ROOM TO KICK & SPLASH

Sula couldn't be happier with her new tub! Her old tub was so cramped and did not have any room to stretch or kick out her extremely active legs. Her new whale tub rocks as there is lots of room for kicking. Sula is one happy girl and loves bath time more than ever!

HAPPY SKY DAYS

With the lovely early spring weather that we have been having Sula and I have enjoyed many wonderful walks. Trees and flowers are blooming everywhere and the sky is bright blue with hardly any clouds in site. I bundle her up in her sweet little jackets (she refuses to wear hats so this is our compromise) and place her in her carseat and then put the carseat in the stroller. Walks are a nice time for us to spend together. I talk to her, point out objects on our walks (trees, airplanes, houses, cars, etc.), enjoy the warmth from the sun on us, and overall just enjoy being with my daughter. This is probably one of my favorite times with Sula. She is usually so alert and just looks at me with the sweetest expressions. Last week we went for a 5 mile walk to check our mail and visit my coworkers. They were so happy to see her and she was happy to see them too. On our way home she fell asleep. I love Sula! I cannot wait for more blue sky days so I can take her on more walks :)

BACK AT WORK

Today was my first day back at work and needless to say many tears were shed. As I fed Sula for the last time before leaving I could feel in my stomach the pain of the emotions that were to come. I handed her to my sister Lindsey and walked out the door with tear welling up in my eyes. I did not let it get the best of me as I knew I had to be strong and it would only be for a couple hours. I parked my car and walked into the building straight into the weekly two hour staff meeting (joy). Everyone was happy to see me but of course their first question was "how is Sula". My response was great and very happy but I don't want to talk about it (trying to hold back tears). As the day went on each person who saw me continued to ask about Sula and how I was doing. Let me tell you this people. When a mama is so close with her baby and all she can talk or think about is her sweet baby please do not ask her how she is doing or how the baby is doing on what is perhaps the most difficult day! I cannot tell you how hard it was to be away from my baby. I knew she was in good hands though because her auntie loves her so much.

Status report from today was excellent. Lindsey changed Sula's diaper 3 times, each time resulting in a very happy baby. Sula was fussy so Lindsey picked her up and walked around with her. Sula quickly fell asleep. Lindsey layed on the couch with Sula on my chest, holding my baby as she slept for 3 long hours. Sula has the best aunt (seriously what daycare would do that?). Most of the time she is fine sleeping in her swing or in the pack and play but sometime she will wake up if you try to put her down as she simply wants to be held.

As I walked in the door I heard complete silence. I walked into the family room and saw a very happy Sula and Lindsey giving her a bottle. Since we practiced with the bottle she sees it as a toy. Never screams or crys and will just play with it in her mouth if she is not hungry. I was able to get her to suck on it for the first time last week and was so proud of myself! Though when I gave it to her she only sucked out about an ounce because she knew the real thing was just 2 feet from her. However when Lindsey gave it to her she drank the entire bottle! YAY Lindsey, you totally rock! I don't know what I would do without you and your support. We are so lucky to have amazing family. Sula absolutely loves you!

In respect to work I am still not sure what to do. I will continue to work my part time (4 hours a day, 5 days a week) to test it out. If I am completly miserable then I will quit and be a full time mama. If I can manage it then I will continue to work part time and be come with Sula for the rest of the time. At least 4 hours is not that long and it's when she is asleep. I am still so torn because even though it's just a few hours I don't want to be away from her. I love my baby and she is my everything.

BLUE EYES BROWN

Yesterday while Damien was holding Sula he noticed her eyes have started to change color a little. When she was born they were steel blue and now they have a hint of brown in them. Mainly noticeable if you look at her eyes from the side instead of straight on. Well he said "Sunny look! Her eyes are changing color they aren't steel blue anymore. Looks like she won't have blue eyes like her mama." Not two seconds following the conclusion of his statement she started crying, and not a normal cry this horrific screaming completely upset almost traumatised cry. It was so sad! Then Damien said "I'm sorry Sula, I take it back you have blue eyes like your mama." It was so funny, as though she was literally responding to his response. Our silly Sula.

HAPPY 2 MONTHS SULA

Sula is 2 months old today! Each time I told her she was 2 months old today she had this beautiful smile on her face. I cannot believe 2 whole months have passed since she entered the world. That will always be my favorite day as it was the day that changed my entire life. Sula is the most amazing and happy baby I could imagine. I love you sweetie!

MASTITIS, THRUSH, OH MY!

When Sula was born I got thrush in my breast. It was the most terrrible pain I have ever felt (way worse than childbirth as childbirth came and went this stayed!). When I would nurse her it felt as though a million shards of glass were trying to make their way out...OUCH! Thankfully our midwives were so supportive and helped me to find a natural remedy to cure the trush. I tried everything! I started with echinacea, vitamin C, probiotics, and garlic in high doses. That wasn't strong enough. So I tried gentian violet (purple dye you "paint" inside the baby's mouth and on your nipple). They are not kidding when they say it is messy...literally dyes everything purple and spreads when the baby nurses! I cried the first time I had to put it in Sula's mouth. After a week of using that with very little success and Sula having a reaction to it that made her refuse to eat (poor baby) we decided to not put it in her mouth and instead just on my nipples. That was much better. There was no way I was going to use Nystatin on my little baby- have you read the side effects? I will only use natural treatments. We used the gentian violet for two weeks because it is the best solution for getting rid of thrush. We also washed everything that touched her mouth or my breasts in HOT water and vinegar. Only letting each thing touch us once. It was hard but helped. Finally what really helped in addition to all the above mentioned things was taking 1000mg of grapefruit seed extract and a yeast cleanse supplement from New Seasons Market daily. It only took a couple days to kick it once we started taking the grapefruit seed extract. After over 3 weeks it was finally gone. I hope it never, ever, ever, ever returns!

Argh masitis! Everything was going so well with nursing and my breasts until about 2AM this morning when I woke up shaking with the chills. I also had a fever of over 102, felt nauseus, had a pounding headache, felt super light headed and weak. Amazing how quickly it hits a person. It was very scary as all I could think about was taking care of my baby. I don't want anything to happen that would prevent me from taking care of my baby girl. To cure the mastits I am using cold compresses made of cabbage leaves and wear them in my bra. I am also take 5,000mg of vitamin C, eat lots of garlic, take a tincture of echinacea, rest, and nurse, nurse, nurse!!! I hope it goes away soon!