Like a Monkey

Breastfeeding is still an extremely curious thing for me. Sounds funny, but it is a time when I feel almost mammalian...you know like monkey or something. Except my cool newborn cant climb up on my back and hold on while I continue with every day life. Seeing my boob has become almost second nature to my children as I am still working on the modesty issue there. It still hurts and is very uncomfortable, but I am trying to hang in there. I am still trying to see the "beauty" in it like people say. It probably has a lot to do with my very short fuse and extremely inpatient nature....oh wow! I sound terrible don't I?!?

ANYWHO enough about that eh? Time here seems to be the same every day. Well, the last two days we dreamed with the rest of America about our mega million winnings, but basically it has been the same day after day here. Brett goes to school. Adalie and Cason hug and fight and hug and fight all day long. Brody eats, poops, and now screams. Mom tries to keep the house in order with not much success and shower from time to time. Life is beautiful still =)

I have been crying at pretty much everything lately. Not sad crying really but happy, sentimental kind of crying. I watched the new Muppet movie with the kids the other day.....cried. I saw a commercial where this little boy was learning to fish...I cried. I listened to Brad Paisley's song Toothbrush ....I cried. Today while enjoying general conference I made the mistake of not cutting the TV right off after the closing prayer and started watching those family first commercials....cried like a baby!! Then on the complete opposite end of the spectrum I am screaming at my kiddos left and right!! I need to get these hormones under control quick.

I keep forgetting to take pictures of Brody. I remember when I had Adalie, I would take a few dozen a day. With Cason, maybe half a dozen at least, Poor Brody was even skimped on his hospital pictures. I swore I wouldn't do it since I myself was the youngest of 6 children and have maybe 2 newborns pictures and then apparently disappeared until I was two with 4 pictures and then reappeared again at 5. So, I am trying to step up on that one and here he is....Time is flyin'. I am pretty sure he even has a tooth coming in. Weird right?!? Unbelievable even?!? My kids all get their teeth super fast, Adalie had all of hers by 1 1/2, molars and all and Cason right before a yr. I am pretty sure my next kid will be born with teeth. It happens!! I looked it up....natal teeth. Creepy.

I have been looking through pictures lately and have found quite a few that I am sure my children will hate me for when they get older....like this one. And I will keep taking them....

Tuesdays Post

Spring Break was great....We did absolutely nothing and it was absolutely wonderful. As you can see, I didn't even post i was so busy doing nothing. Alas though, the fun has ended and Brett had to return to school yesterday. It is so funny that school days seems to drag on and on when he is gone but every hour he is home with us goes by in the blink of an eye....kind of depressing. You see, i am extremely needy and adore my husband. Even sitting and doing nothing, as long as Brett is here, is heavenly. It rained all of Spring break so my poor children spent a lot of time inside when they would've rather been out. I had a huge list of things to do while Brett was home to help and I think we got one thing done, maybe two.

We are all doing fine. The colic has kicked in with Brody. I don't know what it is about all my kiddos having stomach issues, but it is NOT fun. He has already started a love affair with miralax. We got the kids Easter pictures done and although we got a few great shots I would have to say the experience was not my favorite. The Lady was mean and impatient. Cason was a terror. Brody cried and Adalie just wanted goldfish the whole time. I hate getting pictures done. No family pictures though, we are saving that for May when hopefully I decide to get skinny.

My mom and dad and Brett's mom and dad will be here at the end of May and I am so excited! I feel like its been forever. Back in Utah, mom and dad would have to split their time between the 3 kids they had there so I only got to see them for 3-ish until they moved on to the next town to see a sibling. But here in Iowa, it is just me and I get them for almost a whole two weeks...it will be fun.

Brett has gotten involved in politics lately. I must admit, this is a new side of him I never really expected to see. We spend our evenings tuned into fox news lately. I myself am even getting to like the debates, but it sure makes me worry how deep of trouble this nation is actually in. And that is my end of a rant about politics....I am way too uneducated to make a real opinion about it all.

If you haven't heard...

Peyton Manning is now a Denver Bronco. Brett has been in Heaven since the news broke on Monday. Brett has an almost UN-healthy man crush on Peyton Manning and ESPN. Its going to be quite an intense football season around here. I am also quite stoked as I do enjoy some Peyton Manning Football action too, even when he wasn't a Bronco but...."everyone knows when a colt grows up it becomes a Bronco"

Here We Go..

It's been busy since I last posted. Can't really tell you with what exactly, just busy. It is spring break and Brett is home. It is pretty great, I won't lie...

A kid came to our door yesterday and said "There's a little boy. He's black. He's my best friend" Brett: "Uh, just a little girl lives here and a two yr old boy. Do you know his name?" kid just shakes his head no and then runs off. Funny.

Brody is one month old, it is insane. We still like him and he is getting cuter =). Funny random fact at the moment....our yorkie-poo weighs more than him at 7.4 lbs. I think Brody is just now reaching 6 lbs?? Oh and I keep calling Brody- Cason and sometimes even Cooper. Sorry buddy.
So, Adalie has had a problem lately with peeing her panties. Totally don't know where it came from and Brett thinks it might be the new baby, but I am losing my head over it. I have tried ignoring it, screaming, time outs, grounding, no TV, No outside, and even a spank on the bum. Brett read something online about taking away their favorite thing until they can show you they will not do it anymore...so today we took away her favorite thing...her blanket. Her, as she calls it, "blue blanket" (even though it is purple) or "monkey blanket". She has had this blanket for 4 yrs and it goes with her everywhere. She even freaks out when we wash it because it will be out of her sight for too long. I usually have to do it while she is at school so she won't notice its missing. Well tonight -- total breakdown at bedtime. Complete meltdown when we took it away. "I can't sleep" "It makes me feel safe" "Can I just see it for a minute?" "This pink blanket doesn't feel the same" "I am not going to bed without my blanket!" Anything and everything to make Brett and I feel like the worst parents ever. BUT I am thinking she might have gotten the message considering her traumatic reaction to the whole thing.
This Blanket is a very BIG deal in this girls life.

Don't hate us baby girl, we love you lots and it hurts us just as much to punish you...I promise we don't like it. And you will get it back tomorrow.

Sunshine

It has been beautiful here and we are soaking up the sun.

Now the rain is coming for the next week, which is also Spring Break. Ugh.

Report.

First - Cason's 2 yr check up stats. 37 in (95%) --26.3 lbs (80%) -- And I forgot head but it's little haha. Who would've thought Brett and I would ever have a kid in the 95% for height?!?! Ya, completely shocked on that one but we'll take it!!Second-- We are still alive! I had some worries about a 3 kid adjustment, but these first few weeks haven't been too terribly bad. Although, the first month isn't ever too bad is it? All they do is eat, sleep, pee, and poop. Its around the 6 week mark when babies usually start having their own opinions about things and it gets rough from time to time so I will give you the low down on that when it comes around. But, it has already been 3 weeks. That means, I am running out of time to say "I just had a baby and can't exercise right now. And I still deserve these cookies because I am pretty awesome to have just pushed a HUMAN BEING out of my body". This is my last week of indulgence and slothfulness. (who hasn't said THAT a million times).

Third-- Here is where it might get a little embarrassing for some as I allude to TMI. As I have mentioned once upon a time ago, I usually have trouble breastfeeding. This time around I took all the right steps (mostly) to be able to conquer that and breastfeed my little one. Well-- so far kind of good but not really. Seems like the quantity is kind of enough but the quality might not be. With all my "digestive" issues and considering I have to take a million vitamins because I do not keep good nutrients in my own body, Brody might not be getting his fill either. It's like he is drinking skim milk when he really needs whole milk. So, we are having to supplement with formula. BUT I will keep trying. At least he is getting antibodies right?? However I do have a few opinions about it, and here they are.... Breastfeeding hurts. It feels like sand paper being rubbed against my nipples. Also, it is awkward for me. My boobs are ginormous and I always feel like I will smother him or lose this little guy under there. In my bigger days of 280 lbs, my breast were quite large and when the weight was lost, my boobs sagged like a 75 yr old woman. So there is lots of support needed there. My back also hurts because I have to slouch over all the time, because gravity does help sometimes. Also, Sunday was my first experience of ever breastfeeding in public, well by public I mean the mother's room at church. Still, I was extremely nervous going in and was hoping no one would be in there to witness this travesty. Alas, since our little branch is full of babies, 3 of which recently born within a week of each other, the chances of no one else breastfeeding at the same time were very slim. So, my apologies to the other mother in the room who probably saw more of Lydia than she wanted to and was wondering what the heck I was doing. Despite having 3 kids, I am new at the breastfeeding thing. I don't know how to work these things just yet but am hoping it will be like riding a bike - once you learn you never forget it....and maybe will enjoy it??? Sheesh.

Fourth- Spring Break will be here soon and I am getting very excited. Although most of our plans just include Spring Cleaning, I am very excited to just hang out with my husband. No test and no homework to worry about. It's been rough for him....with a newborn and a hard load at school, he has been amazing though. Today, Tuesday, and Wednesday I will not be seeing him much though. He will be gone from 7 am to 10 pm everyday because of his lower limb anatomy test Wednesday and Thursday. However, this is his LAST lower limb anatomy test and he will be done with the course come Friday. Woo Hoo!!! It really wasn't a fun time to have a new baby....sorry about that one honey. I need to think of some fun things to do though for the whole week.

And because every post should have something to look at... here is another cute one of Adalie and Cason....watching netflix on Daddy's Laptop.

Discovered Treasures

A few days ago I mustered up enough strength to clean out from under the couches and recliner in the living room. Holy Cow. Wow. Usually I get to this job about once a week but I haven't since Brody was born....almost three weeks ago. Well, it got pretty bad. Good news though, we found Brett's other slipper he has been looking for for weeks and we found Cason's other trash stash besides IN the couch. Under the couch is JUST as good. And Adalie's church shoes, her hair gel, and hair brushes which I am almost positive she hid on purpose because she HATES it when I brush her hair.And so this post isn't just about trash under my couches, here are some recent cute pictures of my kiddos. Brody V at 2 weeks and 5 days....he is growin strong and eats in true Sorensen Boy fashion - all the time and a lot!!Cason always wants to play with the breast pump and watches in awe every time he happens upon me pumping. Kind of creepy....lolMovie Night =). Another rare So sweet moment caught on camera.

Brody Stats

Brody Vance is a growing machine!!! He had his two week apt yesterday and is 5.15 lbs and 19 1/2 inches long. That's a whole lbs and and inch and a half in two weeks. SUPER good!! Beyond super!! Most babies they say are lucky to be back at birth weight at 2 wks, so we are so excited. Although he is still in like the 2 % range of everything LoL. My babies seem to grow better their last few weeks of pregnancy on the outside rather than the inside. Wait does that make the same sense as it did in my head?? Whatever, hopefully you get what I am trying to say there...

Anywho, keep it up buddy!! You're doing great. Oh, and today he got his first bruise from his brother. Cason was jumping on my bed where I was changing the little guy and his heel came in perfect contact with Brody's forehead. After a very emotional call to Brett and to the Dr.'s answering service, I was reassured that he is probably just fine and the bruise on his head is just the natural way of the body healing itself. I have still be checking his breathing every hour, checking his pupils with a flash light, cautious about the vomiting, I and am nervous to let him leave my arms. And I keep crying randomly when I look at his little forehead. Oh the joys of having a newborn again....
Haha he looks like such an old man.

Cason Turned Two!!

So continuing the game of catching everyone up on our lives for the last two weeks....

On the 19th, 3 days after Baby Brody made his arrival, Cason turned TWO!! It is so funny how big he seems to me now. I don't know what happened, but he went straight from a baby to a toddler in one day! I felt super bad because we were going to have a Blues Clues party for him...nothing big just a fun cake with some ice cream to share with a few friends, but with the unexpected early arrival, I barely had the energy to make his rinky dinky little cake for just us. When Brett saw it he said "Who is Cason #1??" Very Funny honey.....BUT, he did have a birthday and got a great gift!! Perfect gift to burn some energy and shed off those nasty winter lbs =)

So, Cason at two..Talking off the wall!! We were worried about this kid not talking for such a long time but that problem seems to be long gone. He is super talkative and extremely loud!! Lots of yelling...I swear no one knows how to be quite at my house.

Still ALL boy. Loves to wrestle and will eat us out of house and home!! Cason loves his sister. Sometimes a little to rough, but they really are best friends. They love playing kitchen and "mommy and daddy" with Adalie's baby dolls. His current obsession is Toy Story and all kinds of toy cars. There are a million of them all over my house. I would say he is still quite the daddy's boy, but I get a snuggle every now and then and he still wants me to hold him to sing him a song at bedtime. He is your typical two yr old I would say....trouble maker, doesn't really listen, defiant....all the fun terrible two things, but he is getting SO much better than he was before. This kid is so black and blue all of the time I don't think I would recognize him without some bump or bruise on his face. He is climbing and falling all the time and I am surprised nothing has been broken yet. I am dreading his teenage years because I am pretty sure he will want to be a stunt double or something.

He is doing much better than I thought he would dealing with a new baby around the house. Doesn't really seem to mind it just yet. He calls him baby Brody and will even want to hold him. Once or twice he has asked us to put Brody down so we can hold him instead. I still keep a strong eye out on Cason though because I know how rough he can be and I am just waiting for that moment when something is going to happen. There is trouble behind that smile...

Cason, we love you all over. I love your spunky, busy, sometimes hostile personality. I love how you say I love you to me and your dad all the time and still give us big giant hugs first thing in the morning or when Daddy comes home from school. You're going to be a great man just like your daddy one day and I am so excited you are ours forever. Happy 2nd Birthday bubba. We love you...to the moon and back =)