctor wanted to check her weight before and after a feeding just to make sure she was getting a sufficient amount of milk. While I was there, I told the nurse that it still hurts really bad. (At this point it has almost been one week without the shield and she and another consultant had told me that it shouldn't hurt after a week.) Anyway, the nurse told me she was latching on fine, I just needed to shove her face further into my boob. (I knew this wasn't the problem as the pain never eased up let alone subsided...) Needless to say, she really wasn't much help. She made me feel even worse, like I was truly failing at breastfeeding. After all, it's supposed to be this wonderfully amazing bonding experience...What was wrong with me? I came home and just bawled to Eli telling him about the whole experience....it sucked.

Anyway, Thursday came and went with similar pain but on Friday I thought we had finally made progress. I had pain when she latched on but then it would ease up and I barely felt anything...it was wonderful! I was really relieved and hoped that we were finally on the right road...

Guess I was wrong. I am in worse pain today than I have been since I started this whole process. My nipples are now both cracked and bleeding. I don't what to do. Addi's had a lot of problems pulling in her bottom lip and we have successfully rectified that problem, but now I think she's sucking in her top lip and I don't know how to get it out. I don't feel like I can go back to the lactation consultant. What she going to do? Tell me how I am failing and how her lip is fine like she did last time when I thought Addison was pulling it in? I don't need to hear it. I don't know if I can keep going with this. I have tried to stay positive, but I have never felt more alone and helpless. I want what's best for Addi. I want her healthy and striving. HAPPY NOTE: while today has been very stressful and depressing, it has been wonderful too! When we went to the doctor this morning, Addison weighed 7lbs 8oz!!! Finally, four weeks after her birth, she met and surpassed her birth weight!!! WHAT A HUGE RELIEF!

So my question is, has anybody had problems with their child pulling their top lip in and if so, how do I fix it? Should I buck up and go talk to the lactation consultant again?

I SO SO SO want breastfeeding to be the wonderful thing that people talk about. I want to feel like I am being successful in feeding my child. I can't handle the feelings that this is making me have....

I promise my next post will be happy and talk of all the exciting and wonderful things that come with being a mommy...after all, there are MANY! Until then, here are some happy pictures of little Addi!

Addison Marie Cann

Addison Marie Cann made an early entrance into this world on Saturday, July 25th at 5:17 AM. She weighed 7lbs 5 oz; a pretty hefty weight for being born four weeks early! Although we were not expecting her to arrive so early, we are thankful that she was born strong and healthy! We were able to bring her home on Monday and have been enjoying all of the wonderful things that come with being first time parents! I will write up her birth story in another post; I just wanted to announce her birth and share some pictures!

First Bath---not so happy!

Meeting Grandma Judy and Grandpa Leon for the first time!

First Story- Go Dog Go

Leaving the hospital

So hot in our home...all stretched out trying to cool off!

Meeting Uncle Devin for the first time!

MY FAVORITE PICTURE!

3 Years!

Three years ago today I married my best friend!

I am so thankful for all that we have experienced together and for the love that we share! Eli truly is amazing and I am so blessed to call him my husband! Sometimes I catch myself thinking about him in the most random times, amazed that we began as high school sweethearts and are now about ready to embark on a new journey together...parenthood!

Happy Anniversary Eli! I love you lots!