The Meaning of March

This time of year, I am very sentimental. Almost everyday my thoughts go back to what I was doing four years ago and one year ago to get ready for the birth of my kids.
Lola was born on a Thursday morning. I had spent since the Tuesday night before laboring.......28 hours total. The Sunday before, I couldn't sleep because I was very uncomfortable. I thought maybe I was having contractions. Dean stayed home from work the next morning, and went with me since I already had a doctors appointment scheduled. To my dismay, I was not in labor and had made no "progress." We scheduled induction for Thursday night, April 7th. The doctor said she would probably be born April 8th. (That would put me at 40 weeks, 2 days, with PIH and Gestational Diabetes on insulin, for all my OB nurse friends!!) I will save the rest of the story for later. I will say that what they say about "nesting" is true, because the night that we went into the hospital I had been scrubbing my stove with a toothbrush. Haven't so much done that since.

We spent A LOT of time getting her room ready! Dean built the canopy over her bed!

Dean and I in front of our sweet little house in Levelland. We had just gotten all moved in. I miss it.

Deacon was born on a Tuesday. The weekend before, we took Lola to Chuck E Cheese and to see "Horton Hears a Who." I was VERY anxious about having another baby, because Lola and I were pretty much BFF, attached at the hip. And I was afraid of losing that. She was very excited to be a sister though, and as we all know it was a little rocky at first but we have settled into life with 2 kids. We spent the rest of those few days cleaning the house and getting all the baby clothes washed, and baby equipment out of the garage and set up in the house. We knew we would be going in on Tuesday, April 1st for induction. Dean and I, and a few people at work (for scheduling purposes) were the only ones who knew...........it seems a little selfish to do it that way, but we wanted it to be just us and the new baby, and we wanted it to be a surprise. Most people thought it was an April fool's joke!

Lola and I at Chuch E Cheese The 3 of us on Easter last year.

Look for Birthday posts very soon!

Are You Wondering........

What we have been doing? Well, lots of things.

Playing outside,

Growing our curls, Dressing up,

Vaccuming,

Learning to Share,

Picking flowers,

Making messes,

And Streaking.

That's about it. Have a nice weekend!

March for Babies!

Lola and I will be participating in March for Babies this year, also known as March of Dimes. Because I work on a high-risk OB unit, many of our patients deliver their babies quite early. Some need only a few weeks in NICU, while others stay for months, and a small few never make it home.

Here's a fact sheet on prematurity:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/21191.asp

Please consider sponsoring us and the Antepartum Angels team this year!

Click here to help me reach my goal!

Bribery

Now available at your local Sonic. And it only costs you a dollar.

A Moment to Never Forget

Tonight Lola came home from her great-grandparents house, and was very sleepy and fussy. She came in the kitchen for some medicine, and when Deacon saw her standing there, he stood up, took about 6 steps over to her, and reached for her. Then they sat on the floor hugging eachother for a little while.

"I Do It Myself!!"

That is what Deacon would shout at me if he knew the words. When we feed him with a spoon, he grabs onto it for dear life and insists on feeding himself-which is very, very messy with yogurt! Yesterday, I let him have at it. He had to have a bath afterwards!

Playing Outside......

The last couple of weeks have been so warm! We have taken advantage of the great weather as much as possible.

Deacon swinging at the park

Ready for a stroller ride! Look at those dirty socks......he likes to play in the dirt. And I'm a good mom, so I let him.
Lola was glad to be at the park!

Deacon thought swinging with Daddy was hilarious!

Lola took this picture of Deacon's feet. He has the chubbiest little baby feet and until now we have not been able to find a pair of shoes that he would wear without screaming when we put them on. He likes his clogs, though! He is taking more and more steps every day.

A Conspiracy or Shake Machine Maintenance?

First off, I have three things to say.
1. What you are about to read is some of the randomness that circulates in my brain daily, hourly, etc...
2. I frequently work 7pm-1am, and therefore am left to my own devices at 1am, in my van, husband and kids at home asleep, no phone ringing, no one awake to talk to........
3. I am a chocoholic


Let me tell you something fundamental about milkshakes. Specifically, chocolate milkshakes, because I don't believe I have ever tried or want to try any other kind of milkshake. Milkshakes are not to be consumed casually. They aren't a leisurely beverage that you sip because you need something refreshing. When I drink a milkshake, specifically, a chocolate milkshake, it is out of pure necessity. Why else would I consume, like, 1,000 calories in one sitting? Because I need it!
Last week, I needed chocolate. Badly. I decided in my evil little mind before even leaving work that I was going to stop at (where else at 1 am?) the 24 hour McDonald's that is dangerously close to my residence. Being the calorie counter that I am, I ordered a medium chocolate shake.

"Ma'am, I hate to be a downer, but our shake machine isn't working."

Do you know how many times in my life I have been told that by someone on the other side of a drive-thru? (this milkshake obsession has been going on a long time...)

Fine, so your shake machine "isn't working." Where does that leave me? I have only been thinking about this chocolate milkshake for, like, 2 hours, SIR and now you're telling me I can't get one tonight?

I didn't say that. I just drove away. And frantically drove towards the nearest row of fast-food restaurants, only to realize that none of them would be open.

And then, a glimmer of hope! There is a Whataburger that is even dangerously closer to my residence than the 24 hour McDonald's!

After waiting in line behind all of the drunks who were waiting on their breakfast taquitos (it's no secret that drunk people eat Whataburger breakfast in the middle of the night) and paying almost FOUR DOLLARS, I received my delicious, long anticipated, chocolate milkshake.

I really, really needed it. Then I came home and watched all 14 hours of The Bachelor (a whole other topic) that had recorded on my DVR.......and life was good.

Thank you, Whataburger, for maintaining your shake machine so that those of us with a pathological addiction to milkshakes, specifically chocolate milkshakes, can have one whenever we want. Even at 1:30 am.

Tea Party

Fancy new dress: $20

Updo for an opinionated, active 3 year old with very fine hair:

30 minutes and much arguing
Afternoon of tea with favorite cousin,

and Great-Grandmother...........

Priceless.

Eleven Months and Taking Steps!

Deacon turned 11 months old today, and to celebrate, he took his first steps! I was only able to catch a little of it in the video above. (Please excuse my annoying screeching in the video!)

Our 11 month old is also babbling a lot more, saying "Lala" and "Mama." He LOVES to play in the kitchen and drag stuff out of the cabinets and drawers. He still claps his hands all the time, and waves "hi" and "bye-bye." I am always afraid to talk about his sleeping patterns, for fear that it will jinx me, but he has been sleeping longer stretches. In the mornings he will crawl up to Lola, lay his head on her, and say "Ohhhhh" like he is hugging her. It's very sweet. He is still a sweet, loveable little baby, but is fast turning into a little boy. We love him so much.