Bernalillo

March 15th-21st:

We all went to Bernalillo and hung out at Will and Nacona's house. Granny was already up there. She was studying for real-estate school (she is becoming a broker). Auntie was on Spring Break. Papa had gone to Hobbs to buy a live in trailer and was back. Since everyone was there, Ace and I decided to take a day and go be with the family. We had good time!!! Nalynn and Whitley were roping when we got there, so we got to play in the dirt at the arena for a little while. Later on, Granny stayed and played with Ike, Denim and Blazen while the rest of us went out and ate.

Scrunched in the back seat, going to eat.





Auntie and Papa in the front. Will drove us all there.





L to R. Ace, Tawana, Papa, Nalynn, Whitley, Will, Me, and Nacona.





We ate at a famous restaurant. This plate is signed by Obama. Just because I showed this plate does not mean I am a big fan of Obama, because I am NOT. He scares the heber jeebers out of me!!!!!!





Papa with Darlin.





Ace and I.





Granny is so beautiful. She is a very loving grandma and always has good advice. She helped me bath the newest on the totem pole.





Blazen is feeding Papa some of his cold cereal.





This is the live-in trailer that Papa bought. It was previously owned by a PBR bull rider. It is 36 feet long.





On the way home I bought a cream soda to share with the kids. It exploded all over the truck.
We laughed.






Later on in the week we went out with Ace We had a cow that prolapsed and died. The baby calf stayed by her. We went and got the calf so it wouldn't die. We will have to bottle feed it every 12 hours.





The calf was little enough that Ace just roped it be foot and drug it in.





Before we loaded it, Ace wanted to make sure that he had got the right calf. He would drag the calf a little, making it bawl. The other cows would come to the sound and smell the calf to be sure that it wasn't theirs. We got the right one.





The kids were interested in seeing the dead cow. It was a great science lesson. The crows are fast and the eyes were already eaten. The coyotes hadn't yet got to her, since they first eat the soft spots like the udder and behind. She was bloated and very gassy. Ace explained to them how the body decays and released carbon-dioxide. He pushed on her belly and a low groaning noise came out. Denim was especially interested in the decay process and were the spirit goes. Ace picked up some snow, made a snow ball, and explained, "Denim is it like this snowball, it is all together, but then when the body dies and the spirit leaves and goes to heaven (he throws it against the truck and it breaks into a million pieces.) the body begins to break up, just like the snowball.





We have pinon pine trees here in New Mexico. This is a pine cone. You can see where the little pinon nuts have previously been and fallen out.





Ace burned dead wood at the lodge. We went up and hiked. We got above the lodge, so I took a picture. It has lots of smoke though. Ace played and played with Denim and Blazen. They had a ball. They were playing soldiers and war. Ace kept saying they had to hide from the Russians, then Blazen would yell, "wun, wun, wun fwom da wussians." (run, run, run from the russians). Finally Ace said, "We used to fight the Russians when I was a kid, but you guys are going to have to fight the terrorists."





Ace helped Denim climb way high in this tree. She loved it.





I went and got marshmallow, so that we could roast them. The fire was a bit too hot, but they tasted good anyway.








I tried to keep Darlin out of the smoke. She loved the warm sunny day, but when the sun went down, it was a bit too cold for us.





I bought an artichoke in town. Denim and Blazen thought it was soooo special and good. It was an adventure taking all the leaves off and dipping them. Blazen would dip the same leaf in butter several times. He liked the butter more than the artichoke.





Being mommy is the best. It is exhausting, but I love, love, love it!!!

Favorites

Favorites:

I decided to write about my new favorite things with this baby.

1. Udder Cover
Syringa gave me this for Christmas. I didn't think that I would like it at first because I don't use it much while at home, but I have really learned to love it. It is sooooo nice to have while around company, traveling, or in someone elses home. It has a strap that goes over your neck so you don't have to hold the blanket up. It has sewing boning in the front so that you can just look down and see your baby. It is also very thin and breathable, so the baby doesn't get hot. It is so easy, I often even walk around with it on while nursing.

2. Baby Blanket Sock
Sheri Penrod gave this to me. Her daughter makes them with a hat/cap maker. I love it because you just stuff the baby in it and she can't kick out. If it is really cold, I first swaddle her and then put her in it. It stretches, so I often pull it up around her head when we walk outside. Then I just fold it down if it gets to hot.

3. Swaddle Me
I love love love these. I have to types, and I love both. Darlin really sleeps so good in them, and she never kicks out. If she wants to stretch, I just undo the arm part. Plus, swaddling a baby had never been easier.

4. Moby Wrap
I must first say that I tried several different slings and baby carriers. I took them back or put them away. This one is the BEST!!! Charlotte encouraged me to buy it; I was hesitant, but it was well worth it. There are so many different positions that you can use. It is much less straining on your shoulders and back. Darlin is very content in it. She is so close to me; she molds to my body. The best is the ability I have to do so much while "holding" her. I am able to cook, clean, help the other kids, ect. I highly recommend this, especially if you have other children.

5. Infant Wedge
I really love this. This is more for the infant. Darlin is 6 weeks now, and I can see that she will probably not want to be in this in another month or two. For now it is great. I especially love this item because I co-sleep with my babies. I want to make it as safe as possible. This really makes that happen. She cannot roll, yet you can place her slightly sideways if you want. I place the wedge high so that my covers cannot go over her. The wedge also acts as a barrier against Dad or Mom rolling on her. She is also high so that Ace and I can snuggle underneath and touch feet. If you were to put the wedge on the outside (which I have done) with a barrier, baby wouldn't roll of the bed. I like the wedge because Darlin sleeps so well (she only wakes up 1 time during the night). I need my rest with 3 kids so that I can function and not be Cruella Devil. You can also put the wedge in the baby crib if you are not a co-sleeper. Letting baby sleep part sideways helps baby to not have a flat head on the back also.

I have several other favorites like the new nursing pads, Lilly Pads, but these are my top 5 as of today.

March 7th-13th:

This week Darlin figured out how to suck her thumb. The kids just thought that was great, so they all had to try it together.

Denim Bleu learned how to blow a bubble with gum this week. She had so much fun and was absolutely amazed. She had to make sure someone saw each bubble.

Tawana had the kids come to Datil for the day. All of the kids K-6th grade from Datil and Quemado got together and had a big basketball tournament. It was fun to watch. They had concessions and yummy desserts. Denim and Blazen got to spend time with friends and afterward the best part was being able to play with the basketballs. Denim called it "juggling." Blazen was trying to play football. He would hold that ball as tight as possible and dodge in and out of the other kids, then he would say, "Mom, wook at me, me not get touched."

Darlin Dawn did rather well for such a big day. She sure is growing.

I ordered the kids Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on Netflicks this week. They really enjoyed it. We had to make our own drums after. We made them out of diaper boxes and dry cleaning hangers.

It warmed up. Yeah!!!! I know that it is just march, but we couldn't wait. I filled the pool with hot water from the hot water heater and we went swimming.

Other events:

*I had my postpartum visit. Everything looks good, and I am completely healed. I had the pediatrician look at Darlin's bum. She doesn't have anything serious like yeast or bladder infection. She gave her a prescription of nystatin (which took Wal-Mart 2 1/2 hrs to fill). I didn't feel it was working that well either. I finally just took her diaper off completely. She either had nothing, or a really loose cloth diaper for three days before I started noticing a difference. I have had to continue to do that for about 4 hrs a day to keep the rash away. She weighed 9lbs 90z and the pediatrician was amazed at her strength and weight gain.

*Blazen's eye was really red and draining. Ace and I were afraid that he got a wood sliver in it. I had a Jesse Hutton over playing, so Ace took Blazen in to Dr. Heap in Springerville. Blazen was ok, but his eye duct was clogged. We had to put a hot rag on it and rub. Ace got his eyes checked too, because he has been getting headaches, especially when he drives. Turns out, he needs glasses. His brain basically just uses one eye to see with right now.

Hobbs

During the weekend, Whitley had a Junior High School Rodeo in Eastern New Mexico, so the kids and I jumped in with the crew and went to Hobbs to visit cousins. The trip was a lot of fun and I had a lot of help from all of the McPhauls. We were able to stay in a nice hotel with a swimming pool. The night that we got there, Kaylynn brought Tristan and Waverly and we got to swim together. Auntie watched Darlin for me, so that I could help Denim and Blazen. Denim is quite the little fish. She swam without floaties the whole time. Tristan helped with her when I had to nurse Darlin. Blazen was cautious and wanted to be held the whole time. He reminded me that the last time he had drowned.

On the way to Hobbs we were able to see good friends of ours, Ned and Janet, over ice cream. Papa also snarfed down his lunch as fast as he could so he could hold Darlin for me while I ate. Granny tried to take her away, but he wouldn't have it.





Duwana Gay with Darlin. Little London was very interested the whole weekend.




Kaylynn being a good Aunt.





Tawana is so skinny. She has worked so hard and looks way good.





Ike sure got along. He is really a little trooper with that leg, but he sure doesn't let it stop him. He get in the wheelchair and goes, or scoots on his bum, or hops. He even played on the swings and through some hoops with Tristan.








Duwana Gay with London.





Blaire and Royal. Blaire just LOVES us crazy people asking him for counseling. Royal enjoys the company of Jerry. They have a good time. One evening the couples went out for dinner.








The kids just loved the karaoke system that Kaylynn had. They played and played with it. Especially Denim and Waverly. One moment they were preaching like preachers about Jesus and wrong and right, the next they were singing songs. It was very cute.

Blazen and Denim. Blazen finally got his turn.





Denim is preaching to Waverly here.





These two just really hit it off this time. They are both stubborn and bossy as heck, so one couldn't overpower the other.








Tristan was a Saint the whole weekend. He was so grown up and helped with all the little kids who idolized him, especially Ike. The kids all wanted to play video games like him. He got out extra controls (unplugged) and let them "play" with him. It was HILARIOUS. Each kid thought he was the race car driver, playing. Once in awhile one would say, "I'm the red car." Another kid, "NO, I'm the red car." I said, "You are all the red car, you are helping Tristan, GO, GO."





I don't think he did as well as he normally does. It is a lot of pressure trying to keep 4 kids happy and trying to make them think they are really playing.





Tristan, Kaylynn, and London.





We had Ike's birthday while we were there. Nacona did a Sponge Bob theme. It was very cute.





The birthday party was a lot of crazy fun.





Blow out the candles!!





We made sponge Bob's out of Sponges.





They also did face painting.





Nacona gave the kids silly string. Denim loved chasing Uncle Will.





Will drug Nalynn out of the house to get sprayed. I don't think Nalynn was too happy about it.








We finally got the little cousins to pose for a picture. Denim, Waverly, Ike, Blazen, and London.





This is Whitley barrel run on Saturday. We did make it to the rodeo for a little while.




Other events:

*Darlin had a very bad diaper rash. Kaylynn called a doctor friend to see what tricks we could try. I tried them all. Baking soda baths, no wipes-only cotton balls and water, Maalox, corn starch, air, and all the creams. I am really hoping it is just the travel because nothing has been a miracle cure.

*At the rodeo, a friend of Whitley's, jumped on her horse bareback with only a halter on. The horse spooked and ran off with her. It ran into a metal wall (3 sided, where they put sawdust). She finally got away from it by climbing over the wall and collapsing. The ambulance took her to the hospital and she was ok. The horse continued to freak out and fell over backwards and stabbed it's chest into a wheel barrel. It ruptured the main artery in it's neck and it bled to death right in front of everyone. Pretty gruesome. Granny lectured us all about not getting on with a halter and bareback, especially at a rodeo. Horses act different there, no matter how gentle they are.


Thank you to everyone for all the help and hospitality. We had a wonderful time and it was good to spend time building memories with family.