Here we are, December again. There was snow on the ground last week, and it has since melted. However, as I write this entry, it has begun to snow again. Winter has arrived, even though it is not yet December 21st. This bums me out majorly… 🙁
The difference this year is that our lives are filled with happiness as Allie grows and grows. Every day she learns new things. Every day she seems a little bigger, a little stronger, and a little cuter. And even the bleakest, snowiest days don’t seem quite so bad.
[[image:allie116a.jpg:Giggle giggle:center:0]]
And before I forget, a belated Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha to everyone!
Parenthood is definitely one of the coolest things in the world. I never really understood it (only imagined it), but watching your child change daily, reading parenting books, trying out what the books say and seeing her react, it’s just amazing.
[[image:allie117a.jpg:Tiger Music Ball on Gymini 2:center:0]]
I feel like although I am the same person I was last year, with the same likes, dislikes, wants and needs, I am also somehow different. More, somehow.
[[image:allie120a.jpg:Tummy time with Mak:center:0]]
Nursing is as difficult and as rewarding as the books say. Perseverance is the key. And with the encouragement and assistance of Vin, friends and family, god willing, Allie is 100% breastfed. I no longer feel helpless and inadequate, and Allie keeps filling out and outgrowing her clothes. I’m not looking at other babies, noting how chubby they were and wishing that Allie was that chubby too (in the process feeling guilty and inadequate). I’m not jealous of other women’s apparently excessive milk supply. Even though we had to supplement with formula for a few weeks way back in the beginning, we have stopped that and she seems to be fine. So much so that we decided to go with La Leche International’s recommendation of only breastmilk for 6 months. We consciously decided not to start Allie on solids until she is 6 months old *knock wood*
[[image:allie119a.jpg:Rocking the mohawk!:center:0]]
I even have bags of expressed milk in the freezer for emergencies! Which takes us to a fun IM session with Lil about things you can make with breast milk:
1. Ice cream
2. Butter (!!!)
3. Momsicles
4. Yogurt
But NOT cheese. Apparently breast milk is low in protein, that allows it to curdle and become cheese. This makes breast milk easier to break down and digest, and is also why you can’t feed an infant straight cow’s milk – the infant is not equipped to digest this protein.
I think that’s enough musings for now. How about some fun pictures:
[[image:allie122a.jpg:Waving to Lily:center:0]]
[[image:allie121a.jpg:You’re gonna get it, Yellow Belly!:center:0]]
You can see I’ve been playing with the sepia settings. Let’s end the rambling with this picture that melts my heart:
[[image:allie118a.jpg:Daddy and Allie:center:0]]
