A King's Ransom

A King's Ransom by James Grippando
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book!  The story was completely captivating from the very beginning.  I stayed up until 4 AM one night because I just had to know what happened.  My sleep is very valuable with two young children so the book definitely deserves 5 stars if I lose sleep over it.

I loved the touch of "lawyer" mixed with adventure and love story!  It was perfect.  I sometimes don't really  like lawyer books because it gets to mundane.  This book was a perfect mix.

I loved how the author bounced back and forth between Mathew and Nick.  It made the story more interesting to hear from two different characters.

The book is somewhat predictable, but the twist at the end keeps the reader intrigued.

No swearing and no sex.


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Kyle's 31st Birthday

We were going to Utah the day after Kyle's birthday and so I decided to make his birthday cake a day early.  Grant helped me make Kyle's birthday cake.  It is so fun having Grant so big.  We enjoy doing things together. 

Grant wanted Daddy to open his present early too.  Grant got Kyle some Wolverine claws.  It is kind of one of those gifts you give yourself and someone else.  Grant loves super heroes and has loved Dad's Wolverine claws.  

The day we went shopping for them I managed to lose Kyle's debit card.  I felt so bad.  I feel like I always manage to ruin Kyle's birthday.  This year I lost the debit card and a few years ago I accidentally threw a wii remote at the t.v.  

On Kyle's birthday we went out dinner at Joe's Crab Shack.  Our neighbor watched Celeste for us so we could enjoy our meal.  It was nice to enjoy a meal without an infant.  Grant also enjoyed having Mom and Dad all to himself.  We came home and opened presents.  I got Kyle a few new shirts and soccer clothes.  He usually plays basketball during his lunch breaks, but he has recently started playing soccer too.

Celeste: 2 Months Old

Celeste was 2 months old on July 1, 2013.  She weighed 8 pounds and 9 ounces (2nd percentile) and 22 3/8 inches long (50th percentile).  She has started smiling and cooing.  She doesn't care for tummy time.  She loves her brother and her daddy.  She will smile the most for her daddy.  She still doesn't eat very well, but it getting better.  We love having her in our family.

Breastfeeding Battle: The Last Straw

I was hoping to keep breastfeeding for a while, but it is just not working out.

For the past 6 weeks I have been pumping at every single feeding.  It has been exhausting!  All I do is nurse and pump.  At first Celeste didn't want the milk I pumped, but she is finally growing and now I can't keep up.  She drinks everything I pump and usually wants a bottle after wards too.  

I hate to admit it, but I am resenting her.  I don't enjoy nursing any more because it is just so much work.  I hate that I don't get to spend any time with her unless I am feeding her.   I don't want to quit after we have worked so hard to make this work, but it can't go on like this.  I can't think of anything we haven't tried.  I have talked about breastfeeding to everyone I can think of and no one has any more suggestions.  We are out of ideas.  

I have tried and I would say fail, but we are done.  Done fighting a losing battle.

Happy Kids

Celeste has really started smiling!  Her whole face lights up when she smiles.  We just can't get enough of her!  I have horrible luck getting her to smile on demand if I have a camera in my hand.  Kyle got this picture right before church.  It is Celeste's first Sunday and she is about 2 months old. 

Grant is also very photogenic.  He loves his little sister and is always willing to hold her, even if she is crying. 

 I love these two kids! 

Breastfeeding Battle: The Saga Continues

Breastfeeding is hard work!  It consumes your life.  Well, the little life you have left after having a newborn.  So why can't I just quit?

I enjoy it!  Well, sometimes I enjoy it.  I just can't let myself quit though.  After two months of time and energy poured into breastfeeding I just can't quit.  There are days when I want to oh so bad.

Let me say though that things are looking much better now.  After spending more than 30 minutes on the phone with the lactation consultant explaining my difficulties she admitted she had no idea how to help me.  Surprisingly enough I wasn't discouraged though.  Something she had said got me thinking.  I had an "ah-ha" moment.  Are you ready?

I realized Celeste won't nurse if she is too wound up.  If she gets to upset and hungry she won't eat.  I didn't think it could be that simple, but I tested my theory and it is true!  True I tell you!  Every other baby I know has to literally be hung by their toes before they are awake enough to eat.  My baby does better if you just wake her up enough to latch on.

It has been a week now and we have had almost all positive breastfeeding sessions!

Celeste is still not gaining weight fast enough.  She is stuck at the second percentile for weight.  But at least we aren't falling off the growth chart.  I had to supplement with formula.  Celeste is still not a champion breastfeeder and I have to pump after every single feeding.  I usually get her to eat the hind milk I pumped and if not I save it for later.  I have no milk stored up and so I don't go any where for more than 2 hours.

I am still very glad I did all the therapy with her though because she really was physical unable to nurse.  I am so glad I worked with the lactation specialists because they were very helpful.  We have made it so far.  I am happy I didn't give up.  I am 75% sure I would  do it all again.

The Dark Monk

The Dark Monk by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a great book!  I loved the first and the second is just as wonderful.

I got a little confused at the very end of the book with the authors description of the monastery.  The characters seemed to be running around in circles.  Then just when I thought I knew where they were something would happen above or below them and I would be confused again.  Maybe I am just not very familiar with the layouts of old churches.

The author goes through the actual locations that inspired him for this story.  It is kind of cool to know how an author is inspired.  

The story was captivating and only had a few slow moments.  I am excited to read the third book in the series.

No sex and no swearing.


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