Family Tree

Lou Lou was here this weekend.  That's my mom... we call her that sometimes. 

We had the opportunity during nap time on Saturday to spend 3 hours with the beloved Cricut.  She had a few projects in mind and I had one that I hadn't had the guts to try.  Together - we did it!  Sounds so triumphant when actually it just involved putting a vinyl Cricut cut out on an old window.

I forgot to take a picture of the window before I started.  I think you can use your imagination.  The window came from the Habitat Restore for $5.  The hardware is what made me fall in love.

The vinyl is off white and came from Expressions Vinyl for $1.98 a sheet.  I get all of my vinyl from this place. Their options are endless and reasonably priced.  They have lots of usage tips for each product.  Helpful in reducing "Cricut Frustration".

The tree came from the "Stretch Your Imagination" cartridge.  I made it as big as possible - Fit To Page option.  Then I used the transfer tape to put it on the BACKSIDE of the window. This is so that little fingers can't pick off the pretty tree. 

CAUTION:  the transfer tape is very sticky when it comes to glass.  I suggest cutting off the excess to prevent things sticking where the shouldn't.  Again, every attempt is being made here to eliminate "Cricut Frustration". 

Helpful Hint:  Re-use your transfer tape!  It will let you know when it's had enough.

The finished product-

I like the simplicity.

Not bad for somewhere around $8.00!

Blessings-

B

Support A Sister

I'd like to complain today...

I've been hearing these commercials on the radio lately about breastfeeding.  These little voices talking about "poor little Johnny" whose mom feeds him formula and doesn't, in so many words, love him enough to nurse him.

GIVE ME A BREAK!

IS THIS A JOKE?

The breastfeeding nazis have go to be stopped!  How can women continue to degrade other women on this topic?  Isn't it enough that every time we turn around we are being told by one source or another that we're too tall, too thin, too short, or too fat.  We have the wrong shoe size, hair color, car, job, interests...  for heaven sakes our teeth aren't even white enough.

Do we really need to be told that we are less of a mother if we bottle feed our babies?

I breastfed 3 of 5 of my children.  I didn't like it and couldn't wait to be done.  (Each of the three were supplemented with bottles and were on bottles after the first 6 weeks or so.)  I envied the lady that taught the breastfeeding class that I took - she said she did it because she loved it.  Great for her.  But, please oh please, respect my choice to bottle feed my baby.  Support me as another mom, sister, daughter, friend... 

After number 1 was born, my world was turned upside down.  Everyone kept telling me that nothing would be the same - I didn't believe them.  All at once, I couldn't go outside and do the things that I used to do at the feedlot with my husband.  That's where I loved to be.  Needless to say, I was a little depressed, breastfeeding wasn't going well, I was exhausted (because I couldn't/wouldn't ask for help), and I just wanted my old life back.

With each subsequent pregnancy, I dreaded the breastfeeding subject.  Number 4 had a few health issues and wasn't able to "latch on" or "suck" properly.  I chose not to pump and hid behind his troubles so that I could GIVE. HIM. A. BOTTLE.  That was the quickest and easiest I had ever bounced back from a pregnancy. 

We all know that "when Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"!  I was HAPPY with bottle feeding this little guy.  I knew how much he was getting.  He was happy.  He slept well.  I slept well.  This was clearly the better choice for me.  So, why do we have to make these new mom's fear and be ashamed of their choice not to breastfeed?  Why? 

By the time number 5 came around, I was 38 and had the guts to stand up to the "breastfeeding nazis"!  I started right away with the bottle in the hospital.  Despite the looks on the nurses faces, I knew my baby would be just fine.

So far, the kids are well beyond there ages academically. They ARE a little goofy socially...
 I like that about them.

We have bonded. 
Bonding comes from time together - reading, walking, watching TV, playing games, eating supper together, sitting on the floor doing nothing, homework...

And they know that I love them, as they would say, "more than God loves anything".

I right this in hopes that one new struggling mother might read this and, through her tears (I know what that's like), will feel that her baby will be just fine with that bottle of formula.  My doctor even said so. 

I support you in your choice to bottle feed that baby OR breastfeed that baby.

When momma's happy, everybody's happy.

I'm stepping off my soap box now.

Blessings-

B