Just for Me

I'm making time to write. Oh, how I've missed writing, even if it is mindless rambling. Don't be mistaken....I absolutely love my 3 week old baby girl, but I'm still trying to discover what my life is like with a newborn. I'm still trying to figure out a new normal for us. I've had quite a lot of time this week only because my parents are here this week. So I'm taking this time to write while my mother is holding my baby girl.

This week I'm going to go hog wild and respond to three prompts on Mama Kat's Writing Workshop.

1.) Who really helped you get over something? Write about that person.(writingfix.com)

Ever want to do something so badly, but it just doesn't work out? Well, that was me with breastfeeding our daughter. I knew all the research - health benefits, bonding, etc. However, since the day she was born, obstacles were thrown in my way. I did it all - pumping, feeding every 2-3 hours, herbal supplements, drinking water until it came out of my eyes, SNS, meeting with lactation consultants (many times), Le Leche meeting, etc. You name it - I tried it. I had to supplement with formula from day 2 because she was losing weight and not getting enough milk from me. The first time the nurse gave her a bottle of formula in the hospital I cried the entire time. I must say the crying never ended. Each time I thought about it, I cried.

Through it all, my husband, my rock, kept reassuring me that I was doing great and that our daughter was gaining weight and growing and was healthy. When I cried, he held me. When I said I felt like a failure, he made sure I knew I wasn't before I fell asleep that night. He didn't think I was crazy for wanting to continue to breastfeed in the morning and then give her a bottle immediately following because she was still hungry. I love my husband, and every day he does little things that just remind me how lucky I am.

3.) Share an interesting email exchange you've had with someone lately.

Friend: I have been tasked with writing 1000 Family Feud questions about anything related to love. It's fun, but I'm definitely starting to run short on ideas. I spent part of this morning looking through articles like "What your man won't tell you"in the hope of being inspired. :)

Me: WOW! That is a lot of questions about love. Does it have to be lovey dovey stuff or can it be like "How to know your man is cheating?" haha. How many questions have you already written? Good luck

Friend: It doesn't have to be lovey dovey, and in fact I'd take your "how toknow if your man is cheating" except that I already wrote that one :).I think I've written maybe 500 so far, but I only have 3 weeks to finish the rest.

Isn't it cool that my friend writes the questions for Family Fued? It's one of those jobs that you know someone must do it, but you never really know who or how they even get that job.

5.) Today I will... give my daughter tons of kisses.

Wordless Wednesday

SMILE! not exactly wordless :)

One Moment

I have one moment. One moment too short. I have all these posts running through my head right now, but no time to type them out. Right now, motherhood and all those crazy hormones that come along with it have taken control of my life. Maybe I'll have a post just on crazy hormones. You know, the ones that make you cry numerous times a day. Anyway, I've noticed that Grace is 99.9% her father.

Baby Magic

Life with a newborn has definitely changed this household. Each day we are learning more and more about our baby Grace and her wants and needs. Matt has nicknamed her "Red". Not because she has red hair, quite the opposite since her hair is almost blond, but rather, when she screams because she is in need of a diaper change she turns red, beet red. Super duper red. It took us a week to figure that cue out.

Back to baby magic though. Two items in our house I have now coined magic blanket and magic ball. Grace received this super soft satin trimmed white blanket from her Aunt Sarah. We have found that swaddling her in this calms her down.

Okay, gotta make this fast....crying baby waking up.

Second magic item - an exercise ball. Sit on this baby and bounce and Grace loves it. This too helps with calming her down and sleeping.

Grace Elizabeth is Here!

Welcome Grace Elizabeth!

April 8, 2009

9:10 a.m.

6 lbs. 6 oz.

19.5 inches long

Life in the Slow Lane

I'm been searching for new blogs and found the Tuesday Tribute's through Sera @ Laughing Through the Chaos. Tuesday Tributes are for writers to write about someone other than themselves. When I think of the word tribute, I think of a celebration or rather a time to put that person in the spotlight and showcase the postive things. Maybe I'll do that next week; however, this week, I tip my hat or should I say shake my fist at those Sunday drivers. Check out Jay and Deb's blog Halftime Lessons for more Tuesday Tributes.

I'd like to shake my fist at all those Sunday drivers. Yeah, you know who you are. You are the ones that inferiorate me to no end.

Wondering why the fast lane is slower than the slow lane? Sunday driver. Wondering why the stoplight already changed from green to red (a bit too fast) before you even had chance to drive through it? Sunday driver. Wondering why you almost witnessed three car accidents on the way to the Walgreen's that is only five miles from your home? Sunday driver. Wondering why you are suddenly driving 25-30 miles per hour when you typically would be driving 50? Sunday driver. Wondering why it looks like the woman driving in front of you is wearing a bird's nest on her head? Sunday driver wearing her Sunday best hat on the way to church.

You might think I'm being a tad-bit too harsh. I think some Sunday drivers are a risk to everyone else on the road. My husband said, "Who would drive them to church then?" Who? How about a taxi, a relative, or a member of the congregation already headed that way? Walking might even speed some of them up. Pop them in a motor scooter and away they go. At least then they'd be on the sidewalk and not on the roads.

Thank You, Couch

Today, I must give thanks to my couch. Yes, my couch. By the time I got home today after school and after the faculty meeting, I was exhausted, completely exhausted. I positioned two pillows under my head, one between my legs, and one wedged under my belly to form the most comfortable sleeping position. And it was there I slept for the next hour. I can't say I woke up completely renewed because I know I'll be alseep for the night before 9:00 p.m., but oh how thankful I am for my comfy couch today!

Find Happiness in Your Backyard

I spent some time today in the backyard just rocking in an old wicker rocking chair I bought at a garage sale for $5. This pasty, white, glow-in-the-dark skin is not going to improve with me sitting inside (probably on the computer). Anyway, as I paused in my reading, I realized that soon my little girl will be joining me in the rocking. Looking towards the back fence, I envisioned us sprawled out on a blanket under the shade of the giant pine tree or maybe swinging in the hammock feeling the gentle warm breeze and listening the birds. There is so much we can do in our tiny backyard.

Six Word Saturday

Waiting 39 weeks for baby girl.

To participate in Six Word Saturday, check out Cate @ Show My Face

Baby Checklist

Nursery decorated - Check

Baby clothes washed - Check

Car seat installed - Check

Crib, Bassinet, Pack-N-Play Assembled - Check

Breastfeeding Pump & Accessories Sterilized - Check

Diapers & Wipes Bought - Check

Baby Girl - still waiting (38 weeks 6 days as of today)

Clowns are Not Cute

As I was growing up, my sisters and I were always babysitting around the neighborhood. One of regular sitting jobs was at the Warren's house which was kitty-corner to my parents' house. (Now for you southerners...us northerners say kitty-corner NOT katty-corner).

On this particular Friday night, the kids were already sound asleep, so I decided to do what any babysitter would do - turn on the t.v. What ever possessed me to watch Stephen King's It is beyhond me. I have no clue. All I know is I found myself watching a scary movie about clowns. Even now all I remember is the blood swirling down the bathroom drain.

Now watching a scary movie is one thing, but let me describe the house for you in order to get the full effect. Their television was in a corner of the family room next to a giant bay window. A giant bay window WITHOUT curtains, shades, or blinds of any sort. A wide open window that overlooked their backyard which led directly into the woods. These woods didn't lead to a neighbor's house or a dirt road - just lots and lots of darkness.

Ever feel like someone was watching you? Yeah - had that feeling the entire time. All I could see were the shadows of the night. Every sound made me jump. I jumped when the heater turned on. I jumped when a branch brushed up against the side of the deck. I jumped when the wind rustled the pine trees. I jumped at everything.

I think I went through a phase in middle school where I watched scary movies. Was it cool to watch them? It, Candyman, The Shining - saw them all. Each one gave me nightmares for weeks. To this day, I refuse to watch scary movies. Even the cheesy ones, the ones that make my husband laugh, are traumatic for me.

This post today was in response to a prompt on Mama Kat's blog. Check her out for other prompts, to get in on the action, or to just read an awesome blog.

Happy Birthday Landon

THEN:

April 1, 2008

NOW:
April 1, 2009

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY!