16 Random tips and tricks I've found!

16 random tips... aimed at new moms!

(not that I would know!)

• When people say "rest when you can"... seriously do it! When people offer to help, put them to work doing laundry or dishes, so you can rest.

• New born pictures are ABSOLUTELY adorable, but make sure you are asking for help to get them done! Don't push yourself too hard!

• Medella is THE best pump there is out there... do NOT Settle for less!

www.medela.com

• As far as milk storage bags go... I recommend Lansinoh or Gerber. They are the only two I have found that do not leak when defrosting.

www.lansinoh.com

• Best way to freeze milk is to lay it flat, stacked one on top of another. It saves room for your veggies and frozen meat and defrosts way quicker!

• I know the docs say that using lotion or mother's cream doesn't work against stretch marks, but I'm a FIRM believer that it does! My favorite brand is from Sprouts.

• Unless you plan on adding to your laundry pile, do not invest in the cloth leak pads. I suggest Lansinoh again, and I frown on the Johnson ones... just for leakage purposes!

www.lansinoh.com

• A nursing cover works SO much better than a blanket, if worn right. Definitely a great baby present!

• Everyone suffers from some form of post-partum. It might be brought on by lack of sleep, but it's NORMAL to feel the blues. I had it bad with my second, and worse with my third and FINALLY called the doc for some help. Glad I did and it was so easy!

•  KEGAL, KEGAL, KEGAL ladies! I believe it will help you in your delivery! I did about 100 every day while I was pregnant with all three, and I think it helped me rebound back!

• The first three months of breast feeding are hard... believe me! Learn about when your baby is going through growth spurts, so you know ahead of time. They go through a HUGE one at 3 months, which I believe is why a lot of moms quit around that time. Think... how many stopped after 3 months out of frustration? Not many!

• Take as many pictures as you can. Even if they aren't blow-up-and-put-on-your-wall worthy. Every little one helps keep those memories! 

• Do NOT buy a nursing bra when you are in that first engorgement stage. I did this, and those nice round (but painful) Double Ds didn't stay for long!

• Whatever you do, make sure YOU are taking care of YOU. You can't be strong and happy for you're baby if you're not strong and happy for yourself!

• When it comes to toddler bed time... don't hesitate to buy that "big girl bed" and throw a pair of cheapy side rails on it. It saves you a couple hundred, unless you find a cute one used. I'd suggest against spending over 50 bucks for one, especially since you can find a "big girl/boy bed" for not much more than that!

• My last... law... to... abide...by... WAIT SIX WEEKS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO "PRACTICE" CREATING ANOTHER LITTLE ONE... chances are good you WILL! Oh, and breast feeding is NOT a good form of birth control ;)! Heed this warning or you may end up with...



THIS!





Disclaimer: these are all my personal suggestions, not to be confused with doctor's orders! 

Any mother's out there want to add??

A Funeral To Remember

My grandmother finally passed away after fighting brain cancer for almost 4 months. She was an awesome, strong, sweet lady, and I'm sure going to miss her. I think she would have loved what we did with her funeral, though!




Me and Grandma

First, before she passed, we had planned a Halloween party for the kiddos in the family, since a lot of the family was to be there. My grandma told me "Good, I like to party!". Unfortunately, she passed the night before the big party. We still had the party, as if she were still there. It was awesome!

We had the kids make a witch stew...



Idea courtesy of familyfun.go.com

These are the pizza mummies... SO delicious!

Idea courtesy of familyfun.go.com

Pumkin Bowling...

Idea courtesy of familyfun.go.com

Eyeballs, pumpkin rolls,and "finger" food!

Idea courtesy of familyfun.go.com



After the funeral, at the gravesite, we had a balloon release for my grandmother. The balloons and string are yellow, because that is her favorite color. Attached to each of the balloons was a picture of each individual with grandma. We attached one copy to the balloon, and kept a wallet size for our keeping.




my beautiful sister Sadie

And... the final product. I really think my grandma would be happy we did this for her! Love you and miss you already my sweet Grandmama!

What's for dinner!!!???

Oh my LANTA I hate the dreaded awful question!? Why do we even have to eat!? Especially 3 times a day? Who thought that up!?

I think EVERY momma can relate with me on this stress. I'm convinced there is few things more difficult then trying to cook with one baby attached to the boob, two toddlers banging pots and pans, dogs and cats chasing each other, pulling down table cloths and destroying the whole house behind me and no hubby to be found. Pretty picture huh? But there's one thing I have learned the hard way. That one thing is to PLAN. Dinner time will go SO much easier if you plan.

Here's how I do it every week- I cheat by using websites and apps. Talk about using technology to the fullest!

A few of my favorite websites are:

Www.eatathomecooks.com- this website has over 2 years of meal plans. All you have to do is pick a week, print out the meal plan, grocery list already compiled and recipes and head out the door shopping! There's low budget weeks and also stock your freezer weeks as well! I use this OFTEN! It is free!

Www.howdoesshedoit.com- This website takes a little more shopping, but once you find recipes that appeal to you, it generates the shopping list for you! It is free!

Www.emeals.com - I haven't tried this one out only because it costs money, and I've cheated the system by finding FREE meal plans. I have heard it on the radio, but I don't have much information other than that.

A few favorite apps I use are:

Big oven : I usually search "easy" on this app because It comes up with a lot of easy meals. I also use it for "cleaning the pantry/fridge/freezer" meals as well by searching the items I'm wanting to cook with. It's available in the Play market for free.

Grocery smart: This app, also available in the Play Market for free is amazing! Add the items to your list from your phone or from your computer. It also has a scanner to scan your VIP cards and can be synced between you and other people, so you can all see what needs to be bought.

Our groceries: Same type of app as above, but it's amazing because it continually syncs. I can add groceries to it as Curtis shops, or vice versa. Also, add your recipes to the app, and transfer the items to the grocery list with just a few clicks... making a grocery list super easy to make. Great app!

Another few things I've learned by trial and error-
Don't wait until the day you are going grocery shopping. It's stressful, especially if you don't particularly like the whole process. Plan a few days in advanced.
Plan meals that are practical. Don't try and cook a gourmet meal every night of the week. Those days will come when you're an empty nester.
Plan something friendly to your taste buds and families likings. Just because it'd different, doesn't mean it will get eaten.
Plan around the day and events going on. For example, I work Tuesday nights. I crock pot in the morning, so all Curtis has to do is pull it out and serve it. Makes the nights he's home with the kids a lot easier.
Take weather in to account. Save the soups and chilis for the winter, and take advantage of your grill in the summer.

These apps/websites/tips have made my families' dinner experience much more enjoyable. What recipe/meal planning methods do you use? What tips and tricks makes your meal planning experience more enjoyable?

What's in a blog?

As I have been analyzing my heart and my desires and how I can bring out the creative side of myself, I realized I REALLY want to blog more. I want an audience. I want a blog that is true, funny, open and hopefully informative.

I'm going back to my highschool English days as I am pondering this magical blog and I'm pretty sure I have all the components. I've got children. Three under 3, to be exact. I have two step daughters. I am crafty and love thinking up designs. I don't have a degree in creativity, I have a passion. I love Jesus. I believe because and with all these elements, I can become a successful blogger. I'm learning mothering, step mothering and being a wife the rough way, and I hope I can share some of my hard learned lessons with others. God gave me this craziness, and I think it's time I start sharing.

I'm going for it, and I hope you will join me!

Whit

P.s. feedback is always welcome! Please "follow" me too!

Happy Jack!

This last weekend, the hubby, London, Pork Chop and I headed for the mountains. We stayed at my uncle's cabin in Happy Jack. Every year, we head up to Flagstaff for Cardinals Camp for my birthday. It was AWESOME! We left Friday night  (late) and came home Monday. We covered about 450 miles, driving a lot. Cardinal camp was fun. We sat next to this family with 3 boys, the 4th on the way. I pretty much made best friends with the kiddos... go figure! They had a son named Krew (mom!!) and he was so awesome... 10 years old and still loved school! Afterwards, we went and ate at a place called Altitudes Bar and Grill. Another place we visited was Macy's... my favorite vegan coffee shop... the biscuits and vegan gravy are to die for! Pork Chop got SO  much attention. I told Curtis he's not allowed to go anywhere with P.C. and not me (ladies of all ages were swooning!) Tee Hee!

Curtis and Pork Chop at Altitudes

I got FRIED! Even after putting 50 SPF on... WTH!?!?!

red face!

We went through Winslow, AZ (hubby's first time) to Flagstaff, then back on a really pretty scenic route. It rained the WHOLE way back to the cabin. And you wouldn't believe how many motorcyclists I saw, and we even saw one dude riding his bike and another WALKING. What is WRONG with you people! It's raining cats and dogs! Here's a pic from our drive.

In to the rain!

And the dude on the BIKE (no... not Harley Davidson!)

blurry, but we were going fast!

Sunday, we were 100% lazy. We played horse shoes... Curtis won with a ringer! That night, the storm rolled in late. There was lots of lightening and thunder, so we sat out on the covered patio and watched the pitch black night light up with each bolt of lightening. I won't lie... I was a little scared. It was INTENSE! The next day, we had plans to hit up Card's camp again, but we slept in too late. We went and ate at the Strawberry Lodge and Restaurant... biscuits and gravy weren't as great as Macy's in Flag, but the breakfast burrito was legit. From there, we headed to visit my Grandma Patty and Grandpa Scott in Cottonwood, AZ. It was a beautiful drive, and an even more beautiful visit. I sure do love my grandparents! My grandma was as chipper as ever, and it was so good to visit and relax with them. I could have stayed forever! My grandma is a photographer, and she took some great pictures of my loves!

On the way back... we passed a semi hauling missiles! What the heck? We sped just to get past!

hm.....

 

 It was a great trip... much needed! First time to sleep in really late, and one kid and one puppy is easier than 3 babies, 2 kittins, 1 puppy, 1 dog, and 2 step daughters. Everyone thought we were brave for having a 5 month old and a 10 week old puppy... little did they know! Here's some of my grandma's great pics!

Great Grandma Patty and Baby London (photographer... ME!)

 

really???

 

Sleep is for the weak...

Or so I used to think! "You'll sleep when you're dead" was another favorite of mine!

My sister asked me yesterday, "Are four month olds supposed to be on a schedule?" She was asking about a baby she nannies for, but it got me thinking.

I started googling (one of my favorite past times) 4 month old schedules. The first website gave me a good laugh. It had 8 different "sample schedules"as follows:
stay at home breastfeeding moms
Working breastfeeding moms
Stay at home breastfeeding moms with an older toddler
Stay at home pumping mothers

And all the same for formula feeding moms.

No where did it say "part-time, random hours working breastfeeding mom with two toddlers, two step kids, two cats, and a dog". Then I read the schedules, and none of them mention "time for babies tummy ache to get better" or "time for the Tylenol to start working after shots" or "time for baby to cry because those teeth are starting to move around". It was the picture perfect, "tummy time for exactly 10.467 minutes" and "time in baby saucer for mommy to clean". Ha! I love the picture perfect baby scenes!

I laughed, then went on to the next website. Ahhh... the baby wise! You can never look up "schedule" without seeing raves about the baby wise method. I once was asked about how I felt about "baby wise". I'm not a fan. Maybe because there's no way in my day to day events can I plan to have my baby down at the exact same time everyday or feed at exactly every 3 hours whether she's hungry or not. Maybe it's because I'm jealous that I cant have that perfect schedule. Maybe its that even IF I had that perfect schedule, I'd probably get reeeeally behind on bills, paperwork, cleaning, organizing, meal planning, etc. Maybe because it just doesn't make sense. I would LOVE to have my baby sleep through the night at 7 weeks, but I love my freedom to roll with the random spur of the moment events that pop up in my life more.

So, in conclusion, I've come to the realization (yet again) that every mom and every baby is different. I do it different than others, and that's ok. New mothers out there... do what FITS you and your lifestyle. If your baby doesn't sleep through the night at 4.785 weeks... he will eventually! Don't fret, instead enjoy those midnight cuddle sessions while everyone else is sleeping, they don't last forever!

Its been a few

Man, has life been a whirlwind lately!! Right now, all three are down for a nap and I'm in the mood to blog... what a perfect time!

Hmm.. where to start. I'll start with the not so happy stuff so I can end on a good note!

Two days ago, I took Maddox and London to a long waited appointment - London's 3 month and Maddox's 15 month (even though she is 4 months and he is 16). At his 12 month appointment, the doctor told me about a heart murmur Maddox had. He said if it was still there at his 15 month check up, he would refer us to a cardiologist. Unfortunately, it was still there.
At about 3 months old, my mother in law realized London's ring finger and pinkie only extended about maybe half way on both hands, which she gets from her father. The doctor also referred us to an orthopedics pediatrician, saying he doesn't see this often, but he thinks they will do therapy and most likely surgery to fix the tendon which is preventing full extension.    Yuck.    My poor babies. I called to schedule both appointments, and the soonest I can get them in is the second week of August... ironically just days apart. So personally, I'm trying not to stress or worry, but I won't lie.. when the cardiologist lady said EKG... my heart sunk.

Later that same day, I went to Urgent Care to finally get my knee checked out. Its been bothering me for a few months and was getting worse, so I figured why not conquer all the bad things in one day? Luckily, its just my knee cap that is pulling up crooked, making it inflamed. Basically, my hips and my outter leg muscles are stronger than my inner muscles, so it's pulling my knee cap over which is causing discomfort and swelling. Not a huge deal, I just have to do that stupid thigh machine... the one you never make eye contact while doing. Hopefully, I'll be spinning in no time!

My 68 year old grandma was in the hospital for the last few weeks, and its been a roller coaster. She went to the hospital originally because they thought she had a stroke when her arm clawed up unexpectantly and went completely limp. From the tests they ran, they found a lesion on her brain. She got transferred to a different hospital and they removed it, and confirmed it was cancerous. She was diagnosed with a Glioma and was originally given about 24 months to live. Her right arm has since been having strokes and has been limp ever since and her cancer severity was raised to a 4... predicting 12-20 months left in life. I've never had to think about losing a family member so close to me, so this has been a little bit of a struggle emotionally. I love my grandmama and appreciate all the great memories I have with her, and hope to make more with her. She's so young, its really sad. But, luckily her form of cancer is a lot less painful than others, so that's good.

Ok... on to the positive stuff!

On July 1st, Curtis and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary! Well, we didn't really celebrate it because we had all 5 kids and my grandma had just gotten brain surgery, but we did exchange cards and presents and kisses. Its funny to see how its evolved over the last 3 years... from 2 step kids to 5 total!

We just bought our first family vehicle big enough for the family and economical enough to drive! We bought a 2006 Ford Expedition that seats NINE! No, that does NOT mean we are having another baby! It just means our kids can bring friends along wherever we go! Even though we have done EVERYTHING out of order, its nice to see it is all piecing together beautifully!

I also am working part time at my uncle's furniture store "Pigsty Kids" selling kids furniture. I sell cribs, bunk beds, trundle beds and even home furniture. I really like it because I have been taking my bills and paperwork with me on slow days, which allows me to catch up while being kid-free. Plus I get to talk to other moms and kiddos all day. I have heard some of the most moving stories making me tear up, and the most sad stories relating to kids which also made me tear up. It really has helped me keep my life and how fortunate I am in perspective and make me realize how lucky I was to have the labor and deliveries I had and how healthy and happy my kids are. Who would think working a mall job would be so uplifting?!

I've said it a billion times, and I mean it just as much today as any day... I'm one lucky momma! Brooklyn amazes me every single day on how smart she is. And she is one of the most happy little girls I have ever seen in my life. I don't know if it's her smile or her eyes or her cute little voice... she can make me smile no matter how mad or upset I am and reminds me to have fun. Maddox is such a stud! And such a mommas boy. He cries every single time I leave or even walk up the stairs without him. Hes starting to talk, and it makes me so proud that both my kids had "thank you" in their small vocabulary of 3-6 words. 90% of the time he is walking around rocking one of my necklaces... how could you not smile at that?! And Londy... my little baby is not so little anymore. She's rolling all over the place and cracking up every time you tickle her. She absolutely loves to be sang to, and loves her face being kissed all over. She has such a calmness and chill-ness about her... I love to just cuddle and rock her at the end of a long day. Three different babies and different qualities... and I couldnt be happier!

Time to go play with my little ones! Maddox just woke up!