Mommy Mondays: More Milk Breakfast Bars

A few weeks ago, I shared my experience with breastfeeding Paisley!  At 3.5 months, we are still exclusively breastfeeding, which is a huge personal accomplishment for me.  This hasn't been the easiest journey!  I know that we will make it to the four month mark, and I am really hopeful that we can make it to six months!  I don't have the best milk supply, so I made some More Milk Cookies (also known as lactation cookies) to help with that.  But I wanted a healthier alternative - one that I could eat for breakfast (and not feel guilty about)!  So I came up with these delicious breakfast bars!

Your Shopping List for More Milk Breakfast Bars:

• 2 tbsp milled flax seed
• 4 tbsp water
• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (I use King Arthur brand white whole wheat flour)
• 1,2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp brewers yeast powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Now Let's Make the More Milk Breakfast Bars:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 pan with butter or nonstick spray 
2. In a small bowl, combine the milled flax seed and water - set aside
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy
4. Beat in the egg and vanilla
5. Beat in the flax seed mixture
6. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, brewers yeast, and cinnamon
7. Add dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, beating on low speed until combined
8. Beat in the oats on lowest speed until combined
9. Beat in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips until just distributed evenly throughout the dough
10. Press dough into prepared pan and bake in your preheated oven for 25 - 30 minutes until edges are lightly browned and the center is set
11. Allow pan to cool completely (at least an hour) before cutting into 24 squares  
12. Store in an airtight container

In addition to making and eating these delicious More Milk Breakfast Bars, I am also taking a wonderful supplement called Lactation Boost from The Honest Company!  The combination of these two things have boosted my milk supply and allowed me to build a great freezer stash! 

You can order the Lactation Boost on its own or you can add Lactation Boost to a Health and Wellness Bundle from The Honest Company with another vitamin (like their PreNatal Vitamin) to save money!  !  

If you are a first time costumer of The Honest Company you can get $10 off a minimum purchase of $25 with promo code AMBASSADOR10 at checkout (first time customers only, may only be used once per new user) 

Mommy Mondays: Paisley Jean Update

That picture was taken yesterday - at 35 Weeks and 2 Days pregnant!  I may be smiling but this mama is tired!  

25 Days to Go!!!!!

At the most!  My scheduled c-section date is still December 19th which is only 25 days away!  Crazy!  However, my blood pressure has been creeping up at every single appointment.  At first I was told it was pregnancy induced hypertension, but now my doctors have been saying preeclampsia.  This has really thrown me for a loop because I never had any issues during my pregnancies with Lacie and Blakely!  But Paisley was determined to be different right from the very beginning when she gave me morning sickness and a 15 pound weight gain before we even told people that I was expecting! 

But with all that is going on, I trust my doctors.  I have been seen for weekly appointments since about 28 weeks and they are monitoring everything closely.  Lots of non stress tests and bloodwork for this Mama!  I may be having this little girl earlier than expected - as soon as December 5th (which is less than two weeks away).  The main goal is to make it to 37 weeks when the baby is considered full term! 

For now, I have been put on a "modified bedrest" which is easier said than done!  Stay-At-Home Mamas can't exactly apply for medical disability.  But I do make every effort to put my feet up when my girls are napping or playing nicely with each other.  The house may not be as clean as I like, but that's okay.  

Looking Back Over the Past Few Weeks:

33 Weeks!  This was taken a couple of days after my 32 week growth ultrasound!  Paisley Jean looked wonderful and weighed in at 4 pounds - exactly what she should be measuring at this stage.  From this point on she will gain about another 4 pounds.  This is another way that Paisley is proving to be different - both Lacie and Blakey measured well over 5 pounds (in fact B weighed almost 6 already) at their 32 week ultrasounds.  Both were predicted to be very large babies, and the doctors were almost exact about their birth weights!   

34 Weeks! 

Mommy Mondays: Paisley Jean Update

It's a Mommy Monday, and today I am bringing you an update on my pregnancy and sweet Paisley Jean!

A few weeks ago, I was given Paisley's estimated date of delivery - December 19, 2014!!!
Since I had two previous c-sections I get to schedule another one!  So this means that unless I go into labor sooner, my sweet baby girl will be here just a few days before Christmas!

46 Days to Go!!!

And of course I am counting down.  First of all, I cannot wait to meet Paisley!  And second of all I feel like I have been pregnant for three years at this point!  I am hoping that all of the upcoming holiday festivities will make these next few weeks go by quickly because I am definitely starting to get tired and uncomfortable! 

Tomorrow, I am going to the doctor for a 32 week growth scan ultrasound!  I cannot wait to sneak a little peak at this girl.  I am going to a new doctor for this pregnancy and they do not do ultrasounds the way my old office did (which was at every single visit for the most part).  So I cannot wait to see her little face on that screen!  My last ultrasound was at 20 weeks!  Oh and at this point Paisley should be measuring 3.75 pounds and I am very curious to see what they say she weighs...since both Lacie and Blakely measured well over 5 pounds at their 32 week appointments!  And while I know people argue that those measurements are off...mine have always been right on!  I had two very gigantic, healthy babies!  

 Me and my 29 weeks Baby Bump!  

30 Weeks!!!  Paisley is growing!

I love getting my What to Expect Updates, and when I hit week 30 I was very happy.  30 weeks sounds so much further along than 29 weeks!

31 Weeks! 

On Halloween, I hit the 32 week mark which is equivalent to 8 months!!!  

Mommy Mondays - Paisley Jean Update

It has been approximately four weeks since I have done a Baby Paisley update!  So I needed to share the latest pregnancy news in today's Mommy Mondays post!

My 25 Weeks Baby Bump!!!  John and I had a wedding to attend that day, and Paisley got to join us! She is as big as an eggplant and was growing hair and nails that week! 

26 Weeks and Paisley is as big as a head of lettuce!  At this point in her development she is able to open her eyes! I cannot wait to see if she will have the same blue eyes as Lacie and Blakely! 

27 Weeks!  Paisley weighs in at 2 pound and is as long as a cucumber at this stage in the pregnancy!  27 weeks also marks the last week of the second trimester! 

28 Weeks Baby Bump!  At 28 weeks you are considered to be officially in the third trimester, which is the final home stretch.  Paisley is the size of a head of cauliflower (and is approximately 2.5 pounds).  I was actually 28 weeks and 2 days in this picture which means only 82 days to go!  Although due to me needing to have a scheduled c-section, it will most likely be 75 days!  Eeek it's really getting super close!  

On Friday, I got this update from my What to Expect app! 

In other baby news, I had a doctor's appointment last Tuesday at 27 1/2 weeks.  During this appointment, I got to do the super fun Glucose test that happens between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.  You drink a terrible drink and wait an hour for them to draw your blood.  It is truly torture, but I can happily report that I PASSED!

They don't do too much at these appointments until you get further along, but I did get to listen to sweet Paisley's heartbeat which sounded just perfect!

They also took my blood pressure...three times...needless to say it was high thanks to that Glucose Test.  I was told that it needs to be lower by my appointment on October 21st!  I am trying my best to lower it naturally because I do not want to have to go on bed rest (I wouldn't be very good at that).  My blood pressure is normally low, so I am hoping that this self corrects in the next two weeks.

I was also informed that my blood work showed I am anemic so I need to take extra iron!  This is something that I have even when I'm not pregnant so it never surprises me that I have even lower iron when I am carrying a baby.

Come back in a few weeks for another Paisley Jean update!

Linking Up With:

Mommy Mondays - Paisley Jean Update

It's Monday and around here that means it's a Mommy Monday!  Mondays can always be a bit tough because John goes back to work.  And since he leaves before the girls are awake, they definitely miss their Daddy (and so do I)!  I would be happy if we both got to be stay-at-home parents...but I guess someone has to pay the bills!  So I always try to make Mondays extra special with cuddles and treats or a special activity.  This morning we had a really fun playdate, and this afternoon we will head over to Nana and Pop-Pop's house to play outside and enjoy the amazing weather that we are experiencing today!

But onto our Paisley Update!  I had a doctor's appointment last week, and Mama and Baby are both doing great!  I got to hear Paisley's heartbeat, which is always wonderful!  I am still feeling good, but definitely getting less and less sleep as the weeks progress.  My heartburn is also in full force, and I am up to about 10 tums per day, so sweet Paisley better have a head full of hair! She is also in full moving and grooving mode, and is kicking me a ton!  I got to feel Paisley move pretty early on in my pregnancy, and she doesn't even like to stay still ever... so I have a feeling we are in for a feisty baby!

Here is my 23 Week Baby Bump!  It's getting bigger by the day! 

My 23 Weeks Chalkboard! 

24 Weeks was last Friday (September 5th) but I didn't get to take a picture until Sunday, which also happened to be Derek Jeter Day!  So I thought I would throw on John's Derek Jeter Jersey for the pic!  You can read about our love of the Yankees in this post! 

My 24 Week Chalkboard!  It's hard to believe that I am already 6 months along (almost 3rd trimester) and that Paisley Jean is already 1 1/2 pounds!  Although with my big baby track record, she is probably larger than what my pregnancy app says! 

Stay tuned for more Paisley Jean updates!  At my next doctor's visit I get to do my Glucose Test...ugh! 

Mommy Mondays - Baby #3 Update

It has been a few weeks since I posted a Baby #3 Update so here is the latest!

Here's my 19 Weeks Baby Bump!  This was taken the weekend before we would find out if Baby #3 was a boy or a girl! 

My 19 weeks board! 

Here is my 20 week Baby Bump!  Halfway there!  We had our check-up this week and Baby Hilosky was healthy and right on track for growth....and we found out that Baby Hilosky is a GIRL!!!!!  You can read all about our gender reveal party by clicking HERE!

My 20 weeks board! 

 My 21 weeks Baby Bump!  John and I were getting ready to take a tour of the hospital where I will be delivering Paisley! 

 Week 21 Board

 Last Friday, I hit the 22 week mark (even though I did not get to take a picture until Sunday)!  22 weeks and still feeling good...although I haven't been getting too much sleep!

Wee 22 board!  Paisley is already 1 pound!

So many of my wonderful readers have emailed me (you can contact me at lifeisbetterinpink@yahoo.com ) to say how much they love my chalkboard week by week pregnancy board!  I definitely did not come up with this idea...all of the credit goes to Pinterest.  And as far as the board goes, I just got a very inexpensive picture frame on clearance at a craft store and spray painted it with chalkboard paint!  And trust me this is about the craftiest thing I have ever done!  But chalkboard decor is huge right now so I looked for some other chalkboard inspiration that I thought was fun!  I am especially loving that chalkboard pumpkin since I will be decorating for fall next week!  

Mommy Mondays: Sisters

Well last week we found out some pretty big news....Baby Hilosky #3 (who I was certain was a boy) is really a GIRL!  I cannot wait to meet sweet little Paisley Jean in 20 weeks or less!  You can read all about our gender reveal party HERE!

Now I have discovered that when you already have two girls, everyone has something to say about what they "hope" this baby would be...and most seemed to be "hoping" this baby would be a boy.  John and I were , of course, just hoping for a healthy baby.  Beyond that a boy would have been nice so that we could have had the different experience of raising a boy.  But deep down, I really was hoping that this little baby would be another girl.  Not for me, but for Lacie and Blakely.  Watching my two girls be sisters and best friends is the best thing about being a mommy, and I so wanted to give them another sister!  Once we found out that Baby #3 is going to be another girl, I spent a lot of time looking back at pictures of my girls and I thought I would share some of my favorites here today!

Lacie and Blakely meeting for the very first time!  

Sharing the secret that they will both be BIG SISTERS this year!

And finding out that they will become big sisters to a little sister!