The Downside of Weaning

Posted in Kids, Liz's Life by

When Lila turned one, we officially began the process of weaning. At that point she was still nursing five times a day, but thankfully took cows milk well. I began to slowly eliminate one feeding a week and replacing it with a bottle.

While pregnant with Lila, I wasn’t afraid of labor or delivery, or the changes to my body, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to nurse. I had heard a lot of horror stories and almost thought it was inevitable that I wouldn’t be able to do it. I am so grateful that we established a good feeding routine and went an entire year exclusively breastfeeding (with food of course).

But alas, after sharing my body with Lila during pregnancy and then a year of breastfeeding, I was ready to be done. Plus nursing Lila wasn’t really the blissed out experience many mothers talk about. She is not the type of baby to lie calmly in my arms, so there was a lot of kicking, trying to stand, arms flailing … lets just say it wasn’t all that relaxing.

After some hiccups in our weaning journey (a cold and three new molars), we are officially down to just morning and night. This week I am planning to drop the night feeding and then a couple weeks later, stop altogether.

I wish I could say weaning has been a positive experience for me, but the more I eliminate feedings, the worse I feel. I started getting daily headaches from 2pm – 4pm, I feel utterly exhausted most of the day, despite getting 8+ hours of sleep and I’ve had bouts of anxiety and sadness.

It took me awhile to connect the dots that this was related to weaning, but after doing some research, it turns out all these symptoms are a result of the change in hormones brought on by stopping breastfeeding. Specifically, the drop in oxytocin – the “love” hormone. Apparently, postpartum depression and weaning are closely linked – who knew?

I have good days and bad days. Today I would rate as a bad one. I got a sitter so I could do some client work, but instead I’m laying in bed moping. I’m hoping that once we’re totally done nursing, that everything will balance out quickly so I can get back to normal.

It makes me sort of sad that something I worked so hard at (breastfeeding) and brought so much good to Lila has to end on this negative note. But regardless of how I feel these next few months (and with future babies) I’m determined to look back on my breastfeeding days as a positive experience that got my little loves off to a great start.

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My Favorite Memory of 2013

Posted in Kids, Lila, Liz's Life by

Happy 2014 friends! We are finally back home in Reno settled in after two amazing weeks in Naples, Fl with my family. Our holidays were one of my favorite in recent memory and consisted of sun, pool, naps, good food, card games and special time spent with my family and Lila’s cousins.

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To see more photos from our trip, check out my Instagram feed. 

We spent New Year’s Eve at home since Lila was sick with a cold and we had just gotten home a few days before. I made a big fancy dinner of oysters, pork belly, roasted root vegetables and Paleo snickerdoodles. We were in bed by 9:30!

While we were eating dinner, Luke and I started talking about our favorite memories from the past year. There were SO many good ones – Lila’s birthday, starting my business as a consultant, special dates with my love, but when I was pressed to pick just one, I landed on an evening the three of us had at the beach in Florida.

We had decided to take a night with just our little family in downtown Naples. After browsing some shops, Luke suggested we walk the five blocks to the beach for sunset. We got there in the knick of time.

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As we were watching the sun go to bed (and Lila eat sand), we realized our little bug had never been in the ocean before. I walked her toward the shore to see how she’d react to the soft waves lapping the sand, and what ensued was one of those parenting moments you hold on to.

Seeing Lila squeal with delight every time a wave rushed toward her and then laugh hysterically when it whooshed back the other way was without a doubt the best memory of my year. In fact, I hope that evening our family of three spent in the orange glow of an ocean sunset will be imprinted in my mind forever.

What was your favorite memory from 2013?

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What it’s About For Me

Posted in Liz's Life by

Since becoming a mother, Christmas has taken on a new meaning for me. For the past two years, I find myself thinking of mother Mary often throughout the day.

I can’t imagine what she went through that night. Traveling by camel while laboring and giving birth in a manger surrounded by animals! You go Mary!

While her birth was slightly different than mine … we do share one moment. Like me, and every other mother in the world, this is the day long ago that Mary finally got to hold her sweet new baby. To smell his milky skin, press his warm body to hers and feel the absolute joy that comes with loving something with every bit of your heart.

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What a special moment that must have been for her.

I often wonder what Jesus was like as a baby or child. You don’t often hear about that portion of his life. Was he mischievous? Reserved? Did he adore his mother? Did he climb trees?

I also wonder about Mary. Did she get to cherish her role as a mother before her son set out into the world to change it forever?

I’m grateful for the shift of focus motherhood has given me around Christmas. Being able to connect to this sweet moment between mother and son has helped me break through the stress and clutter of the day and remember what it’s all about … the birth of a baby boy who would someday make his mother proud.

Merry Christmas!

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Liz’s List: Christmas Gift Ideas for a Toddler

Posted in Gift Ideas, Liz's List by

Since Lila’s birthday is so close to Christmas, I have to do double duty on looking for things to add to her Christmas list. Between the things she’s gotten for her birthday and what is on her list for the holidays, I think she’s getting some fun toys.

In general, we try to get her things that are open-ended and encourage active play. Things she can manipulate many different ways and discover in her own way. I also try to think about the future. Yes, she’s 1 now, but in six months, she might need some things that are a bit more advanced.

With that in mind, here are some ideas for Christmas gifts for a one year old. (click on any photos or title to buy these toys)

1. Bilibo Chair: We first discovered these rocking, swirling, stacking chairs at the Discovery Museum here in Reno. Lila loved rocking side to side in it and also using it as a bucket to carry other toys around in – a perfect open-ended toy for our active girl. This is going to be her present from Luke and me this year. :)

bilbo chair

 

2. Pound & Tap Bench: I found this one at Barnes & Noble’s toy section and decided to get it for Lila’s birthday. Little did I know this toy has been on several “toy of the season” lists. I am not surprised – Lila plays with it first thing when she wakes up and in many different ways – she throws the balls, hammers the wood and plays the xylophone.

xylophone hammer

 

3. Tiggly Shapes: I know a lot of parents try to be screen free, but with my working in social media and Luke’s love for Apple, that wasn’t going to work for our family. So when Lila does see a screen, we try to make sure she’s using it actively vs passively. That’s why Tiggly is so cool. The different shapes work on the iPad screen and the game invites the toddler to interact using the shapes.

Lila is still a little too young for it, but this is one I think she’ll love when she’s closer to 18 months. Tiggly just came out with a super cute new Christmas game to play with the shapes – you can download it here. 

Tiggly shapes

Tiggly Shapes

4. Push Around Buggy: Lila got this for her birthday from my sister’s family and it’s been a big hit. Lila loves to sit in it and pretend she’s driving. The other kids at the park are all enthralled with it too. We’ve had several try to climb in it and take off!

push around buggy

 

5. Learning Tower: I love the idea of these learning towers. Little ones can climb up and stand next to you at counter level to get in on all the kitchen action. I like to cook and Lila is always interested in what I’m doing in the kitchen, so this toy is a great fit for us. You can also get a chalkboard accessory for the back that turns the tower into an easel.

Learning tower

 

6. Keepsake ornament: I am all about starting Christmas traditions and one that we are starting this year is to get a special ornament for Lila that embodies the previous year. My goal is to have special ornaments that represent each year of all our kids lives on our tree. This year, Lila is getting a ladybug since we call her our Lilabug or just “buggy” for short.

ladybug ornament

 

 

7. Radio Flyer Scooter: After seeing my nearly-two-year-old niece Mabel zipping around on her scooter during a recent visit, I knew we had to get one for Lila. Again, this is one that is a bit advanced for a one year old, but within the next year she will be scooting all around, I’m sure.

radio flyer scooter

 

We’ve had so much fun watching Lila explore all her new presents and every day she finds new ways to have fun with them. I’m curious, what toys do your little ones love?

Disclosure: I use Amazon affiliate links on Amazon products. I was also sent Tiggly Shapes to try and to review on my blog, but I only give favorable reviews to products I enjoy.