Baby Advice

Since my sister and brother-in-law just found out they are having a baby (!!!) I decided to post all my early pregnancy/parenting advice here for you all to enjoy as I think of it.

First Point - Never Read "What to Expect" books. They are evil and will make you second guess everything and feel terribly guilty all the time. You do NOT need a book to help you do this during pregnancy. It will happen all on its own. Plus I am just not a fan of their advice in general. Elissa, I have requested a few of my books back that I loaned out and will get them to you as soon as I get them.

Second Point - As a general rule I am very supportive of natural childbirth practices. Disregard what you will, but know that is my slant.

Third Point - Same goes for breastfeeding; except the disregard part. You cannot disregard that advice. It is a priority and the best gift you will ever give your baby. And yes, most women CAN breastfeed (with a few exceptions), it just isn't a priority for them! Get help, and by that I mean call me!

Fourth Point - Although one of the things new moms look most forward to is decorating the nursery, take hand me downs and don't stress. If any of the kiddos in Travis's family are indicators, that baby will not spend much time at all in its nursery, none of them did. They all slept with their parents which brings me to my fifth point which is my very personal opinion (disclaimer)...

Fifth Point - It is okay to sleep with your baby provided you do it safely. It makes breastfeeding much easier (see point #3) and sleep much more feasible. The children will not still be sleeping with you when they attend college. You might even find time to get pregnant again in less than two years (see your sisters in law). People will start to ask you right away if the baby is sleeping through the night...politely tell them to shut up! It doesn't happen and shouldn't happen for months. Babies are not designed that way. It is not detrimental to them to wake up to eat, it is survival. 

Much more to come I am sure, but that is enough for tonight!!!

Labor Day

These first pics are a little ode to all the work that Don and Katie have put into their yard this year. Not that they really do the yard justice, they were just more fun to photograph. I LOVE this bird feeder! Mr. Ugly has been around Josh's grandma's ever since he can remember.

Isn't he just the cutest? He was holding that for daddy...really!!!



One very sultry look, actually more like an annoyed look that I was trying to take his picture yet again. And I wonder why after 14 years together I can count the photos of us taken together on two hands.



Really miss hanging out with crazy Rocky! Love those horseshoe throwers!

If you can't tell, we spent most of Labor Day weekend at Josh's parents house. Lots of swimming and eating and sun!

Banner

Like my new banner?? I apparently still have the resolution just a little off. Brody's eyes are almost off the page. I'll have to work on that some more. Hope you all had a nice Labor(less) Day! I post some fun pics after I get them downloaded.

Happy Birthdays!!

Forgot to post to wish my mother-in-law Katie a very Happy Birthday on the 29th! I did remember to go visit with a gift however!

Happy day to my cousin Melissa and Josh's Uncle George this weekend!

Sometimes it is such a challange

to parent this little person.

This picture is so blurry because he is running right at me. He is so wild compared to Boone at this age. He must act like the big boys all the time and if he can't or isn't able too...watch out! Complete melt down. This was taken when he was running all over the park at Fishhook this weekend. Granted he'd been cooped up on the boat all morning but Jeez! He never stops and is so daring. He climbs anything, a complete monkey as evidenced by this next pic.



Remember when I was talking about him being Picasso. Well this weekend when Josh and I were within about 4 feet of him he managed to color on the carpet with blue crayon. Like a huge one foot square area in about 5 seconds. Amazing! But we love him dearly and we are learning a lot.