So if any of you reading this know me, you know that absolutely love being pregnant and love the entire labor process...I think its truly the most amazing thing! And how proud should us women be that God chose us to be the "baby maker" I feel like he has put trust in me to finish out his beautiful creation of new life.
However, sometimes women that can get pregnant at the drop of hat forget, that some women are not able to at all. And then their are women who don't want to have kids of their own because of the chance of a genetic disorder/disability being passed along. My heart hurts for any woman who would not get the chance to be a mother if she desires to be, I think things like this happen so that women can learn to be stronger. I as a surrogate would become stronger knowing that I am giving the gift of life to a deserving family, and the genetic parents are already SO SO strong, in the fact that they have overcome the idea of not being able to of children of their own and being able to ask someone else to help them.
Parenthood to me has been THE most rewarding gift I have ever received and I think any man or woman wanting a child deserves to experience the joy and laughter a child brings. Granite there are plenty of bad times, but the good out weights the bad, for sure!:)
Why I think I would make a good surrogate?
I have done my research for starters, I have an agency selected for when I decide I want to do it, which wont be until I am finished with school most likely. When someone hears that I dream about doing this one day, the next thing I hear is..wouldn't be too attached to the baby to give it away?...And the answer is no..this baby in no way shape or form would genetically be mine and I am very well aware of that. I actually am the exact opposite....the part I am most thrilled for is seeing the parents face as their sweet baby comes into this world!! I know how I felt the moment Ella and Eli were born and its a feeling only a mother and father know...I desire for people to feel that feeling(that want it of course)...its almost like a drug...weird comparison I know but it makes you feel SOOO amazing!!!
So todays blog is basically going to be explaining what my blog is all about and why I started it. So here goes..
While I will for sure be posting things that happen in our life to keep a record for myself, kind of like a journal...Im also going to be posting things like product reviews(good and bad) and just tips and tricks I have learned as being a mother!
My hopes...
I find myself constantly searching the internet for things, that have to do with my kids. Is this lump okay? Should his poop be the color? What milestone should we be working on? Methods of discipline?...ect. So I figured why not take what I learn and pass it along! In hopes of someone finding it and helping that person! Im quite aware that I dont know everything there is to know about kids, but what I do know I would love to share with other moms or soon to be moms!! After all....us mommas have to stick together, right?
Until next time,
Michelle
Question of the day: What are you getting your kids for Christmas?!
Okay, so something I wanted to touch base on when adding a second baby to the mix and some struggles that I have ran into..My number one thing is the question: When should we have another baby? I heard ALL the time to wait until Ella was older and that age two is SO hard. I have always wanted kids close together so I went with my gut and it turned out perfect! Ella is sooo in love with brother..and he simply adores her! They are the absolute cutest and I would not have it any other way!
We talked about Eli like he was already here...she completely understood my pregnancy and everything that was going to happen!
We wanted Ella to be the first one in the room to meet her brother- I think it makes it not as overwhelming, and you get to spend sometime as a family before everyone comes in to see the baby
You'll notice in this photo the rest of the family has entered, but Ella is still focused on her brother and not everything else that is going on...and Im 100% focused on my two babies!
Such a proud BIG sister..Fun big sister shirts or big brother shirts are awesome for them:) Also, big sister or big brother gifts to open at the hospital! We got Ella a Woody doll to go along with her favorite Jessie doll...she loved it!
Best freinds:)
So cute!
So I dont know if its this way for everyone, but Ella still treats her brother like he is brand new! She gets so excited when he wakes up from naps and when she gets home from school she runs over to kiss and hug him!- She is also always looking out for him which is adorable! To sum it up...Id just say "she gets it"...she knows what being a big sister is and fits the definition COMPLETELY!
When she does get jealous which is mostly around grandma and grandpa..she will say something cute like...mommy you hold brother so paw paw can play, but she doesnt throw a fit about it which is awesome!
So how to know if YOUR ready?
Are your finances in order?
Are you and your partner agreeing on trying for another baby?
Can your house accomadate another baby?
Can your car accomadate another baby?
Is there a particular stage you would like to get past with your first born?(potty training is a common one)
Daycare accomadations she be taken into consideration
Where do you see yourself in 10 months?- Would a baby fit in your picture?
How long did it take you to conceive with your first? For some women it could take multiple cycles to finally get pregnant!So think about that...
These are just a few things I thought of before trying to concieve baby Eli!
One struggle I had was learning to love a second baby..
Before we go on I want you all to know I love both of my kids SOOOO much!!
But around 36 weeks it really hit me that this sweet boy was going to be making is grand entrance sooner than later! It was time to mentally prep myself and this was something I struggled with, even though I had been bonding with him for 9 months.. I had been bonding with my now 3 year old for 2+ years...how was this new baby going to fit into this equation??!! I spent one night just bawling my eyes out listening too....
Go ahead and play both of these at the same time!, I like watching the pictures with this song:)
I would just sit there watching Ella and thinking about how amazing she is...nobody could replace her. And thats where I stopped..
Nobody would be replacing her!
We were just getting ready to add someone equally amazing to our family- I didnt realize this until the night before my induction- My house was clean, Ella was helping Brad with yard work and I was relaxing in the chair, in our room where I planned to nurse baby Eli. I always feel wierd talking to my belly..I mean other than the normal cutesy baby talk...but to actually speak feelings and such always made me emotional, but on this day I knew it was something Mr. Eli and I needed to discuss. I needed to "clear the air"
With Eli being inside of me I guess I assumed he just knew how I was feeling and what I was thinking. So I needed to let him know I was feeling guilty about thinking I couldnt love him like Ella- While having this needed yet strange conversation with my unborn baby, I was sobbing like a baby myself. I told him things that was afraid of, fun things that he would do, I asked him questions (of course not expecting a response)-Who will you be? Will you have hair...we all know your sister sure doesnt! lol, will you love me like I love you? Pretty much anything a pregnant woman dreams and is curious of that whole 10 motns we talked about! Well I talked he listend:) Call me crazy, but this one, on one time with him put me at ease and the moment he was born I was in love all over again...it was like God placed a new heart in me...because just when I thought I loved Ella with my entire heart a spot opened up for Eli!
My Induction Day
About two minutes old and SOOOO loved! my SOO many!
SO the point of this little story I shared is that its totally normal to feel this ladies! Your not crazy and your older child will still love you:)
Thats all for now
Until next time...
Michelle
"The sooner you have kids, the more time you have them"
-Me
Question of the day: Every get that dreaded unwanted advice? If so what was it?---Mine was to wait to have baby number 2:)
Okay so I have alot of friends that are curious to know what life would be like with two kids..So I wanted to share this fun video with you guys!!!:)
Life isnt that much different, its just busier. When Ella is busy with a craft or in the bath or napping I no longer have "down time" I have a sweet baby boy to hang out with. And that is another point I wanted to make, we were blessed with such a GREAT baby! He is so laid back and such an easy baby boy, so that definately helps...I say if your managing well with one..and you want more kids than go for it!!! The earlier you have them, the longer you get to enjoy them:)
Question of the day: How many kids do you want? How big of an age gap? and why?:)
This time of year is always a great reminder of how blessed my family is..
When I think more in depth about having a "blessed life"..I get goose bumps. I have been thinking alot lately about how people spend their lives and then a friend of mine on facebook posted,"All the money in the world can't buy back the time you lose making it."...To me this is so true! My time with my husband and kids is SO precious to me!! Right now I feel like I have forever to get to know them and to let them know how much I love them...but I dont. My life here with them is so short! And I often find myself getting scared to be with out them, and I wonder..will they remember me?....I know they will, but I cant help but wonder..So while I am here with them I plan to make it the best time ever!!--Sheesh this blog turned to some what sad, which was not my intention...but at the same time it is such a good wake up call, and great motivation to not take your friends and family for granite.
My family is the greatest blessing...
I was sitting here talking to Ella and she got up to go to the bathroom, I said I love you Ella! And she was running out of the room, then peaked her head back and said "I love you more mommy"......Seriously Ella..way to make my heart melt!!! You are so rotten sometimes..and then you do things like this and Im reminded that your not so bad:):) I love you SO SO much sweetheart!!
Question of the day: What is the greatest blessing in your life?
Well, its 11:45 and I just got off work at Subway. Now I am snuggled up on the couch with nothing but the light of the Christmas tree, ready to type this blog!:) I love this time of year!
I have done alot of my Christmas shopping this week and the number one gift I am so excited to give I cant mention because the person recieving this might be reading this..hehe:) BUT the sencond gift I am so excited to give is to Ella..its a desk for her room..its a toddler dest nothing to fancy..but PERRECT for her! Im going to put it together Christmas Eve and fill it with notebooks, crayons, paint supplies, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, stickers...ect..she is going to LOVE it! Elijahs big gift this year was his dresser, I know its a pretty boring gift..but I figure he is only 6 months old and isnt going to know any different AND he is going to be spoiled by friends and family anyways. We did get him one of those swings that you hang from a tree..and we are going to hang it out back on the deck! I cant wait, hes going to love it! This year Brad and I decided not to get eachother anything to help with our budjet...BUT Ella told that he has a ring in the garage! I tried to go out with her to look for it but she had noo clue what she was talking about! I find it wierd that she said that beacuse she wouldnt just think of that on her own..but I could not find anything lol!
We had a great Thankgiving! We visited my family which is about an hour from here. I had a great time catching up with family and meeting a couple of the new babies in our family! Then we went to Brads familys and its always a great time!
Its become a tradition for us to go Black Friday shopping every year. The kids go to Brads mom and dads and hit up the stores that have what we want. We honestly didnt have a to much we were interested in this year...we just went and bought some stuff we probably didnt need...ooooops:)
Anywho I will be updating again..sooner than later this time!! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend!!
Question of the day: Did you go black friday shopping, if so what was your best deal!?
I know, I know..I have been MIA for the last SIX days! I totally failed on my blog a day for a month goal dang it!
Anywho, today has been crazy!! I had 4 daycare kids here and my two- anything and everything they could get into they did and multiple times! I have only had about three of these days since starting a daycare and lets just say it was ROUGH! Not to mention 4 times while typing just what I have so far I had to tell Ella to Ella to leave her brother alone. And threw 2 major tantrums...I seriously dont get it. Sometimes she is just flat out MEAN!!! Like more mean than most kids...Its so frustrating!!! I just want to yell BE NICE!!!! sometimes...but I have to remind myself kids dont have that thought process lol. UGH.
So I dont know if I updated since we got our furniture but we did and we love it! The coffee table is in the living room right now and its taking up a lot of space, I dont like that so much, but I do like having it so I can pile clutter on it...lol. That is seriously all we use our coffee table for!
I have a huge test Saturday that I am trying to study for which is why I have been MIA for the last week..these last couple chapters of AP are just KILLING ME! I have a B in the class but in order to actually pass I have to get a 65 or higher on the final exam and I honestly dont know if I can do it. I cant remember any of the stuff we learned, its all one big jumble of information!!
Okay...I have tons more I could talk about but if I dont get to studying- Megan Davis is going to kill me when she gets here! lol- Shes basically my tutor! and keeps me in line!
Okay, we had decided against taking Ella to the ER around the time Brad got home and then 45 minutes later she threw up. So that was it, I wanted to go get her checked out- Yess Im one of those moms. Anywho..We didnt think it was necessary to drive to Childrens Hospital so we just went to our local ER. And they did a strep test which I knew they would, and it came back negative like I knew it would. So we wasted 4 hours in the ER....UGH. Anyways the fever went away along with the rest of her symptoms so now we are right back where we started.....waiting for our trip to the ENT(ear nose and throat doctor) which is not until December 2nd.
Now for the rest of my update:)...We are going to pick up our new furniture tonight! YAY. But remember how new furniture meant cleaning?......Welllllll that didnt happen, mostly because of our trip to the ER last night.
Ella didnt want to sit on the bed....So Brad decided he would! lol
So as Im typing this blog Im watching Quints By Suprise that have on my DVR and I LOVE this show! As hard as it would be to take care of all those babies..I think having a big family would be SO much fun! They have 5 almost 3 year olds and then I think their oldest Elliot is 8! They are SUCH a cute family. Right now Ethan(the dad) is taking down all 5 cribs and putting up 5 new toddler beds and Im just thinking about how long it took us to take down Ellas bed and to put up her new one...lol at least an hour or more! I couldnt imagine! Anyways..this show is on TLC if you want watch:)
Thats all for today!! Tomorrow hopefully I will post some new pics of the furniture!:)
Question of the day: Whats your favorite and least favorite TLC show and why?
If you dont watch TLC: Have you ever had your tonsils out? If so how was your experience?
Okay so yesterday, we went and bought some new furniture, we got:
1. A new TV stand- since the one we are using is the same one we were using in our firs apartment and its tiny compared to our living room..
2. We got a dresser for Eli's room, its navy blue and will match PERFECT! I love it!
3. So we were checking out and I was using my Ashley's card and to be able to use it I had spend another 50 bucks. I thought no big deal Ill just get a lamp(which Im in need of)..but no Brad wants to go a new living room table...and the one he has to have is in a set of three..so now we have 2 extra tables that we dont even need lol!--I guess I'll find some where for them haha!
Anyways Im super excited because the new furniture will be here tomorrow. yay! Well kind of yay because now Ive got to clean all of the old furniture and find a place to store it...boooo.
Okay..So I was blogging and then had to stop...
Ella just woke up from her nap with a low grade fever usually things like this dont bother me to bad however...she has a VERY swollen tonsil that she has had for awhile now and we are schedule to go to the ENT Dec 2nd. Ella saw her pedi on Tuesday and she said if she develops a fever or complains about it to call in...So I called and I am still waiting for a phone call back---I love love love her doctor, but the office SUCKS..ill be lucky if the message even got to her-..anyways her tonsils are not red or anything but if her doctor does not call we are planning to take her to the ER just incase there is some sort of an infection....SO much for cleaning! But thats life I suppose...
First thing is first..BOO for not waking up in time to shower! Now I am going to feel tired all day- perfect. Not to mention tonight I am working at subway until 11.Brad is currently hunting and then coming home to take the kids to the doctor for their check ups and not going into work until after that, so he will be working late which means his grandma will be watching the kids until he gets home. Is it sad that I still dread taking two kids out by myself...not always but on some occasions I just sit and think about packing the diaper bag, trying to hold ellas hand while carrying a carseat and dealing with my sons frustrations of car rides and carseats....he typically HATES them! I will say he is getting better since we moved him to the middle and he can see his sister who he absolutely adores:)
So Christmas is fast approaching which means I will be out of school for a month! Whoohoo!--But before that days arrives I wanted to put together a ToDo List...
1.Replace Eli's cieling in his bedroom( its old tile....gross)
2.Clean up his room and quit using it as a storage closet.
3.Paint the laundry room
4.Paint the bathroom
5.Put a gate on the deck
6.Do some DEEP cleaning!
I think thats pretty much it, the list is short but the stuff on here is time consuming, and I dont want us to spend our holidays working our little booties off. And when I say us I mean Brad- Which is horrible I know..but can you really see me replacing a cieling and building a gate?!?...I may paint but Brad doesnt like me doing that-apparently I suck.
Well my daycare kids will be arriving so its time wrap this up! I think tomorrow I am going to do a holiday tradition/gift giving blog so stay tuned:)
Question of the day: Are you a fan of To Do lists or do you just go with the flow?
My personal challenge this month is to write a blog a day! I really hope I can stick to it but I literally have NO free time! It has been crazy! Im trying my hardest to get into the nursing program at Lewis and Clark, I work during the day with my daycare kids, and 3-4 nights a week I am working at my old high school job...SUBWAY! I feel like I always go back to that place:) But it really is a great job in the fact that I make decent money for what it is and its SUPER flexible!
So I have that going on and Brad works from about 8-6 every day! Ella just started pre school and just turned THREE!----yes I you read correctly THREE! And you know what is just as crazy, today is Elijahs 5 month birthday!....seriously? How are they so old!?
this was taken on Ellas third birthday
Here are some pictures from Elijahs 4 month of life!
Sheesh! This blogging daily is going to be difficult with the tantrums Ella has been throwing lately! Any suggestions PLEASE let me know!
Anyways, life is good, just SOOO busy! But I am thankful for brads job and my job and Im thankful Ella is able to attend a school and I forgot to mention she is now in dance and LOVING IT! Her first recital is in January and I am so excited!
I will talk to you guys tomorrow(hopefully;))
question of the day: Would you rather be busy or not so much?
All weekend I wanted to study, which sounds crazy I know! But I am taking an onlind anatomy class its been difficult! Im really trying to get a B in the class, science hasnt always been my strong subject so we will see how it goes! I just keep thinking about what the end result will be:) BUT referring back to the name of this blog....and with all of this being said I cannot not find any motivation to actually study!...But I can find motivation to sit here facebooking and posting a new blog! Ahh.
Ill be praying for motivation this week...thats for sure:)
Brad and I bought a house March 2010 and I love it, for the most part. Before this we were living in an apartment and our rent was literally half of what our mortgage payment is, and before that when I was pregnant with Ella we lived in his parents basement with NO BILLS, now its like everyday Im thinking about a bill that is due! Not to mention at the same time Im thinking about everything that needs done around the house, such as..landscaping,mowing,power washing, updates, SO much more to clean!..Budjeting is probably the most important thing you could do as a homeowner..something I need to start. I know as for me and brad we have to plan out major purchases..like the deck we just built this summer, now next year we plan to put in new windows so that will take some major budjeting but it will add alot of value to our house and I hope to get much more out of this house than what we paid for it.
Things I have learned about owning a home espcecially if your young and not wealthy like Brad and I=]
*Ladies..your house doesnt have to look like the ones on HGTV right away so save the money and deal with what you have for ahwile until you settle in!
*2 nessesities lawn mower and a weed eater
*Globe Home Warranty SUCKS. air conditioner broke guess who paid for it? WE DID!
*Wait to buy your house before you buy your furniture!
* Paint neutral colors because most likely if you paint a color green..you'll start buying stuff to decorate and want to change your mind like 100 times.
*Never Paint a kitchen red* unless you hire a professional painter!=]
*Ladies help with yard work and Men help with inside work like cleaning!! doing the same old thing gets old, so switch it up!
*Probably the most improtant thing about owning a home if its not your forever home...dont put anything too custom in it that a future buyer wouldnt like.*-like bright green carpet oor even slate floors is a little taste specific...just always remember not everyone likes what you like!
*Get to know your neighbors! and remember their names just incase you ever have to introduce them lol
*Above all else...for you couples out there remember there will be issues that come up! you WILL fight...but you have a house now and you have to live together..theres no "im going home ttyl" so just go into your spare bedroom...read a book..take it out on your kitchen floor or yard...and then just forget about it!
objective of this blog was to give my advice on home ownership..having just gone through the experience...and to hopefully help somebody just getting started!!
So the past couple weeks have been crazy busy with baby showers, graduation parties, house warming parties, Brad had his knee surgery and this weekend is Memorial Day weekend and we are hosting a BBQ. Needless to say with being so busy this last part of my pregnancy has seriously flown by! Im ending my 37th week tomorrow and I also have doctors appointment to go over our "game plan". My doctor said he wants to make sure he is there this time around because with Ella he was not the on call doctor which was kind of disappointing! Brad and I are getting super anxious to meet this new baby boy! But I think me a little more than him...only because on top of meeting the Elijah im so OVER being pregnant!! And seriously ready to enjoy this summer as a family of four!=] I think Ella is warming up to the idea of having a baby brother around the house..at two and half I didnt think she would have a clue as to what was going on but when I asked if Elijah could come home with us to live she said are you popping mommy!? HAHA. So I think she is starting to realize that my belly is not is permanant home! Not to much is going on today, Brads getting groceries for our BBQ, Im nesting as usual and enjoying my last couple days with my daycare babies=]. So I suppose that is all for now!
