Milkies

Product review of the day.....

These things... while akward... and occassionally messy. (especially for the uncoordinated like myself) are AWE-SOME! You wouldn't believe how much milk you are wasting!!!

Basic concept: you put it on the side you are not nursing from and collect the "drip off"

Average Price: around $25

Where I got mine: www.amazon.com

Biggest upside: avoid PUMPING

Hot Dog

This is one of my classic "Gideon stories".

SO... my mom and I were in safeway shoppin' it up and Gideon was riding in one of those overly large, obnoxious, but unbelievably handy "car carts". Driving, beeping, and urrrching to his hearts content.

We then heard him ask for help with his "num nums". This perked my interest, so I peeked into his car and found him attempting to eat a hotdog THROUGH THE PACKAGE. Teeth holes in the package and all... I admit it... I panicked... I put the package back on the shelf and booked it out there. DONT' JUDGE ME... no one expected to find their kid gnawing on an unopened, uncooked, package of hotdogs... lol. In retrospect I totally shoulda brought it to the front or something, but I was a tinge on he embarrased side at time... all I can do is look back and laugh. What was he thinking??? What was I thinking???

Easter Bliss

OK for Easter I could have died... my kids were just that cute.... Is it OK to say that?

Maybe it's shallow, but what can be better than cute kids all dressed up?

Soo... we went to parents and DID NOT let the rain get us down. Indoor easter egg hunts are fun too!

I like 'em chunky

Babies that is...

Gideon (my first) was 9 lbs 7 oz

and Gabriella was 9 lbs 14 oz

The truth about havin' big o' babies!!!!

So most moms dread the thought of having a huge baby. They ward it off like a curse of doom and dispair. I myself, was a tad worried about it, after my first. I even went off sugar for my last trimester (not that it worked, but ya know). Genetics being the tricky devil it is said "hah!" and gave me Gabi. Look at that chunk.... !! As cute/healthy/happy as a babe could be.

When she was born the midwife exclaimed

"She's not even a chubby baby... SHE'S FAT!" this ensued a glare and playful warning from mommy of

"She's adorable!!!"

which of course prompted a quick retraction and reassurance of her adorableness! ;)

So the big questions.... labor and delivery... With Gideon I had every mom's worst nightmare for delivery... BUT I was induced with pitocin, wasn't dialted at all when they started, and he was my first baby so my body had temper tantrum and didn't want to comply.

With Gabriella I had almost exactly a 12 hr labor that started with my water breaking just a few days after my due date. Now when I say "water breaking" that doesn't QUITE cover it... the gates of a dam burst open and I GUSHED (no trickles for me) for like 30 seconds... and in the world of explosive fluids pouring out of you... that's a lot.

When I got to the hospital, they felt no need to "test" me. One look said it all and I got admitted. Everything progressed steady and even... no problems or complications... entirely NATURAL experience (even the pushin'). It all went exactly according to plan and I had her pushed out in less than an hr.

On a side note. My husbands version of cleaning up my "water" was throwing a towel over it and rushing me to the hospital (an hour away). SOOO when my mom went to get things ready for us to come home (because she's AWESOME) I guess she got to sllllide across the our bedroom floor (ew, sorry mom).

Moral of the story LOVE THEM ROLLS! Don't be afraid of having a big baby or think you can't deliver them naturally if you do!! :)

Health Post

Panax Ginseng

I put John on this wonderful herb and the truth is that John is completely anti-natural and anti-supplement, but he is a huge advocate of this stuff for mood and energy. Here is what this wonderful herb is attributed to helping with.

Alcohol intoxication

Alzheimers

Cancer

Heart Disease

Type 2 Diabetes

Sexual Vitality

Immune System

Menopause

Mental Clarity

Stress Management

(www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/panax.

Heavenly T-shirt

What is it about my husbands t-shirts? I think they are made of like... some form of cotton shipped straight from heaven. Even his old raggedy (seen better days) Army shirts feel like well... amazing.

So... it started slow... with jammies and strictly the shirts that he didn't/couldn't wear anymore... but over time it's progressing. I can feel his clothes creeping slowly and tenaciously into my wardrobe; before I know it, I'm not going to bother buying anything for myself anymore... just steal all his stuff. I will maintain a "just woke up" chic.

I know it's horrible, and probably the frumpiest, least attractive thing... ever... but geeze, why do they have to be so comfy???? ESPECIALLY since I'm nursing and really... if we're being honest... what is more comfortable to nurse in than a big baggy tshirt and the baggier the better because you are less likely to need a nursing cover if someone makes a surprise "drop in".

So here's me.... sitting on our living room floor (that needs cleaning) wearing my hubby's tshirt and some pj pants... procrastinating putting on less comfortable clothes... and trying to decide how long I can get away with wearing it, before it turns into a disturbing level of frumpy/crazy housewife-ness.

Oh... I'm glad my husband loves me! :)

The talent-less wonder

So... I have discovered that I am talent-less. No, don't argue... it's OK... I'm not belly-achin' about it. It's just the truth. Don't misunderstand, this doesn't mean I don't have skillz in certain things. I have learned how to do some fairly neat things in my day... but there are two things I can't seem to learn!!! SEWING AND RUNNING.

This picture is kind of what my sewing projects turn out like... I just don't have "it"... and by it I mean patience and by patiences I mean... ANY. I think my 2-year-old son has more patience than I do, really! I have tried and tried and tried to sew and every time it turns out looking like my maybe my son made it. BUT... what can ya do?

The other is running... OK... to be fair I haven't really dedicated the time into running that I have into trying to sew, because well... it HURTS.

"When she runs she looks like a cross between kermit the from and the 6 million dollar man!"

I huff puff my way through about a block and then wonder "Why, oh why am I punishing myself?!?!?!" and then think "walking is good, too... right?"

Slow and steady wins the race, right?

(actually there are a lot more things that I epic fail at, but that's another blog, another day)

Truth about Nursing

So I have nursed two babies, now; the two quite different in nursing style and needs. My son was super high demand, eat 24/7, comfort nurser, and my daughter is hungry on a schedule, down to business, strictly for food nurser.

I just want to tell you nursing is A-MAZING. The "work" part of it is really only the beginning and some babies, like my daughter, it's never really "work". The things they can't tell you in the little hand-outs and pamphlets are the looks your baby gets on his/her face when you nurse them. It's like you are feeding them liquid love and the little amazing things they do like twirling your hair in their fingers, hugging your breast, and holding your fingers in their hand.

I am not implying that bottle-fed babies are not affectionate, by any means... don't misunderstand... but the time I have spent nursing my babies cannot be replaced.

For instance... on days like today where I am sicker than sick (nasty cold) and feel like curlin' up under a blanket and zzin' the day away... I just lay her next to me, she nures to sleep and cuddles me as long as I want her to. (which is generally awhile)

Yes... there is leaking (evil), nursing pads (evil-er), engogement (evilest), and having to base your wordrobe on being about to feed the babe on a dime, but it's sooo worth it.

But... conveneince (good), weight loss (better), healthy baby (best)!

Here is pretty much everything you need to know about nursing

www.llli.org/nb.html

http://www.breastfeeding.com/

POOP

Yep... I said it.... this blog is about none other than... poop. As a mom you become generally desensitized to the stuff, but every once in awhile your kids through you a gooshy brown curve ball.

So, yesterday was a b-e-a-utiful sunny day and my son being the outdoor lovin' nature walkin' kiddo he is, he begged to go outside and me being the outdoor lovin' nature walkin' kinda mom I am, I gladly complied.

There was one condition. He had to go pee first, because well... being a wild and crazy little tike he has a tendency to wet his pants when playing outside. So, off came the pants and I proceeded to nurse my daughter while my son went to use the potty.

After I finished nursing Gabriella I went looking for Gideon and found him sneaking in our back sliding glass door. Without thinking I just said

"Gideon don't go outside without pants".... he gave me a sheepish look and said

"momma......"

"Yes, Gideon?"

"I pooed and peed outside."

"What?! Why?!"

"Betuz I be like Skoshi..."

"You want to be like the dog?!"

"yeah... and look... she eat it!"

AND sure enough.... I look outside to see my dog running into the yard with a big ol' turd in her mouth... and at this point I had two choices.... Do I run down the dog and make her spit it out, then proceed to clean it up or just close the door and pretend I didn't see it. Can you guess what I did?

Yep... I closed the door and pretended I didn't see it. Might be disgusting, but it's one less kid pile on our back porch..... *sigh*

ODE TO AN AMAZING HUSBAND

Rising before the light

Bedding late into the night

Holding a candle to me alone

Always answering his phone

Never wandering in heart

Even when we are apart

Working to the bone

but still eager to come home

Hugs and Kisses all around

Even worked into the ground

Always driving the cheaper car

Even when he drives twice as far

Sacrefices everyday

In 10,000 amazing little ways

Changing diapers

And holding hands

Teaching our son to be a man

Providing for our every need

WIthout selfishness or greed

Ode to a husband

That goes beyond and above

That makes a lifestyle out of his love

Thought of the day: Let's give our men the credit they deserve AND on that note... my hubby was just victim to the chainsaw of death and doom... well actually he just had a vesectomy, which is a pretty safe and simple procedure, but same difference when you're dealin' with the "family jewels" becoming the "no more family jewels". Sure it was hard at first thinking about never holding a newborn baby in my arms again that's mine, but now that it's a done deal there is an inevitible sense of FREEDOM. I like it when decisions are finalized and I don't have to worry about them anymore... that's what I feel now. Never will I have to run to the store for an emergency prego test or have worry if I took my pill on time. It's a done deal! ...so upsides... and downsides... but over all glad we did it. It's a stigma to say I don't want more kids, but any one who knows me knows I ADORE my tikes... I just know when enough is enough for MY family. :) But yeah... kudos to my man for takin' it in the.... well you know... for our family.