Scrub-a-dub-dub!!

I know it looks like I am nerd who sits around doing this blog thing in all of my spare time (whatever that is). My last post was actually done yesterday, but I forgot to post it. I am up particularly early this morning so I decided to type something.

Why am I up so early??? Well, since we are living at Gaga's house I have been nursing the baby every morning around 5 a.m. It's either that or everyone else in the house is going to wake up at 5 a.m. because I won't nurse him. As soon as we are in the new house, I plan to change this schedule. He's almost a year old and should be sleeping past five with no breast!! I also plan to quit nursing at a year anyway. For some reason though, I have a feeling that Nicholas might not have the same plan and we may go for longer.

See, I have become the breastfeeding champ. With Austin I only nursed for about 4-5 months. I just wasn't as patient as I could have been. Fast forward six years to Jacob. Ralph and I were now married (of course) and things were just sooooo much easier. In fact, I think that Ralph would have nursed him if he had the ability. I also became a stay-at-home-mom (yay, and thank you sweetie!!). Jacob nursed for about 11 or 11 1/2 months. He was no longer interested in it at that point and we were about to go on a big vacation so I was ready to quit too. Nicholas has been nursing for 11 months now and doesn't seem to be anywhere near stopping. It's not like he does it every few hours, just at 5 a.m. about lunchtime, maybe early evening and then bedtime. I guess this is normal. I have no idea how many bottles of formula kids drink at this age or when. Neither of my two youngest has ever had a bottle. We will just have to see what happens.

Anyway, I got soooo sidetracked there. Sorry, I always tell Ralph that I should be a lactation consultant. Why did I not fall asleep after I nursed. Well, that is easy. I don't want to be known as "THE STINKY MOM."

One thing you learn as a mom (at least one who doesn't have to get up and go to an actual workplace) is that, showers are often an afterthought. When the kids are sleeping (if they actually nap at the same time, which is rare in our home) you use that time to clean up the messes they have made. When dad comes home you would like to spend some time with him and the evening goes fast enough as it is. There is also that dinner thing, and bathtime for kids thing, etc. By the time the kids are asleep, it's late and you are tired and you just plan to shower in the morning. It never fails that, when I plan that, someone wakes up early or I decide that sleep is more important than that shower. I can't take Nicholas in the bathroom when I shower because he would play in the toilet or pick up that little screw cover on the side of the toilet (you know the one that never actually stays on the toilet). If you are a mom you should know what I mean. All of my kids have been fascinated by those things. Oh, I just thought of something. In the new house, the tiolet will be in it's own little room, so he WILL be able to play in the bathroom while I take a shower (I feel like I just found a cure for a disease!!!)

Today, I had to take a shower, and I couldn't take the chance that I might sleep to late and the baby would wake up. I don't want to be known as "You know Jacob's mom, right? She's THE STINKY ONE."

I'm sure some people reading this will think that I am gross, but I know some mommies know exactly what I am talking about.

Ralph and I were near his office a month or so ago (in the Galleria area in Houston) and we ate at a fancy restaurant (Chic-Fil-A). Most of the women eating there had walked over from office buildings. They were wearing nice shoes, business suits, and carrying expensive purses and looking really nice. They probably had all taken a shower each day that week!!! Now, I won't say that I don't have any of those things. I have LOTS of shoes and I have nice clothes and a few nice purses. I have LOTS of jewelry. My husband really does spoil me!! I just don't wear most of that stuff on a daily basis. My nice clothes and shoes are usually only worn at church. Anyway, I looked at all of those ladies and realized that I wouldn't trade places with them for anything in the world. Give me my Crocs, my shorts, and t-shirts and put me at home with my kiddos.

I know that, not all families, can afford for mom to stay home. I know that some moms just really prefer to work outside of the home. I respect all of that. We had to sacrifice a little in the beginning, but Ralph has worked so hard and has done so well at this company and we have been BLESSED. Not to mention that fact, that daycare for two little ones (since Austin is already in school) and gas money would pretty much have eaten up the paycheck I would have received in my previous life's occupation.

Will I go back to work when all of the kids are in school? I just don't know. Unless it is necessary, we have pretty much decided that I won't. Have I mentioned that I LOVE staying home? I love to have a somewhat clean house. I love to go on field trips without having to check with a boss. I love making treats for kids class parties and then being able to attend them. I love being able to have a warm meal and a sit-down-dinner for my family (most of the time). I love being able to say "I'm going shopping today" and to not have to wait until Saturday when its sooooo crowded.

I'm thinking that the only thing that might change when the boys are all in school is that I will probably get to take a shower every single day!!!!!!!