Pumpkin Patch 2010

I have never been really big on Halloween, as most of you know, but I am so excited to show you guys Katie's Halloween costume. This year, her dad and her uncle picked her costume. It came about from her absolute favorite song. Seriously, she will stop crying when she hears this song and listen....



So without further adieu....Katie's 2010 Halloween Costume!



Our Little Bumble Bee




At Northwest Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch




Katie with her Great Grandparents




Our Family



Kaitlyn: Month Ten

My Precious Boo Bear,

Today you are ten months old! And you think that you are quite the big girl. You are so independent and like to do everything yourself, especially feed yourself. You take the bottle out of our hands when we try to feed you, you reach for the spoon when you are eating in your high chair, and you shovel down your puffs or pasta like it is going to disappear any moment. I can’t believe your first birthday is only a couple of months away.

Katie Eating Lunch

You are making more progress towards walking, too, and becoming even more independent. You are such a fast crawler and you are into everything. You are off and exploring in the blink of an eye. You love to cruise around the furniture and have gotten rather fast at that, too. You haven’t taken more than two or three steps in a row together, but we think you are going to get brave and take off any day now! Aunt Nomi said you were trying to go after Isabella when you took a few steps away from the couch on your own (October 14th).

Big Girl Walking

Your bottom teeth have broken through, as well. FINALLY! Your left bottom tooth came through first on October 15th. The right bottom tooth was about a week later to break through on October 21st. You aren’t drooling as much and you aren’t as fussy since they aren’t bothering you, which is nice. You were working on cutting those teeth for several months. And boy are those teeth sharp, too! It’s like you have little razors in there. Needless to say, you don’t get to chew on our fingers nearly as much as you used to.



Katie and Mommy eating lunch

This month, Mommy and Daddy took their first trip without you. It was mommy’s first time away from you, as well, and it was very hard on all of us. We went to Kaua’i for five nights and you got to stay with Grandma and Great-Grandma. I hear that you had a great time and were such a good girl until about Wednesday; I guess you thought we needed to come home as much as we did because that was about the time we decided we were gone long enough (4 nights). Next time you will get to come along, too, or we will only stay for three or four nights.

Katie sending us off

More Ten Month News:

Sleeping: You are still touch and go. You normally sleep ten or eleven hours in a row. If we have been working a lot or have been away, you seem to wake up around 3am for some snuggles, though. You are still taking two naps for 1-2 hour or several cat naps whenever you "decide" to sleep.

Clothing: 6-12 month or 9-12 month, size three and a half shoes, medium diapers

Mealtime: 16oz of milk in four bottles (although you seem to be combining the last two for bedtime) and 2-3 jars of 4.5oz baby food. You enjoy lots of puffs and the occasional table food when Grandpa sneaks it in.

Grandpa's Girl

Developments:

-Waves “bye bye” sometimes after we already leave or “hi”

-Picks up things with your pincher grasp

-Crawls well (too well)

-Indicates wants with gestures

-Stands alone for a couple of seconds

-Cruises (11 month skill)

-Plays “Peek-a-Boo” (11 month skill)

-Understands “no” and simple instructions (sometimes) (11 month skill)

-Stoops from a standing position (But only while holding on)


Grandma and Katie

We love you so much Kaitlyn Marie; I hope you have wonderful Ten Month Birthday!

Love Always,

Mommy

The Beginning of the End

Of pumping at work, that is. Today is the first day that I did not pump at work. I have been pumping for nine months and twenty-six days...

While we were on vacation, I was only pumping twice a day, and I found if I pumped three times a day, I didn't get any more milk. I am now able to pump before and after work. No more lugging my bag and supplies back and forth to and from work and disinfecting everything multiple times a day.

I find this change bittersweet. I like that I am able to get my work completed in a more relaxed fashion. I love that I can socialize with my colleges and have time to visit with my patients rather than just rushing all day long.  But then, I miss the quiet 30 minute breaks where I can clear my mind and de-stress. And I think most of all, I know that the end of breastfeeding is near. I am pumping anywhere from 10 to 20% of the amount I was able to produce at six months. Katie isn't eating as much now as she was then, either, so I don't necessarily have to produce like I was. But I am not able to keep up with her demand. Last month was the first month she drank more than I could make.

I have plenty of reserves for her, and I should be able to come close to my 12 month goal. I just can't believe our little girl is going to be a toddler soon.

Katie, Our Musician

Post Partum Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week

Did you know that 1 in 8 women suffer from Postpartum Depression? Did you know that "women of every culture, age, income level and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders?" Did you know that symptoms can appear up to 12 months after child birth? Did you know postpartum disorders can be temporary and treated?

Did you know that you didn't

have to suffer in silence?

Are you feeling sad or depressed?

Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?

Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?

Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?

Do you feel anxious or panicky?

Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can't get out of your mind?

Do you feel as if you are out of control or "going crazy"?

Do you feel like you never should have become a mother?

Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?

You don't have to have every symptoms, and not every woman will, but there is help out there. It can and will get better.  Making the adjustment of bringing a new baby into your home is hard. You will cry and wonder what the heck you were thinking the first few weeks, but that should be it. After a few weeks, it is no longer just the "baby blues." If you feel like you may be suffering from any of the above symptoms, please talk to someone...anyone. You do not have to suffer alone. Perhaps its just the baby blues that will pass, but it could be something more. There is no shame in asking for help.

Resources:

Mayo Clinic on Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Progress

Post Partum Support International

PPD Support Group