You know - 1

I'm starting a new 'column' of my blog. Column sounds rather presumptuous, but I can think of no better word.

I started tanning the other day, and am now an official spray tanner. You radiate an odor of stank all day long- but gosh dang, I'm not transparent anymore. I could see my veins. Gross. I'm also a brunette now, so to avoid the vampire look, spraying myself was a must.

My 'column' will be named, You Know You Don't Get Out Much, When...

My first tanning experience at the salon went all wrong, their computers crashed upon my arrival. The ladies working went into a spiraled tizzy over this, as more and more college girls and myself tallied up in line for the next bed/spray. I turned old and uncool right before my very own eyes, as the girl in front of me was sporting her sorority T, while working on a Rubix cube, while on her cell phone texting with the other hand. I'm unsure as to why that is cool, but the fact that I was desperate in line knowing I had a small window of time before I started milking everywhere because I'm 27 years old, a mother of two, and I nurse. Therefore, causing me to milk, made me very uncool. If a dang plane goes by, I milk. My body obviously has not yet gotten that baby cry thing down. ohmystars.

Though the wait for my precious spray was long, I realized how little I get out these days because I had FUN waiting and talking to these girls. In what normally would have made my impatient self into a piss-pot, turned into a 'girls night out' for me. How lame. A girls night out with complete strangers, a good amount of years younger than me--as I schooled them on being a mama. Something they clearly could care less about in their days of date parties and Pita Pit.

I was even tempted to discuss my newest love of espresso, rather my need for it. I doubted they were espresso drinkers just yet.

That being said, You Know You Don't Get Out Much...when a trip to the tanning salon turns into your 'girls night out' with complete strangers, college girls, and a Rubix cube.

One day they will be at home with their naked babies, covered in paint, driving their Spiderman cars around so for now I sit blogging thankful for the journey I've been on, having recently been in their shoes after late nights at O'Connells and such...knowing what they have to look forward to. Every chapter of life, really is beautiful.

Mama's, now it's your turn. Do you have moments where you realize you don't get out much? Email me and I'll post your submissions. Let's unite. Me and you.

model monroe

Belle Monroe is now in her fifth week of life, so three weeks later I'm finally posting her two week shots. My model had to be soothed to sleep to snap the few we managed to get of our doll--and what the pictures don't show are the baby yells I got in the face in between pictures.

Life with her is much, much different. She is as girl as they come. My babies are very different from one another. She, more laid back no where near as alert as her counterpart. She can sleep throught the thundering chaos that is her Bear, and is glad to be attached to her mama at ALL times.

She is petite and lean, with the skinniest of feet. Her brother on the other hand, has to get special shoes for his extra wide grubs. Everyone told me how opposite boys and girls are to parent, and only five weeks in...I can agree.

Many have asked us the inevitable question of when we will be adding to our family. The chances of me getting pregnant in the next ten years is as promising as...well, just think of the most unlikely occurance. That's me. Not pregnant. If you do happen to see me pregnant again, you can just slap my face. I'll let you.

one month of four

I'm behind. It's likely you're not in the very least, surprised.

JR turned 30, Belle Monroe turned 1 month old, I smell of maple syrup and spray tan {can you guess why--ohmystars}, and Hudson is the sweetest, naughtiest, most precious 14 month old Bear that ever was.

Oh, and a dog that's eating every new plant in our yard.

Our dryer almost caught on fire but we're fully stocked with a new set now. Goodbye, clothes lines. Yes really, we had clothes lines. You can't have two babies, and no dryer.

There will always be broken dryers, stinky dogs, and dirty diapers--but I would have never believed you if you would have told me years ago that I'd be this kind of happy at 27 years old.

...more to come.

int'l delight

I just had a rather invigorating breakfast--banana dipped in Nutella with an espresso, spruced up with some Caramel Macchiato creamer by International Delight. It is that, a delight.

That tiny espresso is what will later get me out of my robe, hopefully by noon. Although, the transition from one to two babies has in all honesty not been as difficult as I had thought--the midnight feed I give my Belle Monroe, is still at war with my post-pregnancy self and my mornings last well until noon.

I'm happy to report that Bear has taken quite well and fallen as in love with his sister, as a now 14 month old can.

The first few days he 'noticed' her, but I think two weeks later, he has managed to gather that she is in fact human and he loves to come pat her on the head--which yesterday progressed into a slap on the forehead. That made her cry, and inevitably him. I had two babies crying at the same time, and all I could do was laugh.

As I progressively get less tired, I'm able to nap Belle Monroe and spend some one on one time with my Bear. We even got some Momma/Bear time at the duck pond last week. He loves his grandparents and of course his Daddy, but there are moments in the day when only Momma will cut it, and I'll take that. I will always take that.

With the weather cooling off, I can only wake up thankful everyday that I have two beautiful, healthy babies whom I adore and will get to share in these upcoming holiday filled months. Yummy candles, pumpkin pie, and our fire going all the day long----this is what dreams are made of. Mine, atleast.

week one of parenthood x 2

I really have to use the term 'parenthood' lightly because we've had an army of help--it's more like parent/grandparent-hood. I wouldn't have emerged from my cage of nursing yet if it weren't for the help we've had since arriving home from the hospital, a family of four.

We only stayed one night in the hospital, due to a complication free delivery {minus one snafu, I will later tell a delivery story} and outside of coming home to the most precious Big Brother I've ever known--I too, came home to this...Aunt Lu.

My best. She drove all the way from Dallas--for the day--JR had known the whole time, only to surprise me and of course to meet her newest niece. We got to chat/hug/cry for all of 30 mins before she had to get back on the road, but to share that moment with my friend is a never-forget kind of thing in life. Thank you, Lu for somehow always managing to find a way to share in literally, all, of the huge moments in our life. We love you, big.

I only know one way to be, blunt. My blog is my blunt-ness outlet--therefore, I must keep it real and say that JR and I had many a'conversation about how on earth we could love this new baby as much as we love our Hudson Bear. With your first, it is as if your heart will burst if you could even fathom loving them anymore than you do...I sincerely worried that I wouldn't have enough to go around for both of my babies. I felt shamed to even think the thoughts of such, but it was a true concern of mine. How very wrong I was. How very wrong, we both were.

You, Belle Monroe are perfect. You were Made for us. You were meant to be ours--Daddy's, Momma's, and Hudson's. From the minute I heard you cry, and Daddy put you in my arms it was as if my heart quadrupled in size within an instant and my Mommy heart instantly fell in love, like, obsession and adoration with both of my babies. Your Daddy gazes at you, and is already wrapped around that itty bitty skinny pinky of yours. I'm not sure I've seen him gaze much, maybe at your Momma some :) but sweet baby, he is yours. All yours.

You've got a Brother Bear, whom has yet to fully understand who you are/what you are--but we've caught him a few times sneaking you a kiss and peeking over your bassinet when he hears you cry. Little do you both know, you've now met the best friend of your life. My two babies, you will both love each other more than your tiny minds can even understand right now--and that is a thought that brings me to tears.

Momma. I'm your Momma. A momma to a baby girl. Growing up, I always imagined myself a mommy to three boys. Why? No clue. Never, never saw nor could see myself a mommy to a girl. After growing you, and now knowing you I cannot bear to think back to a life without you. My daughter, you are a gift to me and to our family--but have opened up a whole new side of my understanding of being a mother and an even greater appreciation of my own.

You are beautiful beyond words, and my second Sooner baby. This time, a Sooner babydoll--one I can put bows on for gameday :) a small dream of mine.

I'm able to nurse you, and that in and of itself has been a miraculous time spent with you. I know now how quickly my baby will grow and I look forward to those moments I spent attached to you. Even the 3am moments, believe it or not...I love knowing that it is me, that nourishes you.

A week, documented of your first week of life Miss Monroe. What a week, and what a joy it's been introducing you to the world. On to week two of loving you, baby girl.

{and a last funny, of how I found you in the car after your first dr's appt}

Our Daughter

Belle Monroe Pettijohn

Born September 20th, 2010

7 lbs 7 oz

20 3/4 in

2:26 pm

38 weeks - 5 days away!

I'm rotund, and am growing a more burgeoning Belle belly daily. She must be packing on those ounces, because my sleepless nights are here and my lungs feel like I've run a marathon daily {which we all know ain't so}.

{pay no mind to my sausage roll arms, gag - my collection of OU hats, my 6 inch pre-preg heels, or my leopard slippers, what?}

My updating was delayed because after a night of what I was dang sure were 'Braxtons', I found out at my doctor's appt last Wednesday that I'm strolling around town 2 1/2 cm dilated and 75 % effaced. Like, whoa. {JR thought that would cause her to just fall out - I reassured him this isn't so although sounds much more appealing than the hoop-la it takes to really birth a tiny human princess. He then recalled August 5th, 2009 and realized there's no falling out involved.} That sent us into a baby-prep tizzy because this momma didn't even have diapers for my Princess Belle - I know, I know. Hey, I've got a melt-your-heart-kinda-precious one year old that demands much of his momma. Diapers and wipes for a teeny tiny tush have been far from my mind. Hello, denial? procrastinator? ohmystars.

I can now say proudly that after MUCH help from my ma-in-law and now my ma, we are 88% ready for her arrival should she decide to close up shop before Monday which is our induction date. In fact, after watching the Today Show this morning I'm hoping we make it to Monday because they prepared a pork chop/onion/apple meal that I'm planning on 'whipping' up this wknd for our family. Dang yum.

If you recall we were Pittsburgher's for a short while last year, and my nearest dearest and greatest from P-town- Kyndal, sent me some make-ahead recipes and I spent one night this week fixing batches of food to feed my family as we enter the unforseen world of parenting two babes 13 months apart. So far I've got Mexican Spaghetti, Chicken Broccoli Stuffed Shells, and Egg Noodle Casserole - food for weeks. I high-fived myself upon finishing. It really is worth spending a few hours in the kitchen to know you've got meals saved up. I'm lazy like that.

I've caught you up on our happenings, and as we enter 5 days to go - I hope to keep you all posted via blog on the updates of the arrival of our BELLE MONROE!!! Until then, many hugs and a Boomer Sooner :)

diaper rash - a recommendation

This actually from our end is far more than a recommendation - rather a true life saver/sanity saver/sleep saver...

A few weeks back, we were battling some of the more atrocious diaper rash I've ever witnessed, I'm talking baby blood. It was gory, sad, and every diaper change made us both cry. I hurt for my Bear. After a trip to his pedi, and some calls to triage nobody could give me any solution to our problem. I knew some pedi's recommended some prescription type ointments, but mine {grr} wouldn't nor claimed to know of any product outside of the usual Desitin, etc... fail. Huge fail.

So, as most angry and desperate mommies do, I googled {which to be very honest, I've sometimes found more answers via google than the dang doctor - I'm kind of a self-diagnoser, and quite accurate I might add :)}. Lo and behold, I came across review after review after review of Triple Paste and immediately ordered a tube online crossing my fingers that maybe this would provide some relief for my baby.

I was at Walmart that very same day, and my eyes lit UP, when I saw it in the baby aisle!!!! I likely peed myself, and bought the LAST tube they had left. I now pick one up everytime I go.

It really and truly worked baby butt wonders, and after TWO days he was cured. He had been going on a week of every cream, ointment you can think of and this stuff was miraculous in it's healing powers after only two days :) Hudson has had a very rough go at teething, and at the first sight of any redness or irritation we lather on some Triple Paste at night before bedtime and prettystarsabove, the next morning it's gone!!!

I don't often do recommendations because I always fear that what works for me may not work for you - but I can guarantee that if you too have diaper rash episodes, this will save your life and that precious tush of your babe's. A few places you can find it at are:

Diapers.com

Walgreens.com

Amazon.com