Baby Advice or Helpful Suggestions ;-) 3 steps to sleep

First WOW been forever since I blogged

So since my last blog I have had a baby!! Thomas Matthew was born Oct. 29th 2014 at 7:45 pm. His birth can or will be its own blog post (that may take another year lol Queen Procrastinator here) 

I just got him down for a nap and was thinking to myself while doing so "What are my Baby to sleep" must haves?? How can I help another mom possibly get her babies to sleep?? Figured I'd blog about the first few things that came to mind as my "go-to" approaches. 

"Merideth's 3 Steps to Sleep"

First all the typical things must be checked: fed, burped, changed. 

If all three of these things have been done then my next step is 

WHITE NOISE!! 

Every device I have in this house has white noise!! All cell phones have the app and I can do it on our smart tv too if need be ;-) There are a few different apps you can get and I suggest trying the actual white noise sound first!! But there are beach waves, rain, crickets, fan, thunder, etc....... Its just like back in the day when grandma said "Just run the vacuum". You can also go to just about any store like Walmart or Target and get an actual White Noise machine. I think they even make teddy bears you can hang from the side of the crib with a white noise. Our toddler room has a white noise machine for nap time and bedtime. 

Second is wrapping in a light weight blanket covering their eyes in case of over stimulation. I have saved a few hospital blankets for just this reason. Jethro (Thomas' nick name) has a special blanket that I typically wrap him in (babies are already choosing their lovie by this stage). Just so we are understood do NOT cover face with a heavy blanket!! Only the light weight thin ones like the hospital receiving blankets!

Third I bounce him. I sit on the side of my bed (and no joke from doing this with each kid there is a dent in my bed there!!) with him vertical on my chest head on shoulder I sit and bounce gently. I swear to you it works like a champ every time (watch tonight it wont work).

I have also found that a schedule is a HUGE help!! Not just for sleeping and napping but everything baby. Since baby can not tell you what is wrong I find it helpful to get on a schedule. So if it is 11 and baby is fussing you will have a round about idea of oh its feeding time or oh its nursing time. Does that make sense? I like to get mine on an every 3-4 hour nursing schedule. Then I follow the Eat, Play, Sleep routine I picked up in one of those baby instruction manuals they gave me when Jacob was born!! YES I am just kidding!! It was a book titled "Baby Wise" I believe. You feed baby then keep baby up to play as long as you can then put them to sleep/nap. Then repeat except for in the middle of the night which is another process. Keep the room as dimly lit as you can, no eye contact or talking to baby, feed change diaper and get back to sleep ASAP hahahaha

Day/Night confusion: most of my newborns have had this (all but 2 of mine) and the best thing for this is to keep them up as much as you can during the day. I know it is impossible with a newborn to keep them awake but it helps. 

Now if there is a fever involved or sickness these things may not work!! But if its just cranky baby, then these ideas should work in any order ;-) 

I have tried gripe water for when I just do not know what it could be (i.e. upset belly, gas, teething, etc....) 

Warm Lavender baths are also very soothing for baby or YOU!! LOL 

And in all honesty sometimes you could be the culprit for their fussing!! If you are stressed out and miserable due to excessive fussing!! Put baby down in crib. Get out of ear shot of crying and take a breather for yourself! Get yourself calmed down and then try again with baby. I have had to do this a time or two and it is so hard I know!! But it is best to get yourself calm!! You will NOT be able to calm a baby if you are stressed out. 

Jacob is 12

What a whirlwind of an emotional day!!
My oldest child turns 12 today!!
I remember the night I went into labor with him. Of course it was the middle of the night and Clay was already asleep. I wake him to time contractions put he kept falling asleep in-between and there fore not timing them correctly so I thought they were just strong Braxton Hicks and decided I would just get in a warm bath. Well my contractions went from 8-10 minutes to 4 minutes very quickly!! I yelled at Clay that it was time and we called doctor. Of course when doctor called back I was on the floor mid contraction and screaming he told Clay he would meet us at the hospital. When we got there I was already 4cm and asked for an epidural right away. Epidural made me so sick! Mom had gotten there from MD just in time to hold my bucket for me. I was so sick!! But my OB just giggled. Every time I would get sick my body would push Jacob out that much more.
When I yelled that I didnt want to do this anymore the doctor grabbed my hand and put it on Jacobs head!! It was one of the craziest most exciting moments of my life!! He was OUT very shortly after that!! Best moment of my life was having that precious little body all ewwwie and goooeie on my bare chest!!
Jacob has become such an AWESOME young man!!
I am so blessed to call him MY SON!!
Thank you GOD

"My Own Sister"

Carly just asked Paityn
"If you could have 4 things in the world what would they be?"

Paityn responded with
"My own room, a TV in my room and my own baby sister."

Yes I can count. Yes that is only 3, I interrupted and asked her how she would do that?
She said she "would have her own".
I said "Well, that would be your daughter then."

She said "NO I mean you have one and just give it to me!"

I love that my older kids love the little ones so much that they "Want their Own"

Thank you God for this life and all my blessings!!

Loving Brother

A moment happened today with my oldest and youngest that I want to remember for FOREVER so I am putting it on the internet (which will be around long past the roaches! HA HA HA HA )

Ok seriously

Jacob this morning asked to hold Lauren. I told him it was her nap time and he said he wanted to put her down for a nap.
I said ok and caught the most precious moment I have ever caught ever!!

It got quiet in the room really quick so I peaked in to see what was going on. He was sitting up on my bed with her in his arms and her special blanket laying over her and her finger was in her mouth. His eyes were closed and he was just smelling the top of her head (just like his momma). She started to squirm and so he started to sing her a lullaby!!! I broke down in tears!! I have never felt so much love in my heart! I swear it felt like my heart was about to explode!! 

Dinner for 8

For us, an important part of family life is dinner together at the table each night.
As the mom of a family of 8 this can be challenging to say the least.
Just picking something that everyone likes and will eat can throw any mom into a tizzy! 
And I am a mom that refuses to cook 4 meals each night so my kids learn to eat what I cook when I cook it or breakfast the next day is that much better!! Just sayin........

Typically making dinner can be quite a challenge with having so many little ones. My bigger ones typically help but some nights they have homework or the baby just wants mommy. Recently with each kid taking turns being sick (baby included) the baby has just wanted momma! So cooking dinner  has looked a bit like this, cooking for the family (notice baby food at front of stove) while feeding the baby on my hip. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not complaining one bit. If you know me at all you know I LOVE MY LIFE! I wouldn't have it any other way.

With such a "large" family every day is a new adventure. Each day you have to find new ways to make things work. Some things are easier then others. This way of feeding baby just happens to be easier for me. I can stir noodles or vegetables and cook while feeding the baby her baby food. And then when it is time to sit at the table I can actually eat a warm meal instead of then having to feed baby. Baby gets finger foods in her high chair during dinner so she can practice feeding herself. It works out great for me, for baby and our family.

Luckily our kids have been really good at trying new foods. I dont know how this has happened so dont ask. I think a lot of it actually didnt start till the older kids had to buy school lunches! HA HA No seriously when they had to buy lunches they had to try new things. Make sense? Trust me we tried packing lunches and still do for the 4 year old in preschool.  In all honesty buying school lunch was just a million times easier and yes with so many sometimes you just have to take the "easy road".


Our most common dinners are Spaghetti, Tacos (and then Nachos the next night if there is left over meat), Pork Chops, Tater Tot Casserole and Meat loaf. Gets pretty boring so I do try and switch it up a bit with recipes I find on line. Some have been huge hits, like Stuffed Peppers!! Who woulda thought! Not I!! And some have been big flops like Chicken Cheesey Rice or some such YUCK! HA

Last but not least I have an awesome husband! He usually cooks on Sunday nights which is awesome!! Not only does he like to do it but he likes to try new things with the kids too. He has cooked Shark steaks, Sausage and rice, baby back ribs etc.......... 

So when people ask "How do you cook for so many?" or "I just dont know how you do it each night." I just have to smile! Its no different then dealing with just one kid or no kids! You just have to do what works for you! 

OutRageD!

OK I really want to stop posting so much on my facebook page about all that is going on with the Robertsons and A&E so I figured I would try and get it all off my chest here on MY BLOG!!
I am outraged!
OUTRAGED I TELL YA!!!
When you give your heart and your life to Christ you become Brother & Sister in Christ with others who have given their heart and life. So when I feel a brother (Phil Robertson) or a sister (Miss Kay) is being bullied I feel bullied! When I feel bullied my actions show it, my body posture screams it and I spit instead of speak. Right now I feel like my kin is being bullied! So I have been expressing it through facebook. I am going to try and stop.
I feel this may be a better place to express myself. 

We NEED The Bible back in schools and back in the White House!!

Phil Robertson spoke the Truth that is written in black and white for all to see and read in The Bible!!
Here is what it says there is no "gray area" it is POINT and FACT

Genesis 19:1-25
read it 

Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.

https://www.facebook.com/isupportphilrobertsonduckdynasty



I agree with Phil that we are to LOVE ALL!!

It is not our job to judge!!
That is the Lord Almighty's job!!
We are here to love and be a light to our brothers and sisters.

I must say that I am very impressed with how the Robertsons have gathers around Phil and his decision and "will not be moving forward without Phil".

http://duckcommander.com/news/robertson-family-offical-statement


What a MODEL Family!!
I want to stand strong with my husband through THICK and THIN just like Kay did for Phil! I want my kids to honor and respect me and my husband just like their 4 boys and their wives do!! I want to pray at every dinner with my family! I want to raise my kids to know that riches here on earth stay here on earth but riches we do to serve our God stay with us for Eternity in Heaven! I want to teach my children about hard work and its rewards! Family and all its rewards! TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY! I want to trust in the Lord like Miss Kay "I went home and tolerated Phil's behavior because I knew God would help me through it." "I felt God's courage inside me..........." these are quotes from "Happy, Happy, Happy". The love these two share for each other is inspiring! http://duckcommander.com/store/books/happy-happy-happy-book

It is our job here on earth to LOVE and LOVE all the same!! I try very hard to love each and every person the Lord puts in my life!! I do not agree with a lot of things my friends do and I know they do not agree with a lot I do but we all still LOVE each other!! I try hard to live my life how God would want me to. BUT with that said I AM A SINNER!! I AM A HUGE SINNER!! I sin all day every day! At the end of each day I ask for forgiveness!! I know the Lord sent His one and only son for MY SINS (and yours)!! I know Jesus was TORTURED BEATEN AND KILLED for ME and my sins (and yours)!! I know my Lord God LOVES ME (and YOU)!! Like a song by Toby Mac "Made to Love". We are all made to love God. http://www.youtube.com/user/TobyMacVEVO

As a young adult I blamed the Lord for everything in my life! I basically handed my life to the devil on a platter!! I did drugs, dressed to impress,  kissed a girl made stupid choices that I will regret till my last breath and worked places with no morals. All this I know broke Gods heart!! I know the Lord wept over my decisions! BUT He stayed faithful to me! He showed me the light through His Angels here on earth and my life has never been the same!!  If you had asked me 20 years ago where I would be let me simply state it would NOT be where I am today!! I had a boss back in my 20s that told me "Money is your God" and honestly at that time in my life it WAS! I was honestly living my own hell on earth! God was faithful to me and I will praise God. He brought me out of my own hell and saved me!! I will stand for God and His Word and try to be as faithful to Him as He has always been for me.

Have you ever seen that skit done where the devil uses all sorts of things and beings to draw you to him and then JESUS stands between the person and the devil and uses his cloak to keep the person sheltered from the storm of life? That was SOOOOOO ME!!! I fell into each and every one of the Devils traps and I owe all I have now to the Lord!! I have a truly amazing marriage and husband, 6 of the greatest kids on earth and a strong faith in my Lord!!

Long Story short: My wish as an outcome for all that has happened with the Robertsons and A&E is; that the Robertsons leave A&E and that A&E does not earn another dime off the family.
Also, I think it would be totally awesome if The Robertsons made their own TV Station!! How cool would it be to have all CHRISTIAN TV all the time!! Safe for kids of all ages!! No half naked sex based perfume commercials or cuss word filled TV shows!!! We canceled cable for all these reasons plus a bunch more but would so totally pay or subscribe to an all Christian Robertson TV ;-)

Well Alrighty. I think I am done Jack.
Check out this clip of an up coming movie! Can not wait to see it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMjo5f9eiX8

Easy Yum!!!

I made some home made Yumminess today to send to my dad.
Thought I would share

First step is to lay out pretzels on a cookie sheet.
(I like the checker snap pretzels and I line the cookie sheet with wax paper for an easy clean up)

Second Step is to top pretzel with a mini rolo which you can buy in a big bag now and not have to individually unwrap each one!!

Third step is to put them in a heated 250 degree oven for about a minute maybe 2 (I watch for the chocolate to get shiny which means it is melting)

Once they are out of the oven gently press a pecan on top

So yummy!! And a favorite of my dads
Merry Christmas!!

You can also do it with a hershey kiss and a mint M&M on top!!
Or a Marble Hershey kiss with a top layer of pretzel!

The topping ideas are limitless!!