A little humor for every Mom

Birth Order of Children (from an email I got from a fellow mom/cousin)

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.


Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.


The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.


Pacifier:
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.


Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers ever hour, whether they need it or not.


2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.


Activities
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.



Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.


2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.



At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children



Swallowing Coins:
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays

2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.

3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

Golden Day

As a kid, I can remember waiting and waiting for my 'golden' birthday. Everyone else had theirs early. I had to wait until I was 29! That was going to take forever! OR at least I thought it would.

Now today, I'm celebrating my golden birthday. Turning 29. One more year until the big 3-0. I have no issues with turning 29. After all, I've been happily married for 7 years, have 2 boys and 2 girls. Life hasn't been standing still to say the least. It may be safe to say, I'm right where I wanted to be. Married with a family. Content. (Of course there's lots I'd LOVE to change- like no debt, lose weight, have the house finished, blah, blah, blah..)

This weekend, we made a flying trip back to my parents. (3 hours away) It was a short and sweet trip. But great to see them, my sister, my grandma and a few others we haven't seen for way too long. It also is safe to say, I was a spoiled birthday girl that weekend too! I have tons of pictures, which will likely end up on the kids blog. But I was surprised to find out how many I had with me in them, so they'll appear here on Thurs (for my 52 wk challenge).

As with any trip, I have tons of unpacking to do. Don't get me started on the laundry pile. A garden to be weeded. Kids to be tended to, (plus 3 extra kids-who actually help keep mine entertained). And rumor has it... my husband is taking me out for supper...again. Shhh....This will be the 3rd Monday in a row that we've gone out for supper alone.. should I ask him what he did? :)

1 of 52

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!**************************************

I am starting this challenge with many mixed feelings. In someways I feel I may be biting off more than I can chew. But who am I to back down from a challenge? :) Maybe I'm more afraid of seeing MY face on here every week. Seeing MY imperfections that my loved ones seem to never notice or mention. This may be the 'boot-in-the-hinder' that I've been needing all along. So many times I have pictures I don't post, because- there not MY finest moments or the background (meaning my house) is far from perfect condition. I teach my children perfection is not necessary.. as long as you give it your all, do your best, that's all that matters. Maybe I need to teach myself that lesson.

That being said... photo 1 of 52 is of me and Carolyn. Our 2nd child of 4. Our 1st girl. Full of spirit, spunk, love and giggles. She keeps me on my toes, but out of all 4 kids, it is probably safe to say, she is the "mama's girl"... at least most of the time. She is my princess playing in the dirt with her ponies.

We had our cake...and ate it too

This past weekend we celebrated our (7th) anniversary with family and cake. My MIL made a tasty meal of BBQ chicken (among other sides) and my SIL made our delicious cake - choc cake with cream cheese and choc. chips!Out of 12 pictures that were snapped quickly on my camera, this is the only one 'normal'. I had a few other 'good' ones uploaded, then out of the kindness of my heart, (towards my husband), I deleted them. HE never reads my blogs, but his family does...and I'm sure word would leak out.. then I'd have to delete them!

Daddy's Hands

The moment that changed his life forever. The day he became a Daddy. There's no doubt in my mind, this was the best day of his life (the day each of his children were born).

For some reason I had a hard time writing this post. It wasn't because he isn't a good Dad. He's the best as far as I'm concerned (and to our kids too). Every time I wrote something, it didn't come out right. Or at least not to me. So instead of writing a loooong, sappy post (which he'll never read anyways) you'll get this. And besides, I could never put into words the way he is with the kids, or how the kids act when they see him come thru the door at the end of a long day. I feel pictures speak louder than words anyways.

Happy Father's Day!

How it all started

As promised, here is the story of how we met. Because this blog is public, I am going to be vague and general about some details/names. (And any pictures with 'her' are blacked out) But you'll get the point. This will be a long post. Sorry.... not really!

Way back in Sept '99, I met Heather. Long story short. We became friends. She married Joe in Oct '00. I went to their wedding with some friends. Benjamin is Joe's brother, so obviously he was there too (with 'her'). I don't remember much about Benjamin at the wedding. I don't recall if we even talked much, if at all.

Jump ahead to August '01. Joe and Heather had a g2g at her parents house, up north on a lake. They invited me and some friends to join them for the wk end. It was a smaller g2g: me, 3 friends, Joe-Heather, Tanya-Charles, Benjamin-'her'. We rented jet-skis...which could be another post by itself. They provided plenty of entertainment, despite getting crashed!

me and (my future sis-in-law) Tanya

There's alot about this wk end that can't be explained, nor do I/we understand. For example: like why I was flirting with a guy who had his 'sorta-mostly-on-the-rocks-soon-to-breakup' girlfriend with him. (Honestly, that was something I NEVER, EVER did. To me, if a guy had girlfriend he was off limits) Or why 'she' never punched me or got mad about me flirting with him. (I still feel bad for what I put her thru, regardless if they were just about to break up, or what she stood for or had done in the past..) And for the record, it was all 'harmless' flirting- no kissing, hugging, etc. (Actually, is flirting EVER harmless?)

Friday night I ended up sitting on the dock....with him. Just the 2 of us. He claims he tried telling me in a round-about way that she wasn't his girlfriend or they were just about to break up .. so I wouldn't get the wrong idea :) I don't recall that, or more likely, I wasn't paying attention to WHAT he said, just watching him... but I remember helplessly falling, head first for him. Big time. My whole weekend revolved around him. Trying to be where ever he was- talking to him - sitting near him. Later I learned his side of the story.. he was making just as much effort to be near me (as I did to be by him).

Sunday after lunch, 'she' walked to town, while me and him swam (he despises water, even more so water he can't touch the bottom) The things he did for 'love'! Later we learned that the rest of them were playing cards, mostly gawking out the window watching us. Anxiously hoping to see something - a kiss. Again, nothing happened.

Saying good bye was hard. Very hard. Although he flirted 'almost' as much as I did, we never mentioned 'us'. I can remember looking in his eyes when we said good bye, with 'her' standing right next to him-awkward!!. Wanting to at least hug him, wanting to hear for sure what he really felt, wanting to know if I'd ever see him again, not wanting the weekend to be over. (I was glad it was raining out, because it disguised a few stray tears I couldn't choke back- I told you I fell hard for this guy!) Later he told me, he could see those feeling in my eyes, and so badly wanted to do/say something, but 'she' was right there, and that would have been disaster. He felt that we'd be together some day soon, so he said he wasn't worried. On the other hand, I didn't know that at all. All I knew was what I wanted. To be with him again.

On the ride home, my friends confirmed (quite well), just exactly how he felt about me. So I knew he like me, I liked him... but we still had 'her' to deal with. I had no contact with him or his family for awhile after that. Until my dear friend, emailed me the news they had FINALLY broken up. This was maybe the week of Menomonie, or real close. It ended up that I didn't make it there. I was terrified I'd be replaced. Later I learned my future MIL and SILs were scheming trying to get me up there too!

In Oct '01 there was an exchange of numbers/letters/phone calls/a failed-attempt to get together. On Nov 2, 2001, I went up to his family's house. And the rest as they say is history. We've been by each others side since then. I moved up there in March '02, engaged April '02, and married June '02. Some will say, that's moving waay too fast. He said the moment I stepped out of my car, (when I 1st came to see him), he knew he 'I was the one'. It wasn't too long after that I knew for myself as well. If you are sure, and in love - why wait?

To this day I'm still learning new things about his side of the story (and from others) about this weekend in August. Maybe we are the only ones, but we talk about this wk end ALL.THE.TIME. After all it's where it all began. Me and Him. So now you now the story of how we became 'us'!

*If you made it all the way to here... thank you! I hope it was worth your time and blurry-eyes trying to read this long post. My original intent was just to write the basic facts: I met Heather, she married Joe, I met his brother, Benjamin up north at her parents, I/we fell in love, blah, blah, blah... but once I started writing... well I'm sure you got the point.

A evening to remember

This may come as a surprise to most. But for the 1st time in the 7 years we have been married - we went out for our anniversary! (The 1st year we were married, my parents took us out.) Every year after..we would be found at home with our kids. (We did celebrate our anniversary with family and cake.. but just never went out the 2 of us.) G'pa and G'ma watched all 4 kids. So the evening was entirely ours! So we settled for supper. Texas Roadhouse. Yum. Ran some errands. Then we came home to an empty, quiet house. Naturally we reminisced about the 7 years that have past. And enjoyed each others undivided attention without any interruptions from 4 little munchkins.

Not that our previous anniversary's weren't special, because they were. Any time that we can spend together is special to us, even if we do have 4 kids running around us. But last night was extra special. For so many reasons. Definitely a evening to remember.

7 years ago today...

Once upon a time... (remind me to tell the story of how we met sometime) *Sealed with a kiss*

Teresa (my cousin) and Joe (his brother) stood up for us.


*The yummy cake* - which we did NOT smear in each others faces.
(the cake wasn't crooked btw, it's just how the picture scanned)

*The girls and me..*

Standing L-R: Amanda, Beth, Jen, Aleigh, Alaina

Sitting: Me, Teresa

Yeah, we got hit with birdseed, (among other things). ALOT of it. We had it everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. The truck (which isn't used alot) still has bird seed falling out of it from time to time. When we changed our clothes, we left a nice pile laying on the floor there, and we may have clogged the shower drain too (j/k) There were a 'few' people mostly responsible. And I'm saddened to say that when some of them got married I was not in attendance at their wedding, or THEIR farewell would have been well remembered too. And to those not married... your turns coming! :)

I do realize this is to be expected..after all, I was guilty of playing part in birdseed schemes along with other tricks you play at weddings. But there's a fine line to be drawn with having fun and going to far. Now covering the steering wheel with Vaseline - so when I slide across the front seat, I wiped it clean with my dress (leaving a stain) - was a bit out of line. And a side note - Vaseline is NOT a good thing to smear on the windshield. It does NOT come off with the wiper fluid...and it's nearly impossible to see thru. But because we were smart. We hid our honeymoon vehicle - all packed, ready to go...all we had to do was just do the switch-a-roo!



Honeymoon here we come...

Almost 2 weeks of just me and him way out west... We arrived home to a house nicely decorated by my newly acquired SILs and BILs. Crepe paper, balloons...among other things drapped on the ceiling fan!! :)

7 years may seem like a long time ago. Yet it seems like it was just yesterday. We've seen, done, and experience alot..but the most important thing is we have done everything together. Step-by-step. Hand-in-hand. He is my husband... my best friend... my better half... my everything... without him I would be lost. 7 years later...with 4 little kids...we're right where we want to be! Happy in love, for ever after!

Smell the flowers..

I do realize I just posted about spending less time on here. But I found out I'm addicted to blogging! opps!

Because none of our kids are in school (yet), summer-time brings no change in our schedule, except for the nice weather. We literally live, eat, play and sometimes sleep outside.

I'm afraid to learn how much time I spend on the computer. Way to much I know. Just late last fall we finally got a computer. I survived just fine without one (using only my MIL) but now that we have one.. its just so handy.

But just like anything, too much of something can be a bad thing. For me it's...the computer. Because of the computer I've been able to keep up to date with old friends, met new friends and get to know people I have seen thru the years. But also because of the computer...I've put alot of things on the back burner or worse.. neglected them.

I've sadly figured out my kids are only young once. I know I'll never, ever regret the time I spent with them. But I've already come to regret the times I DIDN'T spend with them, because of selfish reasons.
I will NOT give up this blog, because of what it means for me, and what it does for me. But I will learn to use it much more wisely. Like when the kids are napping or sleeping. So in the mean time.. I'm going to go outside and take time to smell my flowers.. and have a piece of cake that my daughter has so eagerly made just for Mommy!

Any advice for a beginner

I got an early bday present yesterday from my family..... I've debated getting one for quite some time. I realize I have 4 kids. And every day is crammed full of activity.. leaving very little 'free time' for mommy!

Like always, I'll just have to make time for the things I want. Basically meaning, I'll either be up earlier or stay up later! I know quite a few other Mom's do sewing, none of which have 4 lil kids. But kids require time and attention, no matter how many or few you have. So all you (expert) Mom sewer's... give me all your tips....

So now.. for the time and patience's to set it up... and use it!

Thank you so much!!!

Dreaming

• Today is Monday..blah!
• It's cold and rainy..again. It's only been raining constantly since late Friday night.
• The kids are sick and tired of being stuck inside.
• I'm sick and tired of them being stuck inside.
• I would like to be outside myself. Our grass REALLY needs cut now!
• Everything I do today is like taking one step forward two steps back. (life with 4 kids, especially when they're cooped up)
• Sadly, I'm looking forward to my eye DR appt. (which I absolutely hate - that 'shoot air in your eye' test *shudder*) tomorrow.
• It means I'll be ALL ALONE for a few hours in the afternoon. (My poor SIL will have 3 maybe 4 extra kids.. I'm sure she's looking forward to HER afternoon :)
• Did I mention I'm sick of the rain?
• It's not raining RIGHT now. But everything is soaking wet and muddy..
• Wait, it's raining again!
• If it wasn't rainy, I'm sure my day would be much better.. or at least I'd have a better attitude!
• I'm looking forward to Monday - our 7th anniversary. Rumor has it - we're going out for supper that night. We'll see if that holds true!
• Right now I'm dreaming of this sunny, warm day.. and I'm going to pretend that it's me sitting in that chair napping, while my husband is inside - cleaning the house, doing the laundry, watching the kids and is fixing supper!
• Yes! I realize that will only happen in my dreams!

hand-in-hand

We live with-in walking distance from Boppa and G'ma and 3 cousins (along with their Mom and Dad) It isn't uncommon for mismatched kids. Like this day- I had 2 of her kids, along with my 4. Some days she'll have 1,2,3, or all 4 of mine, along with her 3. Or if we're lucky. Boppa and G'ma will have ALL of our kids, or at least a few of them (like on Friday nights)! And lately, my other sis-in-law (that lives a just a short drive away over the hills and around the curves) has been over here with her 2 kids. ALOT. But it's all for a good cause.

Our kids have 5 cousins they can play with in the snap of their finger. My parents and sister live on the other side of the state. (And I know if they/we were closer they would do so much more than they already do!) But I have come to appreciate my 2 'sisters' that keep me grounded and for 'parents' that offer advice (not always wanted at times, but that's what parents are known for), support and so much more. And there's 2 'brothers' that have spent more time helping me than I'm sure they wanted to while my husband was on the road. *Right about now, I can see someone rolling their eyes and groaning to themselves*

But for the time being, I'll enjoy being nestled in amongst family.. and enjoy watching times like this with my 'kids'. Because not everyone is this lucky!

Mommy + Me

I realize these pictures aren't perfect. My kids took them. I love my kids, so naturally I love these pictures. I know that I am far from perfect. By no means am I a beauty queen, nor slim. Yet through all my imperfections, my children love me just the same. Not calling out my every flaw, but loving me unconditionally. And making me feel every inch a beauty queen.