Lots of Updates

It's been a busy few months. I know what you're thinking, "Is Ramona a year old yet? What kind of lazy mom has a baby blog and doesn't post birthday pictures in a timely manner?" I'm sorry, geez!!! Well the wait is over. So, here's what the last few months have looked like in Ramona's world.

Easter was a big hit! We hunted easter eggs at Old Settlers Park on Saturday. Ramona did great! She got a whole basket with a little help from Daddy.

Since it was freezing, I was able to sneak the bunny ears on top of her hood without her knowing.

We took pictures with baby chicks. Ramona wasn't too fond of them.

"Nobody move, there's a chicken on my head!"

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On a serious note. I have been trying to wean Ramona, now that she is a year old. So, I asked her doctor how she recommended we do this. She said give her three meals of solid food a day and replace the remaining breastfeeding sessions with milk in a sippy cup. Do it slowly, it should take about a month for her to be totally weaned. Ok, sounds simple enough. She eats food...check! Start giving her cows milk in a sippy cup...not working...how about a cup with a straw...nope...a bottle...not a chance.

Two weeks later I had purchased every kind of kids cup and nothing was working. She refused to drink AT ALL from anything but my breast. We were making zero progress. So, I turned to the internet, friends and family asking for tips on how to introduce cups to Ramona. Everyone said, "She will drink when she's thirsty." And some said, "Just stop offering the breast." Ok...I was skeptical but figured I would give it a try. Three days later, Ramona is dehydrated and I'm in pain from weaning "cold turkey". I'm panicking because all she has had to drink a few sips of water and milk and one juice box. She is sticking to her guns and NOT drinking when she is thirsty.

So, I give in and breastfeed her only to find out that 99% of my milk has dried up. This is when I start to FREAK OUT. How am I going to feed my baby, now that I physically can't feed her? I turn to prayer, Fenugreek and family for help. Also, after alot of research I find out that weaning "cold turkey" can cause delayed postpartum depression and anxiety. It absolutely did! I have never felt so insane in all my life.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT wean your baby "cold turkey". It is traumatizing for the mother and the baby. Ramona was feeling neglected and confused because she actually did not know how to drink from a cup, therefore, she couldn't drink when she was thirsty. I didn't know this until AFTER I dried up my milk.

Anyway, the Fenugreek and praying worked and I have enough milk back to feed Ramona if she needs it. And in the middle of all this she started drinking juice boxes (mixed with water) and milk (with a straw out of my giant blue cereal mug with a hint of strawberry Carnation instant breakfast flavoring...whatever works!) I'm still trying to get her to drink just plain water. We are still working on weaning but it will be at a much slower pace. Hopefully she will be weaned soon, but it will be only when she and I are ready. I refuse to jeopardize her health and my sanity again just because I think she is too old to breastfeed.

This is how much she hated all the bottles and sippy cups.

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Back to happy stuff! Ramona's birthday party was a smashing success.

The cake. Yeah that's right, I made it.

She wasn't a huge fan of cake. She prefers ice cream.

The gifts!

The birthday girl...with a giant bow. I couldn't resist.

It only stayed on for two seconds.

Ok, that's all. I'll try to stay on top of the blogging in the future. (Truth be told, we all know that's not gonna happen.)