It's Sad...

But TRUE!

I...don't.....

know how to do my hair!

Never have.

Dear Mason

It feels like it was just yesterday that I was terrified I would be giving birth in Sam's Club (I would have never been able to shop there again. Can we say EMBARRASSING? Wow, thanks "Butter" for staying put.) I told myself to ditch the cart and go home. I didn't. I told myself to ask the people in front of me at the register if I could pretty please, with a cherry on top, PLEASE go ahead of them. I didn't. I yelled (okay, I screamed) all the way home from the pain. I sped. a lot. 85 in a 55. And prayed that a cop wouldn't pull me over. And if he did, I prayed that he would believe me when I screamed "I'M IN LABOR!" in his face. Thank heavens there wasn't a cop in sight! A year ago today, I snuggled you for the first time.

And now, a year later, you are still just as sweet as ever! I can't believe you are ONE year old! I love you so much Butter! Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom

P.S. You have just as much hair today as you did a year ago. Maybe less. Love you anyways!

8 Dollars

Gets me... 2 gallons of Grapefruit juice, 10 lbs. of grapefruit, and 34boxes of pasta! Endorphins were gushing as I paid for my goods! What next?!

A favorite

Mason- about 3 weeks old, and Tage 2 years.

Oh! My heart!

Back In The Day

Tage, about 3 months old... oy

Open WIDE

This is a picture of Tage chillin out at the dentist with her moon boots. I took her for the first time a few weeks ago... she did GREAT! I took her to my dentist appointment a few months ago, so she could see it being done to me, and I played "dentist" with her before her appointment. I think it helped her feel more comfortable. I took her to a Pediatric dentist, and the office was very fun with huge, awesome murals on the walls. Tage's room had a unicorn. Because Tage's teeth are supposedly really tight, they wanted to take x-rays to be sure there were no cavities. They said if Tage wouldn't let them, it was okay, because she is so young they doubted she would comply... but Tage once again did AWESOME... (isn't she cute??!!) and they got the images they wanted.

And then...the hygenist said...

"the docotor will be out to talk to you in a minute about her x-rays"
I sighed loudly, and said "ahh no... really?"
and she gave me the "sorry" look and said "yeah..."

The verdict? EIGHT cavities. Every molar.
The solution? Do it through the hospital. Put her to sleep. Pay LOTS and LOTS of bucks.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? How does a 3 year old, who almost never gets to drink juice, is limited to sweets, and never goes to bed without having her teeth brushed by her parents get eight stinkin cavities?

Apparently you are supposed to floss your children's teeth right from the get-go. I admit I failed there. And since Tage's teeth are tight... and no flossy flossy... we won ourselves eight cavities! Man, I felt like Loser Mother of the Year at that appointment. Okay, not really, because I know I'm awesome. But I do feel like I let Tage down. Now she has to go through getting them worked on and being put to sleep.

So, learn from my Horrible Mommy Moment #3: Floss your tot

I learned my lesson and now floss Mason's (11mo.) teeth, despite the 2 inch gap between each tooth. Ain't no one gonna tell me I messed up when I didn't floss his teeth. No way.

IMMUNIZE

Taking a basic microbiology class in college made me a firm believer in immunizations. Meeting my sister-in-law, Shannon, who is a scientist reasearching Malaria, made me more of a believer. Enrolling my kids in th H1N1 vaccination study increased my belief in it even more. But when I hear other people's real life experiences with disease that could have been prevented through vaccination, I KNOW I am doing the right thing when I take my kids to the doctor and let them be stabbed with needles and injected with various vaccines. If you haven't felt the need to vaccinate you children, read natalienortonphoto.blogspot.com and pray for baby Gavin, who is fighting for his life. (I believe Natalie said the vaccines that would have helped him are not given until the 8week appointment... he got sick prior to that age.)
I don't know Natalie personally, but started following her blog after reading an article she wrote for a photography website. I then learned that she and I are of the same faith (LDS a.k.a mormon) and feel more connected to her. Talk to people who know a thing or too (preferably ones who have a doctorate degree in the field) about vaccines before you decide not to vaccinate your kids.