I almost peed my pants

So I just fell out of my chair at work and couldn't get up. It was so hilarious that my co-worker, Michelle had to run to the bathroom because she couldn't stop laughing. Sometimes you need this kind of laughter to make your day go by well. It might be the lack of sleep that is making me clumsy. I shouldn't have blogged about Bronson sleeping. He didn't last night...

Diapers and Pillows

So I have to tell you a new little secret. Bronson has slept all through the night for the last 2 nights. The first night was due to his new sleeping companion, a pillow. Thanks so much Traci for helping me get over the negativity about a pillow. Last night he tried the new diapers for over night and wouldn't you know...he slept in until 9am. This has been one of the best days I have had in a long time. Thanks to all of those fellow mommies for the great ideas. Now we will move to have him sleeping in his own bed. I am just happy that he isn't waking up.

TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS

When I was pregnant Kyle and I talked a lot about our plans for our babies futures. A topic that came up often was the involvement of certain members of our family in the lives of our boys. We decided that we would allow them to be a part of their lives if they showed an interest, but whenever we felt that their lifestyles or choices were going to affect our sons we would draw the line. I know that Bronson is only 16 months old, but recently I have had to make several choices in regards to us being involved with certain friends and family. I have noticed that when I am around certain people or involve myself with them I feel unhappy and at times overwhelmed. I don’t think that it is healthy for Bronson to see his mommy in this state of mind. I also have noticed that for certain people we are always the ones to make the effort. Kyle and I have spoken about these thoughts and decided that it is best for all involved if we just drew the line.

I raise a question to others, when do you draw the line on members of your family or friends? (I add friends, because these types of relationships can be toxic too.) I recently had a conversation with one of those on my list of possible “bad eggs” and realized after the conversation that every bit of our conversation was a lie. I was included in this lie because I pretended that I cared. Why would I want to involve myself with them? They lie to me with every other word out of their mouths. I hate being lied to, but I was none the better. I pretended to be interested; I should have just hung up after saying I don’t have the time for this. I really don’t have time for the drama and lies. I have spent far too much of my life involved in the drama of others and have made a strong commitment to being done with it. If you look at my immediate family (son and husband) we don’t have this kind of drama.

My marriage is happy. I love my husband. I love his family. When we said, “I do” it was forever. When we decided to have children we decided to be their parents forever. Bronson is greatly blessed with a Grammy, papa, and nana that love him so much. Both of our parents relish in the title of grandparent. I never question whether they love him. Regardless of my dad’s situation I also know that he loves Bronson. It makes me sad to think that he won’t meet him until Bronson is almost 4 years old. Once again, he knows that one mess up and WE ARE DONE!!! I have a few family members in my life that make me question what I have done to them to make them not love me. Why do I do this to myself? Can a child even do something to make someone not love them?

I don’t often open up about my family situation on my blog. Sometimes things are difficult to discuss and I also don’t think that airing the dirty laundry is always acceptable. In this situation I post this blog to educate others about the affects of a blended family. THEY SUCK!!!! I know that some can attest that theirs has worked out. I have been involved in a total of four blended families and I have yet to see one work out. It is often the children that suffer the consequences of their parent’s problems. I have a friend right now that is struggling with the end of her marriage due to children circumstances. If you marry someone with kids you are marrying the kids too. Didn’t you know this before you got involved?

Kyle and I both strive to raise our son in a loving and functional home. We also want him to grow up knowing that his mommy and daddy love him and each other more than anything. We both feel that it is extremely important that parents put their marriages 1st and then the upbringing of their children. Last night we let Bronson stay with Grammy and Papa so that mommy and daddy could have some alone time. It is necessary for a marriage to have these quiet times. It is also necessary for a marriage to have open lines of communication. I can tell Kyle anything. I know that he will support my decisions and also real me in when I have gone too far. I feel that there are lots of people out there that need their mate to real them in a bit. This is why we have made the decision to permanently separate ourselves from certain members of our family. We used to believe it was just one bad egg, but realize that evil spurs evil. We don’t need this evil and drama in our lives. I feel so liberated to have made this decision. This also opens up some room on my calendar since I will no longer have the obligatory meetings so that they can see my cute baby. Have a great weekend!!!

Bronson: 16 Months Old...

In Prayer Position
Climbing

1st Haircut

Eating his Easter bunny

My favorite boys

1st Solo Ice Cream Cone

It is time for the monthly update on Bronson. He is doing great despite his recent mood change. He has a hot little temper. It is actually a little cute though, because right in the middle of a tantrum he will quit crying realize his bad mood and reach over and give you a kiss. For the most part he is a happy baby, but we are starting to think his delay in talking is causing him some stress. Bronson has been extremely busy this month. He was involved in the March for Babies in Corvallis, OR on April 25, 2009. Our team raised over $2200 so far and are still going strong. He also celebrated Easter with his family and dove right into the chocolate in his basket. He also got a very small case of the chicken pox from his vaccination and we experienced all sorts of lovely effects from the sickness.

Here is some up to date information:

-Last weight check 20 pounds, 2 ounces (they didn't do his height)

-6 teeth

-Had his first haircut from Auntie Ashley

-Had his first ice cream cone solo in celebration of Caleb's 1st birthday from afar

-Says a few more words, but mostly rambles around the house

-Loves bananas and any meat

-Chokes easily

We hope that this finds you well. I bet that there is more to report, but I am extremely tired and want to take advantage of him going to bed early tonight.

March for Babies 2009

Sweet Smiling Emma Rose

Auntie Te-Te with Bronson

Bronson did not want a picture with Emma, poor sweet girl

Miss Mia ready for the walk

Doing my speech, I did okay...

The May Family

Our Team 2009

Kandis and I

Bronson kept hiding under his hat for the walk

The Deets Family

Cuddling with Auntie Christen

Kyle and Jim playing on the playground

We did it!!!! We all walked in semi-cold weather (some sprinkles) 6.2 miles yesterday to raise support and awareness for March for Dimes. It was a GREAT event. So far, our team total has reached $2230. I will give a final total after May when they close down the year's donations. We are still able to accept donations until May 30, 2009. My mom also commented that appeared we had one of the largest teams. I was so excited to have so many members of my family and great friends there to support us. We also had the pleasure of Miss Emma Rose and her parents walking with us. She is Jim's niece who was born at barely 26 weeks. She is one cutie. Thanks to the following people for walking on our team this year:

• Kyle, Amber, and Bronson Deets


• Christen Oien


• Shellene and Austin Foster


• Kandis and Mia Galvan


• Jamie Woodard


• Adam, Anna, and Emma May


• Jim Starker


• Alexis and Olivia Page

We had an awesome time and were really happy with the event. Kimmy Gustafason did an amazing job organizing this event. I have included lots of pictures of the event, for your viewing pleasure and because Bronson's Auntie She She asked. Love to all of you and thanks for all of your prayers and support.

-Amber

True Story (Kind of Disgusting)

Kyle and I have become those crazy in love type of parents that make others want to throw up. We promised ourselves we wouldn't become this way, but our craziness has just kind of taken over. Two nights ago we decided to take Bronson for a walk to a new park that my sister-in-law, Rachel found. On our way I was noticing that our walk was taking a little longer than it should of. Then it dawned on me that we kept stopping to show each other something "super cute" that Bronson had done. I admit I was even making Kyle stop the stroller to show him how cute it was that Bronson was holding his stuffed Gorilla and rubbing its back. No, it wasn't like a milestone thing I was just in awe of his cuteness. Kyle then stopped the stroller to show me how Bronson had adjusted his hat. I then decided to make the comment out loud that we were kind of disgusting. It made us laugh that we had become this type of parent. Isn't it funny that you whole heart and mind change when you become a parent?

My friend Peggy sent me this email this week. I have seen it before, but loved this version. Feel free to pass it along.

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy. Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Quick Blog

Yes, we are still alive and kicking. Life has been so hectic for us lately that the last thing I have had time to do is post a new blog. Bronson, Kyle, and I have all been very sick, including a little dose of chickenpox virus from Bronson's shots. He did okay overall, but the puking was endless. Kyle and I have now experienced a kid puking in our bed and have survived. I will spare details from the rest of these events.

Our Easter was good despite it being the first Easter in over 10 years that we have missed church service. Kyle and I both decided that our church family would not want our germs, so we stayed home. Ann cooked us a wonderful meal and we had leftovers for days afterwards. I still put Bronson in his cute little outfit that I had purchased last February of 2008. I can still remember buying it for him when he was only 3 pounds. Everything fit, except the pants. Our little guy is super tiny in the waist and has not butt, so finding pants that fit is pretty difficult.

I finally finished all of the t-shirts for our March for Babies walk this Saturday. It was kind of fun, but wouldn't you know that the only one that didn't work out was mine. I will have to make a trip back into Salem to get another shirt. Oh well!!! Bronson's shirt is super adorable. I will make sure to post lots of pictures of our event next weekend.

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day!!! Kyle is feeling the heat from a very bad sunburn, but we had lots of firsts in Bronson's development. He took off crawling all over outside and was able to help daddy wash the van, throw rocks out of our rock garden, scrape a knee on the sidewalk (no tears), try to run into the road (we live in a cul-de-sac, luckily), and steal mommy's smoothie from Dutch Bros. I was watching him, but I decided to let him go a little crazy and get dirty. This was very hard for me. Anyone that knows me very well knows that I am a little picky about Bronson always being clean, but I also know that he is a boy and needs to be able to play in the dirt. It was so cute watching him explore our front yard. Kyle and I are slowly realizing that our little baby is growing into a certified toddler. Goodnight all!!! Thanks for reading one of my most random blogs.