World milk sharing week

Sept 24-30 is world milk sharing week.. hince the title of my post!  So for those that aren't comfortable with the idea of that, stop here.  This week is to celebrate milk sharing (breast milk) and those mamas that have done it!  I have a friend whose baby has only had breast milk since she was born, even though the mom never made enough milk herself.  Her mom worked so hard finding women that would share, and drive so many miles to get there.  She is a champion in my eyes! 
If you remember in other post, I've been stressing about not having enough pumped milk for Z since I'm going to school.  Thanks for a wonderful friend D, I no longer have to worry.  She gave me 3 big bags full of some of her milk.  She had extra and I had a need, so she shared.  Thanks to her, I had a big weight lifted off my chest.  I trust her and know her milk is safe (for one she is still nursing her son), so I'm not worried.  And I'm very thankful! :)  I've also been able to share some of my milk with a friend.  It was for diaper rash and she put it in her baby food.  Her daughter had been fighting a horrible cash of diaper rash, and nothing was working.  She had been to the doctor and was putting medicine on it, but nothing.  So I gave her a bag full of BM cubes.  Within a week of putting some BM on her diaper rash, it was getting better.. two weeks it was gone.  I havn't been able to share bag fulls of milk, but I still feel proud that I was able to help a mom out! 
If you want to check out more about WMSW go to:
http://www.worldmilksharingweek.org/

This week has been hard.  Poor Z has a cold.  He got it after we ran into  a toddler that had a cold at one of our mom groups.  He is finally getting better, but its been so hard.  He couldn't breathe out of his nose, and that makes life hard for everyone.  Zach hasn't been sleeping well, b/c of his nose and not feeling well...and he hates the nose sucker.. and the nosefreda thing we have.  I can't wait for him to be better!

Some more of our 6 month Pictures!

7 months old

WAY LATE.. but I have a good excuse!  We have had friends visiting us this last week.. so we are been busy chasing around a 13 month old girl(E) and Z man.  It was soo wonderful having them here, nice having 2 moms and 2 babies.  And E and Z loved each other!  She was always giving him kisses and hugs (and tackles).. The first couple days Z wasn't so sure about the "love" she was giving.. but then he got used to the head bangs pats and tackles hugs.. lol  She was so good with him and knew "nice, nice" (what a smart little girl!) It was so great hanging out w/ a great friend too!  Tim worked late a lot, and having them here just really helped me.  I've been so lonely here in the house w/ just Z.  T has been super busy w/ work, so its just been me and the baby.. it was a great break having someone else here.  Also we moved bed time up to 8.  Mainly b/c that is when E went down.. so we just put Zach down then too.  It worked great!  Gave us mommies time for a mommy drink.. and much earned drink.  Well enough about all that, here are the 7 months Stats a bit late:
Weight: 19lbs!
Height: I'm not sure.. didn't get measured this month
Size clothes: 9-12 for the most part, I can get him into 6-9, but its tight
Size diapers: 4.. been taking a little break from CD.. just to try to get sane
Crawling: oh yea!  All over the place!
Pulling up:  He can pull himself up on the couch and using toys..
Sitting up: Yep, he goes from lying down to sitting to crawling to rolling.. lol
Favorite noise to make: Blowing raspberries.. all the time.. on everything! 
Talking:  He makes grunts and growls alot.. and starting to babble a bit
Favorite toy: we have a leap frog table that makes noise.. he is a big fan of it!
Favorite song:  He loves Faira Jacka.. that tune can calm him down no matter what!  We have made up our own words for it now too!
Odd thing he is doing:  Smacking his lips...  and sucking them into his month.. its very funny to watch!!

Alright, I think thats about it for now!  Enjoy some pics!  Ok alot of pic..but its been awhile since I posted.. so I'm getting caught up! :)

We love being outside!

Loving on mama!

Bear crawl!

Starting early!

Standing up!

Plotting their escape....

Sleeping at the Card/Cubs game..

At the Cards/Cubs game!

Sick baby

Over the weekend, Z was flirting w/ a fever..  I thought it was just teething, but I was keeping an eye on it.  It never even went up to 100.4, so I was not too worried about it.  Monday morning, he woke up at 4, so I went up and got him, and fed him.  From 4-8 he was pretty restless and woke up a lot.  I felt his head at 8 and he was hot, so I took him temp.  102.5!  So I gave him some Tylenol and a bath, fed him and retook it.  It was down to 100.9.  I waited for the doctor office to open and called them.  We decided to keep an eye on it.  Well about an hour later, Z had some diarrhea, so I called back and they told me to come in.  Also Z had been pulling on his ear.. I didn't think it was an ear infection, but thought it was best to get checked out.  So in to the doctor we went.  Z is up to 19lbs now!  His ears were fine, so that was good!  His throat looked red, so Doc thinks it something viral and it will pass with time.  The ear pulling and diarrhea was prolly just him dealing w/ everythign going on with his little body.  So, the day was full of naps, cuddling, nursing, and fighting the fever.  He was in the mood to be held, since he wasn't feeling well at all-which is what I did.  So we watched movies and read books, and relaxed.  Today is pretty much the same.. Woke up w/ a temp over 102.. got it down to 101.. But I feel bad of my little guy.. :(    \
It is crazy how everything stops when your kid is sick!  Luckily my class for last night got canceled, so I didn't have to go to it.  I had a playdate planed for today, at our house.. lol.. and had to cancel that.  I also was going to work out yesterday at school...  darn, didn't get that in!  Tonight I had a scarpbooking girls night, but if he still has a fever, I'm not going to go to that either.  Hopefully Z gets feeling better soon!!  :)

My love bug!

Friday!!

I was going thru clothes getting out the 9-12 months and I found 2 bags of toys!  Oh it was like Christmas!  I how is much louder now!  Even with all the new toys..  Zach prefers the dog dish....

Yep, he crawled over to it... then into the kitchen.  But I was really excited to break out the "new" toys.  I'm kinda addicted to baby toys.  It doesn't help that when I go to the store, I fell bad if I don't buy something for Zach... 
On the milk front.. lol..  I'm still trying to get my stash going..  With not much luck.  It doesn't help that we spend one night away from Z.  So, I'm trying many things.  Oatmeal for breakfast, drinking "mother milk tea" like its going out of style, taking fungreek, and I'm just starting taking a few different vitamins.  Now not only am I fighting time, I also have hormones hurting me too.  I'm still making plenty for Z, its just the having enough for when I'm gone 2 times a week..  Like last night, Zach ate 7 oz while I was gone.. I only pumped 6 Weds and Thrusday.  But now its for real time to get down to business!  So off to target to buy something I've been debating getting for a while...

  Simple wishes hands-free pump bra.  As I google for a picture to add.. there were some very comical ones I could have put on here.. but I went with this one.  So far its been helpful.  I've been able to work on homework while pumping last night, and I'm planning on power pumping this weekend.  Other than that, we don't have much going on this weekend. 

Farmer boy.. in his bibs! :)

Walking the trails at Funks Gove.. in his little sweatsuit outfit! 

Crib sleeping!

     Yep, thats right, we moved Z outta our room up into his room!  T was so excited that Z finally was sleeping in the room that we spent so much time redoing and getting ready just for Z!  I was not as excited, but after a few days, its really nice.  He naps in there too, which is really nice!  I'm able to get so much more done, without the worry of waking him up.  I will post some pic of him.. when I get some.  But Z is doing great in his room, I think he was ready.  He wakes up around 4 and then again at 6, then we bring him to our room until we get up for the mornings around 9. 
       Z is getting around alot better.  He does less of the "fall" forward and more of the crawling.  But he always turns it into a bear crawl and tries to get up on his legs.  It won't be long until I'll be chasing him all around the house!
     Camping went really well last weekend.  Since Z was the cutest boy there, he had most the ladies attention.  But who could really blame them ;)  Z slept in our tent w/ us and slept better than T or me.  Z loves being outside, loves the grass, and dirt.  He isn't one that doesn't like being dirty.  The weather was perfect also! 
    School is going well.. Def getting harder, which means more time spent on homework, but I'm getting it all done.  T is still working all the time, which makes it harder to find time to work on homework, but I'm hanging in there.  Its all about learning balance, which is hard. 
I'll post some pictures later when I have more time...

Exhausted...

   Sorry I havn't been on much, I've really been doing the no computer unless Zach is sleeping or someone is here to entertain him.. so what computer time I've had has been spent on homework.  I'll start with that.  School so far has been going really well.  (all though I really should be doing homework now instead of blogging, but ohwell :) )  I have gotten 100% on all my stuff, (stats quiz, homework and same w/ human growth)  So far, I'm enjoying the teachers and it is really nice getting out of the house and away from the baby for a few hours a couple times a week.  Yesterday I was super tired, and had to fight the urge to skip class (Byproduct of the teacher saying we don't have to come...)  But I'm glad I went and I def got somethings out of class.  On that note, we've been so thankful to my parents!  They watch Z on Mondays, since class starts before T gets off work.  The plan has been for T to have him Thrusday-b/c my class starts at 7.. Well the two Thrusday classes I've had so far, my parents has had to watch Z.  T has been working some crazy hours!  So I'm really greatful we have them and they are so willing to babysit for us!  But really who could blame them-Z is pretty darn cute!
  This brings me to my next point.  T has been working nonstop!  Which is great that they are busy, but man do I miss him!!  So its been me and the little guy most the time.  I'm looking forward to this weekend (if T doesn't have to work the whole time)  But all this "single" parenting (I just say single in the physical form.. I don't know how real single parents do it.. bringing in the income, taking care of the baby, doing everything alone..)  is so exhausting!  I'm so tired and drained.  I feel like I'm doing laundry, cooking, playing, and trying to clean nonstop.  Plus Z hasn't been sleeping very well.  2 nights ago was awful!  He ate about every 45 mins.  But last night he only woke up a  few times (3 am, then 5 am, then 7am)  so not too bad.
    I've been busy making more baby food today!  I'm do really like being able to control exactly what is in his food and picking how thick the puree is.  I am kinda doing a blend of babyled weaning  (http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyledweaning.htm) and some puree's.  Z is dong great.. kid can eat!  Today he had bananas(sliced), brown rice, and some peach puree.  For a snack he had avacodo "sticks".  We do have some jarred baby food, which is nice to keep to take to a sitters, but its too smooth for him, so we add some rice cereal to it to thicken it up.  He also really likes squash "sticks".. I take squash and cut sticks out of them and Z eats them right up!  Its not a super clean way of life.. :)

   Well just thought I'd give a little update!  Here are a few pics to leave you with :)