She won't hold still!

Maybe she's a budding photographer??



Hey, Daddy has an idea, let's put a toy on a fishing pole. (can you see the fishing line? hahaha)



Oh yea... that won't distract her AT ALL.



Mom, is all this really necessary?



Ooh.. that look could peel paint!

8 months

Wow... I'm severely late posting these. I was also late taking these. She's a few days past 8 months in these shots. They've been my toughest shots to take to date, as she just won't sit still right now. I'll post in a minute with some out-takes and a funny story on how we had to do this shoot.

In the meantime... here's my little sweetie:

My Husband is Amazing

Knowing that I had such a miserable night, my husband surprised me with these at my office yesterday.

He also went to Walgreens at midnight last night to get me some (nursing approved) cold medicines for this wonderful cold I now have.

I love him so much.

Working Mother - Keeping it Real

Thanks for all the lovely comments ladies. You're all an amazing bunch of women, some of who I've had the pleasure to meet. Your dedication to your babies is awe-inspiring.

But.... thing's aren't always what they seem.

I had a major break-down two nights ago (the day I wrote the post below). I just couldn't do it any longer and I snapped. Days and months of hardly any sleep, a very cranky teething child, two younger children (try) to keep up with, a husband to love and cherish, and a job which is particularly stressful at the moment finally all got to me. I was reading in a working nursing mother book that said this kind of "break down" typically occurs around 6 months... guess I held out a little longer.

I lost patience with my daughter, I stormed around the house and snapped at the kids and my wonderful husband and retreated to my peaceful, secluded bedroom to cry. The post I wrote was a cry-out for me. I way for me to get out what I was feeling and to physically show myself why all this stress was happening. I have chosen a more difficult parenting route, but all night I wondered, does Natalie really know the difference? When she's my age, will she feel sorry for me that, in my efforts to give her the best I could, Mommy "lost it"? I know if my mother told me she went through the same thing, I'd feel horrible.

But.... all parenting is selfless. If it's not these issues, it will be others. I'm sure this isn't the last time that I will need to have a good cry and a break-down. Parenting is hard stuff and the pain and worry we put ourselves through for our children is part of the deal.

At the end of the day all I have to do is to look into that beautiful, chubby little face and see her smile at me, her Mommy, to make it all worthwhile and to recharge my spirit.

Working Mother

I did some reflecting this weekend, in between trying to comfort a fussy, teething baby, about how I've chosen to mother my child. I'm pleased to say that I haven't had to compromise much of what I wanted for my daughter.

Originally, while I was still pregnant, I new I wanted to breastfeed my daughter as long as I possibly could. I went into her birth knowing I would, but still bought a few cans of formula "as a back-up". I tried her on formula twice in the first few weeks. Since then, she has been exclusively been breastfed or drinking expressed breastmilk during daycare. My first goal was 3 months - and it came and went, then 6. My next goal is 9 months. I broke up my goals to give me some short-term milestones to reach and to congratulate myself with. My ultimate goal is 1 year at which time I'll wean her onto cow's milk during the day and probably nursing at night and for comfort for a few more months after that (or as long as my supply lasts).

I really have no desire to nurse her into toddlerhood (although I applaud women who do), it's just really not my thing. Pumping has been very hard and very demanding and I really do look forward to hanging up my pump horns. I savor the times when I nurse Natalie, although she's more than often fussy and squirmy, which makes it hard to have that magical bonding time. We rarely have a quiet, peaceful nursing session. Through it all, though, I know I'm giving my best for my child and I haven't had to compromise my wishes and desires for her.

The same is true now with baby food. My daycare provider really started me on this one. She makes all her own baby food. I figured if I was putting forth the effort to breastfeed her because it was so much better for her, then why would I want nothing less for her once she started whole food? Again, making her food is demanding of my time, but I can see already the rewards. Natalie is learning what food actually tastes like instead of eating jarred food that tastes nothing like the real thing (everyone remember that horrid game of "guess the baby food" played at baby showers?). I'm hoping that this will help her gain healthy eating habits and have her eating a wider range of foods into toddlerhood and beyond.

I realized the demand these things take on my time this weekend. When I wasn't comforting a fussy baby I was pumping (because she wasn't eating well) or making baby food to freeze when I really wanted to just sit down and read a book. I'm exhausted, but my baby has a full belly - my milk and wholesome food in the freezer and she's HAPPY.

So... I am able be a working mother AND still be able to provide for my daughter without compromising. Are there other things I could do like cloth diapering, etc...? Sure... but I'm exhausted. I've made my list of my absolutes and I have to make peace that these things will be enough.

BBVD!

OhMyGosh OhMyGosh OhMyGosh!!!!!

My favorite band of ALL TIME, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is coming to my hometown!!! They used to come to Orlando twice a year, but I've yet to see them for a few years. I'm STOKED! I've already lined up babysitters for the kiddos and Mike and I are going to go see them and ROCK OUT! Concert is October 17th at Sunrise Theatre in Ft. Pierce! YIPPEE!!!

Check them out here:
BBVD Jukebox
(click on "Simple Songs" - it's one of my favorites and it'll definately make your toe tap and your kisser smile

Faye - Part II

Well, we made it through yesterday without beating the children. It was close.. but they survived! Luckily daycare was open today. Natalie's daycare wasn't open, so Mom is watching her (school district employees are off for the storm). Poor Nati was up all night screaming in pain. She still hasn't cut any teeth and I think probably a few are moving around now. I rocked her and loved on her as much as I could. I have an amber teething necklace for her, gave her teething tabs and some motrin when it got really bad. Poor thing.

Anyhoo... back to the storm. I came into work this morning and this was the road on the way to the highway (SLW Blvd for all you local people)...




Here's our office. I had to meet a fellow employee out at the main road and be brought in by her 4x4 pickup. The whole commerce park is flooded. Niiiiiiice.

First Tropical Storm

Well, the kids are very excited not to have school today. Their Daddy and I are less than thrilled.

Here are some photos as of 11:00 am of Tropical Storm Fay here at our house. It's going to be a loooooooong day.


This is our street. Ahem, our lake, er.. river.


This is me, standing in our street/lake/river.

It's supposed to get worse tonight. Greeeeeeeeaaaaaaaat.

Firsts

I realize that as I get older... my experiences of "firsts" get smaller. As a young child, you have "firsts" all the time. Your first step, your first word, your first day at kindergarten. Our young life is defined by these firsts.

As an adult, it seems like our firsts in life get fewer and farther inbetween. Is it that we experience less as we get older, or do we not make such a distinction in the experiences in our lives?

I had a "first" today.

(are you sick of close-up photos of my leg yet?)

It was my first time I got stung by a wasp (or bee or anything with a stinger).

After the initial explatives, I started thinking about what other firsts I have experienced lately... it took me a while to really come up with some.

It made me realize that I need to make a point to really seek out some "firsts" in my adult life. I tend to get too caught up in my day to day life and forget the great joy of experiencing something for the first time.

So.. tell me, what are some "firsts" you've experienced lately??

Wordless Monday????

Return of an Old Relative

Dear Aunt Flo,

It was such a surprise to see you this afternoon. Don't you know that it's terribly rude to show up unannounced after, oh... 16 months?!

I can't say I didn't really miss you all that much. And yes, I'm aware that since you've missed me very much during this time, you'll more than likely be VERY ANNOYING during your visit.

Your return means my baby will have less to eat, will have a less tolerant mommy for a few days a month, and all that money I've been saving on formula will have to go to feminine products.

You bitch.

Your unexpected visit explains a lot. My supply has been low, my boobies have been sore and my muscles have been achy.

While I thank GOD that you haven't visited during the past 16 months, I hope that your return each month is short and rather uneventful.

Sincerely,
Danielle

Slowly going Green

For a long time I've had the desire to start going green. It seems that with my busy life, I just never had the opportunity to do the very little legwork to get myself started.

I've slowly collected my canvas grocery bags and am no longer using plastic at the grocery store (now if I could only remember to take them into Walmart with me too!). I've also started frequenting my brand-spankin-new natural food grocery store in town and buying natural and organic foods for the family and for making Natalie's baby foods.

It's small steps right now, but they are steps. Once I get comfortable with these changes, I'll jump forward and make some more.

Our Family Art Project

I saw this project a few weeks ago and just loved the idea! We recreated it for our dining room and love the way it turned out.

What do you think?