Where art thou February???

Seriously....I know exhaustion knocks on the door of my life a lot lately, but did I miss February? I must have blinked or something. I canNOT believe that next week will welcome March. Don't get me wrong...I am very ready for the warm spring weather. These past couple weeks with the weather bouncing up to the 70's then back down to 40's has been a complete tease. I am ready to pack away the big winter coat and replace it with a light jacket!
The girls are growing so much and so quickly. Amelia is 2.5 going on 10. We had quite an experience the other night. While enjoying her snack of Kix cereal, she discovered the comedy of sticking one up her nose. The first time was funny so, yes, she had to do it again. The second time was not so comical. As she laughed, she inhaled and UP the kix went. In panic, she kept trying to "sniff" it away....which resulted with it going further and further up her nose. I was laughing so hard that Ty had to help me hold her down so I could preform emergency tweezer surgery. As soon as it was out, she returned to her happy-go-lucky self. Yes, I was the mom that, instead of getting worried, I almost couldn't get it out because I was laughing so hard. :)
Abigail is a WONDERFUL baby. She is so calm and happy. Where does her joy in life come from???? Pooping!!! I cannot count how many times we have had blowouts. From interrupting Papa's funeral with loud "music" for all to hear, to filling her bouncy chair with a full mess....we are always pooping! The other day we met my parents at a local restaurant for dinner. Ty took Amelia in and I stayed out in the car to feed Abi. Not but 5 minutes into her eating, she started "making music". Before I can even think about changing her, my lap starts getting awfully warm. I lift her up and I am covered in poop! To make matters worse, I had sent the diaper bag in with Ty because I didn't think I would  need it. So I picked up my phone with my only free hand and called him. No answer. I called my mom, dad, and sister....no answer. They couldn't hear their phones. FINALLY my dad answers and I simply yell "SEND TY OUT HERE NOW WITH THE BAG". Together we mananged to strip Abi, clean her up, and dress her in clean clothes. However, I had no such luck. After attempting to clean my own clothes with wipes, I finally gave up and went inside to eat with a HUGE poop stain on my light gray pants. Oh the joys of motherhood!!!
I'm looking forward to all the "stories" I will have once the weather is warm and we can go outside more. Who knows what Amelia will come up with for entertainment....with Abi watching close by :)

Thank you God for poop and tweezers

Roles

Lately I have been thinking about all the roles in life that we, at some point, wear. Every major role in my life allows me to wear smaller roles...some of which are enjoyable and others that are, well, not so enjoyable.

There is the "child" role. This is a role, that, no matter how hard we may try at times or how far we run, we will never lose. Our parents will always "parent" us, give advice, and call us multiple times a day. I have learned that the older I get, the more important this role is. Perhaps its not the importance, rather, its the respect I have for it.

Another role would be the "spouse" role. This is a role that I have proudly worn for 5 years now. He is my absolute best friend. This role enables me to wear a handful of roles within it. I am a comforter, listener, encourager, cook, partner, and cleaner....and lets not forget laundry machine. :)

My newest role in life would be "mommy". I'm sure all the moms out there would agree that no matter what I say, words cannot express the joy that comes with this role. Sure there are frustrating moments. Moments in which sanity is thrown out the window. Its during those moments, when I'm covered in spit up & poop and surrounded by crying babies, that I sit back and just have to laugh (or cry).

I have to wonder...is there a "true" role...one that entirely defines who I am? I think each role has had a very important part of my life. They have made me who I am. One has opened the door for yet another role to enter my life. I find myself sometimes wondering where one specific role might have gone. What happened to that girl I was during that time? Well I have decided that, though I move forward, each role is still there...just buried perhaps. So instead of missing parts of "that girl", I just have to look for her and bring her out from time to time. I have to wash off the spit-up, change out of my mama sweats, and find a way to mix the roles I am missing with my current roles...until the next role of my life knocks on my door :)

Thank you God for allowing us to wear and experience different roles in life :)

Uterus on the street

The rule is to take it easy until 6 weeks after giving birth. My feelings on that....apparently the rule-makers do not have a toddler at home. Seriously, they expect me to not lift Amelia, not play outside with her, and to just relax for an entire 6 weeks??? As blissful as that sounds to many women, I am not one of them. At 3 weeks, I started running again. Maternity clothes fill my closet and haunt my dreams. I don't remember the time it took to get "back to normal" with Amelia. However, I am determined to make it sooner than later with this pregnancy. So....day one of running concluded with me struggling to catch my breath and crawling back to the house. I probably shouldn't confess that I barely made it a block from the house before feeling like death. Day 2 was a little better. I was sore after that run. Not a day or two later I received an interesting facebook message from a good, concerned friend. Her friend was advised by her doctor not to start running prior to 6 weeks because it could result in her uterus falling out!!!! What!!! Though I greatly appreciated the heads-up, I had to do some investigating on my own. Seriously...could you imagine enjoying the day, jogging down the street when, oops...there falls out the good ol' uterus. The image is hilarious!!! Long story short---found out that even though it is false, other damaging things could happen as a running result. So goodbye running for another couple weeks and hello fitness videos in my living room. :)

Thank you God for legs to run and friends who care

Farewell holidays...

Well, its official....the holidays are over. Has anyone else noticed that they older we get, the faster they go? I look forward to the lights, sales, and music; yet, it seems as soon as I start enjoying them, they are over. As I gaze around my living room, I can't help but think it looked so much nicer with all my Christmas decorations up.
The holidays this year were extra special with the addition of Abigail. Though she slept through the meals and gift-giving, it was still her "first Christmas". It was also the first Christmas that Amelia knew and understood what was going on. It was so fun watching her open her gifts. Santa brought her a kitchen with a table and chairs. She was tickled when she saw it. Once it was revealed, she didn't care about anything else. Now whenever guests come over, she immediatly takes their hand and pulls them to her room. She wants everyone to play kitchen with her.
Having a newborn in the house is again, is like a new experience all over. I have changed a lot of diapers in my life....HOWEVER, I have never been pooped on as much as I have been in the past 3 weeks. I keep telling Abi that she was born with no manners. I think she is slightly confused....the poop is supposed to be released when the diaper is ON.....not when I begin changing her. :)
I also have forgotten what it was like to breastfeed. Between nursing her every 3 hours and pumping, I feel like I should be walking around moo'ing. Despite the cow-like feelings, I do love the special bond that is formed. I love being depended on. Amelia has handled it well too. Although I did catch her the other day trying to get Abi to nurse on her (she was holding her with no shirt on). Luckily she couldn't figure out how to get Abigail to reach her chest. I have to admit, I laughed pretty hard at the sight of her trying. :)

Now that the holidays are over and things have calmed down, I will get back to my blogging. I'm sure there will be many things to laugh with me...or at me...about. :)

Thank you God for a daughter who loves her little sister...poop and all.

Blissful Chaos

My life lately has been a whirlwind of doctors, hospitals, and babies. Last Tuesday, Amelia started running a fever. On Thursday, with it still not going down, we took her to the doctor to try and kick it before the baby arrived. After running many different tests and drawing blood, the doctor concludes that it is just a fever virus and all her vitals and counts look good. That was great news....considering I started having contractions that night around midnight.
After an eventful night of warm showers and walking laps around the house (yes, I even broke out the exercise step and climbed some "stairs"), we headed to the hospital around 6:30am. From that point on, time flew by. One moment I was progressing quickly, the next I was leaning over the bedrail with my head in a blue bag. FINALLY at 5:14pm, the most beautiful, pink bundle of joy made her appearance.
Since the first introduction, Amelia has fallen in love with Abigail. She is constantly asking to hold her, always hugging her, and giving her kisses whenever she can reach her head. I'm so glad we got Amelia checked.....even though she started having a cough, I didn't feel the need to worry about her passing it to her sister.
So, you may think that is where my story ends. NOPE! We were able to go home Saturday evening. Yay! Only one night in the hospital. We had a calm Sunday. On Monday we headed back to the hospital for a jaundice and weight check. Tuesday brings chaos. While playing, Amelia dislocated her elbow. We made it through the night and rushed her back to the doctor Wednesday morning. The doctor, unable to pop it back, sent us to an orthopedic doctor. He, praise the LORD, was able to re-locate it and within minutes Amelia was all smiles. YAY!!!!
Now, one week after the birth, I am finally enjoying a calm weekend with both babies currently fast asleep.

Thank you Lord for doctors who love my children

Yes, that was me

Yes, that was me yesterday. I was "that" mom.
After my doctor appointment, Amelia and I went to Kohls where she decided she needed to go potty. She sees the fitting room and makes a dash for it thinking its the potty. When words were not enough to convince her it wasn't the right place, I walked in with her and showed her it wasn't the potty. I'm sure the one lady that was trying clothes on thought I was insane saying "see baby, there are not potties in here". Amelia then decides she doesn't like my answer and throws the BIGGEST tantrum she has ever thrown in public. She was holding on to the corner of the wall screaming for the world to hear. I carried her (kicking and screaming) to the bathroom where she continues screaming and refusing to go potty. So after 10 mins of standing in the bathroom waiting for her to stop, I finally give up, carry her through the store, again kicking and screaming, to the front to pay out. Everyone was staring, wondering what I was doing to this poor child. And why is it that elderly people think they need to stop and try to sweet talk a hysterical toddler? I was moving as fast as my big belly would allow me amidst the kicking, and this lady on a hoove-around stops me to ask Amelia if she wants to come home with her. Really lady? Do you see what I'm dealing with and you want to take her home? I'm pretty sure she was implying that she could handle her better than I currently was. So we check out, get out to the car, and continue to scream all the way home. Joy.

For those feeling sorry for me (and I'm sure there are few).....no worries! The day was won over, when last night Amelia found her "boobs" and thought she needed to give them a kiss. She was bending and rolling all over the living room floor, trying her best to reach them. It was the funniest sight. Ty and I laughed and laughed. She even moved down  to her belly, which of course, was still impossible. Too funny!!!

Thank you God for a child who is determined and potty-trained.

Dec 3rd....The blog

I have been finding myself drawn to reading a wide variety of blogs lately; work, living, parenting, etc. After reading a very well written blog on the benefits of healthy eating, I decided that perhaps I should use Amelia's nap time to blog about my everyday, simple life (this decision of course was made while eating a piece of my homemade pecan pie).  My life may not be the most exciting. It may not even be entertaining. But what better way to remember those day-to-day moments that seem to slip by without recognition? These moments seem to happen more and more once a toddler is running rapid around the house. So consider this my "online diary" of mommyhood.

So today I start my first blog. It will not be well written. It will not have the correct grammar. It will, however, be filled with my laughter, my tears, and of course my simple everyday moments of life. It is called "Barefeet and the Good life". Enjoy....or just stop reading. :)

Being 9 months pregnant and knocking on labor's door, I find myself lacking the energy to get out of this house. Thankfully I preplanned and am done Christmas shopping! Well, today I woke up with a little more energy and decided to head to Target to get a couple of things. To get ready to leave the house takes more than just a few minutes....especially now that Amelia has entered the "I can do it mommy" phase. So after 2 hours of showering, dressing, and packing our snacks, we finally head out to the car. We get in, I start her dvd player, and turn the key. Nothing. WHAT???? Thats right...the car is dead. So after a few disappointing attempts, we unload our things and walk back into the house (of course that takes another 10 minutes). Amelia is crying because she wanted to go in mommy's "vroom". Thankfully Elmo has just came on and our tears quickly dry. On days like today, I am extra thankful for little red, furry monsters!!

Hours later, with lunch complete and having played outside for awhile, it is now mid-day and nap time has begun. We will see what the evening holds once daddy gets home.

Blessing: Thank you God that I have a car, starting or not.