Advent-24 days until Christmas

We are loving Advent. I pretty much spend the first five minutes lighting the candle and letting Asa and Millicent blow it out. Usually Asa is blowing it out before it's lit. Last night Jeff walked in and Asa had the lighter and my scissors waiting on us to start. (I have no idea why he had the scissors.)

Today is:

Jingle Bell Dance

Sounds silly. IT IS!

We HAVE to get the video camera out for this one because it gets hysterical. If we have a CD handy, we might play Jingle Bells, but otherwise we just sing it.

While we sing, each person does a dance to go with the song. One at a time, of course, while I record it.

Some kids (namely my husband) go all out when doing their dance.

Now I just want to say that if you didn't start on Sunday it doesn't mean you can't participate in Advent this year. Just get started today. Write down the Jingle Bell dance on your calendar and tell the kids that's your first Advent activity. You'll love it! Then to make me supremely happy this holiday season, post it on your blog for me to watch.

Random Blog post

And there's a random picture for you too. That there is Asa at the ice skating rink.

Happy Thanksgiving. It's late, I know. But I took the week off and I'm just now saying it. Did you have a nice day/days/weekend/week? I know we sure did.

Jeff had several days off and the kids really get used to that. Our father in law was sick so we ended up staying home where my mother and sister in law cooked dinner. It was SO good. We just ate all day and played the Wii and goofed off and talked and read. It was great. I have not had a better Thanksgiving. It was also nice having Ashlea home.

On Friday Ashlea and I got up at the crack of dawn and we went shopping for Black Friday.

Highlights:

I got a bunch of games for $5.
Tons of stocking stuffers for $1.
Ashlea's Christmas dress for under $30.
Asa's Christmas outfit for under $20. (It was too small.)
A great meal at El Chico.

Lowlights:
There was NOTHING left at Toys R Us by the time I got there.
The comforters I wanted from JC Penney were gone.
I was too tired to shop much more than that.
Watching Couple's Retreat.

Then Saturday we got family pictures made by our wonderfully talented Hannah. I haven't seen them yet. I cannot wait and the suspense is killing me. (She also took my very first set of maternity photos.) It was SO much better than JC Penney's or Sears. Where we all sit around for an hour and a half as we wait for our appointment time to come and go. Where none of the children are smiling and some of them are crying. Where some of them don't even want to get in the picture and you have to bribe them to even take one or two photos. Where you are extremely lucky to get ONE group shot with just the kids. Where all the photos look exactly alike: you sit here, put your hand on her shoulder, you sit here and here, smile at me. Good. Next pose, just like the first.

Oh, no, Hannah had fun with us. We even hung from a tree, those of us who weren't preggo, that is. Then, as is our tradition on picture day, we went to Cici's Pizza for lunch. YUMMO! Nothing compares. I cannot even tell you how many pieces of pizza I had, but I tried one of each, and several of my favorites. Then I had dessert.

Sunday found us at church and play practice.

Play practice, you ask? I'm in charge. Oh, I do so love being in charge. I know it's only kids, and I'm usually in charge of kids, but this is different. At the end, I SHOULD have something to show for it. I have some awesome help with the music though. I'm not gifted that way. I sound like, well, like a cat in heat, in a bag, with a dog attacking it. Yep, that's me.

Asa won't potty on his chair. When I ask, he laughs.

Millicent and Asa are attached at the hip. Those two are the best of friends. Yesterday Millicent went with Dad and Ashlea to take her back to her house, and he asked about Millicent a bazillion times.

Speaking of Ashlea, you should have seen Asa's excitement when she returned on Friday, after shopping all day. He was jumping up and down. (I didn't even know he could jump.) Screaming for Ash-ish. They sure do love her. Last night, at bedtime, Mill got into the bed with me and leaned on my shoulder and said, "I miss Ashlea". Come back soon Ashlea. Or I won't be giving you Christmas presents...okay, but really, no stocking stuffers. Or fudge. Or cookies. And I mean it!

I'm finally figuring out Twitter, no thanks to you. Well thanks to you Kelly, and some random stranger I met on Twitter. I'm still learning. One thing I wonder about is why don't people follow me when I follow them. Now Facebook is different. It's my friends and family and high school buds. People I know. There is so much traffic on there. But Twitter seems different. Is it just me? There are contest posts and links to blogs and random updates. So when I follow someone I want them to follow me. I want 200 followers. Can someone tell me how to get that many?

While I've been figuring out Twitter I've also been attending Twitter parties. AND I WON a gc from Cyber Monday. YEA me! I'm loving Twitter now. And they have this awesome Tweet deck that makes it super easy to keep up with the party, thereby winning awesome prizes.

I watched New Moon with my girlfriends. Thanks gals! Sometimes they leave me out...just sayin'. But not this time. I invited myself and no one was going without me. You just can't watch New Moon alone...and NO, going with my husband was not an option. The movie was SOOOO GOOOD!! Better than the first, by FAR. And we all loved the ending. Did you?

SURVIVOR!!! Have you been watching? Russell, Russell, Russell. I KNEW it. I just want to point out this post here where I call Russell as winning the game. He's a master! HOLY CROW! I just don't have words. Okay, yes I do. SPOILER: He's found three of the idols with no clue. Really! He has manipulated everyone into voting out whoever he wants. I mean, his team was DOWN by several and he has it totally flipped now. I've never seen it. And besides, you can't trust a thing that comes out of his mouth. Oh, and I also enjoyed watching them eat a rat.

Guilty pleasure: Watching the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading camp. (I KNOW.)

We are having school for a few more weeks because a baby is coming. But I am ready for a break. Every day, ready. But I can manage another two weeks before taking off. And Advent sure makes it fun.

Don't forget to check every day for the Advent post...which is below this one.

I hope to have a baby soon. Like tomorrow or something.

Millicent's new thing is to constantly sing, talk and read about poop and pee. Yea. According to her newest song poop is good to eat.

Meanwhile, Asa's new thing is to stick his finger in his nose. And if you tell him to remove it, he just laughs. And puts it back. The sweetie pie will kiss me if I tell him he hurts me though. And he's just as cuddly as ever. But nowadays, he actually will play instead of just sitting on my lap. I am sure that will change when the baby comes. That is why tandem nursing rocks!

That wasn't nearly random enough. Sorry.

The Advent season is here!

I have lots of our traditions in my archive. So feel free to browse around if you are interested. I won't be getting into that much this year, since I did last year.

I've decided for this year's Christmas posts I'll post what we are doing each day of Advent. I will also continue to do my pregnancy updates (and a live version if I go into labor) and Writer's Workshop and whatever else I feel like doing. But you can count on the day by day Advent update. And hey, it's my blog, whatcha gonna do? You don't have to read all the posts. Yes, you do, you might miss something.

So let's get started!

First, Advent actually started yesterday. Advent is NOT the month of December. It is the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Do it right, people. Oh sorry. I get a little carried away.

Each morning we read:

Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration

It has a story on Sunday, a song each day, and a scripture passage for the day, leading up to Christ's birth.

Each evening we read:

It's different enough that we get a whole new look. It also has songs, a brief story and some questions to go along with the readings.

Then we read:



This is actually a trilogy. Last year we read Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent and they also have Tabitha's Travels: A Family Story for Advent (Jotham's Journey Trilogy)for a mere $100. Sure hope the price goes down on that one soon.

These books are the highlight of our Advent readings. They are seriously GOOD! Each night ends with a cliffhanger that has everyone begging (including my husband) to just read one more page, just in case we get behind a night. I never give in.

Each morning we start the day with lighting the candle(s) and our reading. Then another child announces how many days till Christmas and reads our Advent activity for the day. Someone blows out the candle.

That evening we do it all again, only someone gets to unwrap a present (AKA a Christmas book or movie that was previously wrapped).

I go through the Advent activities and prepare them based on our calendar for the month, so nothing overlaps. For instance, we live 30 miles from town. I try to make any in-town events, that we already have planned, overlap with our Advent activity for the day. Saves gas. Yes, I'm frugal that way. I also know we have church on Wednesday so we can't do much that evening. I'd love to say here that we also have Monday night dinners with the grandparents, but the grandparents canceled on us. BOO!

So each day I will post that days activities. Yes, I said that already, but I figured you'd forgotten since I got so sidetracked with everything else.

YESTERDAY:

26 Days till Christmas (Which, by the way, my cards say 27 because I counted wrong.)

Decorate the house

I think no description is needed. Right?

25 days till Christmas

Make paper chains and snowflakes

This really doesn't need a description either, but, well, you know me. Long winded.

We hang our chains all over the kitchen along with the snowflakes. On the windows, the walls and the ceiling. Ever see Elf? We aren't that good...but yea, it's a winter wonderland. I know there are moms out there cringing. I feel you. But honestly, every time I walk into the kitchen it brings a smile to my face. REALLY. And it's just fun to sit in there for a few hours and make them.

Now please join me for Advent this year and update us with each days activities, or just steal mine. It's not actually stealing when I offer it to you.

Giveaway Winner and my birthday

AH! It's the end of baby month. On a good note, it's my birthday. Which isn't as good as ending the baby month, as in I HAD the baby, but it's fun to get a year older.

Since it's my birthday I figure I deserve the earrings. I mean, what's the chance I would have my birthday on THE day I draw for the winner.

Okay, okay. That's not ethical. I'll draw a name.

BUT I did comment this week. So what if I draw my name? I get them right?

Okay, the winner is...ME! I drew my own name.

Okay, no, I didn't. I just completely lied to you. I just want these earrings. How lame is it to have a month of giveaways that I can't win. ON MY BIRTHDAY.

I'll draw a real name. Let me mosey on over to the random number generator.

Yep, it was me. Just kidding.

Really it was I'm Anitra. Be sure to check out her blog. It's really unique.

And thanks again to Aimee for the beautiful earrings. Be sure to visit her Etsy and her blog.

Now.....what should I do for my birthday? Post ten things I love about me, ten amazing pictures, ask the kids to tell me ten things they love about me? How about ten donuts. That's the ticket. Ten donuts.

See you after I'm stuffed!

Writer's workshop-A new baby

Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and go to Mama Kat to sign Mr. Linky. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!

Remember that I have changed the prompts this week to reflect Baby Week. To see the original, visit Kat.

The Prompts:

1.) The first Thanksgiving with a new baby.

So far my babies have been almost a year old at Thanksgiving. This will be my THIRD baby, in a row, born in January. Or maybe I'll get lucky and it will be born in December.

2.)Describe the most destructive thing your baby has done.

Destroy my nipples with their iron sucking grip. (Can I say nipples on my blog?)

3.) Describe in 1000 words or less when you got pregnant and you knew that life would never be the same.

4.)Write a letter to your child for when they are 13.

I love you. Stop crying and being selfish. I'm just kidding. I wouldn't say that to them. But if you have a 13 year old you know it's true.

5.)Describe a moment you embarrassed your child.

I can't think of a single time. Can you Ashlea? I'm sure she can.

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Describe in 1000 words or less when you got pregnant and you knew that life would never be the same.

Telling Jeff when I get pregnant is a very fun and creative time for me. I do not want to just TELL him. I want it to be exciting for him. So I spend a lot of time during that trying to conceive period thinking of ways to tell him (and friends).

So when I got pregnant with Mill, after several months of trying, I was elated. AND frankly, I couldn't believe it. I had waited 14 years for another baby. Had tried for six months or so. Had taken numerous, numerous pregnancy tests, all negative. I couldn't trust this tiny little line.

I took a shower and prayed, asking God that if this was real, to please reveal that to me. And if it wasn't to let me down easy.

My sister had recently told me she was pregnant. It hurt so much. I had so many feelings about it. I wanted to be happy for her, but anyone who has been trying for a while knows, it's not always easy. Especially when someone else's circumstances aren't...well shall we say...hmmm...different than our own. (Was that tactful enough?)

I began planning and thinking and praying and planning and thinking and praying..and I was pretty much driving myself insane!

So I drove to the store and got another test and took it. I had to know FOR SURE.

Positive.

But even then I was still so surprised that I couldn't believe it. I have a group of girlfriends online (hey, ladies!) who are always supportive. So I snapped a picture of my pee stick (should buy stock in this stuff) and sent it to them...begging someone to see the tiny little line.

Oddly enough, I wasn't crazy. Okay, so yes, I was definitely obsessed, but not crazy. Because they told me they could see the line too. I started FREAKING. I was blown away. Pregnant? Pregnant? Pregnant? Pregnant? Yes, that was my thought pattern. That was all I could think about.

Children to me: Mom, can we have a snack?

Me in my mind: Pregnant?

Outwardly: Huh?

Children to me: Mom, can we play outside?

Me in my mind: Pregnant?

Outwardly: Huh?

You get me. It was all I could think about.

That night just happened to be our date night and it just happened to be the premiere of the last Star Wars movie. (Which is why Millicent would have been Obadiah had she been a boy...you get it? Obie.)

We ate at the mall at Chik Fil A. I stuck that nasty old pee stuck under some napkins while Jeff was getting our food from the front.

He sat down and didn't see it, and my heart was beating ninety thousand beats a second and at any moment I knew I would explode and start screaming...

I"M PREGNANT! I"M PREGNANT!

But I maintained. Finally he grabbed a napkin and out tumbled the stick.

Now, Jeff is seriously the smartest man I've ever met. He can remember anything you ask him to; he knows the answer to every question; he can learn something in minutes. He's smart, people. But when that stick came tumbling out his first thought was that someone forgot to clean the tables. He was grossed out. (And yes, he KNEW we were trying to conceive.) But then his senses came back to him....after like, oh, an eternity. He looked over at me and I was just smiling.

Finally he asked me and I said yes...and it was a good thing because I was about to BUST!!! Seriously lose a gut.

But still...we weren't sure. We took another! This time we got the pregnant, not pregnant, digital kind. (AFTER watching Star Wars, of course.) PREGNANT! And we finally rested and knew. Well I already knew.

As the months went by we wondered how our little family would change. How everyone would accept the new baby. Where and how it would come. Would we be able to adapt and be better parents. SO many thoughts.

Nothing could prepare us.

Millicent was born perfectly, and was perfect. What a joy she is to us. Our lives have changed infinitely and we are blessed because of her.

Getting through the first few weeks post partum

photo from home and dorm bedding

It seems the scariest time, after the birth itself, is figuring out how to survive those first few weeks. You may think that it would be limited to new moms only. But it's not. I often see on my due date list that mothers of two or three are asking for help on how to incorporate the new baby into their family. Today I have some tips. AND I hope you do too.

For me the old adage is true, sleep when the baby sleeps. The reason you even need sleep is because newborns are up a lot in the night. A LOT. Sometimes as often as every two hours. And whether you breastfeed or not, you are going to miss out on some sleep. LOTS of sleep for a LOT of weeks. If you have younger children, it gets a little trickier trying to get a nap in. But you can do it. You might want to start training your younger (soon to be older) children to lay down on mats NOW. Then when the new baby comes, you can send them wherever they will be mostly quiet, and have a little nap. I prefer to keep mine in eyeshot. But that may not work for everyone. If they are little-little, then you just take one long nap together in the afternoons. Even if your older little one isn't a napper. Trust me. You'll be exhausted. No matter how much help your husband is, you WILL be exhausted. If you can, invite someone over to watch the olders while you snuggle down with the new baby. Any good friend will help. (Hint, hint. Yes, it's very helpful to post it on your blog as a hint.)

Hold and love your baby as often as you want to, and can. IT FLIES BY. One day you are holding a weird looking wrinkly, red thing, the next thing you know, she/he is crawling and absolutely the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. THAT FAST. So enjoy it. Yes, you will be exhausted. You will have throw up in your hair. You will have not taken a bath since...since when? You can't even remember. Just hold and love that baby. Enjoy your time and don't worry about your hair, or that weird smell. OR CLEANING.

Which leads me to my next piece of survival advice. Don't worry about the cleaning. You are getting to know a new human being. You are probably a milk machine...just say Moo! You are leaking fluids...LOTS of fluids, some not so pretty. You are bigger than you've ever been. And you are exhausted because you got up 12 times to feed, change and make sure your baby was still alive. You don't have to worry about cleaning at this time in your life. Concentrate on taking care of yourself. YOUR BODY JUST GAVE BIRTH. An eight pound creature just came out of your...well you know where. And it doesn't matter EXACTLY where, because it still came out of YOU. And your body needs to recuperate. Get some friends to come help. (Hint, Hint, friends.) Ask husband to help out. Get the children to do anything they are capable of. But mostly, just don't stress about the condition of your house.

One question I hear a lot is how to make the new baby fit into the family without upsetting the other children. The key, I think, is making sure the other children feel apart of the pregnancy all along. Talk about the baby to them; talk about naming the baby with them; let them feel kicks and movements. Make them feel like the baby is theirs. We do not have ANY jealousy when a new baby comes home. Some people may want some extra cuddling or hugging. MAKE time for that when the baby sleeps. (Here a sling comes in handy.) Let the siblings hold the baby and help out. Just act like everything is normal without expecting any problems, and that is probably what you will get. Act like the siblings should be jealous, and that is what you'll get. It's a beautiful time. ENJOY it.

I would say my BIGGEST piece of advice for surviving those first few weeks is to breastfeed. I've done both. I have low milk. With Asa my milk ran out at two weeks and he began to lose weight rapidly. I had to do a combination of breastfeeding with the SNS and bottle feeding. I HATED bottle feeding. It is SO much work in comparison. You have enough work to do. (Ten diapers a day, plus several clothing changes???? YOU know they poop everywhere, right?) Breastfeeding can be a little tricky in the beginning. You can persevere. The KEY though, is to be fully and 100% devoted to breastfeeding. If you go into it thinking you'll try, you will most likely fail when you hit a bump in the road. And you inevitably will. Almost everyone does. Trust me on this. You will be glad you did. Instead of getting up and warming a bottle, you only need to get up and turn over...or if you don't co sleep, just get up. You can lay on the couch and go right back to sleep. Instead of a baby howling for five or more minutes while you prepare and ready the bottle, you have a nursing baby who is content and on their way back to dreamland. Which means, so are you!

Lastly, take a bath any time anyone comes over who can hold the baby. You'll feel better. The smell will go away. You can relax. Yes, hurry if you are worried about the baby (I KNOW I do). But do take one. And if you have it in you, take a long, hot, relaxing bath, knowing that whoever is holding the baby is doing fine. And if the baby wakes and starts to cry they will come to get you. Shave your legs even....that makes you feel really good. Or don't and buck the trend. Just enjoy yourself for a few minutes...fall asleep. Just be sure to be sitting up or we may never see you again.

I will close by telling you, you will be a zombie. But you will be amazed at how much love you have. If this is your first baby, no one can tell you the amount of love you will feel. And if this is your tenth, it's still surprising that you could love ANOTHER human being as much as you love your little bundle. You won't remember the last time you ate. You won't care that you have spit up all down your back and poop on your pants. (And oh yes, you WILL.) See, it passes so quickly that really it won't even matter. Just try to enjoy it.

I said I was closing but I have one more thing to say...

TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES.

WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.

GET OUT THE VIDEO RECORDER.

YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER ANY OF IT.

(Okay, so that was more than one thing...but trust me anyway.)

Birth Stories

Yes, I KNOW I just used this picture but I don't have any baby pictures of the kiddos on this computer.

I love to watch the baby shows...ALL of them...even the very medicalized ones. Those remind me what I don't want:

Fifteen people who aren't invited, standing around watching
Being strapped to the bed
Epidurals and pain meds
Being offered epidurals and pain meds every time a doctor enters the room
Being checked, prodded and poked every 20 minutes
Internal exams
Breaking waters
Not being able to walk or bounce or rock or lean on a wall or rotate my hips
Having to follow someone else's orders instead of my intuition
Being forced to push to the count of 10
Not getting to be the first (second?) person to hold my baby
My baby being whisked away and cleaned up and clamped and shot up and gooped up
Not getting to enjoy those precious first moments after birth all alone with just my husband and family
Noise and lights
I could go on and on.

Every birth is a miracle. And some women really don't care how they birth their babies as long as their babies come. And I understand that. I really do.

At the same time, I want to know there are other people having medical intervention FREE births. Homebirths, UC's, even hospital births where they are left alone (is that real in this day and age????). I want to know woman can still do it...ON THEIR OWN.

So today I want birth stories.

If you have a birth story post it in on your blog and Mr. Linky back here. If you have previously typed up your birth story, link that post back. (Click on the title of your post, right click it in the address bar...that will be the EXACT address....and come back and put that in the address line of Mr. Linky.) I would really love to hear some UC's and homebirths but I'm not opposed to natural birth stories with as few interventions AS POSSIBLE at the hospital. And of course, Csections and horror stories are allowed too. This is for everyone. Just do us a favor and title your Linky...induced hospital birth, emergency csection, etc.

As I recognized earlier, all birth is a miracle. Your birth story is important to you, no matter how the baby came. Today I want to be encouraged that woman are giving birth the way they have for centuries...except for the going out to the field to pick cotton minutes after giving birth. I hope you don't do that.

If you have pictures, OH PLEASE, show pictures. A video and you will be my bestest friend forever.

And I just want to point out that I'm not saying that a natural birth is the only right way or that you are not a good mom because you had an epidural. I KNOW what birth feels like and it hurts! You have your baby however feels right to you! I'm for that 100%. I support you. Today I ask that you support me as I seek a different kind of birth...a natural birth with few interventions.

I'll still want to read your birth story. All of them!

Interview with: a VERY silly three year old

What do you think about having three older sisters? My big Ashlea, sister, I want to live with her, but she's way far away. And I can't go anywhere with her. Kati and Kori be mean to their little sister and little brother.

What do you think about being an older sister? I think I should still have mommy's milk because I'm an older sister. I think Asa should have Momma's milk.

What do you think the new baby will be? A boy, I mean, a girl. So when she grows up she'll be my sister.

What will you do with the new baby? Be mean to it, throw it on the floor, knock it off the crib. (She's joking.)

Will the new baby have mommy's milk? No. I mean, cold milk. Milk from the refrigerator.

Where will the baby sleep? In my bed.

What will the baby wear? Pajamas, all day and all night.

When will the baby be born? At Christmas.

Will the baby cry a lot or a little? a lot. I mean, a little.

Will Asa be nice to the baby? Yes.

Will you change the baby's diaper? Yes, all by myself.

What should we name the new baby? Apple Dumpling

What will the baby look like? A big soup.

I guess we are done here.