Do your boobs hang low?

Ok, so I need HELP! It's no secret to anyone that I am currently breastfeeding Camden. But, I have a problem- Elsie* and Daisy* are sagging BAD. And, if I want to remain attractive and keep my breasties from falling out of the bottom and armholes of my shirts I need bra advice NOW! Where in the world can I get a good supportive nursing bra? I currently own 7 and I have purchased them from Motherhood, Target, and JC Penney's. They all stink and they do not work for me at all! Pretty please give me opinions, advice etc.

*formerly Bertha and Martha* They will go back to their previous names when the milk factory closes.

Are we in hell and somebody forgot to tell me?

Holy Freaking Cow- it's so hot I am about to die. I am sweating in places no decent lady should sweat from...Seriously I was born and raised in Texas and swore I would never leave, but lately I find myself dreaming about moving to a cooler place. I have never liked the heat much, as long as I can be near swimming pools and cold drinks- but this year is the worst Summer I think I have ever experienced. I am a heat stroke/sun poisoning kind of girl. Meaning if I don't have the above mentioned swimming pool-cold drink combo I can't be outdoors. And forget about me not having A/C, not gonna happen. Can't happen. I am sure the fact that I am a human oven making a cute little bun right now is making matters worse. Put it this way- Summer in Texas is not at all pleasant. It doesn't bother Jon a bit, which I can't understand. He can't stand the cold and shivers when it's below 78 in the house... whatever dude. On a day I do leave the house before dusk I apply deodorant 2 to 3 times and stand in front of two fans just to cool down from getting ready, which is nuts because I keep our thermostat at 74. Blow drying my hair is AWFUL, like I feel like I need a shower afterwards. The minute I step into my clothes- here comes more sweat and getting in the car is like stepping into an oven. Last week the temp in my car was 110 at 11 o'clock in the morning!! We don't swim in our pool- the water is a warm 95 degrees most days. I feel like I am cheating my kids out of their Summer- because of my intolerance to oven like temps. Normally we do Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor at least once with several movie trips thrown in and other miscellaneous stuff here and there. But, this year we have done 1 movie, 1 trip to the Art Barn, and 2 pool parties. Wow! Thank goodness Chandler stays occupied with his friends and the other 3 hit the BMX track with Jon or they would literally rarely ever leave or have any fun. Thank goodness for books, board games, and the ever so important internet and TV. And to top it all off- I have spent a small fortune on icees, slurpees, ice cream, and bottled water. I really wish I was a wealthy woman- we would spend Summers somewhere gorgeous and tropical where the temps don't go above 85 and winters somewhere white and beautiful. Then we would hop in our private jet and visit friends and family in Texas whenever we pleased. Sounds fun right? Now, I am off to daydream about cooler climates while I sip some frosty goodness under two fans and I am gonna pretend the weather dude was joking when he said it won't go below 100 all week long....

Is it just me?

Am I the only one who doesn't feel like blogging much lately? It sure seems as if there's something in the blogging waters... Just curious! Are you a blogger? Are you updating frequently? And, if not- why? I know for me that I am enjoying the beginning of Summer with my kids. I have been reading books and trying to feather my nest for this baby. Plus, Facebook seems to be my drug of choice lately...

Greedy Much?

Yesterday Jon and I went to do our baby registry. I was excited simply because I got to make a wish list and Jon was excited because he got to scan stuff with the little gun. I have registered with each baby and each time I register I feel SO greedy. Like, I want this blanket and this toy, etc. Even though I know it's all in fun and it is helpful to follow a registry when you buy a gift- I just can't help but feel like a brat! And just to add to my greediness, I told Jon that since this was our LAST baby and I have nothing baby left from the other kids, I wanted to splurge. I have never had a nursery to decorate, as my kids have all shared a room with me or a sibling. But, this time I will have Chan's old room to make into a nursery and I am already planning everything from cribs to paint to toys. To say I'm excited would be putting it mildly... until I saw how much baby stuff costs!! Hello- $89 activity mats! $300 car seats! $15 bottles of baby detergent! Things have changed since I had Hayden and are light years different from 1992 when Chandler was born. Oh my goodness! It's pretty funny the products that are out there that these stores make you think have to have. Like a wipe warmer. I know a warm wipe probably feels better than a cold one, but I bet a cold wipe feels better than warm poop! Or a Diaper Genie. I thought you just threw the soiled ones away... And then there's baby monitors. I know they are convenient especially if you are far away from baby, but it is possible to live without one. I don't know about you but my babies had some seriously strong lungs. Jon and I were laughing as we were scanning those very same "non-essential essentials" mentioned above at what our mothers and grandmothers coped with. I know alot of the stuff makes things go a little smoother, but my mom used cloth diapers with 8 of 9 children and we all lived to tell the tale! I guess it's just shocking to me how spoiled we modern folks are! And although it would be really nice to get all the goodies I saw at the store, surely I can survive without them...

just an ordinary girl

Ok, so this is gonna be "deep" and I guess I probably sound down, but I'm not. I am just curious- what is extraordinary and is it ok just to be ordinary? And, the reason I ask is because I guess I'm too down on myself for not being Superwoman. And, alot of it stems from reading other people's blogs and looking at Facebook. I know you know what I mean. There are some people who just seem too perfect. I guess I should clarify that when I say people I mean other chicks. It's just too easy to log onto the computer in a great mood and start blog hopping or glancing at profiles of old friends on Facebook and before you know it you feel ick about yourself. There's the girl with half a dozen kids who is still a size 4 and gorgeous. Or the one who has been to every vacation spot on the planet. Then there's the crafty one who could practically fashion an entire house AND fabulous wardrobe out of scrapbook paper and glitter. Let's not forget about the one with the amazing camera who takes perfect shots of everything from leaves to her gorgeous kids. Or the rich one or the gorgeous one or the one with a perfect house who has time for everything you don't. Then there's the Rachael Ray who makes everything from scratch and it's healthy. There are times when I feel like my life would be so wonderful if I could be one of those Superchicks. But, I would never want someone to be jealous or down because of me. I have long had a problem with envy or the grass is always greener syndrome. I mean I am what I would call ordinary. I really love most aspects of my ordinary life and my (extraordinary to me) kids and my husband. I just wish I could be content with who I am and not constantly think if I was like so and so life would be perfect. I really need to locate my self esteem I guess, and getting off this hormonal roller coaster might help...

A post about childbirth

So, I am sure you've heard, I'm having a baby! And, because I'm having a baby I watch lots of shows on TLC like A Baby Story, Birth Day, Bringing Home Baby, etc. I can't help it, I've watched them for years even when I'm not expecting. I guess because I find them interesting and I have always wanted to be a Labor & Delivery or NICU nurse. Anyway... here's what I find odd: there are so many women who are in active labor (legs up to the sky and they are pushing) and they don't seem to care who is watching. We're talking dad, father in law, brother etc. Now, I don't mean to be judgmental to those of you who have done this but I just wonder why? More power to ya, but I am Miss Modesty. I don't care if I am toned, taut, tan, and a size 4- ain't nobody but my husband and sometimes my mom gonna see me in that position. I mean in all honesty my husband has not seen me naked in broad daylight in YEARS, and I am not even kidding. I have had my mom, Kelli, and Amy watch me give birth and even that was uncomfortable. But, I wanted them there. My dad, never! I'd like to think he believes the stork brings my babies, not to mention how they got there...
Anyway, when I had Hayden my mother-in-law showed up right as I was about to start seriously pushing and I was on a 30 minute time table. Meaning I had 30 minutes to get him out or my OB was threatening me with a C-section. (Honestly I think he wanted to go home.) And, I love my mother-in-law to death but I didn't want to push a baby out in front of her but I really really didn't wanted to be gutted to get my baby out so I reluctantly gave it my all and Hayden was born. So, my question to y'all is: how come some people can have a baby with their dad or brother watching? Am I weird?

Baby Factory

I am sure everyone has heard the news about the woman who had octuplets. Well, did you hear that she already has 6 kids at home? And they are all under the age of 7! I suck at math but I'll give it a shot:

6 + 8 = 14 kids

Words fail me. Seriously. I love my kids and I would take another if Heavenly Father felt there was one that needed to be sent to my family. I feel deep pain for women who can't have children or who have suffered pregnancy loss. And, honestly it's none of my business how a woman gets pregnant. But, I have to think it was incredibly irresponsible for a fertility Doctor to deposit 8 fertilized eggs into this woman's uterus. My mom had 9 over the course of 20 years... This chick is almost to Duggar status! I had read that she is under 30. And that her husband is headed back to Iraq. And, while I am overjoyed at the thought of a soft and cuddly, sweet smelling little miracle from Heaven- I feel very sorry for the mom. I can't even imagine what her life is going to entail from now on.... I am glad that her children are healthy, it just seems abnormal for a woman to carry that many babies. I mean it's rare for a woman to have more than 2, sure it happens. But singleton pregnancies are the norm. I read another article where I think the situation was summed up just right: "Women are not designed to have LITTERS of BABIES. Look at their bodies. They were intended to feed one maybe two at most."

'Tis the Season

Well, I am off to a roaring start. I have been to the mall 2 times, Hobby Lobby 3 times, Wal-Mart 4 times, and Target 7 times and I have bought 1 gift. Umm yeah, I need to work on that... I have been mainly looking at decorations, ornaments, cards, lights, etc. Normally I would have decorated my house and then some by now, but I can't get Scrooge (Jon) to get his butt in gear, he keeps my Christmas stuff in the scary place- the attic. And, I don't do the attic. Ever. So, I have just been accumulating more decor than I need. I am hoping he'll get the hint. Hmmm, we'll see. So, while I am on the subject of Christmas, I thought I would ramble on about a few things I have noticed/encountered the past few days.

First, other than a beautiful snow globe depicting The Nativity, I have never actually owned one. So, I am on a mission to find the most beautiful set I can afford, hopefully no more than $100. I have been checking out all the stores I have been in and nada. Hobby Lobby had some nice ones and they were on sale, but the prettiest ones were gone. I went in Michael's tonight and searched and searched, but again- nothing. So, I asked the girl at the front counter if they had any, and she didn't know what I was talking about!! I am not even kidding. And I said to her, in one giant run on sentence: "Are you for real, seriously, you have got to be kidding me, you don't know what a nativity set is???" I am stunned.

Second- I am a little nervous to go out shopping this year. I have heard countless stories of people being mugged or robbed, some at gunpoint. I know it happens, but this year seems worse than ever! I have never been afraid to go out at night, I do it all the time. But, I am changing that this year. Today I went shopping and left my purse at home. Felt very weird, but I am gonna keep doing it or drag Jon shopping with me. Which, is pretty painful. He just shuffles along, looking bored, hands in his pockets. I can practically see the dollar signs flying out of his ears. I really think he would rather get his chest hairs hot waxed than shop. Men, is it really that bad? I just love it. My heart really does skip a beat when I pull into Target.

Third- Yes, I know all the Santa stories and legends, etc. But, when exactly did Christmas turn into what it is today? Not much more I can say about this, but I think you know what I mean. Even though I am a Christian (yes, it's true) I had never before focused on the true meaning of Christmas, especially since I had been inactive for so long. I mean I did, but not as much as I should have. But, I have learned alot this past year and I am more thankful now than ever for the gift of our Savior. So, Christmas will have a much deeper meaning for me and my family than ever before. We will still do all the same stuff we normally do: Santa, cookies, presents, etc. But, we will be focusing alot more on Christ. And, on a sorta side note: does anyone know if Santa Claus was one of the three wise men? I didn't think so. Because, I kid you not, I saw a decoration that is Mr. Claus looking down at baby Jesus in his manger. Seriously.

And last but not least: I am missing 1 antler from my car reindeer costume. Remember from last year? Enjoy last year's giant reindeer post here. And yes, I am gonna use it again this year. Instantly embarrasses children, one of my favorite past times.

The REAL vampire movie

Ok, I must first clarify that I have not read or seen Twilight. I have promised several people that I will get around to reading it and seeing the movie. Mostly, I have to know what the hype is all about. I am sure it's great, I mean I know like 10 people who have already seen it. But I only have room in my heart for 1 vampire movie... Now, with that being said, I wanted to bring up an oldie but oh so goody vampire movie that they also made into a book: The Lost Boys. I believe it was based on a series of short stories, but I am not totally sure. Anyway, me and my sisters Kelli and Amy were so in love with that movie. We used to quote it word for word. We saw it more times than I can even remember. I do recall watching it 23 days in a row once, I am pretty sure it was my freshmen year... but don't quote me. We would sit down every day after school with our snacks and pop the tape into our super giant VCR and start swooning. I mean it was scary, it was funny, it was full of hot boys, and there were even a few romantical parts. Plus, the soundtrack rocked. Hello, Echo and the Bunnymen! And, while I am sure Twilight is it's own kind of awesome, The Lost Boys was serious 80's awesome and will forever be one of my favorite movies. As a matter of fact, I may be having a Blockbuster night...

He totally had it coming...

I just read that O.J. Simpson was found guilty in the armed robbery case he was being tried for. I do not know all of the details about this case, but I feel as if he has had this coming for many years. I know how the courts work and I know he was found not guilty for murdering his ex-wife and her friend. But, never in a million years would I ever believe he wasn't responsible. He may have gotten 14 years of freedom, but it looks like he may rot in jail after all.

So Sad...

By now I am sure most of you have heard the story about the man who abandoned his 9 children at a Nebraska hospital. For those of you who haven't, you can find the story here. I am just so bothered and shocked by this story. This man must have felt like he had no choice. It really is sad. His wife died shortly after delivering their 10th child. (The oldest is 18 and was not dropped off). He said that he had quit his job to care for his children and was at the point where he couldn't afford rent or utilities. I remember a made for TV movie when I was a kid about a family that included 5 children, whom the parents felt they could no longer care for. So, they told the kids they were going for burgers. The oldest child took the other kids inside this gas station/cafe for a cheeseburger while the parents supposedly got gas, cleaned the windshield, etc. It was while these kids were waiting on their food that the parents drove off. The kids were turned over to police and put in separate foster homes. They were eventually reunited and I believe it was based on a true story. It kinda became a joke around our house as children if we were bad- "do you wanna go for a cheeseburger?" All kidding aside, I can't imagine what those kids are thinking. And, the dad. I can't even fathom things being bad enough to ever abandon my kids. Ever. Jon and I have always, always said no matter what our family has to endure, we will do it as a family. But, it makes you wonder in this guys situation, did he do the right thing? What would their life be like if he continued to try and press forward? The article said that several family members had stepped forward to take the children. Why then, did this man not give his extended family temporary custody while he got his life together? Why?

Dear Abby, Dr. Phil, Prudence, and Oprah-

I need your opinions please. I have a few things on my mind that I need help with:

Is it wrong to feel relieved when your husband runs over a nest of baby mice when he's mowing?

At what age is it appropriate for a girl to get her ears pierced for a second time? What about makeup and shaving?

What curfew should I give my 16 year old son? He gets good grades and is appalled by alcohol and cigarettes.

Is it bad that I take a nap almost every day while my kids are in school? I go to bed at 2 every morning and get up at 6:30, I think I deserve a nap.

What do you think about placing a hamper in the middle of the bedroom floor or near the bed? My husband always drops his dirty clothes there, so I figured maybe the one in the bathroom is not noticeable. Thoughts?

Hamburger Helper for dinner? I say no way, but my husband and son love it.

How long is too long to go without shaving?

I am trying to teach my 6 year old son how to do an "armpit fart" whenever I should be teaching him to tie his shoes. Does this make me a bad mother?

Any advice on how to get a picky eater to be un-picky? I mean this kid will eat his own fingernails but won't touch a P B & J with a ten foot pole.

I think my 12 year old son is addicted to his cell phone. Is this possible? Is there a cure?

What exactly IS toe jam?


Wondering and Confused in Texas

Girl Power!

Jon and I were just talking the other day about the upcoming presidential election and we were both at a loss. To put it mildly, we were pretty sure we weren't going to be voting at all. Which is sad, because you feel as if 1) you're an adult and being able to vote is a privilege, 2) you hope that your one vote will have an impact, 3) it's your right as a US citizen, and 4) you want someone in the White House who stands for what you believe in. But, we have been feeling pretty un-interested in the whole thing and the candidates. Honestly, for me, ever since Mitt Romney withdrew I haven't paid a whole lot of attention. Until today. I am VERY excited about McCain's choice of Sarah Palin! I have been reading every article I can about her, and I am impressed. Up until today I had only heard about her once, after she delivered her last baby in May, and that was it. She had made national news because her son was born with Down's syndrome. Anyway, she seems like a tough, smart chick. Not to mention, she had on some pretty great red pumps today. So there, I haven't been this excited for an election in a looong time. And, I bet my parents and grandparents never dreamed we would have an African American Presidential nominee and a female nominated for Vice President. Wow, this is gonna be good. I am excited. And, just so you know, I NEVER hardly EVER get into politics at all. It's like opening Pandora's box...

Olympic Sized Opinion

Warning- the word she is used ALOT in this post, sorry.

As long as I can remember I have loved gymnastics, alot. I dreamed of being an
Olympian. If I ever reach my goal weight (ha ha) I am gonna take a gymnastics class. I was tickled pink when Chloe did so well at it, expecially considering her age. I envisioned her being on the medal stand getting a gold medal. She got to meet Bela Karolyi and do a mini training session with him and even got an autograph. He seemed impressed with her or at least Jon and I would like to think so. She was a teeny little thing, just 5 years old. We were amazed at how fast she picked it up, and I think she was too. She was 4 when we first enrolled her in a class, and she wasn't playing around. She was such a show off, we used to crack up at her. They would do little exhibitions every quarter, and the parents would just ooh and ahh over her. She really was a little firecracker. She only did it for 3 years. She got good quick and they put her on a team at 5. She was training 5 hours a week and it was just too much for her. She wanted to ride her bike, blow bubbles, watch cartoons. Not be at gymnastics all the time. I still secretly hope she will start up again. She's never lost the skills or her strength, she is as strong as ever. Anyway, I bring all of this up because with the Olympics being on, gymnastics is in the spotlight on TV and at our house. I am just saddened and frustrated by the rumors going around about the Chinese women's team possibly using underage girls to compete. The government and the Olympics committee seem to have thrown their hands up and these girls are competing anyway. Of course there is no proof, just lots of speculation. I can only imagine how frustrated the countless other girls they compete against must feel. Or girls who are really good but are just too young whose coaches don't cheat. If I was a parent whose daughter was on a competing team I would be pissed! I just think it's so wrong and absolutely ridiculous that they are getting by with cheating. So many athletes are stripped of their medals and trophies for cheating. I am stunned. Basically, what I am getting at is I hope we STICK IT to those Chinese girls, their coach, and their country!!

*obviously this is my opinion on my blog, I have no proof of cheating, just seems pretty odd to me.*

Read the story about the controversy here.

Just for kicks, here is Chloe back in October.