Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Growing as a mother
When I had Cory, I was really young. Without my mom, I have no idea where we would have ended up. We lived with my mom until I married Jonathan when Cory was 5 years old. While living with mom I wasn't really able to be a mom myself because everything I did had to go through her - it was her house and well, does any 16 year old really know how to be a mom? Probably not. So when I got married and moved 900 miles away, I was sort of lost. Homesick and lost as a parent. In a matter of 2 months, I was a new wife, living 900 miles away from everything I had ever known, mom of a 5 year old AND pregnant! There were a lot of LONG phone calls to my mom.
So over the last almost 12 years and 4 children later, I am FINALLY in my own "groove" as a mother. With each baby, I got a little more confident and relaxed. I think the biggest growth for me as a parent has happened since Elijah has been born. I did have one major freak out moment when Elijah was 4 days old that Jonathan still teases me for. He calls it the day I went "bat sh!t crazy" - but in my defense I was extremely sleep deprived and hormonal.
Jonathan says I am different now - a good different. He said he saw it immediately when Elijah was born and that I was different with Elijah as an infant than I was with the other kids. I feel different. I am not so uptight and I don't worry like I used to about every little thing. Don't get me wrong, I still worry, just a little less LOL I am calmer, more at ease. I am better. I wasn't bad before - I am just better, a better wife, a better mother.
So over the last almost 12 years and 4 children later, I am FINALLY in my own "groove" as a mother. With each baby, I got a little more confident and relaxed. I think the biggest growth for me as a parent has happened since Elijah has been born. I did have one major freak out moment when Elijah was 4 days old that Jonathan still teases me for. He calls it the day I went "bat sh!t crazy" - but in my defense I was extremely sleep deprived and hormonal.
Jonathan says I am different now - a good different. He said he saw it immediately when Elijah was born and that I was different with Elijah as an infant than I was with the other kids. I feel different. I am not so uptight and I don't worry like I used to about every little thing. Don't get me wrong, I still worry, just a little less LOL I am calmer, more at ease. I am better. I wasn't bad before - I am just better, a better wife, a better mother.
Family name
Dad called last night with a little information on my name. He said that my middle name Lamont was my paternal great, great grandmother's maiden name. I guess when I had asked my mother, maybe she didn't know exactly who it was so I got the answer "it's a family name". I assumed it was her family, so I looked there. No wonder I didn't find anything!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Avocado
I got a little hungry and started thinking of what I could eat. Being a somewhat "new" diabetic I still have to really think about what I am going to eat. I looked in the pantry and the fridge and nothing seemed to appealing. I then saw the avocado on the counter. I bought 2 the other day when I made tacos for dinner. It was just right. While I was eating it I got to thinking how avocados are really good for you and even though they are very high in fat, they're low in saturated fat and and contain monounstaurated fat which can help lower cholesterol. They are rich in like 20 some essential nutrients and minerals which make them a complete food. I have been giving Elijah some puree'd avocado since he was 6 months and eating "solid" food. I make sure he gets a little at least 3 times a week. It's such a good first baby food that I don't know why the baby food companies aren't putting it in their little jars are charging for it. I mean that really doesn't matter to me personally since I make most of his food anyway. Abigail loves it just cut up into little chunks. Alex and Bella aren't real fond of it, but they will eat it. Since Avocados are considered a complete food you could actually live off of them. I am not sure I would want to do that, but I am certainly going to certainly be adding them more to our diet, not just Elijah's :-)
Who know this little, kind-of-ugly fruit could be so wonderful!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday Funday!
After church Malia, Jonathan's sister, asked if we could go to Alabama Adventure. It's a small amusement park outside of Birmingham. I had been there once before but didn't really do anything except walk around because I was having a problem with my neck and didn't want to get jerked around on the rides. I am not a real fan of rides to begin with. I don't know why because when I was younger I use to ride all the roller coasters and rides, but as I have gotten older, I have developed this fear of them. Well I didn't have the excuse of a sore neck so I thought "Ok I'll ride a few". First ride was the ferris wheel - seems harmless enough right? We walked up, got in the bucket and I was fine - until the thing started moving! I thought I was going to have a come apart right there. All the sudden I was frozen with fear. I couldn't open my eyes, I had a death grip on the bucket rail and the pole in the middle. If Jonathan or the kids made it move the slightest bit or even began to talk, I began to freak out. "SHHHH!!!! DON'T MOVE!!!" came out of my mouth a lot. I actually don't think I have ever had that type of reaction to something before. I felt bad because Alex and Bella were looking at me and saying "Momma it's OK" and Jonathan was across from me telling me "It's OK, just open your eyes". I was finally able to open my eyes, but I still couldn't move. I could look around just with my eyes, as long as I didn't move my head because if I moved my head the bucket would move and I just couldn't stand that feeling. So it went around and around and while I was still grasping onto the rail and the pole and couldn't move, the feeling of shear terror did start to subside a little. I sure was glad when it was over and that we were the first off. Jonathan laughing said he was proud of me for getting on it, but he didn't understand why I didn't want them to even talk. You know what, I don't know why either, all I know is I was scared.
After that we went on a nice river raft ride which I was totally fine with and even rode it twice. As we were walking up to it, Alex asked me if I was going to be OK LOL Sweet kid.
I was afraid my phone would get wet so I only snapped a few pics of the first time around. That's Malia in the red shirt with Bella. She is seriously the best sister in law anyone could ask for - I love her! I think she was looking at that family with the kids who were screaming - they were um, interesting.
After that, the kids rode this bright green thing that spins in circles and goes upside down - I opted out for that one! Then the kids wanted to ride the Himalaya which I remember from my Dorney Park and New Jersey boardwalk days, but I think it was called the Enterprise back then. I was going to sit out, but Jonathan asked me if I wanted to ride with the kids. I figured they would like that and they did. This ride spins you around a track that goes over bumps, there's really loud music playing and the person sitting to the outside gets squished. I sat on the outside so I didn't squash my babies LOL
They squashed me LOL They really enjoyed it. We didn't get a lot of time there yesterday so we are hoping we can go back again next weekend since the kids have season passes and we can get in for free with them. We don't really get to take vacations and stuff like that due to having the dogs, so being able to do stuff like this or going to the lake is really special to me and I know it is to the kids too.
I told Jonathan that when we go again, I would try the ferris wheel again, but I can't guarantee that I won't have the same reaction. I will try though :-)
After that we went on a nice river raft ride which I was totally fine with and even rode it twice. As we were walking up to it, Alex asked me if I was going to be OK LOL Sweet kid.
I was afraid my phone would get wet so I only snapped a few pics of the first time around. That's Malia in the red shirt with Bella. She is seriously the best sister in law anyone could ask for - I love her! I think she was looking at that family with the kids who were screaming - they were um, interesting.
After that, the kids rode this bright green thing that spins in circles and goes upside down - I opted out for that one! Then the kids wanted to ride the Himalaya which I remember from my Dorney Park and New Jersey boardwalk days, but I think it was called the Enterprise back then. I was going to sit out, but Jonathan asked me if I wanted to ride with the kids. I figured they would like that and they did. This ride spins you around a track that goes over bumps, there's really loud music playing and the person sitting to the outside gets squished. I sat on the outside so I didn't squash my babies LOL
I told Jonathan that when we go again, I would try the ferris wheel again, but I can't guarantee that I won't have the same reaction. I will try though :-)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Home
It's 8:30 on a Saturday night and I am already in my Pj's...I have actually been in them for an hour. They're just so comfy! I delivered Brandi's puppy, Charisma, to her and got to see her new house. She just moved from across the street to 4 miles away. The house is much bigger and nicer than what they were in, but it's kind of a bummer because I can't just walk across the road. It's all good though :-)
When I came home, Alexander, Isabella and Abigail were playing in the living room, Elijah was taking a nap and Jonathan was on the computer. It doesn't matter if I have only been gone for 5 seconds or for 5 days, I am so happy to see them when I come home. I just wanted to get comfy and relax with them all evening so on went the PJ's. Even though I still have dishes to do, laundry to do and dogs to feed, I am home with my family and in my pajama's - so everything is good.
When I came home, Alexander, Isabella and Abigail were playing in the living room, Elijah was taking a nap and Jonathan was on the computer. It doesn't matter if I have only been gone for 5 seconds or for 5 days, I am so happy to see them when I come home. I just wanted to get comfy and relax with them all evening so on went the PJ's. Even though I still have dishes to do, laundry to do and dogs to feed, I am home with my family and in my pajama's - so everything is good.
Geez
See there I go again starting something and then not finishing it. That's a nasty habit that I need to break. Well It's been 8 months since I started this thing and so much has happened. Alexander and Isabella both ended the school year with honors and Alexander got the president's award for academic achievement which was sweet.
In May I had to be the bad guy and and go to court AGAINST my niece in the custody hearing for her daughter. I didn't offer, I was subpeonaed by Jessica's ex husband's lawyer because I was a main caretaker of Jessica's kids for several months. Unfortunately Jessica is making very poor decisions in her life and it is putting not only herself, but her kids at risk. As I have said many times, Jessica has the right to screw up her own life if she chooses to do so, but no one has the right to screw up a child's life. If you can't keep your kids safe, clean, fed and healthy, then you don't deserve the privilege of having them. Children are a gift.
With that, Jessica will no longer speak to me. It doesn't bother me, but in the same breath it does. I miss her. Not the way she is now, but the way she use to be. Oh well. Maybe someday she will come around.
In June I lost my very special girl Pebbles. Pebbles was my first Aussie and the reason I started in the breed. She had some health issues and I never expected her to make it to her 13th birthday, but she did. She made it to 13 years, 2 months and 1 day. I was pretty prepared for her to go, but I wasn't prepared for the loneliness afterward. It may seem silly because I have my other dogs, but she certainly was special. I am sad that Elijah won't get to know her like the other kids did. But she was the first dog he ever touched. Rest in Peace old girl.
Elijah has graduated from the infant car seat to the big car seat. We got him a new one at Sam's club last week and it makes him looks so small, yet like such a big boy. He is almost walking now. He can stand up on his own and if you are right there he will take a few steps. Won't be long before he is tearing the place up! Am I ready for that? LOL I guess I just have to be! I can't believe he is almost a year old.
The older kids start school in less than 2 weeks. Alexander is going to the middle school and Abigail is starting kindergarten. Isabella will be in the 4th grade. It'll just be me, Elijah and the dogs home during the day. What am I going to do with myself? I guess I won't have any excuse for the house not being clean right? Well it's starting to thunder, the dogs are going nuts, 'til next time!
In May I had to be the bad guy and and go to court AGAINST my niece in the custody hearing for her daughter. I didn't offer, I was subpeonaed by Jessica's ex husband's lawyer because I was a main caretaker of Jessica's kids for several months. Unfortunately Jessica is making very poor decisions in her life and it is putting not only herself, but her kids at risk. As I have said many times, Jessica has the right to screw up her own life if she chooses to do so, but no one has the right to screw up a child's life. If you can't keep your kids safe, clean, fed and healthy, then you don't deserve the privilege of having them. Children are a gift.
With that, Jessica will no longer speak to me. It doesn't bother me, but in the same breath it does. I miss her. Not the way she is now, but the way she use to be. Oh well. Maybe someday she will come around.
In June I lost my very special girl Pebbles. Pebbles was my first Aussie and the reason I started in the breed. She had some health issues and I never expected her to make it to her 13th birthday, but she did. She made it to 13 years, 2 months and 1 day. I was pretty prepared for her to go, but I wasn't prepared for the loneliness afterward. It may seem silly because I have my other dogs, but she certainly was special. I am sad that Elijah won't get to know her like the other kids did. But she was the first dog he ever touched. Rest in Peace old girl.
Elijah has graduated from the infant car seat to the big car seat. We got him a new one at Sam's club last week and it makes him looks so small, yet like such a big boy. He is almost walking now. He can stand up on his own and if you are right there he will take a few steps. Won't be long before he is tearing the place up! Am I ready for that? LOL I guess I just have to be! I can't believe he is almost a year old.
The older kids start school in less than 2 weeks. Alexander is going to the middle school and Abigail is starting kindergarten. Isabella will be in the 4th grade. It'll just be me, Elijah and the dogs home during the day. What am I going to do with myself? I guess I won't have any excuse for the house not being clean right? Well it's starting to thunder, the dogs are going nuts, 'til next time!
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