Babies

Babies are in bloom on our unit at work. Ok, yes. I work on a postpartum unit so babies are everywhere but I'm talking the staff. We've always had 2 nurses pregnant at one time but this time we have 3! And they're all due in 3 consecutive months! My baby lovin' heart can't take all of this excitement.

But, on the flip side, all of these babies keep me from wanting to bring one into my life again for a little while. I love my little guy but I enjoy my sleep and nights vegging out in front of the t.v. watching Chrisley Knows Best, anything Gypsy related and The Middle.

But a friend forwarded this little gem and my uterus begins to ache.

Seriously, it quivers a little.

-Achy

"Health"

I ate healthy today. I had an actual breakfast, sensible snack and a salad with feta cheese, strawberries and raspberry vinegarette. So what happened? I failed to include a protein with lunch so when I came home I had 3 handfuls of Reece's Pieces, 2 slices of cheese, 2 slices of ham, a hot ham and cheese sandwich, tomato soup and a glass of wine. The plus side? I walked 11,000 steps today. That balances out, right?

Cheers!

-W

P.s. The post about bathrooms was posted on January 4. I edited one typo and it retimed it for this morning. So, still going strong. All 5 days. 

Soap Box

Let's talk about public bathrooms and not the usual "why do they never have toilet paper, locks and napkins" talk. No. I want to talk about public bathrooms and the absence of changing tables. How is it that we are now in the year 2015 and I must change J's diaper on the sink counter? Don't worry, I've never resorted to the floor. But I have set him on the floor because there was nothing else I could do. Does management seriously think I can hold a squirmy 6 month old and wipe myself at the same time?! I'm not a man!!!

On our recent get away, I had the "privilege" of visiting many restrooms. Most of which didn't have a changing table. So I had to bare his tiny hiney to the bathroom world and received some pretty disgusted stares along the way. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the biggest airport in this country and there is not a single changing table in the entire facility!!! All 1,276 terminals. So maybe it isn't that big but I'm pretty close. Nor is there a family restroom! What am I to do when J realizes he isn't sporting girl parts like mom and wants to use the big boy bathroom. Heck freakin' no! That kid can kiss any chance of being independent goodbye!

That leads me to the other rant. What about family bathrooms? I use to think they were kind of weird but now that I have a little person in tow, I think it's brilliant! You never realize how small stalls are until you cram yourself, a baby (squrimy, remember?), a diaper bag the size of Texas and a stroller that you can never figure out how to fold into said stall with you. So, you do the unthinkable. You use the handicap stall only to walk out and find that the local retirement home has decided to go on a field trip and all 75+ members of the 80 and older group are all waiting on that stall. Talk about embarrassing! 

One last thing. I promise. A mall outside Atlanta has these amazing little seats that you sit your hellion on and strap them down while you talk to men about horses. They then fold back up into the wall and off you go. How amazing! 

I'm just saying. If advertisements are trying to appeal to the "moms", then maybe they should take some time and start with where we spend a majority of our day. The bathroom.

-W

Bonnie, We're Home

The poor dog was so excited to see us come through the door. Then the kid came in and you could literally see her face sink. It's a love hate relationship with those two. He feeds her chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, peas, etc off his tray but she has a bubble that he ignores.

We're back home and in our own beds. Don't get me wrong, I loved our vacation but that first night in your own room is pretty special. Yep, in our room and ready to begin our detox. We were looking forward to all of the fabulous seafood we would eat but now I'm ready to get back to normal. I'll have a water with that lemon, please!

One last random thought before I leave you. It's raining. And cold. The perfect setup for a Downton Abbey binge before the new season begins tomorrow night!!!  

Ok, I'm done. 

-W

Day 2

I'm going to fail at this. I just know it. It's only day 2 and I'm already slacking. My excuse? Family vacation. 

We took J to the beach today. Here's how that went...

First he napped.

Then he played with sticks.

He wanted to take his shoes off. Just his shoes... He promised.

This time, his stick friend persuaded him to sit down. 

Ok. So maybe there was some crawling involved too.

Then he face planted. Glad I packed extra clothes!

-W

New Year, New Trips

This is how my day started:

B: you don't have to get up. It's your day off. Sleep in.

Me: nah. I've got coffee ready in the kitchen.

.......

Me: and two nights stay in a hotel in St. Simons for your birthday! 

That's right. Tomorrow is B's birthday and to celebrate, I surprised him with two nights mini vacation on an "island". This is very unlike me. I wouldn't say I'm a planner but going on trips last minute sometimes makes me a nervous wreck. But at least I knew what was going on. 

So after the news sank in to B, we were up and packing. The ride down was pretty good. We stumbled upon a community from B's childhood and decided to take a walk down memory lane. It's always neat to see where your significant other called home. 

We then stopped at a McDonald's (we were desperate) and had a quick bite. There I learned that J definitely needs a hair cut because not only did the server at the counter think he was a "little fat girl", but a little Spanish boy around 3 years old thought he was also a girl and decided to try and kiss him. Weird things go on in South Georgia.

We made it to our destination, where it is drizzling, and we're currently sitting in bed, drinking beer, eating snacks and watching the college football playoffs all while being awkwardly stared at from J in his crib. It's like having a parent with you. 

Story developing....

It's also New Year's Day. The day where, while nursing a hangover, people vow to "do what they said they'd do last year". Sure. We all know how this goes. You make a resolution to do something like, learn to speak zebra. So you jump in head first doing your research, surround yourself with influential people and after a full 24 hours, give up and vow to clean your toilet once a week instead. Which you also fail at.

This year is different. I have a resolution that will blow you away. Ready?

.......

My New Year's Resolution is to.....

Blog every single day. 

Wait while I have a panic attack. This is big, peeps. See, I secretly vowed this last year and you see how that went. I am promising to speak to an online community EVERY.  SINGLE. DAY. I don't even talk to B that much! Feel privileged, friends, I just put you above he hubby. Good thing our relationship doesn't need that kind of communication... Wait, that's a blog for another day and I have 364 more of these bad boys to go. 

Here's to a new year of hope and possibly a new year of failures. I better go be a mom. My "sleeping" J just yelled out "uh oh" and laughed.

I leave you with an Irish blessing:

Health and long life to you, land without rent to you, a child every year to you, and death in Old Ireland.

Who knows but it's a nice thought, right?

-W

.....

I have so many thoughts running through my head, I can't even come up with a good title. First let me  say, I feel terribly guilty about not posting about Jack's birthday. We had such a great time celebrating with all of our closet friends and family. Here is just a little taste of what went down in the B house.

He received TONS of toys!! They are still taking up space in our living room but he loved all of them. 

 We then moved on to the cake. I had a special smash cake made for him and was pumpkin flavored. Very cute.

 He needed a little help getting started. Next time I'll know to set the cake out for a little while so that the icing isn't too stiff.

 He always loves to share his food with everyone else.... including the dog.

 I decided he wasn't dirty enough. This is a first birthday for Heaven's sake! I NEED A DIRTY KID!!

 And then someone decided he needed ice-cream too!

 Oh man, did I get my wish! 

Finally at the end of it all, he got pictures made with everyone! He was scrubbed 3 times and still felt slimy.

Overall we had a great time and we are so thankful to have such a happy and healthy baby boy in our lives. 

Dear Jackson,

I don't even know where to begin with celebrating your first year. No words can describe how happy I am to have you in my life. Things were rough for us in the beginning. I didn't understand what being a mom really meant and what being selfless was like. I had never been in a situation where someone much more important than myself needed to come first. But you loved me through it all and I couldn't be more thankful for that.

Now we've made it an entire year and I'm so excited to see what happens next. I get the greatest joy just watching you explore the world around you and learn new and exciting things... even if that means you have sleepless nights for a week. Your precious giggle and bright smile make my heart sing. You've taught me so much about being a mom and unconditional love and for that, I owe you my life. 

You are a sweet and gentle little boy. I'm still amazed that you are my own but also so excited to see who you become. I love you so much. 

Happy Birthday my little man!

-Mom