Some February Pics

None of these are in order. Oh well. I don't have much time or patience to worry about that. Oh also I read that people edit their photos? say what? I just do the red eye thing. How do you edit them and what are you even fixing? I guess I could always ask my hubby :)

Today we played outside briefly (it was way too cold) we colored with chalk and they were so excited and happy.

Ireland and her friend Bailey wanted to pose by the horse with their balloons

( I just noticed the dates in all the pics are off. these were all just this week. and two of them taken the same day show different dates. oops)

watching a movie

making valentines for daddy

ha ha this is Leighton's newest goofy face

I hit "enhance" in my iphoto. Guess this is the most "editing" I can do lol. eh

On Valentine's day we made everything hearts

So much for getting cute pics of them in their Valentines clothes

more coming soon....

yes, a post about breastfeeding

This post is for MATURE readers only please. Sorry kiddos

I need to do this post for me, for my kids and for my family. I have had many people ask me about breast feeding and lack of. So here ya go.....

When Ireland was born I breast fed her. She was a tiny little thing. Everyone kept telling me she was too small. I would think: Don't tell me she is too small! I was feeding her every hour. She had milk allergies so I had to watch EVERY SINGLE THING I ate so she would not get sick. She ALWAYS seemed hungry and I had people mad at me that I wasn't feeding her.

Ask Daniel and my sister, there were times I would nurse her every 30 minutes. She was three months old when I took her to the pediatrician for a random weight check she had gained a measly 7 oz in over a month. The dr didn't like that but said do not quit breast feeding. I told him she seems like she is starving and I never even went up a bra size! He said keep breastfeeding.

After talking with many friends and family Daniel and I made the choice to give her formula. She plumped up very nicely! very fast. I never thought she was too small until I look back at picks and see how small she was. :( I failed at breast feeding. I was DEVASTATED. What kind of person can't breast feed? Her ped would be so upset. Will everyone judge me? It took quite some time for Daniel to assure me I DID NOTHING WRONG. It was NOT my fault. No one was mad. There is nothing wrong with formula. Then why does everyone make this HUUUUGE deal that breast feeding is so much better?? It didn't matter. There is nothing in this entire world wrong with formula!

When Ireland was about 4 months old, I took her into walmart and some lady came up and was asking about her and asked if I breastfed. I told her no I couldn't I didn't make enough milk. She looked me in disgust and made this noise of not approving. (first of all, who the heck did she think she was?! How was that ANY of her business and not sure why I even responded to her, but who in their right mind thinks it is ok, to make me feel bad for something I could not control Even if I could, how was it her business? NO ONE has the right to judge. NO ONE)

So that made me feel bad in itself but then there was always the random person (yes even family and friends) who would make comments and make me feel bad. You know there are PLENTY of formula fed children and they are beautiful, healthy, smart and nothing in this whole world wrong with them!

wow this wasn't the point of this sorry... just gets me heated :)

ANYWAY from 3 months on, Ireland had formula (and guess what she is just fine!!!)

SO I get pregnant with Leighton and I had the desire to breast feed her. I read about it, I prayed about it, I prepared myself the best I could. Then as I got close to having her, I went to get measured for a new nursing bra. Not only was it NOT bigger like I thought it should be for about to have a baby... it was smaller? uh oh.

So Leighton is born and had horrible jaundice. They gave us an option to give her formula to help things along. I had a very strong feeling I needed to, Daniel did too. So we gave our 1 day old baby formula ( I swore I wouldn't just to make sure I would make enough milk if she was strictly breast fed.) but things are sometimes out of our hands and we do what we need to help our kids. Well guess what?? Even after we got home and the jaundice was gone, I still never got the milk I needed for her. She would still need a bottle after each nursing just to keep her full. She ALSO had allergies to milk and I was accidently making her sick when I would eat something with milk. I wouldn't give up and I changed every single thing I ate to protect her.

Finally it got to the point where she acted starving after I nursed her 40 minutes. So I gave her formula then I got a hold of nice pump and would pump for 20 minutes every 2 hours and would get after 2 whole days LESS THAN 2 oz TOTAL!! I went through the whole "what am I doing wrong? Why can't I make milk??" I took a breastfeeding class with BOTH girls, I called and counseled with many breastfeeding consultants, with pediatricians, with my dr. and guess what? My body just didn't make the milk I need. :( super big bummer. But it wasn't my fault.

Leighton is 7 months old and I STILL get comments about breastfeeding, I still get looks and disapproving comments and noises when I say "no I do not breastfeed her."

What in the world?!

WHO CARES?!?! ok, I do and did, but it was out of my control. not my choice. Leighton is formula fed and guess what she is just fine!!! :)

Goo Bear

Oh my goodness, this has taken me FOREVER to put together. I love my Ireland so much that I wanted this to be perfect for her. I didn't want to leave anything out. I went through HUNDREDS of pictures trying to decide what to use (and most look better when clicked on I think.) I have so many fun videos and decided on one of the most recent.

Ireland MaKenna, this is something mommy made for you. To look back on and realize how special you are. Realize how LOVED you are. Sometimes I talk about how you are naughty or a stinker, but you really aren't. You have such a tender heart, and amazing personality. You are so friendly and so stinkin funny. You are a ham and love attention and we love watching you grow.

I have chosen some pictures that show your personality and beautiful spirit. I have also added a bunch of cute or funny things you have said. Every single time you say something I like I run and write it down so I wouldn't forget.

Sit back and enjoy (this will take a while!)

You always say "no way jose" and I'm just kidding"

Our very favorite thing you say: "Oh my gosh, are you kidding me?!" ha ha that one is so cute to hear

Your first birthday. What a princess

Your 2nd birthday. Still a princess :)


Once mommy and auntie were doing pilates and you were doing it too. In the middle of it you started cracking up and said "I so great" then we were doing "hundreds" and you- trying to catch your breathe- said "it's too hard!"

This is one of Ireland's MANY faces that she draws. I have no idea how she learned to draw faces like this. She does frowny ones too. This beauty was drawn on the wall in the hall. I took a picture then made her clean it :)

"Mommy I watch barney?"

me just joking around "no way"

"say yes. No no way, say yes mommy, say yes"

Discovering ice cream. After having an allergy your whole life you haven't really got to try it. Luckily you outgrew the allergy (for the most part)

Ireland you ALWAYS, always have something on your head! A hat, a shirt, a swim suit top, it does not matter you will wear it. this is a pair of your shorts

You love your friends

"mommy, leighton happy?"

"yes sweety we are all happy, is that ok? can we all be happy?"

*silence*

"uuuuhhhhmmmm....... sure that be great!"

Such a little beauty!!

You tell us constantly to "stay there, I be right back"

You got a book for Christmas. so as we are showing it to her she signs "book"

You spot letters and shapes in all your food. you have found a car, a castle, a tree and the letter L

You always say "that's a great idea"

Whenever you lift something you pretend it is so heavy and you say " I be strong!"

We were blowing bubbles and I was getting dizzy I asked if you could help me blow. You said "No I busy" and you then put your head down on the table

Or another reason for you not to help: "no thanks I watching Ariel"

This is one of many videos of you dancing. We have a new dance game for the wii and you do so well!! this one is one of your favorite songs on here. It's "who let the dogs out" I think you like it because the guy is in a dog costume. You are such a great dancer!! We REALLY need to get you in dance class. you are great at imitating and following direction (sorry the filming is horrible!! I was sorta dancing with it!)

I love how you have extremely good manners. You always say thank you, yes please, no thanks and sometimes you say thank you very much. What a little lady!

You love to kiss things. Even cookies!

You will make a great mommy!! One day I saw you wandering with your stroller patting it. I saw you walk by and wanted to see your baby. Well your "baby" was actually a battery! lol silly girl

You are potty trained but sometimes accidents happen. Once I asked if you were poopy and you responded with " no I happy"

then even today I asked "uh oh did you poopy in your panties?" you said "yes. say I love you goo bear" (which is what I call you- Goo bear)

We spent all summer at the pool. We went once a week almost all summer long

You love your daddy so much and have been over heard telling him to be careful you don't want him to fall

"more more ice cream?"

"no honey all done"

" I ask daddy!"

Once mommy was sick and laying on the floor. You bent down asked if I was ok, when I said no I was sick you kissed my head then walked away

You HATE to be messy. The littlest thing on your finger, toe, arm, clothes and you get super upset. here is a cute picture of you looking in disgust at frosting on your hands after decorating cupcakes

Whenever someone is mad or sad you keep telling them to be happy. You always say "don't worry be be happy"

We were watching Word World and as usual the letters of a word they were making was in pieces on the ground. I was half joking and said "oh no!" You said "don't worry mom, they have all a letters.... they make a word. Don't worry they can do it"

You know all your letters and point out words you already know. You are learning numbers and know a few now when we point them out to you. You know all the sign language that mommy and daddy know. You are so kind and such a piece maker and do not like it when anyone is upset. you love music and knows all the primary songs and songs they sing in nursery. You love to draw and color and to play with blocks and to watch Barney and Little mermaid.

Mommy and Daddy and sister love you with all our hearts!

I put this on my facebook but wanted it here too.

I just cried the hardest I may have EVER cried in my life. I just read a devastating story of a baby boy who almost drown in his bath tub and the story of how he is fighting for his life at this moment. PLEASE go hug your babies. Give them extra hugs, kisses, LOVE. If you don't have kids, hug your hubby, your parents, your niece, nephew, etc. Life is SO precious. If you are reading this, smile it will be a great day!

ha ha my makeover

Thanks Abby for the idea. I gave myself a makeover and blonde hair from this cool site where you upload a pic of you and just go to town. ha ha. the hair looks so fake but it was fun. The one I made last night was way better but I accidently erased it. I like how it looks like I have eye brows. My real ones are so light in pictures it looks like I have none, so this was nice. click on the picture and check out my killer eye lashes. lol this was fun