Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Pregnancy


My last post was about PMS, so I thought in keeping with said post, I would blog about pregnancy. I don't feel the need to include all my pregnancies because basically they are all the same...the day I miss my period, I start vomiting and do that for about 12 weeks or so. It was so bad with my first pregnancy that I would sleep in the bathroom on the floor, so I could be closer to the toilet. I definitely was NOT glowing. However, with each pregnancy the vomiting would not last as long.

Vomiting would be followed by backpain and sciatica with the 2nd pregnancy that warranted physical therapy. Bed rest soon followed, except with pregnancy #2 and all in all my pregnancy with Belle was ideal for someone like me who gained a ton of weight on bed rest. No bed rest or pre-term labor with BelleBelle. Charlie put me in bed for about 2 months only to be born almost 6 weeks early and that's a whole other blog.

I'm about to make a very controversial statement when I say I hate being pregnant. It does not treat me well and my body was not made for 18 Kids and Counting. No one wants to be as big around as they are tall...yes, that would be me. I mean look at me...I'm gigantic. It's like the movie Aliens where the baby totally takes over my entire body. I can't even see my feet and don't ask me to move anything, but a snail's pace because it's not possible. Oh, yeah did I mention nasty heartburn that caused me to sleep sitting up? Try doing that on bed rest...

So, no I did not enjoy pregnancy. Cam's dad told me one time when I was huge that I was just glowing, just beautiful and guess what I didn't believe a word he said. I love my father-in-law, but he was definitely blowing smoke that day! My wedding ring eventually didn't fit my finger (swelling), so I ran around 8 months pregnant, no wedding band with my very young, 16 year old face (not really), but I got some dirty looks for a couple months!

I LOVE my children. And for those of you who know me, I love newborns. I love nursing and believe it or not, I loved staying up with those little ones at night...well, at least with the last 2 I enjoyed those nights. Belle and I would hang out and watch decorating shows at midnight. I would probably have 6 more kids, if I didn't have to carry them...

So, the P words (PMS and pregnancy) are words that make my hubby cringe and to be truthful makes me feel a little vomit in the back of my throat. Glow away my beautifully pregnant friends and I'll just come over and love on your babies!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Perhaps a Career in Dancing?



(Make sure to turn off the sound on my playlist, so you can hear what they are dancing to)

I know this video is a little hard to make out, but that is my son and daughter dancing the night away at Uncle Art and Aunt Patty's wedding. I have no idea where either one of them gets their rhythm and moves because Cam and I do NOT move like this (especially Charlie). And they both lasted ALL night. It was hilarious and I loved watching every single second of it when I wasn't taking care of Bell (who unfortunately was super sick with the flu).

This Makes It All Worth It



My life is not glamorous and there are times I want to hang up my apron (literally) and give my two week notice. But who can retire from the full-time job of being a mom? And I know soon enough my 3 munchkins will no longer need me to tuck them in at night, or drive them to acting classes, or take them to the library, or have lunch with them at school, or help them with school projects, or cook dinner, or pack lunches, or fold laundry. So then what do I do? I am a mom. Oh sure, I do other things like substitute teach and type jobs for my mother-in-law, but I am a mom through and through. And I like what I do, but more importantly it's a calling for me. These 3 precious children have been gifted to me for a short time and I want to spend every single second doing that job the best that I can. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I want to set all 3 out on the curb and put a "FREE" sign on them, like when Charlie spits at his sister while I'm trying to grocery shop at Wal-Mart. That would be one of those times when ANYONE could have had him!

But when they get home from school, I get to kiss sweaty heads and hear all about their day. I send notes in their lunches to remind them of how much I love them and that I think of them all day long. (Well, maybe not all day!) I get to be there when they laugh and when they cry. As moms we end sleeping in toddler beds like my sister-in-law did the other night. We hold their heads as they throw up and we hold their hands as they need our support. We lend our ears, we lend our support, and sometimes we lend our punishment.

I was afraid when I was pregnant with Isabelle that I wouldn't be able to love another baby as much as I loved Annie. I was really afraid and I convinced myself I could fake it if I needed to. Being an only, I didn't realize there was more than enough love and a mother's heart expands as much as it needs to to love each child. And boy did I love that little bundle. From the moment I laid my eyes on her, I loved her as much as I had loved Annie. Like Dr. Suess says about the Grinch, my heart grew 2 sizes that day. Of course, a mom has enough love for every child because that's what we do. We love!

My husband and I just went to his brother's wedding and as we drove from the church to the reception, holding hands in a silent car (the grandparents had our kids) I could feel my heart growing. I looked at him and realized I loved him more on that day than I had almost 13 years earlier on our own wedding day. And he was actually thinking the same thing and believe it or not, he said it out loud before I did, and he had one happy wife! (By the way, the wedding is where the pictures for this blog came from).

So what am I trying to say? I am trying to say that it is worth it! All the sacrifice is totally worth it. My road has been blessed and I am proud to be called mom and wife most of the time. Sometimes when people use my name or call me "Mrs. Pico", I look around for that person. I know she's in there, but I sure do enjoy being called "mom"! (I could do without all the laundry, though)


Wednesday, October 7, 2009

A Wedding Weekend for Wordless Wednesday


The Junior Bridesmaids


The Flower Girls & junior Bridesmaids


Charlie and Ella


Annie with her cousin Savy, the youngest Flower Girl


Charlie and his cousin, Wills
Can you say TROUBLE?


Belle & Wills


"Mama" Annie and her cousin, Santino