Sleep... It is a beautiful thing!

So, I fear in writing this that I am going to jinx it, but Aurora has been sleeping through the night for the past two weeks! It has been AMAZING!!! To get to sleep for 6-7 hours in one stretch, is just awesome! Granted, I am getting up between 5-6am, but after getting 6 hours of sleep!! This has not happened in over 15 months! So, life is very grand indeed! :)

Now, it could be a coincidence, but this started happening when I started to use essential oils on her. I finally decided to get DoTerra Essential Oils as I had been interested in them for awhile. Well, I got the box and that first night, I put OnGuard on her feet. Now, this oil is not meant to help with sleep, but rather to help be an immunity boost and to help fight infections. But, that night she slept, all night long. And then again the next night, and here we are two weeks later...

Now, my husband calls this hokum. Which it very well may be. But, hey, it worked, so I will just keep on using it, just to be safe!

Update: I have still been using it, and she has still been sleeping well! Last night in fact, she slept 12 hours!! And she woke up happy. This past month has been just fantastic! Again, could all be a coincidence, but I am going to keep at it and just bought my second bottle to make sure I don't run out!

www.mydoterra.com/karissaoien

325 days...

That is how many days I pumped at work (ok not actually because at the end I wasn't pumping weekends but close enough!). Almost made it a full year. It is really crazy to think that I almost pumped for a full year at work. Before I returned to work, I had no idea how long my breastfeeding/pumping journey would take me. I set small goals for myself. First, I wanted to make it to six months (which would have been March). That came and went and I was still going strong, then it was nine months, then a year. I made all those goals and while I had some issues throughout, overall, I was very successful! I was really proud of myself as I heard so many horror stories and failed attempts at being able to pump at work. I feel I was so successful though because I do have an amazing boss and work team that was very supportive of my taking the needed time to go and pump. I also made it a priority and put it in my calendar so I would make sure I did it. I did have to pump in a bathroom, but I made the best of it, and actually kinda got attached to that bathroom (an odd thing to be attached too, but I spent  a lot of time there!).

Once, I hit the year mark of breastfeeding, I wasn't sure what to do. We started to introduce regular milk, and I was going to start weaning. Well, she had a reaction to the milk, so I held off. Then, we tried other types of milk, and finally found that goat's milk worked for her. So, I cut out one session. Then the next week, I cut out another session, and then when I returned from vacation, I did not bring my pump.

It has only been one week without pumping now, and still every morning, I swear I am forgetting something! It is also so weird at night to not be rushing to clean bottles, pump parts, and the like. I was hoping that by gaining this added time would be so nice, but I have just filled it up with other items. I actually kinda miss my pumping time, as it was a forced time to stop in the work day, and catch up on a show :) What I do not miss though is the sound of the pump, cleaning, and worrying if I am making enough milk!

So, goodbye pump, see you when the next kid comes along! It was a good almost year that we had :)

15 Months!

I have all these other blogs I plan to write, but never have time to write to them. I am determined to keep up with these letters though, so here we go!

A,

My oh my, how you keep us on our toes! Just last night, you learned how to crawl out of your crib! I was shocked to walk in and find that you were waiting for me at the door! We quickly lowered it further and your mattress is now basically on the floor. You were not a fan of this and spent most of the night letting us know your displeasure! I am hoping you get used to it, because you (and us) need sleep! :)

You had quite a busy month this month! You had your first night away from both me and daddy. We went to Cambria to celebrate our 6 year anniversary so Grandma (my mom) came to stay with you! You had such fun with Grandma (Gamma as you call her at the moment) that you didn't want her to leave once we got home! Then over Thanksgiving Week, we went on a family vacation to Hawaii! It was an absolutely amazing trip! You did so well on the plane, only got antsy a bit, but mostly was very calm and relaxed and played with your toys. You really enjoyed looking at all the sights, but loved the water (wa wa) the most! You also liked the geckos that came to visit us at our first place we stayed. You truly made this vacation one of our best as watching your excitement for all the things around you and how you took it all in, was just amazing and made each day so much better!

Right now your diet consists of breastmilk (mama milk) in the morning and before bed and the goats milk during the day. You also eat pretty much whatever we are eating, unless their are blueberries around and then you will only eat them and ask for more!

You are now talking up a storm! We counted the other day and counted over 40 words that you can now say! You really are our little genius! You have started to say people's names which makes them very happy. Grandma of course, and your favorite teacher at school, Miss Cheryl! You love Miss Cheryl and said her name all the time when we were at Hawaii looking for you! You know when we turn into daycare because you now clap your hands and say, Miss Cheryl! It makes me so happy to know that you love your teacher so much as I know you are getting lots of love and attention while I am away from you!

You almost have all your teeth (you overachiever you!). The doctor said this morning your final molar and eye teeth are coming in! After that, you will only have your two year molars that hopefully will wait until you are two to come in! :)

I mentioned sleep earlier, but this is the one thing that eludes you. You do not like to sleep. You still wake up at least once a night. We have tried everything and just keep hoping and praying that one day you will decide to sleep through the night. I know it will happen on your schedule! You already let us know you want things done your way and that you have your own opinions! If I try and put a bow in your hair, you rip it out, but you will bring me a bow to put in, and then leave it in all day!

We love your impish grin as we call it. You know you are doing something you shouldn't and you just give us this little grin as if to say, well, I am cute, so I am going to do this! It is so hard not to laugh and smile back at that face!

Lastly, you have also taken it upon yourself to start using the potty! I already wrote a post about this so won't go into too much detail. But, just like with all things related to you, you only go when you want to. If we try and put you on, no way, you just get mad and walk away. If we are not around, you will sit and go potty like you have been doing it forever!

We love you so much and you have made our lives so much better than we ever thought possible! I crack up when people tell me how much weight I have lost, well, it is easy to do when I am just trying to catch up to you! :) I look forward to another amazing month watching you grow and learn and am just so thankful that I get to be your Mommy!!

Love always and forever,

Mommy