A New Adventure for Momma??

Time for some more advice, momma friends!

Andy and I have been discussing the possibility of me finding a part-time job, just to help contribute more financially to the family.  We both love the fact that I'm staying home with Ellie, but right now we could really use the extra income.  Well I am NOT going back to retail, but other part-time positions don't come around all that often.  So we were basically in the 'we'll keep an eye out for something' phase.  Well, we found it.

I am interviewing on Thursday for a part-time position that I think I would really like.  It would have regular hours and only keep me out of the house for half-days, a few days a week.  So I would still get to spend a LOT of time at home with Ellie.  AND I would still be able to teach my lessons.  It's not the type of job that comes open very often, so that's why I'm pursuing it now, even though I wish Ellie was a little bit older.  We're pretty sure that I'm going to get it, too.

So here's my question: what in the world should I do about child care and how do I go about finding that?!  Ellie seems to be pretty needy - she doesn't like to be put down, won't nap in a crib, etc. - so I'm not sure that a daycare would work for her.  Heck, I'm pretty sure they would take her for one day and then tell me not to come back!  But I'm not sure how to go about finding an in-home babysitter that I could actually trust.  We have some people at church that we are thinking about asking to watch her, but we need to have a backup plan in case they can't do it/won't do it/turn me away after one day with Miss MoodyPants.  

So, what's your advice on going 'back' to work?  I've never done this before, so I could really use your help!

(and because no post is complete without one, here's a picture of my big kitchen helper!)

Mom, how did you ever cook dinner without me here to talk you through it?!

The Very Hungry Ellie-pillar

Ok fellow Mommas, I need your help!  For the past week or so, Ellie has been wanting to eat pretty much constantly.  I try to just go with her flow, so when she asks for it, I feed her.  Even though it's only been 30 minutes since she stopped eating the last time.  This has literally been going on non-stop except for when Andy gives her a bottle.  After she eats that, she will go for another almost three hours before needing to eat again.  

When she gets the bottle, she wants to eat about 6 ounces.  When I pump, I get out about 3.  So I have to work really, REALLY hard for those bottles.  But it is worth it so that I can teach lessons and I don't have to sit in the nursery and feed her for the entirety of the church service.  As I've mentioned before, she's always been a slow eater - she takes about an hour.  

At one point, I was worried that her slow eating was due to my having a low supply, so I started taking (with her doctor's permission) Fenugreek, like everyone recommended.  It helped!  For a while.  I still take it, but I feel like she's just not getting enough to eat.  She eats until there's not one drop left.  And then a half hour later she wants more.  I know that kids go through growth spurts, but this has been going on for over a week.  She even stopped sleeping through the night.  Ugh.  

I did start taking a breast-feeding safe birth control pill, which I have read can cause your milk to dry up.  I'm a little worried that that's what's happening.

I just don't know what to do.  I drink water all the time.  Literally, I carry my water bottle around with me constantly, even when I go out to the store.  I'm not dieting or anything, as I've heard that that can reduce your milk supply.  I pump after every time she eats, even though there's nothing left, which I've been told to do to help increase supply.

My question is this: how long do I let this go on before I take her in to the doctor and talk to her about what to do?  Her next checkup isn't until May 6th and I just don't think I can last that long.  I mean, I spend all day attached to either a baby or a pump.  I don't even really have any way of telling if she's still gaining weight like she should be.  I just know that she's constantly screaming for food and constantly frustrated that it's not there for her.  And then if I DO take her to the doctor, what's she going to tell me aside from everything I've already tried?  She'll probably just tell me to go see a lactation consultant who will just tell me to keep doing what I've been doing and the milk will catch up with her needs.  But it seems like the more she eats, the less I have to give her.  

Last week at this time, I was pumping out around 5 ounces when she would get a bottle.  Tonight I am down to less than 3.  Help me!  What do I do?!

Ellie's First Easter!

(caution: this post contains a whole bunch of pictures!)

Ellie celebrated her first Easter this past weekend!  We had a busy, but wonderful time!

First, on Saturday we made the drive up to Grandma and Pappy's house!  We packed the car to the roof, but at least we didn't run out of anything.  Grandma did wash an outfit for us while we were there, but still.  We did NOT run out of anything!

We had a fun time just hanging out around the house all day.

My favorite place to nap!

Ellie got some snuggles from everyone, and we had an opportunity to get some pictures with the two of us together!  It's been a LONG time since I got someone to take our picture, so it was about time for an updated one!

Fuzzy Bunny ears tickle my noggin!

She also got some much-needed snuggle time with Grandma!

Doesn't this light make my hair look red like Grandma's??

Listening while Grandma tells me secrets.

(I LOVE that last picture - something about the lighting just makes me melt!)

She had some good snuggle time with Pappy too, but I was downstairs rooting through mom's fabric stash (time for a new purse!), so I didn't get to take any pictures.

Ellie also got her first Easter basket from Grandma and Pappy!

My basket!  It's just so beautiful!

And then lounged on the couch for a little while.

I'm a cutie and I know it!

And then sat herself up away from the corner of the couch (um, when did she get the ability to do THAT?!) and played with a few of her Easter basket toys!

My hair looks a little red here, too!

Then Auntie Andrea finally got home from work . . .

. . . and Ellie got to meet her (dun dun DUN!) FUTURE UNCLE JOSH!

(and this is how Uncle Josh really feels about getting his picture taken...)

Then it was finally time to head home.  We got home SUPER late and then I still had to stay up and feed Ellie, so it was after midnight before I finally got to bed, but it was totally worth it.  We had a GREAT day!

Sunday morning went pretty well, too!  We decided to skip Sunday School since we got home so late. Consequently, we had time for a quick FAMILY picture before leaving!  It's not very often that we get one of these!

And that's the best one we got.  She's not screaming and doesn't have her fists in her mouth, so I really think that's the best I can ask for!

After church, she got to spent some quality time with Grandpa Frank . . .

Pastor's sermon put me to sleep!  Oops!

. . . who does NOT know how to stand still!  Seriously.  The church is rather dark, so even standing by the window I had the shutter speed set pretty slow.  I tried explaining to him that he needed to stand still and he wouldn't stop talking or laughing or bouncing her around or turning his head to talk to someone else.  It was crazy!  I've seen little kids that will sit still longer than him!  Oh well, this is the best picture that I got.  And I took at least 30.  *sigh*

Then we came home and Ellie got to open her Easter basket from Mommy and Daddy!

And then it was time for her to eat.  After that we headed over to Grandpa Frank's house for a late lunch and some cheesecake (MY FAVORITE!) and then we came home and utterly crashed.  It was a crazy busy weekend, but so wonderful at the same time.  I love celebrating all of these 'firsts' with my baby girl!

One last picture before I go.  This is a 'blooper' that was just too cute not to share.  This is what we call the Royal Pout.  It's what happens before the screaming starts.  And it is just too CUTE!  

Mommy, I am DONE taking pictures!

Andy says that she looks just like me when she does that, but I'm not so sure I see it :-)