Mom Vs Mom

I am sitting here watching Oprah, and it has me thinking about what all of my readers think. Its a panel of Moms, some who stay at home with their children and others who choose to work outside the home. Its really interesting to listen to these women who seem to have such strong opinions and tend to be a bit judgemental. The women who stay at home think its AWFUL for these other women to work and vice versa. I am watching these women just tear each other up and I wondering why these women don't give each other some grace. I have chosen to stay at home with my kids for now but I know that there are lots of women out there who have situations different and may not be able to stay at home or for whatever reason have chosen to work outside the home. I think you really have to have compassion for the women that may have to work because as any mom knows there is SO much guilt that comes with leaving your child or we should just have faith that they are doing what they feel is best whether we agree or not. And for the working moms, I wonder why they think that their decision is any better for their child than having a parent at home with them all day. Something about fostering Independence in their child (that's a load of crap). Isn't it about doing what is best for your kids and that may be different for each family. I think its also about having balance, women cant ignore who they are and Totally immerse themselves in their children and vise versa. What do you guys think?

Good Times!

With the help of Daniels sisters I have spent the last couple of months planning my mother-n-laws Surprise 60th Birthday Party and today was the big day! Now, everyone knows that I LOVE a party of any sort but I am especially fond of birthday parties because I believe everyone should celebrate the day that they were born. I am NOT of the belief that as you age that you stop having birthday parties! Most people who know me, know this! : ) Ok, back to what I was saying, Everything came together fabulously and when Nancy walked in it was SO satisfying watching her get caught completely off guard and sob into her hands. She was So blessed and truly touched by the fact that this was for her! Apparently she had never had a surprise party before(I had my first one in 3rd grade)! How does someone go 60 yrs and not have a Surprise party? Thats MADNESS! LOL! Anyway, I thought I would post some pics and show you the Fabulous cake that Des made for the occasion. Thanks Des! :)

Oh and if any of you know someone that has Never had a surprise party then GET PLANNING!

Day #4

Okay, its Day #4 for World Breastfeeding week so I decided to post my own nursing picture. I think that people should be aware that nursing does not have to be something that is immodest. I always hear people talking about how they don't like women nursing in public because they don't want to see other women's breasts. Sorry, but I don't really want to show other people my breasts either. Most women nurse discreetly and I think I do a pretty good job of being an example of that. So, although I am probably preaching to the choir and all, lol, I figure if anyone who reads this has a problem with nursing in public.........plthhhhhhhhhh! I'm so mature! :)

History through Pictures!

I was reading on one of my new favorite blogs today (The Black Breastfeeding Blog) and found the most interesting post showing the Genesis of our breastfeeding culture (or not so breastfeeding culture). I LOVE history so Jennifers post are always like candy to my brain. You really have to check this out. The last picture just cracks me up!!!!!
Click Here!!!

Yes, I know its another breastfeeding post but it is, after all, World Breastfeeding Week! :) Though it is educational, you could learn something new today! lol

World Breastfeeding Week Aug 1-7

I figured since it was World Breastfeeding Week then I would post my own story.....everyone else was doing it so I thought I would join in! :) Sorry, I am a little wordy so its a little long. Of course if you know me then you know that I am long winded. lol! Here Goes......

When I found out I was pregnant with my first son (Jack) I was a newlywed of 4 months and COMPLETELY caught off guard. I didn't think much about feeding options really because I assumed that you nursed a little in the beginning and then switched to bottles early on. I am not sure where I got this idea. I grew up in a maternity home and was around babies ALOT, I was even in the delivery room for some but I guess just never paid attn to how they were fed. Anyway, I decided to both breastfeed and bottle feed because I had seen how hard it was for my SIL Elizabeth and wanted to try but kinda figured I might not succeed. By the end of my pregnancy I had really read up and educated myself much more and really had decided that I was going to go for it and Exclusively breastfeed no matter what. That said, inside I was Terrified! I had seen so many of my friends struggle and not be successful. Fortunately I had a Dr who was Very pro breastfeeding and gave anyone who was choosing to nurse their own lactation counselor that we could call at anytime. This gave me a little more confidence that maybe I could do this. Though, I have to admit, I still had a stock pile of formula in my cupboards just in case.
My labor with Jack went pretty smoothly for the most part. I did ask for an epidural when I got to about a 5 or 6 and then delivered Jack about 4 hours later. I had a midwife that immediately placed him on my chest and didn't cut the cord until it stopped pulsating. But after SEVERAL attempts by both the nurses and the midwife to get him to latch were unsuccessful we decided to wait a while. A few hours later the LC came in and tried to get him to latch on. Eventually He did latch on but it was a good 6 hrs after he was born. He nursed like a champ after he figured out what to do and after I fixed the mess that the nurses made by giving him a pacifier in the middle of the night. It took me about 6 hours to get him to latch on again. Apparently they ignored my sign that said "no artificial nipples, I am a breastfed baby". Anyway, everything was fine until I went in for his 1 week checkup and he hadn't gained any weight. I was terrified that I was starving my baby and thought possibly I should be supplementing. Luckily my Dr said to give it another week before doing something as drastic as that. I went to my first LLL meeting and collected a few more phone #s for help or support. A week and half after Jack was born I realized the struggle that women have with nursing. It became EXTREMELY painful. My letdown hurt, I felt nauseated, and sore wasn't even a valid word to describe how my nipples felt. Side note: I am not a woman who perseveres, I mean, I am one of those who gives up whenever anything gets hard. Its not something I am proud of but it is definitely true! :) The cabinet with the formula in it was looking SO tempting and yet I couldn't stand to look at this little baby, whose life was in my hands, and not do the VERY best thing I could do for him, no matter what pain it caused me. Over the next 11 weeks I used every phone # and person of support that I had and we made it through the hard part (Kudos to my hubby, who never said, "Just give him the formula" in a time of frustration). It was by no means easy but it was worth it for my baby. I not only succeeded but never gave Jack a drop of that formula. It all expired eventually and we threw it out. :) I NEVER thought I would nurse past one yr because I thought it was gross and, well, basically because I was 1) polluted by society's views and 2) not educated at all about breastfeeding. I never remember making a decision to go past a yr I just remember thinking, how would I even wean him now, he's still a baby! He nursed till he was 2 and a half and I was 6 months pregnant with my second. Nursing Asher (# 2) was somewhat easier in the beginning but still had about 3 weeks of "God I don't think I can do this" kinda pain. He is still nursing strong at 20 months and figure he doesn't have plans of weaning himself anytime soon. I may have to help him eventually. LOL! :)

Another Day, Another Worry!

I was watching Good Morning America this morning (Alot of my posts start like that, don't they? lol) and I was very saddened when I heard Robin Roberts announce that she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was trying to talk while very evidently holding back tears and it made me really sad for her and her family. Then, just as I was thinking, "I wonder if there is alot of cancer history in her family?" she says that there is NO family history. Apparently 80% of cancer patients today have NO family history. WHAT! I always took comfort in the fact that we really didn't have much family history of cancer. Of course, then I start thinking of all the things that give out carcinogens and the probable reasons why we all seem to be doomed to get cancer someday! I just made the switch to 7th Generation diapers and now I feel like I need to clean out my house of all the crap cleaners, detergents, plastics etc.... . I may sound crazy but now that I have children that count on me, not only to be there for them but also to keep them safe from harm, I just don't take this stuff as lightly as I did before. Does anyone know what are cancer rates are now in comparison to what they were back in the day when we exposed ourselves to less of this stuff. Just wondering. Thanks for listening to me ramble about my worries! :)

And the winner is.......

Congratulations to Jennifer over at Managing The Motherload! She is the winner to my Pampered Chef Summer Giveaway! I used to a random number generator to choose so it was completely fair! Hopefully I will win something myself since I spent hrs of my life signing up for almost 500 giveaways! lol! Its amazing the lengths that we will go to win things! :) There is just something fun about it! I have to say that it was fun to be able to check out all the other fun blogs out there!
Oh, I also wanted to give a Shout Out to one of my new favorite blogs. Confessions of a S-A-H-Mom is just starting out but its like reading a day out of my life every time I bring it up. :) Check it out!

Dog Days of Summer Give Away

So, I am hoppin on the band wagon of the HUGE give away that Shannon over at Rocks in my Dryer started! I mean HUGE! There is great assortment of things that you can win and all you have to do is comment. You have got to check it out!! (Click me to get free stuff :) )



I am doing my part in the giveaway by offering an assortment of Pampered Chef products. There are 2 Seasons Best cookbooks, a pair of bamboo tongs, a set of Grilling Recipe Cards (15) and sample of the Southwestern Seasoning Mix. All you have to do is comment (before Friday July 27 a2 12am) to enter yourself and I will randomly pick a winner on Friday. I cant say when the winner will be posted for sure but it will be posted by Friday @ 11:59pm. I will ship to Us and Canada. Good Luck!

Amazing Love

I was watching GMA this morning and they were doing a segment to advertise their "PRIMTIME" tonight and I needed to talk to someone about it because its a subject I love diving into. Well, no one was around to talk to so I decided to blog about it. :)
So there is a Primetime special on this evening following a 15 yr old girls journey as she places her baby into the arms of another family to raise. Watching the segment this morning stirred up alot of emotions because I grew up in the middle of situations like this and I sincerely hope that this special shows what an incredible, sacrificial love that is behind adoption. For those of you who dont know I spent years, as a teen, living in a maternity home (Father Heart) where my mother was the "house mom" as well as the case worker, etc.. There were girls ranging in age from 13 to 30 and all had different plans. None of them were ever persuaded to do anything other than look at both options ahead of them, parenting and placing. I have been with lots of teens as they go through the process of choosing what is best for their baby and then watched them mature overnight as they actually have to follow through. It is one of the most Amazing, yet gut wrenching, things to watch a 15 year old girl place her baby into the arms of another woman, entrusting her with her most precious possession. It drives me out of my mind when I hear women say, "I dont know how someone gives their baby away, I could never do that". They act like its some selfish act and these girls deserve more respect than that! Its one of the most selfless acts that a mother could ever do and I wish people saw it that way as opposed to the thoughtless way that people choose to view it. I mean, c'mon, if a girl (especially this day in age) actually decides to go through her pregnancy and give another family a gift that they are not able to have on their own. That sounds pretty incredible to me, selfish isnt the word that comes to mind. :) Anyway, another soapbox of mine! Anyway, you should all watch tonight, hopefully it portrays it well and shows the heart behind these amazing girls, whether they go through with it or not. Do any of you have any first hand experience with any of this or been near it at all? What are your opinions?

I'm a Rockin Blogger!

I have just received my first blogger award! My SIL and best friend Elizabeth (I am sure her nomination wasn't biased, lol), @ The Whole Family nominated me for a Rockin Blogger Award and I am ready to accept. Its funny, I think her motivation for my specific nomination was to get me to post more because I am kind of a slacker sometimes. Lets see if I can live up to my award. :)

Ok, So, I guess I am supposed to nominate 5 others but Elizabeth already nominated some of my favorites and I only have enough time in day to check a few so I am nominating less than the required amount. I hope I dont lose my award for that. lol. Anyway, here goes...

1) I have to give my first to my friend Kendrah, who blogs like No other! She keeps up several different blogs, holds down a job, coaches basketball AND has a social life! I discovered her through our mutual love and obsession for ALIAS and she is SO devoted that that ALIAS blog, one yr after the Series premier, is still going strong! That's Devotion and She rocks! I don't care if you don't like Alias, just go to read her stuff. :) Lets Talk Alias.

2)Jenny, The Bride Helper, is my second choice. She is a friend and a local wedding and event planner. She always has something insightful to say or something controversial, both work for me! (You would have been #1 if you would have gotten your nose peirced with me....J/k...lol)

3)Jenn is another Alias junkie who I met through our mutual obsession but I have come to enjoy reading her blog as well, which is full of pictures of her Adorable daughter Rachel, and she ALWAYS has something posted that makes me laugh. Thanks Jenn..... Birdie Two Shoes

4)This last one goes to my friend Sarah who is just getting this because she finally caved and opened up a My Space and actually posted her first blog. I am just proud of her for making the effort to follow in our footsteps. LOL. Life is Good

Oh, that Steven......

Ok, Its late and though I really should be in bed, because Jack has been throwing up all day and Asher has been less than an "independent" child, I am up to feed my Steven Colbert addiction. :) I like The Daily Show, but "The Colbert Report" is so inanely funny that I ALWAYS know that I can get a good 20 minutes of pure laughter out of it. Its like the release I need at the end of my days filled with crying, fighting, whining, poop, etc... , or in the middle of it for that matter. :)Ooooohhhh, its just So funny! Anyway, if anyone is interested in becoming a part of the Colbert Nation just click here, or at least do it to read the contract because its funny. :)

Tell me Yours....

So, all this talk of piercings, tattoos, etc has gotten me thinking of other peoples tattoo choices. I mean, since a tattoo is so permanent whatever people get is typically pretty special so I wonder what people have chosen to get and why or if you don't have one, what would you get if you were to get one? I have comedy/tragedy masks on my ankle which I wanted for 6 years before I actually got them and they are obviously representative of my love for theatre. I have had my tattoo for about 8 years and still love it! Does anyone have one that they wish that they didn't?
Tell me all about your tattoos! LOL! :)

Vacation pictures

I told you that I would post some pictures from vacation and I am actually doing it. :) I am actually blogging three times in one week! Holy Cow, its like a record or something. lol! Check out Jacks first catch! How Cute, Ay?

In other news........I just overcame my fear and got my nose pierced. The thought of a needle going through my nose seemed too painful but my desire for a nose piercing become larger than my fear apparently and I just closed my eyes and did it. Its Super cute and I am SO glad that its over! :)

Sling Give-A-Way

Happy 4th of July!! Hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

I just thought i would let anyone interested know that My SIL is having a Solarveil Sling givaway on her blog. All you have to do is to click here and sign up in the drawing. She will be picking the winner in the morning. Good Luck!!! :)

Back and Hopefully Better!

Well, I am now officially unemployed! For those of you who don't know, I gave my 2 weeks at the studio due to some childcare issues. Des, who was co-oping with me got another job so therefore making it not as beneficial to continue on with the studio. Although I LOVED it I really believe that this is best for my family. Jack was having a really hard time with e working and I couldn't seem to keep up with things here. Anyway, it feels nice to be able to concentrate on the the kids for the summer and I should be able to blog more. :)

We just got back from vacation in Michigan so there was a reason why I wasn't blogging (this time anyway). :) It was SO relaxing, I am always bummed to have to get back into the daily hubbub of reality. It makes me want to spend more time at our lake house, at least before it sells anyway.

OH, Jack had his first experience of being in a wedding 2 weeks ago and, Holy Crap, he was ADORABLE!!! Ryan & Lauren made good on their promise to have Jack in their wedding someday and I had a slight fear that he would freeze but he did an Incredible job!! He did everything exactly as he was instructed. The flower girl walked down with him and threw flower petals in peoples face. That was a trip! lol! He had a great time dancing the night away with the help of the Red 40 in his Shirley Temple. He was running around in circles on the dance floor like a dog chasing his tail. LOL They really should take that stuff off the market. :) He did eventually pass out on the floor while cuddling with Daniel, which explains the picture of the 2 laying on the floor. :). On another note, wasn't Lauren Beautiful!

OK, Enough rambling, I will post vacation pictures soon and hopefully I will blog more faithfully now that I have some time at home. I trust that you will all remind me if I should start to slack! LOL!

Tact, A Lost Art?

So, as I have been trying to round up volunteers to help create, what will be, my mothers memorial gardens I am finding that some people around here never learned about a little something called "Tact". I have had a few really great people willing to carry on my moms memory and totally into helping but unfortunately I have had more than that be downright rude (well, IMO its rude). For Example, I asked one couple (friends of my mother) and the husband kinda seemed annoyed that I was asking and quickly said No, he had some things going on. The wife never responded so I asked her if she was interested and she said "ME, No Way, not my thing!" Her tone was pretty adamant about how this was TRULY not her thing. I wanted to say, "NO, your right, its not your thing, its my moms thing and we were wanting to see if you could take a little time out of your day and help out. " This is unfortunately just one example, I could go on but you get the idea. What ever happened to people, at least, being polite about saying no? Like "OH, I would LOVE to, I really loved your mom but we are really busy next weekend with some things and since this is so last minute we just don't think that we could do it" (said in a sympathetic & apologetic tone). Maybe its because I am from the South but I would Way rather hear that. I notice the lack of tact allot more here in the Midwest and I wonder if its a culture thing or maybe I am just older and more aware. Plus with this specific issue, we are dealing with my deceased mother you would think people would be abit more compassionate in their tone (God forbid they actually volunteer. lol).
OH, and Thank you SOOOOOOO much to all those who have volunteered!! I appreciate it more than you know!!!! You All Rock!

In Memory of Mom

Well, my computer is down for a bit due to a broken adapter but my husband has graciously allowed me to use his computer. :) LOL!
I am in the midst of trying to organize volenteers for my mothers memorial gardens at her last place of employment (somewhat of a halfway house for mentally ill women) My mom had a heart as big as Texas and she Loved what she did, which was helping others. She always wanted the ladies to be able to have a little retreat outside of the home that they could escape to for some down time. She always talked of making the backyard into some tranquil gardens but as a non profit agency it was a little hard to fund. Well, thanks to all of the donations that were given in her memory and honor, Greenwich House and all volenteers are about to make my moms dream a reality. My mom would love to see this and I SOOOO wish that she could! If anyone is interested in helping please let me know because we have LOTS of space for volenteers. :)

Kind of on the same topic, I am wondering if anyone has any experience or can relate at all. I always thought that it would get easier as time went on not having my mom and I am not finding this to be true at all. In fact it seems to get worse. I think in the beginning I must have been kind of numb just because it was such a long road and we were finally at the end. But now it seems like I have a good cry at LEAST once a week. I cant seem to make this void go away. YOu know when you get really sad or frustrated or pissed off or SUPER happy or giddy or your kids do something really cute or gross, etc... and you just want to call your mom and tell her about it(because God knows no one else will sit and talk to your baby on the phone for 10 minues when they arent really saying anything or listen to you tell boring stories of what that same child did today and actually be as interested as you are in telling it)? Anyway, I get that all the time and I cant call her anymore. It just Sucks!! Anyway, sorry for being a downer, I just wonder when it gets better or if it ever does? Ughhhh....now I'm crying again! Good Lord, sometimes being a girl is so frustrating! :)
I do have to say thanks to my SIL and best friend Elizabeth (and John for marrying her) because now that I cant call my mom I just call E and make her listen to all that stuff and she does it happily (I think). lol! Thanks, Love You.

Yes, I know, I am normaally bugging you with pictures of my kids but since I work at a studio I thought, "Why not get some pictures of myself?" I am the one always taking pictures in my family so we have LOTS of the kids and hubby but not so much me. Plus, Daniel has my senior picture hanging in the office and I thought he needed an update. Hey netta and Sara, do you recognize the 4th pose? Do you remember when I used to always have you take this pse of me back in the day. I can just hear me saying, "hey take a picture of me like this so it looks like I'm walking." LOL, Oh it makes me laugh just thinking about it! :)

Jacks BooBoo

I cant stop myself from laughing out loud Every time I see this picture! I know that most of you have seen this on my brothers blog but had to post it on my own. Jack was showing Daniel and I the booboo on his finger trying to convince us that he needed a band aid. He was somewhat unhappy that we got the camera out instead of a band aid hence the look on his face. How Perfect is every aspect of that picture! LMAO! I just cant enough of it. Its just so stinkin funny.

OK, on a similar topic, how cute is his hair? I just think its so cute with his long bangs. (we are trying to grow them out to match the back which isn't long) He looks like a little rugby player. :) That said, We either get people who love it or hate it and was wondering what others thought (not that that will change it, just wondering). :)

A little history....

"The bottles were designed with a integral glass tube, and a stopper. Attached to the glass tube there was a length of Indian rubber tubing, which ended with a bone mouth shield and a rubber teat. This design of bottle was impossible to keep clean and even though openly condemned by much of the medical profession of the time, continued to sell well into the 1920's. Much of this popularity was attributed to the fact that the baby could be left unattended to feed, even before the baby was old enough to hold the bottle. "

I was at work the other day and saw something that made me somewhat disturbed. It was a bottle that had a very long tube attached to it with a nipple at the end. THe child was able to eat while laying down without having to be held. I was taken back to something I had learned while doing research on the history of the bottle. One of the first bottles invented was coined "The Murder Bottle" or "The Death Bottle" because it had a tube that connected to the nipple that carried bacteria and typically caused sickness or death. I know that we obviously have better ways of cleaning and sanitizing now but it seems that people will do anything to not have to hold your child while feeding. I think if its an option then it is just too tempting. THe thing I thought was really astounding in this short article was that even after knowing the high risks mothers still chose to use this bottle into the 1920s because of the ease of being able to feed your child without holding them. What a sacrifice to have some free time! This is one of the things that when I spoke of bonding (in the comments on last post) I was referring to. A mother that nurses has no other option but to hold and cuddle their child while feeding whereas so many times (not all) with bottle feeding we get lazy and want to prop the bottle and have the child eat alone. I cant tell you how sad it makes me when I see a 3 month old feeding herself a bottle. Why are we trying ot make our kids SOOOO independent so early??? These are babies that DEPEND on our love and physical touch in order ot grow into functioning children and adults. I AM NOT saying that moms that bottle feed do not love their children!!!!!!! I think that women who choose never to attempt to breastfeed can still have that bond with their baby but I think it just takes a little more work. Babies are born with the instinct to immediately want to lay against their mother and nurse. THey have just been through a traumatic experience and lots of times they are wheeled off poked and given some unattached plastic nipple. Sounds comforting and cozy to me.

Anyway, as I have said MANY times before I think that formula is a Great invention but I think it is WAY overused. There are women who for one reason or another ( medication, medical conditions or even death) are not able to nurse and formula is something that is great to have in those situations. I just think too many woman use it because of simple convenience or because they just arent as educated and dont know. That is why I am so passionate about women being educated about this stuff and not relying solely on what their Drs say. I could go on but I will spare you all :)