Testing a new process

A friend suggested I use Windows Live Writer to blog with, so this is my first attempt. Here goes!!!! 

Alright, first picture was inserted fairly easily. I’ll try another one!

Alright, seems pretty easy. I’ll do my next real blog post with this thing and see how it works out! Thanks Stacia!

RIP Sweet Trees

We had 2 trees cut down today and some limbs trimmed from another one. While I know it was best to cut them down, one was definitely dead, the other was on it's way out, it is still sad knowing that we had them cut down. When I drove up today and saw them missing...I felt a little depressed. Hopefully they are in a better place now and won't be miserable being in a yard where they didn't want to be. Yes, I can be silly about some things, I guess this is one of them...
Hopefully your Tuesday night has been grand!

Getting ready for bed, we tried to part her hair in the middle, lol, didn't go so well!

After

Before


After

Before

P.S. I didn't know how to switch these around to where Before is actually before After, lol...Oh well, you get the drift!

Catch up

Here is a list:
1) William loves to kick his legs. Anytime you pick him up, he runs in the air. It's so funny. And he laughs and grins all the time. He is so cute.
2) He is pulling up everywhere and moves very quickly. He gets into everything!!!! I cant' believe that one day he was slowly moving around on the floor and now he's just up and up, all the time. Things change so quickly!
*PAUSE* Both babies just woke up crying, insert passys, pat backs, turn on glow seahorse, now I'm back!
3) Emily is not pulling up yet but she sure does want to. You can see the frustration on her face, and tries and just can't quite do it yet. I know her day is coming though, probably pretty soon.
4) She is starting to get an attitude about certain things, lol. If she has something she especially wants, and you take it away from her, like the LOTION and the DESITIN on the changing table, she gets verrrry upset and lets you know it. She also squeals and Billy has taken to calling her the little dinosaur. We called her that when she was a tiny baby, and now her squeal is back!
5) We are experimenting more and more with food and it's going well. I'm not nearly as stressed about it as I was at first.
6) We are trying desperately to get our little princess to sleep in her very own bed all night. Occasionally she does, most nights she does NOT and she ends up in our bed. It's funny how our king size bed can feel very small when a little baby body is in there too, surrounded by pillows for fear she will roll over in the bed. Yes, she can hold her head fine and turn over better than anyone I know, but I still worry about suffocation. Also, yes I know it's not a good idea to have a baby sleep in the bed with you, BUT - the princess is very particular about certain things, and sleeping is one of them!
7) I can't for Halloween!
8) I love my husband very much. In light of recent events, I just want to make it known that he is my very special person and I love him dearly.
I guess I'll end here for now. Just wanted to make a little post, I've been out of the habit lately.
Happy Monday!

The basket of diapers....not what he should be in!

Trying to go to Spooktacular, but we didn't make it!

What they do best - wrestle!


1890's Festival this weekend

Billy saved a turtle before we left for the festival

Move over Van Gogh

There's a new painter in town!!! ME!!!!

Yes folks, I painted my very first painting yesterday and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I have been playing around with this idea for a very long time. Saying I wanted to paint a picture, looking for something to put in our living room FOREVER, and just thinking, I ought to paint my own. I casually mentioned it here and there, never thinking I'd ever sit down and really do it. I am very unartistic. I am not creative. I can't draw one lick.

BUT - my wonderful babysitter bought me a canvas for Mother's Day and said that we would paint one day. She paints. So last night, 5 months after I got my canvas, I painted my painting. Kristy helped me with the concept, told me what to do, how to make it look better, but I really painted it myself. It is my masterpiece. Hehe.

My babies are growing by leaps and bounds. Both are fascinated with standing up on their feet and they want to do it all the time, making Mama's arms very tired. William is very close to pulling up, and Kristy said he actually did get all the way up today. He still doesn't lift his belly off the floor, but he sure can move fast!

Emily loves being up, I think because she likes to see everything and be a part of all the action. She loves to stand up and immediately gigles when she does. She still doesn't scoot, she's definitely a roller, but there's nothing wrong with that, right? She sat up tonight for the first time, doing it herself I mean, from laying to sitting. I saw her do it. I guess it might NOT have been the first time, but it was the first time for me.

It's hard to believe in just 2 1/2 months they will be a year old! EEEEk! This time last year, my belly was getting bigger and bigger and we couldn't wait for the babies to be here. It's still strange to me how one day they're not here, and then the next they are! I love them more than anything though, and since we aren't nursing anymore, I find myself holding them a little longer at night. Kissing their foreheads, resting my head on theirs, squeezing them a little tighter before I lay them down. I know these moments are going quick, too quick. And I want to save them as long as I can. I'll pass on the screaming fits, I'll pass on the whines for no reason, lol...but those precious sleeping faces - it'll get you every time.

Happy Friday!

Do you know what it is?!?!?!

Our handsome boy

Playing with their new toys

Just hangin out in the evening

Me and my most favorite babies

Table food and sippy cups

Since we have quit nursing, this last week has been interesting. I've had several crying spells, several days and then a couple of days of PANIC. WHAT AM I GOING TO FEED THESE 2 BABIES?!?!?!?! I have since calmed down a bit, but I tell ya, the beginning of the week was not good.
Anyway, they are now eating small pieces of bread, yogurt, oatmeal...they've tried mashed potatoes, fresh squash, peaches ( not babyfood peaches), penne pasta...cant' think of anything else. We also tried them with a sippy cup last night! William did a little better than Emily. Both put it right up to their mouths, but only on the 2nd try did William actually suck from it and get juice out.
At their 9-month check-up, their doctor reminded me that they WERE 6 weeks early, so they may not be doing 100% of the things that other babies are doing at 9 months, and eating may be one of those things. She said to do what was right for them, and try not to compare too much. While that is very hard, I am trying not to. I am trying to do what's good for us and what works, trying things as WE feel comfortable. So far, so good!
We took am impromptu trip to Fernandina Beach today. Billy loves taking surprise trips, he'll say, we're going somewhere, and I'll have no idea where. That is really hard for me because I always want to know exactly what we're going to do, when, where, why...and he just says " Get dressed." I fuss a bit, complain a little, bring up excuses, and he just takes everything in stride. Hehe, I love him for that. So anyway, we end up in Fernandina, the weather was beautiful and we had a great few hours. We just had lunch and walked around, but it was nice to be outside and just hang out together.
I guess that's it for now. Happy Saturday. Go JAGS tomorrow!!!

Emily and her favorite person - Daddy!

William loves his Daddy too

Yes, this is the very last bottle of breast milk, and I accidentally let it go bad!

My very good friends, the pump parts

Last but not least, my friend PUMP

P.S. I post these pictures in fun, but weaning has not been easy, physically or emotionally. I thought there would be ramifications in both senses, but I tell ya - I was not expecting all of the tears that have fallen. And I have also not expected my boobs to hurt THIS BAD!!! For this long!!! I knew it would rough right at first, but I figured it would get better. And it did, but then 2 days ago, my pain came back BAD, and my breasts feel like they have several different HARD implants in them...lol, I'm sure this is way TMI, but it's my blog, so HAHA! :-)

Bittersweetness

I'm not sure that's a real word, somehow I think it's not.

I am feeling extremely bittersweet tonight about the weaning process. I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about my breastfeeding woes, confusing feelings and happiness surrounding it. I know it's the right thing to do, I know the time is right. But just saying out loud, I am choosing not to nurse anymore sounds weird. It feels weird right now. I'm sure it will pass soon, but right now, I feel odd about things. Right...but still odd.

My babies are getting bigger. Yeah yeah I know they're only 9 months old. But they are getting older, they are doing more, they are learning to interact, with me and with each other. They are starting to copy you. William is learning to wave, though I'm not sure he knows what he's doing. Emily has the best smile ever. William scoots to you now. If you tell him to come here, and he's feeling cooperative, he'll scoot right over to you, with a big grin on his face. They both like to jump and Emily likes to dance when she sits up, she bobs her head and her whole body.

They've gone through so much while nursing...and I know this is one chapter that is closing and another will be opening. One of new solid foods and finger foods, eating with a spoon all by themselves, actually eating a puff instead of throwing it on the ground, learning to talk, learning to walk...just all new chapters in our lives. Just sitting here thinking about it gives me a little tear...silently rolling down my cheek.

Anyway, I will buck up and move forward. My children are ready to eat food and drink formula. I know that. They know that. I think they've been telling me for a while now, but I've been in denial. My heart may be a bit slower, my nostalgic feelings may be a bit slower...but logically, it's time...it's time....it IS time!

Happy Wednesday!

The tavern is closing

The Tavern O' Breast Milk that is....

Yes folks, after 9 months, the Tavern will be closing within the week and ending a much enjoyed relationship with 2 very special patrons.

Unfortunately, with only 2 patrons, when they decide they like other establishments better, the Tavern loses too much business, thus having to make the decision to close. You see, our 2 patrons now prefer other places like Highchair Alley, The Land of Toys and Exercauser City. It's hard to help them remember that the Tavern O'Breast Milk is where we all started! They get very pre-occupied these days and would rather be playing or eating solid food than socializing at the Tavern.

This is bittersweet for the owner/operater, The Mama. The Mama is excited to have her body back, all to herself....18-19 months is a long time to be providing for 3 people. The Mama is excited to wear normal bras again, and maybe even buy some new ones. She's very ready to throw all nursing pads out the window and not have to worry about whether or not you can see the pads through her shirt, also known as "Show Through." She's ready to have a glass of wine IF she ever wanted one. Not that she does very often at all, but now she CAN HAVE ONE IF SHE WANTS TO!!! HAHAAAAA!

The Mama is also sad to see the Tavern close though. She has enjoyed her time with the only 2 patrons for a long time now and she feels that it's very special to them. She hopes that by keeping the Tavern open for as long as she did it will help the 2 patrons grow big and strong and have a nice, healthy immune system. The Mama is also sad that formula will be taking the place of the Tavern as the Tavern was rent-free, whereas formula is NOT.

The Tavern O'Breast Milk has had some good times and some bad. We thought it would go out of business long before now but it hung in there. It made it! And for that The Mama is very grateful and thankful. The doors will be open another week or so, but hours are shortened and inventory is low. Patrons, and you know who you are, don't waste any time! Visit when you can and drink up!

Long live The TOBM!