Got Milk?

Breastmilk is a strange kind of accomplishment. Last night I proudly announced to Matthew that I had three bottles worth of pumped milk in the fridge and four in the freezer. The answer I was met with was a distracted, unenthusiastic “good”. It’s ridiculous but I was so disappointed! Yes I made this milk but it happens automatically. It’s not like I had to put in any real effort to make it appear, in fact it often appears even when I don’t want it to (the grocery store or a restaurant during lunch) but I was disappointed none the less. So now, although embarrassing, I am letting all of you know about my silly little accomplishment so I can get it off my mind. Yay me! I’ve got milk.

March 25, 2011

Always Late

It’s amazing how long the simplest tasks take now that I have little Garrett. Today I wanted to clean out the trash and dust my car. These tasks usually takes me maybe 10 minutes, today, between Garrett and the dogs it took me just over an hour! The other thing that I have realized is how far in advance I now need to plan to get out the door. It never fails, I am all ready to head out the door and out of the blue have a dirty diaper to change, a shirt that has just been spit up on, and/or a bottle to make. Suddenly I am running 10 minutes late (yes I know these things should not take 10min but somehow when I am running behind they do). Ahhh!! Never the less I am determined to stay active and get out of my house, and I will never again pass judgment on moms running just a little tardy.

I was however delayed in leaving for bible study the other day because I got distracted by Garrett and Romeo taking a nap on the bed together. Here are some pictures I could not pass up the chance to take (even if it makes me late).

"A boy and his dog make a glorious pair, no better friendship is found anywhere..."

~Edgar Guest 

March 24, 2011 

Balance

How do you find balance as a parent? This is a question I know I will be asking for many years to come. I am having to ask this for the first time today. I am wondering how you decide between letting your baby cry in his crib because you know he will sleep better there eventually or holding him in your arms because that is where he is sleeping better now (and let’s be honest I love it). How do I find balance between holding my little man all day and making sure I get something ready for dinner?  My little baby is only five weeks old and hearing him cry breaks my heart!  I know that sometimes doing what is hard is doing what is best, but why can’t I feel like it’s the right thing at the time? I am praying that I can keep the right balance in my parenting and in my life in general.

Our Baby Has Arrived!

I am so sorry I have not updated sooner… I have been a little busy doting on our new baby boy Garrett Alan Ditson! He was born February 9, 2011 at 5:32pm and was 8lbs, 20in.  We are loving life as parents and can hardly remember life without him in it. We were very blessed to be able to have family in town for the first two and a half weeks of his little life. I honestly don’t know how I would have survived without the help of our parents while I recovered and started settling into being a mother. I can’t wait to share some stories and pictures soon! At the moment I must go see to my little guy. Thank you all for your prayers they mean so much!

Siesta Scripture Memory 2011

Hey All!

I am very excited about a new years resolution I have committed to. I have decided to join the 2011 Siesta Scripture Memory Challenge. This is an awesome program where you memorize two verses of your choice each month (one every two weeks). I am getting a little bit of a late start as it is already the second half of January, but better late than never! Another great part of this is that I am doing it with my mom! So, with my personal commitment and excitement, accountability with my mom, lots of help from the Lord, and of course posting it on my blog, I am sure to succeed! I have posted a link below telling about this challenge if you would like to know more and perhaps join in as well! My verse for January is:

        Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - NIV


http://blog.lproof.org/2010/12/siesta-scripture-memory-instructions.html

Strollers, Gift Cards and Registries - Oh My!

A somewhat long, but funny story.
Due to popular demand I am putting up Matthew and my most recent experience at Babies R Us. Enjoy!

December 27, 2010:

While Matthew and I were visiting in Colorado we decided to take advantage of being able to shop at Babies R Us seeing as we don’t have one in Great Falls or actually anywhere in MT. We set out for the baby store with anticipation and excitement. “We are going to finish our baby shopping!!” we thought “what fun!”

We walk into the store and head straight for the strollers, then on to bedding, mattress pads, baby clothes and four hours later our final stop at bottles where at this point we have to call my mom for advice on which nipple size and brand to get. By the time we finally get to the cash register Matthew has one foot out the door and I am so completely exhausted that I stand at the counter looking stupidly at the attendant who with a very genuine smile asks how I am, starts reaching over the counter and pulling our items out of the cart. “Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!” I say as I quickly start helping her empty our basket.

The last item to be rung in is of course our stroller which she then asks if we would like to buy a two year insurance policy on. “ummm… “I say looking at Matthew who is shaking his head. “Umm… I’m sorry what was the question? How much is the insurance?” She politely answers my questions and assures me it is a very good idea to get insurance on a big purchase like a stroller. Looking over at Matthew who is still shaking his head and myself being entirely too tired to understand what decision I am actually making replies, “no thank you” and we move on.

Next question, “would you like to close your registry at Babies R Us today? It will save you 10%” “Close my registry? No, I still have items on my registry.” “ are you sure, you have an awful lot here and it will save you 10%” “ yes I am sure, please do not close my registry” I say in a zombie like voice, baffled at why I would ever want to close my registry when it is not quite finished. Next question, “do you have your Babies R Us membership card?” Oh yes! My membership card, I have one of those. I go digging through my wallet trying to find what I did with the shiny silver card. It is nowhere to be found. We try looking up our phone number, nope, our last name, nope. Finally I decide that the easiest way to get the number is to call my mom who also has a card and write down the number.

Five minutes later we have our purchases registered on our Babies R Us card, paid the bill and are walking dumbfounded out the door with our massive receipt. Suddenly as I am looking over our purchases it dawns on me, “10%! We could have saved 10%!” I turn to Matthew with tears in my eyes as he is about to leave the parking lot and tell him what I have just discovered. Clearly sensing that his overly pregnant overly emotional wife is about to lose it, he turns around and offers to go back into the store and see what can be done. When he is out of range I sit in the front seat of the truck and start bawling. Once I get myself together it occurs to me that Matthew has been gone quite a while. I pull out my cell phone and text him to see what is going on. “They have to return all the items and re-ring them and then it looks like they will have to put the saved money on a gift card.” What! A gift card, but we just bought everything we need and we are closing our registry! Before I can text him back he comes walking out of the store and luckily I can see cash in his hand. As he gets into the car he smiles and hands me the money, “here is your $4.10 honey, don’t spend it all at one time.” “$4.10? What do you mean?” “Well, we only get 10% back on the items we bought that were already on the registry, which was about two things. They were going to put it on a gift card, but I asked if there was any way I could get that in cash and they nicely made an exception…”

January 7, 2011

Chapters - 2011

Happy New Year!

As 2011 begins and I think about the new chapter that will soon be beginning in my life I am so excited! However, I also can’t help but think about the one that is ending. It is a chapter that I have truly loved. Matthew and I returned Monday from our Christmas trip to Colorado. It was a wonderful, relaxing and much needed vacation and I tried to savor every moment that Matthew and I spent doing what we wanted to do when we wanted to do it, just the two of us. It is thrilling and frightening to me that the drive home to Colorado will never be the same, powering through a twelve hour trip that will never be just a twelve hour trip again. It is thrilling and frightening that we will no longer be able to lie in bed the two of us on a Saturday morning till ten with nothing to do but cuddle and talk (at least not for a very long time), and it is thrilling and frightening that in just a couple weeks we will be responsible for another little life twenty four hours a day seven days a week. I am scared of change, and I know this new chapter will not just be a change in my life but will also change me. But I also know that just like the life changing chapter that I began with Matthew two and a half years ago it will be an unbelievably wonderful change. Therefore, I suppose that instead of change I should call this chapter a new adventure because adventures are something you begin with eager anticipation and hope. Adventures sound like a fun and exciting unknown with a little scary thrown in. So, although I will miss the chapter of my life that is just two of us, “Bring on this new ADVENTURE that is three!”

January 7, 2011