Sunday, May 13, 2012

Attachment Parenting



There's a lot going around about Attachment Parenting since Time Magazine put the woman breastfeeding her three year old on their cover. (By the way, I am not offended by the caption. I am secure with my abilities as a mom and in no way think this woman is "better" than I am, or any of the other moms I associate with.) I think its funny how people think this method of parenting is so extreme. I would consider myself an Attachment Parent. Dr Sears says they aren't rules, but more like suggestions, and to do them to the best of your ability. I'm not as extreme as some (I probably won't be breastfeeding a 3 year old) but I'm sure I'd still be considered extreme to some!

1. Birth Bonding: I learned after Mikey was born to tell people who wanted to visit to please wait until the next morning. I only had minutes with Mikey before he was passed around to loving family members. I was determined to fix this when Patrick was born. I got to hold him skin to skin, and nurse him for a whole hour, when *I* decided I was done. He probably would have kept going. He was rarely in the bassinet they give you. If visitors or his dad weren't holding him, I was. He never went to the nursery, except when they had to take him for his hearing test etc. This is the natural thing to me. I WANTED to be with my new baby constantly.

2. Breastfeeding: The first time was harder. It hurt. But I pushed through and succeeded for 6 months. I had babysitters feed him bottles of formula while I was at work. I never pumped. My supply went down and I didn't do anything to stop it. I knew better the second time around. It was SO easy. It didn't hurt at all, and he was a pro from the beginning. (Probably because I gave him such a good start immediately after he was born?) I pumped after work. Breastfeeding seems like the lazy option. No bottles to wash. You don't have to get up and make a bottle, especially in the middle of the night. You don't have to worry about bringing enough formula with you when you go out, or what temperature the milk is. Add in all the bonus nutrition and different uses for breastmilk and it's a no-brainer for me.

3. Babywearing: I have a Moby Wrap. (A homemade one) I don't use it ALL the time, like some people. I used it more when he was teeny. It was cold outside, why would I put my months old baby in a stroller where I can't tell if he's warm enough? Would he be warm enough without my body heat? Also, in the grocery store. Putting the infant carrier in the front part of the cart is dangerous. Putting it in the basket part leaves no room for groceries. Baby wants to be carried the whole time. So what do you do? You wear him! Hands free to push the cart, basket free for groceries, and he's happy. Problems solved. I have had people tell me I hold my baby too much. Nope, I just love him and he just wants to be with me.

4. Bedding close to baby: The night after we brought Mikey home from the hospital, I didn't want to put him even three feet away from me. I wanted him right there where if I opened my eyes, I could see him. I wasn't planning on bed sharing, but from that night on, we did. When he started sleeping through the night he could sleep in his own bed, but even now that he's almost 5 he prefers to sleep with us. If he starts out in his own bed, he usually ends up in ours by morning. You know what? We love it. With a baby it's so much easier to do those night feedings. I have never been awake feeding a baby all night. I just nurse him laying down and drift back to sleep. If he stirs in the night, I nurse him before he wakes completely and he can fall back to sleep easier too. It's easy. It's natural. Can you imagine being a baby who is with your mother constantly, then suddenly shoved into this cold world and forced to sleep alone? How is that comforting? Where is mom?? People are scared of rolling on baby, and I get that. If you're a deep sleeper, of course don't put a baby in your bed. Somehow I have a sense of where he is even when I'm sleeping. When you're pregnant, you don't roll over onto your stomach, and you get used to that. Why would that change when you are suddenly not pregnant anymore? I keep my baby in front of me, and I'm not going to roll on top of him, because I haven't rolled that direction in months!

5. Belief in your baby's cry: Babies cry for a reason. Something is wrong. Even if they just want the comfort of Mom's arms or to hear her heartbeat.

6. Beware of baby trainers: I don't cry it out. Baby just wants to be with me. Why is that so wrong? I don't feed or nap on a schedule. Baby lets me know what he needs and I do it for him. It makes you closer to your baby and you can understand what he needs.

7. Balance: Know when to take a break. Know when to get a babysitter and go out. Know when to put the baby down and spend time with your spouse. You can't take care of a baby if you aren't also taking care of you and your marriage.

That's not so hard, now is it?

Friday, February 10, 2012

No Internet = No Blog Posts

We've been without internet since we moved out of my parents' house 8 months ago. Annoying, right? haha Maybe I'll start posting here again...later. ;)

Monday, March 21, 2011

It's a...

BOY!!
Ok, I'm a few days late...but whatever. I'd post an ultrasound picture, but the cd they gave us a) doesn't work on macs, and b) when I put it in a PC I still couldn't figure out how to get the pics OFF the cd. What's the point of the cd if we can't do anything with the pictures on it?
Honestly, we were both kinda hoping for a girl. But really, we're just happy to have a healthy baby. Everything looked perfect. Mikey is very cute...he makes sure he gives his baby brother a hug every day.
Name? The name we have picked out is....Patrick Aaron Rupe. It's not written in stone, but that's most likely what it'll be. He'll be named after two of his uncles.
I'm finally outgrowing my regular jeans, and breaking out the maternity shirts. I've finally gained 7 pounds. Whew. All that chocolate ice cream is working. ;) Thank goodness for the invention of the belly band, because I really don't have any money to go buy a bunch of new pants that I'll only wear for 4 months. Hopefully it continues to work as I get even bigger.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Boy or Girl?

With the big ultrasound being just over a week away, it's time for a poll. Check out the sidebar on the right side, and vote!

Names are still up for debate. We have a boys name picked out, but if it's a girl...we have some discussing to do! I'm not worrying about it till then, because why argue about something that we potentially don't have to argue about?

Sunday, December 26, 2010

After 2 1/2 years...

I finally get pregnant...while we're living at my parents' house???

Of all the times for it to happen, why now? Not that I don't want it to...it's just...strange.

That being said, we're super excited. Kinda hoping for a girl, then we'll have one of each. But it doesn't really matter. Healthy is all we care about.

I realize people are meaning well when they ask how I'm feeling, but I usually just say I'm fine even when I'm not. Isn't it kinda personal whether I'm puking my guts out or not? Even if I am, I'd like to pretend I'm not, thanks.

EDD: AUGUST 3, 2011. Check out the floating baby thingy on my side bar. :)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Hi, I'm a working Mom

In 45 minutes I can: take a shower, get dressed, throw hair in a ponytail and do enough makeup to look decent. I find my picky 3 year old something to eat: leftover penne from Applebee's ("but I said noodles NO chicken!"), a "baby orange", egg nog, and strawberry banana V8 fusion that he insisted on buying because it's in fun little cans. I still have time to set out church clothes for my child, find my own shoes and socks, AND blog about it. Just enough time left to pry a screaming child off my leg ("Nooo! Don't go to wooork!") once he realizes that I'm leaving, make it out to the car without slipping on the icy driveway, and drive to work where my day REALLY starts.

Oh wait...I forgot to get myself something to eat. *sigh*

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Positive Thinking

I try really hard to post positive things, both here and on Facebook. I don't like people feeling sorry for me. I hate asking for help. I'm pretty independent, and I like it that way.

It frustrates me when I see or hear people complaining about things sometimes. There are other, bigger, problems I'm having, that those things seem to small to even worry about. If THAT'S what you're complaining about, you have nothing to complain about!

I know my life could be worse. I have a perfect, healthy, little boy who makes me smile multiple times daily. I know life would be easier if we would have waited to have kids, but I can't imagine I'd be any happier. Also, I love my husband. We have our share of struggles, but remembering that we still have each other keeps us going.




Dig - Incubus

We all have a weakness
But some of ours are easy to identify.
Look me in the eye
and ask for forgiveness;
We'll make a pact to never speak that word again.
Yes, you are my friend.

We all have something that digs at us.
At least we dig each other.
So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday.

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

We all have a sickness
That cleverly attaches and multiplies
No matter how we try.

We all have someone that digs at us.
At least we dig each other.
So when sickness turns my ego up
I know you'll act as a clever medicine.

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohh
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.