Would you believe......

That one year ago today I got my first positive home pregnancy test? I am still in shock that I am a mommy of two... I keep promising new pics of the girls, I am really going to try and follow thru this time. 

I got a new printer/scanner/copier so that will give me incentive to get the family pics scanned, I will get to play with my new toy! 

Anyway, just sharing my moment of sentiment. Its days like this I miss being pregnant.... then I remember the feeling of a week overdue and decide I am not ready for that again!!

Randomness

Okay, I decided I really must update everyone on what is happening around here....

**My mom took my little girl to her two year well child check at the doctors. First ever appointment I wasn't able to go to. Anyway, she was 22lbs 8oz 30.5" long and had a 18.75" head. I am just amazed. Her head is bigger around now then she was when she was born. They grow soooo fast! She was wonderful on all the devolpmental questions and tests. Like they had her stack blocks, pick somthing up using her finger and thumb (the pinching grasp) and asked her questions like what a dog says, where her belly, nose, eyes were... and she knew them all! I am awfully proud of my baby. They only found one problem: an ear infection. So much for well child check! lol. Oh, I do have one semi funny story to share. She was at the church after her appointment. My brother's girlfriend was watching her there so my mom would be nearby in case there were problems after the shots. She was playing with the cart they use in our food bank and it apparently got stuck in the corner. Well, my mom hears her "uh oh" then all of a sudden "DAMN IT!" I can't believe that came out of her mouth. How she still manages to look so cute is beyond me!! I guess I really need to start watching the words that come out of my mouth!

**I had my interview at Lowe's Tuesday. I wasn't really that comfortable there. You have to enter through a gate, let them look in your purse, and walk through a metal detector. Makes me really uncomfortable. Almost as much screening as an airport. Anyway. I was really not sure about the interview, what I was going to do if I were offered a position. It is better wages, but longer hours, more physically demanding labor, ect. And the job I am at now sucks yeah, but the people for the most part are wonderful. I am finally in the position I thought I wanted. And even though right now it sucks it will get better after the holidays. For those who don't know I got the department manager position for the infants and little girls departments. It was a 90 cent raise from what I was making before. So, I pray it will be worth all the crap I am going through.

**Natalie is doing really well. She is starting to smile a lot more, and I am sure that someday hopefully soon I will catch a really good one with the camera to share with you all! She found her hands and loves sticking them in her mouth and drooling all over them, which bugs me, so I stick the Bink back in! lol. She is also sleeping through the night most of the time. Minus the times she is sick (and being that she has had three colds by the time she was nine weeks, it happens frequently) but she is doing good. When she sleeps, she sleeps HARD. Scared the crap outta me this morning. She had the blanket swaddled tightly around her, well somehow she managed to pull the receiving blanket that I had over the side of the bassinet onto her head! She was so still I couldn't see her breaths through the tightly swaddled blanket. I ripped the receiving blanket off, she was breathing so quietly.... then she sighed, and I knew she was okay. It just terrified me! UGH!

**Thankful Thursday Catch-up! Besides that things are going well. We are busy but happy. As part of my randomness for today I am going to list a few things I am thankful for, since I have missed my "Thankful Thursday's"

1. I am thankful for water pressure. We had an issue with the pressure in the city water lines (don't ask me what it was, I have NO idea) Anyway, the whole city had barely any pressure. I could barely wash my hair. I never realized how much I took advantage of that! FYI Automatic toilets and sinks don't work without water pressure. We had port-a-potties outside the store, talk about YUCK!

2. I am thankful for two year old imaginations. Did you know that McKayla makes the best tea in the whole world?? Its always hot from the microwave! (Can you tell we warm up water in there often, she knows that it gets hot in there, but has no idea the stove makes it hot too!!)

3. I am thankful for my girls godmother, without whom my mom wouldn't have been able to work this Christmas. I haven't seen my mom looking this happy in a long time. I think she is really feeling NEEDED. I love how excited she is to have hired people! lol. Anyway, with out the godmother's help she wouldn't have been able to take the job because it would leave me without childcare.

4. I am thankful for a working cell phone. Do you have any idea how hard it is to have a phone you can only receive calls with??

5. I am thankful for all the milk I have stored up, so I don't have to pump unless I feel like I have to cause I am sooo full. I still have two freezer doors full and have been back to work for four weeks now.

That is all for today, as I REALLY have to get my baby fed and to bed, as I am falling asleep typing. lol. I am sure I will post something this weekend, though I have no idea what..... any suggestions?? lol

One more random fact, did you know that when you die your hair still grows for a couple of months?? (Fact from http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~bingbin/ )

Support.....

Your friends. Even if you think what they are doing is the stupidest idea on the planet. Tell them that you hope they do well, that you are glad they got what they wanted. I guess I better give some back round on this. I have a friend. I love her dearly, but I have gotten to the point I am afraid to tell her about good things that have happened. For example: I told her about my interview at Lowe's and her response wasn't congratulations, or good luck it was "well you will hate it but good luck" Okay, so she got half, but her being so mean to start almost negates the good luck part... Anyway.

I have a couple opportunities possibly coming my way. If you think about me, just say a little prayer that I will make the right decision. If you know me you know I will be missing a lot of sleep thinking about what I am going to do. My choices aren't even there yet and I am already worrying about them. Please someone tell me this is normal!!

Today my babies got to spend the day with their godmother Robin. She is a wonderful woman from our Church. A surrogate grandmother to my girls. I love her almost as much as my own mom. Anyway, the reason my girls were with her and not my mom is that my mom got a job. Yes a job, besides watching my babies that is! lol. I am so happy for her. She is just beyond excited. She will be the Christmas coordinator. For those who don't know I attend the Salvation Army and Christmas is a VERY busy season for us. You know those annoying bell ringers out in front of all the stores?? Yea, that's us. We collect that money to help the communities we operate in. Social services, disaster relief, etc. Anyway, back to mom's job. She is just thrilled that our new pastors entrusted her with this responsibility. Our last pastors weren't the nicest people to her, they didn't seem to realize how much that she did for the church. Anyway, blubbering on here.... I will just leave it at this. She is now employed for at least the season. So, two or three days a week the girls are with grandma Robin. Wish us luck! Its gonna be a hectic two months.

Guess that's all for today. Bored you all enough! lol

really really really sorry

This week's been CRAZY. 

I had my first week of work, trying to get a routine, dealing with a still snuffly baby.... 

Then today we were at church all day. 

They had a big meeting with a few other churches from the area and we had to help set up. 

They also dedicated Natalie. I will share some pics of that tomorrow (Its my day off and I PROMISE) 

I also promise to share some pics of Natalie and McKayla with their cousin Gabriel.

It was wonderful to see my sister and brother in law. They had to come see the dedication. WOO HOO! 

Another excuse for us to all get together and talk for hours!! Almost two this time. 

I will make time, probably during naps to get some pictures uploaded and posted. 

It will be another busy week as it is McKayla's birthday tomorrow and we are doing a small thing at home for her, and then her party is this weekend, and then we have an appointment Tuesday. 

Just trying to make some excuses for my lack of blogs lately. I will try and make sure to at least post weekly, hopefully more!

worth it

As all of you know I am breast feeding my newest daughter Natalie. We have been doing excellently. She latched on like a pro right from the beginning. We had a few issues with her over eagerness as she was torturing my poor nipples, but once they got toughened up some, we are much better! 

Well, I have also been pumping since my milk came in, to get a real stockpile up for my return to work. I have to say that I am so proud of me for what I have stored. I am amazing. (way to toot your own horn Betsy!) 

Well someone requested that I take pictures of my stockpile, and so today, because I had the camera out already, I took them. So, I will share with you pictures of the stock I have. Each separate bag has between four and six ounces, I take the middle number when adding what I have. Today I counted them and I have 100 bags!!! That is around 500 oz of milk!! GO ME!

Well, I have two sick girls, and nothing else to write about, so have a good night!!

sick - more random thoughts

I am not even sure what it is. I just feel icky. My throat is kinda sore and I feel like it is coated with something. And my ears are stuffed with something. I am having periods where I am freezing to death and then ten minutes later I am so hot I am sweating. Then there is this headache... UGH. I even took a nap today. 

To top it off both the girls have runny noses. Natalie hasn't been eating like normal. And I am watching closely the number of wet diapers she has. The joy of motherhood right?

And guess what she did this morning? Pooped thru the diaper on me!! EWW!

Anyway, as interested as I am sure you are in what ails my family, I will have an actual blog tomorrow. Hit me up with some ideas everyone! But, for today I will continue with some more random thoughts.

I have to go back to work Monday, which sucks. But I need the money so it has to be done. I am sure the bill collectors will be happy to be getting more money from me!

I am watching the new episode of Law and Order SVU, I could have sworn this was supposed to be on tomorrow, but oh well. It makes me feel like I am loosing my mind.

We have an appointment next Tuesday to get our family photos done. What do you think about Jimmy and I wearing sage green (he has a checked shirt with darker green and sage and I want to buy this sweater and that would give me an excuse!) and putting the girls in pink? You think that would look okay? 

I got these cute little stools from my mom. They look like two little steps, and I got two of them. One for each kid. I have to repaint them as they look super old fashioned with hearts and swirleys... I am going to paint each step a different color pink and then a vivid pink on the sides. Then I am going to put their names on them and use them as steps for them to get onto their beds, if they ever get to sleep in big girl beds!

That is all for tonight, off to actually watch SVU. Have a wonderful day!

Random thoughts

I am so blank today. I know that I need to write something but honestly have nothing to write about. Its like writers block, but it is for a blog, so I shall call it blogger's block! So, until something interesting hits my mind you get to deal with my random thoughts, you knew they would come in eventually right?

The weather sucked today. It is just grey and rainy and windy. I thought it was pretty funny that our property management company came out today and used the leaf blowers to clear the property and not even 20 minutes later it was covered in leaves again. What a waste of time.

Want to hear something else funny? I woke up to something interesting, and that was my almost two year old shaking me saying "mommy.... mommy...?" I wouldn't be so concerned if it weren't for the fact that she still sleeps in a crib. So, the first words out of my mouth were "how in the heck did you get out of your crib?!?" At which point I hear my mom laughing! She had come over and when she didn't get an answer at the door, she let herself in (she has a key because she babysits for me, and its easier then my husband having to worry about not hearing her knock) called out to tell me she was here. Then McKayla apparently yelled from her room "I wake!" So, mom thinking it would be hilarious sent her in to wake mommy up. And I didn't disappoint her! lol.

Hmmm... what are some other random thoughts I can share with you... I have more then 400 oz of breast milk stored up for my baby, for when I return to work. Actually I have 455oz!!! I ROCK! lol. The reason I started storing up so early and have so much stocked is that is one of the reasons I couldn't keep breastfeeding McKayla. I returned to work and with that stress and an unexpected trip to Boise my supply greatly dwindled, and I had nothing to fall back on. I am completely reassured now that I will be successful in lasting longer then I did with her because I have so much to fall back on.

Speaking of my return to work, I will be going back next Monday. It really stinks, but it is something that I have to do. I am sure that someday I will be able to be a stay at home mom, but until then I will work, and I will try to do it with a smile on my face. But if you think about it, say a little prayer for me, it is going to be a tough adjustment.

OK, I am done. I am tired. I am going to bed. For those who read JD Robb books, her newest one is awesome "Innocent in death." If you haven't ever read her books, you should. They are GREAT!

Lousy blogger

It has recently come to my attention that I am not the most consistent blogger. I do apologize for my lack of daily entries but do hope that the blog entries that I do make are worth the missing days between. Besides that, my life isn't all that interesting and something blog worthy doesn't happen to me daily. Anyway, I do have a few things that I will write about today.

First of all I am proud to announce that my little girl went potty in her potty all on her own! We were getting ready to dress her after her bath, and were letting her run around naked. Well she went in the bathroom and climbed on her little chair and peed in it without any prompting! And it wasn't just a few little drops, it was a good pee!!! WOO HOO!! I am just praying that the rest of her potty training goes that smoothly. I was finally able to find her some panties that fit. She is just so stinking little! Just now fitting in her 12 month clothes, but we were able to get the 2t-3t panties and although they are baggy they don't fall off. And that is what really counts.

Second of all I just want to make a big WOO HOO for the fact that a Kohl's just opened up in the city right next to ours. It is only a 15-20 minute drive, and I am over there once or twice weekly. I am sooo excited to finally have somewhere else to shop for clothes. It looks like my husband is going to have to keep me out of there, because all the little girl and baby clothes are soooo cute!

Third is about my last weekend. I went to my church's annual women's spiritual retreat. We had a wonderful speaker named Lee Ezell. She has such an inspiring story. You can read about her on her website. It is really worth looking at. If you click on the tab "about Lee" it will show her amazing story. If you have the time, check it out.

I did hit a few bumps at first with having Natalie there. One of the leaders was being really unreasonable (in my opinion) and didn't even want to let me sit in the hallway with her. So, each of the four of us who came with my church were going to sit out one session with her. My mom sat out the first session, then my best friend was going to sit out the second but decided she was just going to sit in the hall and listen from there. I ended up taking her place since Nat got hungry. Then they let me keep her with me, which I don't know why they couldn't in the beginning. She was really good and only cried twice, and I took her into the hallway so fast that most of the other ladies didn't even know I had a baby with me! I will be posting some pics soon of Smith Canyon. My best friend went on a hike while we were there, and that is where they went. She was kind enough to take a couple pics for me to share.

I have one final piece of news. My pastors at church are moving. Both him and her are having some pretty severe health problems. She has fibromilaga (I know that is spelled wrong, but you get the idea right?) and he has some kind of degenerative disc problem, and the church is just too much stress for the both of them. I just request that if you think about it, pray for the new pastors they will send us. We are members of The Salvation Army and they just send out new pastors for us, so no worries that we will be pastor-less...

Anyway, that is all for today. I hope the longer entry makes up for the lack of lately. Have a good day! And even though it is pouring outside here, try and think on the bright side at least the grass is green!!

More Randomness

Well, tomorrow will be my first day alone with the girls. Jimmy has to go back to work. I can't say that I'm not a little worried. McKayla has started to show signs of a cold, and that is so not how I wanted this week to start out. And he is probably going to be working a longer week this week, since next weekend we are taking a family trip to the beach (Be sure to check back for pics of that) Anyway, think of me tomorrow, and send a bit of luck my way. I am not sure how I am going to handle it! lol. Ever since Natalie came home McKayla has been a bit defiant to say the least. She is doing surprisingly well, but still tells me no about everything. And she is unbelievably whinny... I knew this would happen.

Hmmmm... I know there was something else I was supposed to write about... what was it?? lol. There is the mommy brain sneaking up on me again. I have new pics of the girls up in my photos, check them out if you have a minute. They look so good together. I still can't get it through my brain that I have two girls. Two beautiful, healthy, mostly happy girls. It is the most unbelievable feeling. I love sitting here watching them. Seeing McKayla running around, reading her books, playing on her slide. Then I look at Natalie, sleeping, or when she is nursing. I never thought I could love two as much as I loved McKayla on her own... I thank God every day for my girls. That's enough sappiness...

I suppose I better end this pointless blog for today. I need to get some good sleep tonight if I am going to survive tomorrow... lol

tomorrow

I go in tomorrow morning for the induction of the birth of my second little girl. 

I am so excited, anxious, worried, scared. The whole gamut of emotions is running through my head. 

I am excited to have her here. To finally be holding my new baby girl. 

I am excited to have a new baby sister for McKayla. 

I am anxious to get this over with so I can just have her, hold her, kiss her. 

I am worried that something will go wrong. That somehow I am going to end up with a c-section. 

I am worried that she is going to be a big huge baby, and I am not a big girl. 

I am worried that McKayla will be mad at me. That she won't want her little sister. She has been an only child her whole life. She has been the center of attention and loves it that way. 

I am worried that people will forget her, that they will pay so much attention to the new baby that she will feel left out. 

I am afraid she will resent her little sister for all that attention. 

I am scared of the pain. 

I still remember the first one. 

I remember begging for the drugs, but the other half of me being so scared of the epidural. 

I am so sure it is going to be a long night. And I am desperately praying that they have a room available first thing in the morning so we can just get started. 

I can't imagine calling and having them be too busy to induce me. I am sure I would be devastated. 

Right now I just need to breathe, relax and know that everything will work out. 

It always does. 

As you go through your day tomorrow, say a little prayer for me. That I will be able to relax and enjoy this moment. 

Pray for McKayla, that she will understand what is going on, and that we still love her and will always love her.

randomness

I have absolutely nothing to write about.... I could complain that I am now 5 days over due and am sooooo ready to be holding this little girl. 

I also could complain that I have no idea how she is moving as much as she is in there. Almost every pregnancy book I have ever read tells you that in the last month to six weeks the movement goes way down, because face it, there isn't as much room in there... but apparently Natalie (that is the new babies name by the way) didn't get the memo. She is still FLIPPING her legs from my left to my right and back again. She doesn't like me holding the laptop in my lap and kicks the crap out of me every time I am on the computer, way too long I am sure, but that will change in a few days... hmmm what else could I possibly write about. 

I could write about how much I love listening to my daughter playing the musical book and singing along. As much as that thing bugs me and I would love to huck it in the trash, I smile every time I hear her 'singing' with it. 

But that doesn't last long, then comes the shrill scream, loud enough to make the neighbors think I am beating her. She makes sure I know she is still there... I have still yet to figure out how she makes such a mess in so short a time... I picked up the living room and her playroom when she was napping, no easy task with this monstrous belly in the way. Here is is not even half an hour later and she already has half her toys on the living room floor, the blanket that is normally folded neatly over the back of the couch is on the floor and she is quietly playing in her room, the clean room for the moment. 

I know she is up to something, but I don't even know if I have the energy to go and check.... I figure she isn't screaming in pain, she must be okay. What is the worst she can do, play with the light switch, turn the heater up above 90 degrees?? I am sure the room will still be standing in 3 minutes when I have to take my next potty break. Speaking of, I need one.... 

Okay, now I am back. She wasn't doing any of the things I thought she was, she was in my room emptying my hospital bag again.... That kid doesn't even know what its for, but it needs to be emptied onto the floor. Then she followed me into the bathroom and tells me "potty" about 80 times and then proceeds to close the door on me, did I mention that I didn't bother turning on the lights... so I took a potty break in the dark. 

Have any of you ever watched "Flip that house?" It is a show on TLC. Anyway, I am watching that now, and this idiot decides the easiest way to get the old dishwasher away from the counter and out of the kitchen is to cut the power cord. Can you guess what happened? Yep, he got electrocuted... dumb people are fun to laugh at. 

Well, I suppose that is enough randomness for today. I am sure tomorrows blog won't be much more interesting... but check back anyway, to make me feel better.

Saturdays

I don't know where any of you are from, but where I am in the summer and early fall there is always a Saturday Farmers Market. Most of these markets sell the produce the farmers have grown and hand made stuff. 

Well, where I live they sell that and more. It is actually more like a flea market. My family sells produce at the farmers market all season. So, I often find my self there every Saturday. Especially since I have been on maternity leave and in desperate need for companionship from someone other then my nearly two year old. Today was no exception. 

I trooped out there bought me some home made fudge and a few nectarines. Yum.... then McKayla had to have something, so I got her two matchbox cars for a quarter... a small price to pay to keep her busy. 

Everyone down there knows me, my mom can't stop bragging about her beautiful grand-daughter, and me being her mom makes me pretty well known. So, I get the looks and questions from everyone, "when is that baby coming" and I give my stock answer "well she is 4 days overdue now, so anytime I hope." And today I got to happily add that if nothing happens by Wednesday that they will induce.... that is when everyone and their cousin feels the need to tell me their birth stories or nightmares. 

My personal favorite for today, the woman who was three weeks overdue and the doctor wouldn't induce. She claims that by the time her daughter came out her hair was down to her shoulders and her nails were curling over the ends of her fingers and she peeled for weeks because she was so waterlogged.... geeze lady. As if I didn't think she was crazy enough before, now that I heard that story I can no longer look at her the same.... lol. 

Anyway, now that I have taken a break from writing to clean the bathroom and take out the garbage I have no idea what my point was.... Got to love that nesting instinct. I guess it doesn't help that my wonderful husband called me and told me that my sister and brother in law will be here this afternoon with our newest nephew.... Got to keep up appearances that I know how to keep a house clean. 

This being the end of today's blog I suppose I should say something like visit your local farmers market today, or something like that. So, "Visit your local farmers market!" And have a wonderful labor day weekend. 

Introduction to me

Well, I thought I would start off by introducing myself. I am a working mom of soon to be two little girls. 

My daughter McKayla is almost two and Natalie was due three days ago, so expecting her anytime! l

I am currently on maternity leave from my job. My ultimate goal would be to be a stay at home mom, but until then I have to settle with letting my mom babysit for us. Its okay, she adores my children and I know they are safe. 

My wonderful husband works his butt off for Coke, we are praying that he is able to get a driving job soon, but until then he is merchandising (basically he goes to the grocery stores and works the product to the shelves and makes sure it all looks pretty) He is getting tired of it, but it pays the bills. 

Hmmm, what else is there to me?? I am a pretty outgoing person. I love shopping, spending time with my family and friends, and playing on the computer, hence the attempt at blogging... lets just hope I get better with time! And here are pics of my two girls... Enjoy!