Breastfeeding

Our breastfeeding journey hasn't been an easy one. With L being born via c-section and not knowing I had the option of skin-on-skin contact, and having the first feed with him, he got use to bottles/formula/pacifiers.
When I finally got to our room and baby L was wheeled in, I tried to feed him, the nurse I had at the time was not very informative, and he kept falling asleep at the boob. I put him back in his little bassinet and went to sleep for a few hours while he slept. I remember waking to him crying around 6AM and my other nurse came in for my vitals. I told her I was planning on trying to breastfeed again once she was done. Josh was holding L and that's basically when all hell broke lose, when the nurse stated he was breathing irregularly and that his top lip looked a little purple. That was the last I saw of my little dude for a day and half.
Once I was able to go to the NICU to try and feed him, his nurse there had absolutely NO patience and was rough with him and my boob in attempting him to latch. I gave up and gave him a bottle of formula.
While at my stay in the hospital I pumped, and gave every tiny little drop I got out to the NICU to give him instead of formula. He still ended up getting 90% formula and the little tiny 10% bit of breast milk. When I would visit him in NICU and if it was time to eat, I would always try to get him to latch and eat, but he would either fall asleep, or get mad and cranky because he has to actually work to get the milk out.
Once home, I was pumping a lot, pulling my supply in. Once he was home with us, we gave him breast milk via bottle because he was still fussy as the boob. After about a week at home, he was no longer on supplemental formula and completely on breast milk from a bottle.
I was okay with our arrangement, he was on breast milk, no matter which way he was getting it. Josh could be involve with feeding because of bottles, and I knew exactly how much he was getting and when to expect his next feeding based on how much he drank. It worked for us. I got some flack from some people saying "why don't you just stick him on the boob, it'd be so much quicker." Over the next few months when I was home with him, if he wanted something to eat sooner than his next feeding was "scheduled" I tried breast, because I didn't want to risk throwing any away. He would take it for a little bit and be content, but if he was in an "I'm starving frenzy" he wouldn't take it, and that stressed me out. Instead of him crying got the 5-10 minutes it takes for something to warm up, he could snack then have his real bottle. I continues pumping and getting a good supply, and managing to stock pile a lot of it!!! He took the breast especially well in the middle of the night feedings, because I never knew how much to give him and he would surely fall asleep some would be wasted. It also meant I didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to pump. It was a win-win for us all.
Fast forward a few weeks into me returning to work. My nipple/breast was hurting so badly when pumping or feeding. It was punch-a-wall kind of pain. It almost brought me to tears. I called La Leche League and she's didn't really have an answer for me, she was more curious why I wasn't boobing 24/7. So I found a lactation consultant, Kim. She was amazing!!! I called and spoke with her on the phone, I explained the pain and what was happening. She also wasn't sure what it was, but said to put breast milk on the pain spot and it will heal. And wouldn't you know a few days later then pain was still there was totally manageable, and a week later it was gone. I wanted to schedule an appointment with her to help address L crying when I gave him boob when he was starving, he would also latch and suck for a bit then stiff board it and cry!
We went to the lactation consult and he latched and was drinking and she said my supply was awesome (because it just came pouring out) and he had a great latch... then the stiff board came and the crying and she took a moment to analyze it and came to the conclusion that he was gassy. We stopped and tried to burp him, and put him back and still nothing. She then showed us some tummy gas relief massage and he let out a few good toots and was happy as a clam. He was no longer hungry so we didn't push the breast. With that new information when he got overly fussy or would start stretching and tensing up we would do our little exercises and he would be good to go. Night feedings were still going well and during the day it was bottles.
So in the end I haven't breastfed a whole lot, but I feel like I have conquered the pumping mountain.
I did a lot of research on how to pump, how to stock, and how to get a stock going.
I made small goals for myself: "I want to pump/ feed breast milk for at least 3 months", and by then I had almost a 3 month stash supply in the freezer. When that passed I made a goal of 6 month. Now that L is 7 months old and he no longer has 6-8 bottles a day. Hes down to about 4-5. I feel like my stash would take us to 9 months easily.

(even with a snafu of the freezer door being pushed open by one of the bundles of milk bags an defrosting some of the others, and having to throw away close to 50 (4oz) bags. That was a HARD thing to do! Pouring any amount of milk down the drain a small part of me dies!)

My supply has decrease a little (and at first I was very upset) but I still get 2-3 bags extra that he goes through from the stash. Example: He takes 4 bags from the stash, I'm able to replace with 7. My main long term goal was the first year, I think I have that in the bag. Even if I was to stop now, he may be on formula for maybe 2 months! Which I can live with. But I am going to continue pumping for now as long as my current supply holds up. I may start weaning when he is about 9-19 months, and just work from the stash. I am very proud of myself in what I have been able to achieve with pumping especially with my first baby, and not doing this before. I am in no ways an expert, this is just what worked for me. 

I feel like drinking a lot of water is defiantly a key. When I was home with him I pumped almost every 2-3 hours and that was including middle of the night. I also will say, if you have more than a 5 minute  drive to/from work invest in 2 things:

The hands free bra and a car adapter for your particular pump. 

I have the medela pump, which seems to be the most common, and I like its performance also. Since returning to work I pump on my way in (15-20 minutes), once at work at 11AM (since I leave early now, when I was back full time 8-5 I would pump at 1PM), and on my home from picking L up from day care. Once home and now that he's more active and won't let me sit still for 20 minutes, I usually don't pump again till bed time 8-9PM. Then start the cycle all over again. 

My 11AM pump and my drive home pump are the smallest amount! My morning I can usually get enough to replace whatever I took out of the stash. 

I take my pump with my where ever I go I feel like. Even running errands around town, if I'm going to be sitting in the car for any extended period of time I feel like I should be pumping, instead of wasting 20 minutes at home away from my baby. I hook up while in park and turn the machine on and drive to where ever I need to go. Always bring a cooler with an ice pack to store what I pumped until I can get home to divvy it up. I've pumped when on our way to dinner, so I can have a drink when we get there and be safe for the next pump. That car adapter is one of the best things I have spent money on. My mom and friend thought I was crazy to pump in the car while driving, but have quickly realized just how smart and time saving it is. With the hand free bra, it's completely safe, both my hands are on the steering wheel, not need to readjust, or look or watch it. I watch the road and drive like I normally would. 

Honeymoon: Vancouver, Alaskan Cruise & Seattle

When Josh and I were discussing honeymoon, we wanted something different. We live 24/7 in sunny South Florida with a beach, so we didn't want something like Cancun, Bahamas, or Jamaica. We wanted something cold.
The 2 choices we came up with were an Alaskan cruise, or book a cabin in Colorado or somewhere up North. After talking about it we decided on the Alaskan cruise, once you factor the price into everything it included like the room and board and food 24/7 it was the best option. This was also something we've wanted to do ever since we took our first cruise to the Bahamas almost 6 years ago.
There were a lot of options when choosing this cruise. First of all Alaskan cruises don't start until May, which worked out good because April is the end of hockey season. The cruise we chose was the first Alaskan voyage for this ship. We left from Vancouver Canada, did the inner channel, then docked in Seattle. So not only did we get to see all the ports on the cruise, we also got to visit 2 different cities we probably wouldn't have otherwise.

Vancouver Canada:
Was amazing! I think this may have been Josh's favorite spot. It was an uber bike friendly town, and the hotel we stayed at gave us complementary bikes for 3 hours. We rode to Stanley Park, which is a must do in Vancouver. It was so beautiful and different than FL. The park was HUGE. It took us the whole 3 hours to just ride around it, and that was at a pretty steady pedaling pace (stopping a few times).

The start of our Stanley Park trial 

Some nice other tourist took our picture and we took theirs

Totem poles were really big in the Northwest

Another view, this is about 1/2 through our ride

We rode along side these giant rock wall, there was a sign that said "beware of falling rocks"

Vancouver's "beach"

There was also a lot of large installation artwork pieces all over Stanley Park. 

These looked like giant diamond rings to me, Josh said upside down dreidel

This was on the "beach" part, so if the tide came in I don't know how far it would come to this piece

These were slightly creepy, Josh thought they were cool

We only had 1 full day in Vancouver. I didn't realize that's how I booked until we had 5 days in Seattle. I think we made the best of Vancouver though. After our 3 hour bike ride we took a breather and then went to explore Granville Island, and more importantly, the brewery. You had to take a little ferry boat over to the island, or walk to and over a giant bridge. We opted for the ferry. The hotel gave us 2, 1-way commentary tickets for the ferry. The ride there we hopped on the wrong one, and just paid our way, the way back we found the correct ferry. Now we either forgot the camera or got so caught up we did take many pictures. 

At Granville Island Brewery

My 3 tasting choices. We so wanted to bring 1 of them home as a bottle, but I wasn't sure how the cruise boat did that, so we left empty handed. 

While on the island, we also visited a little mobile pet shop that had mostly hand crafted items. We got the cats a little felt cap nip ball and a welsh corgi x-ing sign! We also stopped at an ice cream shop and talked hockey with the girl there, because she saw my FL Panther phone case and was upset that we now had Luongo. I told her they can have him back, I just want Garrison (who was traded from FL to Vancouver 2 years ago). Their ice cream was so good!! We shared a coffee ice cream cone. While walking back to the ferry we watched in a window some glass blowing, it's completely mesmerizing! Later that night we went to dinner at a place who's name escapes me now, but it was really good!

That was it for Vancouver. We packed up our bags and sat on the sidewalk for a cab to take us to the port to get on the boat!

I forgot how bad the cruise boarding process was, it was almost worse than the airport. Finally we got on board threw our bag in the room and went for lunch. 

Leaving the port

The water planes cracked me up. I loved them

Sailing away, we have sail off drinks of bloody Mary (for him) and mimosa (for me)

The other side of Stanley Park

The only cruise photo we purchased. This was the sailing party in Vancouver.

Day 1 and 2 were sailing days. I don't usually get sea sick, but that boat sure was rocking. The first night's dinner I didn't really get to enjoy because of that. I think I was also so overwhelmed by everything going on, and I was still adjusting to the time difference.

First stop was Juneau: 

We got into port kind of late 11am (local time). We didn't really have anything planned for the first 2 ports. (we had an excursion in Ketchikan). 

On the way into port. Some home along the water

Downtown Juneau  

So we just wandered aimlessly, which was very nice. Josh of course found that Juneau had a brewery! So we asked around how to get to it and a local told us they had a shop in the downtown area and they may have a shuttle going to the brewery. We walked over to the shop, which was amazing and found a van driver who takes groups to and from the brewery for a little tour. He was just about our the door when we caught up to him, so we made it just in time. 

The Juneau Alaskan Brewery. We had all 4 of those beer listed plus 3 more. They were really great and flavorful.

While in Granville Island we decided to start our own collection of 6 oz taster glasses. So we picked one up in Granville and now the Alaskan brewing company. Also at the Alaskan brewing company we picked up a bottle of beer for my dad. 

After the brewery we needed some food, we got a tip from the van driver to check out Rockwell. It was a great tip, the place has amazing food and it was very low key.

While we were heading back to the ship we stopped at one of the "cruise boat owned shops" and picked a little something to commemorate our honeymoon:

Josh got me a little cruise boat charm to add to my wedding day Pandora bracelet

We got back to the boat ship and were on our way to Skagway. Skagway is a bit of a wild west looking town. They had a tour (that one of our dinner table-mates went on) of the brothels and red light district. We were going to see a can-can girl show, but it was very cold and rainy! By the time we were done wandering the town, we were done with Skagway and the wetness. 

This was the port we docked in. The rock wall had all sorts of the ships' flags and that neat skull

Our ship

We found a neat little ski-chair. Josh relaxing 

The little town, That Red Onion Saloon was one of the brothels. 

Shocker!! Again we found a "brewery" however it was just the pub/bar. We got there around 10:30, they served beer, but didnt start food until 11. 

Another flight of beers. They were potent!

Here's a rainy day selfie, before heading back to the boat for coffee and hot chocolate

The next day we had a cruising day, but we went to the fjords in the early morning. It was an amazing experience and the fact that we had a balcony room was so worth it! 

All of these photos are courtesy to Josh. I was still not awake and bundled up on the balcony. We started journeying into the Fjords around 3am, and were getting close to the glacier at 7am.

The Captain off the Rhapsody got us so close to the glacier, and did a few 360's so everyone on the ship, no matter where you were, could see it

The rest of the day we relaxed in the room, we didnt want to move or go anywhere. We got hooked on the shows "Castle" and "Bones". They ship was in open water and you could really feel it move. At one point I looked out the sliding door and you could see the horizon moving up and down. While showing Josh my "findings", he freaks out and nearly throws me off the bed, scrambling for the camera. I'm at a loss. finally he gets out on the balcony and points out a pod of whales! I squealed and shouted "OH look orcas!!!" and with that a few of our cabin neighbors came out to check them out too.

Josh got some amazing pictures!

aka Killer Whales

Our last stop was Ketchikan. This stop we scheduled an excursion. We decided on the "hike and zip line adventure". We got on a bus, went up a winding narrow road continually on a 45 degree angle. We got dropped off at a mini park entrance and got on these different buses and made our way further up, these buses were almost at 90 degrees. Finally we get off at the top of the zip line post. We watch a quick video and get into our gear. We were off. We did a practice run on a little 20 foot line. Once you were on the other platform no turning back! At 1 point we were almost 300 feet up on a tree from the ground, and the longest zip line was around 300 feet, propelling you up to 30mph! We had 7 zip lines and 3 rope bridges.

Our view at one of the platforms

Josh was in charge of the camera, it was literally strapped to his harness

Scared outta my mind, just saying! (This is however the last picture from this because we forgot to swap the batteries and this one died!)

The group photo taken at the end of the adventure. The guys in yellow were our guides. We are at the back. 

At the end of the tour we got some hot chocolate and cookies at the gift shop. We also got zip line medals, because the other group that took a different route, lost 3 people along the way from nerves. 

We went back to the ship after this changed clothes, got the other battery and headed back out! 

We wandered around and took in the sites, and picked up a few things at the shops. We got back on the ship for our last full cruising day before disembarking in Seattle. 

We took quite a few pictures with the ship's photographers, but something about their lighting or the flash just did not make them flattering! 

The last night on the boat, I found a crew member to take a picture on my phone

We had an early morning wake up call to disembark and a long line wait for a cab to get to our hotel in Seattle. Finally we got there and got upgraded to a top floor mini suite! It was awesome!

The first thing we wanted was junk food. Taco Bell or McDonald's! After all the heavy and rich ship food we just needed something greasy! The cruise food was amazing don't get me wrong, but we were ready for something simpler. 

While looking for a junk food place to eat, we stumbled across a mall. We thought "oh mall food!" They had traditional mall food, but nothing by the name I knew from FL. I just wanted something I knew the menu of.

But we weren't going to let this trip be wasted. We saw a Pandora store, and I was curious if they would have a Seattle Space Needle charm. They didn't but we got this one:

A little Seattle bead. It goes perfectly with my green bracelet already, next to the little cruise boat

We finally found a McDonald's and chowed down!! With food in our bellies we were ready to wander and check out the city. We walked around downtown and checked out some shops and menatally located a few places to visit again. That night we found an awesome place for dinner called Tap House.

                                      

Took a pre-dinner selfie

What obviously tipped Josh to this place was the 160 beers on tap

Their coasters, we asked our waiter if we could get a few extra to bring home. 

Our next day, we went to Pike Place Market. We did some research in the little planner booklets they give you at the hotel and found a place that seemed to be good for breakfast. We also found a few shops that did wine and beer tasting and another brewery. 

Pike Place Market

Pike Place & Pike Street

Inside part of the market

It was described as a legendary breakfast, and that it was. It was out facing the Ocean and Miner's Landing

We found all sorts of goodies while in Pike Place Market to bring home. We had to send 2 FedEx boxes home with all our stuff. There was so much more stuff at the market we wanted to get, but it was not doable. They had these amazing flower bunches for $10 and they smelled fantastic! We of course walked pass where they throw the fish.

This was a bridge walkway to a parking garage but behind us is a Ferris wheel and miner's landing (which we did not visit, we forgot!!)

After wandering the main part of the market we headed out towards the brewery, which is part of the market, but you enter though the street. We are a light lunch at the restaurant, and caught a 2pm brewery tour!

The decor was awesome! I wish I could have just walked around taking pictures of everything

They had beer plates on the wall, that I noticed from growing up in the living room at my parents house that dad collected

The beer flight. I wanted to take that paddle home so badly.

The brewery tour was awesome, but we forgot to ask if we could take pictures and didn't want to just start. It was during the weekend so there were no employees down there so the guide took us up close and personal with all the equipment and tanks.

We went back to the hotel to re-group and figure out a game plan. We also learned there was another brewery close by Pyramid brewing. We can get very few of there beers in FL and its few and far between. We had to check out a more extensive list. 

It was about a mile away. We walked! We passed Century Like field and Safco field and the brewery was right across the street. Unknown to us there was a Seattle Mariner baseball game that night. 

Football stadium

Baseball

Brewery

A very nice couple by us took a picture for us.We were both tired and excited!

We walked the 1 mile back to the hotel and crashed! 

For Sunday we went to the Space Needle!

Such a great iconic landmark

The view from the top. 520 Feet up

Took the obligatorily tourist picture 

Selfie atop the needle

We opted for a two-fer ticket. The space needle and a blown glass museum. So glad we did, because the art was amazing! Its a must have checkout if you visit Seattle. 

There was also a Northwest folk festive in the same area. We had a lot of fun checking that place out. A lot of music and Seattle is a very dog friendly city. We finally saw 1 long haired fluff corgi!!! 

                                                 

After the afternoon down by the space needle we got an inside tip from our waiter from the Tap House to check out this place called The Pine Box. It was a converted funeral home into a bar, and is said to be haunted. The food was so good!!!

Josh picked up his shirt at a vendor at Pike Place Market. He basically bleaches a design into a black shirt.

Monday we decided to just chill at the hotel and get stuff together for our EARLY morning flight the next day. We went to game works down the street for dinner/happy hour 1/2 price apps and drinks. Score! On our way there was saw an exact replica of the Delorean from Back to the Future, unfortunately we weren't fast enough to get  picture, not to say we didn't try, Josh ran down the street trying to. 

                                       

All the glasses we collected along our travels.

We had an amazing honeymoon! We definitely want to visit Vancouver and Seattle again. And want to venture to Anchorage, Alaska. Maybe for some anniversaries. 

This is the last post of the "Our Wedding" installment. BUT not the blog. The blog will continue as a Newlyweds and Homeowners Adventure blog, so stick with it. After this post I am sending my blog off to a place that will turn it into a book. So I will have the memories of planning always at my finger tips!

For the full photo experience as always please visit the photo sharing site