Olivia- 11 Months
Olivia- 11 Months
Olivia Jane Musayev – 11 Months
Olivia is 11 months old and the sweetest little girl. She is so gentle and kind yet determined and strong. She LOVES her Mama and Dada and calls us by name whenever she sees us. She’s always trying to babble and talk to us, it is seriously so cute! She has figured out how to make noises with her nose and mouth if you cup your hand over her mouth.
Musa taught her how to do a “touch-down” which is when she raises her hands over her head and yells “Taaa-Dooownnn.” She does it all the time now when she is excited. Olivia is SO close to walking independently. She lets go of furniture and is walking further distances on her own! I think in a couple of weeks we will have a full-time walker!
Olivia’s lovie is officially her sleep sack. She LOVES her Nested Bean sack and cannot sleep without it! She has 2 new teeth this month for a total of 6 teeth and perfect timing because this girl LOVES to eat. I feel like my full-time job is to feed her non-stop! Olivia is trying more solid foods and open to different textures. Her favorite food of all time is black beans! We introduced a sippy cup a few months ago and are trying to get her used to the sippy cup!
We have made it to 11 months of breastfeeding and have enough stored to get her to a year! Here is a little note I wrote to Olivia about our journey.
My Darling Olivia
We did it! We made it 11 months of breastfeeding then exclusive pumping. I have enough stored to get you to a year. It was so important to me to breastfeed you. I have the BARD 1 breast cancer gene, something that runs in my family and something I’ve watched every woman throughout every generation fight. In a few years, I will get a prophylactic mastectomy. So, for me, breastfeeding was extremely important, and I was determined to make it work. Little did I know, it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
We were a c-section birth and from the start, you had so much trouble latching. The lactation consultants at the hospital made me feel so inadequate at breastfeeding and for not having my milk in right after my c-section. They had me pumping every 2 hours alongside trying to nurse you. In the hospital, we supplemented you with some donor milk. Whoever that Mama is, that donated their milk forever changed my life. I will always be SO grateful for that Mama and that I could give my baby breastmilk. I decided if I ever could breastfeed, I would donate my milk to others. When we left the hospital, nobody ever told me to stop pumping every 2 hours. My body eventually thought it had twins, my daughter, and the pump. I was pumping 60oz a day and breastfeeding.
We struggled to breastfeed for 5 months. Through chaffed and bleeding nipples, clogged milk ducts, and mastitis. It got to a point where exclusive pumping was the best option for us both. So, I pumped, 12,099 ounces to be exact, and 824 hours. I wish it was as easy as simply saying that. I pumped 8-10x a day for 7 months straight. Through the middle of the nights, at work, in bathrooms, on planes… everywhere. Every time I was exhausted and ready to quit, I just looked at you and you kept me going. My goal was 6 months and I am just so humbled and blessed that we will achieve our dream goal of 12 months.
Along our journey, we were able to give back to others. I was a milk donor for 3 beautiful babies, Luke, Madison, and Lani. I will never forget them. I also was a Milk Bank donor for sweet NICU babies, completing the cycle of where our journey began.
Now, as I am weaning from the pump, I am just in awe of you. You are so smart, so healthy, and the sweetest little girl. To all the mama’s out there. Breastfeeding, whatever form that may be, is hard work, the most selfless sacrifice, but an incredible journey. Don’t give up, you are amazing.
11 Month Milestones
Olivia is on the verge of walking, she loves to read and flip through books, she is figuring out puzzles and toys so much faster and she LOVES Daniel Tiger.
She dislikes when Mama puts her down (she loves to be held all the time) and when she can’t get into the thing she is trying to do (which is normally something she shouldn’t be doing).
Photos were taken by JB Marie Photography.
Olivia Jane Musayev – 11 Months
Olivia is 11 months old and the sweetest little girl. She is so gentle and kind yet determined and strong. She LOVES her Mama and Dada and calls us by name whenever she sees us. She’s always trying to babble and talk to us, it is seriously so cute! She has figured out how to make noises with her nose and mouth if you cup your hand over her mouth.
Musa taught her how to do a “touch-down” which is when she raises her hands over her head and yells “Taaa-Dooownnn.” She does it all the time now when she is excited. Olivia is SO close to walking independently. She lets go of furniture and is walking further distances on her own! I think in a couple of weeks we will have a full-time walker!
Olivia’s lovie is officially her sleep sack. She LOVES her Nested Bean sack and cannot sleep without it! She has 2 new teeth this month for a total of 6 teeth and perfect timing because this girl LOVES to eat. I feel like my full-time job is to feed her non-stop! Olivia is trying more solid foods and open to different textures. Her favorite food of all time is black beans! We introduced a sippy cup a few months ago and are trying to get her used to the sippy cup!
We have made it to 11 months of breastfeeding and have enough stored to get her to a year! Here is a little note I wrote to Olivia about our journey.
My Darling Olivia
We did it! We made it 11 months of breastfeeding then exclusive pumping. I have enough stored to get you to a year. It was so important to me to breastfeed you. I have the BARD 1 breast cancer gene, something that runs in my family and something I’ve watched every woman throughout every generation fight. In a few years, I will get a prophylactic mastectomy. So, for me, breastfeeding was extremely important, and I was determined to make it work. Little did I know, it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
We were a c-section birth and from the start, you had so much trouble latching. The lactation consultants at the hospital made me feel so inadequate at breastfeeding and for not having my milk in right after my c-section. They had me pumping every 2 hours alongside trying to nurse you. In the hospital, we supplemented you with some donor milk. Whoever that Mama is, that donated their milk forever changed my life. I will always be SO grateful for that Mama and that I could give my baby breastmilk. I decided if I ever could breastfeed, I would donate my milk to others. When we left the hospital, nobody ever told me to stop pumping every 2 hours. My body eventually thought it had twins, my daughter, and the pump. I was pumping 60oz a day and breastfeeding.
We struggled to breastfeed for 5 months. Through chaffed and bleeding nipples, clogged milk ducts, and mastitis. It got to a point where exclusive pumping was the best option for us both. So, I pumped, 12,099 ounces to be exact, and 824 hours. I wish it was as easy as simply saying that. I pumped 8-10x a day for 7 months straight. Through the middle of the nights, at work, in bathrooms, on planes… everywhere. Every time I was exhausted and ready to quit, I just looked at you and you kept me going. My goal was 6 months and I am just so humbled and blessed that we will achieve our dream goal of 12 months.
Along our journey, we were able to give back to others. I was a milk donor for 3 beautiful babies, Luke, Madison, and Lani. I will never forget them. I also was a Milk Bank donor for sweet NICU babies, completing the cycle of where our journey began.
Now, as I am weaning from the pump, I am just in awe of you. You are so smart, so healthy, and the sweetest little girl. To all the mama’s out there. Breastfeeding, whatever form that may be, is hard work, the most selfless sacrifice, but an incredible journey. Don’t give up, you are amazing.
11 Month Milestones
Olivia is on the verge of walking, she loves to read and flip through books, she is figuring out puzzles and toys so much faster and she LOVES Daniel Tiger.
She dislikes when Mama puts her down (she loves to be held all the time) and when she can’t get into the thing she is trying to do (which is normally something she shouldn’t be doing).
Photos were taken by JB Marie Photography.
