It's been a while!

This has been a very eventful year for us as a family! We gained a new member 8 weeks ago, our third baby, little Elias. He has been a joy in our life and the 2 other kids seem to be extremely fond of him and there are those days they wish he'd probably go back into my womb haha, but not because he cries, which he rarely does, but because they want more attention from mommy. Andrew is now 5 years old and Lilybelle recently turned 2 years old. Balancing life with 3 kiddos is much harder than 2 kids. When I just had 2, I always had enough hands to hold each when walking or getting them to stay put in one spot. Now, I need to to grow a 3rd arm! My husband has been much more involved than ever before and we've also learned a few tricks by now, but we are always learning more along the way.
My husband has been doing great at work and I've been recuperating slowly from this last baby. I've taken time off from teaching piano and photography, which has helped me immensely, but not quite our pocket. We've also had a 5-6 weeks dose of out of town visitors and outings ourselves, so every weekend until now, has been super busy.
I will be posting a few things about motherhood soon: how I birthed naturally without any pain medication, how my 3rd pregnancy experience went, how postpartum life and body is after a third child and birthing naturally,  including how breastfeeding has been coming along.
For now, you can view our life in the making by following me on Instagram, where I like to share my kids growing up, along with places we see, and some little bit of my finger-painted art from my phone that I get to draw and work on when I get a minute to myself:
http://instagram.com/mariaosorio16
I am also on Pinterest, where I pin things I have actually tried out or will be trying out soon:
http://www.pinterest.com/meo86/

I belong, my belief │ Mormonism: A Christ-Centered, Global Faith

Here is a small glimpse into the religion I live by each day. I am proud and blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-day Saints, most commonly known as Mormons. I love living it, participating, and teaching it in my life and family. I am glad I have had many choices to make in my life based on what most people call a "gut" feeling, and in my experience I have learned that decisions need more than a whimsical answer, decisions are choices guided by faith and hope. In many ways my religion may seem very extended and too large at first glance, but it is perfectly organized and every member is an integral part of a larger family and can feel it every time we attend Sunday services for 3 hours, participate in weekday enriching activities, and commit to serving in the workings of this religion without monetary.  We are encouraged to be self-reliant, educated, and charitable. I have tried and proven what my religion has written of and I know it all to be true, inspired, and beautiful. I wish I could help everyone see how wonderful life really is through a more eternal perspective, and how trials really do make us stronger, and that suffering is a part of life, but happiness is the purpose of our creation. In my life, I would be in a very different circumstance than I am now, had I never had this gospel in it, and for it I am and forever will be grateful. Whatever storm life has thrown my way I have lived through and become stronger for it, whatever plan lies ahead for me I do not know. but I know that if I keep relying on God for strength and guidance that everything will be okay and for my good. I am so blessed to be a mother, wife, and individual that can be guided by principles that Christ himself taught while being enlightened by modern-day prophets that shed light on modern-day trials to give me hope, peace, and a relief I can find nowhere else. I am Mormon because I want to be. I was not born into this, persuaded into this, nor inherited it by tradition, and I am happy for it.  I am blessed beyond mine own comprehension and for that I know that God lives and loves me and my family.

Breastfeeding tips from a nursing MOM

Breastfeeding can be daunting, especially since no one ever prepares you for the roadblocks that show up from feeding or not feeding.  I've breastfed all my babies (my first well beyond 1 year) and I was sure surprised to see how easy it got as it progressed.  Beware though, I believe the first 3-4 weeks are the hardest, it's a test of your will.  I've read so many articles and tips, talked to multiple lactation consultants, and have had my husband back me up 100%. Here are some tips so you can hang in there while you work things out to provide the very best for your special little angel(s).

FIGURE A

1. It helps to talk to your baby and make eye contact as you nurse, this stimulates your brain and sends your glands a message to produce more milk and make your letdown flow easier.
2. In the beginning, you'll feel like you don't make enough milk. This could be that your baby hasn't learned to productively suck well yet or you're engorged (painfully full). It takes time (about a month) so don't reach for the formula or bottle just yet. If you're engorged, try gently pressing with your finger tips around your nipple for 10-second presses as flower petals (figure A) to soften your nipple to make it easier to feed from.
3. A good latch is when your baby's mouth is open wide, chin gently massaging your breast underneath, and tip of your nipple way past the front of your baby's tongue inside.  THIS is what makes your milk letdown be better and leads to you producing what your baby needs.
4. Breastfeeding your baby is time-consuming, it's part of being a nursing mom. Don't feel that it will tie you down, instead feel the bond you're building that is irreplaceable. 
5. When you start feeling pain (like dozens of paper cuts on your nipples), then soothe with simple things like lanolin, Olive Oil, your own milk rubbed on, and sleeping topless...yes, this works wonders! Just cover your volumptious beauties with small towels and sleep on your back. The towels will air-dry fast while gravity will help your milk not leak out like if you sleep on your side or sleep on your tummy (which can lead to painful infections from the pressure).
6. Don't get into a diet just yet! If you eat a restricted diet to get back into shape or take pills or "diet" smoothies, then you're robbing your baby's milk from good fat he/she needs. Many moms experience disappointment when their babies aren't gaining enough weight as they grow, but they are more focused in what they eat to stay thin. Guess what? YOU eat less, then so will baby. Your milk will have all the minerals and nutrients your baby will ever need, but the quality of it will depend on you eating right, resulting in a fuller baby quicker. Wait until baby starts solids to get on a diet. No one is rushing you, and if they do, what's more important: baby or someone's harsh opinion?
7. Whatever you do, don't supplement with formula to provide "more." If you allow your body to produce for small meals, then it won't magically produce bigger meals in time. In fact, you might end up drying up by 3 months (a very common mistake in moms).
8. Your mind being determined is key! When you start to get fear every time your baby has to latch on because of the pain you may start to feel, then just push through it. I used to chant, "Push through it, it's worth it" and chewed on ice. The ice lowered my upper chest temperature and lessened the pain (it's about the sensory receptors here being kinda numbed.)
9. Try pumping to produce more if your body is lagging in milk production. These foods and herbs help production increase: oatmeal, red and orange veggies, barley in porridge, fenugreek (herb), and fennel seed (herb). If you're like me, a heavy producer, then massaging between meals helps alleviate engorgement and placing cool cabbage leaves (just ONCE a day) in your bra will slow production (3 times a day will dry you up!).
10. Feed ON DEMAND AND ON SCHEDULE...don't get it? This means to feed when baby shows signs of hunger and to never let baby go unfed for more than 3 hours as well. Feeding on demand works perfectly while at home, but when you're out and about, your baby will get too stimulated by his/ her surroundings and may slide on to skipping a meal even. Keep an eye on that because once you start to skip meals or prolong break times, your body will then think it needs to produce less since baby isn't eating like before.
11. It may take up to 2 days for your body to readjust as your baby grows from time to time and feeding demands change. So give it time as baby grows.
12. If your baby sleeps through most of the night, you might be engorged by morning and baby won't eat everything you have in one feeding.  This is the best time to pump, before they wake up, and store in the freezer for future dates with the husband or doctor visits. You'll be surprised at how much milk you'll accumulate.
13. You relaxing and your comfort level helps in your willingness to keep going too so: sit up and use a pillow under baby if feeding upright, lay down and get comfy before feeding, or close your eyes if you're tired. Avoid bad posture and back pain. Avoid feeding baby if you're too emotionally stressed (crying, super angry, etc), it can lead to acid in your milk for baby = more spit up.
14. Baby will never "empty" you.  Our womanly bodies are a beautiful thing, and were made to feed and nurture babies, so even when you feel like your empty when baby seems to be hungry still, just switch sides and feed until he/she is full. THIS is how you make your body produce more. THIS is how you show your determination to be a nursing mom to a healthy breastfed baby.
15. If you do get a breast infection, my advice is to push through the pain, unless your baby has thrush, then go to a doctor.  I've had breast infections with my babies and I freaked out with my first and they gave me antibiotics to help, which still took days. With my second, I simply fed less from that side, and when I was sitting I placed diapers with warm water inside on my breast. The diaper's warmth alleviated my pain and soaked up milk that would run out. Easier than going to the doc's, getting a prescription  and taking pills.
16. Get support. If you live with your significant other, ask them for support and to let you relax while you feed. My husband is an angel during these times, propped up my pillows, brought me water and ice, wakes up to get baby at night crying, and often gets the baby as soon as I'm done feeding and bonding to help me relax. You'll need help since nursing does take energy from you (burns about 500 calories per feeding), you'll maybe feel weak, tired and overwhelmed...it's completely normal, but you still need special attention too ;-).
17. You're still eating for 2 as long as you're breastfeeding, so drink plenty of water and avoid the urges to snack o anything. I've eliminated sweet snacks and salty snacks at home to force my cravings to resort to fruits, small veggies (like baby carrots), and water. This happens because your body is still sharing what you consume with 2 bodies. 

So, that's it! You'll be happy you breastfed your child once they begin to grow and learn. You'll also not spend of tons of money on baby bottles, formula, proper water for formula, and time in preparing bottles at home or while out and about. Here's some quick facts too about breastfeeding benefits:

My bad!...not really

Sheesh! I cannot believe how long it has been since I truly took the time to write on my blog...I miss it! Truth is, having an infant (with acid reflux being treated) all over again is super time-consuming (both kids are watching Baby Einstein as we "speak") and I have been making tons of tiny little girl stuff while crocheting and using fabrics.

Here's a quick low-down of what I've been up to and hope you can get into it too!

I just recently discovered the Crafty Chica blog and I'm lovin' all the latina-inspired, and culture rich materials and projects.  Don't take my word for it, check it out! It's like nothing out there!

Now, I've also noticed that while I love DIYing and crocheting and creating and etc...Pinterest has totally eased up the inspiration (about 60% of the time) while searching.  Mind you, it IS addictive, but as long as you do all your house chores and bathe/dress your kids in the morning then you're set for the day to be a mom and a Pin freak at the same time ;-).  For those of you who aren't into Pinterest yet, I think of it like cutting out catalog/magazine stuff you love and compiling it all in one place divided into your own categories to reference later or do at the moment.  It's easy and you can download an app for your phone (I have android) so you can use it anywhere at any time!  You can follow what I pin by searching meo86 in "search" under "people" setting since I'm going to start pinning up everything I've blogged about too. Here's a peek at things I post about, most with tutorials included:

Yeah, I pretty much want to marry Pinterest...almost. Though I've been happily married 4 years now (this past October 1st! whoo hoooo!) and it was quite a memorable one. Celebration at home doesn't stopped (not like that!) and hopefully we can fully enjoy it this weekend!

Ok, gotta go since the Einstein video is finished and I need to start "school time" with my kid before snacktime, then playtime and naptime (while diaper changing and breastfeeding in between ♥).

Much love, muchachas!

Young Women's FULL year Calendar of ideas

This was created by mostly gathering all the young women at my house one early morning before the new year and just having breakfast together with them.  It was an awesome morning! Afterwards, I asked them all to brainstorm activities we needed to do for the following year and they had so many ideas.  All I did was write down what the would shout out...because that's how exited they got.  They understood that the activities needed to have a purpose, and if they didn't I took the time to create an activity based in that idea and integrate it with something more meaningful with a Personal Progress experience.  It took some time, but then once the ball got rolling in the new year with something established it was just up to us leaders to show up and follow through and let the girls have fun and initiate things as young leaders.  It worked out great :-)

I don't know why the PDF versions got distorted, but they have the same info and activities to the pertaining image.  These customizable calendars can also be downloaded from www.calendarlabs.com for FREE so you can fill them in.

Here are the full details that I also wrote out in a separate document to accompany the leader's calendar and  and to leave to any succeeding leader that might take my place something that would make their life easier too.

Traveling Tips and Etiquette

These are just some few tips for those of you who either travel alone or with family for vacation or while visiting relatives.  This is very helpful to make all parties want your visit over and over again :-)

WHILE TRAVELING:
1.  Make sure you pack light by limiting your wardrobe to clothing that is neutral and interchangeable.  You will most likely be buying souvenirs or more clothing where you are going to anyways.  Take an extra empty, or nearly empty suitcase or duffle bag for those new extras you will bring back.
2.  DO NOT travel with gigantic containers, even when on a road trip...especially if you'll be staying at a relative's place.  They take up weight in cargo, might explode if you've changed elevation, and precious space in a bathroom, that won't allow you to be clean and simple.

3.  Be CLEAN.  Clean after yourself if staying with relatives.  I know some people think that traveling means being careless of how you organize yourself, but that's not ever the case.  Even of you stay in a hotel, it's best to always put EVERYTHING you travel with away to keep everything under control.  If staying with family, wash your own dishes, put your dirty clothes away, and pretty much leave your things in order so you don't make your gracious hosts feel stuffed or overwhelmed.
4.  Take a CAMERA for memories!  So, bring a compact camera even if you have a gigantic one, unless it will be in it's own traveling bag.  The smaller your camera is, the easier it will be to take on outings and will be less likely to break than a large DLSR.
5.  Limit your restaurant splurges and dine-in LOCAL FAVORITES instead.  You'll get a better feel for the location anyway. This is especially important if staying with family because you never know what other people's budgets really are and local favorites and sometimes better than an over-priced meal.
6.  When you plan outings, don't expect your relatives or friends to join in every ocassion.  Afterall, you're the one on vacation, not them, which is why they'll most likely be going to work and taking care of their home so you should be considerate and free to EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN time frame and budget.
7.  Take your own GPS and take advantage of visiting new places and traveling.  Don't limit yourself, your on vacation!

Finally here!

I am proud to announce the birth of my little girl, Lilybelle Elena Hernandez.  Born on a Sunday, July 1st, 2012 at 2:31pm. Weighed 7lbs 11 1/2 oz, measured 20 inches long.

Small details about her labor process:
-2 days with contractions

-Water leaked while walking to the car then rode to the hospital

-I withstood more pain than I thought, reached 1 minute contractions without feeling like dying, but was persuaded to get the epidural (I really wanted to try, but people were freaking me out)

-After epidural, body relaxed and contractions subsided to 4 minutes apart. 10 hours of epidural later, I was dilated to 10cm. Read about it's effects HERE.
-15 hours total at the Kaiser Permanente hospital to deliver. The staff was wonderful! Had my mom with me as my husband slept, my son stayed with family.

-30 minutes pushing time, no cut nor tearing "down there."  The relaxation breathing techniques REALLY worked to relax my body. Easy to find on YouTube or click HERE.

-Lilybelle breastfed like a champ within 10 minutes from arriving, and big bro finally came to see her 2 hours later...told her he loved her a lot (still tells her that daily).

So that was the short of it all. I want to keep blogging really soon, but I need to focus on the baby, which is very demanding since she only breastfeeds...resulting in 14 feeds per day (through the night included). That's besides taking care of my toddler, feeding the family, cleaning, etc.  So you can imagine it can get super busy. I'll be writing soon about what nursing on demand is compared to scheduled nursing, tips, and sacrifices that come along with it to give your baby the best possible from birth.

See her newborn photo shoot at MariaElenaPhotography.com

So happy to be a new mommy all over again 

Toddler Birthday Party Ideas: 3rd Birthday

Theme: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

My boy's third birthday just recently passed and he enjoyed it so much he kept talking about it for days.  I think the best thing you can do as a parent is to wear your heart on your sleeve for your kids.  Never be afraid of showing them your love and excitement.  They'll know without a doubt that you love them and it won't matter how much you spend to make them happy if in the end you don't give them the time and attention they deserve.

For birthdays, I suggest asking the BIRTHDAY BOY/GIRL what they want.  Show them 3-5 options for themes and let them narrow it down.  My kid actually wanted Star Wars as his #1 pick and Caterpillar as his 2nd.  I thought of how unpredictable toddlers are and so the idea of having light sabers being gashed in people's faces wasn't very appealing.  I read him his fave book (The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle) to really convince him otherwise.  He agreed to having both, which didn't work out for me, so I surprised him with the Caterpillar theme, which he adored and helped out with too.

Here are some samples of what we did.

 The invitations were simple and just showed the birthday boy from the most recent photoshoot he went through 3 weeks before his birthday.

 The number 3 was mosiac in his favorite style too and the caterpillar was holepunched and then hand-drawn.

 The leaf inside had 3 holes to represent his 3rd birthday.

 These centerpieces were made by my mother.

 The cake was provided by my dad.

 The party favors were labeled with "Caterpillar Food", tied with bright green ribbon, and inside were  colorful M&Ms.

 My family made balloon caterpillars to hand from trees.

The craft project was finger caterpillars with washable paint and then bubbles that floated like butterlies since we did all this at a nearby park.









THE BEST PART: All the kids had fun!

Fashion Friday #5: FUN Friday

I haven't been able to fit into any clothes much lately and I was feeling kinda sad because of it.  I understand I'm only going to get bigger and it's natural, but it just made me sad to be so limited... so I needed something to pick me up... MUSIC!  I LOVE music and you know what?  It really helps!  It picks you up, makes you forget about stress, and just makes you feel better all around at any time of day.  So, this Fashion Friday will be more of a FUN Friday featuring MUSIC.  These are some little fun, pick-me-up songs I ran across while just reading some posts.  Mind you, they are not common songs, but they are SUPER sweet and true, not to mention, catchy.  So, feel free to click on the links attached to each image and soak up some fun:

Brandon and Leah - "LIFE HAPPENS"

Carly Rae Jepsen - "CALL ME MAYBE"

Stephen Jerzak - "TOGETHER WITH THE SUN DOWN"

Paolo Nutini - "CANDY"

Simple Plan - "WHEN I'M GONE"

Kate Voegele - "SANDCASTLES"

Newborn Photo Ideas at Home

Since I am only weeks shy of bringing our little girl into this world, I have been super exited about her photo shoot...I know, I'm a photographer, and she's gonna have to get used to it :-)  I am also in a lot of random spurts of pain because of the return of ulcers and contractions all at the same time.  So, I get plenty of time to create projects at home since I can hardly drive.  Though it all takes me a bit longer than usual to complete them, I finish them nonetheless and then put them up for display.  In most recent cases, I'm creating little trinkets for my soon-to-be baby girl.

So, without further delay, here are some inspirational ideas I have been keeping and working on and /or finished so that my baby can have unique items and props for her photo shoot and as decor or everyday wear.

I actually just finished this headband and had so much material left that I made one for myself too...keeps the fly-aways in place.  My husband liked the texture so much he requested one too, but a "man" wristband instead of a headband.  They are all in a dark gray color :-) Easy to make! (BUT shhh! Sells for $48 in a set in Etsy) All I need is white flowers to add.

My mother recently spotted an identical blanket to this next one, but in a more reddish, vibrant color...retailed anywhere from $55-$95 for the unique textures they have!  I won't even say how much she got it for because it was only about a minimal percentage of what they are sold for everywhere...okay, $6.  I know!  The best part is that it will be a focal prop during my baby's photo session and I can reuse it for other sessions as well! So exiting!

©MariaElenaPhotography

 The white furry blanket, and textured elfish beanie are both currently mine for photography.  I made the beanie myself...quite the challenge, but great for photos and retails at about $40-$68.  The blanket I got on sale for $20 since it was an item I could never get cheaper while living in Utah.  Oh, and the picture was taken by me as well for a past client :-)

I found a vintage luggage recently here in California and can't wait to use it for props too!!!  It's real leather and solid wood frame too..cost me $5 and similar props in identical materials cost $60-$105.  Buu-yaa!

This one looks so delicate and unique! I am for sure working on this one and all I need is the delicate and charming little pearls to add.  Retails at $33.

 This retails at $11. I have my baby's special letter "L" already in hand from previous buys, which cost $1.50

This is such a great idea to spruce up at home and then let baby play with once they get older and actually start playing pretend.  It retails at $40, but I got mine as a gift and know it cost less than $5.  All it needs is some handmade magic and it's ready for it's closeup as my baby's wings.













So now, some tips:
•  Newborns are best photographed within the first 2 weeks of life (I prefer 5 days from birth, personally) when they are less likely to be disturbed while sleeping and can be soothed easily.  They are so fresh out of the womb and look precious!
•  Use the manual setting in your camera since this is slow-paced session and demands time. Be very patient and gentle, newborns can sense stress.
•  The best place to shoot in is at home, before noon, at a warmer temperature setting for the session and with plenty of wipes handy for spit-ups and accidents.  Make sure all window blinds and curtains are pulled back for the best possible natural light.
•  I am not a big fan of “baby outfits.” You have newborn portraits taken to see that fresh new baby-ness, not the cute little outfit you bought with just a head poking out. I like to shoot partial nudity. Naked with a diaper/diaper cover on. It's a good thing to think about this ahead of time it isn’t an awkward thing. If you're completely against any form of nudity then go for the clean look of a white onesie. If possible, strip them down to the desired look well before the shoot/before feeding and wrap them cozy in a blanket so as not to disrupt that peaceful phase as you being shooting. 

©MariaElenaPhotography

•  I take close ups of the feet, and often cradled in mom or dads hands to show the size difference.  Make sure mom and dad are wearing solid black or white shirts, with long sleeves preferably.  If there is a color theme, it's okay as long as it's solid with long sleeves.

©MariaElenaPhotography

•  I often bring a handful of blankets with texture and a boppy pillow. I will also throw in some other handmade props (crocheted), hats, etc. but I like to use the special blankets or hats that the parents have bought for their child instead of using mine because of the sentimental value they have.