The Other Kitty

Meet Kiss Kiss.


He is the other kitty in our lives. Noodle didn't take too well to him at first. I'm not joking. He nervously army crawled over to him, got face to face and then Kiss Kiss must have moved or something, because our brave Noodle jumped about ten feet in the air and ran under the bed. I digress... Although Noodle and Kiss Kiss got off to a rough start, River LOVES Kiss Kiss.

River loves Kiss Kiss so much, he will actually roll over if you put Kiss Kiss just out of reach. Yes, I use my babes toys as bait.

Together again.... Thanks Great Aunt Camille for my Kiss Kiss.

No Kiss Kiss in the last photo, just a heart breaker! Sweet Dreams All.

Ouch!

To vaccinate, or not to vaccinate, that is the question.

Or more like my eternal dilemma. A nurse at one of my appointments encouraged me to do a little research when I told her we weren't vaccinating at this point. I love that it is assumed the people who aren't all aboard the vaccination bandwagon haven't done any research. The facts are these, I have research leaking out of my eyeballs and I still don't know the right answer. I think that's because there is no right or wrong answer. Both sides make good cases. Both sides contain fear inducing statistics. I think you have to trust your instincts and just because your instincts tell you it is right/wrong to vaccinate your child, doesn't mean that someone else is wrong if they choose to do the opposite. Maybe that child is around more situations where they would come into contact with disease. Maybe that child has an unknown allergy to some of the fun stuff they mix in the vaccines.
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Heavenly Father gave us insight in to our particular children and we will receive promptings and answers for them. (Sometimes I wish they were hand written.) I know the government looks at vaccinations for the good of the community and thinks of the number of vaccine related injuries as acceptable in keeping the whole safe. However, River is my priority. I care about his good and I don't feel selfish for thinking like that. I hope every parent does.
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Enough with my soap box. There has been a rather big outbreak of pertussis and despite our decision to not vaccinate at this time, we were both getting the feeling we needed to get River the DTaP. We are about to do a lot of traveling and he will be more exposed than when at home. I felt sick to my stomach researching the ingredients of the vaccine and the many reported reactions to it, but when we prayed to see if River would be okay, we felt peaceful. We decided to go through with it and within 24 hours of receiving the shot, River had labored breathing, a chest cough, a fever, throat swelling and sores in the back of his mouth.
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Scary. I take my never been sick, healthy baby boy in to the doctor's and I come out with a hot mess. I was angry at first and completely doubting myself and my decision. Having a few day behind me now, I can say I think we did the right thing. We were prompted to have River receive this vaccine at this time and although he had a reaction, who is to say he might have been exposed to something much worse had we not. As much as I hate it, we can't know everything. We have to make the best decisions we can, trust in them and move on. The back and forth limbo is hell.


If you've managed to read this far (attention span is a hard thing to come by these days... a result of vaccinating?... who knows) I want you to know River is one tough cookie. The nurse said, "Prepare to hear him cry louder than he ever has." and then gave him the shot. He just turned to me, scrunched up his face and gave one loud UGHHH and then started sucking his thumb. Within 30 seconds he was smiling.


Anyway, one week later and he is doing much better. Everything is gone, except for a bit of a cough lingering. Ironic, since we did it to protect him from Pertussis (whooping cough). I am also recovering and am wondering when they are going to make a Mother's Guilt vaccine.

Lucky #7

Dear River
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Happy seven months baby boy. Right now you are taking a nap. You are trying to sleep off your first illness. You've never been sick a day in your life, then we get your first immunization shot and within 24 hours you have a fever, chest cough, labored breathing and sores on the back of your throat. Hmmm.... glad I didn't have you get more, or get them sooner. Sorry you don't feel good buddy. Even with being sick, you wake up every day with a smile. When you're achy and get fussy, you are a master self soother. Who needs a binkie, when a thumb is so handy? (Get it?)
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You also cut your first tooth today. When it rains it pours. The bottom right front tooth made its debut. You don't like us to look at it. You are a master of hiding it with your tongue.
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You are super steady sitting up. The doctor tried to knock you over and couldn't. You are a tad bit happier on your belly. You have started pulling your knees under you a bit, but when you push forward, your hands get left behind and you haven't quite figured out how to bring them back up. Take your time little man. Mama likes having you in the same spot she left you in when she has to run to the bathroom.
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This month you finally rolled from your stomach to your back. You've been doing the other way for awhile, but would only put your head down and start sucking your thumb, when you wanted off your belly. Not anymore. You just stretch your neck way far back and around, then magically the rest of your body follows.
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Your collection of funny noises have grown, as well as the volume. It sounds like you say eight... so we always say nine, ten right after. Maybe you will like math like your Papa Hal? It also sounds like you say add. I tried to get you to add a d and say dad, but you change it to dab. So close buddy. None of your noises sound like mom... oh well... why do you need to say mom, when I am always right there?
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My two favorite new things you started doing this month are your grandpa face and your much loves. You suck your lips in and since you have no teeth, oops, I mean one tooth, you look like the cutest old man. You also beat your hand on your chest, right over your heart and then stretch out your arm to me or dad. We always say much love, because it seems like that's what you are trying to say to us.
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Of course I still love your raspberries. You do them so much, we call it motorboatin. You've added a delightful new twist... motorboatin while eating. Nothing like a good banana shower to get the day started.
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I better publish this. You are going to wake up soon and I am very tired. It's not your fault. You've been sleeping great. It's just hard on a mama seeing her baby sick. I do enjoy the cuddles though. Feel better soon and no more shots for a looong while. Promise.
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Love Mama

Diabetics Beware

The sweetness of these pictures might send you into sugar shock.
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Melissa at Melissa Sue Photography is the best. She made my photos beautiful, even without the Earth Mama Hair. Of course my handsome husband and gorgeous babe, with his million mega watt smile, are pretty easy on the eyes.

Stupid Mom Face

When you're an actor, you have a lot of pictures taken; head shots, stills on set, cast and crew photos, etc... Most likely you are of the personality type who enjoys a nice photo of oneself and is quick to jump into most anyone's picture. As a result of all this experience, you learn your best angles, your good side and how to smile naturally. If you're really good, you learn camera awareness. Being quick to spot a camera insures never being caught off guard in "candid" shots. You might hear expressions like,"Oh my gosh. You look so cute. It's almost like you're posing.", quite frequently. (Who me? Never!)
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It's not that you're vain, okay, maybe it's a little that you're vain... but it's mostly because it takes a lot of confidence to make your living in front of a camera. If you're going to be able to sum up the confidence it takes to have a video camera inches from your face day in and day out, having a shoe box full of rocking photos of yourself is helpful.
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My point in all this is, I may not be a model, but I know how to take a good picture, or at least I did... until I became a mommy. Suddenly, I've been stricken with Stupid Mom Face. You know, the one where you smile so big your eyeballs are going to pop out of your head, while you try to get the teeny, tiniest smile from your babe. Believe you me, it quickly gets worse and spreads throughout the entire body, as you're child gets older and more distractable. If I knew how to make collages, (anybody care to share) I could fill your computer screen with many an example, however, I'll just leave you with this one lasting image to haunt your dreams. Don't think you're immune. Stupid Mom Face will get you in the end.