Unexpected Happenings

When I was pregnant, I was determined that I would nurse my baby no matter what.  No matter the pain (what I was mainly expecting), I was going to push through and give my child the best.  I had heard so many stories of people who "gave up" and not that I ever judged, but I just thought, that won't be me.  I had a rough start and after the first week of a starving baby, I paid out of pocket to see a lactation specialist.  It was great and at the appointment my milk came in.  I never was in pain or felt engorged.  I finally got the hang of it and Charlotte was feeding.  But after my milk came in and a few weeks went by, she started getting really fussy after feedings and just didn't seem satisfied.  She was always hungry.  The lactation specialist had told me that my water pill was most likely suppressing my milk production.  But my doctors didn't really want me to go off the water pill because I'm on it for my heart.  Kinda important.  I bought a pump, thinking that would help and get more milk.  I was pumping pretty frequently until I went to Utah for a wedding.  I had given Charlotte a couple bottles of formula up until then and brought formula with me just in case.  Well let's just say, Charlotte loves formula.  I thought it might be because it's easier for her to drink, but she didn't like pumped milk.  Long story short, I was nursing throughout the night and in the mornings and then formula the rest of the day.  Well, finally I dried up and have no milk and Charlotte is solely on formula.  It was actually really sad to think there is no more hope.  Those moments where I could just pull Charlotte close to me were gone.  But I have to say, she is such a happy baby and it's all contributed to formula.  She is satisfied and full, I'm happy, it's convenient to have anyone feed her (especially Josh- now they can bond more).  There is something to be said for having a happy baby.  At first I felt a little guilty, but after talking to SEVERAL women and doctors, I feel like this is a good thing.  In the beginning I liked nursing, but then something switched and I just wasn't loving it the same.  Everything is so good now and everyone is happy.  Obviously every mother wants to nurse, it's natural.  It's free.  It's always there.  It helps you lose weight.  It has many benefits for baby.  But sometimes, things don't happen the way you plan and it's ok.  For all those other new moms, I really hope you can nurse and for those moms that nurse so effortlessly, I'm jealous.  But luckily there are other alternatives that have their benefits.  Sorry about my long post, but some things just need to be said because I know there is probably at least one new mom out there that had similar feelings as to what I went through. Who knows what will happen with the next child. 

Thanksgiving

Yes, I'm a little late but I thought I should finally put up Thanksgiving pictures (but my storage quota has been met...whatever that means).  Josh, Charlotte and I took our first family vacation to the hot state of Arizona to stay with Tahnee and Tyler.  It was a lot of fun.  Tyler was sick when we arrived, which was a bummer but that didn't stop our fun and him meeting Charlotte for the first time. 

Tahnee and I made our first homemade Apple pie.  It was actually really fun to make.  And I didn't even taste it :(   We went over to Josh's aunt and uncle's house with cousins as well.  It was great company and great food.  Tyler stayed behind, but we brought him plenty of food.

At 9:00 pm, Josh and I went to Target for some Black Friday shopping.  We were very shocked to see the crowd.  We have done Black Friday shopping the last couple years and have never seen crowds like this.  Arizona people know how to shop!  We got a few things and waited in line for an hour!!   Then we went back and got Tahnee and her and I went to the Scottsdale mall at midnight.  We thought it was a little empty and after walking the mall (with a bunch of teenagers) we looked up the hours and it didn't open til 6 am!  So we went to the mall Tahnee works at in Chandler and a few other stores. We didn't get back home til 6:30 am!  Then we hung out at their place and went back out shopping around 5:00 pm back to Scottsdale.  It was a fun day and we got some great deals.  To be honest, I usually shop for myself on Black Friday.  I got some fun stuff for Charlotte and I. 

The next day Tahnee wasn't feeling well but we still managed to have fun.  The boys saw a couple movies and Tahnee and I went shopping and hung out.  We decided to leave Saturday night opposed to Sunday (our original plan) to miss traffic.  We made it home in five hours.  Thanks Josh for driving the whole way.  I wish I could post pictures.  Maybe I'll put some on facebook.

Thanks Tahnee and Tyler for letting us stay with you.  Can't wait to have them for a week in January!!  Thanks to the Christensen's for hosting a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Meeting Santa for the First Time

Monday, my mom and I took all the kids up to South Coast Plaza to sit on Santa's lap.  I have really been looking forward to this for some time.  Much to my surprise (probably reason being I'm a first-time mom), they charge you to use your OWN camera!  What?!  Anyway, we took some pictures, let my siblings ride the merry-go-round, got lunch and walked around.  With four kids and a stroller, it's a lot of work, but we managed!

 

November 7

November 7 marked Charlotte's two month birthday!  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to post at the moment, but she is my baby girl that is just growing like crazy.

Why did Heavenly Father make them babies for just a small part of their life and adults for the majority?  I love that she is so tiny and it makes me sad that she is already in her 0-3 month clothes.

She is still sleeping in our bed and we all three are loving it.  We just might be a "family bed" family after all.

Charlotte is loving a bottle.  Yes, I wanted to solely nurse, but this child is so much happier when given formula.  Not even a pumped bottle leaves her as satisfied!  This topic does call for a blog post all by itself, but doing 50/50 has been wonderful!

Her skinny thighs aren't so skinny anymore.  They are chunkin' up and we are loving it!  The other place where there is more to love...her cheeks.  I still think she is a skinny little thing, but we love when there is more sugar to love on!

She is awake a lot more during the day.  I love talking to her and basically having a one-sided conversation.  One night when Josh got home from work, he heard me talking to her and said, "is that how you talk to her all day?"  I said, "yeah, who else am I going to talk too?"  I love it and so does she.  One day she'll respond but I am enjoying the coos and smiles until then :)

She is obsessed with her Little Giraffe blanket.  It's so funny to me how a baby can get attached to something at such a young age.  This blanket can calm her down in no time.  She can't get enough.  She will instantly stop crying when this is right up against her face.  It's too bad it's so thick because a lot of times she will be sweaty after being wrapped in it.  But she obviously doesn't mind...she loves her blankie.  She came home from the hospital wrapped in it and I think she'll be carrying it throughout

She clenches very tight on to blankets and shirts til her fingertips are white.  And her toes are always up or spread apart.  I don't know why this little girl can't ever relax.  Josh thinks it's because I can't relax (although, I think I do).  Apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Charlotte finally made it to Disneyland also.  I don't know how she went for so long, but she made it and has been on some rides too.  She met with Disney Princesses and I'd say she is a huge Disney fan already!

Charlotte is seriously the center of my universe.  I can't even think of another child coming in and rocking our worlds haha.  Will Charlotte ever have a sibling?  That is up for debate ;)  I love this little girl and am so grateful everyday we got pregnant out of the blue and not according to "plans."

Sorry this is such a late post!

   

Look Who I Ran Into

Today I just so happen to run into Sister Christensen (Josh's cousin), serving a mission for our church in Laguna Niguel.  And she just so happen to have a suitcase she needed me to take home for her this week (Arizona).  Her are some pictures of our "coincidental" meeting.

Sister Christensen and Charlotte

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Forgot her companion's name...

The Happiest Place on Earth

It's official, we finally got Disneyland passes!!  We have not been since June (and for us, that's a long time) and we have been itching to go.  Once the holidays started nearing we knew we had to get there and take Charlotte for her first time!!  The first night we went, we got Charlotte's "First Visit" button and waited in line to see Minnie Mouse (we would have never done that just the two of us).  We went with Brian and Desiree earlier this week and again today!  It is our Christmas to each other (seriously) plus our date days/nights and entertainment for the next year. 

We have really enjoyed the new Cars Land.  We love the new California Adventures and how they have really redone so much of it.  The detail that Disney puts into EVERYTHING is incredible and never ceases to amaze us. 

First outfit until Charlotte puked all over herself!

Master Bedroom- A Work in Progress

My bedroom has been a project in the making...and yet, I'm still it done! But I'm so excited about the pieces that I have put together recently, I thought about doing a sneak peek and letting you in on my decor secrets. Well, actually there is so secret at all. So far, I've bought everything at Target for my room. 

I knew I wanted a pin tuck comforter. I'd seen them on West Elm and Anthro's website but knew I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg. I just kept doing my due diligence and OOLA I found it at Target! Josh and I both wanted white. We may regret that later, but it works for now! 

Two of the throw pillows are from my couch, but I decided to save some money on MORE and put them on the bed. The smaller blue one is from my last bed with no intentions on keeping it. Glad I did!

While browsing the ends of Target isles (where all the sale stuff is), I saw the quilt and after looking at the tag ($10), I knew I had to incorporate it. This is what will bring alley colors together! My room is white, with a white comforter and white dresser...I need more color! After seeing this, I decided I would go with more of a rustic look in the bedroom. More homey and cozy.

Since we have moved in, nightstands have been on my mind everyday. I have yet to find the ones I want in my price range. In the meantime, I'll just place these wonderful lamps on the floor. I found the first lamp on the sale isle and put it in my cart in hopes to find a match at another Target. Then I went down the lamp isle and asked the Target team member if he could look these up at another location. Sure enough, the Foothill Ranch store had some. Before I get to ahead of myself, the lamp base was on sale for $14 and the shade for $10. Great deal, right? After browsing the rest of the lamps, we found the same shade and base both full price :( The base- $40 and the shade- $20. Bummer. I was trying to get him to mark them down but he kept saying I don't know why they are full price! When it was time to check out, I found a teenage boy at one of the cash registers and told him I found one on sale, can I get the other on sale. He said YES! I got each full lamp for $24 opposed to $60!! Talk about a fluke! 

These pictures don't do it justice, but my room is coming together quite well and I can't wait for the FINISHED result!