Just Ramblin..

I just wanted to post a few pictures of the kids that I took the last week or so. We haven't done anything too terribly interesting lately. The kids go to school, Mercie, Silas and I hang out, I try to keep the house clean and dinner cooked and spend time with Mikaela and Eli when they get home from school. We stay busy but nothing notable to post about! :-) Silas can army crawl anywhere he wants to get. Mercie still gets in our bed every. single. night. Eli is doing well in school, and said he is the teacher's favorite. Ha! Mikaela is also doing well, and has made lots of new friends. My sister and her boys came over today and we got to play outside all day. The weather was nice, around 60 degrees or so. I can't wait for spring weather! Tomorrow is church. It will be weird with only 1 child!! The older ones are going to church with my mom and then we'll meet her and pick them up.

A few prayer requests:
*My PawPaw (my dad's dad) just  had a procedure done to remove what they thought was a gall stone, turned out to be cancer. He's had cancer before, and now he has another type. He's 82 years old, but doesn't seem that old! I'm really worried about him, he's in Houston right now with my dad undegoing some tests and stuff to see what they can do about it. Please pray for him.

*A young family in our town (22 and 23 years old) lost their 4 month old baby last week to meningitis. It is so horrible and so sad. They also have a 16 month old. Pray for strength and peace and comfort...I can't imagine...I don't want to think about it...

*My sister is pregnant! 10 weeks. Pray for her pregnancy to go well. And ENERGY for her.

And now...some pictures...

                                      Best buddies...this was so cute!

               Mik wearing her headband Nana brought her from Nicaragua.

                 Just playing....

                  What a face!

                "I can hold him Mommy! Really I can!"

                    "See? Told ya!" Then she pushes him out of her lap (didn't get a pic of THAT).

Children's Museum

Saturday, we went to the Children's Museum in the big city (1 1/2 hours away). My mom, my sister and her two boys, and me and the kiddos went over there with my mom's church's children's group. We had a good time, and the kids loved it. It's more like a huge play place than a museum. They have a kid sized firehouse with a pole you can slide down (none of my kids would though); a kid sized restaurant where you can pretend to cook and serve people (which my kids loved); a huge mouth you can walk in and see the teeth; a real ambulance; a real cop car; sand and bubble play; a canoe you can get in and see yourself 'in the water' on a tv; and a few other things. I took some pictures, but Mikaela wouldn't let me take any of her harldy and Mercie didn't want to smile either, so they are mainly of Eli. Who was in a take my picture doing this kind of mood!

Silas is 7 months today!

Today my baby is 7 months old! He is growing so fast! I am trying to slow down time, but am finding it an impossible feat.

He is still almost exclusively nursing.
He liked baby food for a few weeks, but hasn't been interested in it the last week or two.
He is sitting up so well!
He doesn't sit up so well in the buggy at Wal Mart.
He smiles and laughs at his brother and sisters.
He likes to play with toys, especially his sit to stand ABC train.
He loves his bath!
He is in size 3 huggies, but they are a little big.
He is in size 12 month clothes.
He doesn't sleep all night.
He hates anybody touching his face.
He loves mommy to hold him all. day. long.
He is a happy baby!
He pulled to a standing position Tuesday for the first time.
He moves his feet constantly when he's being held.
I am so in love with him!

And with that face, how could I not be?!

On another note, I am missing Mikaela and Eli more than ever since they've been going to school. It's a long time I don't see them every day, and I was used to seeing them all day long. Eli's still adjusting. He likes school, but misses Mommy. Mikaela likes school, but misses being home, too. I miss them both being at home with me. I am enjoying Mercie and all the time I can pour into her and Silas. She is enjoying having my almost undivided attention most of the morning. She usually naps after lunch, and then the big kids are home from school.

I guess I'll adjust!

Breastfeeding PART TWO

I have experienced first hand many, if not all, of the benefits of breastfeeding I read and learned about, plus more!

1.) Intimate bond with your baby. Yes, I bonded with all of my children, even the bottle fed ones. But there is a closeness, an intimacy you have with your baby when you breastfeed that cannot be described to anyone that hasn't breastfed.

2.) Sensitivity to your babies needs. In my experience, I am much more responsive and compassionate to Silas's cries and needs than I was with the others. Not that I love him more or anything like that! How could you love one child more than another? It's just an urgency I feel when he's crying; an importance of his needs, not an annoyance.

3.) Way easier! That's an understatement. In the middle of the night, you don't have to get up and fix a  bottle and hold a bottle and stay awake to feed baby. You can roll over, feed him, fall asleep, and repeat without ever leaving your bed (if you co sleep). If you don't co sleep you still just grab your baby and feed him. You don't have to wash bottles, pack bottles, pack formula, buy formula, mix formula, etc. Breastmilk is always available, always the right temperature, and always the right formulation for you baby.

4.) Immunity for you baby. Did you know that your breastmilk changes to meet the needs of your baby?Did you know that when your sick, your breastmilk produces antibodies against that particular illness for your baby? The longer you breastfeed, the longer your baby reaps immunity and benefits from mother's best.

These are just a few examples. I could go on and on! The benefits are almost endless.

Breastfeeding has been so wonderful for me. The thought of weaning is sad to me, so my plans as of now are to let Silas self-wean. We are going to breastfeed as long as he needs it, even if he just nurses for comfort at night, or even every few days. In our country, some people think that extended nursing is weird and makes people uncomfortable. But God designed women to bear children and breastfeed. Or, as my The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding book says on the cover,

Babies are born to breastfeed!

My Journey to Breastfeeding PART ONE

My first 3 children were not breastfed. I bottle/formula fed them. I wish I would have breastfed them. I wasn't educated on breastfeeding. I didn't have any friends who breastfed their babies. I was young! (Well I still am young.) Breastfeeding wasn't even an option for my firstborn! It never occured to me. I thought about it with my second, but didn't. I wanted to with my third, but didn't. I started to feel like I was missing something! Before I even got pregnant with my fourth, I knew I was going to breastfeed.

I read everything I could about breastfeeding. The book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" published by the La Lache League became my guide! I read it and reread it! I knew every possible problem I could have and the solutions. I knew all the 'positions'; I knew all the benefits. I knew I didn't want any bottles at home. I knew I didn't want to take any formula home from the hospital 'just in case'.  I checked out books from the library. I talked to my mom (who breastfed me and my sisters). I was excited! I knew there was no way I was going to fail! I knew what I wanted! I educated myself, and I am so glad I did.

When Silas was born, I knew to tell the nurses "No bottles or pacis". I knew to breastfeed him as soon as he was born. I knew how to latch him correctly (although it took a few clumsy tries...). I knew to let him nurse as long as he wanted, as opposed to a set time.

I remember the first time I put him to my breast, and the overwhelming feeling that washed over me. I remember thinking, "He's getting the best from me. I'm feeding him. I'm providing all the noursishment he needs. His survival depends on me!" It was an amazing feeling, and it still is. I remember just watching him eat, watching him nurse, being in awe of this totally amazing thing that God designed - BREASTFEEDING.

I remember the first day and a half, I experienced no pain. I remember thinking, "Wow, this is easier than I thought it would be!" I remember Silas would 'suck' for an hour each time he ate!

I remember when my milk came in. I remember wincing, gasping, even crying out in pain when he would latch on. I remember it only lasted a few seconds. I remember using lanolin each time I nursed! I remember using breastpads like they were going out of style. I remember using my Boppy those first few weeks. I remember feeding him all day long for a few weeks.

I remember the day I experienced no pain when he latched on. I remember the day I realized I wasn't feeding him every hour and a half. I remember crying tears of joy and amazement as I watched him eat. I remember the feeling of love I felt each time he ate. I remember the first time I felt my 'let down' and realized what it was. I remember the first time my milk sprayed out!

Breastfeeding has been a wonderful experience for me. I am thoroughly enjoying it, and not looking forward to the day he will wean. I can't imagine not breastfeeding him.

I am by no means an expert on breastfeeding, although sometimes I feel like I am! I have a desire to educate young mothers on breastfeeding, and maybe God will use me for that purpose one day. I do know that I have learned a few things from becoming a breastfeeding mom.

How do you...

get a stubborn almost 3 year old to take medicine?! Mercie has an ear infection and the doc prescribed her some antibiotics - AMOXILLIN! The best tasting antibiotic ever created! And she refuses to take it. We have spanked...gotten angry...tried forcing her...the only way she got it was mixing it with her lemonaide...but does that cause it to lose potency?? I did get her to take it this afternoon only because her ear is killing her!! And I had to hold her mouth open and force the dropper to the back of her throat...man this is so hard. I have never seen a more persistent stubborn toddler!

Where does time go?

I can't believe Silas is almost 7 months old. Time is flying by, and I'm trying to capture it in pictures. I'm not a good photographer, but I am trying to take as many as I can!

And my beautiful Mercie will be 3 next month!