DR. SEUSS DAY

Today is Dr. Seuss' birthday! This is huge in the life of Khyri... hahahah it runs a close second to Elmo's birthday!


Dr. Seuss  wrote 44 books. To celebrate his birthday, here are some great "Seussisms.


 Thank you Dr. Seuss for making reading fun.



 From "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."

From "Horton Hears a Who"

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

From "I Can Read with My Eyes Shut"

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

From "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas. . . perhaps. . . means a little bit more!"

From "Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories"

"And the turtles, of course ... all the turtles are free, as turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be."

From "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish"

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!"

From "Happy Birthday to You!"

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."

GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT

A few weeks ago I participated in a consumer study for stroller research. Normally these studies are mundane and don't really go into too much detail, but for this study I was asked a poignant question. At first the question seemed so simple, but when I began to craft my answer I found myself thinking long about how I would answer the question. What type of mother are you?

Simple right?! Doesn't seem to difficult. As I wrote I began to really hone in on my definition of motherhood. I was limited to 10 minutes to finish the question so I didn't get to answer it fully. Looking at my two children - one in the swing and one playing with toys, I want to revisit this question and really flush out what motherhood means to me. So here goes...


What type of mother am I?
For me its easier to start with what type of mother I am not and then work backwards. I don't believe that children are meant to be seen and not heard. Childhood happens only once and is short lived so I want my children to enjoy every moment. I support getting asked tons of questions, reading the book 'Brown Bear' 20 times and running full speed in the park. I am a mother who will manage to manage to muster that last bit of energy to play one last game of 'where's mommy? where's daddy?' right before bedtime. I'm definitely a clown! Now this is not to say that I don't believe in discipline or structure, I'm just not in a a rush to implement it - until necessary. For instance, a few months ago Khyri learned how to turn the living room light on and off. Literally we could be sitting there and it would flick on off on off on off 10 to 15 times in a row. I let him do it. It was annoying yes, but to me he was learning cause and effect. "If I push this switch up, the light comes on hmmm". Once he 'got it'  3 weeks later, I started telling him not to turn it on. To me, the 3 weeks of flickering was ok because he learned about on and off and now he knows that he doesn't need to do it all willy nilly.

I'm not the mom that buys matching outfits for me and the children, mainly because I'm not fashionable hahahah. I do however like wearing complementary colors just in case there is an opportunity for a photo! I'm not the mom that will dress my children in up in expensive clothes, because I know as children they are going to run, jump, spill, rip, and probably ruin their clothes - and they should at this age. Khyri and I go puddle jumping all the time. He hasn't found mud just yet - but when he does... Yahtzee! So I choose to shop a lot at consignment stores or buy things only on clearance. I'm a supporter of  Use-Send-Sell. We use the clothes, then either send them to someone else who can use them or sell them at consignment sales.

I tend to listen to the pediatrician and adhere to recommendations from the American Association of Pediatricians. After all, these people are professionals! I do however, recognize that motherly instinct is real and often times can be a loud indicator of something being wrong. I believe in vaccinations and some old school homegrown remedies. I love breastfeeding! I keep my children rear facing in the car seat until at least 14 months even though the law is 1 year and 20lbs. The best baby invention ever is my baby sling - shout out to mayawrap.com. I believe in soft soled shoes for first steps and no solid foods until 6 months (its hard making sure you provide each food group - boob milk is so much easier for me).

Of course all of this is how I feel today. Who knows how my parenting style or preferences are going to change over time. I guess the key is to be patient and flexible. All Keith and I can do is parent to the best of our abilities - hopefully it'll all work out :-)

Here's some pictures of Keith and I in parent mode:

A rested baby is a happy baby

The word for today - Multitasking!

Really Khyri?!? You're just gonna chill and read a book while getting your diaper changed? Must be nice!

Bath time for Kielle

Khyri leaving with Daddy to go to school

Good hygiene is a must!

#1 Mosley parenting tip : You can never give too many hugs and kisses!

KHYRI IS IN LOVE!

Khyri has fallen in love!

This is a very short post. Keith and I have been enjoying our two munchkins! Khyri is big brother extraordinaire. He is very protective of Kielle and truly likes being around her. The first thing he does in the morning is go to her bassinet and see if she is awake - I love it.

Let's see how long this lasts... I have a feeling once she can start grabbing his toys there may be some tension in here, but for right now I'll enjoy the peace.

For the record - I think Kielle just might be in love with Khyri too!

WE SURVIVED MONTH 1

Well, the first month has flown by. The house is beginning to settle into a semi-routine. My body has finally given in to feedings every 3 hours and a constant regimen of diaper changes. Kielle is beginning to stay up a little more during the day, so everyone is pitching in to entertain her. Thank goodness for the bouncer.

Nursing has been good. We've gotten over the 2 week hump so now she is latching well and we are good to go. Daddy has been GREAT with the diaper changes, but every now and again accidents happen! LOL

Khyri is really loving his little sister and it makes me UBER happy!

Though he loves his sister, Khyri still needs his own special time. We've come up with new ways to keep him entertained. We ventured to the library and got some books on tape and every now and again I get in the crib with Khyri and surprise him when he wakes up from his nap. His favorite toy though this month has been his big box of legos. He can dig in there all day!

Mommy's big butt in the crib with Khyri

Now we're ready for a road trip!

I have been searching for a toddler robe so my little man can relax and stay warm at the same time. I finally found one at the Disney store. I love looking at him in his robe - looks so comfy!

Gotta post some updated pics of Kielle:

Sleeping Beauty

KIELLE'S NEWBORN PHOTO SHOOT

I fancy myself a photographer and a few days ago I set up a mini photo shoot for Kielle.  The teal crochet outfit is actually mine. My Great Aunt Eva made it for me when I was an infant.

 

Only one word is needed to describe the photo shoot : PRECIOUS!

KHYRI MEETS KIELLE

Khyri's last moment as an only child

 I snapped this picture right before Keith and I headed out to the hospital.  Awww he's sleeping so peacefully. Little does he know - his whole life is about to change...

Keith and I are both only children so this sibling thing is going to be a learning adventure for us.

First lesson: Sibling introductions...

The last month or so of my pregnancy, I've been talking to Khyri about bringing home a baby. We practiced being gentle with my Cabbage Patch kid Cherry Paulette. Plus I think going to daycare two days a week has helped him learn to be patient with other children. 

On day two of being in the hospital, Vonetta brought Khyri over to meet his baby sister. At first Khyri was a little angry with me and Keith. He didn't want to hug us and he tried to hide behind Vonetta's legs. I must admit - I was kinda sad. But after awhile (I guess after he made his point) he came around and loosened up. He went to Keith first and I held Kielle. He wasn't too amused - not angry, just not amused. 

We left him alone for awhile to explore the hospital room. Once he really got into his comfort zone, we tried the introductions again. This time Vonetta held Kielle and Keith held Khyri. Again... not amused. He looked confused like "what is she doing here and when is she going home?" At one point he even took a swipe at Kielle, pushing Keith's arm away. Not a good look...

At home,  Khyri has really taken to Kielle. He loves pointing to her body parts - eyes, nose, head. We're gonna work on him just pointing to her belly, hands, and feet moving forward but we are so happy that he seems to like her! hahahahaha So far so good!

Khyri even helped Keith put together Kielle's bouncy seat. I guess he's ready to step up and be a big boy helper. We need to go get a Handy Manny toolkit ASAP. And not only is he helpful, but Mr Khyri has decided he wants to talk! YUP!! Finally he is starting to say some words. Of course the first person he spoke to was his Auntie Vonetta - but hey... that's ok. He now says Apa (Apple), Nana (Banana), and Mommy's least favorite - No.

Now that our two munchkins have met, Keith and I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Mommy and her Big Boy!

Mommy and her Baby Girl!

IT'S A GIRL!

Keith, Khyri, and I welcomed Kielle Elaine Mosley into our family on Thursday January 13, 2011 at 5:40pm! She is absolutely perfect! Khyri is a big brother, and now the 'vote' in the house is tied 2 boys to 2 girls.

I went to my ObGyn appointment on Thursday morning at 9:30. She checked me and said that I was 3c dilated - I guess the pineapples kicked in a little bit. Doc told me that I definitely wouldn't make it to next week, she was thinking maybe Thursday maybe Friday. She told me to help bring the contractions on to go walking. So I drove home and went outside and just walked up and down the block for about 45 minutes.

After the walk I felt the contractions strengthening, but nothing serious. I called Vonetta to see if she was on her way from Augusta to watch Khyri. Everything was set. Now I just needed to relax at home and let nature take its course. I knew this time around that I didn't want to do a lot of laboring a the hospital, so I purposely was waiting at home until the contractions got heavy and were 7 to 8 minutes apart. While at home I took warm showers, Keith rubbed my back, and I walked through some of my contractions. It really wasn't that bad and all those birthing class techniques were put to the test.

Vonetta got to the house around 4:00pm and around 4:30pm I told Keith its time to go. Normally it takes 10 minutes to get to the hospital. Normally. It took us 45 minutes instead of 10! But let me back up... so we're on the East-West connector literally crawling through traffic. The roads were still a little icy so everything was extra slow. I think it was the position I was in once in the car and the slow moving that made my contractions speed up.. Now they're coming every 5 to 6 minutes... Now y'all know Dr Heathcliff Huxtable clearly says "head to the hospital when your contractions are 5 minutes apart"... I start to get concerned. As we continue crawling...

My water breaks. Yup in the car... at 5:15pm on the East-West. Now with Khyri I had a nice slow trickle... not this time - full on warm gush... All over the Camry... Now I'm panicking. Everyone warned me that with your second child after your water breaks labor can progress quickly... and that it did! Mind you.. WE ARE STILL ON THE EAST-WEST. Now the contractions are extra strong and steady... Plus I'm losing my mind. We get stopped at a light and I tell Keith " I have to get out of the car" That's right OUT - on the East-West... I pop open the door and am on the side of the road on all fours with a big ole wet stain on my butt rocking back and forth moaning. I definitely gave the people driving behind us a story to tell the families at dinner. Out of control.Traffic starts moving... but not the Camry. Keith says we have to go but I don't care I'm not going anywhere until this contraction passes. He turns on the hazards and we wait. Once the contraction passes I'm back in the wet car seat and we get back to our crawl.

Luckily Keith remembered a short cut to the hospital. I think his quick thinking shaved a good 3 minutes of the ride!! Two more lights.. we can see the hospital signs. Red light on Austell Road.. are you kidding me!?!?!? Out pops Kahlillah for the second time onto the side of the road... rocking like a madwoman. I labor through the contraction and jump back in the car...

We screech into Labor and Delivery. I fall out the car again on all fours. Two random men leaving the hospital see me in pain on the floor and come running. They ask Keith whats going on.. did I fall? Nope. she's in labor... These two men went to NUT CITY!! They start hollering "she's going into labor!... get a wheel chair!... she's pregnant!.. she's having a baby!" Now I start balling. I think I was so overwhelmed that we actually made it to the hospital and that no matter what we would be alright... Keith runs inside to get a wheelchair. Trust me when I say it is NOT like the movies... No nurses came running out.. nobody yelled STAT.. nothing... Just Keith with a wheelchair. The two men literally hoisted me into the chair wet bootie and all and off we go inside.

We roll past registration at 5:30pm where at some point I yell out Mosley and my social security number and we go up to the second floor. When we get there everyone is too calm. No one was sensing the urgency. They take me to triage. I tell them " I don't need to be in here - This baby is coming now" no one listens. Ok y'all want me to show out... One nurse is like let me take your temperature - woman we don't have time for that!!! So I jump on the table and they want to check my cervix. They're like "wow mommy you really know you're body - you're 10 cm dilated and at 0 station!" WHAT!??!?!?! Wait.. so here I go - "um I want an epidural" Y'all they ignored me! I think they said let's not tell her she can't get one its waaay to late. So they roll me into the delivery room I have another contraction. Mind you... they still don't even know my name.

My doctor is not here... She's stuck in traffic. So a midwife is on call. I don't even know his name. I have another contraction and they keep telling me don't push... uh yeah right... so I push and poop comes out. once I get through that contraction the midwife says you have two options "We can wait for your Ob or we can go ahead now"... I'm sorry!!?... I don't see where there is a question!??! Wait!!? Um no. I don't roll with Dr. fine like that - Let's get this baby out. On the next contraction he says "Mommy you can push" (cuz he STILL doesn't' know my name)

It was THE WORST PAIN I have ever felt in my life. Seriously. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I pushed once and the ring of fire burned through my body. The head was through. Next soft push and pop - Bmo had arrived. It was 5:40pm. The nursing staff didn't realize that Keith and I did not know what we were having, so we had to ask what sex the baby was! LOL. I really think the staff thought that I was trying to go for a natural birth... The kept saying stuff like "you know your body.. and you did good" I don't think they realized I was in shock. The midwife asked Keith if he wanted to cut the umbilical cord, and he was like "uh no - you got that" and then they tried to give Kielle to me right after delivery... um not the kid... I need for y'all to clean her up a bit please Thanks! We are not crunchy!! This was not planned! I wanted the drip drip drugs... hahahahah

I completed all of my 'pre-admission' paperwork after Kielle's birth LOL. They took my blood after Kielle's birth LOL. We told them our names - finally. It was crazy.

My friend Danielle has welcomed me into the elite club :
The few... The proud.. the strong.. The Naturals!

I didn't want to be part of this club, but looking at Kielle's beautiful face I wouldn't have had it any other way --well... maybe a little different LOL :-)

 

Little Miss Kielle - 6lbs 5oz.