Breast is Best Drama....

Now, Doesn't that look like a happy, healthy baby if you ever saw one! He has been on the boob milk for 6 months today. Way to go, right? I think so, but not everyone shares this mother's enthusiasm. In fact, I feel like I am not very enthusiastic about the experience myself. I don't go around saying everyone should breastfeed, or being an spokesperson for the LLL! Don't get me wrong, I wanted to breastfeed my children. With Trenten I only made 7 weeks, & threw in the towel. So, I really didn't go into the experience with Jonah expecting to make it this long. I have though, & I think that's something to be proud of.

I have taken a lot of criticism lately for continuing to Breastfeed because Jonah is 6 months old. Although it is recommended to Breastfeed until 12 months these days. I would like to make it that long, BUT we'll see when he finally gets those teeth through. I wanted to put this out there so people could understand what is driving me. Take a look at this...

(On the Left Trenten's Daily Medications, which have now been switched up some due to the diagnosis of Asthma last week)

Talk about feeling guilty for throwing in the towel! I will always wonder if I would have breastfed him longer, would he be going through all this now. Maybe, BUT if continuing to breastfeed Jonah will reduce the risk of allergies & asthma for him... Then guess what, I'm gonna' keep on keepin' on!

(On the Right, different supplements we've tried for Jonah & his sensitive stomach)

We started buying these just for him to drink on occasions like Church, staying with family for afternoon, etc. If I quit breastfeeding it would cost $26.00 every 4 days. You do the math! I did, and I know I'd rather keep on breastfeeding than pay that! Wouldn't you?

Another thing I would like for everyone to understand is that yes I'm glad I've got to do this. I know there are Mother's that wanted to, and we're not able to. So, I am grateful. It's not always a bed of roses though. I wish at times I could leave Jonah with family more often, and have some time to myself. I wish I could rock Jonah to sleep at night, but because I'm his food source when I hold him, all he wants is to eat! I wish I could wear regular bras again so my boobs didn't sag to my waist!I think it's sad that I'm looking forward to something like that!

The Reality is I'm doing what I think is best for Jonah & myself right now, and I'm not going to feel bad or guilty about that! I just thought if I shared some of what I miss out on by doing what I feel is best for us, it might help people to see it's not so selfish of me to keep breastfeeding. Thank you for letting me vent on my blog!

Until Next Time,

Julie

The month in pictures...

I apologize to all our BLOG FANS who have been left in the dark the past month on what we've been up too! This has been a CRAZY BUSY month since I last posted anything. Here is a Review in Pictures....

(Above) Trenten Washing his car

(Above) Family Trip to the Cain Center Trenten's 1st Swiming lesson with Mom & Dad

(Above) Trenten & Dad Swiming!

(Above) Tammy Stops by with kids for a short visit

(Above) Trenten, Haleigh, & Hannah Hangin' out in the back yard

(Above) "LITTLE BOB" as I call him, real name Robert Andrew. Miniture version of his Daddy! If there is such a thing! He is only 6 months old here... his dad "BOB" real name Jacob is 6' 9" TALL. (The Name thing is another LONG story!)

(Above) Future of Tri- City Steel! Emma & Jonah holding down the fort at work with Mom's

(Above) Making the Rounds! Trenten & Jonah @ Great Grandparents house in Eustace

(Above) Crye Family "Celebration of the Cousins"! Palestine, TX

Hope you are caught up now! I'll do my best to keep this from happening again!

Until Next time,

Julie

Our Weekend...

(Above) Picture of "Gus" (Chocolate Lab) & "Zeke" (Miniture Doxxon) lounging in Backyard together.

Let me back up a couple of weeks here. For those of you who don't know we had a dog named Gus, a beautiful Chocolate Lab. "Had" being the key word there! He was the dog that was given to us by a neighbor, as a Friend for Zeke our 4 year old Miniture Doxxon. Zeke was our Baby before Real Babies. So all the Transitioning he has been through over the last 2 years has been kind of difficult for him. Zeke slept in our bed, wore clothes, and lived in our house before Trenten.

Post Trenten, he went from a kennel at night, to a full time outside dog when we moved to Malakoff a little over a year ago now. That was a really hard adjustment for Zeke, so we took in Gus. That was great for a little while. I had the Chocolate Lab I always wanted my kids to grow up with, like me. Zeke had a friend to play with... life was good.

Then, Gus started EATING EVERYTHING! Adam had never had a lab, so I tried to explain that they just do that during their puupy phase. So, he would quit threatening to get rid of him for a few weeks. I started trying to work with Gus on only eating his things, and not being so rough with Trenten.

That didn't go so well. The tables turned and Adam was then the one talking me into putting the gun away! This dog was the stupidest lab I ever came by! He ate all the wires & hoses to the BBQ, the electrical to the air conditioner, and pretty much anything that would stand still long enough! Any thing BUT the chew toys and stuff bought for him. Anyway needless to say a couple weeks ago Adam found him a new home with the "Dogs Against Drugs" program in Athens. We'll see how he does there!

Anyway, Gus has only been relocated for a couple of weeks... but poor Zeke was once again devestated. All by himself in that big back yard! He would sit & Cry at the Backdoor all night, then last week he quit eating. So Adam told me to find him a friend when he found out I was taking a trip to "First Monday" with his sister Karen, and his mom Cathy.

After a (what seemed to me) long search through the slums of muddy Dog Alley... we found Duke. A perfect match so far forall the family needs. He is Great & gentle with Trenten & Jonah, & him and Zeke get along Great also! Zeke is back to his old self, & we're all happy! More pictures to come!

(Above) Trenten & New member of family DUKE riding home from "First Monday" together!

So, we leave "First Monday all in my Truck. Karen, Cathy, Jonah, Trenten, Duke & myself. We head to Leagueville to Karen & Craig's new house to unload a Kitchen Island that was the original purpose of the trip to "First Monday" to begin with. We stop in Athens to Pick up Adam from work, because he had never seen Craig & Karen's new place either.

(Above) Craig & Karen's New house in Leagueville. Is actually Craig's Grandparents old house, that they are updating, & it looks like new! Great job guys!

We took the Grand Tour, and were blown away at how Great it's looking. We were looking forward to going to dinner with the fam. after unloading the island and all. BUT when you have 2 overly exhausted children, one exhausted husband, and a dog... Sometimes home & to bed is the best option! So we took a rain check on the dinner, and headed home to end our very long day!

My apologies to Craig & Karen for not having a picture of the 2 of you to put on here, the ones we took came out blurry & dark.

(Above) Picture of Adam & Karen after unloading the kitchen island. For the Record Craig & Adam unloaded the island, and Karen Supervised! Way to go Crew!

Finally, the moment you've been waiting for

It's about 5:30. And I'm at work, and actually have time to write something. Julie has been asking me when am I going to participate in this blog. Of course my response is "when I have time". But I see how much fun she is having with this and decided I'd better put my two cents worth. To be honest, I think I've showed it to every body I've worked with, mostly for the pictures of my kids. But a lot of the nurses like looking at the cake pics as well.
I want Julie to know how much I love her, and the kids. And apologize for me having to work so much. Till next time Adam

God's little blessings....

(On Left) Trenten Passed out on floor after a Hard night at First Baptist Malakoff's Radiate 08' REVIVAL!

I think Trenten does this just to aggravate his mother! I hate seeing him lying on that COLD floor. I would also like everyone to note the baby gate in the doorway of his room. He's not only an escape artist at Church, it started at home!

When he did this Monday night after Revival, Adam & I got a good laugh out of it. We went through the nightly routine of putting both the boys to bed (they share a room). I sang "the moon song" as Trenten calls it, only about 100 times, then we had to go "TT" one more time, then he needed his Vicks Vapor Rub on, then I finally said, "That's enough Trenten! Get in your Bed & play with your cars!" That's the new reversed psychology I'm using at bedtime. He doesn't cry, and get all dramatic on me if I don't say "Lay down & go Night Night!" He just sits in his bed, and plays with his hot wheels cars until he falls asleep. NOT MONDAY NIGHT though!

He tried climbing the Gate. He tried pulling the gate down. All very quietly so Mom & Dad wouldn't hear, so he thought! Then he finally gave it up, layed down in the Floor, and he was out! Just one way this week that Trenten reminded me, what a BLESSING children are. We take them for Granted in the Hustle & Bustle of everyday life. When I saw him looking so precious & sweet asleep on the floor, I Thanked God for the Reminder of not taking our children for Granted... and then I said, I have to get a picture and put that on my BLOG!

(On Left) Jonah having a blast in his exersaucer this week!

It was nice this week on my 2 Days off to get to spend some quality time with the kids. Jonah & I got some one on one time playing while Trenten was taking a nap. Of course they never take a nap at the same time! That's okay though.. I worry if I actually got to take a nap one day, that I would want one everyday! That's just not reality so I would rather not even get started with that.

They grow so---- fast! Adam dressed Jonah for Revival one night this week in a hand-me-down that Trenten wore in his 6 month pictures. We were looking at Trenten's picture, & saying "It seems like we took him to get these pictures done yesterday, & now his brother is wearing his outfit! That's Crazy!" My, how time fly's when your having fun. I think My, how time fly's when your busy fits a little better, but that's just me.

Until Next Time,

Julie

Julie's Cake Pictures

My Hobby...

It all started back in 1993 when My Aunt Carolyn (My Mom's Sister) came to California for a visit. I was 10 years old, & it was during the Summer. So boredom was high on the list of things to do! My Aunt had recently taken a Wilton Cake class, & started decorating Cakes for friends for a little extra money on the side! She brought her decorating kit with her, so she could show off her new skills... Never knowing she would ignite the Passion in her niece to do the same.
From that Summer on, I became the cake girl in our family. I always loved to bake, cook, make "New Creations".. Pretty much anything in the Kitchen other than stinkin' Dishes! I continued on my journey of doing Cakes for all the family Birthdays for years. I had all these cool cake ideas in my head, but when you're using the 4 basic plastic cake tips from Wal-Mart because that's all you have... Your kind of limited! My sweet Husband Adam realized this, so for Christmas in 2006 he bought be a Wilton beginner Cake Kit! Trenten's 1st Birthday was coming up in January, & that was the first cake I used my kit with! It was so much fun... we call it the cake that Started it all! You can see it on my Slide show, it's the Doggy Cake.
I was so excited when My Aunt Carolyn, the one who started my interest in Cake baking moved here to Crossroads TX. Now we've started doing cakes together on the side. It has been great, she has so much experience & expertise. She has been teaching me lots of new tricks! So, check out my Slide show & you can see what we've been up to in our Spare time! These are not all my Cake Pictures, just my Favorites!
Until Next Time,
Julie