TheBaby is our last baby. Her birth was so amazing that I would gladly do that again another 10 times, but we've agreed that four children is the perfect number for us. We had a difficult time getting pregnant every time and after my second pregnancy, we didn't even know if we'd be able to have another baby. The fact that we did and we carried TheBaby to term is a miracle. Yes, we found out after-the-fact that we lost two others during that pregnancy, but our daughter survived and she is wonderful. She has completed our family.
Yesterday, as I sat with her at my breast, I looked at her gorgeous chubby cheeks that puffed up and down while she nursed, her sweet long lashes on her delicate eyelids that were closed as she nursed to sleep, her chubby arms clutching my shirt and I felt the weight of her ever-growing strong and squishy body. I whispered the Shehecheyanu while she nursed.
I cannot be more thankful to G-d for allowing us to reach this season--this wonderful season that finds our home filled with happiness and healthiness.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
My dear sweet son
Today, the kids played hospital with some friends. The bigger kids took off when it was TheBoy's turn to play surgeon. So, I opted to be his patient. I told him I thought my leg was broken. Without even looking at it, he declared that was not the case. So I asked him what I should do. He replied,
"Get in your car and drive home. It's not broken."
Oh how I love that kid.
"Get in your car and drive home. It's not broken."
Oh how I love that kid.
Monday, August 24, 2009
I'm not getting any
and it's all a fortune cookie's fault.
We went for Chinese tonight and, as is common in Chinese restaurants, we each got fortune cookies. I don't really like the taste of fortune cookies, but I do so love the fortune. I love everything about them. When my daughters each read their first ones by themselves, I took great delight. The ones that really resonate with me are kept and displayed. I got one in December that said, "Remember three months from this date. Good things are in store for you." My youngest daughter was born exactly 3 months and 1 day later. Sometimes they have bits of wisdom. Sometimes they're funny given current circumstances. Sometimes, they're freakishly true.
Today, my husband got this fortune:
Oh joy! I got a side order of abstinence with my moo goo gai pan. Dude, that was NOT on the menu.
Today, my husband got this fortune:
Upon reading that, he screwed up his face, said, "Oh hell no," and then added, "I'm not touching you tonight."
Oh joy! I got a side order of abstinence with my moo goo gai pan. Dude, that was NOT on the menu.
The ecological impact
Yesterday, while at a consignment sale, the big mountain of bottles caught my eye. There was a big long table full of them. I was really struck by just how much plastic there was. This was from only a small fraction of the mothers who bottle-feed. The pile was enormous.
I've heard (and talked) about breastfeeding being the "greener" alternative even way back when "green" only meant the difficult color Kermit memorialized in song. There's no packaging to dispose of. There's no factories needed. There are fuel-burning waste-producing trucks needed to transport anything. There's no (or limited) need for bottles to take up landfills. Still, it wasn't until I stood in front of that table yesterday that it really hit me.
Wow. Just wow.
I've heard (and talked) about breastfeeding being the "greener" alternative even way back when "green" only meant the difficult color Kermit memorialized in song. There's no packaging to dispose of. There's no factories needed. There are fuel-burning waste-producing trucks needed to transport anything. There's no (or limited) need for bottles to take up landfills. Still, it wasn't until I stood in front of that table yesterday that it really hit me.
Wow. Just wow.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Whines of a Former Military Wife
I'm going to whine. Consider yourself warned.
(big sigh)
I miss my husband. Yes, he's here. I feel guilty making that statement when he isn't deployed. Hell, he's not even active anymore. Still, after working through PTSD (times two), he's not the man I married. We got through the worst of it, but it has changed him.
Lately, I've been painfully aware that there are small fleeting moments where the man I married would have hugged me, reached for my hand, or put an arm around me. The man he's become does none of these. He still loves me. He's still one of the rare good men out there. PTSD just stripped him of the more affectionate side.
I know I'm very blessed to have such a wonderful husband. He's smart. He's kind. He has moral standards. He doesn't see me as a cook/housekeeper. He's willing to work together with me.
It's just that, I miss him. I miss who he was. I love this new guy, but it's just not the same. In those brief moments where I still expect him to reach out, he doesn't and I'm painfully aware of what's missing.
(big sigh)
I miss my husband. Yes, he's here. I feel guilty making that statement when he isn't deployed. Hell, he's not even active anymore. Still, after working through PTSD (times two), he's not the man I married. We got through the worst of it, but it has changed him.
Lately, I've been painfully aware that there are small fleeting moments where the man I married would have hugged me, reached for my hand, or put an arm around me. The man he's become does none of these. He still loves me. He's still one of the rare good men out there. PTSD just stripped him of the more affectionate side.
I know I'm very blessed to have such a wonderful husband. He's smart. He's kind. He has moral standards. He doesn't see me as a cook/housekeeper. He's willing to work together with me.
It's just that, I miss him. I miss who he was. I love this new guy, but it's just not the same. In those brief moments where I still expect him to reach out, he doesn't and I'm painfully aware of what's missing.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Proof of the existance of a higher being.
My youngest daughter is napping, in some place other than the swing or sling and has been doing so for an hour and a half.
Traditionally, this is a time where the clouds part and angels sing.
This child does not nap well. She never has. She usually naps in the swing, but not for very long. When we're out, you can guarantee that she'll nap in the sling, but at home, she's not a big nap fan. Sometimes, I'll take her to bed with me, nurse her and we'll both nap, but she doesn't nap very long that way (which is so strange because we cosleep).
Today, she's in the playpen (with the basinet attachment) in the other room and she's snoozing away. I keep checking on her, but yes, she is breathing and yes, she is sleeping.
There is a G-d and He likes me.
Traditionally, this is a time where the clouds part and angels sing.
This child does not nap well. She never has. She usually naps in the swing, but not for very long. When we're out, you can guarantee that she'll nap in the sling, but at home, she's not a big nap fan. Sometimes, I'll take her to bed with me, nurse her and we'll both nap, but she doesn't nap very long that way (which is so strange because we cosleep).
Today, she's in the playpen (with the basinet attachment) in the other room and she's snoozing away. I keep checking on her, but yes, she is breathing and yes, she is sleeping.
There is a G-d and He likes me.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Sister Sunshine: 5. Common sense: 0
Let's say you continuously harass your family and friends with stupid "Get rich" e-mails.
Let's say one such family member asks if those have ever worked.
Let's say your answer to the aforementioned question is, "Of course not."
Then please, PLEASE, explain to us WHY YOU KEEP DOING IT?
Common sense, Ur Doeng it rong!
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Wordless Wednesday: Sticky Bug On the Ceiling: Eeek eek eek!
The title is in reference to Dr. Seuss' ABC book ("Camel on the ceiling, CCC")
I have no idea why my Wordless Wendesday posts are never wordless. Sorry about that. There's no truth in advertising, I guess.
So here's my creepy entry for WW:
That is my playroom ceiling. That's a red sticky bug on my ceiling. My kids threw it there A MONTH AGO. Why is it that most sticky things will lose all stickiness the moment you look at them, but these things WON'T LET GO?
The kids got a few of these at a party a month ago. They played with them outside at the park in 110 degree weather. Then they came home and washed them off. I figured that would be the end of them. Then they rolled them around on the cats. I figured that, if there was anything remotely resembling sticky on there, it was long gone.
Then they threw this one and his bright blue brother on the ceiling where they remain to this day. We have high ceilings. I can't reach them to get them down.
As though that's not bad enough, they broke an extremity (these are poorly made bugs, I can't tell if it's a leg, an arm, or a tail) off the bright blue one and launched it separately. It looks remarkably like a slug...on the ceiling. Oh boy was that fun when I first noticed it...at night...alone...long after the kids went to bed!
I have no idea why my Wordless Wendesday posts are never wordless. Sorry about that. There's no truth in advertising, I guess.
So here's my creepy entry for WW:
That is my playroom ceiling. That's a red sticky bug on my ceiling. My kids threw it there A MONTH AGO. Why is it that most sticky things will lose all stickiness the moment you look at them, but these things WON'T LET GO?
The kids got a few of these at a party a month ago. They played with them outside at the park in 110 degree weather. Then they came home and washed them off. I figured that would be the end of them. Then they rolled them around on the cats. I figured that, if there was anything remotely resembling sticky on there, it was long gone.
Then they threw this one and his bright blue brother on the ceiling where they remain to this day. We have high ceilings. I can't reach them to get them down.
As though that's not bad enough, they broke an extremity (these are poorly made bugs, I can't tell if it's a leg, an arm, or a tail) off the bright blue one and launched it separately. It looks remarkably like a slug...on the ceiling. Oh boy was that fun when I first noticed it...at night...alone...long after the kids went to bed!
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Happy World Breastfeeding Week.
August 1st-7th is World Breastfeeding Week .
Here's some information from the official press release:
"From 1-7 August 2009, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 150 countries worldwide will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the 18th year. This year, WABA teams up with the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) and the International Baby Food Action Network-Geneva Infant Feeding Association (IBFAN-GIFA) who represent an international collaboration of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (IFE Core Group) concerned with protection and support of safe and appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergencies. Together we call for the active protection and support of breastfeeding during emergencies and the prevention and refusal of donations of breastmilk substitutes1, bottles and teats that, too often, do more harm than good."
Here's some information from the official press release:
"From 1-7 August 2009, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 150 countries worldwide will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the 18th year. This year, WABA teams up with the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) and the International Baby Food Action Network-Geneva Infant Feeding Association (IBFAN-GIFA) who represent an international collaboration of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (IFE Core Group) concerned with protection and support of safe and appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergencies. Together we call for the active protection and support of breastfeeding during emergencies and the prevention and refusal of donations of breastmilk substitutes1, bottles and teats that, too often, do more harm than good."
To celebrate WBW, I went stomping through my archives for my favorite posts on the topic.
Here they are in no particular order:
Funny:
Serious:
Even more serious:
Deep Thoughts/Religious:
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