Real Talk: The Day to Day

First, I just want to thank every one who took the reader survey last week! I’m going to keep in up through this week, so if you haven’t taken it yet, I suggest you get your votes in now! It will be going down next Monday.

I wanted to do a Real Talk post just catching up on how things have been since the arrival of Lazy Baby. It has been a HUGE adjustment, but I knew it was going to be one. I’ve been really trying to find a good balance between work/motherhood/life/blogging/sleeping and tbh blogging fell pretty low on that list when all was said and done. However, I’m starting to get a bit more settled and into some kind of routines, which is a term I am using very loosely, so I feel like I can start wading back into the blogging pool.

I’m definitely going to be upping the affiliate game on the blog because having a baby is expensive. Pre-baby, I was getting burned out on affiliate posts and thought about working them off the site; post-baby and I’m trying save every penny and hustle every dime. Besides, affiliate links don’t cost you, dear reader, anything. My content is still free and if you happen to buy something using an affiliate link then I get a few pennies. (Comment below if you would like a more in-depth post about affiliate programs and how they work).

My days went from lazy to feeling like I can’t do enough after LB (Lazy Baby). As where before, I’d do the dishes in rotation with Mr. LL and same with the laundry, I’ve more or less started to do those during the week and Mr. LL gets them (for the most part) on the weekend. Here’s a look at my typical day during the week:

• 6:30 am - LB wakes up (if she hasn’t already :/ ); I get up and heat up her bottle, then change her diaper and pass her off to Mr. LL (who has hopefully gotten up by this point–otherwise I badger him till he’s up and able to take the baby).
• 6:45 am - Get the coffee pot going while I make lunches for Mr. LL and myself.
• 7:15 am - Do the dishes from the night before.
• 7:30 am - Take a moment to enjoy some coffee/help Mr. LL find everything as he runs out the door to go to work.
• 7:45 am - Make all the bottles for the day (LB is only drinking formula these days).
• 7:50 am - My mom shows up to watch LB. Talk to her for a bit and help her get LB set-up in the highchair for breakfast.
• 8 am - Get ready for work. 
• 8:30 am - Out the door and off to work.
• 9 am - 5:30pm - Work. Sometimes I have to stay later or I get leave a little early, it just depends on the day and the workload.
• 6 pm - Get home and immediately go change clothes. Then I’ll take LB from Mr. LL (who got home around 4:30/5pm) and play with her until it’s her dinner time.
• 6:30 pm - Either Mr. LL or I will feed her whatever purée she’s currently enjoying, then trade off and the other will feed her a bottle.
• 7 pm - Say “night night” to daddy, and I take LB into our bedroom–which we are still sharing with LB–and change her into her pajamas. Then we sit on the bed and read a book together and we cuddle till she starts to fall/falls asleep. I put her in her crib and pray that she stays asleep for the night.
• 7:30 pm - During the time I’ve spent playing with LB and putting her to bed, usually Mr. LL has made dinner, so we eat now. We’ll have the monitor on and spend the next few hours hanging out, talking, watching a show or two and unwinding.
• 10:30-11:30 pm - Momma goes to bed. Mr. LL will sometimes stay up playing a video game, but I’m usually out. Oh and before bed, Mr. LL will wash any dirty bottles still hanging around and make a bottle so it is ready in the fridge for me to grab in the morning. 
• During the night - Some nights LB sleeps through, but lately she’s started getting up again, two or three times. Sometimes I can just pat her on the back and she falls asleep, other times, I have to put her in the bed and she EVENTUALLY falls back asleep for awhile. The latter is usually when she gets up somewhere between 4:30-5 in the morning and I am NOT about to get up and start the day then. So I let her snuggle up with us for another hour or so.

So yeah, as you can see I’m not left with a ton of free time to blog. The weekends are spent cleaning the house, grocery shopping, recharging and, more recently, taking LB on outings. This past weekend we took her to a nearby park/bird sanctuary. She really lit up seeing all those birds. It was going to rain soon, we only had about an hour and she stayed in the stroller the whole time. Hopefully we can plan better and maybe have a picnic or something out there on a sunny day.

That’s about it for me right now. I’m going to be trying to post more regularly, but it may be a minute before I find my groove again, so please be patient. Also, I’ll be doing some design tweaks here and there, but nothing too intrusive.

TTYL!

10 Tips For Your First Comic Con

Ah, convention season is upon us! If you are going to your first convention this year, here are some helpful tips so you can make the most of your experience! Remember, be safe and have fun!

---

1. Map it out

If you aren’t familiar with the convention center, be sure to use maps and ask for help finding things. Most conventions are held in large convention centers and you could be walking for a very long time in the wrong direction if you aren't careful.

2. Plan ahead

Use the conventions program to plan your day(s) before you even hit the convention floor. Know what events are being held where and when; as well as, celebrity meet & greets' what panels are going on and which ones you'd like to attend; and parties, opening and closing ceremonies, etc. Having a map of the convention will come in handy for this, as well, since a lot of the time panels can be found on separate floors from the main convention. Also, just know that lines for panels and screenings can get long, so you'll want to plan to some line-time to make sure you get a good seat (or a seat at all!). 

3. Get there early…

…because you don't want to waste precious time in line to get your admittance badge! The lines to get your badge can get super long, especially on opening day; and then, you have to get in line to enter the convention itself. So, plan to be there pretty early before doors open so you don't waste a minute more than you have to on this step.

4.Bring a camera but ask permission before snapping pictures

Cosplayers want to show off their hard work, and many don't mind the photo opts; however, you need to ask permission. They may not want to have their photo taken at that moment, and they are well within their rights to tell you "no." However, you are going to see some amazing things at the con and you will regret not having a means to document it all.

5. Keep your phone charged

Don't have a camera? No problem as these days every cellphone comes equipped with one. However, you are going to want to make sure you keep it charged! Pack a charger to take into the convention with you and when you want to sit down and take a break, find an outlet to sit by and charge up!

6. Hit up the ATM before you go

There may not be an ATM at the convention, plus if there is, you'll probably have to pay ridiculous fees to use it. Bring your cash with you, just be mindful of how you carry it on your person. Also, check to see if the vendors accept credit/debit cards. More and more of them are using Square Readers to make transactions easier.

7. Don't waste money on the first day

If you are going to be going to multiple days, don't spend all your money on the first day. If you are only there for one day, then wait until the last hour or two before you go to spend that cash. Make your rounds at the merchants and check out the goods, and be sure to check out the Artist Alley (my favorite place to be at a convention!) and make mental notes to yourself about what you want to buy. Then, prioritize and spend accordingly. Keep in mind, you can get some great deals on the last day of a convention as sellers and artists start to discount their wares.

8. Eat good food and drink plenty of water

You need to keep your energy up because you are going to be doing A LOT OF WALKING. Drink plenty of water during the convention, even bringing in your own (if the convention allows it, be sure to check the rules). Also, while it is tempting to just throw a bag of chips and some candy in your bag, you are going to need actual nourishment. Bring food to your hotel and eat there when you can to save money. Convention food is expensive and not very good for you. Have some healthy snacks to help you (and your tummy) make it through the con.

9. Don't be "the stinky kid (adult)"

Shower. Every day. Even if you don't shower every day at home, do it while you are going to the convention. You're probably walking a lot more than usual and are in a crowded place. You need to be clean. Also, wear deodorant. Please. For the sake of everyone else within a three foot radius of you, just put some on. I actually recommend bring some with you in your bag because if you are going to be there all day, and if it is a hot day, you're going to want it. Trust me.

10. Wear the right footwear

Like I've said, you are going to be walking. A lot. Wear shoes that you know you will be comfortable in and will provide you with the support you need for all this wear-and-tear. Even if you are cosplaying, keep in mind that you will be doing a lot walking too, so bring some back up shoes.

---

On June 23-25, The Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con will be making its annual appearance! Use these tips to make the most out of your Con experience! You can check-out Vegas.com to find flight and hotel details if you want to head out to the Comic Con there!

The Struggle Is Real: My Feeding Story

During my pregnancy, I had done my research, gone to the classes and knew that I wanted to breastfeed. Everyone says "breast is best" and I wouldn't have to pay for formula (on top of the medical bills, diapers, child care expenses, etc.) so I was all about that decision. I knew I'd be pumping once back at work, so I got a breast pump free through my insurance (and I got the best pump I could, as close the medical grade as possible!) for when those days arrived. 

All throughout my pregnancy, mothers in my life told me of their struggle to breastfeed. From infections, to latch problems and just not producing enough milk, I heard it all. While I took in these women's experiences, in the back of my mind I was determined to breastfeed and I just knew I could do it. 

Now let's skip ahead to after Lazy Baby's birth. I met with the lactation nurse and she worked with me to get her latched. It hurt like Hell to which the nurse told me that because I am a red head, it's just going to hurt worse. Just days after she was born she had a very high bilirubin count (in other words, she had a mild case of jaundice). I had to pump because she was on a special UV blanket and I couldn't hold her to feed her. Also, she had to have at least 30mL of food and I wasn't pumping that, so they gave us some supplement to get her to poop out the bilirubin in her system. When we went home, they sent us with supplement for her until her test results came back with a lower bilirubin count. My milk never really came in much more.

I tried to breastfeed once her pediatrician told us that she was all good, plus the doctor told me that I was producing enough for Lazy Baby's need. Instead of adjusting to breastfeeding, I got an almost constantly screaming baby, bleeding nipples, and my sanity slowly draining from me. Mr. LL was doing his best to keep me from completely losing it, but I was miserable. I tried, I researched, I just knew that if I could figure out how to breastfeed better I'd nail it. After all, that's how I approach all my problems. Research, try new tactics and find the way that works! I could do that with breastfeeding, right? I started pumping again – to give my nipples a break and to see just how much I was producing. I was lucky to produce an ounce. This reality hit me hard, I was failing at motherhood's most primal task: feeding my baby. 

I gave up on breastfeeding, because I needed to know that she was getting enough to eat. I would pump and then give her supplement till she was full. Now, Lazy Baby is just about 6 weeks old, and I still only pump about an ounce of breastmilk every time, sometimes I get two ounces. However, she eats 3-4 ounces at every feeding.  

I scoured the internet almost daily trying to figure out how to increase my supply, but almost every resource I could find was for breastfeeding mothers who also pumped, and the advice didn't meet my needs. I've tried the lactation cookies, taking Fenugreek and Power Pumping (which is when you pump 10 minutes then wait 10 minutes, and repeat for an hour). On top of it all, I was still struggling with coming to terms with my body's inability to provide for my baby along with the added guilt of having medical professionals insisting that I should be able to do just that by now. It is hard enough to be a new mom and heal, not to mention the baby blues hit me hard those first couple of weeks. I didn't need the guilt trip.  

I'm finally coming to terms with what my body can provide. I give her as much breast milk as I can at each feeding and then she gets formula. Do I still wish I could provide all she needs? Of course. However, the important thing is she is healthy and doesn't go hungry. I will continue to pump until she is six months or my supply dries out. I also keep reminding myself, with every bad pumping session (the ones where I only get half an ounce total) that I, myself, was never breastfed. I didn't get a drop of breastmilk and I survived just fine.

If you are struggling, just remember, you are not alone and from the women who are in my life, you aren't in the minority either.

---

I wrote this post after being contacted by The Honest Company and asked to share my story. Honest presents judgment-free feeding stories on its blog covering moms from every walk of life. To read more Honest feeding stories, you can go here: Honest Feeding Stories.