That's how he rolls

Guess what, another Baby Butter story.

Are you tired of them yet?

Too bad.

I'm sitting at the computer but the screen is not what holds my attention. Instead it is my 1 year old son sitting on the floor in the kitchen. Throughout the day he has managed to push 5 hotwheels, 2 fire trucks, and three police cars in there. Earlier while I was cooking supper he quietly played with his hotwheels. Then we played with his firetrucks together. After super is when he pushed the 3 police cars in. He crawled along the floor with a car in each hand, then once they were right where he wanted he crawled back to the other room where the other cop was patiently waiting his turn and took him to his friends. For over five minutes now the police cars have been pushed from one end of the kitchen to the other and he's even managed to push all three at the same time by sandwiching them together. How adorable is he??!! I could watch him play all day.

He also likes to talk to the boy in the mirror in his bedroom when he's suppose to be sleeping. Today, i put a very sleepy boy in his bed and went to my own to relax and read a book. Before too long I could hear the jabbers. Lots of da-das, ma-mas and ba-bas. He makes other sounds that resemble words too. For instance the other day sitting in the doctor's office he said "breakfast". Tall Doc was impressed I believe.

These days won't last forever though. I'm so glad I get to stay home with him and watch him learn new things!!!

Winding Down

Peanut counted down the last days of school in May and now she counts down the last days of summer. She's ready to go back to school. Ready to start the 4th (gasp! did I just say that?) grade. And I'm ready too.

Not that having her around has been a burden. She hasn't been. She's a fantastic big sister helping me when I need it. She is getting a little whiney because we've run out of places for her to go. She hit two church camps and a girl scout camp, all of which were over with by the first of July. Now she sits at home bored most of the day because her mean mean momma won't let her watch tv non-stop. Although, I'm being nicer and letting her have it on for 30 minutes here and there during the day. A lot of her friends are in daycare or some sort of program this summer so her friend choices have been limited.

But really, the reason I'm looking forward to school starting is the routine of it. I'm sure I'll be griping about it before too long, but right now I'm looking forward to the whole day with just me and Butter. Then at 3:15 telling Peanut to do her homework before her friends come over and if she left it at school then I guess they can play TOMORROW after she finishes it. It's "unfair" I know, but like I said, I'm a mean, mean momma.

Seventeen day, counting weekends, until the first day of school. We can make it.

Baby Butter Turns One

As strange as it may seem the boy has actually gone and turned one year old this weekend. He started walking this week taking several steps each day. Mostly this is done around meal time when he feels he must check out what is on everyone's plate and taste it for quality assurance. His sister, Peanut, walked for speghetti so it's only fitting that he walked for french fries, yes?

We celeberated his birthday Friday night with family coming in from out of town. We had invited a lot of friends and family in the area but for one reason or another they were unable to make the event. Such is life in the summertime. But we had a blast! The weather was perfect in the mid 90s and the food was delicious if I do say so myself. The older children played in the pool and Baby Butter even got in for a few minutes and played too. His 10 month old cousin, Graham Cracker was the only kid not to swim but he didn't seem to mind.

Visiting with Nickel's family (mine live too far away to drive over for an evening) was fun. We hadn't all been together since Christmas. There was talk of politics and vacations and jobs and money and plans for a fall gathering at a family favorite camp site.

After everyone had filled their bellies with hamburgers or hotdogs, potato salad, deviled eggs, apple-berry salsa and cinnamon chips the cupcakes were brought out. Baby Butter was loaded into his chair and a loaf-sized cake set before him. But he was still eating a cinna-chip and cried when daddy tried to take it away.

After he made the chip disappear though he focused on his cake. We laughed for over 30 minutes as he ate it, diving face first in the cake and coming up to chew, swollow and breathe before diving again back into the cake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BUTTER!!!

True Love

True love is coming home when it's dark outside and always finding the front porch light on.

Turning ( ? ) years old

So my 17 year old friend, NotSpears, and I were talking at work last week about working the same days and nearly the same shifts last weekend when another co-worker happened upon our conversation. He didn't pretend to not listen and quickly asked me if I was in school or something. I laughed and said no. Then he asked how old I was. I smiled. I love this game.
"How old do you think I am?" I asked with a coy smile.

He furrowed his brow a little as he gave it some serious thought. He knew not to over guess because women don't usually like that but he didn't want to guess too low either. "Twenty." He finally said without hesitation.

I flashed him a million dollar smile, "You, my friend, are my new best friend!" He blinked not really understanding my response. "Actually," I continued, "my birthday is on the 11th and I will be 30." His eyes bugged out of his head. He just could not believe I was THAT old.

It's become our new game at work now. Customers, his friends, come up to the register and he quickly asks, "How old do you think she is?" I've got several different answers but mostly they're under 23. I love my job.

Enchanted

Tonight at church I was cleaning up the communion stuff when Pastor T, Peanut's pastor, peeked his head in through the window and asked if she was in the room with me. She was not. He smiled and told me that he thought Peanut was mature and pretty special and that she needed to be in a movie, a movie about her because her stories are "enchanting". I smiled and thanked him for the compliment and he went on his merry little way.

After he left I got to thinking, Peanut does indeed have a way of enchanting people. I often thought it was just her parents and grandparents she enchanted at a young age. Though I'm immune to some of her enchanting ways, as parents are apt to learn after half a dozen or so years, she still has her moments.

Sometimes I get caught up in the hum-drum of life and get annoyed at her little stories she repeats over and over from the back seat of the car or across the room. Sometimes I cut her off or assume I know what she's going to say. But when I take the time to really listen she does come up with some nuggets of wisdom or anecdote.

Sometimes I need to be reminded that life will still be there and I need to pay attention, I need to be enchanted, before she grows up and conquers the world.

Books By Mail

So I'm totally in a reading frenzie these days. I've read the Twilight Saga 2 complete times through (including the partial Midnight Sun posted on Stephenie Meyer's website) and have read Twilight and Breaking Dawn (the first and last book of the series) 3 times each. Yeah, still totally love that series.

But I've also been reading some other books too. Some vampire books, some aliens, some warewolves, some this, some that, all fiction and paranormal in some fashion. However, I have started The Shack by William Young which is a man who spends a couple of days with God in, you guessed it, a shack. Anyway, just finished the forward and am looking forward to getting started with this book.

Seeing as how up until tonight I was unemployeed I didn't exactly have a lot of money just hanging around for me to spend on books. I tried my local library. I won't say it sucks because my momma said if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all... so I'll not say anything at all. Then my brilliant, smart,and wonderful friend Abby Normal (you know how I love to protect the names of the innocent- she knows who she is) suggested this website called Paperspine.com.

It is wonderful. It's like Netflicks, but for books. You sign up for how many books you want to recieve at a time and then for a monthly fee you they'll send the books on your queue for you to read. You read them and send them back in the postage paid envelopes and a few days later you get another book! How cool is that!

The ONLY part that sucks is the days you have to wait while books are in the mail. But I guess that's the reason you should sign up for 2 or more books. That way you're reading the next book while you're waiting for the one that's in the mail.

This system is SO much easier then spending $80 a week for a half dozen books that barely last you a month and then take up a ton of space in your house. Now if you get a book that you fall in love with and never ever ever want to part with you just email the company and tell them what book you just have to keep forever and they'll let you know how much it'll cost ya, if you're ok with that they'll just charge your card and you live happily ever after.

The End.

Epilogue-
Uncle Joe thinks I can't write a post with using the word "baby" in it. And so I had to make sure this post had "baby" in a couple of times even though it had nothing to do with my "baby".
:)

Something To Talk About

Baby B has found his voice box. When he's awake he jabbers almost non-stop. He's got lots to say you see. And of course he has a captive audience because who can refuse him? That's right, no one. Not even the puppy dog on his crib's bumper. He's really good at the short "a" sound. I've been working with him on the "m" sound but he hasn't quite put the two together to say Ma yet. Give him time.

He also is a mover and a shaker. On Halloween he rolled over from back to belly and has gone back to belly a couple times since but more often then not he just gets stuck on his belly. But he won't be stuck for long. Nope this kid kicks his legs and occasionally gets them up under him! As soon as he figures out how to lift his belly up off the floor I'll be in BIG trouble.

Well... there's a lot of baby proofing still to be done, so that's where I'll be for a while.

Ta-ta!

It's A Big Year

Peanut is in the third grade. I think this must be a big year because people keep telling "it's a big year". Third grade is when you start getting letter grades on all your papers and report cards. Third grade is when you learn to write in cursive. Third grade is when you take the big state tests. Third grade is when I realized she was determined to grow up no matter what my opinion was on the matter. Hmph.

A couple of weeks ago Peanut brought home her first progress report. The grades were where I expected them on some levels but way off in other areas. I quickly realized she doesn't quite seem to be taking school seriously. I mean, it's a big year, doesn't she care? I guess that phrase means nothing to her.

Her father and I discussed the importance of making good grades with her. We told her it's not about who hands in the paper first, but who hands in the paper right! She nodded in agreement and said she understood. We increased study time in the evening but still papers flooded home with Ds and Fs on them. Concerned that the teacher had not commented on her progress I made the phone call and made the appointment to talk to her. This momma don't like Ds and Fs. The teacher was very kind. We spoke of things that could be changed at school, areas that she needs help in even though she passed the BEAR test. I left the meeting feeling satisfied that everything the school can do to help Peanut out in fact will happen. But now comes the hard part. Lowering the boom, cracking the whip, and buckling down at home about homework and study habits do not come easy to me. I will be the first to admit that my husband and I have a pretty relaxed style of parenting, within reason of course.

I guess this is an important year. This is the year I've learned it's important to stay focused, even when I'm distracted by other things (Baby B, computer games, etc). I've learned that after the after school snack comes homework and no amount of whining or pleading will change that. I've learned that there are free online resources I can use as bargaining chips for her to earn tv time. I wonder what other lessons I will learn this year, because you know, it's a big year.

Sleeping in

Baby B is a wonder baby, but he doesn't sleep through the night. He's close but his little internal clock has this 2 am setting that I can't seem to reset. On occasion he'll wake up earlier then 2, like at 1:30 and last night he overslept a little and didn't wake up until 3. But without fail since the night he was born, we get up around 2 every night. We've been working on resetting the 4 am setting and most nights he'll sleep until 6. Last night he did well, woke up at 3 and again at 6. After getting up at 6 I was too lazy to up him back in his bed so he slept with me. Around 8 he started squeaking and I hollered for Nickel who was up and about. Nickel took him and I got to sleep for another hour. It was total bliss.

We have a lazy day scheduled. Yesterday was busy with lunch with some friends, a wedding, and church. Today, there's nothing that I have to do. I might try to think of something just so I can get out of the house and have some quite me time. It makes staying at home with the baby all week easier if I get out by myself on the weekends.

****************

Peanut signed up for Girl Scouts last week. We went to this big event at a local play ground place. There were a million school age girls there. It resembled Dante's 5th ring of the Inferno. (Please note it's been years since I read the Divine Comedy and cannot remember what each ring actually stands for and I'm too lazy to Google it because I was just trying to make a funny) Anyhoo, for two hours I sat and endured the torture of listening to the girls gab, squeal, and gripe about the bus driver that lives in some obscure little town. The children weren't so bad though, they were playing and having fun. I found out that the meetings are every week. Should be interesting. I'm sure Peanut will have lots of fun.

Kindness

Perhaps kindness has not totally become extinct in our world like I thought. Today Baby B and I had to go to the post office. When we left the house he was in a wonderful mood. The short ride was quite. I manged to make it in the doors carrying a diaper bag, carrier with 11+ pound baby, and box to mail. The line was long, but moving. Baby B and I took our place at the end of the line at the door. THEN he decided he was not happy. I knelt down to talk to him to try to pacify him. People were watching of course. Baby B did not want his binky and would not calm down so I had to take him out of his carrier. Meanwhile people are coming up behind me and cutting in line all because I'm tending to my child instead of moving with the line. I was talking quietly to Baby B trying to calm him down. I commented to him on how we lost our place in line because he was crying. Not in a blaming way but in a "can you believe these rude people?" way. The people that cut in line either talked to people around them or stared at the floor. Meanwhile Baby B is still crying. After a few moments that felt like eternity to this mom trying to calm her son down, a lady from closer to the front of the line came back and offered to help me move my stuff to my place in line. She picked up my car seat and placed it in front of the first lady that cut in line. The two ladies my things were now in the middle of were nice enough to help push all my things along in the line as it moved while I held my baby.

Perhaps it wasn't how I would've handled the situation if reversed, but people actually came through and show some kindness. In the end and I was able to tend to Baby B and get my package in the mail.

Motherhood

Last night both kids were screaming at me. I had to smile and almost laugh because it was kinda funny. Peanut was upset because we insisted she do her homework (mean parents!) and Baby Butter was mad because he was super tired and hungry and it was just too much work to suck on that bottle! He's so cute when he pouts and cries!! Peanut, well, she's pretty funny too when she's crying over her mean parents making her do homework, but don't tell her that!

New Pics

The boy child is almost 3 weeks old. I can't believe how grown up he is already!Doesn't he look like daddy?

Peanut was holding him while I went to get the sheets out of the dryer. This is how I found them when I got back. I didn't tell her that the tv was too far away for him to even see.

One Week

Well, it's been a week since Baby B was born. Life is slowly finding a rhythm. SLOWLY. We've had tons of guest and I can't keep up with my phone calls. But I promised pictures and pictures you shall have!

I was scheduled for my c-section at 10ish but Nickel, my parents, and dear friend Angie kept me entertained. Here I am pretending not to be scared out of my mind. Actually, Nickel said he was going to help the dr since they gave him that cool suit to wear but all he could find was a plastic spoon.

Baby B didn't like the nurses but stopped crying for daddy.
Peanut is obsessed with her baby brother. I'm not sure what that thing on her head is, something she made at VBS though. I was very thankful she wanted to go to VBS that week. It gave her something to do in the evenings

Happy to be holding my baby b on the outside!

38 hours later

Well, I'm sure you expected a birth announcement right away. I expected to write one, however this kid had other plans.

Wednesday morning Nickel and I arrived at the hospital shortly after 7 and by 9 I was on the magic labor making drugs. By 7 pm I had only dialated to a 2 so they turned the drugs off for the night.

Thursday morning we resumed the drugs with the promise of having my water broke around noon.

Thursday early afternoon water could not break, I was still only a 2 and c-section seemed like the best plan but we'd wait until 5 to decide with the magic drugs still pumping.

Thursday evening the magic drugs were turned off. I still was no more then a 2 and since I was so swollen, my blood pressure so high it was decided to take the baby by c-section.

Thursday night there was a baby trying to be born feet first and someone's apendix was about to explode so I was on the list for 10 pm.

Baby B was born at 10:34 pm weighing 8 lbs 11 oz and was 20.5 inches long.

We're both fine. Should be leaving the hospital tomorrow.

Pics coming soon.

End in sight

Went to the dr today. First thing he asked while walking in was if tomorrow was ok. I assured him it was and he made the arrangements. I'm allergic to being pregnant, lol, ok, maybe not, but my body doesn't really like it. I'm puffy from my thighs to my toes, my blood pressure is high (but comes down when I lay on my left side which is a good thing), and other symptoms so since I'm 39 weeks (just 7 days from my due date) we're going to try to coax this little boy out starting in the morning. Hopefully he'll be easier to talk out then his sister was. She took 18 hours to convince and I'm not sure she's ever really been convinced.

Peanut is very excited. She gone to stay the night with a friend of mine so we don't have to wake her up early. Daddy is trying to get everything squared away at work so he can take some time off. Mom is in bed, resting, and thanking God the baby's almost here!

I'll post pics and updates when I can.

It's a Love/Hate thing these days

36 weeks 5 days

I love knowing that in just a few weeks I'm going to have a brand new baby. I love folding his tiny little clothes fresh from the dryer. I love when Peanut reads to my stomach and it moves around for her. I love when people call me and ask how the baby's doing today knowing he's still a chillin in the belly. I love it that people are generally nicer to me and hold doors open for me and let me skip ahead in line for the bathroom. I love the fact that I'm going to get a 6 week vacation from work and that my parents will spend 1 of those weeks with me. I love packing my bag to get ready to go to the hospital. I love working part time and knowing I'll get to remain part time after I go back to work in Septmeber (unless he comes a little early then it'll be the end of August). I love the thought of being a mom to another person and feeling like my family is complete.

But right now. Right this second, I hate having to get up every hour of the night to pee. I hate the pressure I feel on my bladder as I try to walk. I hate that I can't just roll over in bed. I hate that I'm never comfortable. I hate that my belly hangs down so low and sometimes touches the toilet seat. I hate that the lowest part of my belly hurts to touch. I hate that most of my maternity clothes don't fit right. I hate that I can't always control my emotions and hormones. I hate that I don't feel like going fishing with Peanut and Nickel or playing basketball with them. I hate that I can't sit down at a resturant and pig out. I hate that I've burped more in the last 8 months then I ever have in my life. I hate that I'm not yet 37 weeks and praying for the torture to end because it makes me feel selfish. I hate swollen feet. I hate backaches. I hate heartburn. I hate that I'm going to miss my MIL's wedding because it's out of town. I hate that my house isn't as clean as I'd like it but I don't have the energy to clean it and even if I did I couldn't bend down to pick anything up. I hate that my hips hurt if I sleep more then an hour on them. I hate that I can't sleep on my back or my stomach. I hate the waddle. I hate that I have so much trouble getting in and out of a vehicle. I hate that I'm so dang negative right now!

I could probably go on but I'll stop there...

36 weeks and 2 days

Last week I cried. Working part time is wonderful and horrible all at the same time. I like the few hours and still getting a pay check. I hate waking up and going to work and dealing with people. But I guess this is true for any job.

So at 1:00 I clocked out and walked out to my car. I opened the door and attempted to get in. But I couldn't. Why? You ask. Well, I simply could NOT lift my right foot high enough and extend it into my car. I tried again, same results. I became frustrated and tears started welling up. Yeah, hormones can hit you at any time because not on a hormonal high I wouldn't have cried over that!

Finally, after thinking about this for a little bit I turned around, lifted my foot the other direction and BACKED into my car. I'm sure this is quite a sight to see and no, there will be no pictures of this. This kid better come soon, that's all I'm sayin.

Peanut on Being Mad

Into my room stomped the 8 year Peanut with a stern look on her face.

Me: What's wrong?
Peanut: I'm mad.
Me: Why are you mad?
Peanut points to the living room: Him!
Me: Well, do you understand why he said what he said?
Penut: I don't know.
Me: Well, what did he say?
Peanut: I don't know!
Me: You don't know what he said but you're mad?
Peanut looks at me and stomps back out of my room.

A few minutes go by and she walks into my room and points at my computer: Can I play?
Me: Sure in just a few minutes I'd like to finish what I'm doing.
Peanut falls to the floor in dramatic heap and whines: Gosh! I haven't got to play ALL day!
Me: I understand you want to play and I didn't have a problem with it, but you have to wait your turn.
Peanut stomps back out of my room. She's probably mad at me now too. Think she'll remember why in 5 minutes?

Watching and waiting

Nickel and I were laying in bed tonight. He was watching TV and I was surfing the web on my laptop. The baby started wiggling so Nickel and I turned our attention to him. We watched as a buldge (from the position it was probably his butt) moved from one side of my belly button (which is still an innie for now) to the other and back again. Just over 5 weeks until the due date. We watch. We wait.