The numbers are in! {Carson's weight update}

All of my hard work has paid off. Carson gained a pound in the past nine days!

Gained like a champ this week! 

After discovering Carson had close to seven weeks with very little weight gain, we started offering him a bottle after each nursing session. On average he has been drinking an additional 15 ounces in addition to nursing 5-6 times in a 24 hour period. That's a lot! It sure made me wonder how much he is getting when he nurses.

Today I took him to a breastfeeding support group for his weigh in. At these meetings you weigh your baby naked, then with clothes and a diaper. After nursing you weigh in again to see about how many ounces your baby drank. Today, after relentlessly boosting my supply, Carson drank 4.2 ounces. Certainly not enough for this growing boy!

So what does that mean? Today's weigh in proved he CAN gain weight (and quickly!). It also means he still needs to be offered a bottle after nursing. More personally, it means I have to decide if I am going to continue pumping 4 times a day. Oh wait...I already decided I'm not.

I will continue to pump on a schedule (in the morning and before I go to bed) to get as much milk as I can. I cannot be hooked to a pump any more than that. Besides the fact that it is just about the worst thing ever, I am pumping out milk that Carson could be drinking from the source a couple hours later.

Want to know the BEST THING EVER?! I am leaving tomorrow for a weekend away with some girlfriends. Couldn't have come at a better time. Good-bye stress, hello champagne! Feels good already.

Numbers don't lie {Carson's weight update}

Two weeks ago I found out that Carson (4.5 months old) was not even on the charts for his weight. After spending the last two weeks boosting my supply Carson has gained only 1.5 ounces, and for perspective's sake, only 7 ounces in the last 7 weeks.

Weight gain FAIL. 

Those numbers don't lie...but Carson's charming personality, gummy grim, and the fact that he's meeting all of his milestones, makes me wonder about those numbers.

Everyone who meets him thinks he looks as healthy as can be. One of my friends was surprised he was as slim as I said he was. Another said he looked heavier after just a few days of diligently boosting my supply. (I have very nice friends!) Today at our play date I expressed the concerns with Carson's weight gain and it seemed half of the parents had the same issue with their own child or knew someone who did. This was very reassuring!  

We do have a new plan to prove that he CAN gain weight. In addition to keeping up with the fenugreek and pumping, I will offer Carson a bottle after each nursing session. Breast milk until my freezer stash dwindles, then breast milk mixed with formula to eventually transition his tummy to formula bottles.  

Even with all the reassurance I have gotten from parents, I still can't help but wonder why my milk isn't helping Carson pack on the pounds. Unlike my nursing experience with Leila, nursing Carson has been a breeze.

Carson's next "weigh in" is Wednesday the 21st. I am trying not to go there with the "what ifs..." but of course I have a plan just in case.

The best words of assurance I have received thus far, "You will tackle this challenge like you do every other in your life." I told you I have awesome friends!

Care to share your tiny baby stories and what worked for you?

Boosting my supply...again

We went to Carson's four month doctor appointment this week. I was very anxious to get his stats.  There's something exciting about learning how big and tall your child is and where they fall on the growth chart!

I knew Carson was a tiny guy, but can see him growing out of his clothes. I see him meeting milestones like rolling over, laughing, consolidating his sleep, etc. I was aware that he is much smaller than other babies his age, but really had no reason to be worried. 

Until now.

Carson IS growing...he has grown 3 inches (25 1/4 inches = 37%) in the past two months and his head continues to grow at an average rate too.  But his weight is low, like not-even-on-the-growth-chart low. At four months and 2 weeks old, Carson weighs under 12 pounds, 11 lbs 14 oz to be exact. Slim boy!

Having a tiny baby is not new to me. At four months old, Leila was 10 lbs 15 oz, although unlike Carson, actually made it on the growth chart. Barely. I was working full time at this point in Leila's life and not able to pump enough breast milk for her while I was at work. She started on formula, in addition to my milk, at the four month mark. By seven months our breastfeeding days were over and she had formula until she was one. She gained weight rapidly after being on formula. By ten months she weighed 19 lbs and was in the 50th percentile on the weight growth chart. Two years later...she only weighs 26 lbs. Slim girl!

Jeff and I make tiny children. That is a fact. Carson is showing the same growing patterns as Leila did this early in life. So on one hand, logic tells me not to worry, he will gain weight on his own time. On the other hand, I cannot help but wonder if there is another issue.

Can being TOO happy be an issue?

The nurse practitioner Carson saw on Monday (who also happens to be a certified lactation consultant) recommended that I supplement with formula or find a breast milk donor. Ummm, no and no. I made it clear that I wanted to continue exclusively breastfeeding Carson for as long as possible. She was on board, shared the story of her own slim son, and made some recommendations on how I could boost my milk supply.

So that's where we are today, working on boosting my supply. I am taking fenugreek and blessed thistle to increase my milk. I am feeling confident this will work after our earlier experience with no weight gain (from five days old until two weeks old) was successful. In addition, I am pumping between most feedings and storing it for a later time. (For some reason she doesn't want me to feed it to him.) I was also directed to eat oatmeal two times a day. I have taken it upon myself to make Betsylife's No Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites and Milkin' Mamas Lactation Cookies. Both are delicious and have milk boosting ingredients.

I made a few changes to the cookie recipe. Comment if you want to know more!

We have a follow-up weight check on Monday, August 12th. Until then I am doing my best to boost my supply. I am not naive to the fact that I may have to supplement, but at this point I am taking it one recommendation at a time.

Any recommendations for boosting my milk supply?

Baking with a toddler

Usually I bake when Leila is napping.  It just seems easier (and not so messy) that way.  Today I decided to try to make these easy healthy breakfast muffins I saw on Betsylife with Leila's help.  The entire experience was a success!

You were thrilled to mix the dry ingredients...

eager to measure the pumpkin puree... 

...and mindful that the mix made it into each paper liner.

The best part, of course, was tasting the muffins.  They were perfectly moist and delicious. I loved sharing this experience with Leila and am so excited to have a helper in the kitchen. 

Do you bake with your toddler?  What are some of your easy, healthy, go-to recipes?       

Mealtime madness

Life with a two-year old can be maddening.  They are constantly asserting their independence by voicing their opinions, trying to do everything themselves, and changing their mind by the minute second.

Mealtime at our house has become the worst time of day.  First of all, Leila insists on choose her own plate, silverware, and cup. These are choices I have no problem with, until they make her crazy.  I want this plate, no this plate.  This cup, no I don't like this cup.  I want the other one.  You see where I am going here...and this is before the food is even served.

This was the first smile I've seen at mealtime in a while.

Leila never wants to eat anything served to her, naturally, because it wasn't her idea.  Her once "favorite" foods become gross.  She wants her sandwich cut into big pieces seconds after requesting little pieces.  I don't like that, has become the phrase I hear most often.  She pushes her plate away or plays with her food. This behavior is driving me nuts!

I give her choices.  I've resorted to bribery and trickery.  I set limits and make it my mission to follow through with what I've said.  I know she won't starve if she doesn't eat, that's not really what I am worried about.  We can't make it through mealtime without listening to whining (or even crying) and I am losing it.

Please tell me you have some tips that I can implement right away!  The first thing I am doing is making "set" times for meals and snacks, just like we have set times for sleep.

Any suggestions (or just plain sympathy)?    

Staying active and healthy during pregnancy

Pregnant or not, staying active and eating healthy foods are an important part of my daily life.  

Everyone knows the benefits of regular exercise and healthy eating.  But how much is too much for someone who is pregnant?  Of course, it all depends on your fitness level before you were pregnant and, most importantly, your doctor's recommendations.

For me, my previous pregnancy experience shaped my views on how hard I push my currently 23-week-pregnant self.  

When I was pregnant with Leila, my 5'1" frame gained 50 pounds.  Not only was that way over the recommended weight gain, it was a pain, literally, to carry around all that extra weight.  I hated how I looked in my third trimester and even worse, hated how I looked and felt after having Leila.  I promised myself (and my sisters) I would NEVER repeat my biggest rookie mistake again.

Currently, staying active and healthy during pregnancy is on the top of my to-do list.  I've been approved by my doctor to run (alright, it's more of a jog these days) and lift light, five pound weights.

My weekly exercise goals have been:

• Run 2-3 miles, three days a week.  Most days I push a beast of a stroller, but one day a week I request a time to run all by myself.  It's amazing the difference it makes being able to use both hands for momentum while running.
• Walk, one day a week.  We walk to the local Farmers' Market one afternoon a week.  
• Lift weights, using my favorite DVD (Bob Harper's Biggest Loser Boot Camp), two days a week.  Of course I have to make modification due to my belly getting in the way!  My sister Valerie is the best motivator and we found time to workout together each week.  My other weight workout is completed during Leila's nap time. 

That's a total of six workouts a week!  It's been easy to fit exercise into my pregnant life, because I was already committed to my fitness before I got pregnant.

This week was special!  I was able to fit in a bonus workout with Jeremy Jackson and DJ Pickel, represented by Look Better Naked Health Management.  Also, thanks to San Diego Mom's Night Out and FITzee Foods for spreading the word on this event.

This fun and active event was right up my alley!  We met at FITzee Foods for an introduction...

Fitzee Foods creates freshly made, pre-portioned meals designed to keep their customers healthy, balanced, and totally in control of their nutrition. Their meals are prepared daily with fresh, organic, and all-natural ingredients.  FITzee also offers a variety quick snacks and meal replacement bars to keep you fueled and focused on the go. All products are available in three specifically portioned sizes to fit each client’s unique lifestyle. All you need to do is heat, eat, and taste the FITzee difference!

Then we headed to a local park, complete with a DJ, for our workout with Jeremy Jackson.  Let me just say, this workout was no joke!  I figured since this event was open to the public, the workout had to be mainstream-appropriate.  I definitely had to modify his exercises and learned a few killer new ones in the process.  (On a side note, Jeremy was full of energy, very personable, and nice to look at.)

Sweaty and giddy after our hour long workout. (Please excuse the poor phone camera quality.)

Once we completed our sweat-session, we headed back to FITzee Foods for food samples, fresh juice, and our swag bag.  

I totally fell in love with their Chewy Chocolate Chip FITzee bar.  You can see a random customer felt exactly the same way I did about the FITzee bar.

  

I loved this event!  My competitive side really came out and I rocked the workout, belly and all.  I have the sore arms, upper back, butt, core, AND hamstrings to prove it.  That didn't stop me from running three miles the next day though.  I do have Thanksgiving Day 5K coming up...

How much do (or did) you push yourself to stay active and healthy during your pregnancy?

Two-year old Favorites {Food Edition}

There are vegetables on that pizza!

Leila is the typical toddler when it comes to eating habits.  One day she LOVES a food and the next she won't even try it.  She wants to do everything by herself, including cutting her food into pieces.  And she hates vegetables, but is still willing to try them.  By try them, I mean touch them to her tongue and spit it out.  

Typically she eats six times a day. She eats a lot of snack-like meals throughout the day instead of three big meals.  Once in a while she will skip a snack and that's when I notice she eats a bigger meal.

1. Wake-up snack: She still loves our green smoothie with a daily dose of fruits and veggies.
2. Breakfast snack
3. Mid-morning snack
4. Lunch
5. After-nap snack
6. Family dinner: She is offered the dinner that I make for me and Jeff with a few modifications if necessary.

Lately Leila's been calling everything "spicy" before she even tries it.  She's working the system here.  A cheeseburger is not too spicy, and broccoli, well, we know it's not spicy at all.  She has realized that if it's spicy she doesn't have to try/eat it.

There are some things we eat that are too spicy for her, so when she asks for some, we tell her that it's too spicy and that she doesn't want it. (When she insists on trying the spicy food, she spits it out than wipes her tongue repeatedly with her hand.)  Looks like we are going to have to change our wording!

So what does Leila's typical toddler menu consist of?  What are this toddler's favorite foods?  I am not proud of this menu.  Don't share it, pin it, or even try to feed it to your child.  I can only hope that like me, she too will come to her senses and expand her menu as she grows up.  (I was the pickiest eater EVER. Some would say that I still am pretty picky.)

Leila loves to eat:

• cheese
• frozen waffles
• fruit- her favorites vary by what we we have in the house
• applesauce
• crackers
• quesadillas (plain cheese, with beans, chicken, or ground turkey)
• pretzels
• granola bars
• raisins
• Greek yogurt
• beans
• mac and cheese
• grilled cheese (sometimes she'll eat it with ham)
• Peanut butter and honey sandwiches (if I use the star cookie cutter)
• avocado
• mixed cereal trail mix with yogurt covered raisins
• pasta with tomato sauce (if she can remember that she likes it)
• olives
• pizza

Pretty boring, huh?  Like I mentioned, she does eat whatever I make for dinner, but it would never make her "favorites" list.  Leila is good about trying something new or taking another bite of something to get more of what she wants.  It's a work in progress.  

I seen so many lists like these with much better ideas on them.  I've had great intentions to make these creative toddler meals I've seen online, but buying all the ingredients can get pricey just to find out she won't even try it!  Any suggestions on how to expand this toddler's menu without breaking the bank or having a lot of waste?

Eats- Christmas morning BEST egg dish

I posted one recipe on this blog about a week ago and somebody actually tried it (thanks Grandee!) and another friend sounded genuinely interested in thinking about making it. Go me for making it sound good enough to try!

So this BEST egg dish I'm making for Christmas brunch is just as good as the Cheesy Stuffed Red Peppers I made but way easier. The best part...you make it the night before so on Christmas morning you can worry about cleaning up piles of wrapping paper instead.

Julie's Eggs- aka Jen's Eggs (no one actually calls it that...yet!)
Place 2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese in a 9x13 baking dish. Dot 4T. butter over the cheese. In a small bowl combine 1 cup half-and-half, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and 2T. prepared mustard. Beat 12 eggs and combine with cream mixture. Spread evenly over the cheese in the baking dish. Make the night before. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until fluffy.

I love simple recipes!

I came across this recipe while organizing my recipe box last year. It is typed onto a half sheet of plain white paper with a tiny old clip art picture of a hen in the corner. In neat purple letters I wrote, "Yum!". That was enough to convince me to try this mystery recipe (although I am pretty sure I got this recipe from a Julie I once worked with).

This egg dish is now made by me, my mom, and two aunts. That's FOUR families! (not including Julie's family, where ever they are) Look at my influence! You just can't beat how easy and delicious it is. (Actually you DO beat the eggs ;) Just tell me to stop. Now.)

Random reflection picture of us on one of our morning walks

Eats- Cheesy Stuffed Red Peppers

Since I've known Jeff I have evolved from knowing how to prepare two meals, to actually cooking most nights of the week. He thinks that my cooking is awesome. Well, he didn't actually say that, but he did say tonight that I made the best Cheesy Stuffed Red Peppers ever!

The two of us have been searching for the perfect mixture to stuff inside red peppers for quite some time now. I finally found perfection a few months back and tonight I was able to make them even better than he remembered. 

Jeff has admitted that I "won" this dish. What does that mean exactly? Well, it seems that I am the one who gets to make it. Wow. Winning feels great.

This recipe made enough mixture to stuff six large peppers. Tonight I baked only two servings (Leila ate some of mine) then froze the rest into two serving portions. A simple salad on the side was all we needed because I stuffed these peppers to the max. I couldn't even finish my entire pepper! Jeff scooped my leftover mixture onto some chips. I bet it would even be good wrapped up in a tortilla!

Cheesy Stuffed Peppers

You can see the original recipe with pictures here on Allrecipes.com. I basically followed it exactly, except I add more rice and sometimes I use extra lean ground pork or lean ground beef, depending what is on sale.

Ingredients: Serves 6.  I bake 2 servings then freeze the rest into 2 serving portions.

• 1 lb (93/7) Lean Ground turkey
• ½  package taco seasoning mix
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 cup of cooked long grain brown rice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes (reserve some to top pepper before baking)
• large red bell peppers (one per person)
• Cheddar cheese

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2.    Begin preparing long grain rice (cooks 40 min)

3.    Prepare pepper by cutting off the top and insides.  Place on foil lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.

4.    Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

5.    Place the ground turkey into a skillet over medium heat, and brown the meat, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess fat.

6.    Stir in the taco seasoning, water, chili powder, cooked rice, salt, garlic salt, black pepper, and 1 can of diced tomatoes; mix until thoroughly combined. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes.

7.    Place the cooked peppers into the prepared baking dish, place a slice of cheese at the bottom of the pepper, then fill with the meat and rice mixture.  Spoon the remaining can of diced tomatoes over the peppers.  Top with a slice of cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.

8.    Bake in the preheated oven until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot about 25 minutes. 

(Oh how I would love to have a mouth watering picture of our delicious meal right here. Not today. Not ever. Taking photos of food is way too hard.)