Tuesday, February 15, 2011

If breastfeeding offends you, put a blanket over YOUR head!

As most of you know, I'm very pro-breastfeeding. So much so that Kale doesn't even take pumped milk out of a bottle. He's what his pediatrician calls a bottle snob :) Because of this, I don't really go anywhere without him except for Wednesday nights when I have class for 3 hours. Kale goes on hunger strike and throws a tantrum if Kris tries to give him a bottle!!! Poor guy...he just wants his momma!!! Last week my mom took me shopping for my birthday. While we were at Target Kale starting fussing because he was hungry. I did what any mom of a hungry baby would do...I fed him!!! My grandma bought me a really pretty nursing cover called a "Hooter Hider". It's similar to a short apron and even has a burp cloth on one bottom corner. So while I was feeding him (note: I was completely covered!), I received many stares, double takes, and even third takes!!! I asked my mom if my boobs were showing or something because I was receiving many stares and even a few dirty looks. It's not like I wasn't covered!!! What's more offensive: a baby that's crying because he's hungry and a mother ignoring him because she doesn't want to offend anyone or a woman breastfeeding her baby completely covered? I refuse to feed my child in the bathroom where people do Lord knows what and not wash their hands! Do you want to eat in the bathroom? I didn't think so. There are so many more offensive things in public that people should throw a fit over instead of a mother who cares about her children's health enough to breastfeed them when they're hungry!!! Prime example: my grandma was at the grocery store the other day and heard a mother tell her toddler to shut the F up!!! I would have gotten my cell phone out right then and there and called DCFS right in front of that mother (if that's what you want to call her).

Enough of my rant :) Tamale pie is in the crockpot and my house is quiet! I really do love my life and my family!!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

...oh, little sleepy boy, do you know what time it is???

The title of my blog is a line in a lullaby that I absolutely love to sing to Kale...

St. Judy's Comet by Paul Simon
Little sleepy boy
Do you know what time it is?
Well the hour of your bedtime's
Long been past

And though I know you're fighting it
I can tell when you rub your eyes
You're fading fast
Fading fast

Won't you run come see St. Judy's Comet
Roll across the skies
And leave a spray of diamonds
In its wake
I long to see St. Judy's Comet
Sparkle in your eyes
When you awake

Little boy
Won't you lay your body down
Little boy
Won't you close your weary eyes
Ain't nothing flashing but the fireflies

Well I sang it once
Then I sang it twice
I'm going to sing it three times more
I'm going to stay 'til your resistance
Is overcome
'Cause if I can't sing my boy to sleep
Well it makes your famous daddy
Look so dumb

Won't you run come see St. Judy's Comet
Roll across the skies
And leave a spray of diamonds
In its wake
I long to see St. Judy's Comet
Sparkle in your eyes
When you awake

Little boy, little boy
Won't you lay your body down
Little boy, little boy
Won't you close your weary eyes
Ain't nothing flashing but the fireflies

Oo little sleepy boy
Do you know what time it is
Well the hour of your bedtime's
Long been past
Though I know you're fighting it
I can tell when you rub your eyes
That you're fading fast.

I absolutely love this song! With Addison, a night time routine was so easy to establish. In fact, if I strayed from it, she would let me know! With Kale, our routine is different because he insists on going to sleep in my bed with me. Around the fifth week of Kale's life, we had some serious sleeping issues because he wouldn't sleep at night for anything!!! He just could not get to sleep...when he would, he slept fine. Then one night Kris brought him into me while I was asleep and put him next to me. That was the beginning of this habit! Now, every night around 8:30, Kale is ready to get in my bed and nurse and go to sleep. If I don't fall asleep with him then I transfer him to his crib otherwise Kris does the transfer. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this time with him...but it often means that I miss out on tucking Addison in bed because she tucks me and Kale into bed. The roles have been reversed which she thoroughly enjoys! Anyway, the past week or so Kale has been waking up a lot in the night and I've been exhausted. So what have I done? That's right, I put him in my bed with me! Am I starting a horrible habit or am I just enjoying him being little? I debate myself on this every day. I don't want my baby to grow up. With Addison, I couldn't wait for her to get bigger so that she could do all the fun things she does now. With Kale, I just want him to stay little. He looks at me with his huge blue eyes like I'm the most important person in the world...well technically I am since I'm his food source :) I wouldn't trade my kids for the world, but right now I feel like I'm rambling because I'm tired, lol!

Monday, February 7, 2011

My greatest stories ever told...

Since it is my birthday today, I thought I'd share a little bit about the days that I gave birth....

Addison Elizabeth Hutson
January 15, 2007     11:40am
6 lbs 15.8 oz    19 in

Kris and I found out that we were pregnant in May 2006. Total shocker! We were both excited...especially when we found out that we were having a girl! Choosing a name was fun...Kris picked Addison because of the Chicago Cubs (Wrigley field is located on Addison Street). I chose the middle name Elizabeth because I've always loved that name. Addison was due on January 10 but decided she wasn't ready to come out then. I was so uncomfortable that winter! I had morning/noon/night sickness for pretty much the entire pregnancy. I also had the worst heartburn imaginable!!!! It was soooo awful...everything I ate gave me heartburn and made me sick! Finally when my due date had come and gone with no action, my doctor decided he would induce me at midnight on Sunday, January 14. I remember that Sunday night. My aunt was in from Florida and she painted my toenails for me. Then Kris and I laid in bed and watched reruns of Roseanne and tried to get some rest. At about 11:45 pm, we put our bags in the car along with Addison's baby carrier. There was no turning back now. We got to the hospital and checked in. They put us in a labor and delivery room, put my IV in, started pitocin, checked my progress (3.5 cm) and told me to get some rest. Yeah, right!!!!!!! From the very get go, Addison's heart rate was jumping around. So at 3 am, Kris decided to go get my bags out of the car for me. When he walked back into the room, he got quite the show! The nurse was breaking my water in hopes that it would help Addison's heart rate. As a first time mom, I had no clue that when your water broke blood was involved! Kris looked like he was going to pass out. After this we both tried to get some rest. Every time either one of us would remotely doze off, a nurse would come in or the monitors would beep! How can anyone rest in a hospital??? Around 7 am the troops arrived to cheer us on. My parents, sister, aunt, grandparents, in-laws, great-grandparents, and a few close friends arrived! At this point I'd dilated to a 4. Not much progress so I knew it was going to be a long day. Around 11:20 everyone decided that it was time to go have some lunch down in the cafeteria. I had to pee really bad and my grandma was in the room with me. She stepped out to give me some privacy. Two seconds later a nurse came running in the room and told me to lay on my side because Addison's heart rate had dropped again. Laying on my right side didn't help so she switched me to my left side. That didn't help either. In the mean time, Addison's heart rate was steadily dropping and my entire family was in the cafeteria, minus my grandma and Kris who was calling other family. The nurses were screaming some code and my OB came running in the room and said I better be fully dilated and ready to push or they needed the OR prepped! I was still only around a 4.5! Addison's heart rate was now down to 30 BPM and I was scared out of my mind. I was immediately wheeled to the OR while Kris was prepped and waiting. He called all of our family and told them to get their butts in gear because it's go time! At 11:40, Addison Elizabeth arrived with a head full of long, dark hair and the most beautiful face I've ever seen! Kris stayed with her every second while I was in recovery. The first time I held her was absolutely indescribable!!!! Addison had to make her big entrance when she thought all the attention wasn't focused on her...she's still the same way!!! I love that little girl more every day. I see so much of myself in her. She's very sensitive and caring and can always make people laugh!!! She has great gifts and talents and will one day be a wonderful mother!!!

Kale Kristopher Hutson
September 19, 2010    4:33 pm
7 lbs 2.2 oz     19 in

Kris and I started trying for Kale in December 2009. I found out that I was pregnant on January 19, 2010....a few short weeks after my sister found out that she was pregnant. Kris and I were thrilled that we got pregnant so easily. We were both hoping for a boy this time. Telling Addison was exciting! In the beginning, she really didn't want to talk much about the baby. It took a little time for her to get used to the idea of her not being the only child in our lives. I felt so healthy with Kale's pregnancy! It was a long, hot summer though. We found out that we were having a boy and Kris lit up! I, on the other hand, was very nervous. I only have one sister and mostly girl cousins so I've never been around boys too much. I was very used to pinks and purples and dance classes...everything girly! Choosing a name was hard this time...Kris hated everything that I loved....Liam, Stellan, Knox, etc. We came up with Kale because my maiden name was Lake...we just switched some letters around. Since I had an emergency c-section last time, my OB scheduled one this time for September 23, 2010. Kale and my sister's baby Jaci were supposed to be 3 weeks apart (Lacey was due September 2). However, Jaci decided to wait inside her mommy for an extra 11 days! What a crazy week that was! Jaci arrived on Monday, September 13, 2010. That Friday night we were all supposed to go out for dinner to Texas Road House. As Kris and I were walking out the door, I got a phone call to take my mom to the ER because she broke her wrist...so no Roadhouse. The next day was my friend's little guy's 2nd birthday party. Kris, Addison and I were going to go to Roadhouse afterwards but I was starting to feel very tired...once again, no Roadhouse. On Sunday, we were all going to try again to go to the Roadhouse. That morning I decided to get the grocery shopping done so that I could make meals for when I was in the hospital. I just happened to run into my parents and sister at Wal-Mart and I told my mom that I wasn't feeling well and my back was killing me. After an hour of grocery shopping, I was practically doubled over in pain. I was in labor!!!!! I drove home as fast as I could and told Kris that it was time to go to the hospital. His response: "But the Bears are playing the Cowboys!" Are you serious???? I called my OB and he said to go to labor and delivery immediately! Needless to say, no Roadhouse again :) In the mean time, our dog was at the groomer's and Addison needed to be taken to my parents house. Once we got to the hospital, they hooked me up to the monitors, checked me (4cm) and called my doctor. I was definitely in labor. Kale must have known that his cousin was here and he couldn't wait four more days until his scheduled c-section! We called my parents and they arrived just in time. I remember riding in a wheel chair to the OR and trying to take it all in. Once I was in the room and they were prepping me for a spinal, I was in immense pain and wanted Kris by my side. They wouldn't let him come in the room until my spinal was done and I was on the table. Once I was numb they checked me and I was fully dilated but he wasn't even anywhere near the birth canal!!! At 4:33 pm, Kale entered this world and my worries of having a son disappeared! I loved him immediately. He had the sweetest strawberry blond peach fuzz all over!!!! Kale and I spent that first night together while Kris took Addison home to keep her on her routine and so they could spend some time alone. Those moments of just Kale and I are so special to me....the little looks he would give me, him grabbing my finger and the little noises he made in his sleep! To this very day, I don't remember not having him because I love him so much! He's been attached to me ever since he arrived! He's great at breast feeding and is the best snuggler in town :) I love him with my entire being!!!

Being a mom is the best thing in the entire world. Never have I felt a love so fierce and so powerful than the love I feel fo my kids!!!!!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

All because two people fell in love....

So here's how I got to the best part of my life (so far)....

Kris and I grew up next door to each other...yeah, I know, sweet :) Kris is 8 years older than I am, but ever since I can remember, I've had a crush on him. When I was in high school, I knew what time he got off of work and would watch for him because I knew he would check the mail. Perfect timing for me to check my mail, too!!! I always made sure to ask him about what concerts he was going to and what not. Then after my senior year of high school I moved to ISU where I was going to school. I had a boyfriend at the time but I knew it wasn't going anywhere. On this particular night, me and my boyfriend at the time went out with my friend Jessica Lemon and her boyfriend. We went out to eat and then went to Best Buy. I got the brilliant idea to buy a Pantera cd because I knew it was Kris's favorite band. I told Jessica that this was the night that would change my life...hahahaha!!! When my boyfriend at the time dropped me off promptly five minutes before my curfew (lol), I watched from my kitchen window as he drove off. I marched myself over to Kris's house, Pantera cd in hand, and knocked on his door. I'm sure he thought I was nuts because I thought the same thing. As I walked over there I felt like I was going to throw up, but after I knocked on the door I knew there was no turning back...although I did think about running or hiding in the bushes! When he answered the door I asked him if he'd heard the new Pantera cd....how cheesey!!!! He said I could come in and I ended up hanging out until like 5 am....no kissing, no touching, nothing! We didn't even sit on the same couch! Complete gentleman!!! Then he said it would be cool if he could take me out for a drink when I turned 21...I was like oooooook...but that shortly changed because we ended up hanging out that week. He came down to visit me at my dorm. We had a lot of fun times down there :) Now this relationship was not without drama! My dad did not want me to date someone so much older than me and this went on for a year. It was hard but we made it through. Actually, we made it through a lot and we both knew how much we loved each other. Our first official date Kris took me downtown to the riverfront and then we went to a movie with Jessica and her boyfriend. On our 2 year anniversary, Kris took me back to that very same spot and proposed. It was very romantic and he asked for my dad's permission...perfect! That was in September 2005. In May 2006, I found out I was pregnant and it scared the crap out of me!!! My friend Brooke kept telling me that I was and I was in denial. Then I took a pregnancy test at work and sure enough it was positive immediately. I ran into our classroom shaking with a pregnancy test dripping with pee in my hands!! She confirmed what I knew to be true...I was pregnant!!! Telling Kris was scary, but telling my parents was even scarier! My mom took the news well and my dad got used to the idea within 12 hours. On January 15, 2007, our daughter Addison Elizabeth was born and on August 11, 2007, we got married....the rest is history as they say :) My next blog is going to be about my birth stories because in my opinion a woman's birth story is the best story she'll ever tell!!!!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Getting started...

Quick post to make sure I'm even doing this right!!! Will post more later :)