Almost...

Olivia is moving to that next stage in babyhood where she is trying to crawl. She's got the rolling over part down-town. But she is never satisfied with the status quo. Now, when on her belly, she tries to stick her knees into her stomach and push herself forward. Unfortunately, without the arm part of the scenario, she is mostly face planting...but I gotta give her props for trying. I guess we need to do some arms and abs workouts. That will be how I make my millions...baby workout videos.
My new obsession is baby language dvd's and cd's. I have found some really good ones at the library (my new best friend). I am hoping that this really gives her a leg up in the language department. I still regret not being bilingual. I mean, I can get by in Spanish, but I should be fluent with a Cuban father and a fluent mother. The good thing is, Olivia now has a Cuban grandfather and fluent grandmother and we can make up for lost time... I hope.
I am already so proud of my baby. I would like to attribute how wonderful she is to my stellar parenting skills, but since I am just making this up as I go...I really can't do that. Perhaps I lucked into the perfect combination of daycare...the one at John's work and my parents. Perhaps it's breastfeeding. Perhaps it's that I never solely breastfed or formula-fed. Perhaps it was cosleeping. (the last one is not recommended by the American Pediatric Society. But, I have to say a big "Screw that" to them since my baby is now an angel in the sleeping department....most nights I just put her in her crib and she sooths herself to sleep...no pacifier...no music...)
I realize I talk a lot about breastfeeding. I am not sure if it's me or if it's all woman who have "working" boobs that become obsessed with them. It's hard not to. A) They're bigger B)They're pretty damn sensitive C)Nothing like pumping to make you see your boobs in a very non sexy way. Well, it has come to five months and one week of Olivia's time on earth and my breastfeeding. (I mostly pump now and she feeds via bottle). I notice that my production is drying up. She usually has about 6 ounces a feed now and I produce 3-4 ounces per pump. (Suck is a better term for it...on so many levels).
At 6 months is the time when she can start on solids. (So says my pediatrician) I am having a huge internal debate on whether I should give up the breastfeeding at this time or keep going....I mean, my boobs seem to be giving up, why shouldn't I? It would be nice not to have to worry about what I drink or pumping before working out (because working out on full boobs is NOT comfortable), or pumping at work and having to carry around my milk with me on job sites because it can't sit, baking, in the car. But is that a good trade-off for free and good nutrients for Olivia? Is that a good trade off for my bigger boobs (well, I should say boob, because the left one has never produced more than an ounce or two), no period (yes, ladies...no period) and the calorie burning? Then, there's the fact that I should consider myself really lucky I can produce milk. It seems giving up is a slap in the face to those who tried and wanted, but their bodies made the decision for them. I guess the answer lies somewhere in between...I think I am going to stop pumping at work after Olivia's six month mark. Maybe.