Sports for beginners

and boy do I mean beginners!
Saturday morning Christian and Sam woke up, and were chilling in the recliner together.
(are they not the cutest pair of baby boys ever?)
in comes Jacob

and a sleepy, wild haired Lucy.
Jacob proceeds to try to throw the very small, very SOFT ball to the babies.
they catch it. or not.
but Christian thinks this is great fun!
Sam is underwhelmed. Maybe this activity is better for 4 month olds than 2 month olds...

when it becomes apparent that they can't catch, Jacob decided he would teach them soccer instead.
He would put the ball on one baby's foot, and tell the other to "blow the whistle." Then he would say "tweeet" and flick the ball, and yell "GOOD KICK!" This game went on for a good 30 minutes, at least.
the little guys were very excited, obviously
but the adults were mighty entertained! Lots of giggles and Awwwwww's as everyone trickled in and watched the game.
And all 4 kids were entertained while Tish snoozed on the couch and I cooked breakfast!

talented little hands

Just some recent artwork from my little geniuses...

a belated Momma's Day card from Jacob. "I made it in centers" he says.
and more MD stuff, but this one is extra cool
He wrote it all in Spanish! It makes me giddy that he CAN do that!
translation:
My mama is 29 yrs old.
My mama likes the color peach. ("like my skin" he says)
My mama likes to eat chocolate.

And a self portrait. "Me when I get my muscles." Heeheehee
And Lucy drew herself and her 2 brothers. Love the hair! Not sure why her face is black, but she gets artistic license I suppose...
That is all for now. Proud mommy gush is over!

booooored

I'm tried of rainy days already.
I'm ready for Jacob to be out of school, too.

After sitting on my butt, bored and lonely, for most of today- I had to put out an SOS for someone to entertain me tomorrow. Before I lose what is left of my mind... Lol!

The bebe is so sleepy today. Last night he was a tad bit flushed and warm, and sleepy, just hanging on me, not nursing as much. Stupid shot.
Of course, that's a mild reaction and I'm not concerned. Some of it could even be due to the tylenol I gave him. But it still sucks.

We skipped dance class today, which also sucks. But the storms were barely over, the roads were wet, my tires are not-so-great, and all 3 of us were extremely cozy in bed when the alarm went off.

Cotton goes for an impairment rating today. We get to see exactly how "messed up" his shoulder is now, after surgery and PT.
We're guessing it's pretty severe. He still doesn't have a lot of strength, can't reach behind his back AT ALL, and has a lot of pain if he uses it too much. So we'll see.

I could be cleaning, hanging pictures, touching up paint, putting away laundry... but what fun is that? :-P

Fabulous!

We're back from the doctor!
The baby is fabulous, picture perfect.
We chatted a little about the vaccines, and her position on the matter was "He's your kid."
YAY!
I honestly wonder why I worried. Dr. R is just the coolest. She's never disappointed me. I guess because she is a doctor (not that docs are BAD, but they are usually "in charge"), and so many people I know have had to put up a good fight on this matter- I had to go in with my mental war paint on, just in case.
And besides, when I was last there with Cotton, he did all the talking (like always- if he is with me, he talks and I don't), and made it sound like our only concern was thimerasol. So today I got to be in full protective vocal momma-bear form, present my choice in an intelligent manner, and she was in full "awesome doctor" form, and we agreed on a schedule of delayed vaccinations, leaving out the ones that I don't feel are necessary. For MY baby. (fyi, if you're interested, it's basically Sears' schedule, but leaving some things off)
I'm beaming. He got one shot, the DTap, didn't even cry. I gave him some tylenol just in case he was sore, and if he has a reaction (which I really hope he doesn't!), we will all know EXACTLY what caused it. He'll go back in a month for one more shot, and so on and so forth.

And on to the "regular" stuff.
The receptionist squealed "He looks JUST like his Daddy!" The nurse laughed and said the same thing.
He then smiled and coo'd at the nurse, and she told him "You're too little to be doing that." Heehee.
He weighed 14lbs 14oz, was 23 3/4 inches long, a 16 inch head.
Something like 99th and 100th percentile for head and weight, 75th for height.
Utter perfection. I told ya so. ;-)

Dammit...

another installment of "Being a Parent is HARD."

My sweet chubbamuffin has his 2 month well visit tomorrow, and I am a ball of nerves.
I know he will be perfect in every way, and I am really looking forward to having him weighed and measured, and popped on the top of that cute little "percentile" chart. Or off the top of it, more likely.

But I am very upset over the vaccinations, or lack thereof, and simply making that decision, committing to the road less taken, and then arguing my case to a doctor that happens to LOVE vaccinations.

Did you know that the stuff in vaccines is dangerous? Well it is.
Of course... baby shampoo is dangerous (seriously, look it up. Chemicals and whatnot). Riding in a car is dangerous. Living in tornado alley is dangerous.
Why do I pick childhood vaccines to make a stand against? After I have already fully vaccinate one child, almost fully vax'd a second, and watched them grow to be completely healthy in every way? (and continue to use baby shampoo on all 3 of them... GASP)
Well. Because. Honestly?
I heard some rumors and they scared me. So I looked some stuff up. And then I was even more scared. I talked to Cotton, and he agreed with me... SCARY.
And no- there isn't a lot of hard core, non-debatable medical evidence to prove that vaccines cause autism, or any other number of developmental delays, or any other medical issues ranging from allergic reactions to SIDS. But damn. It feels like a big risk to take!

And although I am no hippie, those of you that have known me a while may know that I have an inner-hippie. I keep her inside, and she mostly shows herself in things regarding my sweet sweet babies. She often likes to do things the way mother nature intended, the way the critters do...

So. For Sam's 2 month well visit- here is the proposed menu (most to be pumped directly into his little thigh):
Pediarix #1 (a cocktail of DtaP, Hep B, and Polio)
Hib #1
Prevnar #1 (pnuemonia)
Rotateq (rotavirus)(a new vaccine, safety level unknown)

So, basically 6 different things. Going into my 15lb-ish child. I do not like that. I will not do that.
But I am afraid that it will be a fight, and I may have to find a new pediatrician. Again. :-(

Over the course of the next 16mos, there are exactly 19 more vaccinations scheduled for my baby. 25 in his first year and a half of life. Isn't that NUTS? This is a brand new immune system we are dealing with...

Especially considering that he will be breastfed at least that long. We don't travel. He doesn't go to daycare. For the first six months I can guarantee that he won't even touch a shopping cart or a mall playground. Where exactly is he going to contract POLIO?

And as always- if you've made it this far without getting totally offended- do not take my rantings personally.
I don't care if you vaccinate, or even double vaccinate your kid. It's a VERY controversial topic, and these are just my thoughts on the matter. My fears. [And this is MY blog, so you read what spews from my brain. And you can't get mad at me here- it's my safe place, sp phhtptptptphhtpt (that's the sound of me blowing a razzberry at you)]

And yes, I also fear the diseases, but not as much. I've become jaded and mistrusting of some parts of medical science- and then I just love the rest of it, really I do. This is the girl who just had a baby in her bedroom not too long ago, remember... but also the girl who gets migraines and other various illnesses, and ADORES those prescriptions
This is also the girl who, a few years ago, though non-vaxing parents were idiots and mooching off the herd immunity. Well... good stuff, that herd immunity. I think I'll have some.
To each her own. Every mother out there has her own "things," her own fears- both rational and not-so-rational. Mine all fall into one of those categories, including this one.

Call me neurotic. Go ahead. I'll agree with you.
There is a very high likelihood that I am dead wrong. That I am wasting precious energy, and making the dr's life difficult, for absolutely nothing. But there is a very large knot in my tummy that says "but what if you're RIGHT?" And the knot will not be ignored. I never, ever ignore my knots.

You know what the biggest part of my brain is telling me to do?
Call and cancel the well visit altogether. My wee baby is perfect. He is extremely healthy. His development is on track (at minimum). I know that his food agrees with him, and that he is growing like a champ. I've done this mom thing a few times. I GOT DIS! And besides, last time I was there, the doc (and bless her heart I LOVE her, she takes great care of us) suggested a couple of times that I get Mr Sam on a feeding schedule so that I can sleep. And he was a ripe old 4 days old at that point. :giggle giggle snicker: Cotton and I burst into a fit of laughter as soon as we got out the door! What is this thing you speak of... a schedule? For our nursing newborn? Tell that to HIM why don't you? Heeheeheeheehee...!
*She really is a wonderful doctor. Sweet, supportive, mindful of our needs. I can't seek total perfection, and if our only disagreement is something i can just walk out and giggle about- we're good!*

Or I can go, and make up a lie about how I'm looking for a new pediatrician that will help me work out a vaccine schedule that I can live with. Then come home and start looking for one. lol. Guess that would make it NOT a lie.
And I DO need to talk to her about a cervical cap for me. Yea, I said it. Cervical Cap. Because I don't want another baby, not now, not EVER. But I also can't take hormonal birth control, because it could affect my milk supply.
And that, my friends, was your daily dose of TMI. Lalalalalalala...

MD08

These pics are actually from Saturday. All we did was chill on Sunday, so no pics.
We cooked out in the backyard on Sat, had everyone stopping by, kids screaming, guys drinking beer... just a nice day that really felt like summer... and who doesn't love summer!

My bathing beauties. When they came in and told me "it's too hot to play outside," I knew exactly what to do!
Get him, girl!
Me and Tish in our infinite hawtness. This was her very first Mom's Day, so I got her a little token of my love. :-) A cute shell necklace that I saw and thought "that would look SO cute on Tish!"
I wanted a cute Mom's Day pic of us and the little boys. This is not it. Lol.
Neither is this. Oh well. (that necklace I'm wearing was one of my MD gifts)
Okay, I will warn you. I may have gone slightly overboard with these pictures. But in my defense- he was A: sittng up in the bumbo, B: wearing big boy clothes, C: wearing his teething necklace, D: actually looking at me. All of these = the highest cuteness factor. Plus he is 2 months old now! So deal with it. Pictures of my kids are why you come here, right?

(could he look any more like his Daddy? jeez!)

Of course when he smiles- he throws his head back, so it's fuzzy.
Sunday was a very quiet, very low key day. Just the way I like it.
Cotton was actually at work, didn't get home until almost 5.
We all slept in, which was a surprise. I woke up around 10 with all 3 kids snuggled in bed with me- another rare treat. I've always got one or 2, but never all 3!
Aaron/Bonk came by and brought me a super-sweet card and a rose, then he played gamecube with Jacob for a while, lol. And then he treated us to Sonic for lunch! :-)
I love watching my brother build a relationship with my kids. Jacob has always adored him, but not seen a lot of him. Lucy is VERY cautious around him, but I really think she'll come around now that he's a regular presence in her life. She did speak a few words to Bonk yesterday, and even smiled a couple of times.
Sam was pretty interested in him yesterday, just staring at his face, craning around as he walked by, and even gave him a couple of coos.

Cotton made brisket tacos for dinner (granted, I was chopping veggies for what felt like hours, for pico de gallo), and OMG they were soooooooooooooo goooooooooooooooood!
Yumyumyumyumyum. I am so glad that we made a big brisket- and have leftovers!

The kiddos gifted me with 2 necklaces, one with matching earrings. Another pair of earrings- Dallas Cowboys! Woohoo!
And then a heart keychain that is a huge "diamond," heehee. And a big lavender candle that is going to go great in my bathroom if only I clear off the counter. ;-)

We laid around and watched TV all evening. Just me and my family. It was quiet (as quiet as it can be with 3 kids and Cotton), intimate, and so very nice. And when I decided I wanted chocolate- Cotton went out and got me some! (maybe that's left over from the pregnancy, lol)

Not a ground-shaking Moms' Day by any means. But I thought it was quite nice.

Mommy Day 08

Well, well, well...
Last Mother's Day I was a mom of 2, and trying to get pregnant. I remember confiding in Nancy that we had just started working on it, and I declined the glass of wine she offered me that day. Just in case. ;-)
I was an auntie to 4 beautiful girls, and I went to see my mom and MIL before heading to the Browns' for a fish fry.

*Fast forward a year*
I'm a mommy to 3!!!
And still auntie to 4 beautiful girls, with the addition of a gorgeous little boy, and awaiting my new nephew in the fall!
Sadly, things have gone terribly wrong between me and my mom, and I don't see how they can ever be repaired. Although I spend many a night lying awake crying about it, it seems quite hopeless.
However, on the sunny side- I am closer to both of my lovely sisters than I have been in a long time, and for that I thank motherhood. It is apparently a stronger bond than blood. Both between me and my biological sisters, but also the beautiful sisters I have met along my journey.

I'll probably see my MIL later today, and FIL has a bag of fish for me (yum!).
And Nancy and I have been chatting on Myspace. Lol.
I'll post the lineup of gifts and treats later. Jacob has already spoiled me- it's gonna be a lucky girl that ends up with that boy of mine. :-)




Happy happy Mothers' Day to all of you supermoms, new moms, moms-to-be, and beautiful, loving, caring women in my life. Your children are lucky to have you, and so am I.

one of my favorite sisters

My little sister, mom to my nephew-on-the-way, and my FRIEND ~warm fuzzy~ Geri has returned to the blogging world after a long hiatus.
I'll add her to the line up soon, but until then

Geri's blog

Check her out. She's kind of cool, a bit witty... and she's related to ME! What could be better?

Ummm... Geri- no pressure, but you might want to write something interesting. :-P

Victor

So I got a pretty surprising phone call today.
My little sister took her big old belly for a 3D sonogram, and just guess what they found in there on my niece Victoria!

a penis. Whoops!
As surprised as I was- can you imagine what Geri was thinking? Lol!

So... she has to return that big bag of girl clothes I gave her. For now.
And instead, she'll get 8 thousand tons of boy stuff as Sam outgrows it!

YAY for nephews!
I only have one, but I certainly love him!
And Sammy will have 2 cousins, BOY cousins, to be best buddies with for life. One 2 months older, one 6 months younger- Sweet!

(and they aren't really naming him Victor. at least I don't think so. :-P)

The Business of Being Born

I finally got to watch this amazing film today!

Can I just say, I am SO glad that I had a natural home birth with Sam. That I researched, and knew what I wanted, and WENT FOR IT!
Because if I hadn't, and I had watched that documentary- I would be wishing I had.
I wish I had gone natural with all 3, but you can't change the past.
And of course- I have had 3 perfectly healthy, successful births. No major injuries, no cesarean sections. Happy babies that nursed like champs right away. I have no room to complain.

The only complaints I have about my first 2 births have to do with my comfort, my emotions, me, me, me.
But if any day should be about mom's comfort- should it not be the day she brings a new life into the world, with her very own body?

I don't want to go on and on about natural childbirth. If you are interested at all, watch the film. Be warned, it is an hour and 24 minutes long, but worth EVERY second. Especially if you are planning on giving birth like: EVER!
disclaimer: I'm not trying to sell natural or home birth to anyone. But my wish for EVERY woman is to be informed. If you are going to have a baby in any fashion- know what the hell is going on. Know what those drugs are that they are pumping into you. Know why things are happening. That's all. Do what you want to do- but KNOW what you're doing.
/soapbox

What I really am feeling today is pride. Pride in myself. Which I haven't taken the time to savor in the past 7 weeks and 5 days.
Almost everyone who has heard any details of Sam's birth has complimented me, Called me strong, brave, a hero, (crazy, lol)... my favorite is Elastigirl. ;-)
But I have been quite busy with the result of that birth, and those that came before it, and haven't patted myself on the back properly.
Sure, plenty of women do it. Plenty of women I know. But does that make the feat any less spectacular? I don't think so.

I gave birth without any drugs. I pushed a 10lb, 2oz child, with a 14.5 inch head, and a HAND right beside that head- right on out of my womb!
I DID THAT, people. Nobody helped me. They supported me, yes, but they did not share that workload.
And why was my child so large? Because I endured all of the discomforts of late pregnancy, and went on past the day I expected him to come. Kept my chin up for 9 extra days, because I knew that was best for him.

Forgive my gloating, but this has all really sank in today.
I just want to shout form the rooftops that I ROCK! I kicked major ass!
I was brave, strong, didn't give up or give in!

And the way I felt afterwards, it was like nothing I could even describe.
After I had Jacob and Lucy I felt ecstatic, in love, excited. Amazing.
After Sam was born I felt high. It was truly out of this world. And you can't now it unless you've felt it.
I will not downplay the way a mother feels after ANY birth, because I certainly felt a LOT when I had my first 2. Multiply that by 10 and you might touch on what I felt after my last baby was born.
I love my children equally, and uniquely. The birth was for me more than Sammy. No, I didn't want him in the hospital either, and had a whole list of reasons that I felt home was better for him.
But it was better for ME. And I had no idea how MUCH better until today. Until I saw and heard others describing what I had gone through, and *click* a floodgate of emotion opened. I bawled tears of joy.

So join me in celebrating, or just roll your eyes and move on to pictures of the kids. I don't care.
This was my victory. My battle fought and won. And if I were the only person proud of me (and I know I'm not) that would be enough.

another fun weekend!

Friday night was a long awaited and desperately need moms' night out, with these crazy sluts.
Good food, good music, ummm... CAKE, and of course- great company.
Oh, and Sam got to nuzzle up to lots of new breasts. He enjoyed it greatly. ;-)
Jacob chillaxin' with some Gamecube
and the Baby gym- apparently not just for babies :-P
Saturday, big boy had his last soccer game of the season, a party, and best of all- got a TROPHY
So Aaron (aka Bonk) asked me how they placed. Ya know, since he got a trophy.
So he got a lesson in modern children's sports. They ALL get trophies, and we don't actually keep score.
BUT we were undefeated this season. Won 7 games, and tied 1. Not that anyone was counting. ;-)
Sadly, that trophy got broken on Sunday when he was showing it to Bonk. I'm gonna try my best to get it replaced...

Sunday was a gorgeous spring day, so we decided to get the kids the heck out of the house!
We went to the park, played some basketball (Cotton thinks he's hot shit for beating me at PIG, even though I had a newborn strapped to my chest) and then took the kiddos for some ice cream cones.



Before we knew it, messy faces ensued
Sam was wearing his first ever sun hat- obviously a picture-worthy occasion


Cute, huh?
and then "Do we look alike?" he asks. Actually, not so much in this shot, lol. But usually you do.

Suddenly the ice cream kicks in, and we have sugar-high-crazy dancing!



and last but not least, a never before seen (never before taken) picture of me and all 3 of my babies!

too bad they couldn't all look at the camera at once. I need some of that head switching magic that Rebecca does. Lol!

And an honorable mention, actually a HUGE part of our weekend.
On Sunday there was a knock at the door. Cotton and I lok at each other in horror, as we are NOT fans of the unexpected guest.
But this time was pretty darn cool, because it was my baby brother, Aaron. Home for good from a long stay in Seattle!
No pictures, sadly- but soon. Very soon!

when Sammy smiles

my mission in life lately has been to capture Sam's smile on camera. Here are my best catches so far:

Fresh out of the bath
"what?"
"I guess I might..."
"smile! Just a little, though..."
this may be more of a smirk, lol


Oh, the lashes. The lashes... be still my heartkinda fuzzy, but a big cooing grin!
this is the "I love mommy" adoring smile... my favorite!
these aren't smiles, but great shots of him nonetheless. Is it awfully conceited to say that my baby is SO AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS!? Because he just is. I'm so infatuated with him!

and just for fun... ever seen a double cowlick? My lucky little boy got just that! Getting his hair to lie down is going to be an adventure!

and his tiny feet, getting less tiny by the day!