Top Ten

So in light of my last post and my obsession with pregnancy and childbirth, I have decided to make a list of all I enjoy while NOT being pregnant.

1. I know what you are all thinking, wine. While the thought of lowering my blood pressure and dozing off in the evening to a nice red wine sounds heavenly, I still have yet to add that to my list thanks to breastfeeding.

2.A daily dose of caffeine. I know I should keep this somewhat limited as well due to nursing but it’s the one thing that I think of at 3:00am that makes me smile. After a crazy morning trying to herd everyone out of the house, I pick up my latte, take a sip and take a deep breath. Heaven in a travel mug.

3.Deli Meat. Yes, I avoided deli meat while pregnant due to the ever so..common..threat of listeria. Didn’t you know? Now I can have a healthy quick lunch with some good old turkey. Nitrate free of course, let’s not get crazy.

4.A hot bath. Three and a half years ago when we built our house, I insisted I needed a jetted tub. It has been used twice.

5.Paint fumes. Ok, maybe I don’t enjoy them but it’s nice to get back to my old “take on too many projects” self.

6.Soft cheeses. Not that I indulge on blue cheese but it’s nice to go out to lunch and not study the menu to be sure my salad has the appropriate type of cheese.

7.Swordfish. Ok, I don’t really eat swordfish but it only made me worry about of other fish and mercury levels.

8.Second hand smoke. OK! I don’t enjoy this either but it will be nice not to hold my breath and glare at the smokers trying to get them to notice my bulging belly and see their harmful habit. Although the lack of oxygen to the baby might be more harmful than the puff of smoke….

9.Energy. I must admit, the first trimester I often found myself napping in my car or wherever I could find a quiet space. I may not get any sleep but at least my body is not trying to grow a human inside. And let’s not forget, now I can inject caffeine.

10.Holding my babies close. Probably one of the best reasons. My boys can sometimes be rough and I worry when I’m pregnant about them kicking the baby or hurting him. Towards the end I can’t lift much. And with a huge belly, it’s hard to hold my other ones close on my lap and in a rocking chair. So today I will enjoy a flat (eh hmm) stomach and enjoy my three precious boys.

Rose colored glasses

I’m a little bummed I didn’t keep up on this blog during my pregnancy. I SO love being pregnant and I wish I would have expressed my feelings more on paper so I could remember all the things I loved about it. But even more, I should have kept a better record of the not so fun parts. While I have great pregnancies, I still am utterly exhausted day in and day out. I get nauseous and eat constantly. I watched food network every night and found myself in the kitchen at 10pm trying to make huevoes rancheros and guacamole, hence the 40 lb weight gain. I had early labor and bedrest, backaches and aching feet. Yet, when I look back I remember all those things fondly. I long for the feeling of a kicking baby back inside of me, seeing the baby on the ultrasound for the first time, seeing my stomach grow and dreaming of what he might be like. I have a way of looking back at life’s events through rose colored glasses. This third c-section I suffered from a terrible spinal headache for nearly six weeks yet all I feel is utter joy when I recall the events of his birth. This is a problem. I just don’t know how to stop. But it’s a problem I’ll take. Makes life a little sweeter to focus on the good sometimes.

On the verge of crazy

I’m starting to understand why I get strange looks when I tell people I have three boys under the age of 5. And work full time. As most of you know, my children do not sleep. Ever. I have no idea where they get their energy. I’ve always prided myself on how little sleep I need but apparently that’s genetic. Hmmm. I did not see this coming. So at 6 ½ months Greyson gets up at least two times a night, on a good night. Just when I think this will be my night, Jackson wakes up with the stomach flu and Colton decides Daddy needs to lay with him on the couch at 3am. Cleared that hurdle Monday. Ok, Thursday, it can’t get any worse. Ha. I drag myself to bed at 11pm and lay there realizing how large my to do list already is for tomorrow. I finally doze off to a 12:30 wake up from Greyson. Luckily after a quick snack he’s out. Whew. 1:30am. Sobbing. Jackson has an ear ache. Seriously?! An ear ache? He hasn’t had an ear infection in years. Tylenol, warm washcloth, extra pillow, prayers. I think he’s out. 3:30 Greyson is ready for another quick snack. 4:30 Colton decides its morning and he’s taking Jackson with him. Mommy and Daddy, sorry, bedtime is over. No worries, I just have to work, pump, early pick up for doctors appts, friends over for dinner and then bedtime starts all over again. Yep, it’s a crazy life. But oddly, I feel fine. I can’t complain. I’m in love with four boys and I couldn’t be more thankful for my abundant blessings.

Letters to my...boys?

I keep seeing all these great blogs from mom’s to their kids. A way to capture memories. They are so touching and sentimental. I love it. Because I love my kids beyond belief. I love being pregnant. I love giving birth and I love being a mom. I should write letters to my boys. Wait. My boys? I can picture it now. 20 years from now I’ll gather all my old blogs, put together years of pictures, spend countless hours arranging them and crying over the memories. I’ll peer over their shoulders with tears in my eyes as they unwrap my masterpiece and they’ll say, “Cool, mom. Thanks.” Maybe I should just spend my time praying for wonderful, sappy daughter-in-laws.

I’m back!

I know, nearly two years later. I've had another baby since then! I realized I've been reading all these other blogs and thinking about all I would say on mine. So, in my spare time...ok, I'll give up something else and write for a bit. What to give up...hmm...Sleep? Nope, don't get any of that. Breakfast? Wait, my latte and two chocolate chip cookies? That wouldn't save much time. And I'm not about to give up my coffee. Bathroom breaks? Probably not the best idea. Who knows. This may only last a week but it'll be a nice way to vent and capture my life. So here we go again.