Rolling over...or trying to

Sam called on Friday while I was at work to tell me that Ada rolled over for the first time! Here she is trying VERY hard to do it again. I love how she tries to throw her leg over with so much effort. What a big girl!

BTW, Ada fell asleep on her own last night. She fell asleep in her crib at 10:30pm and slept until 7:30 this morning. No kidding.

Now, why do I have to wake up at 3:30am on the dot for the past 3 days and can't fall back to sleep!!! I am more tired now than I ever was, and she is sleeping through the night!

Strawberry Shortcake

Ada inevitably stops talking the moment the camera is turned on. I am left sounding like a complete dork. She is cute, though!

A walk in the desert

Hi Great Grandma Barb!

I try and make it a routine to call my Grandma Barb and Mom on the weekends to check in and see what is happening in Oregon. I had the pleasure of chatting with them both today, and learning a few recipes from my Grandma which I cooked up for our dinner tonight (so good!).

My Grandma doesn't have access to the Internet (no computer), so she visited a friend today to log on and look at Ada's blog. Her friend, Lydia, agreed to print out our posts so that my Grandma could sit and read them at her leisure. I thought I'd post a few new pics for her, before they are printed out (thank you, Lydia!).

So Grandma, this post is for you. Love you lots - Shell

The top video is Ada waking up Friday morning. It is usually a much more detailed production with lots of stretching, yawning and fluttering eyes that lasts FOREVER. The bottom video, while you can't really see her, is Ada showing off one of her new talents...chatting away! Love her!!!

The feeding frenzy

I really enjoy reading the blogs at helenjane.com. She is a friend of a friend, and a new Mom who writes beautiful and funny posts. Her most recent post made me chuckle, and reminded me of my maternity leave when I was nursing for what felt like every moment of the day.

Seriously, Ada was ravenous.

Here is her post:

"Dude, baby has eaten every two hours for one hour for the past 36 hours.

So, it’s like, sleep an hour, feed a baby off your teat for an hour,
sleep an hour, feed a baby, sleep an hour, etc.

And then do that again for a day or two.

I won’t lie, I love the exhaustion. In that “brag in the future” kind of way." - helenjane

Here is another post that really has nothing to do with feeding, but something I think most Mom's can relate to:

Asked of me by various people in the past 48 hours:

“Don’t you ever put a hat on this baby?”
“Didn’t you put sunscreen on her?”
“Can’t you see the sun is hitting her in the eyes?”

Sigh. I’ll get there. - helenjane

I have found nursing to be very rewarding, and yet very difficult when combined with a full-time job. Pumping is just not as efficient as baby; and I worry constantly about my dwindling supply (which doesn't help). I have started the Traditional Medicine Tea (or is it Traditional Herbs?) and Yogi Tea which is supposed to help. I have read just about everything possible...and yet a busy day with lots of meetings, in a new position at a newly merged agency makes it a real challenge to take 20 minutes, 3 times a day to pump. I have been fairly rigid about scheduling the time on my calendar; spacing meetings out if I can, and eating my lunch at the computer so that I can commit to this practice; but I must admit, it's not easy.

I also find that while many groups I am part of are very supportive of my nursing with Ada in the room (with my bib, of course), that some folks are really clueless. For example, I was at an all-day training recently and knew that there would only be one 15-minute break in the day. So I went to the trainer before we began and quietly asked if there was some place I could pump, "since I'm a nursing mom". She asked, "well why can't you use the bathroom?" in an uncompromising tone. The bathroom, mind you, was right off of the training room, and there was only one. When I explained that this might not be the most comfortable place for myself, or the other participants (pumps are loud), she suggested that I go to the building next door and ask for an empty office. I thanked her for the suggestion. She then asked, "how long is going to take you?"

I had a "Scrubs" moment, imagining myself drop-kicking her out the front door.

I decided to take extra long pumping breaks in the empty office next door, just because.

I have found lots of support from other working moms at the "mom and baby group" Ada and I attend at the Birth Center on Saturdays. They recommended the tea, drinking lots of fluids and other tips to help me along. One woman at the group has even donated some of her milk for me to supplement, since I am having trouble keeping up with the little one (BTW, this woman is helping to feed 4 other kids, along with her own! Amazing!).

Ada is doing fine. She has chunky legs, is growing even longer (25 inches!) and seems happy as a lamb.

If she could talk I bet she'd say, "Chill out Mom."

Then she'd say, "I'm hungry."

Around 1 week old...we miss it already

3 months, 6 weeks, 2 days

Ada weighs around 12 pounds now!

Sorry! Here are pics and a video!