Top 10 for Brittany

So I went to a baby shower yesterday, and before I went, I was trying to think what helpful advice I could pass on to the new mom to be. So I came up with this top 10 list of things I wish someone had told me. Then left it on the counter. So I figured a blog post was the next best thing!

Top 10 Things I wish someone had told me before I had a baby:

1. Babies use a LOT of diapers. Those boxes from Costco look big, they actually only last about two weeks.

2. Babies use a LOT of wipes. That big box that looks like it will last forever – one month.

3. Babies drink a LOT of formula. Sign up for the Similac coupons at your home address. And your work address. And Wade’s work address. And in your dog’s name. Even if you breastfeed, your baby will end up drinking a lot of formula, and its expensive.

4. Babies go to the doctor a LOT. And your pediatrician has a whole closet of free formula. All you have to do is ask, and they’ll fill up your diaper bag with the good, already mixed bottles.

5. It sounds like a good idea to buy the less expensive formula that you mix with water. It’s not. Use all your free coupons to buy the premixed ready to drink kind. You’ll thank me at 3am when you have the flu and can’t nurse. 

6. You don’t HAVE to wash everything before your baby wears it. Old people will tsk at you, but your child will be fine.

7. You also don’t HAVE to boil bottles any more. It’s called the dishwasher. And it works just as well.

8. When you are nursing, you can in fact eat an entire box of Cheese-Its every 2 hours and not gain weight. When you stop nursing, you lose that ability. But it takes about 15 pounds to figure that out.

9. You will in fact, do everything you said you wouldn’t do. It’s okay. We all did.

 
10. And yes, you do have the cutest baby. We think so too.

Check out my Australia video!

I finally finished and uploaded my video application for the Greatest Job in the World you've all heard my rave about. Joseph and I are already packing our bags, so if you don't mind taking a look at the video on the website, and giving us a 5 star rating - you can all come visit while we're there!

Click here to view my video!

Fort Worth Zoo

After spending a day looking at farm animals, we decided to head over to the zoo and explore our wilder side. The wildest two animals may have been with us though. 

This big rock has a rock lizard on it. Joseph ran straight up to the rock and started to climb up, until he saw the lizard and nearly jumped out his skin! Then everyone petted the rock lizard, just to make sure there were no hard feelings. 

These guys were a bit nervous while their habitat got cleaned. They all stood right together, still as statues, until the zookeeper left. 

There was a parakeet habitat, where you could buy a stick to feed the birds.

Joseph and Lemuel loved it, although Lemuel was a bit worried about getting poop in her hair. 

Listening to Joseph as we ran through the zoo, I realized that Disney has created a character for nearly every animal. We saw Timon (meerkat) and Pumba (warthog). We say Marty the zebra, Simba the baby lion, Alex the big lion, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo (although Joseph had a little trouble remembering her name. 

My favorites were the monkeys. It's just amazing human they are. They had a playground and just swung along the ropes and bars. 

After a day at the zoo, we were all ready to go home and take a nap. I know Joseph and Lemuel were worn out. And I'm sure Kyle and Kelley will sleep good too!

Fort Worth Parade and Stock Show

Saturday we got up bright and early and headed downtown to the Fort Worth Stock parade - the largest non-motorized parade in the world. And surely it was

We saw more horses than I new could fit in one state. (Hint to criminals - if you are looking for a great time to rob a house, this would be it. There were hundreds of sheriffs in the parade!). 

Our favorite paraders were the little girl in the old timey clothes being pulled by the dog! Joseph and Lemuel were just dying to hook Toby, Kyle and Kelly's dog, up to a wagon.

 

After the parade, we headed over to the stockyard for the Stock Show. Just in case you aren't familiar with stock shows, this was JUST LIKE the fair that they took Wilbur to in Charlotte's Web. Really, it was. 

There are these giant barns set up, with little areas marked off for the animals to be kept. The first animals we saw were some goats. They even had baby goats that had been born just the day before! They were so cute. Then we went into another barn that had sheep. . . and they looked just like the goats. They cut off their horns, and shave and bathe them, and we got so confused, now we don't know what we saw! I'm sure you are laughing, but I dare you to identify a sheep without wool! 

We were quite sure about the cows though. I'd never actually been quite this close to a cow before. These guys were as big as the area they had to stand in, so much so, that they nearly came out into the aisle. It is more than a little unnerving to walk 12 inches behind a line of 100 cows! 

Then, we came across this giant bull that you could take your picture with! Of course I jumped at the chance, dragging Lemuel in with me. Finally Joseph and Kyle decided to join us. If you can't tell from the picture - Lemuel and I were terrified! This bull weighed more than a ton! And his horns were bigger than Joseph. And he kept shifting around with only a small rope to hold him in place. So I know you are thinking you would have been much braver, but I dare you to give a 1 ton bull a giant hug! 

After we looked at all of the animals, we went to the fair grounds. The man working at the roller coaster was hesitant to let Joseph on - he had to stop the ride a few minutes before for a much older little boy who left in tears. But he didn't know my little daredevil. Joseph hopped on and him and Lemuel took off. It was only after the ride that Lemi shared her fear of roller coasters! 

Uncle Kyle rode the next one with him - Joseph loved it! Nothing is too scary for this guy!

Lemuel, for some reason, was not afraid of this torturous looking device. I cannot imagine getting on this willingly! 

After a long day and lots of walking, we were all rejuvenated with a little funnel cake before heading back to the house. 

Visiting Dallas Forth Worth - Friday

Joseph, Lemuel and I made the trek to Dallas for the long weekend. It was our first time visiting Aunt Kelly and Uncle Kyle. Mamoo and Nana claim that they have "the most comfortable house in the world," so we were there to test the limits of their comfort - we brought noise, toys and lots of mess!

This was Joseph and Lemuel's first visit to Texas, and Lemuel's first airplane ride, so she was doubly excited. I just NEW we were going to have a five hour tarmac delay - but the Delta pilots, air traffic controllers, and weather gods came through for us, and we sailed onto DFW without delay.

Unfortunately Delta now charges $15 for your FIRST checked bag, which would have added another $90 on to our trip. And I'm too stubborn. I would have paid $30 more for our ticket, and not complained, but it kind of feels like they are trying to pull one over on you when they add the charge on later. So I schlepped 3 bags, two kids, a stroller and a car seat through the airport. Oh well, at least I stood my ground.