Already two years old!

We survived bringing both boys to the doctor's at the same time!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I smartly coordinated Dan's 2 week well visit with Will's 2 year appointment. Boy, was I glad to have Greg there with me! Will was a hot mess during the entire experience while Dan was chill and quiet, barely even complaining when they had to prick his foot. What a trooper! 🌟🌟

I still can't believe that Will turned 2 yesterday. Time flies by WAY too fast. He had an awesome day celebrating at school and then with us at home. We are looking forward to his official birthday party this weekend too!!🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈

I am struck by how often Greg gets complimented for being a kick-ass Dad. He totally is, but I find it a bit disappointing and surprising that people still are thrilled to see hands-on dads today in 2016. Come on, people! Dads SHOULD be just as involved with their kids' lives and upbringings as Moms are. After all, it takes a village! 👶🏻👶🏻

I don't know what I would do without Greg, particularly with his laidback nature and "calm is strength" attitude. He approaches parenting with confidence and ease and is a real natural. I learn from him every day. 💗💗

So, take time to thank your partners for all they do. We don't do this enough, that's for sure. 💞💞💞

Exhaustion!

"Honey, you look tired."

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Gee, I wonder why!! 😜😝😩

I bet I will look this way for the next 18 years. 😩😩😩

But my boys are worth it. For sure.💞💞💞

Let's go back to our breastfeeding discussion again. I've been told that the pain lessens after two weeks, which is tomorrow for us. Fingers crossed! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I've also been told nipple shields help, and I am seriously considering getting one to help with the latch pain. I also need to get better at applying nipple cream after each feeding. Any fave recommendations?? 🌟

I am determined to make this work with Daniel and am already in a much better place with it than I ever was with Will. Keep those words of encouragement and suggestions coming! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

I have also started pumping whenever I feel really uncomfortable. I figure this will help me build up a freezer supply for when I go back to school in the fall.👶🏻👶🏻🍼🍼

In other news, Will turns 2 tomorrow. I'm still not sure exactly how this happened.💗💗💗

In parenting, the days may be long, but boy, are the years short!! 😍😍😍

Weekend madness!

Weekends used to be a time of relaxation and rejuvenation, a time where you took care of yourself and did exactly what you wanted. 🍶🍵🍸🍹🍨

Then came children. 👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻

Now, every weekend is like an episode of Survivor where I am just trying to stay alive and on the island, all while ensuring those depending on me are safe, healthy, and happy. 😫😫

Yes, this gets exhausting. Fast. 😫😫😫

While I certainly am not complaining about motherhood, let's take a moment to mourn the pre-kid weekend rituals you are unlikely to fully have again until your kids move out: 😝😝

1. Sleeping in. 💤💤

2. Breakfast in bed. 🍳🍞🍹

3. Long brunches in the city with bottomless mimosas.🍾🍾🍾

4. Spontaneously doing whatever you want however you want to do it.🎤🎟🎭🎖

5. Putting your needs first.👙💋👣

6. Going out to eat as much as possible and cooking as little as possible.🍽🍽🍽

7. Midday naps just because.💤💤💤

8. Bar hopping.🍺🍻🍷

9. Pretending you're 22 again and staying out as late as possible, since you have no real responsibilities the next day anyway.😂😂

10. Being able to fully recover from a hangover without being badgered by a little person.👶🏻😝😫

The list goes on.😜

My point? If you don't yet have children, live it up and don't become fully lame just yet. There's still a little bit of hope for you.😂😂

And if you've already been blessed with little rugrats, don't fear. One day, they too will leave the nest, and you'll be left there crying with a box of tissues.

No, life isn't fair. 😜

But this too shall pass, and it's still ALL good. 🙏🏻💪🏻🌟

Breastfeeding!

Let's talk breastfeeding. 🍼🍼

Will and I never really got into a good rhythm with it, and I ended up exclusively pumping for over 8 months. This was like having another full-time job. No joke. 😫😫😫

I'm determined to do things differently this time around with Dan. And thus far, it is working out SO much better. Dan is a champion latcher and nurser who LOVES the boob and, as said before, would stay on it all day if I let him. Silly boy. 🌟😝

I'm trying to be patient with myself this time around as well. I still find the initial latching a bit painful but am getting into a routine and rhythm with Dan quite nicely. 💪🏻 The breast engorgement is down, I am more comfortable, and I'm continuing to gain confidence that this time, BFing is going to work. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I am considering joining a La Leche League support group to help motivate and encourage me. Any of you Mamas have experience or luck with this? I am curious.🌟

For now, I am taking things one day at a time, not putting unnecessary pressure on myself, and enjoying all the bonding time with Dan during our nursing sessions. 💞💞💞👶🏻👶🏻

After all, some day, I will look back and wish he was this little and innocent again. I must enjoy this while I can! 🍼🍼

My birth story!

My birth story. I guess I should finally write it down before I forget -- or repress -- it. 😂😂

I lost my mucus plug throughout the day on Monday, 5/30 but proceeded with life as normal. By Tuesday morning, my contractions had started, causing my doctor to say head to the hospital. We did, checked in, and then spent the next few hours in triage, with my variable contractions being monitored. After 2 pm, Dr. Apgar decided to admit me. He explained that there was no medical reason to keep BBL2 on the inside, since he was already overdue, so I was brought to a Labor & Delivery room (with windows!!), and Petocin was started to regulate my contractions and get the process started. 👏🏼👏🏼

With Will, I didn't have time to get an epidural, so I knew I would get one this time if all went well. I did, and it was glorious! 🌟🌟 My contractions intensified, and I could barely feel anything. The weirdest part was the total numbing of my legs. Very bizarre. 😜

A few hours later, I could feel BBL2 descending. I was fully dilated, and Daniel Robert LaBanca was born at 8:02 pm after just three pushes. He even managed to cause a second degree tear and burst an artery on his way out! Sweet boy. 😝😫😫

Then the annoying part happened. The umbilical cord broke prematurely, and my cervix closed with my retained placenta still inside me. After only a few minutes of getting to hold precious little feisty Daniel (and lots of unsuccessful digging and attempts to retrieve my placenta by the doctor), I was whisked away to the OR to undergo a D&C to get the rest of the placenta. I was placed under general anesthesia and warned that a hysterectomy might have to occur if anything was abnormal with my placenta. Ahhhh!! Totally NOT what I wanted to hear going into the procedure! 😫😫😫

Within minutes, I was fully out, and the procedure began. Luckily, all went well, and I woke up soon afterwards on oxygen. I went to a recovery room and was beyond eager to be reunited with my boys, which happened a few hours later. 💞💞

Luckily, I was blessed with absolutely fabulous doctors and nurses throughout everything, who clearly explained what was happening. I so appreciated that. Daniel and I were both in extraordinary health. He passed all of his little screenings and tests, and we were able to go home less than 48 hours after his birth. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

I am grateful that my recovery at home has gone so well. My bleeding has pretty much stopped already, I only take Motrin and Tylenol as needed (despite having Rxes for painkillers, which I found very unnecessary), and I enjoy my sitz baths three times a day. 💧💧💧

Daniel is completely worth it, and we are beyond blessed. I'm pretty sure he would still be in my womb if he hadn't been evicted!! 👶🏻😝🌟💗😜😍

We got out!!

We made it out of the house for an outing for the first time today as a family of 4! Woohoo! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Granted, it was only across the neighborhood to our good friends' house, but that's still something! 😜 It was the first time we got both boys out of the house together and sat them in their car seats next to each other. Brothers for life! 👶🏻👶🏻

I cannot stress to you just how amazing it is to have a husband who is SO hands-on as a parent. Greg isn't afraid to get his hands, clothes, and self dirty -- with any kind of secretion, literally -- every day. He loves his boys more than anything, and it shows. He is able to take up to six weeks off for paternity leave and always puts our family first. I am truly blessed. 💗💗💗

Daniel continues to be a ridiculously sweet and chill baby. I cannot wait to see how his personality grows and develops -- and what kind of younger brother he will be to Will. 💞💞

Thankfully, Will was in a MUCH better mood today and started requesting me more again. This is a welcome change from the "Go away, Mommy"s of the last few days. He is dealing with a lot of change right now even before the age of two, so I'm trying to be as consistent, loving, and patient with him as possible. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Life is good. I am blessed and grateful. And every time I look at my boys, I am reminded of what is truly important in life: family, love, faith, and cherishing the time you can spend together. Nothing else matters more. 

Beyond blessed!

Yes, I've been gone awhile. And yes, I have a good excuse. 😜

Greg and I have been adjusting to the awesomeness and chaos that is having 2 boys under 2. Daniel was born a week ago last night, and we couldn't be happier with how everything is working out so far. 💗💗💗

Let's talk about little feisty Daniel. In addition to being a very chill and relaxed baby who sleeps well (so far -- knock on wood!!), he is also a championship latcher and nurser. He would happily stay on my boob all day if I let him. I had issues nursing Will, so this is a huge relief. Dan is also extremely alert and curious, constantly taking in the world around him when not sleeping, eating, or popping. Unlike his brother, pooping is no issue. Allelujah!!💩💩💩

And thankfully, for the most part, Will is adjusting beautifully. He calls Dan "Baby Daniel" and often verbalizes who his family members are: Mommy, Dada, William, Baby Daniel, and doggie. How sweet is that?! 💞 He had a meltdown tonight from being overstimulated but loves still going to school every day and having my parents here (They arrived Monday night). 👶🏻👶🏻

We are quickly getting into a routine with both boys, and Greg could not be a better or more hands-on father. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I have barely changed a diaper yet! It has been a beautiful emotional roller coaster. We couldn't be happier and feel beyond blessed to have both of these precious boys in our lives. What an enormous gift! 😍😍😍

I even got out of the house today to drive to my weekly talk therapy session and get Panera for lunch, which felt amazing. I may have overdone it with a long walk today, so I will get more rest tomorrow. 💤💤

Parenting is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done, but I still look forward to having the privilege of doing it every single day. I may be an outnumbered #boymom, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 👨👩👦👦

I promise to share my eventful birth story with you all soon too!😝

Keep fighting the good fight, Mamas. You rock!! 👏🏼💪🏻🌟😍👶🏻🎉