Thursday, July 28, 2011

A boy was here . . .

What my house looks like on a daily basis. Trains are everywhere!
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Please let time stand still . .

My baby is not much of one anymore. I am trying to soak up these last couple months with just him and I. He will always and forever be my first baby.
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i am so sick of seeing pasta !

I know I have touched on this subject before, picky eating. It rules my house! Will used to be such a good eater but once he hit 2.5 he became picky. It looked funny, tasted yucky, and out right was refused.
Last night he told me his cheese, which he normally loves, looked wrinkly? What?! I mean seriously. I just lost it. This is the first night, that I have sent him to bed without food and I felt so guilty. I felt horrible. Daddy came home from work and was going to give him one more chance to eat his dinner, which was rice, cheese and apples. I know, how exciting does that sound? And of course he refused it. So, I took him upstairs and put him to bed. Luckily it was bedtime.
I just can't take it anymore. I am so tired of making separate meals, wondering what he will eat if we go out for dinner, or packing extra food because I am afraid he will refuse what ever is served to him. It is just so exhausting! I finally gave in and made an appointment with our new pediatrician to discuss these food issues. I know she will say so many kids are picky but I need to know what I have to do to change his habits. Lately, he has started gagging if he smells something funny, which is totally gross.
I think I can count on 20 things that Will eats consistently and one of them happens to be pasta. But it has to be Penne. Anything else and the texture gets to him. UGH!
I did get the Jessica Seinfeld book about hiding food into dishes but then I thought, that just seems pointless. I want him to like everything he eats and know what he is eating. Today, I am going to the library to check out some books on picky eaters and see if there is any helpful advice. Yes. I do read a lot of books to help me raise my child. I am clueless sometimes.
Any advice?

Monday, July 25, 2011

Do you really just whip it out at the pool ? ?

Yep. I am talking about the breast again. You see, Will and I spend a lot of our summer days at the pool and have seen many a moms breast feeding. Totally fine with because a lot of them have done it under an umbrella and turned away from the pool somewhat. They can still see their other child, which obviously is very important.
But, there is one said woman at the pool, that I just don't understand. Mind you, I only breast fed for about a month with Will and it wasn't the most productive of feedings. This said woman, whips it out like ever 15 minutes and does it right at the edge of the little kiddie pool, again I am totally cool with this because she is watching her other two children. She does it discreetly, sometimes. A couple of times her top has been slightly down and she is fixing it uncovered and walking back to put her 5 or 6 month old back in his stroller. One day she whipped it out and the baby was there for like 5 minutes, maybe. Then another 20 minutes later she is doing it again. I can tell you in a two hour period how many times this lady is whipping it out. May sound creepy but when you are sitting at the edge of a not so big kiddie pool, you will notice it. I know I am not the only one. I heard another mother questioning her about breast feeding the other day.
I know you have to breast feed when the baby is hungry but is it really every 15 minutes? Is this lady trying to get attention or is it just me?
Don't get me wrong, I am all for the convenience of breast feeding but is she taking it a bit too far?
Even if I have to breast feed in public, I really think I will be one of those moms that does it a bit more discreetly. The whole world doesn't need to know what I am doing. What do you think?

Sunday, July 24, 2011

10 years is way to long . . .

You loved me with a never-failing love, You gave me strength and sweet security. And then you did the hardest thing of all, you let me seperate, and set me free. Everyday I try to do my best to be a Mother like you were to me. Joanna Fuchs

I love and miss you more than air mom. Today, I am celebrating you instead of mourning your loss.


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Love.. love... love ...

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Monday, July 18, 2011

Will and The Hooter's Girls . . .

A look back on Will and a Post Daddy did! Hilarious! Check it out here. A goody from 2008!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

is the breast the best ?

When I got pregnant with baby boy #2, I decided I was not going to let any one pressure me about the whole "breast" feeding is best dealio. You know the mommas that preach it over and over to you. I mean my good friend breast fed all her boys until they were 1 and one more to the age of 2! I give you mommas credit because it really is a full time gig, that you have to be committed to. Not sure I would be breast feeding a kid tell the age of 2, if you are reading this and you did, to each his own.
But, recently I put a plan into action that I think will work best for the baby, me, my husband and even Will. I want everyone to be involved because in the process because I know me, and I can't do it alone. I decided that for the first 4 weeks, which is how much time I will take off from training clients, that I will breast feed. After that, so that baby boy #2 is getting the nutrients he deserves from his momma, I thought I would pump. Then, Lew and Will can help feed him as well.
My questions to all you mommas who have breast fed, is this even possible? Will I get tired of pumping? I breast fed Will for about 3 weeks but we had to supplement with formula because I was not able to produce enough for him. I then, I hate to admit, gave up. So, what do I need to know about breast feeding? Is there any good books that you recommend I read to get me started? Do you have any recommendations for breast pumps?
I am really hoping that with the breast milk, baby boy #2 might not get quite as many ear infections as Will did. Does that even help? You see, I am clueless. I do know that I was the only one my mom breast fed and she said I was the best baby. Is this total wishful thinking on my part?
I will admit, I feel like I am a breast feeding virgin. I need your help! Anything you can offer me, would be greatly appreciated!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

My Babies ROCK !

Last month I Rocked the Bump with Shell...and now this month I am Rockin' the Baby with Shell
l @ Things I Can't Say. You have to go and check it out, there are so many cute baby pictures, it is amazing what Shell has started!
Baby Boy #2...who is definitely rocking it in his chillaxed pose!
One of my favs...Will at 1 week old.
The next few are from Will's first beach trip...which he just loved. I have a total water baby!





Go check out Shell and link up. The link is open tell Monday and Shell is giving away tons of great prizes!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

For You, I Will Do Anything .

It's July. Which means it's that time of year again. My mom's death anniversary. It gets me every year. Sometimes I wish we could just skip of July and go straight into August. July 2001 was not a good one for our family or my mom. She got news that she had only 6 weeks to live. Her cancer had spread and all they could do was give her pain pills. At the time, we always thought she would fight back but looking at it now, I think of how naive I was to believe it.
I was her primary caretaker and sometimes I wish I didn't have to go through all of that. At age 21 that is a lot to take in. But, today I am glad that I was. She and I had so many special extra moments and time together that no one else did. I wish she would have told me how scared she was, but she was momma bear tell the very end. Never wanting to let anyone see her sadness, her anger of why she was chosen to have cancer. On July 24, she died. It was a hot miserable day filled never ending tears. It was the day I became motherless daughter.
I am writing this because just recently my sister, Misti and I went to visit her grave. We try and go often and had been there on her birthday in May. When you drive up, you cannot miss her headstone because it is unlike any other, a gorgeous black stone with an Angel right in the middle. But this day, something was missing. All of her birthday flowers. We use fake flowers, so they never die and make sure we always pics out the most beautiful for her. As we got closer, we noticed the the dirt around her headstone had been dug up somewhat and there were hole all around her headstone. Immediately, I knew her headstone had been moved.
We also noticed that a funeral had taken place in the month that we had not been there, directly behind her. In fact, it was practically on top of her. I am always upset to see a new grave and feel for the family that has lost. But in this moment, in my mom's death anniversary month, I was furious. She had been moved, her spot had been touched, a place where we come to talk to her, had been touched.
When my Pape bought this spot for her, we were all upset, out of it and completely in denial. I can still picture the day of us picking out her casket. They never mentioned to us that, in the area my mom is in, that it would get as crowded as it has become. The spot we picked for her was under a young tree that we knew would blossom and give her shade. But now there are 3 headstones in front of her. It's heart breaking and devastating that in the business of putting someone to rest that they are still trying to make a buck.
My sister talked to someone and she said it was not their practice to move headstones. She said someone would contact us in a couple of months! Months! Misti was obviously furious and said that would not be the case and that she would be calling and emailing the manager during normal business hours. We took pictures of the area and the obvious shift in her headstone and have sense emailed them to the cemetery. My other sister spoke with someone after many repeated calls and she said that it had been moved to get their heavy equipment in there. Two things tick me off, the first lady lied to us, and secondly, why are you piling all these graves in here if you are having to mess with OUR property! This is not some shady cemetery, in fact, it is very reputable and I know it was quite expensive to put my mom where she is. So, why was she treated this way?! We haven't heard much back from them, even though we are still pursuing this with them. I have contacted a local news station that does a lot of investigative stories in hopes that they might out these people. I know it is a long shot but I feel like I have to do something for my mom. She doesn't deserve this at all and during this month.
I love and miss her everyday and wish she were here, but she's not. She is in a better place that I know. And deserves to have her area.

Monday, July 11, 2011

It's Us . . .

Will and I out on a dinner date to our favorite chinese restaurant. Let me just say he even offered to pay with his quarters! Such a sweetie.
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Friday, July 8, 2011

Oh...The Things They Will Say !

Do you ever wonder where kids pick up the latest things they are saying? Will is like a sponge, this kid remembers everything! Forget cursing in the car, you have to do that on your own time or he will repeat it. Immediately.

But I thought I would share some of the funny things that Will says. Sometimes they are not the best thing for him to be saying but you cannot help but laugh.


  • "Will do you want to go and see Daddy at work today?" No...Daddy's work is boring. Where did he learn boring and he doesn't even know what boring means!

  • "Look momma...it's my baby brother!" Watching a pampers commercial.

  • "It's so hot out today, I need air momma." Okay, not hilarious but funny in the moment.

  • Will taking a shower and saying, "My wiener is getting bigger! It's broken. Fix it!" Now that's funny!

  • Talking to Nana on skype in Chicago, Will runs up to his room, gets his snow boots on, his bag and put trains in it. Comes down and looks at the camera, "Look Nana, I got my boots, my bag, so now I can ride on the train with you to "hicago"!"

  • Ella our dog pooped outside, "Ah, Ella. That's "didsgusting"!"

Kids say the funniest things when they are discovering something new. I just love it!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My little guy @ 23 weeks . .

Feeling huge and extremely tired as you can see from my face and twisted up hair!
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My Baby . . .



Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A Good Weekend . . .


We had a fun filled and busy weekend and it ended with a great celebration!






Another exciting event happening tonight is that Lew is going to take Will to his first baseball game and it's not just ANY game. The Chicago Cubs vs The Washington Nationals. I can guarantee you that Lew and Will might be some of the few sporting their Cubs gear. GO CUBS!!! Have fun boys, mama will be training.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Maryland Blue Crab . . .

Can we just say delicious! Thanks to Lew I was able to feast on these for lunch today.
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Friday, July 1, 2011

Stress =

Baking.

When I need to de-stress, de-gunkify, I bake. It's kinda my passion. Sometimes a passion I wish I pursued a long time ago.

But for now, I enjoy doing it for me. For my boys and my family. And my sanity.

This has been a long week of training clients, long pool days (and no they are not relaxing w/ a 3 yr. old boy), swim classes, actually cooking dinner, and just not enough "me" time.

So, I decided to bake. Will and I are going to my sister's tomorrow for a fun day of shopping and pool time (which will be somewhat relaxing because cousin Lilly can't wait to play w/ Will). Bbqing and getting to spend time with my sister who most definitely is my best friend, is exactly what I need.


Okay. It's not gourmet baking throwing in food coloring to turn rice crispy treats blue, but it is fun!

Yummy chocolate chip cookies with blue and red m&m's that Will helped me pick out. Where is the holiday mix of m&m's when you REALLY need them? Looked everywhere!


Finished, and oh so delicious to this pregnant momma and little bubsy! Not gonna lie, we each ate one when they were still warm. It's the best way to eat it!


Like my mom always said, "When you cook or bake with love, everything will turn out delicious and perfect." It definitely did mom!


Another de-stresser for the weekend, Lew is off on Sunday and Monday! So happy and excited to get to spend time with the hubster and actually get to snuggle on the couch.


3 hours tell bedtime and my dvr filled with, So You Think You Can Dance, a couple Housewives episodes, Amsale Girls (gotta see these amazing wedding dresses) is just calling my name!


Happy Friday and hope you and your families have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!