3 Ps MOM tag

This is from Alyson's Three P's in a Pod blog, and it looked like a good way to record some of my thoughts at this stage of mommyhood. Besides, she's holding a giveaway and I'm all about free stuff. Happy 500th post Alyson!

MOM Tag

1. Typically, what time do you wake up?

Which time? Ru is up around 1 or 2ish, we go back to sleep 5 or 6ish, then sleep (with a break for feeding/pumping) til noon

2. On a good night, what time are your kids in bed?

Well she's only 7 weeks old, so I'm not sure how to answer. Daddy usually has "swing shift" and hardly ever has her in her crib. He just holds her for hours. So she lands in her crib for a while when I get up.

3. How long have you been a mommy?

7 weeks. I'm a noob.

4. How old were you when you became a mom?

31

5. What is your favorite kids T.V. show?
6. What is your least favorite kids T.V. show?

We don't have a TV, so I'm not up on them anymore.

7. What is your favorite chore?

Laundry lets me do other things at the same time, and I can get it DONE. (until someone spits up anyways)

8. What is your favorite meal to cook?

I haven't cooked since Ru was born, except mac and cheese with chili in it. I do enjoy roasts or corned beef in the slow cooker.

9. What is your least favorite meal to cook?

Anything that involves my hands being slimy for any length of time. (meatloaf comes to mind)

10. What is your kids favorite meal?

Ha! Breastmilk with formula mixed in.

11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids?

He just gets such a kick out of watching her little antics, and it's not like she has that many just yet. He does a lot of tummy time with her.

12. What are 5 things that make you smile when you are being a mom?

Getting to take a nap.
Baby snuggles.
Ru nursing well.
Sleeping.
Getting to take a nap.

13. If you could take your kids anywhere, where would it be?

I wish I could have got to KS before g-ma passed away, and since the funeral is today that would be cool, too. Generally speaking, we want to go to disneyworld/epcot someday.

14. When was the last time you went out without your kids?

I went to youth group sunday night, altho technically I'm working when I do that. Uh...I don't remember if bunco or the night I went out for ice cream with Terry Mac was more recent.

15. What is your favorite pastime/activity to do with your kids?

Right now just snuggling.

16. Name one thing you said you would never say as a mother.

"because I said so"

17. Name something you do, that your mom did.

Don't ask for help when I should.

18. What is your favorite quality your mom has?

She's very independent. (hehe, altho obviously that shared trait bites us in the behind, as in #17)

19. What is your favorite kids book?

We don't have that many yet! We do like "God gave us you" that my friend Lory gave us.

20. What is your favorite advice for new moms?

Not sure I'm a good person to be doling out advice... But I guess I would say don't expect yourself to get anything productive done for the first couple of months. That had been really frustrating for me as I like to feel like I accomplished something at the end of the day. Taking care of the baby is pretty time intensive (esp when she's up for hours and hours at night...)

21. What is your most heartbreaking moment as a mom?

When they took Ru to St. Vinnies and I was stuck at the Newberg Hospital.

22. What is your most joyful moment being a mom?

Getting to take her home.

23. When was the last time you told one of your kids you loved them?

Uh...sometime in the last hour I'm sure.

24. When was the last time you were told?

Well she's not exactly talking yet, but hubby told me before he went to bed.

MIL to the rescue!

The first full week were were home from the hospital, my mom came and stayed with us. Brian had to go back to work so he wasn't able to help out like he had the week before. I was really glad mom came! This was great, as I could hand little Ruthie over to her during the day and catch up on my sleep! The plan was mom would stay for a week, then Brian's mom would come.

However, the best laid plans often fall apart, and my Mother in law had to stay home and deal with HER MIL and FIL needed to go into a home. (not just a home for that matter, but the dementia ward no less) This ended up being a huge big deal with neighbors accusing them of abusing the folks. (senior services was called in and an investigation found no evidence of abuse, of course) Other family members were involved pressuring for other options, it was just a mess. My MIL was a bit of a mess too, as it was a VERY stressful process and she was in the thick of it the whole time.

I also was a bit of a mess. My slave labor plans had not materialized, so now I had to handle my beautiful baby all by myself, all night and all day. Remember, I have to pump AND bottle feed, so it takes a bit more time. And of course, this WOULD be the week that Brian had church stuff going on almost every evening. So I was just about on my own. There were a couple of mornings I wasn't sure I could keep going, fortunately my wonderful hubby sacrificed his own sleep and saved me. Who knows what sort of interesting things he did at work in his sleep deprived state. Some of my own interesting antics included not noticing Ruthie peeing all over herself while I was changing her diaper, leaving the breast pump on after I finished while having a conversation with Brian, putting a shirt on backwards, fed my dog a battery (kinda, he swiped one and I dunno what he did with it, I don't think he actually ate it. It's prolly buried in the backyard) and all sorts of other little things that I no longer remember.

Today, my in-laws are here. My MIL will stay for the week, and my FIL will head back home alone. It's just about killed her to have to stay away all week, especially since it hasn't exactly been an enjoyable week for her at home. She's happy to be here, I'm happy to have her here, and I'm sure little Ruthie will be happy to have another grandma here to snuggle her!