She's on Strike!

Well, my little girl is on a nursing strike. It started yesterday morning when she bit me really hard. I jumped and sternly told her not to bite Mommy. She was startled and started crying. Ever since every time I put her in the nursing position she just starts to cry. So frustrating for her and for me! I feel so guilty for making her afraid, but nor do I enjoy being bitten by two very sharp teeth! Ahhh! I ended up pumping because I was so uncomfortable, and Naomi eagerly took the bottle when we offered it to her.
I thought that she might nurse during the night when she was half asleep, but no such luck. She cried and cried until we gave her a bottle, and then I had to pump afterwards. So instead of nursing her while we are both half asleep we were all up for over an hour in the middle of the night.
Today is still the same as yesterday. I did some research and read that nursing strikes can last a few days or even a week. We will see how she is doing in a few days. I hope this strike does not last as long as the Civic Strike in Vancouver :)

Monday Night Football

It has been Ron and Dennis' Monday night tradition for the past 8 years to get together to watch football. Each year they make predictions about who will win the Monday night football games. The person who gets the most right gets taken out for wings by the one who lost. The friendly competition makes it more fun to watch.
I got in on the party when Ron and I started dating. I soon came to realize that Ron and football were a packaged deal, so I made it a point to learn about the game and to understand the rules. I must admit that my interest in football in the beginning was 100% due my interest in Ron, however now over 5 years later I look forward to Monday Night. Ron and I even made our own wager for the who would win the Monday night games. Our wager: One week of doing the dishes, no complaining, with a smile (We don't have a dishwasher). Current score: Raine - 5, Ron - 4. It could get interesting.
Tonight is a special Monday Night game because Ron's favorite team the Green Bay Packers are playing the Denver Broncos. This year the Packers have only one Monday night game so it had to be special. Ron really wanted to go all out so he decided to make his own wings. We picked up pizza, chicken wings and Cajun sauce from Costco. Ron barbecued the wings first and then tossed them in the sauce. They turned out great!

Here are the guys enjoying the wings and pizza.

When the Packers play Ron likes to wear his Packers gear and sit in this special chair.


Here is all that is left from 2 kg of wings. That is a lot of wings for two guys, but they polished them off without missing a beat!

Of course we had to snap some pictures of Naomi cheering for Daddy's team.

GO PACKERS GO, GO PACKERS GO!

Wordless Wednesday - Fall in the Backyard

Fun Fall Day

My friend Marilyn and I took the kid for a walk around Mill Lake last week. Here are a few shots of the kids after I played around with the effects on Picasa.

Thank You Lord

I came across this poem today. It really ministered to me since I often forget to be thankful for all the blessings in my life. I think that I am going to frame it and put it up so that I can read it every day.


Thanksgiving Poem (Edited)
Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.

Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.

And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient.

Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs cleaning. It has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.

Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today; it has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing; we all enjoy the yard. Our family is healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me I say that You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

And when I see the dent on the front corner panel of my car, I am thankful for all the dents, creases and crashes you have protected me from.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though I groan when Naomi is up during the night, thank you, Lord, that I have the oppurtunity to be a mother. There are many who wish they could be.

And Lord, as I think about the argument we had last night, it’s an honor to be loved by someone who cares enough to challenge me and keep short accounts.

Even though much of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, cookies are burned, and tempers are short, and my daughter so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our house never looks like the magazine pictures and the meals at times not balanced, there are many who are cold and hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

When I consider the grocery bill, the gas bill, the hydro bill, the cable bill, the phone bill, the medical bill and all the other bills, I thank you that you are my provider…

…and with you, my debt is paid in full!

Amen.

Helping

Laundry is my least favorite chore, but it's a little more fun when Naomi helps me get it done.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

This morning as we were getting ready for church we put Naomi in front of the long mirror in our bedroom. She got so excited when she saw her refection and kept hitting the mirror with her hand. Ron stood her up and she stood there for a few minutes without us holding her. It was so cute to see her interacting with the "other" baby.

Identity Theft?

This has been a question that has been swirling around in my head for quite some time: "How do I maintain an identity other than wife/mother?" I find it really hard to find time for myself. I know that this is the dilemma of every mother, and so I don't want to sound like I am whining. I also don't want your to misunderstand my confusion, because I love being Naomi's Mama and Ron's wife. I just need to find a way to keep being me!
I only really started feeling this way after Naomi was a few months old. Maybe it is related to nursing Naomi and only being away from her for a few hours at a time? Or maybe its being at home too much? Or maybe this is just what being a mom feels like? Some days I just don't know....
When it was just me and Ron, I felt great. I love being Ron's wife. I was in school full time and working part time. My days were filled with intelligent conversation and continuous learning. Now it seems like one day is just like the one before. Up at night with Naomi. Playing. Changing diapers. Cleaning. Laundry. Cooking. Put Naomi to bed. Then if I am lucky at the end of the day I get a few minutes with my beloved. Lather, rinse, repeat. Does anyone else feel the same way? Is this just what being a mom is like? Any suggestions about how to find a new balance between my identities?
I think that this is part of the reason I started blogging. Mostly for me. I needed something that was a hobby that I could do from home that would connect me with other people, especially other women and friends that live far away. I love reading about other peoples adventures and thoughts. Although I am often only a "lurker" on many blogs I still enjoy reading them. I am often inspired by the courage and lives of others. Sometimes I have a great laugh. And other blogs are thought provoking. Check out some of these blogs on the right side of this post.

Love vs. Hate

I love when Ron brings me flowers.
I hate forgetting about the wet laundry in the washer and I having to wash it again.
I love laughing so hard that tears run down my face.
I hate losing my patience.
I love getting a phone call from a friend that I have not talked to in a long time.
I hate when my house is dirty.
I love when my house is cleaned.
I hate when someone insults my intelligence.
I love Naomi's smile.
I hate oblivious drivers on the road.
I love the smell of baking.
I hate losing things.
I love putting on brand new socks.
I hate letting other people down.
I love reading my favorite books over and over again.
I hate that there is so much month left at the end of the money.
I love getting a good deal on something that I really need.

But most of all I love that I am a Child of God, and that makes even the things that I hate not seem so bad at all.

My Beloved and My Darling

Thank you Lord for my life. I am blessed beyond measure.