September is...
Sisters sitting on a swing...
...sharing smiles on a Sunday afternoon.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Cuteness Overload
Caution: The following video contains an overwhelming abundance of cuteness. Viewer discretion is advised.
You were warned.
You were warned.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
It Never Fails
How is it that when I finally think of something to write about, I have no time to do it? And when I finally get the time, I can't remember any of it?
Well, you know what they say...the more you have to blog about, the less time you have to do it.
(I'll probably think of plenty to write about later...oh, say around three in the morning.)
(Sigh.)
Well, you know what they say...the more you have to blog about, the less time you have to do it.
(I'll probably think of plenty to write about later...oh, say around three in the morning.)
(Sigh.)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wordless (Wordful) Wednesday - Laid Back Chillin'
My 15 year old genuinely enjoys hanging out with her baby sister...
...and I love seeing the bond between them grow.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Bumps and Bruises
As I was enjoying a tiny bit of peace and quiet this morning while I nursed Mary, my mind started wandering around (as it's prone to do when given the chance) and I found myself thinking how incredibly lucky I've been that my children don't seem to injure themselves as much as I did when I was young.
I remember one time, I couldn't have been more than four years old, when I was playing "Ballerina Gymnast" on my front porch. I decided to perform what should've been an amazing and graceful combination leap/pirouette from the porch to the lawn. Of course, it didn't come off quite the way I pictured it, and I somehow ended up with a cut on my forehead. The thing I remember most was lying in bed that night with a bandage on my forehead and thinking that if I took the bandage off you could probably see my brain and how nasty it would be if my brain got dirty. The mind of a four year old, huh?
I haven't really had to much use for Band-Aids in the Barefoot household yet (knock on wood). I have a feeling that will change as my son gets older and bolder, though.
I wonder, though, if my big girls have missed out on something by not getting those childhood bumps and bruises. Have I overprotectively shielded them too much? Is there a crucial piece of character development that comes from coping with the pain of minor accidents?
On the other hand, if this is the sort of thing I think up in the wee small hours of the morning, maybe it's a good thing I don't let my mind wander around too much.
I remember one time, I couldn't have been more than four years old, when I was playing "Ballerina Gymnast" on my front porch. I decided to perform what should've been an amazing and graceful combination leap/pirouette from the porch to the lawn. Of course, it didn't come off quite the way I pictured it, and I somehow ended up with a cut on my forehead. The thing I remember most was lying in bed that night with a bandage on my forehead and thinking that if I took the bandage off you could probably see my brain and how nasty it would be if my brain got dirty. The mind of a four year old, huh?
I haven't really had to much use for Band-Aids in the Barefoot household yet (knock on wood). I have a feeling that will change as my son gets older and bolder, though.
I wonder, though, if my big girls have missed out on something by not getting those childhood bumps and bruises. Have I overprotectively shielded them too much? Is there a crucial piece of character development that comes from coping with the pain of minor accidents?
On the other hand, if this is the sort of thing I think up in the wee small hours of the morning, maybe it's a good thing I don't let my mind wander around too much.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Fifteen Years, Infinite Smiles
We're celebrating my daughter's fifteenth birthday today. Fifteen years of laughter, love, and silliness.
Happy birthday, my darling girl. Keep smiling.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wordless Wednesday - We're An American Band
Music is a very important part of the Barefoot household.
Monday, September 14, 2009
As If My Life Wasn't Crazy Enough...
My life of late is pretty crazy. Consider the following:
My baby is six weeks old today.
My husband is ecstatic that the baby is six weeks old. (Think about it.)
Now that my "maternity leave" is over, I need to start up homeschool again with my 14 year-old and 12 year-old daughters.
My 14 year-old turns 15 in one week. 'Nuff said.
My 3 year-old son will be 4 in November. He knows his numbers, colors and some letters. I should start schooling him, too.
Sound like I've got enough going on? Any sane person would think so, but not me. Oh no, I've decided that now, amidst all the rest of this, is the time to start potty-training my 2 year-old daughter. At this very moment, she's prancing about the living room enjoying her temporary freedom from clothing.
Go ahead, tell me I'm insane. I do.
My baby is six weeks old today.
My husband is ecstatic that the baby is six weeks old. (Think about it.)
Now that my "maternity leave" is over, I need to start up homeschool again with my 14 year-old and 12 year-old daughters.
My 14 year-old turns 15 in one week. 'Nuff said.
My 3 year-old son will be 4 in November. He knows his numbers, colors and some letters. I should start schooling him, too.
Sound like I've got enough going on? Any sane person would think so, but not me. Oh no, I've decided that now, amidst all the rest of this, is the time to start potty-training my 2 year-old daughter. At this very moment, she's prancing about the living room enjoying her temporary freedom from clothing.
Go ahead, tell me I'm insane. I do.
Monday, September 7, 2009
You Know You're Getting Old When...
...your daughter says, "Let's listen to some oldies!" and puts on an 80s cd.
...the child you were pregnant with when Blue's Clues first debuted is now in puberty.
...you have friends on Twitter that were born the year you graduated high school.
...staying up til 3am is no longer "cool".
...neither is four hours of sleep.
...the child you were pregnant with when Blue's Clues first debuted is now in puberty.
...you have friends on Twitter that were born the year you graduated high school.
...staying up til 3am is no longer "cool".
...neither is four hours of sleep.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Twenty-Eight Days Later
It's hard to believe that Mary was born four weeks ago yesterday. It still seems like it was just the other day. Paradoxically, though, it feels like forever since I was pregnant.
I know every mom has it rough the first few weeks with a new baby, and I have to be thankful that it hasn't been worse, but I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been harder than I expected.
The first week went so smoothly, but after that...I still don't know what went wrong. I suppose I never will. One night, for no reason I can tell, Mary seemed to completely forget how to latch on. The next thing I know, I'm fighting recurring mastitis and struggling not to completely lose my milk supply.
Of all the things I tried to prepare myself for mentally before Mary was born, nursing difficulties never entered my mind. I took it for granted that I'd nurse her for however long. I certainly never guessed I'd have so much trouble doing it, or what a tough time I'd have dealing with it emotionally. I felt like such a failure.
And I've struggled with depression. I can't tell how much time I spent crying. Part of it is tied into my nursing problems, and the feeling that I've failed somehow, but a lot of it is just something about me that has an easy tendency to fall into the blues.
Still, things are better now. I haven't completely given up on breastfeeding. I'm taking Fenugreek and drinking Mother's Milk Tea to help boost my supply, and pumping when it's too painful to nurse. I took it pretty hard emotionally when I first gave Mary formula, but I've been reminded that what matters most is that my daughter is healthy and that I'm taking care of her the best I can.
I know every mom has it rough the first few weeks with a new baby, and I have to be thankful that it hasn't been worse, but I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been harder than I expected.
The first week went so smoothly, but after that...I still don't know what went wrong. I suppose I never will. One night, for no reason I can tell, Mary seemed to completely forget how to latch on. The next thing I know, I'm fighting recurring mastitis and struggling not to completely lose my milk supply.
Of all the things I tried to prepare myself for mentally before Mary was born, nursing difficulties never entered my mind. I took it for granted that I'd nurse her for however long. I certainly never guessed I'd have so much trouble doing it, or what a tough time I'd have dealing with it emotionally. I felt like such a failure.
And I've struggled with depression. I can't tell how much time I spent crying. Part of it is tied into my nursing problems, and the feeling that I've failed somehow, but a lot of it is just something about me that has an easy tendency to fall into the blues.
Still, things are better now. I haven't completely given up on breastfeeding. I'm taking Fenugreek and drinking Mother's Milk Tea to help boost my supply, and pumping when it's too painful to nurse. I took it pretty hard emotionally when I first gave Mary formula, but I've been reminded that what matters most is that my daughter is healthy and that I'm taking care of her the best I can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
