December 22, 2010

Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum

I wish.

I was thinking of trying to make rum balls this year but then decided against it since my parents don't do the alcohol thing and my kids are too young for the alcohol thing and I technically shouldn't be doing the alcohol thing (breastfeeding) so... why bother. Cause I know I'd eat more than a couple.

Eh, maybe someday at a church party I'll stumble upon some and can finally cross "rum balls" off my bucket list.

In one of my father's anti-alcohol churches (which technically have been all his churches), they had a Christmas party one year and someone brought a friend who didn't attend their church and she brought rum balls. Well, one of the church ladies decided to try them (not knowing they had alcohol in them) and really liked them. And I guess she loaded up on them and basically got loaded.

Good times in the House of the Lord.

As of today, I have ALL my Christmas shopping done! And let me tell you people, this has been such a stress-free year of shopping that I'm almost sad it's done. (I said almost.) I started on Sunday and went to Target and Kohl's. Then on Monday I went to a few stores in the mall and back to Kohl's. Then today I stopped at Kohl's and Target again. And now, other than a few little things for stocking stuffers, I. Am. Done. (Well, except for the very worst part of all... the wrapping.)

Ohhh do I dislike the wrapping. And this year, I have to wrap! Can't just do the gift bag thing. (I can throw a gift in a bag with tissue paper like nobody's business!) But, I have an 18 month old who is gonna have a blast ripping the paper off his gifts and his mama is gonna have a blast watching it! So, with that thought, that's the end of my wrapping complaint.

And that's a wrap.

November 25, 2010

Want It Raw Like My Turkey?

My day started early. Baby T was up a few times because he hasn't been feeling well the last couple of days. I got him back to sleep around 7:30 and my alarm went off at 8:00.


I got up and headed downstairs to put the turkey in the roaster. I was going to do it last night and cook it at about 250 all night, but then I read somewhere that doing that at a lower temperature can cause bacteria to grow. Of course my mom has been cooking our turkeys like that for years, but it was also my way of getting out of leaving a cooking appliance on all night. I just knew I'd toss and turn wondering if the thing was gonna catch fire. So, even though it was actually only one bird... I killed two with one stone. No overnight fire and no bacteria. I like to avoid those kinds of things around the holidays. Call me crazy.


I think I mentioned before that I bought my turkey last Friday. Did you also know that I brought it home and put it directly into the fridge so that it would have plenty of time to thaw out? Well, it was still somewhat frozen this morning and I could not for the life of me get the bag o' crap (gizzards, liver, etc.) and the plastic thing to come out. And I somewhat cried. And then I called my mom. She said to put it in the sink, fill it with some water and let it sit for a few minutes. Ok, sounded good to me... so that's what I did. And then I went upstairs to check on the baby and figured I would lay down for just 5 minutes. I woke up at 10:00 when I heard my parents come in the house.


I'm the hostess with the mostess ya'll!


So I got up and went downstairs and my mom was already getting the bag out of the bird. I breathed a sigh of relief and headed back up to get in my shower.


My mom did pretty much everything for our meal, except make the green bean casserole, that was something I had to do. She doesn't like green beans. I'm not sure if that's why she wouldn't make it, or possibly it's because she made everything else? Who knows. All I know is when I got back home, it was all good.


Yeah, when I got back home.


I didn't eat with everyone. I mean, I sat there, but I didn't eat. I couldn't. My stomach was too upset. I was too upset. Not in a "crying my eyes out" type of way but more of a "why does it have to be this way" type of way.


I had to give Baby T to his dad for his family Thanksgiving. And although I'm ok with it, my stomach still gets in a "mama's gonna worry til your home" knot, every time I have to give him up. And this is the first holiday that he's had to leave me. I know half the world lives like this, but not my half. It's a big turkey bone to swallow.


I had to meet him at 4:00, which is around the time Baby T takes a nap and I hate that his routine has to be messed up because of this. And I know that he is ok and that this upsets me more than it does him, but that doesn't settle my stomach. I know kids are durable. Moms however, are another story. At least this one.


But besides all that... I had a terrific Thanksgiving and I am blessed beyond measure! Baby T arrived back safe and sound and seems to be in a happy mood. My parents and T2 got back to their home safely, in all this fog and icey rain. And now I'm sitting here with my baby and my oldest and we're trying to figure out WHERE we are going to put our Christmas tree this year.


And may I say just how thankful I am that this is all I have to worry about right at this very moment?!


Thanks!

November 20, 2010

The Early Bird Gets The Bird

I am excited! I love this feeling!

I have 98.5% of my "Thanksgiving Dinner" shopping done.

I decided this morning that today I wanted to go get everything and beat the crazy crowds. I say this every year, but this year I did it. And it feels so wonderful!

I got: the turkey, stuffing, corn, sweet potatoes (yams) and the little marshmallows to go on top, green beans, cream of mushroom soup and those fried onion things for my green bean casserole, a bag of potatoes for mashed potatoes, Amish egg noodles, rolls, cheese, black olives, green olives, cottage cheese, a couple of jars of turkey gravy (just in case), and... and... 2 cans of cranberry sauce.

And now that I'm rereading that paragraph, I forgot the baby sweet pickles. Not that that is a traditional Thanksgiving food, but we like them. What's not to like about something that has baby and sweet in the name?

Where's the pumpkin pie you ask? My mom will be covering that. Oops! and now there's one more thing... I forgot the whipped cream. I think I'll be all Martha Stewart and make that myself, instead of doing Cool Whip or the spray can thing.

And no, I'm not talking about making it MYSELF... you need heavy whipping cream for that and Baby T's pediatrician would tell you that I only make skim milk.

Anyway... so other than the baby sweet pickles and heavy whipping cream (oh who are we kidding, COOL WHIP) I've got it covered folks. Bring on Thanksgiving!

And my stretchy pants.

November 15, 2010

It's a Full House

We are still at my parents' house. We've been here since Friday. It is Monday. We will probably stay until Wednesday. Enough said? No? Well, let me break it down for ya.

I love my parents. Love love LOVE them. However, I don't want to live with them. And yes, 5 days feels like living with them.

I will live close to them, I will live in a home that has two separate living quarters with them, but I will not live with them in a single home dwelling that is the smallest house they've ever lived in. (At least since I've been around.)

I'll just say it's cozy. (Did you know "cozy" is a nice word for small in realty lingo? Stick with me kids, I have all the inside scoop on life's secrets. I know how to read between the lines.)

A day in the life around here consists of everyone getting up and trying to get in the shower first because they have one shower and the hot water does not last long. My mom is normally the lucky one and manages to get in first. I am unlucky in this area because as hard as I try to get a shower in the morning (here or at my own house), my child has some sort of 6th sense that causes him to wake up out of a sound sleep as soon as my toes touch the floor to get out of bed. My alarm could go off... he stays sleeping. My cell phone could ring... stays asleep.
Saturday morning a semi drove by right outside our window and blew his big loud horn... he kept on sleepin. But let me quietly pull the covers back and slowly move my leg off the bed and he's up. He has a special gift and I fully expect him to have a future in the military or CIA.

Normally I just put him in bed with me, nurse him back to sleep and lay there watching old reruns of Full House where Uncle Jesse's hair looks like this. I call these the "Mullet Episodes" and I don't like them. I can handle the newer reruns where Uncle Jesse's hair looks like this, but the old ones like make me like wanna gag myself with a spoon or spend the rest of my day saying things like "You got it dude" and "You're in big trouble mister".

My father does not shower at home on the days he works out so you'll typically find him sitting at the table doing his crossword puzzle while my mom makes his breakfast. Then he'll head into the living room to watch his 2 daily morning shows; Let's Make A Deal and The Price Is Right. As soon as the Showcase Showdown ends, he'll leave for the YMCA and return about 2 hours later.

Meanwhile, my mom is asking everyone else what they want for breakfast like she's a short order cook. And btw... if you ever spend the night, just know that she is willing and able and READY to make pretty much any breakfast dish you can think of at any given time. Eggs, bacon, pancake/waffle mix, an assortment of cereals, oatmeal, hash browns, potatoes, mush (yes, mush), danish or some sort of breakfast pastry, bread for french toast or just plain toast, bagels, cream cheese, OJ, coffee, an assortment of hot teas, milk... these things are ALWAYS in stock in my mother's kitchen. And I'm not complaining, this is one of the reasons why I gain 10 pounds every weekend we're here. (The other would be because I eat out of boredom and stress, but we'll visit that thought later.)

So, while my dad is at the Y, my mom is busy cooking or cleaning up or doing laundry or whatever chore she can think of to keep herself busy.

I am normally feeding my face and trying to feed the baby, T1 is either getting in his semi warm shower or on the computer. T2 will usually sit and watch tv and then get right on his schoolwork so he can play with his other homeschooled friends in the neighborhood.

And that my friends, is as exciting as it gets. Seriously. By the time breakfast is over, my day becomes a blur of chasing the baby around trying to keep him out of the curio cabinets or keep his fingerprints off my dad's huge flatscreen tv, or keep him from unplugging all the lamps or turning the DirectTV off (because it sits low and he loves the little blue light - or rather he loves the almost heart attack that my father has every. single. time. he does it.) I'm not sure why my father doesn't just pick up the remote that must always be in his possession and turn it back on, but I'm in my shoes, I don't walk in his. I can't pretend to understand the hardship of being right in the middle of Plinko and having it taken from you without knowing if that red puck make it into the $10,000 slot or the $1,000 slot. It's a hard knock life.

Have Mercy.

November 9, 2010

9 Days and 2 Posts Later

Here I am trying to get into some online freelance writing and I can't even blog a sentence every day for a month. Let's hope that doesn't make it on my resume.

Well, and the fact that the picture below is just too adorable to move down the page!! I just. couldn't. do. it. (Do people still use periods like that?) I'm so out of the "blogging loop".

I've noticed bloggers using "headings" in their posts more lately and I'm liking it. I haven't tried doing it yet, but I think someday I will catch on.

I'm all sorts of behind on posting the goings-on in our lives and in some ways, it's just because I can't. Mr. R and I are doing a little court tango over the baby and it's nasty and ugly but we're getting along at the moment. Last week was the first time he got Baby T by himself. It went fine and he has been nice and decent and that makes it OH so much easier to hand my baby over to him. It is what it is. I think we'll be ok. We have to be.

I think my SAD is back. I hate this time of year. I love fall, I just don't like the cold weather and less sunlight that goes along with it. I have been grouchy and irritable and my skin is dry and I don't feel like doing anything - and then there's the anxiety. I thought it was because of the court situation, but I think it's the SAD at work. I stopped going to the tanning bed a few months ago and I may just have to start back again. I got a little scare when someone I heard about, through someone I knew, died from melanoma. I had quite a conversation with one of her best friends and it really made me think. She left two children behind and I just decided I could not risk doing that to my family for tanner skin. Yes, tanning makes me feel better about myself and yes, I feel I look healthier with a nice tan and yes, it's nice to lay in a warm bed when it's cold outside, but I honestly think it's the light that is helpful this time of year. I may just try to lay in the bed a couple times a week for 10 minutes and see if it helps. I also need to do better taking my vitamins every day and adding some extra Vitamin D. And exercise... we can't foget that. Oh wait, I have a 17 month old, check that off the list, I get plenty of that. (Obviously not the right kind though... my right arm is hurting so bad today... I played bowling and table tennis on the Wii yesterday. Pathetic!)

And speaking of a 17 month old... he is wanting to play cars and trucks with me so I'd better scoot. He has them all lined up at the gate and is saying something in toddler talk. I think it's "UMM, mom, look how adorable I am, don't you want to come and play with me?!"

Well, OF COURSE I DO!!

November 3, 2010

3 Days Late


I can't believe Halloween came and went and it's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving and soon after, Christmas. Where did 2010 go?!

So I did a crazy thing and signed up to blog each day this month. It's been a long time since I did the NaBloPoMo thing. I thought I could do it and I've already failed before I started. Oh well, we have a lot going on. I'm trying to do better, really I am.

Baby T turned 17 months old yesterday. 17 months!! Hard to believe. He's doing so much now and getting so big. He thinks he's a big boy but he's still my baby. He's still nursing like crazy and we're not even thinking of weaning at this point. He's got about 8 or 9 teeth and it seems like he's getting a new one every other day. He does great with them. Sometimes he'll get a little fussy and will chew on his fingers and I know he needs Tylenol or teething tablets (yes, I know about the recall and yes, I am still using them) but other than those very few times, he seems to handle them real well.

He's napping now and I have a very small window of time to get my dishes done and more laundry in before dinner so I better grab it while I can. We need to have a decent meal tonight. Monday we went to Applebee's, Tuesday we did the "clean out what's already opened in the freezer" thing, so tonight we need a good homemade meal. I haven't a clue what that will be yet, but I'm working on it.

September 3, 2010

Labor Day Weekend

I've been thinking about my last "labor day" this week. 15 months ago yesterday I was in labor and delivered my sweet Baby T. Today we had his 15 month well child check and as we drove by the hospital where he was born, Mr. R and I both talked about how it seems like we were just there with him. It's crazy how fast time goes and yet it seems like just yesterday. Kind of sad in a way, but exciting to watch him grow. He just gets cuter and smarter every day!

Baby T is now 21.5 pounds and 31 3/4 inches tall. He's long and skinny like his brothers. He received two of the three vaccines they're suppose to get at 15 months. Today he got the DTaP and HIB. He will get the polio one next month. We have him on a delayed schedule so he doesn't get so much at one time. We had the option of him getting just one shot with all three vaccines, but we decided to keep up with our delayed schedule. I have to say I sat and thought about it for a moment... I thought maybe it would be better for him to have just one prick now instead of two today and then another one next month, but I decided in the long run it would be better to keep them space out. It's just something we feel is best. And with the trouble he had after his MMR shot, we would rather have them given one at a time. The MMR is the only shot he's ever had any trouble with and he was pretty sick about a week after getting that one.

If you're interested in delayed vaccines, here's a great link: Dr.Sears

And BTW, as you'll read in the link, they can do the MMR separate. Looking back, I wish we would have asked. Live and learn.

We took T2 to his allergist on Wednesday and he's grown 3/4 of an inch in 4 months. He's almost 65 inches tall! He's taller than me now, I'm 5'4. His numbers were great and he's doing really good. He really hasn't had any problems with his asthma this summer and there were only a few weeks that his allergies acted up. I hope this keeps up! Maybe he's outgrowing them? I pray he is!


We don't have any big plans for the weekend and that's fine with me. I would love to go camping, but not over a holiday. Too crowded! We'll probably go to "mam" and "pap's" and cook out on Monday. Other than that, we'll just play it by ear.

Have a fun and safe weekend!

August 31, 2010

Busy Week Ahead

I like busy weeks. They give me things to do and somewhat of a schedule. We haven't really had a schedule since Baby T joined our family. It's been nice but it's time for a schedule again.

Yesterday we were still at mam and paps (Baby T's version of grandma and grandpa) and I had things I needed to get done there. I signed Baby T up for "toddler storytime" at two libraries. One where they live and one where we live. He'll get storytime twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays. I figure we'll consider that part of his homeschooling.

Today I had bills to pay and errands to run... the bank, Dollar General and to the grocery store to pick something up for dinner. We're having tacos. Fast and easy. I still have laundry to do, the baby has no sheets on his bed and we're low on towels. Mr. R will be over later to visit Baby T.

Tomorrow I have two appointments. One early and one late afternoon. I hate early morning appointments because it disrupts Baby T's "wake-up and nurse for an hour" time. We do not get right out of bed in mornings, rather we sit and nurse and play and watch tv and nurse some more and then we get up. Normally it's about an hour after we first wake up. I know someday I'll miss that morning routine.

My parents will be here most of the day. I can't take the kids to my first appointment so they'll stay with them. Then the afternoon appointment is for T2, back to his allergist for his "fall" check.

Later tomorrow evening Baby T's aunts will be coming for a visit. It's always nice when they come and Baby T loves all the attention. He'll sleep good tomorrow night!

Thursday I don't think I have anything yet. I'm going to try and set up a play date with Baby T's cousin and his memaw. Maybe we can meet for lunch or they can come over.

Friday Baby T has a morning doctor's appointment. Shots! Ugh! Poor kiddo! We also need to have them recheck his little hernia while we're there just to make sure it's not getting worse. I keep praying it won't and he won't have to have surgery.

Then sometime this week I need to take T1 and T2 "Back to Home School" shopping. Notebooks, pens, folders, etc... and new shoes. They're pretty much good on clothes but really need new shoes. I also need to sit down and figure out their curriculum for the next month.

I also need to make dentist appointments for me and the older boys, make a doctor appointment for me and other little things like that.

OH and in the midst of all this, I need to find a job. One that does not include me watching other people's children, one I can do at home so I can still school the big boys and take care of the little one, and one that is flexible with good pay and benefits.

That one should be easy like Sunday morning.

August 26, 2010

Cleaning Out My Closet

Figuratively, that is.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm tired (figuratively and literally) of dealing with negative, disrespectful people who don't really add anything positive to my life. You know those people... they're the ones that after you get done talking to them in person or on the phone, you feel absolutely exhausted and sometimes even physically sick.

Well, guess what... I have decided that in most cases, I no longer HAVE to! (With the exception of family (cause well, it's family) and anyone I may be "related to" by childbirth. And no, I'm not speaking of my children here.)

Now I know that I can be this way at times... I understand it, I don't deny it, I will admit it and I'm working to change it. That is the difference between me and those who cannot see how negative behavior effects other people, how it hurts other people and how it makes themselves look insecure. You know, that whole I feel bad about myself so I'll put you down every chance I get so I feel better and you'll feel bad about yourself like I do, thing.

Or maybe they're just horrible people and don't care.

Either way, I'm over it. I don't want to waste time in my life with negative people and I don't want to waste time in my life being negative. And I sure don't want to teach my children to be negative.

Now this doesn't mean that people can't have a bad day, that is to be expected in life. And there's always going to be stressful situations thrown our way. But how does having a bad day or going through a stressful time give anyone the right to try to bring others down? If you're having a bad day or going through a hard time, fine... feel free to share that with me, I'd love to help if I can. But when the tables get turned and you're starting to put me down, well, that's when it's going to end for me.

Example: If a friend is going through issues with her child/children and she feels insecure about her own mothering abilities, she will share those insecurities and issues she's having, but will make sure to slam the way you parent and tell you what you're doing is all wrong, too. Then the conversation goes from, "I'm having a hard time with this" to "Well, I don't feel too bad about myself because you have be doing it all wrong for the last 16 years, and your children won't amount to anything, and you should be ashamed of the way you parent your children, and you're probably going to hell for co-sleeping and homeschooling anyway, so I guess I'm not that bad of a parent after all."

Just sayin'.

Anyway, like I said, I'm done. I think when friendships get to the point where you dread talking to that person, where you start to question that person's loyalty to you and where you realize "Hey, they treat me like total crap"... Well, unfortunately you have a decision to make.

August 24, 2010

Got Roast

Baby T was up earlier than normal today, but maybe that's because he went to bed a little earlier than normal. Our nightly routine is that I go to bed when he goes to bed, or vice versa. He nurses, then I just lay him down beside me (the whole co-sleeping thing) and I lay down, but last night was a rough night for me and I just needed some "me time". Now normally I roll my eyes at that phrase ("me time") because I feel like it's a cop out, but last night the baby was tired and I was not. I was hungry and I wanted to watch the season finale of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. So, I nursed him, put him in his crib and went downstairs and made some sinful and disgusting food to go with my sinful and disgusting show and sat my butt down and watched it. Twice actually, because Bravo played it over... and over... and over... I think I finally headed back upstairs around 1:00 feeling a little guilty that Baby T was in his crib and more guilty about watching grown women call each other "clowns" and "garbage" when clearly they are "tramps" and "trailer trash" in nice houses, possibly in foreclosure. But not to worry... this kid has instincts! As soon as I crawled into my bed, he popped up in his. I got him out, put him on my lap, nursed him and he fell right back to sleep in bed with mama. And I was happy.

So now we've had breakfast and I've got an English Roast in the slow cooker. Today I made up my own recipe... I added salt and pepper, onion flakes and then covered it with beef gravy. I normally use cream of mushroom soup, but I felt like trying something different. We'll have that with a salad, mashed potatoes, carrots and crescent rolls. I'm feeling all homemakery.

Later today I will be making new lace and crinoline outfits for the boys and leopard print outfits for my dogs. Cause that's the Danielle way.

Here's a recap if your interested:

Caroline: You know what you are? You're a clown.
Danielle: I'm a clown. Really?
Caroline: Your whole life is a joke.
Danielle: You're saying this, sitting there with red hair? I'm the clown?
Caroline: Yes, you are.
Danielle: Really?
Caroline: Yeah. No matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, no matter who you talk to, okay, you will not hurt me. Do you know why? I have integrity, okay, and I sit here and I tell you the truth, okay? And when I called you garbage, I meant you were garbage."


So worth losing those extra hours of sleep.

August 20, 2010

Writer's Block or Adult ADD

Ever since I got my new laptop I have been wanting to blog every day but just can't. Sure, I could physically type a post out, but can I mentally do so? I think that is the problem. I have so many thoughts running through my head, so many posts that I want to write, so many different ideas, views and topics that I want to cover, but I just can't. It's like I can't get my thoughts together enough to write a post that's not all over the board. I'm chalking it up to the fact that I got away from blogging for a long time and I'm a little rusty. Plus, the fact that I already said I'd like to do something serious with my blog puts a little pressure on me to actually DO something with this blog. I guess I should just start blogging for fun and see where it leads me. I just have so many things going on that I really do have many topics to last for a very long time. For now, I think I'm going to reconnect with some other blogging women and get that re-established, then look into options for my blog. Just thinking about it has my head spinning. But in a good way.

August 15, 2010

Last Week

-My family was in town. The WHOLE week. Whoohoo. It was awesome.


-We did not go to the State Fair as planned due to the high temps and even higher humidity. (Didn't think it would be wise to drag Baby T out in that and we weren't really up for it either.)


-We had lots of good food and I didn't gain any weight. Whoohoo.


-My therapist let me go. He "said" there was just nothing more I needed from him and that I did what I went in to get help for and that he believes I'm strong and ok and blah blah freakin blah... I'll save the rest for another post, but for now I'll say he might just get a letter from me someday soon letting him know I believed every word of what he said to me.


-Mr. R and I took Baby T to a carnival and we actually had a very good time. (My therapist would have had a hayday with this one, but now he will never know. Because I'm all better now. And if the words "Mr. R and I... had a very good time." don't tell you how very wrong my therapist is, I don't know what will.)


-We were getting ready to leave my parents' and had the car packed, it running with the a/c on and both the dogs in. Next thing we know, the Yorkie jumped up to look out and locked the doors. Thank goodness for AAA.



-I just realized how uneventful last week really was.


-I just realized uneventful could very possibly mean it was still a really great week.

August 6, 2010

Best Breastfeeding Site Ev-ah

KELLYMOM is truly the best site for breastfeeding advice. I wish I would have known about this site 16 years ago. (Oh, and also it would have been nice to have internet.) And it's not just for advice about breastfeeding, but attachment parenting too! And we do some of that around here. :)

August 2, 2010

Happy World Breastfeeding Week - August 1-7

It's World Breastfeeding Week. Go HERE and see what the big hub bub is about.

July 31, 2010

Barefoot Is Best and A 2011 BlogHer Hopeful

Tonight my mom and I took Baby T on a walk. It was a little chillier out so I decided to put some pants and socks on him. I hadn't thought about the fact that this baby probably didn't remember anything about socks. I put brand new white socks on his feet and he just looked at them for a minute and immediately decided those did not belong on his feet. He didn't cry or actually even pull them off, he just tugged on them and made a funny screaming noise like "Hey, get off my feet!". Then he acted like he didn't know how to walk. It was hilarious to watch and when we go back home, I am going to try and recreate the scene while recording it. I know it's one of those "you had to be there" moments and I'm sure you're not laughing your head off like I was, but it was cute. We are a barefoot family for sure.

In the last few days I've been visiting blogs that I haven't been able to read in months. I almost forgot how great the whole blog-o-sphere really is. All the talk about BlogHer has me excited to really get back into blogging and really try to do something with it. Before, it was just a hobby and I really didn't try to network or make a purpose of my blog for anything other than rambling and venting and sharing. But now I'm thinking I'd like to make it more. Some of you have really come a long way with your blogs and they are great! Great information. Great writing. It's very impressive. I certainly won't be going to BlogHer this year, but I would love to get in on some sessions from home if that's possible. I think I know someone who was able to do that, so I might need to contact her and get the information. Who knows... it's just a thought.

July 28, 2010

New Laptop YAY!

Last week we went over to my parents on a whim. We were bored and felt like getting away, so we packed up and headed out for our 45 minute drive. When we arrived, they weren't home but drove up while we were carrying our bags in. My dad was still sitting in the car and it was still running and as I walked by he said to get in the car and that he needed me to go somewhere with him. Long story short, we were at Best Buy and looking at laptops in no time. I love my parents! It's so nice to have a computer again! You really don't know how much you need one until you don't have one. And it's not just about Facebook, blogging or People.com, it's about having so much information available to you at any time of the day. I remember when Baby T was sick at 3am and getting out old medical books and baby books to look up illnesses and symptoms when I could have gotten the same, if not better, information in just a couple of seconds online. There were many nights when I had no idea what to make for dinner or had things to make but wanted a new recipe or ideas on what I could do with what I had. Internet would have been helpful. Oh world wide web, what did we ever do without you?!

So Baby T is getting so big! He's 13 months and he's SO active! He is walking (more like running) and climbing. He will climb on anything. He is always on the move and goes from one thing to the next faster than you can keep up with him. T1 and I took him to get some lab work done last Friday. He got allergy testing done for milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, etc. I had worried that he had a dairy allergy but the test came back negative for everything. At least now we don't have to worry that he could be allergic to anything, but it still leaves us scratching our heads as to what could be wrong with him. He's constipated a lot and right now is taking Miralax daily. I don't like that but until I find another option, he's gotta have it. His big thing right now is books and balls. He LOVES books and loves to be read to. Of course I've been reading to him since he was born. Not on a daily basis, but pretty often. I love reading to him and I love seeing him look at the pictures. He's always wanting to roll the ball with someone, although he likes to throw it most of the time. He loves my dad. He calls him "Pap". So right now we're calling him, "Pap" and calling my mom, "Mam". He calls his brothers "Bub". He calls me "Mama" most of the time, but also calls me "NeeNee"? Umm, too much Atlanta Housewives? (j/k) He's got 4 teeth on the top and 2 on the bottom. I had him get his MMR shot at his 1 yr well child check and I kind of wish I would have waited longer. He was sick for about two weeks after that. I know it had to do with the shot. He's still breastfeeding. And I don't care what anyone thinks about that. Actually, other than Mr. R's mom (Baby T's other grandma) telling me I needed to "quit that" last night on the phone and that we should have stopped doing that by now, no one has said anything else negative about it. And guess what, I don't really care who says what. It's my child and it's our choice. He's not ready, I'm not ready, so we're still doing it. I won't get in your business and you don't need in mine. Let's be friends, but let's not go there. K?!

T1, T2 and I went to the eye doctor yesterday. I'm shocked but happy to say that I still have 20/20 vision and the doctor said my eyes look great. T2's eyes were good as well. T1's, not so much. So, he gets glasses next week. They're really cool and trendy. Well, I guess the proper name is "hipster"? Whatever, I like them and I think they're gonna look really good on him! I'm almost jealous!

T1 hasn't mentioned anything about drivers ed yet and I'm not pushing it. I'm not ready to have a child who can drive. I have a child who just learned to walk. And really, it does go THAT fast. One day they're learning to walk and the next they're learning to drive.

T2 has been busy with friends this summer and doing yard work and basically anything that can keep him outdoors. The other night he came walking in asking if he could please stay out a little past dark so he and a couple of his friends could play flashlight tag. Of course I let him, that's a part of summer! Yay for being a kid! Today he went to Michigan with my mom and dad to visit my grandma.

We'll be going over to my parents' later today and we'll spend the night. I have a counseling appointment tomorrow and it's just easier to be there, rather than have to get up, get ready, get the baby fed and ready, and make the trip over there.

Oh yeah, I'm in counseling. And I'm not ashamed of it. I don't think there's anything wrong with talking to someone about issues in your life. It's different than just talking to family or friends. It's nice. I was putting up with a lot of emotional and verbal abuse from Baby T's father and it just needed to end. And for some reason, I wasn't strong enough to end it myself and I needed help. And I'm getting it and it's working and I'm happy! And I'm going for ME! I should have went a year ago, but at least I didn't wait another year.

Baby T is still napping and I've got laundry to get in the dryer before we leave, so I better go for now. I am so excited that I get to blog more.

May 31, 2010

Memorial Day

Having a great time with family today! T1 and T2 spent the night with my parents and Baby T and I drove over today. My aunt and cousin are here for a few days and we have a fun week ahead! I can't believe Baby T will be ONE in two days. It flew!

May 10, 2010

Mother's Day (The Day After)

I had a blessed Mother's Day. Not because of my gifts, but because of the fact that not only did I get to spend it with my mother, but because I am a mother. It's really all I ever wanted to be. I didn't have dreams of stealing Nancy Pelosi's job, or being a lawyer or doctor, I just wanted to have babies. And I have to say that despite the ups and downs, I have loved every minute of it. Having a baby to help me celebrate yesterday just made me realize how lucky I am and how I'm sure when I'm 60 years old, I'll still wish I had babies around. Do you really ever outgrow that kind of thing?


Moving on...


I'm still sitting here in my PJs and it's 2:00. It's just one of those Mondays. Baby T is still in his PJs as well. However, when he decided to get up at 7am, he was a little wet, so technically he has had his clothes changed today. Me, not so much. I thought I had him asleep for his nap around noon, but as soon as I tried to lay him down, his eyes popped open. So, I nursed him for about another 20 minutes thinking that surely had him knocked out, but NOPE... not gonna do it. I could have sat in bed and held him. He would have slept for 2 hours, but then that would defeat the purpose of getting him to sleep so I could get in the shower and get something done. Have you noticed who makes the rules around here?

He had his follow up appointment at the Neurologist on Friday and she said that she thinks he does have extra tailbone, but at this point there's nothing we need to do about it. He will need an MRI, but it would be better to do that 6 months from now when he's a little older due to him needing to be sedated. So, we'll leave it in God's hands and worry about it in 6 months.

I am so wanting to take him to the zoo!! I can't wait! I love going to the zoo. Right now the weather is too unstable. It's either too windy, or on the verge of pouring rain. So, we'll wait a little bit longer. Hopefully we can take him on his birthday next month. That's my plan. It's on a Wednesday, so it should be a good day to go. Of course the big party will either have to be sometime during the weekend or some evening so everyone in the family can come. I already have his "1st Birthday" shirt and bib. I think I've had that since last fall. I found it at Kohl's and didn't want to wait. I also have an idea in mind for his cake. Now to figure out where to have it...

Well, he's settled down in his pack n play. No, not asleep, but settled and playing happily enough that I should be able to sneek a quick shower. Wish me luck.

May 2, 2010

11 Months


Baby T is 11 months old today. Is that possible? Really? 11 months?! It's hard to believe in a month, I'll have a 1 year old. Where has this time gone?


Baby T is wonderful! He is crawling, walking around things, playing peek-a-boo, singing, clapping his hands, climbing the stairs, saying "Mama" and "Dada", learning how his toys work, grabbing books off the shelf for Mama to read to him, eating "Puffs", loving music, wishing he could get a hold of the doggies, and smiling... smiling... smiling. He is the happiest kid. I love his smile. He lights up the room! I told him that this morning.


He wakes up smiling. We co-sleep, so he's already right there beside me and our morning consists of him waking up, sitting up, moving over towards me, giving me a kiss and then it's on to the boobs. Yep, he's still a boobie baby... loves his boobies. For the last couple of weeks he's decided he's not interested in his baby food anymore and has gone back to nursing like a newborn. Oh well, I'm glad that we've made it this far and we don't plan on weaning anytime soon.


He was dedicated at church on Easter. A lot of his family on both sides was there and it was a really nice day. My mom made a great lunch for everyone and we ate at the church so there was more room.


His daddy, memaw, papaw, and the two little girls came and stayed in a hotel the night before his dedication. Daddy wanted to take him swimming for the first time and he loved the water. He has always loved water. I should have had a water birth! He's loved taking baths ever since we first put him in the tub. I have a feeling someone is going to be getting a little pool for his first birthday... :)


We're waiting for it to get a little warmer and less windy before we take him to the zoo but that is at the top of our "to do" list this month. I have a feeling we're going to be making many trips to the zoo this summer. He loves animals!


He's quite a baby! I'm blessed!


(*The picture above was taken on Easter*)

April 30, 2010

Surprise...

Has it really been since Thanksgiving since I've posted? Well, I got the whole baby thing going and the whole raising-two-teenagers thing going on and the whole what-am-I-doing-with-my-life thing going... really, I've been busy.

The boys are great. All three of them. The baby.... ohhhh the baby! I luvs him! He is what we all needed and I can't believe on Sunday he'll be 11 months old. I can't believe it's almost been a year since he arrived. Where did that time go? Wait! I have a 16 year old, I should know where the time goes, but I don't.

So what have we been up to? Well, we visit my parents often. I am working VERY part-time at an insurance company. I vowed I would never go back to doing daycare but now that Baby T is a little older and has a major love for other babies and kids, I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't get a couple of kiddos for him.

I'm still working on getting certified for Medical Transcription. I'm working very slowly at it. It's just hard to sit and get into. It seems like there is always something going on.

Today is beautiful and suppose to be at least 80 degrees. I'm in shorts, the baby's in shorts, the boys are in shorts... I love shorts! For me, winter went fast this year. We got a bunch of snow, but I guess I just didn't mind being snowed in with my kiddos.

I wish I had my computer back and could blog more. I finally "feel" like it. There for awhile, I didn't "feel" like doing much of anything. Lots of stress in some ways, but at the same time, lots of happiness. I just wish the happiness could override the stress. It's starting to get to that point, but it's been a lot of work and I have a ways to go. It's ok though because it's strengthening my faith. It's never too late for that. Thank God!

Philippians 4:13