Nursing my nursling

This past Tuesday marked my first anniversary with Grub and our nursing relationship, I say relationship because it involves a lot of trust and mutual agreement to keep the relationship strong. Things have changed remarkably since we first started out, what first comes to mind is the length of time it takes to nurse and the number of times a day. I remember feeling like I was constantly on the couch with my breasts out and Grub attached to them, when I let down, a surge of milk would come flooding out wetting what felt like everything. I was constantly sticky and smelt like milk ALL the time. As you can most likely tell, I didn't enjoy the first few months of breast feeding.

Grumpy MamaKoo

Not to mention the latch problems and unbelievably sore nipples (I would have rather go through labor again). I remember crying, not wanting to nurse because it hurt too much and becoming depressed because I felt I couldn't give my baby the best start in life.

First time nursing didn't hurt, Grub was 2 months

Nursing becoming a breeze

Perfecting the lying down position

I'm so happy I persevered, it becomes unbelievably easier, to the point where Grub has become such a professional, she knows exactly what to do.

Starting to fall in love with nursing

I love some things that have stayed the same

• She still needs me and wants me above all other people
• When she latches her head automatically drops as if I'm always going to be there to catch it
• The way her eyes roll back in ecstasy when she first gets a taste of my milk
• The way she looks at me when she nurses, like I'm the most important person in her world

I love some of the things that have changed

• Time and frequency of feeding!!!
• The inventive nursing positions that shes coming up with
• Her humming her nursing song while nursing
• The way she strokes my side or plays with my amber necklace
• When she needs to touch and stroke her hair

One year! Woo hoo!

MamaKoo

First year

As spring is coming around the corner and we've been experiencing some glorious days. Last year baby Grub was a bit too young to fully absorb her outside surroundings. She LOVED leaves back then and still does.

Baby Grub's first time swimming last year

But this year is all about birds, dogs, grass, textures, sounds and waving a friendly faces.
 

Happy Grub enjoying life

We all had an absolute ball when we went out for a picnic for her first birthday. I made cheesy sticks, broccoli and tomato muffins, chickeny fingers, butter bean and carrot patties and a delicious healthy banana cake, which I took from a mini cake recipe I found here.

Mini cake for a mini lady

Its such a delight to watch your young one take such pleasure in the simplest of things. It really makes you sit back and appreciate life from a different perspective.

I think she likes the wrapping more than what was inside

We ate, played, chased birds, met a beautiful Labrador who tried to demolish our picnic and fed some ducks. Grub had so much fun with her slice of cake, that afterwards I had to strip her down and change her. I think it was her secret plan all along... she loves being a nudist.

Rebel

Nudist behavior

Grub's birthday was not only a day of celebration marking her day of birth, but its also our one year of breast feeding anniversary. In the early weeks I didn't think we would make it this far, having sore crack nipples made me wonder if it was all worth it. We're both very glad I persisted, I can't imagine life without.

1 year: You, me and the boob

Celebrating Grub's first birthday has evoked a strange new feeling, full of emotions. One that is full of pride and humility and joy yet sadness. We made it through our first year generally unharmed! And my little baby is on her way to growing up.

MamaKoo

{This moment}

Inspired by Soule Mama.  A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Birthday day!

Its been a very long yet extremely fast year, one year ago today I gave birth to my lovely first born, Baby Grub, I still remember it like it was yesterday. After a morning of relaxing, kisses and cuddles, we're going to head out to the park to meet a few friends and family for a picnic. Its going to be a lovely blue skied day and what better way to spend it, outdoors with my little Grubby bum looking at birds, crawling on grass and eating food.

Me and Grub seconds after birth

We've come a long way baby! Mama loves you.

MamaKoo

Motherhood vs friends

Over the past six months I've noticed a dramatic shift in my circle of friends. I was very surprised to find out that becoming a Mother altered the roles that girlfriends play dramatically. When I think about it in hindsight, there is no way that becoming a mother couldn't change friendships. Previous to the birth of baby Grub, my friends mainly consisted of students or people who work casually in the hospitality industry. Who live in share houses, have casual relationships, go out spontaneously after work for cocktails, a late night dinner or to see a band. I am the first of my friends to get married and start a family and at times I feel like not one of my friends understand what I'm going through. The reality of dealing with sleepless nights because of a moody baby or the adjustments you have to make in your life in order to become a wife and a Mother doesn't really hit home until your actually living it.

Late nights and late mornings

The first few months after bringing baby Grub home I felt were the worst. I was still adjusting to becoming a new Mother, having the usual breast feeding issues like latching issues and cracked, sore nipples, feeling emotional, isolated and very tired. A hug, cup of coffee and a chat with an understanding friend, would have done wonders. A few friends did visit me on occasion but if it wasn't for my family members, especially Mike, my Mum and Aunties, I think I wouldn't have coped as well as I did.

Overtired and grumpy.. me not Grub!

Finding new mummy friends as helped a lot, not only can I talk about issues I'm dealing with, I can help support other Mothers through their struggles. I'm going through the same thing as they are and that interaction tends to make me feel like I'm not on my own. Becoming a Mother has opened the door to a world of new friendships that I would not have had otherwise. Mothers that I have hardly any similarities with other than our babies are both six months, yet we can talk for hours. It’s just a case of having the confidence to get out there and find them.

Whilst its fantastic to make new mummy friends, I think its also important to maintain your old friendships to help hold on to who you were before your children came along. Its the balance between old and new friendships that helps you stay sane. I know us Mothers are busy most of the time and that the only spare time we have to ourselves is after we've put our babies to sleep after a long day. But every now and then do try to use that time to send an old friend a text saying that your thinking of them, remind yourself to send that birthday card you've been meaning to, or pick up the phone and have a quick chat. These little things will help keep the friendship alive, if the other party is willing. Remember that the overwhelming early stages of motherhood will pass quickly and if you value your friendships it will pay off to work at them through the crazy days of sleep-deprivation, endless nappies and breastfeeding.

MamaKoo

{This moment}

Inspired by Soule Mama.  A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Change 3 Things: 3 cloth diapers. One planet. Big impact.

So today I found an amazing site that supports and give tips to parents who cloth diaper their babies. They're also encouraging parents who don't, to take baby steps towards clothing their babies. They have recently started an awareness campaign called Change 3 Things, to help reduce the waste caused by disposable nappies!

How to join the movement:

1. Click 'like' on their Change 3 Things Facebook page.

2. Share the page with your Facebook, Twitter and blogger friends.

3. Make sure you change 3 cloth nappies a day.

Their goals are:

• 100,000 parents committed to change 3 cloth diapers per day.*

• 30-50 million pounds of prevented landfill waste.*

• 100 million disposable diapers not purchased.*

• $24 million of combined savings for participating families.**

Three nappies a day per baby can most certainly make a difference, in my previous blog To cloth or not to cloth? you would have read that it takes 300 year for ONE disposable to breakdown. Every nappy makes a difference.

Help change the world, one nappy at a time.

* Numbers are approximate and based on information published in the Environmental Agency's Science Report SC010018/SR2.
** Based on approximately $0.25 per disposable diaper NOT purchased by participants because they chose to change a cloth diaper instead.
  


MamaKoo