The Public Breastfeeding Debate

There is  huge debate, mostly among women, about the whole topic of breastfeeding in public. Even those women how have never had a child judge other women for feeding in public. But before I get into my opinion I am going to give you some background about me.

I have breastfed and am currently breastfeeding both of my children. Benson I choose to stop around 8 months because I wanted my body back. He was only waking up once a night by this point and I was just exhausted and wanted to sleep too. Plus I was getting 10 oz every 5 hours and I was done feeling like a diary cow. Marlee is 9 months and we are still breastfeeding. We are still going because formula is too expensive and we just can't afford it right now and she still gets up 3 to 5 times a night so this is how I get her to pass back out. I am definitely one of those people who think everyone should try but I would never push that upon anyone. Instead if someone says they are going to breastfeed then I offer them as much help, support and guidance as I can. If someone says they are going to formula feed then I tell them about the programs that similac or enfamil has were you can sign up and get free samples and coupons off of formula. I do not judge because breastfeeding isn't for everyone, so I try to help with any advice I can about both ways of feeding and being knowledgeable.Women are the ones that judge each other and look down on others. If we supported every women's decision about what is best for them and their family then there wouldn't be such thing as the "mommy wars."

Breastfeeding in public, I used to be the person that said " OMG I don't want to see that. Why can't she just cover up!" Well that all changed once I had my own children. Though I have never really breastfed in public I do not judge anymore. I always usually pack a boob milk bottle or we really just don't get out much. Anyway, my son did not mind being covered up but Marlee how every will rip it off as soon as I put it on her! She absolutely hates it! My personal opinion about the topic is I understand if you cant cover up. If you can awesome, if you can't awesome! There is no reason to say " she should go to the restroom and feed her baby!" Umm... hello that is gross! Would you want to eat in a nasty public bathroom.. NO!! The way I see it is, if you are offended by it then don't look! But it is no reason to get upset or mad or judge someone else. If their baby is hungry then they have to feed them, it is that simple. All I ask people is don't judge because it isn't your place. We all should educate and support each other, instead of bashing one another. If it is about "I don't want my children to see that." Then you simply tell your children, "That mommy is feeding her baby, so let her eat in peace without you looking please!" There you go! A nice way of educating your children and teaching them to have manners. 

I just think there is already enough hate and ugliness in this world without judging a woman on how she feeds her baby. Again no matter if it is breastfeeding or formula feeding no way is wrong or better! They are both right because they are right for that family! 

Toddler Arts and crafts

So I am in desperate need of some suggestions of arts and crafts projects others may do with their children. I am trying to find things that a 2 year old and 9 month old can both do. I have looked at pinterest and have made play dough and edible finger paint. I just don't do the finger paint that often because well I have been too lazy to make it, I won't lie. I have also not done too ,many projects because I have been to lazy lately to want to clean up after they are done. The past month here we have probably had 5 sunny days and while I need those projects to keep them entertained, it also makes it hard to find motivation to do those things! :-) The struggle is real! 

What are some other crafts that you do with your kids? Any this with like popsicle sticks or pipe cleaners, or paper plates ( I used to love coloring paper plates as a kid). I am also looking for things that wont be a headache for me. My son is Mr. Independent, so something that will cause less fighting because he is making a giant mess would also be awesome. I just don't know of many things that I could do with the both of them. Any suggestions would be great! Thank you!

Never enough time!

Right now I am so behind with my "want to do," list. Trying to keep up with two kids, a man child, a dog and pick up some shifts at work when I can, I am just exhausted! Cleaning house is impossible and pointless! You moms or women with man children know this! And sometimes the men are worse than the kids! Drives me CRAZY!!! But just the normal daily things that need done are keeping me from my goals and DIY projects to get this house the way I want.

We moved into my grandma's house after she passed away. We were lucky in a way, not that my grandma passed, though she was 93, but we got an awesome house with an acre lot for $50,000. Only problem with this house is that my grandma did not update since the house was built in 1961. She did little things like new carpets etc but the bathrooms were still the original sea foam green and robins egg blue tiles. Slowly but surely we have been updating. The kitchen and bathrooms were carpet, that was the first fix and painting the walls etc. But now we need to really start getting it together. My husband rather have things than a pretty house, while I am the opposite in a way. I want things but I want a nice house first that doesn't look like a college apartment (our house doesn't but you get what I am saying). So that is something I have been trying to do, pinterest and cute DIY projects!

I want to go through every room and pull everything out and clean it! I try and do this twice a year. I will go through every nook and cranny and re-organize but there is only so much you can do. I love cleaning and I love things looking neat and pretty so I add more work than necessary to myself. ``

There are still things in my yard that need done. My husband is good for leaving things where ever he uses it instead of putting it away or throwing it away. So I need to go behind him and pick stuff up, especially in the garage and by the shed! 

I am trying to get the kids doing more this summer. We go on walks at the park, the library for story hour and the pool that we are members too. Partially it is for them to socialize and partially for me to get out of the house!! 

One day I will get there. Like today would be perfect to clean since it is raining! But since Marlee got up super early... we will see!!

Mom belly! :-(

I am 9 months postpartum and I still haven't lost more than the initial baby weight. I am not one of those lucky women who lose weight while breastfeeding. I still have the jelly belly, even though under it is hard still. But I am not tightening that skin back up for some reason and it is driving me nuts!

After Marlee came I was really good using my fitness pal, doing Zumba and exercising. I slacked off after 6 weeks because I was seeing now results. So then I did not do much for a while but I have really gotten back into it. I have been taking fish oil every morning, and doing daily work outs. I have been going with a friend walking at least twice a week and I have been drinking a gallon of water a day for three weeks. I've also been making more healthy meals! I was just really hoping to have lost more weight then I have, but I haven't. It is so disappointing.

When I got pregnant with Benson I weighed 106 pounds. After losing 15 from morning sickness, I topped out at 148 pounds. Marlee I start out at 128 pounds, lost 9 and topped out at 152. I currently am at 140 lbs and a size 4. I really want to lose at least 20 pounds. I want to be around 115 to 120. But it seems I will NEVER reach my goal, or at least not until I am done breastfeeding.

What are some things that you have done to lose weight while breastfeeding? How did you get your belly skin tightened back up? Apologizing first, but all those people who fit right back into their pre-pregnancy clothes like right after birth make me sick! lol! Lets share our tips and secrets!

Cartoons!

The e card that I see all the time "health class should be a baby crying non-stop for 5 hours with the same cartoon on repeat!" LOVE IT!! How true is that moms? Even having just one this is so true but adding another baby, when one cries they both cry. Benson will cry when Marlee does. Why? I have no idea and neither does he, he just knows the baby is crying and getting attention so why not him!

Right now before bed time I let him watch a movie in his bed to unwind and get sleepy. Well I introduce him to new movies every so often but of course he watches the same one for like 3 weeks straight. All I hear about all day too is whatever movie he is watching/ obsessed with and how he wants to watch it right now! Right now it is shrek, or as he calls it "yoger." Cracks me up! 

Cartoons in our house are played in the morning as back ground noise really as we play and eat! We were a Disney channel family but I got soo tired of seeing the same episode twice a day and what felt like 200 times a week. So we switched to Nickelodeon. Then once the same thing happened with that we mix it up daily. 

Our top cartoons:

1. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
2. Jake and the Never Land Pirates
3. Bubble Guppies
4. Paw Patrol
5. Peppa Pig

What cartoons or movies play in your house again and again and again and again.. 

Being a Kid!

I think that being able to be a kid again is the best part about having kids of your own! You get to PLAY!! I love to play! The best part I think its watching your kids laugh, learn and be full of excitement. It is especially fun the first time you do something when you get to watch them figure it out and the looks that come across their little faces! I love those looks! I think my favorite is when my daughter holds up something new and squints at it while she is trying to figure out what it is all about!

Yesterday we played in the rain! Something I loved doing as a kid. We have been outside when it has started to rain but we have never actually played in it! Man was it fun! We got soaked but my son loved it! We had puddles in our yard and if you moms watch Peppa Pig then you know what puddles are all about! Benson was jumping in them saying he was George and I was Peppa! Though the puddles weren't really muddy, he kept calling them muddy puddles! 

These are the moments I will treasure forever. I know one day he won't want me around as much! So I better enjoy every kiss, hug and thing he wants to do with mommy now!

Toddler Tantrums

Oh the awesome toddler tantrums. We deal with them often. I know at 2 he does not understand his emotions and is just trying to express himself but we also teach that it is not okay. However with that being said, some of the things that he throws tantrums over seriously makes me laugh. They are so outrageous and just over the silliest things.

• We are potty training so he was naked, except his camo cowboy boots, he peed on them. Then got so mad that I had to take them off.
• He will ask for something, such as a banana or yogurt, when I give it to him he freaks and doesn't want it. 
• I was cleaning and wouldn't let him play with the windex. 

There are many more but those are just a few that happen often or recently. Also right now I haven't had my coffee so my thinker isn't working all the way! These seem to happen to closer to nap time obviously.That is when I know he is tired when he gets crazy for no reason.What are some of your stories?

Dinner time!

Dinner time can sometimes be a struggle in my house.There are several problems. My husband works swing shift so we never know when he will be home. My 2 year old is going through the picky stage and only eats the same 3 things. My daughter knows it is dinner time and as soon as I sit down to eat starts screaming. Luckily she is loving this eating with her hands and trying the things that we eat, so that keeps her entertained long enough so I can finish eating. Then I get to feed her her baby food to make sure she is getting all her veggies! (I make my own baby food, so much fun!).

Since my husband was working 3 to 11 we had spaghetti. He doesn't like spaghetti, weird I know, so we eat it when he is on this shift. Both my kids love spaghetti so it is a win win for me. My daughter also at some sweet potatoes and pears. Over all she was completely covered in the food she ate. She is without a doubt more of a messy eater than my son was at this age! But what fun would it be to be able to have fun with your food like this and not have to worry! I am sure I am not the only one who's kid looks like this by the end of dinner!

DIY Friday

I think on Friday's I would like to do a DIY segment. It can be any thing, crafts, something you built or even something you cooked. I think it would be a fun way to see how us mom get a little me time and able to do something we went. This is my me time, even though I'm usually doing it around my children anyway but it gives me a minute to not think. I am a pinterest junkie, seriously addicted. I am always trying to make something or try a new recipe or getting room ideas about my dream home one day. I just need to win the lottery. Ha! 

This is one of my favorite projects I've done lately. My neighbors cut down their tree and I found this idea on pinterest of course. So I sent it to my neighbor and she did it in her front flower bed. Well I loved it and was jealous, so I needed to have one. It was a hollowed out log with flowers planted in it. SOOOOO Cute! She used three logs but I only used one!

I try to do one DIY project a week. Something that is either free or dirt cheap to make! Money is tight but I still need pretty things to do for my sanity. 
What are some DIY projects you have done?

Summer Time Fun

So far this summer we haven't done much, but that is about to change. We are getting organized and into a summer routine, well some what of a routine. I am not huge on setting a routine for every day but there are some things I would like to do once a week. Here is what we are going to do this summer.

Once a week we will be going to the library. They have a day for toddlers where they read a couple stories, sing a couple songs, play games and make a craft. It only lasts thirty minutes but that is perfect with a 2 year old and 8 month old. Also once a week in the evening they do a feature for that week. Last week they had a magician and this week they are having "critters" from the zoo. I'm really excited.

I am also trying to lose baby weight, so a friend of mine are walking at the park while our children play. The path is right around the play ground so we can constantly watch them which is nice.

Home made items so far have been play dough and finger paint, which Benson hates, haha he wont touch the finger paint but loves the play dough. These are both edible and off of pinterest. 

What are some of your activities this summer, rather it be some where else or in your back yard? I'd like to share ideas of things to do outside the house, inside the house and out back. I do draw brain blocks and cant think of anything fun. Hopefully this will get us all to share ideas and not do the same boring stuff all the time!

Never Thought It Would Happen

I always heard horror stories of the "poop" moments. When the child pooped in their crib or some how got it every where but I never in my life imagined it would be me. I would always laugh at my friends when they would tell me what had happened to them and think it was funny but I finally got to eat my own words. So here is my story.

Benson is potty training and part of the reason is because he now likes to be naked and takes off his own diaper. So peeing in the potty hasn't been difficult. We do have accidents but he is just getting the hang of it. Pooping however he has no idea how to use the potty. One evening at dinner he decided to take his diaper off and I thought nothing of it. He was playing with the baby in the hallway while I was cleaning up from dinner. The next thing I noticed was him sitting in the floor with something brown under his butt. When I got a closer look I could tell it was poop and a turd was next to him, mind you our carpet is white! yay! I then noticed that my daughter had crawled down the hallway to the other end but when she had did that she had crawled through the poop and left knee prints where ever she had went. So I was in panic mode and about to be sick. Poop doesn't bother me but OMG what do I do. First they both went into the tub and then I had to start scrubbing right away. It was the most disgusting thing I have so far encountered as a mom. 

So what is your horror story? What is the worst or most disgusting thing that has happened to you?

Wonderful Weekend

What a wonderful weekend we had. My husband works at a local steel mill so he only gets one weekend off a month. He works swing shift. Every week he starts a new shift for 7 days and only one day off in between. After all 3 shifts, he gets a "long weekend." So we took advantage of it this time.

Thursday we went to a local carnival after a long day of yard work and playing outside. My son, Benson, did not want to get off any ride. He loved them so much! Which is good for me because I love rides and my husband does not. I could ride rides all day. I'm just glad that he wasn't scared. Though it wasn't fun to battle a 2 year old, who had not napped, to get off rides.

Friday was full of more playing outside and unfinished yard work. It has just been so nice, we have to be outside. But Friday was also our date night. I found an idea on pinterest to put date ideas on Popsicle sticks and put them in a jar. You then draw a stick out and that is your date. We picked out mini golf and few weeks ago, so planned baby sitting accordingly. Well it was my first time playing mini golf since I was little, I am not a fan and my husband golfs very often. I only ended up losing by 6 points. I was really impressed with myself. The kicker was at hole 10 it started to down pour, I was wearing white shorts and a light mint green tank.. awesome! We thought it would stop soon... Nope! So we had to hurry and finish playing the last 8 holes and got soaked. We sat in the car to plan where we were going to eat which took about 15 minutes and of course the rain stopped as we were pulling out. Either way it was a fun night because it was our first date since April. We don't get many date nights because sitters are scarce. 

Saturday we had a family and friend cook out. What an awesome time, grilling, cornhole, music and beer. The kids played all evening and then we had a bonfire to top off the night. Cornhole is like a religion here in Ohio, we love it like a real sport. My son sat in the swing for 5 hours straight because everyone kept pushing him, he's not dumb lol! It was so nice to have adult time and laugh with other people and of course have some good food too!

                                     (My niece, my sister and me)       
  

How was everyone else's weekend? Any big date nights?

Happy Thoughts!

Sometimes as a stay at home mom it is easy to lose sight of how precious your children really are. You are always go go go. You are playing, cooking, cleaning, wiping butts, kissing boo boos and you are one thousand jobs in one all day long. By the end of the day you are tired and ready to relax or in my case just pass out. But when you stop and look at your child enjoying simple things around them it just brings joy to you. You see them staring at a toy, trying to figure out what its all about. Picking flowers to try and eat them is one of my daughters favorites, though she is only 8 months old so everything goes in her mouth. She loves, loves,loves playing in mommy's flower beds as I am weeding. And I think that this is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Wish I could play in the flower beds too! What are some aww moments for you?

You know you're a mom when?

Lets Play A Game! This game is called "you know you are a mom when...?" What are some things that you do on a daily basis that you know are just mom things and in your head you think "Mom life!" Here are a few of mine.

You know you're a mom when...

• You know all the words to all the theme songs of cartoons.
• You know all the songs to the movies your children watch (right now Benson's favorite is the lego movie).
• You sing those songs through the day for no reason.. EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!! (Lego movie song).
• You go to check a diaper for poop and stick your finger in it.
• You deal with crazy toddler tantrums. Example, we are potty training. He likes to be naked but he wanted to where his camo cowboy boots. He peed on them and then went hystarical when I had to take them off.
• You pick up the toys off the floor 1215545431 times a day! 
• When you pick your child's nose or tell them to wipe their snot on your shirt. 
• You get peed on.. but I think that happens to everyone. I did not know a girl could pee on you until Marlee :-). 

What are some of your mom moments? I know I have tons more but that is all I can think of before I have had my coffee! Have a good day all you moms! 

Bath Time Fun!

Why is bath time sooo much fun, NOT! I used to love bath time but not so much lately. Here is how bath time now goes at my house...

• Benson making Marlee mad because he pours water over her head.
• After washing Marlee she screams and rolls like a gator barrel rolling.
• I can barely hold her down to put her diaper on and clothes on.
• While I am doing this Benson is pouring cups of water all over the floor, completely flooding the bathroom. It happens every night no matter how many times I say the water stays in the tub.
• So when I go back in my socks are immediately soaked.
• I kneel to wash him which in turn gets my pants and shirt soaked too

Always fun in the Daughetee house at bath time! Man am I ready for bed! :-) 

I'd LOVE to hear some other bath time stories of others!!