No Longer My Baby

Well, it's nearly 1am as I type this. My husband and two children are fast asleep and I'm contemplating scholastic suicide by heading to bed without finishing the accounting homework I must turn in tomorrow. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to concentrate on debits and credits and general ledges after celebrating my son's 1st birthday today.

Happy Birthday Izaiah!

I just can not believe that it was an entire year ago that I was begging my OB to cut me open and remove this squirmy little booger! Oh how miserable I was. Bryanna was my easy baby - fantastic pregnancy and easy c-section delivery. Izaiah, on the other hand, was not so simple. I gained considerably more weight, never dilated a single centimeter (by 40.5 weeks) and ended up with an excruciating rash called PUPPPS that left my belly and sides scabbed and scarred. But it was worth it.

It's hard to imagine that 365 days have passed since I was first looked into his eyes and said "Hey little man! Oh I love you so much!"

Big Sister Bryanna was less than thrilled to find out that he was actually this cute little pile of flesh instead of a permanent bump in Mommy's belly. He stole her thunder right out from under her cute little thumb and while she may have smiled for the camera, her wrath was fierce!



So here we are, December 14, 2008. A year has passed and our cute little family of four has survived. We stuffed our faces with homemade cake and helped our little man blow out his first candle and sang Happy Birthday in traditional off-key fashion. Izaiah must have known this morning that today was a special day. Instead of hanging out on his own to watch cartoons as usual, he ran to the couch and I picked him up and he snuggled with Mommy for over an hour. If my heart could melt and grow stronger simultaneously, I'm positive that's what happens when he stares at me with his big brown eyes. I can't wait to spend another year with my baby boy. Every day I thank God for my children and promise to do my best in raising them. I am blessed.

This is my incredible life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels. *MUAH*

Big Hair and of Course...

When I got home from the gym this morning I did something very unusual...I stayed up! While I don't mind waking at 4:30 am to hit the gym, I usually crash for another hour after returning until the kids wake up. I'm not sure what motivated me this morning, but I cleaned the bathroom, put clean dishes away and did a little accounting homework.

The lack of natural sunlight here in Alaska has a pretty big effect on just about everyone! You would be in complete denial to say that it didn't make you crave a big fluffy blanket and loads of pillows 90% of the day. Today the sun rose at 10:21am and will set in a couple of hours at 2:55pm. That gives my family and I 4 hours and 34 minutes to soak in a few rays - through the windows of course. I'll skip an intimate outdoor roundevous with the sun in -8* temps. In an attempt to feel more like myself, and connect again with the south that I love so much, I put on one of my favorite tanks and broke out my blowdryer and GIANT round brush!

Oh yeah, that's right! I love a good southern style blow out that ends in big curls and lots of volume! Ah I feel so much better!! Here's my morning with my babies! Yep, I'm finally adding pics to my blog! (Too bad I had to ruin the great hair by slipping on my glasses - I blinked out one of the twins - my LAST pair of contacts!)

Momma in all my glory - big hair and all!

Izaiah was uncooperative!

My beautiful little lady and I!

And of course, my day and my big hair would not be complete without...

I'm so blessed to get to spend my days with these two kiddos! They're my world and the reason my heart beats! (Big hair and heels help!)

This is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

Babies, Boogers and Books

Babies and Boogers and Books - OH MY!!

So, let me just start out by saying that even though Bryanna is 4 and we're forever telling her that she's a big girl, she'll always be Momma's baby. So when I say "babies" I'm definitely referring to both Bryanna and Izaiah, who I should add, is way too quickly growing out of his baby-ness. The boy amazes me. Seriously.

So about my babies: Izaiah has not had a good night's sleep in three days now. When Momma's babies don't sleep, Momma doesn't sleep. This is not to be mistaken for Daddy's sleep - which is always on time and quite perfect! My poor 'Zaiah can't breathe through his nose and I can't even imagine how confusing that is for a baby! It's obviously frustrating because he wakes just about every 30 minutes crying and I can hear him trying to figure out which way to lay so that he can better receive air. I'm such a sucker for my little man, so I usually get up to tuck him back in. And I just can't resist getting in some kisses and snuggles first! ;)

Bryanna is...well, she's off her rocker! I know that she's so frustrated being trapped in the house so much during the winter but if she tells me "Don't say that to me" one more time I may dangle her from the ceiling fan by her toe nails!

So in an attempt to multi-task, I hauled the babies to the grocery store with me today! I brave this outting alone, regardless of the fact that that we practically need two carts - one for the baby, winter jackets, mittens, hats, re-useable grocery bags, list and coupons, purse, snacks and bottle, and all the jewelery that Bryanna piles on at home and then looses interest in half way through the Commissary, and one for my groceries. But we pile into one cart and take off down the produce isle.

We actually get off to a pretty good start, all things considered! But by isle 3, Bryanna has developed an attitude that warrants a "don't get snatched up in the middle of the store!" and I remember that Izaiah has now been up for 4 hours without a nap while being sick. Can you say "uh oh"? In my quest to run through the store as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible, I accomplish none of the above. My normal cart-route is interrupted with "Mommy, can I have..." and bottle tossing and cookie dropping and "Don't do that!", which leaves me 1.5 hours out with $180 of I don't even know what, and missing essentials.

So we get to the register and the cashier is chatty and ranting about how gorgeous my babies are. (Thanks, I know!) All of a sudden I hear three big gasps and people rushing around and muffled voices; it was like scene out of a horror movie when you're drugged and horrible things are happening in slow motion. I come to and hear "Here's a tissue!"

Izaiah has a terrified look on his face and snot from his nose, over and through his mouth, hanging from his chin and resting pleasantly on his Phat Farm shirt. I don't think I've seen so much boog in one place, ever! We use approx 5 tissues from the cashier in the next lane while just about everyone in the store stares in amazement. What a site, huh?. A Mommy wiping her babies boogers. *sigh*

Since returning home, we've abandoned tissues and gone to receiving blankets. They hold much more snot at any given moment and can be washed and re-used. (No, this is not a joke!)

So I get home to find that Roxy (our rottie/pit mix who I think has separation anxiety) has pulled some of the dirty laundry through her crate and drooled all over it! Thanks babe! I put 'Zaiah down in his crib with a "milk baba", put Bryanna in front of Dora and carry 9 bags (of $180 worth) of groceries up the stairs from the garage...in my heels! =)

Did you really think I'd go to the grocery store in my kicks?

Now that we're settled in, fed, and rested, books are next on my agenda. School is getting the best of me, but "through God, all things are possible" - so PRAY FOR ME!!

Until next time - this is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*