Cute Videos of Chloe Talking!

Conversation

The other day I was having a conversation with a few girls from church about breastfeeding and bottle feeding. It was really quite an interesting conversation. Some of the girls were making the point that people who can breastfeed and do it successfully do not understand those of us who can't. Some people just don't get it and don't get how difficult it is for some of us and how it just does not work. Yes, breastfeeding is a good thing, but so is bottle feeding. One is not necessarily better than the other and you have to do what works for you. (My pediatrician and OB said that too) Yes, they both have benefits and downsides. (If that makes sense.) My experience with breastfeeding was less than pleasurable, was quite stressful, and actually just plain miserable. I tried for 2 1/2 weeks and NEVER had enough. I ALWAYS had to supplement with formula. I tried several things to stimulate my supply...tried feeding several times, tried pumping, took vitamins, etc. When I would pump I would get less than 1/2 an ounce and most times it was just drops. NOTHING worked! I was tired of nursing, then giving her formula, and then pumping. Feeding her took almost an hour every time. I was stressed, tired, worn out, and didn't know what to do. I talked to the Lactation nurse several times and went into her office for a visit. Seriously tried so many things. (Both my OB and Pedi felt like the main reason I didn't have enough was because of all the trauma my body went through during labor and delivery.) So when Chloe had her 2 week well check I am standing up in the exam room when the pediatrician walks in and looks at me and says, "You're tired, aren't you? You're stressed, aren't you?" I wanted to say, "Hey, I got up this morning and fixed my hair, put make up on and actually have real clothes on today." I told him, "Yes, I am tired and yes, I am stressed." He asked me what was going on and I told him everything. He said he would support me as long as I wanted to try breastfeeding and I told him I didn't know how long I wanted to try and that I just wanted him to tell me what to do. He said he didn't want to tell me what to do and that he wanted me to make the decision. I just kept going back and forth and I asked his honest opinion and he said he really felt like we were headed down the formula route, whether it be tomorrow or in a week. I finally just pleaded for his help and to tell me what to do and he said to go formula. When he said that I think I heard angels singing up above!!!!!!!!!! He reassured me that formula is not a bad thing, many people do it, I would be happier, Chloe would be happy, I would just feel better overall, and things would be better!!!!! He also said not to listen to people who talk bad about formula or people who would say things like, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe you are giving your baby formula." or "You won't bond with your baby as much." ( I was slightly worried about this, because so many ladies in our church breastfeed and talk about what a great experience it is and the last thing I wanted is someone chastising me for what I am doing. I didn't really care what people were going to say to me, because for me breastfeeding was a NIGHTMARE!) He also said his wife went through the same experiences I did and that both of his kids had formula, they are both honor students and both participate in extra curricular activities. When I left his office that day I felt this huge weight lifted off my shoulders and I headed straight to Target to buy formula, bottles, and a bottle sanitizer!!!!! Since then we have been on 5 different formulas and have finally been on the same one for about 3 months.

I will say that the one thing that I LOVE about formula is all the freedom it gives me!!!!!! Everyone else can feed her and I don't have to bring her everywhere I go just because she might need to eat while I am gone.

**Sidenote: I'm also glad that the hospital I stayed at was not swayed one way or the other about breastfeeding. I have heard that most hospitals in Utah are pro breastfeeding and I do not think that is right for a hospital to take a stand like that and put pressure on mothers.

Anyways...that is my story on why I don't/can't breastfeed. If we have another baby maybe breastfeeding will go better.

I am however, very happy that my sister was able to breastfeed her baby and get lots of good use out of that nice double Medela pump I bought!!! Way to go Hillary!!!!! In a way, thank goodness for people who can breastfeed, because if we ever had a worldly disaster and didn't have formula, those who can produce their own milk will have to help those of us who can't.

Sorry this post is so scattered, but the conversation I had a few days ago got me thinking.

4 month pictures

To view Chloe's 4 month pictures click on the link below, then click on Order Online and enter my email address: brookeallison2007@yahoo.com

http://quinstudio.poundslabsonline.com/mp_includes/body.asp

4 months!

Today Chloe had her 4 month well check.

The stats are: Height - 24 3/4 in., 90th percentile
Weight - 14 10.5 ounces, 75th percentile
Head - 16 1/4 inches, 50th percentile

At 4 months she is doing the following:

-Laughing: It is so darn cute when she laughs. She seems to be pretty ticklish and will laugh almost every time you tickle her. She loves to laugh when you make funny faces at her. She also loves to laugh and talk to this little flower toy that hangs from her car seat handle.

-Talking/Noises: She is making noises and talking all the time! Just this past weekend she started making a new noise rubbing her lips together and then of course bubbles come out. It is so cute! She has a lot of conversations with her dad! (I'm sure she is telling him all kinds of important things.)

-Holding her head up when on her tummy: She is holding her head up really well when we lay her on her tummy. She just pushes right up on her little hands/arms and then looks all around her.

-Eating: She is now taking 6 ounces of formula every 4-6 hours. We did get the go ahead from her pediatrician to start cereal and baby food now. We will see how that goes!

-Sleeping: She was sleeping about 7-8 hours at night, but we recently digressed a little, possibly due to teething and a growth spurt.

-Teething: I am pretty sure she has started teething now. She chews on anything she can get in her mouth and is drooling a lot. She gets pretty cranky at night, probably because of the pain. I hope this teething process goes quickly!

-First snow: Chloe had her 1st experience in snow when we ran out into the front yard for a very quick picture. This just had to be documented! She was not quite sure what to think about it.

-First Christmas: Chloe also had her first Christmas and loved everything! I am sure she will be way more into it next year.

-Toys: She is now grabbing onto toys and holding them in her fingers. She can especially do this with her Bouncy seat and Play Gym!

She is a very happy, smiley baby and we couldn't be happier that she is a part of our family! She brings us so much joy each day! She is just growing more and more and learning new things all the time.

We had her 4 month pictures taken this weekend and I don't have the link yet for them, but as soon as I do I will post it. For now you can enjoy one of her snow pictures!

We love you Chloe Madison and enjoy being your parents!!!!!

My Husband THE Cook!

Let me preface this post by saying that Ryan is the cook around here. Mainly because he loves to cook and he is a lot better at it than me. He also loves to eat, so that helps his desire to cook. I will say that I can cook, but I am not as adventurous as him nor am I as good at it as him.

Lately he has been cooking up a storm from this cookbook:



And let me tell you everything he has cooked is DELICIOUS!!!!!!!

Some of the things he has cooked are: Apple Tart with a sugar cookie crust, Quiche, French Onion Soup w/ Gruyere cheese (YUM), Au gratin green beans, Chocolate Souffle, and so many more that I can't remember right now.

Anyways...this is a fabulous cookbook, it goes in to great detail about technique with the various recipes and really explains each recipe explicitly.

We are eating good in the Steed household thanks to my wonderful husband!!!

Creativity and a lack thereof

I have recently been looking at the blogs of many of my friends or accquaintances and everyone is so creative, crafty, sewing, or other such things. It got me thinking about how not so crafty I am, or not so creative and I certainly don't sew. Thank goodness for some nice ladies in my ward who put together a cute quiet book and made one for Chloe. I really wanted Chloe to have one, but there was no way I was going to be able to participate and make a page after just having her. When I received the quiet book it made me feel even less creative/crafty, etc. I think every page had the activity sewn to it and when I realized that, it was definitely a good thing I didn't participate because I don't have a sewing machine and my page would not have even been near as cute as all the others. Now the next predicament is how on earth am I going to bind the book together if I don't have a sewing machine. Poor Chloe might just have a ghetto quiet book. Oh well!

As many of you know we are LDS and I feel like if I am a stay at home LDS mom I need to become crafty or sew or something. Well, I have NO desire to sew, so that is definitely not going to happen. We will just continue to buy our clothes...good thing I have a slight addiction to Gymboree so Chloe will always look cute, because I have a feeling if I sewed her clothes, things might turn out a little funky! I kind of want to become crafty, but not sure where to start.

I will say I have 4 things that I would like to do right now:

1. Buy a piano and get back into practice ( I took lessons for about 10 years and then fell out of practice when I went to college and didn't have a piano to practice on)

2. Teach junior college part time ( I would love to teach people how to be teachers! Maybe try to somewhat tell them what it is really like in the classroom.)

3. Be a personal shopper! I am very good at shopping, finding the best deals, putting outfits together, efficient, and I love to do it! (They do have personal shoppers at various malls, I just need to look into it!) (This one was recommended by my mom!)

4. Start my own small on location catering business. I worked for The Kyle House (www.thekylehouse.com) in Bryan/College Station while I was going to A&M and it was a lot of fun! We had all kinds of events, business meetings/conferences, weddings, receptions, baby/wedding showers, graduation parties, etc. I LOVE to make finger foods/appetizers, different punches, and desserts. If I ever do this I would do it the way the lady did it that catered our wedding reception. She charged by the platter (small and large) instead of by the person. I think it is more reasonable that way.

Anyways...those are just some thoughts I've been having recently!

Christmas Break 2010

Sadly enough Christmas break has come to an end. It is always so depressing to me when the holidays are over, nothing really to look forward to, all the decorations are put away, the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over, and we have nothing but winter ahead of us for a few months. I also have to mention that Ryan went back to work after 2 full weeks off and that was very sad, because we LOVED having him with us and very much enjoyed our time together.

Our break started off with a weekend at The Gaylord Texan to celebrate Anniversary #4. We ate dinner at a Coastal Italian restaurant at the resort, walked around and enjoyed the lights, and some hot chocolate. We ended the evening by taking Tylenol PM and getting a full nights rest, uninterrupted. A HUGE thanks to my parents for keeping Chloe! Saturday we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast buffet and walked around some more and then on our way back to Sherman we made a stop at Watters Creek in Allen and did some shopping. Gymboree happened to be having a sale, and well, I just couldn't resist going in and getting Chloe some more clothes. The poor child just has nothing to wear. HA! We then went to Kelley Gundersheimer's wedding that evening and I have to say she was a very beautiful bride and the wedding was gorgeous!

We came back to Rockwall to go to church and pack our stuff for the week and then headed back to Sherman on Monday evening. Ryan and Chloe did some Christmas shopping for me on Monday here in Rockwall and I went enjoyed a wonderful pedicure/manicure while they did their shopping! We had a great FHE with my parents and sister and her family Monday night. Tuesday we hung out and went to breakfast with Mimi and Popa and they got to brag to their friends about their 2 cute great-granddaughters. We did some shopping and ate dinner together as a family! Wednesday we did more shopping and then that night we went to dinner in Sanger at Babe's Chicken Dinner House. This is a famous restaurant in Texas and there are locations all over. They don't have a menu as all they offer is chicken strips, chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken and smoked chicken. They serve the sides family style and they have very delicious biscuits. It was a really fun place to go! Of course Ross wasn't with us because he is on his mission, so to let him know we were thinking of him we got him a t-shirt! (Sidenote: Ross LOVES t-shirts and often gets a t-shirt almost every place he goes.) Thursday morning Ryan cooked a delicious homemade breakfast of quiche and sausage patties. Very delicious! We then met up with some family for lunch that was stopping through on their way back to Kansas. Thursday night Ryan cooked a yummy dinner of gniocchi, au gratin green beans, and some other things that I can't remember right now. Friday was Christmas Eve and we went to Grandma Wertz's to make sugar cookies (a long standing tradition) and then went to lunch with everyone. That night we went to Janna's for some yummy food, singing, socializing, and a visit from Santa for the little ones. Saturday was Christmas day and we started off the morning by opening gifts, and breakfast. Chloe was not quite sure what to think about everything. I think she enjoyed looking around at everything more than anything else. Next year will be even better! Little Lizzie slept through all the gift opening. We had Mimi and Popa and Kelly and Thomas and their family over for lunch and more gifts. We then all sat around waiting for Ross to call. We got to talk to him for a little while and then headed back to Rockwall for Ryan's parents to come and visit. We opened gifts with them Saturday night, went to church on Sunday, and then on Monday we did some shopping at Firewheel Mall. We had a wonderful dinner at Momo's Pasta in Dallas and then drove around and looked at lights. Tuesday we did some more shopping in Rockwall, went to The Gaylord Texan to show his parents the lights and decorations there and then went to a delicious dinner at Texas de Brazil!!!!! Wednesday, his parents left to go back to Utah. Thursday we worked on undecorating the house and cleaning it up really good and we met my mom at NorthPark mall for some more shopping. We didn't buy anything this time, I was just there to be my mom's personal shopper! Friday our original NYE plans fell through, so we headed to my parents and Ryan cooked a yummy dinner and we watched FB. Saturday we were just lazy hanging out at my parents and taking naps off and on throughout the day.

Sorry for such a long post! I'm sure this is not very interesting to many of you, but this is more for my personal records than anything!

Here are some pictures from the break: