"I make milk. What's your superpower?"

I never thought this day would come, but as of a few days ago, Grayson and I are done breastfeeding. There are a lot of feelings that go along with this big step including being sad its over, missing that bond, and the shock that he's about to turn a year old. But I can say that the number one thing I am feeling is proud. I'm proud of myself and I'm proud of my son for being able to breast feed an entire year. It feels like such an accomplishment and a true testament that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Before I had Grayson, I knew I wanted to breast feed, but I was scared I wouldn't be able to. Luckily, I was given the opportunity, but the first few weeks were extremely painful, as all mothers know. I remember Grayson latching on and literally thinking I was going to be sick because of how much it hurt. But I pushed through. We soon got to an awesome place where breastfeeding was relaxing and a bonding experience, as well as, nutritional for Grayson. I was very blessed with an awesome little eater. Grayson never had any issues with breast feeding and that was a true blessing. That didn't mean it wasn't hard or an inconvenience. There were so many times it would have been easier to just make him a bottle of formula and move on with the day. Breastfeeding for a year was my ultimate goal, but I honestly didn't think I would get there. It seemed like such a long shot. Despite the hardships, I'm so happy to say we were able to continue breastfeeding until just very recently. I'm sad that it's over, but so thankful we were able to have that time together. I hope that I was able to give Grayson a great start to life by breastfeeding him. The perks of breastfeeding are endless and although it is tough, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. The pain, pumping, spilt milk, late night feedings, random spot feedings, sacrificing my body for a year (plus pregnancy), judgments, being engorged, constantly having a running clock in my head as to how long its been, rushing home so I can feed the screaming baby who only wants one thing, constantly stressing out that I didn't leave enough pumped milk and even the nipple cream...it was all worth it to be able to get to this day.

This post isn't meant to shame anyone or start any type of argument. Not being able to breast feed or having to cut breastfeeding short doesn't make you any less of a mom, just like having a C-section doesn't discredit you either. I wanted to write this post to encourage any mom out there that you can do what you set your mind to especially when it comes to your children. Being a mother doesn't have to hinder you, but it can and should empower, encourage, and inspire you. It should make you feel strong and unstoppable. I walk away from breastfeeding for a year feeling empowered, confident, and proud. I set my mind to a goal and I did it. And you can do the same. If you are struggling with something in your walk as a mother, I encourage you to keep going and believe in yourself. Remember how much of a Super Woman you already are. As mothers, we have to continue to lift one another up and be a voice of positivity and empowerment to one another. We have to praise and support each other. I hope you are inspired to not only believe that for yourself today, but also be that same encouragement back to other woman and mothers.

15 Week Pregnancy Blog

July 21, 2014

Good morning! At the beginning of my pregnancy, I made a commitment to do "Pregnancy Blogs" logging my pregnancy journey and I promised to share them with you all. I can't say I will share them each week (unless you care for the weekly updates) because there are not a crazy amount of changes from week to week, but I will share them on a monthly basis. I have a little question series that I found to document where I am in my pregnancy and give a good idea of how things are going for me and Baby Gale. So if you are like me and love reading about other people's pregnancies, enjoy! If not, I will have other non-pregnancy related topics on my blog as well. Happy Monday!

How far along? 15 weeks 4 days

Baby: The baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (the size of an apple or naval orange). Baby Gale is busy moving amniotic fluid through the nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in the lungs begin to develop. Baby's legs are growing longer than the arms now, and baby can move all of it's joints and limbs. Although the eyelids are still fused shut, Peanut can sense light. If I were to shine a flashlight at my tummy, for instance, the baby will likely to move away from the beam.

Total Weight Gain:  I'm getting my thyroid levels tested again today, so we will see how my levels are (which majorly affects my weight). I gained a pound this week and am now up to a 5 lb. weight gain so far. I have been trying really hard to eat healthy and get all the vitamins and nutrients that the baby needs, but I also have days where I don't eat so healthy.

Maternity Clothes: Not yet, but I have so many cute maternity clothes to choose from when I start wearing them! I had 2 women give me maternity clothes and I can't wait to wear some of them because they are actually really cute. I'm going to get a belly band soon because my pants are getting tighter and tighter, but I can still wear all my regular clothes as of now.

Stretch Marks: Nope, but I bought stretch mark cream and I need to start using it ASAP.

Sleep: I've been exhausted lately. I took a lot of naps last week to try to get some energy, but I was just dragging all last week. I rested over the weekend and feel better going into this week. Between my thyroid being off and being 15 weeks pregnant, my body is just tired all the time. Hoping to get some energy soon! I sleep well for the most part, but I do wake up more in the middle of the night than I used to. I'm not sleeping as hard and am a little more restless.

Miss Anything? I miss not being in pain from round ligament pain and I miss having energy.

Best Moment of the Week: Josh and I are making more decisions about the nursery and the baby gear we want. Also, I got back in the gym this week after a 3 week hiatus and it felt great!

Movement: Not until 18-24 weeks, getting closer and I can't wait!

Food Cravings: For a while there, I wasn't as interested in sweets (if you know me, you know this is strange!). My sweet tooth is definitely back. I ate a lot of sugar last week and was really craving it. I'm still liking savory foods as well and find them very satisfying, much more than I ever used to.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Gender: Dunno! Josh and I have decided to keep the gender a surprise until January! Hoping the doctors can continue to keep it a secret at the anatomy scan in a month.

Symptoms: The biggest symptoms I have are lots of pressure in my stomach and ovaries randomly hurting/round ligament pain and exhaustion. I have still been battling constipation and acne. My thyroid is still off, but today I will see if my new medicine is helping my body adjust to pregnancy.

Happy or moody: Moody...sorry Josh!

Looking forward to: The anatomy scan in a month and having a good week with lots of rest, healthy eating and staying active.

Sonogram at 14 weeks!

14 & 15 Week Baby Bump

The Cooking Diaries: Cooking with Brittany

I have recently embarked on the adventure that is cooking. For some, this might be an exciting time, but for me it was definitely intimidating. I've never been one to cook. I'm that person who is content having cereal for dinner and usually brings something store bought to any type of event. I haven't ever really dabbled in cooking because I had no clue where to even start.

When I got married, I felt the desire to try to cook for my husband. I got off to a good start, but slowly began to fall away from it as life got in the way. We also lacked a full kitchen in our basement apartment which played a big part in not being able to put together a basic hot meal. I felt overwhelmed with trying to come up with ideas, so I just gave up. It was always hard for me to go to different events where people brought all homemade dishes and I showed up with my store bought cookies that paled in comparison. My friends always knew to count on me to bring the rolls to a meal. I felt embarrassed and somewhat like less of a women because not only did I not know how to cook, I truly had little desire to even learn. When we moved into our new home, with a full kitchen, I decided that this was my chance to start fresh. I was going to learn to cook whether I liked it or not, but I was also hoping to gain an appreciation for it. I wanted to actually enjoy cooking not just do it out of obligation.

It's only just begun, but I can say that it's already been a much better experience than I was expecting. Thanks to things like Pinterest and Facebook, I was able to make a list of simple recipes that I was willing to try. It was also beneficial for me to just ask people I knew for a few meals that their families loved. I started meal planning and making a list of the collection of recipes I had gathered along with the ingredients I would need when I went grocery shopping. For me, planning has been key. As long as I buy the right ingredients and have everything on hand that I need to make a certain dish, all I have to do is assemble the meal. I don't have to worry about scrambling last minute. It's crazy how much less complex it became when I just put a little effort into the meals I was making. Taking the few extra minutes to research, swap recipes with friends, and make the proper grocery list has really helped make this process much more pleasant and not as overwhelming for me.

I'm letting myself off more easily by not expecting perfection. I am obviously a beginner, so I have to accept that I will screw up. I had to learn when something is cooked, overcooked, and undercooked...which I have on occasion had to find out the hard way. I've learned that you boil water on the "big" burner on the stove or else you will end up waiting a very long time for your water to boil. I'm realizing that there is almost an art involved in having each part of the meal ready around the same time. If you don't time it perfectly, then your potatoes may be ready 20 minutes before the chicken and a lot of things will end up being reheated. I've found out that if flour goes unused for a long period of time, it can get little bugs in it even if it is in a sealed container and if you are boiling noodles and drop the one you are trying to taste test on your bare skin that it will burn the crud out of you and leave a nice pink burn mark for a while. It's been a journey full of mistakes, but I am gaining more knowledge of how to cook in the best way.

I am venturing out into uncharted territory, but I have had a few success stories. I will share with you a few of the dishes that I have made that have turned out well! I have tried a variety of things from chicken to beef, from casseroles to crockpots. I am trying to not be intimidated by recipes that have more than 4 ingredients (which I used to always skip over). Some of the dishes I have successfully made are:

Green Bean Casserole
Corn Casserole
Pigs in a Blanket
Chicken with Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Apple Pie Oatmeal
Taco Soup
Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole

Well, that's it for this addition of The Cooking Diaries. I may keep documenting my cooking journey and sharing different recipes and things I have learned along the way. If you happen to be interested in any of these recipes, let me know! Happy Cooking!