Thursday 31 March 2011

Where's the poop?

I mean it quite literally.


WHERE IS THE POOP?!


Little Gooberfish has not pooped for 10 days!


Is he going for a record?

Wednesday 30 March 2011

My Recovery from Makeupoholism

I have a confession.


At one point in time I was a serious makeupoholic. Laugh as you may but I think it was serious enough that giving up make-up was one of the hardest things I have ever done.


I LOVED wearing make-up.


and I was good. Oh so good.


Having a knack for art made me see great color combinations and blending techniques.


It all started when I was about 14 years old. My mom is a makeupoholic through and through. So inevitably I saw it as natural a part of womanhood. 


I started wearing make-up everyday and people noticed. no wait ....boys noticed. I wasn't really an ugly duckling or anything but suddenly I was regarded as being pretty. Heck I even passed for a 16 year old which was a HUGE deal.


So many years passed and the make-up wore on. It got to the point where I should have known I was a serious makeupoholic when just the mere thought of going out in public without make-up was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat. 


One of my first years teaching I was in full make-up mode.
 Then life as I knew it changed. 


I was no longer wearing the make-up. The make-up was wearing me. I was the "pretty" teacher who the kids only loved because I was "pretty". I knew I was more than that. I had to change.


I felt naked without it and we all know you don't go out naked.


It took a LOT of strength and courage and love from my husband in order for me to leave the house sans make-up. The hardest part was my first day teaching without it. The kids noticed, other teachers noticed, I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.


I saw some of my former students later on (they were now in Jr. high) each one of them had a full face on. 


I cringed. These girls were so pretty without makeup. 


I knew then I had made the right choice. I could be staring into the face of my future daughter. I want her to see mommy for who she is and that daddy loves her regardless. 


It has now been about a year and a half since I quit. I must say I feel fine. I don't even think twice about going shopping or out to dinner without it. I must have spent hundreds of dollars per year on the stuff and now I am seeing more savings by giving up my habit.


I have another confession. I still wear make-up on the very odd occasion (maybe about 5 times since I quit) but these were actual events or celebrations. I want my future daughters to know that it is o.k. to wear it only for very special occasions. I have LOADS of leftover make-up and I don't plan on buying any more, I will just use what I have if any really special event comes up.


This time I knew I was wearing the make-up. Not the other way around.
Me in full make-up mode

No make-up!

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Why this Blog?

Let me first get started by saying I really wanted to start this blog when I first got pregnant.


I procrastinated for an entire year. 


But now that I am started it might be hard to stop. I love writing. I wrote an incredibly detailed pregnancy journal that I can cherish forever.


I want to have many kids. I haven't decided what number "many" actually is but I am ready to roll!


Anyways to the point....why this blog?  my mother gave me one of those desktop calendars for my birthday (you know the one where you rip off a paper a day at a time to reveal something witty)




 anywho... This particular calendar makes me soooooo mad!


Everyday I read it, it quotes some horrible truth about being a mother that I would rather not think about  like this one: 


"Remember when you had the perky cheerleader body, and now you literally have to scoop your body parts into your clothes?" this example is not actually real as I don't want to offend the makers of the calendar but you get the idea.


I mean really??!!  a lot of the so called quotes really fuel my fire!   


I am working hard to (quickly) get my bod back in shape, so it is like I never left my pre-pregnancy body. More on this later...


So I really want to go against a lot of "norms" and I think I have already started. Some examples may be:


1. We don't own a stroller or ever want one. Unless it is given to us and is really cool. we have a backpack and a sling...good enough


2. I exclusively breast feed. I think it is the best most wholesome way to start off my child's life.


3. I use cloth diapers and wash cloths instead of disposables and wipes. I do cheat occasionally (outings, overnights, etc.) but in the end I think we have bought a total of 3 packs of diapers.


4. We don't have television and I like it that way. we do own a T.V. but it is used for the occasional movie, Gooberfish has never seen television and the other day he was awake for our viewing of "Megamind" he actually watched in silence! I think this tool will be great in the future.


So to wrap it up this is about all things mom and also life other little adventures :)

Happy Four Month B-day!

Today my little Gooberfish is four months old! I really marvel at all the things he has accomplished in his short life. 


Instead of doing a face plant into the carpet while on his tummy he can actually hold his head up high and also expel a large amount of drool.


He used to watch me dangle his little toys in front of him and now he is reaching out to grab them, he talks to them and inspects them before plopping them into his mouth. 


He is starting this crazy half-roll from his back but then ultimately gets stuck halfway, the lower part of his little body facing the floor while the upper part faces to the side, he just can't seem to lob his head over his shoulder. Oh well he is very persistent!


So not only does this mark four months of life it has also been a week since he has pooped! Every doctor and nurse (yes, I have talked to many!) assures me this is normal for an exclusively breast-fed baby....hmmmm...I will be happy when I see some doo-doo.


Happy Four months little Goob!

Monday 28 March 2011

Welcome

I put the arrow into its dedicated spot and take a moment to caress the the feathers before I pull back on the tight sinewy piece of string.  Under my strength the bow buckles and bends to my will. The tension mounts as I take aim at my target. I breath in and out a few times slowly before I let go with a twang. I am not sure why I close my eyes at this point but I listen for the sound...It either comes or it doesn't. That wonderful, beautiful, thunk. If I hear it I crack a smile and open my eyes anxiously looking for the hit. If I don't hear it I still open my eyes, only this time I already have another arrow in my hand ready to take the next shot....


Hello! and welcome to my blog. My name is Renee and I am dedicating my writing to my wonderful, amazing, thoughtful, extremely handsome husband, Charles. This blog will cover many of my life's adventures and thoughts. I will discuss art, archery, Christianity, books, movies, travel, renovating, moving, fitness, food, and probably more than anything my new adventure with mommyhood.  



This is one of my favorite photos of myself. Not that it is an amazing photo or that I look stellar or anything it has a great memory tied to it. To my knowledge this is the only photo I have of myself where I am pregnant and unaware of it yet. This was taken by my husband about a year ago. I might have been about two weeks into my pregnancy and we went on a little road trip to check out some sights.  On our way home I picked up a test from a pharmacy and after a bubble bath my suspicions were confirmed and I knew that life would never be the same. 

But thats another story...