Searching for Milk Advice

Since Kailey's turned a year old, I've been trying to make the switch to whole milk without success. I know during the day at daycare, they are giving her juice and whole milk. They said she's started to take a little whole milk, but when she comes home it seems as though she's so thirsty from not drinking that I cave and give her formula.

I've been trying to mix the formula and whole milk together, but she's been too smart about it and figures it out and then stops drinking. I also tried to put the milk in a sippy cup instead of a bottle and that didn't make a difference.

When I went to the grocery store to buy whole milk, the only kind my grocery store had was an organic brand. Do you think that makes a difference? I'm going to ask my daycare which brand of whole milk they give her, but I'm finding the switch to be a bit difficult. On top of which, I don't want to not feed her enough knowing that she's a bit small for her age.

Any suggestions anyone can offer would be helpful. Thanks!

Weekly Update

I've been a bit busy this week. With a few coworkers out of the office, it's been a very busy work week. On-top-of-which I'm getting ready for my trip to Ohio on Sunday. I fly out early Sunday and stay until late on Friday. I still feel like I'm really going to miss Kailey, but I will make it through.

My weight plan has been going OK I would say. I've been holding true to my cutbacks on soda and my headaches are now gone. I have had one here or there, but not as much as before. My weight is steady. I haven't lost more than half a pound and know that's because I haven't gotten my exercise in and my eating has just been OK. I had really hoped to be re-energized for weightloss, but with my sick feelings over the weekend, busy week at work, and upcoming trip my eating has not been in the forefront of my mind.

Last weekend I was feeling pelvic pain and ended up taking Kailey with me to the walkin clinic. After doing several different tests they think I may have another cyst on my ovary. I know they have existed before, but normally I don't feel them. I've been feeling better with some of the medicine they prescribed and have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to talk to my doctor about treatment.

I'm excited to have some summer trips coming up with Jeff. Jeff and I are going to take a road trip in Montana starting July 31st. It's going to be a short trip over the weekend, but we love driving through scenery so have decided that we are going to tour Glacier Park in Montana. Kailey is staying with my parents in Bismarck while we have fun. Then, at the end of August, Jeff and I decided to go back to Las Vegas for our annual trip. We both loving going, and are excited to go back. We aren't sure where we may drive, or what show we will see, but we always have fun. My parents are going to watch the baby then as well, so we are exited for our times coming up together.

Kailey is still walking all around. It's funny to see her try to walk more than she does crawl. She really wants to try to walk as much as possible. She's taken a good 20 steps or so in a row without falling or holding on to anything, and she doesn't mind falling when her little legs give out. I think it really helps her to see all the other kids at her daycare that are walking. It's good incentive for her to try, just like them. My daycare lady told me that one morning the kids noticed how she was walking for the first time, and they started to cheer her on. Ahhh.. my little girl is definitely growing up.

Kailey's Walking!!!!!!!!

Weekly Update

I haven't blogged in a few days because I just haven't been feeling well. I'm not sure what's going on with my body, so hopefully I can get things figured out soon.

This weekend Kailey and I spent time together. Next weekend I will be leaving early Sunday morning, so it was good to have a weekend alone with Kailey before the upcoming trip.

Kailey is definitely making progress with her walking. She's started to take more than just a step on her own. She took up to about 5 or 6 steps on her own before she runs out of steam or loses her balance.

She's definitely making progress of her walking, and is eating so well for me with table food. I can't say I have any problems with that.

What I do have problems with is her wanting to drink whole milk. I've tried mixing her formula with whole milk because she didn't like the milk by itself and she pushed it away. I thought by mixing the two she wouldn't figure it out, but she did.

How is the switch going for everyone? Does anyone have tips to get her to drink regular milk?

Dad Flying Solo

I mentioned in the past how travel was a part of my job. Post-baby I haven't had to deal with travel. That is, until next Sunday. Next Sunday I'm scheduled to fly to Ohio on a business trip for a week. It will be my first trip post-baby without seeing Kailey for such a long period of time.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I'm not nervous that my husband can't handle things without me. I know he will get the job done. He may not do things the way that "mommy" does them, but I know he will be just fine. Its the fact that I won't see Kailey for a week that has me nervous.

The only trip I've taken away from Kailey was with Jeff a couple months after Kailey was born for a weekend. We had a wonderful time, and it was worth it to have the trip, but I missed the baby. Flying also became something different to me than in the past. In the past I would think about the possibility of problems with the flight, and feel comforted in the fact that Jeff would be ok if something happened to me. He would grieve for me of course, but he would make it through and move on. I don't feel the same way now. When I get on a plane my thoughts change to needing to be around to be there as a mommy figure for Kailey. I don't want to miss out on things, and it's hard to feel as though I may miss any moment of her life.

I'm already starting to wonder how it is all going to play out and how I'm going to feel being apart from her for so long. I know it will most likely be good for all of us, but I'm nervous. I thought about traveling to see my parents this weekend and then changed my mind because I thought it would be better for Kailey and I to have mommy time together just the two of us.

For those of you that have been away from your baby for more than a few days, what do you recommend for getting me through these rough days?

Great Strides Forward

My week has been flying by and my workout routine and food plan really seems to be working and making me feel good about myself. I have made a lot of wonderful progress so far this week. Here are some of the highlights:

- Day 4 without Caffeine - Withdrawl headaches subsiding slowly but surely
- Food Journaling - I've been keeping up and trying to journal before I eat something
- Workouts - So far this week I've gotten 3 gym workouts in, and one workout from home

Yesterday I went out to eat at two different restaurants and was able to hold myself to only eating half of my meals and skipping soda. This was a big change for me.

This week has been my first week back at the gym. I rented my old locker and so far I've been to the gym 3 times this week. Each session is limited to about 30-40 minutes because of my time schedule, but consistency wins the race.

I started talking to a coworker the other day and she had interest in my gym since my office has moved locations and is no longer close to where she used to workout. Tomorrow she is going with me to try out my gym. Maybe I can get someone to go with me, which will work wonders for holding me accountable.

Today was the first day I replaced my lunch with a workout first. I was originally afraid I would be too hungry to get the job done, but found that by drinking a lot of water before and during the workout it almost made me forget about eating completely. I think working out over lunch may be a doable plan.

My gym has a daycare center that I may give a try on Saturday. My husband is going fishing, with him gone it seems to be a good time for me to catch a workout class at the gym and have Kailey play at the playcenter for an hour. The cost is minimal, so I may give it a try. Wish me luck.

Developing my own Cupcake Recipes

So I'm scheduled for the gala in September. The hard thing about my idea of cupcakes in a jar, is the fact that the taste of the cupcake has to be just as good as the presentation of the cupcake. It has to taste as good as it looks.

I've been searching through recipes on the Internet for the best cake recipes. I have tried a few different ones and had good results on some and not-so-good results on others. Some of the recipe sites I've visited have had rating systems for these recipes. So when a recipe receives 4 out of 5 stars by hundreds of people its hard to think they could all be wrong.

Sometimes I wonder if I missed my calling and should have went to pastry school. There was a point in my life when I was much younger that I wanted to be a cook. I didn't know specifically what I wanted to cook, but I knew that I really enjoyed it and used to pretend serving gourmet food to my guests.

I watch a show on Food Network called "Recipe for Success". On the show it details how people decided to venture into the world of food and the sacrifies they made so they could discover their dream. I often think how brave these people are for pushing through even when things didn't go their way.

For now, I'm limited myself to a lot more research so I have a good product to standby.