BJ & OJ

Watching my two guys walk around the boating section of Bass Pro all wide-eyed will be something that will stick with me for a long time.

I see so much of Brett in our son. It amazes me! That boy will have no choice BUT to grow up loving to boat, fish, swim, camp, hunt and enjoy the outdoors.

My son is blessed beyond words to have a father like Brett.

Orien is a Smarty Pants, Gisele is an Idiot

"Some people here (in the US) think they don't have to breastfeed, and I think 'Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?' I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months."

- Gisele Bundchen, model & apparently an expert on what is best for every mom and baby

Why do so-called "famous" people even think we will listen to them? I have never once thought 'Oh let me do what Tom Cruise says because he is sort of attractive and can kind of act. Anyway, this latest comment by Bundchen is no exception for me. The only reason I'm even taking the time to blog about it is because this hits a sore spot for me.

I breastfed for nearly two weeks. Then one day I couldn't. Who knows why...maybe a mixture of lack of rest, anxiety, not eating or drinking enough? But either way I dried up and that was that. Emotionally it was very difficult to accept the fact that I could not feed my child the way I had been excitedly looking forward to. Breastfeeding was magical and surreal almost. But the bottom line is it didn't work for me with my son. So we moved onto formula and wa-la!!!! He is a thriving, energetic, giggly, 16 month old!!!

And he's a smarty pants. So take that Gisele whatever-your-last-name is.

If there's something you learn quickly in mommy hood it's: DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS. Every situation and every parent is different and we have our reasons for what we do. Just respect others and DO YOUR OWN THING! Us parents have it hard enough just being parents and trying not to walk around like zombies 24/7. So lets support each other and lift others up.

Spread the love and forget the judgments!

Beach Bums

Yesterday we were all beach bums!

We hung out on the beach with the Oppermans ALL day and the kiddos did great. I never thought a beach trip would be so easy with a one year old. We stopped by the beach house afterward and took a dip in the pool. Our beach day was definitely one of the highlights of this summer.

Now, for the photos...

H!

Ms. Ems!

The little ones loved the chairs.

Perfection!

Lounging.

Sting ray...later there was a shark!!

Laura and her little man.

Thank God we had shade.

Someone got slapped with a popsicle.

Stopped at Bass Pro Shop on the way home.

The boys were in heaven.

Bubble Bath

Well it only took 16 months, but Orien finally had his first bubble bath. It's pretty easy to see he was slightly obsessed.

I feel like these photos capture today for me. Today was awesome. Not just awesome as in "it was a pretty great day", but awesome as in it was the best day I've had since O was born. With all the ups and downs I've had the past year and a half, today was a breath of fresh air. It's difficult to put into words why today was so wonderful, but I just thank GOD for never leaving my side. Every single time when I think I've been pushed to my absolute limit, He gives me just what I need...His comfort and love.

Today showed me that I can do this, I can handle everything at once and I can lean on Him...always!

Now check out these photos...seriously some of the most adorable ones yet.

Signing "more" LOL

"More" bubbles Dad

Computer Nerd

Check out what Daddy let Orien do this morning - play on our Mac. This is something Mommy forbids, so it was definitely a treat for O. He looks like such a natural using the mouse and keyboard. Weird how he'll grow up in a world with high-tech computers and laptops and iPads.

Even with strep throat, he's a cutie pie.

He's checking out himself as a baby.

"Privacy please?"

A Little Perspective

Sometimes all you need to improve your sticky, whiny, rushed, back-breaking day is a dose of perspective. I just wish it was easier to swallow.

As I sit here smack in the middle of my day with 26 things on my to-do list, I am trying to hang on to a thread of perspective. My current read is a book called "When Did I Get Like This?" Written by a mother of three and author, she describes her early parenting years. The point of the book is that she does things (bribing her kids, feeding them junk and telling them fibs to avoid "The Talk") that she never thought she would do as a mother. When I see Orien drop a french fry on the bathroom floor then pick it up and eat it without intervening, I wonder "How Did I Get Like This?" Just a year ago I was Purrelling everything in sight. Am I a bad mom? Am I lazy now? Am I being judged? Pretty soon I'm feeling overwhelmed and judged and just plain tired. Reading this book helps me gain perspective on this stage of life. It won't last forever and some day I maybe even can write a book about it and laugh.

The author's kids are still young, but well on their way of becoming young teens.

She explains her hectic life from the other side of toddler hood...a place I find myself longing for. I know I should really be loving every minute of Mommy & Me time with my towhead little monster, but truthfully I just can't. I love him to death and would die for him in an instant, but realistically...every, single, day is a struggle! For instance today: I am hosting bunco tonight, Orien has strep throat and I am on the verge of getting sick as usual. Need I say more? Any mother knows a sick kid makes for a LONG day AND night.

But the point of this post is not to be negative (I just needed to vent for a minute). The point is to remind myself to keep a little perspective. I often repeat the mantras "This is Temporary" and "Just Breathe". Sounds silly? Sure. But it works...about half of the time. I know this moment, this day, this stage is all very temporary. And you'd be amazed at how deep breaths help you relax and start over.

I need to go even deeper than spitting out peaceful phrases while not feeling so peaceful. I need to realize how incredibly BLESSED I am to have a husband who can leave work a bit early to come help me. I need to remember how tonight will be light-hearted and fun once things get rolling, and remember how crucial girl nights like these are. I need to remind myself that I have a healthy, thriving little boy. That is sadly not the case for every parent. These are the things that bring me back to ME. I feel more balanced and sane after putting some perspective on my current situation.

Now that I've spent 30 minutes of Orien's short-once-a-day nap writing on my blog, I MUST go prepare for tonight! There's fruit to be cut and floors to be swept! But even if the house isn't perfect and the food isn't done on time, I know that I still have it pretty dang good. God has blessed me abundantly...But I still need a dab of perspective every now and then :)

Flash Back

I was going through some old photos of Brett & I and wanted to share them. I wish I had more younger photos of Brett! I only have a handful. I like seeing who I think O looks like when looking through old pictures of us. I still think he is completely 50/50 of his Mom & Dad. It'll be interesting to see if our second child will look like Orien, or favor one of us. Check out our clothes by the way...talk about old schoool!

-PB

Me and my Papere :)

I love my Parrain!

Brett and his Aunt Judy!