Busy day I guess. I went to my weekly Starbucks Breastfeeding Cafe', and sat ,and talked with nursing moms. I do love to watch the babies getting bigger and the new ones join the group as the "older" ones leave when Mom goes back to work.
I made a home visit to help a mom with some breastfeeding issues. The baby was so perfect, and small. Less than 5lb at full term. Hard to believe that Chance was close to that size once upon a time. I spent two hours with this nursing couple. I love it when I can get the mom to laugh from the sheer surprise and joy at what her baby and her body can accomplish with the correct support and information. Being a new mom is so frightening, and so joyful and so complicated and so easy. It is a real gift that I can help, and a gift that these women allow me in to help them. They trust me and I do my best for them.
It's the end of November and there are Christmas decoration out already. Actually, they help brighten up the short days.
I need to send out an email about our holiday party. It's always the same information for the Yankee gift exchange, but I always send it so nobody gets confused or forgets. We are having the dinner/ party on December 9th this year. Just a week and a half away. Lots to do before then to get the house ready. It will get done.
Went to the gym yesterday. I can feel the muscles I used. I go again tomorrow. It makes me feel good and also a bit smug- though I am nowhere near the point of being asked to be a model for a sports clothing catalog! (never will be!)
Silly dog is barking at silly cat right now. Woof woof (dog) growl, meowl (cat).
It;s not even 8PM and I am in my pajamas! Thank goodness Nick cooked dinner. I am too pooped to pop!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Almost ready
So, here it is, Saturday. the day we are going to my mother in law's to celebrate Thanksgiving.
I got up at 6:00 this morning. Stuffed the turkey and now it is in the oven. Nick pealed 10lb of potatoes. They are cooked and mashed. Carrots are cooked.
Took the dog out several times. Good dog.
Watched local news for a while. Set the machine to record a show about quilting. I don't even know how to quilt, but I am fascinated by the idea of learning one day soon.
Going back to bed for a couple of hours. Maybe my pimples will be gone when I get up for the day!
Hope we remember to take the After Eight Mints!
I got up at 6:00 this morning. Stuffed the turkey and now it is in the oven. Nick pealed 10lb of potatoes. They are cooked and mashed. Carrots are cooked.
Took the dog out several times. Good dog.
Watched local news for a while. Set the machine to record a show about quilting. I don't even know how to quilt, but I am fascinated by the idea of learning one day soon.
Going back to bed for a couple of hours. Maybe my pimples will be gone when I get up for the day!
Hope we remember to take the After Eight Mints!
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thanksgiving, the holiday that keeps on giving
Yesterday didn't really feel like Thanksgiving. That's because we have not really done the turkey thing yet. We are going to celebrate with my mother in law and other family at my MIL's place. Tomorrow.
Meanwhile, three pies are baked- two pumpkin and one pecan pie. Bread for stuffing was made and cubed yesterday. Today I will make the stuffing. I also got the gravy done yesterday.
Now I have to figure out when I need to get up tomorrow morning in order to stuff and cook the turkey.
I am so tired today. The puppy slept with us last night, which was fine. But when I got up to go to the bathroom I thought it would be a good idea to take Buddy out too, which it was. Thing is, I never went back to bed- which I had planned to do. Oh well.
I am also sore from working out at the gym on Wednesday after a week away.
I wish I could nap easier. Sometimes I just sort of fall over on the sofa when I am watching TV and go to sleep. If I lie down and try to go to sleep, I usually don't.
And my sciatica hurts.
Fiddle dee dee!
Meanwhile, three pies are baked- two pumpkin and one pecan pie. Bread for stuffing was made and cubed yesterday. Today I will make the stuffing. I also got the gravy done yesterday.
Now I have to figure out when I need to get up tomorrow morning in order to stuff and cook the turkey.
I am so tired today. The puppy slept with us last night, which was fine. But when I got up to go to the bathroom I thought it would be a good idea to take Buddy out too, which it was. Thing is, I never went back to bed- which I had planned to do. Oh well.
I am also sore from working out at the gym on Wednesday after a week away.
I wish I could nap easier. Sometimes I just sort of fall over on the sofa when I am watching TV and go to sleep. If I lie down and try to go to sleep, I usually don't.
And my sciatica hurts.
Fiddle dee dee!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Let us Give Thanks
Let Us Give Thanks - Max Coots
Let us give thanks for a bounty of people:
for children who are our second planting, and, though they
grow like weeds and the wind too soon blows them away, may they forgive us our
cultivation and fondly remember where their roots are.
Let us give thanks:
for generous friends … with hearts .. smiles as bright as their blossoms;
for feisty friends as tart as apples
for continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers,
keep reminding us that we've had them;
for crotchety friends, as sour as rhubarb and as
indestructible;
for handsome friends, who are as gorgeous as eggplants and
as elegant as a row of corn,
and the others, as plain as potatoes and as good for you;
for funny friends,
who are as silly as Brussels sprouts and as amusing as Jerusalem artichokes,
and serious friends, as complex as cauliflowers and as intricate as onions;
for friends as unpretentious as cabbages, as subtle as
summer squash, as persistent as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless as
zucchini, and, who, like parsnips, can be counted on to see you through the
winter;
for old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the
evening-time, and young friends coming on as fast as radishes;
for loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils and hold
us, despite our blights, wilts and witherings;
and, finally, for those friends now gone, like gardens past
that have been harvested and who fed us in their times that we might have life
thereafter;
for all these we give thanks.
Dr. Phil made me cry
I was watching Dr Phil this afternoon and talking to the TV as he tried to straighten a fighting family out.
He said that he has buried both of his parents and that Robin (his wife) has buried both of her parents too.
It just pounced out at me-I have buried both of my parents too. The tears just bounced out of my eyes. I felt so sad that I don't have them in my life any more.
Thanksgiving is so much about being together with family. We will be together; Nick and I and some of our kids and Nick's mom and sister and so on. And I am happy that we have them. I just miss what I don't have any more.
There are more pictures of us all together. Just not loaded on my computer. My family of origin. All gone but my sister and I. I am the youngest. the baby with the perfectly round head!
He said that he has buried both of his parents and that Robin (his wife) has buried both of her parents too.
It just pounced out at me-I have buried both of my parents too. The tears just bounced out of my eyes. I felt so sad that I don't have them in my life any more.
Thanksgiving is so much about being together with family. We will be together; Nick and I and some of our kids and Nick's mom and sister and so on. And I am happy that we have them. I just miss what I don't have any more.
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| Of the four people in this picture, I am the only one still alive. |
There are more pictures of us all together. Just not loaded on my computer. My family of origin. All gone but my sister and I. I am the youngest. the baby with the perfectly round head!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
It's getting to be that tme of year again!
Thanksgiving is almost here. Just two more days in fact. But we are celebrating on Saturday like we did last year. We will prepare most of the meal here in our kitchen and my sister in law will prepare the rest in her kitchen. Then we all meet at my mother in law's apartment to feast together. Much easier to take a meal to a 95 year old than to bring her to the meal.
And so, I have started to write lists. Yes, I am one of those people who likes to write lists. And then I get to check things off as I get them done.
Here's what I have written so far:
Tuesday (today)
Lactation Consultation at 11:00am
Breastfeeding Cafe' at Starbucks 1:00-3:00
Wednesday:
Gym 12:30
Nails done 4:00
Thursday:
Make gravy
Make bread for stuffing
Friday:
Make pies (2 pumpkin and one pecan)
Make stuffing
Saturday:
Get up early and stuff the turkey and put it in the oven
Peal potatoes
Leave for Alexandria by 11:30
Somewhere in there I hope to get to Weight Watchers too.
In the meantime, I bought a photo calendar package from Amazon- five calendars for a very good price. I spent over an hour thinking I was loading pictures onto the page so I could make my calendars. When I went to place them in the right places on the calendar, they were not there. So, now I have to load the picture again and start over. Oh well, not the end of the world, just one more thing.
And then there's Christmas! Yikes! We are hosting a Christmas party. Deep breath. I will get through this. I love this. Oh yeah!
This is the kind of stuff that makes it so hard for me to shut off my brain and sleep at night.
I have sewing and knitting projects I want to work on and have not written them into any schedule. Many of those things can be done while I sit and watch TV in the evening. But I have to figure out what it is I am going to work on and have the supplies at hand.
It's after midnight. I am going to do a little more work on my calendars and then, off to bed so I can wake up in the morning and start another happy day!
And so, I have started to write lists. Yes, I am one of those people who likes to write lists. And then I get to check things off as I get them done.
Here's what I have written so far:
Tuesday (today)
Lactation Consultation at 11:00am
Breastfeeding Cafe' at Starbucks 1:00-3:00
Wednesday:
Gym 12:30
Nails done 4:00
Thursday:
Make gravy
Make bread for stuffing
Friday:
Make pies (2 pumpkin and one pecan)
Make stuffing
Saturday:
Get up early and stuff the turkey and put it in the oven
Peal potatoes
Leave for Alexandria by 11:30
Somewhere in there I hope to get to Weight Watchers too.
In the meantime, I bought a photo calendar package from Amazon- five calendars for a very good price. I spent over an hour thinking I was loading pictures onto the page so I could make my calendars. When I went to place them in the right places on the calendar, they were not there. So, now I have to load the picture again and start over. Oh well, not the end of the world, just one more thing.
And then there's Christmas! Yikes! We are hosting a Christmas party. Deep breath. I will get through this. I love this. Oh yeah!
This is the kind of stuff that makes it so hard for me to shut off my brain and sleep at night.
I have sewing and knitting projects I want to work on and have not written them into any schedule. Many of those things can be done while I sit and watch TV in the evening. But I have to figure out what it is I am going to work on and have the supplies at hand.
It's after midnight. I am going to do a little more work on my calendars and then, off to bed so I can wake up in the morning and start another happy day!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Do you believe in ghosts? I do.
Ok, now, if you know me and you are reading this you have just decided that I have lost it completely. I have believed in ghosts for a very long time. I'm not sure how long really.
First off, let's define "ghost". Most definitions say that a ghost is an apparition, or an illusion. An irrational belief in something that is not there. A spirit of a dead person that can be seen.
So, I may not believe in that kind of ghost. My ghosts do have the spirit of people who have been at a place before. The fact that their hand has touched something that your hand is touching for instance.
When I traveled to Norway in 1997, I stayed at the Kjorrefjord in Norway at the farm where my grandfather was born, grew up and ultimately, returned to and died. I walked through the hills and climbed the trees, trying to imagine him there doing the same. He died before I was born. He died before any of his grandchildren were born. He left Oregon and went home to Norway in 1939.
I digress. My definition, or feeling of what a ghost is, is this; it is the presence of someone who was there and is not there any more. It is feeling the presence of that life. Not in a spiritual/ religious was, but in the way a mother knows her baby is about to cry. It is a connection of sme sort that I have really not found words for yet.
Today I visited the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Virginia. As I looked at the exhibits of old ships and boats and read about them, I could imagine the people who had the experiences I was reading about. I know that when someone is gone- dead, they are gone. But, no matter how long they have been gone, or how long they lived, they did exist and left themselves on earth. Some way, somehow. They may have left a finger print or other physical evidence of their life. They may have left children. They may have left property. They may have left nothing but their bones or their ashes. But they were here. Occupying the same space we occupy.
And, in my own way, I met lots of ghosts today.
My biggest surprise was meeting a ghost that was a part of my personal life history. While looking at some large scale models of ships, I came across a model of the SS America. We crossed the Atlantic Ocean on our way home from Afghanistan, in 1961. I was only 7 years old, so not old enough to do a lot of exploring on the ship, but old enough to remember it.
Somewhere I think I have the menus and pictures of my parents and my brother, sister and myself aboard the ship. It was the last overseas tour my dad had. We went first class and I know that my mother loved it. The crossing has become a part of family lore. Except, most of the family that I was a part of back then is gone. Both of my parents and my brother have died. Only my sister and I are left to reminisce about the "good old days".
And so I live with my ghosts. The week of my life spent aboard the SS America has lasted in my memory for over 50 years. What a glorious time. What a glorious ship. I took pictures to show my sister when I get back home.
I looked at pictures of the ship as a wreck being dashed by the ocean. I am shocked and sad. My dream ship is dead too. But it lives on as a ghost for me to cherish.
First off, let's define "ghost". Most definitions say that a ghost is an apparition, or an illusion. An irrational belief in something that is not there. A spirit of a dead person that can be seen.
So, I may not believe in that kind of ghost. My ghosts do have the spirit of people who have been at a place before. The fact that their hand has touched something that your hand is touching for instance.
When I traveled to Norway in 1997, I stayed at the Kjorrefjord in Norway at the farm where my grandfather was born, grew up and ultimately, returned to and died. I walked through the hills and climbed the trees, trying to imagine him there doing the same. He died before I was born. He died before any of his grandchildren were born. He left Oregon and went home to Norway in 1939.
I digress. My definition, or feeling of what a ghost is, is this; it is the presence of someone who was there and is not there any more. It is feeling the presence of that life. Not in a spiritual/ religious was, but in the way a mother knows her baby is about to cry. It is a connection of sme sort that I have really not found words for yet.
Today I visited the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Virginia. As I looked at the exhibits of old ships and boats and read about them, I could imagine the people who had the experiences I was reading about. I know that when someone is gone- dead, they are gone. But, no matter how long they have been gone, or how long they lived, they did exist and left themselves on earth. Some way, somehow. They may have left a finger print or other physical evidence of their life. They may have left children. They may have left property. They may have left nothing but their bones or their ashes. But they were here. Occupying the same space we occupy.
And, in my own way, I met lots of ghosts today.
My biggest surprise was meeting a ghost that was a part of my personal life history. While looking at some large scale models of ships, I came across a model of the SS America. We crossed the Atlantic Ocean on our way home from Afghanistan, in 1961. I was only 7 years old, so not old enough to do a lot of exploring on the ship, but old enough to remember it.
Somewhere I think I have the menus and pictures of my parents and my brother, sister and myself aboard the ship. It was the last overseas tour my dad had. We went first class and I know that my mother loved it. The crossing has become a part of family lore. Except, most of the family that I was a part of back then is gone. Both of my parents and my brother have died. Only my sister and I are left to reminisce about the "good old days".
And so I live with my ghosts. The week of my life spent aboard the SS America has lasted in my memory for over 50 years. What a glorious time. What a glorious ship. I took pictures to show my sister when I get back home.
I looked at pictures of the ship as a wreck being dashed by the ocean. I am shocked and sad. My dream ship is dead too. But it lives on as a ghost for me to cherish.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Singer Featherweight Sewing Machines, Oh My!
Still in Williamsburg and we decided to go to a little shopping center, not in the historic part of town. First we went to Knitting Sisters Yarn Shop which was a great shop!
Next we went to Love 2 Quilt. It is mainly a quilting fabric and supply store. But egads, what did I see when I walked in the door? Sewing machines. Lots of them. Featherweight sewing machines. Like the one I inherited from my mother. The one my sister and I both learned to sew on. The one I still use. the best little sewing machine there is- for straight, even stitches with great tension.
Ok, here's what got me so psyched! And, no, I did not buy one.
Next we went to Love 2 Quilt. It is mainly a quilting fabric and supply store. But egads, what did I see when I walked in the door? Sewing machines. Lots of them. Featherweight sewing machines. Like the one I inherited from my mother. The one my sister and I both learned to sew on. The one I still use. the best little sewing machine there is- for straight, even stitches with great tension.
Ok, here's what got me so psyched! And, no, I did not buy one.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Cultural Perspective?
There was one exhibit at the museum that I saw yesterday that I think showed a certain bias to the way things are done today.
The exhibit was about things women used, and about baby toys. It said "In the 17th century, baby bottles were not available. Women were either nursing or pregnant for most of their childbearing years". I didn't even think much about it until later in the day. Then is struck me- ok, so? Wasn't/ isn't that the biological norm? Hasn't the human race, indeed all mammals existence depended upon the availability of species specific milk to survive?
I do know that *I* would not have even thought to make mention of the lack of baby bottles in a previous era as a deficit in women's lives, tying them down by being nursing mothers. Indeed, bottles tie mother's down to a much greater degree!
Stepping down from my soap box now.
The exhibit was about things women used, and about baby toys. It said "In the 17th century, baby bottles were not available. Women were either nursing or pregnant for most of their childbearing years". I didn't even think much about it until later in the day. Then is struck me- ok, so? Wasn't/ isn't that the biological norm? Hasn't the human race, indeed all mammals existence depended upon the availability of species specific milk to survive?
I do know that *I* would not have even thought to make mention of the lack of baby bottles in a previous era as a deficit in women's lives, tying them down by being nursing mothers. Indeed, bottles tie mother's down to a much greater degree!
Stepping down from my soap box now.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Cold, Rainy Day
What do you do on a cold and rainy day in Williamsburg, Virginia? Spent the day in a museum, that's what.
This morning we all piled into the car and drove to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum in Williamsburg.
The first thing we all did was listen to a presentation on colonial music. The man who did the presentation played several different instruments and also sang. He explained the music and instruments. The presentation was an hour long, but the time just flew!
After hearing the music, we went on a couple of tours and also wandered the museum on our own. My absolute favorite exhibition was that of the Baltimore Quilts. They are so overwhelmingly intricate and beautiful that I didn't even attempt to photograph them. I stood as close as I could without hitting the glass that separated me from the quilts so I could see all of the tiny, perfect stitches- all done by hand, of course. I found a few tiny flaws, and I thought about the stitcher. How she probably also knew about her little mistake, but hoped nobody else wold notice it.
We saw some folk art and amazing paintings by people I had never heard of before, including Steve Harley, who is believed to have only painted three pictures. They are all there and are amazing in their color and feeling.
Roosters also seem to figure into folk art prominently, so I took some pictures for my sister, who has a thing for chickens and roosters!
This morning we all piled into the car and drove to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum in Williamsburg.
The first thing we all did was listen to a presentation on colonial music. The man who did the presentation played several different instruments and also sang. He explained the music and instruments. The presentation was an hour long, but the time just flew!
After hearing the music, we went on a couple of tours and also wandered the museum on our own. My absolute favorite exhibition was that of the Baltimore Quilts. They are so overwhelmingly intricate and beautiful that I didn't even attempt to photograph them. I stood as close as I could without hitting the glass that separated me from the quilts so I could see all of the tiny, perfect stitches- all done by hand, of course. I found a few tiny flaws, and I thought about the stitcher. How she probably also knew about her little mistake, but hoped nobody else wold notice it.
We saw some folk art and amazing paintings by people I had never heard of before, including Steve Harley, who is believed to have only painted three pictures. They are all there and are amazing in their color and feeling.
Roosters also seem to figure into folk art prominently, so I took some pictures for my sister, who has a thing for chickens and roosters!
Monday, November 12, 2012
I have about walked my feet off!
Today in Williamsburg, we had wonderful weather for the second day in a row. We went to the historical district and saw several presentations done by reenactors that were just wonderful.
This morning we went to hear Alexander Purdie speak about being a patriot printer. He talked about his experiences as a new paper publisher and he also took questions from the audience that he answered very well, staying in character the whole time.
Next we went to the blacksmith shop, which has only been open for a few months. Man, what a lot of work was involved in making such essential things, such as house nails! Hard work that I am glad I never had to do.
After lunch in the DeWitt Wallace Museum, we went to hear Martha Washington speak about being the first lady and her thoughts about what her role as such might be.
We went to see a General Lafayette speak about his hopes for the new nation of the United States of America (he rode in on a white stallion and then left on the same horse)
Gowan Pamphlet, a free slave discussed his vision for the black Baptist church where he is a pastor.
To top it all off, we saw Martha Washington again, this time in front of the Raleigh Tavern.
Needless to say, our feet and backs were worn out by the end of the day.
Back to our apartments where I made gluten free lasagna and the others made salad.
Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be cooler with the possibility of rain. I am sure we will keep busy even so!
This morning we went to hear Alexander Purdie speak about being a patriot printer. He talked about his experiences as a new paper publisher and he also took questions from the audience that he answered very well, staying in character the whole time.
Next we went to the blacksmith shop, which has only been open for a few months. Man, what a lot of work was involved in making such essential things, such as house nails! Hard work that I am glad I never had to do.
After lunch in the DeWitt Wallace Museum, we went to hear Martha Washington speak about being the first lady and her thoughts about what her role as such might be.
We went to see a General Lafayette speak about his hopes for the new nation of the United States of America (he rode in on a white stallion and then left on the same horse)
Gowan Pamphlet, a free slave discussed his vision for the black Baptist church where he is a pastor.
To top it all off, we saw Martha Washington again, this time in front of the Raleigh Tavern.
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| Add caption |
Needless to say, our feet and backs were worn out by the end of the day.
Back to our apartments where I made gluten free lasagna and the others made salad.
Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be cooler with the possibility of rain. I am sure we will keep busy even so!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Beautiful Weather in Williamsburg!
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| Colonial Marching Band |
We went to some reenactments and ate lunch in Chowning's Tavern, in Colonial Williamsburg and we all chose to eat Brunswick stew, which was delicious!
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| Brunswick Stew |
Home consists of two apartments that are rather hard to explain. Sue and Mary Lou have an apartment downstairs, and Florence and I have an identical apartment right above theirs. The apartments have a living room, dining room, kitchen and two bedrooms each with it's own bathroom. Florence had the bigger room in our apt, and her room has a washer and dryer in it.
Ok, so between the four of us, we have, so far, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two living rooms and dining rooms and two kitchens. Now, there's more, Picture an adjoining room- like in a hotel. Each apartment has an adjoining apartment. The adjoining apartment had one bedroom, one bathroom with a washer and dryer, a living room/ dining room and a small kitchen.
So, between the four of us we really have six bedrooms, six bathrooms, four kitchens etc. Pretty crazy! Oh well, we are "The Crazy Ladies"!
This is Veterans Day weekend, so there was a special Military March honoring American veterans. The Colonial marching band (I guess that's what you call is) had a parade and were followed by veterans who were here today. On the parade grounds, all veterans were invited to join them on the grounds. It was quite a moving event.
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| Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse |
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| Veterans Joining the Parade |
Saturday, November 10, 2012
WIlliamsburg!
One of the women in my Women's Group has a time share in Williamsburg. I am headed out in a few minutes to spend a week with my wonderful women friends!
Taking along my sister's laptop in the hopes that I will take the time to write here.
Looking forward to having time to relax and not worry about the daily things I usually allow myself to worry about.
Taking along my sister's laptop in the hopes that I will take the time to write here.
Looking forward to having time to relax and not worry about the daily things I usually allow myself to worry about.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Vote!
Please phone, stop ringing! I am voting tomorrow. I know who I am voting for. I hope that he wins. If he doesn't, it will be too bad, but not the end of the world.
Stop knocking on my door and calling my house and cell phones.
The End
Stop knocking on my door and calling my house and cell phones.
The End
Saturday, November 3, 2012
So many babies
I have been busier in the last week or so than I can remember in a long
time. There seems to be a little bit of a baby boom going on around here!
Last week I saw a young, new mom who was truly delighted when her baby latched on by herself while lying against mom's skin and warmth. These little people have skills we don't know about or even believe until we learn about it and share the skill with the new mom. And quite often her own mother is there as well as her husband.
I have been doing lactation consulting for almost 29 years. I have been a La Leche League Leader for almost 34 years. They are different, but the same. I use my technical skills to figure out how the baby's mouth anatomy is formed and if it will effect latch and nursing. I assess the mother's breast anatomy and see what adjustments we need to make to get her and the baby in synch.
I use my La Leche League knowledge to sooth the mother and show her how wonderful and important she is to her baby. A lot of moms need permission to actually fall in love with their babies. They love them, but sometimes the whole thing is so daunting and overwhelming that the new mom is in a blur or "what just happened here". The hormones, the fierce need to care for your baby, these are things you cannot prepare for, nor do you believe it will happen to you.
Today I got to work with two different moms and their two sets of twins. The first set were boy/ girl twins. The second set were both identical girl twin babies. These moms are so determined to get breastfeeding to go well for them.
Ok,. I am so tired I am missing keys, so off to dream land I go.
Last week I saw a young, new mom who was truly delighted when her baby latched on by herself while lying against mom's skin and warmth. These little people have skills we don't know about or even believe until we learn about it and share the skill with the new mom. And quite often her own mother is there as well as her husband.
I have been doing lactation consulting for almost 29 years. I have been a La Leche League Leader for almost 34 years. They are different, but the same. I use my technical skills to figure out how the baby's mouth anatomy is formed and if it will effect latch and nursing. I assess the mother's breast anatomy and see what adjustments we need to make to get her and the baby in synch.
I use my La Leche League knowledge to sooth the mother and show her how wonderful and important she is to her baby. A lot of moms need permission to actually fall in love with their babies. They love them, but sometimes the whole thing is so daunting and overwhelming that the new mom is in a blur or "what just happened here". The hormones, the fierce need to care for your baby, these are things you cannot prepare for, nor do you believe it will happen to you.
Today I got to work with two different moms and their two sets of twins. The first set were boy/ girl twins. The second set were both identical girl twin babies. These moms are so determined to get breastfeeding to go well for them.
Ok,. I am so tired I am missing keys, so off to dream land I go.
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| This little girl will be ten years old in a few days! |
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Happy Halloween!
You know you are getting older when, not only have your children grown out of trick or treating- you don't know any of the children who come to your door. Not a single one!
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| Obama's symbol carved by Austin Sherwood |
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