Don’t judge a book by its cover they say yet we all do it because its human nature.

You grow up thinking life will be all roses and butterflies only to realize its not. 

Breastfeeding was one of those unpleasant realizations for me. I just assumed I’d be able to nurse my babies because I WANTED to. It’s in your DNA once you become a mom right?

Breastfeeding is HARD whether you’re a first, second or third time mom…you get my drift. Breastfeeding does not discriminate. If you’re having difficulties, IT’S OKAY. IT’S NORMAL. Just like with pregnancies each journey is different.

I STRUGGLED. Not just a little either. I struggled A LOT! I’m still struggling.

With our oldest breastfeeding lasted about six months and even then it was one or two feedings per day. It gave me great pride but my plan was to breastfeed her an entire year.

The next time would surely be easier right? WRONG. IT WASN’T.

I was blessed with boy-girl twins (my DREAM)! My colostrum came in while in the hospital I thought I was on my way to success but I wasn’t. There just didn’t seem enough time in the day while raising two newborns and a 21 month old. In addition, our baby boy had latching issues. After about a month I quit.

The third times the charm right?

I certainly hope so.

So here I am with a 4.5 year old and TWO almost 3 year old and I’ve never been more DRIVEN to breastfeed our newest baby boy. Am I kidding myself? Time will tell I suppose…

I had no colostrum or breast milk during our hospital stay. The saga continues I thought.😢  I made the decision to bottle feed our Jaxson. I’d be lying if I say a part of me didn’t feel broken but I knew it was best for our baby. FED is best. NOT breast, NOT bottle. FED.

The next few days at home was more of the same. I would pump 15 to 30 minutes for a measely 1 to 3 ounces. It was extremely painful mentally and physically. I was sore and Jaxson was tongue-tied making it difficult to latch.

I felt defeated. I cried. But…I kept going and VOILA!!!! The angels rejoice 😁 One week of milk!!

After a week my milk came in. I pumped every 3 to 4 hours even at 2 a.m! Thanks to the hubby who woke up (even though he complained) and fed Jaxson while I pumped. I am proud to say I’ve exclusively fed Jaxson breastmilk since.  Now that I have a stock pile of milk I am nursing directly.

What made the differnce?

1. I know you dont want to hear this but HYDRATE. HYDRATE. HYDRATE. I drink 100 to 160 ounces of water daily. TIP. Drink 1 to 2 bottles everytime you pump.

1. EAT. EAT. EAT.  Who doesn’t like an exxuse to eat? I know I do. Your body needs more calories than when pregnant so eat at least six times daily. TIP:- Google lists of food that promote milk production.

1. REST.  Getting as much rest as possible is hard with a newborn. TRUST ME, I KNOW but it’s necessary.

1. SUPPORT. Find your support system preferably a mama who is/has nursed for an extensive amount of time.  The Lord blessed me with my cousin J who nursed and was a L&D nurse.

What have I tried differently?

1.  Lactaion cookies. They are a bit expensive but they do taste good. PS:- I only ate them for a week. 
2. Fennel tea. It’s a little different..an aquired taste.
3. Mothers milk…haven’t tried yet.

Here’s a long but great read to help you on your breastfeeding journey.

I am here to tell you DON’T GIVE UP MAMA. You can do it. You too can persevere. I’m rooting for you!

Good luck with your breastfeeding journey mamas!

XOXO

Motherhood is a choice you make everyday to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own; to teach the hard lessons; to do the right thing, even when you’re not sure what the right thing is…and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong ~Donna Bell

I took a break from blogging, but now I’m back. I hope you didn’t miss me too much. 😉

We all measure our successes differently. Being a mom is my greatest accomplishment. I always knew I wanted to be a mom. In fact, my greatest fear behind snakes (I’m TERRIFIED just thinking about snakes) is fear that I wouldn’t be able to bear children. I know it’s a weird thing to spend one’s teenage years worrying about, but this thought consumed me at times. Perhaps, why the Lord blessed me with twins. ☺

MOM…this one little word changes EVERYTHING.

I remember being so unsure of myself the weeks leading up to delivery and the weeks after…but I SURVIVED! I cried when my mom left, but the mommy instincts kicked in. When we got pregnant the second time, I felt assured because I had done it before, only to realize we were having TWINS. Raising three kids so close in age is an enormous feat, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Watching them makes my heart happy. Being a mommy is more than I ever imagined. My kids have multiplied my strength, my courage, my perseverance. These three little people have taught me so much. They give me joy and hope and laughter, their hugs, their kisses…when they say “LOVE YOU” 😍😍

I hope all of you lovely ladies had a wonderful day. I most certainly did. I slept in, got up took a shower, put on makeup, combed my hair, painted my nails…spent much of the morning ALONE. That in and of itself is a treat, right? Once I came downstairs, I was treated to brunch by the hubby. He had a nice spread consisting of eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, avocado, fresh strawberries and cantaloupe. It was lovely. To top it off, we had mimosas ☺

Brunch was delicious. Not having to clean the kitchen was nice BUT the best part was not changing a single diaper. Yes you read that right. I DID NOT CHANGE A SINGLE DIAPER. IT WAS HEAVEN😊 I think the last time that happened was probably during my hospital stay when I delivered our first child. I made sure hubby had all the practice reps with supervision around ☺ (He had never changed a diaper).

Anyway, I had big plans for a day in the city to check out a few museums or a ride on the Capital Wheel followed by family movie night at the National Harbor The weather had other ideas. It was cool, windy and wet. Later, the sun came out…the next best thing is an impromptu photo-shoot, right? I had to enjoy the little sunshine because I didn’t know when’s the next time I would see sunshine. (Its been raining for WEEKS, but that’s for another post.)

I grew impatient waiting for my MIL to share our pics so a second photo-shoot ensued 🙊🙈 I know, I’m horrible. I’ve become my MIL. I remember when she would have the cameras in our faces at 2 a.m! Look at these pictures though. They are just the cutest.

I told you they were adorable.

Thanks for reading…Have a great day 😚

With these frigid temperatures (-7° yes, NEGATIVE) there was no way I was going out to celebrate.

Luckily the hubby picked up a few crafts and things so here’s our impromptu Valentine’s party.

The only thing I planned was to make heart-shaped sandwiches for the kids. I gathered all the ingredients only to realize there’s no miracle whip! What’s a sandwich without miracle whip? Two slices of bread. It’s not a sandwich. So I settled for heart shaped toast and nutella.

My oldest couldn’t get enough of the chocolate covered strawberries while her brother wanted nothing to do with the chocolate. My kids are weird, I know; they don’t like sweets.

Here’s my very first homemade card from the hubby and the kids.

I hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day!

~TOODLES~
Stacey

HELLO 2016!!

So… where do I begin?

We all go into each new year with the best intentions, but somehow by the end of January life gets in the way and those goals become…

Continue reading →

Alexandria lies just a few miles from the Nation’s Capital though it may take you quite a while to make the drive. I like the feeling you get when walking the streets of Old Town. It evokes a quaint village feel. Boutique shops, charming hotels and fine dining can be found at every corner.

Few weeks ago, I wanted to visit for the Christmas Parade on the Potomac River and witness Alexandria coming to life for the Christmas season but of course everyone hosts their tree lighting at the same time so we missed it.

Hubby was off from work on this lovely afternoon in early December when we made our way into the city. I am always dragging him places whenever given the opportunity. Just like the kids, he’ll thank me later. 🙂

We dined at Pizzeria Paradiso AGAIN. I suppose it’s our new place to eat. What can I say…they make some really good pizzas and you can even customize it if that tickles your fancy.

Last time we visited I promised my daughter a ride on the trolley and I was able to fulfill this promise. Seeing the joy and excitement on her face was more than I could’ve asked for. She got a kicker out of ringing the bell at EVERY stop., thank goodness for the trolley operator’s patience.

I must admit, King Street wasn’t as decorated as I thought it would be but it’s definitely worth a trip. If for nothing else, it offers fine shopping at boutique shops and big brand stores as well. It’s a lovely stroll but on those colder nights a tour from the comfort of a heated transport doesn’t hurt either. The trolley ride is free and very informative. It tells of Alexandria’s history as you drive along the way. So grab a cup of Joe or hot apple cider and hop on!

If this post didn’t get you excited about a trip to Alexandria, check out this Alexandria’s Presidential Appeal Article featured in the latest issue of AAA World Magazine, perhaps that will do the trick.

BTW I forgot my phone in the car thus no pics while we rode the trolley.

~TOODLES~
Stacey

One of my favorite places to visit in Richmond is the Short Pump Town Center I can see you rolling your eyes and thinking…IT’S JUST A MALL, but if you’ve been there you’ll probably agree.

I love this place even if it is an outdoor mall! We often laugh about this because it does get cold in Richmond, but thankfully its been unseasonably warm this year; hence, my visit in December.

I don’t know what it is about this place; I don’t know if it’s being able to smell the fresh air and soak in the sunshine while you walk from store to store or having the opportunity to sit down in one of the many conversation areas and enjoy a cup of Starbucks or ice cream, depending on the weather. Whatever it is, I always enjoy watching the transformation in preparation for Christmas and this year was no exception!

So here we are during my girls-only weekend to Richmond; my mother-in-law joined us for the trip. I was glad she did; it was nice not having to chase after both girls.

Watching my oldest face light up as we rode around the Town Center was definitely worth the wait in the LONG line (well, Grandma waited in line) while the girls and I played in our favorite store, Pottery Barn Kids. It’s probably more my favorite place than theirs, but I never get any complaints while they play with these lavish kitchen sets and one of a kind toys.

Today was a great day with the girls.

I love this place!

~TOODLES~
Stacey

The moment you walk through the double doors of the visitor’s center you are captured in the spirit of Christmas.

This year’s H2Whoa-themed Gardenfest of Lights is a delight. It’s a spectacular display of more than half-a-million lights adorning the gardens. The Kelly Education Center (library) boasts an impressive one-of-a-kind model train display. The kids will love watching the train; be prepared to stay a while.

When you think of Christmas, name three things that pop into your head? SANTA CLAUS, FAMILY and CHRISTMAS MUSIC. There could be a few others, but I am speaking of the latter.

As we strolled through the gardens taking in the sights we realized it was missing that transformational aspect…MUSIC.  Music has that ability of transcending us to another moment in time and that’s what we needed. How can you have Christmas without Christmas music?

Nothing says Christmas like hearing the sounds of “Jingle Bells, or “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, or “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, or Luther Vandross’ “Every Year, Every Christmas” or Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas” or The Temptations’ Silent Night or Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” or Danny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” or Boyz II Men “Let It Snow” featuring Brian McKnight. It would’ve been a real Christmas miracle if it snowed this year but you get my drift…THERE WAS NO MUSIC!

It’s not often that I complain about anything at the renowned Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden because they usually think of EVERYTHING, but not this time.

If you’ve visited or plan to visit this spectacular lights display, please share your thoughts about the music, or lack thereof. You have until 11 Jan 2016 before the lights go out!

My kids trying to blow out the fire, thanks to their auntie.

Always so studious

A rare moment with his Grandma.

Happy Holidays!!

~TOODLES~
Stacey