At Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas, we receive many charming and wonderful holiday cards. Seeing photos of all our babies, moms and families this time of year has been heartwarming . . . and entertaining! Today, we share one donor mom's holiday card, a clever and funny summary of her year-long journey of motherhood.
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Darby with her daughter and bags of donor milk
2014: HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR?
by Darby B.
47 days with swollen ankles—18 hours in labor—4 hours 44 minutes pushing—52 hours in the hospital—454 hours spent expressing breast milk—995 hours nursing—1,602 ounces breast milk donated to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas (and counting!)—12 weeks maternity leave—17 visits to the doctor—3 heel pricks—2 fevers—1 visit to Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s emergency room—162 thank you notes written—16 library story times—7 Mommy and Me yoga classes at Barefoot Studio—6 Baptist Health Mommy and baby play groups—6 inches taller—11 pounds heavier—8 new teeth—78 cloth diapers and diaper covers—161 loads of cloth diaper laundry—1 Great Cloth Diaper Change—969 dollars saved by NOT using disposable diapers only (and counting!)—1 visit to the Bo Brook Farm pumpkin patch—1 visit to the Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival—1 Arkansas Democrat Gazette article interview and photo shoot about donating breast milk—3 visits with lactation consultants—14 physical therapy appointments—8 states visited (Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Georgia, South Carolina)—3,895 miles traveled for out-of-town road trips—2 visits to Greers Ferry Lake—3 Arkansas State Park visits (Pinnacle Mountain, Logoly, Mt. Nebo)—4 dips in swimming pools—5 visits to zoos in 2 different states (Arkansas, Minnesota)—12 nights spent away from home—1 all-male Beranek family camping trip—162 children’s books read (and counting!)—8 photo books created (with more in the works!)—4 rearrangements of furniture in the house—4 hours at a City Hall Board of Directors meeting—1 hour spent outside in the rain waiting to vote—4 Skype dates with out-of-town friends—3 date nights since baby arrived—4 movies watched in a movie theatre—1 gallon of water splashed out of the tub—52 puffs dropped on the floor—97 pieces of paper removed from baby’s mouth—1,000 giggles (mostly for Daddy and the dogs)—1 outdoor concert enjoying The Frontier Circus—2 socks lost—29 cardboard boxes repurposed—138 naps with Daddy—41 new foods tried—1 online contest won from Baby Safety Zone—1 shotgun won from the 2014 Arkansas Ducks Unlimited 365 Day Gun Giveaway calendar—1 “new”2013 Ford F-150 4x4 truck—368 Christmas card photos taken—4 common colds (among all 3 of us)—1 NLRHS speech and drama tournament judged—1 business trip to South Carolina—4 delicious loaves of pumpkin bread baked—5 frog pacifiers loved (RIP Prince #3)—2 baby showers—1 Razorback basketball game—3 Upward Bound basketball games—6 little league baseball games (Rays and Giants)—2 Arkansas Travelers’ minor league baseball games (and 1 narrowly-missed foul ball)—1 flag football game—1 Christ the King elementary school volleyball game—6 trips to the vet—6 visits to grandparents at work—2 trees planted—2 gardens planted (with 1 amazing surprise tomato plant)—2 rose bushes planted—11 duck hunts—15 walks at Two Rivers Park—5 visits to out-of-town relatives—1 [slightly unsuccessful] bike ride—2 college alumni magazine birth announcements—4 book club meetings—1 amazing year with our beautiful baby girl that we will never forget!!!!!!!
Darby with her daughter and bags of donor milk