So recently I’ve read a couple of threads on breastfeeding and pumping and started thinking that maybe I ought to at least look at pumps to see what’s available and start considering getting one. I want to exclusively breastfeed. I’m very determined about that (more determined than I am about a non-medicated birth). And I have no desire to pump and bottle feed for “convenience” while we’re out (which I don’t think is convenient at all, because I have to bring my boobs with me anyways…). However I’ve seen enough to know that sometimes there are cases where pumping is necessary. Whether it’s to keep a stash of emergency breast milk in the freezer just in case something were to happen and I wasn’t able to breastfeed, or to be able to “pump and dump” in case something temporary happened to my milk… it seems prudent to keep some kind of pump on hand, just in case.

Of course the nifty electric pumps… don’t make any sense. No way am I paying $200 for a piece of equipment that’s “just in case.” If I were going to be a pumping-at-work mama… then sure, that’s a great investment. But not for my situation. So I’m stuck looking at manual pumps.

The two I’m looking at:
Medela Harmony
Avent Isis

Anyone with opinions out there? Other recommendations?

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Den and I looked up flights today, and thankfully we managed to find ways to cut the costs (flying on a tues or wed – even if that makes it a little tough around christmas – and flyinig out of a different airport rather than our local one). I pretty much budget around $1000 for two round-trip flights to my parents. Sometimes that’s not enough. (Frequently, in fact.) Flight costs are retarded. Anyways, we’re looking at coming under budget this year, which is a yippee. Bad news is that we still have to spend over $300 on a dog kennel – for one week. Sigh. Such is the cost of having not only two dogs, but two dogs that no one in their right mind will babysit. (Like my parents’ dogs? When they go away, my cousins babysit. No problems. We had Den’s brother babysit our two once. And only once. I don’t think he’ll ever do it again. Our two are hellions and do NOT adapt well to strangers.)

But, plans are moving forward and it looks like everything should be set pretty soon for our Christmas vacation with my parents. I’m looking forward to visiting, seeing the dogs, spending time with family. I’ll be 25 weeks pregnant at christmas, so that will be fun. The whole extended family will be so happy for us! And I won’t be so big or uncomfortable that the flight will kill me, haha. (Though at no point – pregnant or not – is a 5 hour flight comfortable. Ugh.)

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I have felt good today, but don’t let that jinx me please. My night times are now puke-free, thanks to the double pillow. Which is somewhat uncomfortable. I guess it’s just my introduction to the many discomforts of pregnant sleeping, right? My days… well, today was puke-free, but not entirely nausea-free. I had to go into work unexpectedly today, and on the way I swung by Subway to buy another ham sandwich. (I made her put the ham in the microwave first. They think I’m nuts when I ask that. I never explain – why bother. Do you think toasting the meat is enough? Anyways, the sub was freaking good. Not as good as last time… but definitely good. I’ve had such a craving for ham sandwiches…. of course one of the things I’m supposed to eat few of. Whatever. I’m heating the damn ham up.) And it’s unfortunate, because before I ate I felt like a bag of monkeys, all squirreling around in my stomach desperate for food. After I ate I felt like a freakin’ blimp. I wanted to hurry up and get done with work, but I felt like my top speed was somewhat slow. I think a snail would have passed me.

Of course it doesn’t help that I had a grand time wasting about 10 minutes just sitting in one of the rooms watching a young litter of kittens play. I think they’re about 3 or 4 weeks old… still very wobbly on their feet, very slow and deliberate in their movements… so tiny… but they were crawling over each other and biting and pawing at each other… everything in that slow, exaggerated “baby” mode. It was freakin adorable. I think I could have sat there all day and watched them wrestle. Kittens are adorable. Like hubby always says, too bad they don’t stay kittens forever. (Well, actually he says, “The problem with kittens is that they grow into cats.” But he’s not much of a cat-lover.)

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And now I get to announce something! My very best friend in the whole world is pregnant!! (No, she’s not an IFer. She’s one of the lucky buggers who get pregnant from sex!) This is someone whom I’ve been friends with since we were both around 13 or 14 years old. We both grew up, got married, moved to the U.S. (she’s a Canadian too!) and now are having babies. I am so. Freaking. Thrilled. Back when she got pregnant with her first I was JUST starting the TTC journey and I was so excited we were going to be pregnant together – because I’d be pregnant in a month or two. Well, she had that baby, who is now one year old and change. But we got a second chance, as she’s pregnant with #2 and I’m finally pregnant! I really couldn’t be happier. Well, maybe I’ll be happier if she gets a girl this time and I get a boy, so I get all her hand-me-downs. Hahahah. :P But congrats girl!!!