Traveling with a 1 month old...

This past weekend was a first for me in many different ways.  It was my first time to fly into Kansas City (crazy weird airport) much less all by myself with a 1 month old.  I flew with James when he was 1 month, but I had Chelsey's help.  So this time no helpers just me with a huge duffel bag, car seat, and Scott.  I am sure I looked pretty hilarious because I didn't check anything and nothing had rollers, so I put Scott in a baby carrier and slung the duffel over my shoulder and picked up the huge car seat and waddled down the airport.  Luckily Scott was a super star and didn't fuss or cry.  On the airplane I was seated on the first row right after the expensive first class, which meant I had a ton of leg room.  I sat next to this really nice older lady and we chatted a little but not anywhere near annoying.  Scott was awesome here too and basically slept the entire flight (2 1/2 hours).  Right when we were getting off, I hear and feel and HUGE explosion.  Scott had pooped everywhere, through his diaper onto his clothes and up his back.  I rush (with my bag, baby, and car seat) to a bathroom and then proceed to try to clean up a huge mess and change his clothes.  BUT at least it didn't happen on the plane - THANK HEAVENS!!

The flight back.....OH BOY....I hated it!  It first was at 6:05 AM and I had to get up at 4 and be out the door by 4:30, which meant waking a sleeping baby!  We made it to the airport and through security just fine.  It all started getting bad once I boarded the plane.  I had an isle seat in the middle of the plane, which meant no leg room like the flight out....BOO, but it was ok.  Here I was sitting there trying to make myself comfortable and getting Scott all situated, when this horrible looking lady with bad hygiene comes down the isle with her two small dogs.  Of course her seat is right next to mine...the window seat.  She was taking forever getting down the isle and then when I had to get up and move, we were basically holding up the entire plane, so the attendant lady came and just asked me to move over to the window and she would take the isle.  Well what could I do...I scooted over and then was squeezed even more by this lady, who was quite large as well.  She put her dogs under the seat and they started yapping and she started yelling at them to quit it.  Once they quieted down she turned to me trying to make a space for me and Scott in a 18 inch x 18 inch area.  This is when I smelled her BO and overwhelming dog smell.  Now I am getting even more claustrophobic.  Could I make it the whole flight?  Scott, luckily, was sleeping, so I tried to relax, but then started sneezing.  I am not allergic to dogs and normally love them, but under the circumstances, my body had it!  It was a packed plane and I could exactly asked to be moved, so I resigned to deal with it.  The plane took off, and she fell asleep....started snoring (loudly) and her arm was way over the arm bar and seriously taking up my personal space.  I felt like I wanted to scream and push her back on her own side.  Needless to say the 2 1/2 hour flight now felt to me like a 6 hour over seas flight.  I was hot, squished, sneezing, tired, breathing bad smells, and hearing snoring.  GROSS.  We got off the plane, went home, and both Scott and I took a bath/shower.  Even then, all day, I felt claustrophobic.  I am just glad it is over.  Scott was an awesome flier, but does make everything a little more stressful!

Labor Day Hike!

This is a late post but I still want to put it up - so deal with it!

So Labor Day I convinced Tyler to go hiking!!  We were supposed to go on a quick little 1.3 round trip hike up in Centerville, but it seemed that we took a wrong turn and ended up going straight up the mountain for an hour and 20 min. We then called it quits, had lunch, and hiked back down.  It had a great view and we had fun!

Mommy and James

James being silly and trying to pose for the picture

My cute husband being a good sport!!

Lunch spot!!

Picturesque Rock!

Hair dying nightmare...

This morning in between wake and REM sleep (mostly because of Scott who started grunting every 5 minutes - but never quite woke all the way up - ANNOYING) I had this CRAZY dream.  Let me preface this by saying that I have NEVER dyed my hair.  Not once.  I have always wanted too and have made actual appointments and then have always backed out...I know, wuss right?  But nonetheless...I have never dyed my hair.  Ok so the dream...I was at my mom's and finally was going to do it.  I was going to dye my hair.  I had made this decision when my mother was actually dying her own hair (she does hers at home).  I excitedly announced that I am going to put black, dark brown, and red streaks in.  My mother, also excited I was going to take the plunge, immediately came over and started slopping all this gross goop BLONDE dye all over my hair, which immediately turned my hair into this horrid bleached blonde color - it did NOT look good.  She then proceeded to get scissors and cut one side of my hair right above my ear.  I stared into the mirror with horror and then began SCREAMING, YELLING, and crying uncontrollably at my mother and how stupid she was.  I don't know if I was more mad at her for the bleach blonde color or the horrific cut.  Probably the cut, because I distinctly remember yelling over and over "It took me two years to grow that, two years..."  I remember thinking that now I will have to go into a wig store and wear a wig until my poor hair will come back.  My dream then switched to the wig store and me trying on different wigs.  I really was actually going to wear a wig...in every day life!  I woke up sweating, and grabbing my hair.  Thank you this was just a dream.  But maybe also a vision that I really should NOT ever dye my hair or have my mother cut it.  SO at least for now, you will see me just as the same old boring long brown hair Valerie - until, of course, I have a good successful dream about a cut and color!

Babies grow too fast!!

Today was Scott's 3 week appointment and I knew that he had definitely gained weight...he feels like he doubled in size!  Well it is true...he is now 11 lbs. 12 oz and is 23.5 inches.  The weight is not what surprised me, but his height - He has grown 2 inches in 3 weeks!!!  WOWZA!!  He is, needless to say, in the 99 percentile for both height and weight.  James was always a big baby, but I don't think he ever grew that much that fast - perhaps in weight, but not height!  I guess Grandpa (Scott) Nelson and Grandpa Dave are going to have a run for their money.

I thought I would post some pics of this said baby....cute, right?

Size is all relative!!  Look how small he looks here!!

UNWANTED ADVICE...

When I first was married, I always seemed to get unwanted advice from everyone, but looking back, it was nothing like when I first had James.  It all started with pregnancy and then being thrown into motherhood.  There is something about being a new mother that automatically makes you the target for this unwanted advice.  I say "unwanted" because truly it is very UNWANTED.  It happens when you don't ask for it, or when you are trying to change your first diaper, or when you are trying to put your over-tired crying infant to bed, or when you are trying to get the handle on nursing (much less nursing in public), or when your child starts screaming in the grocery store, or when you are trying to discipline your toddler out in public, or when you are trying to keep children quiet in church, or when you are not doing anything at all.  People LOVE to give advice...and to these said people...it is very much UNWANTED!!!  This unwanted advice comes from everyone...family members, friends, church members, and complete strangers.  I have vowed to never be this person that gives this unwanted advice - because to me...it does nothing to help the situation and makes the mother feel mad, sad, and inadequate.  Tonight, however, I was this person that was giving this unwanted advice.  There we were all sitting around at the cabin and my poor older sister offhandedly says that she would like my mother to give her baby (which is due any day now) his bottle cold/room temperature.  Everyone (including me) simultaneously start badgering her about how this is such a bad idea.  I keep saying something like, "you would never do that because as a nursing mother (and I would know because I am a mother that has nursed one already and now nursing her second child - so obviously I am qualified to give this unwanted advice, right?) the baby wouldn't take that temperature and blah, blah, blah, blah about how I would know and she doesn't really know yet.  Well to say the least, she got flustered, upset, and started crying!  Why did I do that?  Here she is getting ready to have this baby...anticipating having a new baby, how her life is going to change, how she is going to be a mother and have to raise this child and here I am giving this UNWANTED advice.  Chelsey, I am sorry.  I was out of line and I am sorry that it took you upset and crying to make me realize that you don't need my advice.  You don't need anyone's advice.  You know what to do...and if you don't, it is YOUR child - so you get to decide how you want to raise this child.  Hopefully I can be a better sister and not give this unwanted advice again!  What happened to me just listening and not judging what or how she "thinks" she is going to do things.  Mothering is hard, I don't need to make it that much harder by stuffing my foot into place it shouldn't be and wasn't asked to be!  Sorry Chelsey...I want to say it will never happen again, but it probably will...and when it does feel free to stop me and put me in my place!  Love you!

Time to get Skinny!!!

So this Sunday I told Tyler that I was done being flabby.  I know I had a baby only 2 weeks ago and I am nursing, but eating an entire loaf of bread with butter and jam during the day and then eating an entire thing of oatmeal cookies at night is not helping!!  It would seem that I can not get enough food...I think this is because a couple weeks before having Scott, I could only eat tiny portions and never hardly snacked...I had no room - BUT NOW - I have tons of room and never feel full or even satisfied.  Anywhoo....I decided to start dieting and exercising - not extreme but yes something.  So what better coach do I have than Tyler.  He doesn't eat any bread or sugar - basically just fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy (oh and he does have oatmeal for an occasional breakfast).  SO HEALTHY.  I have been eating like this since Monday.  Yesterday I was giving James some bread and stuck a piece in my mouth (bad habit) and then realized what I did and actually spit it into the garbage.  I was so proud of myself, but at the same time, really loved the taste of that bread in my mouth!!!  I think the nights are the hardest...I love to snack and I love sugar snacks and desserts!  Tyler has helped me out with this by making natural popcorn sprinkled with pam spray and nacho cheese powder.  I ate it, but really it did nothing to my sweet tooth!  I am not counting calories (because I am nursing) - I am just trying to stop eating bread and sugar...which are both very addicting!!  As for the exercise...30 min of Pilates on Monday, nothing Tuesday (mostly cause I was sore), and 20 min. of Pilates and 2 mile walk today!  I am feeling sore, but not overly tired.  No ab workouts yet...maybe starting next week and definitely haven't started and can't see myself running for a long time.  We will see!  I have a wedding where I am one of the bridesmaids and am flying out for in 19 days...what miracle can happen in that amount of time?

My CUTE boys!!! (A&L Photos)

Charlie's not mine...but I couldn't not put this on here...so CUTE!!