The Year of Happiness Challenge

I decided to sign up for the Happiness Challenge. What is the Happiness Challenge? it is:
A “happiness project” is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions.

You will be seeing posts on my resolutions, lists and progress and maybe you'll be motivated to start your own!

It's Here!

It's Finally Here! After waiting for a whole month it's finally here!
My Canon Rebel XS

 

image courtesy of canon.com

I know absolutely nothing about photography so right now I want to learn anything I can so I can take amazing photos of my family. Since I am learning I am sure almost all pictures I share with you will be on automatic mode. Any rebel owners out there? Help! Share your tips!

 

Love.

Cutest Idea Ever!

Teething

Aaron will be 5 months old this week and he has officially started teething. He has all the symptoms:
Drooling – the boy goes thru 6-7 bibs a day!
Coughing – he drools so much and accumulates so much saliva that he starts coughing to try and clear his throat. Of course, that causes us to get a couple looks from strangers when we’re out & about. Grrr.
Ear Pulling – I know he is really getting irritated when he starts grabbing at his little ears, and I know it’s not an ear infection.
Sleep pattern is all disrupted – the boy has gone back to waking up every 2 hours as if he’s a newborn!!!
More symptoms here.

I did end up giving him an infant pain reliever one night but I don’t plan to anymore, I don’t want to drug him up for something as natural as teething. I was told not to use baby orajel because it takes longer for the tooth to actually break through - don't know if this is true or not, has anyone else heard this?
I did some research on teething products and went to babies r us and went broke on the following toys:

Damn you Sophie the Giraffe! You set me back $20 & Aaron hates the way you taste! But you are oh sooo cute, so we will try to introduce you two again another day.

Raz-berry Silicone Teether - Aaron wasn't too impressed with you either!

Teething Beads: You seem to do the trick! Aaron gets attracted by all the colors & then your in his mouth for a good while.

And more:
Teething Links
Chill & Teethe Teether
Fish teether

And then the rest of my money went on stuff to prepare for solids. Ay! Any teethings tips out there? I could really use them as I would love to start getting some sleep again.
In other news, I ordered a Canon Rebel XS and am super excited about it!! Can't wait until it arrives.
 

I am addicted

To this little guy!!

This is Aaron on our evening stroll, he loves looking up at the tress, lampposts and clouds as we walk. Every once in a while he'll look down at me with this little grin as if to say, isn't God Amazing!

My husband is going out of town for a week and I feel so bad  for saying this (hehe not really), but I am excited to have my gummy bear all to myself for a whole week!!! Yeah, I'll miss my husband but when he travels Aaron sleeps with me, so I am looking forward to cuddling with my lil man!

So this is what that mommy guilt feels like

Looking back on my pregnancy, I feel like I was so naïve on so many things, especially Breastfeeding!
Having had an unplanned emergency c-section (birth story coming soon), breastfeeding was extremely difficult for me. It took nine days for my milk to come in and the first nurse assigned to me post-delivery was not knowledgeable on breastfeeding so that didn’t help matters either.

I think it took 2 weeks to get Aaron to latch properly and get the hang of breastfeeding. The first 2 weeks were extremely difficult because I truly felt like a failure. While pregnant, breastfeeding was really the only choice for me. I mean on my baby registry, I didn’t even register for bottles, I registered for a pump and a slew of bf accessories. So I was completely unprepared at how "unnatural" it seemed to be for me at first. I mean it seemed so easy & natural for others, so what was wrong with me!?

I am proud to say that we did we finally get the hang of breastfeeding and I enjoyed it! I found it calmed me down to be able to do something that only I can do for my baby. The problem was when I returned to work when Aaron was 14 weeks. The first couple weeks weren’t that bad, I was able to go to the “Mother’s Room”, as it’s called, 3 times a day for a good 15-20 minutes at a time. I would bring my laptop down and answer emails as I pumped away, but as the weeks went on, my office was in the middle of renovations, we had staff turnover, we have an annual meeting coming, I was lucky if I was able to pump twice a day. I then noticed a huge decrease in my supply and had to once again, supplement with formula!

So this week at 4.5 months, after my supply just kept going down and down and having a frustrated baby who didn’t want to take to the breast anymore, I threw in the towel. I just couldn’t deal with the stress anymore! After all a happy mama means a happy baby right?? Well then why do I feel so guilty!!!! Sigh.

I went ahead, packed up my PIS, and put it away for baby #2. :(

You have been good to us! Sniff Sniff

At least I can say I know what not to do/what to do for the next baby. At least I can say I gave it a good 4.5 months. At least I can say I am proud I didn't give up right away. But I still feel like a failure! I still feel guilty! I still have the tears! I know time will heal this process but WOW! I was not ready for all these feelings on breastfeeding! I am glad that I care this much! I am glad that this experience has served as motivation to help others, how? I don't know yet but I will find a way.

A Weekend of First

This was Aaron's first Labor Day Weekend and it was amazing! The time spent with family, making memories really is priceless. This past weekend was just an awesome way to welcome fall. Here are some pics.

Friday evening Aaron went to his first pep rally! His older cousin is the cutest cheerleader in the whole wide world, so we got to have fun evening watching her strut her stuff!

Isn't she gorgeous?! I love my neice!

She looks soo adorable! It makes me want a baby girl like tomorrow!

Then on Saturday, Aaron went to his first Capoeira event. His cousin Dayne was performing and Aaron enojoyed the drums, dances and moves so much that he passed out in the middle of the event!

Capoeira is this really cool brazilian martial arts movement that looks like it would be just soooo much fun! I captured the pic below on my sad little point & shoot so I apologize for the blur.

Sunday, aaron went to his first Labor day cookout with the family. We ate together then enjoyed some time together at a nearby park while the kids played and some of the bigger kids (adults) played football.

Aaron also tried cereal for the first time and really didn't care for it, so we tried oatmeal and got this awesome reaction from him:

I love the fall! I love my family! Can't wait to see what else the rest of the year brings.