6 Month Letter

Dearest Girl,

You are currently napping, off schedule I might add, so I can at least begin this letter. Speaking of napping, we recently finally put/got you onto a fairly regular schedule. This has helped both of us tremendously as Mommy was about to lose her mind. You take 2 naps a day and go down for the night at 7:15. You usually wake up at least once during the night, but will go back to sleep with the pacifier returned to it's rightful place (dang that thing!) You will generally go down without a fuss and I am so happy about that. Sometimes you still want to take an additional nap, which is of course fine with me. Of course, having a schedule means that we are pretty tied to the house most of the time, but I am sure that will work itself out.

Since the last update, you have started to eat real food. We started you off with rice cereal which you loved and still do eat without any issue. Then we tried green beans, which you also thoroughly enjoyed. Although, they are now causing you tummy issues. We then tried bananas which you wanted nothing to do with. Next sweet potatoes which you also enjoy, but also give you tummy problems. Last night we tried prunes. We will see if that helps. You are adjusting to what real food does to your body and are not liking it. I hate to see your tiny little face turning red as you cry and strain to remove that bad stuff from your body. I know it is new to you, but I hate seeing you in pain. It will get better though and you will be able to poop with the best of us.

You can sit up by yourself now. You generally like to lean way over forward, but you can pick toys up and play with them. I am glad that you can sit up, because hopefully that will work your stomach and back muscles since you hate being on your stomach. I like that I can sit you down instead of laying you on your back. I still hope that I can fix your crooked Charlie Brown head. It may be too late. Sorry, boo bear.

In the last week or two you have spent most of your waking hours with your tongue hanging out of your mouth. Not sure why, but it is a permanent state with you lately. In the last couple of days you have discovered how to use that tongue to make fun noises. You have started to spit in the way most small children do when saying nanny nanny boo boo. I think it's hilarious!

You love to type on my keyboard so I pulled out an extra one and you love banging around on that thing. You still like mine better, perhaps you need your own monitor. Not likely.

You reach for anything and everything these days. Generally your hands are covered in slobber so whatever you grab for ends up that way too. You especially like to slobber all over Mommy. My face thanks you really.

Now that you can sit up, I have started sitting you up in the bath with a bunch of toys. Because you are so laid back (at least that's what I think) you don't have much of a reaction when you like things or when you don't. But I think you like the bath. You have started screaming when I take you out of the bath and you never used to do this. This makes me want to pull my hair out. The screaming and the pitch and the echoing of both off the tiny bathroom walls makes me glad that it is night night time for you.

You enjoy the highest pitch when screaming or when talking that grates on my nerves and makes me want to scream, but it's only your way of communicating. I am trying to be more patient with you and I know that God is preparing me for the years to come, but seriously, with the screaming... inside voice PLEASE!

Your smile still lights up my life and I hope that you never stop. No matter what is happening or how my day is going or how frustrated I am, you can smile or laugh and it makes it all worth while. Life is good when you are smiling. I would do anything and everything to make you smile and more so to make you laugh. The best sound in the world is your laugh. The only thing that may ever top that is when you first say, "Mommy, I lub you."

I love you precious one,
Mommy

Stating the Obvious One Thought at a Time

Children are loud.

5 Things Meme

5 things in my fridge:
1. Pink Lemonade, mmmm good.
2. Half bottle of breast milk.
3. Out of date lunch meat.
4. Sweet Potatoe Ice Cubes
5. A variety of marinades and sauces that are probably past their prime.

5 things in my closet:
1. More shoes than I wear.
2. A cowboy hat.
3. Two Sweaters. I got rid of all the rest.
4. 6 pairs of jeans, two of which I actually wear.
5. Toilet Paper.

5 things in my purse:
1. Hand Sanitizer
2. 6 things of chapstick/lipstick/lipgloss of which I use 2.
3. Diapers and Wipes and changing pad.
4. Digital Camera. It goes with me everywhere.
5. Grocery List. That's the next stop.

5 things in my car:
1. Two strollers.
2. First Aid Kit.
3. Pacifier.
4. Extra Straw. Probably won't ever use it.
5. Coupon book that we forget we have and never use.

5 people I tag: If you dare, care to share? Leave a comment and let me know you played along.

SAHM Syndrome

Since I know there are a lot of SAHM's out there that blog, I wonder, can you tell me, how do you stay connected to the outside world? Other than blogging of course? I feel so disconnected. There are weeks that go by that I don't see anyone other than my husband and my daughter and the only outings I have are to the grocery store. I have tried finding a local play group with kids The Girl's age, but haven't been successful. Some days it's fine, but other days I am overwhelmed by the need to be social and be out of my house. How do you do it?

Fun with photos, Edition II

A while ago I asked for color requests for some photo montages. This time let's play with subjects. Give me a subject that you would like me to photograph and I will comply to the best of my ability. Please keep it clean. And remember, it takes me years to do anything these days what with The Girl and her need to be entertained 24/7. Tanks a million.

The Beauty of Life

I just finished reading Expecting Adam and it is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Very heartfelt and very poignant. It is a memoir of Martha Beck, a Harvard grad with 3 degrees from the Ivy League school. The book tells of the time in her life when she and her husband were pregnant with their second child who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. The book chronicles her pregnancy and how it changed her life and that of her husband.

Here is an excerpt that spoke to me tremendously and hits very close to home especially at this point in motherhood.

"One of the great myths of our society is that when women are left with small children, they are not alone. The truth is that a mother left with babies is far more alone than she would be without them; every bit of energy, attention, protectiveness, and care she might use to meet her own needs must first be directed toward the needs of her children. That's why the Bible alwasy laments teh fate of 'those who are with child and those who give suck' in the middle of war and disaster. The authors of the Good Book knew perfectly well that a woman alone can run, fight or hide, but a woman with babies is toast."

-Martha Beck, Expecting Adam

I read this book in about 4 days, it is so good. I highly recommend it.

Sucker

The Girl seems to be phasing out some naps. It's not consistent from day to day so I can't tell you which naps she is trying to phase out, probably all of them. In trying to keep her and me both in a decent mood, I sometimes try and force her to take a nap. This means screaming, lots of it from her and my blood pressure rising in such a manner I feel as though I am having a panic attack.

We just tried the nap and scream method and I couldn't take it so I went and picked her up and I swear she looked at me and smiled. Can you say sucker?

What used to be...

I feel as though I am adapting fairly well to my new life as a mother, but some days I long for just a glimpse of what life used to be like. I am the type of person that needs a certain amount of alone time. Time to reflect and relax. Time to heal the knicks and dings of everyday life. Time to recover. Having a child changes alone time in such a drastic way that I am still adjusting and may never fully recover. Some days I feel as though I will never get to spend time alone again.

Your ability to have alone time and to enjoy it once you have children changes too. There have been short periods of time where I have had a babysitter and have been in transit to another place that I have been alone since the birth of my daughter. Note that the only time alone has been in transit. I cannot think of a time in the last 5.5 months that I have just gotten to just sit and be alone. And now, when I am alone, the overwhelming sense of guilt/loss/worry takes over and being alone does not hold the same peace it used to. When I am away from my daughter, I should be enjoying that small amount of time, yet I feel as though a piece of myself is missing. I think about her constantly, wondering if she is okay, does she miss me? I spend my alone time missing her, wishing she was there with me, because without her, I am not me, I am missing something that is inexplicably connected to me now and that will never change again.

I cannot even begin to fathom the feeling of sending a child off to school for the first time or to college forever. I cannot imagine the emptiness, the loss of what to do with one's self. The worry, the wonder, the ache of a missing child, a missing part of yourself. I cannot imagine.

Yesterday was one of those days when I longed for just an hour of pure alone time, healing alone time. The Girl did not nap yesterday. She screamed every time I tried to lay her down. I am unsure if it is risual recovery from our trip out of town last week or if she is merely beginning to fade out some of her naps. I called hubby and asked him to come home early and then went for a walk in the rain. I didn't care that it was raining, merely that I could feel my heart rate decreasing and I could breathe again. I only know that it wasn't the same as before, I walked one lap and then went home to my daughter, because I missed her and felt that is where I should be.

Oh and duh...

What kind of mother am I... We took The Girl to have her first portraits done on Sunday, as in last Sunday and I waited two whole days to show you. But I did show everyone else... ;-)

So Hollywood. No, I did not place her in this position, she did it all by herself. Seriously, do you see the attitude I get.

Like Father like Daughter. Paddle, paddle, paddle... Tropical Storm/Hurricane in the Gulf, that's where Daddy is...

She looks just like her father.. awwww man. Sorry Sweet Pea. Not really, he is the better looking one of the two of us.

And lastly...

Hi, I have feet and that makes me happy and also... I'm cute!

Bitter Beer Face

The Girl has started sucking on her bottom lip lately and we always call her bitter beer face when she does this. You tell me.


Photo from here.

TV Confessions Meme

Most of us have shows that just have to watch or we are really bummed. So I thought it would be interesting to see who watches what on what night. Also included in the meme will be confessions of shows that we watch, but that people might be surprised to know we watch.

Now, I watch a whole lot less TV now that I have a kid. See we don't let her watch TV. I know she is only 5 months old, but starting early only makes sense. She showed a keen interest in the TV from when she was very little and we don't want to have to break her of that habit. I want to instill in my children creativity and reading and independence that are skills I think are stifled by the amount of TV the average kid watches. Also, not seeing all those stupid commercials hopefully means she won't be driving me nuts every time we go into a store with, "I want, I need, I gotta haves". Okay, stepping off the parenting soap box, blah, blah, blah.

So tell me in the comments or let me know you did the meme so I can see what secrets you all have. One TV show must be a confession and tell me the one show you are really bummed if you miss.

TV Confessions

Sunday - Crossing Jordan (Mini-Confession: I have never watched Desperate Housewives)

Monday - CSI Miami

Tuesday - Gilmore Girls (This is my bummer show. Unfortunately, I usually miss it because it is on at 7:00 and that is an hour before The Girl goes to bed.)

Wednesday - Nothing really that I can think of that I have on my radar.

Thursday - CSI and Without a Trace, but lately I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance on Fox. **** Confession***** At 9:00 PM almost every week, Hubby and I sit down on the couch and watch... UFC . I know it's violent, but it's also one of the few shows that hubby likes and he doesn't like much TV so it's a chance for both of us to spend some time together, drink some wine and veg out.

Friday - Numbers

Saturday - Mad TV and we watch reruns of UFC if we didn't catch it that week.

Another show that I have become addicted to is Deadliest Catch. We usually end up catching reruns late at night, not the original on Tuesdays, but I have really come to like this show and it usually means I stay up too late watching episode after episode. See I am the type of person that could watch just about anything and get interested in it. Very dangerous for me, so I try not to get into shows that I don't really have a desire to watch. I'm a sucker for just about anything.

So, your turn, confess away.

Month Cinco

Dearest Child-O-Mine,

On Sunday you turned 5 months old. The past five months have been amazing, comical, tiring and overwhelming. You are such a bundle of blessings for us and I can't imagine life without you.

Recently someone asked what I miss most about pre-motherhood and my answer was this, "Besides the obvious lack of sleep, I miss being able to just run to the store, or go shopping without having to remember when she last ate, when you last napped, and what kind of mood you are in."

Your sleep schedule still leaves much to be desired. I struggled over whether or not to give you a pacifier and finally decided that it was easier on all of us. Some days I question that decision. You still wake up every couple of hours, but now every other time or so I can just come into your room and replace the pacifier and you will go back to sleep for another couple of hours. This still means I have to get up, walk across the house and replace that stupid plastic plug. I don't know if I am ready to try and take it away from you though.

This motherhood thing is quite a lifestyle change. I have never questioned every decision I have make so much as I do now. Every decision pertaining to you, I go over repeatedly in my head, the pros and cons, the what ifs, the "will this mess her up for life's", oh the questioning and the doubting and the constant weight to do it right, not for my sake or my pride, but for yours. I want you to be the best you can be and I do not want to mess you up. I don't think the doubting every goes away when it comes to being a parent, but someone please tell me at least that you get better at it. If that is possible.

You are becoming more vocal and have quite a little attitude. At your four month check up, you weighed in at 13.4 and 26 inches long. You are so skinny that I can't put pants or bloomers on you, they just fall right off. You got my short torso and long legs and some height it seems from your father.

A couple of weeks ago we took you swimming for the first time. You were nonchalant about the whole thing. You made no acknowledgment what so ever when I put you in the pool. None. All you wanted to do was play with your two new best friends, Left Foot and Right Foot, and get them into your mouth.

You have started really grabbing things. When I hold the phone up so you can say hi to daddy at work, you try to close it or eat it. Everything you manage to get ahold of goes quickly into your mouth, which is fine right now when I can control to some extent what you can grab, but boy does this scare me when you can find bugs and pick those up and put them in your mouth. Well, I guess it will all be good for your immune system, right?

You giggle more these days and I could spend hours trying to make that wonderful sound come out of your mouth. You like it when I blow in your face -- you take this quick breath in, it's like a mini baby high for you I think. A small little rush of excitement.

I look forward to a day when you can tell me why you are crying and I can fix it, because some days, I don't read your mind so well and we both have a rough time. I am both looking forward to and dreading a time when you are mobile. I fear that working from home will not be quite so simple as it is now when you can move. But I look forward to chasing you around the house and all the fun we will have.

I love you, many bunches and many more!

Love,
Momma

Life in Color Green

Life in Color Green
Originally uploaded by Shooter's Station.

I'm a little green now.

No words.

This makes me sick.

Life in Color Fuschia

FUSCHIA

Life in Color Red

Life in Color Red
Originally uploaded by Shooter's Station.

I was a little out of order with the last one, but here is


RED

Baby's 1st blog post

c xxxk ko.lll.lo, ? ,lm, 055 n ymmmm ,.ju.....................,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,


Clearly, she said she loves me and appreciates proper punctuation. She is also quite fond of the space bar - she so likes her space.

Why?

Why is it impossible for me to throw out the heel of the bread when I first open the package. I am just going to throw them both out at the end. I guess I kind of see the heels as the book ends of the bread, bread ends.

Life in Color: Blue

Blue

Life in Color: Chartreuse

Okay, finally finished the first set. This was harder than I thought. But it's good practice for me on my photography. So I present to you:

CHARTREUSE

What's in the letter J?

Stolen/borrowed/whatever from TwinsMom. This should be interesting. I think hers was easier.

Using the first letter of your first name, write 10 things that mean something to you.

"J"

Jazzy: Well, it's one of my nicknames and it's important to me to live up to my name, so I try to be jazzy at all times, or at least some of the time, because being jazzy all of the time would be annoying.

January: The month my daughter was born and my life changed forever and for better.

Okay, I'm pulling out the dictionary, because really, how many things start with the letter "J".

Jalopy: My old car. It wasn't a total jalopy, but close to it and getting closer everyday. Some days I really miss that car...

Jaunt: I really do love to take little jaunts to new places. Of course I don't normally call them jaunts, I call them drives or trips like a normal person of today.

Jewels: Now what woman doesn't like jewels? Even Savannah is already enamored with my jewelry. Boy are we in trouble! My favorite jewel is of course my beautiful engagment ring that hubby picked out all by himself.

Jest: I have been known to say funny things and I love a good laugh. A good sense of humor makes life so much brighter.

Judaism: I am half Jewish, or part or still learning who I am, but part of my family is Jewish and they mean a lot to me.

Jellybeans: I loooooove me some jelly beans, but JellyBelly only please!

Java: java, coffee, nectar of the Gods, whatever you choose to call it, it helps get me through the day.

Jeans: There is nothing better than a good pair of jeans--comfortable with just the right amount of sexy. The kind you can wear with a t-shirt or with a cute top and it's all good.

Caption this

I am working on the color photo montages you have requested. It's taking me longer than I thought and some of you threw in some rather interesting colors to challenge me. In the meantime, caption this picture.

Four Months

Dearest Daughter,

Four months have passed and I can hardly believe how you are growing and changing. Before my eyes you morph into a new being each day.

You have discovered your hands and are starting to discover your feet. You like to see if you can get both hands in your mouth and constantly have a face full of drool. You have accidentally rolled over a couple of times and it amazes me. You have recently found your voice and are not afraid to use it. You talk to me while I work and have great conversations with Daddy. Your talk makes me laugh and that makes you laugh. I could go for nights with no sleep as long as you show me that smile. I could live on your smiles and I do.

You love to stand up with my help and will walk if encouraged. That scares me to death. I cannot even begin to imagine how my life will be affected when you are mobile. You are a very active child. You hate just sitting and most of the time we have to walk around with you to entertain you. You get bored very easily as well. You are usually not content with just sitting, but must stand. You kick your legs so much while in your crib that we cannot keep a blanket on you nor can we keep you facing in one direction. I fear and look forward to when I will have to chase you around the house. I don't see how I will ever get anything done.

You do not like to be restrained at all and rarely do not protest at least a little when I put you in your car seat or even your swing. You will be a free spirit I think. Not wanting anything to hold you down or in.

You love looking at yourself in the mirror and will smile and laugh at yourself. I will put you in your on the bathroom counter while I get ready and you love to entertain yourself in the mirror.

At times you are very serious and I can constantly see your little mind taking in your surroundings and learning from them. You sometimes stare off into space, but even then I can tell you are thinking about something.

Your hair is falling out and you hardly have any on the right side of your head. You have a nice comb over on the other side and we call you Trump Jr sometimes. Your new hair is coming in much lighter which makes sense since both Daddy and I were tow headed.

You have recently started grabbing your ears with both hands all the time. The doc says nothing is wrong so that is good, but it is rather strange behavior.

Your Daddy and I love you very much and cannot wait to see what the next month, days, weeks bring.

Love,
Mommy

Life is better in Color

I was just over checking in at Amber's place and she had her monthly Flickr photo contest submission up. It gave me an idea. Give me a color and I will do a photo montage of all things that color. I will do the first commenter's color first and follow in order of comment/color. Remember, I do things in the time frame of having of four month old, but I promise your color photo montage will get posted. Let's say 10 pictures for each color. Pick your color...

Leadership

Always do the right thing in any situation. You never know who might be looking to you for leadership.

This thought came to me the other day as I drove down a very busy road near our house. I watched as a couple cars pushed the limit to make it past a school bus as it slowed down for a stop. As I looked in my rear view mirror, not many cars behind me were slowing down. I started to stop and the cars around me started to stop. Would they have stopped if I hadn't, who knows? But some times we watch those around us to see how we should act or react.

A friend recently sent me a video clip of a news program that was doing some experiments to see how people reacted to a little girl being kidnapped. The experiment was set in NYC and a 7 year old girl was acting like she was being taken while a man reprimanded her for running off. The little girl kept screaming, "You're not my dad!" over and over. For hours they acted this scenario out and no one did a thing. People gawked and stared, but did nothing. After about 3 hours finally two guys in their early twenties and another guy in a car finally did something. The mother of the little girl watched the whole thing in horror.

So many times we watch those around us to see how we should act. We wait for someone else to rush to the rescue. We say to ourselves, "someone else will help them, I don't want to get involved." It's so sad, but it is true.

So do the right thing, be a good leader, you never know who might be watching, especially our children.

Busy beyond belief... just living

I'm still around and read your blogs on occasion when I have time, but have been neglecting to fill you in on anything here.

Pretty much the same old same old going on here. Went to NOLA this past weekend for my cousin's engagement party.

Here are some pics from the weekend. The city is definitely different. About 25% of the businesses were open and many restaurants have limited hours due to lack of staffing.

Email Archives

This one came today from her. Laughed my butt off. I wish.

Martha Stewart vs. Maxine

*Martha's Way*
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

*Maxine's Way *
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway!

*Martha's Way*
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

*Maxine's Way *
Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix, keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

*Martha's Way*
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

*Maxine's Way *
Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you.

*Martha's Way*
If you accidentally oversalt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up."

*Maxine's Way *
If you oversalt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!"

*Martha's Way*
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

*Maxine's Way *
Celery? Never heard of it!

*Martha's Way*
Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

*Maxine's Way *
The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust so I don't.

*Martha's Way*
Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

*Maxine's Way *
Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!

*Martha's Way*
If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

*Maxine's Way *
Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can open it for you.

*Martha's Way*
Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

*Maxine's Way *

Leftover wine???????????

The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.

Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos?

Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than in a Hyundai.

Drinking makes some husbands see double and feel single.

Living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween.

After a certain age, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead.

As usual, if you don't forward this to 10 of your friends within the next 5 minutes, your belly button will fall off. Really... it's true! Have I ever lied to you?

So not those kind of people

So awhile back, I mentioned that I got a new car. When we bought this car, both Hubby and I worried that people would think that we, gasp, had money. We have some money so to speak as in, we live day to day, but we do not have MONEY, despite the car I now drive. When we bought the car, at a great deal because the guy was leaving the country, the key fobs were not in the best of shape, but hey, no big deal. When I say not the best of shape, I mean one key really works well and is taped together so the keyless entry works.

So today I decided to call the dealership to find out what a new one would cost.

$271.86 + tax and then $45 service charge to program it to the vehicle. Huh!?

We are soooo not Lexus people. We can't even afford to buy the key. ;-)

Picture Meme

You asked, you shall receive.

Beth asked to see my sock drawer. It's a little scary, but here you go. I think the pantyhose are about to go in the trash, now that I don't have to go into an office. Yippee!!! RIP Pantyhose.

Meeta wanted to see the contents of my fridge and my kitchen table. Behold the organization.

Cori requested itsy-bitsy piggie Savannah toes! Behold the cuteness, ignore the sock fuzz.

Leah wanted to see Savvy's room, which is actually done except we don't have a mattress for the crib yet.
JuJuBee wanted to see Savvy herself in all her glory! Here she is next to the giant Pez her Winna got her.

Happy Monday

Yesterday was one of those days where you want to crawl into bed and go to sleep in hopes of waking up in the next day. Savvy got some shots on Friday and was a crab most of the day, refusing to nap and screaming whenever I put her down. Normally she is a very happy baby and only cries when she is hungry or tired. That behavior makes it very hard to do anything at all.

I took her for a walk and she liked that. Getting the stroller out of the car, I managed to open it on my finger. Like, I got my pinkie caught between one pole and another as it tried to open almost breaking it, my finger, not the stroller. I jumped around the driveway in a manner that made the neighbors look at me funny -- the kind of little dance you might use to bring forth rain. Later as I tried to adjust the walker, I got another finger caught in between one part and another and couldn't get it out at all without a little maneuvering. At this point I just looked up at the ceiling and asked God for a little break as tears streamed down my face.

I am also dealing with a breastfeeding issue that I won't go into detail on, but let's just say that I cry when she feeds on one side.

Add to all this that I have had a cold sore for the last two months. I haven't had one in like 5 years, so I guess God thought I was due. I'm sure it has something to do with the stress of being a new mom, but good grief, I adjust pretty well. I miss kissing my baby and my husband. A lot!

I have also been dealing with a family matter that has caused many a bad dream and has to be resolved after two months. I'm tired and emotionally drained, but hope to deal with that this week and move forward towards a resolution that will work for both of us.

This morning looked like it was going to present another day of awfulness when I went to shake the creamer and the top opened, spraying vanilla creamer all over the floor. Add mop to my list of things to do today.

Savvy is in her crib crying because she has yet to nap today and needs one badly. I am working or so it appears.

May today be better than yesterday. Happy Monday.

Politically Correct

This one was too good not to share before I deleted it from my inbox today.

Politically Correct Expressions

Due to the climate of political correctness now pervading America, Kentuckians, Tennesseans and West Virginians will no longer be referred to as "HILLBILLIES." You must now refer to us as APPALACHIAN-AMERICANS.

And furthermore...

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:

1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK" - She is a"BREASTED AMERICAN."

2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER" - She is"VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."

3. She is not "EASY" - She is "HORIZONTALLYACCESSIBLE."

4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE" - She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."

5. She has not "BEEN AROUND" - She is a"PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."

6. She is not an "AIRHEAD" - She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."

7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY" - She gets "CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED."

8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS" - She is"MEDICALLY ENHANCED."

9. She does not "NAG" you - She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."

10. She is not a "TRAMP" - She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."

11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS" - She is"PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."

12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER" - She is a "LOW-COSTPROVIDER."

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:

1. He does not have a "BEER GUT" - He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY."

2. He is not a "BAD DANCER" - He is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."
3. He does not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME" - He"INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS."

4. He is not "BALDING" - He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."

5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER" - He prefers"GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS."

6. He does not get "FALLING-DOWN DRUNK" - He becomes"ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL."

7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS" - He develops a case of RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."

8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG" - He has "SWINE EMPATHY."

9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT" - He is"RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."

10. He is not "HORNY" - He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."

11. It's not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants - It's "REAR CLEAVAGE"

Another Cleaning out the inbox find... Virtual Bubblewrap

http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com/popnow.shtml

Pop away!

Cleaning out the inbox

I told you there would be no specific day for these, so here you go with the next installment of "cleaning out the inbox." Now remember, I didn't write and I don't necessarily agree with it all. This email reminded me of when I used to visit my Mom in New Mexico as a kid, other kids would ask me if I rode a horse to school. At that time I had never even ridden a horse period.


Sent: Fri 3/1/2002 12:57 PM
Subject: FW: TEXAS PRIDE

When you're from Texas, people that you meet ask you questions like...."Do you have any cows?"

It's nice to be able to say yes.

They ask you, "Do you have horses?"

Yup.

Bet you got a bunch of guns, eh?

Of course.

They all want to know if you've been to Southfork.

They watched "Dallas".

Have you ever looked at a map of the world? Heck, yes you have.

Look at Texas just for a second.

That picture, with the Panhandle and the Gulf Coast, and the Red River and the Rio Grande is as much a part of you as anything ever will be. As soon asanyone anywhere in the world looks at that they know what it is. It's TEXAS.

Pick any kid off the street in Japan and draw him a picture of Texas in the dirt, and he'll know what it is. What happens if I show you a picture of any other state? You'll get it sooner or later, but who else in the world would? Even if you do, does it ever stir any feelings in you?

In every man, woman and child on this little rock the Good Lord put us on, there is somewhere in them a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride in a pickup or dance at a dancehall.

Did you ever hear anyone in a bar say, "Wow....so you're from Kansas. Cool. Tell me about it."?
There is some bit of Texas in everyone. Do you know why? Because Texas is Texas. Texas is the Alamo. Texas is 183 men standing in a church, facing thousands of Mexican nationals, fighting for freedom, who had the chance to walk out and save themselves, but stayed.

We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and Bowie and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to be heroes. John Wayne paid to do the movie himself. That is Texas. Texas is Sam Houston capturing Santa Anna at San Jacinto. Texas is Juneteenth and Texas Independence Day. Texas is huge forests of Piney Woods like the Davy Crocket National Forest. Texas is breathtaking mountains in Big Bend. Texas is shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas.T exas is the uniqueness of Austin. Texas is a world record bass from places like Lake Fork. Texas has the best colleges around. From College Station to Lubbock and everywhere in between. Texas is Mexican food like nowhere in the world, even Mexico. Texas is larger-than-life legends like Willie Nelson and Buddy Holly, EarlCampbell and Nolan Ryan, Denton Cooley and Michael DeBakey, Lyndon Johnson and Presidents George Bush, father and son. Texas is great companies like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer and Compaq. Texas is huge herds of cattle and miles of crops. Texas is skies blackened with doves and fields full of deer. Texas is the best Barbecue anywhere. Period. Texas is the nicest people you'll ever meet. Anywhere. Not to mention, the prettiest girls. Texas is a place where the streets are deserted during church. Texas is the best music, with the best musicians in the world. Texas is beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies.

If it isn't in Texas, you don't need it. No one does anything bigger or better. By federal law Texas is the only state in the U.S. that can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. Flag. Think about that for a second. You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in Maryland, or California, or Maine, and your state flag, whatever it is, flies at 17. You fly the Stars and Stripes in front of Pine Tree High in Longview at 20 feet, and the Lone Star flies at 20 feet. Do you know why?
Our capitol is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in D.C. We signed that and the flag height in as part of the deal when we came on. That's the best part right there....when we came on, Texas was its own country. The Republic of Texas.

Aren't you proud to be a Texan?

You should be.

Cleaning out the inbox

I decided to hop on BlogExplosion just to see what I might find and came across a blog where she had posted something she found while cleaning out her inbox. It triggered something and since I post so rarely because my brain has been fried by my dear daughter, I thought I would try something. Each week, I am not going to specify a day because then someone might hold me to that, I will pull something from the depths of my email and post it. So for the first installment of CLEANING OUT THE INBOX, here you go:

Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 01:01:58 EST
Subject: something worth reading

The Awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it. When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella, and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter, and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you. And in the process, a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect, and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are -- and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself, and in the process, a sense of newly found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say, and that not everyone will always be there for you, and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process, a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers, and you begin to accept people as they are, and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and, in the process, a sense of peace & contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and needing, and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with, and in the process, you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing, and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it’s not your job to save the world, and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility, and the importance of setting boundaries. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry, and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving, and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You are not important because of the man or woman on your arm. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations, and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love, and you learn that you don’t have the right to demand love on your terms just to make you happy. And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely. And you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you “stack up."

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over, and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK, and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things that you want, and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity, and respect and you will not settle for less. And you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you, to glorify you with his or her touch, and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water, and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear, so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul, so you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for, and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success, you need direction, discipline, and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time, FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears, because you know that whatever happens you can handle it, and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve, and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It’s just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state-- the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy, and resentment must be understood and redirected, or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself, by yourself, and you try to make yourself a promise -- to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can. To every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

Picture Meme

A while back, like before I had a kid and my memory was wiped clean, there was this thing called a photo meme. I am resurrecting it here. This is how it works. Leave in the comments what you would like to see a picture of and I will post one. Your wish is my command, well kind of. Keep it clean and give me some time, a week or so and I will post your requests. Be as creative as you like, I need some excitement in my life!

FLYing High!

I recently discovered www.flylady.net and WOW! I cannot recommend her enough. She has gotten me so organized and my house so clean, if you knew me, you wouldn't believe it. This really is saying a lot. I have never been much of a homemaker or a cook or a good cleaner. But now, I have been cooking every night. My house is clean. I plan out my meals and go grocery shopping ONCE a week. I do laundry every other day and fold it and put it away. I make my bed every day. I haven't made my bed everyday since high school when I was forced to in order to live under my parents roof.

I am still working on the office but it is almost done. And when it is, I will share pictures of my wonderfully clean house. Now where is that duster!

Photo Scav.

The Chaos of Life

Well I am back to working. Part time from home only, but it's another serving on my plate of life. I think I am handling it all pretty well. Thanks to FlyLady I might have a hope that I will keep my house clean. The past two weeks I have slowly been cleaning my house from top to bottom.And I mean cleaning! I am in the process of tackling the office/guestroom which is a feat because not only is it those two things, it also housed all the boxes we haven't unpacked from when we moved in as well as anything that was in the the former guestroom, now the baby's room. Oi!

Two Months: The things I forgot to tell you

Two months has come so quickly. You had your two week check up and here are the results:

11 lbs 6 ozs (75%)
24 inches long (95% duh)
Head circumfrence: Round

The doc says that you will probably teeth early. Holy Moly. In fact you may have already started. Look up there and see how old this child is. Two months! You are a bubble blowing, slobbery mess all the time. The problem (like there is only one) with you teething this early? Your hand eye coordination is not yet such that you can hold a teething ring or anything else you might like to chew on except your hand. Your hand, which you can occassionally find and rarely can keep in your mouth, because, hey I'm only two months old and haven't realized that my hands are attached to my body and are here for my chewing enjoyment. Bah!

Doc also says you have eczema. I thought it was just baby acne. Hopefully it willheal quickly with the lotion she told us to use. Bah again.

Since you were born, you have held up your pointer finger while eating or falling asleep and now sometimes while you are playing. You hold that little pointer up as if to say, "ummm, one more thing..."

You have started to coo some and "talk" to us. We copy everything you say. I am teaching you how to dance. Your movements are a little jerky, but you are getting the hang of it and love to dance with me. People tell me you are starting to look more like me now than your father. Either way, you are beautiful and I love how each new day brings new things to your life and to mine.

Ongoing Love,

Momma

Two Months

Dear Savannah,

You turn two months old today and wow has time flown by. My pregnancy is just a small memory in the past and I can hardly imagine my life before you were in it. How to put into words all that you are to me and your father is hard to do, but I will try.

You make up every waking (and some sleeping) moments of my day (and night). You are starting to settle into a "routine", and I use that term loosely. I am getting better at distinguishing your cries although sometimes you still seem to cry "for no reason." We are getting on a better sleep schedule, meaning you will actually sleep some and sort of consistently during the day. Now that I have said that, it will all be screwed up. You have gone a few nights up to 6 hours of sleeping. I wake up thinking that I slept through a feeding. You are also having more awake time that is not spent crying. You will play on your play gym for 30 minutes or so and enjoy it or sometimes you will just sit and study everything around you. You will even enjoy your swing more now although I don't think you fully appreciate the fun of it all. You hate to be held in a cradle position, preferring to be held so that you are looking over my shoulder. This makes for a lot of back pain for your father and me, but that is okay, we will learn. You love to look out the big back window and will cry when moved from this postion. You hold your head up so well, sometimes bonking me in the lip or eye as you bobble around because you will not rest your head.

You are starting to smile in response to your father and me, not just smiling while you fall asleep. I love, love, love to make you smile. It is such a beautiful smile you have. You still want to eat ALL THE TIME. The doctor said to not let you eat more than every two hours. Sometimes getting you to go that two hours is like torture, for you and me both. You are such a good little eater, taking after your father who eats like a Hoover. You hold your top leg up while you eat like a little lever, occassionally kicking me in the side for your enjoyment. Sometimes you spill more than you swallow so I have to wash your neck and ears frequently to keep you from smelling like sour milk.

Your eyes are turning an amazing shade of purply blue and I can't wait to see what color they end up. Hopefully they will be closer to your daddy's pretty light blue than mommy's storm blue. You are so long and weigh a good 12 pounds or so. We go to the doctor for your two month check up tomorrow and will see how much you really weigh and how long you really are.

Everyday is different with you and that is okay. It keeps me on my toes as I am sure you will do for me all your life. I try and cherish every moment, knowing that soon you will not let me hold you while you sleep or kiss you all over whenever I want. I try not to jump ahead to when you will leave for school or learn to drive or go off to college. I know these things are far away, but I also know that time moves quickly sometimes. I want to remember every moment with you.

You are so precious to me and I can't wait to see how you grow in the next month. Mommy and Daddy love you very much.

Love,
Momma

Movies

Name the last really good movie you saw.

The Tween Generation

First off let me say how much I hate the word tween. But the power was proven on the nightly news, if their info is correct. It seems the person who holds the attendance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is Hilary Duff. Not George Strait, the King of Country. Hilary, a tween idol, I suppose. Marketers have been targeting this age range for years now and it's obvious it is working. The sadest part, it's not their money they are spending. So basically, kids are telling their parents where to spend their money.

I have a question

No really, I do. I have been taking some video with my digital camera and I don't know how to get it to my family so they can share in Savvy's cuteness. I don't have a CD burner, I know, I'm stuck in the old days. Is there a site like flickr or somewhere, where I can share my videos or post them to my blog somehow? Can anyone help me?

I have an answer or two

Christine asked: Okay - what is your favorite color to dress Savvy in? (Before my daughter was born I rejected pink for lavenders and yellows, but after she was here I found pink was my favorite!) What is your favorite part of motherhood so far? Your least favorite?What is the best piece of advice about having an infant did you receive? And what was the worst?(If that is too many questions, just pick your favorite one.

I really dislike pink, but have found that I do dress her in pink a lot, because after all she is a girl and she is cute in pink. Pastels in general make me puke, but a baby looks good in pastels and it's a good thing because it's hard to find primary colored clothes for infants. I love her in white though. I don't really have a least favorite, but I suppose that I would not dress her in black even though I love black for me. Black is not for babies.

My favorite part of motherhood so far is breastfeeding I think. I love that quiet time you get with her. Only you the mother can feed her baby this way and it creates a bond that she won't have with any other person. One of these days I'm going to answer the door with my boob hanging out though.

The best piece of advice I received about having an infant is probably to sleep when she does although this is easier said than done. I do try and nap when she does, but because it is so random when she sleeps, I generally end up doing things around the house, taking a shower or checking email.

The worst piece of advice I have received is that it's okay to let them cry if you need a break. It's not that it is bad advice, but again, it's easier said than done. We have tried the cry it out method a couple of times and it just tears me apart, so we are done with that. When you need a break, hand her to someone else. But sometimes that has to wait until someone else is there.

Becky originally asked: how do you reference a specific blog or article in a post. I have figured out how to reference people, but I can't figure out how to zero in to a specific post on that person's site . But she got the answer to that from the wonderful Duke of Earle. So I will answer her next question, Have you had your first mommy margarita yet?

I tried to have a margarita at Jennifer's b-day party last weekend, but it was too strong and I don't think I would have been able to walk had I drank it. Now, wine on the other hand, I partake in a glass about every other day. Probably too much, but a girl needs a break.

Bekah asked: What has surprised you the most in this first six weeks??

Hmmm... The first couple of weeks were actually really easy. She slept most of the time and I didn't mind the night feedings because she went right back to sleep. I think as an expecting mother, you expect the first two weeks to be the hardest. They weren't for me. The two weeks following those were probably the hardest because the first two were so easy and then it got harder when she wasn't sleeping consistently and I didn't have as much help around the house and I was having to do more.

Tiff asked: How many times a day do you find yourself smelling Savvy's head? More than I can count. I love her head. And her cheeks. And her nose. All the way down to her toes.

Leslie asked: Did you ever think you could love something so much? No, I didn't. Plain and simple, there is no other love like it. I have wanted to be a mother my whole life and now that I am, there is nothing better. I have learned (just a little bit) though that along with that love comes great fear. I have chilled out a little bit, but those first few weeks, I couldn't watch the news without thinking of how I would manage if one of those awful things happened to my baby. I found myself tearing up over stupid commercials about children. I worry constantly that she will suffocate in the crib or one of those other many accidents that you think can never happen, but do. Fear takes on a whole new dimension when you have children, but so does love.

John Duke of Earle, the ever wise one simply stated, "Jazzy,That raised hand with the little clenched fist? That's not a question, it's a symbol of BABY POWER! Watch out for her when she gets older."

Funny he should say that. Usually when she does this, I not only ask her what her question is, but I speak what I imagine is in her mind, "Power to the Babies!" Oi!

Angela Marie asked: How and why did you quit smoking? Isn't motherhood great (even with all the spitup and pooping)?

I quit smoking cold turkey about 4 years ago this month. I knew that smoking affected my fertility and a friend had recently gotten pregnant and I guess it triggered something in me and I just quit. I had three cigs left in my pack, I smoked them and haven't touched one since. I always knew that I wasn't a lifetime smoker, despite the fact that I smoked for almost 10 years. I knew as soon as I got pregnant with my first child I would never smoke again, or so I hoped. I am so glad that I quit back then and not when I got pregnant, I think it is easier that way.

Motherhood is fabulous! Even with all the poopy action!

Got more questions? Keep 'em coming!

You in the back, what's your question

Savvy has a way of raising her hand over her head while she sleeps in such a manner that both her father and I look at her and ask, "yes, what is your question." It is the cutest thing. She will be fast asleep and all of a sudden from her side all the way up, she raises her little hand very slowly, clenched tightly in a fist up over her head. So today, I ask you, my few and far between readers, what is your question? I haven't done a Q&A in awhile so ask away. Whatever you want, I'm here for the asking.

Empty Nest

The people two houses down recently moved out. I certainly don't miss the cars and trucks coming by at all hours of the night. Theirs was the hang out house and boy did they have a lot of friends. What is sad is that the house now sits empty. The house right next door to us is also empty and has been since we moved in. It is strange how you can tell an empty house from a lived in house. There is just something lonely that emanates from an empty house. Know what I mean?

Mothering

I'm here. I'm mothering.

Happy Heart Day and Birthday

Happy Valentine's Day to all who acknowledge it and a more important, very Happy Birthday to my Hubby. My all your hearts be happy today.

The Short Story

Any mother knows what it is like trying to get things done with a new baby. So needless, to say, my blogging time has been cut into quite a bit. I would post more frequently and longer posts, if only I could remove my daughter from my top half for long enough to do anything at all.

Still adjusting to new motherhood. Some days are better than others, but all in all, I would say we have it pretty easy.

I did finally get my hair done, Amen. It's the little things in life, really.

Bang, Bang

I haven't had bangs since I was a little girl, except if you count when all my hair was shorter than those bangs you see there. It looks better when it's clean, but alas, when does one find time to shower with a one month old. Yes, can you believe she is already a month old as of yesterday. Boy how flies time.

Sisterhood

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Tibby to Bailey

"Are you afraid?" Tibby asked.

"Not of dying really," replied Bailey. "It's more that I'm afraid of time. Of not having enough of it. Time to figure out who I'm supposed to be. To find my place in the world before I have to leave it. I'm afraid of what I'll miss."

We do not regret the things we did so much as the things we didn't do.

Just Curious

Does anyone use BlogClicker or BlogExplosion anymore?

AGH! I've been Tagged

Because I love her so much, I will acknowledge the tag. My five most guilty pleasures in completely random order.

1. Gummi Bears. I love me some gummi bears.
2. Showers have become a guilty pleasure. It's the only place I get to be alone now.
3. Shoes and Purses. I know that's really two, but I'm lumping them into one because I can. I never seem to have enough of either in black. My husband would argue that I never need another pair of black shoes or another black purse. I just can't help it.
4. Smelling my baby's head and kissing her cheeks. This is a new one for me, but I cannot get enough.
5. Reading blogs. I could do it for hours, but I don't have hours. I cannot even make it through half my blogroll in a day.

I won't bother tagging anyone. If you like it, steal it and leave a comment to tell me where to look.

Two weeks and one day

Savvy turned two weeks old yesterday and on some levels it feels like she has been here forever and on other levels it feels like it is all so new still and I can't believe she belongs to us. I am living my life in two hour intervals it seems most of the time. We took her out to dinner on Saturday night and then she and I had our first solo outing on Sunday to meet my parents, aunt, uncle and Nana for breakfast. It felt so good to drive the car. The little things we take for granted everyday are brought into perspective when you have a child.

We are both doing well. She is a really good baby. She has been a little fussy from what we think is gas/constipation. She grunts and grunts and makes faces and doesn't always go to the bathroom. She still likes to save up her poo for a 2 hour time period per day. I guess that is okay.

I'm about to say something that may horrify many of you mothers. Please look away if it is too awful for you. Here we go...

I fit into my prepregnancy jeans!!! I couldn't believe it. Please don't hate me because I'm jeanful.

And now for what you have really all been waiting for, cuteness in pictures.

Advice from Momma

To my dear Savannah, always remember these things. These are things I hope to teach you as you grow. I will add this list to my sidebar and continually add to it, I hope, if I can figure out how.

• Don't judge others too quickly, lest they do the same to you.
• But, generally, you can judge a person by how they treat a waiter, their mother and a valet.
• You are the only one responsible for your actions. No matter what. Live so that you are proud of yourself and your decisions.
• Be accountable always for your actions. Admit when you are wrong and stand up when you are right.
• Live in such a way that God would be proud of you.
• Stand up for what you believe in. Those beliefs may change over time and that is okay too.
• Live your life so that you have no regrets. Our experiences, both good and bad, make us who we are each day.
• Life is full of change. Be flexible and go with the flow-it is so much easier than fighting change.
• Happiness comes from within. No one has control over your emotions except you. With each experience, you have a choice as to how you will react to it. Choose wisely.
• Love yourself above all else. If you don't love yourself, you cannot fully love someone else and you cannot let someone else fully love you.
• No matter what, your father and I will always love you.
• Always use kind words when speaking of others. You never know one's current situation and we do not want to be hurtful.
• Sometimes a new hairdo can change your whole outlook.
• But, always remember, beauty comes from within. If you are beautiful on the inside, it will shine through.
• Remember, there are always consequences for our actions. Make decisions based on the consequences.
• Do the things you want to do today. When you are old, you will not regret the things you did so much as the things you never did.

The Arrival of Savannah Leigh

The Birth Story of Savannah Leigh

Born January 15, 2006
4:24 PM
8 lbs 6 ozs 21 inches long

I was officially due on January 8th so was a week past due and scheduled to be induced on Monday, January 16th. In the week between the 8th and the 16th I had grown tremendously and was starting to be tired of being pregnant, mostly because of the worry of being past due more than anything. Each day brought new worry that he/she wasn't okay. (We didn't know she was a girl and were positive that she was actually a boy- insert God laughing here). I was also worried because my Mom was scheduled to fly back to NM on Monday and had run out of time off, so she had to go back regardless. I could not imagine the birth of my first child without my mother there. Other than avoiding an induction, this was my top priority (other than the obvious of a healthy baby). The other main factor was that my doctor had been out of town and was getting back on Sunday. I really wanted her to deliver our baby and not the doctor on call.

On Saturday I thought it might be possible that I was leaking fluid so we took a trip to the hospital, but it was a false alarm. We visited with friends who just had their baby at the hospital and then came home to wait some more.

I woke up at 4:30 am on Sunday, January 15th to a pretty hard contraction. I had been having contractions off and on for about a week and a half. Most of the time they were not painful, but occasionally I would have a painful one. I laid in bed for about a half an hour and kept having contractions so I finally got up and moved to the couch. I started keeping track and they were about 6 minutes apart and pretty strong. I wasn't in too much pain, but they were making me take notice. I went outside and took some pictures of the sunset, wondering if today would be my baby's birthday. At about 8:30 I woke up my husband and told him that my contractions were pretty regular and that this might actually be it. He got up and we took a shower. My Mom was up by the time I had blow dried my hair and we called the doctor. The doctor said to go on in to the hospital and get checked. As we gathered up our stuff, I hoped that this would not be another false alarm.

We drove to the hospital with my contractions getting closer to 5 minutes apart. We arrived at about 10:30 am. It took a little while to walk in as I was beginning to be in a lot more pain. When we checked in and they put me in a triage room and checked me I was at 3 cm and 100% effaced. This was about where I had been at my last doctor's appointment on Thursday so I was somewhat disappointed. They were having trouble getting my contractions to show up on the monitor as well as keeping a good reading on the baby's heartrate. Her heartrate was good, they just couldn't get the monitor in a good place. My MIL arrived shortly after we did. We called my Dad and StepMom and they called back shortly to say they were delayed because their waterbed had sprung a leak. We joked that their water had broken. The nurse told me to walk around the hospital for an hour and come back and get monitored again. The hospital was pretty quiet so hubby and I walked the halls, stopping with contractions for me to hang on his neck and make it through the contractions. They were getting worse and I was praying that all this pain meant that I was progressing.

We went back to triage when the hour was up and got hooked back up to the monitor. They were still having trouble getting the contractions to show up on the monitor. I don't know if they didn't believe I was having contractions, but I was very vocal about the pain I was in, so I don't know how you wouldn't think I was in labor. When the nurse checked me I was still at 3cm, but she gave me a 3-4 cm when she saw the look on my face. She said they would monitor me for a little longer and then I would either have to walk some more or they were going to send me home. Hubby couldn't believe they would send me home in the pain I was in.

About 5 minutes later I felt this kick and then a gush of fluid. My water broke!!! Either my Mom or my MIL went and told the nurse and her response was, "Instant admission". Unfortunately, the hospital had gotten busy and they didn't have the staff to staff all the rooms, so they didn't have a room available for me. At this hospital we labor, deliver and recover all in the same room. I didn't really care at this point although we had up to 7 people in our little triage room at a time and it was tight. At some point my Dad and Stepmom showed up, but time had ceased to be something real to me. I was in a lot of pain and was having severe back labor. Each contraction may have had a beginning and an end, but the pain never stopped. They still couldn't get them to show up on the monitor. I was getting lost in the contractions and having trouble focusing some. My dad, stepmom and MIL took turns applying pressure to my back, while I focused on my husband and my mom talking me through each contraction. I guess about 12:30 pm I couldn't take it anymore. I was dreading each upcoming contraction and couldn't do it anymore and certainly couldn't imagine doing it for hours, so I broke down and asked for the epidural. Someone went to the tell the nurse and she said she would get it going. At some point she came in and started my IV. I moved during the first try so she tried two more times before she got it. I hate IV's and the pain of the IV on top of the contractions didn't help. The nurse came back and said it would be a little bit for the epidural because a lady had come in full dilated and ready to deliver and there was also an emergency C-section and only one anesthesiologist on that day. The nurse offered me IV drugs for the pain, which I really wanted at the time, but hubby and I had discussed and we really didn't want to do this for the sake of our baby. The less medical intervention the better so he promptly said no. At the time I really did want something, but I am really glad we didn't do it. I just kept saying, "Where is my freaking epidural?" and hubby kept saying, "It's coming."-

At some point they finally moved me to a room and my Mom called my doctor. She had told us to call her because she really wanted to be around for "the party". About 3:30 pm the anesthesiologist finally came in. They made everyone leave except my hubby. Thank goodness they let him stay otherwise I don't think I would have made it. The epidural didn't hurt a bit really. Pain is relative during the labor process. Funny, on the way to the hospital I said something to the affect of I couldn't imagine the amount of pain you had to be in to actually want someone to stick a rather large needle into your spinal canal. Now I knew the level of pain and I didn't care if you had to strap me up by my heels and beat me to take away the pain, I just wanted it gone. Pretty quickly the epidural kicked in and the pain went away.

Right after the anesthesiologist left, my doctor came in. I hadn't been checked since before my water broke so the nurse had just finished checking me and I was at a blessed 9cm and completely effaced, no cervix to be seen hardly. The doctor then checked me and said that I was at 10 cm. She said that the next contraction we would see how I could push. At some point in this process, my doctor mentioned that she had given blood and hoped that she didn't pass out. I told hubby to be ready to catch our baby just in case. They were still having trouble getting the contractions to show up on the monitor and by now I couldn't feel them any more. The next contraction I pushed and the doctor said, "Whoa, look at all that hair on that head. Let's go ahead and have a baby." She got prepared and we started pushing. I pushed three times per contraction. Because the contractions weren't showing up on the monitor, the nurse had to feel my stomach to see when one was started. During the contractions I heard my Mom open the door and ask if they needed help. I thought she just wanted to really be in there (which she did, of course, but apparently the call button light was on outside the room and no one had come to help. My Mom was a midwife for many years, an RN and is currently a nurse practitioner in women's health so she could have helped, but I really just wanted me and my husband in there for the birth of our first child. I pushed through about 5 or 6 contractions and there she was. Hubby says he was the one that told me it was a girl. She was placed on my belly and she was so beautiful. She was wide eyed and just looking around. I think asked why she wasn't screaming. I needed her to scream so that I knew she could breathe. They wiped her off and then she let out a little wail and then quit crying again and just was taking it all in.

I cried and hubby cried and they whisked her across the room to clean her up and check her. Hubby went with her. The family was chomping at the bit to get in so I told them they could let them in. It was a zoo. I was still splayed wide open and had torn a little bit so the doctor was sewing me up. My mom, dad, stepmom, MIL, Bekah as well as my husband, the doctor and a variety of nurses were in the room. I just laid there looking towards my baby, tears in my eyes. The experience was so surreal. It happened so fast, yet took so long.

The grandparents passed her around while I got stitched up the rest of the way and then she was handed to me so I could feed her. She latched right on. The nurses were so impressed with her and everyone kept telling me how beautiful she was. She hardly cried at all while they were cleaning her up and even during her first bath, we hardly heard a peep.

I am so blessed to have this wonderful, amazing new life intertwined with mine. I am blessed to have wonderful family and friends that love me and her to no end. We have had so much help at home that I find myself saying, I can do this, no problem, but at 4:00 am I sometimes forget that.

There are a lot of interesting numerical correlations with Savvy's birth. My sister and I were born four years and 8 days apart. Savvy and her twin cousins are exactly one year and 8 days apart. My mom went into labor with me at 4:30 am and had me at 4:36 pm the same day. I went into labor with Savvy at 4:30 am and had her at 4:24 pm the same day. My birthday is December 13, Hubby's is February 14 and Savvy's is January 15, 13,14,15 and December, January, February. Don't know what it all means, but it is interesting.

Today Savvy is a week old. As I type this she is laying on her Play Gym fast asleep. I cannot get enough of her. I miss her when I sleep. Her father is the same way and my heart bursts just a little when I see him with her. There are so many things going through my mind as I come to terms with the fact that I have joined a group of people that is so special, Mothers. I am a Mother and will always be a Mother. Having Savvy has changed my relationship with my parents already. I immediately respect them more and understand their protectiveness throughout my life. I am a worrier at heart, but hope not to worry myself to death, but don't see how. I cannot imagine anything ever happening to my little girl. At night, every little noise makes me sit up in bed and check to make sure she is okay. How I will ever move her to another room, I do not know. I currently have a cold and am so afraid she will get it. I can suffer, but I do not want her to suffer.

She is already so strong. She can lift her head and throw herself off my shoulder. She can even lift her head while laying on her stomach. She hardly cries at all, except if she is very hungry or very poopy. She can projectile poop like you would not believe and she likes to store up the days' poop and let it out in little bursts all in about a 2 hour time period. She can even pee like a boy. She has what we call the pee and poop show about once a day, where she waits for you to take off her diaper and then lets it all loose at once. It makes me laugh so hard, I almost pee my pants every time she does it.

Thank you, God for the blessing you have bestowed upon me. May I make you proud.

Rumor dispelled

I will get around to posting the birth story soon, but to dispell the rumor, I did not go natural. I begged for that epidural. They made me wait for it, but once I got, boy was I a happy camper. That is the best thing that was ever invented!

Home sweet home

We are home and all doing well. Thank you for all the well wishes. Will post the incredible story soon.

A day of fulfillment

A pictures that says it all.


Hi Everyone...Bekah here.

Just a brief note to let all know that Jazzy and baby girl are doing well....very well.

I was able to be outside the door as this new life was brought into our world. I was able to experience the formation of a new family as Jazzy, her hubby and family met their new baby for the very first time. I am honored and touched beyond words to have been able to experience their very intimate, private moments that have connected me to this little girl and family in a very profound way.

This afternoon I saw what I can only describe as a life fulfilled. As I watched Jazzy hold her baby close and nurse her for the first time, I saw Jazzy become a mother. I saw all the years I've known her flash before me in this one moment and I saw her as she has always wanted to be - a mother holding her new infant in her arms with her loving (and oh! so! wonderful! husband) looking over her shoulder. This is what she has spent her whole life waiting for, I knew that for sure.

I can't do justice to the "wholeness" of what I saw today. I can only say that it was beautiful and wonderful and hopeful and makes me believe in God so strongly that it rocks me to my soul.

I'll let Jazzy post her own birth story and thoughts, but I wanted to share mine with you, and Jazzy.

Thank you for letting me part of this wonderful new beginning. I love you all, I'm here always and God Bless You.

It's a GIRL!

She's here! She's here! Its a girl!!!!! She was 8.59 pounds and born about 4:30 this afternoon and from what I understand she did all of it natural! Go Jazzy! If she got meds it was RIGHT at the end!

CONGRATULATIONS Jazzy! Congrat's Jazzy's hubby! Yeah! The baby is here!

I'm going to try to go see her tomorrow. Someone will post pics soon!!!!

~Em~

Baby Update

This morning, they went to the hospital around 9:30am. Jazzy was 3cm dialated.

At 2:15pm they were putting her in a room (I guess the hospital is slammed) and she's about 4cm
dialated. She's in alot of pain but her mom said that everything was fine. Her dad and stepmom had just arrived, so all the parents are there.

From various sources we are being kept informed and someone will be passing that along to you, here in Internet Land. In the meantime, say a prayer that all goes well for mama and baby.

~Em~

The baby's coming! The baby's coming!!!!

Hi! This is Em from Giggling Universe. Thought everyone would be glad to know that about an hour or so ago Jazzy and her hubby headed for the hospital. Her contractions are about 5 minutes apart and getting pretty intense.

Either Bekah or I will update as we know more!

No baby

I'm beginning to sense a theme to my posts. No baby.

Update

Still no baby. He/she is snug as a bug in a rug and ain't coming out yet. I had my last doctor's appointment today and all still looks good and despite contractions and losing my plug, no progression. Still 2 cm and 80% effaced. So unless I go into labor between now and Monday, they will induce on Monday. It is starting to feel like we will never have this baby, but I guess really by Tuesday we will have a baby, because he/she has to come out sometime.

Baby update

Well, apparently my womb is a great old place to hang and the baby is perfectly happy there. I haev tried telling him/her that it's not that scary out here and that he/she will have a lot more room out here than in there, but he/she is stubborn like me and therefore responds by kicking me in the ribs.

Went to the doc today. No progress at all. Bummer since I have been having all these contractions that don't seem to be doing anything at all. My non-stress test was very good, the baby reacts the way he/she should and I am healthy and the baby is healthy, so we will continue to wait. She did strip my membranes, which didn't feel so hot at all. Haven't seen it do much of anything yet. Will try some home remedies possibly this week and see if we can't kick start this here party.

We did set an induction date for next Monday. I have to call at 5 AM to see if the schedule will fit me in, but at that time I will be a week post date and will be considered a medical induction rather than an elective induction. My doctor will also be back in town which is good. If this baby comes while my doc is out of town, I'm not going to like it, so kiddo, you have til Wednesday and then you have to wait until late Sunday. Just kidding, you come whenever you are ready and Mommy and Daddy will roll with the punches.

My Mom is scheduled to leave on Monday as well. If we have to induce she will push her flight back one day, but that means she won't get to spend much time oohing and aaahing over the baby and generally getting to spend time with all of us as a family. Because she is in women's health and used to deliver babies, she is a valuable resource and I would like to have her here at least for a little while after the baby arrives to assure me that I am doing okay as a Mother.

Anyways... that's the update. Will keep you posted.

No Baby Yet

Well, today is my official due date and no baby yet. I have been having more frequent contractions, but nothing consistent. I go to the doctor tomorrow morning and will get a non-stress test and a check up and will talk about next steps.

I feel fine, but am ready to meet this baby and know that the outcome of birth is all going to be okay. We are all expecting that every day is THE day, but not yet.

I just realized that this coming Friday is the 13th, which would be funny if the baby was born then because I was born on Friday the 13th. I know most people shy away from all things 13, but I love that number so it would be a great thing for me.

Will try to update tomorrow so you guys aren't waiting on pins and needles.

Hook Em! Baby!

After much hype and much yapping about USC being the best team, blah, blah, blah, the Horns showed up in full glory, played an awesome game and won the National Title! What a great game, and despite the jumping up and down and pacing in the fourth quarter, I did not go into labor. Maybe today?!

After my doctor's appointment on Tuesday I am at 2 cm and 80% effaced. Zero station and still the kid is as happy as can be in womb. Heart rate is good, by BP is good and we are just trucking along. My Mom arrived yesterday and so now I am really ready to have this baby! Let's go, anytime now. I did have more frequent Braxton Hicks during the game, but managed to sleep through the night. Blessings all around.

So, still waiting on baby, but no longer waiting on a National Championship. Hook Em!