Yes, I have my babies in a hospital...so what?

Bare with me...I am a mommy and can rant if I want to ;)

Two things I am trying to figure out in regards to our culture....we can't help but follow trends and at the same time we can't help but to buck "the system."

If a celebrity adopts a baby from foreign country so many others follow suit....and these days its "so much better for your body" and "closer to nature" to have your baby at home without drugs and doctors...in a tub with a midwife...doula...and the whole family partaking in the experience. Says who?

Being pregnant with Baby #3 I have heard many sides to birth and many peoples opinions(that sometimes should be kept to themselves) Natural labor, inductions, epidurals, VBACS, c-sections, what have you....everyone has a different story and therefore they have an a opinion. People (strangers) dish out opinions and judgement faster than I can change a diaper (which after two babies and much practice...is pretty fast!) It's crazy how random people will ask you questions about your upcoming birth plans and give you advice based on their past experiences in the grocery store. It's almost as bad as random people asking to touch your tummy (because it's just so sweet...ew?!)

I love having babies (the delivery and few days afterwards) much more than the actual pregnancy itself! Which to some people is weird, I KNOW! I love every minute you wait in anticipation of the arrival of this precious being God created and you get the privilege to parent him/her for the rest of your life! But guess what?...I like having my babies and my experience in the hospital. I look forward to those two days in the hospital recovering with just me, my husband and our new baby.

Both of our babies have been induced a week earlier than the expected due date, due to size. My husband was 10lbs 12 oz and both my babies were projected to be about the same. I was miserable in the last month of both pregnancies and was more than happy to be induced. And due to my low pain threshold, I always knew I wanted an epidural.

I won't go into my birth experiences, because I feel like they are personal stories and if you want to hear mine we can talk about it over a good cup of coffee or thru email. I know not everyone feels the same way about the birthing process (good or bad experience) and doesn't necessarily want a play by play, unlike yours truly. To me....I could sit and watch/listen to birthing stories all day...laugh and cry and then watch/listen all over again. Something about being a mom and loving babies, I guess!?

But I think that there is this new stigma around babies born in hospitals. I just watched this documentary called "The Business of Being Born" (haven't finished it yet) and it makes you feel like a sissy or unknowledgable (word? computer says its not) if you have your baby in this way. Mommies, like me, are made out to seem without any understanding of what "real labor" is supposed to be like, or that we are just doing things based on comfort and convenience. My right as a woman to ask questions and seek truth has been taken away from me by the medical industry and I should take it back!....but what if I have asked questions and come out on the same side I started on? using a OBGYN, with an epidural, in a hospital?

I guess I just don't see it necessary to talk bad about either side. Mommyhood comes with a guilty button built in....chalk it up to hormones, what have you....Do I use the right baby products? Did I put them in the right school? Did I spend enough time with them? Stay home or work? Did I discipline the wrong way? Is it my fault he eats dirt? Rookie or not, mom's don't need to feel any more pressure from one side or the other on how to birth YOUR baby.

Whether you schedule a c-section or go 2 weeks past your due date to deliver your baby in a bath tub.....it should be up to you AND YOUR HUSBAND (don't leave him clueless:) to make an educated decision. It's just one of the many decisions you will make as a parent. Start now with what YOU KNOW and not what someone else is proclaiming "best" If you don't know much, ask around and read up.....but in the end make a decision based on your personal conviction.

Same goes with breastfeeding....if it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world. I have two of the healthiest babies who have been on powdered formula from 6-8 weeks old. Believe me...I CRIED and hurt because I felt like an unfit mother who wasn't going to bond with her baby. Don't do this to yourself. I promise your baby will still know you are his mommy and love you just the same.

.....Maybe I will have this next baby without pain meds. (eh, maybe not) but I could if I wanted to and you shouldn't make me feel any less of a mommy because of it

.....Maybe this one will latch-on and breastfeed successfully....but if not we will still live happily ever after!

(Sidenote: I absolutely love my OBGYN, he's a high-risk doctor, single doctor practice, completely trustworthy and won't do a c-section unless absolutely necessary....he completely looks out for me and my babies 100%.-Just a vote of confidence for those of you who use doctors! I would consider a midwife but love him too much to change things. Why should I if they are things have been successful and I feel good about it?)

I need HELP! :Room Sharing

OK so this is the way my brain works....We don't even have names picked out for this next baby, not to mention WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE SEX, but I can't stop sorting through scenarios in my brain on who gets to share a room! I love to decorate and love to re-decorate even more, so the thought of planning out a new room if not TWO excites me. However, I am trying to stay realistic in my thinking...I don't have a whole lot of decorating time on my hands even if the baby is 6 months away! I can't seem to finish small projects like re-doing my half-bath downstairs.

I have put so much thought into this transition already that MY BRAIN HURTS! (yes, I am crazy- I know!) We live in a three bedroom house and the odds are we aren't moving anywhere any time soon...and it's very do-able in our house. We might be cramped but thats the least of my worries. We will manage! (that is if I can figure this rooming thing out;)

Here are my scenarios:

#1 Hudson and Riley share a room: This being the most logical of the ideas....because they are closest in age and they will be on the same sleep schedule (by that I mean night time hours and same one nap a day) This will mean re-doing one room because I will move them into which-ever room ends up not being claimed by the next baby (based on gender) Riley's room is pink and Hudson's is mustard. Hudson will be moved into a "big boy bed" within the next month to be well adjusted before July (giving up his crib for the baby) and that would leave Riley in her crib for another year or so. We would probably move Riley into a room with her brother closer to the time the baby comes, giving her longer in her own room and then they would have something FUN during or right before the transition of the new baby (even though i want to do it ASAP because thats just me!)

#2 Gender specific rooms: This leaves little to NO re-decorating to do (which saddens me and brings me relief all at the same time) The baby can stay with us for a little while longer(6-8 months) than we normally keep the newborn in our room (at most 2 months) . This would leave both Hudson and Riley more time in their own rooms and they could adjust to the new baby. I feel as though Hudson is going to be way more affected this time than with Riley so I don't want to bombard him with ALOT of change (totally babying him-I KNOW!) but on the other hand he might enjoy sharing a room?! i dunno, if only two-year olds could speak clearly! HA! Once the baby is on a pretty good sleep schedule I could move him/her into his/her designated spot.....(but who knows when this will be!)

Anywho....I am open to suggestions and opinions...I would love to hear from those of you who have had this dilema or can speak from success/failures ;)

My life in pictures...

Ever have that since of overwhelming exhaustion and pure contentment at the same time?! I feel that way all too often during the holidays. So much to do and so much to experience, wrapped up with a sense of obligation to create memories (atleast if you are like me!) I want every moment to count from Thanksgiving to Jan 1st, 2011.

This year I have lost that "need" to create memories. I am letting my guard down and realizing memories are made whether they are planned (some say....forced) or not! Having not only morning sickness but ALL DAY sickness with this 3rd bambino has caused me to relax...I guess thats the right word?! Maybe it's just that I DON'T CARE, or have come to the realization I just can't do it! (see pictures below for proof that I just don't care;)

AND have I mentioned it's cold here in Atlanta, not just cold...FREEZING! not normal and not welcomed by yours truly! It's so cold that I really don't attempt to go anywhere with two small children unless I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ;) So maybe there's another reason things aren't getting done...but I am ok with it (I think?)

Proof #1 my son's hair....poor guy went crossed eyed the other day because he couldn't figure out why his hair was in front of his eyes ;)

Proof #2 the piles of laundry in the background!

Proof#3 Check out Miss Sassy Pants in her lovely un-matching outfit.

(keep in mind warmth was what we were going for that day!)

This was one of those days where we HAD to get formula at the grocery store before Little Miss lost her cool!

Proof #4 Yes, Hudson is eating a sausage breakfast burrito from McDonalds IN THE CAR!! while on our way to Publix!

(you should see his full outfit!!)

Notice the hair!!

Good thing my kids are awesome no matter what there mom does or doesn't do .......or how she dresses them.

No matter if we are snuggling on the couch or freezing our tushies off running errands (not that it happens often) we make the most of it!

Mission Complete!!

In the first trimester my mission is to accomplish ONE productive thing a day, if I can say I did SOMETHING outside the realm of feeding babies and changing diapers each day....I feel successful! On a good day I can do the dishes (maybe twice) and some laundry! and just maybe run an errand ;)

I am often jealous of my husband who doesn't feel queasy 18 out of 24 hours and who can do multiple things in one day (including help me) and with no need to take a nap! He is a busy bee and I am so proud to call him mine! He takes care of me and our family on top of work and school!!

Speaking of school........today is a big day in the Sanders household! My hubby is going to school for the last time tonight. (at least until he gets the itch to go for his MA) It's been five long years of all day/all night classes once if not twice a week. He has been pushing through this with the help of family and friends and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate this accomplishment with him! He won't be walking with the graduation class, due to the fact that he attends an extension campus in our area and the main campus is in New Orleans. He chose not to make the effort (which would be a HUGE effort with a pregnant wife, two babies and an 9 hour car ride ;) But don't worry we will not miss a chance to CELEBRATE his graduation! We can check another thing off our list babe! You did it!! Happy last day of school! I love you!

He's so handsome!

And such a good daddy!

A mommy at Christmas

As I sit here looking around our halfway decorated living room, Christmas decor spread all over the place, empty tupperware boxes piled up waiting for the trek back to the attic, toys spread from one corner to the next waiting on someone to put them back in there place for the third time today and I can't help but smile (and sigh!) Honestly.... I am tired! I often wonder WILL someone else come along and pick up the toys, could someone else run to the store to pick up forgotten milk and orange juice?! It's not everyday (like today) someone drops off your clean and folded laundry on your front porch at 9:30am! (You know who you are and I LOVE YOU!!).......A girl can dream right?!

But then I think, who am I to complain?! groan? fuss? whine?! (because lets face it...this princess knows how to whine!) I am so blessed! I love this time of year, no matter the mess and the weariness it might bring, I love every emotion that comes with it! I love the rush from Thanksgiving to Christmas day to New Years Eve, the peace of a quiet night cuddled up with the family, the joy of blessing others, the exhaustion from running from one place to the next, meeting new people and spending time with old friends. I LOVE IT ALL!

I especially love that with each Christmas, since 2007, our family has grown one person at a time. This year we celebrate Riley bug's first Christmas and next year....Surprise!! We will celebrate Sanders baby #3! and we couldn't be more thrilled!

So maybe this is why I am reflecting on emotions, because our life has been flooded with them over the past 6 months!! With this news comes great joy and excitement. 2010 has been a really rough year for our family, really just the last half, but it was enough for us to be SOOOOO over this year and ready for 2011! God has blessed us with a beautiful distraction and we are so thankful to move into the new year with great anticipation of what He has for our family. So with the rush of this year's holiday season I am forced to sit, if not lay, on the couch (with my saltine crackers and Sprite) and dream. Most days I just imagine life as a mommy of three and the Christmas's to come. I dream about the the love that Riley and Hudson will have for there new sibling and the bond that my kids will have being so close together in age. Yes, I am tired and I am sure it won't get any better for the next few years but I am learning to look at life with the "cup half full" mentality. God continuously reminds me of what a blessing it is to be a mom, let alone be a mommy to my sweet babies. Every "i wuv you mommy" or kiss on the cheek, the sneaky snuggle, or the head on my shoulder, I know that I am truly blessed!

Peanut #3 is due July 7, 2011!

Exhaust pipe burns and Baby Jesus...

Today is the first day in a few that I haven't felt like crap and it hasn't been rainy, tornado weather! So we started off the morning with a little coffee/peppermint mocha cream and some Veggie Tales. My first attempt at nap time wasn't so great,

The Bug fell fast asleep but her big brother had other plans

(I guess it was a shot in the dark, seeing as he woke up at 8:30am)

So after I wrapped a few Christmas presents and had some yummy tortilla soup delivered by a lovely friend this morning (along with my laundry, clean and folded might I add!)

SIDE NOTE: my dryer is broken til Saturday, if you were wondering why I have such awesome friends!! and if you weren't wondering, well you still need to know I DO have awesome friends!!

Anywho, I got the well-rested munchkin up after her 1.5

hour nap and we got ready to actually get out of the house!! Who would have guessed?! My husband's jaw probably dropped to the floor when he heard the news! I put both well rested munchkin and the hyper two year old into the car for the first time in two days and we ventured to Babies-R-Us. (crazy, I know!)

The kids were actually really well-behaved and Hudson only asked to open three out of the millions of toys in the store and only managed to put one unwanted item in the cart! I think it was all because we bought "baby Jesus' house."(Fischer Price Nativity Set)

He was going to bring it home and play with baby Jesus ;)

So he knew to be on his best behavior!

To reward myself for such an uneventful, actually pleasant experience at BRUS, what else could I do but pull through McDonalds and order a double cheeseburger meal with a Dr. Pepper (of course!!) .......I can't believe I actually admitted this! I could have typed a salad and bottled water, you would have never known the difference

.......but who craves lettuce, really?!

I pull into the driveway really excited about naptime attempt #2 and the possibility of quiet not once, but twice in my house today! I am doing everything as normal, get Hudson out of the car- first (because he can actually walk) and as he follows me to the other side of the car to get Riley (LIKE WE ALWAYS DO, might I add!!) he sticks his hand inside the exhaust pipe of the car!? I am sorry, WHAT?! what would possess you to do that son?! Its not bright and shiny, it doesn't look like a train, bus, plane, race car, etc?! its not even pretty or eye catching! But my son thought his hand fit right nicely inside the burning hot tailpipe and for a second it actually did! Just long enough to burn his pinky and index finger....poor guy! I don't think I could have stopped this incident if I had tried. It was one of those slow motion moments, I was thinking that what was happening wasn't actually happening and in split second his little hand was burnt ;( Mommy fail!

The burnt hand was doctored and the little guy soon forgot about his injury (for the moment) and got SOOOOOO excited about his

Baby Jesus and Nativity Set that he took it to bed with him! so sweet!

Mommy is now sipping her Dr.P and watching last night's episode of Glee! The kiddies are finally sleeping! Yay for me time!

BTW....I was NOT the only one in line at Mcdonald's at 2:30pm! (and yes I had already eaten lunch, a small one ;)