Why Do I Even Bother?

In reference to my last post:

1. If you don't have the guts to say who you are when you leave a comment, then don't leave one! Besides, I have an account with statcounter.com, so I know who reads my blog at what times and where they come from. Pretty easy to find out who you are. Might as well leave your name. Wimpiness irks me more than your comment does.


2. My blog is just that--my blog about my honest thoughts and feelings. You don't have to like them, and if you don't, you can rant about it on your blog.


3. Thank you, Clarissa, for being the only one to get my post! I was just trying to make light of a situation I have no control over. It's called humor, people. I know there is another side to things, but I was venting, not crafting an argument paper.

I swear, whenever I write my opinions, all I get is arguments, even when it's actually serious stuff and not just poop I'm complaining about. But when other people write about their feelings, they get a million comments overflowing with sympathy.

P.U!

Every week the mothers in the mothers' room at church complain about how small the room is. There are tons of babies in all three wards that share the building. Yet we have only three rocking recliners, forcing some mothers to nurse on a regular seat in the corner and even on the floor sometimes. Also crammed into the tiny room is a sink and changing table. It gets busy and hot in there.

However, my biggest complaint is all the mothers who change their toddlers' diapers in the mother's room. Talk about a stink bomb! These kids who are not yet potty trained but eat all the nasty normal food adults eat smell raunchy. It's disgusting and totally ruins it for us nursing moms who cannot escape the stench. And our poor babies! There's no window we can open, the mothers never remember to spray some Febreze, and every time someone throws away a diaper in the pail (which no one knows how often is emptied), the fumes are released again.

Note, there are also changing tables in the women's and men's bathrooms and the family bathroom. Those places are where gross toddler diapers should be changed, not in the room full of mommies rocking and nursing their babies. I'm tempted to post a sign on the changing table.

So, if you have a stinky toddler with explosive poop:

*Find out what they are eating that smells so disgusting.
*Be considerate and change their diaper elsewhere.
*Stay at home if it's diarrhea.
*Start potty training!

Thank you.

Two's a Crowd

The thought of having two kids somewhat scares me. Don't worry, I'm not pregnant or trying for another one. I just read all your blogs and wonder how you do it. I can barely manage one baby. Some of you ladies have more children and still have time to craft, blog, bake, go to school or work, and do other hobbies and chores. Sure, next time around I wil have a better idea of what to expect and Caden will be older. But every baby and situation is different and unpredictable. The next one could be easy or another high-need baby. Caden could be helpful or jealous. I could go into super mother mode or lose my mind completely. Or maybe land somewhere in the middle. And who knows what our life will be like then. Will Justin still be in school? Will we be in a different home? A different state? Will Justin be employed? Will our second car die? So much unknown!

Of course, I went through a similar time before Caden was born. Some fears were unnecessary, some came true (namely, a baby who never wants to sleep). The only way I can think of to prepare now is to work on time management and organization. Those are the things I have greatest control over.

Spicing It Up

I have three blogs: an event journal (this one), a gospel discussion board (Mormon Light), and a baby/giveaway site (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle). Obviously I have a lot to say. I need a random blog for those moments when I think about something and just want to rant and rave about it. But I'm not starting yet another blog nobody will read. So this one is gettting more interesting! The only problem is, I never remember all the funny, weird, random things I want to write about when I finally have time to blog. Sometimes I make notes on my fridge, but then I don't remember what I wanted to say about it. So, anyway, I hope things here will get more lively and revealing than just "this is what we did yesterday" and "Caden is getting bigger and cuter." Who knows--maybe people will actually start to read and comment again!

How Do You Make a Jean Jacket Fashionable?

I have a black jean jacket from high school that I really like. But I never wear it because I don't know how to make it work with today's fashion. How can I modernize its look? Or is it a lost cause?

The Holidays in Pictures

Finally the last of 2010 and beginning of 2011--through photos.

Thanksgiving

My family came down again. 

Thanksgiving dinner. It actually wasn't as extravagant as usual and took much longer to make since I had to stop so much to care for Caden. In fact, we didn't have the pumpkin pies until the next day.

Caden's outfit I bought at a thrift store the day I found out he was a boy. That menu will be more accurate this year.

I don't remember much of what we did except watch movies and play games as usual. I also figured out how to transfer music from my brother's iPod to my computer--only to accidentally delete all the files a few days later. I was so mad because it took me forever to locate the songs I wanted since they weren't all clearly named. And who knows when my brother will visit again (he's at BYU now).

Christmas

We went to the ward Christmas party. Caden fell asleep and didn't wake up until the end when Santa came out. He was cranky and hungry, so we snagged a quick photo of him on Santa's lap before leaving.

We also went to Justin's work party. I did not have fun. It was too close to Caden's bedtime, so I spent most of the time wandering the club house to keep Caden quiet. And we didn't win anything from the raffle.

On Christmas Eve we went to see the lights at the Mesa Temple. We ran into our home teacher, who invited us over for lunch the next day.

Christmas morning. Caden got the most presents of course. He wasn't interested in any of them, not even the wrapping paper. After we opened presents, we went to our home teacher's for a Mexican lunch. I don't even remember what I made for dinner.

New Year's

We were out window shopping and decided to eat at Ruby Tuesday's. They had a great New Year's deal going on. I love their food! I can't stand TGIF, Chili's, or Applebee's (except their dessert). Caden woke up sooner than expected, of course, and so I nursed at a restaurant for the first time. It wasn't bad because we were in a corner behind the entrance and it was dimly lit. There just wasn't much space.

We didn't stay up but went straight to bed to ring in the New Year. There's no such thing as partying when you have a baby who wakes up a lot!

Three Kings Day

I didn't realize the date, so we celebrated Three Kings Day on the 7th instead of the 6th. I played salsa music and made rice, beans, and pumpkin fritters. I bought us a ton of movies on sale at Target as our gift. Caden got a crinkle toy I bought on Etsy.

Four-Year Engagement Anniversary

For Christmas, Justin got some restaurant gift cards. One was to the Keg. We used it the night of our four-year engagement anniversary. Caden was a nightmare! He wouldn't stop screaming. We both tried bouncing him to sleep. I took him to the car and nursed him while Justin ate. Then I ate while Justin changed his diaper. They were taking so long. Finally they came out and Justin told me Caden went both #1 and #2 all over while changing him. Luckily I had an extra onesie. The whole fiasco was partially our fault. We weren't prepared since we weren't sure if we were even going to go. On the bright side, since our server thought it was our wedding anniversary (even though we told him engagement), he gave us free dessert. The food was really good but pricey.

And that is it! Finally caught up. Whew.

Six Months

Caden turned six months on Monday. I remember thinking when I took him home that six months seemed so far away. On the one hand, so much has happened since he was born, I'm not surprised it's been that long already. On the other, the last two months flew by so quickly! He had his appointment on Tuesday. He is 16 lbs. and 26 in., low on the charts, but perfectly chunky for Mama. He is on target developmentally.

Rolling around--always to the wires!

Caden loves to roll around. He wants to crawl so badly, but still hasn't figured it out. He loves pulling on his socks until they come off and eating them. He is definitely teething: he devours the textured teething rings I give him. He also sucks on his lips, which looks so funny! He has regressed in his sleep habits, waking up often to nurse--though not as bad as before--and refusing to sleep anywhere but in my arms if we're at home. I can put him in the swing if he is already asleep, but the crib--forget it! He's also fighting sleep again, making bedtime difficult.

Sucking on his upper lip

He loves to make noises: he blows raspberries, sometimes all over my face; says "da-da-da" over and over; gargles; and purses his lips really tight, clenches his fists, and shouts, "Heh-mmmmm!" or just squeals until he's red in the face. The last one drives me crazy! On the bright side, he loves to laugh  and be laughed at and is such a silly boy. He loves to watch his right foot as he wiggles it on the potty chair and he likes to push against me and pop his wrist or thumb. He's also added "The Ants Go Marching" to his list of favorite songs.


The cutest smile in the world!



As the doctor noted might happen, Caden is going through a stage of separation anxiety, evident in his changed sleeping habits. Simply being in my arms used to be enough. Now he searches for my face frequently in his sleep to make sure I'm still there. It sounds cute, but it's painful because he claws my chin and grabs my lower lip and teeth. During the day I have to take him to every room I go. He wants to be held and have my full attention more than normal. He nurses more frequently, probably also due to a growth spurt. It's all a bit frustrating since we were finally getting into a better schedule. However, I love how excited he gets when he sees me once he wakes up, especially when he's in the crib.

We haven't tried feeding him solids yet but will soon. I'm sure it will be hilarious!