Holidays!!

Wowwers!!! I can NOT believe that 2013 is just days away. November and December of this year have flown by faster then green grass though a goose! I guess being busier then bees will do that huh?
Here's a quick run down of the Bostwick's past two months...

Nov- Steve upgrades to Aircraft Commander and we find out we are having a Nephew!!
11th-19th Katie and Gracie travel home to Georgia. Grace decides that she likes flying but only for 10- minutes then she wants out of the plane, but then again who would want to be coupe up for 3 hours in a plane when your just learning to run around??
19th-25th Brittany meets us in Denver!! Thanksgiving....Black Friday....Shopping Shopping Shopping....Brittany leaves. :-(


December!

3rd My mommy comes to visit.
6th- My little brother turns 16!!! Scary!!! / Steve's Aunt Judy comes to visit.
8th - Gracie's 1st birthday party!! I wanted to do it early since I didn't want to have her party and Christmas in the same week. Squadron Christmas party/ first time Steve and I have been out together without Grace since she's been born!
9th- Aunt Judy returns home.
12th- Daddy's bday!
15th- Kids Christmas Party/ learning Grace is TERRIFIED of Santa, but is okay as long as he isn't touching her.
17th- Steve mom's birthday/ My mom leaves.
18th- Steve's mom and sister Laura arrive to spend time with Gracie.
20th Gracie turns one!! I could write a whole other blog about how much I can't believe she had grown in a year and all, but I will just leave it at this...She amazes me everyday. Steve and I can't even begin to put into words how blessed we are and how much we love her.
21st- WE SURVIVED!!!
24th- Steve's mom and Sister leave.
25th Christmas Day!! I cook WAY to much food for us and 2 other couples but hey leftovers are always great right??

Needless to say I feel like these last two months have been a blur, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love having family and friends around I guess that's just the Italian in me. I know next year will be just as busy with all the things we already have planned and I am so excited to see what other unforeseen things it has in store!

Keeping Christ in Christmas.

   So I know I am gonna get SOMEONE's panties in a twist reading this blog, but I urge you to read the WHOLE blog and please keep in mind that this is simply the ramblings of myself. As in this is my blog and I can write pretty much what I want to and if you don't like or agree with it fine no skin off my teeth.

   It is NO secret that I am a  cradle Catholic, born and raised and damn proud of it. I love my faith and I plan on raising my children in the same fashion I was. So obliviously I am going to celebrate Christmas as in the birth of Christ. I am going to dawn my house with an Advent wreath, Christmas Tree, lights, and as of yesterday my Nativity scene. On Christmas Eve we will attend Mass, come home open two presents for Grace one of which will be her Christmas Jammies and the second a book some how related to CHRISTMAS.  We will place cookies by the tree, put her to bed and patiently wait for Santa. The next morning we will wake her to the wonderful magic that Santa Clause somehow broke into our house without a chimney and place tons (and I do mean tons HELLO first Grandchild) of presents under the tree and filled her stocking. Then we will ready the story of the Nativity and the true meaning behind OUR CHRISTmas. This is how CHRISTMAS (or the Christ's Mass) will be celebrated in this HOUSE, because this is our faith and this is our belief.

    Are you panties wadded yet? For most of you no, because a lot of my friends and family will agree with what I just wrote and say that they practice similar things in their home. So here's where it's gonna get sticky. Let's do a little history lesson into Christmas. Alright Christian love ones...Why do we celebrate Christmas in December? If you said that is because that is when Jesus was born you would be wrong. Sorry. The Bible actually does not state when Jesus was born in either of the Gospels that his birth is mentioned. In fact evidence points toward Christ actually being born in the spring, I mean why are Shepherds herding sheep in the middle of winter? Even in the "middle east" it gets darn chilly in the winter. So back to my original question why do we celebrate it in the winter then? In the early years of Christianity we did not celebrate the birth of Christ. In fact the big holiday for us Christian's was Easter. Somewhere in the mid fourth century however, church officials decided to institute the birth of Christ as a holiday. Pope Julius I chose the date December 25th. It's actually believed this time was chosen to in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of pagan festivals such as Winter Solstice, Satunalia, Juvenalia, and the celebrations of pagan gods such as Yule and Oden. By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals it increased the chances that Christmas would be embraced. In the Middle Ages Christmas was actually celebrated much differently then we do now. On Christmas believers would attend church and then celebrate much the same way we celebrate Mardi Gras without the beads of course. Through out the centuries the traditions have morphed into the more family friendly modern Christmas that we celebrate today. So you may ask ok what's your point? My point is that YES there were festivals and "holidays" that were celebrated in winter LONG before we Christians made the whole month about the birth of our Savior. This is a fact I know and understand, but that being said I have another point to make.
 
    Don't tell me that you Celebrate Christmas but don't believe it had anything to do with the birth of Christ. How does that even make sense? Even you don't believe Jesus was the son of God there is ligament proof that a man named Jesus walked the Earth and preached to everyone he was the Son of God. It is because of this man and his teachings that the Holiday even exist. I don't believe there was a god named Odin who flew around in winter deciding who was worthy enough to keep alive and who was going to parish the next spring, but the story of Santa Clause is loosely based on this pagan belief although with the Catholic Bishop named Nicholas and a 1930s Coco-Cola Ad. The reality is that you can not celebrate one belief without accepting the understanding of the other. I am not saying that you have to celebrate Christmas like I do, but what I am saying is that you have to accept that Christmas as in the Holiday that we recognize on December 25th is in fact BASED on the birth of a man a Jesus Christ. Weather you chose to celebrate the religious holiday or the commercialized version of the holiday that is up to you and your household. The one thing I love the most about living in the United States that we are free to believe what we want and NONE of us should be judge on that, and for goodness sakes call it a Christmas Tree or a Yule-Tree but none of this Holiday Tree CRAP. If it looks like a duck, quacks like duck, it's a freaking duck!!!

Dismount Soap Box.

War on Sleep

About a month ago when Grace and I traveled to Georgia I assumed there would be some changes in Grace's sleeping habits. What I was not prepared for was the 3 week battle with my daughter to get her to sleep at all. It started our first night in GA, I knew that she would probably be up "later" then normal due to the fact that there is a 2 hour time difference. So I waited till about 9:30 pm EST to start our normal bedtime routine of bath, book, bottle, & bed. Everything was going great until we got to the bed  part. She refused to lay down at all. I thought okay she's just excited about being in a new place. So I let her run around some more with her Aunt and MeMaw. Finally at around midnight I was able to get her to lay down with me in the bed and fall asleep. I gently laid her down in her pac n play expecting her to sleep till at least 9 am. She got up at around 4 am and would not sleep unless she was laying in bed with me. I was exhausted so I gave in and she slept with me until 7 where she woke up bright eyed a bushy tailed. This patterer continued thought out the whole week we were there. Getting up in the middle of night sometimes going back to sleep once she realized I was in the room, but other times not sleeping again unless she was laying in bed with me. As good of a time it was to be back "home" I was looking forward to coming home getting her back into her routine in her room and getting a good nights "sleep".  I was so naive!!

I had expected some resistance to getting back into our sleep pattern, but as I said I was completely blind sided be the war that waged on for 3 weeks. The first week home Grace was up a minimum of 5 times a night. No amount of rocking, bottle feeding, or crying it out would put her to sleep. Since I knew letting her sleep in our bed was a BAD idea I would regret later I opted for making myself a small pallet of blankets and spent three nights on the floor in her room. After night 3 I just gave in letting her come sleep in our room at about 5 am just hoping for a couple of extra hours of sleep. Steve helped out when he could, but I always tried to let him sleep since I could cat nap with her though out the day although we had company that week so sometimes finding a nap was not easy. I was so excited when he took the morning shift that Saturday letting me sleep in till 8. As week 2 rolled around I figured I needed a new plan of attack. So I thought I will try this cry it out theory. As any mother out there knows the sound of her crying is just heartbreaking intensified by her pitiful cries of "MOMMA!", but I thought hey if gets her to sleep maybe it was worth the try. Grace decided she didn't like this game and pulled out her very own trump cards. She would either poop her diaper or throw up knowing that I would have to come in there and change/clean her up. Touché Grace Catherine! Since I didn't feel like cleaning up vomit every night I decided this method just wasn't going to work for us on to plan C.

Just ride it out....I figured this was just a phase and surely it would have to end sooner or later. Weather that meant another week or 5 years I had no idea, but nothing else was working. So week 3 came about and I decided to just go with the flow. I moved her bedtime back an hour in hopes that tiring her out a little more would help her sleep better. Which it did till about 4 am. Then I would get up with her, change her diaper and feed her about 2 ounces and place her back in bed. This method seemed to be working only twice that week did she wake up again before 7 am.  I took some advice from some mommy friends this past weekend and placed a dim light in her room and like 5 pacifiers in her crib. Sure enough monday night she slept from 9:30pm -7am. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I woke up almost completely rested Tuesday morning. Tuesday night the same thing. I would hear her get up for about ten minutes move around the crib looking for her passy and then silence. I am trying really hard to not the jinx it but I think we have finally won the sleep battle. Which makes this mommy a very happy and pretty rested camper!! Just in time for the holidays!

9 1/2 Months

   I can not believe my little girl is 9 1/2 months old today. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the hospital room at Evans waiting for her to arrive. I know that in two and half months I will feel just the same as she turns one. I know I have been so terrible at keeping you folks updated on how she is doing, but that is because she keeps me so busy now a days.  Gracie took her first full step forward on September first. Steven and I were sitting on the couch after helping a friend move into her new house. Grace was playing with her activity table in the middle of the living room. I said something to her and she got super excited turned toward us and let go of the table. So I said "What are you going to do little girl? Walk?" Sure enough she took a step forward and was still standing. You could tell by the look on her face she was proud of herself. So she got brave and tried to take one more step, but atlas her legs gave and she fell. That was it for about two weeks. Every time she would be standing there by herself I would try to get her to come to me but she would get into crawling position and crawl over. Since then she has taken about 4 to 5 steps at a time across short distances, but not much more. I was guessing that she would be walking before Halloween, but now I am not sure. I know that she will do it when she'e ready and believe me I am not pushing her. This girl is all over the place as it is I can't even image what she's going to be like when she's upright! Other then that we are all doing well. Super excited for this holiday season! However not sure I am looking forward to winter. We are expecting our first snow TOMORROW! Two days earlier then last year. I am not ready for a long winter I would have enjoyed those 60 degree temps a little longer. :)

BEDTIME!!!

   So I am starting to wonder what happened to my kid. Grace has basically been an angel to put to bed from day one. She has had MAYBE a grand total of 5 bad nights since she has been born, but other then that bath, story, bottle, and SLEEP. NO PROBLEM. For some reason though the past week she has been fighting bedtime like it's the devil. Nothing has changed in our routine and she's not showing any signs of teething although I did give her the tablets tonight just in case. So last night I was like ok I am gonna give the cry it out method a try since nothing else is working. We started our normal bedtime routine at 8 and she was eating her bottle by 8:30 as normal. She fell asleep while still eating which is again normal for her. So I put her down in her crib and walked out. Before I could close the door she is full on SCREAMING!! So I was like ok let her cry......2 minutes later I am still kind of holding strong but failing fast. Grace has never been a cryer so when she does my heart just melts. After 10 minutes I couldn't take it especially when she started screaming MaMa and Dada. Even Steve (who had been studying for a check ride) put down the books and gave in. He picked her up and wham she threw up all over him. I checked her temp and everything was fine so I am assuming she cried herself sick. So I finally gave up and laid down in the guest bed with her and watched some Disney Jr. Night Light. She finally drifted off and I put her back in her crib at 10:30. Where she instantly woke back up and cried for about 2 minutes before going back to sleep till 645 this morning.
   Tonight she pulled almost the same thing. Crying until she got herself sick got her cleaned up and put her to bed where she cried for a couple minutes but drifted off shortly after. We will see how long it last. I hate listening to her scream and the getting so worked up she gets sick just doesn't sit with me. ANd I don't mean she cries for a while and gets sick I mean like 5 minutes of screaming and she's throwing up.  I'm just not okay with that at all. I know that giving in is just going to create bad bedtime habits that I am sure I will kick myself for later, but in the moment I just don't care. Ugh I really hope this is just a passing stage and that it will end fairly soon. I miss my angel who just wanted ten minutes in the rocking chair and then was out of the count.   I am also selfish and miss my mommy time at night even if it is only an hour. :-(

Common Sense VS. The Bumbo

    Today I got countless e-mails, phone calls, and Facebook messages from good willed friends and family informing me of the recent recall of the ever popular baby seat The Bumbo. When I first saw the word recall I was thinking what could possibly be the reason for a recall with this seat made entirely out of foam. Then I read the article. Back in 2007 they recalled about 1 million of these seats to add warning labels stating that it is not to be  put on  elevated surfaces. The first line of the article on USA today was this "that majority of the new incidents were dealing with children  being left unattended on raised surfaces." No Kidding!!!! Why would you leave your child unattended  on a counter, table, couch etc in or out of any child care product???
    I remember the first time I saw the Bumbo. I was looking though a friend's Facebook pictures for their daughter's first birthday. She was sitting in a lilac version of the bumbo and I thought what a nifty little seat. A few years later the little boy I watched in Mississippi had a bumbo and a couple years after that we bought one for our Gracie. When I first used the bumbo is Mississippi I remember thinking umm...it wouldn't be all that hard for a baby to get out of this. I thought it was an oblivious observation, but according to the incident reports apparently not. There is nothing keeping your child in the seat other then a thicker piece of plastic between their legs. So why anyone would believe that it would be safe to walk away from their child in it is beyond me. One comment I read today stated that a women did not buy a bumbo because it did not have  belt. She said that if it had restraint belt she was sure the accidents would less frequent. I highly doubt that. High chairs have restraint belts, so do baby swings, some jumperoos have belts as well. Would you leave your child on the kitchen table in their high chair?? Yea, I didn't think so. Not to mention that a belt would not prevent the child from tipping the seat over, but rather just cause the child to take the seat with them as they fell over.
       When I commented on the local news channels Facebook post about this issue today I said that to me this recall makes about as much sense as recalling a car seat because a group of parents did not strap it into the car. A woman wrote to me saying that she didn't agree with me at all. That just yesterday her 6 month old son had "wiggled" out of his bumbo on the floor in the living room and I quote "....his leg had gotten stuck and I found him with his head on the floor. By the grace of God he was uninjured." My response was simple. "First, if you read the manual it states that once your child is able to sit up on their own the play tray should always be used while in the seat. I will admit it is unreasonable of the company to recommend a safety measure that is sold separately from the seat but at least they inform of you this in the manual. Secondly you said you "found him with his head on the floor". It also states in the manual that the seat 'should always be used under adult supervision'. It is not made to be a babysitter." Why this woman would argue that her son was almost injured because he was able to wiggle his way out of the seat and on to the floor was the companies fault is crazy to me. Had she been in the room with him she would have been able to either A. Keep him from falling out or B. Help him out of the seat!
      This whole recall is ludicrous to me. If I use a product IMPROPERLY I would NOT expect the company to be responsible for any injury that incurred. Back to my car seat example, if I did not latch Grace's car seat into the car and she was injured in someway I am sure any judge would tell me that I was entitled to NOTHING. Why, because it is clearly stated in the manual that the seat must be latched into the car properly in order to work. I see this as being the same, and yes I dug though my garage today to find the bumbo box and manual to read it which is why I know what it says. I am sure that 90% of parents did exactly what we did when we got the seat. Pull it out of the box and that was it. Which is why the words "WARNING: Not to be used on elevated surfaces." were added to the Bumbo  seat itself in 2007, but to me that is just COMMON SENSE. I think it is sad that we can get away with blaming a company for our own ignorance in today's world. What's next blaming hot coffee for burns?? Oh Wait.....

OBEY YOUR HUSBAND!

  HAHA...I bet that title got your attention or at least the attention of about 80% of my female friends. I am gonna leave you in suspense for a little bit before I tell you exactly where this blog post is going.  I once attended a wedding where the words submissive and obey were in her vows. I remember sitting in the pew thinking WOW I could never agree to those terms. Even understanding the biblical reference of such a vow I would not feel comfortable saying them, and to be honest I don't think I could have married a man who would be okay with that either. Today while browsing my newest addiction Pinterest I came across this blog post called 25 ways to Communicate Respect to your Husband. I thought okay I am so checking this out. I got to the third pointer and my blood pressure had sky rocketed. NOT because I didn't understand where the writer was coming from. She was simply trying to portray the bibles "stance" of being a helpmate to your husband. Although some of her points were valid A LOT of them were misleading and to be honest degrading. So I am not only going to post the link to the blog so you can check it out, but I am also adding my ideas on the points that REALLY made my blood boil!


So here's the link:

http://lovinglifeathome.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/25-ways-to-communicate-respect/


and here's my views....

#2. Honor his wishes.

        In this point she makes reference to having dinner ready when he gets home and have a clean house blah blah blah. She ends it by saying "Don't make him ask twice". I'm sorry say WHAT?? Listen having a sparkling clean house and dinner on the table may have been easy when it was just the two of us, but things are different now. I have an 8 month old and spending my time and attention with her is way more important to me then the dishes. If I don't get the dishes done until Grace is asleep then so be it! If I don't feel like cooking that day for whatever reason he better be okay with it. If things aren't up to his standards he can hire a maid or a nanny, but either way my priority is my child not clean tubs. Not to say having a clean house isn't important to me, because for my child's safety it is. That being said though it will get done when and how I see fit.
     
      Disclaimer: In his defense Steve has NEVER once made a comment about the house not being clean enough or dinner being late to the table. Maybe because he knows it would be the last sentence he ever uttered.


#3. Give him your undivided attention.

        Okay my issues with this falls along the same lines of my issue with #2. I understand the importance of being acknowledge when your talking. I for one HATE feeling like I am talking to a wall. However, giving someone 100% of your attention 100% of the time is just NOT possible. Now if he has something really important to say or really wants to talk I try hard to stop what I can and focus solely on the conversation at hand, but to be honest those types of chats are usually saved for pillow talk where both of us can fully concentrate on what we are discussing.

#7 Don't Nag.

      I am just gonna say that I for one believe it is a wife's right to be able to nag her hubby every now and then. Plus if we didn't nag em sometimes what would really get done around the house!

#12 Kiss him goodbye.

      This one I actually agree with 100%. I truly believe that making sure to saying Good Morning, Hello, Goodbye. and Good Night is VERY important to any marriage.

#15 Don't Complain

      If you can't vent to your spouse who can you complain too? Getting the things that are stressing you out is good for you and your marriage. This goes both ways though I think both partners should be able to vent and complain from time to time. As long as it is not an everyday occurrence or about EVERY LITTLE THING I don't see a little complaining as an issue.

#18 Keep the house tidy.

      Please refer to #2.

#20 Take his advice.

     Chapter 2 of John Gray's book Men Are From Mars Women Are Form Venus is called Mr. Fix-It and The Home Improvement Committee. Basically to paraphrase the chapter it states that 1. A man tries to change a woman's feelings when she is upset by becoming Mr. Fix-It and offering solutions that invalidate her feelings and 2. A woman tries to change a man's behavior when he makes a mistake by becoming the home improvement committee and offering unsolicited advice or criticism. My point is that both partners in relationships sometimes give advice at bad times. Just because it is coming from your husband does not mean that you have to take it or that it is right. I believe you should considered his views and feelings because he could very well be right or at least have a valid point, but if you don't feel it is the right choice or whatever for you talk it over with him. Don't just blindly follow.

#24 Don't Argue
 
      There are a couple things she says here that just irk me. First, "You are not always right and you do not always have to have the last word." Umm...okay I guess I agree with this, but there are times ( A LOT TIMES) where I am RIGHT and YES I do have to have the last word. I don't feel the need to be "submissive" to my husbands views and mindlessly obey when I don't agree with what he is saying or doing. I believe there are stories about drinking that kool-aid eh? Second, "Be the first the say 'I am sorry.'" Sometimes they need to be the first to say it! Third "Be willing to accept the blame". I sure will, but only when I am to blame. I think that when your wrong your wrong own it! I also hold the strong belief that arguing can be healthy for a marriage. If you just hold back something that is bugging you or don't get out what you want to say you end up letting it build and build and suddenly your resenting your spouse. I don't think resentment is good for any marriage.

#25 Follow his lead

     UM....NO!  Marriage is a PARTNERSHIP not a DICTATORSHIP! You should make decisions as a COUPLE. PERIOD!!!



I can see where some of her points are ways to show respect, but a lot of them are more geared to how I would want my children to respond or treat me, but not how I think a husband and wife should interact.  I think her points are more for how to be meekly obedient rather then have a marriage based on mutual respect. If that works for her though or anyone else who agrees with her that's fine. I am just saying I could never be with a man who felt that I should not have my own mind and that I should just be subordinate to him.

Beggar's can't be choosers.

   From the time Steve graduated UPT to the his report no later then date was a total of 2 months and 13 days. Steve was home a grand total of 11 of those days. He left for SERE (survival school) the week after he pinned on his wings. Returned for a whopping 36 hours and left again only to return 4 days before we had be in Colorado. Which left me at home to deal with all the things that come with moving. Not to mention I was pregnant and to top it all off in true Air Force style none of his orders were correct so I had to deal with all that drama. I remember looking at houses to rent off base, but because we had no time to come see them in person I felt that renting off base was going to be near impossible. When we applied for base housing they told us that it would be a 6-12 month wait for a house. As I had already stated we just did not have the time to wait. I wanted to be in a house fairly soon after moving here and be able to set up as much as I could before Grace made her grand entrance. I remember crying one night thinking OMG we are going to end up in a crapy neighborhood that I am going to be too scare to stay at home alone in because we don't know anything about the springs or what is a good part/bad part of town. I just sat there in bed PRAYING to God we'd get a house on base. I said I don't care what house it is just let us get one on base. A week later Steve called to tell me that we had a house. All we had to do is sign a commitment to it and they would hold it till we got there. Umm...YES!! Now some people might be thinking wow that's brave, but trust me I have lived in some NASTY base housing in my life and I was sure that Peterson's was much better then any of them. So we signed the commitment and a little bit of stress was lifted.
     When we got to Peterson and we saw our house I loved it. It's not something I would buy because I can basically reach my neighbors window from ours, but it's prefect for right now. We did the walk through and signed the official lease and BAM home sweet home. Oh our way back from the housing office I noticed a plane coming in for landing pretty close to the base. It creeped closer and closer to our street and then I noticed that it was landing basically in our backyard. When we got home I raced upstairs and sure enough I could throw a baseball and hit the runway. Ok I can deal with that I thought. It was really cool for a while, we got to see all kinds of planes landing and taking off because it's a shared runway with the Colorado Springs Airport. Steve of course loved it, and I will admit even I got a kick out of watching him do touch and goes on his first flight here from our back porch. After a couple weeks it got old FAST. Not so much during the day, but at night and I mean late at night when the windows start to shake about every 15 minutes because the other runaway is closed it gets REALLY OLD REALLY FAST! Tonight however has reached a WHOLE different kind of annoying.
       Today I woke up about 2 am with some nasty something and spent most of the morning praying to the porcelain god. I am thinking it was something I had last night that I didn't finish because it tasted kinda off. I was able to keep down some toast this morning and plain pasta in the afternoon, but all day I still felt weak. To top it off Steve is on a TDY so it was just me and Grace and anyone who has had to watch a crawling infant when their ill knows today was not an easy day to get though. So tonight when Grace hit the sack at 8pm this mommy did not hesitate to do the same. I crawled into bed and just as I was about to fall asleep that all to familiar roar got louder and louder and then BAM Grace starts screaming! She's usually not bothered by the planes so I was thinking maybe she scared herself awake. So I went in laid her back down with her binky and left the room. She cried for a bit but drifted off in no time. Then 9:20 I hear her crying again and the fading noise of a jet. UGH!! So I let it go this time. After about 10 minutes of her screaming I try calming her down though the monitor but that does work so I go back in rock her a bit and she drifts back to sleep. Again at 10:30 a much bigger jet (probably a C-17 THANKS BUDDIES!) comes roaring though. Grace just loses it and so do I. I am exhausted I can barely keep my eyes open and all I want to do is sleep. So I bend quickly picking her up, change her diaper, and feed her a little snack. She's finally back asleep and as long as NO other jets come though we should be good for the rest of the night. I however am WIDE awake now even though my stomach is turning again and my head is back to pounding. FANTASTIC. So I am gonna go lay in bed and tell my subconscious "Yea sure Katie, ANY HOUSE!!" UGH! I guess beggar's really can't be choosers.

Seeing Eye to Eye

   Unless you live under a rock you know what the big news story is now a days. I will be the first to admit that I can NOT wait till CHICKEN is not a common word on my newsfeed. It has been a LONG time since I posted something political on my Facebook. Not because I mind a healthy debate trust me. I will be the first to tell you how I feel about something, but because some people cannot accept that others think differently about certain issues. The past couple of days I have had quite a few "debates"/ talks with many different people about this topic. Some have been very eye opening and others have been wasted breath. I don't mind someone having a different opinion then I do. I always knowledge that it is their right to feel however they do. I never knock someone for their beliefs either. I just ask for the same respect in return. When people start talking about something they feel passionately about I think they forget that we are all free thinking humans. I for one am a very sensitive person and I'll be the first to admit that I get my feelings hurt easily. I don't like being told that because I see something different then you do my thoughts are unproductive. In the past week I have been called a Nazi and been compared to members of the Westboro Church. Why? Because I voiced an opinion different then the person I was talking too. I have had my faith and my marriage verbally attacked and I have had my husband called a murder because he's in the service. Do you want to know the funny thing about it? THe people who said these things where people who I share a common view with. The view that same sex marriage should be legalized. I don't think anyone should have that right withheld from them. Especially not because of my religion. Freedom of religion is VERY important to me. I have the ability to practice my faith where and however I please. It should go both ways. I have the freedom to believe what I want, but they should also have the freedom to disagree with me. They should also not be held to the teachings or beliefs of my faith. That is how FREEDOM works! These people were blind to the fact that they and I agreed on the topic they were so passionately pushing and they got down right hurtful about it.  They were so caught up in their feelings on it that they didn't see I wasn't saying I was against their cause just that I did not see what was happening the same way they did. I was looking at if differently. I like to play devils advocate for those who can not. I have family who do not share the same views as I do, but I will still defend their right to feel the way they do. When people make generalizations about the other side of an argument I don't think they realize how offensive they can be. Hate is a strong word and although I am sure some people feel that way, but not everyone who stands against same sex marriage hates gays. In fact I am sure a large majority of them do not.  So to say that if you don't think two people should have a legal marriage you must hate them is WRONG! They are allowed to have an opinion. My biggest issue with recent things is that people feel that they can have an opinion but when someone else's view goes against that opinion it should not be allowed. Freedom of Speech goes both ways. I can voice a view you don't like and you certainly are allowed to voice that you do not agree with me, but please be an adult about it. I don't get nasty when someone disagrees with me. I may try to make them see my point, but I definitely won't attack them personally or make them feel like their thoughts are "unproductive". You want to talk about being intolerant, but that also goes both ways. I don't think being hurtful about it is going to change anyone's mind. It certainly doesn't help your cause. Most people are so set in their beliefs your not going to change them by talking to them. Everyone believes they are right. It just ends up going in circles until it gets to the point where your left feeling like even the closest of friends looks at you differently. If I have learned anything this week it is this that being a winner is sometimes knowing when enough is enough and walking away. Agree to disagree. Don't let politics get between you and friend it's not worth it. Show up where it counts at the polls!

Mrs. Clean or Mommy??

So anyone who has known me during the 2+ years Steve and I have been married you know that my house was not the cleanest on the block. During our first year of marriage I worked 4 days a week and the weekends were our time so I didn't focus a lot on cleaning. My bathrooms would get done twice a month if I was lucky (yea I know gross!), floors would sweeped every other day sometimes every day, but would only be mopped once a week, and a load of laundry would get done only if it was absolutely needed! I would fear someone coming over unannounced. In fact one time the group commanders wife (who was amazing and would NEVER judge anyone) called to ask if she could come by and pick up the graduation folder from me. I couldn't tell her no, but I pretty much broke out in a panic speed cleaning. You would think this would have taught me a lesson, but it didn't! In fact it only got worse when we moved to Colorado and I got further along in my pregnancy. I can't believe I am going to admit this but there was a point when our bathrooms went almost a month without being cleaned, and I am sure the floors went longer then that! I did however deep clean the house before my mom came to visit in December, and of course Grace's room was always spotless! After she was born I had reason to keep up the cleaning a ton of people were coming to see her. When the company died down so did my clean house. I would spend time catching up on sleep rather then cleaning, but some where in the past 4 months I have done a total 180! My house is clean (not spotless) most days. I don't know if it's because Grace is getting older and I don't want her crawling in filth, or if the I am so tired of a dirty house that I decided to do something about it. I no longer fear someone showing up because I feel my house is presentable. I vacuum at min once a day and the floors are mopped no less then 3 times a week. I dust, clean bathrooms, and wipe down windows etc weekly. I have spent the last 15 minutes trying to figure out what load of laundry I could throw together tomorrow, because really everything is pretty much clean. I have a monthly cleaning list of things such as the fridge , the couches, etc. Even the backyard gets cleaned up on a weekly basis. I am not writing this blog to toot my own horn (ok maybe just a little tooting!), but rather to share how sometimes something changes in you that you don't even know is happening. For once I feel like I am justified in relaxing on the couch at night, because I feel like I have accomplished SOMETHING!

The Hodge Podge Blog

   So much has happened in the last couple of months that I could not pick a blog topic so I decided to do a Hodge Podge of everything.

The Waldo Canyon Fire 

    Unless you live under a rock I am sure you have heard of the fires reeking havoc in Wyoming, Utah, and of course Colorado. I could not believe how quickly the Waldo Canyon fire turned. It started on a Saturday looking like a large house fire in the mountains and by Tuesday it overtook a good portion of the city. Over 18,000 acres were burned, 32,500 people evacuated from their homes, 346 homes completely destroyed and 2 people killed. It was heartbreaking to see the city I have grown to love go though such a trying ordeal, but was uplifting was how this community has come together. I can not explain it to anyone who has not been there. Watching people willing to go that extra mile to help complete strangers really helps reassure ones faith in humanity. We were lucky that the fire did not impact us directly, but we can't say the same for people know here. The fire is FINALLY at 98% and full containment is expected for tomorrow. Please continue to keep Colorado Springs and the people affected by this tragic even in your thoughts and prayers.


Family Visit


     My parents and my brothers came to visit this past week. They drove 30 hours in two days and got here Monday (June 25th). Although there were some alternating of plans due to the above fire we still managed to have a great time. However, traveling with a baby for 6 days is exhausting!! Grace got off her sleep schedule of course which led to many many sleepless nights for this mommy. However, it was nice having the extra hands during the day to help out and on days where things just got to be too much it was nice to sneak away for about 20 minutes and get some shut eye. Over all it was a great 10 days  even with our firework less 4th of July. I miss them terribly already and I can not wait for the next time we all get together.


Gracie Bell is 6 Months Old!!!

    I know I am like 2 weeks late on this but hey it's been a little CRAZY! Grace turned 6 months on June 20 and I can't believe it!! My baby girl is just growing so fast. Her baby well went great! She weighed in at exactly 14 lbs and 26 inches long. Due to her small size we do have to go to a 9 month appointment, but her doctor says she's not worried about her at all just a precaution. I don't know if she was showing off for her grandparents this week or what, but man did she decided to start hitting milestones left and right. On July 2 mom and I where sitting in the living room with Grace on her play area and Kovy (our dog) walked by. I guess she wanted to see what he was up to because she started crawling across the floor to get to him. It was amazing!! Since then she's been all over the place. Time to pull out those baby gates for the stairs. Then on July 4th she decided she was going to just sit right up. Now she's been doing what the doctor calls tripod sitting for about 2 months now where she uses an arm to hold her up, but this time she just sat up normal. It was like umm...don't babies normally do that before they crawl? LOL She looks so cute though sitting like a big girl! Today she started another thing and to be honest I was kinda sad. She pulled herself up on the couch and her bumbo to standing position a few times. It's like girl you just started crawling let's wait a bit for walking please!! My mom says it is karma because I started walking at 9 months and made her life that much more hectic! LOL. I guess only time will tell with little bit! We also have decided to start looking at infant to toddler car seats for Grace.  Although she is NO where near the weight max for her infant one she growing out of it length wise. Plus I think she will like a bigger carseat better. She always looks so squashed in hers. So if you have a recommendation for a good one let me know. :-)

Well, I guess that's about it for now. I am exhausted and little bit is down for the count so I should probably follow. I'll try to be better at posting. Try being the key word in that statement!

Good-Bye Neighbor Joe!!

   So this week I got to relish in one of the many perks of living on base. If you don't like or have issues with your next-door neighbor just wait a little bit and either they or you will move! I am not saying I have had a real run in with this neighbors they were just a little.....strange?? Oh I'll just start from the beginning. Steve and I moved in to the house August 7th. I met the gentlemen living next-door that very day. We were letting the dogs run around in their new backyard and he happened to be out with their two dogs (little yapping dogs at that.) We introduced ourselves and had a nice conversation. He was E-6 Army (I only know because he was wearing his uniform), but we did not talk about what either him or Steve did in the military. He seemed VERY friendly and I thought um this won't be so bad living here. His wife was out of town, but he told me that she will be excited to find out that a little baby would living right next-door (I was about 5 1/2 months pregnant), as they were older and had no children. This would be the last conversation we would have in over  6 months.
     The next couple of months for us were very busy (hello BABY!) and anyone who knows me know that I am kinda of shy. In the sense that I won't usually start a conversation, but I also won't end one lol.   The neighbors wife made it back to town at some point, but let me tell you this I have NO CLUE what she looks like. I would catch a glimpse of her going into the house or pulling out of the driveway and I would wave, but that's about as far as it would go until February 5th ( I know the date, because it was the sunday before I left to go back to GA).  Steve was flying and I am home with Grace who is just about 2 months old and there is a knock on the door. It was our neighbor and another guy who looks like the neighbor from across the street. So I open the door and they ask if they can talk to my husband. I already don't like where this is going, what could you possibly have to say to him that you can't say to me. I tell them he's working, but asked if I could help them with something. So the next-door neighbor ask me if they did anything to offend us? I am sure I gave him the craziest look ever because we haven't talked in 6 months! I tell him No and asked if we did something that would make him think that? He tells me just some stuff going on with other neighbors. So conversation continues for about 15-20 minutes about random stuff, but nothing serious. We leave it on what I thought was neighborly terms. However, this is the last conversation we ever had.
      In the months to come I would see him or his wife out and I would smile wave, but would get nothing in return. I brushed it off as them just not seeing me. That was until this Tuesday evening. Steve was cleaning out the garage and Grace and I were out there supervising. We were standing in the MIDDLE of the driveway when the neighbor starts to bring his trash to curb. Steve waves a total of 3 times and still nothing in return. So the next time the neighbor is out Steve calls out "How's it going!" The guy just keeps walking!! So Steve looks at me like What the HECK!??? I shrug and go okay that was so not my imagine this time. He totally ignored us!! The very next day I am walking to the mailbox  with Grace and he's out front. So I think ok let's try this again. I call out "Hey how's it going!" He looks RIGHT AT ME and NOTHING!! Are you kidding. I mean come on you could at least say SOMETHING. The only conclusion I can come to is something must have happened with housing and they think we had some part of it. Umm No! If I have an issue with you YOUR gonna know about it FIRST! If it continues then I might take other routes, but YOUR the one who I am gonna talk to FIRST! So I am thinking OH GREAT this is going to be a fun couple of years. Then God smiled and things started to look up.
     Friday morning I wake up to guess what...A MAYFLOWER truck in their drive way!! They are OUT HERE!! No more awkward passings! I told myself that with these next neighbors I am going to make an effort to get to know them a little better and hopefully avoid 2 years of nonsense!!

The INdependent

   Any military wife knows the Murphy's Law of your husband being gone. As soon as he's gone for more then 24 hours the kids get sick, the car breaks, the house falls apart, or all at the same time. It's just the way it is. Nothing seems to line up when he's home. Today I got a call from a friend (Heather) who I haven't talked to in a long time. I told her that I was on my way out the door to the BX because the handle fell off the downstairs toilet and it wouldn't stop running. She asked what I was going to do about it. I said fix it? When she asked had I ever fixed a toilet before I said no but I am sure it's not rocket science and I could figure it out. Then she said what only someone who hasn't spent any time in the military would say "Why don't you wait till Steve gets home to do it." You see Heather has been married to John for three years in those years he has been away probably a grand total of 2 weeks. She's use to being able to wait for him to fix it. I laughed and told her  that if I waited for Steve to do everything nothing would ever get done around here. I know we've been extremely lucky in the "my husbands gone" department. He hasn't deployed YET...but it's coming I have a feeling sooner then I would like but I know it's coming. However when he is here it's not like he's always home at night. His job has him gone at least one overnight a week and about 4 nights every two weeks. It's just how the cards have been falling. When he is home I try to use him for big jobs that I can't do with Grace around. So when something small happens and I am pretty sure I can fix myself I do. It's just part of being a military wife. They call us dependents, but I think we all know the truth we are all INdependent. We can't always count on our husband being home on the weekend to cut the grass or pick up the dog poop (COUGH COUGH STEVE!!!) or wait on them to change those lightbulbs to high to reach without a ladder. Now someone might ask but Katie you live on base why didn't you just call the housing office? I did and they wouldn't be able to come for the toilet till friday, because it's PCS season and it was considered a non emergency. I was not about to listen to that running toilet for 3 days! I figured that I would just pay the 5 dollars out of pocket for a new handle. I took apart the old one and put the new one back the same way and VIOLA fixed toilet. I know I know it's not that big of a deal, but it was for me. I was able to figure it out all by myself and fix it without bothering anyone else. As I said before it's just what we have to do. We can't afford to wait around or nothing would get done. We learn to do it ourselves and if we can't we lean on each other to get it done. I love being an Independent dependent I wouldn't have it any other way.

Parenting Styles

      Let's face it we all have one and NO TWO are alike. In the 15 years that I have been around/working with infants and young children I have been exposed to MANY different parenting styles. Some I have shaken my head at and others I have picked apart to make my own. As a nanny you are paid to help raise that child in the style that their parents wish them to be raised weather you agree with it or not. I have been extremely lucky and the parents that I have worked with are not crazy. While there was this one mother who was a little extreme, but I only watched her little girl for a week. ANYWAYS, my point is that when someone offers me advice I do truly take it into consideration, because I have witnessed how things that I would never thought would work make miracles happen. However, I draw the line at judging! If you want to tell me how you raised your child that's fine I will listen I may even steal something form your veteran mom experience BUT if you want to tell me that how I am raising MY child is wrong you can save your breath or in this cause your energy in typing because I don't want to hear/read it!
     A while back I posted a video of Grace's first taste of solid foods. She was exactly 4 1/2 months old. That night I got a private message from a Facebook "friend" who told me how I was just asking for health issues with Grace. How I started her too young on solids and that she will end up with Leaking Gut. Well lady I am sorry you feel that way, but the last time I checked you did not have MD and my doctor does. I think I will take my medical advice from her Thank You. A couple days ago I posted a picture of Grace with her grow with me sippy cup. Something that we are working on. I don't expect her to actually be able to use it but I have learned though my experience that introducing the sippy cup early on makes an easier transition later. If anyone is interested it's water in the cup nothing else. That afternoon I got another private message from that same "friend" about how I was hindering Grace's learning. I had ignored the first message, but this one I could not. So here was my reply.....


Hey I am going to try and not be too rude here, but your really crossing a line. There are a lot of things that I have seen on your Facebook with your children that I just think are plain dumb. Did you get a message from me judging your parenting?? I didn't think so, but since you feel the need to share let me enlighten you on my views. One your 3 year is still in diapers. You haven't started to potty from what I can tell. Are you kidding me? If your child can tell you that they went to the potty you should at least being trying to train them to use a restroom. Two said 3 year is still breastfeeding?? There's no way your telling me those teeth aren't a bitch to deal with! Three you complain about your sex life while here's a thought how about you try moving your kids out of the bedroom??? I understand the youngest having an issue but why is your 7 year old still sleeping in your bed!! So before you start telling other people that YOU don't agree with how they are raising their child maybe you should take into consideration that the way YOUR doing it doesn't appeal to others! By the way you can mark this as the end of our conversations. I don't have time for your judgements I have a beautiful HEALTHY baby girl to raise Thank YOU!


      I just don't get where some people come off thinking they have the right to tell others how to raise their kids. As I said before advice is one thing, but judging you can keep to yourself!!

Mother's Day

   I started off my Mother's Day in true new mommy form Grace apparently decided that sleep was HIGHLY overrated and wanted to stay up. She had fallen asleep at around 9:30 as she normally does but by 11 she was wide awake. I thought maybe she just hungry which she was, but that didn't make her want to sleep. We stayed up playing for a little while but around 12:30 I was exhausted. Steve recently came home with a head cold that he felt I should share with him so I was dying to just lay down. After reading a couple of stories Grace finally started to drift off. I laid her down in her crib and just as I was crawling into my warm bed she rolled to her stomach startled herself and woke up crying. I tried a couple of times to get her back to sleep but eventually gave up went down stairs and laid with her on the couch. Somewhere after 1:30 the both of us drifted off to sleep, but it didn't last long because at 2:45 she was up again. GREAT! Back upstairs we went and read a couple more stories, ate another 5 ounces of food, and FINALLY at 4 am she drifted off from pure exhaustion. I quickly followed.
       I woke shocked to find out that it was not only 9:50, but that Grace had not woken me up. I hit the button on the monitor to find out that she wasn't in her crib. So I went downstairs where I found her and her daddy happily playing on the floor. It was sooooo nice to be able to sleep in a little. Then Steve told me that he forgot a part of my gift and had to run out really quick. So I said Ok and took Gracie Bell upstairs to get ready for the day. After showering and bathing little one I could hear Steve bumping around down stairs so I decided to give him a little more time to do whatever it was he was doing. After about 20 minutes Grace and I went downstairs where I was welcomed with the lovely smell of COFFEE! Set up on the counter was an Espresso machine and all the fixings! I swear I almost went though the ROOF. I love LOVE I mean REALLY REALLY LOVE me a Latte! LOL. Then it was time for Gracie's gift. She got me a St. Anne medal (The patron saint of mothers and housewives) with the words GOD BLESS MY MOMMY GCB (Jenn M. I didn't realize until that moment that she shared those initials with GCB the show! LOL So at first I read it as MY MOMMY Good Christian B*&%H thought you'd get a kick out of that!) which of course made me cry. I put it on and it has not/will not come off unless it's an accident. Then it was time for church.
        Let me tell you it was soooo weird being a mom in church on mother's day. I've always been there when they do the mommy prayer but I am not going to lie I almost didn't stand up. It didn't hit me that I was mom too lol. After mass we went to Carino's an Italian grill that I have been dying to try. It had great chicken parmesan! Grace and I basically passed out on the couch when we got home watching Leap Year and slept for two hours which is so not like her at all, but since she only slept like 5 hours the night before I guess that makes since. For Dinner we went to BWW because I wanted a chicken wrap and I didn't want to cook. Not to mention the only thing Steve can cook without help is spaghetti and we had that for lunch. Then we came home and just hung out and I made my third latte for the day lol. It was sooo good! I don't think I could have asked for a better way to spend my first mother's day. I got to spend it with the most important people in my life my hubby and my baby girl! I could not ask for a better role in life then that of MOM!
   

FAIL!!!

   So presidents day weekend Steve and I went dining room table hunting. We ended up at the only Macy's here in Colorado Springs. I was unaware that Macy's sold furniture and to be honest I was quite impressed. We ended up finding not only a dinning room set that we liked but we also found a sideboard and a couch that we loved. The sales lady Alicia was amazing. She was also a military spouse so she understood my hesitation is purchasing new furniture when I know that we have  a ton of moves a head of us. She told us to go home think about it. Steve and I had basically made up our mind by the time we got to the car, but I still wanted to sleep on it. Let's face $3000 is a lot to drop in one weekend. The next day we returned and made our purchase. Unfortunately EVERYTHING we wanted was on back order. Our couch would not be available till the first week of march and the dining set till April. I figured what the heck we really like it whats a couple months wait.
    A couple weeks later I got a call that our couch was available for delivery. We sent up for saturday March 10th so Steve would be home. The delivery guys called that afternoon around 4:30 said they were on their way and within 30 mins the couch was step up in house. The guys were professional and friendly and the experience was great. So great that I actually called Macy's that week and bragged about impressed I was their service. Little did I know that I would be eating my words 2 months later. Around April 14th I got the e-mail that our dining set was available for delivery. This time they only had a Thursday (April 26th) open and since I didn't want to wait till May to get it I went ahead and booked. It was about here when things went to HELL.
      Thursday April 26th I got up at 8 am with Grace and got ready. They had called and told me that our table would here between the hours of 11-1. So I wanted to make sure that I didn't get into my normal lazy morning routine and stay in jammies until one. Around 11: 25 I got a call from a driver that I could barely understand telling me they were on their way. As I usually do I informed them that we live on an Air Force base, even though that was already marked in the Macy's records. They said no problem see you in 20 minutes. One hour later I get a call from a different guy saying that they were going to have to reschedule  because either him nor his partner could get on base. They both had some issue with their license. Ok fine, I understand that sometimes living on a military installation can cause hiccups in usual everyday affairs. That night I get a call from a costumer service  representative wanting to set up a new delivery time because the base was not allowing deliveries that day. Literally the conversation went like this...

"Mrs. Bostwick, You base was not allowing deliveries today so we are calling to set up a new time."
"What? That's not what your drive said at all. He said that they couldn't get on base because of issues with their identification."
"No Ma'ma that's not what we were told."
"I don't care what you were told I am telling you what YOUR driver told me. Not to mention that there is a UPS truck across the street right now, and I have seen the SEARS truck in the neighborhood today."

To that he had no response. SO we set up the delivery for 2 days later that Saturday.
     Saturday Morning I get up at 8 am and shower, because they did not call with a time slot for delivery we end up canceling plans with friends to wait on the table. By 4 pm I still haven't heard anything so I call the customer service line where I find out our time frame is from 4:30-6:30 and that we are the LAST delivery for the day. Ugh I could have slept in till 10 with Grace!! At 4:45 we get a call from the same costumer service rep. as before. He tells me that we have to reschedule again because the base only accepts morning deliveries on Saturday. ONCE AGAIN BULL CRAP!! So I send Steve up to the gate to figure out what happened. Basically they went to the wrong gate. They were told that at that gate they can only do truck inspections from 9am-1pm due to manning issues, but that they can go to the west gate and get in 24/7. Apparently the delivery guys just went home because the west gate guards said they never saw them. I try to call the service number but they close at 5. As I am sure you can guess it is ON monday morning.
    Monday morning rolls around and I get up at 7 to call them first thing. I get a lady and explain everything to her. I am sure I was not as sweet as I could have been but I am kinda upset at this point. She basically tells me that she's sorry, but there is nothing she can do for me other put a message in for a manger to call me and reschedule. Ok fine when can you have my table here. She says "We have Thursday or Saturday." I said Thursday. So Thursday comes no call again with a time frame so I get up at 8, get ready, and wait, wait, wait. By noon I have had enough I call up to find out when our time frame is I am told "Ma'ma your delivery date is Thursday May 17th." LIKE HELL IT IS! At this point I politely lose it. I demand to talk to a manager RIGHT THEN because they still haven't called me from 4 days ago.  I am transferred and at first I am fairly nice I explain everything that has happened for the umpteenth time and wait. She basically tells me she is so sorry, but because I live on a military base I need to be prepared for issues to come up. EXCUSE ME!!! So I ask "So basically your saying that Macy's policy is that if I live on a military I should EXPECT SUCKY SERVICE, especially because the issues is with your DELIVERY PEOPLE NOT MY BASE!" I then tell her that I have had enough. I am writing a letter to the Base Papers of all FIVE military bases here and letting them know just what kind of service Macy's provides their armed forces. AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE SAID???? "I am sorry you feel that way." So at this point I just hang up because I just about lost my religion on that woman. I call Steve at work and tell him what happened and he says he'll handle it.
       About 20 minutes later Steve calls me and tells me he talked with his Sqd. Commander who gave him the idea to call the local store. THe problem is we are dealing with corporate and they could care less if they lose our business because we are just a tiny dot to them, but the only store here is going to care. SO  Steve calls and talks to the manager there. She is extremely upset by how we have been treated and tell us that she's going to make some calls and she'll call us back. Within the hour we hear back from that not only are they going to bring on table the following week, but that they are refunding the delivery fee and sending us a $100.00 gift card. Ok Great at least that's something for our trouble. So I get an email that our table is going to be delivered May 10th between the hours of 1-3 pm.
       This thursday comes and I get to sleep in with Grace till 10. I get up get dressed and wait. At 12:35 I get a call that they are on their way. Great! I call Steve and he comes home from work. At 1:15 I get a call. The driver can not get on base because he has a misdemeanor on his record and is pending trail. FANTASTIC!!! I tell Steve and he says "Can the other guy get on base?? I'll unload the DAMN TRUCK myself if it gets the table here." So that's what we did. The one guy who doesn't speak a lick of English brings the truck and Steve and him unload the 117 lbs table, the 234.3 lbs sideboard, and THREE that's right I said THREE chairs. Umm??? Steve tries to tell the guy that we are missing 3 more chairs and the guy just laughs and says in broken english, NO table to heavy for me just pop the legs on it all good. hops in the truck and LEAVES! You have got to be kidding me. So Steve who rarely loses his temper is now pacing the house. He calls Kelly the manager of the local store and leaves her message and heads back to work. Later he comes to tell me that Kelly has called him back and she is even more upset then we are. SHe told us not the touch the boxes at all. Someone will be out to put our table together and bring our other 3 chairs, but that she has had enough as well and she is taking it as far up the chain as possible. SO now we are waiting with 3 chairs and two giant boxes in our dining room. At this point anything short of a full refund just won't satisfy me at all. I appreciate Kelly's help, but this company needs to get their crap together. Next week will be 3 months from when we ordered our table and we still won't have it! I am calling this GREAT MACY"S FAIL of 2012!

Letting Go

     When my doctor first used the term "Vagina Envy" I was sure I had misheard her. I guess my shock from hearing the words read like a book across my face, because she started to laugh. She said that although the term is her own, the issue is very real. It is a form of postpartum depression that only a handful of women whose only option was an emergency C-section suffer from. It's extremely hard to explain to anyone who has not experienced it. My doctor said that she knew I was a prime candidate not only because  during the 4 months that she was my doctor I made it clear that unless Grace's life was in danger I was not open to having a C-section, but also because I was planning a natural child birth.  It has been especially hard the past 5 months because I have had about 15 friends have babies recently only one of those was a c-section and it was planned due to her first child being born via C-section. It's hard to hear their birth stories because there is so much that I feel I was cheated out of. Please don't get me wrong, Grace is the most wonderful and awesome blessing I could ever have asked for, but I as said unless you have been here there is no way for you understand.
      When I am told how amazing it was when the doctor placed their little miracle on their chest I am jealous, because I did not/will not ever have that. I was not the first, second, or even third person to hold Grace. In fact she was not placed in my arms until 45 minutes after she was born. Even then because I was extremely drugged I could barely keep my eyes open and I was not able to hold her without supervision because I was trembling so bad. When I was finally moved to the postpartum ward I was told that I could not be alone with Grace until it was okayed by my doctors. So that night when Steve had to drive my mom home I was separated from her for nearly 2 hours until She needed to be fed and a nurse had to sit in the room with us. After she was done she was once again taken to the nursery until Steve finally made it back. (No he was not taking his time either it killed him being away from her as well the hospital is just that far with traffic and the snow on the ground.) It's hard knowing that my next child birth will more then likely be just same, only I will know going in that a C-section is pretty much my only option. The hardest part of all it though is feeling like I am broken. Anyone who has known me for the past 10 years knows the issues I have had.  This pregnancy was extremely normal and I was finally feeling like a woman again, but its amazing how quickly that was taken away.
      It didn't occur in the hospital the only that was going though my mind that morning was getting Grace into this world healthy. The day we were discharged from the hospital the nurse (Roberta) who was there when was Grace was born came in to say goodbye. While we were talking she admitted that she was holding her breath until she heard Grace's screams. Her heart rate had been dangerously low for longer than they were comfortable with and they were not sure what they were about to encounter. I do not take for granted Grace's health. The fact that I can hold my beautiful girl in my arms today is nothing short of a miracle. I definitely never expected to feel depressed over not having a normal labor. As I said before unless you have been here it's not something you could understand. My doctor assures me that my feelings are quite common for someone in my shoes, and that I have nothing to be ashamed of. In fact she suggested sharing my feelings with others, she said I would be surprised to find that I am not alone. The truth is that until today I was ashamed, I felt guilty for feeling the way I do. I thought that I should be happy no matter what kind of birth story I had at least I had one right? In fact Steve wasn't even aware of my feelings until recently, but I have woken up to the fact that I am not alone. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am allowed to be upset about missing out on the most natural thing for a woman's body to do give birth. It's ok to be jealous of an experience I will never have, as long as I don't harp on it. So that's what I am doing. I am getting my feelings out there and I am letting go!

  Now, I am going to go in the other room and stare down at my Gracie Bell and bask in the blessing that she is in my life.

For all my girls!!!

“An Airman’s Wife” I’m married to my hero, I live a life some can not bare. His job is not done safely on the ground, But high up in the air. I spend many nights alone, Awake for hours at a time. Longing for that man I love, The one who‘s again left me behind. I share him with this country, To which he swore he’d be true. And though I admire his integrity, Sometimes I don’t want to see it through. He’s promised to protect them, Those who weren’t born free. And when I explain it to our son, “Sometimes that’s without you and me…” And I know how much he’s missing him, Because we feel the same… We miss our hero, and our daddy… We hate this silly game. Our days are never promised, And it seems so unfair… But this is the life we’ve chosen, To leave it now, we wouldn’t dare. The day’s always drag, Time never seems to fly! But people enjoy their freedom, Because our daddy protects the skies! We fly the stars and stripes, And our yellow ribbon’s too! We’re proud of where we come from! We love, the Red, White, and Blue! We’ll support what he stands for… Liberty, Freedom, and Life Because I’ve taken a vow that I’ll never let down, To be my Airman’s wife… Unfortunatly it didn't have the authors name but I thought I'd share it anyways!!

Mother of the Year

       I know it won't be my last, but tonight I had my first Mother of the Year moment. When Steve got home from today we ran over to the BX to get a couple of things came home and cooked dinner. Shortly after dinner I was playing with Gracie when I noticed she had little red bumps on her neck. After further inspection I found that this rash covered her entire back and stomach. I call the after hours line at the clinic just be on the safe side. The pediatrician on called wanted me to take her in to the ER to be on the safe side, because I couldn't think of anything that's changed in her routine/diet or any body who has been sick recently. Since it was only 6:30 and I know how quickly Ft. Carson's ER fills up after 8 I was kinda rushing Steve to get there. 
       I run upstairs throw on jeans and my sneakers, race back down stairs and start going though the diaper bag. I grab about 6 diapers because who knows how long we will be there. Fill 3 bottles with nursery water and fill her formula on the go cup. I throw the diapers, wipes, and bottles into the bag. Get Gracie in her carseat and we head out the door. The waiting room is pretty much empty when we get there but we still wait about 20 mins till we go in for vitals and are sent back in the waiting room til we are called. As we are sitting there Grace beings her I am starting to get hungary fuss. So I ask to Steve to make a bottle and then it hits me. I put everything but the FORMULA in the diaper bag!!! OMG!!! I literally almost start crying. How could I be so absent minded!!! So I kinda freak out telling Steve he has to go to the PX or shopettee ANYPLACE that might have baby stuff. So of course as soon as he leaves we get called back. Thank God Grace is easily distracted because she cared more about all the stuff in the room then her getting her hunger fix. Thank God Steve finally showed up with formula right as Grace started to realize that she was still hungry about the same time they were discharging us. 
        So, thankfully my first DUMB moment wasn't all that bad and we were able to fix it before Gracie-Bell had a melt down, but as I said before I know this won't be my last I CAN"T BELIEVE I DID THAT MOMENT. 


P.S. Grace is fine. They aren't sure what broke her out either, but we are watching it for now. I'll see if it's gone away in the morning if not I'll be calling the doctor again. 

Four Months Already??

So, I have started a post about our week long vacation to Georgia probably ten times. I was already to tell you all about how Gracie was an angel on the plane, how our rental car (a Chrysler 300 in red) got us the weirdest looks in ATL.  That her baptism was one of the most beautiful ceremonies ever and there were VERY few dry eyes in the house after my father teared up giving the mothers blessing. How the after party at my parents house was a huge success. How we rode home to Colorado Springs with a suspected murder on the plane, and lastly how when we got back to the airport we found out our car was dead and had to bug our friends once again to come save us. When it hit me that my little girl turns 4 months old tomorrow. I feel like it was just yesterday I was packing for the hospital to go have her. Part of me can't believe she's that big already, but then I look at her with huge gummy smile and just think of all the amazing things she does and I can't believe it's only been 4 months. Every parent thinks their child is the most wonderful kid on the planet and to be honest we are all right. Our kids are the most amazing. She means the world to me and I can not wait to see what exciting things she pulls off this month! 

To the moon and back.

TWO POST IN 24 HOURS!! I know whatever will you do with yourselves!! Just kidding!

Happy Easter Everyone!!

As you all know this is Gracie's first and so far it has been great. She was showered with gifts from everyone in the family and was an angel this morning at mass. She's been a little cranky off and on though out the day, but who wouldn't be a little grouch with teething trying to push though your gums? One of the ways I get her to clam down is by reading to her. I think the pictures and my voices help distract her. So I went over to the easter book table and picked up a couple books she got today.

In the years that I have worked with children I have read a ton of books and you can't help but fall in love with a few of them. My favorite has got to be Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. For those of you not familiar with this book it is about a little bunny (Little Nut Brown Hare) who is trying to play the I love you more game with his daddy (Big Nut Brown Hare) or at least I assume it's his daddy they never really say what he is to the little bunny, but they do refer to him as a he. I have read this book probably 1,000 times to other children. I can do it without looking at pages. The book ends with my favorite line of all time from a parent to their child. Little Nut Brown Hare has fallen asleep after telling his daddy that he loves him all the way to the moon. Big Nut Brown Hare then tucks his little one into bed and leans in close and whispers in his ear

"I love you to the moon...and back."

I don't know what about this moment of reading that line for the first time to my daughter sitting on my lap that got to me, but I just teared up. Steve of course catches this right away and starts asking what's wrong. Which just leads to me full on crying. I've always dreamed of reading my favorite books to my kids one day, and there was a time there when I was told that that would never happen. So maybe that's what got to me. Here I am Easter 2012 reading to the most beautiful girl in the whole world, my little girl!

Mommy loves you Gracie...to the moon and back!

Family Update

I know I have been REALLY bad about updating all of you on how we are doing here in the Bostwick household. Something I really need to get better on, but I am sure you can all understand how hectic it can get with a infant around. I believe the last time I actually wrote a blog about how things were going Gracie had just turned 1 month. So here's a quick update on what has been going on.

February was busy month for Grace and I. On the 8th Grace took her first plane ride back to Mommy and Daddy's home state of Georgia where she got to meet her Grandpa Pete and 2 Uncles for the first time. She was an angel on the plane even during our two hour lay over in Atlanta. Although the actual trip was amazing I had such a good time being back home with friends and family (it could have only been more prefect had Steve been there) things ended pretty badly with me. I returned home with not one but different infections (I won't go into details), but these two infections actually ended up causing some major breastfeeding issues and but the time Grace was 12 weeks old I could no longer nurse. This actually broke my heart a lot worse then I thought it would and not just because formula cost more than blood. It was also around this time that we found out that those horrible rashes Gracie was getting was because she is allergic to most disposable diapers. So after A LOT of trial and error and almost having to go to cloth diapers we finally found at least 2 that she can wear without breaking out. Steve's February was pretty much filled with the same old same old work and flying. And of course we rounded the month off with Grace turning 2 months old on February 20th.

March was another pretty busy month for us. Steve and I celebrated our two anniversary on the 6th. I can honestly say that although sometimes we can't stand each other he is my best friend and I could not ask for a better man to be married to or be the father of my children. Gracie rolled over for the first time this month both from tummy to back and back to tummy. She also moved into her own room and I survived the transition. (Although recently there have been a couple mornings that Steve has found Grace and I in the guest bed, but that's usually only when she wakes up at 5 am and doesn't want to get back to sleep in her crib.) Grace also threw mommy for two more rings this month. While daddy was away on another week long trip out of country Grace decided she was going to try standing. I was letting her look over the back of the couch like I normally do when she's a curious mood and she just bears all her weight on her legs and stands there holding on the the back of the couch for about 45 seconds. I have a picture to prove it (in her 2 month album on FB.) The second doozy she threw at me this month was TEETHING. Thank God for my 15 plus years working with infants and toddlers because I picked up on that one fast and was able to find her something to help. So far we haven't had too many rough days, but as I am writing this Steve is laying on the bed with a little girl that just doesn't seem to be able to get comfortable enough to sleep. Grace turned 3 months on the 20th and Steve celebrated his 25th birthday on the 25th! Yay for lower car insurance.

April is already giving both February and March a run for their money. On the first I was reunited with some really good friends who I have not seen in almost 13 years!! We lived in Turkey together and lost touch after moving, but I am so looking forward to getting back together with them soon. The military proves to be a smaller and smaller world every base we go to. Tomorrow will be Grace's first Easter and I am so excited to take pictures of her in her little Easter dress!! Then on wednesday we leave for a family vacation back to GA! Next Sunday Gracie will be baptized by her Grandpa Pete in the same church her daddy and I were married in. I can not wait to see everyone again and celebrate my little Grace's baptism. Anyone wanna bet against me that Grandpa Pete gets a little choked up during the baptism?? Yea I didn't think so.

Well that's all for now. I will definitely try to keep you guys up to date better, but for now this mommy has a fussy 15 week old who doesn't look like she will be sleeping any time soon! So good night and wish me luck!!

Image

TMI blog warning ahead of time!!!!

I feel guilty at times when I get down about how I look now a days. I know first hand how hard getting pregant can be and what a blessing having a child truly is. Grace isn't named Grace for nothing, but when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror tonight I just shook my head. I NEVER had the prefect body, or even close for that matter, but I was pretty much content with what I was working with. My stomach had a little extra flap then what I wanted, but I had swimmers legs and little white girl booty. Now those love handles have turned into a 22 inch tire and my once tan belly is now painted proudly with service stripes. I no longer see the curves I was once happy with, now my butt and thighs just seem to run together. My calves have finally returned to a some what normal looking shape, but they are a far cry from the defined muscles they once were. I keep hearing you can't be serious Katie she's not even 4 months old of course your body is going to look different still, but it's still upsetting. I know that with a little work I can be in better shape then I was before I had Grace, but finding the time with her around seems impossible somedays. The weather hasn't been a really big help either, hopefully it will get easier this summer when I can get out of the house more with her. I knew I would look different after I had her, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for how different. I will never be able to wear a bikini again that's for sure and not because of my size, but because of those proud service stripes I mentioned before. MY GOD! At least my tattoo didn't stretch right? LOL

Don't get me wrong I love my daughter to death and anything that having her did to my body is worth it. I'd do it over hundred times even if I was told I would gain 100 pounds, but sometimes that that side glance in the mirror just gets annoying.

When well intentioned crosses into offensive.

Tonight Steve and I had to make a Target run after eating dinner with some friends. Due to the wind Steve dropped Grace and me off at the door. I went in and got Graces carseat situated on top a shopping cart. Mind you this is something I NEVER do while shopping with her alone. I am too afraid of her falling off when my head is turned, but since Steve was with us I knew one of us would be with her at all times. As I was looking up something on my phone (my hand still holding on to the carseat) a lady about mid thirties walks up and asked if she can be nosy. I give her what I sure was a WTH look and she took that as a yes. She begins by asking what kind of carseat that island then tell me my Chicco isnt very safe. I know it's not top brand but I love it! She then proceeds with her lecture about how resting the carseat on the seat portion of the cart is completely unsafe and that I should have it in the basket. At this point she tells me the tragic story of her friend who lost a child just last week from her sons carseat falling off the cart while she was getting something off the shelf. I don't say anything at this point because I feel like she's is just trying to be helpful. I tell her how truly sorry I am for her friends lost and thank you for the advice. This is where she crosses the line. Apparently she mistook my politeness for a cry for help. She reachs out and picks up Grace 's baby blanket and tells me that I have her strapped in wrong. I am sorry lady but you just went from well intentioned to offensive! I snatch the baby blanket back from her place it into the cart because god only knows where her hands have been. She then reaches for Grace's cheek saying "you'd just feel so guilty if anything happened to this sweet thing." ok now she has crossed a whole different line. Not only did you insult my parenting but now you are touching my child!!!! Thank God Steve walked up and I just stared walking. If I had stayed for even another second I probably would have caused a scene. I can't tell Gyou the number of times I have seen parents do things that I do not agree with but I would definitely not tell the

That. It's their child they can raise them the way they see fit! Grace is safe, happy, and healthy to me that's all that matters.

The Mommy Time Out

The first couple of months of Grace's life I had this feeling that I had to be with her 24/7. I felt as if NO ONE could possibly take care of her right and that if I wanted things done right with her doing it myself was the only way. I have since then learned that all I am accomplishing is running myself into the ground and making my time with Grace much more stressful. I have also learned that believe it or not her daddy is not only perfectly capable of taking care of her, but he's pretty damn good at it. SO I have learned the art of the MOMMY TIME OUT. Even if it is just me sitting quietly in our room with the door shut and a good book in hand. The art of the mommy time out being helpful is NOT to do anything house related either. It is totally me time!! The first couple of mommy time outs I spent it folding clothes, doing dishes, or cleaning house. I quickly learned though that when I was done I didn't feel like I had gotten a break at all. So finally I got the hint it's not really me time if I don't take it to take care of me. In the short couple of weeks I have been doing mommy time outs I have found that I not only have more energy though out the day, but I enjoy my time with Grace that much more. Something I didn't think was possible.

Nature's Cure All

So for the past 48 hours I have been battling one of the worse cases of diaper rash I have seen in the past 15 years I have been around babies/toddlers. Pretty much since we brought Grace home she has had a slight diaper rash from her extremely sensitive skin (she is her father's child), but recently this was made worse be two things. The first was that until last week I was eating dairy which apparently Grace is sensitive too as well (like her daddy) so the process of getting that out of her system consisted of lots of poops which means lots of diaper changes. Which brings me to the second reason, because I was going though like 20 diapers a day I switched to the cheaper version of pampers (baby dry) well it turns out Grace's butt doesn't like those either. So, last night her booty was BRIGHT red and in some spots actually bleeding from how raw she was. I tried EVERYTHING to find her some relief but nothing helped. Every time she went to the bathroom she screamed bloody murder which just broke me heart. Finally after soaking in a warm bath (we didn't have any baking soda or oatmeal bath at 10 pm) she stopped crying. So I started some internet research just to see if there was anything I do to help her get though the night. I found some CRAZY things that I just wouldn't try if you paid but I also found something very interesting that I figured hell it's worth a shot and it can't hurt her anymore then she already is.

What I found was an article written by a midwife about serve diaper rash treatments and guess what it said? BREAST MILK...yes, I said BREAST MILK not only takes the sting out of the rash but helps heal it. So as I said I figured why not? I pumped a little into a bottle and patted it on her little butt then let her air dry for about 20 mins. Sure enough when I put some Aquaphor on she didn't even stir. So last night was spent getting up to change her diaper every 2 hours (so she didn't sit in a dirty one too long) patting BM on her butt and covering it in Petroleum Jelly. This morning after another soak in a warm bath and some more BM coating I was able to put Burt's Bee Baby Bee diaper cream on her which is my personal favorite because of it's staying power. Then by this afternoon I was able to put her Rx cream from the doctor on without it burning her. It is now 930 at night and I just soaked her in an oatmeal and baking soda bath and I am happy to say that her butt is now just a slight shade of pink with a few red spots and she no longer cries when she goes potty.

So WHO KNEW?? Breast milk...really!

One Month!!

It is incredibly hard for me to believe that my little angel is a month old. These past 31 days have flown by. However, it has not been without it's lessons. So here we go...Things I have learned in my first month as a parent.

#1. Despite what you feel you will not die from sleep deprivation.

#2. I don't give a rats tail what anyone says Breastfeeding is NOT easy. It is a skill that both you and your child must learn together.

#3. Newborn farts are LOUD!!!

#4. Shower when she's napping. Who cares what else needs to be done if she goes down for a nap you hop in that shower!

#5. When your husband goes out of town (or in this case country) SOMETHING will go wrong or SOMEONE will get sick.

#6. SLEEP when she does. Housework can be done later or not at all.

#7. Colic SUCKS

#8. You can NEVER and I mean NEVER have a enough wipes or diapers.

#9. Your baby's cry will break your heart...every time.

#10. There is no greater love then a parent's love for their child. In my book Grace can do NO wrong....FOR NOW.

Counting Blessing

In previous blogs I have mentioned that Colorado was not our number one choice out of UPT. In fact it wasn't even in our top ten. Not because we had anything against the location or the plane. Steve was not very familiar with the C-21 and he had his eye on another plane. Since we have gotten here though we realized that God knew better then we did. This assignment has been a blessing. We could not have asked for a better location or a better squadron to be a part of. The people are so sweet and have truly been amazing since Grace was born. On Sunday the ladies of the 311th threw Grace and me a beautiful baby shower. Something that I know no squadron my father was apart of did for my mom with any of her four pregnancys. Since my mother left they have also brought us some meals which are a great blessing. After being up with Grace every 2-3 hours at night and most of the day by 5 o'clock I am exhausted. Some days I think about cooking and I just can't wrap my mind around even heating the oven. Not to mention that I eat off the left overs for days. So as I said they have been a true blessing. I have learnt from this assignment that there is a reason God sends you where he does in the Air Force and that no matter how unexpected the assignment might be you must keep your mind open because it could be the best assignment yet.

Two Weeks Already???

Yesterday our little princess Grace turned 2 weeks old . I can not believe how quickly the time has flown by, but at the same time I barely remember life without her. We had her well baby yesterday and I can not tell you how relieved I was when our pediatrician said she looked prefect. At her 5 day well the nurse made me feel like the worse mother in the world for having to use a shield to get Grace to latch right even though the lactation consultant gave it to me and said that it was fine. Then she scared the crap out of me telling me that her dimple on her butt looked deep which could indicate a spinal defect! However yesterday Dr. Brice said that she not only thought Grace was doing just fine but that she is way more developed then what is to be expected in a two week. Take that mean old nurse at Ft. Carson!!! To update y'all on how she is doing other just great she weighed 7lbs 6 oz yesterday. Which is well over her birthweight and over a pound more then her discharge weight. (Guess using a shield the first couple weeks isn't bad after all!) We don't know if she grew any because according to their Scale she lost an inch in height but Steve and I noticed that their measuring thing was swinging back because it was missing a screw. I am just glad she has gained weight because as I said the nurse told me that using a shield could prevent her from gaining properly. So there you have it our little girl is doing just fine and I could not be happier! However I wouldn't mind if time slowed down a little she's only this small once!!