This is what I believe

These are my beliefs, there are many like them, but these are mine.

I believe every baby deserves breastmilk.

I believe co-sleeping is best for a baby.

I believe there is nothing wrong with a breastfed baby refusing a bottle or pacifier.

I believe letting a baby cry it out is mean and cruel.

I believe in cloth diapering.

I believe in the "attachment" way.

I believe in the "crunchy" way (for the most part).

I believe people that don't try to breastfeed because they don't want to are selfish.

I believe people that judge women breastfeeding in public are ridiculous and disgusting.

I believe in babywearing.

I also believe my baby needs time to herself.

However, I hold her way more than she is alone because I believe she deserves lots of attention. I also love holding her :)

I believe that moms who have more milk than they need should give to those who don't have enough.

I believe that no matter what I believe, you will have your own beliefs and I will probably not change your mind.

I'm not trying to force my beliefs on anyone. They are mine and mine alone. 

Friends

It's been a while now since I have written about something other than Abby. This is something I have kind of needed to write about for a while, but I have never thought to.

Friends. Or... "friends". My husband and I have been struggling to figure out if we really have any friends lately or if they are all just "friends". Personally, the friends I need here are the ones that like to get together and/or at least talk on a regular basis even if just through text or facebook. I have a lot of friends that don't live around me and I talk to them often. What I don't really have are friends that live near by and hang out often. I used to, but life happened I guess. I am always capable of hanging out and talking to people. I do my best to keep into contact with my friends even though I am a new mommy and life can get really hectic.

You know what I have a lot of? "Friends". And I have recently been weaning myself off of them.

I have a friend who used to text me all the time and we used to make it a point to hang out at least once a week but now I'm lucky to get a reply to the many many texts I send first. I'm lucky to hang out with this friend once a month. It literally breaks my heart. All of the people I was friends with before Abby was born have dwindled down to 2. At least those 2 have stuck around.

I know I seem like I am just whining but what gives?! Why has everyone else changed when the only thing that has changed about me is now I have a baby? I can still do everything I did before. It just isn't fair.

11 weeks

Well, here we are at week 11. Time is certainly flying. Abriella never ceases to amaze me. She weighed 15 lbs 5.5 oz, was 24 3/4 inches tall and had a 15 3/4 inch heads on Tuesday at her "2 month" check up (which was actually 2 1/2 month). She's in the 99th percentile for height and weight and 66th for head. She scooted twice when the dr put her on her belly and the dr said her muscle strength exceeds her age! She coo's, laughs and smiles all the time! She's my sweet, happy princess! 

Smiling yesterday morning!

 Shot day smiles

 11 week pics!

 Breastfeeding at the commissary!

 Smiles at 9 1/2 weeks old!

 10 week picture!

 Loving her bumbo at 9 weeks and 6 days old!

 Morning stretches at 9 weeks 6 days!

I WILL blog!

Though Abby has decided that not only am I her source of food and comfort, I am also her bed, I WILL blog at least once a month.

She has grown so much, it's insane. It's been 21 days since the last blog and Abby has gained  over 2 lbs. She weighs almost 13 lbs and is 23 1/2 inches long. SHe's my chunky, EXCLUSIVELY BREAST FED baby! I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee her!

We are going to Indiana tomorrow morning and Abby will meet the rest of her family, FINALLY. The only people she has met in the family is my mom and dad. I can't wait for everyone to meet her. They are going to love her so much.

Saturday is my cousins wedding so that will be a good place for Abby to meet my moms side of the family all in one place. Sunday, Ryan's mom is throwing a baby shower of sorts where Ryan's side of the family will meet Abby :)

I haven't gotten the chance to tell you all, but, I have lost 31 lbs! I was 184 before pregnancy, 194 the day I came home from the hospital after having Abby and I am now 163! ALL from breast feeding! And maybe wearing and walking. I'm obsessed with baby wearing. Anyway, I am pre pregnancy, after having Abby and now!

Technically I was pregnant here but I didn't know. I was only 2-3 weeks along so I wouldn't have been showing at all or anything. I was in the middle of working out and losing weight and this was after I had lost 2 inches and 10 lbs. 2 weeks later i found out I was pregnant.

Here I am at 2 days post partum

Anddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd today!!!

Just for fun, 40 weeks and 1 day, heading to be induced. I was HUGEEEEEEE.

And lastly, wearing the same outfit last Wednesday

Andddddd Abriella 2 days ago and this morning. I loveeeeeeeeeeeee how she sleeps! And, yes, we co-sleep :)

Life as of late

Well, I can promise you that as I write this I will either be about to hold a baby or I will be holding a baby. Lil miss wont let me put her down for long. We had a rough night last night. She woke up once every 2 hours and was pretty fussy but otherwise, I just love having her in my life! Our family is complete and I couldn't ask for more.


Here she is now! 1 month old :)

Round 1 of pictures: Fighting an infection during labor

I don't think I need to say anything because the pictures speak for themselves but I think this one specifically is breathtaking. I was running 103.4 fever and you can see the concern in Ryan's face. It was a very scary time for everyone, but especially us.