How to keep a toddler busy

Showed Melanie how to put Elmer's glue on her hand and peel it off when it dries

=

EASY 30 minutes of mommy quiet time

please excuse the pride

So hang in with me for a few paragraphs while I roll in my own glory....hahaha

As you can tell from my prior post I was anxiously anticipating the end of my breastfeeding experience.  (which by the way I realized boiled down to my irrational fear of not having a constant source of available nourishment) Anyway....

There are blogs and posts and forums and websites and experts dedicated to helping moms wean their children.  Tonight, I put my sweet baby in bed after her bath NO nursing and she fell asleep as soundly and quietly as ever. 

Here is where the pride comes in...haha...I think I did myself a huge favor by following the eat, play, sleep routine and only nursing her before sleeping when it was time for bed. I usually rocked her with her pacifier to lay her down (and I also realize how lucky I am she took a pacifier).

Who knows if it will work for the rest of my sweet peas, but in the meantime, I am SO excited it went so well, especially because I was SO prepared for it to go so badly. 

the end. sorry. i know this was awkward.  :)

Putting Melons to Good Use

So....this post is NOT about melons. Stop right here if you don't want to hear about mommy-hood in too much detail or are not interested in my breastfeeding habits :)

Today is the day I eliminated our mid-day nursing session and it totally threw me off.  I was so worried about how she would feel, if she would notice, if I needed to make up the bonding time in some other form, if I was getting her enough fluids and nutrition, but I realized I should think of myself just as much. 

i love breastfeeding.

It is one moment in my day where the two of us can sit quietly.  She snuggles up to me, I watch some of my recorded shows, and I can breathe.  I'm not cooking, cleaning, chasing, playing, teaching....I'm just taking care of my baby in the easiest most natural way. 

I'm not in a hurry to wean her and I'll probably keep my morning and night nursing for another month or so....ugh....but the thought of it literally makes me nervous and sad inside.

I'm not sure if it's the reality of her growing up, if it's my selfish relish of quiet, if it's the niavete of feeling like I'm giving her nourishment better than her beets, avocado, and apricots (my milk is basically water at this point)....I can't put a finger on the reason for my feelings and maybe that in itself is what is so unsettling. 

heck.  maybe it's all of that.

This is the first time in my time as a parent that I'm feeling anxiety about a choice.  And I hate it.  But at the same time I don't want to breastfeed for another 6 months...it has to happen somehow I suppose.

Boo hoo.

The Ladies

Me and my sweet little girl for her first Christmas

I have an amazing friend who offered to do some pictures out of the goodness of her heart and I just love this one.  Melanie was exactly 6 months old in this picture.

Now it's legit

I finally finished the bumper pads on her pretty little crib. 

I have a feeling it was probably just in time :)

Addicted

.....To Indexing....

So, there is an awesome website called FamilySearch.org where you can discover your geneological history.  I'll be honest, I've never used the thing, but I know a TON of people that do. 

I got an email from a lady at church the other day explaining how you, well...I, could help the process.  Basically you look at old documents and then you computerize the data so it can be searchable.  It allows people to access whatever documents are connected to their ancenstors!

Like I've said, I've never actually used the site, but I've always been interested in geneology, PLUS, the nerd in me that isn't working 45 hours a week anymore, actually enjoys the work.

It's super cool :)

Where'd Ya'll Come From

I've started to realize the importance of my own personal history. Spending time with my grandparents and even time with my own parents, we have conversations that I want to be able to relate to my children and grandchildren one day. I don't want those personal relationships here on earth to be lost through the generations. Understanding the things that make your family...your family...are really important.

END OF MUSH BEGINS HERE:

My Fake Family Tree

10 Generations back for my kids suckas!

I think I could handle that by the time I'm 30.

If I get ambitious I'll tackle more, but let's start with the realistic.

One Day When I Grow Up

In honor of my mother and in preperation for one day when I too will have such a huge job, I've decided to make a list of some of the wonderful ways my mom has shown me how to be a good mom.

• Sacrificed so we could have the experience. I know paying for swim, dance, and gymnastics was not cheap. She took the time to sign me up for junior forest ranger training, beauty pageants, and 4-H. She drove all over the world to take me to learn how to be a broadcaster, shoot a gun, build a snowman, march in band competitions, and be in musicals. She sacrificed.


• Sang to me. We sang in the car, while we made dinner, before we went to bed, at church, walking around the block. She gave me my voice.


• Made me cook. I hated to cook. She was determined and I dodged her as much as I could, but she eventually won.


• Didn't make things a big deal. I remember being so scared to ask her if could wear makeup. I was about to go to bed and I went in her room, sat on the bed with her and clung her pillow to my chest. She asked me what I wanted to say....I covered my head with the pillow and muttered, "I want to wear makeup". She said, "Okay...."


• Made me pull weeds. She taught me how to work and work hard. I can't count the hot summer days when we raked, shoveled, and pulled weeds on our acre of land. Filling trash bags and wheelbarrows. I remember going in my room and laying under the fan in my undies. Hot and exhausted, but accomplished.


• Let me make choices. There were things I did that I know she didn't agree with, but she knew they wouldn't kill me, so she let me do them. She let me learn from my mistakes instead of protecting me from the life lesson.


• Loved my dad. There were days when I'm sure that was a hard thing to do, but she was an example of unconditional love for my father, which made me understand how much she really loved me.


• Taught me about money. There were plenty of people that made fun of me for having Easter candy at Christmas. I have always loved having a 'stash' and my mom has always supported it. She helped me open my first bank account, made me save, and also taught me to spend. I was always encouraged to buy something after I had saved some money, especially if it was a good deal.


• Spoke frankly. I can never blame my mom for not telling me something, even if I didn't want to hear it. She is open and honest and says what's good for your head, even if it's hard on your heart (and your ears!)

She would tell you she disagreed, but this woman is a REALLY good mom, and continues to influence my life to this day. One day, when I grow up.....