Fact Friday

:: My favorite movie of all time is Into The Wild, I cant watch it very often though because it makes me cry hysterically.

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:: I love red roses!

:: Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons.

:: I'm not really into piercings but I would love to have my nose pierced.

:: Ever since I became pregnant with Chloe I have been fascinated with pregnancy and birth!

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Happiness

On Breastfeeding

Last week I was reading this post from Courtney's blog (she always loved) larking that got me thinking about how so many of my own views on parenting have changed now that I have a child. Her post really inspired me to share my own before and afters on breastfeeding, sleeping, baby food, babywearing and birth. This post is kinda long so if you make it all the way through then you deserve an award! Look out for my next post in this series - On sleeping - which should be up in a few days!

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Prebaby: I always knew that one day when I had a baby of my own I was going to breastfeed. It was something I always supported but never really gave much thought because I had no real reason to. I didn't know anything about feeding on demand or letting your baby self wean so the plan was always to breastfeed until the age of 1 and to have my baby on a schedule. I'm going to be honest with you guys, I was pretty ignorant prebaby, I thought breastfeeding in public was inappropriate and that nursing your child past the age of 1 was weird! I'm so embarrassed to even admit that but I knew nothing about breastfeeding, and grew up in a family that mostly formula fed.

Pregnancy:  During my pregnancy I did a lot of research on breastfeeding and parenting. I learned about feeding on demand, sore nipples, child self weaning, under supply, over supply, thrush, mastitis, leaky boobs, clogged milk ducts and the list goes on and on. I also learned that it is recommend to nurse your baby at least to the age of 2 which quickly turned my 1 year plan into a 2 year plan. My whole view on breastfeeding changed and I realized it wasn't all rainbows and smiles. During my pregnancy if you asked me the number one thing I was most terrified of doing once my baby arrived I would have said breastfeeding. It was something that was so, so important to me and so I was terrified that I wasn't going to be able to do it, that it would be too painful, that Chloe would have a difficult time latching on, and that ultimately I wouldn't make enough milk for her. But even with all my fear revolving around breastfeeding I knew I was at least going to give it a try. 

My new plan: Nurse exclusively until 6 months and then continue nursing until the age of 2, and to also feed on demand.

At 7 1/2 months in: Breastfeeding wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be and at 7 1/2 months Chloe and I are still going strong with no end in sight! It's amazing to me how much my views on breastfeeding have changed now that I have a baby of my own. Chloe is nursed on demand, we will let her decided when she is done breastfeeding, and I now fully support breastfeeding in public, in fact its something that I do all the time. I think the biggest change for me though was that at one point I just looked at breastfeeding as something that was best for the baby nutritionally, I never knew that it was going to be something that I loved and cherished so much. Those quite moments Chloe and I share together when it's just the two of us and the world fades away are some of the sweetest, most delicious moments I have ever experienced.

Sh*t Crunchy Parents Say

I'm working on a post right now but in the meantime have you guys seen these videos going around YouTube? Some of them are so funny, Here are my two favorites!

Good Music: Band of Horses

Happy Monday everyone, hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  My favorite part of the weekend was when my dear friend Erika texted me that her and her husband welcomed their beautiful baby boy into the world early Saturday morning! So excited for them!

Anyways here is another Seattle band that I absolutely love, Band of Horses.

A Beautiful Baby Boy

Yesterday in the early morning light my dear friends Erika and Eli welcomed their beautiful baby boy into the world. His name is Jonah and he is so perfect and sweet! We are so incredibly happy for them that they now get to experience the beauty and love and joy that parenthood brings! This sweet little family could use some prayers and good thoughts though because Jonah is in the NICU due to difficulties breathing. The doctors are all very optimistic that he will recover quickly and in a week or two go home with his Mom and Dad!

We love you three and cant wait to finally meet you Jonah!

Fact Friday

:: When I was 17 I decided I wanted to have dreadlocks, I bought a kit from a store in the mall and had a good friend do them for me even though she had never done them before. I hated them and regretted my decision right away but kept them in for around 4 to 5 months because I didn't want to look stupid for getting them in the first place.

:: My favorite perfume is Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle, it was the perfume I wore on my wedding day and so wearing it always brings back the sweetest memories!

:: I have always wanted to live in Colorado. 

:: A few months after I graduated high school me and the guy I was dating at the time took a bus from Chicago to New York with a group of protesters to protest during the National Republic Convention. It was one of the most exhillarting things I have even been a part of and a memory I'll never forget.

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:: Chloe was born on my Grandpa's birthday. He passed away 6 1/2 years ago so it's really special to me that they share the same birthday. I know my Grandpa would have absolutely loved and adored  Chloe to pieces if he was here today.