DIY Ideas & Tutorials

Hey, I just wanted to share this page with you all. I know it has been FOR-EV-ERRRRR since I have posted. I am working on a few ideas for a new post, so stay tuned!!


DIY Ideas & Tutorials

To the delivery room! AND BEYOND!

Okay, so clearly I watch WAY too much Toy Story. ;-)

I gave birth to my son Konnor on October 4th! It was a natural birth, VBAC.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section. I had doctors telling me that I wouldn't be able to accomplish a successful VBAC throughout my entire pregnancy. I was at a hospital that would not allow me to even attempt a VBAC and then when I asked to have a tubal ligation, they totally shut down on me and told me that if I wanted that procedure, I would have to have extensive scar tissue from my previous c-section. By the way, the only way to tell if you actually have scar tissue, is to have the c-section that I didn't want to begin with!

This is my journey through my second (and last!) pregnancy. I'll try not to make it too lengthy but at the very least, entertaining! 

February 4th, 2010...

Just before I got pregnant!

Surprise! Hey babe, you know how I've been REALLY tired and nauseous and haven't had a period since just after Thanksgiving? Yeah...Well, about that! 

Our lives took a major turn when we found out that Konnor was on his way. I knew I was pregnant. For the moms out there, you know what I mean! You're tired, hungry (and sick at the same time), your boobs hurt, you just feel weird. I knew. I took the test and BAM! It read PREGNANT in bright pink letters--instantly. I was five weeks along, according to the ultrasound date. I was scared. I didn't know if I wanted another child right now, if Brian wanted another... We were just trying to get back to being 'us' again after him being gone for over a year and now there was another little person coming into our lives? We had a choice to make and I wasn't sure which way we would go. I took the pro-choice route and decided to keep the baby. I know, you're probably thinking that most people who are pro-choice would have decided that an abortion (I said it!) was the way to go. Not for me. I made a choice and because I had a choice, I have a beautiful little boy that I love VERY much to show for it. (By the way, I think that abortion should never be used as b/c--as a side note).

March-May 2010

11 Weeks! Not even showing, just a little bloated. (Don't mind the date, haha)

Brian and I told our families. No one was really impressed or excited, except for my sister. Everyone knew our situation and didn't think that keeping the baby was a good idea, though no one really said it. I was depressed about it because I WAS excited. It even took Brian some time to adjust and that was really hard for me to accept. By this time, I was sneaking into my second trimester. I was still nauseous at the sight of meat and fast food. Good thing for me, because it kept my weight gain to a minimum. I lived on fruits, vegetables, peanut butter and beans. Especially beans. For some reason, I couldn't get enough beans! (probably because I wasn't eating enough lean meat)

It was at this point in my pregnancy that I switched hospitals because the doctor that I had told me three things:

1) I don't think that you can deliver vaginally. Your first child was over ten pounds and you had a c-section. (He told me this on my first visit. Not even a-- Hey, let's see how things go, okay?")

2) ( about Kael during a visit while I was having an in-office ultrasound) "Can you please control him?" (he was trying to climb up to see the baby....)

3) He had no idea who I was. On my third (and last visit with the asshole) he had to look at my discharge paper (that he BROUGHT IN WITH HIM) to find out my name. Also, he cancelled one of my visits to go on vacation.

20 Weeks!

I decided that I would rather have a c-section than deal with that guy and I switched back to St. Mary's hospital. I wanted a midwife. They told me 'No'. I had to have an Obstetrician because of the c-section. I chose the doctor that delivered Kael. She was amazing and SO nice. I started showing signs of gestational diabetes at 10 weeks.  They watched it until one day at the office, my urine read that the sugar levels were above 300. Normal levels for pregnancy must be below 120. I was tested 3 times before they caught it. Then, I was required to test four times a day (before breakfast, two hours after each meal). I hated the testing. I was afraid to eat what I really wanted and most of what I could have, I didn't want at all. I cheated a lot. I tried lying about my testing until one day, they told me they would just print out my numbers straight from the monitor itself. I was BUSTED! Haha. So even with the unplanned pregnancy, another c-section coming and the diabetes, things were going okay. My husband was staying home with Kael and I worked mindlessly at my job up to 60+ hours a week at times. Then, I was demoted to relief (per Diem) status and told to check in for hours. I was promised that I would be called and that there would always be a place for me when I came back. WRONG. I lost my job in June, the week before my son's second birthday.

June-September 2010
When I lost my job, I called the University of Maine's free educational hot line for food education. They will send out a FREE dietary consultant who will coach you on grocery shopping and making healthy choices, all while maintaining a balanced food budget. Awesome! Most of my readers know this already.

24 weeks!

Then, the time came for the Tubal-Talk with my Ob. She was all for it when I gave her my reasons for wanting it done and had me sign a consent form. Then she told me that it had to be reviewed by the Ethics Committee at the hospital. WHAT?! Being responsible by not breeding countless children that I cannot afford is unethical? What she meant to say, but couldn't legally, is that it goes against the Catholic faith to put an end to perfectly healthy and functional reproductive organs unless medically necessary. It amazed me that this was even legal. Then I found out that the hospital is actually a religious institution, not just a hospital. I'm not one to tread on someone's religious freedom and it really annoys me when people push their faith on me. But then I had a thought-- I could just switch hospitals and get EVERYTHING I wanted. That included a VBAC and the tubal ligation. I switched hospitals (again) at 32 weeks gestation. It was the best decision I have ever made for myself medically.

30 Weeks

I started using evening primrose oil gel tablets. I inserted one into my vagina every night before bedtime to try to soften my cervix. Then, I BEGGED Dr. Ting to strip my membranes. The first try, at 38 weeks was unsuccessful. He couldn't even get a finger in there to pull anything out. Not only did it not work, it hurt like hell. Friday, October 1st, I had an appointment and he tried again. This time, successfully. As he left the room, he wished me luck, gave Brian a pat on the back and told him to make love to me. Haha!

October 2nd
Okay. So this is the part of the roller coaster when you've just gotten on the ride and you're excited because you've been standing in line for an hour and now that you have your seat belts on and the bar is on your lap you get those little butterflies and euphoria punches you in the face...

39 weeks at my friend's Baby Shower. Isn't she cute?

I had a baby shower to attend. A pretty important one. A friend of mine from high school (and also my sister's-sister in-law) and her husband are due for their son on November 4th and I promised that as long as I wasn't in labor, I would be there. Well, I woke up with contractions and a nasty discharge. I felt so bloated and constipated-- I  really wasn't sure if I wanted to go or not. So I went. It was a lot of fun! I had contractions the entire time I was there. Of course, they were far apart and totally random. I took it as though I was standing too much or walking too much. Then as I was settling into bed that night, they became more regular and I had a really large bowel movement. For those who don't know, a bowel movement can be a sign of labor. I know, it's strange. But this is our bodies' way of  "making room for baby", so to speak.

October 3rd
Although I was really crampy, I woke up extremely energized. That lasted for about an hour or so and I was napping. All of a sudden, I was EXHAUSTED. I called my mom and she told me to just rest because I was going to need the energy. She was right!
Mid-day (around 1pm) I went to pee and a big splash came out. I thought my water had broken, so we went to the hospital. I know... you'd think that I would know the difference between peeing and my amniotic sac rupturing... but it felt strange. Ha
Well, it wasn't my sac! Dr. Ting was on call, so he stripped my membranes some more and sent me home. I started having regular and stronger contractions almost immediately after leaving the hospital. On the way home, we stopped at a yard sale. The people there kept saying that I wasn't going to have the baby soon because I hadn't "dropped" yet. They were right...and wrong... I hadn't dropped... but four hours later, I was in labor and keeping track of my contractions on Facebook! Every time I would have a contraction, I would post on Facebook and wait for the next one. At 10pm, my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart and lasting between 45 seconds- 1 minute. I was so ready to get it over with! The nurses were great. They hooked me up for observation and kept me hydrated. We walked around while I had some contractions until the doctor realized I was doing so and yelled at the nurses to hook me up to a monitor. (Since I was a VBAC, they had to monitor me closely).

In labor, watching the monitor.

I zoned out with some music for a while. Brian and I watched an episode of the Venture Bros. and just tried to stay occupied and distracted. The breathing that I learned in Hypnobirthing definitely helped me focus on something other than the pain. It wasn't too bad but I was quickly becoming exhausted. The nurse came in to ask if I wanted any medication. I refused. I was so afraid that it would slow my labor and cause me to have a c-section that I just didn't want it. However, I really needed the rest. I told her she could administer some Nubain, but nothing else. Honestly, all that really did was knock me out in between contractions. It didn't ease the pain and it didn't slow anything down. I just felt more relaxed when I wasn't contracting. Also, it is short-lived, so it isn't much of a help. If I could do it over, I would skip it entirely.
Now, I don't know any of your stories...but those bastards wouldn't let me eat. I was SO hungry and the only thing they would let me have was water. And just to torture me (this is my theory!) they put me in the room with a VIP view of Dunkin' Fuckin' Donuts. All night, those neon pink, orange and white lights were beaming at me, calling my name and then LAUGHING IN MY FACE!

October 4th
D-day. This was it, do or die. The doctor came in at 7am to check my progress. I was at 4cm and 100% effaced. I hadn't had any change in dilation in hours. I was so miserable. He told me that I had two options.

1) I could go home with no pain medication, just the way things were and trust my body to do it's job, hopefully going into active labor in the next 24 hours --OR--

2) He could rupture my amniotic sac and hopefully I would go into active labor and have the baby vaginally. If I didn't progress in a few hours after breaking the water, I would need a c-section.

I took the risk. I said, I trust my body to do what it was made to do. Let's get this going! At 7:30, I was panting and feeling the urge to push. Mind you, this is about fifteen minutes after he broke my water. I was contracting hard, long and with few breaks in between. Brian called my mom to go pick Kael up from our house. He had stayed overnight with my brother in-law on watch and we were worried he would be upset when he saw that we weren't there. We were right. Meanwhile, I am in the worst pain of my entire life! It was like a million charlie horses rippling through my body. Every single muscle in my torso was working toward one common goal-- to expel that child! I was panting, trying to focus on breathing but with ever breath, came a push. I couldn't stop myself from pushing, it was an undeniable urge that left me in agony when I tried to ignore it. I had Brian get the nurse. She told me I had to stop pushing or I was going to hurt myself, that I was only at 4cm and what I was feeling was the baby's head coming down into my pelvis. Yeah...right.
HE WAS COMING OUT. I started to beg for the epidural. The very thing that I had said I did not want and there I was almost in tears, begging for it. The doctor checked me, I was at 8cm. The anesthesiologist came in and tried expaining what he was going to do. I shooshed him and got into position to recieve the epidural. I had done it before, so I just arched forward and tried to make it through the contractions. It was impossible. I could feel him coming out. I knew that he was going to be born any minute and that I needed to push.

My nurse Donna (I will never forget her) was helping me breathe. Hee-hee-hoooo! She kept eye contact with me, trying to keep me from pushing. The noises I made were gutteral and primal and low. Alien noises. The whole experience was so surreal. The guy got the catheter in my back and gave me a quick shot of something.  I was screaming for the doctor, "He's coming now! He's coming!!"
Dr. Ting had me lay down to check me and sure enough, he was coming out. I was fully dilated and ready to push. I was scared. The medicine hadn't kicked in and I could feel everything. I didn't know how I was going to deal with the pain until it just didn't come. I'm not sure if it just wasn't as bad as I expected or if my focus was just so great that I could ignore it. I felt it but it was almost like it wasn't real. I closed my eyes and pushed through each contraction with everthing that I had in me. I focused on the feeling of him moving down and tried to picture him in my arms. In between contractions, I had a hard time breathing and I was very thirsty. Donna was there to give me water and Brian held my right leg, while encouraging me.

There comes a point in labor called "The ring of fire", in which the baby's head is coming out and you're stretched to your limit. It fricken burns! They were SO not kidding when they named it. The good news is that this is a turning point. You're probably less than five minutes away from having your baby in your arms. When the doctor told me that the head was out, I relaxed and waited for the next contraction and pushed with everthing that I had. When he came out, it was so quick and painless. I only felt a slight burn and my focus was completely on him, getting some water and catching my breath. I just looked at Brian and smiled. All of a sudden, my lower half was numb! The medicine that the doctor had injected in my back finally kicked in! Ha.
Probably a good thing, it helped me relax. I had one small tear that required one stitch, but other than that everything was great...

I DID IT! I did what so many had told me I wasn't capable of doing. I was told that my body would fail, that I would NEED a repeat c-section, that my diabetes would hinder my ability to functionally birth my son. I proved them all wrong! :)

Konnor was born on October 4th, 2010 at 8:12am. He weighed 8lbs, 6oz. and was 22inches long. He had a full head of hair and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birthing experience.

So. My take on Vaginal vs. C-section?
I would go vaginal five times over if I could do it over again. I wouldn't have taken the Nubain because I was fine without it. Yes, I think it helped me relax more in between contractions. So if you plan on having a natural birth, I see no shame in taking it. I also see no shame in the epidural. Mind you, I thought I was at 4cm when I was begging for it! Although, I would skip it since it didn't help me until after he was out and it made my back hurt for a week.

C-sections require so much time for healing and if you have another baby, you may require a repeat surgery, depending on the type of incision that was made the first time. There are risks associated with a VBAC but you have to do the research and decide what is right for you. I believe that if you want it bad enough and are prepared (and a good candidate) you can accomplish a successful VBAC, too!

Here are some VBAC resources that I used in preparation for my birthing experience:

http://www.vbac.com/
http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/home
The Business of Being Born (if you have Netflix, you can watch the movie instantly. It is AMAZING!)

Whilst Contracting, my mind did wander...

How do YOU like your chocolate milk? I like mine SUPER chocolatey. I like it with so much syrup that one might ask, "would you like some milk with that chocolate"? Mmm!

For a week now, I have been having Braxton-Hicks contractions. Those annoying, irregular contractions that only help ripen the cervix, not really dilate it at all. Friday I had my membranes stripped and that hurt. If you've ever had that done, it sucks. Not fun. It hurts and anyone that tells you different is a dirty liar! Nah-nah-nah-nah-boo-boo.

Saturday I went to my sister's, sister in-law's baby shower. I guess I should just say, My friend Sarah! She is due November 4th and is also having a little boy. I am so excited to be pregnant with four friends right now! Three of us are having boys, one a girl. It's pretty great to have such a great support group. Even though three of us are first-timers, I sometimes feel like I am a first-timer.

Today I thought my water broke. I had to pee and a little gush came out. I went to the hospital having contractions, but hadn't changed at all so the doc sent us home. He stripped my membranes again and once again-- IT HURT. I've been having contractions ever since. They've been about 4 minutes apart for nearly an hour now and I hope that they get stronger. (damn it, these last two were 9 minutes apart!)
The doctor said that my mucus plug is gone, that he can feel the bag of water (or, amniotic sac) and that should I have contractions 5 minutes apart for an hour, to come back. SO. If this keeps up, I am heading back to the hospital.

Here's to hoping. I'll keep you posted!

At least we've got the car seat all set! :)

Fall is here, are you?

A few days ago I woke up and Fall had arrived! We had left our windows open and I was surprised when I opened my bedroom door to the rest of our apartment. It was REALLY cold! I checked the outdoor thermometer and it said 57. FIFTY....SEVEN.... I was really excited!

At this time last year, I was anxiously waiting for my husband to return home after being gone for thirteen months. Our son and I were taking trips apple picking, going to corn mazes and enjoying the crisp Fall air. It was a time of mixed emotions and a time of true enjoyment for me.

I want to share a few of my favorite things about Fall with you and to remind you all of locations for fun Fall activities that the entire family can enjoy. Hopefully, just as much as I do!

L.L. Bean!
One of my favorite places to visit during the Fall as a kid was the LL.Bean store in Freeport, ME. My grandmother would take us there for shopping and activities all summer and into fall. Now, they have so many different activities and have added a lot of other stores-- you really can't go wrong! Here are some that you may enjoy as well. Click on THIS calendar of events!

Apple Picking!

Kael was about 15 months old when we first went apple picking. We actually didn't "pick" apples. Ha. We chose apples from a wooden barrel. Whatever, Kael liked it. He also like the corn maze and hay maze and the animal exhibits. There are a million orchards here in Maine where you can get your apple fix. Here is a list of a few that you might want to check out for yourself.

Ricker Hill Orchards- This place is located in Turner and is my favorite place to pick apples and just really enjoy everything about the Fall season. Here you can pick apples, take a hay ride, meander through a corn maze (or for the little ones--a hay maze), take the kiddies to the petting zoo, play mini-golf or disc golf and visit their store and AMAZING bakery. It's very reasonably priced and totally kid-friendly. A blast for the entire family, if you ask me! They don't have prices on their website, but you can call them for information or friend them on Facebook.

Apple Ridge Farm
Hayrides, petting zoo and apples. Much like Ricker Hill Orchards!

Actually, better yet... Here is a link for Maine Apple Orchards. I haven't been to many, I usually go the tried and true route. Look through the list and see what appeals to you. Let me know if you find anything interesting!

Another thing that is a great American past-time is the Fair! If you've never been to a fair, you are seriously missing out. The rides, the lights, the food and the stands all make paying out of your nose for second-hand smoke (almost) worth it! I really love fair fries, even though they're just deep fried frozen things from Wal*Mart. Whatever, the shit tastes better when someone else is killing your cholesterol. I used to enjoy the rides and the demolition derbies when I was younger but now that I am older (I actually haven't been to a fair in several years) I just like walking around with whomever I came with, savoring the atmosphere and food, the feeling of the cold Fall air on my skin and usually enjoying some hot cocoa that was (way) overpriced. Here is the list of Maine fairs that I found most helpful. FAIRS!

One event here in Maine that is so tiny it only has five hours to its entirety but is a blast to attend is the Apple Pumpkin Festival in Androscoggin county. Nestled along the banks of a river of a small town, there is a little recreation field that usually houses soccer games, t-ball, tennis and a little skate park. For one day out of the year (the last Saturday in September) it is home to a small-town tradition that I love being a part of. My grandmother took us as kids and I have continued that tradition with my own son. I can't wait to go this weekend and see the look on Little Man's face as he gets to enjoy the bounce-house and some apple donuts. The fire/police departments have an outdoor grill set up, complete with homemade fries and there are dozens of vendors all selling handmade products. If you're in that area (Livermore Falls/Jay) on Saturday, stop on in for some good, old-fashioned, good-time fun from 10am-3pm. I'm putting a pie in the pie contest (I can't tell you which number, though. That's cheating!)



Here are some recipes that I want to share with everyone. I've been experimenting with cooking for some time now and these are some things that I have made lately that are super-yummy! Enjoy.

Cinnamon Rolls!- This is a Food Network recipe from Paula Deen. I love her and her recipes. This recipe is a little too sweet for my taste, which is saying a lot because I LOVE sugar! I suggest only a half-cup of sugar for the filling and not putting sugar on the pan. I also used 3Tbsp of cinnamon for the filling because I like a little more spice. However you make it, the recipe is amazing and I suggest clearing out an entire day  to make these. You have to wait for the dough to rise (twice) and the bake time is just long enough to make you want to cry! Delicious, enjoy.

Cheesy Corn Chowder!- This is another Food Network Recipe, this time by Ina Garten. Very yummy, but it makes A LOT of chowder. Who cares, though. It's quite possibly the best chowder that I have EVER tasted.  Here is the original recipe and here is my version, which I thought was pretty tasty!
WARNING. You need a really big pot to make this. It makes Like, two gallons of chowder. Also, I altered the recipe for what I had on hand and my own tastes. It turned out AMAZINGLY.

Ingredients
8 ounces bacon, chopped (I USED ONE POUND!)
1/4 cup good olive oil
6 cups chopped yellow onions (4 large onions) (I USED TWO LG.)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (I USED A LITTLE PARSLEY INSTEAD) 
12 cups chicken stock
6 cups medium-diced white boiling potatoes, unpeeled (2 pounds) (I DICED THE POTATOES ABOUT A HALF-INCH SQUARES)
10 cups corn kernels, fresh (10 ears) or frozen (3 pounds) (I USED 10 EARS FRESH CORN AND 2 CANS CREAMED CORN)
2 cups half-and-half (I USED HEAVY CREAM- I SHOOK IT IN THE CONTAINER FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS)
1/2 pound sharp white cheddar cheese, grated (I SHREDDED MINE BUT DIDN'T PUT IT IN THE CHOWDER, I LEFT IT OUT FOR OTHERS TO PUT IN AS THEY WANTED)


Directions--
In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.

Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric (OR WHATEVER YOU USE) and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob and blanch them for 3 minutes in boiling salted water.

(I USED CORN THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN BOILED AT A COOKOUT.)

Drain. (If using frozen corn you can skip this step.) Add the corn to the soup, then add the half-and-half and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon. ENJOY!!




Dutch Apple Pie!- This is a really good pie recipe. I use this recipe as a base for many fruit pies. Sometimes I do blueberry-peach, blueberry-nectarine, blueberry-apple, peach-apple. Try different variations and you'll love it! Promise! 


Apple Pancakes with Homemade Cider Syrup- I made these for my son a few days ago and he LOVED them. I thought the pancakes were good, they just fell a little flat in the fluffy area. You can make these using your own pancake recipe or even bisquick. Either way, the syrup is GREAT! I used apple juice, so I bet the cider is even better.




Well, that's all for now folks. I'm going to be giving an update on my pregnancy progress in a few days. Sorry the posts have been few and far between, I have been super tired and my husband started a new job today! :)
Check back and keep your eyes peeled for a Facebook update, as well!


Here's a belly picture to tide you over. 37 weeks!

Don't mind the mess, I was sorting maternity clothes!

Exhaustion and Irritation.

8/14/10:
There are so many times in which I feel like I am failing my child as a parent. Those times include times like today when I was so exhausted after a doctor's appointment, a screaming/crying spell with Kael in the back seat of the car while Brian went into WalMart to get some Rain-X because our wipers do not work and he was hungry AND tired, then on the way home when he was so exhausted that he cried the entire 35 minute ride screaming "paaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-paaaaaaaaaaaaaa" (pacifier) which we had left at home. All of that, only to have him fall asleep holding my hand 5 minutes before we pulled into the driveway. I was flat-out run down with a truck tired. He napped for 10 minutes and got up raising hell. I said screw this! And laid down....for 30 minutes and woke up feeling worse than I did before, top it off with me being MAD at my son. That, my friends-- is why I feel like a failure. For being angry at a two year old who has no control over the circumstances and doesn't understand why Mommy needed a god-damn time out. YOUNG PARENTS.... take a time out for YOU. It can mean the difference between, "Are you hungry?" and "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!".

We are finally ditching the pacifier. My husband leaves for training this week and I decided that this would be a good time, when there is only one of us and he can't run to the other for a respite. Brian is much more of a pushover than I am. I am really good at doing things on my own-- when I am not pregnant. Right now I am fricken exhausted. I wake up and have breakfast and if I do just one household chore, I am exhausted and ready for a nap only two hours after I've gotten up. It is annoying. I just want my energy levels to come back up. I know that my body is preparing for labor, but I have stuff to do! I have a house to clean, a two year old to play with and food to cook--then a house to clean again!! I never get anything done. I want to know how some people can do it all. It really must be the quality of what you eat. Maybe I should eat more veggies?

9/10/10
I started this particular post last month. I hadn't even worked on it since Brian's last drill because I have just been so drained. I decided last night that I would pick it up and finish it because well, that's what the damn blog is about-- finding time in my life for ME. I actually had an entire piece mapped out yesterday, Blogger was a bitch and wouldn't let me post it--so I waited-- then, I got some hate mail. Some hate mail that annoyed me, motivated me and opened my eyes a little wider. If you can call it hate mail. It's more like disapproval mail. Not very intimidating or threatening, just opinionated and kind of rude. Then again, that's kind of what this blog is all about! Opinions. People read my opinions and post theirs. The difference is that most of the people who read my opinions/post their own, are in agreement with what it is to be a young parent and to have lost themselves in that. Once again, let me reiterate that the reason I started this blog was because I felt/sometimes feel lost in motherhood. Today, young parents face different challenges than those that our parents faced. Our world is different and changing at an incredible rate and our skills as parents reflect those changes. I felt alone in all of that and so I thought that writing about how I FEEL as a parent in today's world would help others like myself. I think that I have connected with many of you along this short journey that we have shared so far and I hope to continue to share my experiences and struggles with you for some time! Enjoy this post. It's going to be a fucking bitch.

1) I have to change the name of the Blog. There is another Maine Mom that posts with a VERY similar title (Mainely Mom--check her out, she's pretty neat!). I'm not sure what I am changing the name to or if I will even get to keep THIS page. I may just link them together and post a good-bye on here.

2 )For those of you who would like to comment! I appreciate the ones who use their names. I do personally know many of my readers. Some of you are friends of my friends and some of you just happened to stumble upon this blog somehow. Anonymity isn't exactly my cup of tea. Since you're reading about my life and have the ability to comment on it, I'd like the courtesy of at least a 'signature' name. I have my settings placed so that you have to enter a log-in to comment. Sorry Anonymous readers, your days have been cut short. I'm just as curious about you! This means that in order to comment, you'll now have to use Livejournal, AIM, Google (and a few others) to log in. If you don't have one of those, send me a message on FB (if you know me) or get one of those options. You can use Hotmail accounts to sign in to Google.

3) Allow me to work my way up from the bottom:


#1- Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Don't blink!": 

A group of ladies have looked over your blog, you are just Martha Stewart and Ann Landers wrapped up in one. You need many more years of experience before you blog again, we can surely see the inexperience of your talents and the range of your intelligence. But it is all right, nobody is perfect but some people need a lot of attention and sympathy. Many mothers and fathers have gone through rearing a child or children and don't need to tell all.

Please notice how this critic actually (nearly) lands a compliment. I can only hope to one day be like Martha Stewart or Ann Landers (who was actually not a person but an advice column). I would like to know if this person is an experienced blogger themselves for they (clearly, from their expertise) know how to spot a poor, inexperienced blogger such as myself when they read of one. They needlessly insult my level of intelligence to make themselves appear superior to me, in a true Freudian way, too. Then, notice the polite slap to the face, "But it is all right, nobody is perfect but some people need a lot of attention and sympathy". Well, well, well... Since starting this blog, I have had many comments and not one of them had anything to do with my blogs asking for sympathy. I am not asking for anyone's sympathy. In fact, I want others like myself (young mothers who didn't experience a great upbringing) to know that they are not alone in parenthood and that we all share the same stories! I don't believe that is the same thing at all. 

#2-Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "M.M.M.I. (Mama Making Monsters Incorporated)": 

This is disgusting. I cannot believe that a person would put their whole life on the internet, with pictures of family to everyone to see. This is very dangerous. Do you like that attention?

This actually may be the same person that posted the previous comment. If any of my readers have read this entry, they can find the humor (I hope!) in pregnancy and the things that I attributed to being pregnant. You know, like feeling like there is a foot in your va-jay-jay, like if you sneeze they're going to come flying outta there, how after a certain point your personal grooming situation becomes hairy to say the least. I subscribe to other blogs from moms who also post pictures of their families. I don't see the difference in posting a blog with innocent pictures of your children and having a Photobucket account that you keep those photos on, through which people can GOOGLE those pictures. Or, whose personal business it actually is as to what I do with my family's photos. My husband is okay with this and I feel that my ability to keep my family safe is reasonably high. The day that I post my address online, you can worry. I actually have the feeling that your disappointment is because it isn't what YOU would do, therefore it is the wrong thing to do. Why is your opinion more important than mine?

#3- Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Don't make me slap the bitch off of your face!": 

#1--These ladies give thier time there, how about you?
#2--How did you know they were Christian?
#3--Why not go to an atheist food pantry? (Ooops, they don't have any??
#4--Why didn't you go there earlier?
#5-- Don't condemn the hand that feeds you 

I have actually already responded to this person on the blog itself but I will re post it for you to read as well:

To the Anonymous person that posted Sept.9th:

#1- I have personally volunteered at this food bank and also donated food to them before, when I was working.

#2-The women are members of this church, I know this because of my volunteer experience there.

#3- Whereas I am unaware of any local "atheist" food pantries, if there were one, I would attend. I do take advantage of an atheist woman that offers nutritional guidance and education though, she is a wonderful woman and I believe all the better for her lack of faith.

#4- I did not go earlier because our son had an appointment and we returned home later than expected. Also, as was posted, I arrived 15 minutes before they closed. I could not return the next day due to my husband having training and having no one to carry the items up the two flights of stairs to our apartment. That would have left me without food items for nearly 5 days until they re-opened.

#5- As far as "condemning the hand that feeds". I feel it is perfectly reasonable to complain about a "volunteer service" that would treat someone asking for help in such a manner. I would NEVER turn away someone (much less a visibly pregnant someone) that was asking for my help. I have seen my fair share of Christians who act very unbecoming and exemplify the very things that they claim we non-believers to represent. Having faith does not make you a good person, believing a fairytale does not make you a good person and 'volunteering' your time does not make you a good person. I believe that her actions and words toward me and the other woman present proved that to be true.

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My objective when starting this blog was to open up about what it means to be a young parent today, as I described earlier in this post. I wanted to share my life's up's and down's with anyone who read this in hopes that my story could somehow brighten their day. I do not always feel like the best parent. NO WAY do I ever feel "experienced" at being a parent. I learn something new every single day that I wake up about being a parent. I am constantly discovering new ways to handle the things that life throws my way because after everything at the end of the day, I am human. I am fallible. Someone told me once that what I am experiencing now is just an experience in my life, not my life experience. How true does that ring to you? I feel like YES, being a parent IS my life experience because it is the best experience of my life. No matter how many bad recipes I make, how many cookies I never get right, how many times my kids poop on the floor-- I know that what I am doing is right. I am sure that even Martha screwed up every now and then. In fact, I seem to remember Perfect Martha having a little ankle bracelet incident a few years back...there was a movie about it... I still love her and being compared to anything CLOSE to Martha is a compliment in my book.    :-]

Okay, now that I have outed the haters ;D Let me get down to business and good news!

I AM 36 WEEKS PREGNANT NOW! This baby is coming so fast. I swear, I thought he was going to come earlier than now but just like last time-- no such luck. Like I have said before, I give birth to monster children. A pregnant friend of mine (who is due on Nov.4th!!!!) and I were talking about how big we feel and just being pregnant in general (this is her first) and she told me that I give birth to full grown men. Haha. Yeah, she's kind of right! I have an ultrasound on Monday to determine the baby's size and weight gain pattern. This will be the  deciding factor of the C-section decision. If they determine that he should be under 10lbs, I am going for the VBAC. If he will be 10 or over, like our first son was, I am going to do the cesarean. The risks due to my diabetes are too high with a baby that large. I need to make a decision for both of our sakes. Oh annnd my baby shower is tomorrow :) I am pretty excited for that since I gave away all of Kael's baby stuff because we were going to wait for another baby. Hooray for Babies! :)

My husband and I just celebrated our third wedding anniversary. For us, that is SOMETHING.       

Our son was born three months before our first anniversary, he left for BCT only six days before my 22nd birthday and nine days before our first anniversary. He was in Georgia for our second anniversary. Then, when he came home we had a hard time adjusting to being together after fifteen months of separation and living two separate lives. So, what did we do together to celebrate as a couple? Well, we spent time with our son <3 It was the best anniversary present I could have asked for. We did some military stuff, went to Applebee's for lunch, then went to peek at the animals at the pet store with little man. SO much fun!

Our son has been pacifier-free since the 26th of August! My sister took him overnight and didn't give it to him, so I kept it up. It was really rough for a little while but I can honestly say that I am glad we did it and that I think he has benefited from it already. I was worried about his speech because he wasn't putting sentences together. It seems that since he has been without it, he is picking up more words and using them in sentences!! YEAH! He's such a smart little boy, it's great to see his potential breaking through. Today he was perusing my pictures on my phone. It amazed me! I have a touch phone and you have to rub your finger across the screen to change pictures. He was zipping through them like a pro!

Share your stories about your children's landmark moments. I'd love to hear them. I am going to bed now, tomorrow is going to be a busy day. Hubster has drill and I have a baby shower to drag the kiddo to! :)

Adios amigos!

Mama always said...

Table of Contents:
1) 'The Business of Being Born'
2) My child, The Sadist (and his first-ever time out)
3) Remodeling our kitchen
4) Getting ready for baby
5) My personal beliefs and the effect they have on my Family
6) A list of things you never thought you'd know, but since you're a Mom, you've become a pro at doing.

The Business of Being Born.
Is a documentary about the staggering statistics in America relating to medical intervention and the rate of c-sections. One third of all American births are cesarean. Most of the time, it isn't actually medically necessary. There are cases (that I know personally) in which a vaginal birth would have ended in death for the mother, child or both. My sister is one of these cases. I do not believe that I was. I think that taking the epidural was my biggest mistake because it did not permit movement and therefore, Kael was stuck in the same position and his heart rate dropped. If you are having a hard time dealing with the thought of labor and delivery I suggest you check it out.

My Son, the Sadist.
Kael had his first real time out two days ago. My sister's radiator blew while she was in the line at McDonald's and I had to go pick up her little man Eli, who is ten months old. He is a tank, this kid! He weighs about 25lbs. He and Kael play together pretty well. Eli is fascinated with Kael and Kael likes giving Eli things he shouldn't have. Kael got a Spiderman toy in a happy meal recently and decided to whack Eli in the head with it. Well, Eli being the tank that he is, just turned and looked at Kael as though to say "Dude, wtf?!". I saw this and immediately told Kael no, that it was not okay to hit and sat him in a "time-out" (which is a purple plastic chair that faces his toys. Hey, he wants to act like a punk--he can watch the other kids have fun while he can't!) So he sat there for two minutes and cried. He tried to get up a few times and I told him that if he tried to move, his time started over. It was amazing! It was as though he actually understood what I was telling him, because he sat there silent. At the end of his two minutes, I sat next to him on the floor and asked him if he knew why he was in a time out. He began to cry, so I explained to him that you cannot hit people and that if he doesn't want to get hit, he shouldn't hit. He walked over to Eli, gave him a hug and said something that resembled 'sorry'. I think it was a lesson learned.

Remodeling our Kitchen.
Brian and I decided to paint our kitchen. We do live in an apartment but we plan on being here for a few more years until we buy a house. The color is a dark red-orange color. I really like it. It is a bit overwhelming but I think that after we get the trim and cabinets painted, it will look nice. They will be done in a 'nut' color, very light. I just want it done. The kitchen is a wreck. Yesterday was the first time that we had loaded the dishwasher in two days. There were fruit flies present and it was gross. I will be posting pictures as soon as everything is finished, but here are some of the work in progress!

Getting Ready for Baby.
Preparing for the birth of a child is never easy, unless you have experts to help. By experts I don't mean someone who has experienced this, I mean a professional company to come in and set everything up for you. It is as stressful as it is fun and it's all over before you know it. There is so much to do! You have to set up the crib and other furniture, pack a bag for you, your partner, the baby and make preparations for the other child/ren if you have them, have a baby shower and then put all of the baby's stuff away after, make sure you get enough sleep so you aren't insane when the baby comes, take your vitamins, keep a thousand doctor's appointments and work and take care of the family that you already have on top of it all. WE ARE SUPERHEROS! I know that all of the stress and preparation is worth it when I get to hold my little Konnor in my arms at the end of it all.

My Personal Beliefs.
Brian and I are Atheists. We do not believe in any god/s and we do not celebrate religious holidays as a family. I do put up a tree and we exchange gifts for the Solstice but other than those few things, the holiday seems to pass us by. On Christmas day, we go to my mother's house in the morning (she is a Christian) and then we spend the rest of the day with his step-mother's family. It really is more about spending time with the people that we love and care about, rather than worshiping a person that we do not believe ever existed.  That is how we feel about it and we don't push it on people. if Kaelverrrrrry religious family of Southern Baptists. If you know anything about them, they are pretty extreme in their beliefs. My grandmother told me last week that I am an infidel, that I am raising an infidel and that we are all going to burn in hell. I listened in silence while she put me down in every way possible and when I thought she was finished, I spoke. I told her that I do respect her way of thinking, that if believing in god keeps her alive and happy, then so be it. I told her that I hope that she is right-- that there is an everlasting life after this one and a utopia at the end of this living hell of a world we have created as humans. As i tried to explain that while our beliefs are different, we are undeniably human together and that we are entitled to our own beliefs, that just as there are different variations of god, there are those who choose to simply not believe in him/her/them... She told me that she had said everything that she wanted to and that she didn't want to hear anything about "your little infidel religion or whatever it is you do". Let me say this: Atheism is NOT a religion. In fact, it is the exact denouncement of that idea. I do not go around telling believers that they are stupid for thinking that god exists and I do not blast my belief in their faces. I find it rude and childish for someone to do it to me and THEN to tell me that I am a horrible person for it... is wrong. So, I say to my readers: I have an open mind. I have been a believer and I have just taken a different path. It never made any sense to me (even as a child) and therefore, I have chosen my path in life. Do not condemn me for having and exercising my mind as I do not do so to you. That is the end of this topic, as I am not a philosopher and also do not wish to offend anyone else's beliefs, i only wanted to share the story about my mamaw and the effects that choosing a different path has had on my family :)

Okay, now onto something a bit lighter!

Things that you never thought you'd know or do, but since you have become a mother, you are a professional at:

1) The one-arm pick-up.
This is the miraculous move that you pull off when you have a purse, diaper bag, groceries and a cell phone on your ear and your child is refusing to walk. Suddenly, you become an acrobat of sorts, for you can pick them up using your only free hand and somehow hoist them upon your waist, while maintaining your balance and not missing a single line of conversation with your mother who is gabbing in your ear. Pat yourself on the back for this one!

2) The "I just pulled that dinner from my ass" move.
This is when you make a 'quick trip' to the store after a really long day and that trip turns into a total adventure, you forget what time it is and the kid/s are screaming because not only is it past supper time, it is also dangerously close to bedtime. This is where having meal lists comes in handy because you can have dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes. Your kids will thank you (or at least eat it), your husband will thank you and so will your kitchen because most of those quick meals take only 5 ingredients and one dish.

3) The public restroom act.
I have done this so many times and I remember thinking about how amazing I am for being able to pull it off. I hate public restrooms, especially Wal-Mart. Eck! I will line that toilet seat like it's a glass dish that I don't feel like washing! When Kael was a baby (probably about 3-4 months old) I was at WalMart and had to pee so bad that I didn't think I would make it. I took him to the handicapped stall and realized I had nowhere to set him while I peed. I hung up the diaper bag, put him on one hip and with my free hand, unbuttoned and unzipped my pants, pulled them down and balanced him on one knee. After I finished, I somehow wiped with my one free hand, pulled up and refastened my pants, grabbed the diaper bag AND washed my hands (though, one at a time!) all while balancing him on one hip. That's pretty effing amazing. If you have done this successfully-- GREAT JOB!

4) Improvising toilet paper/paper towel rolls as trumpet or elephant trunks.
As a mom, you can make pretty much anything boring or ordinary into something cool. Kael looooves it when I use a toilet paper or paper towel roll as a trumpet, spy scope, elephant trunk, bat, golf club, guitar... Seriously, the possibilities are endless! Remember, before you throw it out ask yourself what you might be able to use it for. Kids love random junk that they can demolish. Especially little kids. Noise never really bothered me. I always knew that it was them being creative and having fun safely. I could give Kael a wooden spoon and plastic bowl and he would play for an hour! Try this with an empty paper roll and an old box or whatever you have on hand that might make noises. They will love it!

5) Having an audience/listener while you poop.
Seriously, as if it isn't enough that they took over your body, then they take over your spare room/car/closets/bathtub/living room and eventually your bed, they also hijack your sex life and your time of bodily eliminations. Kael will come running as soon as he hears me go into the bathroom. If I don't close the door tightly, he knocks, says hellllllooooooo, pushes it open and casually strolls in to see what I'm up to, then walks out and leaves the door wide-open. I have to time my bowel movements to times when he's busy or sleeping. It never ends!!

6) Somehow showering while your little one plays in the tub.
I always used to say that I would never do this but just like a million other things that I said I would never do, I do it all the time. When Kael started walking, I was in school and so to save time I started putting him in the shower with me. He hated it at first, but by the time he was about 18 months old, he didn't mind it as long as the water didn't go into his face. Now, you can't get the kid to keep his clothes on if you get into the shower. Luckily, he hasn't started poking things yet. He is however interested in boobies. Just like Daddy.

I want to talk about something that is very personal and current for me. VBAC's. A VBAC is a vaginal birth after cesarean and I am possibly making the attempt. The hospital that I was at before this week is a Catholic hospital and does not believe in contraception. They look down on tubal ligation because of its permanency and also will not allow women to have VBAC's. I was willing to give up on the VBAC for outstanding care, which I was getting there but then when I asked to fill out the paperwork for a tubal ligation, I was told that my decision would have to be considered before an ethics committee and then if they decided favorably, they would only allow it if I have significant scar tissue from my first cesarean. So that meant that if I stayed there, then there was a great possibility of having two surgeries instead of just the one that I didn't want anyway! So, I made the choice to switch hospitals and care providers at 31 gestational weeks. Now, I will be seeing a provider whom I am told by others is very caring and a good person to have on your side for a VBAC. I have been watching hypnobirthing videos online and reading about different techniques to use during labor to help cope with the pain. I will be attempting to take back my birthing experience, medication-free! It is my belief that things went wrong during my birth with Kael because I took the epidural. When you have contractions and they get to be too great, they increase the epidural which in turn slows labor because it numbs pain receptors and they have to give you pitocin, which increases the baby's heart rate or sometimes slows it because of the stress. This happened with Kael. Not only that, but he was in a weird head position and I feel that had I had the use of my legs, I could have moved and helped him get into a better position which would have made delivery possible. This is what I want! I want to be lucid, I want to labor freely, I want to be able to hold him first, I want to be coherent when I feed him for the first time. I truly hope that this experience differs greatly from the last and that this delivery is successful. My mom always said that life is what happens when you make plans. Well, fuck you life!

It has been about a week since I last posted anything. We needed to gather some funds for bills that needed to be paid and well, we're back in business for the time being. We'll see how long it lasts this time around. It's tough to keep going with more than the 'necessities'. I like having the internet (and this blog) but if it comes down to it, the bitch'll get the ugly ax.

So, what's new in my life just in this past week? Meh, not too much. I have become utterly exhausted. A few reasons why this may be so:

1) I am carrying a large child.
 I had an ultrasound to check the baby's size. For those of you who are unaware, I have gestational diabetes and although I keep it under control through my diet, it still causes the children that I carry to be significantly larger than other children of their gestational age. For example, at this check-up they estimated his weight to be at 4.5lbs. Babies gain an average of a half pound every week after 30 weeks gestation. That means that if he gains the average, he will weigh at least 9lbs.. Our first son Kael weighed 10lbs 7oz.. and was 22.5 inches long with a 14in. head. Which is one reason I had a c-section. He was huge.

2) I have gestational diabetes.
 That in itself plays with your energy levels and the nutrients that your body takes from the food that you eat. I test four times a day. Once when I get up before I eat, 2hrs after breakfast, 2hrs after lunch and 2hrs after dinner. I hate it and can't wait for it to be over. All I want is a god damn sundae.

3) The weather.
Seriously, who feels like doing anything when it is miserably hot outside? Add to it that you're huge and pregnant and it's a recipe for disaster. I have never sweat this much in my life, aside from while watching Cops. Yeah, I stole that one. It's still funny though :p

4)Urinating.
I get up to pee at least three times every night. If I don't, I am one hurting Mama in the morning. Recently, Konnor has been stretching his little butt all the way up to my sternum.  That's about as far as it goes-- where the hell else is he going to stretch into?! Oooh, I fear that the worst is yet to come.

5) Just being PREGNANT!
There should be a joke about pregnancy that's like one of those "how many blonds does it take to screw in a light bulb" jokes. "How much energy is it going to take to grow a human?", then the calculator breaks because that computation is just impossible. The energy scale for growing a human inside of another human is just off the charts and exhausting to look at, let alone endure. In the beginning when the baby is just a clump of cells and up to a blueberry, they suck out your energy faster than a hypoglycemic without carbs, running a marathon. You then reach the middle where you gain a little energy and the sickness subsides and you get a little pot belly, you might even do some shopping because--hey-- you have the energy! Then all of a sudden you can't bend over, you haven't seen your vagina in two months and you're not sure-- but you think your husband's legs have been implanted on your body due to the amount of hair that has "suddenly" appeared on them. Everything you do takes massive amounts of energy-- eating, peeing, getting up to pee, sitting down to pee, wiping after you pee (okay, obviously I hate having to pee), loading/unloading the dishwasher, doing laundry, carrying your 25lb 2 year old to the car (he suddenly weighs a million pounds!) and even sex. Sex feels more like a workout designed to make you vomit because of the exertion. Finding a position that is comfortable is like discovering chocolate for the first time, you get it and you don't want it to end because it's just so awesome! So yes, just being pregnant and LIVING through pregnancy is tiresome. So shut up men. You fuckers get off easily. At least you get out of this without stretch marks!

Let's talk about a few things. Here is the agenda:
1) Let's talk about SEX (and) Baby...
2) Organization
3) Time Management
4) Feeling guilty for leaving your little ones
5)Picky Little Shits (excuse me, dear angels)!

Sex. Obviously, if you're pregnant you've had it. You probably liked it. A lot. Which is...why...you're pregnant. Anyway, we all know how that happens! We have all come a long way from the "when a man and a woman love each other very much..." talk. If you even got it. I didn't. I thought my step dad was killing my mom because she was being MUCH too loud at one point and well, I kicked a hole through the door.... I was seven. Try explaining sex to a seven year old. I am very much hoping to avoid that conversation until at least ten, hopefully twelve. Who here has a hard time with sex nowadays? (Raises hand!)

This belly gets in the way, I can't lay on my back because it hurts and I can't breathe, being on my side causes him to move and the large mound seems to crush Hubster when I am on top (sometimes). I feel like giving up! And that's just when I FEEL like having sex. During my first pregnancy, there wasn't a second in the day that I didn't want sex. Just smelling my husband's scent on his pillow made me crave him. Now, he's lucky if I blink twice at his beautiful mug. Not that my husband is unattractive in any way. Oh, Ladies (and gentlemen--sorry!) he is one Big Chunk O'Sexy. I just don't want him to touch me. Ever. Which sucks, because he's pretty much a God. This pregnancy has drained my libido of all but an every-other-week romp and I am SO over it! While I have read that this is common in pregnancy, it doesn't make me feel any better because I know that he probably thinks there is something wrong with him. No Honey, it isn't you-- it's my off-the-wall hormones and stupid vagina. I'm sorry, I do promise that when this is over and I'm feeling up to some nasty, hot sex-- you're gonna get it!

2) Laundry and Housekeeping/Organization
Let's face it. Things get messy, we're never getting out of that. The kitchen table will always collect any stray materials that pass through the kitchen, the laundry room will have things in it that you haven't seen in six years and the laundry basket in the bathroom will always have an anti-laundry force field around it that causes every single piece of clothing that comes near it somehow miss the inside of the basket. Oh--and your husband's beard and hair trimmings will never make it to the trash can or toilet.

What can we do to keep things semi-clean or clutter free? Well, I am going to share a few of my ideas, tips and tricks! These are things that I have collected over the years just by reading women's magazines and parenting magazines. If I find a good idea, I tear out the page and put it in a binder ( Remember the binder that I suggested you make for meal planning? Make a section for housekeeping and organization. Put in a page divider that has pockets or invest in a 3-hole punch.)

ORGANIZATION!

A) Belts and scarves. What a pain in the ass to find sometimes and impossible to live without. I have a few ideas for belts and scarves. When I say scarves, I mean the decorative thin ones, not the monster ones that we use here in New England. You can roll them like a cinnamon bun and put them in a  clear plastic over-the-door shoe rack like I do, roll them and put them in the sock drawer, designate hooks in the closet (I suggest the 3M stick-on plastic hooks) or use an old wire hanger (use the belt head as an anchor over the hanger head and drape the scarves over the long part of the hanger). Any of these things work, it's up to you which one works best for you!

B) Hats, Mittens and Winter Scarves.
Again, a few ideas. I invested in some mesh laundry bags (the small ones) and designated one for each item, tied them up using the drawstring and put them in a tote for the summer. In winter, I have three hooks by the door that I hang the bags from. Another idea is one that my gram used--baskets. If you have a large entryway, this is ideal. You can use three (about 8-15in depth, depending on your need) baskets and designate one for each purpose. My third suggestion would be to just throw 'em all in one basket if you don't mind digging or do not want to invest in more damn baskets! You can also use those canvas totes that look nice on shelves or even small plastic containers or bins that you can put in an entryway closet if you have one.

C) Pictures.
If you are like me, you have a lot of photos. I know that some people prefer photo albums or scrapbooks and  I do like them, but my pictures never make it there. I have most of mine on disc or SD cards. The ones that I do have printed are in a photo box that is sectioned off by tabs. I actually prefer this method of photo organization over others. There is something about flipping through old photos and the feeling that you get when you relive a memory. Looking through an album just doesn't do the same thing. I think that the best method for photo storage is the cd because it is a backup of anything that can be lost. These can be easily stored in a firesafe box and pulled out later if you want to make prints. I have old pictures from when Kael was a newborn all over the house. I love them. Shoeboxes are also cheap storage!

D) DVDS and CDS
In this time that we live in, we are obsessed with technology and entertainment. My husband and I have a ton of movies on Dvd and they take up a lot of space. Luckily for me, he is crafty and built 2 shelving units for us to store our collection on. If you do not have this hunky option at home, I suggest investing in some Cd cases. Buy the ones that zip up and hold as many as you will need. Throw out the cases, you'll never need them. I did this with our son's dvd collection and it saves SO much space and time. Have you ever tried picking out a movie with a 2 year old? It's not fun. They also make special Dvd cases that are lined so as to not scratch the disc. I just bought a cheap-o case at a yard sale for a buck because, let's face it-- he's going to ruin them anyway.

E)Cook books.
I had so many cook books and magazines that I didn't know what to do with! At some point you have to say to yourself, "am I really going to use all of these books and do I really need 5 different Italian cook books?". The answer is simple. No you won't and no you do not. The problem is getting rid of them-- not because no one else wants them, you just cannot throw away the hundredth 30 minute meals cookbook that your mom has gotten you in three years-- could you? Yeah, you can. Do it. I did! I actually took mine to the Goodwill. They will re-sell them and some poor college kid or single mom out there could use a good cookbook. My mom's beau gives me his old Taste of Home magazines every year and this is what I started doing:
Making the cut--
If you have a magazine that has some great recipes in it and about 95% of the material within is worth keeping, KEEP the magazine. Otherwise, if you only find from 2-10 recipes in it, tear out the pages, hole-punch them and put them in your meal planning binder or folder. Not only will it save space, a nice white binder looks way better on the counter top than 65 old magazines. For the magazines that you do keep (I have about 5) buy a magazine rack or make your own from a large cereal box. Here is a link for a nice chrome finish rack from WalMart for under ten dollars. The instructions for making your own are HERE.

The reason that I don't have as many magazines is that if I find one that has good material, I dissect it into it's usable parts: Recipes, Organization tips, Decorating and Crafts. These are the main ingredients of most women's magazines. If you want to make a section for the cosmetics and clothing sections--fine. I leave these parts out of my binder.

Organizing your cookbooks shouldn't be that hard. You should have no more than 20, ever. If you have a bookcase FULL of them, I suggest thinking about when they were last used, how often you use them and their size. Large cookbooks are a waste unless you use them frequently because you more than likely already have those same recipes in your smaller and much used cookbooks. Plus, with the internet and online recipe boxes, the need for those bulky books is almost eliminated. This organization will help you not only when cleaning the kitchen or pantry but also when meal planning.

Other parts of the house that get cluttered and my suggestions:
Shoes in the doorway- Invest in a cheap shoe rack and store shoes by season!
Towels on the floor- An over the door rack is about $5 at Family Dollar.
Mail on the counter- sort it as it comes in and pay bills online!
Dirty microwave- 4 cups of water in a bowl for 5-8 minutes. Wipe clean.
Grease on the burners- invest in burner covers! They decrease splatter, just remember to take them off.
Extra Blankets and pillows- Totes, designate shelves in the closet, a hope chest or under the bed totes.
Electronics wires- Roll into a figure 8 and put them in an old toilet paper or paper towel roll and label them.
Bathroom toiletries- Sort them every 2-3 months.
I am sure that I am forgetting something but if you have an organization question, just ask and I will respond.

3) Time Management:
Who the heck has the time to get everything accomplished that needs to be done daily? Freaks of nature, that's who. I am lucky to get my dishes done everyday and two loads of laundry. I just don't have the energy. Sure, if I weren't pregnant I might have some more but really-- as Americans we overload our plates! Taking the time for important things is key. Playing with your kids should take precedence over that mound of laundry. It will be there tomorrow. The dishes can wait until after you take a walk with your spouse/significant other. My husband never wants to go for walks with me like he did when we were dating and I really miss that. I miss it even more now because when he was gone for 13 months we COULDN'T do that. Remember what's important to you and what can wait. I am notorious for my procrastination and also for my impatience. I hate having to wait for things but sometimes you just need to. You can do everything you want to, you just need to make the time for it. Wake up 20 minutes early, go to bed early or cut out the internet that isn't necessary during the day. I spend at least an hour a day online just looking around or writing this blog. If I cut out the browsing and only post every other day, I can get more housework done, color more with Kael or be more intimate with Brian. One more tip for saving time is about doctor's visits. Since I have to have an ultrasound every other week and see a diabetes specialist, I try to schedule them on the same day. Sometimes (like this coming Monday) the appointments are spread far apart-- 10am and 2pm-- this gives you time to have lunch outside, spend time with your significant other or kids, have some ME time, work on your menus in the park or while you eat lunch at a restaurant, get some shopping in or pay bills. Lots of options, you just have to plan ahead, even if it bogs you down for a day or two you'll most likely have extra time on the weekends.

4) Guilty Parenting:
How many of you out there feel guilty for leaving your kids with your spouse? You know that you really shouldn't because they are their kids, too but you just can't shake that nagging feeling as soon as you get to the car. That's me. My sister lives about a mile from my house and yet if I go there for more than a half hour, I am itching for the door. I know that I need the time away from home--it's why I took off in the first place-- but all I can think about is Kael. I worry that he is giving Brian a hard time, that he is sad, that he is bored or too hot in the house. All of these things are just me being a control freak. It is so hard to get rid of these feelings so all I can suggest to you is this: Give the other parent/babysitter a call and check in after an hour. That way you can actually relax and enjoy yourself. You don't have to be gone all day, just enough time to be more than just mommy.

5) Picky Kids:
Alright. Tough topic, I know. I have one of those kids that always thinks I am tricking him into eating something gross. Unless it's pancakes, waffles, cereal, peanut butter toast or cheese he looks at me like I am an alien as soon as I set the plate in front of him. I have a few ideas to get picky kids to eat the meals that you make for them.

A) If you have not gotten to this point in your parenting adventure, I suggest the following method. When you start giving them finger foods that they can pick up and eat, set it on the tray and walk away without saying a word. Kids are naturally curious and put everything into their mouths. I bet you they will pick up that food and shove it into their little mouths before you could take it away. Kael used to be such an awesome eater until he started to sit at the table with us and eat normal foods. Then he would push everything away and the airplane noises no longer worked. I started putting his plate in front of him and ignoring him and he would actually eat without protest. Of course, this doesn't always work because sometimes they just don't like meatloaf. If he doesn't eat what is put on his plate, he gets Pb&J which I know he will eat and doesn't get all the time. Kael likes to 'taste' his foods first by licking them. Ha-ha.  Try this method.

B) If you have a child that just won't eat veggies, try pureeing them into things. HERE is a link for a book called Deceptively Delicious. It was written by Jessica Seinfeld and it is genius! She uses fruit and veggie purees in her recipes to get the nutrition into her foods and you can't really taste them. I own this book and my favorite recipe is for the Applesauce Muffins. SO YUMMY!! The steaming and pureeing does take a little work but if you set aside an hour a week, it's not bad at all. I use these recipes and Kael doesn't know! There is even a recipe for mac and cheese that uses cauliflower-- I swear you cannot taste it!

C) Try making food fun. If Kael gets to help me cook, he usually wants to eat it. This doesn't happen often but I can remember as a kid that my Gram did this and I ALWAYS wanted to eat what we cooked. Also, just a tip that is sort of related... If you like pancakes but don't always have time to make them, try this! I make up large batches of pancakes and put fruit in them, make pancakes about the size of my palm, cool them and freeze them. When Kael wants pancakes I just take them out of the freezer and pop them in the microwave for 15-30 seconds or in the toaster on about a 3-4 setting. The same goes for waffles.

Well readers that is all for now. Tomorrow I will be writing about a topic that is a little more close to home right now. What happens when prenatal care gets mixed with religion. Yes, I am going there. You're going to learn a few things about Mrs. H's beliefs in the next blog.