7 Months of Millie

The 4th of the month has come around again. This time it seemed to be here much quicker. For I feel like I just sat down, uploaded a slew of pictures of my then 5 month old and wrote silly captions. But yet I'm here again. With a new slew of cuteness.

This month has been full of walking around anything we can stand up next to, playing with our puppy, and screeching. Lots of screeching. 

Oh and chewing. There is always the chewing. 2 teeth worth of chewing! 

Baby hands, baby skin, baby lashes. Sigh. 

Laundry Lady. 

Many people have asked me. How is she at night? Well she's a baby, an exclusively breastfed baby. A textbook exclusively breastfed baby. Yippie for me. So what does that all mean? Ask the Milk Meg.

Falling asleep while eating, but put her down and she's right back up. So we have short naps unless we are held or put right back to sleep by nursing. 

Still waking frequently to nurse at night. I can tell you the last time I got 4 hours in a row. It twas night of March 2nd. 

Cluster feeding in the predawn hours. My best sleep happens between 12 and 5. But remember I'm up between then at least once too. 

Sometimes the nap is the entire nursing session. 

This is natural. It's normal. That's my mantra. And sleep? That's just somebody that I used to know. But the new somebody. Well their cuter and more fun anyway. 

See... 

We went to the Funky Junk Market. And one of the artists brought this fun "little" thing. We propped Millie up, had Jerrel spot her, and snapped a shot. Remember the giant chair a few months ago? I'm telling you people-this is why you have kids. 

We are highly mobile and prefer to be upright as to crawling. And sometimes that preference is hard on our wardrobe choice. You can about guess how productive this situation was. 

And then there is Chester. Lovable, silly, patient, Chester. My friend asked last week how the two were getting along. I said. "Well, right now Millie's got her hand in his mouth and is laying on his neck. So pretty well I think." 

Don't worry I did get her hand out and washed immediately. 

Sometimes I worry Millie is being too mean, or rough with him. We talk about being gentle and nice. But my girl just does what she does right and now. And Chester's kinda the same.

But while Millie is using him as leverage to stand up, or pulling on his tongue (true story), or poking at his eyes he just lays there, sniffs her, licks her, and takes it with a smile.

It looks like somebody's up to something...

Eh. Never mind. Chester give me a head up. Thanks!

We have also been making our way to some football games. Unfortunately Uncle Ev has an injury that has him not playing the rest of the season but we still like going to cheer on the home team!

Resting up before the big game!

We had homecoming and Evan made court. We decided to get a picture to remember the occasion.

Millie didn't like that idea.

Millie REALLY didn't like that idea.

Ready for Husker Game day now! Uncle Ev also got Millie some Husker apparel-she's ready every Saturday! 

Millie can stand for about a second on her own. I can get out One thousand one, one thou....then she falls. It's makes my heard skip every time.. And she is always trying to transfer to the next available object.

Mom, this dog is so crazy fun! 

So today marks 7 months of meeting MIllie and it was a breathtakingly beautiful day. We were able to bundle up a bit and head to the lake for lunch and the better part of the afternoon. 

We played with Grandpa and Grandpa.

And ate leaves.

But just a couple leaves.

Then we came home to a sleepy daddy and tried to get a 7 month picture.

But ate a remote instead. 

Then Daddy came around and made Millie make this goofy face. 

From 6 months to 7 months. 

Tonight we were in the kitchen and Jerrel was looking at Millie. He said, "Millie stop looking at me like that. You look 13. Then before I know it you will be 20 and then married." Well I don't think she looks quite like she's 13 but whatever you say Daddy...I think you are starting to get sentimental...

Happy 7 months baby girl. We love you big much!

Blessings!

Thrifty Thursday...It's Back!

Thrifty

Thriftier; Thriftiest 

1. Thriving by industry and frugality: prosperous. 

It's Thrifty Thursday, the time of the week where I share my thrifty finds from garage sales, antique shops, and of course thrift stores.

So check us out on Thursdays...even if it's late because you never know what I will have found. 

I've decided to bring Thrifty Thursday's back. Something lighter, something fun, and something I'm doing quite often. 

This week- a Pea Green Coat. 

Or is it a Green Pea Coat?

Either way I'm pretty fond of this find. It still had the prices tags on it...that read $89.95. And I got it for $2.00! That's right $2.00. 

I just think it's adorable. And because I live in small town America...if the past owner of this coat recognizes it. I have one thing to say to you. THANKS! 

Blessings! 

Us Lately

I didn't post last week. And I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the baby. Maybe it was the dog. Maybe it was my husband. Or maybe it was me. Either way the blog didn't get opened up and the words didn't make it on a page. So what's been going on?

We had a night out a couple weeks ago to get family pictures and to enjoy some weird pizza. Think fig butter sauce, pistachios, bacon, and spinach. Told ya it was odd. But-deliciously odd.

The pictures turned out incredible. Now I cannot wait to get them on my wall. I just have to decide what, where, and when.

We just love Emily Davidson, her personality, her photography style, and her convictions. It's a wonderful fit. Millie loves her too.

I've also had some job offers in the last few weeks. A couple babysitting while at home and one I just turned down that was harder than I thought it would be. It involved teaching. 

Something I miss mildly-it gets in your blood. Plus the opportunity for my own classroom and space was enticing. And then, there was the every alluring temptation of more money and some of my own money. This part of being a full-time parent has been one of the most difficult things for me. My monetary earning power since being married has basically went to zero. Sometimes I feel like I'm dead weight, or spending the cash without a way to replenish-which I am.

Not working outside the home started out as a choice, then school started and it was necessary, then Millie came and again it was a choice but a necessary choice in our family view. 

God bless my delightful husband who assures me this lifestyle was his dream for his family too. 

And I love it I really do. But the prospect of going out, doing something I'm good at, trained to do, and earning a dollar or two was enticing. But then I realized that I can't make that choice. Nor should I right now. 

I have the option to stay home with our girl-just us. Right now it's a choice I can make. We live intentionally so the way we live is feasible and enjoyable. Not everyone makes the choices we make or is able to. Babies aren't babies for long and frankly I'm not willing to give up or divide that time with any other child that's not mine right now. I believe Millie needs me and that no one can do as good of job as me. I know things about her that no one else does. 

Even her spectacular Daddy. Ask him. He'll agree and hand her to me. It's just part of the job description as Momma.

So I said no to the jobs, the teaching one being the hardest. When I looked around though, and then under the table of my little girl toddling around the chairs, I realized the classroom I already have. The real life, real world classroom we live in. And the pay? The pay is even greater even if it doesn't always feel that way. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

I did however, jump at the chance of one opportunity. A writing opportunity. Before Millie was born the desire to write for more than just my blog was laid on my heart. So I started praying. And a few weeks ago someone from our local paper was expressing a need for a writer. 

I mentioned that I would love to try to do that for them. And so my first tip was given, the story was written and published and I enjoyed it. So much.

So now I've got a little gig for our small-town newspaper as a freelancer. I'd like to find more and I'm exploring a few different avenues. So that could also be why the writing here has slowed a bit. My writing energy has been elsewhere. But the more you write the more you write so I'm working on putting more time into both to hone my craft. 

Thus far I've had a couple of really fun stories. I love interviewing the people and learning about the topic.

It works great for our family. Which I'm happy about because if it doesn't fit-it's out. I've got to keep my priorities straight. I write while Millie is content or while she's sleeping. Or while her and Jerrel are training Chester. Or when she's not trying to chew on electrical cords. 

It's all about balance. And those big blue eyes.

Oh those eyes. 

We've slowed on the preserving season finally and have a nice stash of goods in our basement. It's so gratifying to go down there and see the fruits of our labor lined up in pretty glass jars. 

And I use the word "our" loosely. Jerrel did much more in the garden this season and basically all the canning. Thankful for him!

I also celebrated a birthday. 24. That one seems so much older than 23. Next year is 25-in case you didn't know what comes next. I celebrated with the day before junkin' at The Funky Junk Market. Then on the day of my birth I stayed home on a dreary day-my favorite. Decorated for fall with my finds and cleaned my craft closet. I know...party girl. But do you know how gratifying it is to do get something accomplished when your baby isn't fussing for attention? She and Jerrel spent the day following me around while I was getting something done. Everyone was happy, happy, happy.

Then my aforementioned spectacular husband prepared me a meal of Pioneer Woman's Best Grilled Cheese Ever (she ain't kidding!) and Tomato Soup and we enjoyed supper with my family. It was bliss. 23 treated me pretty dang well. Let's see what 24 has got in store. 

Our girl is almost 7 months old. That's just not possible. I'm sorry but does it get any more darling? That dress? It was my Moms. Circa...1960somethingish.

So us lately? We are good. We are great. We are busy. We are silly. And we are happy. 

Happy Fall from Jess, Jerrel, Millie, and Chester. 

Drink some cider, eat some punkin', jump in some leaves. 

Blessings! 

Meet Chester!

Millie has an announcement to make. No...don't get your hopes up. 

Not another baby yet. 

She got a puppy! 

And she's pretty excited about the all the new toys. For the dog of course.

Or maybe for her. We will work on sharing.

Meet Chester! He's about 4 months old and comes from a wonderful family. Complete with their own little girl to get this happy guy ready for our little girl. 

He is totally adorable, very smart, and wonderfully patient with Millie. 

We are pleased as punch to have him! Isn't he handsome!? We went and got him all the necessities...it was hard to not buy him every cool toy on the market. He's got some yummy treats and a nice blanket to lay on until I get his bed finished.  

I put the treats in a blue mason jar on the kitchen counter. Does that make me THAT dog owner? It was purely for accessibility reasons. 

Millie is still feeling Chester out. She loves him when Momma and Daddy are close. Other wise, he's better behind glass. Give us a couple days. I think we will have best friends in no time! 

Throughout my life and times I have had 2 Golden Retrievers and I am so thrilled for Millie to get to grow up with one of these wonderful dogs. Jerrel wasn't so sure about a retriever...something about their hair. But let me tell you...it took one meeting and these two where made for each other. 

Yeah, I think we have a new source of hours of entertainment. Welcome to the family Chester!

Blessings!

The Time I Almost Nursed Where I Was "Supposed" To

I shared with you all our wonderful family trip to the State Fair. The food, the 4-H, the fun it. was a blast and a wonderfully relaxing day with just us. Well, us and the rest of the state. But thats ok!

There was however an "incident." And I'm only calling it that for dramatic effect and also because it was something big enough for me to feel like I should write about it so surely it was an "incident." Right? I'm also fully aware that some of you may end up thinking that I'm making something out of nothing. That I should stop being such a lactivist, a whiner, or whatever but I've got a point to make so here it goes.

The Nebraska State Fair is in it's new location-in case you hadn't heard. The facilities are all but new and they are fabulous. The emphasis is on family and agriculture- it's wonderful. There is one building called the Welcome Center. You can get educational info, first aid services, and use an ATM. Three years ago when I went to the fair in the new location I saw the "Nursing Lounge" sign, and I thought to myself, "Wow, that's a pretty awesome gesture." Fast forward to a two weeks ago and I'm at the fair with my nursling and it's time to eat. It was hot out so I thought we should go check out the Nursing Lounge for a comfy place to cool off.

Let me paint a picture of what I was envisioning. A decent sized room bathed in cool and calming colors, pretty, with comfortable couches and chairs. Soft music playing. I have a pretty good imagination. And apparently high expectations.

We walk to the Welcome Center. The sign says First Aid/Nursing Lounge ---> We walk around the corner. Meanwhile, I'm trying to ignore the windows that were covered with window coverings that looked like shower curtains. Plastic rings included. I walk to the side door. Assuming to glide in for a relaxing nursing session with Millie and what do I see? The first aid center. An attendant talking to this grody(sorry, but true) looking couple with their hands all over each other. There were also a couple other people there sitting waiting for treatment. I promptly turned around and told the man coming out of that door that I must have had the wrong door. I walked around the corner of the building searching for the entrance to my nursing oasis. Only to find nothing.

Jerrel kindly guided me back to the aforementioned door. The man was still there and I said, well I'm looking for the Nursing Lounge. He politely said "Oh you have the right door, you have to walk through the first aid." I hesitantly started to walk in with Millie, my bag, a stroller, and my husband. Then a lady sitting by the door, like she owned the joint, stood up and said. "You can't bring the stroller in there. We are trying to keep strollers out." Then I gave her a look I'm sure not too friendly, and really turned my hiney around and got the heck out of Dodge, with my husband following behind wondering if I have finally lost the rest of my mind. It wasn't until after I explained my feelings that he put the pieces together and agreed with me.

I wanted to sit on a bench and nurse in front of here.

This is where they milk the Dairy Cows for show. I think they should move or rename the Nursing Lounge 

I thought that would have been hysterical and a wonderful photo op. The benches were all full though. Maybe next time.

We then decided to watch a hog show in the hog building, I sat at the top of the bleachers and nursed my baby. It wasn't exactly the oasis I desired, it was a bit smelly, fairly crowded, and not quite as comfy. It was however, air conditioned and entertaining with the hog show.

So here's my deal, granted I don't even know what the place looked like on the inside but here's a few things that made me not want to find out.

*The windows completely covered. I get that privacy was the idea but from the outside it felt more like they were trying to hide something. I like a little natural light! Plus...it's called the Nursing Lounge...we all know what's going on...

* The entrance was through the First Aid area. This is gross and odd. Also no matter how you feed your baby it's really not a medical issue. Why should I have to walk through the injured, sweaty, dirty people to feed my child? When I opened the door I felt like I was interrupting something. And I was. Someone's medical care. It shouldn't be awkward, uncomfortable, or a hassle to get to the nursing lounge. Period.

*I wasn't allowed to take my belongings (stroller) in. I also understand that strollers are bulky and can take up space. But in my estimation the room should be big enough so that I don't have to leave my stroller out of my view. What if I was alone and didn't have a husband willing to sit with it? Plus this made more of a hassle for me and other moms. We then have to lug our diaper bag, purse, baby, and whatever else we don't want unattended into the Nursing Lounge. When a simpler solution would be to roll the stroller in and get the job done.

In essence I felt like I was supposed to nurse in this area closed off from the rest of mankind yet they could tell me what I could bring. I felt a bit like I was answering the question, "If you were on a deserted island and you could only bring one thing..." Expectations, rules, or guidelines like this don't sit pretty with me.

The Nursing Lounge at the State Fair is a fabulous idea. I commend whomever thought it was necessary. I didn't want to use it because I felt I needed the privacy (obviously, I moved to the hog show) I wanted to use it because I thought it sounded nice...but it ended up feeling like a very uncomfortable situation. My main beef is that we can do better. Our moms and babies deserve better. They deserve the area I imagined. And they need to know they deserve more.

I plan on contacting the fair board with my concerns. I'm not sure what they can do about it, since the building is new and the arrangement seems fairly permanent. But I can try.

So thats my incident. And I'm grateful for Jerrel who is so very supportive of me, my ideals, and my passion for nourishing our child in the way God intended.

Here's to expecting a little bit more.

Did you check out the Nursing Lounge? Am I totally off on my quick judgment? Have you checked out other "Nursing Areas" in public places?

Blessings!