Good Madness

You like oatmeal, do ya? Well, if you're a breastfeeding mommy then you probably do. Brianna is now 3 weeks and 5 days old (almost a month!) and eats CONSTANTLY (and sleeps constantly... which is why you see so many sleeping-baby pictures). Like I've said before, I usually am wearing one of Michael's button down shirts because they are easy to remove when she wants to eat.

Well, this little food-monster seems to be eating a little too much. My boobs seemed to be at their limit. Half way thru the day I didn't feel like I wasn't producing enough milk. I had started to formula supplement (only twice a day; the more you breastfeed the more milk will come in so if I formula feed TOO much my personal supply will go down)... which worked well at first. I also pumped so that I would have some breast milk ready when I wanted to give my body a break. That also worked well at first.

Now my pump doesn't work and Brianna doesn't seem to like the formula (which is my fault. I tried a new type of formula. I'm gonna go back to the kind she does like).

And I still don't feel like my body is making enough milk.

So I read online about oatmeal.

Oatmeal is one of a few types of food that is supposed to boost your milk supply! I decided to try it out and these past two days are proof that the rumor is true. Michael made me a mean bowl of oatmeal yesterday (original oatmeal, tons of raisins, milk and butter!)... I swear... he's so good to me. Anyway, my milk supply is up! Some other foods that boost supply?

• High fiber foods such as oats, usually eaten as oatmeal (the old fashioned kind, not instant), barley, brown rice, and beans
• Calcium-rich foods such as sesame, almonds, and dark green leafy vegetables
• Fruits such as apricots, dates, figs, and cooked green papaya
• Soups made from Torbangun or Mulunggay leaves

So, baby experiment #1 = oatmeal is successful!

Baby experiment #2, coming to a blog near you = cloth diapering. Yes... I am gonna try...

On another note, wish Michael luck! He applied for student federal aid (and was eligible for $5,000 scholarship and $10,000 loan), and he applied for admission to CBU. I'm helping him to apply to Northwest Mississippi Community College too, and maybe one more. Our goal is to get him into school for the Spring 2012 semester. He would only need another 2ish years to graduate and then he would have a much greater chance getting a job he enjoys. Doesn't that make a big difference? Working somewhere doing something you actually enjoy? Makes the day to day life easier. So any prayers, good-lucks, and well wishes are welcomed!

On the subject of going back to school -- Brianna is in our lives now and of course our priorities have changed. But does that mean our dreams and goals should change too? Michael going back to school is a dream of his; becoming a game warden is also a dream of his. Having a daughter shouldn't squash all of our dreams of being better. I believe we can do it! I want him to be happy, to graduate and find that dream job. We'd like to move in a few years and I believe it's possible! We'd like to buy a house one day and I believe that is possible too! Being a parent I get to watch the little miracles that my daughter accomplishes every day. I want her to grow up a well rounded person; dabbling in many different areas until she finds the one that she loves with all of her heart, and then I'll support her however I can in pursuing that dream or desire. I want her to believe that she can do ANYTHING. So, if I'm going to encourage her to do anything she sets her mind on, why shouldn't I practice what I preach?

Have faith, work hard, and...