Wordless Wednesday: Not All Smiles

Do I Have A Temper?

I definitely think that I have a temper, and it is something that I try to work on. In my tween years, I got into some pretty nasty fights with my brother. I have slammed quite a few doors in my past, and more recently screamed into a few pillows. I have gotten angry to the point of wanting to hit something (hence the pillow screaming).

As I have gotten older, I have gotten better at dealing with my temper. I once had a co-worker who could drive me to my breaking point. If I had been younger, I would have been screaming like a banshee, but I was able to tell her relatively calmly that I was angry and needed a few minutes away from her to calm down.

Now with the boys I am even more conscious of my temper, and I don't want them to see me when I am that mad. I am hoping that if I can learn better ways to channel and deal with my anger, they will too.

Loosing Sleep

I've been struggling for the past week, as Peanut has been sleeping in shorter stretches at night. The past few nights have be especially brutal as he didn't want to sleep at all unless he was nursing, and really didn't make it longer than two hours between sessions. Naps have not been great either, especially since Munchkin has completely dropped his nap now. Loosing so much sleep really shot my weekend, and most of today I suffered as well. I don't remember having this issue with Munchkin, although there is a lot of things that I blocked out. How do you deal with sleep issues?

A surprise nap in a sleepier time

A Breather

It's Friday night and my husband's turn to go out with friends. My plan for this evening is to give myself a mini-facial, open the windows to let in the cool air, and relax with a book. Goodnight Internet, I'll see you tomorrow.

Book by guitargirl8022, on Flickr

Ten Things to Smile About

Sometimes the days are long, but here are some things that make it all worth it.

1. Sleeping with the windows open.
2. Nursing and snuggling Peanut in bed first thing in the morning.
3. Reading and cuddling with Munchkin while Peanut is napping.
4. Sunny days that aren't so hot that you melt when you go outside.
5. Picnics in the park with my two favorite boys.
6. Watching the boys play with each other.
7. Flowers. Just because.
8. Peanut falling asleep in my arms while nursing.
9. A new book to read (even better when it is a friend's first novel).
10. Cuddling with Hubby on the couch and watching True Blood (even if we are a season behind).

Linking up with Mama Kat

1.) 10 Things to Smile About (inspired by Things I Can't Say)

Wordless Wednesday: Trying So Hard

Dreaming of a Hot Soak

I am not a bath person. I've always wanted to be a bath person, but life had different plans for me. In high school and through most of my twenties I didn't even have a bathtub, as my bathroom just had a shower stall. I think that was when I first started wishing that I had one of those big soaking tubs which I could enjoy with a book and, once I was old enough, a glass of wine. The only bathtubs I ever had access to were not at all luxurious and the few times I tried to relax I felt like I didn't fit, I just couldn't get comfortable under the water. Eventually, I gave up on my dream of the ideal bath and have stuck to showers. Maybe someday I'll get to indulge.

Image by undreaming, on Flickr

About the Issues

I have not been here for very long, and I feel like I am still finding my voice. I do have some pretty strong opinions, but I do not like confrontation. Because of this, I have made it a point to not discuss any hot issues on this blog. I do not go out of my way to even publicize them on my personal Facebook page. I hope that when I get more comfortable here I will be able to address some of the issues. But then again I want this to be my happy place, so I will probably only talk about the ones that I feel the strongest. How do you deal with hot issues in this social media heavy world?

First Day of the Rest of Summer

Last Friday was Munchkin's last day of summer camp, and tomorrow will be the first day since June where it is just Munchkin, Peanut and I all day. I had grown accustomed to my alone time with Peanut, which does not happen very often, and Munchkin really loved going to camp each day. In September, he will start preschool, and I think that camp really helped him get ready. Camp was the first time he was away from me on a daily basis, and he gained a lot of independence these past six weeks. So while I will miss having my mornings for my baby, I am looking forward to spending the time with my big boy as well. We now have one more month to make summer memories.

Just a few camp mornings

The Best Summer Treat

Today, we made our first trip of the year to the NY Renaissance Faire. I'll have a full post and more pictures up soon, but I wanted to share one of my favorite things about the faire. I have been going since I was a child, and the frozen orange was something that I always had to get. I had stopped going in my twenties and didn't start again until after Munchkin was born. A few things had changed, but I was so glad to discover that they still had the frozen orange. It isn't exactly how I remember it, I don't remember ever using a spoon and the top I believe is new, but it is still wonderful.

Partially eaten because I didn't want to wait...

Spice for Dinner?

Growing up with an English father, I remember having Indian food quite young. The problem with this is that i am very sensitive to spice, I even find black pepper to hot. I ate a lot of rice, which we called "popcorn rice", on these nights out. These days, while we still go out for curry I tend to order things as mild as they can be. Currently, my meal of choice is lamp mappas, although I have been know to make a decent biryani which even Munchkin likes.

Image by magical-world on flickr

To The New Royal Parents

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave hospital by The British Monarchy, on Flickr

Your Royal Highnesses,

Welcome to the wonderful world of parenting. While I am sure that you are getting tons of advice from all around the world, here ten things you will need to survive the little prince's first year.

1. A Thick Skin - There is a steep learning curve when you are new parents and unfortunately for you, you are doing it under a microscope. You will make mistakes, and you will be judged for it, however unfair that may be. You need to learn to ignore those who are trying to make you think you are doing it all wrong.
2. Advice - While there will be people who criticize you, there will also be people with good advice. You need to listen to this advice and figure out how to make it work for you.
3. A Village - I understand that you want to raise him yourself, and you should. But raising a baby is hard work, don't turn down help when you need it. It really does take a village to raise a child, so take advantage of the village you have.
4. A Sense of Humor - Sometimes the only way to deal with things is to laugh. For example, the other day Hubby was noming on baby thighs when he got poop on his face. On. His. Face. When things like that happen you have to look for the funny in it. 
5. Each Other - At the end of the day, you need to support each other.
6. A way to transport him in a car - Which you already have.
7. A way to transport him my foot - Be it a stroller or a carrier, he needs to get around.
8. A way to feed him - Breast, bottle, or a combination of both.
9. A place for him to sleep - Or your arms will get very tired.
10. Clothes and blankets to dress him - Pretty self explanatory.

There is a ton of additional gear which you will think that you will need. It is hard to tell you what to get as each baby is different and each family has a different way of approaching things. You will need to do a bit a trial and error to figure it out for yourselves.

So best of luck to all three of you, and if you want any more advice, I'm here for you!

Linking up with Mama Kat
4.) 10 Things Will and Kate will need to survive baby's first year.

Wordless Wednesday: Before The Parade Passes By

To Drink Hot or Not

I have never been a fan of coffee, I just don't like the flavor. I don't even like coffee ice cream. One time in high school, a friend had me try a mocha Frappuccino with extra mocha. I hated it, even with the extra mocha all I could taste was coffee. When I was pregnant, I couldn't even smell coffee it turned my stomach so much. I often wish that I did like coffee though, there are so many drinks that look so appetizing to me. Pumpkin, gingerbread, peppermint and I cannot drink any of it. But I am not completely left out when I meet friends for "coffee". I do drink tea, maybe it's the English in me. In cold weather I may have a hot chocolate, but I can drink tea just about all year long. What hot drinks do you drink or not drink?

An old photo, but still one of my favorite "coffee" dates

World Breastfeeding Week

First time nursing Peanut, right after he was born

The first seven days in August is World Breastfeeding Week. I am a huge believer in breastfeeding, I nursed Munchkin until he was twenty-five months. And while part of that had to do with his dairy allergy, I loved the closeness that it brought us and continued long after he outgrew the allergy. I found it hard in the beginning, I would cry every time I nursed for the first six weeks. We had latch issues and neither of us knew what we were doing. I never would have made it if everyone around me hadn't been so supportive.

Almost six months in this time, Peanut has still never had formula, and I am so glad that I've been able to provide for him. And while things were definitely easier this time around, I still see how important support is to make this journey successful. I would have given up very early if I didn't have the complete support of my husband, who in the early days picked up a lot of slack around the house, my family and friends. Even Munchkin, in his three-year-old way, has been supportive and understanding when it comes to feeding his brother.

This week's theme, Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers, highlights how important it is to support each other. As my friends have started having babies, I have tried very much to do this. I gave advice when asked, let them know what products I found useful and was there for them if they needed me. So as more friends and family are expecting babies, I plan on supporting them in any way that I can.

It's a Hot, Hot Month

In an effort to really get started, I've decided to participate in NaBloPoMo. The theme this month is hot, which seems appropriate given the weather we've been having. While I plan posting every day on August, I am also hoping on working on my redesign, Facebook, Google +, and Twitter pages. Please check them out and follow me if you haven't already.

So here are four days down, only twenty-eight to go.

Lazy Summer Days

I woke up dreaming of a day like this one. The heatwave that just recently broke had made beach mornings with the boys a memory, and I was looking forward to heading back. Then it rained. And I am sick. So our relaxing day in the sand and surf is still just a memory and we completed chores around the house instead. Well, my husband was amazing with the chores while I did little and napped. Now I am going to be heading to bed early tonight and dream of tomorrow being a better day.

Getting Warmer

Mulder: I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat was to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with someone else who is already naked.
Scully: Maybe if it starts raining sleeping bags, you might get lucky.
-The X-Files

When it came out, I was a huge fan of The X-Files and this quote has always stuck with me. To this day, if my husband tells me he is cold, I tell him we should get into a sleeping bag naked.

All joking aside, snuggling is the best way to get warm. I have also shared my love of hot chocolate with Munchkin and am looking forward to sharing it with Peanut once he is old enough.

Image by Martin Cathrae on Flickr

Of course, the weather we've been having recently I'm more concerned with cooling down than warming up. I hope that I remember this feeling in six months.

Nine Little Words

It is summertime. Take me out to the ballgame.

Linking up with Mama Kat
2.) 9 pictures. 9 words. (inspired by Bits of Bee)