The Year of the "Bug"

The Chinese called 2006 "The Year of the Dog". For James and me, it will always be "The Year of the Bug"!

It is difficult for me to believe that 2006 has passed us by, and 2007 is rolling on in! Here are some highlights from "The Year of the Bug":

January

January 14-Aaron celebrated his first birthday! He had a big party at the fire station with many family and friends in attendance. His Paw Paw Mark even flew in from Wisconsin for the big day!

February

February 14-We celebrated our 2nd Valentine's Day with the Bug by going out to dinner. He was more interested in flirting with the little girl at the next table than hanging out with Mommy and Daddy!

March

On March 9, Aaron received his first haircut! He sat in the chair with Daddy and let Ms. Kim cut his hair. He did not enjoy it at all.

Aaron also traveled to Texas in March. He and I took a trip out to visit his my sister and her kids while her husband was in Iraq.

April

In April we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, at the Easter services at our church. Both sets of Aaron's grandparents and his Uncle Kevin and Aunt Alicia made trips down to visit him and share Easter with us.

May

In May, I celebrated my 2nd Mother's Day and thanked God for the precious gift he had given me in Aaron! We went to visit my grandmother for Mother's Day.

May also brought a trip to Myrtle Beach to enjoy "Harley Week" with James' parents. Aaron did not actually get to ride one, but he had a good time anyway!

June

In June, we took a "mini-vacation" down to Myrtle Beach! Aaron would not go swimming, but he enjoyed throwing sand!

Aaron also got his first ride on a lawnmower!

July

The Bug spent a week at Myrtle Beach with his grandparents and Daddy while I went on a mission trip to Arkansas. Can you tell that our family likes Myrtle Beach?!!

August

The "Moms Rock!" blog is born! Now, I can share all the Aaron stories that I want to!

Aaron's Uncle Perry got married. He slept through the ceremony, but partied hard at the reception!

September

Aaron spent Labor Day swimming with his Aunt Alicia!

James and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a trip to Jamaica. Aaron stayed and played at his Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house.

October

Aaron in a dragon suit yelling "CANDY!!!" Need I say more?

November

Aunt Leslie came for a visit from England. Aaron got to have Thanksgiving dinner a couple of times as we traveled to different places throughout the month!

December

Aaron celebrated the birth of Jesus with a joy and innocence that can only be matched by another toddler. He made me sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus about a hundred times. We talked about Bethlehem and the manger and Mary and Joseph! What a great Christmas!

It's hard to sum up a whole year in one little blog, but I'll just say it was a GREAT one!!!

A Very Merry Christmas!

Aaron on Christmas Morning!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone...we had a very nice one.

On the Saturday before Christmas, "Bug" and I drove down to visit my mother and step-father. I had told her ahead of time that we just wanted to hang out at her house. I told her I did not want to be out shopping. So, what does she do? She calls us and tells us to meet her at her favorite shopping center!!! We spent 2 hours in the grocery store! Oh well...I guess it was bonding time ;)

Christmas Eve was nice. We went to my mother's church and then my brother, his wife, and my step-dad's parents met us at Mom's house. We had a yummy lunch and then exchanged some presents. Soon after that, Aaron and I headed on home.

We spent a quiet evening at home with James. We read the Christmas Story, put Aaron to bed early, then "waited" for Santa to arrive. Actually, I waited on "Santa" to quit running calls with the fire department! Finally, he came home and "Santa" came to visit. Aaron woke up Christmas morning and said "Ho Ho here?" We had to explain that Santa had come and gone while he was sleeping.

It rained all day on Christmas Day. We had "family time" at the house. We just enjoyed being with each other and playing with Aaron's new toys. The highlight of my day was watching the boys play in the big box that we still have from Aaron's train!

On the day after Christmas, we all drove down to visit James' family. His mom was in England with his sister, but we had a very nice visit with his dad, his brother & wife, and Aaron's great-grandparents. They loaded Aaron up with so many presents that we were not able to fit them all in the car! They are going to have to bring them when they come for his birthday.

We were also able to have lunch with a friend on the way back home. All in all, it was a very Merry Christmas!

"No Deal!"

One night, Aaron was in his bed singing, talking to "Ar" Brown and generally showing no signs of going to sleep! So, I went into his room and told him that he could come and watch t.v. with me if he promised to sit quietly. We ended up watching "Deal, or No Deal" and he loved it when the people would shout "No Deal!"

On Christmas morning, after all the presents had been unwrapped, James asked Aaron if he wanted change out of his jammies and put on his "big boy clothes". Aaron looked at him and shouted "No Deal!!!" I had to laugh!

Merry "Misthmus!"

Merry Christmas!

Or, Merry "Misthmus" as Aaron says it!

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Bathtime!

Last night I asked Aaron if he wanted to take a bath. He yelled "tubby!" and ran into his bathroom. I followed, only to find him fully dressed, sitting in the tub playing with his bath toys! Luckily, I had not run the water yet!

"Story Hour?"

Today I took Aaron to "Toddler Story Hour" at the library. What a disaster! There were all these "angelic" little girls sitting there listening prettily with their little halos... Then, there was Aaron! He kept trying to get the yellow "shaker egg" from the librarian's box. When I wouldn't let him have that, he went after the "Ho Ho Book" as he called it. He wanted to stand right in front of the librarian (then no one else could see!) Then, he ran around the library yelling "running!" Just in case we did not know what he was doing! We ended up leaving early because he was causing such a disruption. Story hour? More like "story 20 minutes!"

"Noah" Goes to Our Church!

Aaron loves the story of Noah's Ark. He has several books about it and his room is even decorated in a Noah's Ark theme. Last night at church he was sitting with James at dinner. He looked over and saw an elderly man. He said "Daddy! Noah!" and pointed to the man! James said "Sweetie, that's not Noah". Aaron repeated "Daddy! NOAH!" Nothing James could say would convince him that Noah does not attend our church!

Christmas Through Aaron's Eyes

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. This year it seems even more special because I get to see it through Aaron's eyes, and for him, everything is so exciting! With Aaron I have an excuse to go down the Wal-Mart aisle with all the singing stuffed animals and push all the buttons! I also have to bake (and eat) Christmas goodies, because what kind of mother would I be if I didn't? I notice all my neighbors holiday displays as we walk up and down our street (although I still do not see the penguin that he insists is in our friends' Nativity Scene!)

The church activities take on extra meaning, too. At each one I hope that Aaron is learning that Christmas is more than just greed! I know he is still little, but I want him to see that the joy of Christmas comes from celebrating Christ's birth, not celebrating Mommy's credit card! That is why we pull out his "Little People" Nativity playset and talk about why there are angels, and wise men and a little baby in a manger.

He took "Mary" for a ride on the fire truck the other day. Does that mean the REAL Christmas story is sinking in???

Merry Christmas to You!

Christmas Cookies and Charlie Brown!

The other night while I was making dinner, I had my boys make some Christmas cookies. It gave them an activity to do together and kept them out from under my feet! Aaron mostly just ate the dough! We were worried that he would get a tummy ache, but he seemed to be alright.

Later that evening, we watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Actually, we watched about the first 10 minutes of "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Then, Aaron started to get restless and wanted to throw Charlie Brown instead of sit quietly with him! Family bonding at it's finest!

A Hitting Problem

Aaron is going through a hitting phase. While it is annoying and sometimes embarassing, it is a very common thing that many toddlers go through. Imagine living in a world where everyone is bigger than you and you have no control over what you eat, where you go, what time you go to bed, etc. You would probably hit too!

But, while we understand why this behavior happens, it is not something we want to encourage.

The other day, James was getting ready to leave the house. I heard him in the other room talking to Aaron. He was telling him that he had to leave and that he would miss him. Then he told him to be good for Mommy and to not hit. He asked him very seriously "Are you going to hit Mommy?" And Aaron answered just as seriously, "Yes". I had to laugh! James told him that it was wrong to hit Mommy and Aaron should act like a big boy and not hit. Then, he asked him again, "Are you going to hit Mommy?" Aaron replied (still very seriously) "Yes". I almost fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard!

Hey, he may hit, but at least the kid is honest!

"Meadow Lights!"

Tonight we took Aaron to see Christmas lights. We went to a place near our house called "The Meadow Lights". They have thousands and thousands of lights. They had lights shaped like Santa, snowmen and giant candles. There were also lights of toy soldiers, penguins, igloos and many other things. They also have a train, a carousel and a big "old country store" with rows and rows of candy! We rode the train and walked around and looked at the different lights. Then, we went in the store and Aaron ran up and down the aisles (we think he might have been on a high from just the smell of the sugar!) We bought some candy and James got a peach "Nehi". I got a Coke in a bottle! All in all, it was a wonderful evening out with our family!

A Special Dedication

It is a tradition in our church to dedicate babies to the Lord. Today, at a very special dedication service, Robin and Seth dedicated their "babies". All 5 of the girls were dedicated in a beautiful ceremony that I got to see about half of before Aaron started to make a fuss and I had to take him out. Please continue to pray for this awesome family!

Aaron Drive?

I really don't know where my son gets these ideas...

Lately, whenever we get in the car, Aaron says "Aaron drive?" Yeah right. Like I am really going to let him drive! He doesn't even have a license!

The Joy of Raising a Boy!

Aaron has discovered that he is a boy! And, in true male fashion, he is VERY proud of what it is that makes him a boy! Every time I change his diaper I get to hear all about it.

Last night his aunt and uncle were visiting. As I was trying to get him to take a bath, he got away from me and strutted into the living room naked. There, he proceeded in making sure that they also knew that he was a boy by showing them his "maleness". Then, he ran into the kitchen giggling!

Sometimes I think I have a LONG road ahead of me! :)

An "Ar" Brown Thanksgiving!

As you probably know by now, "Ar" Brown is my son's loyal friend. So, when we visited my mom for Thanksgiving, we had to take him with us! "Ar" Brown had a good time at Nana's house. He "ate" a lot, he played hard, and he even went to eat at Cracker Barrel! Here's a picture of him "riding" a reindeer! I hope your Thanksgiving was as fun as Aaron's and "Ar" Brown's was!

Who Will Take Care of You?

In the past, I have written about my crazy friend, Robin, who has adopted 5 girls. The other day, Aaron and I were out walking. Actually, I was walking. He was riding in the stroller! He kept whining that he wanted to go home. I told him that I needed to exercise to stay healthy so I could take care of him. I asked him, "If I am not healthy, who will take care of you?" He answered very quickly "ROBIN!" I guess he figures one more kid in that house is not going to matter! :)

The Mystery of Ketchup!

Have you ever met a little kid that did not like ketchup? I rarely use it (only on my fries or onion rings, and then, just a little bit). Yet, my son absolutely loves the stuff! I can get him to eat almost anything if I put some ketchup on his plate and let him "dip". I even snuck in some green beans at dinner tonight! I wonder where this love comes from. He certainly did not learn it by example! Ahh...the mystery of ketchup!

"Pear Hair"

The great thing about having a toddler is you never know what they are going to say! Aaron and I spent Thanksgiving at my mom's house. We had a really great visit. On the last night we were there, my mom was putting Aaron to bed. She asked him to give her a hug and kiss and he said "No! Pear Hair!" We laughed and laughed over that one! What would make a kid call his Nana "Pear Hair"?

A Thankful Heart

Aaron's favorite CD is a VeggieTales CD. On an average day we probably listen to that CD at least 8 times! One of the songs is called "The Thankfulness Song". There's a line in it that states "A thankful heart is a happy heart. I'm glad for what I have. That's an easy way to start."

So, this Thanksgiving, I am going to start the easy way and be glad for what I have! I have a husband who works extremely hard so that I can stay home with Aaron. I have a precious son who makes me laugh every single day. I have a God who loves me and sent his only son to die for me! I have a loving family and great friends all over the world. I have a warm house on this cold day and more food than I can eat! I have clothes to wear, books to read and a car to drive. I have a lot!

It turns out that "Junior Asparagus" is right! Being glad for what I have was an easy way to start!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Locked Out!

Today was the probably the yuckiest day we have had this Fall. It was cold, windy and rainy! (I even think there was some ice mixed in the rain!) So, when I decided to just "run out to the car to get something" I had no idea that Aaron had other plans! I ran up the front porch steps and turned the doorknob as I slammed against the locked door. Wait a minute? The locked? door?! I had deliberately left it unlocked.
So, I started to call, "Aaron?" And I heard "Mommy? Hee hee!" So, then I yelled, "Aaron! Unlock this door!" His answer was "Mommy!" and then something I could not understand as he ran away from the door. This went on for several minutes. About the time I was turning to go next door and get our extra key, the door opened. "Hi! Mommy!" my "precious" little one said to me! The next time I have to "run out to the car" he is going in the crib!

Nothing Runs Like a Deere!

Aaron's Uncle Nathan and Aunt Leslie love to spoil him! Recently, they shipped Aaron an electrical (ride on) John Deere train. It comes with a standard "circle" track, but that was not good enough for Uncle Nathan. He ordered Aaron the extension that takes up our entire living room when it is put together. We have to move our furniture for the track to fit!

Leslie and Nathan aren't the only ones who spoil him! The child has a Jeep (I don't have a Jeep!), 2 (ride on) fire trucks, a tricycle, a wagon, and too many other toys and books to count! All of these things were gifts from family and friends. James and I rarely (very rarely) buy him anything!

I don't want you to get the wrong idea, here. I am thrilled that Aaron is so well-loved. But, I think that for Christmas everyone needs to chip in and build us an addition to the house...otherwise James and I are going to have to move out and just let Aaron have all the space! :)

Good-bye to a Friend

A friend of mine, Kay Simpson, passed away yesterday. Kay was a neat person to know. She was the music minister at our church. But, Kay was so much more than that! She had a love for people and a love for Jesus that shone in everything she did. She related to all ages from preschoolers to those who have lived a few more years. Kay will be greatly missed!

"Hey! How 'Bout if I do that to YOU?!"

James used to have a talking "Sponge Bob" toy. One night when Aaron was very little and still nursing, I got up in the night to feed him. As I stumbled through the dark living room, I stepped on Sponge Bob. He yelled at me, "Hey! How 'bout if I do that to YOU?!" I had a minor heart attack and let out a scream of fright. Sponge Bob no longer lives with us!

"Ar Brown" Eats Cornbread!

This morning I was making cornbread for lunch. As soon as I had emptied the package into the bowl, the phone rang. When I turned back around, I discovered "Ar Brown" face down in the bowl on the floor! Aaron was pushing his face into the mix and saying "Ar Brown eat cornbread! Ar Brown eat cornbread!" When I finally got control of my laughter, I asked him "Was Charlie Brown hungry?" He just grinned and said, "Yes!"

Mommy Stinky!

In a complete reversal from Sunday when Mommy was pretty, now, Mommy is stinky! I put Aaron in the car to go meet James for lunch. As I slid into the front seat and started the car, Aaron exclaimed "Peeyew! Mommy stinky!" Thanks a lot, kid!

Mommy Pretty

Sunday mornings are always hectic at our house. It seems no matter how early I get up, I am always running late for church. This morning was no exception. I was dashing about, trying to get ready and nothing seemed to go right. The milk for breakfast was sour. I couldn't find my purse. Etc.
Aaron was still sleeping, and I let him sleep until the last possible minute. As I rushed in to get him ready to go, he stood up in his bed and reached out and touched my necklace. Then, he said in his sweet little baby voice, "Mommy pretty". My heart just melted! I had to take a moment just to love on him. But only a moment because we were late for church! The rush began again as I got him dressed and we hurried out the door. That one little moment has made me smile all day though!

My Little Goblin!

Halloween has brought out a new side of my child. As far as I know, the only candy Aaron has ever had was the occasional sucker that he gets at the Credit Union. But, somehow he has discovered candy!
Candy has turned my sweet little guy into a demanding little goblin! Every time he picks up his "trick or treat" bag he starts yelling "CANDY!" We went to a couple of "trunk or treats" at local churches and he was roaming around yelling "CANDY!" at everyone! This morning I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he yelled "CANDY!" at me! Then, we were riding down the road and he was yelling (yes you guessed it!) "CANDY!" at James.
Now that Halloween is over, I hope the goblin goes back into hiding and sweet baby Aaron returns! :)

It's the Great Pumpkin, "Ar" Brown!

Aaron's Paw Paw gave him a plush Charlie Brown doll for Christmas last year. Aaron loves that doll! He calls him "Ar Brown" and carries him almost everywhere! In fact, we even made "Ar Brown" a Halloween costume and took him "trunk or treating" with us at a friend's church last night!

The other night "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" was on the television. We let Aaron stay up past his bedtime to watch it. While James and I were excited, Aaron was mesmerized! He sat in James's lap (with Ar Brown in his lap) and stared at the t.v. He would name the characters each time they came on the screen. "Doupy!" (Snoopy), "Inus" (Linus!) he would say. Then, his hero came on the screen! "Ar Brown!" he yelled excitedly!

He only made it through about half of the movie before he got bored and wanted to get down to play. But, it was a fun family time while it lasted!

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Each year around this time the radio stations start playing "Halloween" songs. The other day Aaron and I were riding down the road and "Ghostbusters" came on. I started singing along and the next thing I know I hear "ost usters! hee! hee! hee!" from the back seat. Aaron thought it was the funniest song! So, we drove on down the street yelling "ghostbusters!" and "ost usters!"
So, now whenever I ask him "who ya gonna call?" he yells "ost usters!" and then starts grinning. I can't help laughing every time. Being a mom is so fun sometimes!

Torture at the State Fair

People have different reasons for going to the State Fair. Some people like to ride the rides. Others like to look at the exhibits. Me, I go for one reason and one reason only...THE FOOD! I love the candy apples, the caramel apples, the blooming onions, the hot dogs, the funnel cakes, the turkey legs...you get the picture! It's all about the food!

Last year we felt like Aaron was just too little to enjoy the Fair. So, we didn't go. This year we felt like he was the perfect age to go, and he was! He had a HUGE time! He was in awe from the moment we arrived (it helped that a train went right past where we parked) to the time we left! He got a (pink) balloon from the pork people and stickers from the state troopers and peanut farmers. He got to ride a pony, talk to the chickens and pet a cow. It was the perfect day at the Fair, for Aaron!

The Fair for me, on the other hand was pure torture! I had my wisdom teeth removed a couple of days before we went and couldn't eat a single yummy thing! No popcorn, or candy apples. No peanuts or pretzels or turkey legs! I just couldn't eat! I did attempt to eat a funnel cake, but even that was difficult (and not nearly as yummy after you have mashed it up with your tongue!)

So, a word to the wise...unless you are just into self-torture...skip the Fair if you have your wisdom teeth removed! :)

Little Singer

My baby is supposed to be sleeping peacefully in his bed after a big day at the State Fair with Mommy and Daddy. Instead, he is in there singing to himself. One of life's precious moments!

Thank you, Jesus for...Everything!

Each night we say prayers with Aaron before he goes to bed. We usually say something like "Dear Jesus, thank you for mommy and daddy, my friends and my family and all my blessings. Amen." I guess last night Aaron was just feeling extra thankful because he started naming all the members of his family. Then, he thanked Jesus for every animal he could think of. Then, he thanked Jesus for anything that was in his range of vision (books, pants, Mommy's hair, etc.)
I hope he was feeling thankful...I hope it wasn't just a plot to stay up later! :)

Update on My "Crazy" Friends...

Here's a brief update on my "crazy" friends (the ones adopting the 5 girls). They have been having some behavioral issues with the two youngest ones this past week. Please pray for them to have guidance in dealing with these two very strong personalities!
We saw 4 out of 5 of the girls at a wedding we attended on Saturday. They were all looking pretty in pink, except 1 who was looking pretty in gray (we figured she was the rebel!)
The oldest daughter, Summer, has a special love for my son. Last night at church she was hugging and kissing on him. Between his squeals of delight, I heard her say, "I love me some Baby Aaron!"
The two middle ones are getting along well as far as I know.
Robin, the mom, apparently ran into a door or something at church last night. She came up to my husband and asked if her nose was broken. He said he was fairly sure it was! Poor Robin!
Seth, the token male :) seems to be in good spirits whenever I see him (or he's a really good actor!)
Please continue to keep this special family in your prayers!

I'm going to teach you a song...

I have one niece, Krystal, who is 12 and one nephew, Chase, who is 6. They are awesome and I love them a lot! Unfortunately, they live in Texas and before that they lived in Guam! So, I don't get to see them very often, but we try to talk on the phone a lot.

The other day I was driving home from my brother's house, and I was talking on the phone to Chase. Suddenly, he said, "I'm going to teach you a song!" "Okay" I said. "I'm listening". He then starts singing:

"Oh! I wish I were a little bar of soap" (clap clap)

"Oh! I wish I were a little bar of soap" (clap clap)
"I'd go slippy, slidey, slimey over everybody's hiney"

"Oh! I wish I were a little bar of soap" (clap clap)

Let me tell you, I almost drove off the road I was laughing so hard! Then, he says in that sweet voice of his, "Krystal did the claps".
I love my niece and nephew!

Too Much Excitement!!!

All day Tuesday I kept thinking, "what a boring day". I should have kept my big mouth, er brain, shut!
To relieve my boredom, I thought I would take Aaron for a walk in his stroller. As we were walking down the next street over, I smelled smoke. I just assumed it was someone burning trash. As we headed back up the hill, I could see little wisps of smoke drifting off the roof of a house. I started to walk faster, praying that it was just from someone's grill. As I drew closer I started to see flames at about porch level. Praying that it was just a really BIG grill, I started hurrying toward the house. About the time it became clear that it was not the grill that I had been hoping for, a friend came out of his house. I yelled to him about the fire and he called 911 on the cell phone he happened to have in his hand.
I left Aaron with him and ran over to make sure no one was in the house. Then, I ran over to help the next door neighbor who was trying to unravel her garden hose. She doused the fire and soon the fire trucks came roaring down the street. She had done a good job extinguishing the flames, but the firefighters said there was still some stuff smoldering under the porch that could have reignited.
Soon, most of the neighborhood had come out to see what was going on. Aaron and I stayed around for a little while and then headed back toward our house. All the way home I thanked God that no one had been in the house. I thanked Him that we were walking by at that moment and that my friend came out of his house with his cell phone when he did. I thanked the Lord that everyone was safe and there was minimal damage.
In the future, I will think twice about complaining about boredom! Even in my own head!!!

A Child's Perspective

As you know (if you have read the rest of my blog :), there is a couple in our church that are adopting 5 sisters. Crazy or not??? The jury is still out on that one! :)

Anyway, the youngest girl, Autumn, is a member of my Mission Friends class. One night we were talking about an orphanage in S. Africa and how many of the children share the same room. Autumn piped up and told us, "each of my sisters have their own room" (really proudly) "but Mommy and Daddy have to share one" She said the mommy and daddy part with this look of horror on her face! I guess it just all comes down to your perspective!

A Cooking Accident

Last night I was trying to be a good wife and was fixing a special dinner of "honey pecan pork chops" for my husband. (Aaron had to have chicken because he is still to young for honey). As I was putting the honey/pecan topping (fresh from the stove) on the pork chops, I dribbled some on my foot. At first I didn't feel anything, then it began to BURN!!!
I threw my foot up into the kitchen sink and started running cool water over it. Aaron, who had been pulling all of the dishes out of the cabinets, came running over to see what was going on. I told him "Mommy's hurt". After running the water over it, I tried to finish making dinner. Soon, my big toe had blistered up and the pain was so bad I was crying. I put more water on it and tried to contact my paramedic husband. Meanwhile, Aaron keeps saying to me, "Mommy hurt?" "Mommy hurt?" When I was unable to reach James, I tried calling my mom who is a nurse. She didn't answer either! I tried to think of who would know what to do, since the pain was getting worse and worse.
I ended up calling a friend who is an EMT and a pharmacist. He was surprised I reached him. He was down at the Outer Banks. He advised me to run more cold water on it and then put some sunburn gel on it. James came in the house at this point and Aaron ran up to him and said "Mommy hurt!" and then was completely distracted by the Elmo book that James had in his hand! (So much for concern about Mommy!)
This whole incident got me thinking...what would I have done if it had been Aaron that was burned? I guess I need to brush up on my first aid!

Please, Don't Call DSS!

I try to be a good mother. I really do! But, there have been moments in Aaron's life when I have thought "Please don't let anyone call DSS!"

Take, for instance, a shopping trip a couple of weeks ago. We were in Kohl's and I leaned over in front of the stroller to look at some socks. When I did, Aaron grabbed a big handful of my hair! "Let go, sweetie" I said. His reply was "hee hee" and a good yank. "Sweetie, please let go of Mommy's hair" "hee hee hee" (more yanking) Then I got a little more forceful. "Aaron! Let go of Mommy's hair!" His answer? "hee hee" yank, yank. Then I started swatting behind my back for him to let go. So he started yanking harder. Soon, I was swatting at him and yelling "you let go of my hair!!!" and Aaron was pulling chunks out! When I finally got loose and collapsed on the floor, red-faced and with a lot less hair, I realized the incident had probably been captured on the store's video surveillance cameras! All I could think of was "please don't let them call DSS!"

Then, there was also the now infamous stroller incident. This was a while ago when Aaron was about 13 months old. I like to use my stroller pushing time as a "prayer walk". In the craziness of our days, this seems to be the best time to talk to the Lord. On this particular day, I had not strapped Aaron into the stroller (completely forgetting that the stroller does not have the little plastic piece that goes between the baby's legs!)
Well, he rode along for quite a while and we were making our way up the hill on the neighboring street, when it happened. The stroller got jammed on something and I couldn't make it go! I looked down and it was caught on Aaron!!! He had slipped right out and was lying there on the road making little whimpering noises and looking at me like "how could you do this to me?" I hurriedly picked him up and strapped him in TIGHT! All the while I was glancing around to see if anyone had seen and praying that no one would call DSS!

So, now you know my shameful "secrets". Please, don't call DSS!

Anatomy

Aaron is at that stage where if you ask him about body parts, he can usually show you where they are. You know the game..."Where's your eye?" and he pokes himself in the eye. "Where's your toes?" He points to his toes. And so on.
One thing that puzzles me is his concept of where the heart is. If you ask him, he always touches his head. If you ask him where Mommy's heart is, he touches my head. If you draw a heart, he can identify it with the word "heart", but he insists your heart is in your head. I don't know if he is hearing the words "hair" and "heart" as the same thing or what! Or, maybe he is telling me to "think with my heart". I guess it is just one of those mysteries of motherhood!

More "Potty Talk"!

This morning I was making breakfast and Aaron once again came into the kitchen and said "Stink!" (Why does he always do that in the kitchen???) So, I told him to run into the bathroom and sit on his potty. We ran in there and took off his diaper, but it was too late. He had already done his dirty deed. He told me to sit on the big potty. So I did. We sat there and looked at each other for a while, but nothing else happened.
Then, I tried to show him how to wipe with the toilet paper. As I was wiping him, he clamped his little butt-cheeks together so tight some toilet paper got stuck in there! I had to pry those little cheeks apart to get it out!
Oh! The joys of motherhood!

A Much Needed Vacation!

Parenting is hard work! Anyone who says otherwise is obviously childless (or not doing it right!) Anyway, a couple of weeks ago James and I went on a much needed vacation. Without the baby!!!
We took off to Jamaica to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary! We stayed at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios. It was sooo nice. "All-Inclusive" is the way to go! We ate when we wanted and slept when we wanted. We could sleep in without anyone yelling "Mommy! Daddy! Moommmyyy! Daaaddddyyy!" We went swimming, snorkeling, ocean kayaking and even took a ride on the "water trikes". We swung in the hammocks and played on the giant chess board. We took romantic walks and talked about our past and future. Did we miss Aaron? Of course! But it was great to be just a couple again for a little while.
So, all you parents out there, take my advice...take a vacation without the kids! It will do wonders for your marriage. Plus, when you get back home those precious little ones will be waiting. You get the best of both worlds!

Grass Licker

We own two dogs. "Godiva" is a chocolate lab and "Zach" is a black lab/border collie mix. My son, Aaron, loves these dogs and they just adore him! Because they are fairly big dogs (and fairly exhuberant in their love of Aaron!) he doesn't get to play with them very often. When he does it is a special treat.

Today we went out back to play with the dogs. Aaron would shout "RUN!" and off the three of them would go flying across the back yard. After a few minutes of running around (and me yelling at the dogs to "STOP LICKING HIM!") they paused for a little break. At this time, Godiva started licking a pile of grass. Aaron was watching her intently and the next thing I knew, he had leaned over and was licking the same pile of grass! Then, he just looked up at me with a big proud grin! What's a mom to do at a moment like that except just laugh?!

Fast Food Junkie

I am a fast food junkie. I love the taste, the convience, and the fact that I don't have to cook it! I even love McDonald's (which I have found that most people over the age of 12 will not admit!) I would eat fast food all the time except that little voice in my head that tells me how unhealthy it is triumphs every once in a while. This is not something I am proud of. It is just a fact!

The voice is louder now that I am a mother. I don't want my child growing up eating too much fast food. But, I already see it happening. He knows what a drive-thru is! As we approach the window of a fast food place, he starts calling "fwy! fwy!" in hopes of getting some french fries. We went through a Taco Bell yesterday and I had to try to explain that they did not sell "fwies". He did not believe me, and it was a very long ride home!

So, each day I will try to be a better mom, cook my child healthy meals and not go to the drive-thru as much. Then, maybe my son won't be programmed to yell "fwy! fwy!" as we pass the "golden arches"!

Time to Potty Train?

I have always heard people say that if you have a boy, you are lucky if he is potty trained by the time he is three years old. My sweet Aaron is 20 months old.
Today, I helped host a baby shower at the fire station. James was at work so I had to take Aaron with me. As I was getting things ready in the kitchen, Aaron came in, looked directly at me, grunted "uuuhhh" and said, "stink!" just as seriously as can be. Then he walked away. I started laughing and then went chasing after him. Sure enough, he had gone poopie in his diaper!
Now, I don't want to be one of those pushy moms who tries to force their child into doing something before they are ready. But, it seems to me if he can come to me and demonstrate going potty and then tell me about it, maybe it is time to think about potty training!
(A mom can dream, right?)

My Son, The Artist

Aaron and I went to visit a friend and her sons today. As my friend and I were talking I noticed that someone had colored on her wall with a purple crayon. So, I asked what had happened.
As she is telling me how much trouble her 3 year old got into for coloring the wall, Aaron picks up the exact same color crayon (I kid you not!) and continues what her son had started on the wall! I was mortified!
As I snatched the crayon from his hand and commenced to fussing at him about how naughty it is to color on the wall, my friend had to leave the room, because she was laughing so hard!
When she returned, I apologized profusely and offered to buy some paint to cover it up. She refused my offer, but said she would call me to help paint in 8 years when both her boys (she also has a 6 month old) are gone to school and she decides to repaint her house.
What is a true friend? One who only laughs when your child colors on their wall! Thank God for friends like that!

9/11

I turned on my t.v. this morning intending to watch all the 9/11 specials that were on today. After about 2 minutes I turned it off. The channel I had turned on was doing a story on 9/11 mothers and I just couldn't watch. For me, it is still too much. 5 years hasn't done much to dim the horror of that day in my mind. If I had left the t.v. on I would have been sucked into that overwhelming grief that I feel whenever I think about 9/11 and the terrorists would have had a small victory once again.
Instead, I spent the day with my mother and my son. We did some very "American" things. We went out to lunch at the Cracker Barrel. Then we went to Wal-Mart (does it get much more "American" than Wal-Mart?) We shopped, we laughed, we covered the baby with hugs and kisses and we celebrated being alive and free in the U.S.A.! Take that Al-Queda!
And tonight, I will say a very special prayer for all those who are still grieving and whose lives were changed forever. May God bless them and their families.

A Movie Adventure

My son, Aaron, was born on January 14, 2005. My husband had to work the Christmas Day before he was born. I, being 9 months pregnant, was confined within an hour's radius of the hospital and unable to go to my mother's house for Christmas.
So, my sister-in-law and her husband decided to take me out to a movie on Christmas night to get me out of the house. I had no idea so many people went to the movies on Christmas! When we arrived at the theater, the movie we wanted to see was sold out. So, we bought tickets to "The Aviator" which also soon sold out!
As we entered the theater, which has stadium seating, we realized the only available seats were on the very top row. So, up the stairs we went!
If you have seen "The Aviator" you know that it is 3 hours long. If you have seen "The Aviator" while pregnant, you know that it feels more like 6 hours long!
Of course, the inevitable happened. About halfway through the movie I had to PEE! Now remember, I was 9 months pregnant and at the top of the stadium steps! So, I slowly began to trudge my way down clutching the railing for dear life. As I am trudging, I get this weird feeling like someone is watching me. Then, the feeling intensifies. I looked around and realized that almost everyone on my side of the theater was watching me! I could almost hear their collective prayer of "Please Lord! Don't let that pregnant woman fall!" (which by the way, was also my prayer!)
Well, I made it safely down the stairs and back up again. When I arrived at my seat, I vowed that I would not leave it again, no matter how bad I had to go! And I didn't!
So, if you are preggers and decide to take in one last movie before that baby arrives...SIT IN THE FRONT ROW!

A Little Bit of (Pastel) Color in My World

In my house I am outnumbered. There are two guys and one me! So, we have an office full of firefighter stuff, a guest bathroom so decorated in outdoorsy stuff that we refer to it as the "moose bathroom", a blue nursery and a deep maroon and purple master bedroom with a dark blue bathroom. Our house screams "males rule here!"
I have to admit that I prayed for a son my whole married life leading up to the day of Aaron's ultrasound. So, most of the time I am perfectly content in my male dominated house. But, there are times when I just want to visit somewhere "girlie".
That is why I love visiting my friend, Robin. She is the mother of the 5 girls that I previously spoke about. Her house is a "girl power paradise"! Each of the girls' rooms are painted in beautiful pastel colors. They have beautiful bedspreads and sweet, feminine furniture. The place just reeks of "girl".
So, I sometimes take Aaron over there and he helps even the odds for their dad. And, I get to soak in a bit of "girl world". Then, we come on home and it is back to fire trucks, balls and little toy cars...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

5 Sizes Too Large!

Okay, we've all seen it: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (If you haven't ever seen it, leave your computer right now and run, don't walk, to your nearest video store and rent it!)

Anyway, the Grinch has a heart that is 2 sizes too small. Well, I have a couple of friends whose hearts are 5 sizes too big! Well, "too big" is deceptive because it sounds negative. Let's just say their hearts are bigger than the average person's!

You see, my friends' have adopted 5 sisters. Yes, you read that right! F-I-V-E five! Five sisters who range in age from 4 to 10! No, they are not crazy (as my husband claims every time he sees them all come flying out of their van or any time they come up in the conversation at home!) They just have a lot of room in their hearts.

I also think they have a lot of faith! It is a HUGE step to go from being a couple to having an instant family. It's hard enough when you give birth to a baby and then "grow" together as a family. But to bring 5 children permanently into your life? FAITH! FAITH! FAITH! It takes faith that the Lord will provide a house large enough, a vehicle large enough, a paycheck large enough...you get the picture!

Are their hearts 5 sizes too big? Or is their faith just the right size? (or are they just plain crazy as James thinks?) Feel free to decide for yourself!

Do Kids Cause Cavities?

Ever since Aaron was born, I have told people, "Watch out! He's so sweet! He'll give you a cavity!" Well, it turns out what I was saying was true! I went to the dentist today and after almost 31 years, I had my first cavity! (Well, actually I had two minor ones that did not even show up on the x-rays! But, I still had to get my first 2 fillings! Ugh!)
So, I am wondering if what many of my friends have told me is true. Do kids cause cavities?! I know many women who did not get their first cavity until after they had a baby. Why is this, I wonder?
I have 2 theories. The first, and most scientific explanation is the many, many, hormonal changes your body goes through both during and after pregnancy. This has to effect your teeth is some way.
My second theory, and the one I believe to be correct, is that once you have a baby you just don't have to time to devote to your teeth that you used too! When it is just you and hubby you are very aware of your appearance and your breath. You want to be sexy for him (especially if you are trying to make that baby!) Therefore, your teeth get brushed a lot! Once baby enters the picture you are just too tired to care. You feel lucky if you get your teeth brushed before you pass out on the bed!
So, those are my theories. Or, maybe Aaron is so sweet he gave me a cavity!

The Eternal Optimist

My toddler son is an optimist.

Every night we have the same bedtime routine. He takes a bath. He plays in his diaper. I put his pajamas on. I read him a story (or two). We say bedtime prayers. I sing some songs. I kiss him goodnight, tell him I love him and put him in his crib. With very few variances, this has been our routine for over a year now.

After this, Aaron has his own routine. I put him in the bed and he starts crying and screaming, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" This is where the optimist in him comes in. As I said, we have been doing this same routine for over a year, and I have never gone back in there after I put him down for bed. Yet, every single night he calls to me. Every single night! I just know he is in there thinking, "This is it! This is the night she will come back in and get me out of this crib! Maybe she can't hear me. So, I will scream louder!" And he continues to yell, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Then, a few minutes later, he goes to sleep.

Every night, without fail, he calls to me after I have put him down for bed. Each night is a new hope. You have to give the kid points for persistence!

Lord, Give Me Peace!

Last night when James and I were almost asleep, I sat up in the bed and said "what's that smell?" He didn't smell anything at first, but soon realized that something that smelled of burning metal or something electrical was coming through our air-conditioning vents.
We turned off the A/C and he went outside to check on the unit. We soon discovered that the problem was under the house and he called down to the fire department to get a thermal imager. There was no fire (praise God!), but there was water backed up in the unit and a fire probably would have started had we left the A/C on much longer.
After the fire truck left and we returned to our rapidly heating house, the reality of what could have happened sunk in! I started thinking about things like "what if this had been a night when James was gone?" or "what if we already been asleep?" My biggest fear in life is that something will happen to Aaron. So, needless to say, I got very upset!
As I tried to calm myself down, I just prayed to the Lord that He would keep us safe and give me peace about the situation. And, then I prayed again. And again...
I finally fell asleep and woke up to the precious calls of "Mommy? Mommy!" over the monitor. And guess what? Everything looks better in the morning! Sure, we have no air-conditioning and I have spent the day waiting on the A/C man to come out. But, we are safe, and I have peace! Now I just need peace about what this is going to COST us! :)

Knock! Knock!

We were sitting at the dinner table recently when my 19-month-old son looked at his father and said, "Knock! Knock!"
Startled, his daddy said "Um...who's there?" Aaron replied, "doggies!" James said "doggies who?" Aaron said "ah! ha! ha! ha!"

I have to say, I almost lost it! I was laughing so hard I almost cried! James told him he needed to work on his punchline a bit, but I thought it was perfect!

Pool Party/Wedding Reception???

Is it wise to have an outside wedding at a family resort at Myrtle Beach in June? If you answered "yes" to this question, you are sadly mistaken and you really need to read on...

In June, we took Aaron to Myrtle Beach. We stayed at a "family" resort that was ocean front. One afternoon we decided it would be fun to take Aaron down to the pool. As we arrived at the pool we realized there was a wedding going on in the other side of the courtyard that was only separated from the pool by a little stone wall. Since there were other people swimming we figured it would be alright.

WRONG! As I tried to enter the pool with Aaron in my arms, he started screaming like we were murdering him! We promptly ran inside to the indoor pool. There, not only did he continue screaming, but it sustained a nice echo effect as well!

As I slunk off to my room, I tried to tell myself that was the risk you take getting married someplace like that in the middle of June!

My Brother's Response...

After reading about himself on my blog, my brother sent me the following email...

"Remember the email story about the guy trapped on his roof during a flood who passes up two boats and a helicopter rescue while saying "the Lord will provide." He dies in the flood and then asks God why he didn't provide, and God says "I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more do you want?"
You don't want to run out of money in retirement, die from starvation, and then have God say "your brother/son/husband nagged you about saving for retirement your whole life - what more do you want?"

While practical advice, I still had to ask him "Where is this money coming from?" His answer was...

"With all the free time you have, you can surely think of a way to make money"

Yes, I can hear all you parents out there laughing your heads off (especially you fellow "stay-at-homers". And, your assumption is correct. He does not have kids!

Aaron's Exit...

Last night I spoke at a local church about my recent trip to Arkansas. James and Aaron came with me. James was supposed to be running my slide show while I spoke. When we arrived, we discovered that there was no one to watch Aaron in the nursery.
As the preacher was doing the opening announcements, Aaron decided it was time to play! When we tried to get him to sit still he started saying "No! No Mommy!" and whining. James got up to carry him out and had to walk in front of the entire congregation. Aaron peeked his face over James' shoulder and very loudly said "Bye!" to the people. Of course they all laughed! I had to laugh, too!
It is so much fun having a toddler!

My Brother's a Tightwad!

Now that I have your attention! My brother, Kevin, is an accountant. And while the family teases him about being tight, he really is just very good at his job. In fact, he "lives and breathes finance" or at least that is the motto on his website www.sharedfinance.com.
This isn't an advertisement for Shared Finance (although it is a great site with lots of practical advice!) The point of mentioning my brother is that we have very different approaches to life and finances. He worries (a lot!) about saving and retirement. I don't! Well, I do, but it is kind of difficult to think about retirement (30 years from now) when you are busy thinking about how you are going to pay for the gazillion diapers your kid goes through every day!
Plus, being a "stay at home mom" I have no active income. So, where am I supposed to get money for retirement?
The Bible tells us that God takes care of "even the sparrows". I just have to live on faith that God will take care of me as I grow older.
Meanwhile, I will still have to listen to my brother's lectures on savings, and I will tell myself he only lectures because he loves me!

The Three Bears

I was just reading "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" to Aaron. I got to thinking about something in the story. If Paw Paw Bear had his own bed...and Ma Ma Bear had her own bed...how did they get Baby Bear???

I Am Bilingual!

Very recently I discovered that I was bilingual! You are probably asking yourself "how could she not know this?" You see, as there is only 1 person in the world who speaks fluent "Aaronese", and as I am the only one who understands it, I have been elected to be his translator! This 1 person is, of course, my 19 month old, Aaron.

My child can talk! Boy, can my child talk! He talks about "gahgies" (doggies) and he talks about "cuppas" (cups). He talks about "Doah" (Noah as in Noah's Ark) and he talks about "blue drawberries" (blue strawberries otherwise known at blueberries). He even talks about "boose" (moose) and "aahs" (toothbrushes). If he is awake, chances are he is chattering about something!

The thing is, being the person who spends 95% of his waking hours with him, I seem to be the only one who can understand him. If I had a quarter for every time someone asks me "what did he say?" I could easily pay for his college!

Unfortunately, this translating job is a volunteer one. Now, please excuse me while I go feed "Awwin" (Aaron) some "ah ah ish" (goldfish crackers).

"Round" is a shape!

I used to think the term "baby fat" was meant for babies. You hear people say things like "she'll grow out of her baby fat" or "once he starts walking, that baby fat will come right off". Now, as a mom, I realize that baby fat is the weight you gained while you were pregnant that wants to stay with you your child's entire life!
So, today I am talking to all you moms who still have that "baby fat" or those out there that would just like to lose a few pounds!
I do some kind of work-out almost every day. No, I am not some sort of work-out maniac. I am just a mom who wants to live to see her baby grow up and have his own babies (and if I'm lucky, I will get to see their babies!) I am also a woman with PCOS which puts me at risk for diabetes, which puts me at risk for a heart-attack, which puts me at risk...etc,...you see the pattern. Thus, I lift weights and walk or ride my bike almost daily.
So, why do I stay the same size? Could it be my poor eating habits? I try to eat right (Oh come on! Who am I kidding?) Could it be my work-out nemesis? (Have you ever tried to do a push-up with a 23 pound toddler on your back?) Or could it just be the way I am made? (Excuses! Excuses!)
To console myself I look into my baby's eyes (as he throws himself across my stomach to prevent me from doing sit-ups!) and I know he loves me no matter what size I am. And as I try to get "in shape" I remember that "Hey! "Round" is a shape!

"I'm Free! I'm Free!"

I love being a stay-at-home mom! As I have mentioned before, I feel like my Aaron is a miracle gift from God. But, sometimes I think that God has a sense of humor! He looks down on me and laughs! "Ha! Ha! You wanted to be a mom so bad? Take this! And this! And...THIS!" Sometimes, at the end of the day, I am just plain TIRED!
Sunday, James and I dropped Aaron off with his Aunt Leslie who was visiting from England. This was an "everybody wins" situation. They got to spend time together and we got a little break! The icing on the cake was that our friend, Kevin, had just bought a boat!
As we drifted around the lake, I sunbathed on the back of the boat and read a book. It was warm and comfortable and...and...and...what was that feeling? Oh yeah! FREEDOM! There was nobody whining. There was nobody demanding "drawberries" or a "cupa". There were no diapers, carseats or cribs! Just 3 grown-ups who could do whatever they wanted to do! And, we did! After the lake, we went to a movie. Then we went to a nice, leisurely dinner. We stayed the night at Kevin's house slept in and then awoke to the sounds of silence. But, what was this weird feeling? Oh. I missed Aaron!
Yes, the freedom was nice! But, I sure could not wait to get that baby back in my arms again! And when I did, I covered him in all sorts of "Mommy kisses"!

Parenting and Grandparenting

My husband's brother got married this weekend. So, we spent most of the weekend with my in-laws. It is always interesting when 4 generations of the same family get together!
What is extremely interesting to me is watching my husband be both child and parent at the same time. James is a great dad! He absolutely adores Aaron and they have a big time together. But, he is also very firm with him. Although he is only 19 months old, Aaron is expected to behave in certain ways. He knows this and most of the time it is not a problem.
Then, you throw grandparents and great grandparents into the mix! Let the spoiling begin! I believe in what I call "the right of the grandparents". This means that they can get away with things that parents would not normally do at home. Krispy Kreme donuts? Sure! Why not? He's at Grandma's! Stay up late? Sure! He's at Grandma's! Eat corn for 4 meals straight and then break the toilet? Sure! He's at...oh wait...that was the right of the "Auntie" and a story for another time...!
My husband disagrees. He thinks our rules should be enforced wherever Aaron is. He gets frustrated when his parents give in to Aaron's fit throwing (and Aaron knows he can get away with it with the grandparents).
I am not sure I know the answer to this problem. In fact, I am not sure there is one! The grandparents will continue to be the "spoilers" and my dear sweet husband will just have to live with it!
Besides, aren't we glad they love Aaron enough to try to spoil him?

A Cloud of Fear!

Weddings are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. Unfortunately, as we prepare for my husband's little brother's wedding on Saturday, suspicions of bombs and terrorism have placed a cloud of fear over our family.
I woke up this morning excited about the prospect of seeing James's sister, Leslie, tomorrow. You see, she lives in England, about an hour outside of London. She hasn't seen her nephew in over 8 months. She was scheduled to fly in today for the wedding that will take place on Saturday.
A little before 10:00 a.m. my mother called and asked if I had seen the news. She then proceeded to tell me that the British government had uncovered a "9/11 type plot" to bring down planes that were heading toward America out of London. All air traffic was on hold.
I have to admit, immediately I felt a wave of fear wash over me. Where was Leslie? Was she in the airport? Was she in the air? Had they caught all the terrorists or had some made it onto planes?
I hung up the phone with my mom and called my in-laws. They did not know much at this point in time. They had received a page from Leslie that she had cleared security, but been stripped of all her possessions except for her passport and wallet. She said the lines were long, but she did not know why. This was at 7:00 a.m. our time. They had heard nothing more.
At last check, we were able to confirm that her plane had taken off and was expected to arrive about 2 1/2 hours later than scheduled.
I guess we will have more than one thing to celebrate on Saturday!

Why Isn't He Sleeping?

I knew it was too good to last! For the last year or so, Aaron has either taken a long 3 hour nap during the middle of the day, or two 2 hour naps (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). It was WONDERFUL. I could check my email, read a book that didn't rhyme, go to the bathroom by myself (unless you have a toddler you don't realize what a privilege that is!) or if I was really inspired, I could get some work done around the house!
Now, the whirlwind of energy that I call "son" thinks that his bed is some kind of gymnasium or stadium! First, I get the concert. Various songs are sung and noises made as he sits contently in his bed. Then, he throws everything out of the bed. "Thunk!" There goes a book. "Thunk!" There goes another book. Then there is a softer "thunk!" That's poor "Pooh" hitting the wall. Next comes "clink, clink, clink" as one by one all the binkies are thrown out of the crib.
After this the concert begins again. He starts jumping up and down in the crib and wailing "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "I go..." "I go!"
So, I go into his room to return his binkies. I hand him Pooh, I kiss him on the forehead, and tell him that I love him.
And, an hour later I am still thinking, "WHY ISN'T HE SLEEPING???"

Traveling with an Infant (Really)

So, in the first blog about traveling with an infant, we had barely made it on the plane. The plane ride can be tricky and whether your experience is good or bad depends on a lot of factors.
The first and most important factor is your baby's personality. If your baby is fairly easy-going, thank your lucky stars and proceed with your traveling. They will probably react the same to flying as they do to anything else. If your baby is fussy by nature, reconsider flying until they are older. Aaron was an extremely easy-going baby. So, the flight was pretty smooth for him.
The second factor (and one you have no control over whatsoever!) is the attitude of your flight attendants. On our flight, we had AWESOME flight attendants. They made the biggest fuss over Aaron and kept coming by to see if we (we meaning Aaron, really) needed anything.
Another factor is the people around you. Again, this is a factor that you have absolutely no control over! But, they can make or break the flight. Keep in mind that not all people enjoy babies. I LOVE babies and I HATE being on a flight with a crying baby! I find it helpful to apologize at the slightest sound of a whimper. Also, it helps to adopt a "I'm sorry to be flying with an infant, but I absolutely had to get to __________" look on your face. If the people around you are sympathetic to your plight, it will go much easier for you!
So, these are just some of my thoughts on traveling (or really just flying) with an infant. May you fly the "friendly" skies!

Another Miracle...

Last night another miracle baby was born!
Since 2004, my friend, Mary, has lost a baby to trisomy and had 2 other miscarriages. Last night, she gave birth to an 8 lb. 7 oz. perfectly healthy baby boy! I have just returned from the hospital where I got to hold him and love him and tell him how glad I am that he is here.

Traveling with an Infant

I love to travel. That's probably obvious if you read "Pregnant and Traveling". So, when Aaron was born I thought "I am not going to let this baby slow me down!" Ha! Ha! Ha!
Aaron and I took our first "out of womb" plane trip together when he was about 7 months old. Accompanied by my hubby and my mother, I thought "this should be a breeze." Famous last words!
We arrived at the airport with an hour and a half before the flight time. In the pre-baby days, I would have checked in, cleared security and still had at least an hour to wait.
Not this trip! The first thing I discovered was that everything takes at least twice as long to do. First, check-in. No one told me that you have to have the word "infant" stamped on your boarding pass. I checked in at the little kiosk like I normally would. Then, when security would not let us through, I had to go back to the huge line at the counter.
Once I finally got the boarding pass straightened out, I had to clear security. Ok. I take off my shoes and have my boarding pass and ID ready. Wait! I have to fold up the stroller and and juggle the baby, also.
We clear security and have 5 minutes before boarding. But wait! Where is my mother? She had wandered off in search of the breakfast we thought we were going to get with all the spare time we were supposed to have! Oh well. She's a big girl. She'll find her way to the gate.
Finally, it is time to board. Again I have to fold up the stroller and juggle the baby, but this time I do it with a bagel sandwich that my mom was kind enough to bring me!
Did I say something about traveling with an infant? This was just getting to the plane! :)

Pregnant and Traveling

My sweet Aaron was a world traveler before he even left the womb! Two weeks after I found out that I was pregnant, my niece and I flew out to Texas. That was the only time that I have ever even considered using the little baggie that the airline was so kind to put in the seat in front of me!
Then, when I was about 5 months along, I got the bright idea to fly to Athens, Greece for a mission trip to the Olympics! Actually, I had the idea long before that, but that was when I actually did the traveling!
The actual traveling part of the trip to Greece is kind of a blur in my memory. I do remember being miserably tired and that they tried to serve me fish! Ugh! The travel agent that my team used booked us on a tour of Europe on the way there and back (or at least that is what it felt like!) For some weird reason we had layovers in both Paris, France and Bucharest, Romania! I have traveled from NC to Indonesia in less time than it took us to get from NC to Athens. Seriously, I have!
Traveling while pregnant...can it be done? Yes! Do I recommend it? Not really! But, if you do feel the need to fly the friendly skies while you are preggers, here are some things I recommend:
1. Try to get the most direct flights. Even if it cost a little more. You will be glad you did!
2. Get up and walk around the plane as much as possible! Your legs, back, etc. will thank you.
3. Sleep as much as possible! I slept on the planes, in the Bucharest airport, the Athens subway, the Athens airport, a mini-bus touring Bucharest...do you see a trend forming here?
4. Carry high protein snacks with you. I recommend almonds and turkey jerky. Airplane food is disgusting when you are not pregnant. It is even worse when you are.
5. Let the flight attendents cater to you. It is okay to be a little more demanding when you are pregnant, but don't be witchy!
6. Request an aisle seat when booking your ticket-this goes along with #2. Plus, you know you are going to have to go to the bathroom!

Grocery Shopping...Ugh!

I used to love to go grocery shopping. My husband and I would go together and it was a time of bonding over meat and produce. Not anymore! Now, I go grocery shopping with a toddler. It is an experience, but not necessarily a good one!
First comes the wrestling match to get him into the cart. He wants to run around the store. I want to keep him contained!
Then, come the sticky fingers. There is an art to parking the cart just right so that the love of your life does not grab a breakable jar, or a container of yogurt. You truly do not realize how much those things hold until they are splattered on aisle 12!
Finally, I make it to the check-out. Have you ever tried to pry a box of goldfish from a 19 month old's fingers? I swear that kid must work out. He is supernaturally strong! If I do manage to get the goldfish away (which I gave to him to keep him from screaming to begin with) then he either starts screaming or taking the food off the conveyor belt as fast as I put it on!
This is why I dread going to the grocery store!

My Little Miracle Baby

My son, Aaron, is almost 19 months old. There are times when he is about to send me through the roof with his clinging and whining (as 19 month olds are prone to do!). But, I thank the Lord every day that Aaron is even here to cling and whine. There was a time when my husband and I were not even sure we would be able to have a biological child of our own.
When we started trying to have a baby in the spring of 2000, there was no doubt in our minds that we would have a baby in 2001! Then, 2001 turned into 2002 and still no baby. By 2003, we thought that maybe we needed a little help with this venture.
We started seeing a specialist and she started us on all those lovely fertility tests! (Let me tell you, the guys' test is WAY better than any test we women have to go through!) We found out right away that I have "PCOS" (polycystic ovarian syndrome) which is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. Then, it was discovered that I have a closed tube on my left side. But, on the day of my appointment to discuss fertility drugs (October of 2003), I found out I was pregnant and due on July 5, 2004!
Now, if you look closely at the dates, a baby born in July of 2004 would be over 2 years old by now, and Aaron is only 19 months. In December of 2003, I miscarried that baby.
There was a lot of discouragement and despair after the miscarriage. But, on the Friday before Mother's Day of 2004, I found out I was pregnant again! This time everything was good and healthy with the pregnancy and we had our miracle baby in January of 2005!

A Trip to Church

This morning Aaron and I went to church. I always try to let him come into the sanctuary for the music before I take him to the nursery. As he stood in the pew dancing to the music, I thought, "This is what motherhood is really about!"

A Little History...

Who am I? Well, I am a 30 year old mother of one. I have a 19 month old son, Aaron. While I have a Masters Degree in Christian Education, I choose to stay at home with him, instead of working outside the home. My husband works several jobs to support us. He is a firefighter and paramedic.

Moms Rock Blog! Why???

Why did I start this blog? As a "stay at home mom" I feel like someone who is less than 3 feet tall controls my life. I figure there are others out there who feel the same way. This way, I can share my "mommy adventures" and others can share theirs (or if you are not a mommy, share whatever adventures you are up to!)