Top 10 (er, 6) Things that People Say Won't Hurt But DO!

6. Getting your ears pierced
5. Braces
4. Pulling a tooth
3. C-sections
2. Breastfeeding
1. ARTHROSCOPIC KNEE SURGERY!!!!!

Happy Father's Day (early edition)

So Father's Day is this Sunday, the 19th. I wanted to surprise Jim. He has always surprised me with the nicest gifts that I wasn't expecting. (some more appreciated than others, hee hee.....)

So I thought, what is the nicest thing that he REALLY wants and that I could surprise him with?

Here is the answer:


I also wanted him to have his gift early so he'd have time to play with it. :) And quite frankly, I was too excited to keep it secret for much longer.

He's Walking!

He's done it! He's done it! J4 is FINALLY walking!

He is 14 1/2 months old. I know that is well within the range of normal, but you have to realize that both girls were walking by their 1st birthday. From what my mom tells me, I walked at the beginning of 10 months and my brother walked at the end of 10 months. So 14 months is kind of late, in comparison.

But that doesn't matter now, because HE'S WALKING!!!!!!

Here's a video:

Needles and Choices

So I was in Target this morning, buying a few things. As I stood in the checkout line, a woman with a tiny baby in a carrier got in line behind me. I remarked at how precious he was and asked how old he was. 9 days, she said. Wow, I replied. You're out and about at 9 days? You're doing really well! She said she had a 2 year old so this was really old hat to her. She also said she had not had an epidural and that she was feeling great! Oh, I had c-sections so I wasn't out and about at 9 days, I replied. She said, "Oh, see, I couldn't do that. I just don't like needles."

But in my head, I thought, did she think I had a choice? I would have preferred to avoid the whole needles in my back, surgery-thing, too, you know. I went in to labor on my own. I labored for 8 hours without drugs! I TRIED! I even pushed! For 4 exhausting hours! But the baby wasn't coming out.

Now I don't want anyone to think this lady was rude. She was very nice, especially for 9 days postpartum. lol! And I had struck up a conversation with her. So it's not like she forced her opinion on me or anything even remotely like that.

But it brought up the whole idea that women have a choice in how they give birth. I know. I know. You have a few choices. But labor and childbirth are so unpredictable! You never know when you're going to be the one needing the emergency c-section. Or the one with a huge tear. Or the one with a baby who doesn't breathe fast enough and needs oxygen. Or the NICU. I'm glad the lady apparently had a natural, uncomplicated, drug-free birth. That is certainly the ideal and definitely the best way to go. IF YOU CAN......

But then there's the rest of us.

I guess what irked me was the thought that, "well, I just won't have a c-section because I don't like needles." I had decided I wasn't having a c-section either because THEY WERE BAD. But when push came to shove, or rather, to nothing (i.e. no head) I had to have one or the baby and I would have died.

Finishing our conversation, the baby was sleeping and the mom said that he's been doing that a lot. I smiled and told her to enjoy it because she knows it doesn't last forever. She chuckled and said yea.... Then we both went on about our business.