A Mixed Bag Post

Twenty-five weeks!?! That was fast.

I'll be 26 weeks on Thursday (6/9). That means I'm only two weeks away from the third trimester, and boy does it feel like it! I'm at that point where I feel like I can't get any bigger, but I know I will. I'm not sure how much weight I've gained because I keep forgetting to weigh myself before eating my Fruit Loops. At my last doctor's appointment I think I had gained 14 pounds and I'm pretty good with that. I believe its less than I had gained at this point with Cash. I remember I had a big growth spurt with Cash around 24 weeks. Its hard to tell this time, because in all honesty I don't have that much time to think about it. I notice the weight gain and bulging belly the most when I am carrying Cash, cleaning, or have to bend down to get something. I HATE dropping things. Haha! Other than that, the pregnancy is going smoothly. Sleeping is getting a little bit uncomfortable at times, but that's to be expected. I love feeling him move all around in my belly. I had an anterior placenta with Cash so it took a lot longer to feel the really strong kicks. This boy kicks all the time! "Bend It Like Beckett".

Two weeks ago we went on a Caribbean cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel with Cash. We had a great time. Of course, vacation with a toddler is quite different than vacation just the two of us, but we enjoyed making memories, just the three of us. Cash will remember nothing, I'm sure, but we will. We got the "Grand Suite" so that we'd have extra room for Cash to run around, and that proved to be a good decision. We got booted out of the pool/water slide area after a measly 5 minutes of playtime. Apparently, you can't use the pool if you're not potty trained. Nice of the booking agent to tell us that ahead of time. I told Colt, they should be more worried about those drunk college kids having an accident in the pool than Cash in his little swim diaper. Or pregnant women during an unexpected sneeze. HAHAHA! I just made myself laugh out loud. ANYWAY, we did have a great time. Cash really enjoyed listening to all the different bands on the ship and at the ports. He was especially enamoured with two old Mexican men that were playing an instrument that looked like a large xylophone (maybe it was?). We had a great first "real" family vacation, but we were really glad to be home too. We were on our last diaper on our way home that morning.

In the weeks since we've been home, Cash caught his first cold. He has never been really "sick" since he's been born. He's had his little frog humidifier going in his room everynight for the past four nights. Its getting better, and he isn't nearly as congested as he was. He is still nursing at night before bed. I can't believe I have been nursing for almost 17 months! I am very proud of that. It wasn't easy, especially at first when my milk hadn't come in yet, but I'm glad I stuck it out. That being said, I don't think breastfeeding is the only way to successfully feed your baby. I know a lot of awesome formula feeding and pumping Mamas! To each their own.

TO EACH THEIR OWN...That is one conclusion that I've come to in two pregnancies (well 1.5) and experiencing motherhood in general. Not that I have a vast amount of mothering experience, but from what I know so far, there isn't a special formula for raising a successful child other than a mix love and discipline. I get aggravated when I see mothers telling other mothers that there is only one way to do things. How could that possibly be true when all children are different? For us, the only thing that matters is following God's plan as laid out in the Bible for a successful marriage, and following his plan for how we should raise our children. In that plan there is a lot of room for making our own decisions on specific topics (ie: breastfeeding/formula, cloth diapers/disposable, strollers/baby wearers etc. etc. etc. etc.). I truly never realized how many labels there are for different parenting styles until I got pregnant with Cash. Now that Cash is getting older, I'm getting to the point where friends with younger babies are asking me for advice. This is super fun because I like being asked my opinion on things, and am generally bossy by nature. That being said, I am very careful to preface my answers with "this is what worked for me, but something else may work better for you" just so they know, there are other options. I loved my experience with breastfeeding (and extended breastfeeding), and co-sleeping until 9 months. Some would label me as "crunchy", a "granola Mama" or an "attachment parent" because of these decisions...until they found out that Cash cried it out to be moved into his crib, and he occasionally enjoys a Coca-Cola. Then they would label me with whatever cutesy term they have for a bad mother. Haha! WHO CARES?!? I know a lot of AWESOME mothers that do things differently from the way I do them, and (not to toot my own horn) I know that I am an AWESOME mother, so there is room for differences. I'm a big fan of instinctual parenting. I don't know if that is an actual term, but it should be. I have never read a parenting book and I rarely ask advice of anyone other than my mother and family. Not because I don't need advice at times, because there have been MANY times that I have been absolutely clueless as what to do in one parenting dilemma or another, but my motto on most things is, "I'll figure it out." I have never really liked being told what to do, and was generally a good kid so I didn't require a whole lot of direction (my Mama may disagree). If I have ever asked your advice on anything, know that it is because I truly value what you have to say, and think that you're the type of person that won't judge me for my decisions. If I haven't asked your advice, don't count yourself out, the opportunity may not have arisen yet. I probaby still like you. Just kidding! That is my rant for today. Maybe I have been spending too much time trolling the message boards in my birth club on Babycenter.com. Haha!

The next few weeks will be pretty busy. Colt is organizing a benefit for Scout McCauley on June 18th. If you haven't already checked out her website, please do. She and her family need your prayers. Go to http://www.shoutoutforscout.com/. I have been busy with new photography related business ventures. I'll explain further in future posts. Cash has been busy with mischevious little boy things. Beckett has been busy slowly taking over my body. Glucose test at my next appointment! Thats about it.