I bet Ben five bucks that he couldn't get sleeping Amelia in the car seat without crying.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
What Little Girls are Made of
(My Bestie Carrie gave this card to me when I had Amelia, and I loved it so much I had to put it in a frame and display it in the nursery.)
Okay, so things that scare the sh*t out of me about having a girl:
Bonding issues.
Periods.
The shaving of the legs.
Boys.
Attitudes.
Training bras.
Maxi pads vs. Tampons.
Fights.
Whether or not she will like/respect me as a mother.
Sex talks.
Things that I am going to/already LOVE about having a girl:
Clothes. Cute clothes. LOTS of clothes.
Fingernail painting.
Late-night talks.
Makeovers.
Singing of epic songs that only girls can sing.
Shoe shopping.
Gossip.
Ballet/Dance lessons. (She at least has to TRY it.)
A Wedding.
This aisle at Hobby Lobby.
Maybe this girl thing isn't as scary as I thought.
HOLLA -
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Mailbox Fun
Out with the old...
And in with the new!
Today I got a new iPhone case in the mail. I have been wanting one for sooo long, but was just looking for something cheap, because hey! That's what I am. I found this one on overstock.com for about $3.50. There was no tax or shipping, so that's what I paid: about $3.50. LOVE IT! It's perfect for summer, and so much more exciting than my boring clear case.
All day I was waiting with anticipation for the mail to come, hoping my case would be inside it. Isn't is wonderful to get something in the mail? Whether it's a package, a card, or even a coupon, I always am delighted to find unexpected treasures when I turn the key. Of course, most days, it's junk. Or bills. But there's not a day that goes by that my heart doesn't hope for the thrill of something special in the mailbox. As Oprah says, "what energy you put out into the world is the energy that comes back to you," or something like that. In that case, I better get something special in the mail to someone else. (It turns out that feels just as good. Or even better!)
HOLLA -
p.s. - sleeping Amelia says hi. :-)
And in with the new!
Today I got a new iPhone case in the mail. I have been wanting one for sooo long, but was just looking for something cheap, because hey! That's what I am. I found this one on overstock.com for about $3.50. There was no tax or shipping, so that's what I paid: about $3.50. LOVE IT! It's perfect for summer, and so much more exciting than my boring clear case.
All day I was waiting with anticipation for the mail to come, hoping my case would be inside it. Isn't is wonderful to get something in the mail? Whether it's a package, a card, or even a coupon, I always am delighted to find unexpected treasures when I turn the key. Of course, most days, it's junk. Or bills. But there's not a day that goes by that my heart doesn't hope for the thrill of something special in the mailbox. As Oprah says, "what energy you put out into the world is the energy that comes back to you," or something like that. In that case, I better get something special in the mail to someone else. (It turns out that feels just as good. Or even better!)
HOLLA -
p.s. - sleeping Amelia says hi. :-)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
THRIFTING!!!!
Have I mentioned that there are tricky things concerning this breastfeeding deal? One of them that I am quickly discovering is that it's hard to find tops that are easy to breastfeed in. I'm in an akward stage anyway, being out of maternity clothes, but not quite into my regular clothes again. And now, I have to also wear tops that stretch at the top so my giant gut isn't hanging out when I feed Amelia. (Who would have an appetite looking at that?) The problem is, I don't have the money to spend on a bunch of nursing tops. Those suckers are expensive! It's been a little frustrating, to tell the truth...
...until yesterday. I was driving home from a particular donut shop in the morning (I know...NOT helping the fat gut), and someone was standing outside of our local thrift store advertising all clothes at 50% off. This is the store that I take our old clothes to, and I've shopped there before from time to time. Mostly it's to buy something goofy, like an ugly sweater or a piece of a costume. But sometimes I'll look around for treasures, and usually find some.
I drove home because I didn't have time to stop and shop, but I kept thinking about what great deals I could potentially find, especially since I needed tops and was on a very limited budget. So later, I dropped Ben and Millie off at the local park trail for a walk, and I headed back to the thrift store. And boy, did I hit the jackpot.
First of all, they were having some sort of '60's-themed day there, because all of the employees were dressed up in '60's garb. Then, after shopping for a few minutes, I noticed that they were having a contest over the intercom. They kept asking trivia questions from the 1960's, and asking customers who knew the answers to come up to the front and say them. "How annoying," I thought. "Who cares where the 1967 World's Fair was?" And I just kept shopping. But then no one answered the question. And I thought, "What exactly are they giving away up there?" So I pulled out my iPhone (no, I did not know the answer off the top of my head) and Googled it. I went up to the register and gave the answer (which is Quebec, by the way), and CHA CHING! They handed me three store bucks to use THAT DAY! Woo hoo! I ended up scoring three more at the register as I was checking out, so I had a $6.00 credit before I even started! WINNING!!!
Here's what I ended up with. Pay attention, people - this is some serious discount shopping.
Top: $3.50. Jeans: already had. Target.
Top: $3.50. Still had the tags on.
Top: $3.00
Top: $3.50 Shorts: $2.00
Top: $3.50
Top: $3.50
If you're bad at math like I am, let me add that up for you. $22.50! And since I had the six dollars in coupons, it ended up being around $18 with tax. EIGHTEEN DOLLARS!!!! For six tops and a pair of shorts!!! Unbelievable. Without the six dollars in coupons and the 50% off, it would have cost me $50 for all of that, which is still a great deal. But for thrift store clothes, I'm not sure I would have spent it.
So now I have great tops for summer that are also great for breastfeeding.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
HOLLA -
...until yesterday. I was driving home from a particular donut shop in the morning (I know...NOT helping the fat gut), and someone was standing outside of our local thrift store advertising all clothes at 50% off. This is the store that I take our old clothes to, and I've shopped there before from time to time. Mostly it's to buy something goofy, like an ugly sweater or a piece of a costume. But sometimes I'll look around for treasures, and usually find some.
I drove home because I didn't have time to stop and shop, but I kept thinking about what great deals I could potentially find, especially since I needed tops and was on a very limited budget. So later, I dropped Ben and Millie off at the local park trail for a walk, and I headed back to the thrift store. And boy, did I hit the jackpot.
First of all, they were having some sort of '60's-themed day there, because all of the employees were dressed up in '60's garb. Then, after shopping for a few minutes, I noticed that they were having a contest over the intercom. They kept asking trivia questions from the 1960's, and asking customers who knew the answers to come up to the front and say them. "How annoying," I thought. "Who cares where the 1967 World's Fair was?" And I just kept shopping. But then no one answered the question. And I thought, "What exactly are they giving away up there?" So I pulled out my iPhone (no, I did not know the answer off the top of my head) and Googled it. I went up to the register and gave the answer (which is Quebec, by the way), and CHA CHING! They handed me three store bucks to use THAT DAY! Woo hoo! I ended up scoring three more at the register as I was checking out, so I had a $6.00 credit before I even started! WINNING!!!
Here's what I ended up with. Pay attention, people - this is some serious discount shopping.
Top: $3.50. Jeans: already had. Target.
Top: $3.50. Still had the tags on.
Top: $3.00
Top: $3.50 Shorts: $2.00
Top: $3.50
Top: $3.50
If you're bad at math like I am, let me add that up for you. $22.50! And since I had the six dollars in coupons, it ended up being around $18 with tax. EIGHTEEN DOLLARS!!!! For six tops and a pair of shorts!!! Unbelievable. Without the six dollars in coupons and the 50% off, it would have cost me $50 for all of that, which is still a great deal. But for thrift store clothes, I'm not sure I would have spent it.
So now I have great tops for summer that are also great for breastfeeding.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
HOLLA -
Friday, May 27, 2011
Prayers for a Friend
A few years ago, when Ben and I went to Charleston for Spring Break, I thought I might be pregnant. This meant that I may or may not have been able to eat certain types of seafood on the trip. Ben LOVES seafood, and I'm not crazy about it, but I was still excited about having the experience. But, if I was pregnant, I would probably be missing out on some good food, and of course, accompanying wine. :-) Either way, I was golden: Not pregnant - seafood. Pregnant - no seafood, but a BABY!
One of my very best friends is trying to get pregnant. She has been trying to get pregnant for a loooong time. She and her husband are in the part of the month where they are waiting to find out if they indeed planted the seed. (Hehe.) She asked me the other day to pray for them. So, I did. And then I prayed some more. I have been praying so hard for them that I feel like my head is going to explode.
My prayers usually start out like this:
Dear God, please give my friends a baby. Right now. They have waited long enough.
But I know that this is not how prayer works. God is not a magician, or a genie who grants wishes. If He was, then Kurt would still be here. So instead, I pray like this:
Dear God, give my friends peace. And no matter what, let their hearts be full.
These friends are getting ready to go on a big trip. I won't tell you where they are going, but I will tell you that it involves characters and insanely happy people and sunshine and roller coasters. I think about my friend preparing for this trip, not knowing if she is pregnant or not. I imagine her being pregnant and missing out on some things on this trip because of it, and I imagine her being so happy that she doesn't even give a crap. And, I imagine her not being pregnant, and being disappointed...again. But then I think about all of the wonderful things she will get to experience on this trip that she wouldn't otherwise. So I change my prayer again:
Dear God, please give my friends a baby. Very soon. They have been waiting for a long time. But if that is not Your will, then let it be so. Give them peace and let their hearts be full, even in their wanting. Let them have a WONDERFUL time on their trip. Let them ride rides and roller coasters and have so much fun that they can't see straight. Let them stay up late and laugh until their bellies hurt and eat and drink and make memories. Fill them with so much joy that they don't even think of looking to the future (which will most certainly ALSO be filled with joy). Help them to hold fast to their dreams of parenthood, but also let go, knowing that what You have planned for them is better than anything they could imagine. AMEN.
It turns out that I wasn't pregnant when we went to Charleston. I wouldn't be pregnant for years to come.
And the seafood was AWESOME.
HOLLA -
One of my very best friends is trying to get pregnant. She has been trying to get pregnant for a loooong time. She and her husband are in the part of the month where they are waiting to find out if they indeed planted the seed. (Hehe.) She asked me the other day to pray for them. So, I did. And then I prayed some more. I have been praying so hard for them that I feel like my head is going to explode.
My prayers usually start out like this:
Dear God, please give my friends a baby. Right now. They have waited long enough.
But I know that this is not how prayer works. God is not a magician, or a genie who grants wishes. If He was, then Kurt would still be here. So instead, I pray like this:
Dear God, give my friends peace. And no matter what, let their hearts be full.
These friends are getting ready to go on a big trip. I won't tell you where they are going, but I will tell you that it involves characters and insanely happy people and sunshine and roller coasters. I think about my friend preparing for this trip, not knowing if she is pregnant or not. I imagine her being pregnant and missing out on some things on this trip because of it, and I imagine her being so happy that she doesn't even give a crap. And, I imagine her not being pregnant, and being disappointed...again. But then I think about all of the wonderful things she will get to experience on this trip that she wouldn't otherwise. So I change my prayer again:
Dear God, please give my friends a baby. Very soon. They have been waiting for a long time. But if that is not Your will, then let it be so. Give them peace and let their hearts be full, even in their wanting. Let them have a WONDERFUL time on their trip. Let them ride rides and roller coasters and have so much fun that they can't see straight. Let them stay up late and laugh until their bellies hurt and eat and drink and make memories. Fill them with so much joy that they don't even think of looking to the future (which will most certainly ALSO be filled with joy). Help them to hold fast to their dreams of parenthood, but also let go, knowing that what You have planned for them is better than anything they could imagine. AMEN.
It turns out that I wasn't pregnant when we went to Charleston. I wouldn't be pregnant for years to come.
And the seafood was AWESOME.
HOLLA -
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
How Amelia Got Her Name
Ben and I always planned on naming our little girl (on the off chance that we would have one!) Cecilia. Cecilia is the patron saint of music. My grandpa's name is Cecil, which is close. Cecilia is Bette Midler's character's name in one of my favorite movies of all time - Beaches. We would call her C.C. It was set.
(Necklace made by friend Sylvia. Check out her jewelry here.)
Then my cousin Kevin went out and met a lovely lady named Cecilia, and now she is a permanent and very loved member of our family. So much for originality! We're sure she wouldn't have minded us using her name. In fact, she most likely would have been honored! However, we decided to put the name Cecilia on hold, and search for something that wasn't currently being used by another member of our family.
(Amelia's new stationery, from www.stationerystudio.com)
We were watching the movie Amelia, about Amelia Earhart one night, and the title flashed across the screen in such beautiful lettering. The name grabbed us, and it worked out that Amelia and Cecilia sounded very similar. It was settled! Now for a middle name...
(Personalized gifts from my friend Kristine.)
My grandpa Cecil's mother's middle name was Rose. Her first name was Stella, which I also love, but Ben wasn't a fan, so we just used Rose. Amelia....Rose. Ta da!
(Painting by my cousin Kelly, given as a gift to Amelia.)
In her short four weeks of life, Amelia has acquired quite a few nicknames. We call her Millie, which is cool, because that's another one of my grandma's middle names. We also call her Mills, Millie Rose, Pink, Stink (because she does sometimes), Grunts (because she does that too), Milli Vanilli, and Amelia Bedelia (one of my favorite childhood characters!). This poor girl isn't going to know WHAT her name is! But, we are having fun confusing her. :-)
(Wall art given to us by Dana, a co-worker of Ben's.)
Anyway, that's the story. We LOVE her name, and are so thrilled that we got to use it. Who needs those stinky boy names, anyway? ;-)
HOLLA -
(Necklace made by friend Sylvia. Check out her jewelry here.)
Then my cousin Kevin went out and met a lovely lady named Cecilia, and now she is a permanent and very loved member of our family. So much for originality! We're sure she wouldn't have minded us using her name. In fact, she most likely would have been honored! However, we decided to put the name Cecilia on hold, and search for something that wasn't currently being used by another member of our family.
(Amelia's new stationery, from www.stationerystudio.com)
We were watching the movie Amelia, about Amelia Earhart one night, and the title flashed across the screen in such beautiful lettering. The name grabbed us, and it worked out that Amelia and Cecilia sounded very similar. It was settled! Now for a middle name...
(Personalized gifts from my friend Kristine.)
My grandpa Cecil's mother's middle name was Rose. Her first name was Stella, which I also love, but Ben wasn't a fan, so we just used Rose. Amelia....Rose. Ta da!
(Painting by my cousin Kelly, given as a gift to Amelia.)
In her short four weeks of life, Amelia has acquired quite a few nicknames. We call her Millie, which is cool, because that's another one of my grandma's middle names. We also call her Mills, Millie Rose, Pink, Stink (because she does sometimes), Grunts (because she does that too), Milli Vanilli, and Amelia Bedelia (one of my favorite childhood characters!). This poor girl isn't going to know WHAT her name is! But, we are having fun confusing her. :-)
(Wall art given to us by Dana, a co-worker of Ben's.)
Anyway, that's the story. We LOVE her name, and are so thrilled that we got to use it. Who needs those stinky boy names, anyway? ;-)
HOLLA -
Friday, May 13, 2011
Amelia 2: The Boob Chronicles
Okay, so breastfeeding....like natural childbirth, I always said I wanted to "try it". It turns out the natural childbirth thing didn't last too long, and the breastfeeding....well, the jury is still out.
I gave birth to Amelia on a Thursday and we brought her home that Saturday afternoon. I thought I was feeding her well in the hospital because she was pooping and peeing, but we never had the opportunity to have the lactation consultant watch me feed her in the hospital to make sure. It turns out things weren't going as well as I thought!
By Sunday, Easter morning, I realized the poor girl had stopped pooping and peeing. We ended up back at the hospital feeding Amelia formula through a tube and syringe, while I pumped giant milk rocks out of my boobs. The lactation consultant put us on a plan to help my engorgement and make sure Miss Amelia was getting enough to eat, and after that, I felt a lot better. I still wasn't really feeding her well all by myself, so we continued to tube feed her while I fed her at the same time.
We also had to go to Children's Mercy that day, because the pediatrician was concerned that she was dehydrated...what a mess. I had a feeling that, because we were on a plan and she had finally peed, that we were okay, but the Dr.'s office insisted, so off we went on Easter evening, BACK to a hospital, this time with my BFF Elise in tow.
Good thing she was there, because after the day we were having, we needed some serious comic relief! I don't know what those nurses thought when we were laughing and carrying on in the room, but let me tell you...when you're in a bad situation and you are counting on people to lift you up, that's when true friendship is revealed. Elise could have totally opted out, and we would have completely understood, but she wanted nothing more than to wait with us, in a hospital urgent care room, on Easter Sunday, when she could have been spending time with her family. I love her so much because of that. (And so does Amelia.)
(p.s. - don't you just love Amelia's awkward, ill-fitting outfit? In a mad rush to get to the hospital, we didn't have much time to find pants that fit her. I guess we're covered if we decide to dress her up as a hip-hop gnome for Halloween. )
Anyway, that was our Easter, the day after we brought out beautiful girl home from the hospital. Needless to say, I have been a little anxious about making sure she's been getting enough to eat since then. The good news is, the breastfeeding is going so great now. I don't have to pump anymore, and I don't have to use any extra "tools" or anything. Just ME! Being able to feed Amelia all by myself is an amazing feeling, and although there's not a whole lot of bonding going on while feeding yet (she usually has her eyes closed the whole time), I know she's getting what's best for her.
That doesn't mean that I don't want to quit all of the time, though. My boobs are sore sometimes. I hate worrying about engorgement. Breastfeeding in public has been inconvenient, and kind of awkward. Ben can't help me feed her. Every white onesie she owns is stained with breastmilk because of the tube feedings. I have to time every outing in two-hour increments so I make sure she gets enough to eat. She's finally back up to her birth weight now, which means we can relax a little, but still, it's exhausting. I know it will get better soon, when she goes longer between feedings.
Until then, the cans of convenience taunt me.
Stay tuned...
I gave birth to Amelia on a Thursday and we brought her home that Saturday afternoon. I thought I was feeding her well in the hospital because she was pooping and peeing, but we never had the opportunity to have the lactation consultant watch me feed her in the hospital to make sure. It turns out things weren't going as well as I thought!
By Sunday, Easter morning, I realized the poor girl had stopped pooping and peeing. We ended up back at the hospital feeding Amelia formula through a tube and syringe, while I pumped giant milk rocks out of my boobs. The lactation consultant put us on a plan to help my engorgement and make sure Miss Amelia was getting enough to eat, and after that, I felt a lot better. I still wasn't really feeding her well all by myself, so we continued to tube feed her while I fed her at the same time.
We also had to go to Children's Mercy that day, because the pediatrician was concerned that she was dehydrated...what a mess. I had a feeling that, because we were on a plan and she had finally peed, that we were okay, but the Dr.'s office insisted, so off we went on Easter evening, BACK to a hospital, this time with my BFF Elise in tow.
Good thing she was there, because after the day we were having, we needed some serious comic relief! I don't know what those nurses thought when we were laughing and carrying on in the room, but let me tell you...when you're in a bad situation and you are counting on people to lift you up, that's when true friendship is revealed. Elise could have totally opted out, and we would have completely understood, but she wanted nothing more than to wait with us, in a hospital urgent care room, on Easter Sunday, when she could have been spending time with her family. I love her so much because of that. (And so does Amelia.)
(p.s. - don't you just love Amelia's awkward, ill-fitting outfit? In a mad rush to get to the hospital, we didn't have much time to find pants that fit her. I guess we're covered if we decide to dress her up as a hip-hop gnome for Halloween. )
Anyway, that was our Easter, the day after we brought out beautiful girl home from the hospital. Needless to say, I have been a little anxious about making sure she's been getting enough to eat since then. The good news is, the breastfeeding is going so great now. I don't have to pump anymore, and I don't have to use any extra "tools" or anything. Just ME! Being able to feed Amelia all by myself is an amazing feeling, and although there's not a whole lot of bonding going on while feeding yet (she usually has her eyes closed the whole time), I know she's getting what's best for her.
That doesn't mean that I don't want to quit all of the time, though. My boobs are sore sometimes. I hate worrying about engorgement. Breastfeeding in public has been inconvenient, and kind of awkward. Ben can't help me feed her. Every white onesie she owns is stained with breastmilk because of the tube feedings. I have to time every outing in two-hour increments so I make sure she gets enough to eat. She's finally back up to her birth weight now, which means we can relax a little, but still, it's exhausting. I know it will get better soon, when she goes longer between feedings.
Until then, the cans of convenience taunt me.
Stay tuned...
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