Cake Tasting

While in Valpo for the long weekend, I accompanied the couple to their cake-tasting. I highly advise going to more than one place for this. And skipping all the other bridal affairs appointments... ;) Claire was thrilled to death to get a glass of ice to eat. She may not eat much, but she loves chomping on ice.

Mmm. Yummy. Now I should just take my diet tips from Claire. Eat ice...fat free, calorie free...etc...except Claire doesn't need to be dieting.

Mark was such a good sport!

He even let Holly make most of the decisions about the cake...err...maybe all? Really...weddings just plan themselves for the groom.

Holly had a hard time deciding.

It's a good thing that we were there!



Aww...the future Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood!

My little 5-year-old

Claire looks sooo grown-up in blue jeans. Hence, she will probably never wear these again. People used to guess her as older because she is so long, but because of her sparse hair, they are guessing her younger. I just don't think I like jeans on her.

Claire's First Piece of Gum

She actually did not eat this gum. She pulled it out and gave it back to me. YUMMY!

Tissues are fun!

Claire loves to play with tissues. Why? Because they are fun to shred into 100,000 itty bitty bits! YAY! This is the first time she has done something "bad," and yes...totally my fault, too!

Lions and Tigers and Babies! OH MY!

Claire loves the stroller, baby, and Noah's Ark she got for Christmas. She loves to take the animals in and out of the Ark.

The Artic Tundra

Dear God, I have had enough snow for the year. Please melt it all. Thank you! Love, Maria

Holly's Bachelorette Party

I made an alfredo pasta with white sauce to serve the gals at the bachelorette party. It puts a whole new meaning to the word -- noodle. Hey, if you get offended, it's your own fault for thinking like that! Get your mind OUT of the gutter! And here are the only 2 other pictures I felt comfortable posting on my blog here. Hmm.

Most of the other photos included items like pictured in the first picture...aka boy parts in the shape of straws, cakes, chocolates, jello shots, pictures, posters, or whips, handcuffs, etc...wait...if you are friends with me...that probably wouldn't offend you! Check out Holly's apron:

THE BOOBS SQUEAKED. I'm not even joking. How could I make that up? But what I really want to know, Holly, is HOW did you find that out? LOL! Funny story behind the apron: Holly and I picked out that apron for Krissy when she got married a few years back! The Krissy awesomely re-gifted it to Holly. This is one exception where re-gifting rocks. Haha...where should I post the rest of the photos? Wal-Mart or something?

Make-Overs: Complete!

Cousin Krissy avoiding a make-over and the creepy angel statue that Claire kept stealing the headpiece off of: Holly's future in-laws: Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood. Well, Mr. did not get a make-over, though!

Me!

Sister-in-law: Kristin!

Cousin Kami!

The bride-to-be: HOLLY!

Our Mom: Arlene!

Friend Suz!

Friend Cassy!

Friend Kristin!

Now if I were more organized, I would've done before AND after shots...oh well! Doesn't everyone look great!?!

25 THINGS

So I did this for FB, but put it here for those not yet to discover the coolness that is Facebook. Ooo, are you missing out!

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. I hate these types of things. Survey Hurricane FTW! And I think FB was a lot cooler before it was open to EVERYONE.

2. I love sprouts and chocolate, but not together.

3. I hope I remember to tag everyone who first tagged me on this thing.

4. I LOVE making videos of Claire and uploading them to www.filehurricane.com

5. I hate dogs. Why does everyone I know have to have one?

6. Being a mother is definitely the hardest, but also the most rewarding job I’ve ever had, and would like to have at least 2 more babies, but no, this is NOT an announcement of ANY kind!

7. I usually come up with more to say than there is room for on these things.

8. I only have a cell phone (no landline). I hated having one ringing when I was on the other. YIKES!

9. I love sleep. Claire has never slept more than 6 hours without waking up crying. That means I’ve never had more than 6 hours uninterrupted for the past 18 ½ months, and I’m OK with that because we *gasp* bedshare!

10. I don’t believe in CIO (letting babies/toddlers cry-it-out) for anything. Nobody would let a baby wail alone in a shopping cart in the grocery store...why is ok to do at home in a crib?

11. I believe in promoting breastfeeding and will talk about it with anyone interested (aka: other mommies (and mommies-to-be!)!!!!)

12. I am still nursing Claire at 18.5 months, and I *plan* on letting her self-wean even if she is 3 or 4.

13. I started EC with Claire at 8 months, and that is the first time she pooed/tinkled on the potty.

14. My life revolves around Claire. She is my world and my heart and soul. She is like my little heart that runs around outside of my body. Unless one is a parent, I don’t think somebody can truly know what it is to love so deeply. Even when I was preggers, it wasn’t the same, it was just a little bit of love, now it’s a ton.

15. I realize how my life has completely changed since Claire has been born and have the deepest of sympathies for those never able to have a child to call their own. L

16. I think abortion is incredibly wrong and don’t know how a doctor could perform one (unless the mother’s life is in danger).

17. I have been to 30 countries and have done a summer abroad and a year abroad in Germany (all on scholarships!).

18. I went to college for free on an academic scholarship since I graduated from HS with honors. Then I graduated from college magna cum laude while working 40/hrs week.

19. I completely enjoy being a full-time mom, and think our profession is sadly looked down upon. Who didn’t enjoy having their mom at home when they came home from school?

20. I love to read, write, blog, and scrapbook, as well as talk on the phone!

21. I hate cleaning because I hate dirt, but have to clean more than I used to because of...CLAIRE!

22. I LOVE meeting up with other moms and do so almost daily at various functions through church, Moms Club, LLL, neighbors, or other friends.

23. I talk to someone from my immediate family almost daily on my cell.

24. I would love to write the next great American Novel. ..but about what? I have submitted a few things to magazines, etc, but have yet to be published.

25. I have about 5 of Claire’s current favorite books memorized ... Goodnight Moon, Alligator Alphabet, No More Diapers for Ducky, Where’s Elmo, & Peek-A-Boo Puppy. Really. Call me in the car, and I will “read” to you. And this doesn’t count books that I already knew like songs “5 Little Ducks,” “Down by the Bay,” “Twinkle, Twinkle”...Etc...

NOW THAT YOU READ THIS,YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, AND TAG 25 PEOPLE TO DO THIS TOO!

Bed-Sharing Article

This is what I hate about studies...they don't give you enough details. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28857953/#storyContinued It gives bed-sharing a bad rep. If done right, it is actually more safe than an infant sleeping alone. I think that in a case where parents aren't USED to sleeping with their infant or small child (meaning every night) then this is when problems happen. Also, it doesn't say anything about if the parents were smoking, drinking, or using drugs, etc. Bed-sharing is safe if done right. If a mother is not breastfeeding, she will not be as aware of the baby in the bed, but there is also a point when you wonder just HOW sleep deprived the parents have let themselves get, if they are so exhausted that they don't notice they are sleeping on top of their kid...what the heck?

Make-Over Party

To kick off Holly's bachelorette party, we had a make-over party. Claire was wearing her jammies since I thought she would crash out. She went all day without a nap! And she was still up at 7 pm when we were doing make-up! And that is 8 our time!
Claire quickly befriends Mika who was feeding her yogurt drops. They are one of her favorite snacks!

We all got mirrors to look in and headbands to keep our hair back from our make-up.

David joined in the fun. I think the head band looks great on him!

It's hard to believe that he was "Bic" bald last Jan.!!!

Claire tries out her headband!

Suz being goofy as Kristin P. listens closely.

Claire is blowing David a kissy!

I don't wear lipstick. Ever. I prefer Chapstick! I think this color is off, don't you?

The lady in the jacket was the Mary Kay lady who told us how to put stuff on and helped us pick the right colors.

My mom, Arlene, Kristin Busse, and Kami listen to the Mary-Kay lady.

Claire trying to feed me water in the sippy.

History of Breastfeeding

Here is a fascinating article about the history of breastfeeding: http://www.historytoday.com/MainArticle.aspx?m=33033&amid=30259576 It's longer, but totally worth the time you spend reading it! Tell me what you think...it covers A LOT of history including some history of wet nursing. Wet nurses were around to help the royalty return to fertility faster, as we all know, breastfeeding can delay fertility depending on the nursing patterns. Not a totally reliable source of birth control, if you haven't read up on HOW it works, etc...duh. But those royal women had to get preggers again to have more heirs!

And the NAZI propaganda sign that you see in at the top says "Mutter and Kind" which means "Mother and Child." The smaller type above that says "Support public aid" which I think would be something like their version of WIC http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/aboutwic/wicataglance.htm which is what I think needs to be done...the cycle of poverty needs to be interrupted...yes, even today!

And here is a quote from the article, which emphasizes the more education a woman has, the more likely they are to breastfeed longer. I think that this is due to a lot of things. But what can we do, to increase breastfeeding rates here in the US? Ok, and now the quote, commenting on more modern breastfeeding information:

The twentieth century was unique in the sense that, for the first time in
history, it became a real possibility that breast milk could be replaced as the
source of infant feeding. It was also unique in the fact that, by the end of the
century, it was educated and higher-income mothers who were the most likely to
continue breastfeeding their children the longest. It was certainly also the
century that made the female breast into a commodity, readily available to the
public gaze in print, television and cinema, and used to sell all sorts of goods
and services – from motor cars and clothes to holidays and insurance policies.
However, the lactating breast, when it occasionally appears, still seems
able to create great controversy.

More Bennies for Mommies

Everyone knows that it's "easier" to lose weight if you breastfeed vs. formula feed. Perhaps it's because you'll be making fewer trips to the stores to pick up artificial baby milk and thereby are less likely to buy other things...lol...here are some more lesser known bennies for mommies:
https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020700.asp?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=parentingNewsletter&utm_campaign=totw1

New Yorker article

Breastfeeding articles abound everywhere http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/01/19/090119fa_fact_lepore

Is public breastfeeding ok?

Is it ok to breastfeed in public? http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=177799 There is your chance ladies. Make a video and upload it.