Breastfeeding Etiquette

OK ladies, I need some serious help here. I'm feeling great and ready to go back to church on Sunday, but to tell you the truth- I'm scared to death.

I need to know what the breastfeeding etiquette rules are at church. I have not mastered the discrete and stealth-like breastfeeding skills that I have witnessed in Nursery or in the foyer. In fact, I'm pretty clumsy. What is a newbie to do??

Our ward is so huge, there are no empty classrooms. I have not seen a Mother's Lounge that some buildings have besides, there are so many lactating women in our ward it would be like sitting in Relief Society. The Nursery room is full to capacity and with the amount of parents in there I'd have a full audience. Maybe I could just hide in the kitchen?

I'm thinking for the first couple of weeks I'll just go to Sacrament Meeting until I get the hang of things. Any advice is appreciated.

No Time For Blogging; Heaven Is A Busy Place!

Last Wednesday, Aaron and I got a chance to go to Heaven. I'd like to tell you a bit about it.

First of all, you have to pass a very tough test called Labor & Delivery. My test included a broken water with no contractions, pitocen, blood pressure above 200 and pain meds to try help calm the pressure down. Like all tests that come with great rewards at the end, sometimes you have to deal with unpleasant things:

• I've still got needle holes and bruises all over my hands and arms from an IV and insane number of blood tests
• I still have medical tape residue glued to my arms, hands and legs
• I've got Tucks pads shoved into every major crevice of my "undercarriage"
• Under my shirt I look like a deflated cow with stretch marks
• My latest fashion statement around the house is a very unattractive nursing bra and the HUGEST pair of granny panties...ever

...And I would sign up for another round in a heartbeat.

After I passed my test, Aaron and I were admitted into Heaven and assigned an Angel. From what everyone tells us and what we've experienced, this little Angel was the very best and sweetest Heaven had that day. We feel so blessed to have gotten him.

We named him Everett Jackson Haring. He was born on August 13th, weighed 8 lbs. and was 20 inches long. We actually didn't have any names picked out when we went to the hospital because Aaron and I just didn't agree in that department. We actually brought the baby name book to the hospital and we were flipping through it as I got to hold our little Angel for the first time.

Everett's job has been to teach us all about Heaven. There's not much time to sleep or eat, I've only done my hair and makeup once in the last week. There is much to learn so Aaron and I have been very busy. So far we've:

• Mastered the art of team diaper changing
• Found out the important connection between getting sleep and having a baby swing
• Learned when his face turns purple from screaming, he has a gas bubble
• Learned that car and stroller rides knock him out
• Found that Grandmas are an invaluable source of information
• Learned that laughing and breastfeeding are not a good mix
• "Sponge Bath" is secret code for Water Board Torture
• Realized now more than ever, that Aaron and I make a great team and that Everett just might make it to his 1st birthday

Let me tell you about Everett. From the first time we met him he was very calm and quiet. He nurses like a champ, and there's no other place he'd rather be than snuggled on Aaron's chest (or my boob). Everett's got great comedic timing, like at his 1st checkup we had to wait what seemed like an eternity. He was quietly sleeping when suddenly he shrieked, pooped his pants and started crying. Of coarse, that's when the doctor finally showed up. Then he peed all over the exam table. Sure, it's funny now...He's got my nose and chin and Aaron's long eyelashes and smile. To us, he's just perfect.

Heaven looks just like our house, but some things are very different. Wonderful friends and family bring beautiful flowers, gifts and food.

We get a lot of visitors here and are excited to see everyone and introduce them to our Angel, Everett. The TV hasn't been on in days, the stereo has remained silent, and Aaron has been home from work all week. Pure Heaven.

Aaron and I have definitely bonded closer than ever thanks to our little Angel, and we love and appreciate each other more than ever. I don't know if or when we'll be back to real life so, if quite a bit of time goes by without hearing from me- you'll know where I am...in Heaven.

P.S. - We all know you don't get wings in Heaven, but what you DO get is your skinny ankles and unswollen feet returned to you (too bad it doesn't come with a tan). Welcome back girls!!!

That's What Friends Are For

I seriously have the best friends and family.

Phone calls, text messages, blog messages and more. All my favorite people have been so sweet checking up on me. I feel so loved and looked after.

I've got several great references when I need brutal honesty and help knowing what to do about the most delicate of topics. What topic is that, you might ask? What am I going to need to repair the damage from giving birth? - Help!

That's where my friend Krista stepped in. She went with me to Walmart and filled up my cart. Maxi pads, tucks pads, nursing pads, Epsom salt and breast cream - my new bathroom companions. Then my awesome sis-in-law who just had a baby a few months ago gave me her unused hospital goods - more maxi pads, water proof leak mats, and the oh-so-sexy hospital gauze underwear. I am stocked up and ready to go!

And what can you do to make your swollen legs, feet and sausage toes look a little better?

A. Have your dog sit on them in the photo

B. Go with a friend to get a pedicure

Krista and I hit the town again and got pedicures today. Being that I'm 3 days overdue, she's had several ladies she's known go into labor after getting a pedicure - so why the heck not try? The nail tech even painted baby feet and 2008 on my big toes but the nail polish bled into the white baby feet, so you can't really tell what the heck are on my toes. Oh well, 5 bucks wasted. We still had fun.

Modern-Day Miracle

If you'd like to see a modern-day miracle, get to my house-QUICK!

I have never had this many rooms in my house clean all at the same time. This marvel will only be around for a brief sighting. It may not be as entertaining as Grilled-Cheese Jesus, but for me it's nothing short of amazing.

8-8-08 Time's Up!!

I can’t believe my due date is actually here! I know due dates are just an estimate and the odds of me giving birth today are slim and none, but it’s not because I haven’t been trying...

Aaron arranged for the carpets to get cleaned on Wednesday-very cool, except all of the furniture had to be moved. I had most of it moved before Aaron got home from work. He just had to move the couch and sub-woofer. With all of the furniture out of place it uncovered a whole herd of new dust bunnies and hair balls, so it was back to square one with cleaning. Dang it!

Yesterday I was on fire like the Energizer Bunny. I got so much done but I’m paying the price today. WHAT??? Me? Overdo it? NO WAY!!!

Here’s what I got accomplished:
20 minute power nap
10 loads of laundry washed and folded
8 storage bins moved and re-stacked
6 curtain sheers washed and re-hung
6 dining room chairs put back around the table
5 window blinds dusted
4 phone calls assuring people I wasn’t in labor
3 silk plants dusted and re-positioned
3 fancy-shmancy wall art things hung up
1 kitchen table & chairs moved back
1 sub-woofer dusted and put back in place
1 swing & bouncer washed & moved to the family room
1 ceiling fan de-fuzzed
1 giant sectional couch scooted back in place with my giant pregnant ba-donk-a-donk butt(See? It does come in handy for something)

...And I made dinner.

Aaron’s friends have all told him if we want to have this baby he needs to walk it out of me. So the last few nights after dinner Aaron and Moe take ME for a walk. Last night I made it out of our neighborhood and I could tell my back was toast. I still managed a pretty good waddle around the block, but got my rear end back on the couch as soon as we got home. Aaron was so cute, he handed me the TV remote, told me not to move and made me a chocolate milk shake. Dang, I love that boy!

What an awesome day.

The Baby Room Is Complete (...Minus The Baby)

Woohoo! It's done! I am officially ready for this baby to get here. If you would have asked me last week, I would have told you that if this baby came early, it would have been on instant "time out". Now the baby room is done and the main parts of the house are clean - I am ready.

Here's a look at the baby room:

Can you believe I MADE THIS??? I have no idea how to sew, but I figured I could go in a straight line without too many mishaps. My sister, Kelle helped me put the quilt top together, and my Grandma Winters helped me tie the bumper and quilt and taught me how to put the quilt back on. I also made the valance, bed skirt, pillow and covered the ottoman to the glider. Sorry to gloat, but I am so dang proud of myself!! My mom had this TV cabinet in storage for years and thought it would work in the baby room. Thanks Mom! When we actually got the cabinet in the room, it didn't quite fit with the crib. (my math skills are not the best) With some creative arranging from my fabulous husband, he got everything to fit. The middle where the TV is supposed to go was the perfect size and height for a changing table.

Details, details, details...

So, my little Sunshine, we're as ready as we'll ever be.

We can't wait to finally meet you!

What "You Don't Have To Do Anything" Really Means

So I've got 5 days until my due date. What do you think I am doing?

Resting? No.

Getting my hospital bag ready? No.

Staying up past midnight cleaning because I've got 21 people coming over tomorrow? Yes.

Aaron's friend wanted his coworker to meet my older sister to see if there could possibly be some "sparks" since they are both wanting settle down. Sounded like a great idea, 6 adults having dinner at our house. Aaron said he would take care of it and I wouldn't have to do anything. That sounded like another great idea. Well, my husband being the social butterfly that he is kept adding people to the guest list until 2 days later he informed me that we were up to 21 people (7 of them kids) and that he would be fishing a night tournament the day before so he won't be here to help me. Holy moly - are you nuts???

So in "man terms" me not having to do anything consisted of cleaning and organizing the house (thank goodness for my wonderful mother-in-law who came to help on Friday) Getting a loaded grocery cart at Costco, loading & unloading it myself, and doing all of the food prep. Aaron will have the strenuous task of getting sodas at the store and grilling the burgers. Big whoop.

I'm tired as can be, my back is shot, and I desperately need to go to bed. The good thing that came from this is that I had to kick it into high gear and got a ton done. I even finished the baby room. I'll take pictures just as soon as I can walk upright again...