tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42953858888328435562024-02-22T10:12:27.700-05:00Who's Your Mama?The life and times of a first-time mom, first-time wife, first-time attorney and wanna-be baker. Oh what fun we'll have!MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-83766472564760631342011-09-25T14:50:00.000-04:002011-09-26T11:05:13.709-04:00LatelyIt's been quite a while since I've had time to post, so I figured, no need to shower, I'll do it now! Life has been rather hectic the past few months. Our house sold (thank you, Lord), we bought a new house, E has been crawling like crazy, and my work has taken on a new life of its own.<br />
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Since the beginning of August, I've taken on a contract attorney position. Its perfect, because I work every other week, for three days. It leaves a great amount of time for me to still be home with E, but it also allows for some 'adult' time. But it has also been the most stressful time of my life. I am so blessed to have a mother-in-law who gives up 3 days out of her week to take care of my child, I couldn't think of a better caregiver for her.<br />
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But here's where it gets complicated. Remember a while ago I posted about E not taking a bottle? Yeah, she never did. So what exactly does this mean for a breastfeeding mom? It means every moment I'm not working in the courtroom, I'm working the boob. So here's a little glimpse of "A Day in the Life" and you will easily understand why I haven't posted in a forever!<br />
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On a working day, I'm up around 6:15 to quickly hop in the shower. I always make sure to wash the hair the day before, because there is just not enough time for me to blow it dry. After the fastest shower of my life, I quickly do the hair and slap a face on. I have to be ready to leave before 7am because I never know when E will wake up. If she's not up by 7:30, I wake her so I can feed her before her Grandma gets to the house.<br />
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Grandma comes around 8:30, so Mama is off to court. I usually stress once court runs past 11am, because I know I have a hungry baby at the house. Once court is over, I race home to take on the second job (but most important): booby factory. I feed the E, usually taking up the majority of my lunch break. If I'm lucky, I grab a yogurt, snack bar or something to eat for lunch on the way out the door around 1pm. Court starts back up at 1:30.<br />
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And just like before, once court goes past around 3:30, I start to worry that I won't get back before the little girl has a complete hunger-activated meltdown. It hasn't happened yet, but that won't ever stop me from worrying. She eats again, then we have some dinner. Dinner is usually followed by either bath time or a walk around the block, then its booby time again and bedtime. Once E is in bed (8pm) I have a moment to sit down. And only a moment, because all the work I needed to get done during the day has to be done some time!<br />
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I'm thankful for the ability to work a part-time job such as this. And I am in no way complaining about it. But you know, I just needed to tell someone else about the crazy days! Cause what would a blog be without completely too much info about my life?<br />
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And I have a cute kid, so thats cool too :) MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-91205977580748917172011-08-08T21:28:00.000-04:002011-08-08T21:28:10.749-04:00E's accomplishments, so far.Well, I've been pretty lax when it comes to keeping up with this thing. I have so much I'd like to write about, but finding the time to do it, is well, hard. So for brevity's sake, I'm making a note of what the little girl has been doing lately.<br />
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July 24, 2011: E went from the laying down position into the sitting up position. We were at the beach and I went in to get her from her nap. I looked down in her crib and there she is, sitting with her "crib friends" around her. It was so exciting! <br />
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On August 2, 2011, E pulled herself into the standing position, using the ottoman for support. She's been working on this maneuver for quite some time and then BOOM, there she was standing...and there I was racing to get behind her in the event she fell.<br />
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August 6, 2011: E learned to clap. She has figured out how putting her hands together (not her fists) makes a fun sound. Now, when I recite the first page of one of her favorite books, she just claps and claps. It is so wonderful to watch. The book is "Barnyard Dance" for those interested :)<br />
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August 8, 2011: E has started to "properly" crawl. She usually will do an army-crawl thing where she pulls with her arms, her left leg pushes and her right one stays straight, but today she showed me that she can in fact get on her hands and knees and crawl.<br />
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I cannot believe how big she's getting! She also has a small little jagged piece of a tooth coming through on the bottom row. I mistakenly put my finger in her mouth to investigate it and well, it didn't feel good when she chomped down!<br />
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That's all for now. Hopefully life will slow down so I can write about what's been going on...so much to say! It also helps that we finally got a new laptop so I can actually use the internet again. Funny how my almost 6 year old laptop doesn't want to work anymore :)MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-89067074520789663332011-06-20T22:44:00.000-04:002011-06-20T22:44:22.223-04:00LegacyI have an odd memory. I have the uncanny ability to remember people. In fact, sitting here right now, I could probably remember most of the kids in my 5th grade class with Ms. Burnett. There will be times I'm watching TV and one feature of the person I'm watching will look a lot like someone I know...usually the "someone I know" is from many many years ago, but I will still think wow "So and So's mouth looks just like that". And that memory usually comes full circle that night when I dream about the person. Which all together freaks me out. I've had dreams about people I have not spoken to in at least a decade and there they are, in my subconscious. (Completely off topic, but I also have an uncanny ability to remember songs.For instance: I got a Disney soundtrack CD from my brother when I was growing up and to this day, I can recite any song from any of the classic Disney movies.)<br />
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Anywho, I digress. Today, I recognized a friend that had recently joined Facebook. We used to hang out quite a bit in high school and always had a lot of fun together. And I got to thinking...will he remember me? Did I leave enough of a 'mark' on his life that he'd remember me? Or am I a forgotten friend? (And, no, we didn't date or anything.)<br />
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But what really bothered me, is that I think this about most people. I feel like most of my friends from times passed have accepted my "friend" requests because we have mutual friends, not because they actually remember ME. I was terrified that one of my closest friends growing up wouldn't remember me, after not speaking since high school. And I know I haven't lost my identity because I've gotten married or had a baby. Its been this way even when I was single and just in another state. I seem to worry about leaving a 'mark' in people's lives. Its a strange feeling when I can clearly remember just about everyone I've had contact with, but worry that no one will remember me. And deep down I wonder to myself "Why would they remember me?" I guess I just don't think I'm all that memorable....but I don't want to think that way! I want to think I've had the ability to touch lives in a positive way and made a difference, somewhere, somehow!<br />
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And after that worry dwindles, I'm left wondering: If they do remember me, what is it that they remember? Was I the funny girl that made them laugh? Or the nerdy girl that tried too hard? Or just the girl that was there that one time...and so on and so on. <br />
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Should I really be concerned with this? Maybe. I want to make sure that I leave a lasting legacy. I want to make sure I'm uplifting to those that need a boost. And a good listener for those that need to chat. I want to make sure that I'm remembered for being who I am. The real me. The person I've become and the person I'm becoming. And with that being said, I'm reminded of a song I'd like to share that's popped into my mind when I was writing this. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7QPY4m20HM">Legacy, sung by Nichole Nordeman</a> . Since it kept playing in my head, over and over, I thought it was best to share it and perhaps it will help me express a little more poetically what I've been trying to convey :) <br />
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[On a side (and lighter) note: E moved in a crawling fashion tonight. A little less than a crawl, but with a little more force would definitely turn into a crawl. She managed to move herself off the carpet onto the hardwoods (which apparently are fun to lick :))]MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-53347180951368431842011-06-01T12:22:00.001-04:002011-06-01T12:23:25.090-04:00Houston, we have a....Situation.<br />
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Not a problem, really, just a situation. Its a good one, I promise. <br />
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What am I talking about? My child is mobile. She has discovered that it is fun to roll. She's mastered sitting up on her own, but now, she's followed that by rolling over. Which is wonderful, don't get me wrong. But when she rolls over in her bed at naptime, its not fun. The first couple of times she rolled in her crib, she went BONKERS.<br />
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She screamed.<br />
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And screamed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wnZ-NanZFxUi8bnBCSgSUqv1PKaTPMPioBq5lqy5FEHfCI_N8IrAWjfediZl8Q4R7ifKxKxHIiNYX1X-QLifrhpZJlgnR6_ZjY_eth79TjEqTxGjBTF2skua8KtynfhNXMoPm9mca-I/s1600/Ella+on+belly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wnZ-NanZFxUi8bnBCSgSUqv1PKaTPMPioBq5lqy5FEHfCI_N8IrAWjfediZl8Q4R7ifKxKxHIiNYX1X-QLifrhpZJlgnR6_ZjY_eth79TjEqTxGjBTF2skua8KtynfhNXMoPm9mca-I/s320/Ella+on+belly.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Naptime was non-existent on those first few days of "rolling". Which, for mommy, wasn't a fun time. The past two mornings, I've discovered her on her belly. She was asleep until she heard me creep in. When she discovered she was on her tummy, she was Not. Happy. At. All.<br />
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It seems she may have mastered sleeping on her tummy, but it still worries me! I worry that she'll be stuck and unable to roll back over or that she'll be unhappy on her tummy and wake up in the middle of the night (which, is another issue we've been dealing with the past 5 days or so...)<br />
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Regardless, I'm so excited she's done the 'roll'. She's getting to be such a big girl! Now that she's more comfortable on her belly, I think she'll be crawling or scooching soon...that'll be another situation all in itself :)<br />
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And for my "records" E rolled over for the first time in her crib, by herself with no one there to witness it...so I will say she officially rolled over for the first time on May 29, 2011. She's been sitting up by herself for a while now, I'd say right around her 6 month-day was the "official" date.MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-74028550221643190102011-05-18T14:32:00.001-04:002011-05-18T14:36:47.202-04:00Clueless....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VF7PBXZEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VF7PBXZEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It has come to my realization that I have no idea what I'm doing. It wasn't that someone told me I'm clueless, it just was an epiphany I had. This new found knowing came about when I started the wee one on "solid" foods. I have read several books, articles, blogs, etc on feeding babies and the more I read, the more I have no idea what I'm doing! E is 6 months and honestly, I haven't a clue if I'm doing everything "right". Yeah yeah, there probably isn't a right way or a wrong way, but there are SO many ways! The Ped said to start introducing solids to her between 4-6 months. My research indicated that for an exclusively breastfed baby, introducing solid foods should happen between 6-8 months. The last thing I want is for her to wean herself or me lose my supply because she's getting too much solids. So, we started with a little rice cereal. What who wants to eat that? It looks like slop they feed to POWs. After a day of having that flung across the kitchen, we waited a little bit longer.<br />
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The next week, I got an avocado and pureed it with a little breast milk and some rice cereal in it. Day 1 and 2 of that was a repeat of the flying food incident as before. Day 3 was when it clicked! She ate the whole bowl like a champ, like she'd always been eating off a spoon. But of course it wasn't that easy. E didn't take an afternoon nap. Which was TORTURE. She is such a regular nap taker it had me pulling my hair out. We operate on 2 hour intervals. She's up for two hours, then asleep (usually) for 2 hours. Those 2 hour nap times are when I get to shower, eat, work, etc. So not having that afternoon nap meant we both were frustrated.<br />
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So back to do more research I went. Lovely, knowledgeable mothers on the internet told me that I should feed her about an hour after I nurse, because until she's bigger, breast milk should still be her number 1 nourishment. Another book I consulted said that I should feed her this "solid" meal around lunchtime. But, what about her nap! Feeding her at that point would basically mean keeping her awake, which wouldn't go over well! This same book said I should try feeding her first "at the breast" then feed her the solids, then feed her back on the boob. Which I tried. Not gonna lie. It wasn't fun. She did ok, but for mommy waiting to feed on the second side really isn't pleasant! Oh and the regular sleeper took only about an hour nap :( <br />
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So...it was at this point, I discovered I put on a good show, but I got no idea what I'm doing! The more I read, the more I get swamped with information that could or could not be the answer. I swear I've done more research on being a mom, than I did in law school. But, with all that being said, the one good thing I have to report is my kid is still growing and alive! I can't be screwing up too much if thats the case right? Clueless or not, I'm doing it my way. And I've got a happy, chubby baby that thinks its all good regardless :)MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-30220385787073082972011-05-03T14:34:00.000-04:002011-05-03T14:34:17.874-04:00Weight Lifted...In case you haven't already noticed, I gained quite a few pounds while I was pregnant (and even before because I was a happy little newlywed). And for me, weight has always been an issue. I try to make light of the fact that its ok for me to be a little heavy. I joke about it, but in actuality, I don't like it. Its hard to get motivated to work out like I used to and even more so, its hard to diet. In fact, I can't diet. I can hardly stop eating! And I justify eating by telling myself its ok because I'm nursing. And I want to nurse for as long as possible, so if I have to eat, by goodness, I will.<br />
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I try to have a good body image even with the extra weight. But I'll be honest. I am ready to be back to "normal". Normal being a post-partum body that is healthy. Before if ever I felt uncomfortable with my body I would make a change. Usually it involved doing something with my hair. Because weight doesn't just dissolve when you want it to, the easiest thing for me has always been changing up the hair style. Most notably, changing my hair color.<br />
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Changing my hair color isn't really in the cards for me. I can't just show up to Court looking like Strawberry Shortcake because I still haven't lost the weight! I have to keep it professional. So, a few weekends ago, I got my hair cut. My hair was super duper long. Like half way down my back long. And frazzled. My usual style was just wearing it pulled up in a pony tail. And this "do" really didn't help with the self image thing. I didn't feel "pretty". I felt like a frazzled mom of an infant who's lucky to get a shower. (Funny story, thats exactly what I am!)<br />
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But after my haircut, I can manage the style better. I can dry it and style it and feel like I look decent. I know Husband thinks I'm beautiful, but there is something to be said for getting other assurances. So the day after my haircut, when I had it styled, make up on my face and a new shorter hair attitude, I got a little something that made me smile.<br />
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I got noticed.<br />
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While I was walking into a restaurant to pick up dinner, some young men looked at me. It wasn't much, but they did the typical male "look", the casual glance that made me smile just a little. There were no cat-calls or whistles, but the look was just enough to add a little pep in my step. A little confidence that yes, I do indeed still "have it". Don't really know what "it" is, but apparently I've got a little of it left.<br />
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And so, with the hair gone, I'm reminded that the weight doesn't determine if I'm beautiful or not. Its the confidence I have and the person on the inside. So heavier or not, I'm still the same old me. Having a baby doesn't change the person you are deep down nor does it detract from your beauty. You're still a head turner, even if you thought you lost it :)MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-26496915926674621032011-04-18T15:20:00.000-04:002011-04-18T15:20:48.596-04:00I hate the doctor and this is why...Because only something this ridiculous could happen to me, I'm going to share my most embarrassing doctor's appointment. But first, the back story. I hate going to the doctor. I like to keep my privates private. Go figure. Being pregnant, I lost most of my dignity with all the trips to the doctor. Giving birth? Good thing I had drugs, because I really didn't care at that point. The cleaning crew could have walked in while I had my hoo-ha in the air and it wouldn't have phased me.<br />
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So today, I had my first annual "girl down there parts" doctor's appointment. To say I was a wee bit anxious would be a complete understatement. For starters, I had E with me. She's usually pretty good and I planned it just right so she would be fed and ready. It also worked out perfectly that it would be during her "playtime" and she would be content to stare at all the friends I brought for her. Of course, that would be if the appointment was actually at the appointment time.<br />
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Ten minutes after my scheduled appointment, I am called back. The nurse lets me know that they don't have a room available yet, but she's going to go ahead and get my blood pressure and weight. Oh joy. At least since my 6 week postpartum check up I've lost 20 pounds. That was one bonus. But I digress. When I'm getting my blood pressure taken, I mention to the nurse that I'm breastfeeding, so I'm not sure if that will affect the exam at all. She says, nope, it won't be a problem. In my head, I'm thinking, please don't make me take off my bra because I'm libel to have have a bit of a leakage problem. Still waiting for a room, so I head back into the waiting room.<br />
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Another 10 minutes passes and I'm called back to a room. The nurse tells me to get naked and put on the gown-thing. I do as told, while constantly worrying to myself about the aforementioned leakage problem. "Have some patience, self". HA! E is just hanging out in the stroller looking around, so for the time being, we're good. Mind you, I timed her feeding, napping, etc. so that I would only go past her naptime by about 15 minutes. So, I wait. And wait. And wait.<br />
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45 minutes later, I'm standing in the room, wearing an ill-fitted gown, holding E because at this point she is tired of being in the stroller. I'm desperately trying to give her toys to play with so that she won't fuss, when I feel sweat on the gown. Funny, thats an odd place to sweat. OH, its not sweat....the dreaded leakage. Glorious. And I'm still waiting.<br />
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Finally, an hour after I arrived at the doctor's office, he comes into the room, with his medical student trailing behind. Bonus number two. So now, I'm not embarrassed because the doctor is there to see my nice leakage, but some random med student to boot. Doctor says his thing, blah blah (I'm really not listening because, well, hello, I've got issues!) But when the doctor asks if I'm nursing and I say yes, he goes, oh we won't do the breast exam then. Thank you, nurse, for being wrong! I could have partially saved some embarrassment. Ahh, now for the real fun. The med student is going to do the "exam". Bonus number three. Apparently he's been in med school for like a day, because it DID NOT feel pleasant. I mean, when does that check feel pleasant, but this really didn't feel great. And it seemed like it took a lot longer than it needed to, but I guess Mr. Med School figured, oh she's had a kid, no big deal ramming full speed ahead...BLAH! I'm all for learning and such, but please be gentle.<br />
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Luckily, E was so mesmerized by the other people in the room, she forgot about fussing. After all was said and done, I got dressed as fast as possible and bolted out of there. Yet another appointment that leaves me still not liking the doctor. More importantly, I left wondering to myself, why in the world would a man want to be an OBGYN? I just don't get it. It really does baffle me.MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-13473645557498105552011-04-08T14:27:00.001-04:002011-04-08T14:32:01.127-04:00Hummus...who knew?I love hummus. Especially with pita chips. I love making homemade hummus, with yummy garlic. Gets me hungry just thinking about it. Well, last week Publix had hummus b1g1 free. Um, duh, of course I'll buy it, because as noted above, I love it. So I ate a good bit of it, savoring each bite. The next day was hell. Literally. Let me explain: my child is (knock on wood) an excellent sleeper. She will sleep for 9-10 hours, uninterrupted, at night and will usually take 2 or 3 2 hour naps during the day. For me, this is bliss. Naptime is essential for mommy to get stuff done around the house, work, etc.<br />
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The day after I ate hummus? E slept her usual amount at night, but hardly napped during the day. And when I had done all I could do, I tried to get her to play with her "friends" (which consists of her toys hanging above her head on the floor), she wasn't having it. The instant I put her down to play, she cried. And thats when I realized we had a problem. E doesn't cry like that. She loves playing with her toys, looking at herself in the mirror and what have you. If I put her down to play, whether under her 'dome of destruction' or in her bouncy seat, and she cries, something is not right. So, the whole time she wasn't napping, she was in my arms. And this gets difficult. By the time hubs got home, I was in a fragile state. He took over so I could run out to clear my head. Wouldn't you know, E slept for 2 hours once he got home?<br />
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Without determining the problem, I ate hummus again on Weds. Thursday, was a repeat of the day above. Almost to the minute. E woke up early in the morning, barely napped all day and was generally unhappy. Today its like a whole new baby. She napped for 2+ hours this morning and has been happy all day. I'm no expert, but I believe my beloved hummus is the culprit. I never would have thought it would cause her belly discomfort, but I'm not eating it again if it saves me from a terrible day!<br />
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On a completely separate note: I've given up dairy. Milk, cheese, butter, done. We had a nice run and I do miss my dear friends, but for now, they are dead to me. I noticed when I went to visit my family that I ate quite an excessive amount of dairy. Much more than usual. And the effect it had on E was remarkable. She had some congestion, a rash on her belly, a red little bottom and spit up a ton. I've now been dairy-free for a little more than a week and already I've noticed a great difference in her. The rash on her tummy is completely gone. Her congestion has gotten much better and her little bottom is no longer red. I am no doctor and I realize that I self-diagnosed, but I'd say dairy was the culprit. Don't know if its related, but I've lost 10 pounds (not just since eliminating dairy, but in general).MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-66121832953474312852011-04-01T16:16:00.000-04:002011-04-01T16:16:22.158-04:00Pity PartyWarning: This post is full of me feeling sorry for myself. Read at your own risk.<br />
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For 3 days, I have been replacing one of E's feedings with a bottle. And for 3 days, we have both sobbed together for at least an hour. I have tried 3 different kinds of bottles/nipples, warmed the bottle, breastmilk and nipple and still, we've cried. And I am not exaggerating when I say "we". Because when I try to feed my child a bottle, she looks at me with those pitiful little eyes wondering why her mommy isn't feeding her the right way and screaming in what seems like agony. And in response, I cry, because I can't feed her the way I want to, I have to feed her the bottle. Usually after about an hour or more, she relents and takes the bottle. At that point we're both tired, frustrated, angry, sad, you get the point.<br />
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And I feel to blame. I knew I would have to leave her at some point, but I haven't been good about replacing one feeding a day with a bottle. So, the fragile schedule we've already built is crumbling because she doesn't eat at the "proper" time. E just doesn't love the bottle. I'm hoping by the time I have to leave her she will be better about taking the bottle. And if she isn't? I just hope her grandparents can cope with her.<br />
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Husband found me crying in the kitchen last night, like a blubbering fool because she wouldn't take the bottle and kindly told me that it will be ok. To which I just sobbed a bit more. He spoke the words that I'm just a little bit tired of: "She'll get hungry enough to take it." For all you non-moms out there, that easy to say. Listening to your 4 month old scream and hit pitches she's never reached before? Not easy. In fact, its down right gut wrenching and not really possible for a mom to bear to listen to. <br />
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I know there are other ways to try to get her to take the bottle, like having husband feed her. But how will I be ok while I'm at work, not knowing whether or not she's eaten? And yes, I know, she's not going to starve. But to me, just the thought of her crying like that for someone else breaks my heart, because I won't be there to comfort her.<br />
<br />
Blah. Now that I've cried my eyes out just typing this, I think I'll go have my pity party now. Of course, I'd love to have a million Oreos to cure my sadness, but I've given up dairy. Argh.MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-71827926148323636382011-03-11T12:53:00.001-05:002011-03-11T13:06:35.039-05:00Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread (or Muffins)This recipe is pretty much amazing. It is not my usual recipe for pumpkin muffins, but when I only had 2 eggs in the fridge I decided to try this one. Incredible!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdb28H8CZfMvLiCFyT3TE2PQEadVAO7HFi8GvResiief-m17-8yez27RDCVurjUVkn5liVzykkiiukgbkeeZaVwULTKBagWggJ-L0EdT-r19GwJJ2kBi1BslG5DInT1vnC_lWg3lILMk/s1600/DSC_6934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdb28H8CZfMvLiCFyT3TE2PQEadVAO7HFi8GvResiief-m17-8yez27RDCVurjUVkn5liVzykkiiukgbkeeZaVwULTKBagWggJ-L0EdT-r19GwJJ2kBi1BslG5DInT1vnC_lWg3lILMk/s320/DSC_6934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Ingredients:<br />
1.5 cups all purpose flour<br />
1 teaspoon baking soda<br />
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I measured over the bowl and definitely missed the spoon, so ended up with more than a teaspoon and it added great flavor)<br />
1/4 teaspoon ginger<br />
1/4 teaspoon cloves<br />
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature (or if you're like me you don't have time to let it get to room temp on its own. So instead I put the stick out while I was mixing the dry ingredients. Then placed it in a bowl in the microwave for approximately 18 seconds. Worked like a charm)<br />
1 cup granulated white sugar<br />
2 large eggs<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used pure vanilla extract, so much better than imitation!)<br />
3/4 cup solid packed, pumpkin puree (Ok, cans come in 15oz. I didn't want to waste a whole lot, so I ended up using closer to a whole cup of pumpkin, again, nice addition)<br />
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (Who doesn't like chocolate? I always say the more the merrier. So, again, I used more than a cup. I have no idea how much, really. I had about 1/2 bag left and dumped it in. The bag was 24 oz., so I guess I used about 12 oz. Amazing.)<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rack in middle of oven. If making loaf, grease 9-inch loaf pan. If making muffins, line or grease 12 muffin cups.<br />
2. In large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, ground spices and salt.<br />
3. In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. [I used a hand mixer and my arm got tired, so I just declared it done when that happened.] Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in the vanilla. Then alternately add one-third of the flour mixture and one half of the pumpkin, mixing well after each addition. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Fold in the chips.<br />
4. Fill the muffin cups evenly with batter. Using an ice cream scooper will ensure that they are all the same size. Or pour the batter into the loaf pan.<br />
<br />
*For the loaf, bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. I would recommend baking for about 55 minutes, then placing a piece of foil over the bread to prevent the crust from burning, then baking for an additional 5 minutes or until toothpick is clean.<br />
<br />
* For muffins: bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.<br />
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Once done, place on a wire rack to cool. And wham! You have an amazing treat!MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-46960698207480923422011-03-09T12:08:00.000-05:002011-03-09T12:08:42.959-05:00Nothing...I've been trying to come up with a witty post but with no such luck. My day to day happenings aren't very lively right now, so instead of writing something that has no meaning and is boring, I think I'll stick to just writing a little something of nothing.<br />
<br />
Well here's a little something. E grabbed her toes for the first time the other night. She was happily playing under her "dome of destruction" and threw her legs up in the air. For the first time in a while she was sock-less since it was rather warm in the house. Cue hand to foot. We call her "hands-y" because she really enjoys having her hands all up in everything. Especially near her mouth. (OF course, this is probably a description of every baby ever made, but you know she's pretty much amazing.) So back to the toe grab. She somehow managed to have her right foot and right hand meet each other. Using ring finger and pinky finger only she held onto her big toe. Every now and again she would lose her grip (because she would only use her last two fingers to grab). But the process of grabbing her toes with those two fingers proceeded for sometime. It was fairly cute...oh who am I kidding? My kid is amazing and very advanced. (If not for real, at least in my mind.)Looky there, I had more to write than I thought!MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-85213084443064167612011-02-24T15:07:00.000-05:002011-02-24T15:07:16.395-05:00For Real MomAs E decided to get up twice in the middle of the night last night, I started to realize, wow, I really am a mom. No one is coming to pick up their kid at the end of the day. This baby really does belong to me (and Husband of course). While this may seem shocking to some, its not that wild. So, to explain why I swear I'm not crazy here's why this isn't that outlandish:<br />
<br />
I've been an aunt for 12 years. I've been around babies for more than one-third of my life. And because its a fun mental exercise for me, here's a list of my nephew and nieces, just for a little more elaboration:<br />
C1--12 years old<br />
A1--8.5 years old<br />
P--7.5 years old<br />
A2--6 years old (today, actually Happy Birthday!)<br />
J--5.5 years old<br />
I--5 years old<br />
O--almost 3 years old<br />
C2--2 years old<br />
<br />
You see, C1, A1, J and C2 belong to my sister. P and A2 belong to my brother. I and O belong to my other sister. And each time I was around one of the above, they went back to their parents at some point. If I ever took any of my nieces/nephew anywhere in public, people would always comment on how cute my baby was. I would politely say "thank you" instead of clarifying. I was basically a pretend mom. Since my E has been born, I sometimes think, ok, my sis/bro/sis is coming to pick up their baby soon. This has nothing to do with me not loving being a mom or anything like that. Its completely mental (and not crazy-mental). At first, it was kind of weird for me. Its nothing new to be around a newborn. But its definitely new for that baby to still be with me! And as that realization sets in, I love my new role more and more.<br />
<br />
Its funny, too, because its kinda weird for my siblings as well to see their baby sister with a baby. Granted, I just turned one year older and am no where near a baby, but I can totally see how its different for them too. It was strange when C1 was born, but after that it was just normal when all the rest were born. I was always the "cool" (at least I'd like to think I was cool), single aunt. It might be a stretch to say I was the "fun" aunt, but, still, I was always alone. (Please, no sympathy cards.) And now, here I am with Husband and baby E. Since I'm now a mom-for-real, its nice to have something else in common with all my family. I'd also like to think that I'm not completely crazy for thinking, every now and again, my baby's real parents are coming to get her.MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-41191734004520742922011-02-18T17:35:00.000-05:002011-02-18T17:35:15.621-05:00"That" MomI've become "that" mom...or parent really.<br />
<br />
We live in a cul-de-sac. Which I thoroughly enjoy, most of the time. I've recently discovered just how much I despise some of our neighbors. There is a young lady who lives next door who drives a rather loud car. While I've driven some clunkers myself, I understand that some cars are just loud. But when this vehicle's owner keeps weird hours, it makes me annoyed. There have been times (such as at 3am) that I've heard this particular car over the baby monitor. Which clearly means its even louder in the baby's room. Sometimes the vehicle will park, turn off and only a few minutes later leave again. And usually its at early morning hours. It does make me rather annoyed.<br />
<br />
Then there's the 20-something that lives across the circle from us who drives an extra-loud-on-purpose convertible. And as many 20-something-year-olds, he too keeps weird hours. And not only is the car itself loud, his radio is turned up (probably so he can hear it over the stupid loud engine).<br />
<br />
So, back to the story. Last night, Husband, Puppy, E and Myself went for a walk. We were just stepping up onto the sidewalk when a loud car came screeching down the street. It was cul-de-sac guy. Driving with the top down. With the music blaring. And thats when it happened....I yelled "Slow Down". It was at that moment that I became "That" mom. I became the old man in my neighborhood growing up who used to yell at the teenagers driving too fast. I'm annoyed with loud cars and fast drivers. And, frankly, I'm ok with it.MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-42255997134744556692011-02-11T14:56:00.000-05:002011-02-11T14:56:40.419-05:00Turn that frown upside down :)On Saturday (Feb 5th), E frowned. Apparently when I sneezed I startled her and for the first time that I've noticed she curled that little lip up and frowned. At first I did my best to settle her down and comfort her. And at first it worked. The little lip uncurled and she was laughing again. And then, with no warning, the lip curled again, puckered out and she frowned. Knowing there was nothing wrong, I couldn't help myself. I laughed. It was the cutest, saddest thing all at the same time! She went from laughing and smiling to frowning all in the span of 10 seconds and I just had to laugh.<br />
<br />
And because she loves to copy me, she followed up the frown with another laugh. Its probably not nice of me to laugh at her when she is "upset", but the little lip pursed out and curled was just too cute not to.<br />
<br />
But then with the frown came a realization: I haven't been writing down her accomplishments! I don't remember the first time she really smiled. Or the first time she really laughed. I can't believe I haven't been writing this stuff down! So, in an effort to correct this problem, I'm going to try to keep track of her accomplishments on the blog. Not quite the same as having the traditional baby book, but for now it'll do. I just haven't found a baby book that I like. So, world, my baby frowned and it made me excited!MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-29531801857224678752011-02-10T15:23:00.000-05:002011-02-10T15:23:34.851-05:00Let's Get PhysicalI'm proud to say I have worked out 2 days in a row. While to many this isn't a major accomplishment, to me, clearly, it is. I have given myself just about every excuse there is not to work out. Yesterday, the excuses ended. Granted, I almost didn't work out today because I was tired, but I pressed on. So today, I can say that I've done 2 days of Billy Blank's Boot Camp. And I know tomorrow I will be sore because trying to make my legs move this morning was quite a chore.<br />
<br />
But I'm feeling good. Except for the fact that I'm a skinny girl trapped in a fat girl's body. I could once work out for longer than 45 minutes straight. Now I'm resting as I go. I used to have muscles. Now, I'm pretty sure what were muscles are now angry fat cells yelling at me as I lift my arms. But, I'm starting to get over the hurdle.<br />
<br />
And Tuesday was the first time in a while that I watched Biggest Loser without stuffing my face. Yet another obstacle I have tackled. I still can't slow down how much I eat, but I'm desperately trying to eat better. For example, today I needed a snacky-food so I went for carrot sticks instead of what I really wanted...anything but carrot sticks. But alas, I am determined to get down to my fighting weight before Husband is ready for baby #2. Ok, there's no fooling, I won't be at my fighting weight, but I'd like to get as close to it as possible.<br />
<br />
My main goal and one that I think is obtainable is to feel comfortable in a bathing suit when we go on our family beach trip in July. I'm not fooling myself into thinking I'll be back to tee tiny, so I'm going with comfortable. So until then, I'm just proud I've made it 2 days in a row. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://nashvilleforfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/letsgetphysical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://nashvilleforfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/letsgetphysical.jpg" /></a></div>MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-79695082134997632302011-02-01T14:33:00.000-05:002011-02-01T14:33:16.240-05:00Hey JealousyI have to admit I'm jealous. Of several things really.<br />
<br />
I'm jealous of women who can breastfeed with no problems. But I need to be a little more specific. I'm jealous of women with small breasts who can breastfeed without a serious production involved. For me, E has been a trooper, eats great and I've had no typical problems nursing, except every feeding involves a large production. Because I am severely "well endowed", I have a special pillow that I wear (literally, it snaps around me) to make it easier to nurse. In fact, without the pillow I fear I would suffocate E with the boob. It makes things easy for me, as I can have one hand free, but it makes leaving the house rather difficult. If I am going out to the in-laws or a friend's house, I take the pillow with me. Which always makes me feel strange when I arrive with it in tow. I'm jealous of those women who can throw a wrap over their shoulder and just nurse wherever they are. I'd love to be able to take E out to eat and if she gets hungry, hold her in my arms and nurse with a cover over me. Instead, I have to plan all outings around when I think she might be hungry. And if we're out and she gets hungry, I get flustered. I don't want to be the mom who has a screaming baby with her, but I know that feeding her isn't an option. So while I don't normally mind having large breasts, today I'm jealous of those with small ones.<br />
<br />
I'm jealous of babies who take a bottle with no problem. E has taken a bottle and eaten enough maybe 4 times. And I've tried several different types of bottles/nipples. She just wants to nurse. And I love it, except when we have plans. So, for a while, any plans we have are limited to friend's houses or the in-laws. Going out for longer than 2 hours isn't really an option. And again, I have to plan my time away from home around when she ate the last time. Hopefully with time she'll come to know that she's getting food out of the bottle.<br />
<br />
With hesitation I must admit I'm jealous of those who formula feed their babies. I know "breast is best" and all of that, but the freedom that comes with formula makes me envious. I would love to just get up and go somewhere any time I want, but again not possible. I always thought I'd be that mom that just goes with the flow and the baby would make a schedule around my life. Ha, yeah right. I know for the next long while, I'll have a baby who is essentially attached to me. But the bond we share I could never give up. So, I'll remain slightly jealous and just keep doing what works!MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-9722208307066296262011-01-21T11:43:00.002-05:002011-01-25T15:23:27.365-05:00The Green Light MonsterThere's a monster in my room.<br />
<br />
When I was single, I slept in a cave. I had 3 levels of protection on the windows to keep any and all light out. There were the regular blinds, followed by a paper-like shade, followed by black-out curtains. You could literally sleep for 24 hours and never know it. And then there was the air purifier and sound machine that lulled you to sleep. It was glorious. So when we got married, it was quite a change not having all those things. We do keep a fan in the room for the soft, white noise effect, but we just have regular blinds on the windows. It was a big transition for me to learn how to sleep with a tiny bit of light!<br />
<br />
Now, there's a green light monster that stares me in the face each night. That would be E's baby monitor. Granted, I can't complain because she's slept in her own room and her own crib since the day we brought her home, but each night I stare at the monitor, wondering when/if she's going to cry. And the worst part is I always think I hear her. I could have just left her room with her passed out asleep and when I get in bed, I'm convinced I hear her on the monitor. Its gotten to the point where I hear something thats not there. But what I hear sounds just like her crying! Sometimes I take the monitor and put it really close to my ear to see if I hear her, and it never fails that its just the noises in my head.<br />
<br />
I'm slowly realizing that if she's making any type of noise, the monitor will light up and the green light monster will reveal itself once again. But I'm sure I'll keep staring at the green light just waiting...MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-89250456888516762232011-01-21T11:30:00.000-05:002011-01-21T11:30:55.069-05:00Mom.Fail.Last night E went to bed around 10:30pm. Which was not a fail and was awesome. But when she cried in the night, I looked at my watch and it said 2:30...which was not normal. She's been sleeping for at least 5-6 hours so 2:30 was just too early! The Dr said she's big enough to let her cry herself back to sleep if she wakes up too early. So, I let her cry. But as most moms know, you can tell the difference in her cries. And this particular cry was not one that I thought would lead to her falling back asleep. So I waited....and she continued to cry the hungry, feed me cry. Reluctantly I got up to check on her. Since I was up, I decided to go ahead and feed her, change her diaper and rock her. She ate like a champ and quickly fell back asleep.<br />
<br />
After I put her back in her crib, I let the dog out to take care of his business. As I was putting him back to bed, I noticed both clocks in the kitchen read 4:52am...what? Something wasn't right. I knew I hadn't been in her room for 2 hours and I knew I hadn't fallen asleep in there so I checked my watch, again. Apparently in my sleep I had hit the 'mode' button on the watch and somehow turned on the stop watch. Apparently the 2:30 time was really the stopwatch and not the actual time in the morning...oops (or as my niece says "Ooopsy-boos).<br />
<br />
I had these terrible thoughts that our activities during the day had caused the little one to get off her routine and we were in for a bad day. And those thoughts were followed up with thoughts that we just weren't going to be able to get out and about like I would like. Mom.Fail.MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-65542877258868942912011-01-19T15:46:00.002-05:002011-01-19T15:54:03.901-05:00Things I never thought would happen...<div style="color: #660000;">I'm pretty sure this list will get plenty of additions over the years, but for starters here are some things I never thought would happen:</div><div style="color: #660000;">1. Picking boogers out of my child's nose. Yes, I do it and I'm proud of it :) Sometimes that little sucker they gave us at the hospital just won't cut it, so mommy's pinky nail does the trick.<br />
</div><div style="color: #660000;">2. Going days, weeks even without doing my hair. I wouldn't consider myself "high maintenance" however, I've never gone a long period of time without drying and at least straightening my hair. Now, I can't remember the last time I got my beloved straightener out of its home. Yesterday I was successful in blow drying my hair, but thats about it. The usual routine is shower, towel dry and put it up in a bun. Yep, I've become that girl who wears the librarian bun all the time. The best part, though, is the next day when my hair is still slightly damp, it kinda looks like I've got some pretty, natural curl in it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #660000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk51zWDCEfOLQZZCzhMdvjr_A3w6hBCTDwpK0gdCtRSp-9wuEF0CEonsfs8gXvedzfqjPPF0TH_6SbUFnUT6-hhJgC6wIxfVmUaMku8hHxxVlb_JmAwTCGg_H-egKcKNFUKk-KXzeVH4/s1600/large_unibrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk51zWDCEfOLQZZCzhMdvjr_A3w6hBCTDwpK0gdCtRSp-9wuEF0CEonsfs8gXvedzfqjPPF0TH_6SbUFnUT6-hhJgC6wIxfVmUaMku8hHxxVlb_JmAwTCGg_H-egKcKNFUKk-KXzeVH4/s320/large_unibrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #660000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #660000;">3. Having a uni-brow. Granted I don't. But a few weeks ago I came very close to the dreaded uni. It had been months since I got my "eyebrows did" and wow did I look horrid. Luckily I was able to get them waxed a few weeks ago, with every intention of keeping it up with regular plucking...guess what's lurking when I look in the mirror?<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></div><div style="color: #660000;">4. Not having anything to wear. Now, I'll admit I've said many times "I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR" and yes it was usually in some sort of screaming fashion. But now I truly alternate with about 3-4 different shirts and the same pair of jeans. I can't imagine what would happen if I had to leave the house for consecutive days...see yesterday's post for a hint on the cause!<br />
</div><div style="color: #660000;">5. Going days at a time without checking facebook. Oh, I know what you think, its not hard to put facebook aside...but you try it! IN fact, I went about 4 days in a row without even thinking about it! How can I stalk people without knowing what they are doing at every moment?<br />
</div><div style="color: #660000;">6. Having a male OB/GYN. Yes, I'm that girl that just wouldn't dare go to a male Dr. But when you've got your girl parts exposed to all sorts of hospital personnel (hey could have been a janitor in there for all I know) you stop caring about who's down there...your mindset quickly changes to lets get this done!<br />
</div><div style="color: #660000;">7. Not shaving my legs. While pregnant this posed a serious problem because I couldn't get to my legs. Now I don't have an excuse. Well, I sort of do. My shower is usually about 3 minutes in between feeding/changing the baby so finding time to shave is rare. In fact, I'm not sure I can remember the last time I did it. But, no worries, soon I will be able to donate my hair and my leg hair to Locks of Love.</div>MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-62140387705811555842011-01-18T14:26:00.000-05:002011-01-18T14:26:39.268-05:00Touche, scale, toucheI am "over weight". Yes, I have packed on plenty of pounds in the past year. At first, I blamed it on being newly married and not worried about gaining weight. At that point, it was ok to gain a few pounds because I weighed less than I have in a very very long time (try 15 years or so). But then I got pregnant. And the small number of pounds quickly added up...I used my sister's pregnancies as a template for mine. I kept waiting for the day I would become ill or throw up or be disgusted by food. Ha, guess what? My daughter is 2 months old and I'm still waiting for that day! The difference in our pregnancies is astonishing. She threw up all the time, I may have gotten nauseous once (if that). And I'm not bragging by any means. I ate like I wasn't going to eat the next day...and now my scale tells the tale.<br />
<br />
I've gotten on the scale every couple of days. Funny story: the number HAS NOT changed. I was convinced that some of the weight would go away because of breastfeeding...NOT. My love for food and all that it is has not changed. I may be eating a little less than when pregnant, but surely haven't seen any change in the poundage!<br />
<br />
And I feel bad for Husband. Poor guy. He married a slender young lady...now I can't stop complaining about being a "big" girl. Of course, I fear that if I do get back to that newly-married size, I'll just end up pregnant again! (Well its not really that big of a fear :)).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqC-4kKPBRVavJLF9QnW-e-5UnYHRp4RlXgNhjJswfb86S76HIpUGvvhAoTYratrhIaXJWXwYjWFCf7b0dtyZNZ_C0PplzZxkYj-pxkNP3jtP4OjV8dL_Zld4Ifl0rnNSnzuWoqnktsw/s1600/fat-girl-thumb914910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqC-4kKPBRVavJLF9QnW-e-5UnYHRp4RlXgNhjJswfb86S76HIpUGvvhAoTYratrhIaXJWXwYjWFCf7b0dtyZNZ_C0PplzZxkYj-pxkNP3jtP4OjV8dL_Zld4Ifl0rnNSnzuWoqnktsw/s320/fat-girl-thumb914910.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>Did I mention that I know I'm too big, but I haven't done anything about it? Yes. I am lazy. I could blame being lazy on my infant. But she's a good sleeper and I haven't been that exhausted. (Or if I have I don't remember it.) Fortunately, I have the ability to get off the couch and move around. Here's hoping the weather gets a little better so I can get motivated!MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-26259776315970779002011-01-18T11:54:00.001-05:002011-01-18T13:14:50.372-05:00Motherhood...and the choices we makeSuch a general title, I know. But today I was faced with a big decision: to vaccinate or not. When we were in the hospital, I chose not to have E vaccinated against hepatitis B. Why, you may ask? Because I am not a carrier, Husband is not a carrier and the only other way for her to get this disease is through many sexual encounters and IV street drug use. My thoughts? If she gets it down the road, its because somewhere along the line I failed to teach her properly and she has made her own adult choices. Before going to the hospital I didn't do any research about vaccines, but I have been reading up on them ever since.<br />
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I understand that the doctor who first thought there was a link between vaccines and autism has since been disgraced and his work is not considered valid anymore. Thats fine, but I'm not willing to stop there. I've been reading all I can to learn more about this controversial topic. What I've discovered is I do not want to expose my child to vaccines, right now. I really want her immune system to do its job. I also do not want to have any risk of a neurological disorder, an autoimmune deficiency or any other disorder that there is a potential to get. I am lucky, I do not have to put my child in daycare and I do not have to worry about exposing her to illnesses that are common there. But the decision is still a difficult one to make.<br />
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For us, not vaccinating right now is the choice we've made. For some, it may not be the right choice. But I would urge all parents to first inform yourself before just blinding accepting the 'status quo'. And don't just read what the CDC says. Yes, they are one authority, but check all sources before making what should be an "informed" decision.MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4295385888832843556.post-82358517003406030812011-01-06T14:48:00.000-05:002011-01-06T14:48:14.784-05:00Good Day...So, I'm a little new to this whole "blogging" thing, but I figured with a new baby and constant changes, why not write about it? I've got to admit, I haven't written anything in quite some time...but I've always found that writing helps me think. Weird? Yes.<br />
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So...who is Mama Hudd? Gosh, how do you answer that? Lets see...I'm a mom to a wonderful 6 week old baby girl. I know its cliche but I love her more every day and couldn't imagine my life without her. Just as important, I'm a wife to a wonderful husband. Not nearly as important, I'm a lawyer. That part of my life gets less and less important as the days go on. I used to think, hey, I'm going to be a fancy attorney, make lots of money and live an easy life. WRONG! I could care less about making any money. Its funny how a baby can change your entire way of thinking...oh wait, I'm pretty sure plenty of people told me "A baby will change your life". Guess they were right after all :) So for now, I'm enjoying just being a mommy and a wife. And sooner or later I'll have to re-enter the real world, but I'm not rushing things!MamaHuddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01447471856119004674noreply@blogger.com2