Wordless Wednesday...

Well...almost wordless. I just have to say that I haven't blogged in a while because class just started and I am sooo busy but here's some things that have happened this week...

I thought something was weird when he stopped making noise....that's one way to get him to take a nap!!!

My big boy is in his new toddler (big boy) bed!!! He falls out every night but never wakes up lol!

He accomplished the art of thumb sucking!!!

Eight Legged Creature

Oh how I wish sometimes that I was an octupus! Yes, it is true that they are slimy, sucky creatures, but...they have eight arms/legs. The other night I came to a realization that I just don't have enough arms. Mado wants me to pack him around, but Jakk is hungry...this I can handle. I just put M in my lap on one side and J on the other attached to my boob! It gets more tricky though when my phone is ringing off the hook because a certain friend won't stop calling, dinner's on and needs me to stir it, the house is a mess from toys and men's socks [he never makes it to the bedroom before taking them off; never!], and my dear hubby arrives home and is knocking on the door because he doesn't feel like getting out his keys!!! THAT is when I truly wish I was an octupus!



On a lighter note...today is friday...and that means...no more work for me!!!! And...to top it off I am going to a concert tonight at Fort Campbell!!! I am so excited because it is a girls night thing, and I finally get some time to myself which everyone needs!



Ps... Remember when I said I was a big breastfeeding activist?? Well apparently that is called a lactivist and they make these shirts to prove it. Check it out http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/lactivists?page=1

Something Small

Maddox,

I cannot get enough of you. You are hysterical, talkative, and oh-so-silly. We had so much fun together last night… this is what life is like with you at eighteen months:



When returned home from the doctors office you were sound asleep. I did what I always do that I am sure you are not aware of seeing your always asleep when I do it; I carry your brother in first then run back out to pack you inside, sound asleep. I hurried around to get things done while you were napping...I laid your brother down to take his nap, I started some laundry, and so on. I thought I had time to grab a quick snack before starting dinner, but that's where you proved me wrong! As I took in my last bite of homemade chicken salad, your little head pops up and out comes "Mamamama" in such a tired voice. I call for you to come "rock" with me in the recliner. Off the couch you go and straight for mommy's room you head. Oh Mado, you're so silly! I was right beside you! I call for you again and you head for bubba's room. Nope! So that's when I decided to go get you...you were oh so tired!

We proceeded to go to the "cliner" and "rock", which is by far my favorite thing to do. I love snuggling with you, Mado...I love everything about you!

Then..I decided to start dinner; your favorite...Chicken nuggets and mac n cheese! I turn the oven on and no sooner as I pull my hand back there you are. You politely push me out of the way, so you can drag out some pots and pans for you to cook with. I then put some water on to boil and stepped back to watch my little man at work. You were stirring and stirring and tasting. I am not sure what you were making, but I know it was good!

I then put in the chicken and of course you had to watch. "Hot, mama, hot!" "Yes, Mado, very hot!" I poured in the noodles and I should have seen it coming..."Hep! me Hep! Mama" So of course I lifted you up so you could "help" me cook dinner. I fed you your dinner, but I was gonna wait 'til daddy got home to eat mine. So..I picked up your little cheesy self when you had finished and headed off to the bath tub! "you, mama, you" so I of course put on my swim suit and got in too. We had so much fun "swimming" in the tub, but we had to cut it short when baby Jakk started crying...he was hungry.

We put on our Pj's and went and grapped Jakk from his crib. You wanted to help mommy feed "Akk" his fruit...so I admit I let you shove the spoon at his mouth, because it was priceless...you truely are a good big brother!!

Daddy's home! You and daddy played while mommy bathed and nursed your brother and put him down to sleep. You slap daddy around a bit when he sneaks a kiss to mommy, for you only get to kiss mommy! Then it was my favorite time of day...

Mommy and Mado snuggle time! We snuggled and tickled and giggled the night away..and Oops! it was past your bed time! Bad mommy! I sang one last song and you drifted quietly off to sleep. Sleep peacefully Mado...Mommy loves you!

Maddox you mean so very much to me...you are my first born, and we have shared so much together...all of you first were mine as well. You are such a snuggle monster and I LOVE IT! You will forever be my baby, you are one of kind, my nestle bug. Together, you and your brother complete me...and this is what our live is like when you were 18mths.

Love always,
Mommy

OUCH!!!

So...I didn't write at all yesterday because M and J had check ups. M had his 18mth and J had his 2mth(a little delayed). Poor babies, they both had to get shots, but luckily Mado only had to get one! Well, he didn't really even have to get that, but it was a Hep A vaccine which is optional but still a good idea to get. Jakk had to get 3 shots and an oral vaccine. Both of my boys did marvelous...only cried for like 30 seconds!!! Here are their stats:

Mado: 26lbs 13.7oz (gained almost 3lbs in 3mths) 65th percentile

34.5inches!!!! WOW! He was off the charts for an 18mth old and on the charts with 2yr olds!!

Head size was 20 cm? not sure what they measure in but I think cm...

Jakk: 11lbs 13.4oz (gained 5lbs in 2mths) went from 5th% to 35%...he's a porker!

23in...he grew almost 4inches...he is defintely gonna take after my little younger brother!

Head was 15 cm

Other than measurements and shots the Ped. asked about their development. Mado is advanced for his age...this I didn't know, but am so proud!!! Apparently, babies his age usually have a hard time walking backwards, but not M! He also got caught climbing out of his crib yesterday morning which the Ped. said was good, but we might want to consider putting him in a toddler bed now for safety. His speech is good, and he even showed off his motor mouth for the Dr.! Jakk is doing well too, he can hold up his head, and he is obviously eating well! The only things we have to watch with him are he has narrow tear ducts and GERD (gastreoesophegeal reflux disorder) both of which we are not new to; M had both. All these two things mean in English are that J has over active tear ducts...Yay Christine... and he has a reflux that makes him spit up and sometimes have trouble breathing...both of which he should out grow!

So...to sum it up...I have two healthy boys, whom slept well last night because they were drugged had to be given Tylenol for their shots!

Oh...and J has started pretty much sleeping through the night!!!! He gets up around 3:30-4:00am which is early but he goes to bed between 7:30-8:30pm so I can't complain!!!

A Day At The Park

I am soooo excited today! My dear friend, Christine, took our family pictures Saturday at the park and they are FABULOUS!!! I am just going to share a few...

Mama's baby is getting so big; it's hard to believe he is almost 3mths old!! Hillarious5

3One of my personal faves
Our little family...aren't we cute...lol!

Mado is just a hamm! He loves to get his pictures made.

That is just a few of the pics, but there is several more. On another note...I have four more days left to work before becoming a SAHM(Stay At Home Mom)!!! The count down begins!

My Almighty Super Power

Many of you may be wondering what on earth am I talking about...I couldn't possibly have a super power. Well...I do! You may not consider it to be a super power at all. It seems rather ordinary actually, and any woman is capable of doing it. What is it you ask? I make milk! See it sounds rather ordinary and possibly gros to some of you, but to me it is something only I can do for my little boy; therefore in his eyes I'm a super hero!
So let me get on my soap box for a while. I am a HUGE supporter of breastfeeding. If you would have asked me about that like 5 yrs ago, I would have told you I would never have something eat from my boob. It was actually not until I became prenant that I actually decided to breastfeed my children. I suddenly realized the benefit it would give my children if I chose to suck it up breastfeed them.
When I went back to work at the FIL-A after Mado was born I decided to stop nursing him because I didn't think my boss, ehem Mike, would allow me to pump while working. But this time I wasn't going to let my work get in my way of giving my child the very best nutrition.
So...now 10wks after Jakopotamus was born, I am still going strong!!!! I am so proud of myself, just knowing that I am giving my son something that absolutely no one else can!

Now I am going to vent for awhile...Everyone knows that I intend on breastfeeding for awhile. SO why is it that whenever someone asks me how much longer I am going to nurse Jakk and I saw hopefully until he's 1, they freak out???? It's natural, so why give formula if you don't have to???

Ok enough about breastfeeding as I know many of you don't really care, but i think it is a huge accomplish for me, and I wanted to bragg! As for some exciting news: my dear friend Christine will be taking my families pictures!!! I am so excited and even more excited since the weather will be nice!!!

Mr. & Mrs. Real Deal Derek Neal

"I thought I loved him then"

July 2, 2006...I married a remarkable guy. No man had ever made me so happy before. Let me back up though to the night before...

Funny story...well I think it is...well no it's actually a vent...

We were at my rehearsal at Fountain Square Park and well I had never been married before, so I didn't know what I was doing. I am also a pushover very passive person. Anyway -- I'm trying to figure out how I want everything for MY big day, but a million two people keep trying to run MY wedding!! So one of my bridesmaids' (Christine) soon to be husband boyfriend leans over and whispers "Now I know why people become bridezillas"! Haha oh Austin!

I don't know if you'd agree with me, but the person you marry should be your best friend. And without a doubt Derek is my best friend. He makes me laugh and we have always wanted to do everything togeher.

Oh before I end I wanted to share the best advice I have ever gotten about marriage. The night before I was to get married to the man of my dreams, an older man that I respect greatly offered me his best advice. I thought "oh ok I'll just listen and then be done with it", but I should have known that a man that had been happily married for over 50 yrs would know the secret. His secret to a lasting marriage was to get him involved in church. That's it? Yes. It's that simple. We were already involved in our church, but he meant for us to bring our marriage into church with us. Since then, we have tried to let God have control of our marriage, and it has made us stronger.

My Boys

Well, let me give you a little background before I go on and on about my wonderful boys. I have always wanted a big family and on top of that I wanted to be a young mommy. Of course, I didn't want to start having kids when I was like 15 or anything, but lets just say I had my life planned out by the time I was 7!

Now fast forward to May 20058 I got egaged to a wonderful boy young man, and we set a date for July 2, 2006! The rest I will post in a seperate blog. Now after a few months of being married, we started to get the "baby blues" so to speak. We tried for nearly a year but nothing. I went to the doctor and sadly I was having some fertility problems, but my doctor was THE MAN. After one single dose of meds, I took a preggo test and BAM I couldn't believe it - I was pregnant!!!

That was obviously my first pregnancy, and man it wasn't an easy one at all. I would sometimes question what I was thinking wanting to be pregnant so bad. When I was 23 wks preggo, I awoke in the middle of the night to what I thought was heartburn. I tried everything, but it just got worse; I thought I was dieing and so did my poor hubby. After being admitted to the hospital, I soon found out that I had GALLSTONES! I went the whole pregnancy fighting this nasty, nasty problem. Oh did I mention I also found out I had placenta previa and would have to have a C-Setion??? Yeah...on Monday Feb. 18th, 2008 I was admitted once again to labor and delivery for a gallstone attack and on Wednesday Feb. 20th, 2008 they decided to take my baby boy via csection. He was born screaming at 1:30 pm weighing 7lbs 10.5 oz and 21inches long - Maddox Christopher! He was beautiful and BIG for a baby born 3wks early!

Now we are going to fast forward again to Oct. 2008 8 I never would have thought it could be so...I had so much trouble getting preggo with Mado, I was on birth control, and I had a 7.5 mth old baby, AND I WAS PREGNANT AGAIN!!!!

This pregnancy was much easier until around 23wks when baby #2 tried to come out early! I was put on bedrest at 35wks because he still wanted to come out and meet his big brother, mommy, and daddy! Then, 5days later he was here! They gave me an hour warning and they took him via csection weighing 6lbs 6.5oz and was 19 1/4 inches long -

Jakkson (Jakk) Alaxandar. Everyone barely made it. Jakk had to be rushed off to the NICU because he was in respitory destress and his blood sugar was dropping. It was the scariest time in my life...I had no idea what was going on and I was paralyzed - no, literally I was paralyzed from the spinal. I couldn't move my legs therefore I didn't get to see my new little boy for almost half a day :(.

But now...I have two healthy little boys; one of which is a year and a half going on 15 and the other a little porker that you wouldn't have thought was so tiny when he was born!!!

New to this...

I have reluctantly finally given in and decided to create a blog of my own rather than stalking reading everyone elses.Today I decided to quite my job! This is a big step for me seeing as I have worked full time since i was like 16. The good news here is that I get to stay home with my wonderful boys, which is what I was secretly wanting ;) Well actually I am supposed to be working right now but instead I have been sucked into this addiction!