Infertility Awareness Week!

It's Tuesday and it's time for....

Here's what you do:
1. Write a post about ANYTHING baby {or pregnancy} related.
2. Add my button to your post.
3. Link your post with the link-up tool found at the end of all of my posts.
EASY PEASY! 

Today I am honored and excited to have Lauren {better known as LO to me and the MN Blogger posse}from our crazy ever after here to share her story with infertility. I know more couples than I care to count who have dealt with or are currently dealing with infertility in some capacity. I love and admire so much that LO is is not quietly fighting her battle. She is sharing it all! And while I'm sure it's difficult to do, she is using her experience to educate others and also encourage other couples dealing with infertility to speak up! It's OK to share your journey and your disappointment and your heartache because it's only then that you are able to find support from others who know exactly how you are feeling. LO has an incredible outlook and incredible attitude and shares all her trials and tribulations with a humor that always has me chuckling out loud. She really is an inspiration and I am so honored that she is sharing her story with all of you today!  

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Hello to all you hot mamas out there. Or hot mamas in the making. I'm Lauren, and I'd like to consider myself one of the latter. I've been trying ever so hard to become a mom for over two years now. And it's just not working. There have been countless doctor appointments. Shots. Sterile cups of sperm. Inseminations. Empty bank accounts. My period arriving like clockwork. More shots (maybe tequila, maybe not). Tears. Screaming. Sadness. Anger. Oh yeah, and hope. I still have that. I honestly don't think I'd be able to share my story if I didn't have hope.

That's Jesse and I the first time we saw each other on our wedding day. I love that man so much. Little did I know exactly a year after this picture was taken, on our one year anniversary, that Jesse and I would be sitting in the office of a reproductive endocrinologist. It would be confirmed that our dreams of having babies wouldn't be realized as easily as we'd desired. Don't worry, we still celebrated our one year anniversary with greasy, delicious burgers at the 5-8 Club after the appointment. I went through a flood of emotions throughout our second year of marriage. I was angry a lot. My friendships changed. People I loved so dearly began to go on to do life in a way I wanted to do life. I was jealous. Being around friends with easily conceived babies was virtually impossible. I felt misunderstood, almost like people thought I was overreacting. I heard every cliche statement imaginable. Maybe it's stress!? You could adopt! Go on a vacation and then you'll get pregnant! Of course I wanted to be gracious, and field their well meant advice with a smile. It got hard, and so I just avoided people like a plague.

The first year after we were diagnosed we did seven medicated cycles, with five of those being IUIs. I like to refer to this year as the time we went buck wild for our baby. What's an IUI, you ask? It's this super romantic procedure where you basically have a threesome with your nurse. Wait, what? The nurse is in the room so she can shoot Jesse's sperm through my cervix with this long catheter thingy. It's definitely NOT romantic, and definitely NOT how one plans to create life. After each failed cycle, I was losing more and more hope. Our doctors wanted us to stop with the IUIs and jump to IVF, something we didn't, and still don't have the money for. IVF can cost anywhere from $13,000-$30,000, but the success rates for a couple with our diagnosis is more than 60%. We ain't poor, but we definitely don't have the dollar bills for that right now. And yes, it sucks that money is basically the one thing getting in the way of me becoming a mom and Jesse a dad.

Finally by November of this last year, we'd had enough, and decided to take a break from treatments. I was weighing in a whopping 20 pounds heavier (can we call that baby weight?) and the hormones I shot myself up with made me super crazy. So crazy that I am convinced Jesse was searching for a one way plane ticket to Canada, and his coo coo loco wife was not invited. I honestly felt robbed of those first precious years of marriage with my husband, and that's why for the last several months we've been trying our best to reclaim our marriage. To remove the infertility blinders, and embrace and cherish what we have until we can more aggressively pursue treatments. We're choosing joy right now. I strive to live my life everyday so that when I do have children, they would be proud of how cool their mom and dad were before they were born. Look at those cool future parents down there, just hanging out in the liquor store. Holla!

I never thought I could be so passionate about something I hate so much. I never realized I could feel a deep connection with women who were experiencing the same thing I was. I discovered an entire blogging community with the same dreams and desires. We support one another. We vent on the tough days. We cry when a cycle fails, and we rejoice when one of us finally sees those two precious, pink lines. The women I have met through this journey have been my silver lining. They make infertility suck just a little less.

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. I am so honored that Kristin, a fellow Minnesota blogger, is opening up her blog to me today. She's letting me share my version of Baby Talk. This year's theme is resolve to know more. Kristin is doing that by allowing the voice of an infertile to be heard on her blog. Thank you so, so much for listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out. You are not alone. You are loved. And you matter.

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I want to be sure to mention that while LO and Jesse are enjoying their marriage and "choosing joy" they have also created a fantastic business to help them become the wonderful parents I know they are destined to be. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check out Jbaby Rags on Etsy to shop for adorbale burp cloths and bibs handmade by LO & Jesse! All of the profits go to help them get their miracle! 

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A Few of My Favorite Things

I have a few unanswered questions that you guys had sent me a couple of weeks ago, all of which were regarding some of my favorite things...


favorite Color {asked by Dawn}:

 

My favorite color is yellow because it's such a friendly and cheery color! I never WEAR yellow {I rarely wear color at all} but I love to decorate with yellow {example: Kenley's nursery}. Also, I LOVE bumble bees and they're yellow....so that has a little something to do with it!

 favorite Travel Destination {asked by Bridget}:

My favorite travel destination hands down is New York City...I-AM-OBSESSED. I've been fortunate to have been able to visit NYC quite a few times and each time I'm there I discover something more that I love about the city. I love the energy, I love the shopping, I love the smell, I love the history, I love the restaurants, the neighborhoods, the real estate, the culture, the sounds of cabs honking all night long...I honestly can't think of anything I don't like about it. Actually, yes I can, I don't like trying to get a cab in the rain. Except. that's so New York, so I kind of love it. I considered moving to NYC before, during and after college and will probably always regret a little that I didn't. Now that I have a family I know I'll never live there but you better believe I will be visiting often!

favorite Summer Coffee Drink {asked by Heather Leigh}:

 After owning my own coffee shop, I've become quite the snob when it comes to coffee drinks. My all time favorite drink is an Iced Soy Chai - but I am extremely picky about my chai. If you are a chai fan you NEED to find Sattwa Chai. It's what we had at Coffee Buzz and to this day is still the best chai I've ever had. I'm not a big fan of blended drinks but if you want something fun for the kiddos: blend together some milk, oreo cookies, chocolate sauce and ice then top with whipped cream & crushed oreos...SO YUMMY!

favorite Meal {asked by Carolyn}:

 She gave me strict instructions to "describe to me your favorite meal - drinks, apps, main course, dessert - EVERYTHING. And no diet foods": I thought this would be really easy but as I'm thinking about it I'm realizing I have way too many favorite foods. But, if this were say my last meal ever, it would go like this: Drink: glass of Decoy chardonnay & a Twisted Tea (its my last meal, I get two drinks) Appetizer: Chips & queso dip with a side of guacamole. Main course: Filet Oscar w/ Bernaise and a side of waffle fries with seasoned sour cream. Dessert: a slice of Strawberry Cheesecake from Lindy's in NYC with extra whip cream and a vanilla latte on the side. #fatty

I also asked my lovely sponsors to share some of their favorite things! Here's what they had to say:

Carolyn {from life, love & puppy prints)

 favorite Food:

"My favorite meal is a cheeseburger and french fries! Cheeseburgers are the best meal ever for a bunch of reasons, but the biggest is that there are a MILLION possibilities. Mushroom & swiss, bacon & cheddar, pepperjack and avocado, even peanut butter or eggs! I could keep going, but I think you get the idea. Basically, if you like a food, it will probably taste amazing on a burger!"

Michelle {from Baby Bump Bundle}

favorite Coffee Drink:

"I used to never drink coffee and now somehow I can’t live without one cup a day! Everyday I make up a cup of iced coffee with the Keurig at home. But if I am out and about and have time and extra cash to splurge on a coffee, my absolute favorite coffee drink is the light version of the Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino! It has barely any fat, 130 calories, and tastes so rich and decadent! It is like an iced cold creamy coffee milkshake and I love them as a treat in the spring and summer!"

Sara {from Sara Jayne Photography}

favorite Travel Destination:

"I’ve visited Venice, Italy twice. In 2003 while spending a semester abroad in Rome, and in 2007 while on a Mediterranean cruise with my Aunt. Both visits were a magical, visual FEAST for the senses. From the food and art vendors to endless hours of people watching, there are photographic opportunities in every direction. Wandering down back alleys gave a sneak peek into the life of a local, and became a hunting game for stories of the past. The grandeur of St Mark’s Basilica and the surrounding piazza is beyond belief, along with the constant mystery of how this historic city has managed to stay above water all these years. I could go on and on — needless to say, I could visit there every year and still find new things to see and tidbits to photograph. Venice is like an artist/photographer's Disneyland :)"

Becky {from Simply Becky B}

favorite Coffee Drink:

"One my favorite things is coffee! Mmmm! But my most favorite coffee drink is Carmel Brulee Lattes at Starbucks! I get so excited for them and probably over indulge during the Christmas season.  When the season is gone, I get so sad.  But, after I received an espresso maker as a gift from my momma, I was able to come up with my very own copy cat syrup recipe- 1 pump toffee nut syrup, 2 pumps vanilla and 1 TBS of caramel.  You. Are. Welcome."

Amanda {from Kids and Cabernet}
favorite Movie:
"Hi Mama and Mou readers!  My favorite movie is When Harry Met Sally (with a close runner up being Sleepless In Seattle)  I'm total chick-flick kind of girl and this movie is the epitome of a chick-flick classic. I love the humor in the movie - even though I've seen it 100 times I crack up every time, not to mention the story line is super cute! If you haven't seen this movie yet, it's a definite must :)"





Sara {from Making Babies the Bennett Way}
favorite Coffee Drink:
"My favorite coffee drink is anything that comes out of my Keurig coffee maker!  It's fast, convenient, and you have so many options to choose from - coffee, lattes, teas and hot chocolate the possibilities seem endless!"

 

Leah {from Mrs...Mama...D}
favorite Coffee Drink:
"My favorite coffee drink is a Caramel Cooler (no whip) from Caribou Coffee. It's plain and simple, but totally delish. I didn't like coffee up until about 5 years ago or so and since then that's usually all I ever get, even in the winter. I try not to drink them as often now because I am trying to be a healthier me and more budget friendly, but this is what I get when I go."

Jessica Lynn {from Jessica Lynn Writes}
favorite Travel Destination:
"We lived overseas (in Italy) for two years, so picking just one favorite place that we've traveled to is really, really hard, but there's one place that sticks out above the rest: Plitvice Lakes in Croatia. You know those amazing looking places people pin on Pinterest that look too good to be true? This was one of them! This place was as if Jurassic Park met up with a jungle version of the Grand Canyon, and we had the park almost completely to ourselves. It was amazing!"

Jess {from Being Mrs. Beer}
favorite Coffee Drink:
"Once upon a time I didn't like coffee.  I know, crazy.  Now that I've come to my senses, my absolute favorite is anything with hazelnut in it, but especially Starbucks' Skinny Hazelnut Macchiato.  I make my own version at home, but that hazelnut drizzle on top eludes me. And now that I'm talking about it, I want one.  Anyone know why Starbucks doesn't deliver yet??"










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Baby Sleep

Oh hey friends. Remember me? While some of you may be wondering where the heck I've been, I'm sure there are plenty of you who didn't even notice I was gone. This blog brings me so much joy and I definitely never intended to let it sit untouched for an entire week. I've had a tough couple of weeks but I am happy to be more clearheaded and am looking forward to catching up on your blogs, responding to your emails and getting back to writing this precious blog of mine.
 

Did you guys know that it's Sleep Week?

via

Sleep Awareness Week™, which takes place March 2-9, 2014, is an annual public education and awareness campaign to promote the importance of sleep. 

My fellow blogger, friend and sponsor, Jess from Being Mrs. Beer, has a great series called The Sleep Chronicles,

 where other mamas are posting their experiences with baby sleep. Sleep is so important for babies, kids and adults and I think your healthy sleep habits start from day 1. I was lucky enough to guest post on Jess' blog a couple of months ago and wanted to re-share the post today in honor of Sleep Week!

 
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Ahhh, sleep. I feel like more than any other word “sleep” came up most while I was pregnant. ”Make sure you sleep now while you can” was probably the most overheard phrase of my pregnancy and if I’m being completely honest, it drove me nuts!  Wouldn't the smart thing be to NOT sleep to prepare myself for this baby everyone is telling me is never going to sleep?

Baby sleep seems to be one of those hot topics that everyone has an opinion on AND every mom worries, researches and stresses over. I am blessed to have a daughter who has been an incredible sleeper from the start. When I would tell friends and family about Kenley’s sleep habits they’d always tell me how lucky I was and how #2 is sure to be a terrible sleeper and frankly I took a little offense to this. I think that a good sleeper is partially NATURE and partially NURTURE. I am incredibly grateful to have a healthy, happy-natured, calm baby but I've worked hard to help Kenley be a great sleeper and think at least a little of the credit should go to parenting. Of course, if your baby is colicky, or gassy, or sick, it may be more difficult to establish good sleep habits and there's certainly no "perfect recipe" for a good sleeper. But, even before Kenley was born I knew that it was up to me and my husband to set Kenley up for success in the sleep department.

So here’s what we did & my tips for a rock star sleeper…

SLEEP BOOKS ARE NOT THE BIBLE. There are a TON of sleep books out there and I've read a lot of them. Some I like, some I don't. I think it's totally a personal preference. The two sleep books I LOVED and recommend to all of my friends are "Happiest Baby on the Block" and "Bringing Up Bebe".

 

While I loved these books and thought they had great points and ideas {which I used}, I did not live my life by them. Use books as resources to try something new but don't pigeonhole yourself into ONE method or idea because guess what...every baby is different. What might work perfectly for your best friend may be a disaster for you. So keep an open mind and figure out what works for you and sets up your baby {and family} for success. 

TRY NOT TO FREAK OUT. You're a brand new mom and your brand spankin' new baby is asleep in her bassinet next to your bed and you're waking up every two seconds to make sure she's breathing because you've read so many reports on SIDS you're just sure something awful is going to happen if you fall asleep. SIDS is terrifying, trust me, I've put my finger under Kenley's nose and my hand on her chest more times than I care to admit but if you use your common sense and make sure your baby is sleeping in a choke free, suffocation free area...that's really the best you can do. Checking on your baby, bugging your baby or God forbid waking your baby every three minutes is not going to get anyone in the house rested.

BABIES SLEEP CRAZY. The noises that come out of my child while she's sleeping are nuts. She sleep moans. Sleep cries. Sleep squeaks. My kid will even sit up and look around in her sleep. If I jumped out of bed and picked her up to comfort her every time she made a peep I WOULD NEVER SLEEP and neither would she. Adults actually wake up several times throughout the night, but we put ourselves back to sleep without thinking so we don't even notice it....babies do the same thing people....you just need to let them. If your kid is crying for you, by all means, go comfort! But give them the opportunity to learn to put themselves back to sleep first. 

GET IN A ROUTINE. I started a night time routine with Kenley the first week she was home. At the same time every night I would give her a bath, a baby massage, put on her jammies, feed her and put her down in her bassinet in our room with all the lights off. Did she need a bath every night? No. Did she need to go to bed at the same time every night as a newborn? No. But I wanted her to learn as early as humanly possible the difference between nap time and bed time.  And she did. Within two weeks she would go down without fussing. 

DON'T WAKE YOUR BABY TO EAT. Before you freak out, when you are first establishing breastfeeding, yes you should wake your baby to eat. It's important for your supply and also important to make sure your baby is eating enough. With that said {and this comes straight from my lactation consultant} feel free to space out feedings as time goes on. I went from every 2 hours the first week to every 3 hours the second week and then every 4 hours the third week. When I saw my lactation consultant week 4 she told me to stop waking the baby....and guess what happened....SIX HOURS STRAIGHT of luxurious sleep. One week later Kenley was sleeping through the night {at 5 weeks old} and has been ever since. If your baby is hungry they will tell you. If you consistently wake them to be fed for months and months on end...they are going to get into a habit of waking up and eating, so whether they are hungry or not they will expect to be fed. 

CREATE A SLEEP SPACE. Those first few weeks of maternity leave Kenley slept pretty much wherever I was. Whether she was asleep on my chest or in her Rock N Play in the living room, girlfriend slept wherever she fell asleep. As she started to get into a little more of a nap time routine {I'd say around 4 weeks old} I started to leave the Rock N Play in our bedroom and put her down for naps in there. Then, eventually we graduated to naps in her crib. I wanted Kenley to get used to and comfortable sleeping in a room by herself. She familiarized herself with the rooms and knew where she was so she wasn't scared if I put her down and walked away. This definitely took some time but I imagine if I would have kept up with the living room routine for much longer, it would have been a tougher transition.

CRY IT OUT, TO AN EXTENT. Is there anything more controversial than crying it out? I'm sure there is. But still, it's controversial. I know people who are very passionate about both sides of the spectrum and to each their own. I can honestly say, I'm in the middle. I know my baby and know that she will fuss and moan and even "chat" before she falls asleep. It's her way of trying to fight it and eventually she gives in. However, there have definitely been times where she's upset or teething or so overly tired she's delusional and she will scream bloody murder. As a mom we learn our babies' different cries and you KNOW the one I'm talking about. If I hear the "mom I'm scared or in pain and really need you" cry I will not under any circumstances let her cry it out. I want Kenley to know she's not alone and that I am here for her when she needs me. BUT, like I said above, if I run to her every time she makes a squeak she's going to learn really quickly that gets attention and it's guaranteed she'd use it to her advantage. Again, I want to teach her to go to sleep on her own.

I could talk about baby sleep for hours...and it may have just taken you hours to read that novel of a post. Whoopsies. But, I really think the key to a good sleeper is giving your baby the opportunity to learn...if you don't let go of the bike, they'll never learn to ride alone, right? 

Make sure to check out Jess's Blog and all of The Sleep Chronicle posts!

Sponsor!

Happy Monday my friends! I am THRILLED to announce that as of today I will be adding sponsors to Mama and Mou!

Since I am new at this, I thought I'd kick things off pretty plain and simple. For the month of January you can sponsor Mama and Mou for just $5.00! 

For $5.00 you will receive...
*A 250 x 250 ad on my right sidebar
*Your name and blog/business link included in a blog post this month
*One of your blog posts or products shared with my followers via Twitter & Facebook


If you would like to see my media kit or have any questions, please email me at mamaandmou@gmail.com!

Purchase your ad below:

I look forward to working with you!