Monday, May 18, 2009
Baby N
It turns out my little girl's heart murmur is an "innocent" one, and there's nothing to be concerned over. She did SO well at the dr.! Harldy a peep! She just layed there and smiled like a little angel. :) We're very relieved at the good news.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Because I am an idiot...
I feel compelled to post my feelings/reactions to the season finale of Grey's Anatomy. I try very hard to not be completely obsessed with the show, but I fail miserably....
1) Bailey should TOTALLY be leaving her lousy, no-good, unsupportive husband! He knew what he was getting into when he married her...
2) Sloan certainly has done a 180...I think I liked him better when he was the sex-crazed womanizer... Much more believable. Although it could just be that I never like it when every person on a TV show is paired off nicely into a relationship...
3) Yang and Owen...not sure about them yet. I seriously doubt that going to see his mother would have ended his nightmares...and I still don't think I could ever sleep comfortably next to someone who tried to strangle me in his sleep.
4) Meredith and Derrick...yay...whatever... You know SOMETHING has to happen...
5) Alex's rant to Izzie was the most believable part of the show last night...although heartbreaking I must say.
6) Poor George...Poor, poor George. I really don't want him to die. I really like George.
7) I dislike Callie Torres, however. Never had a use for her...
8) I can't believe I have to wait like 4 months to find out what's going to happen!!!!!
I so love this show...
1) Bailey should TOTALLY be leaving her lousy, no-good, unsupportive husband! He knew what he was getting into when he married her...
2) Sloan certainly has done a 180...I think I liked him better when he was the sex-crazed womanizer... Much more believable. Although it could just be that I never like it when every person on a TV show is paired off nicely into a relationship...
3) Yang and Owen...not sure about them yet. I seriously doubt that going to see his mother would have ended his nightmares...and I still don't think I could ever sleep comfortably next to someone who tried to strangle me in his sleep.
4) Meredith and Derrick...yay...whatever... You know SOMETHING has to happen...
5) Alex's rant to Izzie was the most believable part of the show last night...although heartbreaking I must say.
6) Poor George...Poor, poor George. I really don't want him to die. I really like George.
7) I dislike Callie Torres, however. Never had a use for her...
8) I can't believe I have to wait like 4 months to find out what's going to happen!!!!!
I so love this show...
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Second Power
Let me preface all of this by saying just how much I love and adore my little boy. I couldn't imagine my life without him. He's a beautiful, blond-headed, chubby-cheeked angel (sometimes disguised in a devil-toddler body). However, he was not an easy baby. In fact, my pediatrician says she often uses him as an example of how every once in a while there's a baby that NOTHING works for. He's made her list of the world's worst criers. I, having little to NO experience with babies, had a rude introduction to motherhood. In fact, for quite sometime, I did not like being a mother. If somebody had offered me an "undo" button, I probably would have pushed it.
Not only did I have a child who screamed day and night, who puked constantly for the first year of his life, who required surgery at 5 weeks old, who never made cute, cooing baby noises, who preferred my mother-in-law to me, and who offered (and still does) his best smiles to his daddy, but I had a difficult time recovering from delivery. It was long, painful and eventually required a D & C to end the 4 + months of bleeding I'd endured. Add to this that I'd had about the worst pregnancy EVER... I threw up for about 20 weeks (not just once in the morning--all day, every day.) I actually had a whole blueberry come out of my nose at one point.
At any rate, it took about 7 months for me to eventually be diagnosed with post-partum depression. Prozac is now one of my dearest friends and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
I digress... What I'm getting at is that I never experienced that euphoric new-mama high. I could not say that little C was the light of my life at first. I felt like a failure as a woman and as a mother. Sadly, I think I passed on some not-so-happy words of advice to my mother-to-be friends. I was more worried for them than happy.
It took me about a year to see why people had more than one child. I finally realized the beauty in being a mother. It took me another 6 months to decide I wanted another one.
I had another hugely unpleasant pregnancy, and I prayed every night for God to give us an easy baby. I just didn't think I could handle another baby like C-bear.
I was blessed with my baby girl. She's not "easy," per se. She has had her fair share of issues, namely reflux. But, she's such a happy girl for the most part. I had no idea that parenting a newborn could be so enjoyable. The toughest times I've had since she was born have been dealing with C adjusting (or not adjusting I should say) to her taking some of our attention.
Little N just makes me SO happy. She such a smiley girl. I think I actually made her really laugh today. :) This is why parents have lots of kids.
(By the way, I'm convinced that the Duggars haven't had a baby like my C yet!)
Not only did I have a child who screamed day and night, who puked constantly for the first year of his life, who required surgery at 5 weeks old, who never made cute, cooing baby noises, who preferred my mother-in-law to me, and who offered (and still does) his best smiles to his daddy, but I had a difficult time recovering from delivery. It was long, painful and eventually required a D & C to end the 4 + months of bleeding I'd endured. Add to this that I'd had about the worst pregnancy EVER... I threw up for about 20 weeks (not just once in the morning--all day, every day.) I actually had a whole blueberry come out of my nose at one point.
At any rate, it took about 7 months for me to eventually be diagnosed with post-partum depression. Prozac is now one of my dearest friends and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
I digress... What I'm getting at is that I never experienced that euphoric new-mama high. I could not say that little C was the light of my life at first. I felt like a failure as a woman and as a mother. Sadly, I think I passed on some not-so-happy words of advice to my mother-to-be friends. I was more worried for them than happy.
It took me about a year to see why people had more than one child. I finally realized the beauty in being a mother. It took me another 6 months to decide I wanted another one.
I had another hugely unpleasant pregnancy, and I prayed every night for God to give us an easy baby. I just didn't think I could handle another baby like C-bear.
I was blessed with my baby girl. She's not "easy," per se. She has had her fair share of issues, namely reflux. But, she's such a happy girl for the most part. I had no idea that parenting a newborn could be so enjoyable. The toughest times I've had since she was born have been dealing with C adjusting (or not adjusting I should say) to her taking some of our attention.
Little N just makes me SO happy. She such a smiley girl. I think I actually made her really laugh today. :) This is why parents have lots of kids.
(By the way, I'm convinced that the Duggars haven't had a baby like my C yet!)
Confession
Sometimes I want to knock the ever-living snot out of my children... I know...I'm a horrible mother. But, there's only so much I can take!!! I would never actually knock the ever-living snot out of my children, but I daydream about it sometimes...
Monday, May 11, 2009
2 month check-up
Little N went for her two month appointment today. She weighed 11 lbs., 7 oz. (75th percentile) and measured 22 in. (40th percentile). She was just as sweet as she could be, sleeping through the whole visit except for the shots. Who could sleep through that??? We're still working on figuring out her tummy issues, but it's nothing compared to what we experienced with big brother C. The Dr.'s one concern was a murmur she heard while listening to her heart. It's probably nothing, so we're trying not to worry, but we're being sent to see a cardiologist for an ECHO just in case. Say a prayer for my baby girl if you get the chance. :) If you didn't know, C had surgery at 5 weeks old, so we're a little skittish in the medical department when it comes to our babies. :)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mama Giggles
C just ran into the kitchen requesting that I put his socks back on.
I said, "Sure, Sweetheart, let's go find them."
After noticing he had a funny look on his face, I began to think something was wrong with his foot, so I asked him.
He said, "Who's that?" (His way of asking what something is.)
I checked his toe and realized he'd picked his toenail and it was now pointy and jagged. I told him it was alright, that'd we'd fix it, and went to go get the "alligator clippers." (Somehow toenail clippers are less scary when they're mini alligators...)
Anyway, C repeated, "It's OK. It's just a piece of toe."
HA!
I said, "Sure, Sweetheart, let's go find them."
After noticing he had a funny look on his face, I began to think something was wrong with his foot, so I asked him.
He said, "Who's that?" (His way of asking what something is.)
I checked his toe and realized he'd picked his toenail and it was now pointy and jagged. I told him it was alright, that'd we'd fix it, and went to go get the "alligator clippers." (Somehow toenail clippers are less scary when they're mini alligators...)
Anyway, C repeated, "It's OK. It's just a piece of toe."
HA!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Rewards
This morning I got my first glimpse of why we decided to have our children closer together. I left the room with baby N in her bouncy seat and C watching "The Wonder Pets" on TV. He was ignoring her very existence when I left. A couple of minutes later, I walked back in to find my precious little boy perched right next to his sister's bouncy seat, finishing up a sweet kiss on her head. He had, at some point, decided he wanted to say hello to his little sister and to show her that he loved her. In return, she stared up at him with the sweetest smile on her face. She knows who her big brother is, and she loves him dearly already. Every tantrum, tear, and miserable moment the past eight weeks just melted away when I saw this unprompted display of brotherly love and sisterly adoration.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I "heart" Flannery O'Connor
Thanks to my "new" buddy Lauren, I'm reading a fantastic column by family psychologist, John Rosemond. She cautioned me that some of his ideas are a little...wacky...but his latest piece really struck a chord with me. He referenced an essay by Flannery O'Connor in which she states that the likes and dislikes of children should always be balanced by the wisdom and experience of their parents.
You see, lately I've begun to see a difference, a VAST difference, between "teacher" Alisha and "mama" Alisha. This bothers me.
I consider myself to be a pretty "progressive" person, except when it comes to education. I like the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." And, in my opinion, traditional education isn't "broke." All we've done in recent years is lower the bar. We've adapted teaching methods to fit kids instead of teaching kids to adapt to our teaching methods. We've begun to accept an average standard instead of realizing that some children are more capable than others. I'm sorry that this leaves some children "behind." It doesn't make them any less valuable; it simply means they may not be bound for high levels of academia. It takes all types of people to make the world go 'round. We can't all be "doctors and lawyers and such." (Thanks, Waylon.) Somebody has to be the "cowboy."
At any rate, I've started to realize that I'm adopting the "No Child Left Behind" attitude in my parenting, bending and conforming to my kids' need instead of teaching them to adhere to my way. I realize I may not always be right, but I do think that my 27 years of life experience has better prepared me to parent than my son's two years of experience. I do realize each child is different and that their individuality should be taken into account to some degree, but not when it comes to right and wrong. What's right is right for everyone. What's wrong is wrong for everyone. Children are not born knowning what's good for them although anyone who's spent any time with a toddler knows that they are indeed opinionated. These opinions are just that, however. They are not based on any knowledge of what is truly good or bad.
I became a mother 28 months ago, and I still have no idea what I'm doing most days. But, as I often find myself in a battle of wills with my toddler, I know this much is true...Mama knows best. (Ok, I'll let Daddy have some credit, too...)
You see, lately I've begun to see a difference, a VAST difference, between "teacher" Alisha and "mama" Alisha. This bothers me.
I consider myself to be a pretty "progressive" person, except when it comes to education. I like the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." And, in my opinion, traditional education isn't "broke." All we've done in recent years is lower the bar. We've adapted teaching methods to fit kids instead of teaching kids to adapt to our teaching methods. We've begun to accept an average standard instead of realizing that some children are more capable than others. I'm sorry that this leaves some children "behind." It doesn't make them any less valuable; it simply means they may not be bound for high levels of academia. It takes all types of people to make the world go 'round. We can't all be "doctors and lawyers and such." (Thanks, Waylon.) Somebody has to be the "cowboy."
At any rate, I've started to realize that I'm adopting the "No Child Left Behind" attitude in my parenting, bending and conforming to my kids' need instead of teaching them to adhere to my way. I realize I may not always be right, but I do think that my 27 years of life experience has better prepared me to parent than my son's two years of experience. I do realize each child is different and that their individuality should be taken into account to some degree, but not when it comes to right and wrong. What's right is right for everyone. What's wrong is wrong for everyone. Children are not born knowning what's good for them although anyone who's spent any time with a toddler knows that they are indeed opinionated. These opinions are just that, however. They are not based on any knowledge of what is truly good or bad.
I became a mother 28 months ago, and I still have no idea what I'm doing most days. But, as I often find myself in a battle of wills with my toddler, I know this much is true...Mama knows best. (Ok, I'll let Daddy have some credit, too...)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Last night marked the beginning of Spring Football Practice. I'm not happy about this. I'm doing all I can to make it three more weeks until school gets out and my husband will be home to help with the kids. Spring Practice means he's home later than he normally is. Spring Practice means I'm home alone with two very demanding children for 12 hours. Spring Practice means trying to feed dinner to an infant and a picky toddler at the same time. Last night, Spring Practice meant watching aforementioned picky toddler refusing to chew his ravioli before swallowing thereby causing him to throw up all over himself. Spring Practice meant having to change a poopy diaper and in the process of trying to stuff said poopy diaper into an already over-filled diaper pail, precious, un-potty-trained toddler proceeds to "tee-tee" all over himself and the carpet. However, when asked where one SHOULD "tee-tee," precious, un-potty-trained toddler replies, "In the potty, Mama." THEN FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's Cinco de Mayo, right? Doesn't that require a margarita or two???
It's Cinco de Mayo, right? Doesn't that require a margarita or two???
Monday, May 4, 2009
I've been "got"
I was tagged... However, I can't really use that as an excuse. I'm hopelessly obsessed with these survey things...have been since high school.
1. What is your current obsession? Hm...blogging I'd have to say....or blog-stalking. I'm beginning to think that blogging is a learned skill. For anybody who knows me, I talk...A LOT. But, oddly enough, I can't usually find anything to write about on my blog. I'm going to keep at it though, because I love to write. Plus, it makes me feel mildly intellectual, something that I don't feel very often these days when I've spent 10 hours reading books with only 10 pages, playing with play-doh, or making car or helicopter sounds all day. And don't even get me started on the baby talk...
2. Which item of clothing do you wear most often? My gray or black yoga gauchos I got at Target about 3 years ago. Yes, I realize gauchos aren't hugely popular anymore, but these things are SO COMFORTABLE! I've always been a t-shirt and jeans/shorts/yoga pants/track pants kind of girl. And flip-flops...definitely flip-flops.
3. What's for dinner? Ravioli and garlic bread sticks.
4. What are you listening to? My washing machine spinning/draining and Charlie asking me to "play wit da tractor, Mama?" (Yes...I'm putting him off to finish this...I'm horrible. I know.)
5. She's become invaluable to me recently. She's a fountain of knowledge about all SORTS of things.
6. Favorite vacation spot? Charleston (which reminds me...I intended to give Lauren a hard time about a comment she made about Charleston not too long ago... I was born in Charleston, my dear, and still consider it home... And, I'm OFFENDED! :)) I also have wonderful memories of Ashville with my husband, but I don't think it was so much the place as the company that made it so special. :)
7. What are you reading right now? Lots of blogs. I haven't had much time to read since Nora was born. But I'll get back to it...have no fear.
8. 4 words to describe yourself: Sensitive, scattered, spiritual, sleepy. (I started w/ the "s" thing and just decided to go with it...)
9. Guilty pleasure? Oh my...I have a lot of them... Naps. Peanut butter M & M's. Naps.
10. First spring thing to do? Take a Claritin. Seriously...pollen gives me migraines. If I'm not religious in taking my Claritin, bad things happen. After that, bust out the flip flops.
Tag Chris! OOOH, Lori, you're following me now, too. TAG!
1. What is your current obsession? Hm...blogging I'd have to say....or blog-stalking. I'm beginning to think that blogging is a learned skill. For anybody who knows me, I talk...A LOT. But, oddly enough, I can't usually find anything to write about on my blog. I'm going to keep at it though, because I love to write. Plus, it makes me feel mildly intellectual, something that I don't feel very often these days when I've spent 10 hours reading books with only 10 pages, playing with play-doh, or making car or helicopter sounds all day. And don't even get me started on the baby talk...
2. Which item of clothing do you wear most often? My gray or black yoga gauchos I got at Target about 3 years ago. Yes, I realize gauchos aren't hugely popular anymore, but these things are SO COMFORTABLE! I've always been a t-shirt and jeans/shorts/yoga pants/track pants kind of girl. And flip-flops...definitely flip-flops.
3. What's for dinner? Ravioli and garlic bread sticks.
4. What are you listening to? My washing machine spinning/draining and Charlie asking me to "play wit da tractor, Mama?" (Yes...I'm putting him off to finish this...I'm horrible. I know.)
5. She's become invaluable to me recently. She's a fountain of knowledge about all SORTS of things.
6. Favorite vacation spot? Charleston (which reminds me...I intended to give Lauren a hard time about a comment she made about Charleston not too long ago... I was born in Charleston, my dear, and still consider it home... And, I'm OFFENDED! :)) I also have wonderful memories of Ashville with my husband, but I don't think it was so much the place as the company that made it so special. :)
7. What are you reading right now? Lots of blogs. I haven't had much time to read since Nora was born. But I'll get back to it...have no fear.
8. 4 words to describe yourself: Sensitive, scattered, spiritual, sleepy. (I started w/ the "s" thing and just decided to go with it...)
9. Guilty pleasure? Oh my...I have a lot of them... Naps. Peanut butter M & M's. Naps.
10. First spring thing to do? Take a Claritin. Seriously...pollen gives me migraines. If I'm not religious in taking my Claritin, bad things happen. After that, bust out the flip flops.
Tag Chris! OOOH, Lori, you're following me now, too. TAG!
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