Wisdom from my walk

He’s laughing, thought that was too cute!

This pic of the dog and the boy is cute right? but all day long the dog has been driving me nuts. She’s started sitting next to me and barking in my ear whenever I nurse the baby during the day and my ears and head are all funny because of it, I hate to think what it’s doing to the baby. He doesnt seem to mind but who knows. She’s also stepped on the baby at least three times today. I cant lay him down anywhere but his bed or she’ll pounce on him. She’s started nipping at me today too. I am at the end of my patience with her. Before it was just annoying,now I’m getting scared she’ll hurt one of us.

Why so many pics today you ask? Well as you can see in this pic, it’s snowing. this is our first snow event of the season and the kids and I are hanging out inside all day. I’m glad I have no where to be today, but I wish Dean were home since I dont want to drag the baby out in the snow just yet. I might if Dean were here to help out but for now I’m bringing in bowls of snow for Caleb to play with. The dog is barking at every freakin snowflake and she wants to be out but when I put her out she barks non stop too. I cant win with her today.

To make me feel better about being stuck here all day with a wild dog and kid, I’m baking some yummy chocolate chip cookies. The baby has been awake most of the morning, which is no real suprise as the dog wont shut up long enough for him to sleep. This last time he fell asleep I layed him on the couch and she jumped on top of him waking him up. well I need to get, the timer on the cookies is going off,the baby is crying, the dog is barking and caleb is raiding the cabinet under the sink and came out carrying some sharp scissors….great just great…..

Boaz – 8 weeks

Caleb loves playing w/ Boaz’s toys, I think it’s so funny!

*** edited: guess it’s only been 7 weeks?? I am so confused…for some reason I thought this was 8 weeks but my ticker up there says 7. *****

For those local readers who are moms, I’ve joined this forum and it looks like they are setting up a playgroup. thought some of you might be interested, you have to register and I didnt get my login activated right away so if you register it might take a day to get your login activated.

I must admit this year’s birthday had to be one of the best. I vaguely remember saying that last year too, but I think this time its truly amazing! Of course, having a beautiful new baby boy helps make it a little more special. Friday night my friend came over and she brought me a gift. Sunday at church another friend, the same one who awed me with my cake decorator tool kit at Christmas, wowed me with yet another gift, more cake decorating icing tips, a set of 55 to be exact! Dean had just as much fun if not more fun practicing with them later that day.

Monday, my birthday, was spent shopping with my mom. We hit a great sale at JCPenneys, I returned 3 christmas presents and it totaled about $35, we hit the kids department and I walked away with about 13 outifts and I still had $5 left of $35 from the 3 things we returned. When I got home I totaled all of the outfits original prices and it would have been $203!!! We got it all for $30. That was good enough to make my day! But then we met my brother and his family for lunch at Olive Garden, after a long wait w/ four kids I’d have to say it went better than expected and was worth the yummy food. Caleb napped on the ride home and Dean got home from work shortly after we did. I convinced him to hit the mall again since I had seen some great deals on winter coats and he needs one, and suprisingly he actually shopped for clothes for himself, a miracle I tell you! he had returned a shirt and socks and ended up with three new shirts in stead! it was a really great sale! I even got to shop alone and got two amazing looking sweaters, well I think the amazing part if that I feel comfortable wearing them as they are form fitting. I still need to lose my belly but it’s a lot better than it was 2 months ago and I’m well on my way to losing weight. we are joining the YMCA this week to make sure we both get in shape. All of my shirts right now are too big and I have one pair of pants that arent too big and they have a hole in them so that stinks. One other pair that I really have only kept around for the last two years is because when I they fit me they were my favorite pair, so these pants sat in a box for two years, they fit now! I need to lose more weight to make them fit really well but I can zip them up so thats amazing. I cant wait to lose more weight and go shopping for smaller jean sizes! I have big dreams but I am determined!

Anyway, this was about my birthday right? oh yeah, before I headed to meet my mom to go shopping my friends hubby dropped off my gift from the, it was a huge gift basket with great stuff inside, candles and bath stuff and an eye mask. I didnt have time to open it up and explore it before going shopping and the whole time I was out I was wondering what goodies were inside and when I finally opened it I was thrilled! We lit the candles today and the house smells simply divine! The basket itself found it’s home in our bathroom where we were in great need of something to organize our stuff so it’s now filling that need and Dean even noted how nice it looked where I put it. If you havent realized by now, after I’ve detailed my gifts from my friends, well I have great friends!! thanks ladies, you made my birthday wonderful!!

the hubby on the other hand, blah!! not even a card, so ladies you made my day and every gift was greatly appreciated! Dean made up for his shortcomings today(ok I dont really care about anything from him but he knows how I feel about not getting at least a card) by making me my birthday dinner. We were supposed to have it yesterday but ended up deciding to eat at the mall since we were going there anyway. SO today he made me salmon and scallops and some sides I picked out. it was delicious!! Unfortunately I think I’m coming down with the stomach bug they had last week and have been sick ever since a little while after dinner. but it was a good dinner. right now Dean’s out with the guys, they went to get sushi somewhere. it’s becoming a weekly thing, him and the guys. I’m happy for him but I want a night out with the girls. One where I dont have to take the kid, either one of them. I say that but I think I’d miss Boaz, even so I think I need a break from it all soon. well that’s the highlights of my birthday. I really need to get, my stomach is killing me tonight. Oh well one good day, one bad day. As long as it’s just one bad day…..

my latest creation, it looks a lot better than my last castle cake. I was able to make my first leaves using a new tip that came in my decorating kit I got for Christmas. My girlfriend came over last night and sat with me while I decorated the cake and the time seemed to go by so much quicker than when I do it alone. I told her she needs to come over every time I do one, it really did make it easier. Having someone to talk to made it easier, I didnt stress over the tiny details as much since I was busy in conversation, it made me much less stressed about the whole process. It was great, so thanks for keeping me company Karen!!!

we just got back from the party,Caleb had a great time. He fell asleep in the car and now of course is awake, meanwhile now I’m exhausted! Dean had to go into to work today so had to miss the party and will leave me alone w/ the kids all day. Fun stuff. Saturdays are supposed to be my day off right? My mom might come visit later today so that will be nice. Still no big plans for my birthday. My mom and I, and the boys of course, are going to spend the day together since she’s off work. Other than that nothing much going on that I know off. I’m missing my hubby these days. Wednesday he worked all day then came home for dinner and left again to go to a meeting. Last night was the same, he was home for dinner then he and Caleb went out all evening. Today he’s at work all day. I guess I was just spoiled from him being off right after I had the baby and now not seeing him makes my days a little sadder. I’m hoping he’ll use the comp day he’s earning working today to take a day off soon, but who knows. I just miss him. I think what I miss most is time alone with him, I’d settle for time with him home and when Caleb isnt fighting with us. He’s been a very bad listener lately and it’s stressing us all out. Oh well what should I expect as the mother of a newborn and toddler. Anyway, Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Let’s just scratch the previous entries where I said Bo was taking bottles and sleeping 5 hour stretches at night. I’m hoping the later is due to this last week of congestedness and that once it clears he’ll go back to sleeping a lot at night but no such luck yet. I may even have to take him to the dr tomorrow as it seems it’s getting worse not better.

After a nerve racking trip to Target to return those avent bottles the baby doesnt like along with some other things we wont be using for the baby, like pacifiers and such, I thought I’d inform everyone who may not know, you cant return things to target after 90 days. Doesnt matter if the present was a gift and you have a reciept and it was on your registry and you got too many. Also, forget returning anything there w/out a reciept. Last time I returned w/out a reciept and it was something off the registry they were fine w/ it and gave me a gift card w/ the amt credited toward it. not today, I had a horrible time getting them to do anything for me, they eventually let me do an even exchange and when I couldnt find anything the exact same price or more they yelled at me and told me that I needed to get something close to that price, I thought I had so either the thing was priced wrong in the dept I was in or they were just trying to annoy me. I know I got one thing that was $4.99 and the item I wanted to return was $5.99 but come on, it’s a stupid dollar and I was spending less not more. that makes no sense to me. I argued with them a bit and they finally let me spend the $4.99 instead and gave me the $1 towards the other things I bought, and we had to do this for several items, this price comparing and complaining back and forth. Luckily I did all of this while Caleb was in preschool and the baby was with me sleeping peacefully thank goodness!

I’ll not even complain about my venture to the other store today. It was an annoying day as far as that goes, but I wont complain too much as I got out for a bit just baby and me and that’s always nice. Not to mention it’s upwards of 60 degrees out today and the sun finally came out so I got to go shopping in nice weather and even got to leave my bulky winter coat in the car! Tonight we’re going to try to brave going out to dinner w/ the boys, it ought to be interesting. I’m hoping to feed the baby before we go pick Dean up from work then head to dinner. We’ll end up having to feed him while we are out at some point just dont know when it will be or where we will be. Should be fun! 😉

It’s been a busy running around kind of day and I should be resting but it’s so nice out I just want to get out and go for a walk. Both boys are sleeping so I mine as well go lay down for a bit, at which act of course one of them will decide to wake up I’m sure, as always is the case anymore. No more freedom for this mommy, nor sleep for that matter. I’m getting at best 5 hours of sleep at night and not getting naps during the day, dont know how I have energy to do anything and I can only hope the lack of sleep doesnt effect my ability to produce and nurse the baby well. they say nursing moms need to rest a lot, well if they could figure out how to do that with two kids I’d love to know. Also how are you supposed to be able to eat healthy when I’m lucky if I get to grab any food before noon and even then it’s usually scraps from whatever Calebs decided not eat. I’m joining a gym soon, and I’m hoping to lose some weight but I’m afraid adding exercise to my lack of sleep and lack of healthy eating will make me ill or at least affect my nursing so we’ll see. well gonna run, it’s eerie how quiet the house is, wish it was like this more often. Even the dog is napping!

Today was my 6 week post partum appointment, I was dreading it for many reasons. My main concern was my weight, I was starting to think I was gaining weight, my clothes are still too big (pre-maternity clothes that it) but I just felt heavier. The big moment came and I am now 12 lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight! So since my 2 week appointment I’ve lost 2 lbs, not too bad, it’s not a gain! I’m excited. Now that I’m past my 6 weeks of recovery I am going to look for a gym to join and start exercising. I’m already losing and I dont want to start gaining anytime soon. I’d love to lose about 45 lbs, thats a lot but I know last time I tried to diet I lost 25 and have kept it off, so with diet and exercise I should be able to attain that goal pretty easily, that and if I continue to breastfeed.

I also just acheived a great thing, the baby took a bottle!! 3.5 ounces. I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding, which means no pacifier or bottle. Not that we havent tried sometimes. I am going to continue to nurse but I needed to know if I can take a break and have him still eat. It took changing nipple type on the bottle but it worked!! so no Avent nipples and he’ll eat. So whatever works. Now maybe it wont be so scary to worry about public nursing, we can take a bottle if we have or want to.

So today was a good day. Caleb went back to preschool for the first time in a week or two and that was great. The timing worked well since I could go to my ob appt while he was at school thus only having to take Bo with me. well gotta go….kids need me…