For the Record

Melissa = Team Kate

Heidi = Team Jon

I think we can all agree that in this situation - TSIB!!

Welcome To The World

We want to welcome two new readers. Maxwell Eugene Evans was born June 11 to mama Abby Evans (loyal reader and commenter... we LOVE commenters!). He was 8 lbs. 15 oz. and I've already gotten to meet him. He's adorable and looks just like his older brother, big hands and all! Abby - if you send me a photo, I'll post it here.

Presley Jean Hayes made a very sudden, early appearance on June 21 to mama Whitney Hayes. She was 7 weeks early and weighed only 4 lbs. 11 oz. She is still in the NICU, but a fighter and getting stronger everyday.

That Mom

I am officially that mom. You know, the mom I saw other women being and swore I would never become. It's all good and easy to coach from the sidelines, but when you're faced with a tantrum or breaking point, it's a whole new ball game. I became a mom at 28, so I had the advantage of watching many of my friends and family members parent their children. I have looked into their mommy book and highlighted the things I would do and crossed out those I swore I would never do. But, moms are only human. And we have breaking points too. 

When Cambria was colicky in the early days, I would have sat her in front of the TV with a bowl full of french fries covered in chocolate WAY past her bedtime if it would have helped. Yesterday on Father's Day, I took Cambria to the grocery store with me so that Ryan could have some quiet time. After the 10th person didn't say "hi" or wave back at her, she had a melt down. She started screaming "hi" and yelling at the top of her lungs. I tried all the tough mom routines, but the only thing that she decided would calm her down was my grocery list, which we've tried before and has ended in me holding the pieces together to see what I still need to get. So, I did it. I said I would never do it. I made fun of the moms who do it. I grabbed a box of crackers and gave her one after another until we checked out, when I had to shyly hand them to the cashier and explain why they were open. I swear Cambria was smiling during that conversation. 

This next that mom moment I have photo proof of. Ryan was at the CWS and I was on bedtime duty. All I wanted was to finish loading the dishwasher before we headed to bed (that's right, I said "we" - Ryan had been at the CWS all day and I was exhausted). Cambria wanted to help...

I just needed 3 more minutes, so I gave her a wooden spoon and a bowl. I had heard rumors that babies liked this. She did...

for about 30 seconds. I had to think fast. I needed 2 more minutes out of a very tired baby. Without thinking, I opened the refrigerator door so she could play with the condiments in the bottom shelf. I know - I was desperate, but it has been proven to work before. I turned after 20 seconds to see this. Still with the spoon in her hand.

Yes, yes. I am that mom. And yes, I grabbed the camera instead of the baby. You're welcome. :) 

TSIB,

M

You're Rich, You're Stylish, Big Whoop, I'm Awesome

So, I will admit that it has taken me so long to publish a new post that I had to think about what our password was just to get into this thing. My apologies. I did have an excuse, though. My husband and I just returned from a trip to Seattle. It was for my work (exciting world of health insurance), but we extended our stay to make it a mini-vacation as well.

Here are my thoughts on Seattle. It was freakin' fabulous. As compared to Omaha, there were more hills, more stores, more style, more gay men, more culture, more seafood. Here is what was lacking: no Woodard kids. That's right...I missed my little brood. Granted, their tiny faces never even crossed my mind in the first 48 hours of the trip, but after that, I did miss the mayhem that only they can give me.

As I walked the downtown streets with my husband (a lot, what an excellenct city for exercise), I kept noticing all of the business types in their designer shades and high-priced labels. We stayed at a fancy-smancy hotel and it took all of my power to keep my poker face on. You know, the face that reads, "No need to stare at me, I've totally stayed at 5-star hotels before."

After I got over the adjustment of not being in the Midwest anymore, I started to think about how much I meant to my kids and how much they mean to me. And that naturally gave me a little confidence check. As I passed by all of the skinny, well-dressed, completely put-together people, I kept thinking to myself, "Sure, your jeans cost $300, but I know how to multi-task with the best of them. Oh, and what's this stain on my shoulder? It's my daughter's spit-up. Deal with it." And then I shimmied my hips a little like I was on the mommy cat walk.

So, to all the moms out there...we may need to sacrifice our bodies, freedom, and money for our children, but nothing (nothing!) replaces the feeling of coming home to people who believe the world revolves around you. That's right, skinny biotches, add that to my list of accomplishments.

-H

Well...

First birthday parties suck.

The Future?

My father-in-law, Al, is one of the best out there. He treats me like a daughter, not a daughter-in-law. When I came home to a mouse in my garage and Ryan was nowhere to be found, Al came (laughing all the way) to get it out. He ran to get me ice cream when I was pregnant. And, the number of times he has come over to fix something or help with a project are countless. Ryan only has one brother, so when Cambria was born, the only person more excited than Al that she was a girl, was Ryan.

But, he still has high expectations for her. Ryan's family is athletes. Ryan was an amazing track star and his brother was the track and football player that every other team wanted to crush. So, it comes with no surprise that Cambria (and all future children) are expected to be star athletes. Almost every time we're together, Al dreams (out loud) about going to her games and meets and how fast she could be one day.

I know she's only 11 months (kinda in denial she'll be 1 on Friday), but after hearing this time and again, I feel the obligation to prepare him for the worst. I mean, it's no secret that I am nowhere near athletically inclined (though, Al likes to ignore that fact and instead focus on how fast my sister was a track star, so athletic ability is SOMEWHERE in my family). And, I know a lot can change in 10 years, but Cambria is almost 1 and has absolutely no interest in walking. If I try to get her to walk, she'll bend and sit instead. This, coupled with the fact that she has been showing signs of having my personality instead of her dad's, makes me think athletics may not be in her future. At least not after age 7, when micro sports are over and true talent starts to rise to the top.

So, at dinner the other night I say, "You know, there is a really good chance she will steer more towards the arts or music instead of sports." And although I think he was thinking, "She could do both," he obliged and we started talking about how she may play an instrument, be into plays or in the choir. After a 5 minute conversation about this, I threw out the possibility that she may be a genius and be the smart, cute geek that doesn't have to try hard at school, never has to study for tests and still gets straight A's. You know, the person we always wished we were. As we looked over at Cambria to size her up for a Genius Award, she had her own idea and was ready for us with this face. It's kinda hard to tell, but she was making the fishy face at us, in between saying "uh oh." Hopefully that will silence her Papa for awhile!