In a recent weekly challenge posed by my women's Bible study group, we were charged to think about what the ideal temperature would be in our homes and then to think of ourselves as the thermostat. The goal was to create an atmosphere that felt like whatever temperature we thought was best. As in, if Mom is cold and uncaring, the temp was chilly, or if mad and riled up about something, it was steamy. Get the idea?
Anyone that knows me would expect my ideal temperature to be on the high side, think mid-80s. Or a nice cozy 78 at least, all warm and snugly with a fuzzy blanket and bowl of hot chocolate. But I think I surprised everyone when I said upper 50s to low 60s.....
My explanation was this: imagine that it's been a long, hot, muggy August and September. You know that first cool snap, when you walk outside and the wind has shifted? You may get a whiff of dry leaves, a hint of rain, the faint smell of a fire in the fireplace. You get to break out the boots, a light jacket, maybe a scarf. You find that you have a little more energy, a spring in your step, everything has a newness, a promise of something great just around the corner. And then, yes, you do get to come home to a warm house, a nice cup of hot cocoa, and a cuddly blanket.
That is what I want to be for my family. A breath of fresh air. The hope that the long hard summer is finally over. A great change is in store. And then something warm to come home to. Autumn is and forever will be my favorite season, for those reasons. And I will strive to create that atmosphere for my sweet family.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
7 months
Mr. Coleman Scott,
That's right, I'm using your middle name. Mostly because your little personality is becoming more and more apparent each day and you definitely have a bit of an attitude and know how to throw a fit. It's a really cute fit, but a fit none-the-less.
You have changed so much in the past month, it's unreal. Three major accomplishments stand out:
1. You now eat, and love, solid food. Well, I should say semi-solid because we are still on stage 1 foods. Although you don't really care for the traditional rice cereal, you do enjoy apples, pears, bananas, squash, and peas. The ladies at daycare may have fed you some other things, but I don't know what they are. So far I haven't heard of any disasters, so all must be well. You clean your plate at each meal and get a little mad when dinner time is over. You get excited and bang on the tray and so far we haven't had any major spills or messes. You are very good and don't reach for the spoon like I was afraid you would. It is a lot of fun to feed you and watch you eat- you have a very expressive face!
2. Rolling with a purpose. You have figured out how to roll to get somewhere or to something. This satisfies your curious, into-everything mind, but saves me from having to hand you toys that you have thrown across the room. If you are sitting in our laps or laying in bed, you waller around until you get to where you think you need to be going. It will be no time before you learn how to crawl, I just know it!
3. Sitting up on your own. You can't quite get there on your own yet, but can sit for a very long time without falling over. You do tend to forget sometimes and reach for something just beyond your grasp or look up quickly and fall back, so we can't leave you by yourself just yet.
I'm afraid you may be starting to show either some stranger anxiety or separation anxiety. Mostly I notice when someone else, including Daddy, is holding you- you always want me and fuss and even reach for me until I take you. I, of course, secretly love this. We still have major challenges with sleep, but hopefully that will soon change as I get your daycare workers on board with what we need to do to fix the problem and get you the sleep you need. And, no, those bottom teeth still haven't popped through yet!
Other fun things about you:
Your hair: it's starting to get long enough to lay down in the front and back, and it's growing over your ears, but still stands straight up on the crown of your head.
Your smile: Love that gummy, toothless grin. Sometimes you do a one-sided grin and wrinkle your nose like I do.
Your eyebrows: The Lively's are known for extremely expressive eyebrows and you definatly got that gene! One day I looked over at you and your daddy and you both had the same expression on your face :)
Your giggle: I will do almost anything to get you laughing, it's just soooo adorable!
You are really starting to fill out- your face is getting round and chubby (and looking more like me), you are getting fat and cellulite on your calves (again, like your Momma), and you have the dunlap syndrome (like Granddaddy). You weighed 16 pounds, 1 ounce, gaining a pound in less than a month, which may be a new record for you.
Little boy, you become more fun by the day! We love being your parents and thoroughly enjoy watching you grow and become the cute little person you are!!
That's right, I'm using your middle name. Mostly because your little personality is becoming more and more apparent each day and you definitely have a bit of an attitude and know how to throw a fit. It's a really cute fit, but a fit none-the-less.
You have changed so much in the past month, it's unreal. Three major accomplishments stand out:
1. You now eat, and love, solid food. Well, I should say semi-solid because we are still on stage 1 foods. Although you don't really care for the traditional rice cereal, you do enjoy apples, pears, bananas, squash, and peas. The ladies at daycare may have fed you some other things, but I don't know what they are. So far I haven't heard of any disasters, so all must be well. You clean your plate at each meal and get a little mad when dinner time is over. You get excited and bang on the tray and so far we haven't had any major spills or messes. You are very good and don't reach for the spoon like I was afraid you would. It is a lot of fun to feed you and watch you eat- you have a very expressive face!
2. Rolling with a purpose. You have figured out how to roll to get somewhere or to something. This satisfies your curious, into-everything mind, but saves me from having to hand you toys that you have thrown across the room. If you are sitting in our laps or laying in bed, you waller around until you get to where you think you need to be going. It will be no time before you learn how to crawl, I just know it!
3. Sitting up on your own. You can't quite get there on your own yet, but can sit for a very long time without falling over. You do tend to forget sometimes and reach for something just beyond your grasp or look up quickly and fall back, so we can't leave you by yourself just yet.
I'm afraid you may be starting to show either some stranger anxiety or separation anxiety. Mostly I notice when someone else, including Daddy, is holding you- you always want me and fuss and even reach for me until I take you. I, of course, secretly love this. We still have major challenges with sleep, but hopefully that will soon change as I get your daycare workers on board with what we need to do to fix the problem and get you the sleep you need. And, no, those bottom teeth still haven't popped through yet!
Other fun things about you:
Your hair: it's starting to get long enough to lay down in the front and back, and it's growing over your ears, but still stands straight up on the crown of your head.
Your smile: Love that gummy, toothless grin. Sometimes you do a one-sided grin and wrinkle your nose like I do.
Your eyebrows: The Lively's are known for extremely expressive eyebrows and you definatly got that gene! One day I looked over at you and your daddy and you both had the same expression on your face :)
Your giggle: I will do almost anything to get you laughing, it's just soooo adorable!
You are really starting to fill out- your face is getting round and chubby (and looking more like me), you are getting fat and cellulite on your calves (again, like your Momma), and you have the dunlap syndrome (like Granddaddy). You weighed 16 pounds, 1 ounce, gaining a pound in less than a month, which may be a new record for you.
Little boy, you become more fun by the day! We love being your parents and thoroughly enjoy watching you grow and become the cute little person you are!!
Monday, September 24, 2012
6+ Months
Dear Coleman,
I'm sorry this is ages late. It appears your Daddy has rubbed off on me more than I realize. It's not that I forgot to post, it's that every time I think about writing, I get so emotional that I have a hard time putting my thoughts into words.
You are absolutely amazing. Everything about you is just overwhelmingly awesome. Your smile, your laugh, your curiosity, your development. You are growing up and learning so many things. I want to slow down so I can savor it all and take it in.
On the other hand, oh man, are you getting to be a fun little person! You love playing games of peek-a-boo and patty-cake. You love other babies and kids and are doing very well at daycare, socially. You definitely have certain toys that are your favorites and you reach for them with such enthusiasm- I love watching your face light up. My favorite part of the day is picking you up after work and seeing that drooly, toothless grin get so wide when you recognize me. You are quite capable of sitting, but fall to the front or the side a lot either out of laziness or just not knowing that you can stay sitting up.
We have our challenges, though. For one, you are still teething- those front teeth just haven't popped through yet, and I don't know that they ever will! Some days, you soak your onsies in drool and gnaw on anything you can get in your mouth. You like your teething ring, especially when it's been in the freezer a while. Our other major challenge is still sleep. You are just too busy to take a proper nap! We are working on making some adjustments to your napping schedule, but it's hard to get you to settle down when there are 9 other babies in your class at daycare who are doing so many other things! And, you still have that lingering cough and pesky snotty nose- *sigh*
We started some semi-solid food on your 1/2 birthday and you really enjoy it. You are definitely not a fan of rice cereal by itself (can't say that I blame you) but will eat it up if bananas or applesauce are mixed in. They feed you some at daycare, too, but I'm not sure what. You tried squash the other day and seemed to like it. Next up are sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, pears and peaches. We are only introducing one thing at a time, and this is just so you can learn how to eat, not to replace breast milk.
Oh, I almost forgot! At your 6 month check-up, you weighed in at 15 pounds, 1 ounce, 27 1/2 inches, still holding at long and lean, but definitely growing right along. You got several immunizations, but as always, you were a trooper and recovered as soon as it was over.
We love you, little man!
I'm sorry this is ages late. It appears your Daddy has rubbed off on me more than I realize. It's not that I forgot to post, it's that every time I think about writing, I get so emotional that I have a hard time putting my thoughts into words.
You are absolutely amazing. Everything about you is just overwhelmingly awesome. Your smile, your laugh, your curiosity, your development. You are growing up and learning so many things. I want to slow down so I can savor it all and take it in.
On the other hand, oh man, are you getting to be a fun little person! You love playing games of peek-a-boo and patty-cake. You love other babies and kids and are doing very well at daycare, socially. You definitely have certain toys that are your favorites and you reach for them with such enthusiasm- I love watching your face light up. My favorite part of the day is picking you up after work and seeing that drooly, toothless grin get so wide when you recognize me. You are quite capable of sitting, but fall to the front or the side a lot either out of laziness or just not knowing that you can stay sitting up.
We have our challenges, though. For one, you are still teething- those front teeth just haven't popped through yet, and I don't know that they ever will! Some days, you soak your onsies in drool and gnaw on anything you can get in your mouth. You like your teething ring, especially when it's been in the freezer a while. Our other major challenge is still sleep. You are just too busy to take a proper nap! We are working on making some adjustments to your napping schedule, but it's hard to get you to settle down when there are 9 other babies in your class at daycare who are doing so many other things! And, you still have that lingering cough and pesky snotty nose- *sigh*
We started some semi-solid food on your 1/2 birthday and you really enjoy it. You are definitely not a fan of rice cereal by itself (can't say that I blame you) but will eat it up if bananas or applesauce are mixed in. They feed you some at daycare, too, but I'm not sure what. You tried squash the other day and seemed to like it. Next up are sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, pears and peaches. We are only introducing one thing at a time, and this is just so you can learn how to eat, not to replace breast milk.
Oh, I almost forgot! At your 6 month check-up, you weighed in at 15 pounds, 1 ounce, 27 1/2 inches, still holding at long and lean, but definitely growing right along. You got several immunizations, but as always, you were a trooper and recovered as soon as it was over.
We love you, little man!
Friday, August 24, 2012
Tough week
Quick vent so I can move on:
It's been a rough week at the Holloway home.
Scott's great Grandma Vera who is 98 had to have surgery to remove a necrotic facial mass. She did grat during anesthesia and is recovering well, but the mass was more invasive than they thought, the weren't able to get it all, and had to cut wider margins than they had planned, so there's a good chance that here skin won't be able to hold the sutures well. We think she is coming home today, so that's good.
Kenton has been in Lubbock since Tuesday with her. When would anyone think they would have to be the primary caretaker for his grandmother? I'm sure he is emotionally and physically exhausted. Also, the man hates to be gone from home (more acurately, from the dairy) so I'd be willing to bet he's getting impatient.
So, since Kenton's been gone, Scott's been in charge of the dairy and working longer hours than usual, as in 4 am to 8 or 9 pm. He's worn out and burnt out. We've seen each other less than an hour a day, right before bed, you know, when we're at our best. He hasn't held his son since Sunday and has only laid eyes on him twice, in his car seat, at the dairy, for about 5 minutes each time. My prayer is that he doesn't unravel before his dad gets home.
Coleman is finally over his stomach virus, but quite sleeping at daycare, which meant that he quit sleeping at night, so I had been up with him 4 or 5 times a night. We had a chat about that with the daycare staff and may have finally broken that over-tired cycle. He slept great Wednesday night and did okay last night, but woke up at 6 this morning. I forgot to leave them his bottle this morning and they were fighting to put him down for a nap when I got there, so showed them what I do and then left- maybe that worked.
On top of all this, I threw my back out last Monday (changing a diaper). I can't take any kind of pain mess except Tylenol (which turns my milk pink, gross!) so it took a while to get over it. The I did it again yesterday morning. Do you have any idea how much fun it is to give a baby a bath, change diapers, nurse, rock, carry, and pick a baby up out of a crib with a super painful back? Jolena, I know you hear me. Also, this incident really shed some light on who takes care of the house. But I can't get mad, because he hasn't been home long enough to get a decent night's sleep in several weeks.
Okay, rant over. The weekend will be here in 6 hours. Plans are to keep Coleman up way past his bed time (I know....) to go see Daddy play his last softball game of the season tonight. Tomorrow, C and I are headed East to go see my best vet school friend Amanda and her new baby Landon; she hasn't met Coleman either, so it should be fun! Sunday is our preacher's last day to serve our congregation, so we have a big fellowship meal planned and then it's family day! I also have hopes of getting a few more things done in Coleman's room - here's to wishful thinking!!
It's been a rough week at the Holloway home.
Scott's great Grandma Vera who is 98 had to have surgery to remove a necrotic facial mass. She did grat during anesthesia and is recovering well, but the mass was more invasive than they thought, the weren't able to get it all, and had to cut wider margins than they had planned, so there's a good chance that here skin won't be able to hold the sutures well. We think she is coming home today, so that's good.
Kenton has been in Lubbock since Tuesday with her. When would anyone think they would have to be the primary caretaker for his grandmother? I'm sure he is emotionally and physically exhausted. Also, the man hates to be gone from home (more acurately, from the dairy) so I'd be willing to bet he's getting impatient.
So, since Kenton's been gone, Scott's been in charge of the dairy and working longer hours than usual, as in 4 am to 8 or 9 pm. He's worn out and burnt out. We've seen each other less than an hour a day, right before bed, you know, when we're at our best. He hasn't held his son since Sunday and has only laid eyes on him twice, in his car seat, at the dairy, for about 5 minutes each time. My prayer is that he doesn't unravel before his dad gets home.
Coleman is finally over his stomach virus, but quite sleeping at daycare, which meant that he quit sleeping at night, so I had been up with him 4 or 5 times a night. We had a chat about that with the daycare staff and may have finally broken that over-tired cycle. He slept great Wednesday night and did okay last night, but woke up at 6 this morning. I forgot to leave them his bottle this morning and they were fighting to put him down for a nap when I got there, so showed them what I do and then left- maybe that worked.
On top of all this, I threw my back out last Monday (changing a diaper). I can't take any kind of pain mess except Tylenol (which turns my milk pink, gross!) so it took a while to get over it. The I did it again yesterday morning. Do you have any idea how much fun it is to give a baby a bath, change diapers, nurse, rock, carry, and pick a baby up out of a crib with a super painful back? Jolena, I know you hear me. Also, this incident really shed some light on who takes care of the house. But I can't get mad, because he hasn't been home long enough to get a decent night's sleep in several weeks.
Okay, rant over. The weekend will be here in 6 hours. Plans are to keep Coleman up way past his bed time (I know....) to go see Daddy play his last softball game of the season tonight. Tomorrow, C and I are headed East to go see my best vet school friend Amanda and her new baby Landon; she hasn't met Coleman either, so it should be fun! Sunday is our preacher's last day to serve our congregation, so we have a big fellowship meal planned and then it's family day! I also have hopes of getting a few more things done in Coleman's room - here's to wishful thinking!!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Goal Updates
Well, huh. Some goals going okay, others not so much.
Checking in as follows:
1. Decorating: Coleman's room is close to being finished. I need Scott to build me a wooden valance and put the Circle H brand on it, and finish his drawing, and bring the level home so I can hang some hooks. Then I need to print out some pictures and frame them and finish his chicken-wire bulletin board. One or two more touches and I'll be done. I have 15 more days. And counting.
2. Moving: I managed to get the green wooden shelf moved into the back room and set up and have a few books on it. Still need to get the stuff from our downtown storage and the little building at our old house. And then unpack it. :)
3. Exercising. Not so much. I do have to go to a wedding on November 9 and would like it if I weighed maybe 10 pounds less. I have just about 12 weeks until then and could maybe work my way up to a 5K by adding a 1/4 mile each week. Trick is finding time to do it when it's not 105+ degrees. Oh, and I threw my back out changing Coleman's diaper on Monday.
4. Breastfeeding. Going well. Have worked up to 4.5 ounces three times daily at daycare. Decided that 5 oz is too much for a breast fed baby. Have a small stash saved from his recent stomach virus when he wasn't supposed to nurse for a few days. Keep on truckin'.
5. Sleep. Cry-it-out sleep training went well, at first. He will only fall asleep on his tummy and only if he's sleepy enough. If he's mad at the world and doesn't want to be in bed, he flips himself over but not back. We did great the first week: to bed at 7, woke up once a night to eat, then slept until 6:30 or 7. However, due to vacation and illness, he now wakes up at 10, 1, 4, and before 6. I have been feeding him each time, just because I think he got dehydrated and obviously lost lots of Calories while he was sick- I think he's making up for lost time with a pseudo-growth spurt. For the most part, however, he goes down very easily and sleeps well. We will revisit this soon.
6. Stickers. Did I mention that we had 3 weeks of over 105+ degree temps? And that I threw my back out earlier this week?
7. Bible study & Quiet time. Combine that with number 8. being a better wife. I used my obsession with social media to help me out on these. First, I get a daily FB post with the link to today's reading from My Utmost for His Highest- very deep and insightful posts. Second, yes, I know it's taboo for a COC gal, but I listen to Christian radio in the truck nearly exclusively. Is it not better to have the lyrics of a hymn stuck in my head than a song about bars? It's not in a worship setting, but I need to make sure I'm not making excuses. Third, I read a book (on my iPad, no less) and have started following a blog by Sara Horn called "My so-called life as a Proverbs 31 Wife". I am going to, hopefully, host a bible study/book study with the ladies in my young adult Bible class. There is a lot of interest from my friends, I think we all crave that fellowship and closeness that comes from studying God's word with each other, and I think that we will all make this a priority. This book really spoke to me about being a better wife and has challenged me to come up with new ways to love my hubby and I find myself praying for everything much more. However.... I need to work on getting back to the source- to studying, edifying, and searching the Bible for myself.
9. Housework and cooking. Also part of being the Proverbs 31 wife. I am doing better with this, until this week when I hurt my back, which makes it hard to scrub the shower, do dishes, and sweep the dirt into the dustpan. You should see me give Coleman a bath. We've also eaten at home much more this week because I finally made it to Wal-Mart.
10. Make time for myself. I got a haircut last week. The week before I was sick and slept for a day but then went shopping with Mom for a few hours to get decorations for the house. The week before that we were in San Antonio for the week and I had lots of downtown. So while I haven't made specific time for myself, I have had some down time each week.
If I give myself an overall grade: C
On to next month.
Checking in as follows:
1. Decorating: Coleman's room is close to being finished. I need Scott to build me a wooden valance and put the Circle H brand on it, and finish his drawing, and bring the level home so I can hang some hooks. Then I need to print out some pictures and frame them and finish his chicken-wire bulletin board. One or two more touches and I'll be done. I have 15 more days. And counting.
2. Moving: I managed to get the green wooden shelf moved into the back room and set up and have a few books on it. Still need to get the stuff from our downtown storage and the little building at our old house. And then unpack it. :)
3. Exercising. Not so much. I do have to go to a wedding on November 9 and would like it if I weighed maybe 10 pounds less. I have just about 12 weeks until then and could maybe work my way up to a 5K by adding a 1/4 mile each week. Trick is finding time to do it when it's not 105+ degrees. Oh, and I threw my back out changing Coleman's diaper on Monday.
4. Breastfeeding. Going well. Have worked up to 4.5 ounces three times daily at daycare. Decided that 5 oz is too much for a breast fed baby. Have a small stash saved from his recent stomach virus when he wasn't supposed to nurse for a few days. Keep on truckin'.
5. Sleep. Cry-it-out sleep training went well, at first. He will only fall asleep on his tummy and only if he's sleepy enough. If he's mad at the world and doesn't want to be in bed, he flips himself over but not back. We did great the first week: to bed at 7, woke up once a night to eat, then slept until 6:30 or 7. However, due to vacation and illness, he now wakes up at 10, 1, 4, and before 6. I have been feeding him each time, just because I think he got dehydrated and obviously lost lots of Calories while he was sick- I think he's making up for lost time with a pseudo-growth spurt. For the most part, however, he goes down very easily and sleeps well. We will revisit this soon.
6. Stickers. Did I mention that we had 3 weeks of over 105+ degree temps? And that I threw my back out earlier this week?
7. Bible study & Quiet time. Combine that with number 8. being a better wife. I used my obsession with social media to help me out on these. First, I get a daily FB post with the link to today's reading from My Utmost for His Highest- very deep and insightful posts. Second, yes, I know it's taboo for a COC gal, but I listen to Christian radio in the truck nearly exclusively. Is it not better to have the lyrics of a hymn stuck in my head than a song about bars? It's not in a worship setting, but I need to make sure I'm not making excuses. Third, I read a book (on my iPad, no less) and have started following a blog by Sara Horn called "My so-called life as a Proverbs 31 Wife". I am going to, hopefully, host a bible study/book study with the ladies in my young adult Bible class. There is a lot of interest from my friends, I think we all crave that fellowship and closeness that comes from studying God's word with each other, and I think that we will all make this a priority. This book really spoke to me about being a better wife and has challenged me to come up with new ways to love my hubby and I find myself praying for everything much more. However.... I need to work on getting back to the source- to studying, edifying, and searching the Bible for myself.
9. Housework and cooking. Also part of being the Proverbs 31 wife. I am doing better with this, until this week when I hurt my back, which makes it hard to scrub the shower, do dishes, and sweep the dirt into the dustpan. You should see me give Coleman a bath. We've also eaten at home much more this week because I finally made it to Wal-Mart.
10. Make time for myself. I got a haircut last week. The week before I was sick and slept for a day but then went shopping with Mom for a few hours to get decorations for the house. The week before that we were in San Antonio for the week and I had lots of downtown. So while I haven't made specific time for myself, I have had some down time each week.
If I give myself an overall grade: C
On to next month.
5 Months
Stop growing up, little boy!
I don't know how you do it, but you keep stealing more and more of my heart daily. You have changed so much and month 4 has definitely been my favorite so far.
It's been a very big month for you! You made your maiden voyage to the Frio River and got "baptized" in that sacred swimming hole. You love to swim! We stayed with cousins Franklin and Kathleene and you had a big time with your other cousins Victoria, Isabelle, and Whit. The car ride was, um, rocky, and wore us all out, but I think we broke you of your aversion to car seats, because the next long drive we took went just fine. We had also traveled down to South Texas to celebrate the 100th birthday of your great-great Aunt Jency Runnels. She is my grandmother's sister and looks incredible for her age. Also at that party was another little baby named Coleman that was born on your birthday. He is Cousin Jeff's cousin, so we're not really related, but it was still neat!
We took a DFA trip to the yearly YC meeting down on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. You were a trooper and got Mommy out of most of the boring meetings. We showed you the Alamo, but you were more interested in the water, the ducks, and all of the lights, sounds, and people. You were a perfect kiddo in the car ride there and back- I couldn't have been more proud of you!
G-mama came to visit, but had to cut it short because Mommy and Daddy got sick, and then a few days later we gave it to you (so sorry!). It was great to have her here to take care of you and you played and read books and told her all of your secrets. We managed to go shopping and got some great stuff for your room, though! Sorry your nursery isn't quite finished, but it's coming along great and I will have it done by the end of the month [if Daddy will help me :)]
You started back to daycare near the end of the month to give Nana a break before school started. You seem to really like it there and are getting back into the swing of things pretty well. I'm not sure you nap all that well, because you don't sleep as well as before, but I know that you are well taken care of!
My favorite thing about you right now, though, by far, is your hair.
It defies gravity. It is soft and white. It's getting thicker every day. A-mazing.
You look more and more like your Daddy every day and I was struggling to find something that resembles me. I think your eyes are more like mine than his. But then I noticed you have cellulite in your little thighs- yep, definately got that from me!
Your new accomplishments include:
- intentionally reaching for and grabbing things
- sitting up for longer amounts of time, although you still prefer to be held
- sleeping longer stretches (that is, until we went on vacation)
- going to sleep without nursing
- talking, singing, and laughing more and more
And, the most exciting thing for Mommy is.... (drumroll please)..... you will take a pacifier!!!!!!
Your stats:
-14 pounds, 9 ounces (on the cat scale at the clinic)
-Size 2 diapers
-Wearing 3-6 month clothes that are starting to get too short but still have plenty of room
-Sleeping anywhere from 4-6 (once or twice 9 hours) at a time at night
-Still eating at least once at night
-Drink 3 4.5 oz bottles during the day at daycare and nurse for breakfast, dinner, and a 2 am snack
Other exciting things:
-You are teething and love to gum your teething keys, teething beads, the ring that goes in the freezer, and Mommy's knuckles
- I think you try to kiss me on the cheek like I do to you, but you end up just kind of giving me a very slobbery, open mouth fish kiss.
- You still love to be held, but will lean over to see things, especially Ali, and will try to grab anything I am holding
- You are starting to figure out that you can play in the water at bath time. You stare at your hand underwater and splash a little and then try to decide what just happened.
We love you soooooo much Coleman and are honored to get to be your parents!
I don't know how you do it, but you keep stealing more and more of my heart daily. You have changed so much and month 4 has definitely been my favorite so far.
It's been a very big month for you! You made your maiden voyage to the Frio River and got "baptized" in that sacred swimming hole. You love to swim! We stayed with cousins Franklin and Kathleene and you had a big time with your other cousins Victoria, Isabelle, and Whit. The car ride was, um, rocky, and wore us all out, but I think we broke you of your aversion to car seats, because the next long drive we took went just fine. We had also traveled down to South Texas to celebrate the 100th birthday of your great-great Aunt Jency Runnels. She is my grandmother's sister and looks incredible for her age. Also at that party was another little baby named Coleman that was born on your birthday. He is Cousin Jeff's cousin, so we're not really related, but it was still neat!
We took a DFA trip to the yearly YC meeting down on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. You were a trooper and got Mommy out of most of the boring meetings. We showed you the Alamo, but you were more interested in the water, the ducks, and all of the lights, sounds, and people. You were a perfect kiddo in the car ride there and back- I couldn't have been more proud of you!
G-mama came to visit, but had to cut it short because Mommy and Daddy got sick, and then a few days later we gave it to you (so sorry!). It was great to have her here to take care of you and you played and read books and told her all of your secrets. We managed to go shopping and got some great stuff for your room, though! Sorry your nursery isn't quite finished, but it's coming along great and I will have it done by the end of the month [if Daddy will help me :)]
You started back to daycare near the end of the month to give Nana a break before school started. You seem to really like it there and are getting back into the swing of things pretty well. I'm not sure you nap all that well, because you don't sleep as well as before, but I know that you are well taken care of!
My favorite thing about you right now, though, by far, is your hair.
It defies gravity. It is soft and white. It's getting thicker every day. A-mazing.
You look more and more like your Daddy every day and I was struggling to find something that resembles me. I think your eyes are more like mine than his. But then I noticed you have cellulite in your little thighs- yep, definately got that from me!
Your new accomplishments include:
- intentionally reaching for and grabbing things
- sitting up for longer amounts of time, although you still prefer to be held
- sleeping longer stretches (that is, until we went on vacation)
- going to sleep without nursing
- talking, singing, and laughing more and more
And, the most exciting thing for Mommy is.... (drumroll please)..... you will take a pacifier!!!!!!
Your stats:
-14 pounds, 9 ounces (on the cat scale at the clinic)
-Size 2 diapers
-Wearing 3-6 month clothes that are starting to get too short but still have plenty of room
-Sleeping anywhere from 4-6 (once or twice 9 hours) at a time at night
-Still eating at least once at night
-Drink 3 4.5 oz bottles during the day at daycare and nurse for breakfast, dinner, and a 2 am snack
Other exciting things:
-You are teething and love to gum your teething keys, teething beads, the ring that goes in the freezer, and Mommy's knuckles
- I think you try to kiss me on the cheek like I do to you, but you end up just kind of giving me a very slobbery, open mouth fish kiss.
- You still love to be held, but will lean over to see things, especially Ali, and will try to grab anything I am holding
- You are starting to figure out that you can play in the water at bath time. You stare at your hand underwater and splash a little and then try to decide what just happened.
We love you soooooo much Coleman and are honored to get to be your parents!
Poor sick baby!
Co-mingling: To blend, mix, merge, or integrate.
In vet med, we use this term to refer to a load of mixed calves that have been brought from different ranches and combined into a new herd, sharing all kinds of germs and disease. These cattle often become sick due to stress and being exposed to different illnesses.
And so it is at daycare. Ugh.
The first time he was at daycare in May, he got a wicked cold that proceeded to cause a conjunctivitis. Mommy got a horrible cold and a soar throat and was prescribed antibiotics from a bonehead MD that wouldn't listen to me when I told him I was nursing. Before I got a clear answer on if I could even take them, I felt better. So now I have a back up Z-pack, just in case.
This time, he ended up with a nasty viral enteritis. And disgusting, green, ropey nasal discharge. I normally only have to change a dirty diaper every 3-5 days, which is normal for a breast fed baby (milk is highly digestible). I changed 6-8 dirty diapers every day for 5 days. It's hard to tell if he was vomiting, but there was defiantly an increase in spit-up. I'm fairly certain he got dehydrated; there was no way I was keeping his ins and outs balanced. Each time I called his pediatrician I got conflicting or different instructions. First just feed him as regular, then don't feed him until the diarrhea stops, then add culturelle, now just pedialyte, Benadryl for his nose. *sigh*
He missed daycare Friday and Monday, and we kept him home from church Sunday. But we made it through, he's starting to have more regular diapers, acting like he feels better and sleeping for 3-4 hour stretches, instead of waking me up 5 or 6 times a night. And yeah, I feed him each time he wakes, just because I'm worried that he still needs fluids, so all of our sleep training is flying out the window.
Oh, and did I mention that he gave it to everyone at the clinic? They dropped like flies each day. We have decided to start keeping track of all of his illnesses by giving them their own alphanumeric system and see how many sicknesses we get this year. This will be the first and we're calling it C1H1. Super glad he goes to daycare (extreme sarcasm here).
In vet med, we use this term to refer to a load of mixed calves that have been brought from different ranches and combined into a new herd, sharing all kinds of germs and disease. These cattle often become sick due to stress and being exposed to different illnesses.
And so it is at daycare. Ugh.
The first time he was at daycare in May, he got a wicked cold that proceeded to cause a conjunctivitis. Mommy got a horrible cold and a soar throat and was prescribed antibiotics from a bonehead MD that wouldn't listen to me when I told him I was nursing. Before I got a clear answer on if I could even take them, I felt better. So now I have a back up Z-pack, just in case.
This time, he ended up with a nasty viral enteritis. And disgusting, green, ropey nasal discharge. I normally only have to change a dirty diaper every 3-5 days, which is normal for a breast fed baby (milk is highly digestible). I changed 6-8 dirty diapers every day for 5 days. It's hard to tell if he was vomiting, but there was defiantly an increase in spit-up. I'm fairly certain he got dehydrated; there was no way I was keeping his ins and outs balanced. Each time I called his pediatrician I got conflicting or different instructions. First just feed him as regular, then don't feed him until the diarrhea stops, then add culturelle, now just pedialyte, Benadryl for his nose. *sigh*
He missed daycare Friday and Monday, and we kept him home from church Sunday. But we made it through, he's starting to have more regular diapers, acting like he feels better and sleeping for 3-4 hour stretches, instead of waking me up 5 or 6 times a night. And yeah, I feed him each time he wakes, just because I'm worried that he still needs fluids, so all of our sleep training is flying out the window.
Oh, and did I mention that he gave it to everyone at the clinic? They dropped like flies each day. We have decided to start keeping track of all of his illnesses by giving them their own alphanumeric system and see how many sicknesses we get this year. This will be the first and we're calling it C1H1. Super glad he goes to daycare (extreme sarcasm here).
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
NIP
It is National Public Display of Breastfeeding Day. Nursing in public, or NIP.
Call me conservative, but I think this is a bit ridiculous. Yes, it is great that it is legal for a woman to breastfeed her child any time, any where. Babies need to eat, regularly, and if they are all like my sweet one, they want to eat now. So it is nice that, should the situation arise, I have the legal right to take care of business.
And the campaign to "normalize breastfeeding" is a noble one. For years, it was such taboo, no one talked about it, did it, even considered it. So there is a lot of misinformation out there. Breastfed and formula babies gain weight differently, feed differently, sleep differently, even poop differently. There are extra challenges associated with breastfeeding- getting latch on figured out, timing of feedings, pain, supply issues, demand on a mother- that formula feeders don't face. And don't get me started about trying to work full time and have an exclusively breast fed baby (via bottle). I'm sitting in a hot office in a horse barn pumping between appointments as I type. But there are soooo many awesome reasons to nurse: mother-baby bond, antibodies, jaw development, convenience (most of the time), hormonal effects for mom, helping my body get back to normal (sort of).
So it is great that women a raising awareness, but I think we may have taken it a tad too far. Personally, I feel uncomfortable nursing in front of most people. Scott, my MIL, my SIL, and my mother are the only ones I routinely nurse in front of. Oh yeah, and my pediatrician, LC, and the nurses at the hospital, but they are medical professionals. I have nursed, with a cover, at family gatherings (some distance away) and at church in the nursery or cry room. If I'm out in public, I usually hop in the back of the truck with the a/c on and park at the far end of the parking lot, still covered.
You can call me a prude or old fashioned if you want, but you can also take a look at my closet and see all kinds of modest clothes. No barely there triangle bikinis or see through tops for me. In fact, I had to buy shirts that were more boob accessible so that I could nurse. The reason has a lot to do with my morals and beliefs that my body is meant to be seen and appreciated by Scott only. Additionally, I am aware of how visually stimulated men are, and even if on accident, a peep show will not edify my brothers in Christ. And, I don't appreciate it when other people do things that make me uncomfortable, why should I put them in a position that makes them feel awkward.
So yes, I support and will be a proponent of breast feeding. Is breast feeding in public for me? Absolutely not. Will I judge those that do? Absolutely not. I simply don't feel that busting out in front of a lot of strangers is the best way to get the point across (puns intended). As with anything, religion included, shoving something in someone's face is not a pleasant way to make them change their mind. Unless they happen to be a pervert.
Call me conservative, but I think this is a bit ridiculous. Yes, it is great that it is legal for a woman to breastfeed her child any time, any where. Babies need to eat, regularly, and if they are all like my sweet one, they want to eat now. So it is nice that, should the situation arise, I have the legal right to take care of business.
And the campaign to "normalize breastfeeding" is a noble one. For years, it was such taboo, no one talked about it, did it, even considered it. So there is a lot of misinformation out there. Breastfed and formula babies gain weight differently, feed differently, sleep differently, even poop differently. There are extra challenges associated with breastfeeding- getting latch on figured out, timing of feedings, pain, supply issues, demand on a mother- that formula feeders don't face. And don't get me started about trying to work full time and have an exclusively breast fed baby (via bottle). I'm sitting in a hot office in a horse barn pumping between appointments as I type. But there are soooo many awesome reasons to nurse: mother-baby bond, antibodies, jaw development, convenience (most of the time), hormonal effects for mom, helping my body get back to normal (sort of).
So it is great that women a raising awareness, but I think we may have taken it a tad too far. Personally, I feel uncomfortable nursing in front of most people. Scott, my MIL, my SIL, and my mother are the only ones I routinely nurse in front of. Oh yeah, and my pediatrician, LC, and the nurses at the hospital, but they are medical professionals. I have nursed, with a cover, at family gatherings (some distance away) and at church in the nursery or cry room. If I'm out in public, I usually hop in the back of the truck with the a/c on and park at the far end of the parking lot, still covered.
You can call me a prude or old fashioned if you want, but you can also take a look at my closet and see all kinds of modest clothes. No barely there triangle bikinis or see through tops for me. In fact, I had to buy shirts that were more boob accessible so that I could nurse. The reason has a lot to do with my morals and beliefs that my body is meant to be seen and appreciated by Scott only. Additionally, I am aware of how visually stimulated men are, and even if on accident, a peep show will not edify my brothers in Christ. And, I don't appreciate it when other people do things that make me uncomfortable, why should I put them in a position that makes them feel awkward.
So yes, I support and will be a proponent of breast feeding. Is breast feeding in public for me? Absolutely not. Will I judge those that do? Absolutely not. I simply don't feel that busting out in front of a lot of strangers is the best way to get the point across (puns intended). As with anything, religion included, shoving something in someone's face is not a pleasant way to make them change their mind. Unless they happen to be a pervert.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Toes
For the past month, it has been Coleman's number one goal in life to get his toes in his mouth. See??
Today, I arrived at my MIL's house to be told, "Well, Momma, he got 'em!" He had managed to get his big toe in his mouth and suck on it without holding on to his foot with his hands. Reportedly, he smiled so big at his accomplishment that it fell out of his mouth- such a silly little guy!
Another day spent paying more attention to a stranger's pet than my own son. Another day when someone else gets to spend more waking hours a day with my child than I do and feeds him a bottle more times than he nurses. Another milestone that I was waiting for my child to reach and someone else got to steal that moment from me.
Today, I arrived at my MIL's house to be told, "Well, Momma, he got 'em!" He had managed to get his big toe in his mouth and suck on it without holding on to his foot with his hands. Reportedly, he smiled so big at his accomplishment that it fell out of his mouth- such a silly little guy!
Another day spent paying more attention to a stranger's pet than my own son. Another day when someone else gets to spend more waking hours a day with my child than I do and feeds him a bottle more times than he nurses. Another milestone that I was waiting for my child to reach and someone else got to steal that moment from me.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Sleep Training "Success"
We've been sleep training this week...
Let me give you some background first: Coleman has always nursed himself to sleep. Even as a newborn, he would drift off, then fall off, then wake up, fuss and re-latch himself and start all over again. Consequently, I've been the only one who could put him down to sleep at our house. Somehow, at Suzan's house and at daycare and out in public, he'll fall asleep with rocking or swaying, but come time for bed or nap time at home, he has to 'suck to soothe'.
So, we were getting some sleep, but I was getting pretty tired. I figured out how to nurse laying down, which led to co-sleeping for naps, which led to co-sleeping at night, which meant a great night's sleep for Coleman, but Scott and I would wake up stiff and sore and not at all well-rested. Also, if I wasn't home at bedtime, he couldn't fall asleep and would end up severely over-tired.
I asked my pediatrician if he was old enough for sleep training and she said yes, that given his strong attachment to me and his strong association with nursing to fall asleep that the Ferber method would be best. This is a kind of "crying it out" with progressive waiting without picking him up if he's okay to teach him to fall asleep on his own. It sounds harsh, but it's harder on Momma than on the baby. Dr. Lovette also warned that her baby cried for FIVE HOURS the first night.
So here we go: at bed time the first night he cried for an hour, and then slept for 5 before waking up to eat, but went back to sleep on his own after crying for only 20 minutes. It's gotten easier each night with maybe only 10 minutes of crying each night at bedtime and going right back to sleep after a feeding or diaper change. The past two nights, he's gotten 12 hours of sleep (aside from brief wakings to eat) which is appropriate for an infant his age.
7 pm to 7 am. Perfect. Unless you realize that he gets dropped off at the sitter's at 7:45 and not picked up until 5:30 or a little later. Unless you realize that Scott leaves the house at 6 am and never gets home before 8 pm. I get about 2 hours with my baby, Scott hasn't seen him in 2 days. I knew this time was coming, but I was dreading it. I know that we're doing what's best for him, but honestly, I hate with every fiber of my being that I dont't get to spend more time with him.
Then there's the 'what-ifs'. What if he becomes more attached to the sitter than to us? What if he forgets who we are (especially Scott)? What if we miss every milestone from here on out? What if we're dissolving all of those special attachments and binding time and security that co-sleeping provided? What if my milk supply drops because he's not there to stimulate production all night? I feel so selfish to want to keep him awake longer, and then I feel selfish for getting him to bed early because it gives me some much needed time to get chores done, take sometime for myself and get some decent sleep.
So yes, sleep training has worked well, and I have a very happy baby in the mornings, but at a bigger cost to Scott and myself than I could have imagined. I think that's why I put it off so long and held on to being 'the only one' as long as I could. Like so many other things in our life right now, it's a catch 22. I suppose we'll muddle our way through this, too. I just hope we don't miss out on too much.
Let me give you some background first: Coleman has always nursed himself to sleep. Even as a newborn, he would drift off, then fall off, then wake up, fuss and re-latch himself and start all over again. Consequently, I've been the only one who could put him down to sleep at our house. Somehow, at Suzan's house and at daycare and out in public, he'll fall asleep with rocking or swaying, but come time for bed or nap time at home, he has to 'suck to soothe'.
So, we were getting some sleep, but I was getting pretty tired. I figured out how to nurse laying down, which led to co-sleeping for naps, which led to co-sleeping at night, which meant a great night's sleep for Coleman, but Scott and I would wake up stiff and sore and not at all well-rested. Also, if I wasn't home at bedtime, he couldn't fall asleep and would end up severely over-tired.
I asked my pediatrician if he was old enough for sleep training and she said yes, that given his strong attachment to me and his strong association with nursing to fall asleep that the Ferber method would be best. This is a kind of "crying it out" with progressive waiting without picking him up if he's okay to teach him to fall asleep on his own. It sounds harsh, but it's harder on Momma than on the baby. Dr. Lovette also warned that her baby cried for FIVE HOURS the first night.
So here we go: at bed time the first night he cried for an hour, and then slept for 5 before waking up to eat, but went back to sleep on his own after crying for only 20 minutes. It's gotten easier each night with maybe only 10 minutes of crying each night at bedtime and going right back to sleep after a feeding or diaper change. The past two nights, he's gotten 12 hours of sleep (aside from brief wakings to eat) which is appropriate for an infant his age.
7 pm to 7 am. Perfect. Unless you realize that he gets dropped off at the sitter's at 7:45 and not picked up until 5:30 or a little later. Unless you realize that Scott leaves the house at 6 am and never gets home before 8 pm. I get about 2 hours with my baby, Scott hasn't seen him in 2 days. I knew this time was coming, but I was dreading it. I know that we're doing what's best for him, but honestly, I hate with every fiber of my being that I dont't get to spend more time with him.
Then there's the 'what-ifs'. What if he becomes more attached to the sitter than to us? What if he forgets who we are (especially Scott)? What if we miss every milestone from here on out? What if we're dissolving all of those special attachments and binding time and security that co-sleeping provided? What if my milk supply drops because he's not there to stimulate production all night? I feel so selfish to want to keep him awake longer, and then I feel selfish for getting him to bed early because it gives me some much needed time to get chores done, take sometime for myself and get some decent sleep.
So yes, sleep training has worked well, and I have a very happy baby in the mornings, but at a bigger cost to Scott and myself than I could have imagined. I think that's why I put it off so long and held on to being 'the only one' as long as I could. Like so many other things in our life right now, it's a catch 22. I suppose we'll muddle our way through this, too. I just hope we don't miss out on too much.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Goals
Well, it's goal-setting time again. For the past 4.5 months I've hidden myself away in survival mode, struggling to make it through each day, then fall asleep, exhausted, to fitfully 'nap' through the night, only to wake up early and do it all over again. Every new mom knows how I feel, especially working moms. Every last drop of energy that is not used up at work gets squeezed into those precious few hours each evening with my amazing gift from God. I can't remember a time in my life when I've felt more scattered, less organized, and completely worn out, with more responsibilities looming on my to-do list.
No more. The goals set below are designed to help me strike a balance between the old me and the new "Mommy." This written goal technique worked really well for me in 2011. We're half way through '12, so it's high time I re-vamp!
In no particular order:
1. Paint and finish decorating one room in the house each month until done. Obviously, decorating and furniture rearranging is a constantly changing thing, but I've got to come to some sort of end point before moving forward with another project.
2. Have all boxes unpacked (or re-packed) by the end of the summer. This includes moving all of our belongings from both storage sheds to our new house and going through them. I think I'll make that the official end of Summer, in September.
3. Spend some time each day excercising, be it a brisk walk, working in the yard, weights or Pilates. To spare my milk supply, I think I'll stay away from any super intense cardio, although an elliptical machine may not be out of the question. Explanation: breast feeding burns about 500 Calories a day, so my intake needs to be somewhere around 2500-2700 a day. Because I struggle with maintaining my supply, it seems risky to burn too many calories and try to loose weight.
4. Breastfeed Coleman for one year. For so many reasons, breastmilk is best and recommended instead of cow's milk until one year of age. Because I work [more than] full time, this is a struggle, but I'm determined enough to make it happen. Specifically, by next week, I hope to provide him with three 4.5 ounce bottles daily, and in three week's time, three 5 ounce feedings. How's that for a measurable goal?
5. Get Coleman's sleep schedule under control. Not only does the poor guy have to work around me for his eating schedule, but he has to rely on us for bedtime as well. Again, with my on call schedule so erratic, it can really throw him off. By the time he is 5 months old, we will have a very established bed time and routine. The biggest challenge will be to have him follow it with someone other than me, since he relies on nursing to fall asleep.
6. Dig stickers out of the yard. Sort of a goal, sort of a to-do, but we've got to get them out of the yard!!! They are located in the largest, most open section of the yard that I had hoped to make Coleman's play area. I am launching an all-out war on the evil little things, and I WILL WIN!!!!!
7. Read the Bible or a devotional and spend time in prayer and worship every day. This seems more important now, not only because I'm a mom, but also because I rarely get the chance to study and worship with my congregation (because I'm a mom). I sing all manners of church songs to Coleman when I'm getting him down for the night and pray over him an dpraise God for him, but not every night and not with purpose.
8. As always, make it a daily goal to be a loving and devoted wife to Scott. This has been more challenging as of late because we are both so tired and busy and have a lot going on. We also have a somewhat uncertain future professionally, so we're both feeling a bit unsettled and up in the air.
9. Keep a cleaner house and cook more. One the one hand, I'm kinda too busy for this; one the other, I'm a slacker. Via Pinterest, I have found all of these wonderful cleaning schedules, so while my house may not be immaculate all the time, it won't be several weeks before I finally get around to cleaning the bathroom. Also, I need to get back to planning weekly menus and shopping ahead of time. If I can accomplish Goal Number 5, it will be much easier to cook dinner for Scott, have lunches and snacks on hand, and, bonus, save some money.
Finally, and maybe this should be Number 1:
10. Find a way to carve out 30 minutes each week for myself. Be it a pedicure, soak in the bathtub, sitting on the porch with some lemonade and a magazine, or a haircut, MAKE TIME FOR MYSELF.
That should do it. I'll try to check back in each month with updates.
No more. The goals set below are designed to help me strike a balance between the old me and the new "Mommy." This written goal technique worked really well for me in 2011. We're half way through '12, so it's high time I re-vamp!
In no particular order:
1. Paint and finish decorating one room in the house each month until done. Obviously, decorating and furniture rearranging is a constantly changing thing, but I've got to come to some sort of end point before moving forward with another project.
2. Have all boxes unpacked (or re-packed) by the end of the summer. This includes moving all of our belongings from both storage sheds to our new house and going through them. I think I'll make that the official end of Summer, in September.
3. Spend some time each day excercising, be it a brisk walk, working in the yard, weights or Pilates. To spare my milk supply, I think I'll stay away from any super intense cardio, although an elliptical machine may not be out of the question. Explanation: breast feeding burns about 500 Calories a day, so my intake needs to be somewhere around 2500-2700 a day. Because I struggle with maintaining my supply, it seems risky to burn too many calories and try to loose weight.
4. Breastfeed Coleman for one year. For so many reasons, breastmilk is best and recommended instead of cow's milk until one year of age. Because I work [more than] full time, this is a struggle, but I'm determined enough to make it happen. Specifically, by next week, I hope to provide him with three 4.5 ounce bottles daily, and in three week's time, three 5 ounce feedings. How's that for a measurable goal?
5. Get Coleman's sleep schedule under control. Not only does the poor guy have to work around me for his eating schedule, but he has to rely on us for bedtime as well. Again, with my on call schedule so erratic, it can really throw him off. By the time he is 5 months old, we will have a very established bed time and routine. The biggest challenge will be to have him follow it with someone other than me, since he relies on nursing to fall asleep.
6. Dig stickers out of the yard. Sort of a goal, sort of a to-do, but we've got to get them out of the yard!!! They are located in the largest, most open section of the yard that I had hoped to make Coleman's play area. I am launching an all-out war on the evil little things, and I WILL WIN!!!!!
7. Read the Bible or a devotional and spend time in prayer and worship every day. This seems more important now, not only because I'm a mom, but also because I rarely get the chance to study and worship with my congregation (because I'm a mom). I sing all manners of church songs to Coleman when I'm getting him down for the night and pray over him an dpraise God for him, but not every night and not with purpose.
8. As always, make it a daily goal to be a loving and devoted wife to Scott. This has been more challenging as of late because we are both so tired and busy and have a lot going on. We also have a somewhat uncertain future professionally, so we're both feeling a bit unsettled and up in the air.
9. Keep a cleaner house and cook more. One the one hand, I'm kinda too busy for this; one the other, I'm a slacker. Via Pinterest, I have found all of these wonderful cleaning schedules, so while my house may not be immaculate all the time, it won't be several weeks before I finally get around to cleaning the bathroom. Also, I need to get back to planning weekly menus and shopping ahead of time. If I can accomplish Goal Number 5, it will be much easier to cook dinner for Scott, have lunches and snacks on hand, and, bonus, save some money.
Finally, and maybe this should be Number 1:
10. Find a way to carve out 30 minutes each week for myself. Be it a pedicure, soak in the bathtub, sitting on the porch with some lemonade and a magazine, or a haircut, MAKE TIME FOR MYSELF.
That should do it. I'll try to check back in each month with updates.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
4 months
My, oh, my!!
My dear, sweet Mr. Coleman,
You are incredible! You never cease to amaze me with your new tricks, super social personality, and overall awesomeness!
Your stats today:
13 pounds, 1 ounce, 5-15% for weight
25 3/4 inches long, 50% for height
5% for head circumference
Looks like you are going to be tall and lanky like your daddy, with my small head! Maybe you'll be a track star like him, I'm sure he'd love that!
You love: watching Ali and Matty run around, playing with your cell phone, elephant, puppy, and lamb, the soother seal on our cell phones, the baby in the mirror, watching TV, especially old Westerns and shows with lots of music, being outside, nursing yourself to sleep, other kids, ceiling fans, being naked and bathtime.
You hate: the carseat, naps, teething, pacifiers, being left alone, and changing clothes.
Your discoveries: your hands, toes, and hair, how to change the setting on the soother seal, trees, how to suck on your tongue and fingers, raising your right eyebrow, Lively style!
Your skills: holding up your head extremely well and following things around the room, sitting up (might be on accident), rolling over from tummy to back, talking and singing, squealing, supporting your weight on your legs, smiling and laughing (especially at Auntie K).
You are growing up so fast little boy! I love, love, love watching you explore your world, but I want time to slow down a bit (or a lot!) so we can savor each moment.
My dear, sweet Mr. Coleman,
You are incredible! You never cease to amaze me with your new tricks, super social personality, and overall awesomeness!
Your stats today:
13 pounds, 1 ounce, 5-15% for weight
25 3/4 inches long, 50% for height
5% for head circumference
Looks like you are going to be tall and lanky like your daddy, with my small head! Maybe you'll be a track star like him, I'm sure he'd love that!
You love: watching Ali and Matty run around, playing with your cell phone, elephant, puppy, and lamb, the soother seal on our cell phones, the baby in the mirror, watching TV, especially old Westerns and shows with lots of music, being outside, nursing yourself to sleep, other kids, ceiling fans, being naked and bathtime.
You hate: the carseat, naps, teething, pacifiers, being left alone, and changing clothes.
Your discoveries: your hands, toes, and hair, how to change the setting on the soother seal, trees, how to suck on your tongue and fingers, raising your right eyebrow, Lively style!
Your skills: holding up your head extremely well and following things around the room, sitting up (might be on accident), rolling over from tummy to back, talking and singing, squealing, supporting your weight on your legs, smiling and laughing (especially at Auntie K).
You are growing up so fast little boy! I love, love, love watching you explore your world, but I want time to slow down a bit (or a lot!) so we can savor each moment.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Relationships
I knew that having a baby would change my relationships with people in some way, but I was by no means ready for the magnitude of that change. Some are subtle changes, like how I'm more understanding and sympathize more with strangers that have children or appreciate unasked for courtesies and kindnesses. Others are much more dramatic:
With friends: It depends on the friend. If they have children, young or old, it's like we're friends on a whole different level. I have a new understanding of their world- how all-consuming, overwhelming, and at times, gut-wrenching parenthood is. If they don't have friends, there is now a separation. Gone are the carefree shopping trips or impromptu movie nights, and they don't understand exactly why. The friends who have recently had babies are the best- they just get us. They know why we have to leave suddenly and why it takes days to return e-mails or phone calls. They are sounding boards for things like feeding and sleeping issues. Oh, and they have hand-me-downs and sage advice!
With family: I think we now understand how much our parents love us. It's come full circle. We can instantly brighten their day with a picture of or story about Coleman. The great-grandparents just beam when he's around and it's hard to not make him the center of attention. He has been such a blessing!
With myself: I'm not sure how to describe this one. Where I used to be so organized and a perfectionist, I can't remember the simplest things like "shut the closet door so Ali doesn't get in the laundry basket." I've always been very goal oriented, but right now my priorities center around getting what needs done today finished and ready for tomorrow. I'm very hard on myself, but I'm having to learn to cut myself some slack. I have realized how selfish I was B.C. (before Coleman) and how self-less I still need to become. Somewhere in that pendulum I do need to learn to make time for myself. My goal this week is to treat myself to a soak in our nice new very deep and wide bathtub. Here's hoping.
With Scott: This is the most shocking change. Having Coleman has united us in ways that I never dreamed of. Our marriage now has a purpose higher than honoring and loving each other. Our goal now is to live as an example and to raise this child of God into a servant. We are his example of how to live as Christians. We are his example of a loving, working marriage. Scott is his example of a father and husband. I am to display the qualities he should search for in a mate. It is an awesome responsibility, a bit overwhelming at times. And together we are a team. When I'm tired and at my wits end, he's there to soothe our crying child. When he's not sure what to do, I have the answer. I have fallen more in love with that man than I knew I could. To see him with our baby warms and softens my heart like butter. Even though we are exhausted and spend precious little time alone together, we are closer and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
With God: You know that whole Father-Child aspect of having a relationship with God? I always got the "Child" part of it, but now I think I'm beginning to understand how He loves us as a parent, as the Father. I'm sure as time goes on and Coleman grows up and makes his own choices I'll understand it even more. Additionally, I've always grown closer to God during times of trial, and if this isn't one, then I don't know what is. There are those times when you just plead and beg that he goes to sleep and that you somehow find the strength to go on. The other extreme is that moment when I am holding that sweet sleeping (or laughing) perfect angel and just praise God for making him just for us to care for and love. And there's every second in between, when you just aren't sure of yourself and need a little guidance and hope and pray and have faith that what you are doing is the right thing. Let go and let God.
My New Year's resolution was to "de-clutter" everything. I definitely am working towards that goal in this area of my life. Bring on the next 6 months!
With friends: It depends on the friend. If they have children, young or old, it's like we're friends on a whole different level. I have a new understanding of their world- how all-consuming, overwhelming, and at times, gut-wrenching parenthood is. If they don't have friends, there is now a separation. Gone are the carefree shopping trips or impromptu movie nights, and they don't understand exactly why. The friends who have recently had babies are the best- they just get us. They know why we have to leave suddenly and why it takes days to return e-mails or phone calls. They are sounding boards for things like feeding and sleeping issues. Oh, and they have hand-me-downs and sage advice!
With family: I think we now understand how much our parents love us. It's come full circle. We can instantly brighten their day with a picture of or story about Coleman. The great-grandparents just beam when he's around and it's hard to not make him the center of attention. He has been such a blessing!
With myself: I'm not sure how to describe this one. Where I used to be so organized and a perfectionist, I can't remember the simplest things like "shut the closet door so Ali doesn't get in the laundry basket." I've always been very goal oriented, but right now my priorities center around getting what needs done today finished and ready for tomorrow. I'm very hard on myself, but I'm having to learn to cut myself some slack. I have realized how selfish I was B.C. (before Coleman) and how self-less I still need to become. Somewhere in that pendulum I do need to learn to make time for myself. My goal this week is to treat myself to a soak in our nice new very deep and wide bathtub. Here's hoping.
With Scott: This is the most shocking change. Having Coleman has united us in ways that I never dreamed of. Our marriage now has a purpose higher than honoring and loving each other. Our goal now is to live as an example and to raise this child of God into a servant. We are his example of how to live as Christians. We are his example of a loving, working marriage. Scott is his example of a father and husband. I am to display the qualities he should search for in a mate. It is an awesome responsibility, a bit overwhelming at times. And together we are a team. When I'm tired and at my wits end, he's there to soothe our crying child. When he's not sure what to do, I have the answer. I have fallen more in love with that man than I knew I could. To see him with our baby warms and softens my heart like butter. Even though we are exhausted and spend precious little time alone together, we are closer and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
With God: You know that whole Father-Child aspect of having a relationship with God? I always got the "Child" part of it, but now I think I'm beginning to understand how He loves us as a parent, as the Father. I'm sure as time goes on and Coleman grows up and makes his own choices I'll understand it even more. Additionally, I've always grown closer to God during times of trial, and if this isn't one, then I don't know what is. There are those times when you just plead and beg that he goes to sleep and that you somehow find the strength to go on. The other extreme is that moment when I am holding that sweet sleeping (or laughing) perfect angel and just praise God for making him just for us to care for and love. And there's every second in between, when you just aren't sure of yourself and need a little guidance and hope and pray and have faith that what you are doing is the right thing. Let go and let God.
My New Year's resolution was to "de-clutter" everything. I definitely am working towards that goal in this area of my life. Bring on the next 6 months!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
3 months (+ 10 days)
Coleman,
One thing that I hope you don't inherit or acquire is "Holloway Time," where "in a little bit" means a few hours from now and it's an every day event to get home to clean up 10 minutes after you are supposed to be somewhere. Mommy grew up being early for everything, but I've been influenced by Daddy and the rest of his family and I'm now one of them.... which might explain why this post is so late.
You are getting to be such a big boy! You actually spent your three month birthday on your first long out-of-town trip without Mommy and Daddy. Nana had a family reunion at Lake Whitney and I was on call, so she loaded you up with your aunts, uncle, and great-Grandpa and had a great day meeting all of your cousins on her side of the family. You were apparently a very good boy and only fussed a few times. We missed you very much but spent the whole day (working) talking about how we want to raise you: on a farm, out with us as much as possible, and of course, in the church.
You have changed so very much in the past month, it's unreal! You talk, squeal, laugh, coo, and sing at anyone who will listen- especially the ceiling fans and dogs. You are really starting to explore the world around you and are a very social baby. You started sleeping really well (anywhere from 6-8 hours at a stretch!) but then we changed up your schedule and you stay with Nana during the day and we haven't quite got our routine down yet. You have to nurse yourself to sleep, which can take quite a while and is kind of tiring, but I secretly love the extra special one-on-one Mommy-Coleman time at the end of a long day. You eat 3.5 ounces three times a day while I'm at work and nurse 3 or 4 times when we're home. We haven't been to see Dr. Lovette this month, so I'm not sure about your stats, but you are definitely growing!
We moved to our new house and you have your very own room now! We have a place for everything and room for all of your furniture and toys. I am certain that this has helped you sleep better because we are not trying to sneak around you and watch TV or make dinner without disturbing you. I do miss you not being close by during the night and I don't get to watch you nap during the day (so precious!). We haven't finished decorating yet, but when we do, it will be super cute!
We had some very special visitors Memorial Day weekend. Granny B, or BB, or G-Mama, or G-Mother (she hasn't picked one yet) came to visit with Auntie Linda from Canada on their way to Arkansas. They were so funny and you had a great time talking with them and entertaining everyone during our first cookout at the new house. We gave Nana and G-Mama their Mother's Day presents: collage frames with pictures of you and your proud parents. They, of course, were a hit!
Speaking of Mother's Day- you gave me a beautiful corsage with miniature yellow roses. I tried to wear it, but between carrying you and feeding you in the middle of church it fell off. Still, it was great. We went and ate with the rest of the family and then all went home and crashed for our traditional Sunday afternoon nap. My little man, I am so honored and blessed that God entrusted me to be your Mommy. Watching you grow up and develop is the most fun thing I've ever experienced. I am amazed at all of your new tricks and could never have imagined how much you changed our lives. We love you!
Daddy & Mommy
[pictures to come!]
One thing that I hope you don't inherit or acquire is "Holloway Time," where "in a little bit" means a few hours from now and it's an every day event to get home to clean up 10 minutes after you are supposed to be somewhere. Mommy grew up being early for everything, but I've been influenced by Daddy and the rest of his family and I'm now one of them.... which might explain why this post is so late.
You are getting to be such a big boy! You actually spent your three month birthday on your first long out-of-town trip without Mommy and Daddy. Nana had a family reunion at Lake Whitney and I was on call, so she loaded you up with your aunts, uncle, and great-Grandpa and had a great day meeting all of your cousins on her side of the family. You were apparently a very good boy and only fussed a few times. We missed you very much but spent the whole day (working) talking about how we want to raise you: on a farm, out with us as much as possible, and of course, in the church.
You have changed so very much in the past month, it's unreal! You talk, squeal, laugh, coo, and sing at anyone who will listen- especially the ceiling fans and dogs. You are really starting to explore the world around you and are a very social baby. You started sleeping really well (anywhere from 6-8 hours at a stretch!) but then we changed up your schedule and you stay with Nana during the day and we haven't quite got our routine down yet. You have to nurse yourself to sleep, which can take quite a while and is kind of tiring, but I secretly love the extra special one-on-one Mommy-Coleman time at the end of a long day. You eat 3.5 ounces three times a day while I'm at work and nurse 3 or 4 times when we're home. We haven't been to see Dr. Lovette this month, so I'm not sure about your stats, but you are definitely growing!
We moved to our new house and you have your very own room now! We have a place for everything and room for all of your furniture and toys. I am certain that this has helped you sleep better because we are not trying to sneak around you and watch TV or make dinner without disturbing you. I do miss you not being close by during the night and I don't get to watch you nap during the day (so precious!). We haven't finished decorating yet, but when we do, it will be super cute!
We had some very special visitors Memorial Day weekend. Granny B, or BB, or G-Mama, or G-Mother (she hasn't picked one yet) came to visit with Auntie Linda from Canada on their way to Arkansas. They were so funny and you had a great time talking with them and entertaining everyone during our first cookout at the new house. We gave Nana and G-Mama their Mother's Day presents: collage frames with pictures of you and your proud parents. They, of course, were a hit!
Speaking of Mother's Day- you gave me a beautiful corsage with miniature yellow roses. I tried to wear it, but between carrying you and feeding you in the middle of church it fell off. Still, it was great. We went and ate with the rest of the family and then all went home and crashed for our traditional Sunday afternoon nap. My little man, I am so honored and blessed that God entrusted me to be your Mommy. Watching you grow up and develop is the most fun thing I've ever experienced. I am amazed at all of your new tricks and could never have imagined how much you changed our lives. We love you!
Daddy & Mommy
[pictures to come!]
Friday, June 8, 2012
Unexpected Job Hazard
So, I work in a pretty rough environment. On any given day, I might expect to get kicked, scratched, bitten, stepped on, or exposed to any number of zoonotic diseases, including rabies. Then, there's the other less obvious hazards like frostbite, sunburn, heat exhaustion, insect stings, and such. While I was preggo, you could add x-rays, anesthetic gas, hormones and exposure to cat feces to the list.
Well, last Sunday, I was exposed to a toxin I wouldn't have ever thought about. I was working on a blocked tom cat (read: he had a bladder stone plugging his urethra and couldn't pee) on the 'wet table' on emergency. The wet table is kind of our prep/dental/small procedure table in our ward room that has a grate on top and is a sink underneath so you can just rinse away any nastiness that may occur- which does quite frequently. Anyhow, the ideal place to catheterize a cat so that the urine will just go into the sink and not make too much of a mess. I had the cat under gas anesthesia and finally was able to dislodge the stone and bloody, stagnant urine under pressure came shooting out of the catheter.
Have you ever smelled cat pee? Have you ever smelled tom cat pee? Have you ever smelled it mixed with blood and concentrated- yeah, not the best smell. So, shortly after I had expressed the bladder, I was sewing the catheter in place and my eyes started burning and my throat got really scratchy. There were some crazy fumes going on, but I realized it wasn't the anesthesia or the urine. Hmm... then it dawned on me- the only person that had been in that morning was the cleaning lady.
She likes to clean with bleach.....
Stagnant cat pee breaks down into ammonia.....
GREAT!!!!
I finished up with the cat, turned off the anesthesia, put the cat in a cage to recover, rinsed down the pee and bleach (which had started to bubble and turned into a gel in the bottom of the sink), opened some windows and went outside. Awesome.
Aside from some random waves of nausea, not being able to smell for the rest of the day, and a scratchy throat, I'm fine. And very grateful to have been able to figure out what was going on in time to not pass out and have the cleaning lady find me the next morning.
Well, last Sunday, I was exposed to a toxin I wouldn't have ever thought about. I was working on a blocked tom cat (read: he had a bladder stone plugging his urethra and couldn't pee) on the 'wet table' on emergency. The wet table is kind of our prep/dental/small procedure table in our ward room that has a grate on top and is a sink underneath so you can just rinse away any nastiness that may occur- which does quite frequently. Anyhow, the ideal place to catheterize a cat so that the urine will just go into the sink and not make too much of a mess. I had the cat under gas anesthesia and finally was able to dislodge the stone and bloody, stagnant urine under pressure came shooting out of the catheter.
Have you ever smelled cat pee? Have you ever smelled tom cat pee? Have you ever smelled it mixed with blood and concentrated- yeah, not the best smell. So, shortly after I had expressed the bladder, I was sewing the catheter in place and my eyes started burning and my throat got really scratchy. There were some crazy fumes going on, but I realized it wasn't the anesthesia or the urine. Hmm... then it dawned on me- the only person that had been in that morning was the cleaning lady.
She likes to clean with bleach.....
Stagnant cat pee breaks down into ammonia.....
GREAT!!!!
I finished up with the cat, turned off the anesthesia, put the cat in a cage to recover, rinsed down the pee and bleach (which had started to bubble and turned into a gel in the bottom of the sink), opened some windows and went outside. Awesome.
Aside from some random waves of nausea, not being able to smell for the rest of the day, and a scratchy throat, I'm fine. And very grateful to have been able to figure out what was going on in time to not pass out and have the cleaning lady find me the next morning.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Three Days
"I got three days to wash the road out of my soul. I got three days to love you out of control. And I wish I had a lifetime to hold on to you this way. Love can do some healing in just three days."
~Pat Green, Three Days
This was on the radio when I left work Friday at noon. Okay, so yes, this is a love song- a great one, if you ask me. But the chorus kept playing over and over in my mind all weekend. Somehow, I managed to score a 3 and a 1/2 day weekend over Memorial Day and I was ecstatic. I promised myself to live it up and soak up every second and forget about the rest of the world. Three days with no plans other than to love on my sweet family. Heaven.
Saturday, Coleman and I laid around most of the morning. He nursed himself to sleep and set in for a nice long cuddly nap. Yeah, so, that might have put a hold on the earliest stages of sleep training and setting a napping schedule, but I really don't care. That afternoon we cleaned house a little while Scott finished mowing, weed-eating, and shredding the pasture. It is such a great feeling to have our new-to-us little house in order!
Sunday, we did the church thing. We were late, again, and Coleman was hungry when we got there, again, so the three of us just hung out in the cry room. Granddaddy was leading singing and Coleman was listening to it over the loud speaker. When I would sing along he would stop nursing and stare at me as if I was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen. He decided he was done eating and sat in Daddy's lap for a while. Then he really got going- he was laughing and talking and singing along. I think it was the first time Scott had heard him laugh out loud. After we finished singing a song he would keep cooing and squealing and get mad that we had stopped- it was just awesome. I heard bits and pieces of the sermon- something about helping one another out with our "demons" based off of the Legion passage- but who could think about demons when I'm looking at the love of my life hold our precious child?
Sunday evening was very special: Mom and her twin sister, Auntie Linda, spent the night in Bowie on their way to Arkansas to inter my Grandmother's ashes. I had forgotten how hilarious those two are when they get together!!! It was only Mom's second time to see Coleman and he's quite different now that he's almost 3 months old with all kinds of personality and not a sleepy, fussy 6 day old newborn. Scott cooked ribs and sausage and the Holloway's brought homemade ice cream. We gave our moms their Mother's Day presents- collage frames with pictures of their grand kid. They gushed, of course and then all of a sudden we realized it was after 10 p.m. and everyone went home. It was a great time!
Monday morning Mom and Auntie Linda came back over for a quick visit and then got on the road. We went to Kenton & Suzan's for hamburgers and then home for a nap. Auntie K and Suzan came over to entertain Coleman and help me finally decorate the house- it's really starting to look like home. We were getting close to being done when we noticed a rather ominous looking cloud bank headed our direction. We haven't gotten Internet or satellite yet and our phone service is awful, so we were shocked to hear that severe damaging winds and hail were headed our way. Suzan & Kendra went home to put their cars up and Scott and I inched our trucks into the barn.
Oh my, what a storm! First came that heavy, hot, and humid generalized eeriness. Then, it got pitch black, the trees started whipping around in all different directions, the lightning and thunder were nearly constant and it was scary. Reports are that winds were in excess of 90 miles per hour- I believe it. We have two large willow-ish trees (no idea what they really are) that are full of large dead branches from the drought last summer. One of them overhangs the back corner of the house and I just knew it was going to break off and damage the house or at least the roof. But no- first we lost a section of wooden panelled fence and the cows attempted an escape. Scott and our neighbor, rather stupidly, quickly put up portable panels in the midst of the storm. While he was out there (I was so mad at him!) one of our beautiful Bradford pear trees broke in half and landed 10 feet from him. He came in soaked and muddy and went to wash off, only to discover that we didn't have any water, or a well-house, or a well. The worst of the storm passed while we huddled on the couch and Coleman fell asleep in my arms, blissfully unaware of possible danger we were facing.
Monday night, we laid in bed, thankful that we didn't loose any more than we did. I was so incredibly grateful to have had that time to spend with my baby. And Scott. Three whole days. I've been back at work for 4 solid weeks and had to leave him at daycare every day. I know they take care of him very well and they love him to death, but it's been so hard. They get the best of him every single day- they are the ones that told me that he started laughing out loud, they got to rock him to sleep and watch him smile and told me he found his hands and can use them to bat at things. It breaks my heart to know that I'm missing out on these milestones. But believe me, I spent every second I could marveling at this amazing little human that God has placed in our lives. Tuesday was maybe harder to leave him than the first day back at work. I look forward to the next long break with my sweet family and plan to make it just as special- to love them out of control!
~Pat Green, Three Days
This was on the radio when I left work Friday at noon. Okay, so yes, this is a love song- a great one, if you ask me. But the chorus kept playing over and over in my mind all weekend. Somehow, I managed to score a 3 and a 1/2 day weekend over Memorial Day and I was ecstatic. I promised myself to live it up and soak up every second and forget about the rest of the world. Three days with no plans other than to love on my sweet family. Heaven.
Saturday, Coleman and I laid around most of the morning. He nursed himself to sleep and set in for a nice long cuddly nap. Yeah, so, that might have put a hold on the earliest stages of sleep training and setting a napping schedule, but I really don't care. That afternoon we cleaned house a little while Scott finished mowing, weed-eating, and shredding the pasture. It is such a great feeling to have our new-to-us little house in order!
Sunday, we did the church thing. We were late, again, and Coleman was hungry when we got there, again, so the three of us just hung out in the cry room. Granddaddy was leading singing and Coleman was listening to it over the loud speaker. When I would sing along he would stop nursing and stare at me as if I was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen. He decided he was done eating and sat in Daddy's lap for a while. Then he really got going- he was laughing and talking and singing along. I think it was the first time Scott had heard him laugh out loud. After we finished singing a song he would keep cooing and squealing and get mad that we had stopped- it was just awesome. I heard bits and pieces of the sermon- something about helping one another out with our "demons" based off of the Legion passage- but who could think about demons when I'm looking at the love of my life hold our precious child?
Sunday evening was very special: Mom and her twin sister, Auntie Linda, spent the night in Bowie on their way to Arkansas to inter my Grandmother's ashes. I had forgotten how hilarious those two are when they get together!!! It was only Mom's second time to see Coleman and he's quite different now that he's almost 3 months old with all kinds of personality and not a sleepy, fussy 6 day old newborn. Scott cooked ribs and sausage and the Holloway's brought homemade ice cream. We gave our moms their Mother's Day presents- collage frames with pictures of their grand kid. They gushed, of course and then all of a sudden we realized it was after 10 p.m. and everyone went home. It was a great time!
Monday morning Mom and Auntie Linda came back over for a quick visit and then got on the road. We went to Kenton & Suzan's for hamburgers and then home for a nap. Auntie K and Suzan came over to entertain Coleman and help me finally decorate the house- it's really starting to look like home. We were getting close to being done when we noticed a rather ominous looking cloud bank headed our direction. We haven't gotten Internet or satellite yet and our phone service is awful, so we were shocked to hear that severe damaging winds and hail were headed our way. Suzan & Kendra went home to put their cars up and Scott and I inched our trucks into the barn.
Oh my, what a storm! First came that heavy, hot, and humid generalized eeriness. Then, it got pitch black, the trees started whipping around in all different directions, the lightning and thunder were nearly constant and it was scary. Reports are that winds were in excess of 90 miles per hour- I believe it. We have two large willow-ish trees (no idea what they really are) that are full of large dead branches from the drought last summer. One of them overhangs the back corner of the house and I just knew it was going to break off and damage the house or at least the roof. But no- first we lost a section of wooden panelled fence and the cows attempted an escape. Scott and our neighbor, rather stupidly, quickly put up portable panels in the midst of the storm. While he was out there (I was so mad at him!) one of our beautiful Bradford pear trees broke in half and landed 10 feet from him. He came in soaked and muddy and went to wash off, only to discover that we didn't have any water, or a well-house, or a well. The worst of the storm passed while we huddled on the couch and Coleman fell asleep in my arms, blissfully unaware of possible danger we were facing.
Monday night, we laid in bed, thankful that we didn't loose any more than we did. I was so incredibly grateful to have had that time to spend with my baby. And Scott. Three whole days. I've been back at work for 4 solid weeks and had to leave him at daycare every day. I know they take care of him very well and they love him to death, but it's been so hard. They get the best of him every single day- they are the ones that told me that he started laughing out loud, they got to rock him to sleep and watch him smile and told me he found his hands and can use them to bat at things. It breaks my heart to know that I'm missing out on these milestones. But believe me, I spent every second I could marveling at this amazing little human that God has placed in our lives. Tuesday was maybe harder to leave him than the first day back at work. I look forward to the next long break with my sweet family and plan to make it just as special- to love them out of control!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
What's in a name?
Coleman has acquired quite a few nicknames in the past few weeks:
From Daddy: Sweet, baby boy! (not so much a nickname, but what he always calls him, in a sing-songy voice)
From Granddaddy: Chief
From Nana and other random people: Mr. Coleman
From G-Mama: My Baby
From Stacy: Lawrence (that's really been his nickname since conception)
From daycare: The Prince (because he likes to be held and sit up so he can see everything)
That's a lot to figure out for such a little guy. Hopefully all this confusion won't make him schizophrenic!
What his name really means is:
Coleman- Charcoal burner
Scott- A Scotsman
Holloway- Sunken path
Hmmm.... maybe he'll open a great steakhouse or BBQ joint. With Scottish flair, in a valley?
From Daddy: Sweet, baby boy! (not so much a nickname, but what he always calls him, in a sing-songy voice)
From Granddaddy: Chief
From Nana and other random people: Mr. Coleman
From G-Mama: My Baby
From Stacy: Lawrence (that's really been his nickname since conception)
From daycare: The Prince (because he likes to be held and sit up so he can see everything)
That's a lot to figure out for such a little guy. Hopefully all this confusion won't make him schizophrenic!
What his name really means is:
Coleman- Charcoal burner
Scott- A Scotsman
Holloway- Sunken path
Hmmm.... maybe he'll open a great steakhouse or BBQ joint. With Scottish flair, in a valley?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
2 Months??
Coleman,
You are amazing. Daddy and I fall more in love with you every day. Your little personality is getting more apparent and we love playing with you. You started daycare last week [Mommy had to go back to work :'( ] but you are a superstar there! You are already a very social baby and have to see what's going on at all times. Because of this, you have a hard time napping and get overtired and very fussy easily. But you slept for over 6 hours 3 night last week!!! You have started laughing and playing and are trying to hit things with your fist. You have recently discovered your hands and love to stare at them. You like it when Daddy makes airplane noises and when Mommy makes kissy noises. You look less and less like a baby and sooo much like a little boy. At your 2 month check up, you weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces and were 23 1/4 inches long. You got immunizations last week and were a champ, but we could tell you felt bad that night and the next morning. You are eating 3 1/2- 4 ounces at each feeding and drink 3-5 bottles a day. Here are a few more milestones and fun things you've been up to!
You are amazing. Daddy and I fall more in love with you every day. Your little personality is getting more apparent and we love playing with you. You started daycare last week [Mommy had to go back to work :'( ] but you are a superstar there! You are already a very social baby and have to see what's going on at all times. Because of this, you have a hard time napping and get overtired and very fussy easily. But you slept for over 6 hours 3 night last week!!! You have started laughing and playing and are trying to hit things with your fist. You have recently discovered your hands and love to stare at them. You like it when Daddy makes airplane noises and when Mommy makes kissy noises. You look less and less like a baby and sooo much like a little boy. At your 2 month check up, you weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces and were 23 1/4 inches long. You got immunizations last week and were a champ, but we could tell you felt bad that night and the next morning. You are eating 3 1/2- 4 ounces at each feeding and drink 3-5 bottles a day. Here are a few more milestones and fun things you've been up to!
 |
| First Easter |
 |
| First tractor ride!! Alli had just licked him on the cheek- that's why he's off to the side and Scott is laughing! |
 |
| Mommy and Coleman are taking it easy |
 |
| Watching TV with Daddy, our favorite thing to do together |
 |
| Sacked out after a bottle |
 |
| Two months- my how I've grown! |
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sad Day
Cleansing breath....
Reasons that it's a good thing to put my 8 week old child in day care:
1. Socialization - he'll be used to other kids and used to other people taking care of him
2. Scheduling - they'll give him some structure instead of indulging him at every turn
3. Variation - he'll get out of the house and be exposed to new things
4. Independance - he'll learn to rely on himself instead of on me
5. Good habits - he'll learn to fall asleep on his own (or at least without nursing) and maybe they'll get him to take a pacifier
That's what I'm telling myself, anyways. That's how I'm going to get through tomorrow, and the next day, and the next week, and the next month. The truth is I am heartbroken, utterly and totally. For sooo many reasons, too many to list. And I'm not sure if I'm just being a typical guilty-feeling back-to-work-full-time Mommy or if God has laid it on my heart so strongly that I'm supposed to completely change my life. That 8 years of school and 5 years of work isn't really what I'm meant to do with my life. This feels like the worst decision I've ever made, and the very thought of it has brought me to tears nearly every day for the past 8 weeks. Guilt compounds every time I'm tired and frustrated and my milk is low and then I feel like I'm wasting precious moments, that I should just be honored to be spending time with my sweet baby, even at 3 am.
So, tomorrow, I'm going to wear my waterproof mascara, leave the house early so I have time to go get a "fancy" coffee and cry in the truck before work, pump as often as possible - milk is the only connection I'll have to him during the day - and plaster a brave smile on my face, and count the seconds until 5:30. Here's hoping I have a lot of appointments tomorrow- maybe a farm call or two.
Reasons that it's a good thing to put my 8 week old child in day care:
1. Socialization - he'll be used to other kids and used to other people taking care of him
2. Scheduling - they'll give him some structure instead of indulging him at every turn
3. Variation - he'll get out of the house and be exposed to new things
4. Independance - he'll learn to rely on himself instead of on me
5. Good habits - he'll learn to fall asleep on his own (or at least without nursing) and maybe they'll get him to take a pacifier
That's what I'm telling myself, anyways. That's how I'm going to get through tomorrow, and the next day, and the next week, and the next month. The truth is I am heartbroken, utterly and totally. For sooo many reasons, too many to list. And I'm not sure if I'm just being a typical guilty-feeling back-to-work-full-time Mommy or if God has laid it on my heart so strongly that I'm supposed to completely change my life. That 8 years of school and 5 years of work isn't really what I'm meant to do with my life. This feels like the worst decision I've ever made, and the very thought of it has brought me to tears nearly every day for the past 8 weeks. Guilt compounds every time I'm tired and frustrated and my milk is low and then I feel like I'm wasting precious moments, that I should just be honored to be spending time with my sweet baby, even at 3 am.
So, tomorrow, I'm going to wear my waterproof mascara, leave the house early so I have time to go get a "fancy" coffee and cry in the truck before work, pump as often as possible - milk is the only connection I'll have to him during the day - and plaster a brave smile on my face, and count the seconds until 5:30. Here's hoping I have a lot of appointments tomorrow- maybe a farm call or two.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Cutie Pie!!
Unlike his parents, Coleman is quite the camera hog! Our wedding photographer did this newborn photo shoot a few weeks ago. Ideally, she takes newborn pictures when a baby is 5-10 days old, however due to a never ending string of unforeseen circumstances (bad weather, jaundice, newborn rash, her kids getting sick, Granddad in the hospital) we didn't get to take these until he was one month and one day old. No matter. I love this pics and have them to remember my little munchkin. He already looks different, more like a little boy than a baby. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fjbaileyphotography.zenfolio.com%2Fcoleman&h=eAQHfyKKN
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fjbaileyphotography.zenfolio.com%2Fcoleman&h=eAQHfyKKN
Monday, April 16, 2012
Church
Needless to say, nothing is the same as it was B.C. (Before Coleman). This includes going to church.
This morning we were rushing around to get all three of us ready and out the door in time to make it for worship (forget class!). I find this very stressful for some reason. Me rushing to get showered, dressed (so difficult since none of my clothes fit or the ones that do have limited boob access), fixed-up, and the diaper bag ready before he wakes up from his early morning nap. Then having to wake him from said nap to change his diaper yet again and load him up into his car seat. This sets him off and if we're lucky he's stopped crying before we get to town. Then you've got Scott, who comes in from the dairy, and in his own frustratingly slow, but endearing way, eats breakfast, shaves, showers and gets ready then acts like he's waiting on me (which he is, wonder why?).
So by the time we get to the building, I'm left wondering why on earth I even try. I'm not going to be able to focus on the lesson, even if I get to stay seated through it. If he's sleeping, I sit there and think about how I should be, too. Sometimes I question my motives: am I there to worship and praise my God or to show off my son and be showered with compliments? Or do I simply need an excuse to get out of the house?
Today was no exception. He started fussing before the children at the front stared the second song. It was time for brunch, so I took him in the cry room to feed him. As I sat there rocking my nursing baby, I realized how completely content I was. I was worshiping- I was in awe of God's handiwork, I was singing songs of praise, and He and Coleman were teaching me lessons I would never learn by just reading or listening to someone speak. He drifted off to sleep nursing and woke up when I burped him and was in a great mood. I laid him in the crib and he played and kicked and cooed until his heart was content. I have no idea what the sermon was about, but I overheard something about Godly joy. Looking down at my child smiling and talking back at me, I realized that I have the best example of earthly joy there is and I've been sooo lucky to have him for 24 hours a day for the past 6 weeks, 1 day.
I would have missed that lesson if he had just quietly slept through the service. So glad for this small inconvenience, which turned out to be so much more than just another feeding for Coleman. Instead, we both got fed to the fullest.
This morning we were rushing around to get all three of us ready and out the door in time to make it for worship (forget class!). I find this very stressful for some reason. Me rushing to get showered, dressed (so difficult since none of my clothes fit or the ones that do have limited boob access), fixed-up, and the diaper bag ready before he wakes up from his early morning nap. Then having to wake him from said nap to change his diaper yet again and load him up into his car seat. This sets him off and if we're lucky he's stopped crying before we get to town. Then you've got Scott, who comes in from the dairy, and in his own frustratingly slow, but endearing way, eats breakfast, shaves, showers and gets ready then acts like he's waiting on me (which he is, wonder why?).
So by the time we get to the building, I'm left wondering why on earth I even try. I'm not going to be able to focus on the lesson, even if I get to stay seated through it. If he's sleeping, I sit there and think about how I should be, too. Sometimes I question my motives: am I there to worship and praise my God or to show off my son and be showered with compliments? Or do I simply need an excuse to get out of the house?
Today was no exception. He started fussing before the children at the front stared the second song. It was time for brunch, so I took him in the cry room to feed him. As I sat there rocking my nursing baby, I realized how completely content I was. I was worshiping- I was in awe of God's handiwork, I was singing songs of praise, and He and Coleman were teaching me lessons I would never learn by just reading or listening to someone speak. He drifted off to sleep nursing and woke up when I burped him and was in a great mood. I laid him in the crib and he played and kicked and cooed until his heart was content. I have no idea what the sermon was about, but I overheard something about Godly joy. Looking down at my child smiling and talking back at me, I realized that I have the best example of earthly joy there is and I've been sooo lucky to have him for 24 hours a day for the past 6 weeks, 1 day.
I would have missed that lesson if he had just quietly slept through the service. So glad for this small inconvenience, which turned out to be so much more than just another feeding for Coleman. Instead, we both got fed to the fullest.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Argh!
Some things that have been bugging me lately.
Rant #1: When people ask me if Coleman is sleeping through the night yet. He's a newborn and needs to eat every 3-4 hours, so by the time I get him fed, burped, changed, and asleep again, it's at least been an hour, maybe 2. Then I have to get myself back to sleep. So, I don't know about you, but I never considered 2-3 hours a full nights sleep. Note: mostly, it is men that ask that question and then they laugh about it. I'm pretty sure that they, like Scott, are getting 6-7 hours in because, somehow, they magically don't hear the baby crying.
Rant #2: When people look at me with pity when I say I'm going back to work full time. Yes, it would be great if I could stay home, and I know that it's the greatest job in the world. And I'm acutely aware that most of my family and several friends have gotten to become stay-at-home moms. BUT, that's not really even an option for us right now, and I'm not sure that I'm cut out to be a fully stay at home mom. Also, several of my very best friends (Jolena, Amanda, you are my heros) have been very successful both as professionals and as Mommies. In a perfect world, I'd love to be part time: I maintain my license and identity and professional skills, my child gets socialized via day care or at least gets to know other people and isn't at home with me all day. So, if you really want to help me feel better, don't feel sorry for me (that makes it worse) but encourage me and point out the good that could come of this. Thanks.
Rant #3: When someone assumes that just because my baby is crying that he's hungry. I am breastfeeding, so there's no way to know how many ounces and what percent fat he's getting at every meal. But he's growing, he has adequate wet and dirty diapers, and is perfectly content after most feedings. But, like all babies, sometimes he doesn't eat well (he tends to fall asleep, or get lazy, and he likes to nurse himself to sleep) and he has a very fussy time of day, accompanied by a temper. He has gotten more and more sensitive to needing a diaper change and he gets overtired very very easily (because he's so busy taking in the world around him). And he tends to get gassy- especially if he didn't eat properly. And, he doesn't really like to be held by very many people- even Scott can't console him when he's fussy. So, instead of jumping to the conclusion that he's hungry, maybe cut us some slack and look for another cause of his distress.
Rant #4: Someone telling me, "You're going to spoil that baby!" He's 6 weeks old- read a book! They will all tell you the same things: 1) You can't spoil a newborn, 2) Newborns don't have the ability to calm themselves, and 3) During the first 2-3 months, you do whatever you can to get through it. He's happy when he's held (I think he may be high-maintenance or strong willed). That's why I hold him most of the day and sleep more often lounging in the chair with him on my chest than in my bed. It might be hard to break him later, but I'd rather have spent the past 6 weeks soaking in every second than regretting making him independent this early (see Rant #2).
That is all, for now.
Rant #1: When people ask me if Coleman is sleeping through the night yet. He's a newborn and needs to eat every 3-4 hours, so by the time I get him fed, burped, changed, and asleep again, it's at least been an hour, maybe 2. Then I have to get myself back to sleep. So, I don't know about you, but I never considered 2-3 hours a full nights sleep. Note: mostly, it is men that ask that question and then they laugh about it. I'm pretty sure that they, like Scott, are getting 6-7 hours in because, somehow, they magically don't hear the baby crying.
Rant #2: When people look at me with pity when I say I'm going back to work full time. Yes, it would be great if I could stay home, and I know that it's the greatest job in the world. And I'm acutely aware that most of my family and several friends have gotten to become stay-at-home moms. BUT, that's not really even an option for us right now, and I'm not sure that I'm cut out to be a fully stay at home mom. Also, several of my very best friends (Jolena, Amanda, you are my heros) have been very successful both as professionals and as Mommies. In a perfect world, I'd love to be part time: I maintain my license and identity and professional skills, my child gets socialized via day care or at least gets to know other people and isn't at home with me all day. So, if you really want to help me feel better, don't feel sorry for me (that makes it worse) but encourage me and point out the good that could come of this. Thanks.
Rant #3: When someone assumes that just because my baby is crying that he's hungry. I am breastfeeding, so there's no way to know how many ounces and what percent fat he's getting at every meal. But he's growing, he has adequate wet and dirty diapers, and is perfectly content after most feedings. But, like all babies, sometimes he doesn't eat well (he tends to fall asleep, or get lazy, and he likes to nurse himself to sleep) and he has a very fussy time of day, accompanied by a temper. He has gotten more and more sensitive to needing a diaper change and he gets overtired very very easily (because he's so busy taking in the world around him). And he tends to get gassy- especially if he didn't eat properly. And, he doesn't really like to be held by very many people- even Scott can't console him when he's fussy. So, instead of jumping to the conclusion that he's hungry, maybe cut us some slack and look for another cause of his distress.
Rant #4: Someone telling me, "You're going to spoil that baby!" He's 6 weeks old- read a book! They will all tell you the same things: 1) You can't spoil a newborn, 2) Newborns don't have the ability to calm themselves, and 3) During the first 2-3 months, you do whatever you can to get through it. He's happy when he's held (I think he may be high-maintenance or strong willed). That's why I hold him most of the day and sleep more often lounging in the chair with him on my chest than in my bed. It might be hard to break him later, but I'd rather have spent the past 6 weeks soaking in every second than regretting making him independent this early (see Rant #2).
That is all, for now.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
One Month
Mr. Coleman~ [Everyone calls you Mr. Coleman, including me, I'm not really sure why]
Really, it's been one month? How is that even possible? I thought time went too quickly when I was pregnant. I don't know how I've already spent that much time with you. Other than one flying trip to Wichita Falls and one hour running errands while you and Daddy took a nap, I have spent the past 31 days getting to know you, learning everything I can about you and how to take care of you better, and falling in love with you. We are beyond fascinated with you. We are amazed at your
~noises: you have started to coo and grunt and find your voice. Sometimes you even laugh in your sleep, which sounds more like a hiccup, but you have a smile on your face and we can tell you are dreaming. We're also trying to learn the difference in your cries, but don't have you figured out yet. And your screaming- my gracious! It's easy to tell when you've had enough!
~movements: your "Moro reflex" is becoming more and more controlled. Your arms still get a little out of control and I think they scare you sometimes, but now you use them to wave around when you're happy. You also kick your feet around and use them to push yourself forward and "stand", with lots of help, of course. You also use your arms and legs to help you throw the biggest fits ever, flailing sporadically, kicking, grabbing at anything to find some comfort.
~expressions: We have never seen anyone communicate more with his face than you do. You have started smiling, which melts my heart. You have the cutest confused look- you wrinkle your brow and purse your lips. When you are mad- oh my gracious! Your bottom jaw quivers as you scream and then you clamp your lips together and roll your bottom lip out so far and pout. You get really excited when it's time to eat- your eyes get really big and your eyebrows go up and you open your mouth as wide as possible. And then, if we try to give you a pacifier, you get that confused look and then push it out and clamp your lips together and look at me like you are disgusted. I can always tell what you are thinking- and I love that.
~tiny little body: you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your miniature body is just perfect and you have the softest skin. I am amazed that our Creator used your Daddy and myself to form you. All of your little organs and parts are working just as they should and I am in awe.
~ your features: I remember wondering, with your Daddy, what you would look like. We knew you would have blond hair, blue eyes, and light skin, but you are such a perfect combination of us. You have a ton of blond hair and definitely have Daddy's widow's peak. You have his ears and the "Harrington bump" on your right ear- according to Grandma. We're not sure whose eyes you have, but they are the most gorgeous shade of blue. I think they will be more like Daddy's- mine have lines in them and his are lighter in the center and so far I think they look like his. You also definitely have the Holloway nose. You have very full lips, and while we both have that, again, they have more definition like his do. So, while I can see more of him than me, you seem to have my chin and face shape- which is why everyone thinks you look like me. You also love to hold your right hand up by your face and I love it when you fall asleep on my chest with your arms up above your head like I do.
~your development: I have loved watching you stretch out and grow. You (We) have learned how to nurse and are doing... okay with that. You are holding your head up very well and like tummy time and playing around on you mat. Also, instead of just screaming for everything, you try to get our attention in other ways- and then your scream if we don't get it immediately. You have also started tracking us from side to side with your eyes and will even turn your head to look at us. :)
~your personality: I think that you are going to be a very strong-willed child. You want what you want when you want it. There is no letting you "cry it out". Your mood changes at the drop of a hat- cooing and kicking around one minute and crying the next. It's already quite apparent that you have a temper- we think that comes from Grandaddy. You like to be picked up and everyone tells me I'm spoiling you, but I don't buy it. You are very attached to me, which of course I love, but I worry that you are going to have a hard time when I go back to work. Also, you are very social and if something is going on around you, you have to be looking around and fight sleep to take it all in, if necessary.
Love,
Mommy & Daddy
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| Coleman Scott Holloway April 3, 2012 |
Really, it's been one month? How is that even possible? I thought time went too quickly when I was pregnant. I don't know how I've already spent that much time with you. Other than one flying trip to Wichita Falls and one hour running errands while you and Daddy took a nap, I have spent the past 31 days getting to know you, learning everything I can about you and how to take care of you better, and falling in love with you. We are beyond fascinated with you. We are amazed at your
~noises: you have started to coo and grunt and find your voice. Sometimes you even laugh in your sleep, which sounds more like a hiccup, but you have a smile on your face and we can tell you are dreaming. We're also trying to learn the difference in your cries, but don't have you figured out yet. And your screaming- my gracious! It's easy to tell when you've had enough!
~movements: your "Moro reflex" is becoming more and more controlled. Your arms still get a little out of control and I think they scare you sometimes, but now you use them to wave around when you're happy. You also kick your feet around and use them to push yourself forward and "stand", with lots of help, of course. You also use your arms and legs to help you throw the biggest fits ever, flailing sporadically, kicking, grabbing at anything to find some comfort.
~expressions: We have never seen anyone communicate more with his face than you do. You have started smiling, which melts my heart. You have the cutest confused look- you wrinkle your brow and purse your lips. When you are mad- oh my gracious! Your bottom jaw quivers as you scream and then you clamp your lips together and roll your bottom lip out so far and pout. You get really excited when it's time to eat- your eyes get really big and your eyebrows go up and you open your mouth as wide as possible. And then, if we try to give you a pacifier, you get that confused look and then push it out and clamp your lips together and look at me like you are disgusted. I can always tell what you are thinking- and I love that.
~tiny little body: you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your miniature body is just perfect and you have the softest skin. I am amazed that our Creator used your Daddy and myself to form you. All of your little organs and parts are working just as they should and I am in awe.
~ your features: I remember wondering, with your Daddy, what you would look like. We knew you would have blond hair, blue eyes, and light skin, but you are such a perfect combination of us. You have a ton of blond hair and definitely have Daddy's widow's peak. You have his ears and the "Harrington bump" on your right ear- according to Grandma. We're not sure whose eyes you have, but they are the most gorgeous shade of blue. I think they will be more like Daddy's- mine have lines in them and his are lighter in the center and so far I think they look like his. You also definitely have the Holloway nose. You have very full lips, and while we both have that, again, they have more definition like his do. So, while I can see more of him than me, you seem to have my chin and face shape- which is why everyone thinks you look like me. You also love to hold your right hand up by your face and I love it when you fall asleep on my chest with your arms up above your head like I do.
~your development: I have loved watching you stretch out and grow. You (We) have learned how to nurse and are doing... okay with that. You are holding your head up very well and like tummy time and playing around on you mat. Also, instead of just screaming for everything, you try to get our attention in other ways- and then your scream if we don't get it immediately. You have also started tracking us from side to side with your eyes and will even turn your head to look at us. :)
~your personality: I think that you are going to be a very strong-willed child. You want what you want when you want it. There is no letting you "cry it out". Your mood changes at the drop of a hat- cooing and kicking around one minute and crying the next. It's already quite apparent that you have a temper- we think that comes from Grandaddy. You like to be picked up and everyone tells me I'm spoiling you, but I don't buy it. You are very attached to me, which of course I love, but I worry that you are going to have a hard time when I go back to work. Also, you are very social and if something is going on around you, you have to be looking around and fight sleep to take it all in, if necessary.
Love,
Mommy & Daddy
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Lambing
Random:
On the way to church this morning, we drove past this vacant lot that takes up most of a city block that is in downtown Bowie. It's not an overgrown mess like you would think, but almost like a small pasture with large oak trees and lush grass, but surrounded by a chain link fence and not barbed wire. So, we drive by this lot and there is a flock of sheep in it! Not sure what the city ordinance is on animals in town, but I'm pretty sure a flock of ewes isn't exactly legal. Anyhow, most of them are a little ways away from us, but there is one ewe right up next to the fence- and she is LAMBING. As in, half of a baby sheep is hanging out of her kicking and trying to be born. The ewe gave one final push and the lamb was born and she turned right around and started licking it- right beside our truck! On the way home (an hour and a half later) we drive back past them and the lamb is standing and nursing- just as clean and dry as can be. So amazing and random!
On the way to church this morning, we drove past this vacant lot that takes up most of a city block that is in downtown Bowie. It's not an overgrown mess like you would think, but almost like a small pasture with large oak trees and lush grass, but surrounded by a chain link fence and not barbed wire. So, we drive by this lot and there is a flock of sheep in it! Not sure what the city ordinance is on animals in town, but I'm pretty sure a flock of ewes isn't exactly legal. Anyhow, most of them are a little ways away from us, but there is one ewe right up next to the fence- and she is LAMBING. As in, half of a baby sheep is hanging out of her kicking and trying to be born. The ewe gave one final push and the lamb was born and she turned right around and started licking it- right beside our truck! On the way home (an hour and a half later) we drive back past them and the lamb is standing and nursing- just as clean and dry as can be. So amazing and random!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Revelations
Surprising things God has taught me (or re-affirmed) through my 4 week old:
- When nothing else works, remain calm and be still in the Lord.
- Hymns make the best lullabies.
- Sometimes you just need to be held by Daddy.
- Patience, patience, patience......
- God will never give you more than you can handle.
- Children are meant to be raised in a family.
- Love always has room to grow.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help.
I know there are more (that I thought of this morning at 3 am) but I can't remember them right now, for some reason. :)
- When nothing else works, remain calm and be still in the Lord.
- Hymns make the best lullabies.
- Sometimes you just need to be held by Daddy.
- Patience, patience, patience......
- God will never give you more than you can handle.
- Children are meant to be raised in a family.
- Love always has room to grow.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help.
I know there are more (that I thought of this morning at 3 am) but I can't remember them right now, for some reason. :)
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| Peace that passes understanding |
Friday, March 23, 2012
Birthday Photo Album
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| Last Preggo Pic: 37 weeks, 3 days |
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| Coleman Scott Holloway Born March 3rd, 2012 6:37 a.m. 7 pounds, 9 ounces 19 inches long |
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| First Family Photo!! |
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| Our First Visitors Kenton & Suzan a.k.a. Nana & Grandad |
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| 4 Generations of Holloways: Great-Grandad Bob, Grandad Kenton, Daddy Scott, & Baby Coleman |
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| Scott & Coleman with Great Grandad & Grand'ma Holloway |
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| Great Granny and Grandpa Lively with Coleman (Grandpa's father's name was John Coleman Lively) |
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| Daddy and Coleman spend some time getting to know each other |
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| The Aggie, Dr. Edwards- who, following in true Holloway style, almost missed the whole event! So glad he got there in time to catch! |
More pictures to come, these were all taken at the hospital. Somehow, I've not had much time to download very many from the camera to the computer. Keep checking in!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Unbelievable
Nearly two weeks later, as I watch this little baby asleep on my chest, I can hardly believe the story of how he got here. I'm writing it down so that I never forget that amazing morning.
Okay, back up to February 7th: At my 36 week appointment, Dr. Kyle checked me and announced that I was already 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. For those of you that don't know, that meant that I was basically already through what's known as pre-labor and would quickly approach active labor. I had been having Braxton-Hicks and false labor contractions for a long time and apparently they were actually doing something. Dr. Kyle told me I could deliver at any time and gave me instructions on when to head to the hospital. At our first prepared childbirth class that night, we asked for the cliff's notes version. We weren't packed, we didn't have a crib and we had just bought our house the previous Friday and were getting ready to move. P-A-N-I-C set in and we got all of our ducks in a row that week.
The next week at my check up, I was a little more dilated and more effaced and got the same set of instructions from Dr. Kyle. He also mentioned that he thought my water would break at any time (which really only happens 10-15% of the time). The next week was the same story and Dr. Kyle told me he'd be on call that weekend or that he'd see me at my next appointment, but didn't think I'd last that long. Well, I proved him wrong again and at my last appointment on February 28th I was 4.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced- yet not in active labor..... So crazy..... I made appointment for my next check up which was to be on my due date- March 6th.
Friday, March 2nd, I went to work at the Nocona clinic and worked a crazy full day: 4 surgeries that morning, 10 appointments that afternoon, left work at 6 pm, went to Wal-Mart, came home and made 4 dozen muffins for Ladies Day at church the next morning, made a homemade pizza, and watched TV with Scott. I did have minor contractions all day and was pretty tired, but I'd been having contractions and I was carrying around nearly 40 extra pounds- who wouldn't be tired? We went to bed and didn't think anything of it.
At 4:30 am, my water broke and woke me up. I had a strong contraction almost immediately but it was gone by the time I made it to the bathroom to attempt to clean myself up. I woke Scott up and told him my water broke, "Did it really?" he said, and sprang out of bed. I took a lightening fast shower (my hair was just gross) and had one or two contractions in the shower. By the time we were loaded up and ready to leave, I was having contractions lasting about 30 seconds every 5 minutes, pretty typical. We called our parents and texted a few need-to-know people and told then to spread the word.
By the time we got to Bowie, I was having contractions every 3 minutes. By the time we got to Sunset, I was having very strong contractions every 2 minutes. The closer and stronger my contractions got, the faster Scott drove- flashers on. Apparently he reached 85-90 mph before we got to Decatur! When we pulled in the ER driveway at 5:37 am (Scott looked at the clock in the truck), my contractions were 1 minute apart and there was soooo much intense pressure. I checked in and Scott parked the truck and I was taken up to Labor & Delivery. They checked me and then called the on-call OB, Dr. Edwards, and told him to head our way, from Saginaw.... about 30 miles away.
So, by the time they checked me, I was fully dilated and effaced and he was already well into the birth canal. I was too far for any pain medication... yeah, something I never ever saw myself doing was going through natural childbirth. It took 3 attempts to get an IV catheter in my arm because they didn't have much time to establish it between contractions. I was made to "blow through" at least 10 contractions- meaning that I could have very easily pushed was wasn't allowed to until the doctor got there. Luckily, I had learned that technique in my childbirth classes the previous Tuesday. Anyhow, Dr. Edwards finally arrived and I pushed through 3 contractions and he was delivered. Because he came so quickly, I had to have an episiotomy but managed to tear anyway. While they were finishing up with me and checking our son over, Scott ran to the truck and got the camera. We missed the footprinting (oh man!) but had some great skin-to-skin time. After all of that, I finally got some pain meds that made me a little sleepy and Scott went with our son for his first bath.
When they came back to the room, we finally got down to the business of giving him his name: Coleman Scott Holloway. We had a short list of names that we like and decided that he just looked like a "Coleman" when he arrived. Bob Lively's father's name was JC
The rest of the day was a blur with so many friends and family coming to visit. And the past two weeks have been a blur as well with visitors, lost sleep, learning how to nurse, pediatricians appointments, lots of rain, and major surgery for Scott's grandad. It's been a lot harder than I thought it would be. The biggest challenge has been lost sleep, combined with an overwhelming sense that I have no idea what I'm doing, and a healthy dose of whacked out hormones making everything sooo much harder. But so far, every tear has been worth it when this little boy relies on us for everything and it is our responsibility to raise him to be the God-fearing man that is his legacy. Wish us luck!
Photo album coming next!
Okay, back up to February 7th: At my 36 week appointment, Dr. Kyle checked me and announced that I was already 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. For those of you that don't know, that meant that I was basically already through what's known as pre-labor and would quickly approach active labor. I had been having Braxton-Hicks and false labor contractions for a long time and apparently they were actually doing something. Dr. Kyle told me I could deliver at any time and gave me instructions on when to head to the hospital. At our first prepared childbirth class that night, we asked for the cliff's notes version. We weren't packed, we didn't have a crib and we had just bought our house the previous Friday and were getting ready to move. P-A-N-I-C set in and we got all of our ducks in a row that week.
The next week at my check up, I was a little more dilated and more effaced and got the same set of instructions from Dr. Kyle. He also mentioned that he thought my water would break at any time (which really only happens 10-15% of the time). The next week was the same story and Dr. Kyle told me he'd be on call that weekend or that he'd see me at my next appointment, but didn't think I'd last that long. Well, I proved him wrong again and at my last appointment on February 28th I was 4.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced- yet not in active labor..... So crazy..... I made appointment for my next check up which was to be on my due date- March 6th.
Friday, March 2nd, I went to work at the Nocona clinic and worked a crazy full day: 4 surgeries that morning, 10 appointments that afternoon, left work at 6 pm, went to Wal-Mart, came home and made 4 dozen muffins for Ladies Day at church the next morning, made a homemade pizza, and watched TV with Scott. I did have minor contractions all day and was pretty tired, but I'd been having contractions and I was carrying around nearly 40 extra pounds- who wouldn't be tired? We went to bed and didn't think anything of it.
At 4:30 am, my water broke and woke me up. I had a strong contraction almost immediately but it was gone by the time I made it to the bathroom to attempt to clean myself up. I woke Scott up and told him my water broke, "Did it really?" he said, and sprang out of bed. I took a lightening fast shower (my hair was just gross) and had one or two contractions in the shower. By the time we were loaded up and ready to leave, I was having contractions lasting about 30 seconds every 5 minutes, pretty typical. We called our parents and texted a few need-to-know people and told then to spread the word.
By the time we got to Bowie, I was having contractions every 3 minutes. By the time we got to Sunset, I was having very strong contractions every 2 minutes. The closer and stronger my contractions got, the faster Scott drove- flashers on. Apparently he reached 85-90 mph before we got to Decatur! When we pulled in the ER driveway at 5:37 am (Scott looked at the clock in the truck), my contractions were 1 minute apart and there was soooo much intense pressure. I checked in and Scott parked the truck and I was taken up to Labor & Delivery. They checked me and then called the on-call OB, Dr. Edwards, and told him to head our way, from Saginaw.... about 30 miles away.
So, by the time they checked me, I was fully dilated and effaced and he was already well into the birth canal. I was too far for any pain medication... yeah, something I never ever saw myself doing was going through natural childbirth. It took 3 attempts to get an IV catheter in my arm because they didn't have much time to establish it between contractions. I was made to "blow through" at least 10 contractions- meaning that I could have very easily pushed was wasn't allowed to until the doctor got there. Luckily, I had learned that technique in my childbirth classes the previous Tuesday. Anyhow, Dr. Edwards finally arrived and I pushed through 3 contractions and he was delivered. Because he came so quickly, I had to have an episiotomy but managed to tear anyway. While they were finishing up with me and checking our son over, Scott ran to the truck and got the camera. We missed the footprinting (oh man!) but had some great skin-to-skin time. After all of that, I finally got some pain meds that made me a little sleepy and Scott went with our son for his first bath.
When they came back to the room, we finally got down to the business of giving him his name: Coleman Scott Holloway. We had a short list of names that we like and decided that he just looked like a "Coleman" when he arrived. Bob Lively's father's name was JC
The rest of the day was a blur with so many friends and family coming to visit. And the past two weeks have been a blur as well with visitors, lost sleep, learning how to nurse, pediatricians appointments, lots of rain, and major surgery for Scott's grandad. It's been a lot harder than I thought it would be. The biggest challenge has been lost sleep, combined with an overwhelming sense that I have no idea what I'm doing, and a healthy dose of whacked out hormones making everything sooo much harder. But so far, every tear has been worth it when this little boy relies on us for everything and it is our responsibility to raise him to be the God-fearing man that is his legacy. Wish us luck!
Photo album coming next!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
So stinkin' far behind!
Okay, so I know I'm way behind, and I have a list of things I need to blog about, and I might just have some time this afternoon to start to catch up, but once you read what all has been going on, you'll totally understand my absence. The timeline since my last blog post includes:
January 20th- complete sale of farm in South Texas*
January 26-28th- OVMA CE in OKC
February 2nd- Breastfeeding class
February 3rd- Close on our first home!!*
February 4th- Church baby shower*
February 5th- Girls Behaving Pinkly event & death of Grandmother Harrington
February 6th- Start remodeling on new house*
February 7th- 36 week OB appointment*
February 7th, 14th, 21st- Prepared childbirth classes
February 14th- Interview Pediatricians
February 18th- Kiwanis Pancake Supper
So.... you can see I've been, well, kinda busy. Not to mention I've been working 6 days a week, but stopped being on call as of the 11th of February. The events with an * will get their own blog post, maybe. Stay tuned!
January 20th- complete sale of farm in South Texas*
January 26-28th- OVMA CE in OKC
February 2nd- Breastfeeding class
February 3rd- Close on our first home!!*
February 4th- Church baby shower*
February 5th- Girls Behaving Pinkly event & death of Grandmother Harrington
February 6th- Start remodeling on new house*
February 7th- 36 week OB appointment*
February 7th, 14th, 21st- Prepared childbirth classes
February 14th- Interview Pediatricians
February 18th- Kiwanis Pancake Supper
So.... you can see I've been, well, kinda busy. Not to mention I've been working 6 days a week, but stopped being on call as of the 11th of February. The events with an * will get their own blog post, maybe. Stay tuned!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Post-Op
Well, surgery went really well. It was a little, okay a lot, weird to be strapped down to an operating table with 7 people buzzing all around me and draping me, hooking me up to monitors, scrubbing my face and then doing surgery on me. I kept my eyes closed but would open them occasionally. It felt like one of those scenes in a movie where the patient keeps coming in and out of consciousness and looks up and sees all the doctors with the masks and the bright lights. To keep myself still and calm and not freaking out, I kept thinking about the precious boy under my hands folded over my belly. Then I'd listen to my heart beat and pulse ox on the monitor and wonder what my BP was. I don't know how 30 minutes passed that quickly, but I'm so thankful it did. Not that it was an all together unpleasant experience (except for the 5 mL of lidocaine injected directly into my lip), but just soooo strange.
I do feel much much better about my impending delivery at this hospital. I received impeccable care and everyone from the check-in nurse to the recovery staff was excellent. The paperwork, pre-registration, and discharge was super easy. It was clean and everyone was just soooo friendly. I feel really great knowing that we will be surrounded by such caring, professional staff during one of the most blessed (although sorta scary) days of our lives. Also, whenever a baby is born at this hospital, they play a lullaby over the intercom- I can't wait to hear it when it's our turn!!!
Also, Scott's Grandpa outdid himself again today and sent me flowers. The card read, "For a loved one under a heavy burden." He thinks I work too much and that this surgery was a really big deal- which it really wasn't, but everyone has made such a fuss over me, we'll just see what happens when our son gets here.
I do feel much much better about my impending delivery at this hospital. I received impeccable care and everyone from the check-in nurse to the recovery staff was excellent. The paperwork, pre-registration, and discharge was super easy. It was clean and everyone was just soooo friendly. I feel really great knowing that we will be surrounded by such caring, professional staff during one of the most blessed (although sorta scary) days of our lives. Also, whenever a baby is born at this hospital, they play a lullaby over the intercom- I can't wait to hear it when it's our turn!!!
Also, Scott's Grandpa outdid himself again today and sent me flowers. The card read, "For a loved one under a heavy burden." He thinks I work too much and that this surgery was a really big deal- which it really wasn't, but everyone has made such a fuss over me, we'll just see what happens when our son gets here.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Lip service
Well, I've had a really, super easy pregnancy thus far. I am 33 weeks today. My first trimester wasn't bad at all- only a little queasiness here and there and I was super-tired for about 6 weeks. The second trimester flew by like a breeze. I was active and even ran a little in my 5th month. The only trouble there was a few too many pounds gained between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but really, who doesn't gain 2-3 pounds that month (but, add that to the normal 4 pounds of pregnancy weight gain...). All of my vitals, tests, check-ups and ultrasounds have been outstanding. "Nothing to complain about," says Dr. Kyle at every visit. So far, my 3rd trimester hasn't been too challenging. I am slowing down a little and get winded pretty easily. It is really hard for me to sleep now because I've always slept on my tummy, and that's impossible now. But everything is progressing very well and apparently I look really small still (yay!).
So, of course, there has to be one really freaky thing to make this pregnancy unique. Somewhere along in October, I developed what I thought was a cold sore on the inside of my lower lip, except it didn't hurt and never ruptured and healed. It looked like a blood blister for about 2 months and didn't do anything. Dr. Kyle looked at it and said if it was still there a month later at my next visit he would refer me for a consult. Sometime in December, my lips were really chapped and the thing ruptured and just kept bleeding. Being that I work in a vet clinic, we cauterized it with silver nitrate. It healed up and looked normal (for being a weird bump on my lip) and Dr. Kyle gave me a referral to an ENT and I made the appointment. Then, for no reason at all, it started growing, proliferating, and bleeding frequently. After it bleeds, it gets a serum crust and then that peels and it bleeds again. It has seriously tripled in size in the last 3 weeks and is just gross. Oh, and highly noticeable, because everyone asks me about it and stares at it when I'm talking. As if I hadn't been self-conscious about my lips my whole life.
Diagnosis: pyogenic granuloma (which is neither pyogenic nor granulomatous, for my vet friends), aka the pregnancy tumor or lobular capillary hemangioma, affecting less than 5% of the preggo population. SERIOUSLY?!?!? Hormonally influenced, and should go away following delivery. However, it's become very bothersome and grotesque and may be past the point of regressing on it's own, which would be about 4 months from now. So, I will be having it surgically excised tomorrow morning. As in, out-patient surgery with the hospital gown, wheelchair, and really large medical bill. And the only reason she couldn't just laser it or freeze it off was because I was pregnant and needed to be closely monitored. I think it's a little bit overkill, but I appear to be getting great patient care and my doctor is very thorough and everyone has had great things to say about her and, more importantly, her surgical skills. So, I give you an update tomorrow and let you know how all of this goes. If you're lucky, maybe I'll get some before and after pictures taken. Hopefully, my already oddly-shaped lips won't end up too disfigured. :)
So, of course, there has to be one really freaky thing to make this pregnancy unique. Somewhere along in October, I developed what I thought was a cold sore on the inside of my lower lip, except it didn't hurt and never ruptured and healed. It looked like a blood blister for about 2 months and didn't do anything. Dr. Kyle looked at it and said if it was still there a month later at my next visit he would refer me for a consult. Sometime in December, my lips were really chapped and the thing ruptured and just kept bleeding. Being that I work in a vet clinic, we cauterized it with silver nitrate. It healed up and looked normal (for being a weird bump on my lip) and Dr. Kyle gave me a referral to an ENT and I made the appointment. Then, for no reason at all, it started growing, proliferating, and bleeding frequently. After it bleeds, it gets a serum crust and then that peels and it bleeds again. It has seriously tripled in size in the last 3 weeks and is just gross. Oh, and highly noticeable, because everyone asks me about it and stares at it when I'm talking. As if I hadn't been self-conscious about my lips my whole life.
Diagnosis: pyogenic granuloma (which is neither pyogenic nor granulomatous, for my vet friends), aka the pregnancy tumor or lobular capillary hemangioma, affecting less than 5% of the preggo population. SERIOUSLY?!?!? Hormonally influenced, and should go away following delivery. However, it's become very bothersome and grotesque and may be past the point of regressing on it's own, which would be about 4 months from now. So, I will be having it surgically excised tomorrow morning. As in, out-patient surgery with the hospital gown, wheelchair, and really large medical bill. And the only reason she couldn't just laser it or freeze it off was because I was pregnant and needed to be closely monitored. I think it's a little bit overkill, but I appear to be getting great patient care and my doctor is very thorough and everyone has had great things to say about her and, more importantly, her surgical skills. So, I give you an update tomorrow and let you know how all of this goes. If you're lucky, maybe I'll get some before and after pictures taken. Hopefully, my already oddly-shaped lips won't end up too disfigured. :)
And it's back on the table
so to speak....
Several weeks ago, when we decided we didn't want the house, Scott called the sellers and said we wanted to cancel the contract due to a bad appraisal. Then the sellers knocked off another 5K to help with the cost of the roof repairs. We haggled back and forth with ourselves and our conscious and finally decided (somewhat reluctantly) to buy the house. After talking with the bank and running the numbers, we decided it was do-able to get both a mortgage and a small home improvement loan which will be consolidated when we finish the repairs. We're going to borrow for the major repairs and then kind of gradually do the "fixer-upper" thing and get everything just like we want it. We signed all of the paperwork today and have our bids in for the repairs. The title work is all done and really all we're waiting on is the appraisal.
Timeline:
- Close by the end of the month
- Start construction the first week of February
- Move the split-second the work is done
- Have a baby sometime around March 6th
Major repairs to be done by the contractors: Leveling and some foundation work, new roof, new underpinning (since there is none to begin with), new HVAC duct work.
Minor repairs to be done by us: Laminate wood flooring, paint, replace a few fixtures, and a good cleaning
Oh, you just wait for the before and after pictures!!!!
Yes, I'm crazy, but I think all of these pregnancy hormones are making me optimistic to the point of becoming some sort of over-achieving super hero. My current game plan is to still stream-line our little house and pack away everything that is not essential to our daily lives. We could probably move some of our stuff over to make room instead of storing it as long as we get our part done in the house. I'll set up for the baby when we get mid-February-ish and only keep out what a newborn will need, everything else gets stored or moved. I figure he'll be tiny and won't take up too much room until he's about 1 month old or so.
On second thought, I see no reason why we can't be working on our part while the contractor is working- he's outside, we're inside. Heck, I don't see why we can't live there while the contractor is working (besides the leveling) as long as we get the inside done. This just might work! Now, if I can only get Scott up to warp speed with me..... Wish me luck!
Several weeks ago, when we decided we didn't want the house, Scott called the sellers and said we wanted to cancel the contract due to a bad appraisal. Then the sellers knocked off another 5K to help with the cost of the roof repairs. We haggled back and forth with ourselves and our conscious and finally decided (somewhat reluctantly) to buy the house. After talking with the bank and running the numbers, we decided it was do-able to get both a mortgage and a small home improvement loan which will be consolidated when we finish the repairs. We're going to borrow for the major repairs and then kind of gradually do the "fixer-upper" thing and get everything just like we want it. We signed all of the paperwork today and have our bids in for the repairs. The title work is all done and really all we're waiting on is the appraisal.
Timeline:
- Close by the end of the month
- Start construction the first week of February
- Move the split-second the work is done
- Have a baby sometime around March 6th
Major repairs to be done by the contractors: Leveling and some foundation work, new roof, new underpinning (since there is none to begin with), new HVAC duct work.
Minor repairs to be done by us: Laminate wood flooring, paint, replace a few fixtures, and a good cleaning
Oh, you just wait for the before and after pictures!!!!
Yes, I'm crazy, but I think all of these pregnancy hormones are making me optimistic to the point of becoming some sort of over-achieving super hero. My current game plan is to still stream-line our little house and pack away everything that is not essential to our daily lives. We could probably move some of our stuff over to make room instead of storing it as long as we get our part done in the house. I'll set up for the baby when we get mid-February-ish and only keep out what a newborn will need, everything else gets stored or moved. I figure he'll be tiny and won't take up too much room until he's about 1 month old or so.
On second thought, I see no reason why we can't be working on our part while the contractor is working- he's outside, we're inside. Heck, I don't see why we can't live there while the contractor is working (besides the leveling) as long as we get the inside done. This just might work! Now, if I can only get Scott up to warp speed with me..... Wish me luck!
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Years Resolution
Yes, I said, resolution, singular, as in, just one. And it is...
To de-clutter my life.
This single motto will apply to many areas of my life.
In my home: If it isn't necessary, or isn't used at least once a month, it will not stay in the house and take up valuable space. If it doesn't have a home, it will have one that is easily accessible and organized. This concept also applies to junk food.
In my life: Any activity will be productive and not merely for show, because I couldn't say no, or a time-suck. Working out stays, singing group goes. All church activities stay (and some might get more time) as well as quality time with friends and families. Other extra commitments go.
In my relationships: Currently, I don't think I have any so-called "toxic friendships". However, if such a one should develop, I will detach myself and not allow it to drag me down. I know this sounds really harsh, but there is just no need for that kind of nonsense.
So, there you have it. A simple concept, easy to remember, and hopefully I'll be able to follow through this year. Wish me luck!
To de-clutter my life.
This single motto will apply to many areas of my life.
In my home: If it isn't necessary, or isn't used at least once a month, it will not stay in the house and take up valuable space. If it doesn't have a home, it will have one that is easily accessible and organized. This concept also applies to junk food.
In my life: Any activity will be productive and not merely for show, because I couldn't say no, or a time-suck. Working out stays, singing group goes. All church activities stay (and some might get more time) as well as quality time with friends and families. Other extra commitments go.
In my relationships: Currently, I don't think I have any so-called "toxic friendships". However, if such a one should develop, I will detach myself and not allow it to drag me down. I know this sounds really harsh, but there is just no need for that kind of nonsense.
So, there you have it. A simple concept, easy to remember, and hopefully I'll be able to follow through this year. Wish me luck!
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