DEVIN IS....

Devin is my new spooning buddy.

My body pillow. 

All the pregnancy books suggest one.

Normally I spoon on Kday, and although he only weighs a whopping 140 lbs, I can't flip him side to side as easily as a pillow.

He's the "dummy" Kevin.

Thus, Devin.

Kday is actually a little jealous.

I often find him trying to steal Devin from me for his own personal use.

Kday insists that we can dual spoon on Devin but it just isn't the same.

After 4 weeks of zzzz'less sleep I decided it was worth a try....

and ohhhhh was it worth every penny.

Sorry Kday, Devin is mine... all mine.

If you're a good boy maybe I'll pick you up a "Sharon" at TargeT the next time I'm there.

But what's that going to do to our marriage?

I'll be sleeping with Devin and you'll be sleeping with Sharon?

What's our world coming to?

WHO IS.....

Devin?

Who is he?

Is he the new love of my life?

Maybe...

He sure makes Kevin jealous.

You'll find out Monday night who he is and why he's coming between me and Kevin

ADOPTION ETIQUETTE PART II

Please do not read me wrong, as this is not a lecture of sorts.... Think of it more as "if you say this to me one more time I might stick a spoon in your eyeball" :) This is really merely just an FYI if you're around a mother of biological and adoptive children.

Please don't say things like....
"When is YOUR baby due?"
"What do you think YOUR baby will look like?"
"She's adopting a baby and now she's pregnant with her OWN baby."
"Oh so you'll have two adopted kids and one of your OWN!?"
"What does her/his MOM look like?" (open your eyes, I'm standing right here)

All of my children are my OWN. I'm their MOM. Regardless of the route they required to come to this family, nothing could possibly prove them to be any less than my cherished children, part of my eternal family. And when we go to the glorious temple here on earth, my children's blood lines become my own blood lines. This is why when I'm asked about the background of my family I am careful in my word choice.

"Layla was adopted." or "Layla came to us through adoption."
Never do I say, "Layla IS adopted"
Being adopted has nothing to do with who she IS, it's merely the way she arrived.

So don't be bugged my inklings to educate on the appropriate wording to use around an adoptive mother. It's just a kind reminder that sometimes a simple comment can leave an unintentional sting. And if I were to  sit down and allow the sting... how would I be fulfilling my role as a mother? The role to better this world for my lovely children.

P.S.
Rider's doctor said he wouldn't be surprised if the birth mom went into labor within the next week. So cross your fingers everybody! This baby boy I've been dreaming of could be here in a matter of days!

SHOUT OUT

A few weeks ago my lovely sister in law coordinated a "Girls Retreat" up in Park City. Those in attendance included myself, my SIL, my sister, Miss Mary (my mom), and my aunt J. We spent the weekend eating delicious food and lounging about at the condo downtown P.C.

Of coarse P.C wouldn't be complete without unloading all sorts of cash at the outlet mall. In anticipation of my newly growing baby bump, the ladies talked me into going into MotherHood Maternity. My hesitation was obvious as they practically had to drag me into the store. At this point I was still in disbelief that this miraculous pregnancy would be successful. But quickly I fell in love with the prosthetic baby bump available to wear while trying on clothes!

NOT MY REAL BABY BUMP!!!!
IF ONLY I COULD LOOK THIS CUTE ONCE I REALLY START SHOWING THIS MUCH!
FOR NOW... I LOOK NOTHING LIKE THIS! I JUST LOOK REALLY OVERWEIGHT!

I just have to say that my shopping trip to Motherhood Maternity turned out to be a once in a lifetime experience! I couldn't have planned it if I wanted to. It stands right up there next to the day I tried on wedding dresses with my mom. It was so special to have all the girls there oohing and aahhing over my baby bump in maternity clothes. And the staff at the P.C Motherhood Maternity waited on me hand and foot and was sure to care for my every need. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman trying on clothes on Rodeo drive.... Yes, that's how awesome the sales women were at M.M.
After giving me VIP service I left with my arms full of darling, comfortable, and surprisingly fashionable maternity clothes for my baby bump to grow into.
And despite many people's advice that "A Pea in a Pod" being their favorite maternity store... the service, selection, and prices rated quite poorly in my experience compared to MotherHood Maternity.
To shop their online store, go HERE
Here's a few of my favorite things from M.M

I have this top in two different colors



This shirt is darling with a little a symmetrical neckline that is very flattering


This top in two colors for my fall wardrobe

Early and After Capri Jeans... love them, makes me wish every pair of jeans had an elastic waistband!


I have a shorter version of this dress, but as I get bigger I can imaging that this would be uber comfy to lounge around the house in!

Now stop reading and go shopping!

BABIES OF A DIFFERENT KIND...

What's the worst thing you can find in the bathroom when you look up on the ceiling?

BABIES.

Baby spiders. 

Real freaking great.

It's a fact that if you find one baby spider there's a million more of them somewhere close by.

As if I wasn't already feeling like my house isn't in "baby welcoming standard"

This is what happens when I don't allow myself to nest appropriately. 

Had I cleaned the entire house top to bottom and inside out like last time, I wouldn't have a million baby spiders on my bathroom ceiling.

Stupid.

Too late now.

LAZINESS OR REALIST?

All weekend long while away at Jackson Hole we prepped Buca for the big potty training party we were going to have when we returned home today. We talked about her big girl undIes and potty. We explained that a successful trip to the potty would result in an M&M and a new doll. She seemed totally on board. And today after Buca's best boy friend J came to play (who is miraculously potty trained by the age of 2 by the way) and she saw him use her big girl potty and get a treat... she was gung-ho! She asked for her undies and we sat on the potty and waited and waited. I set the kitchen timer for 10 min increments and every 10 min I would stop what I was doing and we'd try sitting on the potty again.

The first time she got off the potty she peed on the rug in her room before I could even exit the bathroom. So we said "oops! it's an accident. Next time we go on the potty and not on your legs." We giggled and tried again.

Twenty minutes later we had a successful trip to the potty! M&M reward given and lots of cheering... as soon as I could blink she peed again on her rug in her room. No longer than 30 seconds after going on the potty. "oops again, it's an accident. we don't go potty on our legs, we go in the potty." "Next time tell mommy if you need to use the potty still ok?!"

Ten minutes later we sat down for lunch and I felt something splash on my leg... yes, pee on the chair and all over the floor.

Clearly she hasn't grasped the concept. With another 2-3 days of consistent checking and potty time every 10 minutes I think I could make it work. But after the third accident in a matter of 45 minutes, I walked into the kitchen and stopped for a few moments to pull myself together. And I realized that either I'm in no state of mind or emotionally capable of potty training right now, or it's just a realistic notion that  I'm lazy.
But let's take a look at the goings on in our lives right now, and it really doesn't make sense to add another element of difficulty and change when already our life is about to be turned upside down. We're expecting a baby in 3 weeks. Our house is for sale. Layla will be bouncing around from place to place while we attend the hospital birth and adoption relinquishment meetings. We'll be moving into a new place soon. Sleep training Buca from a crib to a twin bed. And then the birth of yet another sibling.

Is now really the time to ask her to learn a new skill that's often a hard adjustment? Is now really the time for me to be checking in on her every 10 minutes for a potty stop? No it's really NOT the time. Right now we all need a little dose of structure and comfortable security in our routine. Call me lazy if you will... but I prefer to be called a realist.

DO THE SHUFFLE!

Last night I sat in front of a friends house and I watched L-dub and N-Motti head out on one of their hard core runs. I've never been much for keeping up with either of those two superhero's, but truth be told, it made me jealous. I freaking LOVE being pregnant. And I'll be the first to sacrifice EVERYTHING physically to stay pregnant. But I miss running. I feel like an addict who wants "just one more hit" or "just one puff."
As I headed out on my morning walk with Mr Kash I couldn't resist the yearning my legs had to just take off and run. It's been months since I've run. The very moment I saw those glorious two pink lines I quit running, so I knew there'd be nothing in my legs. I would barely call what I was doing "running," it would be better described as a "shuffle." So I shuffled my way down 6 blocks. Not exactly the hard core run I had a hankering for but it stifled my craving enough to feel like I was keeping the baby safe from harm and still listening to my body's deepest desires. I walked about 3.5 miles after my six short shuffled blocks and it felt good.
I reminded myself that the first step to motherhood is making sacrifices and for the first time sacrificing my body to nurse a healthy pregnancy is the biggest offering I can put forth. And with the help of my newly ordered double chariot, I'll be up and running in no time after baby #3 gets here.

I'm off to enjoy a sans kids lunch with a fabulous woman, who just so happens to be expecting baby #3 after the beautiful adoption of two little ones also. I can't wait to exchange stories!