Too Much Milk?

Today I learned that your milk is NOT supposed to spray out of your nipples, you really shouldnt have much leaking between nursings, and green, blood streaked poop is not ALWAYS caused by a food allergy.  All are also signs of too much milk.  Here I sit worried I dont have enough, and I have TOO MUCH!  LLL calls it "over enthusiastic" breasts.  Lovely.  I knew I had a strong let down reflex, but I had no idea that it was a sign of over production.  I reacted the same way when Luke nursed, but because he ate sooo much, it never bothered him.  He took the extra fore milk AND the hind milk.  Poor Daniel's problem is that he's getting too much fore milk...it contains the sugary Lactose...which can cause the gassyness, upset tummy, green poop, and after it builds up in the intestines, blood streaked stools.  All are also signs of a food allergy, but we have already went through the steps to rule Dairy as a DEF. allergy.  Today I KNOW I ate nothing with dairy and we are still having some really nasty diapers, blood streaks, and he's broke out in his diaper area.  All thanks to the lovely Lactose.

So how is this problem fixed?  Most women are looking to increase, I need to decrease....Kellymom.com suggests nursing one side per feeding.  Ok, I do that.  The next step is to nurse one side for TWO feedings then switch.  We are going to start that tomorrow and see how it goes.  I'm just thankful the bloody poo is nothing more serious than a little extra milk.

Name pictures

I want to thank Elaine over at Waves Over Stones for the wonderful pictures she took of Vanessa's name for me on a recent vacation she took.  These are the first that have been done for us and my reaction really took me by surprise.  I teared up so much that Landon thought Luke, who is with his dad this week, had wrote me a really sweet email while he's away.  No, some one just actually took the time to realise that I have a daughter instead of the normal "can we just pretend it never happened" that people usually treat her with.

Sweet Moments

I dare someone to tell me that's not gorgeous. LoL. He was FAMISHED when I got out of the shower after picking beans the other day. We cuddled up and he fell asleep like this...melts my heart to the core. Some times I feel like he only likes nursing because it fills his belly, but right here is my proof that it is more than that. He loves ME! He loves his cuddles with mom...

Newbies

Cloth diapering is all the rage! 
I converted two people today! LoL!  Ok, Ok, so one was already thinking about switching, and who knows if the other girl will follow through, but still!  Cloth diapering just plain rocks and I'm so glad that people around here are starting to get with the picture.  I feel like such a trend setter.  HaHa!

In other news...why do babies sometimes prefer one side over the other?  My left boob is really not happy right now.  Daniel sometimes takes these spells where he goes for about a day or two and REFUSES to nurse off it.  Screams as soon as he tastes it...and will greedily suck away at the right side.  Luke was the SAME way. I wonder if my boob is defective.....

Another question, ALL of my velcro dipes leak if I use them at night.  Regardless of how little or how much I line them, they will leak.  It comes from around the velcro itself, like where it's sewn in...No issues with the snaps though.  Is it just a velcro thing, or am I doing something wrong?

Ok, I leave you with darling pictures of my children.  LoL!  Enjoy!

 Cuddle time at the lake over the 4th.

 Pretending we are a super cute and cuddly puppy dog!  Two outta three aint bad!

My silly Luke lounging around in his PJ's...hard to believe he will be 7 next month.

Floor Nests

Ah, babies.  They are just so darn cute and cuddly!  Personally, I think God makes them that so that when they are NOT so cute and cuddly we dont eat them.  LoL!  Landon had to take a friend to a doctor's appointment today, and Luke is at his dad's this week, so it's just me and Daniel here at the house today.  I piled all the blankets and pillows on the floor in the living room and made us a little nest.  We have been cuddling, nursing and watching movies all day.  PERFECT.  I cant remember the last time I had a day to just relax.  Plus, yesterday I formed a little bit of a plugged duct on my left breast...so the rest and extra nursing is doing me a WORLD of good.

Last night, at my family's weekly fish fry, Daniel tried a few bites of mashed up potato.  He wasnt sure how he felt about it, but he didnt really make any nasty faces either.  I wasnt going to let him, but he was REALLY staring down Landon's plate and was trying to go for a bean.  I figured I'd better get his attention away from the choking hazard.  He's not quite ready yet to start solids full time, but it was fun to try!  LoL!  His Doctor wants him EBF until at least 6 months since he's not gaining much weight, but Landon was always a little guy too!  At Daniel's 4 month appt he weighed 11 pounds 14 ounces.  At birth he weighed 6 IB 2oz so he wasnt too far from doubling his weight like they like, but he had dropped off his curve on the 15 percentile down to the third.  Since there are more calories in breast milk than anything I could ever give him off the table she told me to hold off.  Oh, darn.  LoL!  I was wanting to do that anyway, but it's nice to have the pediatrician back you up when family members are practically shoving food down your baby's mouth.

Enjoy your weekend!  Say a few prayers for us if you could...always could use them. 

Missing Vanessa

Things are going pretty good for us.  I really cant complain.  God has blessed my little family beyond my dreams...still I feel a hole.  She was only here for 6 weeks...just a glimmer in my eye, but I still hold an empty space in my heart.  I watch Daniel as he grows and I catch myself wondering what Vanessa would have been doing at that stage, what would she look like, what silly things would she be doing while she nurses, would her smile be sweet like his?

 I dont think of her as often as I used to...which is sad to me, but the more I think of her the more I hurt so I suppose it's more bittersweet than anything.  I guess the reason I dont think of her is that I know where she is.  I KNOW that one day I will bust down the gates of Heaven to get to her.  I will catch her in my arms and hold her close, smell her sweet smell and kiss her precious cheeks as I spin her around.  Until then I will carry her memory and make sure that she is never forgotten.

Praying for our boys

September over at "One September Day" is hosting a 21 Day book study/prayer devotion for our sons.  All of the information is on her blog.  Please pray about it and see if you would be willing to commit to not only joining the book study, but also taking the time to pray 10 times a day for 21 days for your sons.

My two little men I will be praying for during the 21 day period.