I'm a little late to the game but I wanted to join up on Faith's Christmas Card Carousel.I think I've established the fact that I LOVE Christmas cards. I race home every day in December to the mailbox. The last few days I've had a TON of cards in our box and I just love opening them all!
I thought I would share our last few cards - this was 2005 - yes we made Dawson wear Reindeer ears! He never wants to look at the camera.
One of my favorite cards - 2006 - of course we had to make it Razorback themed.Arkansas had a really good year that year.
Last year's card
And I've already shown you this year's card.What I can't wait to start planning out is next year's card!!!
Last night I went to my last childbirth class - it was on breast feeding. Scott didn't go and he would have been glad. There weren't many husbands there. One of the bloggers I keep up with and who is due right after me is Adrienne and she was in my class!!! I kept looking at her thinking "I know her" but luckily she came and talked to me after class. Such a small world. It's so fun to run into bloggers random places!
I'm sure feeding the baby is completely natural and comes right to you - but the class left me a little stressed. I feel like there is so much to remember and keep up with. I can do this! (right?)
I hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend. We have one little party to go to Saturday night but other than that I plan to use this weekend to get caught up on everything and ready for Harper and Christmas! I can't believe Christmas is NEXT WEEK!!!!!
Harper has really dropped this week. My stomach is much lower. STILL BIG - but lower!
50 comments:
Hi,
Sorry to comment late on the Twighlight thing. I have it, and have read the first 200 pages, I must be the ONLY PERSON on the planet who is so bored. I feel bad about it, I want to like it, but I just can't get into it. I don't even want to finish it. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? Does it get better, should I keep going? I have never NOT FINISHED a book.
HELP. :)
Kelly S. (from the blizzard in Michigan)
Love all the Christmas cards!!
I just wanted to say (after breastfeeding 3 babies) that when the first one was born I kept thinking. "Why did no one tell me that this doesn't just come NATURALLY?!"
It's not that it's not "natural" per se, it's just that, most of the time, it takes a good bit of work and a whole lot of getting used to!
My 3 closest friends have all had at least 2 babies in the last 5 years and every one of us has had some struggles here and there and about half of the babies did not catch on right away, so go easy on yourself if it's not "perfect" right out of the chute. (That's why lactation consultants exist, lol!)
I just had to give you the disclaimer I wished someone had given me. :) Here I was just having a little trouble but thinking I was the only mom in the world who didn't just "get it" immediately. (Hopefully you're one of those naturals, but if not, at least you know that you're in good company! ;))
Merry Christmas!
love all your christmas cards! where do you make them at? they are all cute!
hope breastfeeding goes well for you. i didn't do it w/ our first one and i want to try it this time around (due in march), but i'm terrified!
I am the same way! I absolutely LOVE getting Christmas cards in the mail ;).It is just a great way to catch up with friends and family. I have to say my two favs are the Arkansas one and the one from this year ;).
I am sure you are thrilled that you have completed all of your classes. I felt the same way when I left the breatfeeding class, but the lactation consultants are AMAZING!
Your cards are so cute! You know you will have all of us praying for you when it comes to nursing. It can start out hard but it will become very natural and easy. Go ahead and have the number of a lactation consultant on hand and just plan on needing to use it when you get home. Then if you don't in up needing it, great! The L.C.'s that help you in the hospital are great and everything, but usually your milk hasn't even come in yet. Also, www.Kellymom.com is a great resource for nursing moms.
Loved seeing all of ya'll's cards!! I need to show these to The Debster - I really think they would greatly cement her belief that ya'll are in fact, THE cutest couple ever. :-)
And I can't offer any breastfeeding tips, but I will definitely send up some prayers on the matter!
Oh - good luck, it does not come naturally! Or at least for me it didn't! We tried and tried and tried and finally I decided there were millions of brilliant and happy children raised on formula. Long story to how we ended up there, but I really wish someone would've told me that it was ok to choose that route.
Hopefully you will be one of those moms where it is easy and works out right away!
You will eventually get the hang of breastfeeding. Just don't let anyone stress you out about it. And just like the last commenter said, if it doesn't work out formula is not the end of the world. What matters is that she gets fed and you can have just as much closeness with her bottle feeding as you can breast feeding. I will be praying for you!
I love all of your cards. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Okay, I need to be added to that prayer list. We have been trying for 5 years. The worst (or best?) part is that nothing is wrong with either of us. We want a baby of our own so bad!
-Hans
Breastfeeding doesn't have to be hard, but you have to start off on the right foot. If the baby gets a pacifier or any kind of formula in the hospital, it will make things much more difficult on you. The other tough thing I found as a first time breastfeeding mom is that you question yourself a lot. Formula is easy, because you can see exactly what the baby is eating. With breastfeeding, you just have to rely on 1) that the baby is making enough wet/dirty diapers and 2) that the baby is gaining weight. If those two things are happening, then you know the baby is okay.
Nurse soon and nurse often when the baby first comes to encourage your milk to come in.
And as a previous commenter already suggested, www.kellymom.com is AWESOME. You will find answers to any question you have. These two links in particular were helpful to me as I was preparing for my first baby's arrival:
http://www.kellymom.net/bf/start/basics/
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/latch-resources.html
And I will also say that I prayed - alot - before each of my daughters were born. Breastfeeding was important to me, so I prayed that God would allow for it to work. I think it definitely helped! :)
By the way, I started following your blog last year from boomama's Christmas tour, and I was one of the people who emailed you with IVF stories when you thought you were headed down that path. I've prayed for you, and I am so full of praise for your little one who is on the way. You are going to be a fabulous mother!
I am so thrilled to have found your blog! Best wishes as you anxiously await the arrival of God's most precious gift. Merry Christmas!
((((HUGE HUGS))))
--Shannon
P.S. Our 7-year old daughter was due early January and made her exciting debut Christmas Day! Best present ever. ;)
I loved getting your adorable card in the mail this year...I just LOVE it! And, I know next year's will be even cuter with that sweet Harper on it.
So glad you joined in the fun!! Merry Christmas!!!
Loved all the cards, you have a beautiful family and your daughter will be the crowning jewel. Have a very Merry Christmas!
What I thought was so funny is that Dawson's name got kicked off the card this year!! Haha! Poor little guy!
I was very blessed because breastfeeding has been very easy for us, but I know it is a struggle for a lot of people. I was so nervous that I wasn't going to be good at it. I would always tell Julee she was going to have to take a hide all my bottles so that I wasn't tempted to give up. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Even though it was pretty natural, I still had TON of questions. The LC at Willow Creek is very sweet and helpful! I love it though! It's the best bonding time. Plus, it is so easy to go places. As long as I'm there, he can eat!:)
I love this years card. I can't wait to see next years!!!!
All the christmas cards are cute.. but next year's will be so adorable! Can't believe that next week is Christmas either.. Enjoy your weekend!!!!!
I think the best way to prepare yourself for breastfeeding is to know going into it that there are times it is not going to be easy. It is definitely a sacrifice. The pictures you see of a mother nursing her baby looks so peaceful and sweet. That's not the way that it was for me for the first few months. I nursed 3 kids. One for 5 weeks, second for 8 months and third for 14 months. The first few months are hard and it will be easy to give up. I wanted to with all three but I stuck with it for the nutritional value and it was free. Can't do much better than free! Once you get the hang of it it will be much easier and convenient! Even if you don't stick with it, just doing it the first few weeks will be great for the baby. Usually the hospital will give you a number to a lactation nurse....call her if you have any questions the first few weeks. She will be a life saver! Good luck!
My husband is going to the breast feeding class. My friend said it really helped her husband to go. I am surprised that not many husbands were there. I hope that's not the case in ours.
Kelly,
Love this years Christmas card! Can't wait for next years with cute little Harper making her debut. Love all the updates on your prayer list. I love seeing people getting their hearts desires answered.
Hugs,
Melissa
I nursed my son for 2 weeks, he wasn't getting enough and wanted to nurse 24/7, whereas I was dealing with post partum depression and didn't want him nursing 24/7. After discussions with our pedi, my husband and I came to the decision that I was done nursing. It was the best decision for me because I felt like I could enjoy my baby so much more after I removed that stress. (I wanted little to do with him as it was, due to the PPD.) So that's my experience. He's now a happy, healthy, and smart 3 year old. :) Good luck with everything. You will do great and I pray that breastfeeding will come easily and naturally for you. (I'm pregnant with #2 now and I hope things will go much differently for me this go around.)
I agree with some of the other ladies. Breastfeeding is great, but you are not a bad mom if you choose formula. I tried to nurse my first, and that's the only stressful thing that I remember from her coming home. I just could not do it and I felt horrible and thought I was the worst mom because of all those people out there telling me that breastfeeding was the only healthy way. She is in 3rd grade now, and making high A's in her gifted classes, never had allergies, and has always been healthy and happy.
Every experience is different, but I just hate to see women feeling horrible because breastfeeding is just not for them. Just know that it's okay whatever you choose. With that being said, sometimes I do just wish that I had that experience with my little girls that so many women have with breastfeeding.
I love the cards! It's inspired me to promise to do cards each year. :-)
BTW- Your prayer blog is amazing! So many praises. God is great!
I love all your cards! Very creative.
You SO CAN DO the breastfeeding thing!! I know it sounds strange, but that was THE most bonding thing about being a mother to me. I absolutely loved nursing. If things fall into place for you, it will be the BEST experience. One of my kids "took" better than the other (I won't share which one was which so they won't KILL me!) - I just enjoyed what time I was able to do it.
I've been praying for you daily as you get closer and closer! It is SO hard to believe Harper is almost here.
Y'all always have great Christmas cards! I can't wait to see the 2009 card with Harper on it, too!!!
Have a great weekend!
Love your cards! I didn't nurse my first, but I did my second and I ended up loving it. Honestly, it was hard in the begining. I had to have a couple of lessons and really be determined to stick with it, and it turned out to be such a wonderful experience.
P.S. This might be in the "too much info" category, but just friend-to-friend, be brave with the breastfeeding--don't give up!...no one really warned me that it was pretty painful at first! Thankfully, both babies so far knew just what to do, so that wasn't the problem, but the first two weeks or so were not very comfortable at all for me! But it gets much much easier! Don't be afraid to hang out with the lactation consultants at your hospital--they're so nice and really want you to succeed!
I love all the cards, but poor Dawson-- he got booted from this year :). I can't wait to see next year's! Good luck with the breast feeding... I'm not a mother or I would offer much more advice!
Love your cards, Kelly! I've shown this year's to several friends b/c it is the cutest one I've gotten!
I gotta be honest with you. Breastfeeding was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it was so worth it. It didn't come easily or naturally for me, but I perservered through some yuck stuff and it eventually leveled out. Everyone told me to give it six weeks, and it was more like 10-12 before we "got it" but again, it's so worth it.
breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn't mean it comes easy! if you can make it past the first 2-3 weeks, you'll do great. it is hard, but it is very rewarding. it never bothered my kids to have a pacifier (saved my nipples a time or twelve!), but the more you "practice," the better it will get. try not to get discouraged with it...hang in there! enjoy your last few days(!) with miss priss on the inside!
Do you realize that your pregnancy ticker says only 24 days to go?!?! I am SURE that you know this, its just fun to watch it get closer and closer!!
Kelly,
I forgot to tell you that I made some of the glass ornaments that you had on your blog for my girls' classmates. They were school spirit ones with "eagles" on them and blue and white ribbons. All of the parents had a fit over them and thought they were so cute! Thanks again so much for the idea!!
Kristin from TX
I loved your card and you will definitely remember everything when you need it! I loved breastfeeding, but the class and every thought prior to doing it scared me to death!! But then it was all fine!
Have a great low-key weekend!
I personally always thought the breastfeeding class would have been more useful after Eli's arrival!!! Take full advantage of your lactation consultants at the hospital, and if you have to turn down visitors in the hospital to concentrate, don't feel bad doing so. My aunt is a lactation consultant, and if you ever need any advice, I will give you her number. She's the best, and wouldn't mind at all!
Love love love the cards. They all look so great. I agree with you, I can't wait to see next year's card!
I agree with the others on nursing, it is one of those things that is indeed tough at times, but it does get much easier, and the LC's are definitely helpful!
Hi Kelly - I am a recent reader of your blog and just wanted to say hi! I am so excited to hear about all the new pregnancies in the past few weeks!!!
I have a little girl who turns 1 in two weeks and I just wanted to give you a bit of encouragement that breastfeeding is fantastic! When I first got pregnant, I was really unsure if I could do it. But I took the class like you did (which was very helpful for me) and here we are 12 months later still enjoying it! I really think you will love it as well. It certainly came more naturally than I ever expected.
Many blessings to you and your sweet Harper. God Bless you for trusting in the Lord through all this and sharing your faith on this blog!
~Bri~
Mommy to Ashley Faith
You CAN breastfeed. But it's not natural and doesn't come to you or baby. If your hospital has a lactation consultant take advantage of the help!! If not I'm sure there is a LaLeche group in your area, there's bound to be some women in that who will help you. The first 6 weeks are the hardest, after that things get easier. Just set reasonable goals for yourself. If I can help feel free to ask!
Beautiful cards! I love the last design, what size is it? Where do you get them printed??
I thought it was funny that Dawson wasn't in the latest card. LOL
Speaking of Dawson, we are looking at getting a new doggie. I'm really leaning towards a Bichon like Dawson or Jessica's Bichon. The big question is where to find a puppy!
Kelly,
How beautiful all of your cards are. My fav is probably this year.
You will do great. Go with your heart my dear ~~ you're going to be a wonderful mommy.
Blessings to you,
Dawn
I have been enjoying your blog. I know I commented once before. (Harper was the name we had picked out but went with Stella instead) Anyway, click on over to my blog to see my Christmas card this year. I am so proud of it. Enjoy your holiday and good luck with the baby. Courtney
www.astaringuatemala.blogspot.com
All of your cards are FABULOUS!!! Can't wait to see next year's card with your new addition!
I think we need to do a Gator themed card one year. (:
Love all your cards--we are from AR and went with the Hogs themed card this year. Thanks for sharing. Just a couple of comments on breastfeeding. I loved every minute with my 2nd son. He latched on quickly and was a champ. My first son didn't catch on and I supplemented with him. My suggestions are drink plenty of water in the hospital--I was told it helps your milk come in quicker. Also no matter how tired you are at night in the hospital-- nurse her at night. It is not just something babies are born knowing how to do--You have to learn together. Good Luck!
I love all of your cards! My favorites are the Razorback card and this year's card as well. :)
Have a great weekend!
Hey Kelly! My 2 cents worth on breastfeeding is this...for some babies it comes very naturally, for some it isn't. Mine latched on really well. I think feeling relaxed yourself helps that. Lots of folks have said this but drink alot of water. Get a good water bottle you like and keep cold water in it. While you are nursing, drink. It is a good reminder during that time. The first few days never hurt me at all, but it was the week or so after that. Your body just has to adjust to it (you have to 'toughen up' if you know what I mean!) But the key is to persist. With all of mine, at one point I had to do my natural childbirth breathing when they latched on, but then suddenly one day, the pain was gone and we were home free for the next 12 months! Don't put too much on your schedule and get lots of sleep. You'll have mama there to help, so I am sure you'll be fine. I did get mastitis with 4 of my 5, but I think I am prone to that. The key is don't get run down, but that was hard for me without any family around to help me. But an antibiotic clears it up quickly if you do, so don't worry. You will absolutely love it. I have nursed 5 babies now and I am already sad he will be the last. I am so happy for you Kelly!!!! So soon it will be here!!!!!!!!!!!
ok, one more thing...actually 2! First, one gal that commented it is easier if they dont' get a pacy/bottle at first...with Eva she wanted to suck all night long at the hospital. There was nothing in there and I was exhausted at 2am. Ross ran home in the middle of the night and got her a pacy. She took it, was happy, and still nursed fine. My others didn't need one right away, so every baby is different. The other thing is this...my very wise dr. in Singapore told me they come out full! So I waited until I got back in my room, with just Ross and me, to nurse for the first time. They will offer you Harper to nurse right after she is born, but if you feel stressed, just do it an hour later when you are relaxed. She'll get it, don't worry!!!! p.s. Has Laurie given you babywise? It's worked for me 5 times and helps so much to know when to nurse!
I know what you mean about dropping so low. Aiden dropped, I feel like I look two sizes bigger! He's soooo low down now.
i'm so the same way! i loveee getting christmas cards! i'm always waiting at the door for the mail this time of year!
Love the Christmas cards - all of them! I think this years is my favorite though! Funny that Dawson never looks at the camera! lol
Hey,
I guess I have been kind of stalking your blog for awhile, and I thought now would be a good time to comment!
Just thought I'd let you know that I'm a native of Bentonville, but my husband and I went to OBU (oklahoma!!) and then he is now in seminary down in Ft. Worth. His family still lives up there and we go visit then frequently...so it is a small world!
Okay, now to the REAL reason I commented...I want to let you know that breastfeeding is not as complicated as it may seem. You can do it! It is the best thing for your baby...and you. Don't stres out about it, and just take it one ste at a time...everything will be fine. I breastfed both of my babies...well I still am breastfeeding my second! Good Luck...and you can do it!
Hi Kelly,
I found your blog by following a link and have so enjoyed your spirit as I've read your posts. I'm rejoicing with you over the upcoming birth of your daughter- we now have two with a boy in the middle. And I have a book on breastfeeding that you are welcome to have; if you're comfortable e-mailing me your address, I'll pop it in the mail. I nursed all three for 6 months each, but I counted the days down until I was done- I found this book very balanced and informative. Merry Christmas and blessings on your family as it grows!
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