Fruit & Flower Anniversary Gift

A 4 year wedding anniversary gift can be about Fruit & Flowers.

I bought a basket and loaded it full. I added fresh fruit--blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, apple, oranges, bananas, avocado and a mango. A bag of dried apple chips. A container with dried fruit. A fruit juice. Two kinds of fruit cookies.

Then I added all these great organic products with a fruit or flower in them. Two body washes. Lotion. Two shave gels. A toothpaste. Three soaps. Chapstick. A body cream.

Plus 1 cilantro plant and a bow!



I made a similar one for my niece's birthday tomorrow. I used a big sand bucket and added lots of outside toys. Chalk. Bubbles. Fishing rod. Goggles. Float. Beach Ball. Balls. Shovel. Rake. Watering Can.

Happy Anniversary to the Best Man Ever!

~My Husband~





Yesterday was my birthday and I turned 34 years young. I spent the day with my sister! She made me oatmeal pie which was YUMMY! Secretly I think everyone is trying to make me gain weight. 1) The Ice Cream Cake. 2) The Chocolate Cake. 3) The Oatmeal Pie.

My Husband loves his anniversary gift. For 4 years of marriage the "theme" is Flowers and Fruit. I took a picture of his gift. I made it all by myself and I will post the picture when I transfer them over. Anyway...this supermom has lots to do today! Adios. :)

Unknown Object Found!!!

I have heard rumors of its existence. That it can only be seen for a brief moment then it is gone! It was totally amazing seeing such a rare thing. I feel so blessed to have been there right at that moment because it was only there for a brief moment.

Breast milk has a shelf life?

~actual conversation last night with my almost 78 year old grandmother whose pastime/hobby is to worry about things. Even if she has to come up with something to worry about.~

Mamaw- I don't think Baby M is growing. I think you should take her to the doctor and start giving her something else.

Me- She is just fine and growing just fine. I spoke to the my doctor last week at my check up and they agreed with me. A mother knows her baby.

Mamaw- You are older now and your breast milk may not be as good as it used to be.

AMUSED LAUGH HERE.

Isn't she just adorable? My mamaw that is.

I will add that Baby M has outgrown newborn diapers and now into a size 1 so my breast milk must have a long shelf life.

Mom Gets Caught Naked!

Picture if you will.

I am in the bathtub naked. My husband is in there with Lil O because she is using the potty. Then here comes H carrying Baby M.

Is there a convention in my bathroom and I didn't get the memo?

~insert gentle humorous smile here~

Number 1 Madonna Fan!

~Listening to her new CD debating if I am going to buy tickets to her Atlanta, GA show in November. They go on sale next week.~

Zoloft returns the favor?

Good Morning! I am sitting here enjoying a warm cup of coffee while Lil O is playing in the background. The sun is shining and ummm it's almost Friday?

Yesterday I got out of the house again. I had to go for my after the baby checkup. I was supposed to go last week but I was sick and had to change it. I stepped on the scales! You ready to hear?
Starting weight-- About 130
Weight I went to hospital to have baby April 15-- 182
Weight I left the hospital 4 days later-- 170
5 weeks after having a baby-- 156!!!!

Not bad at all. I feel great and think I look awesome! I know my boobs weigh much more because of being pregnant and now nursing. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

She asked me how I was and I told her the Zoloft helped A LOT!!!!!!!! I told her my kids like me again. She said something great after that and I told her I was going to use it.

She said, "They have always loved you. Now you just love them back!". HA HA HA HA How true.

Everything went well with my checkup EXCEPT for some strange reason my body wasn't dissolving a few stitches from my cesarean. So she had to take three out! OUCH OUCH OUCH!!! SO, now everything should heal nicely and etc...

After that and nursing the baby a couple times while O drove everyone at the office silly, I headed to Target. Might as well punish myself a bit more by taking my 2 youngest kids to a store all by myself. Hey, why not? I am SUPERMOM!

Lil O thought she would scream the first few aisles wanting everything is sight. Making people stare and such. Like I care. Right? So I stopped and said in a very loud voice for EVERYONE to hear. "You're crying doesn't bother me!" She stopped so I continued to shop.

Since the shopping trip went off rather well and I wasn't ready to head home I called my mamaw to meet me for lunch. So we did and it was yummy!

I made it home, took a nap, then my two oldest kids got home from school.

The End. :)

5 weeks old this week. Smiling without the help of gas now. Such a TREAT!!







Making a funny face.



Laughing.



Another funny face.



Smiling.



Okay, enough!! FEED ME!!

Hmm, I wonder...

If I doubled my cough syrup the codeine would make me sleep?? As you can tell I am still sick. I did go to my doctor yesterday and was told I have a respiratory infection. Given the Z pack and a cough syrup. I hope to feel better before my company gets here on Monday. My MJ and her handsome husband are coming back up to stay a few days. They always come up end of May for my birthday (May 29) and anniversary(May 30). She is making me a birthday cake she said. YUMMY!

I overheard a conversation the other day and have been meaning to share it. Lil O and her dad were in the kitchen and I was resting in bed.

O-I want a cookie.
HB-You have to eat first.
O-I want a cookie.
HB-You have to eat first.
Lil O walks away I am guessing then comes back and says, "FINE". ha ha I imagined her with her hands on her hips as she said that.

Then yesterday we were talking about something and she said, "That sounds like a plan". I am always saying that to the kids. Sooo, she has picked that up from me. Plus, now when she gets mad at me she will say, "You are not my best friend anymore" or "You are mean". My favorite is, "You are bossy mommy". Oh well, I cannot make everyone happy all at ONE time I suppose.

My "baby blues" are much better. The Zoloft has taken the edge and anxiety away. That makes me happy.

Today Moon Pie is 5 weeks old, pictures will come later or tomorrow. Also I will post pictures of Saturday. Me and Lil O planted some beautiful flowers outside in some pots. She picked out red, purple, pink and yellow flowers for us to plant. :)

Okay, I am going to drown my sickness with codeine and relax until I have to do something.

I thought it was Spring?

Then why are we having to use the heat still?

Nothing new going on in my house. I am still SICK!! I think it is day 8! I did call my doctor today and they are going to see me at 4. I said, "Please don't make me come in. I just had a baby and all I need is an antibiotic.". My begging didn't help. I guess she saw that I hadn't been to see my doctor in about 2 years. I haven't needed to see him. Plus the past 10 months I have been seeing my OB.

So this means I have to get dressed. Get both babies dressed and go to my doctor. You know this is much more complicated than it sounds. It will go like this. Shower. Nurse the baby. Put lotion on. Change a diaper. Give Lil O a snack. Nurse the baby. Try to put makeup on. Clean up Lil O. Nurse the baby again! Try to fix what hair I have. Change a diaper and put Lil O on the potty. Then probably change one of the girls clothes. Find me something to wear. Feed the baby. Plus, you know once I get down into the basement one girl will need a diaper change or the baby will want to nurse. I see all the mothers nodding in agreement with me on this one. A never ending cycle.

My mamaw is getting the two oldest from school and keeping them until I get home. I hope I can get in, see the doc, get a script and head home all in an hour. Don't laugh at me. I am sure it happens maybe once every 5 years. Here's to this being my year of a quick doctor's appointment.

Okay, I must start the above schedule. I am going to try and eat lunch first then shower. I hope that everyone has a lovely Monday.

On a Roll Today.

~Breastfeeding the baby, taking a shower before noon and skipping breakfast.
~Wearing maternity jeans and your nursing bra. $40.00
~Going to the grocery store. $140.81 (including Oreo's)

Leaving your children with your sister for less than an hour to leave the house ALONE. PRICELESS!!!!!!!
Bonus: Making it home with a dry shirt.

Guess you can tell what I did yesterday. After that we even went out to lunch. OUT as in getting in the minivan and driving to a restaurant that waited on us hand and foot. That kind of OUT!!!!!

I have a few different things I want to blog about today and going to do it all in one blog instead of several.

Yesterday was the 15th. That means Moon Pie is ONE month old. Time flies when you don't get much sleep.

It has been a great month. We are completely and totally in love with Baby M. We were before we even left the hospital. Now that we are home and life is trying to settle down I am enjoying every moment with her. She is such a snuggle bunny. She loves to snuggle and be all wrapped up in a warm blanket. Since she shares our bed I get to snuggle with her all night long. She loves that as much as I do!!!!! She will root around until she finds me then she goes right back to sleep. Baby M has more awake periods now. She loves to look around and explore the big world around her. She also enjoys her bath time. With me or without me. She loves to be rubbed down with lotion too!! She is really such a joy and wonderful baby girl. We are truly blessed!!! Now if we could get Lil O to not be jealous then life would be fabulous!!!!

May 15, 2008 Happy ONE month Birthday To You! Snuggle Bunny Moon Pie :)







Isn't she the most beautiful baby you have ever laid your eyes on????

Okay, moving on. I am still sick!! I hate being sick!! When I started feeling bad earlier on in the week I had a conversation with my mamaw. She is from the way old school and not sure about all this fancy stuff in 2008. Well even before 2008. She thinks computers are evil. She cannot work the VCD/DVD player STILL. Following me? Here's a REAL conversation we had.

Me- I am getting sick.
Her- With?
Me- Whatever the kids had I guess. I feel icky!
Her- Now the baby will get it?
Me- I doubt it.
Her- No, she will get it from your milk.
Me- Umm, no it doesn't work that way.
Her- It doesn't?

Noooo, it really doesn't work that way. If anything Baby M is being protected from the breast milk she is getting to fight off the cold I have. It's interesting how people were taught long ago and some of the things that come out of their mouth. I love her so freaking much that she can be comical to me. She can rub others the wrong way but it's just because they haven't had the chance to know her the almost 34 years that I have. ha ha

Next! Calling number 4 !!!



See the above picture. I call it Evidence Picture #1. See the little flecks of white against the hardwood floor? Blow the picture up if you have too. This is what I woke up to this morning just in MY BEDROOM. In one confined little piece of floor beside the bed. Want to know what it is????? My HB's DOWN BOOTIES THAT ARE OVER 30 YEARS OLD!! That's what it is!! ~Insert lots of cuss words here!!~ I even bought him a BRAND NEW PAIR for Christmas. I am sick and tired of picking up these feathers. I have been fussing at him for a long time about the feathers. He doesn't see it as a big deal but his anal OCD wife wants to throw the damn things in the lake that is beside our house! I am going to warn the down booties now! You better run and hide little down booties. Your days are numbered!!!! Better cower under the bed or in the closet because when I get my hands on you--DIE DOWN BOOTIES DIE!!! I am going to get B2 to make me a noose so I can give them a SLOW and painful death. I'll post that picture too!

Whew, okay I feel better. They are going to DIE though. Just you wait and see.

I watched Grey's Anatomy last night. Too bad the season finale is next week. It feels like it just came back on after the writer's strike. BUMMER!

Okay, TGIF! Have a lovely weekend. Party hard or get lots of rest. Whatever works for you.

Mom, you need to look fancy.

Have I really let myself go? Do I look that bad? I know after I take my bath I just put on clean pj's. I DID just have a baby 4 weeks ago! ~insert sobbing here~

Nahh, it is all in good fun. I was sitting on the couch nursing the baby when Lil O walked up and said, "Mom, you need to look fancy.". Then she put a few bracelets on my wrist. So, is that all it takes? A few bracelets? If I had only known I would have been wearing a few and even splashing some perfume on my neck! Or I could of put on my "fancy" pj's. Yanno, my flannel ones. Or wear my silk robe. ha ha

I am glad my 3 year old gave me the mini make over today. I really needed it. If you don't already have a 3 year old, get one. Borrow one if you have too! (You just cannot borrow my 3 year old.) They are COOL!!!

Four Weeks Old

My 3 Year Old Does Love Me After All.

Lil O was doing a great job adjusting to the new baby for the first TWO weeks then it went crazy after that. She is hitting and not listening. I am trying to be very patient with her and try to understand how she feels with this new crying machine in the house. Something that has to be held 22 hours of the day. Something that requires MOST of the attention. Something that takes the attention off her. I would hate to be the 3 year old in this house and try to figure out what is going on. Add to that a mommy going through "baby blues" and trying a medication for that. I admit, she has seen me cry, seen me angry and seen me not really care. I am much better though. I haven't raised my voice and I haven't spanked her. Except for Sunday. I spanked her then. She was a terror when we went out for breakfast and when we got home I did spank her. I told her I was so I had too.

I whispered to Lil O that she was my favorite big girl. She said, "That makes me happy". Well, it makes me happy too. I love my Lil O more than I could ever describe to anyone. Like I love all my children. All my children bring all these great different things to the table of our life. Without all these different things, life would be so boring. It is great to see them enjoy life and what it has to offer.

I breastfeed in public. No biggie.

I am a big supporter of breastfeeding! BIG BIG!! I have breastfed all of my children. My oldest daughter will be 14 in June and she nursed for 2 years. My son nursed for over a year. Lil O nursed for over 2 years. Now I am breastfeeding the new baby (who will be 4 weeks old tomorrow, sniffle). It is such a special time to bond with my baby and give her the best nutrition she can get.

I bring this up because I have always breastfed my children in public. I have never cowered in the bathroom or the car to nurse them. They have to eat just like everyone else and they eat where I am. I am very polite about it. I don't just pull my boob out and feed her. I always make sure I am well covered. Trust me, there is a polite way and the "OMG do you see what she is doing" way. So anyway this afternoon we stopped to eat at Earth Fare. A grocery that has a YUMMY bar during the day. Moon Pie woke up in the line and was ready to eat! I sat in the booth and nursed her as I was eating my dinner as well. No harm and I didn't flash any innocent bystanders.

Breastfeeding is such a natural and beautiful thing. I LOVE BREASTFEEDING!!!! Breastfeeding ROCKS!!!!!! Anyway... I just wanted to share my love for breastfeeding and talk about nursing your baby in public.

With the kids being sick and coughing and spreading THEIR germs around the house is was bound to happen. I am starting to get sick. I woke up from my nap with a scratchy throat and now I feel all icky. I popped some cold meds and made a cup of HOT coffee to ease my achy body. Moms aren't supposed to get sick. Who will take care of everyone else if we cannot??? I have Moon Pie in the wrap and she is snug as a bug in a rug. I love this thing. Lil O is in her pj's playing around the house. My HB is watching Top Gear on the couch. I hope he doesn't get sick as well. Then there would be no one to take care of me!!! And that is what it is all about! ha ha

I am supposed to go to the doctor for my 4 week check up tomorrow. So she can check out my cesarean scar and make me step on the scales. I picked up a nice thank you card for her to enclose a picture of her holding Moon Pie. I am also picking up her a gift tomorrow from this neat place downtown. They have great bath things. It is also a spa. My HB always gets me bath products there on special occasions.

Here is a photo taken on Mothers Day with all my four children. We had just got home from eating breakfast out and had put our pj's back on. Yes, I look tired. I am. Plus, I did just have a baby a few short weeks ago.



I took this later on during the day. I love this picture.

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there!

Such a beautiful day in my neighborhood.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the rabbits are digging holes in the backyard. I took a picture of the wild rabbit digging a hole under the kitchen window. Cute little bunny.

I have been taking is E A S Y today since my husband is home. Which meant I got a couple extra hours of sleep. Which I needed in a bad way.

Lil O is sick. Baby M just got her FIRST real bath today. No pictures of that because I was in the tub with her. Next time though. HB is taking H and B2 to see Iron Man sometime today.

My husband and kids are taking me out to breakfast in the morning for Mothers Day. I wonder what time we will actually make it out the door once all 6 of us get ready. ha ha The adventures of leaving the house with 4 children. I am sure it doesn't even compare to getting 17 children out of the house though. Soon to be 18 I just read. Someone give me the happy pill she is taking please!!!! We know she has to be on something to continue to pop babies out. Oh I forgot she isn't taking anything to stop having them. Silly me. I promised I would be nice and not call her crazy. I am going to keep that promise and be sure to not call her crazy in this blog.

Okay, Happy Mothers Day to the moms out there!

May 9, 2008

What it really means to us. Another regift.

(I wrote this years ago and post it every Mothers Day.)

What Mother’s Day means to all women, young and old. Before you dismiss or put this special day in line think about what it means.

This is a day for all Mothers to be celebrated for the life we have brought into this world. (After all without us you wouldn’t have your little bundle of joys.) For all the noses we have wiped and said it will be all right. For all the times we have bathed our children and tucked them in at night. For reading that story just one more time. For feeding and wiping off the walls 100 times because food has been thrown. For never wearing clean or ironed clothes ever again. For all the advice we have given and the advice not yet shared.

Being a Mother isn’t always easy. Once the ‘Oh my GOD!! I’m pregnant!!’ wears off; reality begins. We carry a baby for 9 long months. We gain 50+ pounds and feel like crap. We are nauseous and throw up. We don’t sleep. It’s hard for us to get around. Our slender figure a distant memory. Our doctors poke on us all the times and we feel like a pin cushion.

Then to our delight our labors are long or we have major surgery. Yes, we are thrilled to finally have our baby. The alien taken from our body. Then we have weeks ahead of us to recuperate. We have a period for 6-8 weeks. We have fluid dripping from some part of our body the whole time.

The only clothes we can wear are the ones we wore while pregnant. We go through our closet hoping to find that one piece of clothing we can squeeze into. And even though the little alien is out of our body we cannot help from feeling that we are from another world. As the weeks pass. And life is calming down. We still have a baby attached to our boobs and stinky diapers to change. With 30 extra pounds we finally just went and bought some ‘big’ clothes just to say we aren’t wearing those damn maternity clothes anymore. NO MORE ELASTIC BANDS AROUND OUR WAIST!!

Then we have the rest of our lives to take care of these little people. We clothe them. Feed them. Play with them. Take them to school. Help with homework. Send them to their room. And we most of all, LOVE them unconditionally for the rest of their lives.

One day we may even hold them to cry. One day we walk them down the aisle. Watch our grandchildren be born. One day we celebrate them being a Mother on Mother’s Day. (Father on Fathers Day) So, to all the Mothers out there: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!! May this day bring you all the happiness you deserve being the great woman you are.

After all we are Mothers. (And perhaps feel like we aren’t appreciated at times. We take care of our children not because it’s a job. We do it because we love them and want to take care of them.) So before you put our special day in order of it’s importance make sure you really know what it means to all Mothers, young and old. Anyway wouldn’t you rather celebrate a day you gave life than a day you turn one year older?

3 Weeks Old

Such BEAUTIFUL feet.