tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47307121761185282852024-03-06T01:44:31.516-05:00The Stinky TimesThe life and times of a 30-something-ish girl
just trying to figure out life!Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.comBlogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-76075934987479255092011-03-08T10:33:00.000-05:002011-03-08T10:33:30.320-05:00This Blog ENDS HereMy dad always told me to be careful what you put in writing because it can come back to bite you in the butt. Well, consider my butt bitten.<br />
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In my quest to have a space of my own where I can write about how I truly feel about things, I have crossed the line. The things I have written have caused a backlash, of sorts, and I no longer feel safe writing about my personal trials and tribulations.<br />
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I have always been a journaler, and those who journal know that you are typically moved to write when you are going through a tough time. For me, writing about my stuggles helps me process what I am dealing with and moves me into action to make the necessary changes. As I have written on this blog, my writing has evolved. I know that my content has been on a more serious note lately because I feel like I have hit a hard time in my own life, and I am trying to work through it the best way that I can.<br />
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And for those who know me personally and through this blog know that I am an open-book with my life...the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am not embarrassed of who I am, where I am from, what I do, what I have, or what I am feeling. I have lots of good things in my life for which I am thankful...and I share those things openly. But I have never been one to paint my world as picture perfect...because it's not. I have chosen to share the not-so-good moments of my life, too, because my life isn't perfect, and nobody's life is that way. Life is messy and chaotic and confusing at times. And my hope was that by being honest and real in what I am dealing with, I could find comfort for myself while at the same time helping someone else feel that they are not alone.<br />
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However, in sharing some of my issues in an open forum, I did not take into account how it would affect those closest to me. While I don't mind being open with my business, it's not fair to put my hubby or child or other close relatives in a situation where they have to explain what I am writing. The things that I write on here are MY reality...whether or not people agree with my version of reality. We all have different perceptions of what truly is, and my depiction of life is just my version of things. It is not right to put my loved ones in a position where they have to explain or try to justify what I am writing or to be embarrassed of the things that I am putting out there. For that, I am truly sorry.<br />
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So I have decided to let this blog go. It has caused too much drama and that is the last thing I need right now. Whatever issues I am dealing with and going through right now need to be handled privately and not in an open forum. I need to protect myself and those closest to me.<br />
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I know, however, that I do have some people that like to follow along to see what has been going on with the baby. For those who read my blog because you want to see updates on Quin, home improvement, the dogs and how we are doing in general, I have created a new blog just for that purpose. It will be a family blog to keep relatives and friends that are far away in the loop of our daily life. So go <a href="http://babyqreport.blogspot.com">HERE</a> and add that link to your favorites because no more posts will be added to this blog! (And if I am on your blogroll, please consider deleting Stinky Times and adding the other...only if you wish!)<br />
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So, adios Stinky Times! It's time to move on! You've been good and served your purpose, but I need to let you go!Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-42863907992980927802011-03-04T14:57:00.000-05:002011-03-04T14:57:07.820-05:00Wishy-Washy Weaning Woes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Good gracious! If I could only make up my mind sometimes! I think I've made a decision about something, feel good about that decision, and then BAM, I start second-guessing my decision! It's tiresome to be me some days! Seriously! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So here is my latest wishy-washiness when it comes to decision making.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before I was ever pregnant, I knew that I wanted to breastfeed my child. There are so many benefits to the baby that the list goes on and on and on as to how a baby can benefit from being breastfed. And the mother benefits, too. (Click <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020100.asp">HERE</a> for articles on the benefits.) It's such a natural thing for a mother to do with her baby. It is amazing to think that I can provide and produce all of the nutrition my baby needs from my own body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And when it came time for me to breastfeed, I was lucky. Breastfeeding came pretty easy and naturally for me, and Baby Q seemed to latch right on (no pun intended)! I didn't have a lot of the issues many new mothers have in the beginning when trying to get breasfeeding going. My nipples never hurt or got sore; my milk supply came right on in; Q took to it immediately. And I haven't had any real issues with breastfeeding other than one bout of mastitis and a slight case of thrush.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My goal in breastfeeding has been to do it through the first year of Q's life. It seemed like a doable and reasonable goal to me. Besides the most important benefits to Q and the comfort I get from doing it, breastfeeding is really, really economical. I figured I could transition Q from the breast to cow's milk once he hits the one year mark. Since I knew I would be returning to work, I made sure that I had my breastpump equipment ready to go before Q even arrived.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those who have never had to pump their boobies, let me tell ya, it's an interesting thing to do. I first started pumping at home during my maternity leave to build a supply to freeze and use later once Q started daycare. Besides my nipples and boobies being sucked into tubes making them look really enlongated and feeling like a cow hooked up to a milking maching, pumping was easy enough to handle. Well...it was easy enough to handle at home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pumping your boobs at work is a whole other ballgame. It's not fun! And I hate it! I really, really hate it! I am sure that for some mothers, pumping at work is no big deal. And it wouldn't be a big deal for me if I had my own office where I could close the door and truly relax. But I am in a job where I don't have a real office, and I am at a different school every 1.5days. And did I mention how heavy the bag is and how much of a pain in the ass it is to carry around the pump and it's related parts (especially when I have to carry my office with me since I am in a mobile position)? It's a lot of work. It's stressful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started to notice that my supply seemed to be diminishing during the time I was pumping at work. To be able to produce enough milk to pump, you have to be relaxed and let go so that your boobies will let down and produce the milk to be pumped. It's hard to relax when you're at work and away from your baby. It's hard to relax when you're doing it in a bathroom and nothing seems really clean. It's just hard to relax. Period.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And along with the difficulties of pumping at work, there is also the added dimension of having to keep up with all of the various parts. There are quite a few small parts, and these parts have to be cleaned and sanitized after each use. So each evening entails a great deal of time washing and sanitizing the pump parts to get them packed and ready to use the next day. It's exhausting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About 2 weeks ago, I decided that I needed to wean Q off the boob and switch him to formula. I felt my supply wasn't keeping up, and I was just tired of all of the difficulty and stress created by the pumping. I made a plan to start introducing him to formula and to wean him off the breast, so that I was completely done with breastfeeding by the time he is 6 months old (3/22/11). I felt good about the decision. I felt relieved! I was relieved that I wouldn't have to bother with pumping or cleaning the parts anymore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last weekend, I fed him bottles of formula during the day (as if he was at daycare). And when I did pump (because the boobies get so full), I started pumping less so that my boobies would think they didn't need to make as much milk. The weaning process was in full effect. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was going well until...I went back to work this past Monday. As I sat in the bathroom listening to the loud pumping noise of the machine and the milk dripping into the bottles, I started questioning my decision to wean him. Why? Why am I really doing this? I like breastfeeding. Q likes breastfeeding. It makes me feel close to him after being away from him all day. It's comforting for both of us. Breastmilk is so much better for him than formula. Why am I being so lazy about the pumping? My goal is to pump for a year. Why am I giving up so easily on this goal? All these things were just swirling around in my head. And the decision that I thought I had made was no longer made at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I came out of the bathroom with all my pumping baggage, I briefly mentioned something to the school psychologist. She sat me down and really encouraged me to keep perservering if breastfeeding is what I really wanted to do. She said that I could use her office when I am at that school. She helped me realized that I could keep doing this if it was important to me. And realistically Q is going to start weaning himself from the boob naturally as food is being introduced. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With a few words of encouragement from a person I barely knew, I knew that I had to change my mind about my decision to wean. I wasn't ready to do it. I was forcing myself into something that didn't feel natural. I let my own selfishness get in the way of what my goals were when it came to breastfeeding. I was being selfish because I didn't want to keep lugging around the pumping bag, or stopping work to take the time to pump, or cleaning the parts each and every single night. And it just didn't feel natural that whole weekend I was feeding him formula when I could have been breastfeeding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So just like that I changed my mind and returned to breastfeeding. Q deserves nothing but the best from his momma. It may be hard work, tiring, and time consuming, but he is worth all of it! I feel so much better and more confident in my decision to continue breastfeeding. I am not complaining about the pumping anymore, but instead, I am embracing it. This pumping is only temporary anyways! And I can do it! I really can! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW0A4CKfvWnHT9JqIOvi1dLlGH_MblR_7NH1r6T3BpI7k6CjOj0urYeufu0ymzTFry_laeHgw4VUyWP-XOYe-t-zoDRLARAv_Vve7bCLvFYUPY8xzY41tnekfa4ZHkZNDsgDCqayJpxg/s1600/IMG_6271-794186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579581686221679698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW0A4CKfvWnHT9JqIOvi1dLlGH_MblR_7NH1r6T3BpI7k6CjOj0urYeufu0ymzTFry_laeHgw4VUyWP-XOYe-t-zoDRLARAv_Vve7bCLvFYUPY8xzY41tnekfa4ZHkZNDsgDCqayJpxg/s640/IMG_6271-794186.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div align="center" class="mobile-photo"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seriously, what were you thinking Momma? Give me that Boobie Milk!</span></em></div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-41561240554026704602011-02-25T13:14:00.000-05:002011-02-25T13:14:54.615-05:00How Did We Get Here?Okay! Here goes another post on money...on our money! Woe is me! Alright, not really! But since I already put it out there about our financial trials and tribulations, I thought I would just expand on it. Afterall, this is a journey, right? And I invited you to come along!<br />
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I've been thinking a lot about why our situation is the way it is right now when it comes to our finances. What did we do wrong? What could we have done differently? What can we do differently? How can we assure ourselves that once we make it through this bump in the road (aka being broke) we won't get back to this place with our finances? I, mean, I have to be hopeful that things are going to get better, right? What is life without hope for the future?<br />
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As we all know by now...we are not rich, and we're never going to be rich (barring a big lottery win)! My hubby is a teacher, and I am a social worker. Those in helping professions just don't profit; these are not lucrative careers we have chosen. But that's okay! Because we have good health insurance (free), a steady paycheck, good working hours, and an excellent vacation/holiday schedule. A price can't be placed on those intangible benefits!<br />
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Sooo...how did we get here? And by 'here,' I mean living on the tightest of budgets. I can basically narrow our current financial woes down to 4 things: (1) my maternity leave; (2) 2 giant hospital bills; (3) transitioning jobs; and (4) daycare expenses.<br />
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I took 12 weeks maternity leave when I had my son. I couldn't have imagined it being any shorter because that time flew by way too fast. And I am truly thankful for that time I had to bond with my baby. It was the most special time in my life. But my maternity leave was unpaid...in a sense. It was only paid by the amount of vacation and sick leave I had accrued prior to going out on leave. And I was lucky to have accrued enough leave to cover almost 10 weeks of my maternity leave. But that left our home without one full paycheck (I won't get into all of the logistics to the timing of the paychecks because it doesn't really matter). But not having that paycheck was okay (alright...not really) because we had saved money prior to my maternity leave to cover the fact that I would be missing a pay while I was out. It still sucked not to have that pay and to have to dip into the savings...but you do what you have to do.<br />
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So at the end of 12 weeks, I returned to my old job. I had to work a little bit before the paychecks started rolling in again because there is always lag time between time worked and time paid. And just as I returned to my old job, I decided to put in a notice of resignation (which was a good thing). So we waited for me to get paid for my time worked. I got one full pay and then a partial pay. Therefore, I did not get a full month's worth a pay that we needed to keep us on track. And as I went to start my new job in January, the start date got delayed because of inclement weather. So there I was waiting a whole week to start my new job (and making money). So my maternity leave coupled with changing jobs has left me with not having a regular, steady, full paycheck since early December (and here we are at the end of February). We are a 2 income household. Period. So my dips in pay have definitely affected our situation.<br />
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Along with the lack of regular pays comes into the play the fact that we have had 2 big hospital bills. We anticipated the bill from labor and delivery...we knew it was coming, and it would be big. And while I thought the bill was rather hefty, I had a natural birth with limited medical interventions, so in the grand scheme of things my will to feel the pain probably saved us quite a bit of cash. But we then got slapped with another huge bill a month and a half later when Baby Q was admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay. I will always err on the side of caution when it comes to my child, and do whatever I have to do and pay whatever I have to pay to make sure he is healthy. But, DAMN! It really doesn't do a budget good to have over $3000 in out-of-pocket hospital expenses in less than 2 months.<br />
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And finally...we are paying a crap ton of money for daycare. Not because we chose an extraordinarily costly daycare but because it is the going rate where we live. And by "going rate," I mean we are paying over $300/week in daycare expenses. You do the math. It's a lot of money...more than we pay for our mortgage each month! And we started paying the daycare expenses a month earlier than we anticipated in order to secure the spot at the daycare. So we started paying the daycare expenses right at the time when my income was stopping. Perfect timing! <br />
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Sooo...that is a bit of a breakdown of how we got broke down. I think I am going to post later about what we could have done differently to avoid these hard economic times, and what we are planning to do to get ourselves back on track. But, for right now, I am tired of thinking about money. It's Friday (woot!), and I need to take a mental break for the weekend!Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-51328983520182230892011-02-23T08:48:00.001-05:002011-02-23T08:48:40.218-05:00UnflatteringI just noticed the picture of myself on the sidebar is not the most flattering. Is that what I really look like? I, mean, I did take it at the end of the long day after work and mommy duties, but still. Why did I post that picture of me? Maybe I should update it with one I've taken first thing in the morning. I'm so vain!Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-12796174282869152732011-02-15T09:51:00.001-05:002011-02-15T09:54:52.198-05:00Perspectives on HopelessnessNo, I haven't written much on my blog lately. Yes, the things I have managed to type on here have been somewhat gloomy and not uplifting. As we all know by now, I am going through some sort of funk. I am in a weird space in my life right now. It's not a constant state of funkiness or depression, but I have definitely had my share of bad days lately. And I guess I have stayed away from writing about it because there are some feelings, thoughts, and experiences that are hard to put in writing...hard to convey through words. Because no matter how hard I try to explain to my hubby or to my friend or to my mom how I am feeling or what I am thinking, I just can't seem to get across the state of affairs in my own mind. I cannot seem to adequately express on the outside what it is I am feeling on the inside. And maybe that's because I am not sure myself. Maybe I am trying to figure it out, too. But what I am going to do right now is to try to get it all out...kind of in a free association form...so I can move on and quit dropping cryptic messages on my blog. <br />
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First and foremost, a lot of what I am feeling has nothing to do with my role as a mother. I love being a mother to my son. Period. But being a mother does play into my current mindset and way of thinking because it has completely changed my view on life, and even more, my perception of myself. <br />
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There is no question that I have always wanted to be a mother. And I feel lucky and blessed to have been able to conceive a child with so much ease. But even though you want something so badly, you never know how the reality of it is going to affect you until you're in the midst of it. And that's where I am. In the midst of it. Trying to sort things out. <br />
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I've never been one of those people who likes to live in the past. I try to enjoy each stage of my life as it is, and when it's time, move onward to the next. And when I reach that next stage in life, I look back on where I've been and what I've done and feel glad to have had those experiences and to have grown and moved on. I did the college thing...to the fullest extent possible. I lived on my own as a young professional...an independent woman who could take care of herself. I fell in love with a boy. I moved in with my boyfriend and started a life with him that led us down the path of marriage. And for 3 years, we enjoyed being 'just married'...just the two of us. And I enjoyed each of those stages; each experience. And so it was time for a baby. It was our time. We decided. So here I am now...a mother; the next phase of my life (and a phase that I know will last the rest of my life).<br />
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But for some reason, the transition from all of that other stuff...from the previous life stages...into that of motherhood has not been so seamless for me. I have found myself going through somewhat of a mourning process (for lack of a better term) as well as an identity crisis. I am not saddened about being a mother; I take quite delight in being a mom. And I am not uncomfortable with the role of being a mother; I think I do it pretty well. So what am I trying to say here, then? This is the part where it becomes hard for me to put into words my exact thoughts and feelings.<br />
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I guess my struggle lies in going from doing pretty much whatever I please whenever I please to being at the beck-and-call of another person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I've never in my life been needed so much. I never knew what it was like to be needed...for everything. And I love the fact that I am the one who can provide what this little person needs. It gives me pleasure to be able to satisfy my little guy. But providing all the needs for another person means that some of my own needs (and wants) have to go unmet or be put on hold. And that's okay...for the most part. But at some point...those unmet needs (and wants) creep back up and nag at you. And for any person to be functional and to feel good about herself as a whole human being, she has to give into those needs and wants every once in awhile. And that is where I am trying to find the balancing act...between my baby's needs and my own personal needs and wants...and to not be selfish in the process...and I also have to figure in the fact that my hubby has his own needs and wants, too, that are separate from family and home. I just keeping thinking in my head, "How am I going to make all of this work? I just need to give something up. Afterall, you just can't have it all. You can't have your cake and eat it, too, and have every one be happy all of the time. Something has got to give."<br />
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And coupled with the ongoing challenge of trying to meet my own needs along with the demands of baby, hubby, dogs, home, friends, family, and work, comes the added internal struggle of figuring out who I am as a mother and an individual outside of being a mother. Can the two ever be separated? No...is the short answer I have found to be true. So how do I come to terms with being a mother and being an individual with needs and wants and desires and dreams and goals that are far beyond that of just being a mother. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being "just a mother." I know that being a mother is the most important thing that I will ever do in my life. And I take being a mother very seriously. But I am also a woman of the 21st century...a girl who was raised to become a woman with dreams and goals and a career and a home...and my goals and dreams in life shouldn't stop or be forgotten because I've brought another human being into this world. Shouldn't I be setting an example to my child that dreams and goals are a lifelong pursuit and don't have to end because of a change in life or circumstance? I seriously believe that I should not live my life through my child but with my child.<br />
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And I have found that since I have had a baby, I don't know how to interact socially anymore. I, mean, I've always been a bit socially awkward. But my awkwardness has moved up several notches. I often find myself crying after social gatherings telling my hubby that I feel like I don't belong anywhere anymore and that I don't quite fit in. All the things that I thought made me interesting pre-baby just don't seem so important anymore or I just haven't had time for those things. And a lot of the things I enjoyed pre-baby don't quite bring the same enjoyment to me anymore. But I have found new joy in staying at home with my baby and with my hubby. That is where I am most comfortable and most me. But a girl needs to get out in the world sometimes...to break free from the everyday humdrumness of life. So when I venture out into the great world (or just out to dinner with family or friends), I feel alone in a lot of ways. I feel like I have nothing to add to the conversation. Afterall, how many stories of baby poop and spit-up does someone else want to hear about in one sitting? No one cares about my baby and his happenings more than me and my hubby. It's just not that exciting for someone else. (Come on...let's be real...you know what I am talking about when you've had to listen to someone else obsessively talk about her own child. Ugh!) And a lot of times the conversation feels forced...like a battle. The other party thinks that all I want to talk about is baby so they keep asking questions about baby, and all I want to do is talk about something other than baby to feel wholesome and interesting; but the truth is, I have nothing to talk about other than baby. So there I am...stuck in a gridlock.<br />
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So while I have all of these things that I am questioning and sorting out about myself, my identity, etc, etc, there is also another heavy burden weighing down on my little family. And this burden is constantly swirling around in my head...while I am awake and while I am trying to sleep. It is constant. It is always "there" wherever I go, whatever I do. And the burden I am speaking of is one of finances. I worry constantly about money; about our money and our financial health. We all know this. I talk about it quite regularly.<br />
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I don't even know where to start with my worry and concerns when it comes to finances. But what I will say is that we are struggling. Yes. That is right. We don't have a lot of money. I've never been one to put on a show or pretend like I have something I don't. What you see is what you get. I have no need to impress anyone with my worldly belongings (or lack thereof). And I am not going to pretend like everything is hunky-dory when it isn't. And I am not going to try to "keep up" with others when there is no possible way our financial situation would allow us to do that without doing some real damage. <br />
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I just get down sometimes because my hubby and I are hardworkers. We put in our time each week and make an honest living. We have been able to pay all of our bills and have never had to make a late payment, and for that I am thankful. But by the end of the month, we are literally scraping the bottom of the ol' proverbial barrel. There are no leftovers to go have some fun with...like dinner or a movie. There is no extra cash for me to go get some new clothes or shoes. Hell, there usually isn't any extra funds just get some of the basics. And if there were to be a crisis (oh, I don't know, let's say a car breaks down or an appliance goes out)...well, we would kind of be up shit creek. Yes, we could always use credit, but we have worked our asses off to not have credit card debt (even though some does exist).<br />
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I am not trying to have a pity party (okay, maybe I am having a little one) nor am I trying to solicit any funds. I just get so sick and tired of spinning my wheels when it comes to our money and never getting anywhere. It just seems that things never get better. We are not frivolous spenders. I can't remember the last time either of us went shopping for clothing (with the exception of my thrift-store shopping where I spent a whopping $20 on clothes) or for random do-dads or for anything for the house (like some nice picture frames to display baby pics). Everything we have is what we have...nothing new has come into our household for quite sometime...except for the absolute basics needed for survival. And with the basics, we use coupons and shop for the deals, and that gets tiresome sometimes.<br />
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I am just tired. Tired of thinking so hard about our money. We work hard for our money. We want to enjoy our money. I just feel like we are always going to be living on the edge of financial crisis. I feel like we are one step...one paycheck...away from financial disaster. Don't get me wrong. I am thankful for what we do have and what we can afford. And by most standards, we live a pretty darn good life. But I seriously just want to recall what it was like to want something (like an outfit or kitchen gadget) and to be able and go out and get it without thinking about it. I am in no way materialistic or find my worth in materials that I possess, but, damn, I just want to have a little extra breathing room. <br />
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So, yes, I have a had a lot weighing on my mind. And I have found myself in a dark and desparate place at times leaving me to feel down right hopeless about life. But, at the end of the day, I want what is best for me, for my baby, for my hubby, and our little family. I think it is okay to have that feeling of desparation or hopelessness or sadness if it can be utilized in a way to propel my life forward in a positive way. I don't want to wallow in those feelings forever, but I know myself well enough to allow me the freedom to wallow in it just long enough so that I get agitated and start making movement to change things. I chose to let these things get me down. But I also choose to move on. I will continue to struggle and to feel burdened and to question myself, but isn't that part of the journey of this life? My goal is, and has always been, to do the best that I can do each day that I am here...knowing that some days I am going to be more successful at "life" than on others.<br />
<br />
There. Done. Out. Over.Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-75061443542122626852011-02-14T15:11:00.000-05:002011-02-14T15:11:52.054-05:00Quotable Quote of the Week<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.</em></strong> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">~Robert Heinlein</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>....A simple I love you means more than money....</em></strong> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">~Frank Sinatra</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.</em></strong> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">~The Avett Brothers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Happy Valentine's Day, Folks! Yup...that is about all I've got to say in reference to this ol' holiday! My hubby and I decided to skip the cards this year, and we never do gifts on this holiday anyways. We figure we don't need one day out of the year to say 'I love you' to one another. We strive to show our love to each other every single day. And yes, some days we are more successful than others at showing our love, but the effort is always there...on Feb 14 and any other day of the year.Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-63927273574688394092011-02-08T10:58:00.000-05:002011-02-08T10:58:50.545-05:00Quotable Quote of the Week<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it the moment of most profound doubt that gives birth to new certainties? Perhaps hopelessness is the very soil that nourishes human hope; perhaps one could never find sense in life without first experiencing its absurdity.</span></em></strong> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">~Vaclav Havel </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">There are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them.</span></em></strong> ~Clare Boothe Luce </span></div><br />
<br />
I've been feeling a little hopeless these days. I don't know if it is a funk or what. But I need some inspiration. I need some help refocusing because I feel all out of sorts. It just feels that each day is a struggle, and the stuggle is beating me down and winning right now. I don't know. I just don't know, anymore!Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-6092098439515197822011-02-02T12:15:00.001-05:002011-02-02T12:20:17.308-05:00Get it Together, GirlSeriously, get it together! This statement seems to be repeated over and over in my mind as I meander my way from week to week, day to day, or even hour to hour. I feel so disorganized. I feel like I am winging it...winging my life these days. Who am I? Where am I? What do I do? Where do I go? <br />
<br />
I can't really explain what is going on with me. It's just that most days I feel weird...like I don't identify with myself anymore. It's like I am searching for my former self, but she is nowhere to be found. Who was I anyways? Who am I now? Why can't I just feel settled and happy with where I am at today? Why do I feel the need to be defined?<br />
<br />
I know, I know...it's getting deep! But it really isn't so bad! I guess it is just that ol' internal struggle when changes come about in life. I guess I've been through a lot of changes and transitions in the past few months, and I am trying to sort it all out. How do the changes affect my being and my identity? How do I let go of the past and embrace the present and future? <br />
<br />
I am coming to terms with losing some of the comforts of my former life and creating new comforts in my present life. I guess it's just that I want and like to be in control, and lately, a lot of things have been beyond my control. And whenever change occurs, it is easy to feel like all control is gone. And as much as I try to go with the flow, some days it is hard. <br />
<br />
I, mean, really all the things that have changed have been good. I have a son and I'm a mother now. I got a new job. I seriously can't complain about those things. But any change, even good change, shakes things up a bit. It means operating in a different manner. It means reorganizing how I do things. It means shifting my focus and recreating part of my identity. And some of these are a lot easier said than done. <br />
<br />
But I am working on it. I am working on getting myself together. I am working on adjusting to the changes. And I am sure, in the end, I will be happier than I was previously.<br />
<br />
Maybe later I will share some of my difficulties with all this change. I've been in a funk. I've avoided blogging and doing other things I enjoy. But I am working myself out of it. I am telling myself, "Get it together, girl." And that is what I am doing...one bit at a time.Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-51348795533251059402011-01-20T19:58:00.000-05:002011-01-20T19:58:33.639-05:00IrkedSo I've been trying to post a video for the past <s>few</s> week and some days, and it won't upload to blogger. It is really starting to irk me. I get so aggravated when technology doesn't work. I am sure, though, that it is something I am doing rather than the technology itself. But...aaarrrrgh!<br />
<br />
And I've been a busy lady, too. I finally started my new job this week. So between trying to upload videos, work, take care of a baby and a hubby, keep up with household crap, and squeeze in some sleep, I really haven't had much time to blog. I am hoping that once I get the swing of things with the new jobby-job, I can relax and actually sit down and do some writing.<br />
<br />
But until then...I think I am off to bed....early...really, really early tonight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-59723016326820597312011-01-12T12:53:00.000-05:002011-01-12T12:53:08.957-05:00The Mom CutYep! I went and did it!<br />
<br />
I got my hair all chopped off!<br />
<br />
It wasn't a hasty decision, though. I put a lot of thought into how I wanted my hair. And I kept coming back to the fact that I've always wanted to try a short hairstyle but have been too afraid to do so...for many, many years.<br />
<br />
So I did some research on short hairstyles (and by research, I mean I used <a href="http://www.google.com/imghp">Google Images</a> to find styles that I liked). I printed off all of the pictures of short hair that I liked and thought would suit me and hung on to them for a few days. I studied the pictures and tried to visualize the different hairstyles on my head.<br />
<br />
I showed the pics to my hubby, too, to see what he thought about me taking my hair to a shorter length. He was on board. At least, he said he was out loud. I am not really sure what he thought about me going shorter, but he's always been supportive of new things I want to try. And the truth is, I am never really that daring with my style or look, so I think when I do mention doing something off the beaten path (at least for me), he goes along with it...thankfully.<br />
<br />
So I made the appointment...about a week ahead. That was too much time...almost. Because the more I started thinking about my hair, and the closer the appointment got, I started talking myself out of it.<br />
<br />
But...I didn't smooth talk my way out of it this time.<br />
<br />
And here's why:<br />
<br />
This shorter haircut started taking on a life of its own in my mind. It came to represent so many things to me, that I just couldn't not do it. I would be letting myself down along with all of the rationalizations of going for it.<br />
<br />
I've talked about getting my hair cut short since I was 15 years old. I've always had it in my head that I would like to go really short...just to see what it would be like. And for the past 17 years, I've held onto my hair like it was some sort of security blanket, like I would be lost or somehow really different if I didn't have my straight, stringy hair in a mostly blunt hair style.<br />
<br />
But more than letting go of that security blanket, I felt it time to live my life as an example...and example to my son. To show him that it is okay to take some risks and try something new...even if the outcome is not guaranteed. And to some people, cutting off hair may not be a big risk. And it certainly isn't a life-threatening or life-changing event. But for me it was a risk. A risk to let go of something I've held onto for so long. A risk of looking "ugly". A risk of not being attractive to my hubby. And I realize that my son is not even 4-months old yet, and he has no idea what I am doing with my hair. But I still felt compelled and motivated by this little fella that I needed to take this "risk" as a baby step towards living my life as an example to him.<br />
<br />
So I did it. I got my hair cut on Monday. And my hubby even called me while I was on my way to the appointment to make sure that I didn't change my mind about it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BVxueCrBQqRSds5N0cXzggNYB4jrgfoHMF97PSog8Yu5X5U9NxUKyiJDCghXLhZBbtfLoTz0zJ0iaSdmDYHpkNmgqF6Rqem0bXMa9N79YGh9FoI3RNxpukVb3uNTlmv7T4ogSMkER2E/s1600/Photo+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BVxueCrBQqRSds5N0cXzggNYB4jrgfoHMF97PSog8Yu5X5U9NxUKyiJDCghXLhZBbtfLoTz0zJ0iaSdmDYHpkNmgqF6Rqem0bXMa9N79YGh9FoI3RNxpukVb3uNTlmv7T4ogSMkER2E/s400/Photo+31.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The BEFORE</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Check out "The AFTER"...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivND3BXebHInYYPnxoHWjgCLod6kIsJZ16x6GqfPkvSozpKl1BTvpqdgsA4GJ2AjqrPQ7VmBPx_NlbdqEdWpqAdftPXGYlzDL7_HqhURthU6JcE0gPH4avsgDqhYKk3kuS1MueUUph574/s1600/Photo+34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivND3BXebHInYYPnxoHWjgCLod6kIsJZ16x6GqfPkvSozpKl1BTvpqdgsA4GJ2AjqrPQ7VmBPx_NlbdqEdWpqAdftPXGYlzDL7_HqhURthU6JcE0gPH4avsgDqhYKk3kuS1MueUUph574/s400/Photo+34.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The AFTER</div><div style="text-align: center;">Me right after the haircut...all styled up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSeBGq6qC-ToPBbW6LyGXvWJT3fNOvbLbLHmwPgvkzGWonQg9pv5nP3IW_IzTMvzNFoYae6zQsXeVjv1nBZKstXYYt243q5DwVKcJhNbVV2xDl_ghWXWJRtTA0kIQP5TpPpiW22Kiv9k/s1600/Photo+42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSeBGq6qC-ToPBbW6LyGXvWJT3fNOvbLbLHmwPgvkzGWonQg9pv5nP3IW_IzTMvzNFoYae6zQsXeVjv1nBZKstXYYt243q5DwVKcJhNbVV2xDl_ghWXWJRtTA0kIQP5TpPpiW22Kiv9k/s400/Photo+42.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The AFTER...2 Days Later</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is how I "style" it</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2a_bRztxqGty5AElgiaSHqH6fGIz9byp1hswi1b7gWCb-wdVMuxPb5V66CGRhUUFiklQkSBPISWHIF2aJR5zeqS79SRHlXMmYuQ6JJSJIoO-_ZQCnoKlwTp3xNohOvazWrYKVYTX0Rw/s1600/Photo+43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2a_bRztxqGty5AElgiaSHqH6fGIz9byp1hswi1b7gWCb-wdVMuxPb5V66CGRhUUFiklQkSBPISWHIF2aJR5zeqS79SRHlXMmYuQ6JJSJIoO-_ZQCnoKlwTp3xNohOvazWrYKVYTX0Rw/s400/Photo+43.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The AFTER...Bobby Pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I can even throw in a bobby pin for a little flair</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the truth is...it's not as short as I had wanted to go. But it is still shorter than I've ever had my hair. I let the stylist do his thing once I showed him the pictures and based on my hair and head shape, and this style is what he came up with. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I may go shorter. I have an appointment early Feb. to add more color (blonde) to it, and I may tell him to chop more of it off. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But I am proud of myself. For taking this risk...even if it is a very small risk in the grand scheme of things.</div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-34490508855093833222011-01-10T12:18:00.004-05:002011-01-10T12:23:26.248-05:00Ramblings on the New Year<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My hubby says that the way you ring in the new year is an indicator of how the rest of the year is going to go. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, we slept through it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We crawled into bed around 10:00pm on New Year's Eve. (Don't judge me! We're new parents! We're tired! And we'd probably been up since around 6am that morning.) Naeners set the alarm for 11:45pm, so we could at least be awake to see the ball dropping on television. He thought it was the least we could do since we obviously weren't hitting any big parties or painting the town pink for the New Year.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But we slept through the alarm, too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Naeners woke me up around 1:45 am saying, "We missed it! We missed it! We missed the New Year!" Being a little miffed that he disturbed me in my sound sleep, I mumbled something back to him like, "And? What we didn't miss was the sleep!" I rolled back over into my slumber. So did he. Because we knew the baby would be waking soon for a nighttime feeding.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So if it is true what my hubby says about how one rings in the New Year, then what does that mean for us in 2011? Does it mean we're going to have a "sleepy" year? Does it mean we're going to continue to miss out on things? Or does it just mean that we need to grab our sleep when we can, and otherwise, just walk around in our usual sleep-deprived state like we've been doing since September?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One thing is for sure. I am not disappointed with the way we rang in the New Year. I got to sleep. At least for a little bit. Uninterrupted. Sleep is what I want. Sleep is what I need. Sleep was a good way, to me, to say good-bye to 2010 and hello to 2011.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And maybe that is why it has taken me 10 days to get this post up in the New Year. I've been taking cat naps and sleeping in my free time. I've been making sleep my priority. And it feels good!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't know what the New Year holds for us. We talked about our goals for the New Year. But, honestly, our goals for this year are no different than they were the year before. I think we just want to do the best that we can to make each other happy, have a nice and stable home for ourselves and our child, and to be the best people we can be.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whenever there is some sort of transition, I do reflect a bit on myself and my life. Where have I come from? Where am I going? Am I a better person today than I was yesterday? Is my life headed in the direction I think it should be going?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But this year, I didn't write down things I wanted to accomplish. I didn't make a list of my goals and all of the things I am going to "change" about me. Because the truth is, the goals or the changes I want to make are always the same. They are things I am working on each and every day. Some days I am a success; other days, a complete failure. And my BroLaw summed it up quite nicely when he said, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You have an opportunity every day to make decisions to change your life. Resolve to make those decisions every day, and you won't need a New Year's Resolution." I think that statement is so true. You have a choice every day as to whether or not you're going to live the life you want, and you really do not need a new year to tell yourself all the "good" things and ways you're going to live. Just do it. Every day. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So that is what 2011 means to me. Not trying to make a bunch of sweeping changes in my life because it's a New year, but to continue to make an effort to be the person I want to be each and every day, to keep it simple, to keep it focused on me and my family. And that's it!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh, and to get as much sleep as possible!</span></span>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-23730169253093422942011-01-06T22:09:00.000-05:002011-01-06T22:09:20.749-05:00Under Construction<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><b><u>The Stinky Times</u> </b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><b>is currently under construction.</b></i></span></span></div><br />
Please hang tight while I fiddle around to make some changes and improvements to this blog!Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-65744922937256881302010-12-30T20:26:00.000-05:002010-12-30T20:26:57.181-05:00The Year in Review<div style="text-align: left;">The year of 2010 was a big one in our household with lots of changes and transitions. I wanted to take a minute to walk to memory lane and break down our big family milestones throughout the year.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">January 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Had "that feeling" I was pregnant</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Confirmed the pregnancy with 4 at-home tests and 1 visit to the doctor<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHB-6f9UBaBmU7xvWY04cWSAl6Sh5_9jlV8Ib2Cf0nQzt5YGeyFQxcULDyKkuEXGsQZdJoh1q9JEwEBO-4deMDIxA18krPXSkkJBTam35jk4XUcTHIzfV587hdLNh7I_qjfn8G8jmBJ4/s1600/DSCN0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHB-6f9UBaBmU7xvWY04cWSAl6Sh5_9jlV8Ib2Cf0nQzt5YGeyFQxcULDyKkuEXGsQZdJoh1q9JEwEBO-4deMDIxA18krPXSkkJBTam35jk4XUcTHIzfV587hdLNh7I_qjfn8G8jmBJ4/s320/DSCN0586.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1/1/2010</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Preggers and didn't even know it!</span></i></div></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">February 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">1st visit with the OB-GYN</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Heard the heartbeat and received ultrasound</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Due date predicted for September 20</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Told both sets of parents that we were pregnant</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">My beloved grandmother, Merle, passes away at the age of 82<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjbGfff_b1mO-cqH1JK5hCL1puP1n3ENrzZR3Sill9IEqaHkDVnWQR9ZyMsCg2zqkAxWX4E9gxMArr6YhBexzciC_d1AfOXVRpA7M4Oqg6wAdxgMnAt1UgwehVCb0Dj6iFFlmCJ8s0uM/s1600/Baby+4+-+9w3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjbGfff_b1mO-cqH1JK5hCL1puP1n3ENrzZR3Sill9IEqaHkDVnWQR9ZyMsCg2zqkAxWX4E9gxMArr6YhBexzciC_d1AfOXVRpA7M4Oqg6wAdxgMnAt1UgwehVCb0Dj6iFFlmCJ8s0uM/s320/Baby+4+-+9w3d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">First Glimpse at the Mini-Stink</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMo6_pwyGQeLK5EprvjQ98lcjWzDneA0YGxA5x_zhyphenhyphenxGWpDN18AqG9YjiuF4Se3NXlnylY7xbvJa2cSvFWwkQQKiAxqwPo5Ydsyq_JovDAraGMCH2A_9K8NK24MTeVspMHoKw0rbDaEw/s1600/Merle+M.+Fralick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMo6_pwyGQeLK5EprvjQ98lcjWzDneA0YGxA5x_zhyphenhyphenxGWpDN18AqG9YjiuF4Se3NXlnylY7xbvJa2cSvFWwkQQKiAxqwPo5Ydsyq_JovDAraGMCH2A_9K8NK24MTeVspMHoKw0rbDaEw/s320/Merle+M.+Fralick.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">A Life Well Lived: Missing you Every Day!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">8/3/26 - 2/9/10</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></em></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">March 2010</span></em></strong></u></div></div></li>
</ul><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Started work on the nursery</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Crazy-like, manic nesting began</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Genetic testing completed and no indicators of any abnormalities<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YRJi9iL6-Q2CT02gW37O62wrLPkcB3RURfDqodaTA7ax7fo-Q3-ub_H_DAGHYXOaxPljgWh_PP4WzJ9yW95UAb2bn8Pr0ZVmPKYZdyvaRkzRJ3eI09jeUsycyi-FpcOye69kjyGd4Es/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YRJi9iL6-Q2CT02gW37O62wrLPkcB3RURfDqodaTA7ax7fo-Q3-ub_H_DAGHYXOaxPljgWh_PP4WzJ9yW95UAb2bn8Pr0ZVmPKYZdyvaRkzRJ3eI09jeUsycyi-FpcOye69kjyGd4Es/s320/IMG_1659.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></em></strong></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3ooRoHrAlRo-jVlb2XFjXizuXG0lrNNfg40uyfyWuHkJDy09qbNPx0zvlpTg2oJadrWWtU6Jex2rAXSzN-JWAEItwr1M4MBUpOWSszp2rRKhKhFeKdp0gxJxA_NyBtrMzju5yTUngwc/s1600/IMG_1626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3ooRoHrAlRo-jVlb2XFjXizuXG0lrNNfg40uyfyWuHkJDy09qbNPx0zvlpTg2oJadrWWtU6Jex2rAXSzN-JWAEItwr1M4MBUpOWSszp2rRKhKhFeKdp0gxJxA_NyBtrMzju5yTUngwc/s320/IMG_1626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">April 2010</span></em></strong></u></div></div></li>
</ul><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Naeners completed and submitted application for National Board Certified Teaching certificate</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">May 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Apparently not too much happened this month or I just can't remember<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tIA8k3CPt9aN6CCUIwYHI-_KkPqk8lvxvlz-7GxgEuDXAfAt40DzOgR2kE8ShD0wXz5cMXLvYbV43J6xYCIW4PGUW02clpNrpNJad1i2pq4cr1ElgtuO1p9jpw1DRLxHHVPniI7MvEQ/s1600/DSCN0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tIA8k3CPt9aN6CCUIwYHI-_KkPqk8lvxvlz-7GxgEuDXAfAt40DzOgR2kE8ShD0wXz5cMXLvYbV43J6xYCIW4PGUW02clpNrpNJad1i2pq4cr1ElgtuO1p9jpw1DRLxHHVPniI7MvEQ/s320/DSCN0636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">But I did get a new hair cut and color</span></i></div></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">June 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Family reunion and baby shower with my side of family<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ml5tXmf6pSsolVlILg1hzCTklj7WHe55WnnCog1M-X7p6TGO9LoYncZ7Q3XzbPU6jFCk7v9OSWq0faqq_scClbWoFt40GPOQxkjpENP2ut4-7hl7EGtwfMy0zh1vrzvLBGLX6z-h6-A/s1600/47a0d832b3127cce98549d0e866b00000035100AbMWLNi1csmQA_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ml5tXmf6pSsolVlILg1hzCTklj7WHe55WnnCog1M-X7p6TGO9LoYncZ7Q3XzbPU6jFCk7v9OSWq0faqq_scClbWoFt40GPOQxkjpENP2ut4-7hl7EGtwfMy0zh1vrzvLBGLX6z-h6-A/s320/47a0d832b3127cce98549d0e866b00000035100AbMWLNi1csmQA_2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">First Gifts for Baby</span></i></div></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">July 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Celebrated 3 years of marital bliss (mostly)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Celebrated Naeners 33rd birthday<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPR0dBZxRMhoQB1CwUbbaar2M74-e_Oq_wPQIjeBH1q_J7lv7bj3KPqHAUTCfDs5gsXeOxc5VJnqDYuG2qaDgEHXROTLHzSiYW94pDI2Gvc37zTHpiIM9ZeWujMIzg-tVbVhmxSyhhavc/s1600/IMG_1830_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPR0dBZxRMhoQB1CwUbbaar2M74-e_Oq_wPQIjeBH1q_J7lv7bj3KPqHAUTCfDs5gsXeOxc5VJnqDYuG2qaDgEHXROTLHzSiYW94pDI2Gvc37zTHpiIM9ZeWujMIzg-tVbVhmxSyhhavc/s320/IMG_1830_2.JPG" width="272" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3rd Wedding Aniversary</span></i></div></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">August 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Baby shower with friends and family</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Last road trip to visit my parents and the beach before the baby arrives</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Nursery completed, car seats installed, and bags packed for the hospital<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rFMU-OBN5SGKajTI8aU90quuelRDpYecb2fs4UXNNAWUTLiETSVptW9wNW0z0_VmvN9fjK7dplSkj7K45TXH0DcP6ed5PIHJk5BbRynleOwy79V0PyJDAOeB8OtW9tF1s45sh2TpPdg/s1600/DSCN0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rFMU-OBN5SGKajTI8aU90quuelRDpYecb2fs4UXNNAWUTLiETSVptW9wNW0z0_VmvN9fjK7dplSkj7K45TXH0DcP6ed5PIHJk5BbRynleOwy79V0PyJDAOeB8OtW9tF1s45sh2TpPdg/s320/DSCN0743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGyy40qmlxCGeGl-JnCmvfUtJKXfavGwe8OSkRWba0uZoXyzTdATpFj1n3pJkDzzMQq0L7xJJzSan1HwPmggcj7mIDWr05kCCGjrLWLP1FDMQMiJ1gQqSUZIEGjLthIvZeLfsPpnFqVo/s1600/DSCN0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGyy40qmlxCGeGl-JnCmvfUtJKXfavGwe8OSkRWba0uZoXyzTdATpFj1n3pJkDzzMQq0L7xJJzSan1HwPmggcj7mIDWr05kCCGjrLWLP1FDMQMiJ1gQqSUZIEGjLthIvZeLfsPpnFqVo/s320/DSCN0776.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">September 2010</span></em></strong></u></div></div></li>
</ul><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Maternity leave begins</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Most important day of the year - 9/22/10 - Gave birth to my son, Quinlan (aka Mini-Stink, Baby Q)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprcnHNcnkgZVP0fSvDlgoApXJotK_L9HuBdHA_dimWyCCJiL-mzTbhFaRIuvYrvUqoUsEd_dwlKNQwC9lor0Ycc0JOzUE7EH8jby777Fh6AJ1A73XJe86wFcTmmDvEGbJXyF413ar7jI/s1600/Augsept10+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprcnHNcnkgZVP0fSvDlgoApXJotK_L9HuBdHA_dimWyCCJiL-mzTbhFaRIuvYrvUqoUsEd_dwlKNQwC9lor0Ycc0JOzUE7EH8jby777Fh6AJ1A73XJe86wFcTmmDvEGbJXyF413ar7jI/s320/Augsept10+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Welcome to the World, Quin!</span></i></div></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">October 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Celebrated my 32nd birthday<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwOspLOL0mwYg-L70nkBOOM4b_GgT3Xng88b7ObXIULW2qofer-Hr6ty8cs_cPjI53j1HOikGIx_VLYb7Rrb193VauBAztzX4qyBe1WccnxFOPwPONDxgiIRhyTdIglRbAoK8aFm1NFM/s1600/IMG_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwOspLOL0mwYg-L70nkBOOM4b_GgT3Xng88b7ObXIULW2qofer-Hr6ty8cs_cPjI53j1HOikGIx_VLYb7Rrb193VauBAztzX4qyBe1WccnxFOPwPONDxgiIRhyTdIglRbAoK8aFm1NFM/s320/IMG_2254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">First Halloween</span></i></div></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">November 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Visited my Grandma so that Baby Q could meet his GiGi (great grandmother)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Baby Q hospitalized for possible menigitis </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Naeners passed National Boards - Yay!</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Celebrated Baby Q's 1st Thanksgiving</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Interviewed for a position as a school social worker<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqHB6qD9WFj7iZEtNtAQs2S6bfUaY7o5rF5iJuczUkK9OeDyfDy28CB4SW_PFve9fbXHOX4fiaFO8VvAtjn-S6UtjjpNjGvn63avI21X8z9QYmjM12EJ11BMW1TaFqeHuPKn2_xEb9o4/s1600/39538_115435978519721_100001599589746_111917_5961392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqHB6qD9WFj7iZEtNtAQs2S6bfUaY7o5rF5iJuczUkK9OeDyfDy28CB4SW_PFve9fbXHOX4fiaFO8VvAtjn-S6UtjjpNjGvn63avI21X8z9QYmjM12EJ11BMW1TaFqeHuPKn2_xEb9o4/s320/39538_115435978519721_100001599589746_111917_5961392_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Gigi meets Baby Q</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and can you believe Gigi is 91 years old?)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">December 2010</span></em></strong></u></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Accepted social worker positin with school system</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Returned to CPS job</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Submitted resignation at CPS job</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Baby Q starts daycare</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Celebrated Baby Q's 1st Christmas<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFUvpFrGJTVPvdg7ajhjpbISy6yIeGWJHYNA_VnlkpDQ0b7lVgVQ3ELSUHuRcQgqFdZEZflbHWrugDE57tDrSu-Nk6vxlbu8sJbh1t1lkZwa2TQJmBljzQUqo8nOrP6dAXyQHEMeDZCs/s1600/IMG_2532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFUvpFrGJTVPvdg7ajhjpbISy6yIeGWJHYNA_VnlkpDQ0b7lVgVQ3ELSUHuRcQgqFdZEZflbHWrugDE57tDrSu-Nk6vxlbu8sJbh1t1lkZwa2TQJmBljzQUqo8nOrP6dAXyQHEMeDZCs/s320/IMG_2532.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoUPaq9mTI9NOqeyUR2Q_jFJevcStBPTDbvgdyuvSR3ZZXb82x0LbOcZUazVGx1vQJ7bD24OLI78jG6-ptv_ml1MjeIPXWBiZTjwVqQqbitRmVaNPyOqHFoS3eqNpvOJvGjWm2EnkcCo/s1600/IMG_2423_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoUPaq9mTI9NOqeyUR2Q_jFJevcStBPTDbvgdyuvSR3ZZXb82x0LbOcZUazVGx1vQJ7bD24OLI78jG6-ptv_ml1MjeIPXWBiZTjwVqQqbitRmVaNPyOqHFoS3eqNpvOJvGjWm2EnkcCo/s320/IMG_2423_2.JPG" width="320" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoUPaq9mTI9NOqeyUR2Q_jFJevcStBPTDbvgdyuvSR3ZZXb82x0LbOcZUazVGx1vQJ7bD24OLI78jG6-ptv_ml1MjeIPXWBiZTjwVqQqbitRmVaNPyOqHFoS3eqNpvOJvGjWm2EnkcCo/s1600/IMG_2423_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoUPaq9mTI9NOqeyUR2Q_jFJevcStBPTDbvgdyuvSR3ZZXb82x0LbOcZUazVGx1vQJ7bD24OLI78jG6-ptv_ml1MjeIPXWBiZTjwVqQqbitRmVaNPyOqHFoS3eqNpvOJvGjWm2EnkcCo/s1600/IMG_2423_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></li>
</ul>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-77148188669461221152010-12-29T09:31:00.000-05:002010-12-29T09:31:35.496-05:00Bye-ByeWell, here I am at work...not working obviously. I am closing in on my last days as a social worker with Child Protective Services and getting prepared for new adventures in social work in the school system. I am excited! I am a sad! It's all a little bittersweet!<br />
<br />
I've been with CPS for almost 3 years and have really come to love the people I work with on a daily basis. And I've also come to love the community for which I have served during my time here. I've grown a lot as a social worker and have been challenged in so many ways by the work and the clients. It's been a learning experience, and I've faced situations that I never thought I would be able to handle. <br />
<br />
CPS is hard work, and it's not for everybody. I am not really sure that it was ever for me, but it's something I had to do. It's experience I had to get. And now I am happy to be moving on...for so many reasons. It's hard to face stressful, crisis-riden situations on a day-to-day basis. It's hard to witness children living in situations that are neglectful and abusive. It's hard not knowing what happens to some of these children and families once the investigation is complete. It's just hard. Period.<br />
<br />
I need a change. I need something that is more compatible with my personality. I like to see outcomes. I like to see happy endings. I am not saying that everything in CPS was bad or that everything in the school will be happy and fun, but there should be a definite difference. I will get the opportunity to get to know my clients (the students) for an extended period of time rather than dropping into their lives, making a decision about the abuse/neglect in the home, and dropping out (closing case, transferring case, or taking custody). I will get to try interventions and work with the children on an on-going basis. And the job will be less confrontational...at least not as confrontational on a day-to-day basis. <br />
<br />
And I need something that is more conducive to my family life. CPS is not family-friendly...at least not to your own family. My job as a CPS social worker is to be flexible and available to meet the family's needs. That means if a parent can't meet with me until 6:00pm, then I have to change my schedule to meet with them. Now that I have a baby at home, I can't work that late on a regular basis. This job is too unpredictable and has too many restraints when it comes to my personal life. I need to have a more regular schedule. I need to get home to my hubby and baby. And I hope with my new work and new schedule, I will be allowed the opportunity to have just that...more time with my fami;ly while still doing good, hard, productive work during the day.<br />
<br />
So...it is bye-bye to CPS. It's been good to me, but it's time to move on. And it seems so appropriate to finish this job as the year comes to a close. I am ready for my new job. I am ready to start fresh in 2011.Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-86265308342821317582010-12-28T13:00:00.003-05:002010-12-28T13:02:04.036-05:00Cry, Rock, Sleep...Repeat<div class="separator" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOpNnI7ALPmDcDKYjwslHCZQLBQu0WCecAfwhuV-1Vpl5S27t60Irhxd60VoPIhmKikp8mfzL5WjmgTfTJdvO6Kd9Qq6Eq4nvqbgJzBXr6te7SXaXctD2krak6y7HMJ8votLuSZ1Q314/s400/IMG_2552.JPG" width="266" /></div>How do you get your little one to sleep at night? Anyone swaddle or use such methods as Ferber or Cry-it-Out (CIO)? How long does your 3-month-old sleep at night? I've worked hard the past month to get the little one on a bedtime schedule/routine. I am not sure if I am doing it right. And I don't know that there is a right way. <br />
<br />
Our bedtime routine goes a little something like this: <br />
<br />
Once Baby Q hits his evening fussiness because he's sleepy, I start up the routine immediately. And if he hasn't gotten to that point of getting fussy by 7:30pm, then I start up the routine anyways. I kick off the nighttime routine with a bath. The Mini-Stink seems to really enjoy the bath (until I get to his neck cheese, then he protests fervently against it). He gets a complete scrub down every 3rd night, and on the other nights I hit the cheesy spots with the wash cloth but no soap. I then bundle him up in a towel, and we head to his bedroom where I have his nighttime music playing. I lotion him up to keep his skin silky smooth and put him in his pajamas. Throughout bathtime and the lotioning, I talk to him letting him know that we are getting ready for "night-nights." If he's alert and happy once he's been lubed up and dressed for the night, then we have playtime and storytime...all in his room. If he is crying, then I nurse him and rock him to sleep. Once he's asleep, I swaddle him up and place him in the crib. And...Viola...sleeping baby!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The thing that I can't seem to pin down is that his sleeping patterns are so erratic. When he goes down for the night, he is down. He doesn't wake up at 2am to play. He's never had his days and nights confused. But the erratic part is that he will sometimes sleep 6 to 8 hours before waking up to be nursed and put back to bed, and other times he'll only go 2 to 3 hours and continues that pattern the whole of the night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When he wakes in the night, I wait until he belts out a real cry before I go into his room to get him...just on the off chance that he might fall back asleep. When I pick him up at night, I keep it all business. Lights remain off, and I keep the chatter to none at all or just enough to soothe him. I always nurse him, swaddle him back up, and put him back in the bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've read a lot on sleeping patterns and infants. Some techniques have worked for me and others I have chosen to ignore or just have not worked fo us. For instance, I am a nurser/rocker. I've read that the baby should be placed in his crib when he is drowsy so that he can learn to soothe himself the rest of the way to sleep. I don't do that. I've tried, but when I do, his little eyes pop wide open, and he thinks it's playtime again. I wind up leaning over the crib for about 20 minutes trying to soothe him back to sleep until he starts crying and I pick up the little booger. You're supposed to keep doing this over and over (putting him down in the drowsy state) until he learns to soothe himself completely to sleep. I guess I am not patient enough. Or, perhaps, I am just too lazy. And maybe I am so sleep-deprived myself that it's just easier to to rock/nurse him to sleep and put him in his crib because I know that works. And maybe it is just as comforting to me to be able to get him to fall asleep in my arms, especially on the days when we've been apart..it's a little more time I get to spend with my baby...even if he is asleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, I am just not a CIO supporter. I tried to let him cry for 5 minutes the other night when he woke up in his crib (I knew he wasn't hungry or wet because those issues had been addressed), and it was the worst 5 minutes...for both of us. And the 5 minutes after I picked him up were even more worse than when I was letting him CIO. He was royally pissed at me. And he screamed and screamed and screamed to let me know it. It was like he was totally confused and questioning why I had not promptly responded to his calls. I felt horrible. I had recently read that since he has hit the 3-month mark, I can let him cry up to 15 minutes. Really? Can I? It doesn't feel right to me to lay in bed and listen to him scream when I know I can comfort him. And it surely was hell for the 5 minutes I let him do it the other night. I just feel that I need to respond to his cries in the middle of the night. Babies cry when they need something, right? Even if it's just a little cuddle from their mom or dad that they need. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know that as long as I am nursing, I will most likely be getting up at least once during the night for a feeding. I am okay with that. What I don't know is if I am setting myself up for bedtime battles later on by rocking him to sleep and tending to his cries rather promptly in the middle of the night. I want my baby to grow into a good sleeper. And I, too, would like to return to getting a full night's rest. I am doing the best that I can. So I've decided that I just have to do what feels right for me and for the baby and what works for us as a family. I've taken some of the advice from books and articles on developing healthy sleeping habits and adapted it to meet our needs (honestly, some being my own selfish need for that contact and closeness with my baby). I am going to continue to rock and nurse him to sleep. And I am going to continue to respond to his cries in the middle of the night...even if it is every 2 hours on some nights. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I am curious...are there any other moms that have struggled/questioned their own methods at getting their little one to sleep and stay asleep?</div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-65344471480971351802010-12-27T20:40:00.000-05:002010-12-27T20:40:25.780-05:00A Pictorial Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This pretty much sums up our Christmas holiday:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWbicYTNm0DNf4VpF-SAcwn6-OkASYGaKQH1KPW8qnxDL8TXAY1PWuzsT_LGohGBjqMBAkDFsWt5e1z2LtkwP5zPeBQBDUIhv4d_fqIC8fXuaWAAtAQ5LfSM_SoLxwqRBJtzLh4AV2cA/s1600/IMG_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWbicYTNm0DNf4VpF-SAcwn6-OkASYGaKQH1KPW8qnxDL8TXAY1PWuzsT_LGohGBjqMBAkDFsWt5e1z2LtkwP5zPeBQBDUIhv4d_fqIC8fXuaWAAtAQ5LfSM_SoLxwqRBJtzLh4AV2cA/s400/IMG_2487.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPkKCoyEAxuCW2tfEM9RsX7drZtDin_flDm1QyhludQUmWREpnmK6oycFy3tP9Nv28b8OCHBhAuFuS7m2zRyK7Mjm_mzAMSoOhIj5njiogEvBWqMA585CHNR_rgG-N3wPlpAiYqE2Fsw/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPkKCoyEAxuCW2tfEM9RsX7drZtDin_flDm1QyhludQUmWREpnmK6oycFy3tP9Nv28b8OCHBhAuFuS7m2zRyK7Mjm_mzAMSoOhIj5njiogEvBWqMA585CHNR_rgG-N3wPlpAiYqE2Fsw/s400/IMG_2491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Il1DDYPB7wjxuAHDUFy96HuU6gKKSgVHiyIWh6Mlq9Ph_mS_of1TJrHXQO6wLb49Dkn6d6DWhC9YMtJA57Hf9MTtNdeeWMu_FRgR625XlcGy70BcORoPay-a_Snyo4lrryvknZxgkOI/s1600/IMG_2498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Il1DDYPB7wjxuAHDUFy96HuU6gKKSgVHiyIWh6Mlq9Ph_mS_of1TJrHXQO6wLb49Dkn6d6DWhC9YMtJA57Hf9MTtNdeeWMu_FRgR625XlcGy70BcORoPay-a_Snyo4lrryvknZxgkOI/s400/IMG_2498.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhXoFnBLdSY4gdVd9rqWuFvu2GaYzEXigRzPBK6k5huhjkdXGTIXrHa5Rb6WtLPAoaRjIAATxoapNjX4gAa0p1gDSbBEAAazZx7PU22K8Gk6ciUBYbsJ55TddTRELr2uIdnhiPCb2NxU/s1600/IMG_2516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhXoFnBLdSY4gdVd9rqWuFvu2GaYzEXigRzPBK6k5huhjkdXGTIXrHa5Rb6WtLPAoaRjIAATxoapNjX4gAa0p1gDSbBEAAazZx7PU22K8Gk6ciUBYbsJ55TddTRELr2uIdnhiPCb2NxU/s400/IMG_2516.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzi4iEbmtF8UJs_cW_6Xg-9FHBkLCoD6MS0gkDXOSAFp9ibUeIa0eeUhjzczgm0FGNAjxMXaCRfwg3PRKUfrRTYVyv2P8zMel1_Tw2r0MZQ_14Soa3rNOXC7ywZmFBB-EUY2gPYfTJb0/s1600/IMG_2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzi4iEbmtF8UJs_cW_6Xg-9FHBkLCoD6MS0gkDXOSAFp9ibUeIa0eeUhjzczgm0FGNAjxMXaCRfwg3PRKUfrRTYVyv2P8zMel1_Tw2r0MZQ_14Soa3rNOXC7ywZmFBB-EUY2gPYfTJb0/s400/IMG_2521.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFf-sq_hb7TJ2Ux2HEudkrpl34mimLtiIiBJxY_IrULwthR0YclOOK1Vgg_PXypNBfAPZO1W6MA0YITatyjwZeuLMJpXag2wmjTUSO0mTwY1YSlj0nL00FLePv1IaxtMMHfWfp7x5FEE/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFf-sq_hb7TJ2Ux2HEudkrpl34mimLtiIiBJxY_IrULwthR0YclOOK1Vgg_PXypNBfAPZO1W6MA0YITatyjwZeuLMJpXag2wmjTUSO0mTwY1YSlj0nL00FLePv1IaxtMMHfWfp7x5FEE/s400/IMG_2530.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdFv5NKAU6TAjH8Wb7F_5j3tNcr_QdQHnQSw93HsQcvAdyOlR6WHtF84v9ZGjs8oFMkvz6v5qijj5ySSRj272YlhmUjdChCTiWBrlaFEZxIzi8HCnIFUkA-gvkqoiw2n9cPsPwejXiLU/s1600/IMG_2532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdFv5NKAU6TAjH8Wb7F_5j3tNcr_QdQHnQSw93HsQcvAdyOlR6WHtF84v9ZGjs8oFMkvz6v5qijj5ySSRj272YlhmUjdChCTiWBrlaFEZxIzi8HCnIFUkA-gvkqoiw2n9cPsPwejXiLU/s640/IMG_2532.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-21712703125804074182010-12-26T18:13:00.000-05:002010-12-26T18:13:19.834-05:00Pajama DayIt's snowing in good ol' NC! We almost had a white Christmas, but the snow came a day late. That's okay, though, because we've enjoyed it nonetheless. I've been hanging out all day in my pj's...just napping with my baby by the fire and spending time with the in-laws and my hubby.<br />
<br />
***Insert Snow Pictures HERE***<br />
<br />
And because I left my camera at SisLaw's house last night, we don't have any great snow day pictures.<br />
<br />
I thought I would leave everyone with some delicious recipes that we used for our Christmas breakfast and dinner.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Escalloped Onions</u></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>5-6 large onions</li>
<li>1 stick butter</li>
<li>2 T. flour</li>
<li>1 t. salt</li>
<li>1/2 t. pepper</li>
<li>1/2 t. dry mustard</li>
<li>1 cup milk</li>
<li>1 8oz (cup) grated Swiss or cheddar cheese</li>
<li>bread crumbs</li>
<li>butter for topping</li>
</ul><div>Thinly slice onions to equal about 4 cups. Separate into rings, saute in 1/2 stick butter until lightly browned. In saucepan, melt remaining 1/2 stick butter and stir in flour and seasonings. Slowly stir in milk and grated cheese. Cool slowly until cheese is melted, stirring constantly. In a one quart baking dish alternate layers of onions and sauce. Sprinkle top with crumbs and dot with butter. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. </div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Best Baked Corn</span></u></i></b></div><div><br />
</div><div><ul><li>1 cup milk</li>
<li>2 T. butter</li>
<li>1 T. sugar</li>
<li>2 T. flour</li>
<li>1 15oz can corn (drained)</li>
<li>2 eggs (well beaten)</li>
</ul><div>Boil 3/4 cup milk with butter and sugar. Dissolve flour in 1/4 cup milk. Pour flour mixture into milk mixture to make a thin white sauce. Add to drained corn in a 1 to 1.5 quart loaf pan. Mix in eggs. Bake 1 hour at 400 degrees.</div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u><br />
</u></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Caramel Apple Dumplings</u></span></i></b></div><br />
We had these for breakfast, but they would be great for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" style="text-align: center; width: 506px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td width="196"><div class="subheadline" style="color: #003300; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> This recipe can easily be cut in half for fewer servings. Also, this recipe was adapted from a similar recipe The Pioneer Woman cooks had on her website, “Apple Dumplings”. This one is not as sweet and we love the crunch of the pecans and the crust that is created on top of the crescent rolls using less butter.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" height="160" style="text-align: center; width: 508px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td class="bodytext" height="77" style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; list-style-position: inside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: 20px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: normal;" width="502"><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 NC Granny Smith Apples</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 cans Crescent Rolls</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 stick butter</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 ½ cups sugar</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 teaspoon Vanilla</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup NC Pecans</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">¼ cup caramel topping</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cinnamon, to taste</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 can (12oz.) Mountain Dew</span></li>
</ul></td></tr>
<tr valign="top"><td class="bodytext" height="77" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; list-style-position: inside; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: 20px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Spread a thin coating of caramel onto the crescent roll. Place an apple slice at the large end. Sprinkle pecans in front of the apple slice and half way down the crescent roll. Then roll the apple and nuts up in the dough. Place in a 9 X 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and spoon the mixture over the apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream. Drizzle with caramel and top with a few more pecans.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-50186368641522043402010-12-25T20:30:00.000-05:002010-12-25T20:30:05.082-05:00Merry Christmas<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">***Insert Christmas pictures HERE from today***</div><br />
Yeah, I had planned to post pictures from our Christmas celebration today except I left the camera over at SisLaw's house. I guess that means Christmas pictures will be posted later.Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-31458417498826003532010-12-24T06:00:00.003-05:002010-12-24T06:00:05.570-05:00Flashback Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am flashin' back to the Christmas season sometime around 1980 or 1981 putting me around 2 to 3-years-old. I, mean, seriously, I was chillin' in front of very, very frugal Christmas tree. I guess times were tight or my dad was just cheap, but he apparently decided that Christmas he needed to go out into the woods in the back of our house and chop down a tree and spray paint it white. And from looking at the decorations on the tree, it looks like a lot of them were homemade. I actually think it was a pretty cool idea and a different spin on the Christmas tree. I think that was the only time that we had the spray painted Christmas tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgfRksWavSd5cgquxX88CymsO7qjmBPmzIGD-a_h0WYVkpRRvqHJYZK-YZn8ZtHrUOz1IzzJgFkeOad7VSP_JIfrxasgs1SXBlz10Psp8GvnYh4goZNi3H4il8JUrVcwxU2kJDBqvzb0/s1600/White+Christmas+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgfRksWavSd5cgquxX88CymsO7qjmBPmzIGD-a_h0WYVkpRRvqHJYZK-YZn8ZtHrUOz1IzzJgFkeOad7VSP_JIfrxasgs1SXBlz10Psp8GvnYh4goZNi3H4il8JUrVcwxU2kJDBqvzb0/s400/White+Christmas+Tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Hanging out by the spray painted tree in my "cute" outfit</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>c. 1980 or 1981</em></div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-66329718462962907542010-12-23T08:52:00.002-05:002010-12-23T08:55:21.707-05:003 Whole Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't believe it, but it has already been 3 months since our little guy made his entrance into this world. It's amazing how quickly time flies by and how fast he has grown and developed already. It's so weird because I miss him being so tiny, but at the same time, I love watching him grow and reach new milestones. I never knew the joy that would come with watching my own child learn and develop and grow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've definitely had my ups and downs adapting to the whole parenthood thing. Some days are just better than others. But one thing is for sure, no matter how the day goes, when I see my son smile at me, it truly melts my heart and makes my day better tenfold. In addition, I can say that I have become more comfortable and confident with myself as a mother. I think the baby and I have kind of figured each other out, and Naeners and I have developed a new way of relating and communicating that seems to make things run smoother around the house. I trust my instincts more, and I trust in my partnership in parenting with my hubby. We don't always know what to do, but we figure it out together, and we do our best not to freak out in the meantime. It's amazing to see how your relationship and partnership with your significant other grows along with your baby. I truly look forward to growing along with my baby and my hubby in this crazy fast life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like many other blogging mommies, I've decided to document my baby's monthly growth by having him pose with a silly stuffed animal (monkey) on his rocking chair. It will be fun (at least for me) to be able to look back at the pictures and see how he has changed each month for the next 2 years. However, what I am not going to do like so many blogging mommies is document every little milestone and tidbit on here. Truth be told, Naeners and I (and probably the grandparents) are the only ones who really care where he is at with his developmental milestones. I, mean, really, does anyone other than me really care when he first cooed or smiled or that he can hold his head up or that he now seems perplexed by his own hands? I keep a journal for my little one where I write him letters and talk about what he has been up to...those are the moments that he and I and my hubby share and delight in...and share amongst ourselve as a family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">ONE MONTH - 10/22/10 </span></u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9tOFEsowGzliOxBEay6cpFopJ3_jxyHk1uMjsrjYyHfuVZC_Q1bKArMMpnPdZzP7op4eEDxnn5KbU_wXFbjkfqAJSQw7Y3fo6Ovn8mUNbZWSru1GH_mWWl5h9FaWQMKw9Ev3LrLUBrY/s400/IMG_2232.JPG" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>The Mini-Stink "just chillin'" with the monkey</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8htGWlOHWM-f6eK9W5TmUstqVfeXIIQOAqfoj_mA_Nw6J7odoQ1IrdSeqVHJI0FiM5djS8gDQHBfwQzD3ZF-cbDGZC9thBcFHlMuUIcz6yyoiRsy3u9AwlBnHeg-gttXrmuz1MLaaWik/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8htGWlOHWM-f6eK9W5TmUstqVfeXIIQOAqfoj_mA_Nw6J7odoQ1IrdSeqVHJI0FiM5djS8gDQHBfwQzD3ZF-cbDGZC9thBcFHlMuUIcz6yyoiRsy3u9AwlBnHeg-gttXrmuz1MLaaWik/s400/IMG_2234.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">TWO MONTHS - 11/22/10</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dwH7IYYBBn_JJFXbKdsb57k3OEqJRzGm8Bi_Q0X15WM-g9_Dn40_TkDhE50BK6tP8EcTaUtAyDkz4sX2mnHkd1wV3dOm3LfLEXkT-xo60u1yYpBOIU3zQZQ4skQT3PlG6LBoCQGAeks/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dwH7IYYBBn_JJFXbKdsb57k3OEqJRzGm8Bi_Q0X15WM-g9_Dn40_TkDhE50BK6tP8EcTaUtAyDkz4sX2mnHkd1wV3dOm3LfLEXkT-xo60u1yYpBOIU3zQZQ4skQT3PlG6LBoCQGAeks/s400/IMG_2304.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Bored with the Monkey...Yawn!</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyvy8FQnzi_6orrfsZrq1qSN6XwtLxcBSYghtxArkbe39-cv0sxQ9QB5oFbdJnCCRjrVxind9DwWr2bFxbUXC7E6AFYsFAm8MT6SEO5CK7k3qggIwaHxodzXubBXKzy3ATf9QkOrG9z0/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyvy8FQnzi_6orrfsZrq1qSN6XwtLxcBSYghtxArkbe39-cv0sxQ9QB5oFbdJnCCRjrVxind9DwWr2bFxbUXC7E6AFYsFAm8MT6SEO5CK7k3qggIwaHxodzXubBXKzy3ATf9QkOrG9z0/s400/IMG_2310.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><em>Angry with the Monkey</em></div><div align="center"><em>"This is seriously stupid, Mom!"</em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em></em><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">THREE MONTHS - 12/22/10</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13kEmvcBhOcPOh_6yif8dbvjAx6jca5UxWmwWK_23b_aqwPpO8IQqGI64LiFdT1n8XQ2rIJ8GJ7esssHP-qp85pZKV8dYEYjvGtm_Bysrsptzf3mpqTiZUPpbUb1aHLehfjUY2GThK0I/s1600/IMG_2473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13kEmvcBhOcPOh_6yif8dbvjAx6jca5UxWmwWK_23b_aqwPpO8IQqGI64LiFdT1n8XQ2rIJ8GJ7esssHP-qp85pZKV8dYEYjvGtm_Bysrsptzf3mpqTiZUPpbUb1aHLehfjUY2GThK0I/s400/IMG_2473.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Our Little Monkey</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Fat and Happy</em></div></div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-23255906201333524622010-12-22T11:29:00.001-05:002010-12-22T11:30:12.272-05:00Ain't Got Nothin'I seriously ain't got nothin' to talk about today (just giving you a dose of my Southern accent). Seriously, my mind is totally blank which is really weird because I always have something to <strike>talk</strike> ramble about on here. <br />
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Sooo...I guess I will talk about the fact the my hubby is in charge of the kiddo all day long today. He does a great job caring for our son, but we're usually together or he has him for about 2 hour time frame on his own. He's never gone a straight 8-9 hours in charge of the little fella. <br />
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We both said we were a little nervous about how the day would go. I told him that it will be weird because I will be away from the mini-stink all day and won't be able to log on and watch him on video. It's probably better that way, anyways. <br />
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I am happy for the fact that they are getting to spend the day together and have father-son bonding time. I can't wait to get home and hear about all of their adventures from today.Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-33476197391744409232010-12-21T09:35:00.000-05:002010-12-21T09:35:58.843-05:00Thrifty FunSince we are feeling the economic crunch and paying an astronomical amount for daycare, we are always looking for ways to "cut back" on our spending. It seems frivolous to go on a shopping spree for a new wardrobe when the money can be put to better use in other places in our budget, but I need some new clothes...desperately. My clothes are really outdated (as in I've worn them all 1000s of times), and I need some new pieces to accommodate my slightly re-shifted body. I can honestly say that we really don't spend a lot on our clothing, but there always comes that time when you just need some new stuff to wear. I've reached that point...I just need a few pieces to add to my already existing wardrobe and to replace some things that have been so worn I should never wear them again. I am not a big shopper for clothing and very rarely buy something if it isn't on some sort of sale or doesn't have a coupon deal attached, but I always get my stuff new. <br />
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Sooo...in my desire to save a little money but to also meet my existing wardrobe needs, I decided to hit up the local thrift shop. I've never gone thrifting for my own clothing; I've always donated my stuff to the Good Will or other thrift type shops but never shopped in one. But I started thinking about some of the stuff I've donated in the past, and some of the pieces were brand new or barely worn. So it made me think that other people donate good quality stuff as well. I was willing to go peruse the racks at the local Good Will to see if I could find something suitable and in good condition and cheap!<br />
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I left the baby with Naeners and set out on my big shopping excursion to the thrift store. (Times surely have changed...the mall has been traded-in for the Good Will.) I needed to be alone so I could dig and focus on the task at hand. I was looking for basic, timeless pieces that don't go out of style. I've never been one to buy the latest trends, anyways, because trendy stuff, to me, is not a good worthwhile investment. <br />
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So I dug through those racks; there were lots of racks. And I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of good conditioned clothing I found. And since we live in an area that is considered "well-to-do," there were lots of name-brand, good quality pieces (Banana Republic, Polo, The Loft, Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew, Gap, etc., etc.). I started grabbing stuff left and right to try on for size. <br />
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I wound up finding some good pieces that weren't tattered or stained and seemed to be like new. I purchased 2 pair of pants (Old Navy; The Limited); 1 cardigan sweater (not a name brand, but still had original sales tags attached); 1 blouse (Gap); and 1 turtle neck (Merona...Target brand; And, yes, I rock the turtle necks...they're timeless, right?). So for those 5 pieces of clothing, I paid a whopping $19.56 (including tax). <br />
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It was a lot easier to go thrifting when I sucked up my pride and remembered that I was saving our family money, meeting one of my own needs, and being smart by "reusing/recycling" items that are in good condition (one man's trash is another man's treasure, right?). <br />
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I think the key to good thrift shopping is to do it often so that you can grab up the good quality stuff. And since I feel the trip was a success and not a waste, I've got a yearning to check out some of the other local thrift stores to see what cheap treasures I can find.Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-37229232753901644452010-12-20T12:31:00.002-05:002010-12-20T12:31:33.675-05:00Quotable Quote of the Week<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">- Donald E. Westlake</span></em></strong></div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-42634027563178450492010-12-19T17:25:00.000-05:002010-12-19T17:25:49.548-05:00AwkwardMy hubby and I were watching <i>Sunday Morning </i>on CBS this morning and there was a segment on the website <a href="http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/">Awkward Family Photos</a>. I went to check out the website, and it had some pretty hilarious family photos on it. And all of of the photos on the website are submitted by a family member himself.<br />
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Here are a few from the website that had me rolling in laughter:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sas.guidespot.com/bundles/guides_e5/assets/widget_dbVeH86k9j34jEbQmt9-FM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://sas.guidespot.com/bundles/guides_e5/assets/widget_dbVeH86k9j34jEbQmt9-FM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/awkward-family-photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/awkward-family-photos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-pYTeYBEeSQgET1dlikwGf6HjAg6DK0UnkrscCwl-Sx5q9NMtqKoZNnBfdavt987OzTbx1TPcnduCDHr4vrbVBRVJ1ycmWrn833k5JIPr03247wCNffunbuhVAfrSQqX-n563MkEPas/s1600/563_0_resize_watermarked_rt_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-pYTeYBEeSQgET1dlikwGf6HjAg6DK0UnkrscCwl-Sx5q9NMtqKoZNnBfdavt987OzTbx1TPcnduCDHr4vrbVBRVJ1ycmWrn833k5JIPr03247wCNffunbuhVAfrSQqX-n563MkEPas/s400/563_0_resize_watermarked_rt_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0OleZfHve2x3cu7tTBEpeS3L11zG2d9LuKiOI26iQB6Ce1CCxnOdJ5rP1BpHPVEVV6wfqJMyX1yUHnMmp4eBTtKFLh1zgDlWC7s8Q1LtL0feGlb0lwFV93W2OfQh38PCAQTndI9IC80/s1600/570_0_resize.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0OleZfHve2x3cu7tTBEpeS3L11zG2d9LuKiOI26iQB6Ce1CCxnOdJ5rP1BpHPVEVV6wfqJMyX1yUHnMmp4eBTtKFLh1zgDlWC7s8Q1LtL0feGlb0lwFV93W2OfQh38PCAQTndI9IC80/s400/570_0_resize.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
And it got me thinking about photos from my family and if we had any awkward ones that would be worthy of submitting to the website. Here are just a few that I scrounged up from around my house. I am sure that my parents have lots more at their home.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdabivBYx-WnHfr-jUYtYktF1c7pXNkm0Te98eW2SXv6X1_twMOKgiBduOdzYNz47NqM3mdxhrY4OGnjkAae52DKonveiQ-XmOL7n6Pw7jJ1hzcrqjEDqjHFRZwSJw11WG1tmzVLmnGVw/s1600/Mom%252C+Ben%252C+Joette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdabivBYx-WnHfr-jUYtYktF1c7pXNkm0Te98eW2SXv6X1_twMOKgiBduOdzYNz47NqM3mdxhrY4OGnjkAae52DKonveiQ-XmOL7n6Pw7jJ1hzcrqjEDqjHFRZwSJw11WG1tmzVLmnGVw/s400/Mom%252C+Ben%252C+Joette.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mommyhood at its finest!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jZO20TIStuK4NsAtKvjXHw6la9nd8jaCALbX261KmBMbcGqerKyZ8VsTQeDeL2Bb9_CqkykvM86COSaSveCJCufRNfVY7FgYUDu1cOm6RgN5irkmxpW4GAuyLgIck5pVpz1jCq-Tv04/s1600/Mall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jZO20TIStuK4NsAtKvjXHw6la9nd8jaCALbX261KmBMbcGqerKyZ8VsTQeDeL2Bb9_CqkykvM86COSaSveCJCufRNfVY7FgYUDu1cOm6RgN5irkmxpW4GAuyLgIck5pVpz1jCq-Tv04/s400/Mall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Family Photo at the Mall</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>or</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mom and Dad have the same Hairstyle</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>or</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Stinky sports a Mullet</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsTWHw0bNij2uaFHO4B5SkuuvuTPmS3VSrnt29kMWZF119LcDTwRRdIBl_6UUsz9xLpHxCy5t8SP5tk-g2Mfy28KJvoI5buYyjacCmJ1J2O5jQ5K0ilUkDA2x1mYcqYSF_Z8GRs8etlc/s1600/McNeill+Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsTWHw0bNij2uaFHO4B5SkuuvuTPmS3VSrnt29kMWZF119LcDTwRRdIBl_6UUsz9xLpHxCy5t8SP5tk-g2Mfy28KJvoI5buYyjacCmJ1J2O5jQ5K0ilUkDA2x1mYcqYSF_Z8GRs8etlc/s400/McNeill+Grave.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Nothing like a family photo at the graveyard!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWQBoKtovkqa2Ls2HuIjzfP3uPzKYM4qTEtFVu4_XvUuOWnaFTfj428Ud-KLfo16wJyLx1hn92mOL1sKmQNlm2j9vo09r1RTG5-LK0JBNi7wIWmRQvBW7OtPBbJA3fEwUUHNc3lQcJuY/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWQBoKtovkqa2Ls2HuIjzfP3uPzKYM4qTEtFVu4_XvUuOWnaFTfj428Ud-KLfo16wJyLx1hn92mOL1sKmQNlm2j9vo09r1RTG5-LK0JBNi7wIWmRQvBW7OtPBbJA3fEwUUHNc3lQcJuY/s400/IMG_0128.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Christmas Cheer</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't wait to see what "awkward" family photos we will produce now that we have a child in tow.</div>Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730712176118528285.post-25014749840909661242010-12-18T17:57:00.000-05:002010-12-18T17:57:32.646-05:00Happy Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My hubby found this video on You Tube and I thought I needed to share. Have a happy Saturday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/bY0xgRA_Sk0/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bY0xgRA_Sk0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bY0xgRA_Sk0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
Disturbing...in so many ways!Stinkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212775561021973105noreply@blogger.com0