Super Dupe Tuesdee!

Tommy..can you seriously believe this was our day?

Yesterday started like any other day...Lucy had her waffle in her high chair and enjoyed Sesame Street. I fed Tommy and got him dressed. We had plans with my Mom, all was going well. And then, something went wrong..very, very wrong. It has come to our attention that Luce is going through "something." I think there is a developmental "shift" going on in her little brain. I cannot see it all occuring from the outside, but I can sense it. She is struggling with finding her independence, yet needing me close by. She wants to explore and discover, but wants Mom and Dad within view. So she has started saying "no" more often, testing, etc. Thus is the life of a 26 month old.
However, yesterday morning, things seemed to come to a head in her little brain and heart. She began sobbing when I went to remove her high chair tray and could not get herself back together emotionally. After 30 minutes of this, I managed to get her dressed and in the car and off to our morning of fun. On the way home, this smart cookie started her procrastination tactics, as usual. "Movie, Mom? Cookie? Juice? Book? Read story to me?" "Sorry Luce..but you know what comes next. Night night time."
More sobbing...not listening, not cooperating. Physically having to take her upstairs myself while she kicks and screams. LOTS of sweating on both our parts as she sobbed through a poopy diaper change (poop flying as I held her down!), two stories, two songs, and kisses goodbye. I felt horrible as I left her in this state. Her face was soaked with tears and she was so stricken by life. She was hugging me yet angry at me yet unsure of why she was crying in the first place. What a rough deal..to be two.
Tommy and I came back down and quietly tried to recuperate from what happened. Tylenol for me...Ultrasaucer fun for him. As I was checking my email, I looked over at Tommy and noticed some sort of LIQUID under the saucer. That's right..green poop water dripping down his pant leg and forming a puddle under the saucer.
In true Scout fashion, she dove for it like it was a pork tenderloin. I grabbed her by the back of her neck and threw her outside. Diaper change, full wipe down, naked baby time, antibacterialize the saucer. More sweating.... At the end of it all, I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn't believe how butt ugly I was..the sweating ..the flailed hair...the headache. And I asked myself, "Did that SERIOUSLY ALL JUST HAPPEN?" Someone get me a Bloody Mary PRONTO.

Salad, Anyone?

Lately, thoughts have been turning to boobfeeding. Boobfeeding Tommy has been quite a different experience than Lucy. Lucy was all about hanging on the boob for 30-45 minutes at a time. I would eat Lean Cuisine frozen entrees over her head (no, I never burnt her head and it isn't child abuse). I would watch an entire Oprah. I would schedule call-backs to friends during that time because I knew I'd be sitting down doing nothing for a while.

Here we are post-boobfeeding when she was 6 weeks old and I had a terrible case of "mask of pregnancy." Ha ha..glad that's over.
She was a skinny little thing but she continued to gain weight so I just kept boobfeeding. She was never that great at it but we worked it out and I ended up boobfeeding her to 7 months. It was a loooonng haul and it seemed to take forever. And on that glorious winter morn' in January, when she ended her relationship on the boob and I told her we were all set, I was both relieved and sadened. Relieved that my physical "sacrifice" was over and I could start to finally feel "normal" again and not live my life in 1.5 hour increments with ugly bras and tender boobs. But also sad that our time together was over in that way. But then the last 5 pounds finally came off and I drank a GRANDE Latte from Starbucks and remembered - life without boobfeeding is freeing!
Now Tommy, on the other hand, is one efficient dude. He jams out in 10 minutes (both boobs!) and is perfectly content. He is also a chubber. The man knows what to do, does it, and keeps it moving.

Yo Peeps...don't even think about getting between me and da BOOB!
It seems to have gone a lot faster this time. I will start to introduce more formula to him at the end of 6 months...and I think I am ready to think about wrapping it up again. The public boobfeeding thing is getting old. He gets distracted and flails his almost 20 pound body all over my lap and tries to whip the burp cloth so perfectly placed off his head. Again, I feel both relieved to be almost done and also sad that it will all be over.
I am excited to go buy normal bras for my boobs that Matt has coined "Rocks in a Sock." He says it with love. Fire up for the TRAINING BRAS PEOPLE! Negative A's..here I come again. I am excited to not have to whip my boob out at all locations and do a lot of sweating. I am excited to not feel tingly and tender and sore on top anymore. I'm proud I have fed these children and have done my motherly duty. I know I am lucky that my body "did it's thang." So come October, as the Tomster takes his last nip...I shall be freed. And all will be well with the world. Except for my boobs, which have lost the will to be shapely...and will then be coined "Cucumbers in a plastic produce bag."

10 Random Things I Am Really Into Lately:

1. Food Network. I can't get enough of annoying Rachel Ray and her 30 minute meals! And Paula the Southern Cooking lady is a riot. Oh, but I hate Emeril. He gets his mouth way too close to the food while he is cooking and it creeps me out. And I wish I looked like Giada from Everyday Italian.
2. Self tanner...the Jergens cheap stuff works just great!
3. Lean Cuisine Paninis with an avocado enhancement.
4. Anything lemon flavored.
5. New fall clothes. I love everything at Target right now.
6. Rescue Me on FX.
7. The feeling AFTER running around the lake.
8. Oatmeal.
9. These great new fall shoes at Payless. Only $14.99 and seriously so cute.
10. As always..any desserts with Cool Whip involved.

6 Years of Wedded Bliss

Today, Matt and I are celebrating 6 years of marriage. It's 2:15 p.m, and at this time 6 years ago, we were up at the alter pledging our undying love. It is fun to think about all we have done in 6 years. Things have changed for the good and the bad, life has become more complicated, and we've learned a lot about ourselves and each other. What I am most proud of, is that I am still excited to wake up to him everyday and I'm still very happy to see him when he gets home at night (and it's NOT just so he can change a diaper for me). So...Happy Anniversary to Us. We are celebrating with a MUCH needed night out. It is impossible for me to get a picture of just the two of us together these days but this one is the most recent one I have. Actually, I planned it! Tommy is yelling "WAY TO BE MARRIED AND CREATING ME, FOOLS!" On a side note: This is the photo that made me come to terms with the fact that I totally had a mom puffy bob haircut and immediately scheduled a haircut last week. Much better...but no photos of the new "do" yet.

Proof I DO NOT Want Three Kids...

I have a 5 year old golden retriver named Scout. We got her when we lived in Colorado, right after we got married. We went through a breeder and paid big buckos for her. We drove to the Nebraska border to pick her up and see her parents and siblings. I held her in my arms the entire 3 hour drive home as she squealed for her mom's teet. That's right - I said TEET. I took Scout to Puppy Preschool at PetSmart. We took her to a "dog whisperer" in Boulder. I hiked with her every night after work and took her on 100's of trails and trips out West. What I am saying is I LOVED this dog. I loved her after we moved and worried about her when I was pregnant with Lucy. I hoped she would be good around the baby and not mind becoming #4 in the house. Then Lucy arrived and Scout's world was rocked. Not too rocked, though, or so I'd like to think. She still got daily walks and laid next to my bed. Actually, my only sign of "Baby Blues" after Lucy was born, was when we kicked Scout out of our bedroom and she looked back at us all sad and I started crying. O.k. crying over a sad dog...baby blues. No other explanation..ha ha. What I am getting at is - I LOVED this dog.
Then something happened. Lucy started eating real food in a high chair. And spilling/dropping things. This nice, sweet golden retreiver became BEGGER dog. NOSE IN YOUR CROTCH BEGGING dog. JUMP AT THE SOUND OF THE REFRIDGERATOR OPENING BEGGER dog. WAKE LUCY UP WHILE RUNNING AT ME FOR FOOD. WANT TO KILL HER and KICK HER dog. I slowly started to lose the love....
Fast forward 21 months later and Tommy arrives. And Scout's had 10 months of food dropping/spilling. Well, let's just say it has gotten worse. O.k. - I know..it's our fault. We didn't teach her to stay out of the room while we eat, etc. I AGREE we should have trained her better during meal time. But there are mooore annoying things she does. I have about 2% of my day that I can actually spend doing something I enjoy (lay on the couch!!). During this 2% of my life, Scout has likened to:
1. Wanting to go in and out the back yard 4-5 times. This from a dog that can go easy 10 hours without peeing.
2. Staring at me creepily doing "fake out" growls THREATENING to bark and wake up Tommy until I get up and feed her.
3. Randomly decide it's time to do a full-on back rub dance-fest on herself and nose snorkle-fest, causing Tommy to wake up.
4. Play with Lucy's stuffed Elmo, teddy bear, etc. You name it..if it is cotton and stuffed, she will try and eat it.
5. Eat 4-5 wet wipes a day. Let's just say we see it come out the back way almost every day. Somehow she gets to them before me and gobbles them like they are salisbury steaks.
I am over it. She is not enhancing my life at all. She is causing stress during my 2% of ME time during the day. Not sure what to do except keep listening to Matt who says, "It's the stage of our life. You won't hate her in a couple years."

EDIT BASED ON THIS AFTERNOON'S ANTICS:
ANNOYING SCOUT ACTIVITY #6: LICK THE REMNANTS OF RICE CEREAL OFF OF TOMMY'S FACE! GOD I HATE THIS DOG RIGHT NOW!!!

Can Cool Whip be a Food Group?

I have the biggest secret addiction. Cool Whip..generic, the real deal, light, regular, you name it. I am mowing on it...24/7....I can seriously get through a jumbo container in 2-3 days. I dip random things in it. I eat it with a spoon. I am psycho about Cool Whip. It must be in my house at all times. I will pack up two children just to go on a Cool Whip run. I will pretend I need milk and bread but secretly it is all about the Cool Whip. This has been the case since I was preggo with Tommy and thought my "Snack Pack" pudding dessert was a better evening snack than ice cream. Of course, then I piled up 3 spoonfuls of Cool Whip to it so that sort of defeated the purpose. Any way - Cool Whip freakin' rules.

It's O.k. to Be "a Differnt"

I heard a quote the other day that has me thinking about a variety of things. It was something to the effect of, "One of the hardest things about parenting is recognizing your child for who they are. Even if that isn't anything like you." It is a great point and something I think is a hard pill to swallow for some people. I mean, this human being comes out of your own body for god's sake. Of course you assume they are a PART of you, MADE by you...certainly they will have all the wonderful and terrible characterisitics of you, right? Well, sometimes that is true.
For example, I feel Lucy shares about 90% my personality. I am sure her father feels the same. She is social and verbal and is happiest when she is laughing with other kids. She gets frustrated easily and is emotional. Pleasing others, especially people she loves, is important to her. She is cued in to what is funny and will repeat things for attention and laughs. She sings and dances and is naturally drawn to music. She's pretty girly. She is lovey dovey and is really good at expressing her feelings. She doesn't like to sit still. She has reached all her milestones within the "normal" timeframe. She has been a pretty predictable kid and hasn't thrown us for any loops. That is just her style. This may not be her brother's style. We shall see what he brings us.
I see my friend's kids and acquaintance's kids and they are all different styles and personalities. I have noticed that they all excel in different situations. They all have their own definition of fun. They are all great at some things and not so great at others. Sometimes I hear a parent express that they wish there child did this or that. Or that their child is doing this "early" or "late." There is all this pressure out there. Pressure to make sure your child is "normal." Learning about all the latest opinions on kid's activities...preschools...daycare....potty training...feeding...sleep schedules..disciplne...blah blah blah. You could kill yourself trying to keep up with it all.
They tell you not to compare children, but is it really possible to constantly be around kids of similar age to yours, and talk to these moms about the day to day and NOT compare even a little bit? It's just human nature. One thing I have learned in my short 26 months as a mother, is that everyone parents differently and every child is completely different. The only people who need to be o.k. with that are those parents and that child. Not the rest of the world. Not even your best friend needs to agree with how you do things. If it works for you and your family, than good for you. The normal range of developmental milestones is a huge spectrum. Kids will surprise you but some won't. And you may pop a child out that looks and acts nothing like you.
I think parents are this way because there is so much to learn and we are all relatively new to this. Add to that, the knowledge that this is the most important job we will ever have, and it leaves people feeling they must do it all "perfectly" and create this "perfect child." Instead of a "perfect child," maybe we should just work on creating a child with high self-esteem, who has developed into their own. We need to recognize that we are all different, even at birth. And all we can hope for is that we have prepared these children to handle the world out there. I want to create a home that they can always come back to, with great memories and a supportive family they can always count on. If I can do that, I will have done my best work. So they don't need to be just like me. In fact, it will probably be more interesting if they aren't!

I Have an Idea!

Lucy has taken to the word "idea!" For example, new sentences this week include:
"I have an idea Mom! Let's have a popsicle!" or...
"Hey Luce..want to go outside?" "Great idea Mom!"
And for a chuckle, here she is doing her Napoleon Dynamite impression with her goggles on this past weekend:

P.S. 2nd successful camping trip accomplished! 2nd road trip without head exploding! Whoooo!

Feeling an Itch...

I have had "an itch" come over me lately that I have been half ignoring and half recognizing. I guess this itch is a "creative buzz" I have had looming over my head. At various times in my life, I have felt this overdose of ideas come to me during a period of time. When I was working, this would translate into me coming up with new ideas and forcing my boss to meet with me so I could discuss them enthusiastically, while she stared at me, politely smiling and finishing with some version of, "Great ideas Sarah! Wish we had the money! And good day."
These days, I just find myself spinning with thoughts and ideas on runs, at 5 a.m after feeding Tommy, or when doing dishes. I have been thinking a lot about the whole "what I want to be when I grow up" topic. I have a few ideas that I am researching. It is exciting to think about all the options. In the meantime, I will use my creative juices to expand the themed weeks at playgroup (ha! we are so not!) and planning the neighborhood ice cream social. All just as important items, might I add!

The 2 Beer Hangover...

Last night was a hot night for me...I went out for drinks with 3 new friends from "playgroup." We sat outside on a luxurious deck and enjoyed a really bad D.J. and his technotronic music. Regardless, it was very good times. I enjoyed 2.5 Corono Lights and was feeling it after 1/2 of the first one. It felt good to be out and enjoying some girl talk and laughs. There was very little discussion of kids and we laughed about our newly enstated "rules of playgroup" this Fall. I was hurting this morning but forced myself to run 3 miles and sweat it out. Then I went to a friends for play time. Then a park with a sprinkler...then grocery shopping...than McDonalds...What am I trying to do to myself for the love of god? Waaayy to much in one morning after my 2 beer hangover! In other news,
*I got my haircut 3 inches shorter and people can't tell. Odd...
*Received Lucy's pre-preschool information in the mail yesterday and I almost cried because I can't believe she is going to "school" in 3 weeks.
*Tommy doesn't like to sleep during the day anymore.

Talk About It..Talk About It....Talk About Moo-hoo-ving....

She may begin her motivational speaking career at 26 months...

"These bubbles are amazing!"

"Who is my husband?" "Daddy is YOUR husband."

"Oohh...it's not working today...it needs batteries, Mom."

"Maybe just a liiiiittle bit, Mom?"

"Mom? Where is her? I mean she?"

"Do you like this song Mom? I like this song! Do you know this one Mom?"

"Scout licked me! Awww...Scouty gives me kisses!!"

And the best one yet, after I told her to grab her friend Jack's hand to come play in the sandbox..."Hi Jack! (grabbing his hand) Want to play with me? Want to go see the sand Jack? Come over! Come over Jack!"

Obnoxious Bragging Alert Yet Funny Story: Another mother watching this says to me, "How old is she? Three?" I respond, "No, she was two in June...but she is being hired out as the welcoming committee to this playgroup." Mother gives me blank stare...

The "New" Normal is Going Well!

Summer 2006 has really surprised me. We have done a TON of fun things...way more than I thought we would, based on the current situation. I guess when I was up worrying at 3 a.m. during my second pregnancy, I envisioned us in lockdown or something. I just had a hard time imagining how we would do things or get into a "new" routine. Or maybe I just didn't know what Tommy would be all about, like maybe he'd be a colicky baby who was not good on the go. Or I would always be exhausted because of no sleep. Oh, don't be mistaken - I am exhausted, but not from little sleep. It is from my fourth rendition of a dance routine that Lucy has taught me. I don't know why I worried about this - in reality, everything has been easier than I imagined it would be with two very little kids. Looking back on how the past 5 months have gone, I am pretty happy with it all. I am excited that we have used our pop-up camper. I am glad we have done the road trips we have done (even though my head almost exploded with two of them). I am glad we did the week up north with my family and it wasn't as hard of work as I thought it might be. I am glad the kids and I get out almost every day and do something fun. I am proud that Lucy has basically shown nothing but love for "brother Tommy." I am proud of the new friends I have made through play group and that has really enhanced my daily life. We are headed on our second camping trip this weekend - should be a great time with some friends and Matt's family. More good times ahead. And to that I say, WHOOOO! And so does magical, adorable, rice cereal loving, ridiculously cute, large headed, still liking to get up once a night to eat, chubby thighed, 5 months old on Thursday Tommy!!!

After 2 hours of Playtime..I mean, Naptime...

she managed to get her entire room into her toddler bed and crash....

Baby Got Back!

I ran the lake this morning again with the kiddos. I suspect I walked about 1 mile of the almost 5 miles. Maybe even a little less. I am thinking about signing up for a 5K in September. I am also wishing I had an iPod to help me get through the run. Anyone up for sponsorship for a poor stay-at-home mother? Or maybe I can convince Matt I need an early Christmas present. Anyway, so in total, I have burned well over 1500 calories via exercise with one more day to go this week. I am also breastfeeding every day, all day - that's another 2100 calories a week at the very LEAST. So there you have it...3600 calories out the door at minimum. I am not eating too much. O.k...pehaps I have enjoyed my share of ice cream this summer (ha!) but everything in moderation. Here's the kicker: I have lost ONE POUND in 6 weeks. Why Lord why?? oh sweet Lord I am losing the motivation. Matt tells me my body has changed and looks leaner. Perhaps it's the lean muscle I have gained that is causing me to stop losing. Or perhaps it's the breastfeeding...last time I "capped out" on weight loss for a while until I was done. For whatever reason - it is ANNOYING!
In other news, we are headed to my hometown this weekend to see some high school friends and their kids. Should be good times - I haven't seen them in a very long time. It is a given that we will laugh about things and people I haven't thought about in a good 10 years or so. I also get to pet my old cat I had to give away to my friend and that will be joyful. It is also a given that they will bring up a variety of dorky things we did in high school because I was, in fact, really dorky. Sometimes when I get around these friends, I feel a disconnect between the person I was and the person I am today. We don't chat or stay connected enough these days to know each other very well in our "current life." So they see me as the person I was in 1992. I mean, that's fine and all. Don't get me wrong...I still enjoy kicking it with a little Tone Loc on the radio and meeting you at the local McDonalds for an extra value meal post-basketball practice. It's just that now I have a few more things going on. And thinner eyebrows.

Better Watch Your Back at the Grocery...

My friends and I laugh lately at how "bold" some of us are becoming in our 30's. Meaning, we have a tendency to not take a lot of crap from people anymore and you stop the appeasing of others at all times. For example, I used to be a big "yes person." I used to tell people I would do things, even when I didn't want to. I would make a decision so as to "not hurt other people's feelings." I am getting over that. This isn't to say we are all becoming bitchier. Just more honest about our feelings instead of sugar coating. My friend and I have this phrase we laugh at. "O.k. well if we are being perfectly honest here..blah blah..." or "You can be perfectly honest with me..." I think it's hilarious, actually, and I like feeling like I have control of what I do and don't do these days.
But sometimes it can go wrong. Very wrong...For example, I can sometimes open up a can of whoop ass on random people in the grocery store parking lot. Yesterday afternoon I had to run out to get diapers with 10 minutes to spare. I was pulling out my SUV from a parking lot and this woman was standing there with her grocery bags. She was waiting to see where I was going and I was waiting for her to move. She just continued to stand there so I backed out and kept it moving. As I passed her, she was giving me this angry and shocked look about one foot from my car, clearly appalled by my actions. All of a sudden I found myself rolling down the window and I said to her face in a flat voice, "Seriously? You're THAT mad about it?" and I sped off! hahahaha...she was stumped by me as I drove away. Who the hell do I think I am? Secretly, it felt really good to call her out on her outlandish reaction. Oh well...I was just being perfectly honest. :)

Birth Stories

As mentioned, I am really trying to use this blog as a "mother's journal" of sorts, as well as an outlet for thoughts and daily activities. For recording purposes, I wanted to share my "birth stories" for both kids, while the details of the experiences are still in my mind. Sorry if some details are TMI, but I thought (especially Lucy) would want to know all the dirty details someday.
Lucy's Birth Story:
Friday, June 4th, 2004: Doctor visit in the morning - membranes stripped. Minor contractions from 4 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 5th, 2004: Contractions off and on all day...do a lot of walking. Start to get a little stronger at 10 p.m. but able to fall alseep.
Sunday, June 6th, 2004: Wake up abruptly at 3:30 a.m. and have to bend over bed to get through contractions. Coming 3-5 minutes apart, call doctor and head to hospital. At hospital at 5 a.m. Checked and am already dialated to 6 centimeters! Takes a LOOOOONNNGGG time for the epidural to get there (maybe 1.5 hours after I requested it?). Work through the contractions by leaning over bed and breathing HARD through them. Nautious...not sure I will survive the next one. Matt is counting down as they go away. Always were about 3-5 minutes apart and I always felt like I had a decent break between them. FINALLY - the epidural arrives. Dialated to 8 centimeters and doctor breaks water. 1.5 hours later - ready to push!! Push for 50 minutes. Was quite nautious during pushing - kept throwing up during and it REALLY helped with pushing!!! Lucy arrived at 9:26 a.m. Happy Birthday little girl!!! I was due June 1st - Lucy was 5 days late.

Tommy's Birth Story:
Week of March 8th: Contractions begin off and on every day for about a week. Never seem to have a rhythm to them. Doctor visit says I am 2.5 centimeters dialated and 85% effaced. Doctor says labor could begin any minute! Wait and wait for something to begin. Almost head to the hospital 2 times that week!!
Friday, March 17th, 2006: Contractions begin at 12 Noon and seem to feel a little "different," with just a little more oomph to them and a little more regularity. Contractions continue until 3 p.m., and start to feel a little stronger so we head to hospital at 5 p.m. At check in, already dialated to 5 centimeters! The nurse reassures us that we are, indeed, having a baby today (thank god)! Once again, we wait wwwaaaayyy to long for that epidural to arrive (maybe 2 hours after I requested it?!!). Still not beyond 5 centimeters so they give me some pitocin and break my water to get things going faster. The contractions were never as strong as they were when I was waiting for my epidural with Lucy. I was always able to breath through them and only got out of bed to bend over for just the last one before the drugs arrived. Also, they were never more than 5 minutes apart, all the way to the pushing phase - odd and not exactly "textbook." About 2 hours later, I have that nautious feeling and tell Matt "I think something is different - maybe I am going through transition?" They check again, and sure enough I am 8 centimeters! 30 minutes later Dr. Luce arrives, and we are pushing. Only 5 contractions and 10 minutes later - little Tommy arrives at 11:15 p.m. - just in the nick of time for St. Patrick's Day and 45 minutes before his "due date" of March 18th!

Early Morning Dates...

Lately, Tommy has usually been sleeping until 7:30 a.m. or later...but this morning he was up at 6:30 a.m. He does this every now and then. I actually enjoy when he is my human alarm clock. I love to sneak into his room and be his first smile of the morning. I swoop him up and we head downstairs for our special morning time together. He patiently sits on the couch staring at me while I let the dog out and get myself that first, fantastic cup of coffee. Once we settle, I will feed him and change him. Then, he sits with me and we smile and talk to each other. Sometimes I sing to him or read him a book. Sometimes I just lay down with him on a blankie and let him play with my hair. Sometimes he just sits in my lap, with his arm around me like he is hugging me. It is the greatest thing in the world and I find myself thinking - soak up every minute of this. It's hard, only 2 years later, to remember Lucy at this age. That's why I try and write a lot of the daily "stuff" down on this blog - so I don't forget and so they can read it someday. I was telling a friend last night, that when Lucy was 0-3 months, time seemed to crawl by. Maybe because it's not my most favorite baby stage. Or maybe it was because she was a non-efficient breastfeeder and I spent most of that time on a couch. Or maybe because I didn't know yet how quickly that phase is gone. Regardless, I can't believe Tommy is almost 5 months old. I find myself doing the opposite now - willing time to slow down and for this stage to never pass. While I've never thought of myself as a real "baby person" (whatever that means), I'm confident with babies now and know all Tommy's signals, needs, likes, dislikes, etc. I want the baby phase to go on and on because Tommy is my last baby. I want to always remember these mornings when he was so in love with me and I loved getting woken up too early to have our special dates.

How to Pull at My Heart Strings...

Look at me with your chubby little body, huge brown eyes and smiling, innocent face and say, "Play me mom? Play me?"

Yes Luce..whatever you want...forever and ever...

A Shout Out to the Mothers

I have always been a fairly athletic person (minue the college years). I have tested my body in different ways throughout my life via sports, have gained and lost a large amount of weight, etc. I have loathed about not being happy with my body countless times, and really been happy with how it has looked a few times as well. However, I have never had the respect for my body as I do now and what it has done for me in the last 28 months. Not only myself, but various friends I have who have become mothers. Some of my friends casually mention they have 3 kids. Do you KNOW what your body has to go through to carry 3 kids? Another girlfriend is running a marathon next summer. She has two small children and is planning to have her third sometime fairly soon. I see moms on the beach this summer with "war scars" - the stretch marks and loose belly skin. I see moms in my neighborhood daily, running the 4.5 mile loop around the lake like it is nothing. I have friends who have breastfeed their babies back to back between pregnancies for 3+ years. As I was running into my 3rd mile on a morning last week, pushing 45 lbs. in 85 degrees, I have to admit I felt proud of myself. Also, shocked - because if you had told me 6 months ago I would be doing that, I wouldn't have believed you. In 28 months, I have grown two babies, delivered them, gained and lost 40 pounds twice, and breastfed kids for over 12 months, with more to go. A woman's body is truly amazing. And what mother's do physically to create these kids and keep pushing forward after, is also amazing. Really, being a mom is kind of like joining a secret club that unless you've experienced it, it's hard to truly get it all. But once you do it, I think you must gain respect for all mothers and what they put their bodies through.

So much to be thankful for this glorious day!

Tommy slept from 9:30 p.m. - 6:40 a.m. THANK YOU JESUS! Perhaps an end is in sight. Oh, who are we kidding...I say that every time. :)

It's Wednesday, which equals babysitter morning out for Mom! With no plans! And no children! I have prepared Lucy accordingly...this seems to help with the send off. She is expecting cereal when I return. She likes me to recap what I am doing while I am gone. I think in her little mind, it helps her understand why I am leaving "for the store." It reassures her that I am coming back, because I have promised to bring her back things. Just a hunch, I am no expert.

The heat is supposed to come down a little starting tomorrow afternoon...perhaps I can finally take the kids out into the world again and we can all stop breathing in conditioned air for days at a time.

Sainthood I Say!!!

Hi..I'm Tommy the Amazing...my random parents can leave a burp cloth IN my Halo sleep sack OVERNIGHT, in which I LAY ON IT from 9 p.m. - 7:30 a.m. and AM NOT EVEN MAD ABOUT IT. My random parents don't even catch wind of their mistake until it's diaper changing time at 8 a.m. What is this family I have been born into....
In other news, holy crap I can't believe it's already August!