In the closet

You know how it is when you move into a new house, people are always coming in and out of your house, installing things, delivering things or just stopping by to see the house. Well, when all this was going on for us, I started pumping in my closet so that I could have some privacy. A couple of weeks later Josh told me I COULD come out of the closet to pump, but I told him no. See, I kinda started liking it. It is not comfortable, I sit on the floor, but my closet is cozy, and bright and roomy. My time in the closet has become my time to return emails for work, to check facebook, lately, to read catalogs or magazines. My time in the closet has given me a break from the chaos and the "MAMA's". PUMPING is the only time I sit and relax during the day, and I am STILL being productive...It has been nice and peaceful. Well, let me rephrase, it WAS nice and peaceful.

Lyla wakes me up every morning when she starts squeaking. After sharing a room with her for a few months, Josh and I know that her squeaks don't mean she is awake, but means she will be soon. SO, when she starts to squeak, I get up to pump so that I can be done when she wakes. Well, I guess she has been waking quicker lately, because now my peaceful time in the morning to take care of business has now become a family "FUN TIME." Josh has been going to get Lyla, and bringing her into the closet. I'm not sure why. Carson has FINALLY started getting out of bed on his own, so he is even joining. So there I am, mid pumping sessions, changing a diaper with one hand becuase the other is holding on the "pummps" and a two, almost three year old on my lap and my husband lying on the floor next to us....

And the funny thing is, I don't mind. It makes me laugh every morning. My whole family one by one, joining me on the closet floor. Laughing, hugging and kissing. Besides, who needs peace and quiet when you can have family pumping sessions?

Getting older. AGAIN.

Another month has flown by! It has been a month of pure joy! Since Lyla's 6 month birthday, we have been enjoying out time being settled in our new house. This past month has been much more calm and relaxed and HAPPY and has allowed me to spend time absorbing all that Lyla Kade has to offer.

Lyla is so so so sweet. I don't know if it's just because she is a girl, but she just seems SWEETER than Carson, and he was pretty darn sweet. She is content being held and cuddled, but as of lately, would much rather be crawling EVERY where! She's not quiet up on all fours yet, which is FINE! I want this one to develop MUCH slower... MUCH MUCH SLOWER. But, she won't go as slow as I'd like her to. One day, she'll take off and never look back. And it's ok. I'll be sad and proud all at the same time.

I have said to Josh on several occasions, "I just feel so DIFFERENT about Lyla. I don't love her more or less, the love is the same, I just feel DIFFERENT." I wish I could explain the difference. Again, is it b/c she is a girl, or because she's my last, or because I am older and more appreciative of the little moments? I don't know. But it is different, it's special, and I am thankful daily for the different feelings I have with each child.

Having a crawler is easier this time around for a number of reasons, main one being, I never have to wonder where she crawled off to thanks to Carson. If Lyla gets one foot out of the living room, Carson is running to me wanting me to "Come see that Lyla". I don't know if he's telling on her, or proud, or just looking out. Whatever, it's nice.

Our big obstacle that we are trying to work out is a way for Lyla to stay up past 6:30. I know WHY? Well, I'm tired of being home that early for one. But mainly b/c she has started waking up at 6 and I don't like that. I have to pump, shower, get ready and I don't want to get up before 6 to do that... So, we are working on things.

Because I have time tonight, thanks to OU basketball being on TV and because I haven't really put many pics of Lyla up on this blog, I am going to take my favorite pic from every month to show how far she has come.

Coming home


1 months



2 months



3 months



4 months



6 months



7 months

I hope I'm not alone here...

I try to be a good mom. I REALLY LOVE spending time with my kids. In fact, I love it so much, that I've gotten to the point that I don't really want to do things if my kids can't be a part of it. I used to LONG for nights out- days off- but not so much any more. I think with my second, I'm seeing how it all passes too fast and I don't want to miss a second. I mean, they sleep all the time, so I get breaks.

Anyway, during the time I spend with them, we watch too much TV, and on TV, I see ads for Nick Jr's or Sprouts website where you can find all these craft ideas. For two years now, I've been thinking, "I really need to craft more with Carson. And bake character cookies and decorate them. We'd have fun. I love hanging out with my kids..." So, today I started. I went to Nick Jr with Carson, he chose the TV show craft he wanted. I printed off supplies, we went upstairs to his craft table, and we began making Team Umizoomi paper chains.

This is where things got ugly...

I'll just tell you right now there is a reason I don't teach young kids. I have no patience. I feel if they are old enough to back talk you, then they should be old enough to follow simple instructions. I feel if they are old enough get themselves dressed, then they should be able to cut a strip of paper that I am holding, without cutting my fingers. Long story short, I asked Carson if he was having fun and he said "no". He could tell I was frustrated. It felt like more work than fun. I don't think we need to add a stove to the mix tomorrow.

I really hope I'm not alone in this. I mean, it APPEARS that all mom's (especially stay at home's) happily craft and bake with their kids all day. But I just don't have the patience. I don't really even have the patience to play blocks or Lego's. It drives me CRAZY that he rarely lets me finish what he wants me to build then really drives me nuts when all he wants to do it knock down my hard work. UGH! I don't like dumping toys all over the room, I don't like playing with something for two minutes and moving on, I don't like diving head first off my couch. I don't like coloring with ALL the colors dumped out...What's wrong with with one at a TIME? What's wrong with ME? It's seems all other mom's do like this. And ENJOY it... I get frustrated and think "THIS is why I pay to send you to Mothers Day Out. So THEY can teach you to craft". I could NEVER home school...

I LOVE providing opportunities for exploration and learning. I LOVE explaining things to him, showing him new things. I LOVE seeing his face when he sees something for the first time. I love zoos, museums, inflatable zones, reading books, sporting events, I do NOT like Legos. I do not like coloring outside the lines. AND I DESPISE toys that are small with lots of pieces. He doesn't play with them. He dumps them Every. Where. He. Can.

So, anyone have advise for what's wrong with me? Or are all mom's secretly hating crafting and doing it anyway?

I felt like a MAN today!

And it felt good! Thanks to Veterans Day, Josh stayed home. SO, this is how my day went. I woke up, 30 minutes late on accident. To "MAMA, I WAKE UP. NEED TO POTTY!". So I got up, took C to pee, then handed him off to Josh. Also, told Josh that Lyla was up. I then went to get ready. It was FANTASTIC. I had to pump, so I guess I didn't feel ALL that much like a man... but after I pumped, I got ready kinda slow and without a little boy in my shower, or helping me get dressed, or making me brush his hair. Just me. Getting ready. Like it was B.C. (before children). After I got ready, my dad called, who just got back from Vegas, so we chatted about gambling and hookers (no he didn't buy one, but you know the cards you get in Vegas). After we hung up, I noticed Josh had fed both children, Carson was dressed for school, lunch box and back pack was packed. AND I HAD 25 MINUTES TO SPARE!!!! When I saw that I told Josh that he could be a stay at home dad. Because this ruled!

And even though I DID have to pump and still take Carson to school, for the most part I wondered through my house this morning only concerned with getting myself ready and chipping in a little here and there. And it felt GREAT!

HUGE THANK YOU to my friend Mandy!

Well, it's only been a week, but I can say, that my sorority sister Mandy, has changed life, well the dinner time and grocery shopping part anyway.

You see, I don't mind cooking, but I NEVER have everything I need. And what I DO mind is making my grocery list. My "staples" list is covered, thanks to my friend Lauren's idea, but my MEALS. THOSE I HATE! I am TERRIBLE at coming up with ideas, I HATE looking through cookbooks! Long instructions overwhelm me and make me not want to cook. PLUS, all I know how to cook is FATTENING! But, I had to start cooking at home, we are now paying the mortgage and bills for two houses, so we have to save MONEY.

SO, I went where everyone goes for advice these days, Facebook. I asked mom's for easy, cheap recipes and that's when Mandy told me about e-mealz.com!

Here I found menus for two, available to download weekly, with weight watchers points already calculated and SHOPPING LISTS ready for the grocery store of choice, Walmart...WELL, NOT OF MY CHOICE, there are others... And it gets better! The list are EASY to shop from because they are in order. AND the meals are GOOD! My two year old has never eaten better! Even my husband likes it! There are "MAN MEALS" like BBQ Chicken sandwhiches. OH! And I can feed my family of three 5 meals (with sides and all! and some lunches due to left overs) for $40!!!! We can't even eat one meal for that out...

Thanks to Mandy, I set a personal record. Well, two. First, I cooked FOUR nights in a row! Even after work. The meals are quick and if I can do it, well, let me just admit, if I can do it, Carson could probablly do it...if he could reach the stove. Second, we haven't ordered in or gone to a resturant all week!

So, if you hate cooking, but want to feed your family tasty meals that aren't too fattening for not too much money in not too much time, check it out!!!

http://e-mealz.com

THANKS MANDY!