Liquid Gold

Breast milk.  Otherwise known as liquid gold.

I think I have a hoarding breast milk problem because I stockpile it, and then I don't want to use it.  I want to have it.  Stockpiled.

Given my hoarding-of-breast-milk nature, you can imagine how I might feel if it (being the pumped milk) gets spilled.

Ryan found out one day when he was transferring some into a bottle for Camden.  He probably spilled an ounce or so and thought it was no big deal.  I proceeded to scold him and suggest he be more careful.  For heaven sakes, use a funnel, man!

Now that I feel like my supply is teetering due to pumping every day, this stuff is even more valuable.

A few days ago I spilled some after (accidentally) knocking over a container of freshly pumped gold.  I let out a small cry of anguish and a very slow, "Nooooooo!" as the goods dripped out of the bottle.

Son of a nutcracker.

Source

Do you think they ever feature breast milk hoarders on Hoarders: Buried Alive?

Sister needs an intervention.

 

Take Luck,

LP

Acts of Kindness

I hopped on the acts-of-kindness bandwagon for my dear friend, Sar's upcoming birthday project.

The funny thing was, my sweet hubby beat me to the punch (and showed me up) in performing a kind act.

I had mentioned Sarah's project to Ryan but didn't think much of it until he called me on Wednesday night after his indoor soccer game - sounding very proud.

Long(er) story short - while filling up his gas tank at a local gas station, he was approached by a younger guy looking for a few dollars for gas.  Ryan noticed that there was a young girl and a baby in the car that this person had come from.  Neither Ryan or I carry much (if any) cash.  He apologized to the guy for not having cash (only a debit card) and therefore, being unable to help.

It then dawned on him that he could use the debit card and put gas in the tank for him.

So, he did.  $25 worth.

Ryan said the guy looked completely shocked, but completely thankful.

One act of kindness in the books.

******

My act was not nearly as exciting or thoughtful.

Today I went through the Starbucks drive-thru (with my favorite chubby co-pilot babbling away in the backseat) and asked to pay for the order of the person behind me.

One hot chocolate and pumpkin scone, on me.

Two acts of kindness in the books.

I hope it made the woman and her daughter smile, and their Easter Sunday a little more special.

Here's to performing many more acts of kindness.

 

Take Luck,

LP

Pancakes

Breastfeeding is hard.

The whole experience has been fairly smooth for us and it's still hard.

Since returning back to work and pumping while away from Camden, I've felt that my supply has somewhat decreased.  In an effort to get my supply back up, I've been doing things like pumping after feeding him, drinking even more water (which I didn't think was possible), and taking the supplement fenugreek.

Before taking fenugreek I had talked to our favorite doula, Laura, and a friend of mine, Kara.  Both of them told me it's possible that fenugreek could make me smell like maple syrup.

My response was - there are worse things to smell like.

I had been taking the supplement for a few days when one night, I hugged Ryan goodnight.  He knew I was taking this supplement but I had not mentioned this possibly smelly side effect.

After our hug he gave me a very puzzled look and said, "You smell like pancakes."

I started laughing and asked, "You mean maple syrup?"

With a look of amazement he replied, "Yes!"

Oh, boy.  So, smelling like maple syrup isn't so much a possibility in my case - but a certainty.  Lovely.

It has become a little joke between us now.  At least once a day he tells me (with a sly little smile), "You smell like pancakes."

I'm not sure I'll ever look at those delectable breakfast flapjacks in the same way again.

Take Luck,

LP

Hippy Hair

My freshman year of college I had what I affectionately refer to as hippy hair.

It was long, dull, and just - blah.  My hair was constantly up/pulled back for softball so I'm not sure I really knew how long and blah it was until Christmas time when there was a photo of the freshman at our holiday party.  It was then that I realized I was in good company with my hippy hair because my best friend Tiff had hippy hair, too.

Anyway, with everything going on in my life, I was apparently unaware that my hair had reached the state of hippy yet again.

I wasted no time in going from gross to not-as-gross after enlisting help from Tiff and Rachel to find some hair-spiration.

Camden may or may not have been a little confused by this freshly groomed woman in his life - but he's getting used to it.  And so am I.  

Gone are the days when I could throw it all up in a pony or bun.

It's probably for the best.

Sayonara hippy hair!

Take Luck,

LP

March Madness

And no, I'm not speaking of NCAA Men's Basketball.

I'm speaking of the madness that has been the month of March for this family.

I mentioned the sickness that has been plaguing our house for the last three weeks, but that was only the beginning.

I started back at work on March 4th, and the sickness made that transition about a million times harder.  I have to say, that being back at work has gone better than anticipated, but it is still hard.  I've stayed busy and that has at least kept my brain occupied.  I can't help but get excited driving (OK, lets be honest - speeding) to Jessica's at the end of the day to pick up my little man.

I'm learning to deal with a day in the office after a crummy night's sleep.  Good thing this baby is cute.

Things got real interesting when my graduate program comprehensive exam was handed out on March 11th.  I knew this was coming and I knew it would be intense, but the timing could not have been worse.  So, for the last two weeks I have been spending an amazing (and not in a happy way) amount of time pouring what brain function I have left into proving I've learned a thing or two over the past two and a half years.

Did I mention that I've been attending and doing homework for my regular Wednesday night class all this time, too?

Mmmhmmm.

I'm happy to report that I have completed the exam (which I could not have done without loads of help from Ryan, Momma, and Rachy).  And as long as reading through it one more time doesn't cause me to vomit - I'm hoping to do so before submitting it tomorrow.

Only six more weeks of the semester left before I will be done with my Master's program.  Hallelujah. 

 Needless to say, I am ready for the month of March to be over.

I will be oh-so-proud of myself when April gets here.  Especially if my head is still attached to my body.

Take Luck,

LP