Nursing Momma Smoothie Recipe

Lately, I have been having difficulty keeping a milk supply for little Phalen.  I do not want to have to switch to formula, or any other alternative.

I researched the best foods to eat and supplements to take.  I have been drinking Mother's Milk Tea, as well as taking some really nasty tasting drops.

This has 'gotten me by', but still left me with times of nothing.  I haven't been able to pump, which means I can't leave Sweet P for longer than an hour and a half, and NEVER at night!

Luckily, he's so darn cute, I don't mind being with him 24-7.  

But it can be difficult when the Hubs and I want to have a date night.  Or, if I want to join the ladies for a Mom's Night Out.

In researching and seeking advice, I have come to realize two things:

a) I may not be eating enough during the day to assist in the production amount that Phalen needs.
b) Cardio actually causes production reduction... :(

SO, I fixed problem 'b' by reducing the amount of days I attend Stroller Strides and I stopped doing insanity workouts. But fixing problem 'a', ayeyeye...

I eat folks!  I eat a lot and I don't skip meals!
But when I'm full, I'm full.  I can't eat more.

For the first couple days, I tried to eat more.  I was making myself sick!
Then the thought occurred to me to pack in as much as I could to a smoothie and drink that several times a day.  Within a few days, I noticed a significant increase in my production!  Now, I'm getting ready to go to my first "Mom's Night Out" and Daddy gets to stay home and feed Sweet P :)

This has now become my Nursing Momma Smoothie, and the best part, it's Phalen Friendly (i.e. contains nothing he's allergic too).

Ingredients:

1 cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup Goat Milk Yogurt (Plain)
1 cup frozen chopped Pineapple or Mango
1 cup frozen Antioxidant Blend (Cherries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Pomegranate, Raspberries)
1 handful Spinach - washed
1 handful chopped Kale - washed
1 Avocado
1 Tblsp Flaxseed Meal
1 Tblsp Chia seed  *omit if you have low blood-pressure*
1/4 cup Honey
1 cup Water

Directions:

Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth!  Pour and Enjoy!

This does make 3 full 12 oz servings.  I'm one of those people that saves all glass jars and lids from foods purchased (coconut oil, peanut butter, etc) and reuse them as needed.  I pour the extra into serving jars and put in the refrigerator until my next "snack".  The avocado keeps a smooth texture/consistency so it doesn't need to be put in the freezer.

Hurts.

This past week has been filled with me seeing, hearing, and experiencing the hurts of life.

I have cried, been angry and sad, been confused as I hear of another person with cancer

But this time, it's a close family member. 

And it's his second battle with a different type.

I have been sad and hurt listening to a friend share difficulties in her marriage.

I have been angry and cried as I watch another woman cry through her struggles of depression being unable to conceive & carry a healthy baby.

Just to name a few...

I don't "get it"!  

I don't understand! 

I don't like it! 

But I do know God turns our ashes in beauty.

I do know that God does not cause bad, but He will turn bad to good---in His time.

I do know that when we hurt, God hurts.  And guess what, He doesn't like it either.

I do know that there will come a day when there are no more hurts- there are no more tears- there is no more sadness.

For this, I have hope. 

For this, I believe in a better tomorrow.

For this, I long for the coming day of Jesus.

Until then, 

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" 

- Galatians 6:2

"Encourage one another as long, as it is called 'Today', 

so that none of you are hardened by sin's deceitfulness" 

- Hebrews 3:13

flowers falling from the sky

 "It's spring time, so those are little flowers falling from the sky. 

It does not snow in the spring. " 

~ Lanie Nehren

wisdom from a friend's five year old daughter

This time of year says it should be warming up and turning green.  We hit around 40 degrees.  The snow is melting.  The roads are turning to giant puddles.  The Car Wash is the most popular place to be as there are lines around the buildings.  The studded tires are starting to be removed from vehicles.

The clothing lines in the stores turn into pastel colors, tshirts, sandals, etc.  The winter clothes go on clearance and we rush in to get next fall/winter 'sizes' for our little ones at a great price.  Commercials have people frolicking around in shorts and fresh painted toenails, sitting under trees in parks, enjoying lemonade and watermelon.

We get so excited, we spring clean, we put away our North Face 700 down coats, we prep the skis for a season in the shed, we tune our bikes and plan upcoming rides, we put away our snow boots and ice grippers, we start sorting and airing out our camping gear while planning summer hikes.

We get excited to put away our humidifiers, we start planning our summer garden and prepping our seedlings....AND then Alaska says

"Just Kidding!!!"

We take a deep sigh.  We pull back out our winter gear.  We store all that spring/summer gear in a corner (or several) of our home - letting it take up residence in hopes it will be used soon.  

This is a quick picture of what happened this week.  This whole week, it was gorgeous.  Warm sunny days.  Phalen and I went to the zoo twice.  I wore just a hooded sweatshirt and he was able to go without a snowsuit (just fleece pants, a little coat and a beanie for him).  

Grizzly Bear, in the background, soaking up the sun's rays.

I pulled out my Bogs to slush through the puddles.  Washed the vehicle.  Even opened the sunroof a bit.  Started introducing Phalen to shoes that aren't lined with fleece or faux fur.

And then last night, rumors started that we would be receiving 6-10 inches of snow over the weekend.  We woke up this morning to a fresh white blanket.  The beep-beep-beep-scchhhhhhrrrrr  sound of the snowplows at work sounding as our alarm.  And a deep desire for a hot cup of tea, a blanket and a fire setting in.  

Spring time in Alaska is not the spring time I grew up with in Idaho. But nonetheless, I will resist my desires, pull on my snow boots, put on my winter coat, head outside and twirl senselessly with my face to the sky and my tongue out and

 catch the flowers that are falling from the sky.

Hope y'all are having a beautiful spring, whether white or green.