It's a Pity Party

Just a quick disclosure- this post is in no way intended to induce sympathy, feelings of guilt, or a feeling of pity/sorrow towards those mentioned!

So... I have this "friend"... who has a "few" children... who all happen to be of the same gender, who here and there have a rough day. This good friend of mine occasionally likes to throw herself a pity party and tell me how unfair HER life is. For instance... this friend of mine was telling me about one particular day recently that went a little something like this...

*Toddler waking up in middle of night and SHE had to put him back to bed.

*Baby waking up in the morning hungry and SHE had to get up and feed him as her husband lie there sound asleep(she was convinced that he probably hears all of it but pretends not to)

*Having her pre-school child "pushing his limits" first thing in the morning and SHE had to bust out the punishment 20 min before leaving for church

*SHE had to deal with a cranky spouse all day

*SHE had to break up the continuous fights/bickering of children as her cranky spouse took an afternoon nap (Wasn't SHE the one that was up in the middle of the night with the toddler?)

*SHE had to fight with her oldest all afternoon about not having the last donut or a Popsicle since he didn't eat his lunch.

*SHE had to do a load of laundry because all of the baby's clothes, burp cloths and bibs wreak of baby barf

*SHE had to fix the kids dinner, bake a desert and clean up the house

*After baking and cleaning, at 10:15pm, SHE had to change and feed the baby one last time for the night because her hubby had dozed off already. (Wait... wasn't HE the one who got a nap earlier?)

*SHE is having a bowl of rice krispy's for dinner at 11:00pm

*SHE WANTS to CRY.... SHE IS EXHAUSTED!!

Now I don't want you to think that this friend of mine is at all looking for sympathy because she is not. This post is strictly just for therapeutic reasons only, a means to vent. This post is so that I can tell this "friend" of mine to go ahead and just blow out those candles at her pity party and be grateful for what you do have! SHE has "a few" adorable children and a cranky spouse, now sound asleep! SHE has a quiet minute all to herself. SHE " has" a house... to clean, a washer and dryer to do laundry, food to feed her children, beds to send them to when they misbehave, and a "usually wonderful" spouse who would do anything for his family if asked to. It is to remind my "friend" of a young family who recently had a baby girl with a serious and often fatal heart condition who at this time are fighting for their baby's life, who's mother stays up all night watching her baby's monitor. It is to remind her of another young family with four children, who's parents were in a extremely horrible accident and both parents are now fighting to recover from critical burns. This post is to tell my "friend" to get over it! Go to sleep and start a new day... no pity party intended!!

"Two Peas in a Pod"

What!?

4 Months Already

Yea...I've survived!!

Just a quick update and some new stats!

Weight: 11lbs 13 1/2 oz - 10th percentile

Height 24 1/2 inches - 25th percentile

Still loves to smile, talk and laugh. Still eating the million dollar formula with rice cereal mixed in and barfing a good deal of it up. Starting to enjoy tummy time a little more and has managed to get from his tummy to his back 2 whole times now! Still has some crazy hair and ... is Still loved to death by his mom, dad and brothers!!

It Sure Is Rough...

To Always Be So Tough!

Happy Birthday

my big "marshmallow" of a man!

Smile Moments

After a LONG, EXHAUSTING day of this....

And THIS...

And even some MORE of THIS...

Which usually ends like this...

and this....

I, a mother of 3 little boys, need to take a quiet minute to myself to reminisce upon those sweet, quick moments during the day that make me smile. (Not want to cry!)

Smile Moment #1. Porter and I are eating lunch together when Porter asks me if I can open his bottle of water for him. I notice that he is using one hand to try and untwist the cap...

I continue eating my lunch and tell him to use his other hand. Knowing exactly what I am telling him to do he casually switches hands and tells me he still can't do it, waiting for me to look up at him... then breaks into laughter at himself for being such a "smart a--"... which then makes me laugh along with him... at how funny he thinks he is!

Smile Moment #2. As I am doing the dishes (for probably the 3rd time that day) Phearson has the stool pulled up to the kitchen counter playing quietly with random objects when all of the sudden he yells out to me to "LOOK, LOOK, Mommy!" I look over to see that he has stacked a few of the random objects on top of one another and is totally surprised and completely pleased with himself! I smile!

Smile Moment #3. No explanation needed. This little guy pretty much makes me smile every time I look at him, drool and all!!!

Birthday Fun

So as you know Porter's had a Birthday last week and I am finally getting around to posting pictures of his big day/s. Celebrations started Tuesday (his actual birthday) with dinner at Round Table Pizza (are you surprised?) with the family, Grammy and Papa and the Hess's. After lots of yummy pizza, some fun presents from Grandma and Grandpa Bell, a happy birthday song, and a bit of chocolate cake and blowing out of candles we returned home where Porter got his new big boy bike! Porter trying out the new rideAnd enjoying a fun game of "Lets go fishing" with Megan, Collin and Phearson Then Saturday it was off to Wild Rivers to party some more with fun cousins, aunts, uncles and friends! They all look SOOOO excited... don't they!?

The gloom disappeared quickly and I "think" they all had a good time!

Phearson enjoying the shade of the Cabana asking to watch his Cars moviePorter's first attempt at one of the inter tube rides. Not sure if you can tell but he is crying and screaming at the top of his lungs. (While dad, not in picture, is telling the worker just to let him go and mom here just taking pictures) Notice the faces of children in the background... traumatizing! Porter riding the inter tube... still crying, screaming and holding on for dear life! The traumatized little boy afterwards

He was able calm down and relax once just lounging in the water. Bet you can guess what Porter's favorite attraction was..... THE LAZY RIVER!! (Oh no!...sounds a little like his Mama?)

And of course birthday cupcakes for all! Thanks to everyone who came to play with Porter on his Birthday!

And especially to our "injured" family and friends (Chanda and Gerald) who came and baked in the sun anyways!

**Just for the record--- the only thing this little boy asked for, for his birthday was an etch-a-schetch and to eat dinner "inside" Wendys.** Still not exactly sure how that got translated into pizza, a bike and Wild Rivers!

Porter is 4!

Four years ago today one of the greatest things happened in my life! After finally getting pregnant and with six weeks left to go until my due date our sweet baby Porter was born! Although his early arrival was a bit unexpected and that first week of his tiny little life was a bit of a challenge Ryan and I couldn't have been more happy to have him with us!!

It is a day that I will never forget...

My water breaking at 4:30am and thinking that I had just peed my pants...

Ryan awaking from a dead sleep and "FLYING" out of bed and telling me we "NEED TO GO!" after I woke him and told him that I "think my water just broke"...

Lexie (the dog) "following me around the house" (gross I know) as I quickly tried to throw a bag together to take to the hospital... The butterflies in my stomach as we drove to the hospital, in the dark, (going about 90mph, I think) and making calls to family that we may be having a baby today!...

The anxiety as we waited for the Neonatologist consult to tell us if they would go ahead and allow me to deliver that day... (since I was 33weeks and 6 days and the cut off is typically 34 weeks)

The peace that came over me once I got my epidural!!...

The call I received from the staffing office at work, while I was in labor, wondering if I wanted to pick up an extra shift that night...

The nervousness that I felt that when I was told that my baby would have to go to the NICU after delivery because of his prematurity...

The feeling of excitement when I was told that it was time to "push"...

The amazement of seeing a baby after only a few pushes...

The overwhelming feeling of love for my sweet baby as they placed him in my arms!

The emptiness that I felt as everyone left the room and they took my baby and my husband to the NICU...

The dread within my heart when my husband returned in tears and told me that Porter was having problems breathing...

The comfort I felt as he told me they had given our fragile baby a blessing...

The tears I shed as I left the hospital without my baby with me...

The guilt of not being able to be with my baby (other than visits) his first week of life...

And finally, the Happiness and relief, as we carried our new healthy baby boy in the front door to our home for good!

I can't believe it was 4 years ago!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PORTER!!!

Just a quick trip down memory lane

WE LOVE YOU big guy!

Whatever It takes

I know that many children develop night time rituals, you know... gotta have a drink, or a favorite animal/toy, or a blanket or whatever. But I think things may have gotten a little bit out of control here at our house!

Things NEEDED in order for Phearson to go to bed/nap.

A PACIFIER.

Or "Pappy" as Phearson calls it

(The child is "hooked"!!!)

A cup of MILK

His FAVORITE BLANKET

This one he holds(and rubs in between his fingers)

The "OTHER BLANKET"

This one he likes over him

The movie CARS playing on one of our portable DVR players

(I know, how sad is it that a 2yr old has a TV in his room! Horrible parents!!)

And last but not least... The FAN blowing directly ON HIM

A little extreme maybe... But who can complain if the end result is THIS!!

Still love to shop?

I am one of those people who have always loved to shop. Before I was married and even after I was married, but before children, it seem to be that I always had something new and cute to wear. You know, a new top, new cute shoes or dress. So as I was "scouring" craigslist this morning I had a thought/realization!

Is it normal that I no longer shop for cute, fun clothes all the time...

And that the only thing I am shopping for these days is...

One of these!!

Oh the joys of growing up! (and having babies!!)