Another day of NaBloPoMo down.

Well I'm squeeking this one in under the wire.

Not much to say. Just home from a beef and beer at the Catholic church of one of Rich's coworkers. Surprised they let a Jew and a heathen in!

They had a trivia contest. Our team basically sucked.

Did you know Barbie got a belly button in 2000?

Yeah, neither did I. We said vibrator.

Breastfeeding advice needed!

Oh wise MNT readers. I'm writing today to ask your advice.

Kiel will be a year old in just over a week. I've written before about how much I love breastfeeding him, but also how I fight for every ounce.

My goal is to breastfeed until Kiel is two, as Dr. Sears recommends, or until Kiel weans himself. And frankly, the way he loves my boobies I don't see that happening any time soon.

My problem is my milk supply seems to be dwindling and I'm really tired of pumping. I pump every night after Kiel goes to bed, and then before I go to bed for close to an hour, because it takes that long for me to get four ounces (if I'm lucky). I also pump for close to an hour at work every day. I'm afraid if I stop pumping my supply will dwindle even more. But damn, it's getting old.

And if I stop pumping I can't send breastmilk to daycare.

If I stop pumping and only breastfeed in the morning and before bed will I continue to produce milk? I'm afraid if I try it out and my supply dwindles even more, I won't be able to build it back up again.

Any readers out there that did the extended breastfeeding thing? And if you did, did you continue to pump after the first year?

Vacation and closets and parties, oh my!

Whoohooo! I'm on vacation!


I finished up a project today that I've been working on since January. What a relief to finally have it off my plate. Hopefully off my plate anyway. I'm not very confident the client is going to agree the project is done. One of those clients that wants more and more and more.


So I have big plans for the next ten days!

I'm going to clean closets. How exciting is that?

And finally finish organizing Kiel's bedroom so maybe he can actually sleep in his own room someday. You know, before he's 12.

And, I'll be getting ready for Kiel's first birthday party which is on the 15th. So I have some major cleaning to do. And I need to get my carpets cleaned.

Exciting stuff.

And blog, must blog blog blog.

And wonder if my parents are going to come to Kiel's birthday party.

I just love this picture from last Christmas. We slept so well together. I'm surprised my mouth isn't open too.

The day after!

Wow!

Wow!

I know it's all been said by people far more eloquent than I, but Wow!

I am just so proud of our country today!

Here's to better times ahead for all of us!

****************

A couple other things I want to comment on.

First, I thought Senator McCain's speech last night was quite gracious. Last night he was the man I wish I could have seen during the election.

Second, watching the crowd in Arizona with McCain and the crowd in Grant Park with Obama I noticed something very interesting, and very telling.

In Grant Park you saw people of all ages, all races. Black and white, young and old, male and female.

In Arizona I saw predominantly white men. A few white women. Mostly though, middle age white men, presumably Christian white men.

Seems like a very strong statement to me!

************

Soccer boy!

Voting, Kindermusik and a mini rant

Back from voting! The boys handled waiting in line well. I think I had the fear of all things evil in Noah because he stood and held my hand for most of the wait.

I always get a little feeling of anxiety when I'm voting. I think mostly because I'm afraid I'm going to mess up. And today, when it's so very important I really didn't want to fuck up! So I double, triple checked everything before pushing the green button.

Embarassing story - when I was in college I went to vote for the Bush/Clinton election. It was the first time I had voted in a booth with levers. I didn't realize you had to pull the big lever at the end to open the curtain and register your vote. I set all the little levers, then stood there thinking, well shit, if I leave them set the next person will know who I voted for, guess I have to set them all back. So yeah, talk about an intelligent idiot! My vote didn't register at all.

I'm pretty confident I did it correctly this time though!

Before going to vote we went to Kindermusik. I took the portable DVD player for Noah to watch a movie. We didn't even make it through the welcome song before we left. He flat out refused to sit and watch the movie, or just sit and watch the class. So, once again because of Noah we had to leave something early.

I wish I didn't get so embarassed by these things. Noah looks so "normal" that when he acts like this it really just looks like he's being a brat and I don't know how to handle him. Hell, I'm not so sure anymore that isn't really the case. I really just wanted to smack him. What a great mother I am.

I was pretty angry when we had to leave. And he could tell. I think that's probably why he did so well waiting to vote.

There were other older brothers and sisters there waiting on the side and they did just fine. Will we ever reach a time when we can do normal family activities together and I don't dread having to spend the day alone with Noah?

Holy crap but there is a lot at stake today!

I have to admit I'm a bit uptight about the election today. Holy crap but there is a lot at stake!

Noah can't wait to go to the polls with me. I'm so impressed about how much they talk about the elections at school, and how much he understands for being five years old.

Yesterday they voted at their school on A or B. I thought it was a pretty cool exercise. A couple weeks ago signs for A and B showed up around the school. Then a bit later signs to vote for A or vote for B appeared. This started discussion around the school as to what A and B were. And got to the importance of actually knowing what you are voting for.

Eventually it was explained that A was for homework, and B was for recess, which lead to even more discussion. And finally it was uncovered that A was for a night WITHOUT homework, and B was for a day WITH ten minutes more recess.

Yesterday was the big vote. Noah voted for B.

*****************

Cute story ~

Rich was watching one of those Sunday morning political shows last week end and he and Noah were talking about Obama and McCain. Rich asked Noah who he was going to vote for.

Noah's response? "I'm undecided."

Hysterical, huh?

He's firmly on the Obama band wagon now though!

****************

It's all about the ears people!

NaBloPoMo

So I signed up for NaBloPoMo this month. That means I'm going to be posting every day for the Month of November for those of you not in the know.





Oh boy, I bet you'll be tired of me by the end of this! Especially since Kiel's birthday is coming up and I still haven't heard from my parents. Oh, the angst that is a coming.





If anyone has any thoughts on topics or questions they've been dying to ask me just let me know. I may need some inspiration. Or you may just get a gratuitus baby picture every day instead.

Sarah Palin is not my role model

This post has been brewing in me since the last presidential debate, over two weeks ago.


I have a lot of opinions about this election; as I said in an earlier post I'm far more in to this election than I ever have been in to one before. I look forward every day to reading the latest political stories. I "fact check" when ever possible.

I get very passionate over some of the issues that are out there right now. And I get down right disgusted at the crap I see the Republicans throwing out there trying to make stick. This passion and disgust makes it harder for me to write sometimes.

I don't want to just spout emotions on here (you all know I do that plenty on other topics), but I'm really not in to writing a term paper either. So, up to now I've stayed pretty quiet, other than making it clear that I'm a huge supporter of Barack Obama.

Well, with two days before the election I really need to say a few things about Sarah Palin. And yes, this might get a little emotional. I did do a little research before I started to write this, because I don't want to make any claims that aren't true.

On October 15th's presidential debate McCain said that Sarah Palin was a role model for women. I just about choked when I heard him say that. My reaction was "are you fucking kidding me?".

Now, I respect strong women. I always have. I hope that people see me as a strong woman. I'm good at my job. I really LIKE what I do and I believe in it. I think I'm a better woman and mother because of my job. I also think I'm a pretty damn good mother when it comes down to it. And one of my biggest strength is that I will always chose my family first!

I think Sarah Palin is a strong woman. I respect that she has beliefs and she stands up for them.


I DO NOT however, agree with her beliefs. And if I don't agree with her beliefs, how can she be a role model for me?


And this bit about her now being an advocate for special needs families because she has a special needs child? I just don't get it. Her son is what, six, seven months old now? She can't possibly have a clue what it's like to raise a child with special needs yet. I just don't think that's a good enough reason to vote for McCain because his VP candidate has a child with Down Syndrome. And I'm not even going to get in to how I wonder what kind of mother she can be to a special needs child with this job she is seeking? And on another family note, just how is she going to be there for her 17 year old daughter at a time in her life when she is going to most need her?

And damnit, how dare she think she can tell me what I'm allowed to do with my body?


So yeah, Sarah Palin is not my role model. Not by a long shot.

Show and Tell - of the Halloween variety

Wow, I never realized just how busy Halloween was until I had a kid in elementary school!

First stop of the day was to take Kiel the Turtle to his daycare Halloween parade at 10am. I'm not quite sure what I had my camera set at, because none of the pictures look in focus. I did get some decent videos of him though.

Here's my little turtle who hated his turtle hat.

Here is Kiel with his favorite caregiver Marci.


And at 1:30 pm we hit Noah's parade. He's smack dab in the middle in his Iron Man costume.

(In between Kiel's parade and Noah's parade, Kiel and I had lunch with Daddy at the hospital.)

Then we got ready for trick or treating at home. My boys trick or treat in style!

Kiel thought the wagon was the best part of the night.

Here's my pumpkin display. I left the candy out on the honor system so I could go out trick or treating with my boys. Surprisingly we came back and there was still candy left in the bowl.

I had some great comments on my political pumpkins, although there were some people who couldn't tell the one pumpkin was Obama. I think the pumpkin shriveled a bit since I carved it on Wednesday, as it didn't look as clear to me either.

One little girl (about 7 or 8) was overheard saying she wasn't going to take candy from our house because we were voting for Obama. I thought that was pretty funny.

I was pleasantly surprised though to see that most of the older kids who stopped by when I was around got my statement and thought it was pretty cool. It was pretty neat to hear the discussions that some of them had as they were leaving.

All in all, Halloween 2008 was a success. No major meltdowns, no upset stomachs and every one got to bed at a fairly reasonable hour. But boy are Rich and I glad it is over for another year!

Wordless Wednesday - political pumpkin