I gave myself some bangs. Cut them too short, as usual  ... wouldn't want to break tradition.

I received the application to become a breast milk donor! This is really happening .. Yay!

Andy and Lisa. It was Andy's birthday and we bought him a Snickers.
See it there on the table? We know how to give good gifts

I'm really, really happy about something
(This is pre-bangs debacle)

Lisa has blue gum

Nate and I

Lisa ended the night by reading the DSM-IV and throwing out some diagnoses
(That's plural for diagnosis. I looked it up)

I've been looking into the possibility of donating my breast milk.
I started pumping several times a day to keep my supply up and now I have too much milk in my freezer! I lost my milk around six weeks with Mazie so having more than enough milk for Freya this time is a real blessing.
I'm still in the beginning stages of research but am excited about getting involved! I'm still not sure what to do with all the frozen milk I have ...
 

I was in the check-out line at the store when I realized I didn't have enough cash to buy Mazie's diapers (we had enough at home but I thought I'd grab more since I was out). I handed them to the cashier and explained that I didn't have enough money for them and that was that.

Next thing I knew, as I'm walking out, the lady behind me in line walked up and puts the diapers in my cart. She said that many people have helped her out along the way and that she was just passing it on. I was dumbfounded and thanked her with tears in my eyes.

Wow. My heart is still warm ...

Miss Mazie and I wearing out matching aprons
baking up some goodies

EDIT:
Zumba was excellent. I kept up with the best of 'em. I landed a 6 on the Check My Moves scale (see below). Sure, I rated myself but I'm pretty sure that the other class members would agree. I just know it. It's so great to be back in the game. With all of this nursing and pumping (my freezer is getting very full), working out and eating better I'm going to be thin(ner) again in no time. Watch me.
*********

I went to the rec center last night for the first time since November. Let's just say there was a lot of huffing and puffing. Oh, not by me ... by the other out of shape people that haven't worked out in months. *ahem* Ok, fine ... it was me. I went with my friend/neighbor Jennifer who had me laughing possibly as much as I was sweating. Which is quite an accomplishment.

Tomorrow I am heading there again for a Zumba class. Not sure how that's going to go ... I am pretty adept at aerobics and dancing so we'll see where I land on the Check My Moves scale. 1- being "I'm so embarrassed I want to go home and slap my jammies back on and watch tv over a tub of ice cream" and 10 - being "I'm so awesome you know you all want to move like me"
I hope I land around 8 or 9.

Well, I better run. If I'm not nursing or pumping or changing diapers or rocking babies then I'm nursing, pumping, changing diapers or rocking babies.
Can't complain though. I pretty much love it.

Mazie's bedtime/naptime routine is great now. Tough love pays off. It's alot of work, but worth it.
Part of my responsibility as a parent is to teach my children how to deal with the real world. If I make exceptions for them and allow them to "rule the roost" then I am setting them up for failure. If I don't follow through on my expectations then I am only putting them at a disadvantage in the long run.
This is how we do it: Expectation, followed by acknowledgment followed by obedience followed by praise. OR Expectation followed by anything other than above followed by a consequence.
It sounds simple in theory but takes great dedication followed by chocolate for Mommy for trying so hard.

Nate and Freya and of course ... the usual vom

EDIT: Oh, man. Our girl Mazie is good. After spending an ample amount of time crying and asking for various items (in order to stay up) and me not responding to her antics she finally started saying, "I'm poopy. I'm poopy ..." So, naturally I went in there and guess who wasn't poopy? What a smart little girl.
I just got played by a two year old.

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

This new, incessant bedtime crying and constant request-making routine is perplexing (and frustrating).
I feel like I'm stuck in an episode of Supernanny. You know ... the part where the parents themselves are crying outside of their crying toddler's bedroom? That's where I'm at.
Tough love. Sigh.
I see why parents just give in to the manipulation. The short-term peace is so enticing!

I just took a shower and put the same clothes back on that I wore to bed. The same ones I wore yesterday. And maybe the day before that. I can't remember. Oh, well.

This helps

Gonna post pictures tonight after the girls go to bed.
Just didn't want you to give up on me.

I went out with my friend/neighbor Jennifer on Thursday night. It was wild ... Ruby Tuesday still doesn't know what hit them! Freya came along as well and she was cah.razy. What a night!
Ok, so it wasn't wild or crazy, but we did have a great time. I laughed so hard, it was almost embarrassing. Almost.
Jennifer lives across the street in the house I grew up in with her husband and four kids. Small world. Anyway, it was a most excellent time.

Jennifer is always trying to bribe me into being her best friend with gifts, etc. ...
This little gem was her latest ploy

A normal picture ... is that too much to ask?
Yes.