Sucker

The kids and I were lying on my bed reading a story and Brinley said "okay Bo you can suck my toe for just a little bit".

What?

I look down and sure enough he was teething on her big toe!

AAAGGHHHH!!!

Beating the heat

The heat is just suffocating lately...so much so that Ben's t-ball game was cancelled tonight. Luckily we started swim lessons today and we are doing back to back sessions (in hopes that Ben gets comfortable enough to actually put his head under water) so we will be at the pool for the next 4 weeks.

Other than that the kids are finding ways here at home to keep cool...

Like adding the sprinkler to trampoline time!

and getting a little group workout in.

Bo and I watch from the shade :)

They even created their own winter wonderland yesterday...

from my couch cushions...

while Daddy napped.

Why I had to say something...

I received lots of comments yesterday from moms (here and on fb) saying they would have been upset but probably would not have said anything.

I have been there.
Starting the day Ben was born. He was taken, cleaned and swaddled then given back to me and he was perfect - Bryce said he had all finger, toes, etc. Well, when things settle and I had a moment alone with my son, who I had just endured 12 hours of labor for....I unwrapped him because I had to see his 10 little fingers and toes for myself!
The nurse came in, scolded me and wrapped him back up!! I was beside myself with shock and anger but didn't say anything. I let her take that moment from me.

Another incident I remember well was being corrected, by a stranger, on how I was holding Ben.

Well, fast forward 5 years and 3 children later and I've gained some confidence.
I try to keep my kids in check, prevent fits (and stares) when it's possible.

And if I were being questioned by someone close to me about my parenting, I would have responded differently.

But by someone who doesn't know the first thing about me or my children.....

Someone who hasn't seen me hold Bowen for hours, nurse him, cuddle with him, make him giggle...no, she doesn't have the right to judge me.


And I will not give her the power of making me feel like a bad mother.

So, to all you other moms out there - new or experienced - they are your children so (once you gather your emotions) SPEAK UP.

How long are you going to let him cry?

It's been a slow week, I'm in a bit of a rut...nothing like a trip to Kohl's to get my blood boiling!

We went to the Dollar Tree for party favors (Ben's bday is soon) and Kohl's is next door and they are having 70% off. Well, me being the wise mom gave the kids $1 and stopped in Kohl's first telling the kids to behave or they would loose their $1 and trip to "the one dollar store" (as Ben calls it). Mean? maybe and I'm sure the make-up counter lady at Kohl's would agree....

Bowen starts crying and continues for a little while. Now, I fed and changed him before we left the house so he's just getting tired...OH, and he's really teething lately = crabby baby Bo.
This lady (an employee) walks up to me and asks me "Is your baby okay?"
"yeah, he's fine" I tell her.
In hindsight, I really think she's probably never had a baby...otherwise she would know babies cry...sometimes they're tired, hungry, teething, poopy - sometimes just because.


But as she's walking off she asks "how long are you going to let him cry?"
EXCUSE ME!! No she didn't.
So I stop my head from spinning and said "I don't think it's any of your business".
"Well, he was crying when you walked in the door" she says.
He wasn't and I know this because I'M HIS MOTHER and I can hear him just like everyone else, I'm not immune.

So I say "I'm his mother...I know his habits, and temperament so why don't you leave the parenting to me?"

If she responded, I don't know what she said because I was on fire!

I gather my kids to leave then thought nope, she needs to be reported.
Luckily there was a group of about 4-5 managers standing in the aisle so I approach and tell them what happened.
To end the story...they apologized over & over, I was escorted to customer service, a cashier was called up for me and they gave me an additional 20% off my purchase (which was only a couple of things and I was about to out them back).

And by the time I left, Bowen was NOT crying anymore...so I asked if he was just trying to get mommy a discount and he smiled.

Let me also say when a child is in danger/pain I would also step in...not Bowen's case and I think in my rant I might have mentioned he's just tired.

I'm looking forward to hearing comments and even if you think she was correct -- that I shouldn't let my baby cry...it's okay to tell me.
I know not everyone supports crying it out/self soothing methods.
And I'll give you Dr. Wade's phone number because she told me over 2 months ago it's okay to let him cry :p

A giveaway, ya'll

My buddy IRL and blog and fb...(yikes, makes me sound like a stalker) Allison is having a fantastic giveaway on her blog so check it out to enter :)

Libertyfest

This year Bryce was on call, so we decided to do something different and actually stay home for a holiday. My sister came to visit but per her threats(!) she's not in any pictures.

Libertyfest is actually a week's worth of events but we just came out for Saturday's festivities, which started with a parade.

A long, sometimes boring, sometimes annoying, sometimes crazy, sometimes touching parade.
We grabbed some seats and watched!

The kids got a kick out of this.



This was just crazy...who straps them self to the top of an SUV?
And the Shriner's....
they had about 20 different groups- musicians, horseback riders, veterans, clowns, go carts, etc.
And at first they were funny but then it just became loud and annoying because they drove really close to the crowd.

But Bowen enjoyed himself anyway :)

I swear nothing can lift your heart like a baby's laughter!!

This was my favorite float.

I like the way Bo is giving the camera a big "hiyya" with his foot, lol.

After an early departure from the parade, we had lunch then got to go in the old schoolhouse.

"Ben and Brinley, go stand by the fence"...

Okay, whatever.


This is believed to be the first schoolhouse in Oklahoma, built in 1889 after the land run.

Brinley counting with the school teacher :)

We took a break and went home for naps and to wait for Daddy to get off work....then it was off to the park for bounce houses, free watermelon, hot dogs and fireworks.

My teething little boy.

But free watermelon was all we got before the storm hit.

It looks spooky but actually felt good - it cooled off nicely.

But we had to get dinner elsewhere and return later for the fireworks

and glow wands, of course!

It was the first show I've seen in 5 years (since Ben was born) and the first time we kept the kids up late to watch. But it was a spectacular show...voted one of the nation's top 10.

We had a fun Fourth and I hope ya'll did too!!

Ben, the big boy

Well, obviously he's a big boy...talks, walks, potty trained and all that fun stuff but can I just hit

*PAUSE*

Just for one moment?

Thank you.

because it's going way too fast.

One day he's getting his first pair of Nikes...

The next, he's playing his first t-ball game!!

He missed one game because we were gone then showed up for the second game and played without even a practice....such a good little athlete.
He should be - his Dad had him batting and running bases before he was 2 years old, lol.

Then he threw us for a loop.
Ben is our cautious child so when he decided last weekend he wanted his training wheels off...well, I'll just be honest and say ((cringe)) I didn't think it would go so well.


And boy, did he ever prove me wrong!
He basically just took off.
Daddy, running alongside...afraid to let go.

We were both afraid to let go.

But had to.


We're so proud of our big boy!

Please stop growing.

...and wearing pants in July...or the long sleeved snow man shirt you wore yesterday :)

Love you Ben,
the big boy.

Celebrations

This year Bryce's birthday fell on Father's day, so we had a double celebration with his family.

Here he is with the kids...I think I'll put this one in my keychain, they're all looking :)
He asked "what kind of cake are you gonna make me?"

So I had to think of something he loves...working out, staying fit & P90x.

This is what I came up with...

Yes, it has pecks and a 6 pack, haha.

Of course he didn't actually eat it!

Today we are also celebrating another milestone - PGY3

Post Graduate Year 3 starts today, YAY!

He is officially a 2nd year Radiology resident.

Only 1094 days of residency left...