Monday Musings

Whew!!

I just need a weekend to recover from my weekend!! I am still exhausted!

Friday I only worked a half a day. When I (finally) left the office at 1:30, I had ton's of errands to run. First I went to the Christian book store to get something for Emily for her baptism, then I went to the party store to get the rest of the birthday party decorations, then I went to another party store looking for a ladybug balloon, then to Sams, then to Publix (our local grocery store) to get all the food. I didn't get home till about 5:30 after traipsing all over town.

Came home, unloaded alllll my stuff, and went to work on making Callie's birthday cakes. Yes. Cakes...plural. I had to bake them, make the frosting, color the frosting, wait for the cakes to cool, then get to decorating them. I was up till 2:00 in. the. morning! Thankfully, Shelbie and Cassie, my friend and neighbor, decided to hang out with me. Oh! And have a frosting fight in the middle of the dining/living room! Good times!!

Saturday, I got up early...like 8:30am early. Colored my hair to get rid of my grays (yes...I have gray hair, and I've had gray hair since I was 16, if not before then. Guess I can't blame it on my kids! Shucks!) and then finished setting everything up. I was so glad that the majority of everything was done the night before!

Jeff's dad showed up first. We figured he wouldn't be coming, since he lives about 2 hours away, and isn't so youthful and spry anymore to drive that far. However, he called Friday night while Jeff was playing softball, to tell me that he was coming. I was SHOCKED! And so was Jeff for that matter. It was great to have him. My parent's showed up next, and it was like a domino effect after that. In a matter of no time, we had 33+ people in our home. I was running around like a mad woman!

I didn't want to dilly dally around, so at about 2:45, we all sang happy birthday to Callie, and she dug into her cake. It was great! We then opened presents, and that was about it! People hung around for awhile, and visited, and then left. I could finally breathe!!! And clean up. Again.

THEN...Jeff decided to order the UFC fight...and invite people over, which turned out great...because I didn't cook or do a thing, plus, they didn't come over until late...like 9:30 or so late. We said goodbye to our guests at 12:45am. Ugh!

Sunday was a day from...hell craziness. Up at 8:30 so I could fix something for dinner at on the grounds at church. My luck, it wasn't finished cooking! Grrr!! Got to church, had to find seats for the family, then get up to where Emily was getting baptized. What a beautiful experience to see so up close!

After church, we said good-bye to my parents and stayed for dinner. Got home in time for Callie to nap for 1 1/2 hours, and during that time, I got all the girls ready for our family portraits. What a chore straightening all the girls hair! Got all the way to the other side in town to the portrait studio...to find out that there was a TWO hour wait!! Uh...NO! Re-scheduled that appointment, went back to the other side of town, dropped Shelbie off at her Acteens group, went home for an hour, then back to Shelbie's ceremony.

Her youth group did several drama's, but my absolute favorite was done to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. Holy tears. I wish there was an easy way to explain it, or I had a video of it. It was the most touching thing I've seen in a very long time. I don't know how many dry eyes were in the building, but I'm not thinking many.

Then, when that was over at 7:30ish...we got to go home...and crash.

UPDATE:

Our friends daughter, K, will be having surgery on Thursday to have a shunt placed. While she does have Chiari Malformation, it was determined that the Chiari was a result of the fact that she actually has Hydrocephalus. So, if you are the praying kind, please say a prayer for this sweet little 5 year old, and her family, or send good thoughts and well wishes. She was at our house Saturday night, and you would never be able to tell that she has been battling headaches pretty much all of her young life. She was just as happy and silly as any typical 5 year old should be.

Wordless Wednesday My Baby Girl Is ONE, and quite the comic...

This is Callie's new "trick". She loves to stand at the back door, hollering for Patches, our Jack Russell, and then make faces at her. It's hilarious!!

For other Wordless Wednesday posts check out Wordless Wednesday HQ, 5 Minutes for Mom, and MomDot.

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Happy First Birthday Sweet Baby Girl

Today is Callie's first birthday. It absolutely blows my mind that it has been 365 days since I went into labor. It has been an amazing year, no doubt.

To my baby girl,

You have brought more joy into our family than you'll ever be able to imagine. You are what has tied this family together into a permanent knot. Your smiles, your giggles, your snuggles, your endless love.

You have Timmy tied around your little finger. Never in my life have I seen a 16 year old boy love a little baby as much as he loves you. He watches out for you, he plays with you, and cuddles with you. He throws you up in the air, till you get dizzy. He picks you up and consoles you if you get hurt.

I think Shelbie is on your other little finger. Whenever Shelbie is with us, you are on her hip. Or in her lap. Or she is on the floor playing with you. Or she's dressing you in one of your many outfits. She loves you like no other, and every time you see her, your little face lights up.

I know you are running out of fingers, but you've got Emily tied there too. She hoped and prayed and wished and begged for a little sister. And she got it! She loves taking baths with you. She loves helping feed you. She loves playing in the water outside with you. She is a great big sister.

Elayna is right along there with the others, tied right around your little finger. Whenever Elayna is with us, she can't keep her hands off of you! She loves playing peak-a-boo with you and taking you outside. She also loves to take baths with you, and help give you a bath.

Callie, you are one loved little girl.

Your Daddy and I hoped and prayed and wished for a baby...for many months...which turned into years. You were wanted so very much. When we found out we were pregnant, our dreams came true!

You have so many nicknames already! Daddy call's you 'Stink'. Not sure how that came about, but you give him the biggest grin when he calls you by that name. I will play with you and say "Callie Wallie doodle all day!" and get a grin. Callie Bug is another favorite.

You are always happy. Always.

You learned to walk at 8 1/2 months of age. You are blowing kisses and saying lots of words such as "dada", "mama", "duck", "dog-dog", and "duck". You're such a smart little girl!

There is a song that came out, years ago. Actually, when Emily was born, called "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. I hope and wish that you go through life feeling this way, and I hope you will always know that your Daddy and I will always be there for you.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leaves you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

I hope you dance

(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

We love you Callie. Happy First Birthday!!

Monday Musings

Welp, I'm officially the mother of an 11th grader, an 8th grader, a 4th grader, a 3rd grader and an almost one year old. Wow. Still baffles me every. single. day. Where is that pause button on life??

Emily and I got out of the house right on time, and made it to school in record time. While driving up to school, slowing inching forward in the traffic, we got into a debate as to me walking her in. At first yes, she wanted me too. The next, she didn't, and she held on to that decision. She said "just swing through the drop off area, and I'll get out." No big deal. Heh. Not so quick little lady. I won the debate. I got to walk her in, plus see Elayna before school, and Emily gave me a kiss good-bye in front of all her friends! Win/win!

We made it through school shopping on Saturday with no injuries or casualties and all the hair in my head. Thank goodness. I had Emily AND Callie with me, so that made it interesting for sure. We were able to find lots on new and cute clothes for her, as well as a couple of new pairs of sneakers. It's amazing to see how much she has grown (up) this summer!

Saturday evening we went to our neighbors for a fish fry and some fun. I so don't do fish, but I did eat the fresh scallops (yum!), hushpuppies, coleslaw, and fried green 'maters. Can you say holy coronary?! Callie loved the green tomatoes, scallops and hushpuppies too. Plus, some of my Pistachio Nut Cake. It was heaven! I think I should start posting some of my favorite recipes. Opinions?

Sunday was a very special day for Emily. She and I sat down with the children's director after church, because Emily wants to be baptized. It was such a special moment, hearing Emily talk about all that she has learned, and what she believes. I'm one proud Mama!!

The rest of the day was spent cleaning and doing nothing!

I'm so ready to get out of here, go pick up my girls and get home and hear how the kid's day went. I've already talked with Timmy and the conversation went something like this:

Me: How was school?

Timmy: It was ok.

Me: Why ok?

Timmy: Cuz it was school.

He's so funny, because I know when I get home, he will tell me all about it, and will have diarrhea of the mouth!

Jeff and I are going birthday shopping for Callie tonight. This should be interesting! Wish me luck!

And an update on our friends daughter. She was discharged from the hospital on Friday, and had a good weekend, albeit with a headache. The happy news is that she did start kindergarten today, as planned!! We were so excited to hear this!

Have a great week!

Friday's Freewrite and Friday Fragments

AND

• Countdown for school is now T minus 3 days, and all Emily has is a new backpack, and a new pencil case. She does NOT want to go shopping for new clothes. What kid does not like shopping for new clothes?! Yeah...that would be mine. Please say a prayer for me as I drag her around tomorrow!

• Hubby is out right now as I'm typing this up with Timmy doing his school shopping. I have received four phone calls from him within the last hour and half, excitedly telling me about the deals and steals he has manged to find. Never in my life have I heard my dear husband so excited about a deal! I think me and my couponing self is rubbin' off on him!
  

• Dear friends of ours have just learned of some very scary news. Their 5 year old little girl has been experiencing a rash of odd symptoms. Her eyes were starting to cross, and at times, would "stick". She began having headaches. She was throwing up. Her hearing was not what it should be. Lot's of scary things for such a little girl. Her doctor's admitted her to the hospital and ran a battery of tests on her, including a CT scan, MRI and a spinal tap. Just two nights ago they were told that she has Chiari Malformation.

• Chiari Malformation hits VERY close to home. Timmy, Jeff's oldest, also had Chiari Malformation. He underwent surgery at the very young age of 8 and since then, has no other problems. It was quite surreal, when Jeff and I were talking, waiting on his friends call, about the similarities of Timmy's symptoms and K's symptoms. He said they were eerily the same. Not long after our conversation is when we learned of the news. Jeff's friend has already come to him for advice and information, and we are so glad that we are able to be their for them, and their family, and that Jeff truly can relate to what they are going through. They were planning on waiting a few weeks to do the surgery so they could evaluate her, but as of this morning, it looks like surgery will be happening sooner than later. K is supposed to start kindergarten Monday, too. Not the way her parents were wanting to start her school year. If you are the praying kind, please say a prayer for her!
  

• I am in total denial. Total. I am in denial over the fact that my baby girl will turn one in just 5 days. Her party is planned for next Saturday and all I have is the cake pan I am using to make her ladybug cake. No list of the people that are coming. No food. However, I did order her plates, and napkins and such...but they still haven't arrived. And, I might add, that I am beginning to get a little apprehensive of all the people that will be there. Let's just say that it should be..."interesting."

• I'm also still wondering how Emily got to be in 4th grade. I know I'm not old enough to have a 4th grader!
  

• My new friend Stefany, who I've talked about before is starting to rake in the giveaways! She currently has two going on. One is for a Safe Sippy 2 and the other is for Break Pal. Check her out and let her know I sent ya!

For more Friday's Freewrite, go see Sarah over at Ordinary and Awesome, and while you're there hop over to Half Past Kissing Time for Mrs4444's Friday Fragments!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday ~~The end of the potatoes--finally!~~

It seems the past few Wordless Wednesday posts have been the theme of potatoes. It all started when Callie was caught dragging the bag of potatoes around. Then, she was caught enjoying said potatoes.

Friday, Shelbie and I were making dinner, and some how little Miss Callie snuck up the counter where Shelbie was peeling the potatoes, and pulled the edge of the bag that was holding said peeling's. The end result are as follows:

For other Wordless Wednesday posts check out Wordless Wednesday HQ, 7 Clown Circus, 5 Minutes for Mom, and MomDot.

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Giveaways!

A couple of my favorite bloggers are hosting some really neat giveaway's right now. I would love it (and so would they!) if you would stop by and check them out!

My friend Stefany, over at To. Be. Thode. is hosting a giveaway for the Safe Sippy 2. Be sure to check our her review, then head over to the giveaway. She has really easy entry requirements, and the cup would be perfect for your toddler!

The second giveaway is over at Mama Michie's Musings. Michaela is hosting the giveaway for author, Nicole O'Dell, who is personally one of my favorite bloggers. She is coming out with interactive books for pre-teens/teens. Michaela also has super easy entry requirements.

Thanks for showing your support!

Today

I'm normally not a 'church-y' kind of person. I've never been one to be very outspoken about my beliefs, and I'm certainly not the type to push my opinions/beliefs on someone else. With that being said, I want to assure my readers that I am not turning my blog into a preach-y type of blog. I just wanted to share a verse that really stood out to me on Sunday in church, that I think could potentially help others as well, and wanted to give credit, where credit is due. It was from the Book of Matthew 6:34,

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

When this was said, I turned to Jeff, as he was turning to me, and smiling. He has been telling me this for days/weeks/years now. I am the type of person that makes plans three months down the road, when I have no idea what will be going on. Or, will worry about something that is not going to happen for a few more days. I don't slow down enough to worry about TODAY, and the things I need to deal with head on, in the present day. I have so much that I should be taking care of today.

Like finances for instance. We make more than enough money to be able to pay our bills, plus have some leftover to save.

TODAY I need to figure out where it goes, and make a plan to keep track of it all. I think I will start with balancing my checkbook!

Another example. Callie's birthday. It is quickly approaching, no matter how hard I try to deny it.

TODAY I need to make my list of people that have RSVPed, food I will need to buy, and decorations I will need.

TODAY I need to order her plates/cups/napkins for her ladybug theme.

School shopping. HA! School starts in SIX days, and I have not done the first bit to prepare, let alone, buy.

TODAY I need to make my list of the supplies the kids will need, and clothes they will need.

I would like to call myself a procrastinator, but I don't know if I fit 100% into that category. I think I am in my own category.

I sometimes have the mindset that if I don't worry about it, or put it off for another day, it will take care of itself. It still isn't working out that way, and I feel it's high time to take care of it.

TODAY.

Monday Musings

Happy Monday! What a weekend we had! Nothing exciting, but enjoyable none the less.

This was the last weekend we had with all the kids before they go back to school. I still can't believe that the summer is over already!

Friday night, I made dinner while Jeff was at softball practice. Then, the girls and I played Last Word. It's quite an interesting (but fun!) time when you are playing with a 13 year old, who understands how to play, a 9 year old, who will blurt out anything (and I do mean, ANYthing) and an 8 year old who all of a sudden becomes shy. There were lots and lots of giggles which makes it all worth it, though.

Saturday, Shelbie went to the lake with her Acteens group, and had a great time. Sadly, though, she didn't get a chance to tube or water ski due to the typical Florida summer storms rolling in. Ugh! I hope that she get's another chance to go before the cooler weather starts. I remember learning how to ski at the age of 3, with training ski's. I wish I would have kept it up into my 'older' years!

Another really neat thing Shelbie and I talked about was the ceremony she is having on August 30th with her Acteens group. She wanted to make sure her Dad and I could attend, while she accepts her purity ring! This is important to her, and to us, for that matter. I love that fact that she is willing and most importantly, proud to show off an outward sign of intending to stay pure until marriage. I didn't have that kind of support, or even information about it growing up, and her Dad and I are so proud of her and the young woman she is becoming!

While she was out at the lake, and Timmy was working, I took the rest of the girls (Emily, Elayna, and Callie) to the local pool. When we left the house, the weather was perfect. The closer we got to the pool, the darker it got. We made it to the pool and paid the nominal entrance fee, still having hope the weather would hold up. Let me tell you...my little Callie is a fish! I had her standing on the side of the pool, and I was counting 1-2-3...jump! and she would jump into me, with the biggest smile ever! We did that for about 10-15 minutes then....thunder! The girls and I were so disappointed! I decided the least we could do was sit it out for a little bit, considering some of our storms last for literally 5 minutes, and then are gone. I bought the girls a snow cone, and we waited for the weather to clear up. No such luck. I had a few other errands to run, so we left the pool to do that, and headed home to grill out. Spent the rest of the afternoon/evening just relaxing.

Callie, Emily & Elayna waiting out the rain


Callie enjoying the water...while it lasted.

Sunday went by SO fast! It was the usual getting up and getting ready to go to church, but on top of that, I needed to get Emily to her Nana's an hour away, while at the same time, attend a meeting at church. Luckily, Jeff took Emily for me, while I attended my meeting. We just hung out the rest of the day until we went to a couple's house from church for a devotion/bible study time. Timmy was working, Shelbie was at Acteens, Emily was at her dad's and Elayna was with us, but was supposed to go back to her mom's at 6:00pm. She asked her mom if she could go with us so she could go swimming, and that's what she did! While the kids, and even some of the adults swam, we just hung out, talked with friends, made new friends, and chased Callie around the pool. She wanted in SO bad! I was able to find a swim diaper for her, and got her in the pool. About five, maybe ten minutes later...thunder. Is this a sign?

We had a great devotion/bible study. The morning's message was about God's goodness, and how important it is to recognize that in all aspects of your life, and how to teach your children about it. Something that Jeff and I need to work a bit harder on. We ended the night with faith, and how strong it is or isn't. Jeff and I need to work on that as well.

After we had dropped Elayna off at her mom's and we got Callie to bed, Jeff and I had an awesome conversation about God's goodness and our faith, and how it applies to our life. I love when we are able to have conversations about those types of "things" considering he and I were both raised Catholic, but I'm saving that for another post.

As I was reminded this weekend by Shelbie, today is my one year "anniversary" of sort's of my due date with Callie. The girl has a memory for dates like this! Kinda bittersweet thinking back a year ago, and remembering how big I was, and seeing now how big Callie is getting! I'd do it all over in a heart beat too!

Have a great week!!

You Capture Thursday

This week I am participating in You Capture from I Should Be Folding Laundry, and this weeks theme is motion. Check out I Should Be Folding Laundry for more awesome entries!

I will admit though, that the first picture is about a year old, but I love the bubbles coming up around Shelbie's face.

Now the picture of Callie was taken more than a week ago, but I've not been so good at uploading my pics, and wanted to get my foot in the door so to speak. I promise to start anew next week!

She was in a metal wash bin cooling off on a hot Florida summer day. Well, kinda. She was busy dumping out all the water!

**Side question** The last pic looks really noisy. Any ideas why? Or is it just me? It doesn't look like it in my CS4. :/

Wordless Wednesday Tater's Anyone?

Do you remember seeing my post where Callie is dragging around a 5 pound bag of potatoes? If not, it was this one. She has now put those taters to good use!




















For more Wordless Wednesday post, check out 5 minutes for mom.

Bloggy Award!

When I got to work this morning, and I logged in, I found this:



This super cool award is from Stefany over at To.Be.Thode . Her and I met several weeks ago, and became instant friends. I have spoken of her before, and about the crazy similarities we have. Thanks Stefany!!

I am supposed to list 5 obsessions I have and then tag 5 other people to do the same. Here goes nothin'!

1. Photography. I have always loved pictures, and taking pictures, and even back in the day, I took a photography class in 9th grade. And back in the day, I mean developing our own film, and pictures. No DSLR's for us! Just the good 'ol film SLR's. I take pictures of anything and everything. I have thousands of pictures stored on my computer right now. The only new obsession I need is to print my pics out! I'm so bad about that!

2. Helping woman to become informed about their birthing rights. After my not-so-great birth experience with Emily, I set out on a mission to become informed. For myself, for my husband, and for my unborn baby. The things I learned, and the people I met along the way have been life changing in the most beautiful way possible. And in turn, I was an active participant in Callie's birth, and called the shots. It was AMAZING!

3. My blog and reading blogs. With my blog, I mean the way it looks, or what I post on. And by reading blogs, I mean the amazing people I have been able to meet and get to know. I was always hesitant about becoming part of the "bloggy world" for reason's I'm not sure of, but I am SO glad I changed my way of thinking!

4. My family. My family is my heart and soul. The reason I get up in the morning. The reason I smile. I'd be lost without them!

5. Gator Football. Cause, you know, they are only THE BEST in the SEC, and heck, even nationally. Right?! And I am SO. STOKED. that the season will be starting in just a few short weeks! Woot!

Now, for tagging peeps. Let's see if I can manage 5. Ha!

Michaela over at Mama Michie's Musings. She is a total sweetheart, and has the most adorable one year old!

Tiffany over at Mama Hopes. Tiffany is a new blogger like myself, and I found her over at SITS. She JUST found out she's prego, after TTC for a long time.

Bobbi Janay over at When Did I Go From a Kid, to Grown Up? How TRUE is this title!? She has left me some super sweet comments, and I have been a REALLY bad blogger at commenting back on hers. But I am a faithful reader! Go check her out, and leave some love for her, and her adorable Ian.

Last, but not least, I'm giving this award to JustJingle. She is so super crafty, it makes me jealous! Seriously. I think most of my comments to her are something like "color me jealous" or "amazing". She rocks! And my vote is for you to check her out!

Ok...stuck at four. Guess this is a sign that I need to put myself out there more! Oy!.

iHeartFaces Photo Contest

For the first time ever, I have decided to join in over at iHeartFaces for their weekly photo challenge. It is such an awesome blog, that I could literally spend HOURS there! This weeks challenge is "Funny, Silly faces" and "Pets". Check them out!


Here is Callie at our friend, Claire's birthday party. I just love her little expression!

Monday Musings

Blech. Monday. Again.

It was a great weekend. Emily stayed home from her dads for the weekend, and Friday night we had the neighbors over for some fried chicken wings and some R&R. Their daughter Claire, played with Callie, till Callie couldn't take it anymore, and had to go to bed. Claire, on the other hand, partied on like a rock start till mom and dad decided it was time to go home.

Saturday, Jeff had the great idea of ordering the UFC fight, making a bunch of food, and inviting friends over. So, we cleaned all day Saturday, and ordered the UFC fight, and made a bunch of food. We had an AWESOME time, even though the end of the night get's kinda fuzzy for me. ;) I know it was fun though!

Sunday I got up and went to church (thankyouverymuch!) and left Jeff and Callie asleep in the living room. Starting Saturday, Jeff was starting to get a flare up of his Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), so he was not feeling good at all, and he was so swollen, it was scary. I hate when these flare-ups happen, because he sleeps so much, loses his appetite, and just looks like he doesn't feel well. He also hasn't had much luck with the medicines that are prescribed for RA, so we are battling that as well right now. And it doesn't help that on top of it all, he's one of the thousands that do not have health care. Nice, eh? We're working on that though.

Timmy, Shelbie and Elanya came back last night for their last week of summer at our house. The still have one more week at their mom's next week, but it's their (the girls) last week at our house. And that is so sad! I love having the full house at nights.

I've also been throwing ideas around for Callie's birthday party. I finally designed the perfect invite, and took the file to be copied today. I can't wait to see it in print! And it's SO hard to believe that she will be one in just 16 days! Totally crazy. We are doing a ladybug theme, and I already have the cake pan, I just need to decide if I'm going to do a traditional black and red ladybug, or a pink and black ladybug. What do you think?

I think that pretty much wraps up my exciting weekend. I hope everyone has a great week!

Friday's Freewrite and Friday Fragments

AND

This week, I'm joining Sara, over at Ordinary and Awesome, in her Friday's Freewrite, and Mrs. 4444's at Half-Past Kissing Time's Friday Fragments. It's been an interesting week for sure.

• Sunday night I started feeling icky. Like cotton shoved in your ears, puffy eyes, and swollen throat icky. Not how I wanted to start my week, fo sho!

• Monday morning I woke up not feeling so great, but I sucked it up, and got ready for work. Took Emily to her friends...and had to fly home. Work wasn't happening. I got home, called into work, and slept until 2:00. I don't know the last time I did that! I muddled through the rest of the day, picked up Callie and Emily, fed them some kind of slop, and got them into bed as soon as I could. Truthfully, the day was a blur.
  

• Tuesday. Oh, Tuesday. Tuesday was the day that I won the "Mother of the Year Award". No joke. I was up early (shockingly, considering I don't ever get up early), got Callie up, snuggled her into my bed, gave her a bottle, and I started to get ready for work. It's routine. Every. Single. Day. Except Tuesday. I was standing in my closet (like I do every morning), looking for something to wear. I'm not even 5 feet from my bed. Something told me to turn around. I turn around to see Callie taking a nose dive off of my bed. On to my laminate wood floors. Head first. All I remember is screaming, running towards her, trying to catch her before she hit the ground. She won. I scooped her up, as she was hysterically crying, and snuggled in the bed with her till she calmed down. Yeah. Just call me Numero Uno Mama. NOT. She had her a purty little shiner to show off at the baby-sitters. I. felt. like. shit. All day. Hell, I still do! See my purty award that I awarded myself? Heh.

• Tuesday still didn't get much better. I managed to drag my arse into the office, only to leave 30 minutes later for a doctor's appointment. I love it when the doctor looks in your ears, muttering "Ooooo, that's gotta hurt!" and "yuck!" I love it even more when the doctor looks in your throat and declares "Wow, your tonsils are so big and swollen (as I'm thinking...isn't that a little repetitive?) they are touching your uvula!" I felt like shouting "Yipp-eeee! Did I win a prize?" Hardly not. How many adults do know that still get double ear infections? And how many adults do you know need to have their tonsils out? None? Well, you do now! Loverly.

• I went back to work, after getting my prescriptions. Why? Hell, I don't know. I ended up leaving at 1:30 to go to the love of my life chiropractor to see if he could work some magic on my neck, considering the headache I had had for days. And magic he worked! I walked out of his office with my heart fluttering NO headache, and I could pop my right ear! Gross, eh? Went home and slept till hubby called me at 5:00 to go get the girls. Yeah...another night of blur.

• The rest of the week I have spent trying to feel better. And better I am feeling. Just in time for the weekend! Adult beverages here I come! Woot!

• This week I have also spent a lot of time getting to know an awesome gal. We stumbled on each others blog a few weeks back, and it's so amazingly weird how much we have in common. Not that I'm asking you to do the comparison...but just check her out! She's got a giveaway that's gonna happen soon...if you are so tempted with giveaways. You can find Stefany HERE. It helps that she's got some really cute kids too! Tell her I sent ya!

I'm still getting used to this here thing called a blogosphere...so don't be shy to say "hi" or give me suggestions. I would love 'em!

Happy Friday and have a GREAT weekend!

World Breastfeeding Week

If you were walking through the mall, or at a restaurant, and saw this, what would you do?

Would you stare in disgust?

Would you stare in delight?

Would you quickly look away?

Or would you even notice?

This week, August 1st-7th, marks World Breastfeeding Week. It is designed to promote the benefits and nutritional value of breastfeeding your child, and to do it with pride. Not embarrassment.

When I was 20 years old, I had my daughter, Emily. I was young and naive. I knew that I wanted to breastfeed, and knew that it would be best for my daughter. My mom breastfed my siblings and me, so I grew up with that being a norm for me. But, no one told me how hard it would be. And that, at first, it's not as natural as everyone makes it out to be.

I breastfed Emily for about 3 months. I didn't have the support of my now ex-husband, and his mother. He didn't understand why I wanted to do it, and his mom bugged me all the time to let her feed her a bottle. It was also very frustrating that when I would nurse Emily, it would take her forever. Literally, an hour to nurse, and she would then be hungry again shortly after she was done. It was a never ending, vicious cycle.

My best friend, Kristin, had a little boy a month and half older than Emily. At about 2 1/2 months or so, I would notice that he would stick his tongue out, and play with his tongue, but Emily never did. I made a mental note to ask her doctor at her next appointment about it.

By her 3 month check-up, the nursing wasn't working for us anymore. She was getting older, and wanting the milk faster, and no longer had the patience to nurse for an hour. I was getting frustrated right along with her. So, I made the decision to stop. It was not an easy decision for sure.

I explained all of this to her doctor. About how long it took to nurse, about her not playing with her tongue, etc. He took a look under her tongue, and noticed that she was tongue tied. Well, no wonder she was having such problems! She couldn't stick her tongue out, let alone suck to nurse. He performed a frenectomy, and as soon as she had that done, she sucked down a bottle in no time flat. Talk about heart broken! I made a promise to myself, and any future children I had, that that would be (almost) the first thing I checked for when they were born. And, whenever I knew someone that was having a baby, I made sure to tell my story to the pregnant mom. I didn't want anyone else to go through what I had.

Fast forward eight years later.

When I was pregnant with Callie, I expressed my concern to her future pediatrician. She promised me that she would look to make sure she wasn't tongue tied.

When Callie was born, things were different from when I had Emily. Callie was placed on my chest after she was first born, and I was able to nurse her within a few minutes of her birth. I could tell from right then she wasn't tongue tied. Her pediatrician also confirmed that she wasn't.

But it still wasn't easy. Or natural.

At first.

It took lots of work. Lots of tears. And lots of sleepless nights. It even took a trip to the ER when she was 4 days old, because she was spitting up blood. Blood from my nipples.

I can happily say that our breastfeeding relationship lasted a beautiful eight months, until my PCOS flared up, causing my milk-supply to dwindle. It became an easy and natural bond that I had with Callie. The looks, the noises, and smiles I got from her while breastfeeding were worth those tears and sleepless nights.

If you are pregnant, and are reading this, or if you know a pregnant woman, please encourage her to breastfeed. The nutritional value that a baby gets from mom's perfect food will benefit the baby more than you can imagine. And the bond that is created while breastfeeding will be one that will never be duplicated, but always treasured.

For more information on World Breastfeeding Week, please click on the picture below:

And please...if you see this sign:

be supportive.