Baby Detox

These are just random mommy ramblings as I watch my two little ones and think of the third coming soon.

It seems to me that we do a lot of things to our babies, only to undo them later. And, usually the undoing is pretty stressful and complicated. Here are my three examples.

1. Today Nicole, Hannah, nor I could find a paci for Hannah at nap time. She has fallen asleep before (in the car) without a paci, but she is pretty attached. We battled through an hour or screaming and hysterical crying. Finally, after much holding and cuddling, I was able to get her to fall asleep (for about an hour). She woke up hysterically crying and looking for the beloved paci. I picked her up and she laid, still, in my arms for 45 minutes. Clearly her nap was not finished. As she laid in my arms I observed her, several times, making sucking sounds and movements with her mouth. I know this sounds crazy, but she was seriously going through paci withdrawl.

This was all create by me, wanting to have a baby that doesn't cry and "forcing" her to use a paci as a newborn. I created the need, and today when that need wasn't met, it was rather difficult, for the three of us. Hannah was hysterical, Nicole couldn't sleep through the tears, and I was actually handling it ok, but usually I get stressed about these sorts of things. Anyway....it was paci detox. I don't know what will happen tonight. If I find the paci, will I give it back to her? I don't know. When we took Nicole's paci away, she had just turned 2 and was using it just to sleep with. She really didn't have much of a problem, at least not that I remember.

2. Diapers & potty training. I know...this sounds weird, but really...we teach our kids to wet and dirty themselves. It is not natural to want to feel a wet and dirty diaper. Out of convenience, we teach them to just go whenever they want to, we change it when we feel like it (or the smell forces us to) and we move on. It is very convenient to use diapers. However, it is difficult and can be stressful to potty train. Some kids don't train until they are three or four even! I thought two was too long with Nicole. We're working with Hannah, and I hope to have her trained by April. But...really, I am undoing something I taught her to do.

There are people out there who do elimination communcation. They never use a diaper and they watch their babies for signs or clues of when they "have to go" and they hold them over a potty. I am not that die hard, but they are just trying not to teach their baby to do something, only to undo it later. I'm hoping (and seeing) that cloth diapers helps to initiate potty training a little more.

3. "It's all about me" syndrome. From the moment a baby is born, we make life "all about them" When they are hungry we feed them, when they cry, we answer, when they want up, we hold them. I'm not saying Not to do those things...but we teach them very very early that the world revolves around them. Then sometimes between 18 months and 3 years (depending on parents from what I've seen) we begin to be annoyed and frustrated with the "all about me" syndrome. We start discilpling them for their selfishness. We stop responding to their every whim. Or worse yet...we never stop and we raise a generation of spoiled thankless children.

I think here is where I get to be a bit more extreme than a lot of people I know. Once my babies are a few months old, they begin learning, little by little...that they are not number one and first in command of the house. I don't respond quite a quickly....I know they can wait 5 more minutes before they get fed again or I let them "cry it out" a little longer at night. Even now, the big lesson the girls are learning (well...Nicole already has) is that they are not first in the morning. Daddy is first. My first job in the morning is to make Jeremy's breakfast (which is usually their breakfast too) and make daddy's lunch. Usually they get a glass of milk while I'm working, but it's important to me for them to learn that we serve daddy first. I think this helps them learn submission, selflessness and even love. I'm pretty sure Hannah "gets it" now too.

Anyway, I just think it's interesting how we teach our kids one thing, then later go back to reteach the total opposite.

Will I be giving baby boy a paci? probably
Will I be putting diapers on him? Yes!
Will I be putting him first and teaching him that my world revolves around him? I hope not. At first...yes...he is totally helpless and will rely upon only me for his most critical need...food. But, soon he'll begin to learn that there are others I love and serve also. And that, my life does not revolved around him.

Baby Boy's Name

I've had lots of people ask me what the baby's name will be.

We don't know! hahaha....I know....we've got to pick it soon, right? We thought we had a name picked out a few months ago, then a few weeks ago we changed it, and we've just gone back and forth a lot. So....we have two names ready. I think he'll just be named when we have him.

We *think* his name will either be Nathan or Evan. We Know his middle name is Michael...why was that so easy?

Nathan Michael
or
Evan Michael

I like them both....so we'll just have to wait and see what he thinks:-)

Do all little sisters....

....think they are as old or as capable as their big sisters?

Hannah sure thinks so. She has NO IDEA she is 1 1/2. She totally thinks she is 3...maybe even 4. She's been putting up a fight with me lately in this regard. Here are a few examples...

Last night, Jeremy was working late and I decided not to cook dinner, but to swing by our little pizza place near our house. Hannah nearly threw an all out temper tantrum because she didn't get chocolate milk like Nicole. First of all...Nicole just got choc. milk for the first time a couple of months ago. Second of all, chocolate milk is usually in "reduced fat" version. Hannah still drinks whole milk (because their brain still needs high fat content). Third...Hannah's NEVER had chocolate milk...she had no idea what it was/is, but she just knew that Nicole was getting a different drink and she just had her sippy cup (full of juice by the way) So...I wouldn't give it to her.

Then, I was carrying the high chair outside and Hannah cried and pointed at it the whole walk outside. The whole time she was shaking her head no and saying no. When I got outside...she continued to say no, ran over to a chair and tried to crawl up in it. She doesn't want to sit in a high chair anymore, she wants to sit in a big person's chair (she can barely see over the table by the way, it's hard to eat that way).

Speaking of the drink example above, while on vacation a few months ago (hold old was she? 15 months?) We were out to eat. The waitress had just brought our drinks and I pulled out Hannah's sippy cup of milk. She looked at me, shook her head, threw the cup on the ground, THEN she turned around and pointed at the soda machine and signed "More". WHAT???? She knew that we were drinking something out of that machine, and she yet again got boring old milk! I was dumbfounded....actually...it was quite funny.

Hannah tends to get upset with Nicole when Nicole is doing something that Hannah wants to participate in, whether it's with me or individual play time. Hannah already wants to wear Nicole's clothes (especially shoes) and read her books (although she doesn't have the attention span). She wants to use the "big girl" swing outside, hates when I change her diaper (but she's not potty trained yet), wants to sit in a different car seat, wants to ride a bike....the list could go on and on.

Sometimes it's funny that she thinks she's so big, and other times it makes me insane. :-) I'm pretty sure it's frustrating to Hannah in most cases. As I say many times throughout the day.....She totally thinks she's 3!

Being Good Stewards of God's Money

This morning, my friend Teri and I had the opportunity to give a presentation at our local MOPS group on how to "Be a Good Steward of God's Money Through Couponing". I'm pretty sure our presentation was a bit hectic, a little unorganized, probably overwhelming to some, but also helpful to others. We had fun working on our powerpoint together over the past few weeks. Teri is going to upload it to the internet sometime and I'll post a link on here if you want to see.


Here I am....ready to have a baby, haha

It was fun because there were at least 3 ladies there who really don't use coupons and were shocked by some of the information we gave them. Like...stacking store & manufacture coupons on sale or BOGO items. We gave a lot of information in a little bit of time. We hoped to spend more time on some deal scenarios and helpful websites, but we just didn't get there.

Anyway, it was a fun morning. Thanks Teri for asking me to be a part of it. I've enjoyed learning from you over the past year. You keep me excited and inspired to keep saving my family money.

Publix 11/4
Yesterday I went to Publix to pick up a few BOGO items I missed out on during my regular shopping trip (by the way, this week I paid $48.xx for groceries and saved $78.xx...good week for me.

Anyway...Here's what I got.


4 Sour Cream BOGO $.99
used 4 $.55/1 Q FREE
All detergent sale $2.99
used $1/1 Q $1.99
Chicken Broth BOGO $2.46
used 2 $1/1 Q $.23 each
2 Wonka Candy sale $2 each
used 2 $1/1 Q $1.00 each
Pampers diapers sale $8.99
stacked Target $3/1 and
manfact. $1.50/1 $4.49
Turkey Breast (my mom needed it and I didn't have a coupon! ACK!!)
$4.66

Total $14.37 (less than $10 without the turkey meat)
Saved $25.95

Baby's first shower (and he's not even here yet)

Last night my mom, my mother-in-law and my friend, Teri, threw me and baby boy a shower at our Clipper Chicks meeting (that's our coupon club). The shower was at Chic-fil-a, and let me just say right here that it was a great idea to do it there. You don't have to worry about setting up tables, having enough chair, cleaning before or really even cleaning after. The girls ordered a large tray of chicken nuggets, a large fruit tray and some sweet and unsweet tea. It was a perfect amount for everyone. We also brought a cookie cake from Sam's (I would rather eat a cookie than cake anytime...so, it's the perfect combo for me:-)



I felt a little weird about having a shower for baby number 3. Although I didn't have one for Hannah. It was nice though to celebrate the new baby and receive lots of much needed boy clothes and some other items that have been worn out by the previous two.


I loved this little leather jacket, I thought it was so super cute, hehe

These are two outfits that Nicole picked out for her baby brother when she went shopping with Yaya a few days ago.

So....I have to be honest with you. I was debating about whether or not detag everything and wash, or wait, and I was convinced this morning to wait. You see...when I got my one ultra-sound for this pregnancy, they would neither confirm nor deny the gender of the baby. They refused to say either way, and worse yet, they refused to give us a picture where the gender is evident. Jeremy and I have know what a little girl looks like on an ultrasound and we are convinced we have a boy. However, without that little picture to reassure ourselves, there is still a bit, you know...a tiny hint of question. So...this morning I was taking a little walk with the girls and I met another stay at home mom in my neighborhood (whom I later discovered I knew her husband in middle and high school...small world). Anyway, she was really cool, and in our conversation I brought up that I was using a midwife. She knew of Dawn, very well actually. In fact, one of her good friends just had a baby at the Birth Center yesterday. She was told she was having a girl, and low and behold she delivered a 10lb baby BOY!!!! She was telling me all about the pink/flowery shower and how this friend of her has nothing for a boy. I guess this is why the radiology people refuse now to tell you what they think your having. So, anyway, after that conversation, I decided to wait until after the baby is born to wash the rest of the clothes. I have enough newborn clothes to last me a day or two anyway. This way, if we are also surprised, we can still take most of the stuff back. What do you think? A little scary, right? hahaha. Seriously though, We had a great view during the ultrasound and I would say we are 99% positive it's a boy, but I guess you don't know until you know, right?

Well, I have to share a pic or two of the girlies. We've been sick the past week. Today is the first day Hannah has willingly smiled and not been whiny and crying all day. In fact, she's been a perfect little delight. I "missed" her. I'm glad she's back. Nicole and I are still not feeling well...but I think she's handling it better than I am. Given the chance, I'm pretty sure I would whine your ear off (sort of like Hannah), but Nicole is just super sweet when she's sick. She talks really quietly with a higher pitched voice and is ready for nap time sooner.


Oh yeah...Halloween. We didn't really "do" Halloween this year. We picked up Grammy and Gramps from the airport, hit up a restaurant for dinner and didn't get home till around 8. At that point, Hannah was beat and went straight to bed. Nicole went trick or treating to a few houses with daddy and our friends Bryan with his sons Peyton and Caulder. Nicole dressed up like an Indian (again) for trick or treating and for a little birthday party earlier in the day. Here's the picture.

Can you tell Hannah is not feeling 100%?

Well...that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed it.

The Sweet Times

I'm a pretty "tough" mom when it comes to bed times. Yes, I allow my children to "cry-it-out", especially when I know they can sleep on their own. But, as my mothering has matured, I've also learned that sometimes it's when you break your own rules that you are rewarded.

Nicole has never really been one for wanting to be held, rocked, back rubbed, hair massaged or tickled. Even when she was a newborn, I remember tickling my finger down her back and she would arch up and away as if to say "hands off" She is sort of like me. I pretty much don't want to be touched unless I do, then it's ok. Make sense? That's what I thought.

Anyway, Hannah is the total opposite. She melts in your arms and would like nothing more than to be held all night long, while your rocking her, singing to her, rubbing her back and playing with her hair. It has taken a lot of time to find the balance in "loving on" both of my kids. Nicole won't let you do it enough, Hannah will take all you got:-)

Hannah has been feeling sick lately, nothing major, just a yucky cough and stuffy nose. But, it is always during those times that I toss my ideas out the window and hold my babies as much as they'll let me. I guess I remember being comforted by my mom when I was sick growing up. Still to this day, I don't like to be sick alone, I want someone with me....not so they can see how crappy I feel, but to be tender and sweet with me. I guess it's the one time I don't mind being touched, of course, unless I don't want to be :-)

Well, this afternoon, Nicole went down for her nap like a champ...I mean not one peep from her (which has been odd lately, she must have been zonked!). Hannah however has been playing with her light switch non-stop. Finally I went in there and picked her up, and she clung to me as if to say, "please mommy, don't put me down". So, I listened. We sat in the glider chair and, awkwardly, held my little girl as she gripped my shoulders so as not to slide down my huge belly and laid her head on me. We rocked for some time, all the while, I had a perfect view of my little Nicole. Sleeping soundly and sweetly. I wanted to grab her up and hold her in my arms too...but I knew she wouldn't like that (and there's no way I can "hold" three at a time at this point). Hannah was content with just rocking for a time, then she looked up at me and started to hum....which was her cue to make me sing to her. I didn't because I didn't want to awaken precious Nicole, and Hannah understood.

I guess what I wanted to say was, I love my girls. They are sweet, precious, alike and different. I love to see how their personalities are the same and contrasting too. It's interesting how you have to learn to "love on" your children in different ways to suit what they like and what their needs are. I wonder what baby boy will want/like. Will he be independent and wiggly like Nicole, or will he be sweet and tender like Hannah? Will he be totally different and rough and tumble or will he be something I don't even know how to express? I guess time will tell, and until then...I'll continue to marvel at how my little ones are growing so quickly.

Nicole's daily question

"Mommy, are my teething going to fall out?"

For at least a month now, maybe a bit longer, Nicole has asked us this question daily...even several times a day. It's pretty funny. It has been a good reason for her to brush and floss daily.

You see...I have a fake tooth that I take out when I brush my teeth...this is what prompted the question to begin with. Several weeks ago, however, I answered her, "Yes, your teeth will start to fall out in a few years. Maybe when you are 5 or 6, but then your big teeth will come in" (we then compared the sizes of our teeth.)

So, along with the daily question, she often adds, "Am I 5 yet? Will my teeth fall out today?" hahaha

But, the funniest question came a few weeks ago at bed time. Our neighbor had just lost her fight to pancreatic cancer. We had been praying for her for several months, and we needed to tell her that Mrs. Elizabeth had died and now she was in heaven (whom she accepted as Lord and Savior just 3 weeks or so before her death...Praise the Lord!!!). So, we got into a very deep theological discussion about death, heaven, hell, sin, the cross and so forth. EVERY question was prompted by her...it was amazing! Anywho...we were in a very serious discussion when all of a sudden Nicole said...

"Um, daddy, I have another question. Does God and Jesus and the disciples in heaven...do they have their big teeth?"

Our New Addition....

....which is NOT a baby (yet). Haha...made you look!

This is a picture of Nicole using a part of our new addition before it was ready...any guesses?

No guesses yet? Here's Hannah, with a normal looking expression.


Our new addition is a .....

BUNK BED!!!!!!



Living in a two bedroom house with (almost) 3 small children present a few challenges. One of which is the obvious, sleeping arrangements. So, we have been looking for a bed for several months now. We were originally looking for a trundle bed and found a PERFECT one on Craigslist that I wanted SOOO badly. However, it was part of a set and the sellers were not willing to separate:-( So the search continued.

Then, we began to toy around with the idea of buying a full size bed and having the girls sleep together. I was afraid people would think we were "weird" for doing this....kids don't sleep together anymore. They don't share rooms, they don't play together, they don't chase outside....no...they twitter and text and send e-mails to each other....no more interaction, right? Anyway....this idea sounded pretty appealing. One larger bed, one crib in the same room, works for me.

I pretty much refused the idea of a bunk bed because of obvious safety hazards (which I am NOT over) AND we have low ceilings. The other night however, I came across a listing on Craigslist for a bunkbed with a full size bottom and twin size top bed. I thought to myself..."Self, this could work. We could use the bottom for several years starting right now, and store the twin until baby boy is ready to move up to the bed. AND...the bunk bed is not very high, so it would fit in our little house. Plus if by some horrible, unfortunately circumstance he rolled out of the top twin, he'd at least land first on the part of the full bed sticking out."

We brought the bed home and decided to put together the twin and install it on top even though no one will be sleeping up there (I hope) for a long while. So...for less than a weekend away we bought a bed that will eventually hold all three of our children, very safely and comfortably. It's big, but we are thrilled. It's a very well built, solid piece of furniture. We found out later it's from Haverty's, which I think is a pretty nice furniture store. And, the dark blue doesn't "match" the room..but I think it tones down some of the girly pink in there.

As you can see, the girls don't like the bed at all (Just Kidding!)







Tonight is night 2 of sleeping in the bed, together. I had to sit in there for about 45 minutes last night, Hannah wouldn't stay in the bed. Tonight, I decided to just *try* leaving the room. I had to take Hannah back in several times, but she didn't fight me to hard over it. And, after about 40 minutes, both girls were fast asleep. Nicole napped in the bed today, and Hannah was already asleep for her nap when I laid her down in it.

I think it just might work. I can already see (and hear) the girls enjoying this bed. I think it'll be good for them. Tonight, Nicole said the sweetest (and saddest) thing to me. The one time Hannah put up a little fight with me, she started crying. Nicole said, "Mommy...I don't like it when Hannah cries, it makes me want to cry too." Awe...melt my heart away. I love those two, they are precious!


In other news, we have been EXTREMELY BUSY this weekend on a very HUGE project. I think I'm going to wait to blog about it though until it's completely finished. However, this is a photo of our "green room" after a weekend of projects and craziness....survival mode. (it's now a bit more picked up:-)

I Need Your Help!!

To all of my non-coupon clipping friends and family. There is a VERY BIG and Helpful coupon in today's paper. This coupon is used to help friends start their coupon adventures at CVS because you don't have to pay for the product AND they get Extra Care Bucks back. It's a free investment.

The coupon is the Bayer Contour Diabetic Monitor up to $30.00. If you will not be using this coupon, would you consider sending it or giving it to me? I'll be buying some extra papers this week too because of the value of this coupon...but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. Even some of your places of employment get papers and those coupons probably go to waste. I don't need the whole week...Just the Bayer coupons. Thanks in advance if you can help:-)

FYI....we've had a busy weekend, working hard. I hope to have a great post up tomorrow for you:-)

Painting and Pool in the morning

Today was just a good day to be home and enjoy the morning, so we did. The girls spent nearly 2 hours outside painting and playing in the water while I went through my coupon binder and got rid of most all of my coupons (because they were expired). The kids had fun, I got some work done, we were outside enjoying a decent not to hot morning, and I didn't have to "work" to hard. It was nice.


I caught Nicole "painting" Hannah's hair. She looked like the Joker from the Batman movies. She had green all over her face and plastered in her hair. I wish the picture showed it better.

Nicole, doing what she does best....painting and making a huge mess. Her favorite thing to do.

Hannah, however, spent most of her time in the pool. When I asked the girls this morning if they wanted to put their bathing suits on and play outside, Hannah starting yelling and dancing in place. She LOVES this!

See that smile? It's a real one.

The girls had fun sliding down their slide into their pool. Here's a short video.