To work or not to work... that is the question

Two weeks before Bryce was born I lost my job. It was a very unfortunate turn of events, of which I don't mind sharing, but I'd rather not post online. (At least not at this time.) Losing my job truly was a blessing in disguise! For nearly seven months I have had the awesome privilege of staying home full-time to raise Bryce. And although we have our moments from time to time, I have loved almost every minute of it!

After several months of writing cover letters, editing my resume, filling out applications and going for interviews it seems as though I may have found a job. Not just any job, but a position with a company world renown for its excellence in the health care field. This coming Wednesday I will meet one of the VPs and should know for certain late next week. While nothing is set in stone yet, things sound promising. The position would offer me room to grow and move throughout the company. Good salary and great benefits...

Unfortunately, accepting a full-time job would also mean that I would leave Bryce with someone else for about 45 hours every week. yikes! Just thinking about that makes me nauseous! I mean let's be honest... no one and I mean no one is as good as Mom. And while I know that there are plenty of people fully capable of providing my child with the attention and daily interaction necessary to develop, I also know that I have been his source of EVERYTHING for seven months! Not to mention, nine months spent in my womb! I am so afraid of losing the wonderful bond that we have worked so hard to create with one another. Bryce is a mama's boy, and I don't want it any other way.

He needs me and maybe more than that... I need him! Perhaps the transition will be easier on Bryce than I think. Although, I am fairly certain that the transition will be even harder for me than I imagine. Only time will tell...

As a firm believer that if something is meant to be it will work out, all I can do is pray that the Lord will give me strength to make the right decision should an opportunity become available.

Follow-up to come...

Merry (belated) Christmas!

I just had to have a photo of me nursing "Santa!"

As usual, Christmas has come and gone far too quickly. Every year it seems as though the blessed holiday has more hype than the year before and is still over in the blink of an eye. This was my first Christmas as a mommy! Even though Bryce is only 6 months old it was much more fun this year. Everything is more fun, and at times more difficult, with a little one around. Bryce is a constant source of entertainment, energy and excitement. (Who also leaves me exhausted each evening.)

Where was I? Oh, Christmas! I am so much looking forward to creating new traditions and Christmas celebrations with our little family. So many holiday memories are built around traditions! Next year at this time Bryce will be 18 months old and will undoubtedly have an entirely different perspective of Christmas. He will be interested in unwrapping gifts, and will be even more interested in pulling ornaments off of the tree. My hope for future Christmases is that Bryce will learn the true importance of the holiday- the birth of his Savior! From a very early age, I want Bryce to learn the story of Jesus' birth, death and resurection. Gifts are nice to give and recieve, but they are only temporary. As cliche as it may sound- albeit true... The best gift of all is Jesus! His love and sacrifice will last for all of eternity!

Merry (belated) Christmas! May you and yours enjoy creating new traditions together!

Brett with our little "Santa Baby."

National Breastfeeding Education & Support at Risk

For more than 33 years the National WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Association (NWA) has been providing nutritional support, healthcare and breasfeeding education to women, infants and children ages one through five. Annually NWA serves more than 8 million eligible Americans. Unfortunately, President Bush's projected FY 2008 budget threatens to cut funding and ultimately the services provided to so many mothers and children in need. The President's proposed budget will put a freeze on WIC's funding of nutritional services, which include nutrition assessment, counseling and education, overweight and obesity prevention, prenatal and pediatric healthcare referrals and follow-up, spousal and child abuse referral, drug and alcohol abuse referral, immunization screening, assessment and referral, and breastfeeding support and promotion.


Take a moment to send an e-mail telling Congress that without $6 million dollars WIC moms and children will be cut from the program! Also, for more information visit the National WIC Association Web site and click on the legislation tab.

What a catch!

While at JC Penney today, having Bryce's Christmas photos taken, an elderly woman casually walked by our carriage took a good look at Bryce and exclaimed, "He's a big one!" She said it so matter-of-factly as if I had caught a huge Bass or a very large Trout. I felt like I should hold Bryce up by his ankles and have a photo taken to be framed for all to admire my great catch.


If you have ever seen my baby boy then you know that he is a big boy. He has been called enormous and fat on several occassions. And yes, I have to admit he is a good size baby. Breastfed babies typically do grow, at least initially, more quickly than formula babies. Today at support group, he tipped the scale weighing 20lbs 10ozs. Let me remind you that he will be six months tomorrow! (His birth weight was 7lbs 5 ozs) My lactation consultants tell me I have lots of good fat in my milk.


Even though we live in a society that is obsessed with size and weight I am extremely proud of my "enormous" baby! I love every inch of him, including all of his rolls, folds and cankles!!! My fatty milk is a gift that I give to him every day! A gift of health, nurishment, comfort and love...


When it comes to babies... thin is out and FAT is IN!!!

GASP! Virgin in the world of blogging...

Over the past six months I have been reading online blogs, mainly on the topics of motherhood and breastfeeding. And, for some time now I have been tossing around the idea of starting my own blog. Needless to say- here I am! The purpose of this blog is to clear the cob webs that so easily clutter my brain, raise awareness of breastfeeding, and share stories about my munchkin and family. More to come...