64 pages

This morning I had to report for jury duty at 9:15. We were told that the case would last into October, and the judge would be with us shortly. Wondering if I'd be chosen and how that would interfere with my parents arriving in Friday, I decided to open my book and get a few pages in before we were told the next set of instructions. Two hours and 15 minutes later and a lot of listening to the ladies behind me moan and complain, we were told that we the case had dissolved, and we were free to go.

A sigh of relief was heard from all waiting. I on the other hand had enjoyed my 2 hours of uninterrupted reading time. I was able to devour 64 pages of my book with only one potty break and no Monkey breaks. I love my little man with all my heart, but I really enjoyed being able to sit down to my book and read to my heart's content. It'd been a long time since I've enjoyed more than a few pages of a good book. Usually, I'm only able to catch few pages of a magazine that has soggy corners from a little Houdini grabbing it from where I thought he couldn't reach. Or missing a page because it was torn out before I could get to it and crumpled into baby bliss.

On my way to pick up Monkey, I took the opportunity to visit the children's boutique Pitter Patter and browse all the cute little clothes and knick knacks that I "probably" don't need. Fun store. Cute maternity clothes too. Not that I'll "probably" need those for a little while either.

Tonight is the last night to call in for jury duty. It's been a month with 2 call-ins but no trial. Glad it's coming to a close, but I'm kinda bummed I didn't get the chance to see how the whole process works. I'm sure there will be future opportunities though.

Nursing Shortage

I must face the facts....my milk has taken a drastic dip in supply. I have limped along for the past 2 months ignoring the facts that I am starting to dry up slowly. I have become a slave to my pump and smell like maple syrup from taking fenugreek (and I can't stand the smell of syrup unless it's where it belongs...on pancakes). My goal was a year, and I'm having a hard time facing that we are not going to make it.

Today was a big step in my denial. I gave Monkey his first bottle of formula before nap time. It was bittersweet in the fact that we've never had to supplement him in his 8 1/2 months. He doesn't know anything but his Momma's milk. Yet, he took the bottle without a hitch. Sucked it right down like nothing new was going on. Good since this will become more of a common occurrence as my freezer stock dwindles. Sad that he sucked it down without even batting a long baby eyelash. Part of me wanted him to fight it. Bad, huh?!

I'm just not ready to stop nursing him. We're going to go as long as this milky Momma will go. For now, we'll stick with morning and bedtime nursing. The daytime will be for the formula. I usually have more than enough for wake-up and sometimes a mid morning snack. Then I figure my supply will bulk up for my cherished nursing time....bedtime. This one will be the last to go, as I can't imagine our routine at night without nursing. The bond has been unbelievable. More than I ever imagined it to be. So rewarding and absolutely amazing that this boy has gained 22 pounds off what I have given him (he is eating food too I guess). An incredible experience thus far.

I'll continue to pump at work until it deems not worth the setup. Pumping at home is going to become a thing of the past though. I'll have to say....I won't miss this part.

Hard to stomach that for 6 months I was producing like it was going out of style. Then all of a sudden, I hit a wall. I blame it on the revisit of a women's most dreaded monthly duty....ugh. I've been limping along ever since. It dawned on me the last two weeks that he's not getting enough from me. Stupid of me to detriment him for my own stubbornness. So we will go as long as I can last. Who knows maybe we'll make it to a year with only one a day. Time will tell!

Daddy Day

I had to work last night, so Daddy and you spent the day together today. I miss spending a lazy Sunday with my two boys, but it's better for everyone that I get a few hours of sleep. Plus, you two get some much needed boy time. Before I went to sleep this morning, you woke up. Daddy and I both went into wake get you. Boy were you surprised to see the both of us in the morning. It's rare that we're both home in the morning when you wake up. You couldn't quite figure out what was going. You kept looking back and forth between the two of us like "wow, what's gonna happen next!" Too cute! You were so excited. Mommy wishes we had more mornings where Daddy and I could come in and surprise you.

Then it was off to bed for me. I always love waking up to see how your day went and what Daddy has dressed you in. You can always tell that he put alot of thought into your outfit for the day. Today was a fun shirt with guitars on it and your khaki pants (which Mommy needs to pack away b/c they now resemble capris and that's not cool for little boys according to Daddy). Too cute you are. You were sitting in the living room "reading" the recipe section of my Oprah magazine watching Napoleon Dynamite with Daddy. Toys from here to there and all smiles. I'm sure Daddy Days probably consist of way more TV than the "experts" would recommend, but who cares.....my boys are getting some much needed bonding time and all is happy! A Momma couldn't be happier!

"Standy Up" for real

When you were little, Monkey, we use to play "Standy Up" with you. We would hold you up and your strong little legs would hold you up. As you got older, you were able to stand for longer periods of time. You would smile and giggle. You loved playing, especially when your Daddy did it.

Yesterday, you started playing "Standy Up" on your own. You have figured out how to pull yourself up. I found you standing in your crib after naptime, standing at the coffee table grabbing for Mommy's magazines, standing at the couch pulling your folded clothes onto the floor, standing at the deck door laughing at the doggies, standing at the kitchen chair grinning from ear-to-ear. How did you get so big so fast? I know I keep asking that, but you just continue to amaze me each day.

When we gave you real peas for the first time the other day, you could clap for yourself each time you got one in your mouth. You are so funny! Clapping is your new favorite thing. You clap at diaper changes, bath time, in the car, or just whenever the need arises for a clap. Too cute you are!

But, I'm not too fond of your habit of spitting your food out. There are other ways to tell Mommy that you're done eating. And I don't think it's nearly as funny as you do....funny how that is. I'm finding that it's not very easy to "discipline" a 8 month old. I'll liked your old way of telling me you were finished by turning your head around in your seat. Things to work on little man. You do love your food though.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring little one.....guess we'll have to wait and see! Love you to the moon and back again!

Low Census

Yesterday I was at my wits end by 3:00. Monkey has been on a 2 nap schedule for about 2 weeks now....FINALLY! (People kept asking, "why do u want him on 2 instead of 3 naps?"....Because I can't get a thing done when I have an 8 month old who only naps for 1 hour, if I was lucky, 3 times a day....that's why.) He woke up yesterday from his afternoon nap after only 45 minutes....I about died. Did he know that I had to work that night and needed sleep more than anything. He was cranky, I was cranky and desperate. I called work to put in for an overstaff knowing I was crazy to even think I was going to get it. To my surprise, Lisa said it was most likely doable because we were staffed for 30 and only had 17 patients on the floor. She'd let me know after the staffing meeting. Thank you God!! A glimmer of hope awaited.

When I hadn't heard anything by 5, I begrudgingly got in the shower with both phones outside the shower door. The call came halfway through the shower, and she put me on-call for the 12 hour shift.....but it looked good hospital wide that I wouldn't get called in. Fast forward to this morning at 6 AM when Hubby was leaving for work, and I realized no call came in the deep dark night!! YEAH!!!

No work and a full night's sleep!! Ahhh, revived this morning!!

I love fall for...

the ever changing scenery....something different to see everyday. I love how one day there are just a few golden trees dancing across the mountain, and the next, they have invited all their friends out to dance. The Place: the mountainside and valleys below, The Costume: your favorite color of leaves for the fall.

raspberries!! Sheets and sheets of raspberries and their plump, juicy goodness! I now have my very own raspberry patch thanks to Granny and her fabulous raspberry canes. I probably have close to 40 cups of these fabulous berries in my freezer, and my bushes need to be picked again. This means jam, muffins, pancakes, fluff, crepes (I could go on and on.) all winter long. Is your mouth watering yet?

I could go on and on about fall. I love it for football and sweatshirts. For snugly sweaters and comfy jeans. For new backpacks and the site of the big yellow school bus. For hot cider and caramel apples. For pumpkins and hayrake rides. For bonfires and smores. For leaf piles and mittens. For the crispness of the air and the starkness of the sky against all of falls beautiful colors. For Halloween and kids running amuck dressed like their favorite ghoul or goblin. For the anticipation of the first snow and the silence that follows it.

Thank you Mother Nature for the beauty you spread and the excitement you bring. A new season is here. Fast closing in on the following season. I will soak up every ounce of fall you have to offer.

She's Back??

Do I dare say it? She looked very composed last night at the VMAs, albeight a little nervous even. She was pretty and appeared to be very grateful. I turned on the awards show only to see her introduction b/c it had been so talked up.

I admit to being a Britney fan back before her K-Fed days. I don't agree with what she has put her boys through. Thank goodness they are young enough that they won't remember most of the circus. I think she is a girl who grew up way too fast in the limelight and was swallowed up in Hollywood. I hope she is on track to a better life than she has been leading. I hope her Dad has taken her under his wing and led her on the right road to a clean and happy life. Those two little boys need their Mommy. Good luck Britney!