Judah is 2 months old. WOW! I can't say I'm sad to see my baby growing up. In fact, I am enjoying him more and more each day, and I look forward to seeing his little personality unfold.
At his 2- month check-up, peanut weighed 12lbs., 14oz. and measured 25 inches long. That's some astounding growth, folks. I guess he likes what mommy is serving, ha ha ha.
Now, if he could only figure out how to sleep all night :)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Because . . .
Because I don't have a whole lot of extra time to sweep dog hair off my hardwood floors . . .
Gracie got an extreme makeover. They took about 6 inches off!
And, just in case the photo isn't enough, we took video of her new 'do too.
Gracie got an extreme makeover. They took about 6 inches off!
And, just in case the photo isn't enough, we took video of her new 'do too.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Judah Smiles
I finally got some of Judah's smiles and coos on picture and video. I can't seem to really get him going when the camera is right in front of his face, but this will suffice for now, I suppose!
Enjoy!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Heard last night at the Huckaby home . . .
"Mom, what's a slave?" (This came out of the blue during my post-dinner, walk-a-fussy-baby-a-thon. I'm going to chalk it up to our Bible reading concerning the Hebrews being slaves in Egypt.)
"Well, Joshua, a slave is someone who does work for another person without being paid for it. They are often treated poorly, and the person who they work for feels like they 'own' them."
"So you're my slave, then?"
My in-head dialogue with self goes as follows: You've got to be kidding me, ha ha ha! I'm his slave? Wait a second, I AM his slave! Well, not in reality, but I do work without pay, and I take care of him . . . which is sort of like working for him. Sometimes he treats me poorly, but not most of the time. Hmmmm. So does that mean he thinks he owns me?!?!?!
When I shared this little conversation with hubs, he replied, "Did you tell him that you're not his slave, you're mine?"
Needless to say, I smacked him. Playfully, of course.
"Well, Joshua, a slave is someone who does work for another person without being paid for it. They are often treated poorly, and the person who they work for feels like they 'own' them."
"So you're my slave, then?"
My in-head dialogue with self goes as follows: You've got to be kidding me, ha ha ha! I'm his slave? Wait a second, I AM his slave! Well, not in reality, but I do work without pay, and I take care of him . . . which is sort of like working for him. Sometimes he treats me poorly, but not most of the time. Hmmmm. So does that mean he thinks he owns me?!?!?!
When I shared this little conversation with hubs, he replied, "Did you tell him that you're not his slave, you're mine?"
Needless to say, I smacked him. Playfully, of course.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
One day they're gonna kill me for this . . .
As part of my lovely anniversary gift, hubs decided I needed a tiara and matching jewelry to fully claim my status as Queen of the Testosterone Palace. Somehow, I knew the boys would be very interested in the sparkly get-up. I wasn't disappointed.
I'll be sure to add these to my growing file of blackmail photos for the teenage years :)
Monday, June 08, 2009
7 years ago today . . .
This one's for hubs! Feel free to read along :)
7 years ago today, I was wrapping up the finishing touches on hair and makeup before putting on my wedding dress to walk down the aisle to you. I can't help but marvel at how much has changed in 7 years time! My definition of what it means to look "put together" has certainly metamorphosed. My free time has all but evaporated. My body - - well, let's just say she ain't what she used to be.
If you had pulled some Back to the Future - esque stunt and intercepted me on our big day, reporting what our lives would look like in 7 years time, I certainly wouldn't have predicted that I would have 3 boys - - all with J names, no less - - ages 5 and under. I certainly wouldn't have thought I would be living in the gray zone between farm land and suburbia. I wouldn't have imagined that motherhood would prove to be the most challenging job EVER. And, I probably would have been mortified to know that I would someday be trading in my 4-Runner for a mini-van! In fact, about the only thing that wouldn't have surprised me was that you'd be working in a church and attending seminary. I think I knew that was going to happen even before you did :)
I have a very distinct memory of sitting in pre-marital counseling with you, Steve, and Becky, discussing our plans for "starting a family."
"Oh, we're planning to wait 4 years to start trying," we reported. "We figure that will give us plenty of time to enjoy being married before we have children."
I also have a very distinct memory of sitting at Houston's in Winter Park, Florida, celebrating our first wedding anniversary thinking that there was no way I wanted to wait four years to have kids with you! I wanted so badly to have a child - - a child that would be the unique, miraculous combination of the two of us. As if reading my mind, you looked up and said, "So, do you think you really want to wait 4 years to start trying?" Little did we know what we were starting, honey!
Joshua was born about 3 weeks before our 2nd anniversary, and I remember that you had to plan a progressive dinner to celebrate our anniversary that year. Joshua wouldn't last more than 2 hours between feedings, took about 30 minutes to nurse, and totally refused a bottle. You did the math and realized that there was no way we were going to fit in an entire meal in such a short time frame. I remember how I ended up nursing the baby before leaving to eat appetizers at one restaurant, how we headed home for a spaghetti dinner and another nursing, and finally left to go out for dessert. I am fairly certain that my hormones got the better of me, and I spent the greater portion of the night in tears at how we were never going to be able to go out again. I know you were patient with me (although I probably didn't deserve it moping around like that when I should've been thanking you for being so creative).
Thankfully, by the third kiddo, you realize that the hard part with babies doesn't last forever and eventually you DO get your life back - - it's just a different sort of life. And a better one. I won't spend this evening in tears, I promise :)
After 7 years of marriage, I can honestly say that I never knew marriage could be so hard and so wonderful and so energizing and fun all at the same time. I never knew how I would grow in my respect for you as a person - - how watching you grow and change would inspire me and grow me too. I never knew how much watching you be a daddy - - for you are an amazing father, Brent - - would cause me to fall in love with you over and over again each day. I never knew how much our lives would intertwine and meld and run together in the best possible way, and that it's not so much that "You complete me." a-la Jerry McGuire, but more like we become one person while still remaining individuals . . . so that we start to think of the other's needs as more important than our own - - we are all about "we" rather than "me."
At any rate, I could never express in words how much you mean to me, how much I love you, and how thankful I am to be partnered on my journey by you. Happy anniversary, baby. Here's to many, many more!
7 years ago today, I was wrapping up the finishing touches on hair and makeup before putting on my wedding dress to walk down the aisle to you. I can't help but marvel at how much has changed in 7 years time! My definition of what it means to look "put together" has certainly metamorphosed. My free time has all but evaporated. My body - - well, let's just say she ain't what she used to be.
If you had pulled some Back to the Future - esque stunt and intercepted me on our big day, reporting what our lives would look like in 7 years time, I certainly wouldn't have predicted that I would have 3 boys - - all with J names, no less - - ages 5 and under. I certainly wouldn't have thought I would be living in the gray zone between farm land and suburbia. I wouldn't have imagined that motherhood would prove to be the most challenging job EVER. And, I probably would have been mortified to know that I would someday be trading in my 4-Runner for a mini-van! In fact, about the only thing that wouldn't have surprised me was that you'd be working in a church and attending seminary. I think I knew that was going to happen even before you did :)
I have a very distinct memory of sitting in pre-marital counseling with you, Steve, and Becky, discussing our plans for "starting a family."
"Oh, we're planning to wait 4 years to start trying," we reported. "We figure that will give us plenty of time to enjoy being married before we have children."
I also have a very distinct memory of sitting at Houston's in Winter Park, Florida, celebrating our first wedding anniversary thinking that there was no way I wanted to wait four years to have kids with you! I wanted so badly to have a child - - a child that would be the unique, miraculous combination of the two of us. As if reading my mind, you looked up and said, "So, do you think you really want to wait 4 years to start trying?" Little did we know what we were starting, honey!
Joshua was born about 3 weeks before our 2nd anniversary, and I remember that you had to plan a progressive dinner to celebrate our anniversary that year. Joshua wouldn't last more than 2 hours between feedings, took about 30 minutes to nurse, and totally refused a bottle. You did the math and realized that there was no way we were going to fit in an entire meal in such a short time frame. I remember how I ended up nursing the baby before leaving to eat appetizers at one restaurant, how we headed home for a spaghetti dinner and another nursing, and finally left to go out for dessert. I am fairly certain that my hormones got the better of me, and I spent the greater portion of the night in tears at how we were never going to be able to go out again. I know you were patient with me (although I probably didn't deserve it moping around like that when I should've been thanking you for being so creative).
Thankfully, by the third kiddo, you realize that the hard part with babies doesn't last forever and eventually you DO get your life back - - it's just a different sort of life. And a better one. I won't spend this evening in tears, I promise :)
After 7 years of marriage, I can honestly say that I never knew marriage could be so hard and so wonderful and so energizing and fun all at the same time. I never knew how I would grow in my respect for you as a person - - how watching you grow and change would inspire me and grow me too. I never knew how much watching you be a daddy - - for you are an amazing father, Brent - - would cause me to fall in love with you over and over again each day. I never knew how much our lives would intertwine and meld and run together in the best possible way, and that it's not so much that "You complete me." a-la Jerry McGuire, but more like we become one person while still remaining individuals . . . so that we start to think of the other's needs as more important than our own - - we are all about "we" rather than "me."
At any rate, I could never express in words how much you mean to me, how much I love you, and how thankful I am to be partnered on my journey by you. Happy anniversary, baby. Here's to many, many more!
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Cheeky Baby
Judah will be 6 weeks old on Friday. CRAZY! He is growing super-fast. We went for a check-up at the doctor** today, and the little booger is upwards of 11 lbs. and 23 inches. I'm loving the cheeks!
Every now and then, he gives us the biggest, sweetest smiles . . . usually when he's just been fed and changed and is in the midst of baby uber-contentment. Of course, I never have the camera ready at that precise moment! Hopefully, those smiles will appear even more frequently over the coming weeks, and I'll be able to snap a decent picture of him.
**Oh, and P.S. We are now at a new pediatrics office that I loooove! The Thrifty Mama, The Huffmans, and the Lesters all told me to go to the same office, and we saw Dr. Woodhams today. I think I want her to be my new best friend. Seriously, I could totally take this lady out for coffee. She's that awesome.
ETA: I went back and read that bit about Dr. Woodhams, and it totally sounds like I want to date her, ha ha ha. So now that all my readers are completely weirded out, I think I should stop writing. Truthfully, it's just really nice to have a pediatrician that I like!
Every now and then, he gives us the biggest, sweetest smiles . . . usually when he's just been fed and changed and is in the midst of baby uber-contentment. Of course, I never have the camera ready at that precise moment! Hopefully, those smiles will appear even more frequently over the coming weeks, and I'll be able to snap a decent picture of him.
**Oh, and P.S. We are now at a new pediatrics office that I loooove! The Thrifty Mama, The Huffmans, and the Lesters all told me to go to the same office, and we saw Dr. Woodhams today. I think I want her to be my new best friend. Seriously, I could totally take this lady out for coffee. She's that awesome.
ETA: I went back and read that bit about Dr. Woodhams, and it totally sounds like I want to date her, ha ha ha. So now that all my readers are completely weirded out, I think I should stop writing. Truthfully, it's just really nice to have a pediatrician that I like!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Why I shop online . . .
I know for a fact that I have written about this before. I firmly believe that online shopping is a mom's dream come true.
Let's just say that it requires quite a bit of effort to get children out of the house and schlep them around town, and this is usually only deemed "worth it" in the eyes of the children when the aforementioned trip revolves around something they are interested in doing (i.e. play date, park visit, book or toy shopping, etc.). Trips that are just for mommy (i.e. clothes shopping, personal care, workout gym, etc.) - - not so much. Inevitably, someone throws a tantrum / "forgets" to go potty / hides amongst the clothing racks / or worse. It's not pleasant.
Perhaps it is some weird adaptive biological thing . . . something to do with scarcity of resources and the child's subconscious interest in preventing future siblings from arriving on the scene. If mommy has time to go clothes shopping, go to the gym, get her hair cut, and buy some makeup, she might start looking smokin' hot. She starts looking smokin' hot, daddy will take notice. Before you know it, another bambino arrives on the scene. In the child's mind, perhaps the best plan of attack = prevent mommy from shopping / visiting the gym / etc. in the first place. Hmmmm. Something to think about.
At any rate, I make it a blanket policy to do any "just for me" shopping on my own (read: kid-free) time. Which is scarce, nope - - scratch that - - super-scarce now that I have a little nursling. Needless to say, I utilize online shopping whenever possible and hardly ever go in-person to a store that doesn't take coupons and sell cereal.
Unfortunately for me, I also make it a blanket policy not to wear maternity clothes after I deliver. If I'm not growing another human being, I shouldn't be wearing something with an elasticized maternity panel. End of story.
Which means . . . I inevitably must go shopping for clothes after I deliver. I don't know what it is about having a baby, but I can be within 2 lbs. of my pre-pregnancy weight and STILL not come anywhere close to fitting in my pre-pregnancy jeans. What is up with that? I mean, I know the pelvis had to spread and all, but SERIOUSLY? Can't a girl get a break? Haven't we mommies done enough?
So, last week found me begging hubs for a kid-free block of time to go try on shorts at The Gap. They were having an amazing sale, and I was desperate for something to fit me properly. Sweet husband that he is, he kept all three kiddos for me to go shop in peace. Bless him!
I found two pairs of shorts on sale, and I managed to find two more pairs that weren't on sale but were going on sale the following day. Nice! I bought the sale shorts and vowed to return the next day.
The next day, I needed to take the older boys shoe shopping (you wouldn't believe how fast their feet grow), and I figured I could just swing by The Gap to pick up the two pairs of shorts that were now going to be on sale. I had already tried them on the previous day, so I simply needed to grab my size and pay for them. It seemed so simple.
I walked in with the boys and began furiously whipping around, hunting for my size. As I was digging around in one of the racks, I looked back to check on the boys just to make sure they were still with me. What I saw caught me a bit off-guard. Both boys were laying on the floor, on their backs, staring up the skirt of a mannequin wearing a sundress. Eeeek! What do you even say to that? "Ummm, boys, it's not polite to look up the mannequin's skirt. Can you stay with me, please?" To make matters worse, Jaden pipes up, "Mommy, she have penis?" How do you even answer that? " Umm, no honey, the mannequin doesn't have a penis. Please get over here. NOW!"
Unfortunately for me, the store had already sold out of my size in one style. I ended up having to take the boys to the fitting room to try on a different style which the sales person promised me was cut exactly the same way as the others. As I headed to the fitting room, Joshua inquired, "Mommy, are you going to take all your clothes off? Ewwwww!" Thank God the shorts actually fit.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I shop online!
Let's just say that it requires quite a bit of effort to get children out of the house and schlep them around town, and this is usually only deemed "worth it" in the eyes of the children when the aforementioned trip revolves around something they are interested in doing (i.e. play date, park visit, book or toy shopping, etc.). Trips that are just for mommy (i.e. clothes shopping, personal care, workout gym, etc.) - - not so much. Inevitably, someone throws a tantrum / "forgets" to go potty / hides amongst the clothing racks / or worse. It's not pleasant.
Perhaps it is some weird adaptive biological thing . . . something to do with scarcity of resources and the child's subconscious interest in preventing future siblings from arriving on the scene. If mommy has time to go clothes shopping, go to the gym, get her hair cut, and buy some makeup, she might start looking smokin' hot. She starts looking smokin' hot, daddy will take notice. Before you know it, another bambino arrives on the scene. In the child's mind, perhaps the best plan of attack = prevent mommy from shopping / visiting the gym / etc. in the first place. Hmmmm. Something to think about.
At any rate, I make it a blanket policy to do any "just for me" shopping on my own (read: kid-free) time. Which is scarce, nope - - scratch that - - super-scarce now that I have a little nursling. Needless to say, I utilize online shopping whenever possible and hardly ever go in-person to a store that doesn't take coupons and sell cereal.
Unfortunately for me, I also make it a blanket policy not to wear maternity clothes after I deliver. If I'm not growing another human being, I shouldn't be wearing something with an elasticized maternity panel. End of story.
Which means . . . I inevitably must go shopping for clothes after I deliver. I don't know what it is about having a baby, but I can be within 2 lbs. of my pre-pregnancy weight and STILL not come anywhere close to fitting in my pre-pregnancy jeans. What is up with that? I mean, I know the pelvis had to spread and all, but SERIOUSLY? Can't a girl get a break? Haven't we mommies done enough?
So, last week found me begging hubs for a kid-free block of time to go try on shorts at The Gap. They were having an amazing sale, and I was desperate for something to fit me properly. Sweet husband that he is, he kept all three kiddos for me to go shop in peace. Bless him!
I found two pairs of shorts on sale, and I managed to find two more pairs that weren't on sale but were going on sale the following day. Nice! I bought the sale shorts and vowed to return the next day.
The next day, I needed to take the older boys shoe shopping (you wouldn't believe how fast their feet grow), and I figured I could just swing by The Gap to pick up the two pairs of shorts that were now going to be on sale. I had already tried them on the previous day, so I simply needed to grab my size and pay for them. It seemed so simple.
I walked in with the boys and began furiously whipping around, hunting for my size. As I was digging around in one of the racks, I looked back to check on the boys just to make sure they were still with me. What I saw caught me a bit off-guard. Both boys were laying on the floor, on their backs, staring up the skirt of a mannequin wearing a sundress. Eeeek! What do you even say to that? "Ummm, boys, it's not polite to look up the mannequin's skirt. Can you stay with me, please?" To make matters worse, Jaden pipes up, "Mommy, she have penis?" How do you even answer that? " Umm, no honey, the mannequin doesn't have a penis. Please get over here. NOW!"
Unfortunately for me, the store had already sold out of my size in one style. I ended up having to take the boys to the fitting room to try on a different style which the sales person promised me was cut exactly the same way as the others. As I headed to the fitting room, Joshua inquired, "Mommy, are you going to take all your clothes off? Ewwwww!" Thank God the shorts actually fit.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I shop online!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Enjoy your long weekend!
I, along with all my crazy boys, are wishing you a wonderful long weekend!
(And, yes, that is Judah TAKING A BOTTLE!!!! Woo hoo! Since neither one of his older brothers would do that, I must admit I wasn't very optimistic. But, Brent has been able to totally take over one feeding a day. I am ecstatic . . . FINALLY putting the fancy breast pump I received as a shower gift before Joshua was born to good use.)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Happy Birthday, Joshua!
I can't believe it, but Joshua is 5 today. Where have 5 years with my big guy gone? He is so grown up.
Joshua, if I could freeze you in time at this age, I would totally do it (although my mom promises me that it just keeps getting more and more fun . . . until the teenage years, at least!). I enjoy our time together so much. You are so independent - - getting yourself dressed, tying your own shoes, taking care of your brothers, making decisions for yourself - - but you still have the child-like wonder, enthusiasm, and imagination that I adore. Your vocabulary is astounding. Sometimes when we talk, I forget that you are a kid! You are learning so much. Can you blame me for sometimes wanting to keep you right where you are? I know one day that Mommy and Daddy won't be your favorite people to hang out with, but for now, I am enjoying every moment I can.
I know that 5 is going to be a great year for you. I love you!
Celebrating with friends at the Aquarium for your birthday:
Joshua, if I could freeze you in time at this age, I would totally do it (although my mom promises me that it just keeps getting more and more fun . . . until the teenage years, at least!). I enjoy our time together so much. You are so independent - - getting yourself dressed, tying your own shoes, taking care of your brothers, making decisions for yourself - - but you still have the child-like wonder, enthusiasm, and imagination that I adore. Your vocabulary is astounding. Sometimes when we talk, I forget that you are a kid! You are learning so much. Can you blame me for sometimes wanting to keep you right where you are? I know one day that Mommy and Daddy won't be your favorite people to hang out with, but for now, I am enjoying every moment I can.
I know that 5 is going to be a great year for you. I love you!
Celebrating with friends at the Aquarium for your birthday:
The favorite gift - - Better Batter Baseball:
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