Controlling? Who Me?

Last night at our accountability group (of sorts).. we talked about relationships that rub us. And also areas that we try to control: areas of other peoples lives.

Moms: please don't confuse this with keeping our kids out of harm. Keeping them from certain consequences is helpful to them (protecting them from the pan on the stove).

The control I am learning about is areas that I try to "do" for my kids because I want them to "do" according to my expectation. Some of it is age appropriate and some is not. Lemme bust out an example for me in my season.

Behold....

My older boys' dresser. Jorge has the top two (big) drawers and Alex, the bottom two. I even put little cards to show who's was who's and which was for shirts and which for pants. I fold laundry, but the boys are responsible to put it in their drawers. Jorge is 5 and Alex is 4.

Once they are are in the drawer they magically turn into the picture above. A disheveled mess. This rubs me. I want to go in there and fold it again. But why? For appearances sake. But guess what? I can live in that tension that it's not going to look the way I want it too. The boys are, at this age, doing what they can. Folding, neatness and order are foreign concepts to them. Just getting them to be helpers putting it away is lesson enough. For now.

I did open their drawer to take the pic. Otherwise I do ask that they actually keep the drawers closed (which means the clothes have to actually be inside, folded or not).

But they do NOT have to be concerned with my level of expectation.. for now.

What about you? what are areas/relationships that rub you..that you realize are not for you to control?

Im supposed to learn something, right??

I've turned another year older.  

I'm now 33 years young.  

And every year I gain, I get more and more introspective about my life.  Not surprising.  I know that as you get older you start to gain perspective that you don't always have when you are younger.  So, just because I know you absolutely will NOT be complete until you know, here are some things I've been chewing on: (that was sarcasm, btw). 

*people want to know what you think, but with the freedom to not have to think the same thing. 

*It may be best to keep your mouth shut. 

*It may be best to speak up. 

*Knowing the difference of when to speak up and when to be quiet is governed by a very thin line.  And you will spend the rest of your life trying to figure out that line. 

*I do not need to try and control my kids and their emotions.  But I can give consequences for their lack of control with them. 

*teaching your kids that it okay to be angry at mommy or daddy, is very freeing.  (but no, you can't call me names like "meany.").  

*a lot of the things that I learned about my parenting style were legalistic, controlling behaviors that I myself was enslaved too.  God's grace gives some great instruction in parenting. (and no, that doesn't mean my kids "run wild in rebellion."). 

*It's okay to not be okay.  It's okay to let others "not be okay."  It's GREAT to admit, out loud, that you are not okay.  

*life is a precious gift and no matter how difficult the day, the next one is typically a little bit easier.  

that's all for now. 

You might be a Pharisee if...

You might be a Pharisee if:

http://christlifemin.org/feature_articles/You_Might_Be_a_Pharisee_If.pdf

A great list.

As of late, I have been trying to evaluate the messages I have received most of my life. A lot of which "outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matthew 23:28).

I am a recovering Pharisee. Someone who, while thinking I was doing good, was actually distorting what God "actually" said. How does this happen? When you (in general) take something simple from God's word and add, expound and reinterpret for everyone else. It applies to many things. And it applies not just to holding others to that standard, but it exists when you are holding yourself to this standard.

There are too many examples to list. In fact, I'd rather not list them because it WILL step on toes and I do not want to get hate mail. But ask yourself: is there something in your life that you so cling to, a practice, conviction, or "rule of life" that, by it's definition, as you have defined it, is NOT found explicitly in the Word of God? Then please, dear friend, consider that it may be your truth, but not Gods.

You are special..

Hey blog friends.

you are probably wondering where i disappeared to. I guess it's been a bit of an internet sabbatical. I've had a lot of things on my plate and needed to unplug to be able to process my "stuff" and to hear that "still small voice."

I wanted to share a little bit of what I have been treading through.. if you watch the video below.. its a reading of the book "You Are Special" by Max Lucado.

I promise it's worth the 8 minutes. And gives an beautiful picture of what I am having to learn, have been learning and will constantly need to remember.

I will update again soon.

hopefully.

rg

"I always feel like...somebody's watching me"

Remember that song.. with the catchy tune??

Well I was thinking about it yesterday when I got curious about my blog followers.

Supposedly there are quite a bit of people (that I don't even know about) that have partaken of my blog.. and well.. I would love to know who you are.

So here is your chance to introduce yourself. If you have stumbled onto this post or "always" read my blog, please leave me a comment on this post.

And if you have a blog of your own.. leave me a link for it. (you can even tell me if there is something you'd like for me to talk about or share).

Aaaand whilst you are here.. please enjoy the pure freakyness of the video for that beloved 80's song..

(i wonder if the director/creator of this video ever worked in hollywood again).

If trying to lose weight, don't......

eat the whole bag in three days.



Just sayin'.

(these are the generic brand and they taste just as good as the "other" kind).

take the time to watch this..

a couple of hairs cut

Yea, so it's about two inches shorter than I was thinking of getting it cut.. but hey.. it's hair, it'll grow back.



It definitely takes some getting used to, but I'm getting used to it.  

Wedding Perspective and sippy cups.

I went to a wedding this evening. I really enjoy weddings. As I've gotten older I've been able to grasp a little bit more of the picture of Christ that it represents.

I've also realized how quickly life seems to move after that big event.

Tonight I was talking to the father of the bride and I asked how it felt being at this point in your life, your oldest child getting married, that is. I said, "It must seem like just yesterday when you were changing diapers." His response: "Oh yeah, I have a picture of her holding a sippy cup and her hair all over the place. She couldn't have been more than 2 years old. (he started to tear up) and I told her, honey that is how I will always see you."

Oh MY WORD. It was all I could do not to run home right then and take give my kids their sippy cup.. It is already happening so fast. And I am not the kind of person that really misses when we trade one "season" for another. But I have a feeling I am going to later on. Sippy cups.. that's where we are right now. The thought of my kids getting married, while glorious in theory, seems too bizarre for me to think about. Wont' they always be too young?

I just want to savor every moment. Sop it up with a biscuit. (sorry I'm a little hungry). I'm gonna guess they'll be used to it by then, but I'm pretty sure I'll be a little emotional as the years go by. Just want to live life to the fullest and not regret a single day.

And never get rid of the sippy cups.

It's no secret..

You may or may not know that Jorge and I are praying through the timing of our next child, via adoption.  I have such a strong passion to adopt out of the foster care system (the huge mess that it is!) and don't necessarily feel like we HAVE to have an itty bitty new baby.  In fact, since the process can take up to a year or two, I would like to get a toddler close to the same age as Eva (or how old she will be) at the time of adoption.  Which,  if I had my choice for timing, would mean a girl between the age of 18-24 months.  

Of course, all of this is in the "talking about" stage.  I have made a few phone calls but haven't really taken the plunge of calling a social worker because my hubby needs a little more time.  I was telling a friend the other day that its much more "nerve wracking" to plan the birth of a child (or timeline for adoption) then if its all a surprise.  Well pregnancy can be a surprise, but not adoption.  And my hubby gets a little "nerve wracked" at the discussion of  time which is why, incidentally, none of our four pregnancies were planned!  But as I have told him over and over again.. our fourth child will not be that way.  We will have to start the process at some point.  ;-)

I honestly have no issues with $$ for adoption (if you adopt through the state there are only legal fees), or concerns over which of the thousands of children do we pursue.. No everything is just about timing.  So friends, whenever you think of us.. please pray for us and that the God of perfect peace will shovel some our way and we will know when is the time to pursue bringing in the next bundle God has for our family!  

Some days I am so ready to have them in our family and then other days I look at the ones we have and think.. it wouldn't hurt to give a little more time.. but even as I type that I feel like I am contradicting what my heart tells me:  another child is a blessing.. it doesn't matter how close in age they are.  Some of you may not understand what I'm getting at here and others will.  Anyways, I just want to rest in the peace that God is in control of our "family planning" and He knows when is best!  So you better believe the day that God confirms it in the heart of my husband.. you guys will be the first to know!! 

**its neat to think that our little baby could already be born right now, just waiting to meet us!  

Adios.. 

ONLY in America

I had to go to a local grocery store tonight to fill Big Jorge's prescription.  While I waited for it to be filled I walked over to the Deli side just to peruse the yummies.  I was there shortly before closing time and I noticed they had some rotisserie chickens left to sell.  I asked the man behind the counter what they do with the chickens they don't sell.  "Half are kept and half get thrown away depending on what time they were made" he said.  So I asked if they would be willing to sell them at a discount, the ones they were planning on throwing away that is.  He wasn't sure and suggested I ask the manager on duty. 

Well I got ten minutes to kill, I thought.  Why not ask?  Justin was his name.  Here's how it went down:

Me: Hi there Justin (looking at his name tag).  I talked to Mike and he said that they have to throw out half the rotisserie chickens at the end of the night.  So I was wondering if you'd be willing to sell the chicken at a discount since you are already planning on throwing it away. 

Justin: Well company policy doesn't allow us to do that. 

Me: You mean the company would rather lose money than sell it for even a small profit?

Justin: well we used to do that but then we would get people lined up waiting for the discounted chickens. So they don't do it anymore. 

Me: so let me get this right.  "Your store" would rather toss perfectly good food and lose the money than sell the perfectly good food to people who want to purchase it, than give a discount?

Justin: Basically. 

me:  Wow.  Only in America do we have people that throw out food because they don't want to give it at a discount.  Wow.  Okay. Thanks Justin, for your time.  

I go and pick up my script and as Im walking out the door of the store I notice a sign that says "Help XYZ store fight hunger, contribute today."  So this makes me stop and think.  Then it's back to Justin I go.  (hey I got no kids with me at this point, I got all the time in the world). 

Me: Hey Justin, not trying to be the annoying customer of the night, but I've noticed the big yellow "feeding the hungry" signs you got up around the store and I was thinking.  What would it take for your uppers (management) to put their money where their mouth is and consider using those tossed chickens by giving them to a food kitchen instead.  Heck, I'd even be willing to do the leg work myself if you told me who to contact.  I'd even find some kitchens for you guys to donate to, I mean since you don't want to sell the chickens and all.  

Justin:  Well, a few years ago we used to do that until we got sued because someone ate one of the free chickens, got sick and then took it to court.  Now we are only allowed to give bread, but not cooked food.  

Me: You mean to tell me that someone got food, for free.  Ate it. Got sick and then sued the company that tried to help them? 

Justin: Yep.

Me:  Wow.  Only in America.  Thanks again.  Have a great night. 

Only in America do you have companies that would otherwise give the food away, decide not to because of the litigious society we have and the people who are convinced they deserve millions.  Wow. Im baffled.  Its truly the one bad apple scenario and its sad.  

A little bit like Seinfeld...

I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but if it has I would like to know what you did or would do.  

Im a Seinfeld fan.   Although, my husband has one up on me there.  He may not remember the exact years his children were born but he can remember every episode and quirky situation that is presented in the classic sitcom.  Well tonight we had our own situation that, to us, seemed like good material for an episode.  

We were at Chickfila with the kids.  Another couple came in with their two boys (who happened to be 13 months apart and just a little bit younger that Jorge and Alex..who are 15 mo. apart) and of course we started chatting.  Our kids played with their kids.  We laughed and cut up with the other couple.  Found out lots about them (I do love to ask questions).  All in all they were a very down to earth, fun couple that we seemed to have a lot in common with.  We were in there about 30-45 minutes.  Then Jorge (my son) looked like he had to go to the bathroom..and he actually didn't make it (yes, and it was a #2).  Anyway, by that point it was time for us to leave.  Afterall Jorge didn't have underwear on.  So I asked Big Jorge to go ahead and load up Eva and Alex and I would meet him at the van.  On my way out I knew that Jorge's shoes were still in the cubby so I went in to get them.  But the couple told me that my husband had already gotten the shoes.  Then I told them to have a great night and then the wife said, "it was really great talking with you guys."  

Okay here is the Seinfeld moment:  I really wanted us to hang out with them again.  But do you ask another couple "out?"  I mean, AWKWARD.  I got in the car and told my husband that I really like them and thought it would've been neat to hang out with them.. but the obvious.. we just met them at a Chickfila.  Do you ask random strangers to hang out again and if so, how do you do that?  Of course that led to our funny conversation (btwn me and my husband).. do you say..

"So, you come here often?" or, 

"I lost my number can I have yours?"

"Look, we like you.   Wanna hang out after this?"

It was funny.  I guess if its meant to be God will bring them to us again (lol!).  

Medicated birth vs. Unmedicated birth (my thoughts only)

I know that before I start this post I should give three qualifying statements to open:

1. These are my opinions only. My goal in this post is just to talk through my experience and process it for myself. You are just reading in on my thoughts. I am not trying to persuade anyone.

2. I did not have a "natural" birth in the true sense of the word. I was induced and delivered unmedicated. There is a huge difference and I can elaborate on that later.

3. As I have stated before, I loved my two medicated births (in the sense of being medicated) and had no "issues" with an epidural. But I also chose to do this birth unmedicated.

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With that said I guess the easiest way for me to break down the "pro's and con's" of each is to just do a simple list. And since every woman's body and each woman's pregnancy is so different, none of these pro's and con's can be "the rule."

Medicated: Pro's:

You don't feel much (if your epidural works). Main reason to get it, right? ;-P

You can adjust the amount of medicine released based on what you are comfortable with.

You are able to "relax" or sleep during your labor right up until its time to push.

Medicated Con's:

-If you get too much med's you can't move at all and this doesn't help when it's time to push.

-The epidural is known to slow things down a bit. So your labor can last longer even though you can't feel it.

-If your epidural doesn't work, and you were counting on it working and then you have to go unmedicated, you will not be happy and then have a disdain for unmedicated. But that is only bc you aren't prepared mentally, physically or emotionally to go unmedicated.

-(for me) the recovery time was slower with an epidural. After delivery I was lethargic and took a while before I could "get a grip" and not look like I was drugged.

-the baby can also have a harder time nursing after a medicated birth.

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Before I start the pro's and con's of an unmedicated birth I need to explain the difference between an unmedicated birth and an unmedicated natural birth. Natural means you go on your own. You are waiting for your body to kick into gear when the baby and your body are ready (i.e labor begins). My birth, unmedicated, was not natural in that sense. I was induced (because of a medical reason) and therefore some of the experience on my pro's and con's list I would not have had with a truly natural birth. Pitocin changes everything when it comes to labor.

Unmedicated Pro's:

-I was more involved in my plans for delivery. I was part of the process rather than just being brought in and told what to do. I was being asked what my desires were. That was awesome to know that I was in charge of my delivery.

-Even with pitocin contractions (stronger and less breaks) I enjoyed feeling what was going on with my body and making adjustments according to what felt better.

-I truly bonded with my husband (he was my coach) in a way that I had not bonded with him in our other two births. I needed him more. He was my support. I was depending on him in a way I had never done before. We did it as a team. I also feel this about all those in the room with us (although more so with my husband). I truly feel like I could not have done it without the group effort. We were all apart of the process.

-I recovered quicker while at the hospital. I was able to go to the bathroom an hour after delivery. thats a big deal. I had the ability to move.

-I was exhausted from the delivery but only because of all the work that I did, not because I was lethargic from the drugs.

-I had a huge sense of accomplishment when I saw my body do something that I never thought was capable. There was, is, a huge sense of pride in that. But it came as a surprise bc that isn't what I was looking for.. I wasn't trying to be superwoman. I just wanted to experience it without meds.. but I ended up seeing how awesome it felt to "climb that mountain."

Unmedicated con's:

-(with pitocin) the strength of the contractions continued even after the baby was out. With natural, this would not have been the case. This made me less interested in holding Eva since I still needed to focus through the contractions until the placenta was out.

-(with pitocin) the contractions are stronger with less breaks.. it took me a while to get used to that. But this also meant that labor was very quick. I went from 6 to 10 cm's in an hour and it was a lot of work and of course painful. But very quick.

-(with a face presentation) the pushing was very difficult. Her head was coming out wrong and I knew it (bc of no epidural). However, I believe that had she come out normally the pushing would have been the best part and a breeze. Because, even with a face presentation, once you get to where you know you need to push, the contractions are easier bc its your source of relief when you push with them. You are finally able to work with the uterus. For me, though, every time I was pushing her head was like "pushing a brick wall" that was my perineum. Not the case in a typical presentation.

_____________________________________________________

Overall I am so glad that I had the unmedicated birth. I really think it showed me some things about myself that I wasn't aware of. Things that translate into other areas of my life and that are worth evaluating. I need to qualify that with the fact that one is not right or wrong. But I think it's similar to the process of growing in maturity: if something could benefit you, whether or not you think that trait is necessary, it couldn't hurt to do it anyway. Let me explain.

A truly natural birth teaches patience and full surrender. You are not in charge. You are waiting on your body to tell you when it's time to deliver. Being three, or even five, centimeters dilated does not mean your body is ready. Going into labor means your body is ready. The patience it takes to do that is hard to attain to. It's hot. You're huge. Your body seems to be getting more and more tired everyday. Your have other little ones to chase and bottom line you may be just tired of being pregnant. All of those are normal feelings. I had them with all three of my pregnancies. However, to go natural means that you aren't surrendering to your feelings. You are waiting for God to grow that baby as He designed your body to do. Obviously if there is a medical issue that requires getting them early, He also designed that they could survive outside of the womb by a certain number of weeks gestation but there is a risk there you have to be willing to take. you have to admit that "convenience inductions" are astronomically high these days. Being induced because you are miserable is, I believe, keeping people from experiencing true surrender and walking in true patience. Now you may be someone who induced out of convenience and say with a hearty "Amen, and I'd do it again." And I am not saying you are wrong for doing it.. that's for you and your man to decide. However, I would say it's worth a look into how that would effect other areas in your life: physically, emotionally, spiritually as it relates to full surrender and walking in patience.

I had to ask myself during that weekend of trying all the wives tales to get the labor "going" trying to avoid pitocin that I knew was coming at 38 weeks if she didn't come out before, would I be willing to wait if induction wasn't in the picture? If I had normal blood sugar levels, no insulin and everything was like a typical, non-risk pregnancy, would I be patient enough to wait it out until 40-42 weeks until my body said it was time? That was a hard thing for me to process. If God designed my body in such a way that I would have that baby eventually (although it doesn't feel like it) why am I trying to be the orchestrator of timing. Anyway, Im sure you get my point.. enough of that one.

The other thing I learned (more, common sense) was that I can disagree with the good M.D. It's amazing to me, as I went through this process, how many woman do whatever they are told with no questions or dialogue with their doctors. If the the m.d says it.. it's good as gold. You have a right to your opinion and no one knows your body better than you do. And I am not talking about being disrespectful here. But rather being knowledgeable about what's going on with you and your body and knowing what would work best for you or saying that you are uncomfortable with something or would like to try something different. I know there are some that are non-confrontational and would never think to question what a doctor says, but there is dialogue that is not confrontation. Yes, doctors have way more training than we do, but still, they are not you. And you can disagree with them. Example: I self diagnosed my diabetes with the last two babies. When they "told" me I "needed" to come in (with Eva) for the blood glucose test I told them "no thank you." It wasn't my doctor who recommended it. And he was so surprised that I said I was going to pass and just monitor it with my glucometer at home. Now why was he so shocked? I believe it was because I wasn't doing it by the system or protocol. But my reasons were legit. If you know someone is borderline diabetic, how is pumping that much sugar into their system a good idea when a glucometer will tell you the same thing after eating a normal meal? Now my husband disagreed with me and said I needed to take the test. So I did. I got an astronomically high number and felt terrible for two days. He then apologized and his exact words were: "I should have listened to you. You know your body better than anyone and I don't want you to ever take that test again." The same rule applies to pediatricians too. End point.

Lastly, I learned that YOU CAN DO IT!!! You can do an unmedicated birth and an unmedicated natural birth. If you couldn't then God would have designed your body differently. Yes there is pain. That was given to us as part of the Fall of Adam but that doesn't mean that your can't actually deliver that way. You may doubt what you are capable of it, but believe me you can do it. HOWEVER, you have to be prepared. I don't know how many times I was told "oh so and so went without an epidural and hated it." And then I would ask, "were they planning on an unmedicated birth?" and every single time they were not. it was a case of not getting the epidural in time or it not working at all. Friends, that is not the same thing. I can't imagine how much more it would hurt to labor or birth unmedicated when you are not mentally prepared for it. So on that note, when you are prepared for it and have a method for dealing with the pain, then I guarantee it will not be something you hate. You very well could decide to just do the meds the next time, but I doubt you would hate it. I feel like I can say that since I had a delivery that lands most women on the cutting table. Its just not normal to deliver a baby face up, face first.

So for all of you out there that may be considering a natural/unmedicated birth let me tell you three things:

-lack of knowledge leads to fear. What you aren't well versed in will cause you to fear. Meaning, if you don't know what to do to get through the labor then you will fear the labor. And then think you can't do it. So learning and research are the key!

-Second, ONE CONTRACTION at a time. That's how you get through it. In the moment. You take one at a time. Regroup and do it again. before you know it.. it's time to push your baby out.

-I was most nervous about pushing the baby.. will i be able to handle the pain of her coming out, etc. And it was not near as bad as I thought..and thats with the face up, face first thing. ;-P

Well i think that's about it.. if I forgot something I'll let you know. So tell me what you think..

Some Favorites..

Here are some things i've pondered today (or the past couple of days)...

-life always seems to be sweeter when there is a newborn to hold. 

-even the most rambunctious toddler appreciates an itty bity baby. 

-No matter how little sleep you get at night.. when daybreak comes, God gives enough strength to get through that day. 

-When you left for the hospital.. your then youngest child was so little and seemed so young.  When you come home from the hospital (with your newborn) they seem huge and almost grown. 

-Im not so sure that the third baby is "laid back" as much as it being mommy is "laid back" the third time around.   Everything isn't as nerve wracking as before.  You take it as it comes. 

Of course whats a post without a picture or two? 

Daddy dressing his little girl.. 

The cute "little toddler" that grew up over night.. lol.. 

Making my daddy proud.

Today I had an opportunity to do something that would make my daddy proud.  This is probably the fourth time I have actually done this "act" since my daddy died and each time it makes me laugh.  

I had just pulled into the church parking lot to drop off books at the library.  I got the kids out of the car, Alex in his stroller and Jorge standing beside him.  A lady was in her car, next to ours, and was trying to start her car.  It was trying to "turn over" but to no avail.   I knocked on her window, as she was about to make a phone call on her cell phone, and asked if she still had power inside.  She rolled down her electronic window, which answered my question.  And here's how the conversation went from there (as it has gone with the others this has happened with):

Me: well, you still have power so its not your battery and the car is trying to "catch" which means its not the alternator, otherwise you would have just a clicking sound or nothing...so I believe the problem is with your starter.  

Her: (she laughs) oh okay.

Me: Can I try something?  I've done it before and it's no trouble.

Her: Sure (chuckling again).  This will be interesting.  Pregnant woman with two small children working on my car, but go right ahead. 

Me:  Do you have a crowbar?  Like with your spare tire?

Her: I don't think so.

Me: well mine is really hard to get to in the van, so pop your trunk and I will take a look.  

(she really didn't have a crowbar with her Jack so I grabbed the golf putter that was lying in the trunk.. i just need something long and made of metal).  

Her:  this is my husbands car so those are his clubs. 

Me: well I assure you this won't hurt.. the putter.  ;-)

I then walk over to her engine, locate the starter (hers was under her battery, literally..hadn't seen that before) and then bang on starter with the putter a few times and ask her to try to start the car.  Before she does she says "now if this works, my husband and my three sons are going to want to meet you!"  

It didn't work.  I did it again, this time much harder and.... cranked right up.  

Of course she was in shock and just kept laughing about how funny it looked to have a pregnant woman with two kids start her car in the parking lot, but I gave her my classic line, "ma'am, my daddy had three daughters and he was determined that we would know something about cars."  

The last time I helped someone with the same issue was a forty something year old man in a Wal-mart parking lot and I was in my early twenties.  He was fidiling around under his hood and I walk up and say "what's the problem?"  He was less than amused and thought I was a waste of his time since he needed to get back to "fixin' his car."  I have to say, he was probably the funniest reaction to the ordeal that I have had.  He wanted to call my dad right then and there.  It was too funny.  

Anyway, when I walked back into the church today as that lady drove off I got teary eyed thinking about how proud my daddy would be.  Although, he would probably say I need to start charging these people.  lol.

Cats and Dogs.

Depending on if you are a "dog" or "cat" person will determine what you think about my analogy. But this is my blog so I can post any opinion I want I just have to be ready for the response. Anyway... to me, generally speaking:

Dogs are: Loyal to a fault. playsome. affectionate. want to be with you at all times. even after you have gotten on to them you are still on their good side, they don't like to be left alone

Cats are: loyal (to those they want to be loyal to. no questions asked), affectionate (to whom they deem worthy), want to be with you (if you have something they want, or they decide you're worthy), if you get on to them you need to find somewhere else to sleep, and being left alone is their first option.

Well at dinner tonight (the Terry's came over: Mom, esther, rachel and ruth) Ruth mentioned that she kept trying to pick Miguel up but he kept saying "No." He didn't want to be bothered. She noted that Jorgito was not like that when he was the same age. Then the above analogy came to mind. Jorgito is our dog. Alex (Miguel) is our cat. Truly. Even with his daddy, Alex is like a cat. Mommy is the only constant. Just because I am with him all day. I give him what he wants: sippy cup of milk and food, grapes, goldfish, etc.

Anyway.. I thought it was funny to acknowledge the differences between our two boys. God is so neat in how he creates us and gives us personality.

Speaking of.. I have a funny story of our Jorgito at Walmart today.. and it involves pee. Another post later.

I think this is it!

Okay.. after searching and searching I think this is IT! I still have to run it by Big Jorge, but I think he will like it. Granted, the only reason I can even look at Pottery Barn is because I still have a gift certificate from Christmas two years ago. ;-)

Whatcha' think?

it doesn't do it justice on my blog so check it out here.

UPDATE: Big Jorge liked it so I ordered it tonight! Yeah! Thanks Mom and Dad Terry for the gift cards (from 2 years ago!). Woohoo! Pink!

The RIGHT STUFF!

Hangin' tough... Please don't go girl... Funky, Funky Christmas.. Didn't I blow your mind this time.. 

Any flashbacks yet?  Are you seeing visions of your 7th and 8th grade year in junior high?  Big bangs, dangerous amounts of hairspray?  Tight rolled blue jeans?  Banana hair clips? 

Well ladies.. I KNOW that I am not alone in this world especially among women my age that were ALL about the New Kids On the Block.  Not surprisingly, I proudly attended 2 concerts here in the Ham (that's Birmingham).  I have a picture (that I will have to locate) of me and my bff, Lisa Stokes at Six Flags over Georgia, with a cardboard cutout of Jordan Knight.  I had the cd's, the christmas albums, the posters..although I drew a line at bed apparel.  

All this to say that I am bummed to find out this evening that their tour does not extend to the Ham...closest city is Atlanta on October 29th.  And I would go except for the fact that I will have a two month old.  But should that really stop me?  I mean that's what breast pumps are for, right?  

Who's with me? For ol' times sake.  In case, you don't think Im serious.. check this out!

Adios!

Thoughts on peeing!

Its amazing that any of us learn how to pee in a toilet.

Every mother has to have the thought at some point, "my son (or daughter) isn't going to get married because what woman wants to marry someone who keeps peeing on themselves?"

why does "every child" go through the "phase" of doing great on the potty then all the sudden forget that they know how to do it?

why does my child prefer to pee in his underwear or on the floor, get a "california outlawed discipline" than to pee on that toilet seat?

*** You may be sensing that I have entered that "phase" that seems so normal in most toddlers: my child has done great for three weeks and then decided to revert back to old habits. He went from telling me he had to "go" to just peeing in his pull-up and then taking it off. I know he knows better so he gets the ol' california outlawed disciplinary action, but yet he is still struggling.

He will learn one day right? He will not continue to do this, thus staying off all potential wife prospects, right?

more upbeat post to come.. when my child is on track again! ;-P

Insulin, Peeing and Secret Stalkers!

Lots to cover today. Btw, my hubby and I had a nice dinner out to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. Saturday night we headed to Botegas but changed our mind at the interstate and decided on J. Alexanders. The only reason: fatigue. We both had such an exhausting day that we wanted to stay closer to home. But the dinner was very nice. I love you my sexy Mex!

During this weekend it became obvious that my oral medication just wasn't "cuttin' it" and its time to move on to insulin. This is good/bad thing in that its not fun to give yourself a shot in the belly three times a day but good that I can stop feeling so tired because of high blood sugar numbers. I should be picking it up later today. The first couple of days are an adjustment because I have to figure out how much under the dosage I have to give so that I don't "crash" and have several "Shelby moments" (from Steel Magnolias).

Peeing. Yes.. I have begun potty training with Jorge. I say "begun" in that he is now wearing underwear when we are at home. One lady told me that I should "not go anywhere for a week and then it will be done." Since that thought is the most depressing thing to me ever (not going anywhere) I decided to take my sisters approach which is to just put a pull-up on when we go places, and make the first stop, when we get there, to the bathroom. The rule is still "no peeing or pooping in the pull-up" but he doesn't get a spanking for accidents. She said it took her son 3 months to be fully done training with no accidents.. so i figure that i am in good shape since I have six months until baby #3 gets here. As long as he gets it by then.. its all good in the hood.

Now to my secret stalkers. I have gotten at least four emails recently from people who have admitted to reading my blog but not leaving comments. Then there are the friends I have that have verbally told me they read my blog but don't leave comments. Those people total around 7 people. So all in all I "think" that I have a good blog following but I can't prove it. lol. but since my goal in writing is not validation I don't mind the no comments. Although I will say it gets kinda frustrating (grin) when I start to tell my friends a story and they interupt me with "oh yeah, i read that on your blog." OKAY well you should have to suffer through my story twice since I didn't know you had read it! ;-P

Anyhoo... I hope all of you had fun celebrating the resurrection of our Lord in whom we have victory over death and sin. Of course I would upload pictures but I didn't take any. Surprise. I even took my camera to the restaurant to get a pick of me and the hubby for our anniversary and I forgot that too. oh well.. such is life.