Insufficient...

Low milk supply, mastitis, working full-time, pumping...Breast is best but sometimes even our best efforts don't yield enough.

Somedays I have to remind myself that some milk is better than none and that I need to let go of the frustration and embrace the moments I'll have with this little one while she's a newborn.

Only comfort is knowing I'm not alone with the struggle. :-)

Welcome home little one

There is nothing sweeter than tiny ears and a tiny nose, tiny fingers and tiny toes… Today our baby is 12 days old.  She has spent almost every moment since birth in my arms: feeding, sleeping… being.  

Her new baby smell and tiny features are achingly beautiful to me because I see not just her beauty but the moments I was too overwhelmed to absorb with our first.  Truth be told I’m just as tired & overwhelmed as before if not more (juggling two seems harder even with my husband’s help) but I now know just how quickly time passes and I’m determined to absorb, enjoy & etch it in my memory.  The sleepless nights will pass and before I know it we will be chasing a toddler and then a preschooler and then…  well I better enjoy this time along with all her tiny bits.

Welcome home little one.

Expecting & WBW

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week I want to make you aware of two great resources. One is Shari Criso and the other is her www.mybabyexperts.com site and TV show. Shari Criso is a real mom, real expert with real advice. An award-winning author of the "Simply Breastfeeding: The Criso Method" DVD program who has had tremendous success helping other moms breastfeed. As many of you know I am expecting baby #2 any day now (will be induced on the 11^th if she doesn't come on her own) and in preparation for her arrival I found Shari.

I was fortunate enough to have found her just in time since I had MAJOR breastfeeding issues with my first daughter and was (am) trying to do all I can to be better prepared this time around. I watched her two hour My Baby Experts web TV special the other night (in honor of World Breastfeeding Week and her friends attending BlogHer11) and was among the 1st to find out about her really exciting & fun Fan contest for the month of August. Anyone who LIKES her page on Facebook can participate in their chance to win an iPad2 or $500 cash!!!

That's right, they are going to pick one lucky winner to receive a super cool, brand new iPad2 OR $500 in PayPal CASH. Now I don't know about you but I for one could use the $500 cash with another baby just arriving although the iPad is so cool I might just HAVE to opt for that if I win. 

Shari is launching this contest along with the support of her blogger friends Baby Dickey, MamaB, and Little BGCG) who represented her at BlogHer 2011.  To enter this giveaway, simply follow her on Facebook: Shari's Facebook Fan Page and add yourself to her weekly newsletter. There are plenty of ways to gain additional entries listed here, which are totally optional, but I'm sure you'll want to take advantage of them!

BTW… I bought her streaming DVD (before she put it on sale for half price this weekend) and LOVE the format and info. Even if you have already taken a class if you are serious about breastfeeding you NEED to watch her video. Best of luck!