30 Day Photo Challenge: Days 14-18

What do I do in between nursing in the middle of the night...
I try to stay awake long enough to pump so I play Words with Friends, read blogs and come up with amazing post ideas...this morning nothing came to mind so here is my photo challenge pictures!
Happy Wednesday!

Here are my days 14-18 of the 30 Day Photo Challenge.

                                                Day 14: Movement

Of course I had to try taking a picture of Baby Pancakes moving.  

He has been a little mover since he was in the womb so it's not surprising he is such a mover.  

We were lying in bed and he kept on moving his hands trying to put his fingers in his mouth. 

 He always has his fingers in a boxing pose...it's the cutest thing!

                                                  Day 15: Technology

I chose Skype on the iPad because it's become one of those technologies

 that I use frequently to communicate with my family and friends.  

Recently one of my childhood friends gave birth and I was 

able to meet the baby through this technology and it was a wonderful experience.  

I am thankful for technology.

                                                       Day 16: Animals

Lions, elephant and bears oh my.  

I cheated a bit and took pictures of Baby Pancakes' playard friends who are animals. 

 But aren't they the cutest thing...so colorful.  

I am thankful for these little animals Baby Pancakes will come to know well as he grows.

 Day 17: Memories

12/29/2011 was the day we officially found out we were pregnant with 

Baby Pancakes and as you can tell I was completely over the moon 

as I recorded this wonderful news in my journal.  It was such a memorable experience.  

And I can't believe the one year anniversary of that day is coming up.

                                          Day 18: Something New

My new boots which I am in LOVE with because they 

will be replacing my favorite boots which no longer fit because my feet has grown.  

It's a sad day but at least I have something new!!

You can find:

 Days 1-4

Days 5-8

Days 9-13

To Shop or Not to Shop..

This is the question many of us are asking as the 

newly minted Black Thursday and Friday approaches.

I have always been fascinated with Black Friday...

the idea that people wake up early to stand in line for a big ticketed item for a cheap price....

mind you the big ticketed items are usually limited 

and only the first ten customers in line get this said item. 

 So in the end, all the waiting was for nothing 

because you end up getting pushed and shoved only to not even get this said item.

WHY DO WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES?

Mr. Pancakes and I were talking about this yesterday 

and we concluded that sometimes we participate in these events just to say we participated. 

 I think I have been to a Black Friday event only once 

and I think I went after 11:00am which is definitely 

way toooo late to venture out to the mall for deals.  

But the crowd, the pushing and shoving has never interested me. 

 I am more of a leisure shopper.  

Don't get me wrong...i LOVE an awesome deal and I am the first to say I am a bargain shopper

 BUT I guess my desire to get a good deal does not outweigh my sensible side.  

People have died for goodness-sake while Black Friday shopping.

And now ALL the stores have decided that one day of crazy shopping is not enough...

they have decided to add another day.  Not just any other day but Thanksgiving Day.  

One of the days out of the here which is supposed to be designated

 for spending quality family time, eating, laughing and enjoying each other's company. 

 Even if you don't like your Crazy Uncle or Nutty Cousin, 

you get to spend the day making jokes about them in front of them.  

The fact that stores will try to take this away from families is just down right greedy!!

Of course, there is CHOICE in all of this. 

 People get to choose whether to shop or not to shop but why even give people that option?

 Certain times out of the year should be sacred family time. 

 Thanksgiving Day.  

Christmas Day.  

Birth Days (well I think they should be) 

and New Year's Day.  

The holidays have become commercialized enough 

that we shouldn't take these days away from families to spend quality time together.

Whether you chose to shop or not to shop on the new Black Thursday, 

remember what's important this Thanksgiving holiday...your family members.  

Because at the end of the day, 

electronics will break, 

toys will be lost, 

clothes will be become old

 but the memories of your family's laughter, 

conversations and sharing the same space together will last a lifetime.

Becoming a family of three by having Baby Pancakes has solidified for 

me the importance of the holidays.  Giving toys are fun 

but the most important thing I want to give my son is the gift of family.  

And that I don't need to stand in line for because it is FREE and PRICELESS.

Question of the Day:

Are you shopping or not shopping?

Disclaimer: This was not the post I planned for today but this was on my heart.

Also thank you for your comments yesterday on my whinyness...patience is definitely a virtue.

Via

 

Please Allow Me to Be Whiny...

Hello Friends...

I know this week is Thanksgiving week and I should be thankful but

I wanted to get some whinyness out of the way before I started the thankful posts.

So for the past several weeks I've been a little whiny and not so grateful.

Not everyday but mostly whenever I've ventured out shopping!

I had to purchase a few new items for back to work, mostly pants and shoes.

And these excursions have made me so miserable.

And usually shopping does not.

For some reason certain parts of my body parts have decided to remain in pregnancy mode.

Although Baby Pancakes is out and almost three months old...

I have this body I have to learn to live with.

And in living with this new body postpartum...I have to forgo some of my material things.

This is what makes me miserable...

Not fitting into my old items.

Most of my work pants do not fit around my belly.

YES i still have the mommy pudge...

I can't even call it belly...

it's a full blown pudge!

My shoes...it makes me sad all over again writing this...

none of my shoes fit because my feet has grown like a size and half.

I kid you not.

All my shoes fit tight....

My world famous Italian leather riding boots purchased in Italy do not fit me.

These are boots I have been wearing for the past eight years....

They were my go to Winter boots.

And my fingers have also not returned to normal.

My engagement ring and wedding band rings continue to fit but are too snug.

This could be a good thing because i could get new rings BUT

 in all honesty I don't want new ones...

I LOVED my old rings because they meant so much to me.

Everyone keeps on saying it's only been two months, three months...

it's still early but i guess I am just being inpatient.

Initially, I thought as soon as Baby Pancakes was out, 

my feet and fingers would not be swollen anymore.

Unfortunately that is far from the truth...

I guess I am feeling a little blah postpartum as it relates to certain parts of my body.

I am not depressed about it because 

I know what to do to get my body back in a healthy manner...

I just thought it would be more immediate.

In moving forward...I am not going to feel bad for myself...

I am going to come to a realization that 

MY BODY HAS CHANGED AND THAT'S ALRIGHT!

Acknowledging this will hopefully help me 

to move from being whiny to taking action and being proactive.

Question of the Day:

How have you turned your inaction into action?

Via