What does it mean to be a mom...

...right now,
In this moment.

Being a mom means:
* Making sure hungry bellies are full and satisfied.
* Teeth are brushed.
* Encouraging the best grades in school.
* Laying down the law and grounding when necessary.
* Setting expectations high.
* House cleaning.
* Shuffling children to sporting events.
* Cheering said children on.
* Grocery shopping.
* Dinner making.
* Hug giver.
* Homework helper.
* Teachable moments, about life in general, even the birds & bees, and Santa Claus.
* Dooling out chores.
* Making sure said chores are done correctly.
* singing songs, such as "A your Adorable, Eency Weensy Spider, Good Morning..."
* Reading books aloud.
* Changing diapers.
* Wiping up spit up.
* Planning babies diet with jars of food.
* Laundry, laundry, laundry.
* Dodging a baby in a walker car, he'll run me down.
* Taking lots of pictures.
* Baby lotion, hydrocortisone, aquaphor, A & D Ointment, baby wipes.
* Lots of bibs!
* Sweet baby giggles and cries for wants.
* Carter's clothing.
* Tough love.
* Making time for each of the children.

I need to work on that last one. Jayda Mae is acting out...or getting older..or just being a plain ol' pain in the tookus!
Perhaps she needs more of my attention, or I need to revisit the trusty old wooden spoon! LOL Somewhere in between is probably the best. For now, she pays in days away from the TV. Torturous for sure for one who loves to cuddle up for a few minutes everyday and watch reruns of the old star wars movies!

I believe there are areas I need to improve on, as a mother. I resolve to put more time and effort into being a well rounded mom, rather than one so focused on baby and me!

Being a mom is not always easy. I long for the days of tiny babies who looked up at me and just adored me every waking minute. I see it in Baby Jay. The look of absolute love. Now, if I get through a day without an eye roll or something mumbled under their breath or flat out sassiness...it is a miracle!

PS: Thank you mother for wishing this on me. Don't forget, I know the best nursing homes in Florida. Ignore the urine smell and patients wailing. They are ok, you'll be very happy there! snicker, snicker, snicker

Picture of the Day:
Jayda in an all out pout!

Timber!

I accomplished a few things I had to have done for the weekend! I spent a great deal of time today playing with the baby. He is such a joy and cracks me up so much!
He is growing and changing at a break neck speed! He rolls from one side of the room to another. He wriggles around to get where he wants to go. I guess he didn't get the memo about crawling...or sitting up for that matter. Although he is getting the hang of it...but then he topples over like a game of Jenga at it's fateful moment. Or more simply put, a tree falling over...TIMBER!


He sat himself upright and I couldn't help but grab my camera! He proceeded to reach for the rug and nearly fell out. His straps held him in and they must have put a serious tug on him cause he started wailing! He could not pull his body back up!

Well, update on the sleeping "issue". Last night he went to bed as usual. He woke up at 2:30 am as usual. He then slept through until 7:30 am with out a single whimper. I guess he realized the doctor and I are on to his game now!
Well, tonight is a new night. He is cranky tonight. I am assumming his shots are kicking in. They are very red and swollen at the sight. Poor little guy, but I am protecting him against horrors we can not even begin to imagine!

This evening my mother had us over for dinner! It was delicious and she outdid herself again. She always has red peppers for our salad. Every one takes a spoonful, but I must take them....all!!!! I so love sweet red peppers!

While we had dinner, I gave baby Jay his first cheerios! Mike had to put them in his mouth. He couldn't pick them up on his own, he only played with them. Once in his mouth, he would say "ummm-ummm-ummm-ummm" as he soggied them up to swallow. He was totally gumming them and really putting on quite the show! At one point, Michael did not pick one up and put in his mouth, so he placed his head on the tray and was chasing them around with his mouth! But to no avail!

In light of the upcoming weekend, I am beginning to psych myself up for my big day on Sunday! I hope for prizes!! I love prizes! What you ask am I talking about? Why, it is Mother's Day.
I wish for scrapbooking money or stuff.
I wish for a external hard drive to house the thousands of pictures I take.
I wish for breakfast in bed.
I wish for scrapbooking money or stuff.
I wish for sweet projects made at school from my children.
I wish for a trip out on the boat.
I wish for scrapbooking money or stuff.
Wait, did I say that last one already?

I am feeling good today and am excited about that!

Picture of the day:
Brothers being Brothers!

Hurry Up, catch up!!!

It's hot here in Florida today, and I mean hot! Flirting with the 90s! But...you would never catch me in this outfit!!!


Sorry I have been away so long! I simply have not felt up to thinking and writing and posting pictures. Today I am about 90%..so not long now.

I have so much exciting news to catch you up on and I don't know if I will remember it all. But I will try!

Friday night went to bed feeling sore and chilled. Wake up and feel even worse than when I went ot bed. Blame it on the long walk on Friday and get up and into the shower after two ibuprofen. Out and not feeling any better. Mike tries to talk me out of going but I was not copping out again!

SATURDAY:
We head over to the Tomoka State Park for a ride on the creek(pronounced crick or creek depending on US locale!). I felt awful all day but put on the happy face because I thought I was just sore from my walk. Moving on. After I backed the boat out we waited for Mike to park the tahoe and come get on.

I would definitely cry too!


It was a beautiful ride. I am surprised we did not see more wildlife.






Well, this was just before Michael got out and pushed us out of some shallow water. It was low tide and we need a push out!


It just so happens the day we were out they were doing a river clean up. I saw a girl on a kayak bring in a huge bag of trash and an old rusty carburator. Unfortunately, while cleaning up they also brought in a dead manatee. I had no idea what it was when I took the pick, I thought it was an alligator.

I love manatees and this was so sad to see!
Speaking of, we saw some real manatees next to our boat today! That is rare! I was so ill that I really could not have cared.

Ok, catching up a little more!
TUESDAY:
Jacob had a mudwalk. I am stil trying to figure out why they would traipse 5th graders through mud to ruin shoes, clothes, and so on is beyond me. I guess in the name of fun!
Here's Jake stripping it off outside! I threw the whole kit and caboodle away. It stunk!


Here's the baby trying to escape his bouncy seat. He has figured out he can wriggle free, so he has to be locked in!




Soccer Game, Jayda's team loses 12-1. Walking off the field she says, "The score was 12-1. We got beat. But there is no mercy in the playoffs!" She's 9. I just giggled! Jayda scored the only winning goal. I was asked if she could participate in a tournament in a couple weeks on a different team. She is with her dad that weekend so....who knows.

Baby Jay loves the warm air and all the action at the park.

Check out the hair blowing in the breeze!!! Too cute. You can feel the thicker hair coming through. It may be curly like mine!

Hanging with Daddy!

Supersize Water bottle=the most fun!





As for today, Baby Jay had his 6 month appointment.
He weighs 20.1 pounds
His head circumference is 45 cm.
He is 29 3/4 inches tall.
Wearing 18 month clothing.
We discussed his sleeping habits. Baby Jay has a "habit" of waking at 3 am and demanding his "pacifier" until 630 am when he falls into deep sleep. I am his pacifier and its not good! Three nights to break a habit...look out crying here we come!!!

Hopefully the blog will be back on schedule tomorrow!

WORD FROM LONDON:
"I decided to take these on the walk to the hotel from work tonight.
You can pretty much take a picture of something interesting every 50 yards or so.
The one that says 'Royal Courts of Justice' is where they held the trial concerning liability in Princess Diana's death. That happened about a month ago. The others were just cool pictures. I know your favorite was of Gizmo and Jackie. In fact, you were probably saying if that's all I sent, $&^%@ until you saw London.
Today was the best weather I've seen here. Absolutely perfect.
I plan to return home May 17. No specific time yet.
So, do I get cat pictures in exchange?
There will be more (and better) pictures coming.

Marc"









Picture of the day:
Grrrr...he's a savage! hahahaha

What's up Doc???

I am feeling only a smidge better.
I took Michael's help and my parents help today. Michael picked up the children and delivered them to my mother's house. She fed them and took them to practice.
I figured I needed to allow people to help me. Usually, I do it myself. Another sure sign, I am still not well.
Now, about my mother...the woman got a migraine this afternoon and STILL took my children!!!!!!!
Thanks mom, I owe you yet again!!!!
You get better mom, and I will get better and then we can go and do things again. It is after all a new Month and we can go to lunch soon right????
When we feel better.

Baby Jay likes carrots, but he likes me to feed him real bananas especially!

What's Up Doc?

Under the Weather

For those of you wondering where I have gone.
I have been in bed for two days. I have acute mastitis.
It hurts very badly, but more importantly it came with a high fever and aches and pains I have never known.
Mother came over and got me and took me to the minute clinic at Publix.
...fiasco...
but 2.5 hours later I had a diagnosis and antibiotic.
Michael has been helpful and the baby extremely easy.
I missed National Scrapbook Day, I slept through it.
Still not feeling well but wanted to blog on!

Top 20

1. Up and readied to meet my friend Hattie for a walk and lunch after.
2. Walked 5.5 miles and had a Fugi Apple salad at Panara.
3. Swallowed a hard piece of bread that cut the inside of my throat deep. Very sore throat! VERY!
4. happened to drive by and stopped in at JoLynn's workplace to say hi with the baby. She is a friend of mine that I have had here in Florida since 1993. She LOVED baby Jay and he only barfed on her three times. Put his hand in her shirt once and groped her then promptly leaned in to suckle.
4a. Stopped at Big Lots and found the cutest scrapping thing!
5. Picked up children.
5a. Jacob brings home a larvae of some kind in a box and asks me if it is ok if he takes care of it until it becomes a beetle. WHAT!?!
5b. I allow it and you would think the children are caring for a newborn child!
6. Learned a boat load of nasty gossip about job positions at school where I worked.
7. Thank God I am not going back there next year!!!
8. Home to prepare dinner for my parents.
9. halfway through I double check my calendar.
10. Jacob's game started at 600...not 730 YIKES!
11. Freak out...run around...bark orders at children.
12. Arrive on time. Phew!
13. They win. Jacob plays well!!!
14. Their Dad picks them up after the game at the house.
15. Nursing takes its toll or my sports bra was too tight today...pain!
16. Baby falls asleep while Michael is dressing him after his bath.
17. Baby sleeps until 10:00pm wakes up I nurse and find some relief. Put back to bed.
18. Blog.
19. The end.
20. Picture of the Day: baby Jay finishes his first box of rice cereal!

TMI

I could barely pull myself out of bed this morning! I missed exercise with my mother. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what the problem was with me and sleep last night. Then I remembered. I had dream after dream that was exhausting to me. Scary, busy, anxious, conflict, and emotional...
Hmmm, just like life right? It's a shame I had to live it during my resting period!

Jayda had her first playoff game tonight and she scored two goals. They won 6-2. She was more agressive this evening and wasn't taking anything from the two very pushy twin boys on the other team! It is two days until her luau party she is attending. She is so excited about that. She asked Michael tonight if she could take her friend{who invited her to the party} on the boat with her.

After school, Jacob volunteered to wash Michael's car. While he did that, I washed the playpen type fency thing I have for the house to keep baby Jay coraled. Jacob is a very good helper!

I played with Jay a lot this morning. He wanted all my attention and didn't even much like his car today. He rolled across the living room floor from one side to the next. If I put my hands behind his feet he will scooch forward some. I can see when he has my hands to push on that he has the idea what to do with his legs but not the strength yet to do it on his own!

He was out of sorts today...and it is no wonder. He has been constipated and really was uncomfortable all day. Yes, even despite the prunes! The iron in the cereal must be stopping him up somewhat.

Now feel free to exit if baby poopoo stories gross you out!

I changed his diaper no less than 10 times today. It seems he would push and push and push and out would come a rabbit pellet. Then, he wanted his diaper changed immediately. Half hour later or so, you would hear massive amounts of grunting and a baby with a red face pushing for his life. This repeated over and over again today.

This evening, Michael was preparing to give the baby a bath and Jayda was helping. She was watching him as Mike got the water ready. Michael undressed him completely and walked into the other room...yes you all know, Mistake #1. Shortly after, as I sit here at the computer catching up on email, I hear Jayda scream for Michael and seconds later a baby crying hysterically! I pick up and run for the back bedroom as fast as I could. I knew that cry, it was an "I have just been hurt bad cry".
I arrive to find michael stuffing a diaper against baby Jay's butt, Jayda telling me he started pooping and it was going to go on the bed, and baby is absolutely wailing. I pulled back the diaper to see what he was doing and he was really pushing hard to go and it was hurting his bumbum so much! Michael covered it back up...I told michael to quit pushing it back in! He finished up, Michael was dry heaving as he walked with it to the garbage to take it out of the house, and baby Jay was all smiles again!

TMI as Jayda would say...too much information.

Baby Jay has gone to sleep every night this week when I put him to bed. He may fuss a bit, but he eventually settles down. I hesitated to say anything as I did not want to jinx it. I kiss Jacob and Jayda goodnight and Jay helps me, he turns out the light with his toes.{He really does...if you saw his toes you could believe it!} Then, it is to his crib for bed.
When I place him in his crib, he imediately turns on his right side facing outward and places his feet up on his crib slats. He pulls his blankie tight to his face and suckles a bit on it. Here's his tiny precious feet!


Picture of the day: