Co-sleeping and breastfeeding

Believe it or not, I didn't choose to co-sleep, my husband did it for me. During my pregnancy I read several books that talk about co-sleeping and I was decided to put Allison in her crib. I talked about it with V and we both agreed.

Then she was born. 

We fell in love with her.

And our plans changed.

If I was putting her in her crib, she would start crying. Val couldn't handle it and asked me to let her sleep with me. I did it but telling him that when we arrived home it would not be like that. I was still decided to put Allie in her crib.

Then I loved feeling her peacefully sleep.

And my mind changed. 

How would I reject that incredible feeling? How would I destroy the bond that was being created? I couldn't do it. 

Besides, having a baby is tiring. Not the fact of giving birth, but the fact of taking care of her -specially the first months. A new mum needs to sleep too to be able to give the best of herself to that tiny creature. 

So, I co -slept and still co-sleep. I have breastfed my daughter and, leaving aside the sentimental part, co-sleeping has allowed me to sleep "through" the night. Nursing her half-awake-half-asleep and both falling asleep together is great! I don't think I had been able to get up every two hours at night, sit on the rocking chair, nurse her, put her back in the crib and fall asleep again. That must be tough!

Now I'm thankful to Val for making me discover all the precious moments that I have shared with our daughter.

Now that it's coming to an end.

Allie is one and things are changing. 

I'm breastfeeding her twice a day only: for her afternoon nap and at night. Soon it will be only once a day. And then it will be over. 

I am sad. Maybe more than her. She will probably forget and continue with her life, but I will always remember those moments.

Our moments.

Pancakes (o tortitas)

On May 5, this is what my mum ate for breakfast. I cooked it for her -it was Mother's Day in Spain. Since this is typically an American breakfast, I will post the recipe in Spanish. However, for the quantities I will use their Cups and Spoons measurement utensils. 

Ingredientes:
3/4 Cup  Leche
2 Tbsp  Vinagre de vino blanco
1 Cup  Harina
3 Tsbp  Azúcar
1 Tsp  Levadura
1/2 Tsp  Soda
1   Huevo
2 Tbsp  Mantequilla derretida
1 Tsp  Extracto de vainilla

Preparación:

   En un bol pequeño mezclad la leche con el vinagre y dejadlo reposar unos 10 minutos, así conseguiremos leche agriada (no agria). No os preocupéis que no notaréis el vinagre en el producto final. 

   Mezclad los ingredientes secos en un bol mediano.

   Pasados los 10 minutos, añadid a la mezcla de leche y vinagre el huevo, la mantequilla derretida (no caliente) y el extracto de vainilla. A continuación, lo vertéis sobre la mezcla de ingredientes secos y mezcláis hasta que no queden grumos.

   La masa quedará espesa. Dejadla reposar unos 10 minutos. Entonces veréis que aparecen unas burbujitas, no remováis. Sacad la masa en porciones de 1/4 C y vertedlas en una sartén previamente engrasada. Deberéis darle la vuelta cuando veáis que empiezan a aparece burbujas en la superficie. Un minutito más en la sartén y listas para comer. 

Nota:

Aquí las van apilando para que no se enfríen las primeras y las comen con sirope, nata, chocolate, fruta, mermelada... Vamos, que las podéis comer con lo que queráis.

Monthly Update

Allison likes books

Her first tooth

We went to a Moroccan bbq

Her first tooth

"Welcome to my place!"

We celebrated New Year's Eve

She crawls fast!

Monthly Update

Our live lately, according to the pictures we took :

*Making new friends*

*Watching Christmas Parade*

  *Getting the house ready for Christmas*

 *Pic after receiving three shoots*

 *Thanksgiving's day at the McKenzie's*

 *On the way back from the mall*

 *Getting started on the reading habit*

*Helping mum to do the groceries*

Monthly Update

One month since we landed in Houston. 

The flight was good, but way too long and tiring since we were traveling with the baby. Allison is such a sweet girl... she didn't cry! I have to admit that that was our biggest concern.

As per the month itself, we have spent at home most of the time organizing stuff, cleaning, cooking... and we have tried to adjust our internal clock to the actual clock, which has been difficult but we made it.

In between some cool things have happened:

Allie's first time sleeping in her new crib

Fun talks

Tidying up stuff from Ikea with a baby

Allie eats cereals

Allie can sit and crawl

Just The Two Of Us

Since Allison was born it has been just the two of us. We had to wait for all my legal paperwork to be accepted to be able to join my husband in Texas. But the waiting time is over: we'll be reunited as a family in October 7.

Although I've had my parents around all this time, in certain situations it would have been very helpful to have him near. Sometimes it has been hard, sometimes tiring, sometimes frustrating, but always satisfying. My baby is the cutest (as all babies are for their mums) and I would do anything for her to be happy so she can give me her best smile. That's all I need to forget all the hard, tiring and frustrating times.

I know adapting our just-the-two-of-us life to the just-the-three-of-us one will not be easy, but we will make it. We will be happier, stronger and... busier, specially Bi Zan and I. But we cannot wait to see Allison grew together, to share the same moments with her, and to love her and let her amaze us every single day of her life. 

We cannot wait to be just the three of us.

Breastfeeding in public

Before being a mama, I tend to look at women who were breastfeeding in public, but with an innocent look. When looking at them I was imagining myself doing the same in the future because I think it is the most wonderful thing on earth, and we don’t have to hide it. I believe it creates an unbreakable bond between mother and baby. It is a unique moment just for the two of them. Now that I am a mama, I can say that I would never change that time with my baby for nothing in the whole world. I totally love it.

Currently doctors recommend mothers to breastfeed when the baby demands it, and to forget about the old theory of doing it every three hours. It isn’t only used to feed them, but also to calm them down when crying, to relief their stomachache, to help them sleep… I confess I follow my doctor’s advice: every time I feel she wants teta, I am more tan pleased of giving it to her.

It is true that I have only been a mama for eleven weeks; but since I am breastfeeding Allie when she demands it from the very first minute she was out of the womb, I have been able to hear lots of comments about it, comments like “are you giving her teta again?” or “why don’t you cover her head?”; apart from weird looks from strangers in the street that make me want to yell at them “I’m not showing you my teta, I’m just feeding my baby”.

Anyway, I’m happy with the way I’m doing and handling it. No matter where we are, I am always ready to open my shirt and feed my baby looking at her with a huge smile on my face. Those people will never make me feel uncomfortable when doing something so natural.

If you want to read a good story about breastfeeding in public, click here.