I love (nursing) you more than pizza and ice cream.

The best kind of nap. These days are numbered and I know it!

Peaceful, contented, sleeping baby.

I have a new appreciation for how great of an eater/sleeper Maddie has been so far. Thursday and Friday were a struggle for her, and the pediatrician confirmed what I had started to suspect. Madeline seems to be developing a milk allergy, just like Ellie had at this age.

I'm sad for her, as she can hardly nurse without squirming and jerking. I can only imagine how her little tummy hurts, and hope that we can get her some relief quickly. She couldn't settle herself down on Thursday and went from 8am-midnight with only a few catnaps lasting less than 20 minutes each. We were all exhausted by the time she cashed out. My nerves were a little frayed as well.

We will be testing her poopy diapers at her well visit to the dr. on Tuesday to see if there is any more evidence of an allergy. And I decided that I just wasn't ready to throw in the towel with nursing, so I am cutting out all forms of cow's milk in my diet and will continue to breastfeed as long as it seems to be the best choice for Maddie.

I am giving up dairy on the eve of 'National Dairy Month' - June. How poetic. I'll bet you didn't know that was actually recognized?! It is, according to a local publication called "The Glancer". I didn't realize just how much dairy was a part of my diet, even though I never drink a straight glass of milk. No more pizza nights, homemade lasagna, ice cream, yogurt, cheese on anything, or... wait for it... LATTES. I'm embarrassed to say I almost don't know what to eat at each meal. I need to get out my recipe collection and try some new things and shift the focus to the positives of how much healthier my diet is going to be after this.

My little Madeline is totally worth the effort. I don't get to spend as much time with just her as I did with Robbie and Ellie as babies, but nursing her is quality time that is special for the two of us. If I still have the choice, I want to keep it for as long as possible.

Overall she is already settling as it seems the milk proteins are leaving my system. She nursed peacefully so far today, and is back to her typical sleeping patterns. Last night she had a fussy few hours before bed and nursing wasn't settling her so I tried a bottle of soy formula (we were out of options).

It went over like a lead balloon.

Getting ready.

Attempting the bottle. She refused to latch on.

Her best "Why are you punishing me, mom?" face. She drank exactly 10 drops of this bottle and then we called it quits.

Clearly I am not one of those moms who has a rigid view of how a baby should be fed. Robbie and Ellie both moved to bottles of formula at 4 and 2 months, respectively. And it was positive for all of us when we did it, for a number of reasons. However, for Maddie and I at this present time, it doesn't feel like the right transition to make. I will admit that after attempting the formula bottle last night, I cried. I still have the very strong desire to breastfeed my baby no matter what the inconvenience or sacrifice, if it's what she prefers (and clearly it is). If we get to the place where I have no choice, then we will move on at that point. But we aren't there yet.