The Pump Stops Here

It's official, I'm done pumping.  My last pumping session was Friday 4/23/2010 @ 6:15am.  I think my body knew the end was coming because I only pumped 70 ml (which is a little over 2 ounces). 

It's weird.  I cleared off my dresser of all my pumping supplies and am amazed by how much space I have now.  I dusted off the huge case that the hospital grade pump came in and will be returning it to the store that I rented it from later today. 

I am a bit sad that I'm no longer producing milk for my child - however I did a quick inventory check of my deep freezer and am confident that he has a good supply of frozen breastmilk that should last him through May.  Which is perfect, cuz my little guy turns 1 at the end of May and we hope to make a smooth transition over to cow's milk by then - fingers crossed! 

Things to remind myself are:  (1) I was able to pump breastmilk for my child for 11 months, not a bad record!  (2) We still have A LOT of milk frozen in the freezer that should last him over a month,  (3) Booboo and I get an extra 30 minutes of quality time to ourselves now that I no longer have to pump in the morning, (4) I can eat and drink whatever I want and not worry whether or not it's going to affect my milk supply! 

Most importantly, my child, my husband and I are all in good health.  So yeah, the pump stops here... but it's just the beginning of the next new adventure!

I Miss...

My son loves climbing the stairs.  Today he figured out how to go down the stairs.  I missed it when he did it for the first time, but he was happy to show me his new skill when I got home. 

I am so very thankful that I found a wonderful job, but I can't help but think of all the things I miss, like:

(1) Cuddling with my son in the morning, after his first bottle, and his smiling "good morning" face
(2) Play dates with his cousins, Kuya Kane & Ryder, and girltalk with Mel
(3) Taking my son for a walk and hearing him squeal with delight
(4) Taking afternoon naps with him
(5) Watching him discover new things
(6) Making him laugh and laugh and laugh during the day
(7) Taking him to Open Gym @ Gymboree and watching him play

....and just being with him in general. 

By the time I get home, I only have a few precious moments with him.  Right now he's asleep in my bed.  I'm tempted to leave him there instead of putting him in his crib.  I know it's selfish and I shouldn't get him used to sleeping with me, but boy oh boy do I miss this child of mine!

Boo Boo & Nana

This morning I'm working from home for the first time with my new job.  In a couple of hours I'll be leaving for a meeting that's about 2 hours north of my house.  Until then I'm working away on my laptop, upstairs, in my bedroom.

My door is cracked open and I can hear my son playing with the wonderful woman taking care of him.  I am so thankful that my Boo Boo loves his Nana Gladys.  Her personality, as well as being the 2nd of 10 children, caring for her own kids, grandkids, greatgrandkids, and many other kids inbetween, makes her the wonderful child caregiver that she is.  Of course it helps that my parents are home with him too - while they don't have the stamina to give him the same level of care that she can - it's good to know that they're around if she needs a break. 

Anyhoo, I can hear them playing downstairs.  When she reads to him I can't help but listen to the story she's telling him too.  From time to time I can hear him get fussy, but then somehow or another, she quickly distracts him with something else and he's a happy baby again.  What a good baby, I love my little guy!

I miss him so much during the day and I cherish the time we have with each other during the week.  I was a little sad that he fell asleep so quickly last night because I wanted to hang out with him just a little bit longer.  Part of me was hoping he'd wake up in the middle of the night so I could scoop him up and cuddle with him in my bed...but alas, he slept through the night. 

Here's hoping that my meeting won't run late so I can beat Orange County traffic!

SEPHORA PURE Natural Believer Palette - Star Gazer Edition

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P240017&searchString=star%20gazer#

The picture does not do this product justice.  I just got it in the mail today.  Only $15 - what a steal!  And to think I almost went to the MAC counter and would have spent way more than that!  Ahhhh, new makeup, such a nice treat.  Thank you to the hubby for giving me some "fun money" from his recent bonus!

Really? Thanks Conair!

About 5 years ago I bought my first hair straightener.  I didn't do any research - just went to Target, picked one off the shelf and paid no more than $40 total.  The next morning I tried it and... it sucked.  

Girlfriends gave me some advice, so later that day I went to a specialty store and painfully dropped about $200 on a CHI.  All I can say is.... BEST INVESTMENT EVER!  It was awesome - I loved it - and I've been happily using it ever since.  Until....

Well, before I had a child, I had plenty of time to get ready for work.  After showering, putting on various products, applying makeup and getting dressed, I probably spent 30 minutes blow drying, straightening and styling my hair, each morning.  (Or wore a ponytail on days I wanted to sleep in a little.)  Now that I have my lil guy - I don't have that luxury anymore. 

I heard of some hair straighteners that dry and straighten hair, so I did some research.  Thank goodness I did because just the other night I almost dropped $150 on a product that received a lot of bad reviews.  I decided to go to Bed Bath and Beyond and was armed with my 20% off coupon and $25 giftcard (thank you D!).  I found a product by Conair that cost less than $30 and decided to try it out.  

Long story short, I am impressed!  I really didn't think it would be a great product and was even prepared to return it.   Yeah, no, I'm keeping this thing.  Who knew?  Thanks Conair!

Ready Or Not...

On Monday I will become something I never was before... a working mother.  I don't know whether or not I'm ready for the challenge, but alas, I must be.  There are so many things running through my mind and I truly hope I make it through my first day okay. 

Between bedrest, giving birth, then getting laid off, I haven't been actively in the workforce in over a year.  I must remind myself that I am indeed a smart woman, that I know my stuff, and I am an incredible asset to the organization that I will be joining.  On a great note - I've lost weight and I am finally at my pre-pregnancy weight - whoo hooo!!!!!! 

Of course, I can't help but feel guilty that I'll be leaving my son.  We found wonderful and reliable women to watch him in our home for a few months.  (When he turns one, we plan on taking him to a daycare facility.)  Last week the babysitter came to our home every morning, and I left the house each day for several hours so that our little man could get used to not seeing me all the time.  He seemed to do okay.  He's a smart guy, he can tell something is up and seems to know that change is coming.   It probably doesn't help that the hubby will be leaving soon, for a month, for his Naval Reserve Duty, but that's another challenge I don't want to think about yet... 

Anyhoo, ready or not, the time has come, and I will make it work.  I will probably cry, and cry, and cry when I leave my little guy on Monday.  I will probably call to check on him several times throughout the day.  And I will definitely rush home to cradle him in my arms at the end of the day.  Millions of women do this, every day... if they can do it... so can I...