Mother of the year award right here!!!

Things are going well here at our house. Momma Bear and Pappa Bear are a little sleep deprived, but otherwise loving our little Polar Bear. And our Black Bear and Brown bear are being a great older brother and sister. ha ha

So pretty much through my pregnancy Chuck and I have called each other momma bear and pappa bear. When Riley was born we noticed he was covered from head to toe in white hair. Everyone told us it would fall off....but it hasn't. He still has this little coating on his back and shoulders and legs of white hair. So we started calling him our Polar Bear when he was born. Harley always makes this funny deep throated growl when he gets really excited about going outside for a walk. We have always called him a bear. And so we naturally named Paige our Black Bear. That is how we have become a Beary family. ha ha ha

Yesterday was a good day. Riley took a nap with me for almost an hour, and it was much needed. Afterwards Riley and I drove to Martinez to go to Wal-Mart. We normally avoid this store because it is pretty ghetto. But my vitamins are a lot cheaper there than at Target or Lucky's. So we made our rounds in the store, and Riley ended up flirting hard core with a cute little old lady. ha ha ha
Afterwards we went to Chuck's work to visit him and try to get him to go out to eat with us. He was to busy, so we hung out for a bit while I fed Riley. Then we finally convinced Chuck to leave earlier than he normally does. Everyone else had already left work for the day, but normally he stays until 6:30 p.m. So he left around 4 and we ran to target first to get some bottles for Riley. While we were at Target Riley woke up and started fussing. He is not a fan of being strapped down in his car seat. I unbuckled him and left him in the seat, and he calmed down and went back to sleep. We finished up our shopping and then headed back to the car. Chuck loaded Riley in and then got his bike gear out of the car since he rode his Harley there. I drove back across town so we could meet up at home and then we were going to go to the Hickory pit for some din din. When we got home I was able to carry all the grocery's in one hand and Riley's carrier in the other into the house. He was passed out asleep so I set his carrier in the chair while I set the shopping down, and then used the restroom. Chuck came home minutes later and picked up Riley's carrier as he had woken and started fussing. He uncovered him and asked why I had unbuckled him as we were just leaving again. !!!!! I was shocked!!! I put my hand over my mouth as I realised that I had driven across town with him unbuckled!!!! I can't believe I did that. I wasn't the one to put him back in the car....but I should have remembered that I had unbuckled him!!! I am so thankful nothing happened and he is all right! I would never have been able to forgive myself if Riley was hurt of killed because of my irresponsibility!!!
That is not the first offense either. Last week Chuck took me to Fudruckers for some din din and Riley was sleeping. We were seated near a loud table so we got up and moved across the room. I set Riley's carrier in the chair next to mine and then turned to see where Chuck was. He was picking up the food since our order was ready. I got up and walked across the room to help him before realising that I HAD JUST LEFT MY KID AT THE TABLE!!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!!!!! So that is why I have earned the mother of the year award for sure! aughhhhhhh

On a happier note......Riley gave me his first smile on purpose on Sunday!!! I was burping him and was tapping his lip with the burp cloth and he smiled and laughed a little!!! I just about jumped out of my skin I was so excited! I called Chuck and told him and my mom. lol That night he also gave Chuck a smile when Chuck was teasing him. It is so awesome to see my little man smile. I have even been lucky enough to catch it on video, so I just need to figure out how to upload it here so all can see his handsomeness. lol

Being a mommy has been pretty awesome. Even though Breastfeeding has become impossible, and I am tired beyond belief......It is so worth the pain from pumping several times a day for half an hour to an hour each time, and the lack of sleep. I don't even mind the poopy diapers or being puked on like I thought I would. lol Now give him a few years and I am sure I will mind about that very much.....but for now it's all good. I love watching Riley sleep. He makes the cutest faces, and it is so fun to see. He is noticing his surroundings more and more now. And also is trying to become an avid Television watcher like his father even though I don't want him to. I know he can't really see it and is just noticing colors and shadows on the screen. But it is not a habit I want him to learn for a few years. ha ha Last night when we were at the Hickory Pit I had to feed him in the middle of our dinner. Well what do ya know there was a big screen t.v. right above our table and a basketball game was going on and Riley just couldn't tear his little self away from watching it. ha ha I think he was just interested in the Oranges and reds he was seeing, but still......it made it hard for me to get him to stop watching and eat his chow! ha ha When I went to change him I found out they had no changing table in the women's or men's restroom!! Wow!! I got to try and change him on the counter that had a big trash hole in the middle that Riley was small enough to fit in. Grrrrrr

Today Riley took a nap for almost 3 whole hours!!! I got to take it with him and I sure needed it! He is napping again now, but instead of pumping I opted for a little blogging time. ha ha I will still need to pump and hopefully Riley will allow that.
This afternoon we are supposed to do the grocery shopping, hit up target for something that I forgot, and go to Chuck's work so he can take the car to go buy a batter for our other car. I guess I should stop blogging now so things can get done.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

Walking Zombie here.

Sorry I haven't blogged this week really. I have been so tired, that it has left little time for other things.

This week Riley has decided that napping during the day isn't as big a deal as I do. He will sleep for a few minutes, but then he is awake shortly after. So the precious time that I do have alone has been divided between cleaning and trying to nap. I say trying because when Riley falls asleep, and I lay down to sleep....he wakes up right as I am dozing off. And it feels so cruel to have to get right back up when I am in that Mmmmm warm sleepy state. So I really have given up on naps this week. Since I have done so.....it has made for one sleepy mommy. For example just the other day I finally got Riley down for a nap. I needed to pump and that takes about half an hour. So I got some pumping time in and knew that I wouldn't have much time left for a nap. So I opted for a shower since it had been 2 days and counting since my last one. (hey don't judge) I started the shower and set the Summer Infant video monitor on the bathroom sink so I could see Riley, and then see the lights flash if he cried. I put my shower chair in the shower as well and climbed on in. I was probably enjoying my shower to much and Riley picked up on that. I bathed, brushed my teethies, and once I got soap in my hair and it was all lathered up......Riley wakes up and starts to cry. So I roll my eyes and accept the fate of my shower. I tried to rinse the soap out of my hair as quickly as possible, but my hair is so thick it takes forever. I was rinsing and rinsing and brushing at the same time to get the tangles out, but Riley was starting that silent screaming thing which means he is mega mad and he ends up swallowing air and it gives him worse gas. So I jumped out of the shower, wrapped my hair up and dried off. I ran in to rescue my poor boy from exploding with rage. After my hair dried and such.....I realised that I still had soap in it! Awesome!!! Normally I still find traces of soap in my hair because it is so thick it's hard to rinse out. But normally I don't find this much. It just means that I will need another shower real soon I guess. lol

This week my poor boy has had really bad gas. I am sure if he knew I was telling the world about his flatulence problem he would be incredibly embarrassed. But I need help. What is causing this. I mean he cries and cries until he can get it out. I feel so bad because it is very obvious that it is hurting his poor little tum tum. And is it normal for babies to poop every other day? All he is getting is Authentic mommy milk. So what is causing it? I feel so bad. When he frowns while crying and pouts....I turn to mush. His little quivering lower lip does me in. It's so cute, and I feel bad that my little man is sad.

Riley finally healed up from the big snip snip. The Dr. that everyone raved about who did it, didn't get the string tight enough on there, so it didn't heal right, and then it was having issues falling off, and so we had to go in for more snip sniping. poor little guy. But all is good in that department now. I think next week we go back in for Riley's six week check up and shots. I am not going to like this, and my poor boy isn't going to either I am sure. When he was in the NICU and he had 7 shots in a row he didn't cry at all. But I am not sure if he will be able to pull it off this time.

I am loving being a mommy. I may be smelly from a lack of showering, awnry from lack of sleep, and look frazzled from a lack of pampering and doing my hair. But watching his little faces as he sleeps is so fun. I love seeing all the new little faces he makes, or when he discovers there is something cool to look at and his eyes get really big. He has learned to recognize Chuck's voice so when he comes home from work and says something Riley will turn his head toward the sound of his voice now. Those two seem to have a good bond. Each night Chuck feeds Riley and puts him to bed. It's kind of like their little guy time. Sometimes they watch t.v. or play a game together. It is pretty cute.

I have been struggling with my feelings lately about Riley. I love him more than anything, and I am so thankful that I had him and that he is healthy and strong. But I don't feel he is mine. Like I thought I would have such a feeling of accomplishment when I had him, and a feeling of wow....look....I made that. But since I didn't see him after I had him for so long.....I never got those feelings. It has been kind of hard. I mean it was 9 months of anticipation, and feeling him kick. And then I had surgery and it was gone and a few days later I took a baby home. It's weird. I am not ungrateful at all. I just feel a little loss as I did not get to feel that ans was looking forward to it and almost counting on it to start that bond process. I don't know.

Well it sounds like my little man is waking up from his nap and I am almost done pumping now. So my luxury me time is now over.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

Little Man

Poor Riley had another Dr.'s appointment yesterday. It was his one week check up after getting the snip snip done the week before. Things were supposed to be all healed up and the ring fallen off, but alas of course something didn't go right and so things weren't finished yet. So unfortunately Riley had to get a little more snip snip done to him last night. But it seems like things are on the mend now and this morning his ring fell off, and so all should be good now.

Afterwards we ran to Target to get a few things that I forgot to get last time, and then Chuck wanted to stop at Fudruckers on the way home. We had never tried it before, and I wasn't to keen on going anywhere as the lack of sleep caught up with me yesterday and I just felt blah! The place looked really fun, but was very loud. Luckily Riley was passed out and was able to sleep through the whole thing thanks to the Tylenol that the nurse gave him. ;0) The food was really good, and cheap as well. And my Chicken sandwich was amazing! I think hands down it is the best Chicken sandwich I have ever had!! The fries were pretty good, but I didn't care for the seasoning on them. And Chuck indulged a little and got us a treat to share afterwards. ;0) The thing I like the best about it is that I was able to add my own toppings, and make the sandwich how I like it. I was able to add Ranch Dressing and everything to it, and it was YUMMO!!! They even have different kinds of soda there to try. (different as in ones you don't normally find in the grocery store). All around I give this place a 4 out of 5. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is that it was insanely loud, and it felt over crowded like we were packed in like sardines.

Today has been good. Chuck has a full honors funeral he worked today in a place called Windsor. I guess it is about an hour North of here. So he was gone pretty much the entire day. He was awesome enough to get up with Riley last night and feed him and change him. But I ended up trying to get him to go back to sleep, and that kept me up until past 5a.m.!!! Then Riley's next feeding was at 7. So Chuck changed Riley and got him started on a bottle while I got up and got myself ready so I could take care of him. Chuck left early for work, and Riley and I hung out the rest of the day. We got some laundry done, and clothes folded and hung. It was pretty nice. I also got some dishes done, and the kitchen tidied up. I washed some of Riley's bottles and picked up in the living room.

Things have been going well for Riley and I. It is so fun to watch him sleep. He makes the cutest faces. And watching him smile is awesome! I can't wait until he figures out how to smile on purpose. He has such a cute little smile! ;0) Being a mom has been so awesome so far. I really love it. Sure I am sleep deprived, and I hurt from pumping. But it is all worth it. I feel like my old self again and so have been able to slowly reclaim the house cleaning. And Riley is such a mellow little man that he doesn't mind just hangin out in his swing while I pick up around the house.

I have loved taking him places. And everyone always comments on how handsome he is. I love it. Well that is all for now, I need to figure out what we are having for din din tonight. Here are some pictures that we have taken.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

Chuck caught Paige sleeping in Riley's bed!! ooops!

95 years of History!

95 years of history is what my grandma was able to experience.

1-Born during world war 1

2- experienced world war 2

3-The shooting of the Romanov family

4-landing on the moon

5-The great depression

6-Freedom for African Americans (Rosa Parks)

7-The Korean War

8-The Vietnam War

9-Desert Storm

10-Operation Enduring Freedom

11-Operation Iraqi Freedom

12- The roaring 20's

13- Prohibition

14- The industrial Revolution

15- Invention of the cell phone

16- Invention of refrigerator

17- Invention of Computers from large to small

18- The evolution of music

19- The repeal of Prohibition

20- The hippie movement

21- The birth of modern air travel

22- Lived during 17 American Presidents

23- Saw the best and the worst president's

24- The assassination of JFK

25- Martin Luther King

26- L.A. Riots

27- She was alive during the only invasion on U.S. soil

28- The two biggest catastrophes in U.S. history...Pearl Harbor, and 9/11

29- The building of the Hoover Dam

30-The birth of Las Vegas

31- Al Capone

32- Valentines Day Massacre

33- The birth of Nascar

34- Evolution of the Television

35- The Dust Bowl

36- The birth and death of the planet Pluto


These are just a few things she experienced. I would really love it if each of you would comment on this post with something else in history from 1916-2011 that she would have experienced. Thanks everyone! She was an amazing woman, and a wonderful friend and grandmother.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

A great woman

I have been lucky enough in my life to know my grandma. And now only know her, but we had a great relationship together. I remember when I was in elementary school and my mom showed me how to dial her number on the phone. She lived in California in an awesome custom redwood and cedar home that smelled like a cedar chest. Really though the walls were cedar and redwood, and so was the outside. I think it is one of the reasons she lived so long......the house was preserving her. ;0) I was in elementary school in Utah. I remember a few times a week I would get off the school bus and run home to call my grandma. I even memorized her number. Now that I think about it.....I called her a lot and would talk to her for long periods of time not understanding that it was long distance and probably costing an arm and a leg. But I was oblivious to those things at that age.

Growing up Grandma would come visit us every summer in her R.V. I loved that thing. It was awesome. She would drive to Utah and spend a week or so with us. And she never failed......every time she arrived, she had a box of animal crackers in the circus box for me. I looked forward to those. lol We were like to peas in a pod. We would do everything together. Take long walks around the neighborhood, and gather firewood together. I would get to sleep at night in her R.V. which was a special treat, and in the mornings she would make me the yummiest breakfast. I called it eggs like grandma makes. ha ha ha She would make me soft boiled eggs and place them in one of her 70's style Corel cups. Then she would make toast and rip it up into tiny pieces and stir it into the eggs.....mmmmmm yummy! I loved breakfasts in her R.V. She would teach me about star constellations, and even bought me a book about them that I still have. She showed me where the big and little dipper were, and the Milky way. She bought me a little book on birds that I still have and taught me how to identify all the different ones in our yard. She took me camping once after I had got my brace off from breaking my collar bone. She was my buddy. Grandma and I got along great! We were best buddies.

When we would visit grandma in California, she always had the most interesting things in her house. And she lived right by the Ocean. You could look out her kitchen window and see the Ocean. We would always go play at the beach, and then have to get the sand hosed off of us in her backyard before we could go in the house. She had some amazing trees in her yard that were perfect for climbing. One in particular was the perfect climbing tree.....I spent a lot of time in that tree.

My grandma has lead an interesting life, and even lived in Cuba with her husband and kids for a while. She was a different person to me and one of my cousins than she was to her kids and the rest of her grand kids. We were the chosen ones.....lol All through elementary, middle, and high school we talked and I shared things with her. I could always be honest and tell my grandma how it was and she didn't care. She understood me when I thought or felt no one else did. She was still my buddy when I was a bratty teenager.

When I got married and moved to California to be with my husband, I didn't know anyone. I felt alone as I was a newlywed, and my husband was a busy Marine. My grandma became my best friend. We would get together usually once or twice a week, and hang out. I would help her around the house with things she needed to get done. We had a great relationship. When Chuck would have 24 hour duty, or would go into the field I would spend the night at her house.

I was very privileged to know her and hear about the amazing life she lived. I love my grandma so much, and even though she passed yesterday....I am so glad that I believe she is in heaven with my grandad and is healthy, young, and pain free.


XoXo-Andrea Carla

Nonnie's no good very bad day

I took this title from one of my favorite kids books and just adapted my name to it. ( http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Terrible-Horrible-Good-Very/dp/0689711735 )

Today was going to be great. Riley and I had an amazingly great 1st day alone together, and so the plan was to have another great day. We got up early, but not to early. Riley let us sleep in just a little. And let me tell ya mommy really was happy about that. Riley ate some chow while mommy snacked on a pop tart and snuck one of Chuck's Pepsi's out of the fridge. (shhhhhh don't tell) ;0) While we were eating, I got a phone call from family saying my grandma had slipped into a coma. This was really depressing news to hear, as I am close with my grandma and love her so much. While Riley napped a little I pumped for 30 minutes, and then got myself dressed, and did my hair. Then Riley woke up and I changed and dressed him. I got the diaper bag packed and everything ready to go. You see we were on a mission today. We needed to go to the store, buy some more diapers, because my Riley bug seems to have a nasty habit of pooping a lot. ha ha ha And we needed to buy some hangers, dusters, and a few little odds and ends. We also were going to go to the Tute (Institute) because on Wednesdays they have a forum, and lunch. Everyone comes out for Wednesday forum so I thought it was a great time to turn in my parking permit, see everyone, and show off my Riley bug. Once everything was done and ready to go I placed Riley in his swing and locked the dogs in the bedroom so they wouldn't bother him. I went outside and down the street to get my car and pull it up to the house since it was sprinkling outside and I didn't want Riley to get all wet. I got in my car and it wouldn't start. ;0( REALLY?!!! So I came in the house and called Chuck. He said he was in Sacramento and so he couldn't come jump my car. I called around and one of the guys from the ward came over and jumped my car. I was so thankful for this. Things were looking up a little, as we would still make it to the forum in time. So I pulled the car up to the house and was worried to leave it running while I got Riley and strapped him into the car. I thought the car would be okay, so I turned it off. Then I was worried so I tried to turn it back on, and nothing!!! Aughhhhhh I wanted to pull my hair out! The guy that jumped my car had said if I had another problem, then to give him a call and he would come over. But I felt bad enough for asking for his help in the first place. I always feel like such an inconvenience to people and hate to have to bother them. So I called Chuck again. He laughed at me for turning off the car. Thanks babe! ;-P

So I called around to everyone in my contacts list that I thought might be in the area. Out of all the people I called......no one could help. ;0( I called my visiting teacher again as her phone was off......and glory glory she answered and came to rescue me. She picked me up and drove me to Concord. While on our way we got stopped in the road by none other than a flock of wild Turkeys in the middle of the city next to the 680 freeway! What?!! It was funny to see them and reminded me of all the turkey's at my home in Idaho. I was dropped off in Concord at Chuck's work so I could get the Yukon. Thank You Brouge for saving the day!

We didn't make it to forum on time, and missed mostly everyone. But we did get to see a few friends, and Riley was a huge hit. While a friend held Riley, I checked my phone and realized I had missed 3 calls and 3 text messages, and had voicemails. My grandma had died at 2:48 p.m. and I had missed every one's call. ;0( This was hard to hear as I have been holding on to the thought that I have always wanted my grandma to meet my child. But it took me 10 years to get Chuck to agree to having children.....and apparently that made it to late. ;0( But she is young now, without pain, and with my grandad in heaven. So I need to be grateful for her because I believe she is so much happier now.

We went to Target and got the supplies we needed. As I loaded everything in the car and was strapping Riley in I realized we forgot a few things. I sat in the backseat contemplating if I should load Riley back in the shopping cart and go back in the store, or just wait and Chuck and I could go when we picked him up from work. I felt so tired and beat from the day that I opted to wait for Chuck's help. We drove to his work and waited for him. By the time we got out of there it was to late, so we grabbed a little chow at Diggers and went home.

Riley got some din din and we were off to bed. Riley and I had a good heart to heart about him sleeping until 4 a.m. I mean I would love to sleep till 5, but I would settle for 4. ha ha ha Well apparently Riley listened and thought that he would help his mommy out a little and he slept until 4:30 in the mornin!!! I did a happy dance!! He started to wake up but hadn't got fussy yet, so I got up and warmed his bottle while he hung out in his swing. I picked him up and carried him into his room so we could rock in our chair, and I could feed him. I walked in his room and found that Paige had pooped on the carpet!!!!! Aughhhhhh ;-O I was mad! She is house trained!!! What the heck!!!! So I woke Chuck up because by now Riley was getting upset that I was holding his chow in my hands and not giving it to him! Chuck was awesome and got the wet vac and cleaned it up for us. Thanks Babe!!!! You saved us from a mommy and baby unified melt down!!!

So that was my day! But tomorrow is going to be better! ;0) I love my grandma, and am happy she is pain free now.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

First day

The day is almost over so I thought while my little man is napping........I will let you know how our first day on our own has gone. I am happy to report that it has gone splendidly well!! Last night we never woke Chuck up to help us with feedings or diaper changes, and it went well. Riley woke up around 3 and and after about an hour.....we finally got back to sleep. It was great. Then we woke up shortly after Chuck left for work, and we never really got back to sleep. Well Riley got a 26 min nap then woke up again. I was working on sleeping....but didn't get the opportunity to. Riley was a little fussy this morning but after I was able to fill his belly with some warm milk.....he finally went down for a nap at noon. I really wanted to take a nap as well, but knew that things needed to happen around the house. So I placed Riley in his bouncer, and turned on the vibration which he doesn't seem to be able to fall asleep without it. And I was able to pump for 30 minutes, and then start a load of dishes. I picked up a little and then Riley woke up. I changed him, fed him, changed him again, sang to him and then he passed out for another nap. Then I ran around and did another load of dishes, picked up a little in the bedroom, and then cleaned the kitchen counters. I cleaned out the fridge a little, picked up the doggy toys and put them away. filled the garbage can with junk that was hanging around, and moved some things around in the house. I made a trip out to the garbage, and moved the kitchen table aside to make a better area for Riley's swing to fit into (while he was sleeping in it). The 3rd load of dishes is almost done, and I need to pick up the fluff from the dog toys on the floor, and fold Riley's laundry. Then I am calling it quits for the day. It really feels good to start to reclaim my house again after 9 months of me not really feeling well enough to ever get a good cleaning done in it. ;0) Maybe if we have another good day tomorrow, I might even tackle the bathrooms!

Yesterday I also cut off all of my hair! It is Uber short! lol

Well that is all for now. I will keep you updated.

XoXo-Andrea Carla