Pop-tart Crumbs and Soft Warm Kisses: "True Moo, the chocolaty taste kids love."

Today was the warmest day we have had for a while. Too bad I didn't really get to see any of it as I worked all day but I am glad to see Spring is on it's way slowly but surely. Riley can't stop talking about all the things he is going to do when it gets warm outside. Swimming, biking, basketball, sandbox, scooter, fishing and on and on. We have long conversations about what we are going to do outside if it ever gets warm again.

I can't believe next month Riley is going to be 4. Four years sure flew by fast. He is such a funny and loveable little kid. He has been really into reading "The Cat in the Hat" book lately. That book has trumped Lightning McQueen for the past couple weeks which is quite the accomplishment. Riley's "Cute quote of the Day" today was when he asked me to get him some chocolate milk. As I am pouring him some he says "True Moo, the chocolaty taste kids love." Ha! I have heard that commercial on T.V. too but it sounds funny coming out of his mouth. Our chocolate milk is not True Moo either.

Austin is growing fast. He is eating new things everyday. I use a cookie cutter to mash up a lot of his food which works amazingly. So much easier than using a knife or a fork and you don't have to blend anything. He can eat bigger chunks of food now but I always feel safer cutting his food up in smaller pieces. He pretty much eats anything. He loves all types of pasta: macaroni, spaghetti and lasagna. He loves rice, chicken, hamburger meat, mashed potatoes and soup. I have yet to feed him something that he wouldn't eat. Even green baby food he gobbles right down. Yuck. He is a great eater. I am still breastfeeding him too. I have cut back on the amount of bottles he gets now though. Now that he is a year old I could stop breastfeeding but it is so hard to give it up. Although I hate being constantly attached to a black bag at work (breast pump) there is something so special about breastfeeding your child. I read a few things off of a website called Mothering from the Heart that I thought were so true. "There is no other single action by which a mother can so impact the present and future health of her baby. Breastfeeding promotes a very special bond between mother and child that only a mother can provide. The strong bond developed with nursing is much more intense. There is no feeling to describe the child suckling at your breast and letting go to give you a big smile; and knowing that the growth of your baby came from what your body produced! Wow! What a feeling!" Not only does breastfeeding give you a special bond with your baby but it has so many health benefits for you and your baby.

Breastfeeding Facts
Health Benefits to Babies Who Breastfeed

Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
The varying composition of breast milk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs
Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)
Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing enter colitis
Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
Reduced risk of childhood diabetes
Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning),
Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease
Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.
Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative entercolits
Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)
Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances vision.
Breastfed infants develop higher IQ's, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18. (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development...there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))
Reduced risk of heart disease later in life
Increased bone density
Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual development of babies
Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers
Antibody response to vaccines are higher
Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life
The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby's blood
Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia
Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis
There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus....and many others
Less risk of childhood obesity

Health Benefits to Moms Who Breastfeed

Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers
Reduced risk of anemia
Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life
Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with total time of lactation
Helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss...1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores... can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.
Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies
Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child
Breastmilk is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of dollars/per year)
Breastfed babies are sick less thus reducing healthcare costs to family in Doctor office visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine purchases, and hospitalizations
Moms miss less time off from work due to child related illnesses
Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding

It is amazing to me how God designed mother's bodies to provide nourishment to our children. What an amazing privilege. I am having a hard time giving up breast feeding at this point but although some people may look at me like I am crazy I know the benefits for me and my baby don't stop once he turns 1 year old. This is probably my last child and last time I will have the special bond breastfeeding brings. Also it is the only time you can ever lose weight without dieting or exercise. What women wants to give that up. Ha!

Here are some pictures from my day.