A Late Night Reno

Brent and I had quite the fun last night, at a strange hour we began a strange task.

I was sitting in our chair thinking it was time for a shower and bed.  I was fully frustrated about money and dealing with a VERY angry toddler all day long.  I was thinking of going for a run but it was too late.  I looked over at the fireplace and then at the nail puller sitting on the mantle.   A light went off in my mind.  I knew what to do.

I walked over to the fireplace, grabbed the nail puller and proceeded to wack holes in the drywall above our fire place.  Brent perked up and said “I’ve been thinking of doing that all night”.

We made the hole a little bigger, grabbed a flashlight, and peered in.  Not big enough so the hole got bigger…and bigger.  One thing led to another.

So, for the hour between 11 and 12, Brent and I completely dismantled our mantle around the fire place and removed most of the drywall as well.  We were being so loud, such a naughty thing to do in a rattly old townhouse while the neighbors are most likely sleeping.  We were having too much fun though.

It was incredible how the mantle was put on there.  Layer after layer of wood and trim.  Every layer reveal new screws for me to take out with my drill (yes I have my own drill).  It was sooo much fun.

There’s nothing in the space above the firebox.  Just drywall.  They took the chimney out long ago and so this weekend we are taking the firebox out (by “we” I mean Brent and some strong dudes, I’m going to hang out with Jules) and turning that unused space into a shelving unit complete with everything you need to keep your TV and whatnot into it.  Yes, more freed space.

I’m going to totally rearrange my living room so it doesn’t revolve around the TV and it’ll open up much needed space.  Perhaps I’ll stop stubbing my toe on the darn couch!!  Anyway, I documented the event for your viewing pleasure.

K that was an awful documentation of the event.  I was a little too into it to stop and then take photos.  You can see the lack of planning as there’s toys amongst drywall dust.  Ha ha.  Oh well, it was fun.  I’m going to get those ugly green marble tiles off soon.  Trying to keep the big ones intact so Jennie can roll her pie crusts out on it.

the end.

 

6 Months Old!!

Yay, Ikey is 6 whole months old. I can’t believe it, time is flying by so quickly!! I find the first six months go the slowest so I’m not looking forward to the next 6 months going by too fast.

Ikey has just become such a BABY. He sits, he drools, he giggles, he chews and chews and chews and chews. He will reach for ANYTHING that he can. He’s going to be a busy boy and into everything which will be quite the switch for me because Silas can be trusted in a room with a bunch of steaming hot cups of coffee and he wont spill it our pick it up. Just smells it.

We’ve FINALLY gotten the nursing thing down. It took this whole month to solidify in my mind that the worst is over. He only takes a few minutes to nurse and he’s not crying and freaking and I’m also not letting down so much either. Praise God!!

I can’t believe that at this age, Silas was only a few weeks away from crawling. Ikey is definitely not close to that yet. He can get up on his hands and knees but doesn’t do it often. He doesn’t roll about too often either. At this age I remember Silas was rolling alllll over the place. He’d just roll and roll. When he only knew how to roll one direction we’d have to go turn him around when he got stuck up against the wall. It’s so neato how the kids are soooo different. They’re just so perfect the way they are.

I can’t believe Ikey is half way done being a baby. It’s so silly how short the whole thing is and for a quarter of that time they’re not even fun (0-4 months is lame-o ha ha). I wish it were just a few months longer. I’m slightly dreading the toddler stage with him. I hope he’s not a screamer like Silas.

Goodness I’ve about lost my mind these past few days with this awful ear infection. Silas has had many many time outs which he is going to fairly well. He sits on his step better every day. I’m glad I started time outs in his crib because he understands what they are and that he has to stay put. The transition to doing it in a different place has gone very well. He’s so cute when he backs up to plop his bum down.

Anyway, enough blah blah blahing, time for some photos of my adorable baby boy. Mark, my step-dad, bought Ikey a funny shirt so I put it on him last night and took a bunch of photos. He was so happy the whole time, it was so much fun. You can view all of them here. But here’s just a few for you as well. For those of you who have no idea why this shirt is funny….it’s what the front of an ipod looks like but on this one it says “ipood” and then below it says “change me”. Totally a nerdy thing Mark would buy.

What’s up homies?

He looks soo much like me as a baby here.

And I’m spent.

A Lesson In Perspective

I was watching a bit of Tyra today while I was nursing Isaac and this woman was bawling about how since she had her kid she’s 20 pounds heavier and has stretch marks. She wasn’t into having sex or anything. That makes me so sad.

I’ve ranted about this before but this pressure put on us mothers to not get a stretch mark and to stay skinny throughout our pregnancies and lose the weight instantly is ABSURD!! It’s stupid!! I used to buy into it and I still have trouble looking at all the pregnant ladies in my church who are sticks with a basketball glued to their tummies and wishing that were me. I’ve been trying and failing at control tops from Wal Mart that either don’t work or I get a wonderful roll on the top on them…yummy.

I’ve really come a long way though. I no longer despise my stretch marks or whatever else birthing a child has bestowed upon my body. And I really really HATE it when people brag that they stayed skinny or they didn’t get a stretch mark. Like that REALLY makes you a better person than I am. Like you’re above me now? Yes the weight gain is partially better will-power but not always. When I had Silas I peed off 30 pounds in a few weeks. It was all water, my fault?? No way. This weight I’m struggling with to get off now? Yes, partially my love love love of pizza and burgers. You’re still not better than me…and I’m not better than you because of it.

There’s so much contempt in the world of motherhood, so much judgment. Then we have to go on feeling bad about our looks. I say ENOUGH PEOPLE!! Embrace everything that comes with being a woman, we grow life, we are strong through pain, we are giving of our bodies. That’s beautiful, and the things left behind are beautiful reminders of the power that our bodies hold.

I was playing around with my camera the other day taking self portraits of Isaac and I. I noticed something fantastic. Look how hot I am…

Ok ya, so you all saw that photo yesterday. Tons of compliments on facebook…I must be perfect…la la la. K but wait, lets try a new angle…

Oooooo ouch Leah. Not so hot now am I? All I did was look down at the camera, same expression and everything. Perhaps there’s a lesson here, a lesson in perspective. I’m really hot if you’re a tall dude, but most short guys think I’m wretched. Ha ha.

I even managed to get a photo where my breasts looked massive, my tummy was invisible, and I looked great…but I wont post it because I have father figures and grandfathers reading that might not appreciate such a photo….

No, the lesson here is women in magazines with their perfect bodies and blah blah blah aren’t only airbrushed, they’re taken at the perfect angles. We all know which angle my photo would be taken at.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being skinny. I strive to lose weight because I do think I’ll look better, I’ll look healthier, I’ll be able to dress myself better and I’ll feel better about myself. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look better as long as you’re being realistic. As long as you’re doing it for your health and happiness, not because you’re obsessed with looking like something you can’t obtain.

It’s beautiful to have massive, muscular thighs, or a larger bum or a long torso with shorter legs or whatever. As long as your healthy inside and out! And even that, my friends, is incredibly relative.

So today take time to feel good about your body, feel good for what your body can do and has done. Stretch marks, saggy boobs, wrinkly tummy skin…or not! We’re women, we’re powerful and we can do miraculous things with our bodies. So celebrate and enjoy yourself because like I’ve said a few times. After having kids, your body is exactly where it’s supposed to be!

Ear Infections Ear Infections Ear Infections

Goodness my blog yesterday was taken wrong…completely!!

Anyway, I was without internet most of the day today which forced me to get other things done. I organized all the photos from this past year on my computer. I still have 2006 to do and then I’ll FINALLY make a folder of the ones I want prints of and then finally get them printed.

After Silas woke up yesterday I took his temp and it was 100.3 in his little armpit (why do they hate that so much??). I took him in to see the doc and boy, I’ll never go to a walk in for his ear infections again. My doc told me to come in even if he’s booked or not because he wants to be the one who treats the infections. He’s the only doc who was competent enough to get a look at Silas’ ear even though there was a massive glob of wax in the way, the only one who offered to clean out his ear once the infection is gone so there’s no wax. He’s so in love with giving advice that he talks forever. Again he was trying to talk me into getting pregnant, funny guy. Apparently I have beautiful kids and someone like me needs a house full of them. Wacko. I know they’re beautiful but I sure wouldn’t be if my house was full of them.

Anyway, Silas is back on stupid anti-biotics. Dangit!! The doctor talked some sense into me though, which he always does. I swear he was really meant to be a counselor…he said “my goodness, there’s much worse things in life than antibiotics”….oh…excuse me while I wipe off this look of shame from my face. Of course there’s worse things…Silly me. I need to get over it and just be grateful for the antibiotics and that they’re going to make it so Silas doesn’t go def. Duh.

I think we’ll be talking putting tubes in the ear soon. He said if they’re getting about 6 a year then we should talk about ear tubes so…I guess we should start talking soon because we’ve had 6. I’m sure he’ll even have one more before the year’s end. Perhaps not if we can keep the wax cleared and keep putting that herbal oil stuff in his ears.

Anyway…that’s all. I’m going to give you some photos now because I’ve gone photo happy these past few days…I need to spread them out because we can’t have them all on Friday!

 

 

 

do we look the same?

 

 

 

hottie

 

A Visit From Lucas

My Sis in law Leanne came over this morning with Lucas.  She brought us some Krispy Creams which are OK for Silas to eat…nice.  I was feeling all warm and welcoming and I made Lucas some lunch to have with Silas.  I was giving Silas his usual probiotic chewable and asked if Lucas wanted one.  He was chewing on it all funny and then the gagging started and then before I knew it, my highchair was covered in vomit.  Ooops.  I felt pretty bad.  It was really gross.  Leanne had thought she cleaned everything up and was sniffing around saying “I still smell it” and there was the bib sitting there still covered in puke.  She almost had left it for me…ewww…I think I would have just stuck it outside.  I don’t know if could have handled Lucas puke.  Yucky.  I felt pretty bad…poor Lucas and his incredible gag reflex.

Silas told on Lucas while he was here.  Lucas stole Silas’ cookie so Silas came over to me and said “Lucas Lucas” and brought me over to Lucas and the cookie…too cute.

I love that my Lucas is getting more comfortable here.  He used to cry a lot when he came over but now he seems really comfortable.  He likes bouncing on my couch and I let him because he just looks so gosh darn cute.   Him and Silas get along very well and it’s so cute to see Lucas catching up to his cousin in development.  It’s so cool that once they all get the hang of walking, they’re pretty much the same.  I remember when Silas just seemed so much older than Lucas.  Especially when Lucas was only a few pounds.  I’m so glad he’s catching up and now you can’t really tell they’re that different.  They’re only 4 months apart!!  Too bad they wont be in the same grade at school .

I’ve been thinking these past few days about hypnotherapy.  Does it really work?? I know it’s such a taboo subject for Christians because it’s seen as “evil” or whatever because you’re not in control of your body like alcohol.  I really don’t think that’s God’s main reason to say that alcoholism is bad, I think it’s the addiction and how it can hurt you and your relationships.  But I think if I trusted the person, and the whole thing worked, I could really benefit from it.  Anyone ever try it??  I was thinking of using it for emotional eating and for my weird issues like not cleaning.

I was thinking last night that I don’t actually mind doing chores.  When I’m cleaning I never think “gosh I hate doing this”, ever!  I know Leanne thinks that when she’s cleaning (but she’s good at forcing herself to do stuff she doesn’t wanna do) so obviously I really don’t mind cleaning.  There’s something in my brain that makes me think that it’s not desirable to do even though I like it and I like a clean house and I like the feeling it gives you.  So, what’s my issue?  No idea.  Perhaps I could change my subconscious and then I wouldn’t mind getting off my tooshie to do a little cleaning up!!  The only part of cleaning I hate is putting away loose ends.  Like a draw full of stuff that needs to do to a bunch of different places.  I try and group things but there’s still things forgotten and I never finish because I just end up annoyed.

Anyway, let me know if any of you have tried hypnotherapy and if it works or not.  I’m willing to give it a shot perhaps.  If someone else is in the room with me…like Brent.

Yucky, Blucky and Snotty

Silas is being naughty today.  I think we have another ear infection on our hands.  Boooooo.  I think he’s finally asleep.  Or Finally falling asleep.  He’s had about 500 time outs today.  He’s doing alright with those.  I’ve stopped putting him in his crib and have him sit on the bottom step down here.

I’m quickly realizing that he needs to go sit on the step on his own.  I have to calmly ask him to like 80 times but then he goes and sits and does it nicely.  Otherwise I have to hold him there and it’s not nice.  He sunk his pearly whites into my hand today, I have some pretty, red teeth marks.

Ikey still isn’t feeling well.  Poor fellow.  He’s eating and sleeping and waking all in little bits.  He’s also pooping a lot.  When he coughs in his sleep there’s a high-pitched whistle that comes out.  He doesn’t do that very often though so I don’t think it’s croup or anything.  He only coughs every once in a while and doesn’t do it when awake.

I feel very yucky and blucky and snotty and gross.  I just want to sleep.  Why can’t we put our kids on pause when we’re sick??  They’re so bothersome.

Brent had an inkling to do the hand rail on our steps today so he’s working away.  It’s going to look very pretty.  I can’t wait to stain them.  I just have so much trouble picking out a stain for it.  Gosh there’s so much work to do in this house…soooo much work.

I hope some of you bought nothing yesterday for Buy Nothing Day.  If not, then don’t buy anything today .  It’s my kinda protest…don’t do anything.

For all you friday readers….

My sinuses hurt me.  Stupid stupid ameobas.  I took a photo of what came out of my sinuses after I rinsed them yesterday and I emailed it to my sisters but they didn’t appreciate it.  My mom sounded worried.  Ha ha.

I got a video of Silas and Jennie cooking together.  The file type I used is pretty crappy but it’s a fun video.  For those of you who don’t know is, it’s most likely boring.  Oh well…watch anyway!

And let me clarify, Jennie wasn’t goofing off on her sick day, she had a migraine and then it went away so she was going to go to work but her husband took the car to the mechanics and didn’t get a courtesy car and then I went and picked her up.  The end.

 I didn’t take many photos this last week.  Here’s a few though….I wont put my booger one up though.

My hunky hubby cooking supper in Silas’ new apron

The boys.  Like our new rug??  Look how massive Ikey is 22 crazy pounds

Balooons

 

Thursday Thirteen #13

Thirteen Things You Should Know About Freeway Driving

I am constantly annoyed by freeway drivers NOT paying attention to what’s going on. If everyone just followed these rules then there wouldn’t be so much congestion.

1. If you decide to pass someone in the fast lane, make sure you go the speed of the flow of traffic in the fast lane, and remember to get your butt back in the slow lane ASAP.
2. If you see someone speed up behind you in the fast lane then move into the slow lane so that they can pass.
3. When exiting the freeway do not slow down until you’re completely in the off ramp. The ramp is for slowing, the freeway is for not slowing.
4. When accelerating to enter the freeway make sure to get up to freeway speed before entering. There’s nothing worse than a slow merger.
5. If there’s a car stopped safely on the side of the road don’t slow down.
6. Don’t go the same speed as the person beside you when in the fast lane, there’s nothing worse than being behind you when you do that.
7. The fast lane is really for people wanting to go faster than the speed limit, so stay out of it if you go the speed limit (and please, go the speed limit, especially if kids are in your car).
8. If you’re in a gutless vehicle, like a semi truck, don’t try and pass someone when you’re going uphill.
9. In stop and go traffic, stay on the ball and stop and go with the person in front of you, keeps things going smoothly.
10. Be courteous to people trying to get on the freeway and move into the other lane if you can. Don’t cut off the traffic in that lane though.
11. If someone cuts you off, don’t try and pay them back by cutting them off. Chances are they didn’t realize they did it and you end up looking like an ass. Just use your horn…ooo the horn is fun fun fun.
12. This doesn’t have to do with the freeway but if you’re driving on a single lane highway and there’s a long line of people behind you then pull off to the side of the road to let them go by. You’re obviously not in a rush anyway.
13. Keep a safe distance behind people. If someone is too close behind me I put on my hazard lights or I give them the double brake tap tap. If they still don’t get it then I do something kinda mean….but get the heck off my bumper!!! I just hit my brakes quickly then speed up…scares the bejeebers out of them. Last time I did that I got the middle finger…ha ha. Oops.

Sorry, that might have been really boring.

 

I’m sick :(

My bones are aching

My head is pounding

My nose is snotting

My poops are running

My tummy is cramping

I’m Sick

Like my poem?? I know, I’m so artistic aren’t I??  I thought my line about my feces was rather beautiful and articulate.  What kinda poem is that Jill??

I hate being sick.  Ikey is sick too.  He disturbed  me too much in the night.  There’s nothing worse than being woken up in the night when you’re sick.  You’re sore, you’re hot, standing makes your head hurt and all the boogers in your nose that you didn’t mind while you were sleeping are now bother you very much.

Amongst all the sickness and bothersome babies, I do enjoy snorking the yellow snot out of Isaac’s nose.  It really is a science though.  I’ve found that if you plug one nostril then you get better suction.  You actually get the best suction if they’re crying because then all the air is going out of their mouth.  I really love nose snorking a lot.  Seems so satisfying for them.  As for me, I need to rinse my nose soon, that really helps a sinus infection.  It’s magical.

Aside from being sick, my wrists are carpel tunnel-ing…or something.  Know why?  Because Isaac is so stinking large.  He’s at the 22 pound mark, yes and he’s only 5.5 months old.  Jerk.  Really, he could have just leveled out like Silas did.  Anyway, now he needs a new car seat.  I’m kinda just wanting to go to a car dealership, trade in my golf for a nice, old minivan so we’ll actually have room now.  Oh well.

My sister Jennie is here today, it’s nice to have company when you’re sick.  She made brownies with Silas and now I want to eat them.  Anyway, I feel ill sitting here.  Have a nice day folks.

Weight Loss Wendnesday Update 

leave me alone.

Party Time

Silas’ birthday party went off without a hitch.  It was really fun for him I think.  He had his two best toddler buds here to play with and loads of cake and snacks.  I kinda just filled the table with all of his favorite snacks and let him graze.  We took into consideration Lucas’ allergies and there was a cake with no eggs, apple punch, and we kept the fruits he’s allergic to in the middle of the table.

The cake was a miracle.  My sister Jennie is a cake master, aside from Juliet’s perfect carrot cake of course, and blew us all away again with her mad cake-making skills.  People are still talking about her wedding cake she made me…this was good like that…almost.  All the kids had their own cupcake and us adults shared the big cake.  We polished the rest off last night and sang Silas happy birthday again.

Silas made us sing “happy birthday” twice and exclaimed how hot the candles were over and over.  He didn’t quite get them blown out.  Mommy helped.   He didn’t finish all of his cupcake but I think he was very excited to play with his new toys.

He got loads of trucks and he hasn’t really stopped playing with them.  Colin and Leanne got him a gloworm and he calls it his baby and carries it around.  It’s a great toy.  In the mornings he snuggles longer in bed with me because we bring his glow glow baby along (yes he calls it that, no I had nothing to do with it).

In the middle of the party, a big balloon bouquet showed up at the door.  The toddlers went wild playing with them.  Lucas and Ireland went nuts…Silas enjoyed them but was more into playing with his new trucks.  He hates being caught up in all of the ribbons.  Lucas loved that part and wore them around most of the night.  Ikey really enjoys chewing on the ribbons.

Anyway, the party was great.  I’m glad he had a good time.  He was soooo grumpy for his first birthday.

If you haven’t gone and looked at the photos you really should, they’re great.

Click here for birthday party photos and then click here for more.