Alright... let's talk about it

The Breast Milk Baby...

If you haven't heard, there is a new doll hitting the American markets in a few weeks. It comes with a halter top that your child wears that has flowers over the chest area symbolizing breasts. When the doll is brought to the flowers, it makes a sucking sound as if it is drinking milk. When the doll is brought upright, it cries until it is burped. It is marketed as a unisex toy and the American representative for the Spanish company who makes the dolls says the doll is meant to "let kids play as mommies and daddies naturally." Seeing that I've yet to find a man who lactates, I think perhaps they should alter their advertising...

Bill O'Reilly has said the doll is inappropriate for children stating he just wants the kids to remain kids. There is even a Facebook page of people who oppose the doll and are calling for a ban of the doll in the US.

There is also a lot of speculation about whether or not this doll will influence little girls to breastfeed their own children when the time comes. On the other hand, do babies sold with bottles influence little girls to formula feed their children? I highly doubt, as do many child psychologists and pediatricians, that dolls will influence how a girl chooses to raise her future children. I believe that dolls can send certain messages (Barbie... hello!!!) but I don't think this is going to make much of a difference. Many people don't even think the doll will catch on in the US.

Personally, I am not a fan. A woman's (girl's) body was made for having babies and breastfeeding but there has got to be a better way to teach this. As a mother who strives to nurse her own children for at least a year, I know the importance of breastfeeding. I advocate for nursing in public which is highly scrutinized these days. David knows where Ainzley's food comes from - he sees me nurse her 100 times a day. It is a natural thing and I hope to pass on my knowledge to my kids so they can make the best decision for themselves and for their children... I don't think the Breast Milk Baby will be a part of the learning process

I live

For the sweet sound of my children giggling.

David and Ainzley bug have been playing together more and more lately - it is so sweet. Their favorite game involves Bug sitting in her Bumbo while David puts his head by her feet. She'll give a little kick which will cause David to erupt in laughter. Ainzley follows suit.

Today, they invented a new game. Ainzley still sits in her Bumbo except this time, David runs circle around her. Bug tries to keep up with him (following him that is) by moving her head so much that she almost becomes a bobble head to which David also has fits of laughter.

They also love to roll around on the floor together. Or David will dance around to the music of Ainzley's Jumperoo while she, well, jumps! LOL They are so adorable together. They make me smile :)

What a weekend

Last weekend was just crazy. Thursday, I had a minor meltdown. Jason's scooter had been in the shop for 3 WEEKS which meant he had to take my car to work leaving me and two kids stuck at home all day, every day. I went absolutely stir crazy! I wanted to get out and not be home so Jason pitched me the idea of going and visiting my family. I was quite shocked to hear him say this because we haven't been to St. Louis since January and he really wants to go visit as well. I decided to think about it. I did laundry once we got home in case I decided to go. Hours after our conversation, but Dad called and invited us to come up there for the weekend since it was the fair and my little brother's birthday on Sunday. I told him Jason had to work but that I was actually already contemplating going up there.

Friday morning we got up and were so excited because we were FINALLY closing on our house that day!!!!! After closing on the house and picking up the keys, I decided to go to St. Louis. We hurried home so I could pack and get on the road so that the kids could nap in the car. We left just as Jason left for work. The drive took almost exactly 4 hours which is awesome considering it was just me and the two kids. We spent Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday with my family before leaving. Both the kids did terrific on the trip considering the ridiculous heat! David has also outgrown his pack and play so he had to sleep on the floor next to me and he did great! Went right to sleep like it was nothing. yay!

So, we came back Sunday afternoon (during nap time again) and were all so happy to see Jason! When he took Ainzley out of her car seat, she just stared at him and was smiling the whole time - it was beyond adorable! Monday we started cleaning our new house!!! We took a break around 1:30 so the kids could nap and Jason and I went and saw the new Harry Potter! A review will come in a subsequent post but WOW!!!!!!! is all I'll say for now ;) After naps and the movie, we went back and spent more time at the house. We won't be able to go back until Friday since we're crazy busy this week, but we're so darn excited to actually be doing stuff at the house. My family will be coming down to help us work on it next weekend and I'm so excited to 1. see my family again and 2. get more work done - I can't wait to move in!!!

Dairy free!

Ainzley is a fountain. She is super cool, makes you feel happy when you look at her and, oh yeah, spews liquid EVERYWHERE! No joke... we use flannel receiving blankets as burp cloths! She is a true girly girl and has at least 2 different outfits everyday. Why? Because she soaks everything I put her in... not to mention my clothing changes during the day because who doesn't love to smell like sour milk in 100 degree temperature - not this guy!

I LOVE having my midwife live next door and I love that we're friends because she is super helpful. Seriously, 3 steps from my front door and I've got my answer - even easier than the internet :) Anyway, we chatted about Miss Ainzley's lunch-losing and Corina (my midwife) suggested I cut out dairy for a week to see if that would help. Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE milk? Ainzley is gaining weight just fine and doesn't get fussy while eating or while spitting up (classic signs of reflux - soooo thankful she doesn't have reflux!) so we'll just play around with my diet and see how things go. I also cut out soda 2 days ago. I just love the carbonation and I haven't ever been a heavy soda drinker so it looks like it's just water from here on out since I don't care for juice.

Stay tuned for updates

Finishing from last time

Ok, Birth in all it's amazingness. I didn't know where I wanted to go with that post until Sunday.

Jason was teaching the 14-15 year old Sunday School class about the atonement. Like, the actual moment it happened. The suffering, the praying, the garden, the betrayal... THAT part. We watched the movie "The Lamb of God" and the scene of the Savior in the garden actually suffering really hit me. He suffered EVERY pain we could ever feel. Everything. From tweezing and eyebrow to *birth*. Christ knew what birth would feel like. This speaks volumes to me for some reason...

For Ainzley's birth, I knew I was going to go with no medication. I wanted to experience natural child birth, but I also wanted to give her the best birth I could. So many side effects of medications used in birth are unknown and I wanted to stave off any possible unwanted outcome from the medication. I didn't have the option with David. With him having a brain cyst and not having the option for testing for possible complications, the hospital was where I needed to be. Sidetracked...

Natural childbirth is hard. It's not something you luck into or something that happens because a woman has a high pain tolerance. You have to work for it. I did it for Ainzley. I loved my daughter long before I met her. I wanted to do the best I could for her and I'm very privileged to have experienced her birth the way it happened. I know my Savior loves me. I know he suffered much more than the pain of childbirth for me. I know the events leading up to His death weren't easy by any means, but I'm sure he would say he was privileged to have experienced it for us.

I'm not saying natural childbirth has made me Christlike... but feeling that intensity and knowing someone suffered it for me is humbling. I know it sounds silly, but natural childbirth has helped me grow closer to the Savior and, if possible, made me more appreciative of his sacrifice he made.

I love birth, lol... Strange I know, but it is amazing.

Kudos to you if you haven't rolled your eyes and are still reading ;)

I know, I know. Since Ainzley's birth, birth and labor have been a prominent topic around here, but I just can't get over the amazingness of it all! After just 40 short weeks... ish, there is a whole new person - from almost nothing! Women overcome the worst pain to give life to this little person. I mean, wow. My breath is taken away every time I remember when my kids entered the world. How much love is in my life and all the blessings, too.

There are so many thoughts going through my mind right now. Maybe I'll take some time to try to organize them and report back...

I knew this would happen...

We're renegotiating closing the night before we were supposed to close on the house!!! LOL It's just a minor issue so it's not a huge deal. We'll probably close on Monday or maybe even this Friday. Just a couple more days!!!!

Jason is still loving his promotion though he works longer hours than he's scheduled for often with no notice. Yesterday, he went into work half an hour early (1:30) and didn't get home until 11:45 - an hour and a half later than usual. I'm sure it won't be the last time it happens. It just means we miss out on our late night conversations which is a bummer.

We had a great holiday weekend. July 3rd is a cool day for our family. July 3rd, 2008 is when we found out I was pregnant with David and July 3rd, 2010 is when we found out I was pregnant with Ainzley. Jason wanted me to test this year too but I am 100% positive I'm not pregnant so I decided to pass, lol. We spent the 4th at a friend's house at an unofficial ward party. It was so fun! Our friend does his own fireworks display every year. This year, he spent over $750. Sadly, a good deal of them were wasted when the thunderstorms rolled in. It was still a fun day.

That's all for now. I'm off to bed!