Nine glorious hours & conversations with a 2-year-old

Sleep appears to be the cure for a sour attitude toward pumping and life in general. Last night Colt slept for nine hours straight. This isn't the first time he has slept that long, but it was during the best possible hours - from 9:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. I actually woke up from an alarm clock for the first time in many weeks.

This morning, I happily got up and pumped before I got ready. Everything just went so much smoother!

Sleep also worked wonders for Emma. After a rough morning yesterday, she was back to her cheerful self this today. On the way to daycare this morning, she told me a little story about an egg. It went something like this:

E: Mommy, I saw an egg.
M: You did? Where?
E: In the pine cone tree. It was a goose's egg.
M: It was?
E: Yeah and then the mommy came and took it away from the pine cone tree.

I think the conversation was longer, but I can't remember all the details. Mostly, I just love that she kept saying pine cone trees. She loves pine cones. Last night, I stepped on one in our living room. Emma will not come into the house without a pine cone or a walnut or a flower or something. She is definitely her daddy's little girl - nature lover.

Have I mentioned how perfect my babies are?

Exhaustion + Breastfeeding

I realized this morning that the most exhausting part of my day seems to be just getting out the door in the morning with both kids dressed, as I carry my purse (filled with an ipad, books for my class and lunch), pump, and diaper bag on one arm and Colt (in his heavy car seat) in the other ... as I descend the 13 steps to the basement and out to the car.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

This morning I woke up at 5 a.m. to feed Colt. I then showered, pumped, found an outfit that fits, woke up Emma, got all of the bags ready to go ... and I still couldn't get out of the door until 7:09 a.m. I didn't do my hair or makeup, either.

Thank goodness this is just a phase. I know it will pass and life will become a breeze, but right now I am downright exhausted!

Last week, I also got frustrated with everything that breastfeeding exclusively entails. It's a lot of work to pump ... if I were home all day and could nurse exclusively, it would be different, but I have to plan my days around pumping, clean the pump, bag the milk, clean the pump, clean bottles, etc. Did I mention how exhausted I am?

My pity party is almost over. I am excited that I have made it (almost) three months breastfeeding, and I am hopeful to continue going as long as possible. I already have a quarter of a year under my belt. Hopefully, I can put my head down and press forward. I just need some more sleep.

Here are a few pictures my amazing sister-in-law, Alicia, has taken of the kids. I love them so much (both the kids and the photos)!

Colt is two months

Colt is already two and a half months old, but I am behind. I find that I am always behind ... there is never enough time, but all is well.

Colt is an excellent baby. He is just content most of the time. He does have moments when he wants to be held, but usually I can get things done around of the house if he has a clean diaper and full belly.

At his checkup, he weighed 14 pounds, 4 ounces and was 24.5 inches long. Both measurements place him in the 88th and 87th percentiles, respectively. He also had to get some shots, which he handled okay. His face turned so red, and I felt horrible, but he calmed down pretty fast and slept for quite a while afterward.

He loves to smile and "talk." Emma and I love to get close to his face and talk sweetly to him. I always call him Buddy and Emma has picked up on it. It is so adorable to hear her say, "Hi, Buddy! It's okay, Buddy!"

He is also a great sleeper most nights. He will sleep in 6-8 hour stretches and usually go right back to sleep after nursing on those rare nights that he wakes up.

He recently fell in love with his "Sophia" giraffe. I placed it in the swing with him one night when I was home alone and trying to get Emma in bed. I came out to find him sucking on one of the giraffe's nubs. He also loves the squeakiness of it.

He is just such a sweetheart! It's crazy to think that just a few months ago, I didn't know him yet. He fits in the family so perfectly!