Writing With A Baby

Little Miss Emilynn is a mamas girl. There really is no point in arguing that. She loves to be with me which us nice... most of the time. I sort of love being the one who can soothe her when everyone else has tried... except, of course, when I'm showering, eating, napping, etc. But the worst is when I'm writing.

I can starve. I can stink. I can be sleep-deprived. But writing? I can't not write. For me its really just not an option. (Except apparently when I'm pregnant) Its like a basic need. I get irrationally angry when I can't write.

Oh don't get me wrong sometimes I'll go days, weeks, or even months without writing but because I am either burnt out or I don't have a current project.

But when I am in the middle of a project and go days weeks or months without writing? And I don't mean a scribble here or there.. because I ALWAYS do that but real substantial writing? Watch out. I'm not a pretty sight.

Besides the first few weeks Em is pretty good about letting me do a little writing. But its never the amount I want... and you know what? This is actually a GOOD thing.
I write 500 words a day now. I do not go to bed before I get this. Most of the time I go over the 500 words and have to force myself to stop in order to get some sleep.

And do you know what this has taught me? Writing 500 words 7 days a week is much better than 3500 one day.  Because the next week you'll write 500 words a day but you might not write 3500 words in one day again. Maybe you'll write 5000.. maybe none.

Em has taught me something I've heard all my life but never truly listened to it: its much better to be consistent.

Its like school. Study for four hours the night before the test or study one hour for four nights. Which is better? Obviously the latter. Writing is exactly the same.

So instead of being angry when my writhing sessions are cut short from a hungry baby I try to remember that she's keeping me from burning out. She's keeping me interested. She's making me want to write more instead of feeling obligated to do so.

Em already knows what's best for mom : )

What has your little one taught you about writing?

Breastfeeding: Our Love/Hate Relationship

Everyone knows (or should know) the benefits of breastfeeding. I could list quite a few from memory. Like less likely to develop allergies, less likely to be sick and when sick usually not as severe, decreased risk of sids, a boost in intelligence... and the list goes on.

And then there are more benefits for mom like lower risk of osteoporosis and breast cancer and other cancers, natural birth control and losing pregnancy weight faster.

All good things. And not even the only things I like about breastfeeding. I love its simplicity. No bottles, no mixing formula, no worry about running out at 3am. I love its ready 24/7. I love its low cost--free! I love that I have to hold her while she's eating-- no bottle propping. I love how easy she is soothed by this.

But my relationship with breastfeeding hasn't been all flowers and candy. There are some things that make bottle feeding look very tempting.

I hate I can't delegate some feedings. She blatantly refuses the bottle. She took it fine until 3 months then wasn't having it.

I hate being a slave to feeding her though truth be told its much better now. Before she could make it about an hour and a half between meals and that almost killed me but now its usually 2.5 to 3. Mostly 3.

I hate having to leave the room when company comes over to feed her. This is my issue but still annoying.

I hate not being able to leave her with anyone for a substantial amount of time. Moms need breaks too!

I hate not being able to wear what I want. Hoodies and tight short sleeve shirts are way too inconvenient. Or eat and drink what I want. Alcohol for one. But also Em had reflux which was diagnosed a milk allergy and i couldn't eat dairy...however with some research on my part I found it was actually an oversupply of milk. I am a very enthusiastic milk maker! But all seems to be in control now.

But its obvious the benefits and things I love far outweigh the disadvantages and truth be told I wouldn't ever switch to formula unless medically necessary.

I will stick with it one full year and then move to cows milk. (Although I have no problem with extended BF its not for me)

Anyone on here breastfeed? What did you like/dislike about it?

I'm Back! Finally!

Sorry it's been so long! That's what I get for creating a blog 37 weeks into my pregnancy. Having a newborn and trying to blog does not work, let me tell you. And although shes not even a new born anymore (3 months tomorrow!) I just could not spare the little time I have free to do blog, but now I can!

The last time I wrote anything I was 39 weeks pregnant. Well, I am definitely not pregnant anymore.

Let me catch you up.

I had a 9 hour labor. Which, apparently, is very short for a first time mom. To tell you the truth I wasn't even sure I was in labor until about 11am and I had Em at 2:45pm. So as labors go pretty easy. It was so easy in fact I didn't even have an epidural.

All would have been great but Em got sick. I suspect from something at the hospital because they never told us what it was. But whatever it was it made her really sick. She wouldn't eat. She had to be with oxygen and in a phototherapy incubator and fed with an iv. She had to have antibiotics.

After 5 days they finally let us take her home. We had to continue her antibiotics though.

But after that she's been exceptionally good. Just one fever after her 2month vaccines. Otherwise nothing, no sign she was ever sick at all.

At first she ate every hour and a half but now she's eating every 2 and a half hours except at night. On good nights she's asleep at 9:30 wakes up between 2 and 3 then again between 7 and 8.

Bad nights... well anything other than that : )

But I think we've been lucky in the baby department. She didn't have colic but she did have a witching hour for awhile. I think it was really just her reaction to the dairy in my diet.

Now that's she's 3 months though I do have some dairy and it doesn't seem to bother her.

My kitty doesn't seem to like her much but she tolerates her. She does seem to be less fond of me though.

Hopefully that will pass now that I have more free time and am not constantly feeding Miss Em.

So that's what's happened since my last post. I'm going to try to get back in the routine of blogging at least once a week.

So I'll be back next week. Until then here are so pictures of the little princess







Emilynn Claire Borja Hill
6 lbs 3 oz
18.7 in