Breasts

Now that I've got your attention, a few thoughts on mine (and other motherly issues):

• I visited the Lactation Station today to pick up some nursing/pumping supplies and they gave me a handout, where I read that "women who are breastfeeding one baby normally make between 19 to 30 oz of milk each day." That means that right now, my bosoms apparently think they're feeding twins.... (no seriously, Zoë's eating well and gaining weight, and I'm still pumping an extra 15 - 20 ounces a day just for relief --and because I got Mastitis over the holiday-- but who wants to hear about that? Eeek.)

• I should be writing Zoë's birth story, right now... or taking a nap while both my little ones are asleep (we often, ok usually, enjoy family naptime from 1 - 3 or so at the Mangum casa. SCORE!). But instead I have these random thoughts I feel like I need to get out of my head. (**Editor's note: about two seconds after I wrote this, Zoë woke up...of course.**)

• Today we crossed that threshold...that scary reality of firsts that eventually had to happen: Running errands as a threesome. That's right: me, Cito and Baby Z hit Smith's Marketplace and the Boob-Store (see above) without Danny, or my Mom or anyone else to help endure the possible storm that I was sure would come. Actually, Holden totally cooperated and Zoë spent most of the time asleep in the sling...expect the worst, hope for the best ... I guess. The one downside being that Zoë had worked herself into some semblance of an awesome little schedule that has been providing me about 7 hours of sleep at night (and often a power nap during the day)... I hope I didn't ruin her.

• You know how when people are pregnant, or going to become parents, or having another kid and you ask them "Do you want a boy or a girl?" and they say "I really don't care," they may be telling the truth... but I wasn't. I TOTALLY wanted a girl for this round, for multiple reasons. Danny and I said we're done if it was a girl. Plus, as darling as boy clothes are, I wanted a girl to dress her up in cute feminine clothes, have someone to get mani-pedis with, and have the relationship with like I have with my Mom... Plus (and here's one of the biggest reasons): I did not want to deal with the morality or emotional taxing that came with the circumcision debate/choice. So while I said I didn't care, it was mostly because I didn't want to scar my future offspring by vocalizing perchance I'd wish they were a different sex...Oh and I really wanted to give my daughter the middle name "Suite" just like her two other female cousins; and though Danny said if we had a Zeke he could have Suite as him middle name, I really preferred the sound of Zoë Suite Mangum to Zeke Suite Mangum.

• I wonder how many times in her life my daughter will be called Zo Suit Mag-num. I'm betting a lot....

And yes, I'll get to the birth story... goal is the 7th for her 1 month anniversary. And pictures... yes, more pictures...

Photo courtesy of this place....