Mommy Wars

Recently Time Magazine came out with an article titled "Are you mom enough?" with a picture of a breastfeeding child. But this isn't just any child, in the picture you might think the child is 5 or 6, but he is 3. This is none of my business and not what this post is about. If that is what works for their family, then good for them.

Me baby wearing Levi while on an impromptu trip

The article featured on the cover of Time appears to do a few things. First it looks as though the article is about breastfeeding, and second it calls mothers out. The article is actually about attachment parenting. So why didn't this magazine show a picture like this? Because a picture of a mom happily carrying her baby (also known as baby wearing) wouldn't get the kind of reaction I assume this magazine was looking for.

My thoughts on parenting varies, but what it really comes down to is being "mom enough" to listen to your kids. It really does not matter if you baby-wear, or cloth diaper or breastfeed, or formula feed, or co-sleep or anything else. Its not a contest to see who is the best mother of all. Quite frankly, she doesn't exist. All you can do is be the best mother that YOU know how to be.

*photo courtesy of www.scarymommy.com*

Back to the whole "mommy wars" portion of this post... I recently read an article here and it featured this photo. Its a complete mock up of the Time article that was mentioned above (needed to mention that as some have found it *could* be true). Its just a glimpse of the many debates that mothers either intentionally or unintentionally enter into.

I know mothers mean well, and I am sure I have been guilty of this also, but unless someone ASKS, butt the heck out! However, if you do end up asking for advice or opinions, please take them graciously. You don't need to agree with what the person is telling you. You don't need to do what that person is recommending. The polite thing to do is to smile, nod and possibly take what they said into consideration. 

Jax and Levi

There are always extremes. You could say one mother over feeds her kid, while the other under feeds, take a look at this picture.

These boys are 3 weeks apart in age. The one in orange actually eats MORE than the cute little chubby one. There is about an 11 pound difference between the two.  I can't speak for the mom of Jax, but Levi is SO tiny. I have been lucky enough to not get many comments about his size. But in all reality, he IS small for his age. With clothes on, you can't see it, but without, he has almost zero cute baby chub. I breastfed, J's momma formula fed. Is one better than the other? No. It was a personal choice for both of us. Her baby on formula was healthier than mine. Not just because he has more baby chub, but because unknowingly, my milk was making my baby sick. *yay gluten* My point being, you could have judged either one of us. One for over feeding and one for underfeeding, but you would have missed out on what going on. By judging you can either send a mom into a deep downward spiral, or you can just royally piss her off. Neither one is really worth it.

One of the things I am finding bugs me is hearing "I'm the winner and you're the loser". Really? It doesn't freaking matter! Are you having fun? Are you happy? Are you comfortable where you are? Yes, Yes and Yes. Then that is all that really matters in life. Its not who nurses the longest, or who got their kid to sleep in their crib first. Its not which preschool your kid goes to or that they could recite the Bill of Rights at 2. What matters is that you are being the best mom that you can be for YOUR child.

Whats been going on

  Looking back through the posts, I have been slacking. Its not been a lack of really having anything to say... its just been more of life being life.

All winter we have been sick. It started in Oct and we just can't kick it out for good. Feb rolled around and Jacob gets this horrible tummy bug. I am washing things like crazy to make sure NO ONE ELSE gets it. So much so that I washed my hands raw. *ouch* 4 weeks after the onset of this "bug" he still isn't better. A trip into the dr is called for. I did everything. The B.R.A.T diet, no dairy, full fat dairy, no juice, extra juice. Everything I could think of. Short of pulling wheat out of his diet.

The Dr says to pull out wheat. Its not going to hurt him and we will know in a few days if it is helping at all. Then we start discussing the fact that Peanut is just that... a peanut. At 6 months old he was all of 14 lbs. He ate ALL the time. Where was it all going? Quite honestly, it was running right out of him.

3 days. All it took was 3 days for J to stop crying about an upset tummy. For L to stop screaming all the ever loving time. Within that first week I threw out EVERYTHING. If it had wheat, barley, soy, malt, anything questionable.... it went. I gave it away, sold it. Whatever I could do to get it out of my house.

We have been gluten free (gf) for two months now. At our WIC appt on 2/6 L was 14.4lbs, at the appt on 4/30 he was 16.15 (almost 17 pounds!). I am SO proud of the little bugger for gaining!

I went back to working outside of the home the end of Feb. Its not the best, but its what works for us. We NEED to get more of our debt paid off. Its important to me. I also started babysitting in the mornings.

L is crawling and sitting up on his knees, J is just as smart as can be. Rather than go on and on, here are some pictures from the last two months.

Presidents Week Meal Plan

•  Monday 2/20 - Chicken Stir Fry
• Tuesday 2/21 - Chicken Noodle Soup
• Wednesday 2/22 - Leftovers
• Thursday 2/23 - Crockpot Lasagna
• Friday 2/24 - Leftovers
• Saturday 2/25 - Egg Salad Sandwiches
• Sunday 2/26 -  Buffalo Chicken Bites

Wedding Night

Yes, I am really going to write about that.

Its kind of hard to have an exciting wedding night when you are 12 weeks pregnant (oops!). The Wedding day had been wonderful, despite the cold, and rain... and moving the reception inside.

I don't even think that we did anything on our Wedding night. I was tired! :-) Well... we may of attempted something, but exhaustion won out.






The next morning was the funny part! My darling husband may have left something behind in the room that I made him go back and get. Oops! We can laugh about it now though.

How was YOUR wedding night? ;-) You can read more at To Love Honor and Vacuum  or read more of her amazing posts.

Snow Day

I hate the snow. A lot. My oldest however did not inherit this trait of mine. He LOVES it. Lives for it. I will admit... it was a very nice powdery snow. The kind that make hardcore skiers and snowboarders giddy with joy. Here is my future snow dweller.

 Making a snow angel

 Admiring our snow angel

 

 Making a snowball

 

Throwing our snow ball

Tasting the snow on our tongue 

 Eating the snow.... with our face!

Hope you enjoyed!

Menu Planning Monday

We are supposed to get this major storm, moving in sometime tonight. So after a quick trip to the grocery store, I think we are set for the next week. Or something like that.

Monday: Dinner was at my parents, Ham...
Tuesday: Jesse and Jacob - Swiss Steak, Me: Wildtree Party
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Hamburger Helper
Friday: Spaghetti
Saturday: Scrambled Eggs and fried potatoes
Sunday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Monday: Chicken Tacos


Visit Organize Junkie for more menus

I'm not going to write you a love song....

... Cause you asked for it.

Its funny how some songs can take you back to a moment. To a different place and time. They can bring you back to times of great joy, or great sorrow.

Love Song - Every time this song comes on, I am reminded of a phone call. Something so simple. This was the song that was playing when I made a phone call a few years ago that essentially ended a relationship. Though in all honesty, it was never much of a relationship. I guess its more of what it represents. Lost moments. Lost loves. Could have beens. Should have beens?

I remember it like it was yesterday. Especially when that song comes on. Part of me feels ... a sense of longing.... of loss.

Truly Madly Deeply  - A darkened gym, butterflies.... it all comes rushing back.... a dream to slow dance

Slim Shady - this is another that really brings me back. Heartache, loss... change. Tears that were never shed. A deep wish that I could have made time stand still.

You were meant for me - this one... well it pretty much was my theme song? were we meant to be? later in life, it seemed like the fates conspired against us (or for us). Life has gone on. People change. Love grows, matures, is different, if it ever was.

You Belong With Me - "She wears short skirts, I wear tee shirts. She's cheer captain, I'm on the bleachers"  - yeah... pretty much.

 

Eight Grade - 1998-1999

 

 Summer of 2000

The place life takes you can be funny at times. I was such an awkward teenager. So unsure of myself. More interested in reading and being a "good" girl than anything else. And yet... the memories are so strong.. the feelings. Conversations that were had, they are just strengthened by the songs that were in the background.

Can you believe that girl grew into this one?

 

Summer of 2006

June 6th, 2008

Bubbly - Love Song may have ended one chapter of my life... but this song began a whole new one...

What songs bring you back?