Silly Zeke the Explorer

This whole week long, Zeke has been under the impression that he is some sort of Dora/Diego hybrid and that he is constantly on an adventure. I've been letting him play some games on the NickJr website so I'm guessing that's where the sudden obsession with adventure has come from. Case in point, take this conversation he had with me multiple times yesterday:

"HOLA MOMMY! I'm ZEKE! Do you see baby? We have to help her. We have to cross the swerve-y turn-y living room, go over Mommy Mountain and RESCUE BABY. Come on, VAMANOS!"

Apparently Mommy Mountain is the bad guy in the story, I guess. He rescued Baby Sis a couple dozen more times and then when Daddy got up he told him basically the same thing, only changed it up a bit. Anytime any of us moved somewhere or did anything, it was a new "adventure." My hubby sat down and opened his laptop and Zeke yelled - to no one in particular - "We have to fix Daddy's 'puter!" and then proceeded to examine the back of it and deemed it fixed. "Great job, thanks for helping!"

Today he made up a new a verse for "The Wheels on the Bus" that goes: "The Inniannie Jones drives his car, drives his car, drives his car/The Inniannie Jones broked his car, into the SANDDDDDD." (He's referring to Indiana Jones which was on at my Aunt's house last night when we went over there. Although I don't recall him wrecking into the sand, I suppose it's possible in an Indiana Jones movie.)

He's also become quite taken with the Queen song "Bicycle Race" and has been wanting to listen to it ten times a day, as seen in the video below:

Friday Photo Flashback

I'm participating in Friday Photo Flashback today! (I do actually have some more real posts in the works - just haven't had a chance to finish them up. Rest assured they will be posted soon, though!) FPF is hosted by More Than Words so head on over to her blog to join in the fun. I decided today to post the photo I was using for Facebook's "Retro Week" - myself as a baby! I'm not sure how old I was exactly (guess I will have to ask Mom or Dad) but probably a little younger than a year and I was taking a sink bath. :)

Theta Mom Thursday

I'm joining Theta Mom Thursday this month! Head over to Theta Mom's blog to leave your link if you'd like to participate too. It's hosted by Theta Mom herself and is a time once a month where moms blog about an hour that they found during the month to spend on themselves without the kids.

My alone time has not happened yet but will be happening this Saturday! I am going out with a very good friend to celebrate her birthday! We're going to a nice sit-down restaurant and I will actually be able to eat in peace without having to cut up anyone's food, clean up a spill or take someone to the potty. And it's even better because I already have a gift card for the restaurant so I won't have to spend any money. Wooooo!

Not Entirely Wordless Wednesday: Eulogy

I know today is traditionally Wordless Wednesday but I just wanted to pause today and remember a very big part of my childhood that ended today. My cat Princess had to be put to sleep today. About a month before my sixth birthday, my Dad was leaving work when he saw a tiny kitten in the middle of the road. He saved her from being hit by a semi and brought her home in his jacket. I remember him coming in and saying, "Sara (that's my mom's name) don't get mad!" I went gaga over the little bitty baby kitty who was very cautiously exploring our kitchen and of course we got to keep her. I don't know if Princess was a totally appropriate name for her (as you'll see when you read on) but hey, I was a little girl.
She was never really a typical cat. She'd been abandoned (or lost, we're not sure) before she was weaned so she was always a little shorter and smaller than most normal sized house cats. And she was never really a loving, cuddly cat like some I have seen. I don't know if it's because she had abandonment issues with her mom or just because she had a wild streak, but she would be fine with you petting her one moment and the next she'd rip your hand open. She hated most men, especially my friend Brady - when he walked into our house she'd immediately start hissing and all the fur on her back would stand up. The only men she ever really tolerated were my great-grandpa, my dad and my husband.

In addition to her bipolar disorder and men-hating tendencies, she was also quite fun. She liked to run up and down the piano in the middle of the night and scare everyone to death. She slept in the oddest places and liked to warm her paws on any heat source she could find. She was a good mouser. She could frighten off any dog, regardless of size, that threatened any of our family or came into our yard. I always thought if she could speak she would sound a crazy old chain-smoking lady.
She had a soft side too. When she was in the mood, she adored being petted. If you stopped, she would nudge your hand or stare you down until you started to pet her again. She liked to snuggle up in the crook of my arm when I was going to bed. When I moved out of my parent's house when I got married, Princess was very offended and it took her awhile to forgive me. But the last time I spent the night at my parent's house, I laid down to go to sleep and not five minutes later, I felt something fuzzy climbing across me and burying itself into the crook of my arm.

Perhaps this seems silly, a eulogy for a cat, but she was a part of my family for seventeen years - I guess this is my way to honor her. I was glad to hear that at the vet's office today, even in her final moments, she took some time to attack the vet. She was good 'ol Princess right up to the end. Good luck to the angel in Cat Heaven that has to handle her! :)

Mommy Bashing

I found this quote on an article from FAMEBaby (Baby Center's Celebrity blog) today:

“I will tell you what I can’t abide - and I think the Internet has really created a space for it - women criticizing other women and mothers criticizing other mothers. It just makes me crazy, whether it’s between staying at home, going to work, how long you breast-feed, if you use formula. I feel like we should just assume everyone is doing the best they can. Women should take care of each other, not tear each other down. I would just like to see a mother who really believes that she has done it all so right, you know what I mean?" - actress Jennifer Garner

I think this is so very - unfortunately - true. The internet is a place rampant with criticism and critique of practically everyone. Lots of new moms who are home taking care of kids turn to the internet to find support and friends. (I believe Parents magazine did a article on this just a few issues ago - but it mainly focused on moms who get sucked into & even addicted to the internet. Which is a whole OTHER story for another time.) Oftentimes moms will find the support they are searching for in places like Mom Bloggers Club, Cafe Mom, 5 Minutes for Mom and countless other websites & blogs. There are other websites though that only thrive to create drama, arguments and trouble - they only focus on the negative aspects of parenting or on a select group of mothers that they deem to be awful for a certain choice in their parenting that I feel only brings others down. In the case of new moms (perhaps those with PPD) these sites are only going to bring them down even more than they already are or make them doubt their choices. I'm not saying that the occasional post or article about the stresses of parenting is wrong or awful - obviously they're not because I've written my fair share - on the contrary, it's a good way to let off steam, maybe help other people in the same situation and perhaps even see the funny side of the story. It's the places that ONLY talk about the bad and none of the good that I think we need to avoid.
The internet isn't the only place that "mommy bashing" goes on either. (Or Daddy bashing, which I suppose might also go on...I don't know, I'm not a Daddy!) In my own personal life experiences, I've seen mommy bashing first hand and have even been bashed myself. There are so many things that moms argue about - bottle and formula feeding, staying at home vs. working, children's milestones, sleeping methods, how many children you have, the list goes on and on. The sad reality is that these things are NOT THAT BIG A DEAL and most, if not all of them, do not affect any one else. They are a personal choice.
I don't know why we as moms feel the need to critique other women's choices. I think it's a combination of things. Maybe it's our need to feel we're doing the right thing for our own kids or our own lack of confidence in our parenting skills. Or just to assert our knowledge of parenting - that we know what's best for every kid because we're a mom. Regardless of what the issue is, it's silly, spiteful and mean-spirited. What works for one parent isn't going to work for another because every child is different. Somebody else might do something different and of course we can disagree with them, but we don't need to pick them apart, be snarky or harass them. "To each his own" is a good little gem to remember if you are being bashed or hear other moms bashing someone else.
You can glean a lot of good information by sharing with other moms - and you might help someone else out with your own ideas on parenting. Just something to think about.

What are your thoughts on mommy bashing? Please leave them in the comments!

Marriage Monday: Favorite Marriage Books

I'm joining in on Marriage Mondays, which is hosted by Julie at Come Have a Peace. She hosts it weekly on her blog and this week she talked about her favorite marriage books. I thought I would go ahead and list my favorites too. I've listed the book title, author and my thoughts which are italicized.

Nightlight – A Devotional for Couples by Dr. James Dobson
This is a great devotional to read before bedtime - or whatever time is convenient for you and your spouse. It really opens you up to talk about anything and everything - and maybe even communicate about some things you've never discussed before.
The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman
This book is wonderful. It teaches you what your "love language" is - the way you primarily express and/or want to receive love. (Some people thrive on Physical Touch while others are more blessed by Acts of Service. The other three are Quality Time, Words of Affirmation and Receiving Gifts.) This book really helped hubby & I to see our languages - he loves acts of service while I need words!
Confessions from an Honest Wife: On the Mess, Mystery & Miracle of Marriage by Sarah Zacharias Davis
I got this book for Christmas from my Mom and it's really good. It tells stories of real women and their marriage experiences - the good, the bad and the ugly. It illustrates how things aren't always bright and cheery but how some of those bad things about marriage can really be learning experiences.
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
While this isn't necessarily a "marriage" book, it is a great book about love. It talks about the different types of love which I think is essential in a marriage. You will not necessarily always have the same type of feelings throughout your marriage. You're not always going to be passionate or overly affectionate or even FEEL in love - everyone goes through different stages. It's good to know about the other stages of marriage (and friendship) and their benefits.

(Also, if you join in at Julie's blog, you have a chance to win a book!)

Style Icon: Betty Draper from Mad Men

Ever since I started watching Mad Men, I've admired Betty Draper's clothing. Her classic sense of style is refreshing in a time when skinny jeans and Uggs with short shorts have become the norm. Here's some things that I think represent Betty Draper's fifties/sixties housewife and mom style - but are still modern enough to wear today.

Pearls are a girl's best friend...oh wait, that's diamonds! Oh well, they're both pretty. The only jewelry needed for this look are some small pearl earrings and a long strand of pearls you can double up or wear long.

For a typical day around the house, Bets can often be found in something simple - a cardigan or sweater set and full skirt or a dress. A crinoline under the skirt helps it to poof out if it's not already a full skirt. As far as colors, she tends towards pastels, florals and creams.

When Betty has to get dressed up for a fancy dinner out with Don, she goes all out. She always looks sophisticated and put together. (Of course it might help that she has a housekeeper to watch her kids and clean her house while she's preparing!) She generally chooses jewel toned full-length evening gowns, like the ones below.

(Also - I'm thinking about making this a feature on my blog - posting every so often about a style icon I like. What do you think? Also also - if you're really interested in Mad Men style, their costume designer has a book coming out!)

Life Vs. Choice

Today is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. I saw online through a friend that it's also (according to NARAL) Blog For Choice. While I myself am not a pro-choice person, I am blogging about it. And just let me say first and foremost, I am not attempting to sway any of you or start a giant debate - just stating my personal views and opinions.

Blog for Choice wants to know what "Trust Women" means to you. As you probably know, I am a strong supporter of natural childbirth and midwifery. I feel the women knows what's best for her & her child. Where she wants to birth, how she wants to birth, what provider she feels is best for her - I think those are her choices. But I also think that there are certain situations where the mother might not know what's best. Let's say you have a known medical condition that would make birth extremely difficult and you refuse to go to a hospital or be seen by a doctor, you just want to do it all yourself - I don't think that's very responsible.
Oftentimes, I don't think teenagers that get pregnant are very responsible. (Not all are, but most are very immature and/or not ready for life as an adult.) As a person who got pregnant at a relatively young age by a guy I hadn't dated very long, abortion seemed to be a quick fix to some people. I was honestly shocked when I told someone I was pregnant and they flippantly responded, "You're getting an abortion, right?" I got told SO many things about it - that it would be over with quickly, my parents would never have to know I was pregnant, that I could go back to my regular life, etc. It all just seemed like a cop-out to me and very irresponsible. I was careless so I was just supposed to go "fix" the problem and get back to my regular old life, like nothing had happened? I just couldn't picture that.
I don't think at eighteen years old and fresh out of High School that I knew exactly what was best for me. I discussed "our situation" with the father-to-be, I listened to what family and friends had to say about it and I prayed. Abortion was never an option for me personally - when it was brought up, I couldn't even imagine it. But the choice was still there. And I'm glad I didn't choose it.
Since then I've had people tell me that I've ruined my life and that having a child young destroyed any options that I had. I don't agree. My life has taken some different twists and turns but I wouldn't have it any other way. That guy I mentioned earlier? He turned out to be pretty darn awesome. We'll have been married for five years in March. I see us growing old together and celebrating a lot more anniversaries. He's taken care of me and he's a good husband & father. My children (yes, there's another one now!) have given me a new perspective and a different take on life - I've become less self-centered and more giving and understanding. They're a challenge and a joy. To imagine these beautiful children gone to satisfy my own desires? I can't.
I always wanted to be a writer and I do write, almost every day, in this blog. And people actually read it! New opportunities for me are on the horizon. I still have some friends from High School and I've met new friends along the way. I had a job for awhile but am now a stay at home momma - and I love it! I live in a nice house and I have a vehicle to drive. I don't see anything that would indicate that my life has been ruined. I always wanted to be happy and I am.
I don't feel that I have the right to make decisions for others but for me, abortion is not and never will be an option. I believe life is precious and that children are a gift from God...but I'm also not crazy/fanatical - meaning, I don't want to blow up abortion clinics and I'm not going to shun you if you've had one. Each person's situation is different and I can't even begin to imagine what victims of rape or people with medical conditions must be feeling. I just hate to see them or young girls who are scared pressured into it or just choose it because it's "quick and easy." People who abuse it or use it as birth control sicken me. Choosing to have a baby is not always the end of your life, as I said before, and adoption is a great option that I fully support. There are so many families out there that would love to welcome a baby into their lives.
My final thought is that I hope that women out there that are faced with that monumental decision of whether or not to keep their baby will take a moment, truly think it over and be responsible for their decisions. If you're someone who's struggling with this decision, don't hesitate to send me an email. I can't promise I'll have all the answers but I'll do my best to help.

Wordless Wednesday: Kickapoo

Post It Note Tuesday

Today I'm participating in Post It Note Tuesday, brought to you by Supahmommy. Click the note at the bottom to read more about it.

Everything Will Be Alright

This has been a hard last week or so. I got pretty long winded and posted some pictures of Haiti so I put this rest of this blog post behind a cut. Click "Read More" to read it all.

Natural Childbirth Books: A Guide

I don't know everything about natural childbirth but when I first started researching and learning more about it, I found these books to be the most enjoyable and helpful! If you can't find them at your locally, I've included links to Amazon (my favorite place to shop) where you can buy them directly. The "about" summaries I've copied either from Amazon or from the author's website. Enjoy and feel free to ask me any questions!

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
Author: Henci Goer
About: Award winning medical writer and birth activist Henci Goer gives clear, concise information based on the latest medical studies. She was a doula (labor support professional) for over twenty years and a Lamaze educator for ten. Her book will help you compare and contrast your various options and show you how to avoid unnecessary procedures, drugs, restrictions, and tests.
My Thoughts: This book is exactly as described. It's chock full of facts and statistics. I often reference it when telling people about natural childbirth just because it puts things out there plainly and easily. The chapters on how hospitals/doctors regard labor is spot on. This is definitely a book to read to inform yourself and to get to know your options in childbirth.


Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery
Author: Ina May Gaskin
About: Using history as her guide, nationally recognized midwife Gaskin explores what she hopes will be a renaissance in natural childbirth, something that she's been advocating since the mid-1970s in her Guide to Childbirth. By focusing on how women of ancient civilizations and other modern peoples give birth, Gaskin puts our own hypersensitivities in perspective, uncovering a beautiful experience rather than a dreadful, painful one. Sure, pain is part of childbirth, but preparing for the pain in a realistic rather than sentimental way--whether giving birth at home or in a hospital--can be the key to a woman's ability to deal with it naturally. Within the pages of personal anecdotes, some touching, some startling, from Gaskin's patients and colleagues, every woman is sure to find something to relate to, whether or not she chooses to have a medicine-free labor.
Spirtual Midwifery is the classic book on home birth. The first section details the experiences of parents and midwives during the birth experience. The second section is a technical manual for midwives, nurses, and doctors. Includes information on prenatal care and nutrition, labor, delivery-techniques, care of the new baby, and breast-feeding.
My Thoughts: Ina May is the ultimate childbirth educator, in my opinion. She's a wonderful speaker and professional. Her books have a personal touch to them that really spoke to me. In her Guide to Childbirth, she explains things concisely and consistently reassures you. The first section's birth stories are inspiring and uplifting - not the kind of stories you USUALLY have to endure during pregnancy! It's refreshing to hear about good experiences for a change. I thought it was interesting to see the differences between people's childbirth experiences. Ina May was and is truly an innovator in natural childbirth. This book is definitely my favorite. Spiritual Midwifery is more like a manual but I like to think of it more like the ultimate "how-to" guide for labor, delivery and baby. If you're considering having a home birth, this book will tell you pretty much anything you could need to know.


Husband-Coached Childbirth (Fifth Edition): The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth
Author: Robert A. Bradley
About: The book that started a revolution in the birthing experience and helped millions of women and their partners to a safe and natural childbirth.
The Bradley Method has changed the way men and women-and the medical establishment-think about childbirth today. Now this new, updated edition of the groundbreaking work by Robert A. Bradley, M.D., has all the information you need to approach a natural childbirth safely, confidently, and wisely. From the reasons to choose the Bradley Method to the steps you will take as your birth day approaches-and after the birth of your baby-this book is designed to help couples share completely in the birthing experience.
With its time-tested wisdom, medical soundness, and reassuring first-person accounts of natural childbirth, this book is the "gold standard" of childbirth books. The Bradley Method is an essential guide for anyone considering childbirth without unnecessary medications or medical intervention and to share fully in your child's arrival into the world.
My Thoughts: The Bradley Method is great for those with good support partners. Even though the Bradley method is called "Husband" Coached Childbirth, whoever you find most supportive can use the techniques mentioned in the Bradley methods. I had my husband and my father with me during both my children's births. They were and are both calming and reassuring support partners.
The Bradley Method has been around since 1970 and the newest edition of the book is just as good as the others. I'm glad to see that it's been updated with more current information.


HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing (3rd Edition)
Author: Marie F. Mongan
About: Childbirth is not something to be feared; it is a natural expression of life. With HypnoBirthing, your pregnancy and childbirth will become the gentle, life-affirming process it was meant to be.
In this easy-to-understand guide, HypnoBirthing founder Marie Mongan explodes the myth of pain as a natural accompaniment to birth. She proves through sound medical information that it is not our bodies but our culture that has made childbirth a moment of anguish, and that when we release the fear of birth, a fear that is keeping our bodies tense and closed, we will also release the pain.
HypnoBirthing is nature, not manipulation. It relaxes the mind in order to let the body work as it is designed. The HypnoBirthing exercises-positive thinking, relaxation, visualization, breathing and physical preparation-will lead to a happy and comfortable pregnancy, even if you are currently unsure of an intervention-free birth. Your confidence, trust and happy anticipation will in turn lead to the peaceful, fulfilling and bonding birth that is your right as a mother.
My Thoughts: When I first heard about hypnobirthing, I pictured mind control and following a swinging pendulum with your eyes. BUT that is definitely not what it is! It really just teaches you a lot of different tips & techniques to use during labor. The techniques will help you either to one - concentrate and focus or two - relax and breathe easily: both of which are things you'll need to do at different times during childbirth. The different visualization exercises I found very useful during my daughter's labor.


Also, (this is not really a book but is definitely a good natural childbirth resource) I highly recommend the DVD "The Business of Being Born." I saw it when it first came out and was just in awe. It inspired me to search for a midwife for my subsequent pregnancies and to get more active in natural childbirth education.
Synopsis: Birth is a miracle, a rite of passage, a natural part of life. But birth is also big business.
Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies.
The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal.
Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?


Since writing this list awhile back several new good books have been published and others have told me of different ones that helped them - so I guess I'm going to have to make another list! :)

A Notice

I just wanted to let everybody who reads my blog know that I will no longer be posting any pictures of the kids - at least for the time being. I've gotten some really obscene comments recently that were just uncalled for. I don't know if it was just a joke or what but it's bothered me enough that I don't feel comfortable putting more pictures of my children on here.
I also turned off anonymous commenting which isn't a big deal - it just means you'll have to put your email address or sign in using Google, LiveJournal, OpenID, something of that nature if you want to leave a comment. I apologize if that's inconvenient for anyone and I regret that you won't be able to see any more pictures of the kids. I hope sometime in the future I can start posting them again. Thanks for reading and for the (nice) comments I normally get - you guys are awesome!

Vote for Team Over or Under to Win!

Go to http://www.cottonellerollpoll.com/ and vote in the poll whether you are "Team Under" or "Team Over" for your toilet paper! I am going with "Team Over" definitely! By leaving a comment on this post, you will be entered to win 1 of 10 Cottonelle gift baskets randomly chosen on January 29, 2010 from all the entries.

Note: I am entering a contest for a month's worth of Cottonelle toilet paper as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club. I was not compensated in any other way. See my disclosure policy for more information.