Thats My Baby

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T18:06:00.001-08:00

With Love
Julia, Audrey, & Jason

Just a random post

2010-11-04T04:46:00.000-07:00

Wow I cant belive I did not post in October! We were bust. We went on hayrides and to pumkin patches, festivals and petting zoos, corn mazes and trick or treating! It was fun.
Audrey got 6 more teeth in October so she went from 2 teeth in September to 8 teeth in November! She is walking now, and doing very well at it. She can stand alone without pulling up and she can sit when she is done walking. Her hair has grown so long. She throws temper tantrums now BOO lol She is a little person. Today she is 10 months old. 10 months ago at this moment she was still inside my body. Its amazing how much they learn and how much they change in less than a year.
Being a mom is better than I could have EVER imagined!

Help our children quote

2010-09-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative—or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people. Sir John Templeton

I found this in my draft list. I think that quote is amazing.

The end... for now

2010-08-25T06:49:00.001-07:00

I have lost the desire to keep blogging. So I am going to stop for a while.
Talk to you later.

Find me on facebook if you havent already
juldga@hotmail.com

Where does time go?

2010-08-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

Time moves fast and slow at the same time. It seems like sometimes a week is over before you know it, but looking back it seems so long ago. I was on vacation last week so I did not have a chance to blog.
I didnt go anywhere, I just got to be a stay at home mom for a week. It reminded me of how much I wish I could stay at home every day. Just as the week ended I was getting into a routine and now back to work and have to find it again. Monday I canned for the first time. That was a little difficult with a baby crawling around (especially because I was canning hot peppers and if I had to stop to get her I had to scrub my hands.) Audrey didnt like it much. It was the first time I was not focused on her while she was awake. Tuesday we went on a picnic with my friend Aimee. And also my cousin Sarah came and spent the night with us.
I learned Audreys schedule. It was nice. I miss it already!
She is growing so fast. She is a speed crawler now. Crusies the furniture. Tries standing on her own (manages a few seconds before she falls) Eats everything she can get her hands on. loves finger foods. And I think her newest goal is to taste cat food LOL. Everytime I turn around she is "running" after the cat food.
Just remember being at home with her last week makes me sad to be here at work. But there is nothing I can do so I will have fun when I am home. I will enjoy every moment!

A Mother's Prayer

2010-07-30T07:10:00.001-07:00

Precious Heavenly Father,

Give me patience when little hands
tug at me with their many demands.

Give me gentle hugging arms
to help protect them from rebellions harm.

Give me wisdom from above
to teach these little ones of your love.

Give me strength, the rod not to spare
that they may obey and live under your care

Give me a spirit...quiet and meek
let my words show kindness as I speak.

Give me the ability to teach from the heart
to help my children learn your Word from the start.

Give me the words you'd have me say
to teach my children how to pray.

Give me time, special moments to share
that they may know, "Mommy really does care".

Give me hands that work willingly
a steadfast example that I may be.

Give me courage to stand in your might
to teach my little ones to always do right.

Give me boldness to do all these and more
that I may not be ashamed when I stand at your door.

Thank you Father, In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

~Author Unknown

Slow down Please

2010-07-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

Seriously! LOL this girl of mine is all about exploring. She crawls like she has been doing it for months now instead of weeks. She thinks she can walk so she gets hurt alot LOL She will pull herself up and turn around and start going but instead of going forward like she hopes she just falls to the ground. She is trying to climb the stairs - I know already! Pretty much nothing is safe anymore. I took some random videos last night which I am going to compile and post hopefully tomorrow or Friday.
I just love her even if she is on the move 24/7 now!

Even more mobility

2010-07-19T09:34:00.001-07:00

Yes she can pull herself up now. She cruises furniture too! What are we going to do with this kid?! LOL

Just love her I guess ;)

Lets get moving!

2010-07-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

Audrey is crawling now! This is the first time we captured it on video. She was actually crawling better before I broke the camera out.

She does not fall as much now and tries to follow me everywhere. Her new favorite place to crawl to is the kitchen. Guess that means I have to mop more often!!! LOL

Whats always coming but never gets here

2010-07-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

TOMORROW

Well it is tomorrow lol all my pictures are finally posted on facebook. I cant post them all here but here is one I like alot:

Friend me on facebook if you want to see more juldga@hotmail.com

I dont even know what to blog about anymore. I have been really busy at work. I am enjoying Audrey. Things are good, but not exciting. Audrey is crawling now and trying to pull herself up on things. My hands are too busy keeping her safe so I am not able to use the camera as much. The next couple weekends we have family parties so hopefully I can get some good pictures. And maybe I will get back on my blog roll and be able to relate some funny stories to you. We'll see what happends. One day at a time

Baby babbles and another tooth!

2010-07-08T04:36:00.001-07:00

Audrey is growing so fast and always so busy. She got her second tooth yesterday. And she started babbling. I'd like to think she was calling me when she said MA MA but I'm not so sure. lol We had a good 4th of July. She really like the parade. The band made her laugh. The bagpipes made her scream. The horses made her smile. I did not get to take her to the fireworks because she was so cranky (see above 2nd tooth LOL) But it was a good day. I PROMISE I will post pictures tomorrow.

can't you go to bed!... Oh wait...

2010-07-02T17:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am sitting here trying to get audrey to sleep. she is waking up as soon as I lay her down. she is getting mad as i am trying to get her to sleep. but i need her to sleep - i have laundry to fold, dishes to do, toys to pick up... but wait
what is important here???? In the scheme of things isnt cherishing the moments with my baby more important than other things? Someday will be the last time I rock her to sleep. Someday she will not want cuddles anymore. There have already been lasts. The last time she drank mommys milk, the last time she gummed my finger instead if biting it with her tooth. The last time she just sat on my lap because she couldnt go anywhere. growing up happens and it doesnt make me sad (yet) but I am trying to remind myself to cherish the moments.
The toys can wait, the dishes can wait, the laundry can wait. Tonight I am going to enjoy the cuddles and kisses with my little girl, the little girl I waited so long for...

Well June came and went

2010-06-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

I missed blogging the whole month! Summer is a busy time. What happend in June audreys 6 month of life...

Auntie Holly came from LA to visit (thats loserville not L.A. lol)
Audrey attended her first wedding (cousin Kaylee) and had her first dance w/ daddy
Audrey went on her first camping trip - she had a blast - she loved Pymatuning!
Audrey ate her first table food (nectarines YUM)
Audrey got her first tooth! Yep bottom left - I was excited!!!

We have been playing outside alot. I have only worked 4 days max per week this month. That has been nice and I think I am spoiled now. Her 6 month dr visit was rescheduled to 7 months. She tries to eat finger foods. She is crawling/scooting better. She got a spongebob diaper lol She definitely recognizes people she loves. She give baby kisses (you know those open mouth slobber ones lol) She is getting big!!!!!!!!
We went to a funereal for Jasons step dad and she met alot of Jasons family

So yes it has been a busy month (with a lot of progress)
I want to blog better in July we will see - it starts this weekend with 4th of July and a picnic!

We have been having fun!

2010-06-20T17:22:00.001-07:00

Sorry I havent posted much... We've been having a blast. I never got my camera uploaded, but now I have more pics I need to show you.. We just got back from camping! Audrey loved it!! I will tell you more Monday

We've made it 5 months!

2010-06-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

Children are a handful sometimes, A heartfull all the time... -- Author Unknown

So Audrey turned 5 month on Friday. We had a busy weekend and I will post about that this week when I get the pics and videos uploaded. I decided I want to post a monthly update on Audrey.

As of 5 months

She is eating breakfast and dinner (along with 6 bottles a day) She has eaten rice cereal, oatmeal, pears, bananas, applesauce, sweet potatos, squash, and carrots.

She sleeps aproximately 8pm - 4:30am

She sits alone for a few minutes

She rolls over both ways

She gets on her hands and knees and rocks

She crawls backwards

She responds to her name (most of the time lol)

She holds her bottle (still needs a little help though)

She is trying to drink from a sippy cup.

She loves her toes and she loves to scream!

LIFE IS GOOD

Thank you's

2010-06-03T05:17:00.000-07:00

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. ~Oscar Wilde

I watched this video today as I was surfing you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4G0_sotB4 I dont know if it was scripted or not, but it got me thinking. What are some of the "little kid" things I remember and am still thankful for to this day...

Thank you for making me queen for a day.
Thank you for letting me have glitter at my (9th maybe) bday party
Thank you for the weekly reader book club
Thank you for making cakes that tasted better than anything you could buy at the store
Thank you for my black and white bedroom (even though you hated the idea)
Thank you for my 10th birthday party
Thank you for hike and seek
Thank you for spelling our names with chocolate in milk ( I think that was you lol)
Thank you for letting me eat licorice for breakfast sometimes
Thank you for jelly shoes (even when you knew I wouldnt fit them and they would break)
I could go on....

The little things matter! I hope I can give Audrey a million little things to be thankful for.

Watermelon!

2010-06-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

Audrey had her first taste of watermelon!

She liked it!

Memorial Day weekend was nice. I enjoyed being off work for 3 days with Audrey. We had a picnic Sunday and I decided to give Audrey a taste of watermelon in her feeder. She liked it ALOT. It was the first time she ever protested when I took something away from her. It was nice spending time with family and friends.

May 7, 2009 - January 4, 2010

2010-05-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

I never did show off many belly pics... YES I took them all in the bathroom at work LOL I never figured anyone would see them. This is May 7, 2009 the day I found out I was pregnant until January 4, 2010 when Audrey was born.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I see all these moms writing letter... Where is mine?

2010-05-27T02:13:00.000-07:00

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one - Jill Churchill

Dear Audrey,

I see so many new mothers writing letters to thier babies. I have tried and tried and it just doesnt come out right. I look at you and think and feel so many things I just cant get them to come out on paper (or screen) right. I cannot find the words to express how deeply I feel. I cant find just the right phrases. Even this isnt coming out the way I imagine. It seems as if words are not enough to tell you how much I love you, how I want the best for you, how I hope your happy... So even if you cant read it I hope you can feel it every day. It seems as if this love is beyond words. Its in the "million kisses". Its in the "I'm gonna get her". Its in the smiles and laughs. Its in the quiet moments when I watch you sleep. Its in the way I wake up just to listen to you breathe. Its the reason why I work so hard to make you happy. Its why I will stop what I'm doing to give you what you need. Its in every moment of every day.
I lose my patience time and again and I regret it. It is bound to happen I know, but I want you to feel loved every minute. I hate that my selfishness ruins some of those minutes. I hate when I would rather check my email or finish that TV show instead of taking the extra minutes to do something with you. Maybe its necessary to get away for a few minutes, but looking forward - I know I will look back and these moments can never be replaced.
So I will do my best to make every day a good one. And to make you feel loved - Even if I can never write one of those "pretty" mom to child letters.

I love you my girl and I hope you will one day know how much meaning 3 little words can hold

Love,
your Momma

I couldnt have said it better myself.

2010-05-26T04:34:00.000-07:00

You are a miracle, and I have to love you this fiercely so you can feel it, even after you leave for school or even while you’re asleep or even after your childhood becomes a memory. You’ll forget all this when you grow up. But it’s ok. Being a mother means having your heart broken, and it means loving and losing and falling apart and coming back together and it the best there is and also sometimes the worst. Sometimes you won’t have anyone to talk to. Sometimes you’ll wonder if you have forgotten who you are. But you must always remember this: What you’re doing matters. And you have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs. The truth is being a woman is a gift, tenderness is a gift, intimacy is a gift, and nurturing the good in this world is nothing short of a privilege. That’s why I have to love you this way. So I can give what I have to you so you can carry it in your body and pass it on. I’ve watched you sleep. I’ve kissed you a million times. And I know something that you don’t yet. You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day, and my greatest hope for you sweet child is that I can teach you how to write a good one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8K9s7_k3TM

Short (google search) story - Audrey

2010-05-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

Short (google search) story - Julia

2010-05-25T06:11:00.001-07:00

You can create your own youtube search story www.youtube.com/search stories

To Krissy

2010-05-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

We loose so much of ourselves after having that first love of fresh light brought into the world. To most it is a strange and wonderous land.Giving life and keeping it on a sensible path .Learning things never thought of when we were young and thriving ,relearning as we go .Afraid every step that someone will see you trip from your own straight and narrow path. As they seem to slip away from you as soon as they are born,we as mothers seem to struggle to cling to their needs as a crutch for survival. Some form we feel needed to exist.True for most.Most being one as myself.Looking at pictures glancing into my thoughts scared of what might happen if I close my eyes to go to sleep. In a blink of an eye,they are gone from us,smiling with a tender heart .This you know ,you have instilled upon them.Where do we go from here? Does anyone know?I so dearly wish I had the answer.Perhaps, they will need me now and again ,as I wait till called upon. I live,I live deep in the shadows of my fears,smiling with a tender heart. Opal Krissy Dambaugh

She wrote this for me (and other mothers) today. It goes along with what I have been thinking of blogging all weekend.

I am a different person than I was before. I blogged before about how I had to merge my old self and my new self. Well I have done so and I can remember who I was and how I am so different now.
Physically - Well this is known (mostly) only to me. I did not realize how much pregnancy can change a body. I am not used to my physical self yet, it is so different than what I used to feel like.
No more pretty dangly earring and matching necklaces. No more rings and bracelets. Those will come back with time I know, but not any time soon. No more pretty clothes - I am lucky if I match and when I do match I probably have spit up, snot, or slobber somehwere on my shirt!
Mentally - In one way I am not as sharp as I used to be. My mind is always preoccupied with Audrey. And when its not I am dealing with lack of sleep.
In another way, I process things totally different now. I worry about her. Is she going to be ok. Do I need to do aomething about that cough. Is it ok if she does this... I even worry about myself more because I need to be here for her. I am more careful driving. More careful everywhere becasue I need her to be safe and I need to be safe for her. I never worried about silly things before.
All these new thoughts all these new feelings. The old carefree worryfree Julie is gone for good. But a better Julie is here now Julie, Audrey's mom.
Motherhood is about teach and learning. I always knew having a child would let me experience life again - youth again. I just have to be sure not to get caught up in the world and forget to notice what she is noticing for the first time. I sit there and I watch her look at the cat. I see her reach for the cat. Is she thinking anything. Does she wonder what is this. I know she is small, but her thinking process will begin soon - if not already begun.
Do as I say and not as I do... We all want to say that sometimes, but we cant live like that. We need to live in a way that if our children acted just like us we wouldnt be ashamed. I wont say anymore because I also need to "practice what I preach"
Right now I am the most needed person in her life. I like that. I can imagine as she grows and needs others how I will cling to each little need she has from me. And I pray I can be the type of mother that no matter who comes and goes in her life I will always be in some form needed.
Afraid to go to sleep... In a blink of an eye they are gone... This is what pains my heart so much alreay about being a mom. I feel like I am missing so much. I work so hard when I see her to be there for everything. So if I "hover" when you are holding her. If I dont want that break or if I neglect all things for now just remember 5 days out of her 7 are not spent with me. These moments I can never get back. The moments I have I want to enjoy every one.

Where do we go from here? Does anyone know?I so dearly wish I had the answer.Perhaps, they will need me now and again ,as I wait till called upon. I live,I live deep in the shadows of my fears,smiling with a tender heart.
I am only a mother to a baby - and yes she needs me. I know as children grow older they need thier mothers less and less. I listened to the radio this morning and they listed the 3 stages of motherhood. I missed the first but it was ages birth through 12 and the recap said it was mostly about meeting thier needs and keeping them safe. The second was ages 12-21 being part confidant part coach. They should be able to confide in you but you should be able to coah them along as well. And finally parenting and adult. He said be thier counsellor. He said hopefully you parented so they know they can come to you to seek advice.
I dont know how this will work out, but I hope I can be there for her for years to come...

Busy Days

2010-05-22T04:53:00.000-07:00

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for”

So I got caught up in life the past few days and neglected my blog. May is the end of the year for FedEx and Bob is on vacation next week so I have been busy there. plus we had a cookout for all the employees and that took up a whole day.

I have been enjoying my evenings with Audrey; that picture was last night when we were playing outside. She has been alot less cranky lately. She is still sleeping now amazingly. I was sure she would wake up a bunch to eat. She ate at 3:30 at daycare and didnt eat the rest of the night. Well she ate about 3 bits of carrots/cereal until I saw that she wasnt interested. Then I tried a bottle and she drank an ounce and spit it out. Then before bed I tried another bottle and she didnt want it. She woke up at midnight and drank 2 oz and has been sleeping since then! I bet she'll be so hungry when she wakes up LOL I love my weekends with her. I used to be so busy, and it was fun. But now staying home with Audrey is so much better! I still sometime cannot believe I have the baby I always wanted!!!!1

Friends

2010-05-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

People come into your life and people leave it... you just have to trust that life has a road mapped out for you. - Orlando Bloom

There was a time in my life when I was 12 or 13 and I felt and saw a friendship changing. I knew it would never be the same and I was sad. I am still friends with that person which is amazing all these years later, but it nothing like when we were kids. I am feeling that again. An important friendship is changing. Sometime change is good, somtime change is hard, sometimes change is sad, but like it or not change is always necessary.
Its amazing all the people and friends you make over the years. Some are temporary. Some you know will be temporary and make a BIG impact. Some you think will last forever and just dont. Some are supposed to last forever and just wont. Just enjoy the time. Be true. Be honest. Be You.

Where's the Beef

2010-05-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

In my freezer! Did you see my picture on facebook LOL

So what exactly comes with a quarter cow? I searched and searched and found no info so maybe someone will come across this post and find out. I dont remember exactly but these are the best approximates since I am not home by my freezer

I got
40 lbs of ground beef
5 or 6 5 lb chuck roasts
1 BIG rump roast
8-10 T bone steaks
5-6 Rib Eye steaks
2 portershouse steak
3-4 BIG sirloin steaks
6 huge round steaks
2 pkgs boiling meat
2 pkg short ribs
2 pkgs shank bones
2 pkgs liver (ewww)
and I feel like I am forgetting something but thats alotta beef! LOL

Now on a thats my baby note Audrey slept through the night FINALLY after 8 weeks on not doing so.
she slept 9pm-4am Lets keep our fingers crossed for this to continue!

Recipe of the week

2010-05-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

I went to a restaurant that serves 'breakfast at any time'. So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance. - Steven Wright

So I mentioned I would try a new recipe every week and post it if it went well. Well I made my new recipe and I thought is was YUCK. Jason ate it and he said it was ok, but he is not very picky. I made pineapple upsidedown french toast. basically you mix butter, brown sugar, and crushed pineapple and you put it in the bottom of a baking dish. The you mix cream, milk, 2 eggs, pineapple juice, vanilla, and cinnamon. did each pice of bread and lay ontop of pineapple mixture in dish. Then you pour the left over egg mixture in the pan. Bake at 350 for 30 mins... Sounded easy enough, but I wasnt a fan...

Audrey

2010-05-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

A daughter is a gift of love - Author unknown

So I havent really updated on Audrey. I think most of you know her, but there may be a few people who dont see us in real life. We just had our 4 month check-up Audrey was 16lbs 3 oz and 26.25 inches long. She is staying in the 95-97 percentile. She got her vaccinations and had a much better time this time. I gave her tylonol (well store brand) about 30 mins before her shots. I think that helped.
Our pediatrician is a bit... different. He wouldnt put bandaids on her bleeding leg becasue she might choke on them. Hmmm thats weird so I was trying to console a crying baby while holding guaze on both her legs. He told me I shouldn't feed her anything but formula. Anything over 95% is considered obese and she doesnt need food. Well I dont think he is right on that one. Look at her - She does not look obese to me. And she loves her food so I'm not taking it away.
He did call her a bright child though - that was nice to hear. She rolls over both ways, sits in the tripod position, and can grab things. Last night she was sitting only propped on one hand instead of 2. And when on her belly she scooches (is that how you spell it? lol) backwards, but she only does this when she is mad haha. She doesnt really copy my sounds much, but she does "talk" no ba or da but she says ma alot especially when she wants atention and its more like mum mum thats funny.
She goes to daycare with 2 other little girls. They tell me she doesnt fuss alot. There is a really nice worker there who I am becoming friends with. She keeps me updated on Audrey and sometime takes pictures during the day i LOVE that. The one worker said there are too mnay princesses here and not enough ladies in waiting! I thought that was funny and it is true - when Audrey wants something she has ZERO patience.
It's fun being a mom even with all the craziness and the getting up several times a night. I love it and i love her!

Back to work

2010-05-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar. -Drew Carey

So yesterday was my first day back to work after a nice vacation at home. I dont think I am going to call it work anymore. I went back to my job. I worked at home. Being home with a baby is work, but its work that I LOVE!
Anyway, When I was at my job I thought well hey this isnt bad. I was busy catching up and time passed quickly. I drove home in a decent enough mood, and thought well maybe it wasnt that stressful all along maybe I did just need a vacation...
Then I got home. I had 4 hours to do everything I did all day when I was on vacation. Clean, cook, play with the baby, get ready for the next day... Then I remembered why I was so stressed. It really is hard being away from home for 10+ hours a day. I dont think i will ever get over the "hate of my job" now. Where do I find that EVERYBODY group!!! LOL

i can celebrate now!

2010-05-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

I have been pondering all day what to write, and I just cant seem to find the words to express what I feel today. I have been hoping for years I could celebrate this day and I am. it is wonderful to be a mom I love it! I stayed home this past week on vacation from work. I am so sad to go back. Being a stay at home mom was wonderful even if it felt like I worked harder than if I was at work. I wish so bad there was some way I could stay at home!
This had been a wonderful day for me. I hope everyone else had a wonderful Mother's Day as well!

Cooking, baking, recipes, etc...

2010-05-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

"I refuse to believe that trading recipes is silly. Tunafish casserole is at least as real as corporate stock."
Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

So I have decided I want to try to make one new recipe a week. I started a few weeks ago with ZUPPA TUSCANO
And this week I made Enchilada Meatloaf and also Egg rolls. Here are the recipes. Oh and I RARELY follow a recipe exactly (which is why I like cooking better than baking) so I will list my variations below each recipe and/or beside each ingredient.

Enchilada Meatloaf

1 egg, lightly beaten
1 medium onion finely chopped I had no onion I used onion powder
1/4 jar of salsa I just dumped until it looked right
2 Tbs chili powder Again didnt measure, just dumped and smelled LOL
3 Cloves of garlic minced I used garlic powder
1/2 tsp of salt I did not measure

1 lb of ground beef

1 8.5 oz pkg cornbread mix
2 oz sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat Oven to 350. In a large bowl combine egg, onion, salsa, chili powder, garlic, and salt. Add ground beef - mix well. Shape into a ball and place in a 3" pie plate. Flatten meat to create a 6" circle.
Prepare corn bread mix according to pkg directions. Spread batter on top of meatloaf. Bake about 50 minutes (internal temp 160F) Remove from oven sprinkle with cheese - bake 10 minutes more. Serve with additional salsa and/or sour cream.
I doubled this recipe. And I added meat to the bowl then all of the ingredients. I added shredded cheese to the meat mixture instead of on top the "pie". I used a 13x9 dish. And I also had to cook for about 80 minutes

This was soooooooo good! I will be making it again!

Easy Egg Rolls

2 Tbs vegetable oil
1/2 lb of ground beef I used 1 lb.
3 cloves of garlic minced I used 4
1/2 medium onion minced I only had a little bit of onion so I used that and some onion powder
2 green onions finely chopped I replaced this with chives since they are growing in my garden
5 cups cabbage coleslaw blend I just used a whole package i think it was like 7 cups
1/2 tsp powdered ginger I did not have so I did
1 Tbs soy sauce I just guessed - I used prob closer to 2
salt & pepper
1 pkg egg roll wrappers These can be found in the refrigerated section of the produce section
water/beaten egg

Heat oil in a skillet. Add minced onion and garlic. Cook until tender (about 5 minutes) Add pork saute until browned. This is when I added my salt, pepper, and additional onion powder (they add it at the end) I wanted the pork flavored. Add coleslaw blend and stir fry on high heat about 5 minutes. Remove from heat add seasoning, salt, pepper, and soy sauce I only added soy sauce at this point
To assemble place 2 tbs near edge of egg roll wraper. Wet opposite end and sides with water or beaten egg. Fol over each side only 1/4" and roll. Deep fry at 350 & drain on paper towels.

I read this variation once. Brush with olive oil or butter and bake at 350 until crunchy. I think I would do that next time. I would also omit the oil for frying and just use a non stick skillet. These were kind of greasy.

These were VERY good. everyone loved them!

I guess I will have to see how many weeks I can try a new recipe. But I will let you know when I do!

Babywearing

2010-05-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

Mommy you see that girl... She is carrying her baby in her clothes! - Random girl at the grocery store

I am not an avid babywearer, but I do wear my baby from time to time. You see she HATES the car seat with a passion and is too little to sit in the buggy. I have a "normal" baby carrier which most people are accustomed to seeing and a baby wrap. The wrap is hard to get on and not 100% comfortable, but audrey likes it. Today when she woke up from her nap I wanted to go to the store. I decided it was nice out and we would park at one end of the plaza and walk to the store on the other end. I chose to wear my babywrap.
It amazes me how many looks you get when you are wearing a baby. I thought it was common! I kept looking at my reflection to make sure my shirt was still on or something LOL so we went in the grocery store. I only needed a couple things and we walked by this little girl and her mom. She said the above quote. Her mom replied No thats a baby carrier some moms wont put their babies down and let them be babies. Nice and loud so I could hear her. I started laughing - if she only knew! What does it hurt her anyway if a woman wants to carry their baby! Oh well LOL we had a good day anyway

The crib

2010-05-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

But tonight their afloat, full of dreams full of bliss; and that's why I'm bothering telling you this - Dr Seuss

Audrey likes her crib. Last night I decided to try the crib. We did out evening ritual: bath, lotion, books, bottle. And she was still awake. I took her upstairs and put her mobile on. I turned the lights down and gave her a kiss and told her I had to go downstairs. Well, I did a few things and went back up to check on her all expecting her to still be playing and she was sound asleep! And asleep she stayed until 5am. Pretty great if you ask me! Audrey will now be sleeping UPSTAIRS in her own bed.

*Sigh* my little baby is growing too fast already

Where are all the socks!

2010-05-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

My socks DO match. They're the same thickness. -- Steven Wright

Lost socks - a common laundry problem. Where do all those sock go...

Well I think I am finding out. The other day I took Audrey to the park with my friend and her kids. We ended up sitting on the bench. mind you, its about 2pm - I have been up since 4am... Anyway we sat down and I reached down to the diaperbag and I notice this lump in my pants... What in the world. I reach up my pant leg - A BABY SOCK! We laughed for about 15 minutes! Is that what inspired this post - no.

Yesterday Jason and I went to Seven Springs to reconnect. I got up this morning, got ready, put on my clothes, and we went to a really nice breakfast. Afterwards, we went to a shop; we get back to the room and I reach up to scratch my shoulder WHAT DO YA KNOW! A baby sock!!!

Hey I bet you guys didnt know I was the sock thief all along! Craziness!

New Look

2010-04-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

"Every person is a new door to a different world." - from movie "Six Degrees of Seperation

As you can see I am making blog changes. My most favorite (is that even correct... most favorite... LOL) is the quotes. I met this wonderful girl online, Michelle, you may read about her before. She is a sweet girl with an even sweeter baby! She has a great blog too! She always starts her posts with quotes and I think that is wonderful.

Its amazing how you can meet someone online. As thier "friend" and by reading thier blogs you see the world from thier perspective. Some have a totally different view than you, but it lets you experience things you may not have had any idea about otherwise. So enjoy view into a different world!

A quiz!

2010-04-30T07:59:00.001-07:00

So what is the dumb mom thing I do on a regular basis...

A: Forget to change Audreys diaper before it leaks

B: Warm the bottle too hot and have to let it cool while holding the screaming baby

C: Forget to take her socks off before I put her in the bath

So what do you think it is...

Yep I am that dumb! On more than one occasion I have forgotten to take her socks off before I put her in the tub and even them I dont realize until I go to touch her feet!!!!
DOH! Next time I'll take a picture!

Before I was a mom

2010-04-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Before I was a mom, I made and ate hot meals, wore unstained clothes and had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a mom, I never worried about how late I went to bed because I could sleep in as long as I wanted.

Before I was a mom, I washed my face and brushed my teeth everyday.

Before I was a mom, I enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee while reading the
morning newspaper on a Saturday morning.

Before I was a mom, I slept the whole night through.

Before I was a mom, my house was clean everyday and I didn't worry about whether or not my plants were poisonous.

Before I was a mom, I had never been puked on, pooped on, peed on, chewed on or pinched by little fingers.

Before I was a mom, I had complete control of my mind, thoughts and body.

Before I was a mom, I never held down a screaming child while doctors and nurses did tests or gave shots. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces because I couldn't stop the hurt.

Before I was a mom, I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

Before I was a mom, I never got gloriously happy over a toothless grin.

Before I was a mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never was up in the wee hours of the night just watching a baby while it slept. I never knew that something so small couldn't effect my life so tremendously.

Before I was a mom, I never knew I could love someone so unconditionally and completely.

Before I was a mom, I never knew how satisfying it is to feed a hungry
child. I never knew how fulfilling it is to soothe a baby's cries.

Before I was a mom, I loved my mom, but didn't understand her.

Before I was a mom, I never knew the warmth, the joy, the heartache, the
wonderment, or the fulfillment of being a mom.

Before I was a mom, I never knew I would love being a mom."

- Sharon L. Twitchell

too tired to post

2010-04-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Rolling Rolling Rolling!

2010-04-27T05:11:00.001-07:00

No videos or pictures yet, but Audrey rolls from front to back and back to front. It pretty cute, but makes diaper changes a pain. I am going to try to catch it on video soon.

Life is Good

2010-04-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend we had. Audrey is so much fun. She is observing everything and learning so much!
WE went to Grove City and she just looked around at everything. She really likes being read to now. I enjoy that. She likes pop up books. Im going to have to go get a few more. She loves talking and has a BIG mouth just like me! Her first lesson is going to be how to use her inside voice haha. She fights sleep alot because she doesnt want to quit. She loves the computer. Its hillarious how she gets excited when we go in the computer room.
I dont know it my short attention span is good for her or not... We do a bunch of things each day. I worry I show her too much, but she doesnt get cranky - she enjoys it all. Maybe our attention spans are the same length! Who knows

Yesterday we had a funny moment. I am trying to get her to nap in her crib, but she wont. Anyway I had some stuff to do so I laid her in her crib. Within 5 minutes she started crying. I left her cry for a few minutes while I finished. SHe was crying when I got her out of the crib. She was MAD! She didnt want to stop crying. I laid her on the floor so I could talk to her. It was perfect timing. I said Audrey stop crying tell mommy whats wrong. Her cry just then changed into talking. But she had a mad tone behind it. Jason couldnt stop laughing. She wasnt crying anymore just yelling at me. I wish I had it on camera.

Computer Time

2010-04-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

Check this out Audrey likes the computer. Fisher Price Infant Games

Cloth Diapering

2010-04-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Have I really blogged about cloth diapering yet? I dont think so - I only briefly mentioned it in my saving green post.

I really like it. Laundry is not my hated chore - so I dont mind doing diaper laundry every other day. The diaper sprayer makes cleaning dirty diapers a breeze.

I do not even like disposables anymore. They smell so weird to me. There is no smell to a cloth diaper. The disposable one have this weird odor that is not good after not smelling it for a while.
I sometimes, like alot of people, end up having very little money before payday. Dont get me wrong I have enough money, but sometimes you end up spending it too fast - or when I have extra I pay my hospital bills (another story but Audrey was not covered for the 1st 2 months of her life) so on Thursday I will be broke. Anyway the point of that is I like never running out of diapers. I never open the drawer and am like OH MY there is only 1 diaper left! I never have to find $10 so I can go buy the smallest pack of disposables until payday. I never have to run to the store in the evenings because I ran out of diapers.
Plus cloth wipes are awesome. When she was in disposable I found myself getting washcloths to clean blowout - now I just use cloth wipes all the time
And it makes me feel good that I am not contributing diaper trash to the landfill

Would I have cloth diapered from day 1? Not this time around. My 1st 6 weeks with Audrey were not pleasant. I was going from house to house. I packed up and went to Jasons at night, I came back home alot of the evenings. I had to go to my dads to do laundry. There was no relaxing. I would of course wake up avery 2-3 hours at night them at 9am when she went to sleep I would pack up my car. she'd wake up Id feed her again and wait till she fell back asleep and head to butler. When I got there i'd unload my car. feed the baby again. And when she fell asleep again I'd cook something for dinner. (And remember I was exclusively pumping all this time) so there was no time for laundry, especially diaper laundry...
So would I cloth diaper if I had another. Maybe. If I was in a stable place with a washer and dryer. I went through probably $200 in diapers in the first 2 months. I didnt buy them thank goodness for my shower! But I dont think I could spend that knowing I have perfectly good diapers on hand.
But then again I dont know if I will ever be blessed with another one so that thought may be wasted.

But I do like cloth diapering and it was a good decision. Plus they really are cute!

My experiment

2010-04-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

Audrey last week started waking up at 2am every day to eat. She also eats about every hour and a half to 2 hours in the evening 6oz each time. I decided I wanted to try cereal to see if that would keep her full enough to sleep through the night again. I know alot of people dont feed thier babies until 6months and it is not recommended by pediatricians until 4 months HOWEVER Audrey is almost 4 months and she has all the signs she is ready for food:
Loss of tongue-thrust reflex- Check she likes eating off the spoon

Ability to let you know she is full from a "meal" with signs such as turning away from the bottle or breast. - Check (see video for proof LOL)

Ability to sit up and hold head up unassisted - check well she doesnt sit up unassisted but she can sit in her high chair alone and she only needs little support on her hips when sitting on the floor

Interest in your food - check again see the video she dives towards the spoon

Doubling of birth weight - check 8lbs at birth close to 17 now

Frequently waking in the middle of the night when a solid sleeping pattern had been established - double check was sleeping 8pm - 5am (and even then I woke her to get ready for daycare) Then it shortened to waking at 4 am now she wakes every night at 2am to eat and wakes again at 5am to eat

But even with cereal she still woke up last night. I only fed her a few bites until she got distracted by the cat and the camera. so tonight I will try a few more.

Oh yes and my "mom brain" moment at 30 seconds LOL

Today I am sad

2010-04-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

I had a whole other post planned in my head, but things changed.

This morning when I dropped Audrey off at daycare she had just woke up and was hungry, but not grumpy hungry...
Anyway, when I got her out of the car she was ALL smiles. She was reaching out to me and "talking". When we got in the daycare I set her car seat on the table and she was scuking on her fist and still reaching up to me. The other little girl was trying to get her attention, but she would only look at me. When I said goodbye and started walking away she lost her smile and got this look on her face like "where ya going?" and as I was walking out the door I heard her do her little whine - the noise she makes to get my attention... It made me really sad.
As I was driving to work I wished I had decided to stay there and feed her and be late for work. If that ever happens again I will definitely do that.

No more milkies...

2010-04-19T05:43:00.000-07:00

Most of you know I have been exclusively pumping since Audrey was born. She got mostly my milk, but would a couple times a week get a bottle of formula. A couple weeks ago she changed from drinking 4 oz to 6 oz and I had to giver her 1-2 formula bottles a day. Well work got busy and I no longer had the freedom to pump a couple times while at work - only during lunch. So my milk supply dropped bad. I only had enough for 3 milk bottle a day. Then my supply kept dropping and I was only getting 9 oz a day.I decided it was time to stop pumping - it wasnt worth my time. Anyway that being said. Yesterday was Audreys first full day on formula. I dont know if it made a difference or not, but she was so cranky and fighting sleep all day. She only took 2 small naps. It was 10 pm and she wouldnt take her bottle and she wouldnt take her pacifier she was just crying and crying. She acted like she wanted to eat but she spit out the formula. I told jason, maybe she wants milk. I pumped a couple ounces and as soon as she tasted it she drank it right up and fell right asleep.
So that being said I am not giving up pumping. I will pump my 3 times a day and even if I only get enough for her nighttime bottle its worth it to me to make her happy that way. Hopefully when food starts she wont need to comfort eat my milk at night!

Going Green or Saving Green???

2010-04-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

I think if we changed the slogan from Going green or being green to saving green more people would be on board.

The first things I started doing that are considered "green" I started doing specifically to save money without caring about the "green" point of view. Then I went back and visited my friends in Youngstown... There was this dump/landfill behind the fedex building when I worked. It was so big. And on hot windy days it stunk up the whole area. Then I moved back to PA. After 2.5 I went back to visit my friends at fedex. This thing has doubled in size! I mean it was huge. I couldnt belive how large the landfill had gotten in only a few years - It looked like a mountain. It was then I thought maybe they arent kidding about this green thing...

Anyway about Saving green. I always wanted a metal water bottle, but I never wanted to shell out the $15 for one. well I got one for Christmas, and I should have bought it way sooner! I used to go through a case of water per week. I havent bought a case of water since December! So besides the fact that I am not throwing away 3-4 plastic water bottles away today I am not spending the $3.98 per week on water.
Cloth Diapers my next step to saving green. $40 a month minimum per month on disposable diapers. I was thinking in 2 years that would add up to alot of money! I could spend $300 and have diapers for her entire 2 years. Its only 2-3 extra loads of laundry per week and I only hang dry the diapers so there really has been no change to the electric bill. Plus modern cloth diapers are really nice. I use cloth wipes along with the diapers and I am being green and saving green!
Saving electric. Jason is the power nazi haha thats what I say. He unplugs and turns off everything. It works great. We have a very affordable electric bill! I guess energy saving is consered green, but we consider it saving green...

Anyway the reason I wrote this whole blog because another thing I discovered on the cloth diaper and green path are all the contest out there. here is the most recent one I found when reading a green blog
http://www.diapersanddimples.com/2010/04/celebrating-earth-day-with-green-giant.html

She had some good info in there on going green. so I figured I would enter the contest too. Head on over and check out her blog!

And I am trying to win some "green" nail polish for Audrey
http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/spring-green-19-piggy-paint-review-and.html

Family Portraits

2010-04-16T04:23:00.000-07:00

We are getting our first family portrait done tomorrow! I hope it turns out nice. Hope YOU will smile JASON!!!! Yes I know you are reading this ;P I am excited to have a nice picture of the three of us, and if we are lucky we may get a smile out of Audrey too! Tonight I'm going to the outlets to see if I can find her an outfit that semi matches mine. If not I have a cute dress in mind :)
I'll let you know Monday how it went

My "new thing"

2010-04-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Ok so this post isnt very baby related, but anyway...

I have always liked cooking, but I have been doing alot more of it lately. I started making my own bread and its so very yummy! Last night I tried a recipe for Zuppa Tuscana - I never need to go to Olive Garden again! As I made the soup I kept looking at it and think this is not looking good... It doesnt even smell like Olive garden's soup! Well the 2 last steps when I added the cream and kale - Bam! Instant yumminess (If Emerill & Rachael Ray had a kid they would say Bam instant yumminess I think LOL). So if anyone wants the recipe for this soup let me know.

Oh here's your baby tidbit... You cant eat this soup while holding the baby or she might end up with Kale on her head LOL it didnt happen but it was close ;P

Zuppa Tuscana

2 lbs ground sausage (I used 1 hot & one mild)
1/2 pkg bacon or 4 Tbs bacon bits
1 small-medium onion - chopped
3 cloves of garlic about 2 tbs minced (i may have said that wrong, but when you buy garlic at the store you need 3 of the parts off the garlic)
6 medium potatoes
8 cups of chicken broth or 8 cups of water & 4 chicken bullion cubes (I used 4 cups of broth and 4 cups of water w/ 2 cubes)
2 cups of cream
3/4 bunch of kale chopped or torn (about 4-5 cups)

Cook sausage in pan drain and set aside for later use (I didnt drain well enough and my soup was kind of orange instead of pure white)

In a large soup pot
Cook bacon until crips crumble into pieces drain grease. Add minced garlic & chopped onion to bacon. Cook until onion is soft be careful not to burn garlic. Add broth and/or water and bullion cubes. Heat until boiling. Cut well washed potatos in half then into 1/4 inch slices - do not peel - add to boiling soup. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook soup until potatoes are tender about 30 minutes.Reduce heat so it is no longer boiling stir in sausage and cream. Once mixture is heated through stir in kale. Leave on low heat until kale cooks down a bit. Makes alot. You can half this recipe. We have had 5 large bowls of it and there are still leftovers.

Its been a week... AGAIN! LOL

2010-04-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

I just cant seem to make time for this blog.

When I have time to blog its during work and all I want to do when I am at work is complain about not being able to spend enough time with audrey. Who wants to hear me complain all day?
Things are good at home though. Audrey sleeps from 9-4. She still doesn't eat alot. 4, sometimes 5, 4-5 oz bottles per day. But she is growing well. Weekends are awesome - when I am not too busy. Weekday she is happy about an hour before she is tired out from the day. She still wears cloth diapers and I am definitely not regretting it. More people should consider that as an option! I got a bread maker. I have been making my own bread lately. Its so easy to throw all the ingredients in before I leave for work and have fresh bread when I get home. Little changes help me save money. 2 more weeks of work and I have a week off! YAY for vacation!! Anyway, until I write again, here is a pic for you - check out the toes!

My poor blog

2010-04-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

I never have time to blog anymore, but on the plus side I am really enjoying my daughter! She is such a cutie!

Well, Green is my favortie color!

2010-04-02T04:15:00.000-07:00

Its all about GREEN these days. Every article or commercial talk about being green in someway. I now use cloth diapers, I sometime wander through the organic section at Giant Eagle, and I consider at time "Is being green" really important....

Well today I decided I would stop using those harsh chemical cleaners and instead...

JUST STOP CLEANING!!!

LOL Thats is. Enjoy your Easter!

Audrey is 3 months old (almost)

2010-04-01T10:19:00.001-07:00

Audrey is so much fun now. 6 weeks ago if you asked me hows Audrey I would have said - she cries all the time or she is so difficult! Well it has been 6 weeks since then and Audrey has me trained LOL. She rarely cries anymore (except she still hates the car seat!) I know what she wants and when. She is a joy! She smiles and laughs and coos. She is taking everything in! She is so curious about everything - I love watching her look around the world.

Anyway work is nuts lately and blogging has taken a very back seat. So off to work and in 2 hours I get to leave to see my girl!

A note for Audrey

2010-03-31T06:59:00.000-07:00

What its not about...

2010-03-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Its not about books, or what "they" say. Its not about other people's children, or even how things were done with you. All the internet searches in the world can't tell you what is right for your child.
It is about finding out what is best for you and your baby in spite of what "they" say.

I was sitting there holding Audrey last night while she went to sleep. YES, I hold her to put her to sleep. "THEY" say that is a bad habit to start. Books say a child will never learn to go to sleep on thier own... HOWEVER, who ever saw a 15 year old wanting to be held to sleep, and tell me how many mothers wish they could just have "one more time" of holding thier baby...
So for now I will enjoy holding Audrey as she falls asleep. So what if she is 2 years old and still needs cuddles before bed. Cherish the moments - thats what its about.

There is a book I bought for my friend. I wish I had a copy for myself. It is called "let me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury

At about 2 minutes the book starts

Here it is!

2010-03-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

My homemade tutu and hairbow. Ok I know maybe I am too excited about this, but I never make stuff so I am proud of my work and it looks so darn cute!

Wait til you see what I made

2010-03-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

But I am going to keep you in suspense! Some of you have already seen it, but I am surprising someone tomorrow then I can post the picture of Audrey in the cutest thing ever and I made it! Stay tuned I will make a special Saturday post for you

Happy St. Patricks Day

2010-03-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

A day late! I was off work the last 2 days so I was busy with Audrey enjoying the sun. She actually had her shots Tueday so she was cranky, but she is ok now I think
She is wearing the first outfit ever given to her. Her auntie Holly bought it when I told her I was pregnant

Half and half... and half and half

2010-03-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

I am never complete anymore. I always feel like I am doing a half job. I feel like I cannot give 100% in anything.

I am not the excellent employee that I was. My mind and thoughts are always preoccupied with my child and my home. I feel guilty for doing a half job because I know I am doing it. I cannot ever focus completely on Fedex. I feel like that makes me a bad employee.
I am not as good a friend as I used to be. I never have time to call or listen. I can barely squeeze 10 minutes in for a friend. Days go by before I remember or make time for a friend. I am slow getting out thank you notes. I feel like that makes me a bad friend.
I used to be proud that I could work so much and still do good at home. Now there is never anytime for cleaning or organizing. I still haven't gotten completely moved. I still havent unpacked. I still havent decorated. Somedays I dont have time to cook. I feel like that makes me a bad "homemaker"
I used to be a good girlfriend. I'd plan dates and trips and special outings. I' make sure to always make time for Jason. Now we barely spend 10 minutes a day together. Sure we might be in the same house, but either I am playing with Audrey, feeding Audrey, cleaning Audrey, or holding Audrey. I feel like that makes me a bad girlfriend.

I even feel like I cannot give 100% as my job as a mother. It is imopssible for me to give 100% to anything when I have so much crammed into a day. My plate was full before Now I just got a big heaping spoonful ontop of an already full plate. I am spilling stuff!!!

Even though I feel overwhelmed and like I am doing half jobs - I know I must be giving all to something... Yes, I am giving all to something. I am giving 100% to being a mother. That is why my thoughts at work are filled with her. That is why it breaks my heart to leave her at daycare which in turn affects my attitude at work. That is why I take a break every 3 hours to pump milk for her. That is why my cell phone rings constantly with calls from Dr's and daycare. That is why I dont give 100% at work. At home I have been gone from her all day so that is why cleaning, cooking, unpacking, and decorating take a backseat. That is why my friendships suffer because either she is awake and I want to give my attention to her or she is sleeping and I need to catch up on the housework I have pushed aside. That is why I am not a good gorlfriend because when I get a few minutes I try to call a friend I havent talked to in a while or write a thankyou note. And if you refer back to last weeks post that is why I lost Julie because there is 0% left for her...

BUT I WOULDNT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD. I LOVE AUDREY WITH ALL MY HEART AND IF I HAVE TO GIVEUP EVERYTHING ELSE FOR HER THEN ITS WORTH IT!!!!!!!!

Okay there was my rough draft - Now I will organize these thoughts for you. You have heard of the saying the straw that broke the camels back. Well thats what having a baby did to me. I really gave all to everything before. I went to work every day and I was the person everyone would call when they needed answers or something done. I was truly the best. In the evening I would come home and cook dinner every night and clean the house. I would then spend an hour or two with Jason talking - reconnecting. Then before bed I would make time for a friend. I would call them or text them. Write notes and letters... Then there would be a little me time before I went to sleep. Now its just so different and I want to give up something. I feel like I cannot do all those things. Unfortunately my friends are suffering the most. They are the ones that are getting pushed to the side and I am truly sorry. (Keep reading it'll make sense in the end)
Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL day - the first relaxing day in weeks. We woke up and I got to feel like a good mom. I got to feed and play with my baby. She is happiest in the morning and it breaks my heart I miss that almost every day. When she took her first nap I got to get all the housework done - that felt good. She woke back up and I got to play and cuddle with her again. She took another nap. and I started dinner. She woke up and I got to enjoy her again. Then I gave her to daddy and I finished dinner. She took her next nap and I got to eat - using BOTH hands!!! And I took some ME time. I also got to call a friend and have a good non rished conversation. One more nap for Audrey and I got to clean up from dinner and get ready for the next day. When she woke up we got to have our last play time then bathtime then cuddle time then bed. I did not feel stressed or rushed. I felt good. I felt accomplished. Mostly I felt like a good mom.
DO YOU SEE WHAT WAS MISSING FROM THAT DAY????
Work - I mean fedex work - I had no job to go to! And now it makes me wish I could be a stay at home mom even more than before....

I suppose I will adapt and achieve some balance with an overflowing plate - I just haven't figured it out yet...

I have a new name

2010-03-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

I'm not Julie anymore. I have a new name. Its mom. Someday I will say I want to change my name - I'm not mom anymore! LOL Dont all mom's say that at one point or another especially when they get this

But I like being "Mom" It is still strange for me to answer the phone and hear "Is this Audrey's mom?" When I go places "Ok mom you can hold her now." "Alright mom bring her over here" At daycare. "Look Audrey's mom is here" "Tell Audrey's mom bye" Everywhere else, even if I do not get referred to as mom I only get Audrey related questions. How is Audrey! Do you have pictures of Audrey. I AM AUDREY"S MOM.

However, as Julie, I still haven't quite figured out who Audrey's mom is. I have not found the balance yet between Julie and Audrey's mom. I knew Julie very well LOL I was comfortable with who I was, I knew what I wanted, I knew what I was doing. I was good at Julie! Now as Audrey's mom I forget things all the time, I dont know what to do most of the time, and some days are just survived.
Its getting better, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I am working on finding out who I am again. I need to find the perfect balance between being Julie and being Audrey's mom. I will get there and someday soon I will be able to say;

HI! I am JULIE, AUDREY's MOM :)

Audrey's first emergency dr visit

2010-03-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

It started Friday night. Audrey was much more fussy than normal and she woke up several times during the night. Saturday morning she woke up screaming a scream I have never heard before. It really worried me because nothing would calm her. She ended up throwing up a couple times. I decided to call the dr office. well after we found out she had a low fever 100.6 they told me to bring her in. At the dr's office she was all smiles again. Great I thought we came all this way for nothing. But she did have a fever. Turns out she has a bladder infection. They are doing a test to make sure it isnt something more serious, but little girls are prone to bladder infections. She is cranky now and has become my little cling on - hopefully she feels better soon.

Audrey is 2 months old

2010-03-04T06:36:00.000-08:00

I cant believe it was 2 months ago that I had her. She is getting so much more interesting now. I love playing with her! I am getting into the mommy groove and kind of know now what I like and what I dont here goes:

Sleepers - dont use them at all I cannot do the buttons in the middle of the night and I hate all those buttons when she is wiggling after her bath. Maybe I will use them more in the fall when she gets bigger.
Sleep sacks - i hated them when she was a newborn because they are 0-9 month size and they were all bunched up on her face. Now I love them. They are the only thing she sleeps in.
Nightgowns - carters nightgowns are the cutest thing EVER, but the elastic at the bottom is so tight I cant get them on her well. She ends up crying when I put one on her because its so hard for me. I cant get her arms in the sleeves and I just have trouble.

Bottles - who knew bottle were THAT important. I didnt have to have a certain kind, but now I find that I do. I have so many mismatched parts that this weekend I am getting rid of everything I dont like and going to buy the bottles I do. AVENT BOTTLES I thought I would like these. My friend used them and they wree really happy with them. Well I hate them they leak all over the place. no matter what I do I dump milk on audrey 75% of the time. GENERIC BOTTLES w/ GOOD NIPPLES I have a bunch a generic bottles that my mom bought good nipple for. They worked good for a while, but the nipples didnt fit in the nipple rings and they dont sell nipple rings at walmart. Now I have so many generic parts laying around I hate it. I am getting rid of the generic bottles only because the nipples they came with are horrible and I cant find any nipples that fir in the rings. NUK BOTTLES - Nice bottle, but the flow is way too fast for audrey. She chokes on it all the time and it leaks the second you drop it. I am saving this one for later when she gets bigger. MEDELA BOTTLES - these are nice I use them on my pump, I will keep these though I still only have the nipples my mom bought me when she was born and the slow is getting almost too slow for her. So I will save these for my pump. Now my all time favorite EVENFLO COMFIT - I love these they are awesome. They dont leak. They are comfortble to hold. So I am going to buy a few more and it will be nice not to have bottle pieces everywhere.

BATHTUBS - I didnt think bathtubs were important, but audrey loves bathtime. The bathtub I got at a yardsale I dont like for her now because although it has the hammock for a newborn to lay on there is a plastic part that presses right into her back I dont like that. My favorite thing right now is this little bath thing I got for $3.99. I cant describe it but look here its not the whole set just something like the little blue thing. Its awesome. It wont last too long, but its so nice. She can lay in the water and she loves the water. In about two months I will switch her over the the tub because she'll be able to use the propped sitting up side.

Tummy time mat - she doesnt like it for the purpose it wwas created, but the mat is so useful. Its so much easier to use than a blanket on the floor. It doesnt get bunched up and wrinkled. I really likt it.

ONESIES - i have a ton, but never use them. Audrey gets hot and the extra layer is too annoying for me to put on.

Thats all for now. I like being a mom more every day

Wednesday Post

2010-03-04T06:34:00.001-08:00

it disappeared! I have no idea what happened I will post again today

How did daycare go?

2010-03-02T06:44:00.001-08:00

To answer eveyone all at once. It was OK. I was worried alot during the day, but I picked her up to find out she didnt cry, just shut herself off and slept ALL DAY. She was awak 8-11am. The lady said she looked confused and she ate at 11 and fell asleep and never woke up til I picked her up at 4:30.
Adter that all she wanted was to be held. She didnt cry much, just wanted me to hold her. Well I wanted to hold her, but its hard to cook dinner holding a baby. Let me just say I am glad I have a baby wrap. I put her in my "moby" and went about cooking. I used the crockpot to make pulled pork, so I only had to cook the rice and broccoli, and luckily I am getting better and better at eating while olding the baby.
The problem came at night. Now lately she has been staying up til 11 so that was expected, but last night she wanted nothing to do with sleep or laying down. She wanted me looking and sometimes talking/singing to her. at 11:30 my dad, we live in the same house, came and took her for 30 mins - I cat napped. He is a truck driver so I cant have him staying up all night, plus its my baby... So at midnight I took her back. I tried laying down with her multiple time but that made her mad and start screaming. Finally at 1am I gave up and laid down anyway - she cried for an hour before I decided I couldnt sleep with the crying and I hate her crying for so long.

to be continued... Boss is calling
Im back

At 2 i sat up with her for another hour then at 3 I tried putting her in her swing again. She fussed a bit, but I decided to lay down on the couch. At 3:30 She was crying hard. I picked her and laid on the couch. I drifted off and at 4am Jason got up. It was time to get ready for work...

I am hoping today goes better!

Back to work & daycare

2010-03-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

Well I am back to work already... Part of me wishes I wasnt. All of me misses my baby so so much. But I am feeling like my old self here at work and I like that. I have lots and lots to catch up on today so this will be short.

I didnt think I would have trouble dropping Audrey off at daycare. But it was not easy. She was sleeping so I didnt have to leave to her crying which is good, but it still broke my heart to leave her all day. I just love her so much and miss her already. I am counting the minutes until I can go get her.

I am going to try to update you as much as I can about the last 8 weeks, but that will start tomorrow. I have 891 emails to attend to and a stack of paperwork about 18 inches high!

my blogging inspiration

2010-02-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

Reason for my break:

#1 I was physically exhausted for the first 3 weeks
#2 (should be number 1) I was MENATALLy exhausted for the first 6 weeks and still have my days
#3 It is really really hard to type one handed

BUT I will be back on MONDAY!!!!!! Wait that sounds like I am excited... No actually I am not happy about going back to work and being away from Audrey but I wanted you to think the blogging will be extra special!

So anyway I am writing this post because I wanted to tell you and the author that my all time favorite blog and the inspiration for me to keep going is someone I met online: Michelle
I love her blog and her photos. I think she is real and interesting, and she mentioned me in her last post ;P so if I was thinking of giving this all up...

NOW I AM NOT

Thanks Michelle My Monday-Thursday posts will be back and I will try to catch everyone up on my 8 weeks at home. I think I am a different Julie now

Playing with my girl

2010-02-25T19:35:00.001-08:00

as the days pass there is less crying and more fun

Smiles

2010-02-23T06:48:00.001-08:00

A few days ago Audrey started smiling. Here is the first smile pic. I worked hard to get it LOL

new favorite pics

2010-02-14T13:42:00.000-08:00

aimee is the best photographer

I have decided...

2010-02-06T14:38:00.000-08:00

To put this blog on hold until March 1. I will be back to work and more able to use a computer. Check my facebook for pictures and updates...

Coming Soon....

2010-01-23T19:22:00.000-08:00

My take on the first 3 weeks of motherhood... Nope not the baby part the ME part. I had a HARD time the first 2 weeks. I am finally feeling myself, but am still looking for my new rhythym

Confessions of a left-brained mom

Do you like my title? I hopefully will get this started tomorrow or Monday

Audrey - I love her!

2010-01-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

Photos taken by my dear friend Aimee

One of those days!

2010-01-17T08:19:00.001-08:00

Ah yes fun day!

The waiting place

2010-01-15T15:51:00.001-08:00

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

_____________________________________________________________________________

Oh the places you'll go is one of my favorite books! Lately I have been in the most useless place - the waiting place. Waiting to pump, waiting to feed, waiting to change, waiting to burp... I decided stop waiting and enjoy! Today i spent little time waiting and had a much better day...

Loving the faces

2010-01-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorite pics! Love it

Ups & Downs

2010-01-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

Ok so the few people I have talked to says that my feelings are normal, but most people wont talk about it or admit it... But I'm telling you I have good days and bad days. And on the bad days it is so hard to do anything, but pump food for the baby, feed the baby, clean up after feeding the baby, put the baby to sleep and decide if I want to eat or sleep. I feel so bad for not answering calls and texts. I do appreciate everyone, and I hope you all know that. But there is one good thing on the bad days. I pick up my little daughter and everything goes away. There is only her sweet little face taking up my thoughts. Fortunately today is a good day. So far LOL Lets hope there are more good days than bad ones and lets hope there are not too many more of the baby blues days at all

How can this be?

2010-01-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

For having a little baby who "sleeps so much" I feel like I never have time to get anything done and never get any sleep myself! I know I should nap when she is napping, but if I do that when will I be able to shower, do the dishes, or even eat???

To all the moms I talk to... now I know why you rarely update your blogs LOL

I cant believe it!

2010-01-11T18:16:00.001-08:00

Audrey is one week old today. It seems like it was yesterday I was in the hospital. Time is flying already... I am trying to enjoy every moment because I know she changes so fast these days. What an experience this is!

Hospital Stay

2010-01-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

So what was the hospital stay like... Boring and annoying! They have so many rules of what you can and cannot do with your own baby... monday was my csection, and by Tuesday morning I was begging to be let out of bed. Surprisingly my pain was minimal. Like a 2... I didnt even need painkillers; just motrin. They let me out of bed a few hours early and everyone was surprised at how good I was doing. Tuesday was a great day. I was feeling awesome. Audrey was eating well. I had visitors. then came Wednesday and the baby blues hit me. Audrey wouldnt eat and the hospital was busy and noone would help me. She was crying and crying and it was going on 8 hours without her eating so that started me crying. Wednesday I just couldnt get happy. I felt bad I was such a downer to my visitors that day. Thursday was better. I was going home!!! We got discharged at 1130. It was a stressful day also, but not too bad...

First day home story sometime later this week!

Birth Story

2010-01-09T06:08:00.001-08:00

Pictures from Birth Day - Click Here
It started January 4, 2010. HAHA I say it started like we didnt know, but we knew we had to be at the hospital at 8AM. We left early at 0630. What we didnt know about what it was the beginning of the snow. The roads and traffic were horrible! We thought we were going to be late, but we weren't. We got the hospital about 0750. I got checked in and taken to a room to get prepped for the procedure. Unfortunatly, they didnt count on an emergency c section so I got pushed back to 1245. Jason and I waited, but time flew for me. The nurse was so nice. She explained everything in detail that would happen. I met with the anethsioligist (I can never spell that right and I dont feel like looking it up) at 1230 they had Jason and I suit up (see pics lol) and I headed back to the operating room first. It was kind of scary/overwhelming at first. All the light and people and tools etc...I sat of the table and the Dr was gong to give me the spinal (like an epidural) There was a student there too! He was explaining the process - to me or the student I am not sure. He had me lean over. I was kind of worried it would hurt because the IV really hurt (she said I had tough skin and needed to sharpen her needles!) But it didnt hurt that bad. The the Dr told the student... Its not always that easy - I guess I was lucky. It took effect immediately they were rushing me to get into position - it was hard because I was going numb and moving slow. i finally got there. They started doing whatever. I couldnt feel a thing - not even pressure. Then jason came in and we were just chatting. While I was talking to him I was listening to the Dr. He was singing LOL I forget exactly what was said, but I knew it was close. Then I heard it. My little girl crying. It was kind of blurry after that. They told jason to stand up and take a pic. They brought audrey back and showed her to me for a second. They took her and Jason over to do whatever. I was listening to the Dr, trying to answer the anethsioligists questions, and listening to the nurses and Jason. I heard something about her toes... Then all of a sudden I felt horrible I felt like I couldnt breathe, Then I felt this pressure on my chest, then I thought I was going to throw up. I immediately told them and they put something in my IV and I felt better right away. Audrey was born at 1319 and it took 40 more minutes to sew me up. It felt like 5! I couldnt believe how time was flying. Then they said we are done and going to move you to another table and take you to recovery. I said I feel bad for you guys and the nurse laughed and said dont worry this is like an air hockey table the air will move you over, and it did! I was then wheeled to recovery and they said they would bring me Audrey soon. Jason came back and showed me pictures. That is when the tears came. I couldnt believe my little girl was here and she was perfect! incredibly strong and healthy! the only thing is her right foot has crossed toes. The 20 mins in recovery felt like 2 then they brought Audrey. I dont know how long I was there, but all was well and I felt fine!

More stories later on my hospital stay

Thank you Mom!

2010-01-09T06:07:00.000-08:00

So my mom spent the night last night and I actually got more than an hours worth of consecutive sleep for the first time in a week! i feel so good today. Thank you so much!

What a whirlwind!

2010-01-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

Well i got home yesterday, but it has been a whirlwind since Monday. Monday came and the C section was no problem. I had once instance during the surgery where I felt sick, but they gave me some medication and I was all better. Tuesday morning by 0800 I was begging to be out of bed and physically I am doing great. I have my up and down days with hormones and emotions. I am utterly exhausted... Breastfeeding is a serious challenge for me. Audrey will not latch on and pumping is not going so smooth. I havnt figured out how to get a let down yet... I will be more specific in a few days, but that is my short update for now. I am mentally drained... Keep us in your thoughts. Audrey is doing awesome!

Audrey Jean is finally here!

2010-01-04T17:27:00.000-08:00

She's finally here! Audrey jean Kaiser was born on January 4, 2010 at 1:19pm EST. She is 8lbs, 7.8 oz 21 inches long. Shes perfectly healthy tho her two littlest toes on her right foot are crossed. Her lungs and voice box works extremely well trust me lol. She has a full head of brown hair, and her eyes look light gray for now. Mom will post pictures when she gets home this is daddy posting for her.

Today is the Day!

2010-01-04T03:08:00.000-08:00

Audrey will be here in not too many more hours! We are getting ready to leave for the hospital. i did not sleep at all last night... Imagine that! Cant wait. Pictures will be available on the Audreys Birth link sometime tonight.

Happy Birth-day Audrey!

Visiting Hours

2010-01-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you all know a couple of tips if you plan on visiting me anytime next week. I will be in the hospital Mon- Thur but Monday is the C section and Thursday I am going home - if all is well. Visiting hours are 12:30 - 8:30. Parking is $2.00 AND remember what floor in the parking garage you parked on LOL last time I was there and forgot Use parking garage elevators to go to floor 3 then ask or find other elevators to go to floor 6.
Hopefully I will get a post in tomorrow before I leave, but who knows! Audrey will be here so soon!!

New link & info for on Monday

2010-01-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

I added a new link under Random Baby Info. Audrey's Birth - pictures from the hospital Obviously there is nothing there now, but I will be able to send pictures there with my cell phone so you can all see her! Also above the links watch my twitter feed and you will get updates. I am out of cell phone minutes so unless you are verizon please text me. Just pray that all will go well and I will be able to leave on Thursday. I know I will be much happier at home. Also I will be staying with Jason when Audrey is born. He lives in Butler. If you want to visit and need his address or directions please let me know.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T04:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Aaron!

WEll here is what happened at my Dr's and why I am having a Csection on Monday. Ever since week 28 my baby has been measuring large. At week 37 the Dr got concerned and sent me for an ultrasound where I found out she was almost 8 pounds. The next week I ended up getting an "old school" Dr who thought all would be well and I would just have a big baby. He did not bother to check or measure me. They wanted to skip my 39 week appt, but called me at the last minute and scheduled me for an appt on New Years Eve. As soon as I go there the Dr was concerned about the size from 2 weeks ago. He came over and felt my belly and said this baby is still growing very fast. She is very large. He then measured me and my uterus was 4 cm larger than 2 weeks ago. They should stop growing at 40 cm and I am 49 cm... He said he is very concerned about shoulder dystocia with her and then explained all the risks delivering such a large baby. He said he didn't want her to get any bigger. He then checked me and I am not dialated at all and not thinned or softened... He said they needed to do a c section next week and if I waited it would be a huge risk to Audrey. SO I saw the surgery coordinator and Monday is the day!

January 4, 2010

2009-12-31T13:39:00.000-08:00

Well the story is long so I will type it later, but I have now a scheduled C section Monday January 4, 2010

Last day of 2009!

2009-12-31T04:22:00.000-08:00

5 days now... I have a Dr appt today. I wonder if they will tell me anything useful.I would love if I went there and they said HEY you can go to the hospital LOL but those are only "sweet dreams". I will post an update late when I return - I hope they will at least check me so I can have some feeling of progress! I know the numbers mean nothing, but they do give you some hope... Unless of course they say Oh you are not dialated at all HAHA my luck!
Maybe my little brother's luck will transfer over to Audrey and she will be Baby #1 of 2010 that would be cool. But I am still thinking it will be another week or so.

Do you think?

2009-12-30T04:39:00.000-08:00

6 days until due date... Do you think she will be here by then? I am highly doubting it LOL It would be really cool if she would be born on my brother's bday 1/1. I would be happy if she was born while Holly was here...
Somehow though I am losing hope that she will be here in days I am thinking a week or 2 yet

I am tired.

Thats all...

39 weeks!

2009-12-29T06:38:00.000-08:00

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

I am so ready to meet you Audrey and so is everyone else. Please come out and play soon!

Pregancy the Ninth Month!

2009-12-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

Um ya so I was reading today about the end of the ninth month of pregnancy and read this:

MORE SENSITIVE
Anticipate being more touchy this month, and bothered by well-meaning but insensitive comments. You may feel more irritable toward your spouse, impatient with your children, and provoked by little things that normally wouldn't faze you. It's normal to be irritated and overwhelmed by all this advice and to wish people would just leave you alone and let you have (and rear) your baby your way. You may find yourself becoming very protective of your peace. This is nature's way of protecting you from outside influences that may distract you from the higher-priority event that is soon to come, conserving your energy for what's ahead. If a bit of advice is headed your way, go ahead and temporarily zone out. Even better, stay away from people who make you nervous.

So ya sorry I have been grumpy and annoyed! (Yes I know it! LOL) It will soon be over and I will be back to the normal JULIE

It amazes me pregnancy can make you feel so different not just physically, but emotionally too.

Ah yes, Starting over - a week early

2009-12-28T04:24:00.000-08:00

So I dont make new years resolutions... I always start thinking about what I want to accomplish in the new year, but I dont want to make the new years resolution because really, who follows those for a whole year? I like to start my "resolutions" in December. Last year I decided to lose weight I started right after Christmas. I did well too, until I got pregnant LOL and caved to cravings!
Well this year I dont know what to really expect so I cant resolve to do anything. I am going to have to take it day by day. I like plans, but with a new baby who is going to be here any day now (come on Audrey!) I cant make any... At this point I dont know even where I will be spending my days and nights after she is here. I dont know where I will be living this spring. I actually dont know much. But in spite of it all I am excited. I am really hoping she is born when Holly is here. But we will have to see. I got a call from the Dr's today and they decided to give me an appointment on Thursday afternoon, so maybe I will find something out then. Probably not - but maybe!

Christmas ain't over yet!

2009-12-26T08:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas continues here... I have had a very busy few days.

Thursday Jason's mom came over to open presents then we went to Jason's grandmas. Friday we woke up and opened presents together then I got ready to go to my mom's. I spent most of the day with my mom and came home to head out to Jason's Aunt's house. That is an important time for him. It is really the only time during the year he gets to see these relatives - he enjoys it very much. Today I am cooking a Christmas dinner for my dad, brother, and sister... It has been a busy few days.

Tomorrow I am "checking out" LOL I am exhausted. I am turning off my phone, staying in my pajamas, and doing NOTHING!!! Well thats the plan anyway, but it Audrey decides to come I would like that better!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you enjoyed your holiday!
Happy Birthday Aimee!

Goodbye Peak!

2009-12-24T02:58:00.000-08:00

Last day of peak for FedEx! Hooray! This has been a VERY stressful week for me. Everyone asks me if I am miserable yet, and the truth is I am not physically miserable. However, I am emotionally drained. It is amazing to me how much pregnancy (along with life) can make things harder to deal with. I at times feel like I am being pulled in a million directions and all I want to do is stay where I am...

But the stress will subside a bit once I get a break from this week at work! No more getting up at 4AM... No more running the halls and serving hundreds of people food every day, no more grumpy coworkers, no more people shouting a million orders at me, no more trying to figure out new reports...

At times working at FedEx makes it very hard to enjoy the moments leading up to Christmas, but it also makes time go by fast. So now I am down to 12 days, and hopefully my little girl will make her apperance before too long.

Today is seems so unreal...

2009-12-23T04:05:00.000-08:00

Even as Audrey is kicking and squirming in my belly - its hard to believe this is actually real. I look at my ticker and see 1 week 6 days left, and I can hardley believe that in 2 weeks or so I will be having a baby. I am ready; I am not worried. I am not sure why this feels so surreal. At times its hard to even imagine the future because it is so different now than I ever imagined it would be. In a good way, but still so different. I look around my house and see all these baby things and its hard to believe they belong to me. I see pink towels in my bathroom - what are they doing there. I have little dresses in the closet - whose are those? It's funny. I guess the reality of it all won't sink in until she is here.
Dont get me wrong, I am very excited; but somehow I always hold things in until "its time". So hopefully the time wont be too many days over 13...

And yes I'm still here ;P

Actually, mom, noone has started asking that yet :)

Oh ya thats why Dr's annoy me!

2009-12-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

Ok I am back from my pointless appointment again...

So I go in there and he says well your u/s looked good. You are not a small girl you can handle a big baby. What size is your shoe.
"What" I said and he repeated what size is your shoe. I answered 9 and he said ya you can handle a big baby
What the heck does my shoe have anything to do with my baby?
So I asked if he was going to measure me and he said no you cant have grown that much in a week and with the u/s there is no need.
I also asked if he would check me. He said No there is no need.
So I asked my other question. They gave me a what to do if you go into labor sheet and it said when your contractions are 3-4 minutes apart wait 1 hour then call the Dr's office. I said if its going to take me 90 minutes to get here should I still wait the hour before I call and he said YES it'll take over 15 hours. If you havent had them for an hour dont bother calling...
Then he says because of the holidays there are no appointment opening and he will see me next year... I said do you normally skip 39 week appointments? He said you have been having a great pregnancy there is no need we see you next week!
SIGH... I just wonder why I pay them so much money

38 weeks

2009-12-22T05:01:00.000-08:00

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Although if the ultrasound is right I already have this in my belly LOL:

emoticon me?

2009-12-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

Look! I found an emoticon me HAHAHA You dont think so? I took my weekly preggo picture today and I so look like that well except I am not orange and I am smiling.

37 weeks 6 days

Let it Snow, Let it snow, Let it Snow!

2009-12-21T04:17:00.000-08:00

Well anyone who thought Audrey would come because we got our first real snow of the year - she didn't LOL Although we probably did get 6 inches of snow or so. And I am oficially OLD lol this is the first snow and it is not even Christmas and I do not like it! Snow was fun when I was a kid; now its just messy! I hate having wet feet, I hate snow falling in my car when I open the door, I hate walking in slush and getting wet pants, I hate dumb drivers....

Ok enough negativity! LOL I did have a good weekend in spite of the snow. Saturday my friend Aimee came over to my area to go shopping. All my friend live (a little) far away. It was nice to have her come visit me. We went Christmas shopping and accomplished very little LOL but she did get Audrey a really cute outfit. (Its on facebook) Saturday night I did not do much - I was whooped from shopping all day.
Sunday I went grocery shoppping, then we went to Grove City so I could finish Christmas shopping. There were so many good deals. Carters had a 70% off sale so I got another turtleneck onsie. I cannot find them anywhere but there. And on a good note I finished all my shopping save a gift card or two.
Sunday night I went home and cooked ALLIGATOR for Jason! Yep, alligator jambalaya... I couldnt work up the nerve to eat it though LOL He says it tastes like chicken. Well it almost looked like chicken, but I'm weird and just couldnt eat it.

Tomorrow is my Dr's appt and I think this is the first time I am not wishing I didnt have one. I am hoping maybe they will tell me I am close. Well I know I am close, but I want to be really close LOL Anyway thats it for today It will be a busy busy week at Fedex. We are serving food to all the employees every day this week. --- 15 DAYS!

My bracelet

2009-12-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

I hate putting one gift above another, but I wanted to show you all my bracelet that I got for a shower gift! I got so many wonderful things already and I cannot thank people enough. I just really love the bracelet because it is something for me and I wanted something with all 3 of our birthstones on it!

If you want to check out some of my other baby items you can look here: baby stuff