Yes, 7 kids! No, really.

I will have to change this blog yet again, as it would seem inevitable that I play the "I'm Pregnant" game on April Fool's Day, only to find out a few weeks later that I really was and am pregnant. Whoops. Don't ever joke about that stuff...no really.


So with that said, we are still adjusting to the idea of 7 children loose in this house. We are excited though, and hope to find out boy or girl in the next 3 weeks. I am 14 weeks along now, and due Christmas Day 2010. What a day to be due, right?

Miss Jasmine is trying to walk now, taking 2-3 steps at a time here and there as she feels like it. She amazes me every day with her tenacity and spunk. Here's a $200 bet that she ends up way too much like me to be comfortable.

 I recently procured (big word...yes I know) a position at Butler Music School as the new violin teacher. I will be replacing the one they have, who is going out of state to pursue her masters. I will also be taking over the violin position in their band SeraFem. It's a symphonic rock band, right down my alley! I am intimidated, nervous, and super excited about this great opportunity!

I am also building a photography business. It's slow starting but I have gotten my first few paid sessions under my belt and I am really happy with how things are going. Visit here to see my work.

 

Take back the boobies!

I am sharing this wonderful post about public perceptions of breastfeeding. I don't know who wrote it, but the author suggests sharing it if you agree.

Society is so sexualized that they have forgotten what God created our breasts for in the first place. They throw hissy fits over breastfeeding in public and expect us to feed our babies in dirty, stinky bathrooms. So I ask you to judge for yourself, which breasts are offensive here? And I understand some of you won't think ANY of them are offensive. But I am making a point by showing how ridiculous it is that society looks upon scantily clad women in sexy ads as ok, even GREAT, but providing important nourishment and nutrients to your child in public by breastfeeding is offensive, distasteful, disgusting, whatever. Give me your feedback. :)


Wait... well, this is a bad example. Let's try again...

Hmmm... just a minute. Surely i can find better ones than these...

Eh... still not racy enough. I'll check one more time.

That's better. LOOK AT THAT! I see about an inch of boob! Totally disgusting.

Ugh! Look at that indecency!! She must be from some third-world country to be exposed like that!!

Now that's just... There's no words to describe how inappropriate that is. Something needs to be done!!



Now this takes the cake!! How dare they actually put such a disgusting image on the cover of a magazine where teenage boys might see it. This simply must be disposed of ASAP via a shredder, before teenage boys learn what boobs are really for!!


This just makes me want to vomit!

...but why stop at breastfeeding women? There are boobs everywhere. Beware! If you thought the above photos were offensive, you WILL DEFINITELY be offended by the photos below.




Not this one though. This was in plain view on newsstands and in mailboxes in 19 countries worldwide!

Not this one either. This one actually won an award!

Oh, and i guess this ones fine too, since everyone knows you can't sell jeans without someone being topless.

or beer, for that matter!

or sunglasses...

or movie tickets...

or CDs...

...you know what? Maybe I'm crazy, but i think that someone mixed up some photos here. The first batch are offensive, but the second batch are just fine and dandy???

people who live in glass bras:


shouldn't throw stones:








Which message is healthier?

Breastfeeding which is medically approved to give HUMANS the best start in life. . . or


Images that promote STD's, unattainable beauty standards, sexual promiscuity, plastic surgery, and just plain TRUE indecency?

Which would you rather your daughter live up to?

Ifyou think women have the right to breastfeed their children no matter where they are, please re-post this. The least you can do is help some children get the best nutrition they can get. Breastfed babies have lower instances of obesity, asthma, allergies, certain childhood diseases, learning disabilities, and other health problems. For each woman who feels like she shouldn't be breastfeeding right where she is, there is an innocent baby who is losing out. Don't be responsible for any child's health problems. support breastfed babies and their right to eat in public like the rest of us.

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Mine went completely against plans, as my daughter came down sick just 2 days before we were set to leave for Tennessee to spend Thanksgiving with my extended family. We ended up cancelling, and I spent the next couple days brooding over it. By the time Thanksgiving morning had passed I was cheering up and plotting an impromptu Thanksgiving meal with my husband. In the end, he kicked me out of the kitchen and told me to go play with the boys. He then whipped up a most delicious meal singlehandedly that included steak, salad, deviled eggs (I did boil and peel those for him earlier that day), steamed veggies, fresh-cut veggies, green bean casserole (courtesy the mother in law), and twice-baked potatoes. Even the dog enjoyed some of the leftovers (shhh don't tell my old veterinarian boss).

As always, click to enlarge:

Pete, our totally awesome dog

Jasmine chilling in her vibrating chair (thanks again April!)




Ok Mom...you can stop with the flash in the eyes thing already!




A horrible pic of me, but it's me and Gabriel so I had to post it




Gabe and Orion playing outside on their bikes, trikes, and in the leaves










When the three olders came for the weekend we put up and decorated the tree, and I decorated the house the best I can this year...which basically consisted of finding places to shove various Christmas-themed knicknacks and dolls.














A fellow mom and friend traded me prefold diapers for a breadmaker, in which I have made a loaf in every day since I got it. Christian helped me make French Bread in it on Saturday:





25 Days until Christmas!

A quick catch-up

We had a great Halloween. All 5 boys were here and dressed to coordinate (except for Orion). Christian was Darth Vader, Michael was Obiwan Kenobi, Dominic was Jingo Fett (bounty hunter), Gabriel was a Clone Trooper, and sadly we could not find a Yoda costume in Orion's size, so he was a dragon/devil/something haha.

We took the kids trick or treating with my two nieces and my parents.
(click pictures to enlarge)

And now to share some pictures I have taken here and there the last week or two.















And some pics of Gabriel and Orion playing outside while Jasmine supervises (with some snuck in pictures of me and Jerry.