For The Love Of Medela

I am a busy mum generally on the go or planning for my next outing. With being a business owner, volunteering with a youth group and various responsibilities I need to make sure Bee is taken care of. I take Bee with me when I can but that doesn't always work. 

What is my life saver? Simple, Medela! Medela is a line of products that developed to aide with Breast feeding. 

When Bee was born he had trouble latching so I used a nipple shield. It allowed him to breastfeed when he was newborn. If this product wasn't introduced to us we would have had to use formula or pump continuously. As Bee got stronger and figured out what he was doing we no longer need to use the shield. I am grateful that there is a product to help teach babies what they are supposed to do.

I wanted to be able to provide Bee with all of the health benefits of breast feeding but I was worried how I could do this while keeping up with my responsibilities. I heard many times that once a baby uses a bottle that he gets lazy when it comes to breast feeding. They get accustomed to milk dripping into their mouth rather than sucking. 

Medela has specially designed bottle nipples that mimic breast feeding. They are awesome that way I can feed Bee when I am home and someone else can when I am away. He gets the nutrition I want for him and I still get the bonding experience of feeding him. 

 That covers the bottle but what about pumping. Let me tell you the breast pump you choose makes all the difference. When Bee was first born I used an Evenflo pump. It worked just fine for the most part but it took forever and it is made to do one side at a time. Pumping each side for 15-20 min is tiring. When I get home from my meeting the last thing I want to do is sit for 40 minutes. I dreaded that 40 minutes.....

I decided that this system just wasn't going to work for us. I sucked it up and bought a Medela Freestyle, it cost me a pretty penny but completely worth it. Watch for a sale. I ended up getting mine from $70 off at Shoppers Drug Mart. I needed to have a pump that kept this experience positive. We are also going to have more children so the investment was worth it for us.

It is a double breast pump so my time is cut in half. It also has an attachment for your bra to make it hands free. I don't often use this feature but if you are working outside the home and looking for a solution this is it!! 

Medela is easy to clean, comes with a bag to hold all of its accessories, has extra bottles and a mini cooler. Did I mention it is rechargeable? Love this for when I am on the road or in meetings during the day. Do I use it while driving? Definitely not but I do stop in the side of the road attach myself and enjoy a snack for me. This has been a lifesaver.

The company is also wonderful. I accidentally broke part of the tubing.... I called the company and they air shipped a replacement for me. I had it two days later. Incredible! 

I am not an endorser for this company but I do highly suggest Medela to moms. 

I could not contain my love of this product anymore. Try it you'll love it. I promise.

6 months

Where did the time go? I swear I have only had a baby for ummmm.... 3 months. Wrong my friends it has been 6 incredible months.

 

I love my little Bee so much. He has brought so much love and appreciation into my life. I have really enjoyed the last month. Bee is learning so quickly. He loves exploring and figuring out the world the surrounds him. I love to watch him.

This boy loves to eat! He wants everything that I have and wants it now. When I feed him cereal sometimes I am too slow getting him another spoon full.

No this is not bed head. This is how he looks all the time. No gel and I am constantly patting it down. (It's only going to stick up for so long maybe I should just embrace his mohawk)

 

Playtime!!

My Grandpaw loves his overalls. He has worn them every Sunday for over 20 years. When I was growing up he carried puppies (they bred shelties) in the bib. We figured a baby would work too. Next time we will have to try this earlier. Bee is so strong that he was just standing on Grandpaw's lap.

He doesn't crawl quite yet but he is strong enough to get on his knees. He prefers to scooch on his back. He often goes in circles or crosses a room. So close to being mobile..... If I hold his torso he walks too. Sometimes it's just running on spot but he will move towards what he wants.

Blessings Made To Fit

I am loving the new youth curriculum "Come Follow Me." I am going to share my lesson plans and the resources I used in case you too are teaching youth, looking for ideas for your family or your personal study. Hopefully you find something useful for your needs. 

A couple weeks ago I taught a lesson on Patriarchal Blessings in Young Women's. 

We started off with a shoe swap. I collected all of the girls and the leaders shoes into a laundry basket. As we went around I asked everyone to say something positive and negative that occurred in the last month. Once everyone's experiences and shoes were in the basket I handed them back. We mixed them up first. Each person got a new set of shoes. A boot with a sandal, black flats with green heels or two left shoes. I had them put the shoes on. They were confused to say the least.

I proceeded to ask them how Patriarchal Blessings are like shoes. It took them a couple minutes to answer but they had some insightful answers. I have learned that patience is key, they know more than they sometimes let on.

Using their answers we had a discussion. What happens when you have shoes that don't fit correctly? Correctly? Shoes for specific purposes? We then related their answers to their personal blessings. 

Patriarchal blessings are specific for you. They adapt to fit the circumstances that you are in. They are a tool to be used on your journey. The possibilities continue, I am sure that you see the analogy.

Previously I asked for positive and negative experiences. I was able to share my testimony of Heavenly Father knowing each of us with a perfect love, even when he knows our strengths and weaknesses. Patriarchal Blessings are individual. Made for who we are and the things we individually deal with.

Scriptures direct us though revelation. Likewise our blessings are personal revelation from our Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father wants to communicate with his daughters and blessings are one way. Revelation comes through the Holy Ghost. Answers are there to be found but you have to be prepared and have an open mind to learn.

How can/do you study your blessing?

I love to color so I showed the girls one of my copies.  

Some examples for study are: 

• color your blessings, gifts, warning or direction given

• color young women's values

• color key phrases 

• ask a question and color what stands out

• color things that have happened or what the future holds

Patriarchal Blessings are not a checklist of specifics but is a general guidance to help you on your journey.

I always close my lessons with my testimony. For the most part I try to include an experience that grew my faith into a testimony. I want the to girls to know that not everything comes easy. Testimony often takes time and consistency. 

If you prepare the best that you can to teach I know that you will be prompted to share what your girls need to hear. We can't be everything but we can help show them doors that will lead them to their answers. 

I am so grateful for this opportunity as it allowed me to study this topic more in depth and to study my personal blessing.

Happy teaching!

Getting Into The Routine

Being a mom is tricky especially a new mom. For the last couple months I have been fighting with myself. Wondering if I am doing enough for Bee? Is my house clean enough? Am I showing my husband how much I love him on a daily basis?

Sometimes I work all day to do enough for Bee and have a clean house that when Jason gets home I am tired and just want to sit and do nothing. 

Babies, especially new babies need a lot of attention. They don't know what they need or how to tell you what they need. Babies, especially mine want to be cuddled and held. Entertained for the majority of the time. Constant entertaining is EXHAUSTING!

I can spend all day playing with Bee and sometimes I do but later on I let myself feel guilty for not doing the dishes, folding the laundry or vacuuming. 

Recently there has been a welcome change. It came from Bee becoming more independent or from me maturing into motherhood. Nobody knows or ever really will but it has changed the way my day goes. His independence has liberated me and I love it!!

I have finally got some sort of routine going on! Hooray!! Here's our breakdown:

7 - 8 am Bee wakes up

              Nurse

              Playtime

10 am    Quick nurse
              Nap time

              Chores for me (dishes, laundry, vaccuming, business, etc.)

11 am    Cereal/lunch
              Playtime (outside or sensory play)

2 pm      Quick nurse
              Nap time

              Personal time for me (nap, blog, ice cream, pinterest, business, etc)

4 pm      Nurse

              Playtime with daddy

7 pm      Nurse or cereal

8 pm      Bedtime

              Adult time

I am so grateful that Bee and I finally have a system. We are teaching him sign language. He doesn't sign back to us yet but he does smile a lot when we get the sign/action needed right. 

Being a mom is a guessing game but I'm getting the hang of it.... Or maybe just Bee but that's fine with me.