tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53352828222545701352023-11-16T04:09:49.556-08:00Mama SpudSpud, MamaSpud, Tater Tot, Small Fry, and Baby Sprout make FIVE!Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-24285041361078833302013-03-03T09:13:00.001-08:002013-03-03T09:13:08.383-08:00Tater Tot -4, Small Fry -2.5, Baby Sprout -1My sweet last baby is turning one on Friday. Spud and I just look at each other and say, "Well, we survived. Barely."<br />
<br />
My darling Baby Sprout, I love you so much. My first boy, my longest pregnancy, my biggest baby, my first c-section... Your life started out with a bang and ever since you've kept me on a wild loop. You and I traveled 3 times this year on 12 different planes for two funerals and a wedding. You missed your Great-Uncle but you would have loved him and he would have loved you. Thankfully, your Great-Aunt got to see you after you were born and hold you before she passed as well. <br />
<br />
You also spent an evening in the emergency room for first degree burns, something that I still feel so guilty about. You got over hand-foot-and mouth disease at 5 months and now you're in the throws of a bad stomach virus. You learned to walk at 9 months old and I don't think you've stopped moving since!! <br />
<br />
Baby Sprout, you're definitely my most active child but I think it's just because you want to run along with your big sisters. You love them so, especially Tater Tot, but please stop pulling their hair. They don't like that!<br />
<br />
I love you little Sproutie. Maybe this year will be a little calmer! Please go easy on your parents - they're not as young as they used to be. Try sleeping through the night once in a while. That might make us nicer.<br />
<br />
Happy First Birthday Baby Sprout!<br />
3/8/12 7:30am<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCc5NxQXY4S2fEnJIzqeVvqBvOoFzRdeK4tChQ7vEjTSi0k-8P770QXyhSuEk25iSdbdBOwVYF6knh8zm1Js97qWpKCqc2cyjrp7LxChzPR6LEBtFSivI7osKDy6xnnZzBEQZKmzfQuZY/s640/blogger-image--724660705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCc5NxQXY4S2fEnJIzqeVvqBvOoFzRdeK4tChQ7vEjTSi0k-8P770QXyhSuEk25iSdbdBOwVYF6knh8zm1Js97qWpKCqc2cyjrp7LxChzPR6LEBtFSivI7osKDy6xnnZzBEQZKmzfQuZY/s640/blogger-image--724660705.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-22687188800800394292012-11-20T21:22:00.001-08:002012-11-20T21:22:12.942-08:00Baby Sprout - 8 monthsHe's killing me, I swear. <br />
<br />
8 months and hasn't slept more than 3 hours at a time. Right now I'm cowering in fear, afraid to drift off to sleep, barely moving or breathing because :: HE KNOWS!:: Every single time I just start to fall asleep, he either wakes up or shifts in his bed, which wakes me up a little and I wait in anticipation for when he's going to full on scream his head off in the middle of the night. <br />
<br />
But other than that... Life is peachy ;-) <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g6N8nhSupBoAtqc8FWILUqNd42Uetnj1szE9mwPLPAc3Q0YToa_jlI0tkvtnnlczgllm6ruNSIbdXA9Quxy-QqbfT1wgvsVRlN7yFNww1q24osbQs6afrEsfjPmlEkn6s6duMjlGUME/s640/blogger-image--1010134966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g6N8nhSupBoAtqc8FWILUqNd42Uetnj1szE9mwPLPAc3Q0YToa_jlI0tkvtnnlczgllm6ruNSIbdXA9Quxy-QqbfT1wgvsVRlN7yFNww1q24osbQs6afrEsfjPmlEkn6s6duMjlGUME/s640/blogger-image--1010134966.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-69377451968208748622012-10-07T21:24:00.001-07:002012-10-07T21:24:26.062-07:00Tater Tot- 3yrs, 8.5 months; Small Fry-25 months; Baby Sprout- 7 months"Every day is the same, yet vastly different." Kate Gosselin<br />
<br />
Every day I beg for five more minutes of sleep.<br />
Every day I decide nothing can help this growing mane and I have no time for a flat iron so scrunching with hairspray it is again.<br />
Every day I pick up sippy cups.<br />
Every day I load the dishwasher. Sometimes twice.<br />
Every day I stare at a mountain of laundry and think, "Why start it when I won't have time to finish it?"<br />
Every day I try in vain to teach Small Fry a new word or baby signs or colors or shapes and get no response.<br />
Every day I struggle up the stairs with too many things and kids hanging off of me and not enough hands.<br />
Every day someone falls down.<br />
Every day I rescue a cat from over-affection.<br />
Every day I pray for Spud to get home just a few minutes early.<br />
Every day I wonder how I'm going to make it through the next.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcZDvp9v3l2jWG9ftLWQb4oEFA-s6EzE0inAfBVkj4neETZZl8ThDYgSrVydexMt_g_Jr1xIVN-Nuuw9yW9Gigtn_r5U5QgvOmKBe8_E4KGQoT1VLikmAgWC1FRyztyYK7yubfjp3LSc/s640/blogger-image--244303957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcZDvp9v3l2jWG9ftLWQb4oEFA-s6EzE0inAfBVkj4neETZZl8ThDYgSrVydexMt_g_Jr1xIVN-Nuuw9yW9Gigtn_r5U5QgvOmKBe8_E4KGQoT1VLikmAgWC1FRyztyYK7yubfjp3LSc/s640/blogger-image--244303957.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-68163396264465248152012-10-07T21:10:00.001-07:002012-10-07T21:10:05.931-07:00Baby Sprout - 7 monthsApparently it's a family trait to fall asleep in the high chair.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbAPh-UnjEdo5-toP3Uu70S3XcrRmtfFX2I24KTutULPZHUW1XOc0mCPM8iFSZ36vIpBTj56SiPZSNac2XqWQ66SCpe-OyiTE2PlMEyP1HzbSrSub0EVN_L74cKDX3r4-z-L-TLUDMAg/s640/blogger-image-637802875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbAPh-UnjEdo5-toP3Uu70S3XcrRmtfFX2I24KTutULPZHUW1XOc0mCPM8iFSZ36vIpBTj56SiPZSNac2XqWQ66SCpe-OyiTE2PlMEyP1HzbSrSub0EVN_L74cKDX3r4-z-L-TLUDMAg/s640/blogger-image-637802875.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-57960313245361294822012-10-07T21:07:00.001-07:002012-10-07T21:07:20.077-07:00Tater Tot- 3.5 yearsPast four autumn seasons at Reid's Orchard. My how time flies!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1QoPQ2xk3lKCcL3-Ejw_H74CQuNqRDQHbE3bbQqsVsLyPr55sRCrVBP53Pddyk_x_ukx5jiBUy1DH-ASDJllkHRbktHB4yldFVJWsuLHF0RcqgYuHmW4bRuSQf9AOsrS5T-fUfdOlNE/s640/blogger-image-801959563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1QoPQ2xk3lKCcL3-Ejw_H74CQuNqRDQHbE3bbQqsVsLyPr55sRCrVBP53Pddyk_x_ukx5jiBUy1DH-ASDJllkHRbktHB4yldFVJWsuLHF0RcqgYuHmW4bRuSQf9AOsrS5T-fUfdOlNE/s640/blogger-image-801959563.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-64569743292107710252012-10-02T15:04:00.001-07:002012-10-07T21:08:32.402-07:00Small Fry- 25 monthsThe past three autumns at Reid's Orchard.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm3lFmenWIqXruqCAu1fJaMPmwX8Gzem7aOGjAddH8VSY5N6iMZLY665og2fhUtCj_Y4KEXXlb3TuNROuEelCwc9Z35CCHCn9_r6HfwUp0Cn4S6-gs_KGHMsBlLN3I2PonIBayLcB8Qw/s640/blogger-image-1088792326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm3lFmenWIqXruqCAu1fJaMPmwX8Gzem7aOGjAddH8VSY5N6iMZLY665og2fhUtCj_Y4KEXXlb3TuNROuEelCwc9Z35CCHCn9_r6HfwUp0Cn4S6-gs_KGHMsBlLN3I2PonIBayLcB8Qw/s640/blogger-image-1088792326.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-52181541526563885282012-07-27T13:34:00.001-07:002012-07-27T13:34:05.836-07:00Small Fry - 23 monthsI'm big - let me do it!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FT_FFoHAdnA83OwHTP8BebP7RaLMWGSQbZp4WFszFXHrnoBuRV5_vX7rjQ_EfE4JjU2uVZiFGKh4fmsMcivyeRKfypnoEEhRTzAKIdoh-uXF4o3Vim7Hfv_bJCa9mMnSxq1xXEI2GCw/s640/blogger-image-479525086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FT_FFoHAdnA83OwHTP8BebP7RaLMWGSQbZp4WFszFXHrnoBuRV5_vX7rjQ_EfE4JjU2uVZiFGKh4fmsMcivyeRKfypnoEEhRTzAKIdoh-uXF4o3Vim7Hfv_bJCa9mMnSxq1xXEI2GCw/s640/blogger-image-479525086.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-75322307697104238492012-07-22T05:52:00.001-07:002012-07-27T13:34:30.914-07:00Baby Sprout- 4.5 monthsSpud and MiniSpud<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrfWqJalsNjyqf2ErH_wXP4MOnt51C63V4TITF9lODacsevBOqZmFIt-Vybwhsrp0YPFZb7cRFdEgV0pQ9me4HDdzhl8rmwnxjW-m1Ef0o5B4kFAjm5DrUeXJcQq6mX-veYHCCFLr0Ys/s640/blogger-image--1633379259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrfWqJalsNjyqf2ErH_wXP4MOnt51C63V4TITF9lODacsevBOqZmFIt-Vybwhsrp0YPFZb7cRFdEgV0pQ9me4HDdzhl8rmwnxjW-m1Ef0o5B4kFAjm5DrUeXJcQq6mX-veYHCCFLr0Ys/s640/blogger-image--1633379259.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-12035236920776931172012-07-04T05:31:00.001-07:002012-07-04T05:31:27.341-07:00Small Fry - 22 monthsBy the time Tater Tot was 22 months, she had a 2.5 month old sister, was speaking spanish, and could say this list of 144+ words http://mamaspud.blogspot.com/2010/11/tot-1-year-10-months-fry-25-months.html?m=1 (including buttcrack).<br />
<br />
I don't want to compare my children, but Small Fry's speech has me a little worried. She understands a lot and follows commands, but she only says a few words clearly. 3... Maybe. Last night I asked her to get me a diaper and a wipe for Baby Sprout and she came back into the living room proudly carrying both!<br />
<br />
Maybe I didn't spend enough time reading to her. Maybe Tater Tot took up more of my attention and then the new baby came and all the attention was on him and my recovery. Somehow, along the way, Small Fry just got left behind in the talking department.<br />
<br />
Thinking we'll need to have a serious talk with a doctor or speech pathologist by her second birthday (which is coming up in two months).<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57DbTkwaymMNJIK6F7cq_4g2ncGegngsZ5-ZdOg21sM036ZETWDsU46wYDnFyf5v4zB77yeZr_6Wch_anwcBDb-Vlr65Ye_eBGpYyyrerlZl69HJszbN-QlFvo8HL3bY8kK-3VJ9MUtM/s640/blogger-image--840766992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57DbTkwaymMNJIK6F7cq_4g2ncGegngsZ5-ZdOg21sM036ZETWDsU46wYDnFyf5v4zB77yeZr_6Wch_anwcBDb-Vlr65Ye_eBGpYyyrerlZl69HJszbN-QlFvo8HL3bY8kK-3VJ9MUtM/s640/blogger-image--840766992.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-7684199678446833492012-07-01T13:52:00.001-07:002012-07-01T13:52:22.076-07:00Small Fry - 22mo, Baby Sprout - 16wks"The Littles"<br />
<br />
My "good" kids... The ones who can't talk. ;-)<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqtJbGJJUHjKk8nxFf2ZLxwmHqvKjpJbB03FfvQHs9dBgbmorMtTbjd096bUpLdlZaPQf2H5ohYsXLsKQ7jfjrOT2fYn9dwrhGZ8f6lRj6oXM5BqCvvPEIGqfM95DDGQh5A3WDJhWeVI/s640/blogger-image--537998611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqtJbGJJUHjKk8nxFf2ZLxwmHqvKjpJbB03FfvQHs9dBgbmorMtTbjd096bUpLdlZaPQf2H5ohYsXLsKQ7jfjrOT2fYn9dwrhGZ8f6lRj6oXM5BqCvvPEIGqfM95DDGQh5A3WDJhWeVI/s640/blogger-image--537998611.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-23210284727723917832012-06-28T21:12:00.001-07:002012-06-28T21:12:12.619-07:00Tater Tot- 3 1/2 yearsChanging up my titles a little. Instead of posting their ages repeatedly, I will try to focus on just one child per post and then do all for updates (weight, new words, etc.) <br />
<br />
Today is Tater Tot.<br />
<br />
God love her, she's driving us bananas. Telling us she hates both of us and wishes she didn't have parents. Wishing to live at her grandparent's house. Pretending to rip her face off and throw it at me (actually I remember this now - a friend told me to tell a child to 'throw that angry face in the trash!' and the thought was so silly, it broke up the nastiness.)<br />
<br />
But then there's really sweet times. I do love her, but gosh it's hard to be her mom sometimes.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6NTyrD_JSJ_w0CxEx1DU1bfsFsOFIjU4zwtPwwf3TDwHToAH_Jk50hKTqcPW_9D0mH1dXA7xqSkGABeoMARU7CDHhhLs9DYt2A1S5ZBraeBA0j5Pv3WKKITrD2uhufts7Daby00pRUE/s640/blogger-image--1197562554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6NTyrD_JSJ_w0CxEx1DU1bfsFsOFIjU4zwtPwwf3TDwHToAH_Jk50hKTqcPW_9D0mH1dXA7xqSkGABeoMARU7CDHhhLs9DYt2A1S5ZBraeBA0j5Pv3WKKITrD2uhufts7Daby00pRUE/s640/blogger-image--1197562554.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-53822901885373823622012-06-26T22:33:00.001-07:002012-06-26T22:33:36.862-07:00Who is who?Vote in the comments.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6m2clh6UzUrq7f_OiXMjeROt4-fwSfTEyaQqlCVF9tSwYz61LNYyyAoyzaM1xF4ZYcR1sRwYXu25rfdq0ESHzNbQmJUdOi7QLaJKqten9CXgHN9d-_wQ6qBVPcU4FE6C6mBGhdG_NTs/s640/blogger-image--887532217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6m2clh6UzUrq7f_OiXMjeROt4-fwSfTEyaQqlCVF9tSwYz61LNYyyAoyzaM1xF4ZYcR1sRwYXu25rfdq0ESHzNbQmJUdOi7QLaJKqten9CXgHN9d-_wQ6qBVPcU4FE6C6mBGhdG_NTs/s640/blogger-image--887532217.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTRve6LQNDbuylm9Y45tCXGwgqhOO3YzWn7I6f-NRoopytSLuxxkAUeqbVhsY67m01niCZH37CkbeNKfl0dKgUt2n1T2byfmf4A6xeOF_xQvCOoiREVyH0bJW4kF_QDO8tsfE9I3_r-o/s640/blogger-image-888025446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTRve6LQNDbuylm9Y45tCXGwgqhOO3YzWn7I6f-NRoopytSLuxxkAUeqbVhsY67m01niCZH37CkbeNKfl0dKgUt2n1T2byfmf4A6xeOF_xQvCOoiREVyH0bJW4kF_QDO8tsfE9I3_r-o/s640/blogger-image-888025446.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDK8biFDTpjXSA7Q_xpoCrXQyPoIeS3j_bvPYDqsAsFTVyqbntDlWy20wDMbqrHK56kvfn-VUb6bDwmwaMueaEe7iAAvYEagnc_9HWhC0MkYtL7lSDRL18hHf-_593ZVOv-6VzQbZRnrw/s640/blogger-image--760696824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDK8biFDTpjXSA7Q_xpoCrXQyPoIeS3j_bvPYDqsAsFTVyqbntDlWy20wDMbqrHK56kvfn-VUb6bDwmwaMueaEe7iAAvYEagnc_9HWhC0MkYtL7lSDRL18hHf-_593ZVOv-6VzQbZRnrw/s640/blogger-image--760696824.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-50263541731623510352012-06-26T22:20:00.001-07:002012-06-26T22:20:10.962-07:00Tater Tot- 3.5 years, Small Fry- 22 months, Baby Sprout- 17 weeksUpdates:<br />
Tater Tot - 30 lbs, mouth like a sailor, memory like a steel trap (can remember most of every Disney movie she watches).<br />
<br />
Small Fry - 25 lbs, says "I got it!," "I did it!" and Mama with a few other made up words that I'm supposed to understand, and attempts to go on the potty.<br />
<br />
Baby Sprout - 15 lbs (!), is starting to roll over, and giggles when his belly is tickled.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYswU0DxmCBjFnuK81xpS8cZ5h4Y8OWo7Xq-57eEfH9V2xVkiQKNYvHOnJ6VOT3KQXomalW4eHcStQeDUKexm50UhvEFEUm7yGEXISb57lu8824WeogOq2TMESmFDumx3QMBnVXj73Ws/s640/blogger-image--1889265036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYswU0DxmCBjFnuK81xpS8cZ5h4Y8OWo7Xq-57eEfH9V2xVkiQKNYvHOnJ6VOT3KQXomalW4eHcStQeDUKexm50UhvEFEUm7yGEXISb57lu8824WeogOq2TMESmFDumx3QMBnVXj73Ws/s640/blogger-image--1889265036.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsSRMfXhreAwnjv7TVyQ1V4uZU-tgDEHhl1Fiurx_xrkxM_f-V4MaAUzTDDhM7XYM-yid2PecyzaY0UcX3Hz4A68tazlv5bzGk2IXmXxys3CGqY6ia4fc_oUmEkLA0q_4lFezNjH3yfk/s640/blogger-image--70546480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsSRMfXhreAwnjv7TVyQ1V4uZU-tgDEHhl1Fiurx_xrkxM_f-V4MaAUzTDDhM7XYM-yid2PecyzaY0UcX3Hz4A68tazlv5bzGk2IXmXxys3CGqY6ia4fc_oUmEkLA0q_4lFezNjH3yfk/s640/blogger-image--70546480.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnsk7kGGw7YInoPvaoSCmDOUmDDwSw_fx7tIgI56BkzDzYCoXlAb1bWan7obU5_Ekx0dKAIXQ7IILpV1iVISdu4l2Y4pO8IRLDaznkr7ZkH1gzRaPlCTomOR_EKzqwpvmqYiwXrpP39s/s640/blogger-image--1415023392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnsk7kGGw7YInoPvaoSCmDOUmDDwSw_fx7tIgI56BkzDzYCoXlAb1bWan7obU5_Ekx0dKAIXQ7IILpV1iVISdu4l2Y4pO8IRLDaznkr7ZkH1gzRaPlCTomOR_EKzqwpvmqYiwXrpP39s/s640/blogger-image--1415023392.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-65416551397974033162012-06-26T22:01:00.001-07:002012-06-26T22:01:56.436-07:00TT-3, SF-1.5, BS- 1/3I'm sorry we couldn't provide you the best home you deserve...<br />
<br />
You were a sweet girl, Leela, but there's too many babies in this house and only one of me...<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you for protecting us...<br />
<br />
And now it's time for you to be with someone who can give you the attention you deserve...<br />
<br />
Goodbye, crazy dog-face. We'll miss you!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl__zGxKFRvheqs6gDZYlTLPy-uUpgO3YS0L6l2vP2n2Ixgdbe4y_17urGdHiV2zHRCQLat7tMJt5I5riweFr8pfuO0hr0VaTDHBMsshIh_SGlsDCH49Jb12aN-867h7CLntRc7lexkQ/s640/blogger-image--1684898368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl__zGxKFRvheqs6gDZYlTLPy-uUpgO3YS0L6l2vP2n2Ixgdbe4y_17urGdHiV2zHRCQLat7tMJt5I5riweFr8pfuO0hr0VaTDHBMsshIh_SGlsDCH49Jb12aN-867h7CLntRc7lexkQ/s640/blogger-image--1684898368.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfydSSZtNgxHeUjxIB0HPoTquI1wAGP3kkLGkMEYnmqJpzeFNqRyrxKiWYf2vPD7BewVrAso-JCU0_l7-xAVkOESUL2mWNgg2r4TvdKKNJEEJss0hMKDmKt-YuEDC4_XmZScmwj-xjhPA/s640/blogger-image--1832587230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfydSSZtNgxHeUjxIB0HPoTquI1wAGP3kkLGkMEYnmqJpzeFNqRyrxKiWYf2vPD7BewVrAso-JCU0_l7-xAVkOESUL2mWNgg2r4TvdKKNJEEJss0hMKDmKt-YuEDC4_XmZScmwj-xjhPA/s640/blogger-image--1832587230.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRKV_gYM1kljdVQPnuSUZe9hc1xnOGZbGJ_SKIcH__xkks9isRnjOPZi9_60sz9dgNVvZpBwKGmDyCCAlSJlxWQw1Y-CYRnMiumacaJr4xXLa6h4YR3nnfEkldjZevJWO0qBnXBPLrbE/s640/blogger-image--752401059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRKV_gYM1kljdVQPnuSUZe9hc1xnOGZbGJ_SKIcH__xkks9isRnjOPZi9_60sz9dgNVvZpBwKGmDyCCAlSJlxWQw1Y-CYRnMiumacaJr4xXLa6h4YR3nnfEkldjZevJWO0qBnXBPLrbE/s640/blogger-image--752401059.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1LHScAkI0i4NDFs5bf1mc7IuOAJF-bsFyasMTRtH4NqZNH563NgbY5vrMxt6zHCIP6knNSj83TumIW-yLPUrss7-3KjNbuxqWCxy7jPZokn0vorHIPn_z3Cz5R7U4d3a-cQ0whhGgBs/s640/blogger-image-4464634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1LHScAkI0i4NDFs5bf1mc7IuOAJF-bsFyasMTRtH4NqZNH563NgbY5vrMxt6zHCIP6knNSj83TumIW-yLPUrss7-3KjNbuxqWCxy7jPZokn0vorHIPn_z3Cz5R7U4d3a-cQ0whhGgBs/s640/blogger-image-4464634.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFor7o_1VODKE27ABysdHSYorQLO3Vg2hCQjt7JSj89qhdZz9Z_sOmm7QMu-2olTl13PaUCT15IBp5FIaJsuYymSrOMkQdzzVks1itO7SY5dEKTth8BtZsihMlNqkzqDLbjc_jJ7dnRU/s640/blogger-image--1582862352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFor7o_1VODKE27ABysdHSYorQLO3Vg2hCQjt7JSj89qhdZz9Z_sOmm7QMu-2olTl13PaUCT15IBp5FIaJsuYymSrOMkQdzzVks1itO7SY5dEKTth8BtZsihMlNqkzqDLbjc_jJ7dnRU/s640/blogger-image--1582862352.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-40238111159630391812012-06-26T11:21:00.001-07:002012-06-26T11:24:08.082-07:00Tot- 3yrs, 5 months, Fry- 21 months, Sprout- 3 monthsDrive in movie to see Brave. <br />
Small Fry on left, Tater Tot on right, in the back of our Pacifica at night.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxwYxc-ADTCiio_VxNOriuXsTGt9YBXxtDzQAspyQA0UDaCYfhsdkns5yTBkW9ljY5RPTIQ4pKZ5TzbFjiJocehh52O2peX0Rt3hgtFl3qWsBFvU7K5D35yyweELo3cKxFTfYHE6EfEw/s640/blogger-image--258448529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxwYxc-ADTCiio_VxNOriuXsTGt9YBXxtDzQAspyQA0UDaCYfhsdkns5yTBkW9ljY5RPTIQ4pKZ5TzbFjiJocehh52O2peX0Rt3hgtFl3qWsBFvU7K5D35yyweELo3cKxFTfYHE6EfEw/s640/blogger-image--258448529.jpg" /></a></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-2467667964438487162012-05-11T07:56:00.002-07:002012-05-11T07:57:20.259-07:00Tater Tot - 3, Small Fry - 20 mo, Baby Sprout-2 mo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6AgB8lgfo3v6cYl_9akmn_AdmLec7eqggTKxaUPrRJl35Nw5g6k31krAGK3A34JfF-whjOppQqxyKa_ROI7UvwV8CHKNhnZxRLRZ3Y-BV4qqihXZy9RJoo9SprRy0CIqQW0ktOrW2EE/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6AgB8lgfo3v6cYl_9akmn_AdmLec7eqggTKxaUPrRJl35Nw5g6k31krAGK3A34JfF-whjOppQqxyKa_ROI7UvwV8CHKNhnZxRLRZ3Y-BV4qqihXZy9RJoo9SprRy0CIqQW0ktOrW2EE/s640/IMG_1738.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Fry (18 months), MamaSpud, Baby Sprout (6 days), Tater Tot (3 years), and Spud<br />
March 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well, look who's returned to the world of blogging. As you can tell, I've been busy. CREATING A LIFE!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy 100th Post!Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-10505150033551224882012-03-27T22:04:00.001-07:002012-03-27T22:05:42.226-07:00Baby Sprouts BirthCooper's Birth<br />
March 8, 2012<br />
<br />
I found out I was pregnant after a 3 week vacation to my parent's house by the beach. Turns out, it doesn't take two months to get your cycle back after nursing - like I thought. By the time I took the test, I was already 9 and a half weeks pregnant (although bloodwork said approximately 7 weeks). My husband and I were completely stunned. We have a 2 and a 1/2 year old, an 11 month old, and a new puppy. We were careful. We were cautious. We were sleeping in separate beds! The baby was still waking through the night and so was the puppy so we just found it best to sleep apart and tend to our "babies" separately.<br />
By the time we could see my OB/GYN and get an ultrasound, they confirmed we were 12 weeks pregnant - which completely threw our whole timeline off. Now we were even more stunned, and scared, of what lie ahead. Life with 3 under 3. Will this baby have problems? Did those drinks I had while celebrating non-nursing motherhood hurt this tiny, unknown fetus? What will happen while Jeff goes to grad school for 8 days while I'm 8 months pregnant? The questions swirled around and around.<br />
By 20 weeks I had several dreams/predictions of what may come with this baby. I dreamed for sure that I was going to have my third girl. She would be tiny, very early, perhaps precipitous, and I may have to give birth alone at my home. In my dream, I pulled her out of me and exclaimed, "It's a girl!" while cradling her small, perhaps premature, body. At the anatomy ultrasound, I should have known that all of my "mother's intuitions" were completely and utterly WRONG.<br />
It was a boy.<br />
"Are you sure? We don't make boys!"<br />
So we ventured through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 2 birthdays. We survived eight days alone while Spud attended his limited residency program in Vermont - with only one minor incident. Seems that the "puppy," in all her gangly, teenage dog ways, blended into the carpet while I was walking and I tripped completely over her back, landing directly on my belly. Contractions soon ensued but 35 week old baby and I were perfectly fine.<br />
At 36 weeks, another night of contractions. Painful, regular, and to the point of calling a doctor at midnight, just to see who was on call. Then nothing.<br />
37 weeks. Same again. My mother is in town, determined not to miss this birth again. For my 3 year old's (Tater Tot's) birth, Grammy was on an airplane. And Small Fry (my fast-approaching 18 month old) was 3 weeks early, leaving all of us scrambling to find transportation, childcare, etc. After a night of steady contractions, swinging into the morning, my husband and I decide to go to the hospital just to get checked out. I'm 37.5 weeks, 3 cm, 60% effaced, contracting every 2-3 minutes, but not in active labor. They send us to walk, eat lunch, and come back later, hoping for change. I am admitted around dinner time that night and Spud and I walk the halls. Over and over again, up and down the stairwells, bouncing on the birthing ball, hoping for some change. Any change. After 14 hours since we first arrived, we decide to go home and relax, hoping to be back soon the next day. It never comes.<br />
While we were at the hospital for early labor, we met my OB's colleague who was on call while my doctor was in Disney World. We fell in love with him instantly, his jokes and his cautious and natural approach to birth. When we left for a short time to get lunch and walk, we asked if he needed anything and he replied, "Ooh yeah, those little Reese's peanut butter cup eggs!" And so we did. Some for him and some for the nurses too. Helps to have happy nurses on your side.<br />
This doctor told me that, while I was dilated, the baby's head was not engaged and he didn't feel comfortable breaking the water because he once had a cord prolapse and the baby almost died. He seemed so visibly shaken up by that memory and said, "I NEVER want to do that again!" It should have been a sign of things to come. I was tired and sick of contracting so often, and had resigned myself to allowing AROM (artificial rupture of membranes), as long as the doctor and I agreed to withold Pitocin unless I absolutely needed it. But his unwillingness to break my water and my unwillingness to accept drugs led us to a (peaceful) stand-still. We decided to go home.<br />
We waited. And contracted. And waited. I felt like a fool. I had called into work, given away my shifts, texted my friends, and posted on Facebook that 'Tonight may be the night!' How foolish of me. We went in for my 38 week appointment, certain that some changes had been made, but again - no change and the head was still not engaged. We went home again, defeated and waited another week.<br />
At my 39 week appointment, my regular OB was back in town and -to much joy! - was 8 weeks pregnant! I was happy for her and happy she was home, but dejected once again because I was still 3cm. The head had become engaged though, so she asked if I'd like to induce. I quickly said no, thinking she meant Pitocin, but then asked, "Maybe could you break my water?"<br />
She knew that wasn't what I really wanted and told me she didn't think there was any room for inductions in the hospital for that night. But we set up an appointment to meet for my 40 week NST (non-stress test) and a BPP (biophysical profile) just to make sure baby was growing healthy and strong and could make it another week. She and I both agreed that we did not want this pregnancy to go past 41 weeks. I know people have babies at 46 weeks and are wonderfully healthy, but I just could not do that to myself.<br />
The next week - I caved.<br />
By Wednesday, I made up my mind to have my water broken. It was the worst decision I've ever made in my life.<br />
My husband and I decided, of our own volition - without any doctor's sway, that something had to be done to progress this labor that had been stopping and starting for nearly 4 weeks. I was exhausted, completely sore, and was fearing my blood pressure was having problems because it was very high and I was starting to swell in my hands and legs/feet. I called my doctor's nurse and asked if she had any time to break my water after our 40 week appointment on Friday. The nurse called back and said that the doctor was not on call that weekend and didn't feel comfortable leaving an induction with another doctor after she went home for the evening. She would want to use Pitocin to speed things up before she went off call. But if I went in Thursday morning at 6am, she would break my water and I could labor drug free all I wanted to for 36 hours (a reasonable amount of time for me).<br />
We called back and agreed, packing our bags and settling our children for the night. In the morning, they would be big sisters!<br />
Remember how I had mother's intuitions? Everything was the opposite - he was a boy, he was the longest pregnancy I'd ever had, he was definitely not premature or precipitous or born on my kitchen floor while Spud was in Vermont. And, it turns out, I wouldn't be doing any catching of my own baby or even having delayed cord clamping like I would have liked. No, once we checked into the hospital at 6am Thursday morning, everything went completely and utterly wrong.<br />
It seems the hospital lost my pre-admission paperwork. The shift changed at 7am and the new nurse had 15 minutes to ask me all of my admitting questions. I said, "I pre-registered, don't you have that information?" She was about to hunt down whether or not I'd ever had TB or if I had a last will and testament, when my doctor arrived to break my water. The time was now, I was ready, let's labor as naturally as I can with this augmentation and then have a healthy, natural, hippie crunchy birth.<br />
7:15 The sac was very thick and took several tries to break. My doctor claimed to get it, but nothing was coming out so she asked the nurse for a little fundal pressure. I gave a small push and a little came out, clear without meconium, but in short bursts. We talked with her a few minutes more, about her trip to Disney World and my husband congratulated her on her pregnancy. We talked about how long she cares to let a progressively laboring woman go with a broken bag of waters (past 24 hours, by the way, as long as baby and mom are healthy). We seemed happy, but something was wrong. There was no water coming out.<br />
Just as my doctor was getting up to leave, I asked if she could check again. Something was wrong. Maybe the hole sealed back up or the baby's head was blocking the hole in the bag? She broke out another amnihook and tried again saying, "Remember, you asked for this. I'm sorry it hurts!"<br />
I felt a huge gush of water this time, much better. I joked, "Sorry, did I get your pants wet?"<br />
That's when I noticed her face changed.<br />
"You know what? I just felt cord." She looked into my eyes. I'm not dumb. I know exactly what this means. It means no kissing my sweet baby before they can wipe away the vernix. It means no creative positions or holding my husbands hand and looking into his eyes while I give that one last push. It means no sweet skin to skin moments and instant breastfeeding and never ever giving him up.<br />
It means instant c-section under general anesthia.<br />
"All right. Let's go." I say. I've accepted this. I made my bed, now I have to lay in it.<br />
Then a string of expletives. Which I apologized for.<br />
Within seconds, the room went from 4 people (doctor, nurse, my husband and I) to being filled with people. Lights were turned on bright. The nurse tried to help me take off my Bella Band (which I wore religiously throughout pregnancy due to a hernia), but we were unable to take off my sports bra without sitting up. When I tried, the whole room shouted, "Whoaaa!! Lay down Karen!" Whoops.<br />
An anesthiologist came in and was very calming and soothing to me. I told my husband to call my mom and, in the panic, he forgot how to use an iPhone. I called her, while being milled around by 30 nurses and workers, and yelled into the speaker phone.<br />
7:22 "Do we have a baby yet?" she answered sweetly.<br />
"Mom! I'm having a c-section! The cord fell out! I gotta go! I love you!"<br />
Spud looks at me and says, "Honey I have to stay here, but I'll see you when you come out."<br />
"Stay with the baby, ok? Be with him."<br />
Suddenly, a woman my husband describes as having the smallest arms in the room, squirts medical jelly all over her hand and forearm. She climbs onto the bed and, in the most painful thing that has ever happened to me, she holds the baby's head off of his umbilical cord.<br />
I swear some more.<br />
They start to wheel me out of the room. Someone grabs at my necklace and I thought she took it off. The head charge nurse says, "Ok, let's cover mom up," and that's when I realize I'm spread-eagle with another woman's arm inside of me, about to be wheeled down a hallway, with every bump and corner, going 70 miles an hour while my baby slowly dies inside my belly. Obviously, I'm a little upset.<br />
My doctor has raced ahead to scrub in and I can hear her once we get into the operating room. That was the best, most reassuring thing I could have ever heard. "It's ok, Karen. You're ok."<br />
I'm awake while they swab me with iodine and place a catheter. Three more very loud swears and then profuse apologies. Everyone around totally agrees and says, "No really, it's ok. We understand."<br />
She gowns up and I can't see her (because someone has removed my glasses early on), but I can hear her say, "I'm ready if you guys are ready." "I'm ready, ok."<br />
The anesthieologist puts an oxygen mask over my nose and I hear him say, "When you wake up, you'll have a beautiful baby. Everything will be ok."<br />
"Tell my husband to watch the baby. To be with him. Please."<br />
7:24 "His name is Cooper."<br />
<br />
<br />
When I wake up, I feel like someone only paused the movie and then it starts up with full speed again. I jump into reality and ask to see my baby. Where's Spud? I need my glasses. What time is it? 8:20. It took 6 minutes? Is he ok? Yes I'd like to see pictures.<br />
My doctor comes in. I'm so relieved you were here. She's so relieved I was in the hospital when it happened. "I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you were at home when your water broke."<br />
Me neither.<br />
In some flashes that are starting to dissolve in my memory, I regained my glasses, my phone, my husband, my voice, my thirst, and finally, my baby. I instantly put him to the breast and all of the nurses comment how well he's doing. They didn't feed him formula or sugar water, right? Of course not. Oh, but they gave him a bath, I say dejectedly. Jeff was busy calling people and posting pictures to Facebook. He couldn't be with him, something that I still regret, and they claimed that the baby needed some time under the warmer to warm up. There's a perfectly good, warm, fuzzy daddy right here, but I can't do anything about it now.<br />
Now, he's here. He's mine. I won't let him go.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Except that... recovery from general anesthia is hard work. The nurse forgets that I didn't have a spinal and almost forgets my pain meds. A lovely little pain pump that can be pushed every eight minutes if my heart so desires, and boy does my heart so desire. However, somewhere around minute 3, I drift off into a rapid sleep and worry that I'm going to drop little Cooper.<br />
He's 8 pounds, 6.9 ounces, and 21 inches long. His weight is the only thing I predicted correctly. My girls were 6lb, 4oz and 7lb, 5oz, each going up a pound and an ounce (or two) at a time. He's my biggest baby, my longest baby, my longest pregnancy, and my last. We had made the decision before that we weren't going to have any more, but I still had a few doubts about completely getting rid of my fertility. Not quite thirty, I'm just not ready to take that chance in case I have another marriage or want to be a surrogate for someone else. After this, I'm done. I don't want to take any more chances.<br />
I blame myself every day for what happened. I know my doctor blames herself too and I know that some people would try to use that legally against her, but I'm not one of those people. I made the decision to have my water broken. I made the decision to ask her to try again because something didn't feel right. My doctor told me later that she was not aware that 2 weeks prior, the ultrasound showed a cord by his face. At the time, I didn't think that was an issue. Cords move and float around, right? And once the head is engaged, that shouldn't be an issue, right? Apparently, wrong.<br />
There are many "what ifs" that surround my head with this birth. What if the bag never broke? She said it was very thick and probably wouldn't have broken on it's own. Some people birth in the caul, and I was prepared for such an event, but it seemed like that was the one thing holding me back from progressing. What if my water broke at home? Would the cord have come out? Would I have known something was wrong, or just waited at home for my contractions to get stronger like every natural birth site advises me to do just to avoid interventions from the doctors? Would I have known to reach in and feel the cord, and if I did, would I have known to try to keep it inside and stay level?<br />
There is a .5% chance of cord prolapse in a labor without Pitocin, under normal circumstances. Yes, I had an augmentation, something that I had with my first - a planned induction due to previous doctor's "commitments" (nose job), and with my second, a drug free birth. I'm not saying I ever wished for this to happen, but if it had to happen, I'm glad it happened quickly so I didn't have to think and worry about it, and due to a real medical emergency and not an OB's "failure to wait." Truly a "necceasarian," I feel that I am blessed to have had my own doctor on duty, my husband with me, my children with my mom safely at home, my baby born pink instead of blue, screaming instead of limp. I'm glad I live in a world that has access to hospitals and quick responding code team members and good sweet pain meds when you've been sliced from stem to stern (apparently, my doctor was in such a rush to save him, she went a little crooked and long with the incision. Which is perfectly fine - all that matters is that he's out and safe).<br />
I'm not saying home birth is a bad idea - and would NEVER say that - but all along I always thought that it was a bad idea for ME. I would say, "My husband's not a doctor. He wouldn't know the first thing about how to take care of me if something went wrong." And that's the truth. He's not meant to know and that's fine. I would have loved to have a great, relaxing hippie crunchy au naturale birth like my second baby, but this one was not meant to be.<br />
Cooper James, however, was meant to be here, on this earth. And is so very loved.Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-27499829687292816272011-05-07T20:16:00.001-07:002011-05-07T20:16:36.989-07:00Tater Tot- 2, Small Fry- 8 monthsTater Tot-<br />-was playing by herself while I was reorganizing baby clothes, and she kept saying, "I have to clean up this junk!" Apparently I say that a lot...<br />-l.o.v.e.d Tarzan, but won't admit it because The Jungle Book is way better. She has a penchant for boys lost in the wilderness and raised by animals. I suppose. Give me hunky Tarzan over scrawny Mowgli any day!<br />-Has started telling me, "I killed a man with THIS thumb." I believe it.<br />-still has not gained any weight.<br />-refuses to go on the potty, even if I let it trickle down her leg all weekend long.<br />-started hopping up and down while I was getting the movie Rikki Tikki Tavi ready. She claimed she was being a mongoose. Then she got confused and started calling it a kangaroo. There's no kangaroos in India, Nugget.<br />-only loves the puppy (we're fostering... No decisions yet) only when it's not whining. After a pretty harried spell involving a choking sister and spilled BBQ sauce, she told me she doesn't want to keep her because she goes "Mmm hmmm hmmm!" "oll de time!"<br />-can sing the alphabet song and is starting to learn letters make words.<br />-said "abaho"(sp?) at the dentist when the chair went up and down. Thanks Dora.<br /><br />Small Fry-<br />-is a rolling over champ.<br />-prefers sitting to laying down.<br />-has started crawling like an army man.<br />-sometimes tries to pull herself up on my lap, the edge of the bathtub, or the coffee table.<br />-eats stage 2 foods and is starting to eat puffs and drink water from a sippy cup... Well, it's more like dumping, but close.<br />-wants Tater Tots toys.<br />-thinks the puppy is soooo funny!<br />-thinks Tater Tot is even funnier.<br />-still hates Spud.<br />-still sleeps in my bed :-/<br />-is saying "baba" when she wants to eat (either nurse or bottle) and "mama"... I think.<br />-currently has her toenails painted red, picked out by her sister (who chose pale pink for herself).<br />-is really starting to show the strawberry blonde in her hair.Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-166735626959547322011-04-15T20:34:00.001-07:002011-04-15T20:34:57.431-07:00Tater Tot- 2, Small Fry- 7.5 monthsAfter some much needed approval from Vanessa (http://nobloggingnamesleft.blogspot.com) -and reassurance that someone IS actually reading out there- I'm writing again. Twice in one week. Aren't you stunned.<br /><br />Updates:<br />TT is noticeably filling out again, thanks to a concentrated effort to plump her back up again. Slipping butter on her veggies, whole milk in her smoothies, snacks available at all times, and a never ending supply of Mac n Cheese. Hey... At least she's eating something!<br /><br />SF is such a solid sitter (say that 3 times fast) that I let her take a big girl bath with Tot, instead of the blue plastic baby tub (which is ...soo annoying). It's large, doesn't store well for easy access, falls over a lot, and requires two separate (exhausting) bath preparations. Finally, the day I've been waiting for has come! Not walking or saying Mama, just being able to bathe them at once. Yippee!<br /><br />We also started SF on Enfamil Restful Night formula tonight. I do nurse during the day, and the evening, and all through the night, but I'm usually so tapped by bedtime that I give her a bottle of formula just to give my boobs a two hour break until the next round! We'll see how this goes. Not having one single night of complete sleep in 7.5 months is starting to affect me <twitch>.<br /><br />TT and I were watching the "mousie movie" (Ratatouille by Disney/Pixar) for the ...billionth time. And there's a line spoken by a chef on a new person's first day of work. It's a little odd for a G rated movie, and my tiny myna bird thought it best to repeat to me.<br />"Mommy? Welcome to HELL!"<br /><br /><br />Little does she know, I'm already there. Thanks baby.Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-68364935095057168452011-04-13T19:30:00.001-07:002011-04-13T19:30:35.280-07:00Tater Tot-2, Small Fry- 7 months(I will be better about writing in my blog... I WILL be better about writing in my blog...)<br /><br />Sigh...<br /><br />Well, I spend a lot of time holding my sleeping baby and playing on my iPhone. I'm not proud of it, but what else am I going to do? It's why I sold my eNvy and iPod to buy an iPhone and use it *all day long*!! I'm actually thinking of getting it surgically attached to my hand but it might get in the way of changing diapers.<br /><br />Where was I? Oh yes, my inability to sit at a computer desk. Thinking of surgically attaching said sleeping baby to me as well. Saves on slings. Anyways, the iPhone- love ya to pieces- is a little hard to blog on. But I'm doing it now (sans pictures because I can't upload from here - but boy do I have some doozies!) for you fine people, because I know you're just dying for an update.<br /><br />3 weeks ago, we took down the side rail of Tater Tot's crib and made it a big girl bed. We also pulled her 2 bottles a day and some days she skips naps. Sigh. One little puddle jump (potty-training) away from being a big girl!<br /><br />When we cut the bottles of milk out, her weight drastically fell. Noticeably. Her ribs and spine stuck out, she stopped eating anything, screamed and tantrumed all. the. damn. time. I was going to pull my hair out. <br /><br />Then she woke up with a fever one morning last week. I was already planning on taking her for a weight check that week anyways, so I called for an appointment. Yup, it's just a virus, but the weight thing bothered Dr. Wonderful as well. Tot dropped from the 50% in weight, to the 25th in just 2.5 months. Yikes. She has to gain over a pound in the next 3 months or he'll start some tests on her thyroid, etc.<br /><br />Small Fry, on the other hand, went to see Dr. Wonderful ( he really is wonderful. My knight in shining armor who rescued us from the evil Dr. Dumbass) for her 6 month appointment (at 6.5 months... I'm bad about that). She is in the 75% for weight at a whopping 18 lbs, and in the 97+% for height at 28 inches! In six months she's gained 11 pounds and grown 8.5 inches!<br /><br />However, she wasn't rolling over on her own, either way, or sitting up. Dr. W. said to give her 3 weeks and if she had some delays, he'd have her evaluated by a program here called First Steps. Well! Small Fry would have none of that!! No sir.<br /><br />By the end of the day, she was sitting. By the end of the week, rolling over both ways. This is the baby I've wished she could be. Playing, happy, eating food - sometimes sad and that's ok, but better than she used to be. <br /><br />I think she was just depressed that she couldn't be a big kid.<br /><br />Later kids, my thumb hurts from typing.Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-30465636757485607752011-03-17T05:10:00.001-07:002011-03-17T05:10:31.819-07:00Tater Tot- 2, Small Fry, 6.5 monthsI often get approached by people in my small semi-southern town while I'm out shopping with Small Fry. She's usually in a Baby Bjorn we got as a handmedown from a friend, or one of my various slings. People are so friendly and seem to love babies here, and wearing my child seems to draw more attention to her than just leaving her in the car seat or stroller.<br /><br />NOT ONCE, WHILE IN A CAR SEAT OR STROLLER, HAS AN OLDER PARENT COME UP AND SAID, "Oh I wish they had that when my kids were little."<br /><br />I usually tell them, while patting my baby and keeping her away from their grimy fingers, that wearing my baby has been a lifesaver - and it's also been around for hundreds of years! Haha!<br /><br />Just remember that. No experienced parent wishes they could have plopped their miserable baby in a stroller, when they could have put them in a sling instead.<br /><br />;-DMama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-28704455111665434422011-03-13T06:44:00.001-07:002011-03-13T06:44:16.898-07:00Tater Tot-2, Small Fry-6.5 monthsCousin-Palooza!<br /><br /><br />Cousin Hash Brown and Aunt Curly Fry have arrived in Kentucky!! Whoo!<br /><br />All the girls could talk about was getting together and eating popcorn with their cousin! So sweet. It started because one time Curly Fry called and we were in bed watching a movie and eating popcorn. Hash Brown liked that idea so much, she begged her mommy to bring popcorn when she came to visit. She even made sure it was packed before they left!<br /><br />Last night, we had dinner and let the girls make a mess of the living room. Then we bathed all the babies and settled in to watch The Princess and the Frog. With our robes, blankets, milk... And our popcorn, of course!Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-67941013634246108822011-03-03T06:37:00.000-08:002011-03-07T11:54:02.104-08:00Tater Tot -2, Small Fry - 6 months<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG73uLbcSPkIb52LvWL4UIJ98SBqSssEuqceU_HMtEZhgGHXrBH93az_E4BFdpaR0ONGaGlclQhFV1RtlUuxFb5Z5xKNvXKq3mdkADHh0nGmdgKpVN0MVJeMNq867uIAW7njATzQJdO4E/s1600/069.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG73uLbcSPkIb52LvWL4UIJ98SBqSssEuqceU_HMtEZhgGHXrBH93az_E4BFdpaR0ONGaGlclQhFV1RtlUuxFb5Z5xKNvXKq3mdkADHh0nGmdgKpVN0MVJeMNq867uIAW7njATzQJdO4E/s400/069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579864142461450850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh thank god for the Johnny Jump Up.<br /><br />Now, AP moms out there, you may cringe at using a toy or bouncer or something to keep your kid happy. I certainly don't ever *cough* use it to leave her alone all day while I gallivant around town or anything. But, if your kid wants to play with a toy, why deny her? She gets bored with seeing the same old Mommy every day ... and that's ok. I'd be bored with me too. Small Fry is having fun, learning how to grasp and jump, and I help her play with it. That's fun. When she cries, I take her out and hold her. That's when it's not fun anymore.<br /><br />Tater Tot even gets in on the fun too - although a little too rough for my taste.<br /><br />"No! Don't swing Sissy like a pinata!"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Potty Training Woes<br /><br />Ok, we've been putting it off for long enough. She's been "pre-potty training" for 8 1/2 months now. It's time to get serious.<br /><br />And Tater Tot let it be known that it was time to get serious. The sh*t hit the fan... well, carpet. And bed. And walls.<br /><br />Spud heard her say, "Oh no, oh man, oh man!" while she was supposed to be napping. He went upstairs and she had taken her pants off, and her diaper, was flinging the diaper and the poo everywhere (thank goodness it's just little nuggets) and had peed in the bed.<br /><br />Thank God I was napping through that!<br /><br />Yup, time to fix it.<br /><br />So we hit it hard core today. Carting the little pink potty wherever we went around the house. Easy access. Constant reminders.<br /><br />And it worked. Sorta.<br /><br />While we were laying in bed watching The Jungle Book (for the 15th time), getting ready for a nap, she said, "Mommy, I hafta go pee pee potty!"<br /><br />Yay! I thought. Ok, let me peel myself off of Small Fry and we'll hurry to the bathroom. Then Spud came home and distracted her, she ran off to the living room, and peed on the carpet.<br /><br /><br /><br />....almost.... All of the buttons are there, they just have to be activated.<br /><br />Sigh.<br /><br />Reading "The No-Cry Potty Training Solution," by Elizabeth Pantley. Also on my reading list, a book by Dr. William Sears about the High-Needs and Fussy Baby.Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-20460258105395469202011-02-03T15:27:00.001-08:002011-02-03T15:30:45.975-08:00Tater Tot -2, Smally Fry- 5 months<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JXwwTB4_C1ViEs2wMHZrYR7neR8UlNDfffGr2dUlKgukgx1VfXNqghTTapOT89e02RLtv5BC802ZqGO_m0mXJuUK9xMpbUQnYEn14lR_MRDDulWlp1QcSQ0dSzEF-eEtZgWOyacqnY0/s1600/362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JXwwTB4_C1ViEs2wMHZrYR7neR8UlNDfffGr2dUlKgukgx1VfXNqghTTapOT89e02RLtv5BC802ZqGO_m0mXJuUK9xMpbUQnYEn14lR_MRDDulWlp1QcSQ0dSzEF-eEtZgWOyacqnY0/s400/362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569609338914526754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Which baby is which? First correct vote wins a prize! Comment below...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyHsCNziSTlSnTM1jhZ9J7ru-mdXj8tVGa3j8lgeXLaN0ATqNHYaI4hV5nQKcWuRsaGOkitVFikg9EC-W40rSJVEn_TOIPKD2qvsGkw6DcgFVpbGY3dY9tKR_9PiH9IltqJ2nnmjgUXI/s1600/8419_558558831936_47503874_33042664_262707_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyHsCNziSTlSnTM1jhZ9J7ru-mdXj8tVGa3j8lgeXLaN0ATqNHYaI4hV5nQKcWuRsaGOkitVFikg9EC-W40rSJVEn_TOIPKD2qvsGkw6DcgFVpbGY3dY9tKR_9PiH9IltqJ2nnmjgUXI/s400/8419_558558831936_47503874_33042664_262707_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569609335895188738" border="0" /></a>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5335282822254570135.post-28582887353509509492011-02-03T06:28:00.000-08:002011-02-03T15:20:46.029-08:00Tater Tot -2, Smally Fry- 5 months<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5114lGqOnyoXvpEWdCrrtFs7Mb9J_RoLFRuAgUOLXilchF67wOxZNEX_ZUcd7TR3XHDLNbQEULdCnMc4H-7Yj_yngU1G-7_kMMb448I9JQC8PyQtqGKa3VqjKBgP64GseNr7N6SgG1U/s1600/357.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5114lGqOnyoXvpEWdCrrtFs7Mb9J_RoLFRuAgUOLXilchF67wOxZNEX_ZUcd7TR3XHDLNbQEULdCnMc4H-7Yj_yngU1G-7_kMMb448I9JQC8PyQtqGKa3VqjKBgP64GseNr7N6SgG1U/s400/357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569599588848780946" border="0" /></a><br />I really, really, REALLY wanted to wait to try rice cereal. She's 90% breastfed and I tried to do things a little better for her, digestively, this time around. Tater Tot had such a bad tummy as a baby, spitting up and month long diarrhea...ugh... It was horrible. I thought maybe if I did things differently this time around that something would change.<br /><br />So instead of waiting until 6 months, we waited until 5 months (as opposed to the standard 4 months - or even less!). I don't agree with putting food in their bottles with milk (formula or breast) but I've even heard of someone putting actual jarred baby food mixed with formula in the bottle! That seems so... early! Wow!<br /><br />So we're going at it slow, just for practice, not for fulfillment. It gives Small Fry something to do with us while we eat dinner and allows her to be an active member at the dinner table. Maybe next month we'll try some avocado pieces... and some might even make it to her. Maybe...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HUDxya_bKEddgVOavdHaHxlVvyheOrpvE7cV6BhVhE_LQ0bIUNpcSLPYfugeJUqPbu3yVL2HCU9GJqE9eauU8PAe9dLSO0Fz_z87mffdPGagAhE1Afm9Cz2IJBkvn4GWFbjynDczXPE/s1600/236.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HUDxya_bKEddgVOavdHaHxlVvyheOrpvE7cV6BhVhE_LQ0bIUNpcSLPYfugeJUqPbu3yVL2HCU9GJqE9eauU8PAe9dLSO0Fz_z87mffdPGagAhE1Afm9Cz2IJBkvn4GWFbjynDczXPE/s400/236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569599587700157346" border="0" /></a><br />It's hard to be Small Fry. New foods, new smells, constant hugs and kisses from her big sister. Small Fry is even starting to laugh at Tot when she comes near. It's cute.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br />Button Sticks<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sUvTC7ZHuWGj5qUmAAH3uNmSnz8V1cZSqLpNHT1q5hoosL3uVkwdh0dittCDh7RoU5s4ukSdYLZhQkVKTvdz8HsoaF6PsytWAWYTeihPxKYd9TE1L5L6v4_v38VbY1QB8nlfpyAdBt8/s1600/220.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sUvTC7ZHuWGj5qUmAAH3uNmSnz8V1cZSqLpNHT1q5hoosL3uVkwdh0dittCDh7RoU5s4ukSdYLZhQkVKTvdz8HsoaF6PsytWAWYTeihPxKYd9TE1L5L6v4_v38VbY1QB8nlfpyAdBt8/s400/220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569599580756310210" border="0" /></a>Craft time. We made button sticks. Don't really know what button sticks are, but we made them. And it kept Tater Tot blissfully quiet for about 3 minutes at a time.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7B2AikGbhyphenhyphenl9YXtL3eZTyHh6hr5Q7l5RTbynzsT8rMQQ90jp8aGDv5NzQagXjoB4q1DhLraAPquMG8GavP8ne4ybjfKSzWKBuna2crn9Q3ICJ-Sp_zxawYPqzQIziLLer9fb7GbINT0/s1600/219.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7B2AikGbhyphenhyphenl9YXtL3eZTyHh6hr5Q7l5RTbynzsT8rMQQ90jp8aGDv5NzQagXjoB4q1DhLraAPquMG8GavP8ne4ybjfKSzWKBuna2crn9Q3ICJ-Sp_zxawYPqzQIziLLer9fb7GbINT0/s400/219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569599576193737154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l43ETQPd22tUZ70bpPXq0PX2UlJZl3YR3MS4ilzhIzlIjXLY6lmlMjpX_TXfpo-wAWKvYmFkRGRQ-GBCu17iWEY8_zCgdIkzyIGUWPr-GXuvkvmm_ejzUU-s0JKIZEPllq3b3KNiELQ/s1600/216.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l43ETQPd22tUZ70bpPXq0PX2UlJZl3YR3MS4ilzhIzlIjXLY6lmlMjpX_TXfpo-wAWKvYmFkRGRQ-GBCu17iWEY8_zCgdIkzyIGUWPr-GXuvkvmm_ejzUU-s0JKIZEPllq3b3KNiELQ/s400/216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569599578582961266" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4mg1s5nIv6hAbHGfvWR9HaM36efm2f0y5P1j5m8NT4nBBQnzQ7CimAFCAmZI23Rr7eY6C4olwc2uHddED9wGobUzTDQywgdHhaamSplG9dTyIYXsbBb3VkrYlM7GAe_pi78fOpI8jgE/s1600/215.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4mg1s5nIv6hAbHGfvWR9HaM36efm2f0y5P1j5m8NT4nBBQnzQ7CimAFCAmZI23Rr7eY6C4olwc2uHddED9wGobUzTDQywgdHhaamSplG9dTyIYXsbBb3VkrYlM7GAe_pi78fOpI8jgE/s400/215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569598502619334562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKf25ap4_AAzkAUaKHi61sx7BEgd16x63_PYVBEWbCJyKMTB5cAn71VZjKXzMo_nBAukWvX2UG8GEuqcMEIDflnhkjCZ3ARIGiIkP_K20ASDrT4Ur0HR7LrI5M8tVA8f7VybQo4ZQJB8/s1600/214.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKf25ap4_AAzkAUaKHi61sx7BEgd16x63_PYVBEWbCJyKMTB5cAn71VZjKXzMo_nBAukWvX2UG8GEuqcMEIDflnhkjCZ3ARIGiIkP_K20ASDrT4Ur0HR7LrI5M8tVA8f7VybQo4ZQJB8/s400/214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569598497890950770" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6CgVa8z-dQ668c07iiE-7-HmuodebzfreB9YQ52jwOuTL0Z10PQPsH72GgU5wfL1mjmgicP3_s5xq8BYscOkbtpzOSFJHfsUn73_XR0C-0AS9YyhUbkJXOny5KApRSjO-ESmbKYRaxw/s1600/213.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6CgVa8z-dQ668c07iiE-7-HmuodebzfreB9YQ52jwOuTL0Z10PQPsH72GgU5wfL1mjmgicP3_s5xq8BYscOkbtpzOSFJHfsUn73_XR0C-0AS9YyhUbkJXOny5KApRSjO-ESmbKYRaxw/s400/213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569598495403744818" border="0" /></a>Gluing buttons on sticks and calling it art.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SQHfCONX6wrR3cV4AgCV5-IaGHFm2P_WsjDu5iAsxilB9gBL-q4sV-VszPB3USmEUIFuhX0xHiGqv-4rH3scNkOA7R4z-mxju2egOcvX_iUFHoh3Igme_qUdTHMOg5zIUzUpwEtty9Y/s1600/212.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SQHfCONX6wrR3cV4AgCV5-IaGHFm2P_WsjDu5iAsxilB9gBL-q4sV-VszPB3USmEUIFuhX0xHiGqv-4rH3scNkOA7R4z-mxju2egOcvX_iUFHoh3Igme_qUdTHMOg5zIUzUpwEtty9Y/s400/212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569598491780323986" border="0" /></a>Oh no! Mommy! The gluuuuueeee!!!! It TOUCHED me!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDhFZrutiKcCjgFJd3j3TR0Ov96vX9D0L16_PxFh9FBN9V_zNb0y7R4ck2CDcvRfQAto5_1aaevHpkDS6NzDrsLZzJAXSoZMZv4al6jEcuKLjQXbiQwlTcddaSk1xgvEB6-ehaKnWV3o/s1600/211.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDhFZrutiKcCjgFJd3j3TR0Ov96vX9D0L16_PxFh9FBN9V_zNb0y7R4ck2CDcvRfQAto5_1aaevHpkDS6NzDrsLZzJAXSoZMZv4al6jEcuKLjQXbiQwlTcddaSk1xgvEB6-ehaKnWV3o/s400/211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569598486722288738" border="0" /></a>Even Small Fry was blissfully happy on the floor, staring, watching Big Sissy in her high chair.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzysGtyK3jGKe9wKEPR1C6xQklIqAD_w-LsOZUDCsX4MdmSwu7BbTlNK473V5lkZkIqf6v7r96HQ63ln-kMzfnHkNfp6EcRcpxs6dfd_YoUuN0AXeY0EXF0nk6XK7cjabqppflZt2ebRo/s1600/210.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzysGtyK3jGKe9wKEPR1C6xQklIqAD_w-LsOZUDCsX4MdmSwu7BbTlNK473V5lkZkIqf6v7r96HQ63ln-kMzfnHkNfp6EcRcpxs6dfd_YoUuN0AXeY0EXF0nk6XK7cjabqppflZt2ebRo/s400/210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569597624237929602" border="0" /></a>I try to fill our days with a little bit of fun and a little bit of order. We try to keep clean, but sometimes it doesn't always turn out. We try to keep our temper, but sometimes there's arguments. We try to do something extra every day, but sometimes it's all we can do to get dressed in the morning (afternoon).<br /><br />We try.<br /><br /><br /><br />Big Girl Days<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4CDybc46BUciohFoKbbj-FAPFIiCSn5RfT-ma6hexakzSEm6V11ZBOrfLxvW0-_feqqHX4yZ5v6-xrLOwk6OLcuxZY-GsgJVqu4BsDvSy6M5TdTg7XdubYCHo3WPut-4mW9X7jqJMTY/s1600/201.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4CDybc46BUciohFoKbbj-FAPFIiCSn5RfT-ma6hexakzSEm6V11ZBOrfLxvW0-_feqqHX4yZ5v6-xrLOwk6OLcuxZY-GsgJVqu4BsDvSy6M5TdTg7XdubYCHo3WPut-4mW9X7jqJMTY/s400/201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569597617419923346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Nevermind. I don't want to think about it...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjbNQSS7SS3BKZAlC7GFeB1irL1bvvAgFtls2p9yoLLeQMvsyGY8FgJmqbtg3rJXwNlIpNoU9TnV2xrzdgkhvDtpOg6jQ8eF7YS59mPrqffjfHLYuNmR3lRpnyXnl2iv1qmIeLkxPARg/s1600/193.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjbNQSS7SS3BKZAlC7GFeB1irL1bvvAgFtls2p9yoLLeQMvsyGY8FgJmqbtg3rJXwNlIpNoU9TnV2xrzdgkhvDtpOg6jQ8eF7YS59mPrqffjfHLYuNmR3lRpnyXnl2iv1qmIeLkxPARg/s400/193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569597616634720626" border="0" /></a>Daddoo tried to help potty train. Once. Still no major successes. :-/<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_YnPmAXMzZIjcDm5bzrQ-4aJ3z4fxAMWXwBPXOuDXcfbFMAKwNe4kGYAGERRmBCrGRtU5zTmne5MSiFxWjH0ZYECbm2VufI66J4rmi40dsUaLOGC65k5srpSXTZAoha5FlE-oUaQCuM/s1600/191.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_YnPmAXMzZIjcDm5bzrQ-4aJ3z4fxAMWXwBPXOuDXcfbFMAKwNe4kGYAGERRmBCrGRtU5zTmne5MSiFxWjH0ZYECbm2VufI66J4rmi40dsUaLOGC65k5srpSXTZAoha5FlE-oUaQCuM/s400/191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569597615552437330" border="0" /></a>A tiny chef, making pizzas with Daddy. Now, she likes to sit on the counter and help us cook a "yummy delicious" dinner. Help... by taking sugar packets out of a bowl and putting them into a strainer. It's a big help, really.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_Zn92OTk6p-sDFpjC6X_-LSQORw7hiLwDhuI7EJbsSAerjWQaJGGq7a5OlXVJMorvlhyO8UX3lyf-kq9Y9SZpmf38_gM86mcMHVt5ZixW9CbNXVAdVpVexoAk41djwqkJLsYvRgxV80/s1600/163288_616055632886_47503874_34719094_7038522_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_Zn92OTk6p-sDFpjC6X_-LSQORw7hiLwDhuI7EJbsSAerjWQaJGGq7a5OlXVJMorvlhyO8UX3lyf-kq9Y9SZpmf38_gM86mcMHVt5ZixW9CbNXVAdVpVexoAk41djwqkJLsYvRgxV80/s400/163288_616055632886_47503874_34719094_7038522_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569597611014803490" border="0" /></a><br />She's two now. She's so grown up.<br />Now, go pick up your juice.<br /><br /></div>Mama Spudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306660702564782781noreply@blogger.com0