100th Entry! Getting Cozy.

 Well, this blog marks my 100th Entry, or shall we say rambling.  I thought I would share this moment.

It snowed last Saturday.  We had friends over for brunch ans the minute the white fluffy stuff started to fall we ran out with the babies.  I love the idea of the first snow.  I hope Max will love it as well.  He tried to catch it a couple of times, when he's a little bit older we will try to catch them on our tongues.  I guess this means winter is heading our way.  Then on to the new year!  This year have been amazing.  I wonder what will happen next!

It's been raining for days!

The dog went crazy.
I made a quilt. 
Charlie did some schoolwork. 
Max played the piano.

Because of a Book

I have been inspired to change my blogs layout.

I am reading this book.

A book that has jumped into my soul and is reading my wants.

I am a new mother. I am the mother or 4-1/2 month old MAx. MAx is AMAZING! There is nothing I won't so for this little boy. I will bend over backward, feed him, change his diapers, hold him when he wants me.
At what point did I feel I needed to no longer just be a mother but I needed to become the perfect specimen of Mother Nature.

Poser: My Life in twenty-three yoga poses by Claire Dederer
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/poser-my-life-in-23-yoga-poses-by-claire-dederer-2185580.html

This story speaks of the wants: breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping, using only cloth diapers, eating/drinking/wearing only organic. Women who need to keep an immaculate home, be a Top Chef, and bring home a paycheck while working full time. The true nature of attachment parenting; the storys of friends who practice this form child rearing. The idea that mothers try to out-do each other by announcing what their children eat, where they go to school, to what kind of homemade knitted hat their little one wears. Then there's the truth, the family that decides to stop, they use formula, store bought diapers, the mother doesn't truly knit...

I have noticed some things have started changing in my house. My little boy is starting to eat food. Oatmeal and bananas for breakfast, some sweet potatos for dinner, and hopefully he'll get the hang of those 6-8oz bottles soon. Those bottles that are becoming filled with formula as we start to ween MAx off breastmilk. As I stop Pumping. I have guilt about these things; I am reading that mothers have guilt. However, there are some happy points to life. This woman Claire Dederer discoved the good stuff through Yoga. I miss Yoga. I read and become inspired to once again take back a little bit of my life. I still love MAx, I will do everything I can to keep him happy and healthy. It's just that I would like to join him in this adventure.



If this little dity has inspired anyone to pick up a copy: Happy Reading!

ChristmasTime is Here!

I didn't get the chance to share our First Family Christmas with you. Before leaving on our grand trip to Iowa to see my family, Charlie, Max, Asher and I celebrated our first Family Christmas together. Friday night we watched It's a Wondeful Life while I made Christmas Cookies. This year I only made Sugar and Gingerbread, having a 3 month old slows things down a bit. Usually I make Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip, but it got me in the holiday spirit!

We woke up and had our very own Cinnamon Rolls AKA hockey Pucks and coffee, then opened Stockings. Then it turned into nap time for Max so we all went for a lovely walk, it was a crisp day. Then back home for a bottle and presents. Charlie and Max were Santa's Helpers, it was too much fun!

Sometimes Babies Just Cry

Sometimes Babies are not hungry, they are not tired, they are not wet or soiled, they are not bored, they do not want to be held, they do not want to be burped, they do not want to be left alone, they do not have to poop... Sometimes Babies Just Cry.

Sometimes we have to take a deep breath and remember... Sometimes Babies just cry. They will stop when they are ready.

I AM A MOM!

I have a 2 month old son, whom I love! I have become one of those people who only takes pictures of their child... and I take about a dozen a day. I take video of him, I dress him in cool little outfits. He is bigger and bigger everyday.

This morning we went for a hike; it was only 40degs out when we left the house, I had to put him in a 6month size warmie! He's only 2 months old! Everyday he looks more and more like a real boy. Today he fit in the the ergo (baby carrier) without the infant insert; his legs actually stick out the bottom.

I have known for a long time that I wanted to be a mom, but to be a mom is something different, it's special. We have a great time everday. Some days are harder than others and sometimes I'm all by myself. Max and I tell each other stories and roll around and laugh together. He is more than just a partner in crime I think he is my soul. Everyday he amazes. His smile melts my heart and sometimes I think we understand each other.

Max has a schedule, it is my job to work around his schedule to accomplish a multitude of tasks everyday. I am a fairly organized and straightforward person. I appreciate my son for understanding and working with me on this. I take our schedule and all of the tasks that need to be accomplished and find a way to do them as efficiently as possible. We wake up, poop, eat, go for a hike, poop, eat, have playtime, take a nap, then do it all over again. I have found a new rhythm to my life that is both wonderful and unexpected. Even though I new I wanted to be a mom I had no idea what that actually meant. Until now.

Everyday this little boy looks up at me and I see something new, in him and in myself. I am growing more now that I have in years. I have loved my life but now I am in love with my life. I am the luckiest girl in the world. I got to grow up to become: an artist, a wife, a mother, a worker, a watcher, a leader, a follower, a cheerleader, a hard-ass, a woman, a child, a sleeper, a reader, a knitter, a crafter, a lion, and me.

Happy Halloween!

TRICK OR TREAT! I made Max's first Halloween Costume... a PUMPKIN!

This morning we went out for Breakfast with our Friends the Cristman's at Lena's Cafe then off for a wonderful fall walk at Wintergreen Lake. Max wore his Skeleton outfit, we have been in the spirit for weeks now!


















This afternoon we made Pumpkin Cookies!



I carved Jack The Pumpkin King!










Now we are ready for Trick or Treaters! I added a few more tombstones this year! Thanks Charlie for the help!

Introducing Max...

So 7 weeks later... here's MAX!

Maxwell James Alexander
Born on:9/1/10
11:49pm
Weight: 10lbs 3oz
Height: 23"
Continued from our last episode... By 11pm I had fully effaced and was just over 4cm dialted. Max's head had started to drop however the crown of his head was not. His head had started to cone, but wasn't continuing. I had also started to produce a small fever; once my fever reached 100* the midwives contacted the Doctor Once he arrived it was determined that I was not progressing and was having a disfunctional labor. I was given another epidural and we headed off for the operating room.

Once we got there the C-section went well... Unfortnately my arms had to be taped down due to some shaking from the epidural and adrenalin. Max was pulled out to hoot and hollers from those attending. He's the biggest baby they've seen for a long time. Charlie brought him over to me and we got to spend a few minutes together before he was taken to the NICU. Since I developed a small fever Max had to spend at least 2 days there until bloodwork was checked out. We ended up staying in the NICU for 5 days, the doctors wanted to make sure that we were all ready to come home.

We arrived home Sunday September 5th. Everything seemed to go by so fast, yet it seemed to last forever. We came home and had a week of wonderful help from Grammy and Papa Flowers and then GrandmaNan spent the next week with us. We have had 2 doctors appointments and at one month Max weighed 12lbs and won everyone's hearts in the office. we go in next week for our 2 Month Appointment.

More photos and videos to come, we have been busy... Coming soon...
Max's First Smiles
Max Makes Friends
Max's First Ride

Growing, Growing, Growing

My Belly is Growing. I have now purchased maternity jeans and they are much more comfortable than leaving my regular jeans unbuttoned. I am starting to feel better, except for some random head and sholder aches. Life seems to be going well, work is increasing and I might have the oportunity to a new path at work. It's exciting and worrisome all at the same time. I didn't expect to work that much during the summer, we had planned to take things pretty easy and get the house ready for the baby. It looks like my summer might be a little fuller than expected, but I'm really excited about the posibility of trying something new. I have always liked a challange, and a change would be welcomed. Nothing is final yet, however I have a hope that everything will work out for the best. Certainly a little extra money before baby bucket arrives will be extremely helpful.
Other than that life seems to be pretty normal, Charlie and I get a small break next week. We are going to Florida to visit family, and we can't wait to spend the time together. Now we just ahve to get everything together, packed and cleaned so we can enjoy ourselves. Wish us Luck! Pictures and adventures from the road!

Hello World! Introducing Baby Bucket!

I am officially 15 Weeks Today! After keeping the story under wraps for the last 3 months we have decided to announce that we are expecting our first born Due August 27th!
We are very excited and I am slowly getting over the nervousness about having a baby. We decided at the end of November we would pull the goalie and start practicing for a baby. Who would have guessed that 2 weeks later we would be pregnant. Needless to say, I started feeling off around Christmas and we decided to take a few at home tests at the end of December.
















Needless to say all four tests came back positive. A few weeks later we had a confirmation form the doctors and an ultrasound! Now a few appointments and another ultrasound later we are happy to announce there will be an addition to our family in a few months.
The morning sickness and ravenous behavior has passed, now I just have some heartburn and a stuffy nose. We will be finding out the sex at the end of April and can't wait!