Is it Friday yet?!

It is 10:09 am... and I feel like this:

Let's recap my morning- 

*The dogs got out... again. 6:00 a.m. again... wet hair/bathrobe search...again. 

*Colby puts dirty dishes into dishwasher- with all of our clean dishes (not a big deal really but today, to me... it was a BIG deal = fun argument) 

*I got to work LATE- 7:55 late...

*When I got here I found out I had duty... meaning I was supposed to be with the K5 children beginning at 7:35... thankfully I have an AMAZING assistant that didn't even call me and tell me.. she just did it for me.
*I'm teaching about weather this week... but I still have insect stuff out around the room. Big no no for me. 

* I have no lunch packed for today... and I'm already hungry. 

* I tried to send a text message to someone telling them what brand my breast pump is... and it came out like this:

 " I use the pimp in style advanced- it is great, awesome suction!!"  

Of course- it was supposed to say "pump in style"... yea. awesome move there. Good thing it was to one of my best friends. 

*Dogs were found, again, thankfully.... at The Pointe apartments... IN their office. The labs officially have now conquered Old Canton Road and beyond- maybe they were heading to the reservoir today- good grief.

Oh my goodness. HELLO Monday.  

Probably, no definitely, T.M.I.

Disclaimer: **If you don't want to read about breastmilk, boobies, baby stuff... then don't read the following** :)

So... I have successfully breast-fed Lucy for over 9 months! I have always felt so blessed and happy to be successful at breast feeding because I know so many women who had trouble.  I honestly loved it.  well I guess I "love" it since I am still doing it... it is just so neat knowing God created my body to care for Lucy with a  milk made just for her.   For me, breast feeding was no problem at all, and really it still isn't.  I guess I should add here... I only successfully "nursed" for about 2 weeks- Lucy did not know how to un-latch... meaning she wanted to be ATTACHED to me at all times... so the bottle was a must if I planned on maintaining my sanity... and wearing clothes.  The nudist colony look wasn't working well.
 At two weeks,  I started pumping and have been pumping for nine months now... which leads me to my point of this post-  how do I stop? Ha.
 I *think* I am ready to give the old pump a break.  It isn't that my supply is going down or anything but I am just "there".  I have done it for over 9 months... and I just am well.. I'm tired. ha.  BUT on the other hand... I am screaming at myself because if I am able to do it for her whole first year then WHY wouldn't I do it?  I'm already in the routine, we still have plenty of milk in there, and the only time it drives me crazy are the nights when I lay Lucy down and would like to go to sleep then but remember I have to get up and pump. wow. I sound am lazy.
Also, I'm totally a scaredy- cat.  I "hurt" after 5 hours without pumping... what do I do when I am quitting? I suppose I just start to pump less and less but at some point I'm just going to stop, right?  I have heard horror stories about drying up! And the tools you have to use?? Boob wraps, cabbage, heating pads, etc.-- hmm..  really??

Three. More. Months.  (oh my goodness. three more months and my baby will be a year- ah! Whole different post there)  Can I do this for three more months?
I do have milk stored in my freezer, but will it be enough? and if it is not then how in the world do I choose a formula?? Oh good grief. Do you see the internal struggle I have here?!!

Moms, do you have advice? helpful hints?  How did you stop, seriously? Do I alternate breast milk and formula bottles? Go Cold Turkey? Am I a quitter if I stop?!  Should I just make it three more months and shut up this idea in my head?

I suppose the slogan "Got Milk" was created by a mommy going through my same dilemma. Ha. For now, I guess I'll just continue to be a milk cow.    At least it gives me leverage for Lucy when she is 16! HA! "Hey, I birthed you, I FED you (literally!)... etc. etc."

Just for a laugh... at least I didn't have to ever worry about making Colby do this:



On a totally different note- I'm super pumped that it is Supper Club night tonight! We are doing a Mexican theme, too- YUM.  I made homemade salsa which I plan to pair with those WONDERFUL Iron Horse Grill chips- if you don't know what I am talking about, stop everything you are doing and go to Persnickety or Olivia's and pick them up.  FAB-U-LOUS!  My salsa pretty much rocks, too.


Oh, and Merry Merry Thursday!

Breaking Point

I've hit it. Full speed ahead.  I am at my BREAKING point.
Remember them?  These d*mn dogs are officially in TROUBLE.  AGAIN.

  The past SIX days... yes.. you read that right. SIX.  I have had to go pick up these bad dogs after they have escaped from our backyard.  Today was IT!

6:00am.. just get out of the shower.  Let out the labs and Jackson out in the backyard to go to the bathroom.  Walk back to the bedroom to check and make sure all of the noise of letting the dogs out didn't wake up Lucy.  Jackson scratches on door. I go let Jackson in (labs are standing RIGHT behind him but since they will be inside until I get off work, I say "Go to the bathroom" and close the door.  6:08 (approximately) Back in kitchen- empty dishwasher. 6:15 go to let labs in so I can put puppies outside and... GONE. There are no labs in the backyard to let in.  In 7 minutes... they have gotten out. I'm pretty sure this could be world-record breaking.   SERIOUSLY.
Insert SEVERAL VERY BAD NO GOOD WORDS here.
Lucy is asleep. Colby is on the coast for work.  I am in a bathrobe with soaking wet hair and my dogs have decided to run away.   BAD words.  This is when I really wished I could crawl back into bed and pretend this was a dream... but of course the "momma" side took over and was worried something was going to happen to my dogs. Wet hair/bathrobe and all, I grab my keys...  off to search for them.... no luck.  Of course it couldn't be easy. Not me. Not this day.  They were no where near our house... in 7 minutes they were out of there. Awesome.

Clearly, our fence is a P.O.S.  dogs are super-genius Houdini dogs that can escape out of ANYTHING you put them in.  We have fixed the fence on a weekly basis.  There are TWO spots these dogs get out of- one is a hole in the gate and the other is a hole that Reese (the black one) dug under the fence.   I have watched Colby put up new board after new board on the gate, as well as pour cement into the hole... Houdini dogs I tell you.

And it isn't like they are treated badly and need to run away either! They are freaking SPOILED rotten. Sleep inside every single night... eat like people... get new toys all the time... have big sofa beds... I just don't get it! What is "out there" that they want SO bad?!! Hmph!

Today is the day.  THE day.  I don't care the cost... I don't care how much work it is... I just DON'T. CARE.  The dogs are getting a pen-  A pen for inside the fenced in yard! I mean really? But this is what HAS to happen.   A new cement floor, chain length wall pen with a roof. DONE.
I CANNOT deal with the runaway labs... anymore.  Either they get a pen... or I'm taking them to "the pen" to be given away! (let's get real... I could never give them away BUT this morning... the thought DEFINITELY crossed my mind)
**By the way, yet another wonderful person saw our labs out, called them over and read our phone number off of their collar- What would we do without these sweet people?!  I picked them up at 8:15am off Pear Orchard...  yes I was late for work, again, because of runaway dogs... insert bag over head- embarassing... but they are home INSIDE and safe.


Sorry for the VENT... it is my therapy! I mean I need a break here, Milly and Reese! Can't you see that Momma has way more than enough going on without chasing/worrying/ rescuing you?!!

So... If any of you would like to meet me at Lowe's today to try and figure out what supplies I need to construct the said pen... that would be fabulous.  Or even better- I think I'll stand on the corner and attempt to flag down a construction crew to follow me home and build us a friggin' pen!  Geez.

I'm as FREE as a BIRD now..

Date night @ the moon...

the Golden Moon that is! 

 Colby and I went to the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Philadelphia Saturday night.  It was so much fun.  I'm glad my hubby convinced me to go- yea.. you read that right... convinced! Saturday morning I had come up with a million and one reasons why "we just really don't need to go..." but after he put on the "Lynyrd Skynyrd Pandora Radio" station, grabbed Lu and started dancing around the house to "What's your name" ... how could I say no?!  (by the way.. it was so cute.. I had to capture it on video! Lucy LOVES dancing with her Daddy)

Anyways... the concert was a lot of fun and they did a great job! We even won us some moo-laahh at the casino afterwards- which in my opinion... is ALWAYS fun. :)

 Here are a few pics from our night (taken with my phone so I'm sorry for the quality!):

@ the bar in the moon- "Lure" before the concert

We were on the 4th row! Perfect seats! 

Me with the base player! 

Funny Story- I went back into the concert arena after it was over to get a drink (we had been standing out visiting with some people for longer than I realized I guess) but anyways- when I went back the band was in there but no one else was! So.. yea.. they were all packing up and cleaning up then I said, "Hey- can I take a picture with you?" and the base player was like sure! 

Ha. yea.. I went from not really wanting to go... to a Skynyrd Nation groupie! HA!

Date nights = Fun times, I tell ya! 

Merry Merry!

  

Goodbye, Pups!

Okay.. how in the world am I supposed to do it?!!

Today is the day!!! Big girl panties... ON.

I have to say good-bye to five of  these faces: 

(the nail polish on the toes mean *sold*)

Milly and I are going to have a "sad mommy party" after they leave us... but, good news, we will still have three to love on and to get us through.... until they go too... :(

I mean... don't get me wrong. I WANT them to go. I want them to go and be loved and meet their new wonderful families but lets get real folks. I have birthed these pups- (not literally.. but I helped, ha) I feed them three times a day now, I sit on my back patio with Lu and all eight of them EVERY night, I bathe them, watch them play in the rain, have started potty training all eight of them...attached is definitely the word to be used here.  I am ATTACHED.

I have single-handedly harassed the new owners too. Where will the puppy stay? Do you have a fenced in yard? What are your plans for the dog? House dog? Country Dog? Hunting Dog? Do you have other pets? Do you have children? How old are the children? Will you prevent the child from shaking/strangling/choking/anything that would harm the puppy? Do you smoke? Seriously... 

I know. You're telling me to get. a. grip. I know.

Anyways.. just thought I'd include this day in my blog world... its a big day.

Milly's babies are growing up and moving on.

I want to keep one... but I will not keep one. (I'd like to keep my husband more)

Prayers that I will not burst into tears with each pup I hand away today... I really don't want all these new owners thinking a crazy lady raised their pup. HA. but it is going to be SO hard to say bye bye!! 

Happy 9 months, Lucy!

My baby is 9 months old!!! Where does time go?

 Lucy, Mommy and Daddy love you so much and cannot believe how quick you are growing up!! You are feeding yourself your bottle and puffs, crawling around everywhere and have even put yourself to bed two nights in a row now... which makes mommy so sad.  Usually, we have your bottle and cuddle in our bed until you fall asleep (then mommy moves you to your bed) but two nights ago, you kept rolling around and playing... so mommy thought she would "teach you a lesson" and she went and put you into your bed... what do you do? Roll over and close your eyes.  AHH! So big... You are becoming independent in so many ways!
You WAVED bye-bye to me this morning.. oh. yes. you. did.  What a big girl I have! I couldn't believe it... I mean we have been practicing saying it and all but YOU DID IT!  I am so proud of you everyday.

I'm so lucky to be your momma, sweet girl.  I love you... to the moon and back!

Here are a few "snaps" of Lucy on her 9 month birthday :)

Merry Merry!

Easter Re-Cap

What a weekend!!  (Yes, I realize that it is almost a new weekend... however, I'm just recovering from the last! HA!)
Momma fell on Thursday morning and broke her left femur bone. She had surgery on Friday and was able to come home Sunday afternoon, just in time for Easter. I am glad to report that almost a week later, she is doing really well! Having physical therapy three times a week at her house and moving around quite well.  Praising God for yet another miracle in her life.

Due to the above, our Easter was a little different this year, but still just as wonderful.  We celebrated our RISEN Savior all the same.  What a beautiful day it was, too.
And it was Lu's FIRST Easter... so much fun.

How cute are these cousins?! 

My brother, sister and I... with our new family additions! God is SO good.

Sorry these pictures are so very large... the "small" button isn't working?? maybe because I pulled them over from my facebook.
Oh well. You get the picture (ha. literally)

Have a MERRY weekend! Love!