Emily's growth stats

I just realized that I didn't put Emmy's weight or height in the 9month update.
So here ya go:
She is 28.75 inches long and weighs 20.5 lbs. 
She is a little longer than most babes her age (90percentile) and is in the 60percentile for her weight.

What does Emmy eat?
She is still almost exclusively breastfed . We offer her real food only about 3times a week. She does not need food everyday and I want to make sure that her food doesn't replace a nursing session yet. I want to keep breastmilk her primary food in her diet during the first year of her happy life :)
I will increase her solid foods gradually to make sure solids don't become more important than breastmilk.
Her favorite food right now:
My homemade fideo (a mexican dish).   :)

What does Emmy drink?
 Breastmilk.

We don't offer juice or water to Emmy either. Juice is just "empty calories".
And breastfed babies DON'T need water! Breastmilk is almost 90% water.  Water can also fill baby up and decrease nursing frequency.
However, I do let Emmy take sips out of my cup when she is near because she always reaches for my cup. And I do give Emmy chamomile tea from time to time..usually in a cup to practice her drinking skills ;)

Click here for more information on offering water and juice.

The many uses of Chamomile

You all know I love my coconut oil but I also am a big believer in the use of Chamomile.

For more info on why chamomile is so great, check out this site: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-chamomile.html




Here are some ways I use chamomile:

• I try to drink at least 2 cups of day so that I will pass it to Emily through my breast milk
• If I know Emily has an upset stomach or digestive issues, I give her about 1 ounce of brewed tea in a bottle.
• Teething pain: I soak a clean wash cloth in chamomile tea and let Emily suck on it. It really helps soothe those sore gums. If it's a hot day, I will freeze the soaked wash cloth and then let her chew on it.
• We have a humidifier we rarely use, but when I do use it, I make sure to drop a bag or two of chamomile tea in the water tank to help create a calming environment. 

Chamomile is one of the few substances that can be given to babies with an unsettled stomach. "When chamomile tea for "colicky" babies is given 3 times in a week, bouts of colic may not be noticed after a month. This herbal tea is definitely by far the safest remedy to stop a baby's colic problems".
I really think chamomile tea has helped Emily stay happy and content. I think it's a great natural alternative.

Teething Bling

Emily has become a very distracted nurser.  It is so hard to nurse her because she would rather see the world around her than to sit still and have a great meal. :)
Just recently I've been searching for a way to keep her focused on the task at hand. And I think I may have found it! Teething Bling!

Teething Bling^® is a cool necklace made for mom but safe for baby to chew and grab. Of course it is non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC, latex and lead free! For more about their commitment to safety, click here.

It is one of the only "nursing necklaces" that is safe for babies to chew on.  Emily loves to chew on it

and I think it feels good on her teething gums.

Want one?
Click here to check out their website. Or check them out on amazon.com (free 2 day shipping with Amazon Prime)


Do you have a distracted nurser? Click here to read more about it.

Did you know that some babies can become so distracted during daytime feedings that they don't take in enough milk and then have to make up for it with more frequent night feedings. One study showed that older babies can consume as much as 25% of their total daily intake of mother's milk during the night, probably partly because of daytime distractibility.

And here are 10 tips for nursing a distracted baby.

I am "Crunchy"!

Crunchy.... this is a new phrase for me that I have come across these last couple of months. This is the definition I found of "Crunchy":  

An adjective describing persons or things relating to any or all of the following: vegetarianism; herbs; all-natural and organic products (such as food, skin and hair care products, etc.); recycling; protecting and preserving the environment; natural medicine; etc. People that are earthy-crunchy are sometimes called tree-huggers or hippies.

And Crunchy Mama is defined:

Mother who supports, breastfeeding, baby wearing, cloth diapering, co-sleeping, etc. One who questions established medical authority; tends to be vegetarian and/or prepare organic foods.

If you would have told me in high school that I would become a "crunchy" person/mom someday, I would have laughed in your face!  lol

I don't think I am fully crunchy though.  I guess I would consider myself semi-crunchy as far as "crunchiness" goes.

I cloth diaper, babywear, breastfeed, make my own cleaning products, buy organic as much as possible, use natural non-toxic organic products, hang my clothes to dry, use herbs and natural medicines, considering homeschooling, plan on making Emily's baby food, delaying all vaccines, and the list goes on....but I had no idea that making choices like these earned me a new title.

I am totally ok with this whole Crunchy thing, in fact for me it is a compliment.... it means I did my research and I am making important informed decisions and not just following mainstream society and expecting someone else to tell me what works for us....bring on the granola and Birkenstocks! lol

Babies Don't Keep

Cleaning and scrubbing will wait ’till tomorrow, but children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs! Dust go to sleep! I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep. – Ruth Hamilton


I came across this sweet quote and it struck a cord in my heart. Why is it so easy to get focused on too many little things, when the most important thing is to simply and lovingly rock my sweet baby, hold her and completely love on her.

Expressed Breast Milk

As you know I am expressing my breast milk and giving it to Emily in a bottle as well as breastfeeding.

Recent studies show that nucleotides (structural units of dna), and other ingredients in breast milk, perform an important role in regulating a baby's sleep.  They suggest that you if you pump at night, label the stored milk with the time, and feed it to the baby at the same time of night on a later date.  Apparently breast milk "has day-specific ingredients that stimulate activity in the infant, and other night-time components that help the baby to rest".  Amazing right?! 
Read more here.

Breast Milk: It Really is like Liquid Magic!

I stumbled onto this article about breast milk and I thought I would post it here for you to read! :)

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Breast milk is, without a doubt, the perfect infant nutrition. But its usefulness is not limited to babies. People of all ages can benefit from the healing properties of breastmilk. From cuts and scrapes to major illness and surgery, breastmilk can be used to boost immunities, fight infections, and soothe skin. Here are just a few of the ways that breastmilk can be used to soothe and heal.

Diaper rash
Breastmilk can heal a diaper rash as well as any rash cream on the market. Even better, there is no risk of allergic reaction to make the rash worse. Simply rub in a few drops of breastmilk on the affected area as often as needed, and allow to air-dry before putting a diaper back on.
Dry, cracked nipples
Nursing mothers often experience dry, cracked nipples, especially in the first few weeks of nursing. Lanolin is often recommended in this instance, but breastmilk works better. To heal and soothe, simply rub a drop or two of breastmilk into the nipple immediately after nursing and allow to air-dry.
Sinus, ear, and eye infections
If you or your child has a sinus, ear, or eye infection, a few drops of breastmilk will work wonders in clearing it up. Breastmilk has natural antibodies which kill infection without the harmful side effects of synthetic antibiotics, and can be administered as often as necessary without risk of overdose.
Makeup removal
Breastmilk can be used in place of cold cream to remove makeup and soften skin. Simply rub onto skin and rinse clean.
Eczema and acne
Simply rub a few drops of breastmilk into the affected area and allow to air-dry. Repeat as often as necessary to soothe and heal. Breastmilk contains natural moisturizers that will keep skin supple, which speeds the healing process.
Mosquito bites, cuts, and scrapes
Breastmilk can help relieve the itch and heal bites faster and more naturally than commercial bite remedies. A few drops of breastmilk applied to a cut or scrape before bandaging can prevent infection and speed the healing process.
Sore throat
Breastmilk is wonderful for easing the pain of a sore throat. Babies can get relief every time they nurse, but for older children and adults, a cup of expressed breastmilk can have the same effect.
Chemo patients
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment often have severe nausea after treatment. These patients can use breastmilk to calm their stomachs, help with digestion, and strengthen their weakened immune systems.
Burn patients
Burn victims can use breastmilk to help heal and protect their skin. The fat in breastmilk is an excellent skin soother and softener, and the antibodies help prevent infection.
Organ transplant patients
Patients who receive donor organs often use breastmilk to help fight infection after surgery. Organ donors can also benefit from the immunity-boosting properties of breastmilk while healing from their surgery.


These are only a few of the miraculous healing benefits of breastmilk. Who knew that our bodies could produce a substance with so much power? Breastmilk truly is liquid magic. For more information on the wonders of breastmilk, and to see the original article written by Mrs. Weekely, Click HERE.

Nursing Cover: Nurse Simply

I fell in love with the Bebe au Lait/ Hooter Hider nursing covers and I wanted one so badly.  I decided to look around online to see if could find one that was cheaper than $40.  I stumbled upon a site called Nurse Simply who claimed that the quality of her nursing covers is parallel to Bebe au Lait/Hooter Hiders for half the price!!  I decided to give her a try. Her covers are only $20 with cheap shipping!!!  I received my nursing cover a few days ago and I am so impressed!!  The quality is awesome and I love the pattern I choose!
My friend has a Bebe au Lait nursing cover and we compared them to each other and you really can't tell the difference...besides the little label in the corner.
If you are in search for a cute, trendy, quality nursing cover but don't want to spend too much money...go with Nurse Simply , you won't be disappointed!!

She also has the same pattern selection that Bebe au Lait offers!
<------ this is the pattern I chose!

Breast Crawl

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did! :) What a beautiful thing.