It's been 2 months since I had my 3rd child. I now have 2 girls and 1 boy.
We had plenty of help on the big day and for weeks after that. Between grandparents and Hubby taking time off I was never alone w/ all 3.
My mother-in-law was the last to leave. That evening I cried to Hubby that I was scared. I didn't think I could handle all 3 on my own. My son was still going to preschool 3 mornings a week. I was nervous about getting everyone in the car and unloaded then doing it all over again when it was time to pick him up.
But the next day came and I survived and I've been surviving. Sure there have been a couple of days I've yelled more than I wanted to or Hubby came home to find me in tears. What Mom hasn't been there?
B/c this is my 3rd child, I don't feel bad about letting my baby cry for a minute or two while I attend to my other kids. Have you tried reading a bedtime story to your kids while holding a screaming baby? It's not enjoyable for anyone.
Evening is the worst time. Between 6 - 8. The first few weeks were really bad. Hubby and I had to eat in shifts, one would hold the crying baby while the other ate.
She's since gotten better about sitting by herself. The swing is a Godsend. She takes all her naps in it. She sleeps in her crib at night and does pretty well w/ it.
Everyones first question is always, "How is it w/ 3?" I tell them the truth. It was hard. Especially b/c she was/is a fussy baby. After 2 months though we've gotten into a routine and she can go longer between feedings (I'm nursing). Now that summer is here we've got lots of activities going on every day.
My other 2 kids don't show any signs of jealousy. My older daughter has started acting out a little, but she's also 2 years old. I don't think it has anything to do w/ the attention her baby sister is getting. If anything the baby gets less attention.
The only one who is really feeling neglected is the dog. He spends most of his day outside. Good thing its been so nice out.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Fighting the Soccer Mom Stereotype
Even before Hubby and I got married we agreed on one thing: We didn't want to own a minivan.
After our first child, we bought an SUV. A Chevy Equinox and we loved it. It suited our needs perfectly. We had a child and a dog. Both sat comfortably in the backseat. Spacious back end for all our baby stuff. (We do a lot of traveling to see family and friends.)
When our 2nd child came along we were still riding pretty in our SUV. It was a little tougher to fit everything in the back end but we made it work. Our dog had to ride on the floor which he wasn't crazy about but again, we made it work.
My father-in-law is a car dealer so we're always checking out the lot when we're visiting them. This past summer we spotted a minivan sitting on the lot. Every fiber in our body was screaming: No! It's a minivan! But we were planning another baby and knew we needed something bigger.
Sure we could have gone w/ a suburban or an SUV w/ a 3rd row seat. If only we could afford a GMC Acadia or Saturn Outlook. (Those are my dream family cars.) Unfortunately, the later 2 were too new for our budget and any suburban w/in our price range had too many miles on it.
The minivan on the lot was a Chevy Uplander, 2008. It had leather seats, great mileage, automatic doors, the back row of seats folded down and best of all it had a DVD player.
The only downside was: It was white.
It might not seem like a big deal to everyone else, but Hubby and I aren't big fans of white vehicles. Hubby drives a white pickup and having 2 white vehicles? We didn't like it. This was our biggest dilemma. Not the fact that we were breaking our #1 rule of not owning a minivan. Not that we would be cementing our status as a family living in the suburbs and me as a soccer mom, but that the van was white.
We've owned that van for 8 months and I love it. I love the automatic doors, the DVD player, how far I can go on a tank of gas, and all the cup holders.
No matter how much I love it though, Hubby and I still talk about how much we wish it wasn't white.
After our first child, we bought an SUV. A Chevy Equinox and we loved it. It suited our needs perfectly. We had a child and a dog. Both sat comfortably in the backseat. Spacious back end for all our baby stuff. (We do a lot of traveling to see family and friends.)
When our 2nd child came along we were still riding pretty in our SUV. It was a little tougher to fit everything in the back end but we made it work. Our dog had to ride on the floor which he wasn't crazy about but again, we made it work.
My father-in-law is a car dealer so we're always checking out the lot when we're visiting them. This past summer we spotted a minivan sitting on the lot. Every fiber in our body was screaming: No! It's a minivan! But we were planning another baby and knew we needed something bigger.
Sure we could have gone w/ a suburban or an SUV w/ a 3rd row seat. If only we could afford a GMC Acadia or Saturn Outlook. (Those are my dream family cars.) Unfortunately, the later 2 were too new for our budget and any suburban w/in our price range had too many miles on it.
The minivan on the lot was a Chevy Uplander, 2008. It had leather seats, great mileage, automatic doors, the back row of seats folded down and best of all it had a DVD player.
The only downside was: It was white.
It might not seem like a big deal to everyone else, but Hubby and I aren't big fans of white vehicles. Hubby drives a white pickup and having 2 white vehicles? We didn't like it. This was our biggest dilemma. Not the fact that we were breaking our #1 rule of not owning a minivan. Not that we would be cementing our status as a family living in the suburbs and me as a soccer mom, but that the van was white.
We've owned that van for 8 months and I love it. I love the automatic doors, the DVD player, how far I can go on a tank of gas, and all the cup holders.
No matter how much I love it though, Hubby and I still talk about how much we wish it wasn't white.
Friday, February 21, 2014
1 Month to Go
Now b/c I've been MIA for the past 2 months you all that read this blog have no idea what I'm referring to in the title of my post.
I'm 1 month away from giving birth to my 3rd child. (C-section actually.)
I've read a lot of stories about how 3 children is either the perfect balance or the perfect nightmare. Hubby and I planned this pregnancy so we knew what we were getting into but that doesn't mean the doubts aren't there.
We keep joking about how much we love our sleep and are able to sleep through the night now w/ our 2 older kids. Are we really ready for that part of parenthood? The sleepless nights, reading the signs for why the baby's crying?
But then we look at all the newborn pictures of our 2 other kids and remember the smiles, coos and faces they made. Plus after what our daughter put us through (colic, constant nursing, and didn't prefer sleeping alone) I think we're ready to handle anything.
Hubby and I took a tour of the hospital b/c we will be having this baby at a new hospital than the previous 2 kids. It's a much larger hospital but the maternity ward is being updated which is a plus.
We learned during the tour that there is no nursery in the maternity ward. The baby will be in our room DAY AND NIGHT.
Hubby and I looked at each other in a panic. Our previous 2 babies spent every night in the nursery, only coming into my room when they needed to be fed. How were we going to have a pseudo-restful night w/ our baby in the same room?
Great parents, right?
There is a full size bed so we'll have the luxury of sleeping together. (Before we each had our own twin size bed.) I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not.
It will be nice to sleep w/ him, but I expect to be somewhat uncomfortable and when the baby wants to nurse Hubby will be just as inconvenienced as me. Not to mention that if I need to sleep at an inclined position, he has to sleep that way too. (That's to say the bed has that option.)
I still have a million things to do. Sure most everything is moved into the nursery, but as far as organization goes the room still needs some work. Totes need to be gone through to find clothes (we don't know the sex of this baby), the mobile, car seat, etc.
We moved our 2 older kids into the same room (more on that later) and it's going really well. Let's hope the arrival of this baby doesn't screw w/ our system.
I'm 1 month away from giving birth to my 3rd child. (C-section actually.)
I've read a lot of stories about how 3 children is either the perfect balance or the perfect nightmare. Hubby and I planned this pregnancy so we knew what we were getting into but that doesn't mean the doubts aren't there.
We keep joking about how much we love our sleep and are able to sleep through the night now w/ our 2 older kids. Are we really ready for that part of parenthood? The sleepless nights, reading the signs for why the baby's crying?
But then we look at all the newborn pictures of our 2 other kids and remember the smiles, coos and faces they made. Plus after what our daughter put us through (colic, constant nursing, and didn't prefer sleeping alone) I think we're ready to handle anything.
Hubby and I took a tour of the hospital b/c we will be having this baby at a new hospital than the previous 2 kids. It's a much larger hospital but the maternity ward is being updated which is a plus.
We learned during the tour that there is no nursery in the maternity ward. The baby will be in our room DAY AND NIGHT.
Hubby and I looked at each other in a panic. Our previous 2 babies spent every night in the nursery, only coming into my room when they needed to be fed. How were we going to have a pseudo-restful night w/ our baby in the same room?
Great parents, right?
There is a full size bed so we'll have the luxury of sleeping together. (Before we each had our own twin size bed.) I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not.
It will be nice to sleep w/ him, but I expect to be somewhat uncomfortable and when the baby wants to nurse Hubby will be just as inconvenienced as me. Not to mention that if I need to sleep at an inclined position, he has to sleep that way too. (That's to say the bed has that option.)
I still have a million things to do. Sure most everything is moved into the nursery, but as far as organization goes the room still needs some work. Totes need to be gone through to find clothes (we don't know the sex of this baby), the mobile, car seat, etc.
We moved our 2 older kids into the same room (more on that later) and it's going really well. Let's hope the arrival of this baby doesn't screw w/ our system.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
I have a Hemorrhoid
I know this is a lovely topic (and image) to be talking about so close to Christmas but I found I just had to share.
This is in fact my 3rd(!) hemorrhoid ever. (Please feel sorry for me.) The first was after I had my first baby. Like all new mothers, I was constipated, every time I went to the bathroom it felt like I had to go #2. Right? I would sit for hours and nothing would happen.
Well, finally I got out my mirror and saw my little friend. The good news was it was barely noticeable comfort wise and was gone within a day.
My second hemorrhoid experience was last year at this time. I don't remember any significant bathroom habits, I wasn't pregnant, I was simply uncomfortable when sitting and had that familiar feeling that something was still hanging on back there.
I went to the bathroom, again armed w/ my hand mirror, and revealed the culprit. I called my aunt (a nurse) and told her what I saw. She recommended pushing it back in. WTF? I informed her that was not an option.
She then suggested asking my Hubby to help. Did she think I wanted to totally kill my sex life? That was definitely out. I bought some cream and applied a couple times a day.
I was uncomfortable for days this time around. It was the week before Christmas and I was praying it would be gone by the time we traveled to see family. Luckily, it stopped hurting and shrunk about 3 days before we left.
Now for this 3rd time. I'm 6 months pregnant and it's the week before Christmas. After feeling uncomfortable for most of the day, I had the sinking feeling I knew what the problem was.
Sure enough, my hand mirror showed me another visitor.
Like the first one, this one hasn't been too painful and is almost gone which is a good thing because my pregnant belly makes it hard to see anything. I again called my aunt not really for advice but just to marvel at the coincidence that this happened at the same time last year. She again suggested I push it back in.
Now, I'm going to share something that may be TMI, but I think it's important to the story so stop reading right now if you want...
I haven't spent a lot of time researching hemorrhoids because I already know/knew how to take care of them and what causes them, but I am curious as to what they are supposed to look like.
Mine looks like a lima bean so I'm confused as to how I'm supposed to push this thing back in. If it were more like a button or mole I could understand, but this is too oblong and almost flabby.
I really hope this isn't the start of some holiday tradition my body has decided to adopt.
This is in fact my 3rd(!) hemorrhoid ever. (Please feel sorry for me.) The first was after I had my first baby. Like all new mothers, I was constipated, every time I went to the bathroom it felt like I had to go #2. Right? I would sit for hours and nothing would happen.
Well, finally I got out my mirror and saw my little friend. The good news was it was barely noticeable comfort wise and was gone within a day.
My second hemorrhoid experience was last year at this time. I don't remember any significant bathroom habits, I wasn't pregnant, I was simply uncomfortable when sitting and had that familiar feeling that something was still hanging on back there.
I went to the bathroom, again armed w/ my hand mirror, and revealed the culprit. I called my aunt (a nurse) and told her what I saw. She recommended pushing it back in. WTF? I informed her that was not an option.
She then suggested asking my Hubby to help. Did she think I wanted to totally kill my sex life? That was definitely out. I bought some cream and applied a couple times a day.
I was uncomfortable for days this time around. It was the week before Christmas and I was praying it would be gone by the time we traveled to see family. Luckily, it stopped hurting and shrunk about 3 days before we left.
Now for this 3rd time. I'm 6 months pregnant and it's the week before Christmas. After feeling uncomfortable for most of the day, I had the sinking feeling I knew what the problem was.
Sure enough, my hand mirror showed me another visitor.
Like the first one, this one hasn't been too painful and is almost gone which is a good thing because my pregnant belly makes it hard to see anything. I again called my aunt not really for advice but just to marvel at the coincidence that this happened at the same time last year. She again suggested I push it back in.
Now, I'm going to share something that may be TMI, but I think it's important to the story so stop reading right now if you want...
I haven't spent a lot of time researching hemorrhoids because I already know/knew how to take care of them and what causes them, but I am curious as to what they are supposed to look like.
Mine looks like a lima bean so I'm confused as to how I'm supposed to push this thing back in. If it were more like a button or mole I could understand, but this is too oblong and almost flabby.
I really hope this isn't the start of some holiday tradition my body has decided to adopt.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Life Before Kids
I've often thought about things my husband and I didn't do before we had kids. We all have those lists: take a road trip together, travel more, save money, etc.
We visited my sister-in-law and her husband over the summer in Omaha and I was green w/ jealousy most of the time. They live in an apartment in downtown Omaha. They live on the top floor above a bakery. We walked around most of the area which included a farmer's market, numerous shops and restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, etc. Their apartment also had floor to ceiling windows all around their living/dining room.
The whole time we were there I couldn't help but marvel at the simpleness of their lives and all the options they had to do things. The farmer's market was just a block away! You could hear the night life happening right outside their windows. (Granted some nights it was a little loud, but still it created an awesome atmosphere.)
They had leather furniture, not my taste, but they had the option! With kids that's not exactly the friendliest of fabrics. My sister-in-law is big into home decor (sometimes I don't understand her vision) so there are always a lot of decorative items by the TV or sitting on the bookshelf. Now that it's Christmas time I'm sure their apartment looks like a department store window display.
I couldn't help but be jealous of all they had at their disposal. Not only the variety of venues for food, shopping, and entertainment, but the freedom to do nothing all day if they chose to, to take off on a weekend trip at the last minute, or simply to talk to each other w/o interruptions. Some days I wish I could trade lives w/ them, and others I feel so lucky I have what I do.
Who wouldn't want to spend a weekend in the LBK (Life Before Kids) phase?
We visited my sister-in-law and her husband over the summer in Omaha and I was green w/ jealousy most of the time. They live in an apartment in downtown Omaha. They live on the top floor above a bakery. We walked around most of the area which included a farmer's market, numerous shops and restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, etc. Their apartment also had floor to ceiling windows all around their living/dining room.
The whole time we were there I couldn't help but marvel at the simpleness of their lives and all the options they had to do things. The farmer's market was just a block away! You could hear the night life happening right outside their windows. (Granted some nights it was a little loud, but still it created an awesome atmosphere.)
They had leather furniture, not my taste, but they had the option! With kids that's not exactly the friendliest of fabrics. My sister-in-law is big into home decor (sometimes I don't understand her vision) so there are always a lot of decorative items by the TV or sitting on the bookshelf. Now that it's Christmas time I'm sure their apartment looks like a department store window display.
I couldn't help but be jealous of all they had at their disposal. Not only the variety of venues for food, shopping, and entertainment, but the freedom to do nothing all day if they chose to, to take off on a weekend trip at the last minute, or simply to talk to each other w/o interruptions. Some days I wish I could trade lives w/ them, and others I feel so lucky I have what I do.
Who wouldn't want to spend a weekend in the LBK (Life Before Kids) phase?
Friday, July 26, 2013
Top 6 Reasons Why Harvest Stinks
Hubby and I took the kids back West the end of June so Hubby could help my dad and family w/ wheat harvest. This took about a week, we were there for 5 of those days.
My family has farmed for the last 3 generations. As you can tell from my list, I didn't care for the farm life.
1) Unpredictable schedules - growing up I didn't see my dad much during harvest. He left early in the morning and got home late at night. I'd see him when we took supper to the field.
2) Poor pay - you never know the price of your wheat until you get to the coop to unload. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. This makes for unhappy workers.
3) The field was dirty - when I was younger it was too hot to wear jeans in the field, but the cut wheat stalks would scratch my legs and my feet would get dirty if I wore sandals.
4) Helping move equipment - when I was old enough to drive, my dad would call and ask me to help he and my brother move to another field. This meant I had to leave the nice air conditioned house and drive 20 minutes on a dirt road trying to find a field I didn't know how to get there (even though I'd been there w/ my mom before). I would then follow my dad, who was driving the combine, w/ his pickkup which was beyond dirty and there was no way to adjust the seat so I had to keep myself propped up by holding on the steering wheel.
5) I had to eat last and help load/clean up - this was probably my least favorite, as I said above it was hot in the field, dirty and itchy. We would take supper late around 7:30 or 8 so I was overly hungry. Sometimes we would have to sit there for awhile before the men came to a stopping point and I wasn't allowed to eat early. It was for the men.
6) Unreliable equipment - things would break down and they would need someone to pick up parts sometimes being an hour away.
When we were home for a week, I helped my mom take supper to the field (my sister-in-law cooked too), my kids rode in the combine, and I listened to my 8 year old niece complain about having to help.
I heard her complain about having to put ice in cups and take drink orders, about having to be out in the heat and how itchy her feet were getting.
I passed on my wisdom telling her she was going to go through this every summer, I did and I hated it too.
Every night we were in the field, most of my family was there. My grandpa who owns some of the land we farm and is retired, my aunt, my kids and myself, my sister-in-law and her 4 kids. We sat around a folding table eating and talking.
After years of hating the field, I loved seeing the excitement in my kid's faces when they saw their daddy and the combine, I loved the laughs and conversation we shared, even after the men went back to the field.
I finally understood why going to the field was so important.
My family has farmed for the last 3 generations. As you can tell from my list, I didn't care for the farm life.
1) Unpredictable schedules - growing up I didn't see my dad much during harvest. He left early in the morning and got home late at night. I'd see him when we took supper to the field.
2) Poor pay - you never know the price of your wheat until you get to the coop to unload. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. This makes for unhappy workers.
3) The field was dirty - when I was younger it was too hot to wear jeans in the field, but the cut wheat stalks would scratch my legs and my feet would get dirty if I wore sandals.
4) Helping move equipment - when I was old enough to drive, my dad would call and ask me to help he and my brother move to another field. This meant I had to leave the nice air conditioned house and drive 20 minutes on a dirt road trying to find a field I didn't know how to get there (even though I'd been there w/ my mom before). I would then follow my dad, who was driving the combine, w/ his pickkup which was beyond dirty and there was no way to adjust the seat so I had to keep myself propped up by holding on the steering wheel.
5) I had to eat last and help load/clean up - this was probably my least favorite, as I said above it was hot in the field, dirty and itchy. We would take supper late around 7:30 or 8 so I was overly hungry. Sometimes we would have to sit there for awhile before the men came to a stopping point and I wasn't allowed to eat early. It was for the men.
6) Unreliable equipment - things would break down and they would need someone to pick up parts sometimes being an hour away.
When we were home for a week, I helped my mom take supper to the field (my sister-in-law cooked too), my kids rode in the combine, and I listened to my 8 year old niece complain about having to help.
I heard her complain about having to put ice in cups and take drink orders, about having to be out in the heat and how itchy her feet were getting.
I passed on my wisdom telling her she was going to go through this every summer, I did and I hated it too.
Every night we were in the field, most of my family was there. My grandpa who owns some of the land we farm and is retired, my aunt, my kids and myself, my sister-in-law and her 4 kids. We sat around a folding table eating and talking.
After years of hating the field, I loved seeing the excitement in my kid's faces when they saw their daddy and the combine, I loved the laughs and conversation we shared, even after the men went back to the field.
I finally understood why going to the field was so important.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
My Name is Megan ... and I have no idea who I am
Updated version
As I stated in an earlier post, I turned 30 on my last birthday. Like anyone reaching a milestone birthday, I've done some reflecting on my life.
I took a Philosophy class about 2 years ago and hated it. I'm not a deep thinker nor am I one to take risks and speak my mind.
The final for this class was to write 2 essays. The first question being: What did you expect to learn from this class? The second: What DID you learn from this class?
We were given these questions a week before the final so I had time to think about my answers. And what I came up w/ (and have probably already subconsciously knew) is that I am a naive person.
It was handed down to me by my mom who thinks the best of everyone, gives them the benefit of the doubt, and has to make conversation w/ every person she meets.
Not to mention, we didn't have a lot of "family" discussions about sex, alcohol, etc. My mom just assumed I learned everything I needed to know in school which was true, but it would have been nice to have my mom to talk to about it.
I was also your typical good girl who did everything I was supposed to, never broke the rules (much), and looked the other way when something uncomfortable was going on.
So this Philosophy opened my eyes a little to the fact that I had no idea who I was as a person. I had my BA in English (Creative Writing), I was a wife and mother, I had a part time job I really enjoyed, and I was pregnant w/ my 2nd child.
Yet I didn't really have a feel for who I was. I've really started thinking about this a month or 2 before my birthday and have yet to come up w/ an answer.
Don't get me wrong, I love being a wife, mother, etc. but feel like my life is lacking something. In high school I wanted to be a screenwriter, in college I just wanted to write something and get published.
Now I'm just struggling to find the time to write anything (hence this blog was formed).
Anyone else out there struggling w/ their identity?
As I stated in an earlier post, I turned 30 on my last birthday. Like anyone reaching a milestone birthday, I've done some reflecting on my life.
I took a Philosophy class about 2 years ago and hated it. I'm not a deep thinker nor am I one to take risks and speak my mind.
The final for this class was to write 2 essays. The first question being: What did you expect to learn from this class? The second: What DID you learn from this class?
We were given these questions a week before the final so I had time to think about my answers. And what I came up w/ (and have probably already subconsciously knew) is that I am a naive person.
It was handed down to me by my mom who thinks the best of everyone, gives them the benefit of the doubt, and has to make conversation w/ every person she meets.
Not to mention, we didn't have a lot of "family" discussions about sex, alcohol, etc. My mom just assumed I learned everything I needed to know in school which was true, but it would have been nice to have my mom to talk to about it.
I was also your typical good girl who did everything I was supposed to, never broke the rules (much), and looked the other way when something uncomfortable was going on.
So this Philosophy opened my eyes a little to the fact that I had no idea who I was as a person. I had my BA in English (Creative Writing), I was a wife and mother, I had a part time job I really enjoyed, and I was pregnant w/ my 2nd child.
Yet I didn't really have a feel for who I was. I've really started thinking about this a month or 2 before my birthday and have yet to come up w/ an answer.
Don't get me wrong, I love being a wife, mother, etc. but feel like my life is lacking something. In high school I wanted to be a screenwriter, in college I just wanted to write something and get published.
Now I'm just struggling to find the time to write anything (hence this blog was formed).
Anyone else out there struggling w/ their identity?
It's been a year since I wrote the above post. I now have 3 children, the oldest is in kindergarten. I still feel like I'm lacking in areas. Again, I love being a mother but feel that's all anyone ever sees me for. I'm Carsen's mom when I volunteer in his classroom. When I go home to visit my parents everyone wants to see the kids, that's my purpose in life: to give people optimal viewing of my children.
Even my Hubby (who is super supportive of me and completely understanding) I feel only sees me as a Mom. We took a Marriage retreat class w/ 4 other couples thru our church earlier this year and when asked to name something you admire about your spouse, every husband in the room stated their wife was a good mother.
Now I'm proud my Hubby thinks I'm a good mom. I'd be upset if he didn't, but I didn't want my whole identity to be simply Mom.
I like to think of myself as a writer, a great organizer, an entertainment junkie, a great typist, and a great friend. Now these may not sound like great characteristics, but they mean something to me and I want people to know those in addition to the great mother thing.
I'm going to continue to find my identity and truth be told I may never find her, but I need to get out of my comfort zone and find her.
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