Thursday, August 30, 2012

Madoo & Kie




Kie decided to change grandmother's name to Madoo.
Not exactly sure how he came up with it.
 But it has stuck.
She will be Madoo.
At least to sweet Kie man.


Here's Kie and Madoo at Caddo.
What a great night out with the family!
Happy Boy and Happy Grand....errrMadoo!

Stay tuned for a big update...
I've been sick with the ever-lasting stomach virus...
Finally, I'm over it and just now feeling human again.

We have BIG Labor Day Weekend plans...
and house reveal coming as well.

Hope everyone is doing great!

-HK-


Friday, August 24, 2012

Know That

There's countless times during the day that I say something like,

"Kie, you're so smart, you know that?"

Or,

"Kie, you're so wild, you know that?"

"Kie, you're so silly, you know that?

"Kie you're so cute, you know that?

Etc, etc, etc.....

His response to me, every time....

"Know that."

Ahhh, toddlers....
So cute, so wild and already know more than their moms.

Watermelon mess


Btw,
Becky, one of my favorite Mama blogs to read,
 is hosting an AMAZING giveaway!
She's currently pregnant with baby #2 and she has a beautiful nearly-two-year old, Elliana.
Go check out her blog, From Mrs To Mama.

Hope everyone has a blessed Friday!

-HK-

Thursday, August 23, 2012

30 weeks y'all

How far along?  
30 weeks
Maternity clothes?  Yes and no. I wear some maternity tops and regular yoga pants. Or, I wear a lot sundresses and big T's. If it ever gets cooler I'll break out my maternity jeans.
Total weight gain/loss?  29lbs--shhh, I'm still doing better this pregnancy then the last. My goal is stay under 40 this go around! Last pregnancy I put on close to 50!

Stretch marks? None! :) surprise.
Sleep?
 Ha! Sleep, what's that?
Best moment this week? I don't have gestational diabetes this pregnancy! Whoo hoo! I am anemic, however.
Movement?  Yes, sweet boy kicks me a lot. I love watching him move through my shirt. I want Kie to feel him but I don't want to scare him! lol
Food cravings?  None. If I have any, I cook it. Mainly cooking lots of pastas and casseroles. Though, my sweet tooth is back. But that's typical pregnancy or not ;)
Gender? Still very much a boy.
Labor signs? Braxton Hicks. And I cramp a lot...but, it's also hot out and it's a reminder to drink more water.
Belly button in/out? still in :)
What I miss: I tire out easily.  I wish I had the energy to exercise, keep up with Kie, cook, clean and work. But typically I have to chose certain things to get done in a day instead of powering through it all. 
What I am looking forward to: This weekend! Cleaning Kie's closet and drawers out. Washing newborn clothes....and buying a few new things for Baby. Also, prepping our house for a big Longhorn Football kick Off Party! Whoo hoo! Hook 'Em!!
Milestones: 30 weeks has me a bit terrified of another c-section!
They're not exactly fun, but the outcome is amazing! :)

 au natural and just up from my Sunday nap.
Justin loves to get the candid shots.
At least I'm eating watermelon and not ice-cream, right?

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Thursday Throwbacks


Sweet, laughing, squishy.

This is a throwback of my sweet, love.
He was so cute and chunky and happy.

THIS is what I want to preserve.
Innocence....
Sweet baby innocence and joy.

Happy Early Thursdays my lovies!

worries & fears: pregnancy hormones edition

I should be sleeping.
But, unfortunately, when my husband got up this morning--so did my brain.

The brain of a pregnant lady is a scary thing.
Or, at least in MY case, it is.

It never turns off. And when it does turn off, for those few hours of sleep...if it dares to get disturbed, say by the overactive pregnant bladder....well, then there's a chance it won't go back to sleep for hours.

The pregnant brain during a first pregnancy consists of a lot of worries.
Rightfully so.
You don't know what to expect of the impending future.
Of the labor.
Or the delivery.
The life POST baby.
Will you breast feed or do formula?
Will you co-sleep or not?
Did you get the right pediatrician?
What about this jogging stroller?
How's this car seat?
Will I do cloth diapers or not?
Will I do play dates with other moms?
How's marriage going to be affected?
What about this body?
Will my house forever look like a show room for Babies R US?
Will I ever get out this house?
Will I ever get into my skinny jeans?
What about vaccines?
What about daycare?
What about school districts?
What about my child's future girlfriend or boyfriend?
How many more hours until my husband gets home?!
Where's our world going to?
Should I have brought a child into this uncertain, big place full of germs with the opposite sex and scariness?
(I'm the kind of crazy mom that worries about future girlfriends)

See...
It can be daunting and overwhelming.
And that's just the tip of the tip of the TIP of the iceberg.

Being a mommy=worrying.

It's what we do.

Rare cases, are the calm, cool and collected mommies that may not worry.
Even those mommies that seem to not worry, well...
deep down they do.

Worrying, in a woman's world...equates to care and love.

We worry because we care.
Silly and exhausting as it is, but true.

If a momma didn't worry about the future of her child--or the thousands of decisions she has to make for her child that can affect them for years to come--well, then obviously she probably doesn't care too much.

Unfortunately, in this world there are people like that.
I wouldn't call them mommies.
They're merely women who had children. Not all women who have children are mommas.
It's a regarded title in my book.

I digress.
My worries these days steam from not the first time jitters of new momma-hood.
Because, in the way my OB/GYN treats me...I should be an expert with this whole delivery/mom thing.

Little does he know, that the reason I don't ask many questions is because I'm too distracted by my toddler who is busy trying to open the bio-hazard trash can behind him. 
Yep, proud momma.


Also, I can't recall what to do with a newborn anymore...and really, I need to be reading some of my old books to get back into the swing of things.

My worries these days are far and crazy.
I worry over my toddler.
Am I spending enough time with him?
Does he know I love him?
How's he going to adjust to a new baby?
Is he going to continue this hitting/kicking thing?
What if he hits the new baby?
How do I enforce timeout better?
How is my house going to survive with my crazy-wild-climb over everything and everyone toddler AND a newborn?
Will I EVER get out of the house?
Am I ever going to fit into my jeans again?
Me and husband have opposite schedules as is, will I ever see him once the new baby is here?
How do moms with more than one child do it?!
How am I going to breast-feed my newborn successfully with the hands of toddler constantly poking and prodding?
Will I ever sleep again?
Is there enough coffee in the world?
Can I get a boob job after this? (halfway joking)
Is it okay to open a bottle of wine before noon?

I worry about bringing a new child into this scary world.
And yes, I think it's scary.

Being a mom means you finally open your eyes to the world around you.
You realize how crazy this place is.
You begin to monitor everything.
From the music and shows you watch, to what you say, eat and wear.

Who knew how provocative and secular this place really truly is!

::Forgive my mania, I am sleep deprived and weeks away from delivery.
Everything I say or write CANNOT be taken against me::

Yes, this world can be daunting.
Especially when you want to control the world you put your children in.
You wish to protect them.
Love them, provide for them.
Establish good Christian morals, values and to shield them from the wackos and crazies.
I forever lived in a fantasy world as a child.
My fantasy world stretched far because my imagination was big and vivid (and still is.)
I guess, if I could just preserve that fantasy world just a bit longer for my kids would be the most ideal.
Am I being totally un-realistic? Perhaps so, but I'm just raising my kids. Not anyone else.

Sometimes I'm thankful I have two boys, because in some ways....it seems easier to be a boy.
Maybe one day I'll have a girl, and my worries will only multiply by a million and ten.

I definitely feel the world for growing little girls can be even more worrisome.
Mommies to little girls have a tough job.
But, to all the mommies out there I know with little princesses, well I know they're in great hands
It truly takes a momma-hero to raise beautiful, confident, moral young girls.
(In this world where 8 year olds are dressing 18!)

I guess, in many ways---as mommies we want to create a world of happiness, peace and structure for our children.
A world where they feel safe.
A world where they can learn and express themselves without judgments and boundaries.

I guess it just means we have to work harder as mommies.
Instead of constantly shielding them (like I plan on doing until my boys are 35)
I will have to learn to teach them. 
Instructing them on how to be leaders, in a world of followers.
How to be gentleman, in a world where it's normal to hook up and hang out (as my preacher puts it.)
How to work hard, in a world where unemployment and debt are the norm.

Being a momma, means to worry.
And to have a million thoughts, ideas and plans going through our heads at hurricane speeds.

Guess it's time I spent some more times praying about this then these exhausting worrying thoughts.
Just my two cents :)
Hope everyone is doing well this week.

-HK-

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Tab updated

I finally did ONE of the tabs--
(listed above)

It's one of my favorites,
on my husband.
If you're wanting to read some mushy, lovey-dovey---
then click (right above) on the My HUSBAND tab.

And you can get your fill of sweet husband pictures...

Love that man!
Or, you can just click this link!
My husband

-Enjoy!!!

Friday, August 17, 2012

A very vain photo opt, from a PRE-baby Halley

So, I ran across a few photos of me PRE-kids.
These photos aren't my typical photos, especially of lately.
But, during these times I was an avid runner/cardio lover (and I was even after I had Kie) but my body, well it never went back to being like this.

Even during these photos, I thought I had a lot of work to do. Mainly on my abs, I was trying to get a six-pack. Think that's as close as I ever got.
Or ever will get. And of course, I have some love handles....(birthing hips!)

So yes, this is an ode to pre-baby Halley.
In fact, these photos were during my dating days with Justin.
Ahhh, what a blissful summer spent on the lake in my swim suit.

ahhh, life was pretty easy then. When all that consumed my world was what to wear on my next date, getting to work and making money.

Life was a lot more simple sans kids, but definitely not as joyous!

Here's looking to you, naive girl! 








Monday, August 13, 2012

the boob debate

As most of my close friends and family know...
I nursed Kie for awhile.
No, not 3 years...(obviously, since he is not even 2 yet)
But, I nursed him past my goal of one year.
In fact, we went 19 months.

A lot of my friends quit nursing a bit earlier and some c r a z y moms are still nursing their toddlers.
Actually, I should clarify, I say it's crazy to nurse toddlers because their wild. They have a MOUTH full of little, pearly white shark teeth--and they're rough.
Ok, at least in my experience, MY toddler is.

Basically, I had to make a choice...
Was I wanting to have two boobs to nurse my future children? Or was I going to let them get bit off by my first child?? 
(Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but to moms that have been there then maybe you understand this is a valid question.)

I did like to nurse. In fact, I loved the quiet times Kie and I had on the couch.
Plus, as a nursing momma with a baby in her arms, it gives you a good excuse to SIT DOWN and rest some.

However, Kie was 16 months when I found out we were expecting another one.  I was wondering if I was going to have the energy to still nurse or if I was going to be asked by my doctor to quit.  I've had a lot of friends who had to stop nursing their babies because they were pregnant again and their bodies couldn't sustain both the nursing baby, the baby in the womb and their own energy.

Me, well I felt fine!
Yes, I was tired...
and I was sick.
And mainly, that was the biggest issue.

Kie would nurse and he would be laying across my stomach in some way that would NOT HELP my morning all day sickness.  Still, I pushed on.

We nursed right through the first trimester. 
Deemed the roughest.
But, then I realized how big Kie was.

It never occurred to me how BIG he had been getting.
His teeth were sprouting up,
he was learning to push and kick and resist...
and he was rough.

I mean, he's a boy.
He's pretty rough....

So I made the decision to wean him at 19 months.
We went a few weeks into the month and eventually we stopped.

There are times Kie pulls my shirt up or over...and asks to "nuuuuuu" 
Which in his language, translates to nurse.
He even says "boooobie."

In fact, he TRIED to nurse yesterday.
But, I'm glad we're done.
I've gotten a small break before I'll be nursing around the clock again.

And mothers, who've had c-sections know that nursing with a big incision is not easy or comfortable.
It took me weeks until I felt good about certain nursing positions.

I guess my next worry is how Kie will do with a new baby nursing.
Considering I know he still WOULD nurse if I allowed him to, I don't know what he'll think about a baby getting to nurse.

For now, the excuse to him is, 
"Their broken."
Broken is one of his favorite words.
In fact, I use this word a lot when he wants to turn on and off a lamp a million, billion times.

I guess we'll pass that bridge when it gets here.

Until next time,

-HK-



Thursday, August 9, 2012

For the love of Kie


I thank God everyday for giving me this cute little man....
and to think, God is giving me another sweet angel boy in a few more weeks.

Just living in gratitude....
something I need to do daily.

Thank you God for this little, healthy, big-blue-eyed boy.
He has shown me love.
Motherhood is, by far,  the biggest surprise and best blessing I've ever had.

Thank you, my loving God for my family.
And for my hard working husband...
and my two baby boys.

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