Happiness is___________(Week 6

I have so much to be happy about this week!  My heart is absolutely overfilled with joy.

Happiness is...

Going to the gym and becoming physically and mentally stronger.  This is my physical Trainer.  This was after a kickboxing workout on no sleep.  Grayson had a meltdown in the end, so we had to stop the workout 15 minutes early.  Look at him, he's fine once I held him . The Little Booger.  He's a slimy one, he is.

Being present and able to laugh and love.

After several weeks of living on almost no sleep, waking up and seeing this - the light peeking through the curtain.  I thought I was in a dream.

Knowing that - no matter what - someone always has your back.

Priceless.

Comment and tell us what makes you happy.  What is happiness for you?  Visit Crazy Adventures in Parenting and leave a link at the bottom to a blog post, Instagram photo, Twitter or Facebook Update.  Make sure to follow along using #happinessis on Twitter and Instagram.  Don't forget to visit often, click on a couple and like, retweet and share the love and happiness with others.

L

Blog Shout-Out Week of February 11th

Time to head over to Pinterest to see what awesome things I have pinned this week!

Articles

1.  Mom Guilt is EXCELLENT!  It was posted on MommyJenna's blog and written by Marie Pugh
2.  Article Love in Green Child Magazine on keeping time outs positive.
3.  I love positive thoughts.  One thing I have learned being a SAHM, is that I must say daily positive affirmations - which is why I love These Positive Thoughts which were posted on Taking Skinny for Granted

Blogs

1.  The Kid Lit Blog Hop, I am still thinking about.  Awesome!  Connect with some awesome authors and some rockin' literature!  Check out the website, visit the blogs and connect! 

Love it!

2.  Not exactly last week, but I thought this is an interesting must read.  Don't do it.  Don't Text and Drive - period.  I would think it would be a no-brainer, but apparently not.

Recipes
Personally, I'm getting sick and tired of the Valentines day posts.  I mean, come on now.  It's been dragged through the dirt and pounded into the ground (not to sound like a Grinch).  I know, I'm super cranky.  Probably has something to do with being up for the day at 1 AM.

Anyway, out of all the recipes that I pinned, saw and oogled over - there was one that was the "stand out" recipe.  And it's so uber cute!

1.  The Allergy Friendly Heart Shaped Donuts posted on Chockababy's blog!  I'm thinking if you don't need allergy friendly, you can make them using any delicious donut recipe you can dream up or find. 

Yummmmmmm, dooooooooonutttttts!

<Drool>

Since I am so cranky and am tired of the Valentines Day hoopla - tell me - what is your most favorite Valentines day recipe or craft (as I can't stand to even look at one more Valentines Day project)?  Perhaps we can build a list and I can torture others with it next year!

L
 

Girly Boy

This outfit is girly much

So, weigh in.  Am I an evil wicked battleaxe who is going to put my son into therapy when he is 20 - and  as a result, he will develop a deep seated hatred for me?  Or, am I a desperate busy Mom who has better things to do than laundry?

Please tell me because I really really want to know.

The Breastfeeding Jouney Continues - Even After 6 Months

I'm sitting here with my hot chocolate thinking about the up and down journey Grayson and I have been on.  It has definitely been a wild ride.

I am also looking at my very dirty, run down, 8.5 year old Medela Pump In Style with detest - and after you read this post, you will know why.

It all started after the birth.  I was in the shower, and the midwife came in and said "Grayson has a tongue tie, and you should get it cut as soon as possible".  I just looked at her.  The next two days were very painful with the tongue tie latch.  The pediatrician suggested I wait a while.  I was like - ummmm, that's not happening.

So, two days after his birth (it was a Tuesday), we went to the ENT.  Three days later, he stopped latching.  I remember it clearly, it was a Friday.  That weekend was - interesting to say the least.  I would spend hours (literally) trying to get him latched.  Once we got it, he would latch.  Then he would go to sleep - and it was almost like he forgot.  So, after he woke up, it was another few hours trying to get him latched again.

Man, was I crazed.  He was frustrated.  We tried all different ways, contortions, everything possible in different locations, in and out of the bed.  I was also pumping so that I could feed him a few ounces through a syringe so he wouldn't starve during the time I was trying to get him to latch.

It was a learning process for both of us.

So, on Monday, he was latching regularly!  YAY!  I have done it...or have I?

I was all ready for a positive breast feeding relationship.  Then, he stopped transferring milk.

So here began the intimate relationship with my very used and old Medela Pump And Style...

Man, I hate that thing.

The lactation consultant cut a whole in a bra so that I could pump hands free.  During that month, I was either feeding or pumping.  It was - exhausting to stay the least.  Granted, the hands free was a blessing - I felt like a cow, and didn't do much else.  I was up in the middle of the night pumping.

Not fun.  Not fun at all.

After that it was fine.  It was very up and down with him in terms of breastfeeding.  Sometimes he would feed very well, other times he wouldn't.  If he was sick, it would go down, but then bounce back.

Fast forward to 6 months.  We go for his 6 month checkup and his weight is down.  Granted, he had the flu, and grew 2 teeth during the previous month.  I can't imagine why he would have lost weight.  He looks healthy, he was breastfeeding well.  he was getting good poops and pees.  I feed on demand - why?  why? why?

So, I'm thinking that his body needs real food now.  So, 2 days ago we started with sweet potatoes that I steamed and smashed for him.  Of course he won't eat them.  I just need a break.  I bought this ridiculously expensive can of formula (I don't know how or why people would spend so much money) - so I could just give him one bottle a day so I wouldn't have to pump. Please...please not again.

He of course won't drink the formula and I am not spending tons of money going through different types trying to find something he likes.  It's crazy how much that stuff costs.  It really is a crime.  People need to feed their babies.  Sheesh!

So now, I have come back full circle.  I am looking at my Medela Pump In Style again.

Thinking why...why...why must I endure this again?  I am so so tired.  This totally and utterly soaks.  I breastfed the others 2-3 years with no problems.  What's the deal?

Does anyone - anyone out there have any suggestions?  Encouragement?  Something?  Anything?  I really don't see as I have a choice.

GAH.

It's Time to Act - A Revolution for THE FAMILY!

I have never been the excitable type.  I have never been a loud mouth, a busy body or anything else along those lines.  I have also never been a strong advocate for anything.  I guess that's because I have never felt passionate enough about anything to advocate for it.  I sort of thought, well people will do what they want to do, and that's fine.

With that said, the state of the family in America - is - well...

The state of the family in America is horrible - and nobody seems to even care.  DOES ANYBODY CARE (saying this very loud as if nobody is listening)?

It seems like we all exist in this vacuum and we just go on - and accept the mess.  The more mess that happens, the more we accept it.

Duh...

The family is the center to everything.  If your family is not working, nothing works.  Can you concentrate at work when you've just had a fight with your spouse?  What about your kids?  Probably not.  What if your kids and their parents are at odds constantly? Do you think they will grow up empowered and "loving thy father and thy mother"?

Hhmmm?

Our strength or lack thereof comes from the very foundation which makes us happiest or most miserable - our families.  If we increased the cohesiveness of our families, the bonds would be so strong, the negative influences (from the outside) have a more difficult time penetrating the strong force field of love.

See those negative influences bouncing off?

Boing...Boing...Boing...Bouncing off into the abyss.  In my mind - this is the ideal and certainly what I want.

What do you think will happen if part of the family unit breaks away - or no longer works?

Now there are holes.  What do you think will happen to those negative influences now?

This is what this blog is about.  This is what I care about.  This is what I think about.

I am not an expert by any means, but am an expert in my own life.  So, I plan to discuss these things through discussion of my own life experiences, thoughts, actions, beliefs, and ideas.  I love to bounce things back and forth, so hopefully others would also like to contribute their life experiences, thoughts, actions, believes and ideas as well.

I am hoping that this will be a positive place with positive vibes - where people will come to be empowered!

I certainly will be.

I'm ready to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.  Are you?

L

My Night in Pictures - Up All Night With Baby

It's 4:33 AM and I have been up since Gray woke up at midnight - full of energy - for the 4th night in a row.

Yawn.

So, instead of complaining about it, I decided to document it so I can always remember "the awesome times".

Yawn.

This is after feeding him, when he wanted to play - and I was half sleep - reading blogs.

Little guy wanted to play so I put him in the pack and play!  He didn't stay too long.  He ate his toys for a while, then tried to catch the stripes on the mat.  Then he started the eh..eh...eh type of cry.  He wanted mama to pick him up so he could mess around while I was blogging.

 which was totally annoying.

Then I gave up trying to read blogs and comment, and we took some middle of the night pictures.

Hahahaha! 

Needed to get a change in scenery.  By this time it was

 

So we went into the playroom and turned on the TV.

Oh, Suits was on.

 

but Gray wasn't that interested.  he laid there a while and then started bouncing around - kind of like - I'm tired but I don't want to go to sleep.

So, then I decided I was going to take out my big guns.

Ahhhhhhhh,  a milk coma.

Since I was up, might as well make a pair of

Very cute Merino Wool pants!

So now, here it is 4:46 AM - and not sure how I am going to get through the day.

So tell me, where you as active last night as we (Grayson and I) were?  Tell me because I really want to know.

L

Making Dating a Family Event

Oh yeah!

I have been thinking about dating a lot lately.  I know, I know - my kids are only 6 months, 4 years and 8 years old. 

I firmly believe that now is the time to set the foundation.  When my son starts talking about having a girlfriend and going on a date, I say things like...

1.  You better leave those girls alone. 
2.  Thinking about girls is the wrong thing to do right now. 
3.  Your first priority is school. Do your best in school, go out on a mission if you want, go to college and get a great education.  Girls can and should wait.
4.  You will have a free ride so long as you stay in school.  You won't have to work and you will always have dinner on the table.
5.  Don't focus on liking one person in particular.  Have lots of friends.
6. The time will come soon enough.  Now, concentrate on playing soccer.

He's 8 so this stuff works now.  But, there will come a time when it doesn't work.

So, here is my thinking on this matter.

They can start dating at 16 or maybe 17 - not any sooner.  And, when he goes out on a date, this is how it will work...

Do you recognize this scene?  It's from the Godfather (c.1972) where Michael Corleone goes out on a date with Apellonia Vitelli.  You see that woman in the front?  The one with the black scarf?

That's me.

Yep - Ava, Grayson, Dad and I will be following right behind him - every step of the way.  You think I'm lying?  The things going on these days....I kid you not.

Now, I have had some good ideas in the past - but this one takes the cake!

Oh yeah!  One step ahead at all times.

So tell me my friends, do you think it's a  good idea to make date night a family night?  What are you planning to do/what do you do/what have you done to ensure the safety of your kids when they start dating?  Please do take the time to comment - because I really really want to know. 

L