Wordless Wednesday - Frosty The Snow-Blob

Gummy Smile

Okay, I know that no one is going to believe me after seeing these pictures from yesterday, but Carter really has been crabby the past few days. But I guess put a camera in his face and he knows what to do. He just can't help himself but smile.

I love the gummy smile. There are not any signs of teeth yet, and that is fine

by me. Biting with gums hurts enough. Monte and Hunter both got teeth real late. They were 11 months old. Two cute little teeth sticking up at their first birthdays. Works for me!

And in case anyone was wondering, Carter's rash is worse this morning. It's kinda dry too so maybe that's a good sign.

Not What I Had Planned

I have one professional picture of Carter. He was a week old. At 3 months I took him. He cried. I tried again 2 other times. Nothing. At 6 months over his brother's Christmas break I had an appointment. He started running a fever the night before. And since then I have put it off.

I finally made an appointment for today. We were going to go after we took Hunter to school and my husband was going to pick the boys up from school. Until....

Carter got this rash on his cheek. It started out Saturday morning with just a little red dot. Looked like a baby zit. Yesterday it had spread, and by this morning it's really bad. I have no idea what it is. I'm not sure the picture really shows it well.

I've gone over things I've eaten, he hasn't eaten anything new. The only think I can think of is drool. Rubbing his cheeks in it when he sleeps. But he had been unusually crabby too. So who knows.

I would like a picture of him soon. So when he grows up he doesn't think I didn't care about how cute he was!

Mommy Guilt

Hunter bowls on Thursday nights. Not in a league, it's just an hour of fun bowling. Last night it was time to go and Carter was sleeping so my husband told me to go ahead and take Hunter. He would stay home. When we left the bowling alley I called home and my hubby said Carter woke up as soon as I left but he was fine. Playing and laughing. I felt okay.

I was home in 5 minutes, fed my family, nursed Carter, and then had to leave for a hair cut. I was nervous leaving again, Carter had been up for awhile, I knew he was going to get tired. He can get VERY crabby when I'm gone, but Monte assured me everything would be fine. I wasn't going to be gone that long.

I called as soon as I was on my way home. I didn't hear any crying through the phone. Good sign. Monte said Carter was fussy, but as long as he was being held, he was okay.

I walked in the door, and there they all sat in the living room. Carter's face lit up, he started bouncing on daddy's lap, but then I stepped out of sight to set down the things in my arms and take my coat off. BIG mistake. Carter started sobbing in daddy's shoulder. I felt horrible. I should have dropped everything in the doorway and scooped him up. But a snuggle/nursing session made everything all better.

It all sounds so silly today. I felt guilty for getting a hair cut? What? Am I supposed to look like a shaggy dog because I have a baby? Why do we mother's feel guilty when we do things for ourselves?

I guess I wouldn't feel that way if my babies weren't upset when I left them. (Lil Monte used to bring his toys into the kitchen and play by the back door until I came home) But then I'D be upset that they didn't care....

If your 6 year old can recite out loud the movie Cars as he is watching it, (which he just got a few weeks ago for Christmas) does that mean he has watched it too many times, or does he just have a good memory?

Wordless Wednesday - Grandpa's Glasses

My 6 year old took this picture!

Heidi at Butterfly Mama, is hosting a Winter Activity Festival.

Around our house board games are huge. We have everything from Hi Ho Cherry-O, Chutes and Ladders, Clue, and Yahtzee, to our new favorite, Battleship.

When Monte turned 3 a friend of mine gave him Candy Land and that was it. He was hooked. When Hunter got old enough to roll dice, he became a "member" on my team until he could play by himself.


For Christmas the boys got gift cards to Toys R Us and Hunter picked out this Diego Rescue Pack that has I think 10 or 12 games in it. Bingo, Tic-Tac-Toe, Go Fish, Dominoes, card games, and the one Hunter is trying to master as of now, Checkers!

In the evenings when dinner is over and homework is done, or on a long Saturday afternoon, you will find all of us sprawled out on the family room floor playing board games. One after another, after another, after another.....

7 Months

I can't believe it's been 7 months already. My baby is growing way too fast. At least he isn't mobile yet. He still won't try to roll over, and there is no chance of learning to crawl if you won't lay down...EVER! But a champion sitter is he. And he is now starting to scoot on his booty a little bit. Just backwards for now, and he can get himself turned around. It's really quite funny. I know that crawling is an important part of their development, but we are always saying that one day he is going to just stand up and walk.

He has also found his voice. The yelling, the squealing, it's all really cute. Until we are in church, or a restaurant, or Monte's school program. The bubbles, and then the spitting that follows, oh yes, SPITTING, not always as cute.

Carter has started the journey of food. At first he wasn't really all that impressed. But now, he's starting to look at it all in a different light. He likes his organic bananas, pears, and carrots. It's really a good thing since no matter how much he nurses in the evenings he is still hungry. He needs food!

Carter has started biting. And thank God he has no teeth, but I'm really not too sure what to do about it. My older two were not biters. But Carter will bite down and giggle without letting go. And it HURTS!

And I'll leave you with one more thing. I'm sure you can tell by the pictures, but he has a serious drooling problem!!

Wordless Wednesday - Finally.....Snow!

I'm Just Glad He Still Wants Me To Come

Monte had a little school program this morning for Martin Luther King Jr. The school didn't send home anything about it but Monte asked me last week if I would come. On Veterans Day they did a couple songs too and I never knew about it and he was upset I missed it.

So I packed up Hunter and Carter and off to school we went. Carter was SO happy to see all the kids. Too happy if you get what I mean. Quiet gym with one student trying to saying his lines plus VERY happy baby, equals baby squeals echoing through out!

Next time....Carter gets a sitter. Any offers?

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And for those that asked, Hunter had a wonderful time at his first sleepover. Not that there was much sleeping going on. Ten 9 year olds and four 6 year olds. Those are brave parents. Dad slept downstairs with the older boys and Mom stayed upstairs with the younger ones.

I have to add that Hunter has a doggie stuffed animal that he has slept with every night of his life since he got it when he was 16 months. We aren't even allowed to call it a stuffed animal. It is his friend! He was so nervous to take him with. He was so sure no one else would have a "friend". So he hid him in his backpack just in case. He was very relieved that all 3 of his friends also had a special "friend" with them.

Since when are Kindergartners worried about what others are thinking?

Why Do They Have To Grow Up?

Hunter spent his first night away from home last night. Except for when I had Carter. (they stayed at my in-laws) But this was a SLEEPOVER! With friends!

I only agreed because Monte was going to be there too. And we've known the parents for a long time now. It was actually Monte's friend's birthday, but his younger brother is Hunter's age and they are also good friends.

I dropped them off last night at 5:30, reminding Monte to look out for his brother, told Hunter over and over that he could call me and I would come get him at ANY time of night. Then got back in my car and realized the only tears shed were mine.

I felt so empty, so alone, and my hubby was working and I just couldn't go home to an empty house. So I called a great friend of mine whose hubby was also working and over to her house I went.

I spent most of the night tossing and turning, reminding myself the phone would ring if Hunter needed me. But it didn't. And now it's morning and almost time to go get them. He might be ready for this, but I'm not so sure I was.

Help.....

I get very cold at night when I'm tired. So at the end of a long day there is nothing better then climbing into a pre-warmed bed.

Problem? My electric blanket died. Now I get into a freezing cold bed and lay there for 10 minutes until I warm up. For me, it's torture.

I've been looking at new blankets and also electric mattress pads. I'm not in love with the blanket part of an electric blanket, just the warming factor. But also don't know if you feel the wires of a mattress pad?

So, do any of you have experience in either? I would greatly appreciate any information you could provide.

Thank You.....

Are You Drinking Your Water?

Stephanie has asked me how I drink my water. I am a HUGE water drinker. I am a very thirsty person. And I too wake up in the middle of the night and need to get a glass of water. I don't remember being this thirsty the first two times I nursed, but still drink a lot even when not nursing.

I drink my water out of a Tupperware cup when I'm home. We don't drink tap water, I can really taste the chlorine in it here, so I buy water by the gallon. I like it cold from the refrigerator, no ice. If in a restaurant, I need a straw. I have very sensitive teeth.


When I leave the house I take a bottle of water with me. Not too picky on the brand, but I'll bring it home with me to refill with water from the gallon in the fridge.

I even counted one day how many cups of water I drank.....12!!! (this blue cup is 12oz.)

I know the debate on tap vs. bottled, and when our house is done I might look into getting a filter instead of buying all this water.

My boys doctor told me they need the fluoride in tap water and even recommended a vitamin for the baby that has fluoride in it since he is still just nursing, but I think we are fine. No one's had a cavity yet!!

Works For Me Wednesday - Healthy Eating

This is my first Works For Me Wednesday and I'm excited about it. I can't wait to go back and read through others healthy recipes.

RICE LENTIL PILAF

1 TBLS. olive oil

1/2 c. thinly sliced carrots

1/2 c. fry lentils, rinsed

1/2 c. sliced green onions

1 1/2 c. vegetable or chicken broth

1/2 to 3/4 instant brown rice

4oz. (1c.) shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oil in large skillet over mediun - high heat. Add carrots, lentils and onion. Cook and stir 3-4 min. or until veggies are crisp-tender. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 min. Add rice; cover and simmer 10min. or until veggies are tender and liquid is absorbed. Fluff rice with fork. Remove from heat; sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 2 min. or until cheese is melted.

1 cup - Cal. 320 Fiber 4g. Fat 14g.

This is delicious! Even my meat loving hubby loves this as a side dish. It's a meal for me! And it can be easily adapted to a vegan diet!

Wordless Wednesday - No One Breathe

I stopped at an ATM machine this morning in a grocery store parking lot. There was a sign on it that said.....

This ATM offers audio assistance for the visually impaired

Now if you can't read the HUGE writing on the ATM, what are you doing behind the wheel of a car?

Things have been busy here. But I'm still around. Reading, commenting a bit.

Just wanted to wish Stephanie a Happy Birthday!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Real men....or boys,

Wear babies...or doggies

Happy New Year

It is 10:30 in the morning and the house is quiet. Not a normal thing around here. But it has given me some time to sit and reflect on this past year.

And what I keep going to is my precious new baby. My surprise of 2006. The baby I didn't know I wanted, didn't know how bad I needed. How empty my arms were until they were full of you....

This has also brought on some changes for me, some readjusting of my life as I knew it. My friends are great, love me, love my boys and new baby. But their kids are older, like my first two. I've had to except that I am in a different place right now, and that's okay.

But thanks to my new friends (post below) and this whole blogging thing, I feel connected again. I'm not alone.

Well, hubby is awake now too. Said he smelled coffee! All 3 boys are sound asleep. I guess we wore them out last night. We were all up to ring in the new year. Can't wait to see what it will bring.....