Wedded Bliss

Just a week ago today, Mom and I were driving back from Pittsburgh and reminiscing about the amazing wedding weekend that we were a part of. Leslie and Michael's wedding!

The rehersal was at Heinz Chapel in Downtown Pittsburgh, We almost missed it... it was a little tricky to find.. haha..




The bride and her Daddy..


The rehersal dinner was atop Mt Washington, which looked over the entire skyline and beyond


I didnt get to stay to see the city all lit up, bcause I got SOOOO sick. I was throwing up everywhere... Well in the bathroom I mean, My mom said I looked white as a ghost and I was feeling so weak and sick. So I had to leave early... and went back to the hotel. I was so upset! I missed an amazing meal, and (I was later told) 7 different cakes for dessert! ugh!!!

But I knew I needed to be on my game for the wedding. So I went back and passed out. And the next morning I was feeling a little shaky still.. but I played it safe at the salon with tea, and a bagel bite.



Knowing Leslie for over 10 years, I HAD to get a cameo of the bride with her signature drink of choice..



We made our way downtown and got ready at a nearby hotel room.




We headed over to the chapel, where Leslie got her dress on, and we all got the last minute touches done.

Her Mom and sisters were so cute,helping her put her garter on and steaming her dress.




The wedding was at Fox Chapel Golf Club which was so elegant and beautiful. I felt like I was in a movie.




It was really one of the best weddings I've ever been to, and it made me miss having Leslie nearby.



This is Grant. 3 weeks old. The littlest guest at the wedding. He was the son of one of the bridesmaids Nicole that was in the wedding with us. The bridesmaids were so great and nice. and I had such a great time!

I also got to see how wonderfully happy that her and Michael are and will be for a long time. The wedding brought many tears to my eyes on numerous occasions.

Comin' Along....

Things with the house are comin' along.. slowly. I have to remind myself that a new house is an ongoing project..

We finally got to utilize these fabulous copper pots and rack that have been in boxes since our wedding shower in 2008! Its great to finally cook with them, and the pot rack is very Williams Sonoma/French Julia Child kitchen, to which I am tres obsessed with, ha!

And Daddy has been doing the bedtime routine with Samantha Jane. Which has been such a breath of fresh air for me. What a change! Ever since she decided to boycott bottles, Somewhere in the 6-7 month age.. Its been all Momma.. yikes. I needed a break.

Im finally starting to capture the freedom of not breastfeeding anymore! I can go out with the girls if I want, I can go shopping at night, and I can enjoy a few adult beverages!!.. Oh and the greatest thing I had to give up having.. Coffee and Chocolate.. oh how I have missed you both!

Since I have been catching up on no coffee or choc.. I made an amazing snack this morning while Samantha slept in.. S'Mores Cookie Bars... UNBELEIVEABLE... Recipe and picture are COMING!

The End of My Milking Era..

Samantha Jane had her year checkup on Monday, July 19th. We pushed it back because of the move, etc. and I knew she was getting a boat load of shots, so I wanted to do one thing at a time, move in, then shots.. ha!

She got pretty sick too from the shots, she was running a 104 temp for about 2 days, and was very miserable poor bubba.

Anyways.. when we were there we met with the Lactation Nurse, and she asked, how is nursing going? To which I quickly responded, "i think im ready to be done" haha.. I would continue, but I feel that Sam's sleeping habits will IMPROVE without me nursing her. Plus, she loves whole milk, so she clearly does not NEED to breastfeed, she just WANTS to breastfeed.

I was dreading the end of nursing, more because I feel guilty and know that she likes it so much, but I am very proud of myself that I nursed her for 13 months.. and she quite frankly, looks so big when I would nurse her, I felt like she looked too old to be nursing.. ha!

Mathew and I were going to a wedding this past weekend for my friend Traci in Ohio, not staying overnight, but Grammy would have to put her to bed, so the nurse said, "perfect" then Saturday is the day. "dont give into her when you get back though"... and i didnt!...

Needless to say.. it took a LONG LONG time to get her down Sunday and Monday middle of the night. She woke up once both days. And then last night, took her about 3 min to fall asleep, and she SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!.. DO you know how long I have been waiting for this?????????? Since we pulled out of the driveway from our Condo in North Carolina, November 23rd 2009 thats WHEN!... So i hope anyone reading this can feel my pain when I say.. I havent slept through the night since then either!

The nurse was right when she said.. It would be harder on me than for her giving up nursing. And since she's sleeping better already after the 3rd day.. I am convinced that I am doing the right thing.

Her nursing days are over, and its kind of bittersweet. Best decision, and easiest thing in the world to do though was nurse.

My baby is growing up so fast, I cannot beleive it.

So I'm packing away my breastpump, bottles, nipples, breast pads, other supplies. It is the end of my milk factory era, and it feels great!

Busy Bees

So we've been so busy, cleaning, packing and cleaning some more. Mostly Mathew has been over at the new house cleaning up and down. We ripped out rugs, stripped wallpaper, washed walls, tore down trees, got a new roof, and theres still a little more to do before move in day.

Sam and I had to go meet the Locksmith today, and I didnt want to put her on the dirty floor, since we didnt mop/clean the main floor yet, so this seemed like the perfect spot, and yes she looks HUGE in it!



But I did snap a few pics of our living room and dining room while I was there...Im getting so excited!





And since Sam decided to wake us up at 5:30am for the DAY... she was in la la land super early tonight. She fell asleep in her stroller like this...



So i thought, h great, I'll just transfer her, and maybe she wont wake up to nurse, she'll just go to bed.. WRONG... she woke up screaming 20 minutes later, and I nursed her back to sleep.. ugh. Dont get me wrong, I am so proud of myself for sticking with it.,but I am trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I know we're close..

The Beginning of the End

Its officially the beginning of the end for Samantha Jane's Breastfeeding Escapades.. ha! I decided to cut out her daytime feedings a little at a time. IN late May I cut out her morning feeding. So whenever she'd wake up, we would just come downstairs, and have breakfast instead of breastfast.. ha!

Last week .. Monday (6/7/10) - I cut out her afternoon feeding before her nap, and sometimes before dinner feeding. So this meant she would ONLY get fed at bedtime, and during the night.

It wasnt as hard to distract her the first day.. I thought, "oh wow, this isnt that hard at all, what was I so afraid of?" - Well I said too much that day.. the next 3 days she was a beast. Screaming and hollering and thrusting her back neck, arms, a full on temper tantrum ..I felt so bad. Its all she has known since she was born, and I took it away from her.. But I know it was the right thing to do. She doesnt need it.

So we've replaced my milk during the day with her new beverage choice...




She didnt like it at all at first, and since I dont like waiting for things, I was discouraged until today.. when she gulped it down the way she does with water.. So I think she's liking it.

I even got her a pretty pink sippy cup, 1) because I feel guilty taking nursing away since I know she loves it, and 2) to persuade her that what's inside is delish!haha!




So its about a little over a week since I started, and we are both learning of alternate ways to take a nap. Most times she is so tired I put her in her crib and she snoozes off to bed..

I am scared about weaning from night feedings, and hope once she's a little older she'll gradually start to move away from it. No time soon though thats for sure. She knows that she only gets nursed once a day now, and she gets so excited/or mad if I'm not fast enough with getting ready ..

I am proud that I was able to nurse her for 12 months so far. It was hard in the beginning, but so easy and definately convenient.But, it is something I never hesitated to do, and I know Samantha will thank me someday.. haha!