FEEDING CYCLE

The "feeding cycle " is my life these days. I get about two hours during daylight that I'm not tied up in the cycle. It's hard. And I'm not writing this post to "brag" about my daily accomplishments as many bloggers do. No, I'm merely giving you a glimpse into the reason behind my lack of blogging as well as my lack of bathing, dressing, grooming, cleaning, socializing, exercising, and such... The days are long and yet so fast all at the same time and I can't seem to get enough kisses on my kids cheeks between feedings. Are you tired? No? You will be after reading my daily routine. We go through approximately 20 diapers a day - on a good day, probably 25 most days realistically. That's over 600 diapers a month. Rider's formula makes about 240 oz per $30 container. I did the math - it's roughly a $30 container ever 7-8 days. That's $110 formula a month. And the price of solid baby food is yet to be determined as we're just starting. I wash at least 35 bottles a week by hand and we expire a package of K1rkland brand wet wipes 1 every other day. Here's how:


CYCLE #1
7 am: Feed Rider a 7.5 oz bottle
7:30: Feed Owen
7:50: Change and Dress the boys
8:00-8:30 Breakfast for Layla & Feed Rider solids
9:00: Change and dress and do hair for Layla
9-9:30 get Rider and Owen to sleep
(This is where I have 1 magic hour to get things done)


CYCLE #2
10:30: Feed Owen
11:00: Feed Rider a 7.5 oz bottle
11:30-12:00: Lunch for Layla & Feed Rider solids
11:45: Get Owen to sleep
1pm: Layla and Rider down for a nap
(This is my second spot for a magic 30 min to get things done)


CYCLE #3
1:30: Feed Owen
2:30 Get Owen to sleep
3:00: Feed Rider a 7.5 oz bottle
3:30: Snack for Layla and entertain Rider
4:30: Feed Owen
5:30: Feed Rider Solids
6:00: Dinner for Layla (and although I attempt to eat at this time - it never happens)
6:00: Rider down for a cat nap
6:30: Bathe and put PJ's on Owen, then Layla, then Rider
7:00: Feed Rider a 8 oz. bottle and lay down to sleep for the night
7:30: Feed Owen
7:45: Read stories and sing songs and put Layla down for the night
8:00: Get Owen to sleep or play with his (he's usually wide awake this time of night... because it's the only quiet time of the day he can get 1-1 attention... poor kid)
(My third golden spot for a magic few hours to wind down before Owen eats again)


10:30 or 11: Feed Owen and
Midnight he finally falls asleep and I try to do the same because I'll be up to feed him again around 3 am.


Ahhhh.... Rinse and Repeat. I'm hoping to minimize the difference in feeding times so that Layla and Rider are always eating "solid meals" together and once Owen starts getting on a 3.5 -4 hour schedule it will give me a little more time between feedings. He's still holding strong for those every 3 hour feeds and eats for about 20 minutes and takes about 10 to burp and settle enough for me to put him down without a big fuss.... for for now the "cycle"  is a little harder than I expected. It will get easier the more Rider eats solids and the more time Owen gives me between feedings. Until then.... It's time to go feed again.


 And here's a few pics of the darlings that are consuming every moment of my life.

My "Bug-iz"

Usually answers to the name "O-wee"

And this is my "Ride-iz"

Have a good weekend!

NUFF SAID

My life has felt a lot chaotic lately. A little control is sprinkled throughout here and there with the help of my best efforts. But the most recent happenings of realizing that Rider's tumble out of the high chair a week ago, has finally displayed itself as a probable skull fracture... has left me feeling overwhelming chaos. Again. (Update: After a C.T scan and an LDS Priesthood Blessing - No fracture or other damage was found and the swelling should subside on it's own)
But today, in the chaos, I sat and read this post. And it was as if the universe calling to me and answering my question.
Read the post HERE. It's perfect. I'm learning to embrace the chaos because it always encourages a herculean effort to regain control. And I do LOVE control.

BABY WEDDING - BOYS

Rider will be sporting this little nautical number for his big day.

For a better photo - go HERE

And Mr. O will be donning this for his brothers baby wedding:

For a better photo: go HERE

Shoes and such... to be determined.

LET THE BABY WEDDING PLANS BEGIN

Our baby wedding is coming up for my precious monkey. All the family will be dressed in white and in attendance.

Presenting.....

Buca's Baby Wedding Dress

Buca's Baby Wedding Shoes

Buca's Hair Accessories and Capelet are yet to determined....

FRAZZLED

EVER FEEL LIKE THIS?

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Exactly.

(No children were harmed during the capturing of this moment)

:)

LOVE LOVE LOVE

I love me some M.A.M.A Moments.... I've had a LOT of them lately.

I just love being a mom. And I love rocking each of my babies in this chair.

I love Jamie Caldwell for capturing these moments with my babies.....

More on her amazing skills coming soon. Pictures included. 

And more on the ones I love. 

Wow, when I love, I love big. 

I AM.... ARE YOU?

I am still here.

Are you?

I wouldn't blame you if you're not.

This blog was not intended to be about my life as a mom or the daily happenings of me and my children. 

There's enough blogs out there in the world about that and they're far more interesting than mine.

This is supposed to be about my weight loss journey, self awareness, personal growth, and the challenges of losing fat and gaining life and joy.

Wow, how I'm feeling physically and the games it's playing with my mind.... that's a whole other slew of posts to come. 

But right now all I seem to do is lay in bed tonight, write and re-write this post in my mind.

All the while listening to the symphony of coughing babies and gurgling stomachs as they fill diapers with a burning green concoction that leaves my two youngest with sore behinds. 

We're trying to fend off RSV, balance trips to the insta-care for head traumas sustained from high chair falls, and encourage feeding routines to maintain hydration.

So for the moment, this blog is not about the great and dramatic ramblings of my distorted body image...

it's about my babies and the life we've created in the past 4 weeks.

Take it...

or leave it...

I've chosen to take it.