Mom Musings: Truth about Draining Breastfeeding Madness, Don't Judge Moms

Who just ate yummy milk?
The background was me moving in all my office essentials from the
city to the home office. This was another item on the to-do list. 

I confess … breastfeeding is the pits!

As I anxiously anticipate the arrival of my son, this summer, I shiver at the thought of sacrificing my sleep and sanity in order to feed him breast milk. I say “breast milk” because it’s been made VERY clear to me that I did not “breast feed” my daughter, last year.

Apparently, pumping, which provides the same exact nutritional value as does putting a baby to a breast, is not actual breastfeeding. Um, go F*^% yourself. My daughter received the same good stuff and I still had to work very, VERY hard to manage to survive the five months of +Medela madness.  

Sorry all you judgmental peeps, including the nurses at the hospital that nudged me to at least try to breastfeed because “skin to skin is so important for your connection to the baby”. My boobs belong to my husband! I’m in for making the milk, but the sucking part is coming from a glass bottle. We used Lifefactory, in case anyone is wondering.

But, I digress.

Breast feeding, round two. Yah or Nah?

Yes, breastfeeding / pumping is the pits. It was mentally and physically exhausting the first go around. I didn't help the matter by jumping back into work (albeit from home, most of the time). I even did a store appearance ten days after giving birth. (PS It was the grand opening of NessaLee Baby in Livingston, NJ. The store and the owners are amazing.) Oh, and I refused to get a nanny because I was flush with energy, initially, despite being up every three hours to first pump and then feed Ilana Rose.

L to R: Trying to look normal with +NessaLee Baby owners Jordan and Vanessa;
with EXTRA Wardrobe Stylist Julie Kozak;
with +Project Nursery  co-founder +Melisa Fluhr 

Of course, in keeping with my Always Be Your Best You philosophy, I did not walk around the house looking like a hot mess. Before the 6am feeding, makeup was applied, along with my post-partum, body-preservation creams.

Ilana Rose was doing great. I was calm, so she was calm. We go into a great schedule and in about 5 weeks or so she began to have wider gaps of “feed me” moments, at night. I, however, was still up pumping out the goods.

My brain was spinning. My body was flipping out. I felt like I was on drugs, and I've never taken drugs so really this was just what I assumed it felt like to be drugged out. I remember telling my sister and husband that I felt like someone was pumping helium into my brain because I felt foggy. Nothing seemed clear. Then, one day, the sh&t hit the fan.

I used to watch her sleep a lot. I should have listened to my mom
and mother-in-law and slept, as well! 

While feeding my daughter, I attempted to sing her some songs. But, who turned off the play list? I couldn't remember the words to anything! It was like a part of my brain was gone. Over the next few days, I noticed that I couldn't articulate my thoughts properly to anyone. And, then, the emotional madness hit. I couldn't control the tears. It was ridiculous.

Turns out, I was seriously sleep deprived. I skipped a few pumps at night, but then felt guilty because if you don’t do it you lose it! I tried to go on more walks. I pulled back on work (although, not nearly as much as I should have!). Then, my family stepped in and we got a nanny. The nanny cared for the baby, while my mother cared for me. Ya, that’s how bad it got.

I eventually decided to pump through the summer, use stored milk after that and slowly transition into formula.

Yes, breastfeeding is the pits. I had NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF INTO! It’s impossible to breast feed, take care of a baby, manage your family and work the way I choose to work without proper help. Even then, the physical demands of being a milk factory are beyond comprehension to anyone who hasn't done it.

So, here comes number two.

For those who are wondering, yes, I plan to breastfeed my son. Oh, sorry, pump J. This time, I’m older (this past year basically equals ten years!) and wiser. I’m taking off July and August. My only work will be to be mommy. If the spirit moves me, I will blog. That’s it! I plan to go for about four or five months, but I’ll take it week by week.

My little peanut.

There is no denying that giving a baby breast milk is the best option. But, it’s very personal. Given everything that I've shared, you can imagine that it’s not something I can recommend. In fact, all I will say is this:

Do what works for your body and your family. If skin-to-skin is your game, great. If you want to pump into a machine and feed from a bottle, bottoms up. If you want to cabbage up your boobs (I’ll talk about that in a future post) and just do formula, fabulous. We shouldn't judge each other, because motherhood is a crazy job that we need to figure out and navigate as we see fit. And, of course, we need to do it with confidence, style and a little rough ;-).  You knew I would say that, right? 

P2 Family: Making a Birthday Hat and other Crafty Mom Musings

DIY cone hat for my daughter's 1st Birthday Party

In theory, I love to DIY. In reality, I don’t have the patience for reading long how-tos. Consequently, I wing-it, often times making the crafting process much harder. Now, I’m very artist – a gift I acquired from my late father. He could draw anything. (Side note: Let’s just say my elementary school projects were legendary.) But, I digress.

When my daughter was born, I had all these lofty ideas of what to make for her room, what to make for memories sake, what to make for the grandparents, etc. Many suggestions were shot down by my non-DIY loving husband. Many ideas never materialized because I didn’t allocate the time needed to properly create something, anything. This was going to change with Ilana Rose’s birthday approaching April 4th. I was determined to make a 1^st Birthday Party Hat.

I spend about $300 on supplies because I couldn't make up mind mind, and 

I needed basic crafting supplies. Don't worry, $250 of it is going back. 

With a vague idea of what I might need (see above about winging it), I heading to Michaels. The results are documented below. The memories are emblazoned in my heart. This wasn’t just about crafting, it really was about slowing down for two hours, Friday morning, and thinking about the past year as a new mom. I savored every minute of the cutting, folding, and gluing … and then Ilana woke up for her morning nap. Friday night, after dinner, I spent another thirty minutes wrapping up the project.

SUPPLIES

• Foam paper
• Craft paper
• Ribbons, pompoms, stickers, anything else that catches your eye at the craft store that might work as décor accents (a good return policy is essential, if you like to play with options!!)
• Faux flowers
• Glue stick, scissors, staple gun
• Downloadable cone shape

DIRECTIONS

• Download a cone hat shape. Print and cut out the shape.
• Decide on color scheme or theme. Mine was soft yellow, blush pink and Champaign (because I couldn’t find rose gold products). In keeping with our English garden, Tea Party theme, I wanted everything to feel romantic and elegant.
• Trace the cone shape on the foam and cut out the shape. I used foam as my base for the hat.* You can use it as the main hat and skip additional layering and gluing. (* Next time I'll use thicker stock paper, as foam is a bit trick and way too thick when you glue one end of the cone to the other.)
• Trace the cone shape onto the back of your craft paper, but don’t cut it out.
• Make slip cuts along the curved edge of the cone shape, on your craft paper. This helps make the final look neater.
• Glue the craft paper to the foam. Press and hold as you go, to get a permanent stick.
• If you are planning to have pompoms, feathers or other items at the tip of the cone, cut out a small bit from the top of your (still flat) cone hat.
• I used faux flowers as my ‘cherry on top’. Simply cut off the stem, leaving about an inch to wrap with strong tape and a rubber band.** (**I loved the look of the flowers, but next time I need something lighter. The weight was too much for my daughter's precious little head. I'll explain in an upcoming post about the dos/don'ts of baby photo shoots! You live and learn.) 
• Because my hat was rather thick and the flower ‘cherry on top’ was a pinch heavy, it was easier to warp and glue the cone with the ‘cherry on top’ flowers already being held inside vs. sticking them in after the cone was all glued. (However, I may try that the next time. Much like motherhood, I’m learning as I go.)
• I couldn’t find a pre-made number 1 that matched my color scheme, so I cut it out (using stencils – which isn’t winging-it, but I could heard my husband’s voice in my head and I knew stencils were the way to go).
• Decorate away. I purchased beautiful stickers from the Martha Stewart Crafts collection, to make life easier.
• To make her name stand out, I cut a strip of thick, yellow paper and made a band around the hat. The paper needs to be cut in the same degree as the cone, otherwise you will not get an even strip look. Math hasn’t been my strong suit in years, so eyeballing it/winging it meant this step took longer than necessary.
• In order to hide the tiny gap created on the back of my really thick hat, I added a bird slip. J Birds = garden = tea party. It makes thematic sense.
• Rather than use wire, which would have held the hat on my daughter’s head a heck of lot better during our photo shoot (more on that later), I opted for pretty yellow lace. Cut two equal pieces long enough to tie a bow around the neck. Attach one on each end with staples. Hide the staples with décor. I used flower stickers.
• Marvel in your glory. 

Faux flowers = My version of the "cherry on top" pompom for a birthday hat.

I knew the bird clips would come in handy!! Also, note to other
wanna-be DIYers: any "error" can be craftly corrected.

P2 Family: Munchkin Launches mbaby Apparel Layette Collection, and My Baby is a Model

Ilana Rose showcases mbaby onester and converable pant

Last week, my daughter had her big modeling break; well, sort of. I was asked to attend the launch of Munchkin’s new mbaby apparel layette collection hosted by MomTrensd.com, and dress Ilana in the clothing. After previewing the soft and supple material, as well as the smart, yet simple, design, I was more than pleased to put my munchkin in mbaby.

mbaby onster apparel, by Munchkin

The mbaby onester apparel, which is what Ilana is wearing in long sleeve ($34), has a double-layer front, ideal for babies that spend most of their time on their backs or in strollers. The double layer keeps the chill at bay in a discreet, comfortable design, without overheating her back. Genius, right?

mbaby sleepster by Munchkin

mbaby apparel by Munchkin

Ilana is also modeling the 100% cotton rib knit (FYI the entire collection is made with cotton because mbaby, like most smart moms, gets that this is the best option for babies) pants with a convertible foot ($30). Ilana can be fully covered or wear cute capri-style cuffed pants. It’s super easy to transition from one look to the next, and it maximizes the wear of the item. Again, genius!

The pieces are easy to mix and match and many are gender neutral. I spent some extra time in the boys assortment, as I have NO idea what I’ll be doing with my little man when he arrives in late June. Any tips on raising a boy? Do share!

PS The chef-style, star hat is not from mbaby. My sister’s daughters both wore it and nobody recalls where it was purchased.  

P2 Family: Sunday Morning with the Baby

How did you spend your Sunday morning? Big hugs to all the mommies who get up early to feed, cuddle, play, educate and adore their little ones. It isn't always easy, but these pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

Now, time to shower, put on all my face and body creams, and enjoy a cup of tea. #AlwaysBeYourBestYou and #Smile 

Pam's Pick: Kiinde Kozii Baby Bottle Warmer

The last thing any parent wants to do at 2 am is think about warming up a bottle. Is it too hot, too cold? What about unfreezing stored milk?!?

Three months into my daughter’s life and I’m a little wiser and more prepared for number two++, thanks to the addition of the Kiinde Kozii on my kitchen counter top. Not only is this product the smartest bottle warmer on the market thanks to an easy-to-use water bath, it also features a sleek design. One thing all new parents hate is how their house gets taken over by baby products, which is why I shop for products that not only solve problems, but are aesthetically pleasing. If you’re a Kozii fan, leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from other moms.

Baby Decor Nursery Trends 2013

As a style reporter on behalf of BETTER TV, I had a chance to be on the other side of the microphone to get a first-hand scoop on the hottest nursery trends from the founders of ProjectNursery.com. My mommy mojo was in full force, as I believe my role goes beyond instilling good manners, a value in education, etc. It's also my job to lead by example and show my children that personal style and decor is imperative to leading a happy, "Be Your Best You" life. What better place to start teaching style than a nursery room?

For 2013, it's all about chevron prints, global influences and gray. I'm thrilled about that last bit, as I'm planning to have a gray/yellow/white theme for my baby girl.

PS Check out Pintrest for my Baby Decor board.