Fair Fair Fair Ready or not here we come!

Ready of Not Fair Time is here! Man oh man!...I'll be honest I'm not exactly ready. Like I'm ready for the week of vacation but the whole preparing part- I'm not too sure about!... I've got about all the food and snacks...and Sondra is all packed..Me & Stu are going home at night to feed the Calves.... and take care of the dog. I kinda don't mind it...I'd mind less if I didn't have to feed the calves  but Since Stu was born I've stayed home at night instead of up at fair...I've became a home body I guess... I like the fair..but I like going home...
Fair Fair Fair....I look forward to fair every year... I like people watching..I of course like the food... I like the 4h family and goofing around...although next year I need to get with the plan and be ready for Lead Line for Sheep next year... we decided to just show Pee Wee showmanship for sheep and hogs this year instead doing lead line...We have been pre occupied with other things and totally lost track of when we were supposed to sign up for! and then the getting a wool outfit together just wasn't going to work after I started looking and said- I'm not going to stress about this when Sondra has barely helped with Sheep this year...so there it is...

Fair Preparations! Breakfast Sandwiches and burritos 

We have had some bug in our house this week... one of the kids brought it home from Wagon Train... and it hit Sondra and Me and Stu... Sondra has had the worst of it..but hasn't been too bad on me b.c. she is to the age of I'll puke in my own bucket and not on myself like I use to which was nice...I'm not sure I can handle puke right now...I have vivid memories of catching Stuart's puke in my hand....I don't think I can do that right now at this time...I'd probably join the puke-e.... what else?

Thursday I told her I had to go to work so she hung out with me- she was a bum! 

Sleeping on the job! 

I finally feel like I am getting my energy back from this energy stealin' peanut!....I still have no idea what this baby could be...at time since I"m craving the sweet stuff like with Sondra maybe a girl...then I have this dream of U/S day and we find out its a boy and I baul b.c. I know how disappointed Sonnie will be... hmm... who knows... I can tell you honestly I have no leanings of wanting towards either way...I will be delightfully happy... Stuart has gotten on with this whole baby thing... I ask him where is your baby Stuart?? and he says cooking in your tummy... and its HIS baby..and its a brother lol


STUART STORY
So the second day of sickness in our house Jake stayed home with the kids... I thought I woke Jake up enough before I left...but then I got a call from Jake saying he woke up from a phone call from my Dad... he says Jake- do you know where Stuart is at???? Jake looks around and says well No?... Stuart had got up and put his rubber boots on and walked back to his grandparents house....  That my friends was one of the 1st times he has pulled that he has been caught in the act but he was successful ... he is a brave boy...I think its deadbolt time? DO you?

also... Breastfeeding!... hmm... So I've literally have been a wee bit crazy about this issue...my husband says that for a person to be "opposed" to it for 6 years and now feels like she financially needs to do it ...it doesn't make her hubby feel too good about himself b.c. he can't provide the formula...1. Sexism (we both work 40 hours a week its not up to you to provide the milk money) 2. I was never against it- I just didn't have the NEED to do it what so ever or desire 3. I wasn't educated on the whole pumping part I didn't realize you could exclusively pump...here is my plan... its not motivated just for Financial reasons... its just silly of me not to try it... then after learning my health insurance will pay for a brand new electric pump why not try? I have been reading this breastfeeding book and the more I read it the more I don't know if I really want to...then I got to the pumping part...the more I feel like this could work!... my plan is to breast feed the first few weeks if able...and to pump too so I get my "supply" and then eventually just pump...I didn't like the idea of only me feeding the baby..I want its siblings and Daddy be able to feed the peanut....so hopefully it all works out.

So fair fair fair... treat me well..don't be too tough. or hot and sweaty..I'd rather wear long sleeves then sweat.... please keep my kids semi good or the best that they are able to be ! lol.... I'm gonna miss riding rides this year with my Sondra...I want to plan a trip to kings island or cedar point next summer!...

Also Also! Our house in Lafayette is on the market! if you are interested in seeing it talk to our Realtor:
http://www.realliving.com/Bruce.Binkley/homes-for-sale/OH/Lafayette/45854/124-High-St-98124358

Whelp I must be going! Love you all!

here is another pic I found in my desk at work? I know? but this is me as a newborn..like just a few days old my Mom took me to our family reunion theme was of course Indians :)  

Bottle Feeding already/MegPieLove/Pumpin/weekendPlans

So its Friday..thank you Friday for being Friday..I needed you! ....

Last night was a adventure.... my hubby and brother and SIL ...nephew Colt..and Jake graciously took the kids went off to pick up 6 bottle calves for us to start feeding and raise for beef... I don't think I have ever felt richer than when we filled our freezer up last August with Beef...Pork...chicken...lamb....well..its less than half full and we have a piggy that will be butchered on 9/11..the irony I know...and we have a few lambs that will be getting butchered too..I've found out..Lamb isn't too bad when its cooked right...no ground though..NO!...and now feeding out a calves... its just so nice to have the meat out there and cuts your grocery bill down plus.. its not as expensive either..and its a slow expense...

BUT ANYWAYS... they set out to pick the calves up....I was at my parents childless odd I know...and so Jess got her keys to her house and I was excited to go see it.... I'm a horrible aunt to by the way.... as me and Syd are hanging on the couch she falls and gets a little goose egg on her forehead....then when we are outside in front of her new house she is walking around and falls down in the drive way and gets a sizable goose egg in the middle of her forehead... I then took her straight to her car seat and said you are staying here till its time to go..My Mom joking sang to her..."somebody is ready for bed, Somebody bumped her Head"...and I added..."Somebody's gonna have to wake you up every 2 hours b.c. of a concussion".... one good thing... Syd didn't hold it against me..she still loves me... I'm going to really miss her when she isn't back at my parents to steal... but I went home around 8ish 9ish? ....end up sitting down on couch fell asleep till Jake & kids got back at 11....lol... got a little nap to be ready to feed the babies and and instead of 6 he brought back 7 calves

But this time we got bottle calves..last night as we fed I thought...this sucks...waking up at 530 to feed snot nosed silly cows...I thought this sucks... I'll probably feel this way over the next few weeks... until we don't have to bottle feed..its kind of funny the zoo we have at our home..but hey... when we are enjoying home grown steak and hamburger roast and whatnot... it all pays off...

Another PLUS PLUS PLUS....I'm still in disbelief actually.. Sondra went over to my cousin Megan's(usually refer her as Megpie) house to play with her daughter for the day and she ended up sending me home with some maternity clothes and also she told me I could have her car-seat/stroller and pack and play when the baby is born..her Ryker should be done by the time baby comes... seriously... that is a huge relief...I can't believe it.. I've been stressing about that....and it was a answered prayer...she is a angel and so generous..I'll always be her girl..kinda like Taty butt was my side kick..I was hers..and how Sondra is Taty's...its a never ending process..I really wish MegPie lived closer..I make trips over there but still I wish she could babysit the baby in march... :(...

TMI TMI TMI TMI TMI
Here is another: after work today I'm going to go pick up a breast pump.... now breastfeeding is something I never gave a try because I really didn't have to..but this time around...I need to give my best effort and try to breastfeed for financial reasons... I'm not going to exclusively breastfeed..I'll probably mostly in the beginning but once I get my "supply"..I'd like to pump... I'll be honest... maybe its a immature thing..but I don't "fancy" a kid hanging off my tit... I just..doesn't sound like my kind of thing...but you know its free...its natural...and I'm going to try...everyone that i have talked to that has tried has said they wished they would have "tried" longer or stuck with it...so why not lets try people!.... so I found a pump at a reasonable price... and I'm going to give it a try..

So tonight we have some Nungester Cousins coming over to help feed the calves..so it shall be fun..I'm going to run home...clean up the kitchen bathroom and living room as much as possible!!! oh well the life of Joie..cleaning just isn't in my repertoire...but it will be this weekend on Saturday... on Monday we have a appraiser coming to the house..   so I gotta kick it in high gear...

breath of fresh Air!

so I haven't been all stalking this Royal Baby crap but I was pleasantly surprised to see the Mom one day after delivery and she was all natural and didn't hide the post baby belly... ALL first time moms should see an actual post baby belly. Or really every person should know and be educated in that matter. I can not tell you how embarrassed I was when I was asked a day or 2 after having Sondra a male asked me if I had another one in there...... how my brittle confidence just broke even more that moment.... :)

I know this is silly but thank you Kate Middleton...:) I'm done!

BABY on BOARD- Seriously Sondra- ForReal!

So- lets start from the beginning...

A few months ago Jake tells me he would like to look into adoption to see if its a viable option for our next baby and if that doesn't work out- then he would like to start trying for our next baby....hmm... I happy to look into adoption because I knew it would take a good year or more... we started researching options... a adoption agency first because I want a baby- I don't want my little man/girl to remember another family...I want them to remember us..not that I wouldn't tell them where they came from but I never want to compete for the role of Mommy... I think it would hurt..... so after going down that road and sadly realizing that going through a agency wasn't a viable option this time around... Jake asked maybe we should adopt through the county....after talking with a family friend about adopting her son through a county- it gave me mixed emotions. Nothing that she did or said anything wrong..I just didn't like the likely outcome.... I then the following week called our Allen County Agency and got... less then stellar news...a great thing about adopting through them is the fact that its pretty much free....then your child gets health insurance till they turn 18...wow..this sounds good...but the woman tells me that its VERY VERY unlikely that we would be able to get a child under 3 years old... that 1 their main goal is to reunite the child with its biological parents(which I feel they give them TOO many chances- trust me I have lived it and I can say that) and after that doesn't work- then usually the foster parent adopts them...hence why I should become a foster parent...lol..I told her that I grew up in a foster family my family did it for years and that I wouldn't get in that mess if you paid me millions.... I know she badly wanted to ask me who my parents were but I never said... you see... foster care is supposed to help kids... but a lot of times they let kids slip through the cracks...and a lot of it is about Money....I feel that Allen County children services is crooked all the way up to the top...if you knew some of the things they done to my parents and said about my parents...there would be a revolt...and if they did those things to my parents...I can't imagine what they have done to others...you see- the "family" I have made with a lot of my foster sisters or brothers is priceless...I learned a lot from being apart of a foster family...but I'm not sure I could take that kind of abuse from that agency and the only reason I can say it is because my parents are not longer foster parents... sorry for the side story there/....BUT then at a graduation party we talked to another foster family that we have known for a while and still...We had the realization that maybe adoption wasn't going to be the option this time around....

so that was it...we were going to try the old fashioned way :)....now if you know the history....it took us a while for Stuart...I seriously thought something was wrong with me...my Doctor ended up putting me on medication to conceive.... so I had some anxiety...we decided we wouldn't tell anybody...so I didn't feel the pressure... while we were talking about "what we were gonna do"... to trying we walked into a opportunity to maybe welcoming 3 kids into our home...3 kids that we knew...3 kids I felt like I had let down...so...a 6 year old, 5 year old, 3? year old....aw man...I prayed for it to work out...I posted prayer requests on my boards asking for people to pray that God would make a way..for God's will...I didn't know this..but Jake called our Pastor and told him the whole situation of currently trying...and then these 3 kids...and he had him praying for one or the other but it had to happen so we knew...well...from May 31st from when it started....to about June 13th...it was evident that it probably wasn't going to work out... the mother fell of the face of the earth once again when it wasn't looking like it would work out so now every few weeks I try to message her to see how she is....so as you can imagine...while in my car to and from places I cried...I cried because I was so sure this time around I would be the "WWJD" thing and step up... I fantasized about the kids sharing bedrooms and school drop offs..and the fact that I wouldn't "need" to adopt kids if I could just change these kid's lives give them a stable Christ centered home...get them out of a cycle that I have watched for the past 12 years  to their family....but even now being pregnant without even blinking...I would still take those kids...when I messaged her telling her I was pregnant I said I want to be clear if the kids needed a home ever- they would be welcomed to come live with us...

So while "recovering" from the "miscarriage" of my dream of a blended family I threw myself into "trying to have a baby" thing...not what you are thinking..but I down loaded this app that I put in my last monthly visitor and then it spit out my most fertile days... and then I read about increasing your chances to get pregnant and all that...and after reading all that..a lot of it deals with "timing"...was that all there was to Stuart...bad timing??/....I changed Gynos and they were concerned why my previous Doc would put me on a certain medication to conceive and after blood tests and such they said I really didn't need to be on it...that it probably caused me more discomfort... anyways... the week before my impeding period I just started having all these strange dreams... I mean weird vivid dreams... then I was waking up in the middle of the night...and inside I just thought...I can't be??? You know when you are just waiting on that disappoint of a negative test?...I know you are out there...Its just failure...I was expecting that feeling this time around..and was preparing for it..I was...I just knew  it...I think that is why I was somewhat reluctant to try the "old fashioned way"... because I didn't want to cry each month and feel like a failure... but on the other hand I wouldn't deny my spouse his desire to have another baby...b.c. there will come a time where Jake will think he is "too old"..and this mamma will want a another baby to rock lol.... bahaha..so... I'm open to kids...and he even asked..after I said okay lets try...and he asks: "well do you think your ready"...and I said: I'll be ready by the time the baby gets here(little did I know it was going to be a lot sooner)..... but anyways... leading up to that weekend that I knew I could test I just was a bit "giddy" like maybe I am??.... and then I tested That Saturday..and there was a very faint line...I didn't believe I was pregnant..like...damn it..I should have bought the name brand test and not this cheap 88 cent test...my gosh this will tell me if I'm going to have a baby...why didn't I spend a few bucks lol...how cheap am I???... so I had a second cheap test and decided..I would try Sunday after Church..... well... I did..and I couldn't believe it... my gosh... TMI WARNING!!!!!.... my goodness we did the deed 4 times in that special week and  the baby will be here in end of FEB/beginning March.... I guess I better get ready!...

I ended up giving Jake a pack of baseball binkys and he gave me this weird look and says "Your Pregnant???"..all surprised......

telling our kids on vacation was priceless... Stuart didn't care...he didn't really get it...but Sondra goes.."seriously? are you for real??? I want it to be a girl"...On our way home from myrtle beach I ask Stuart do you want a sister or brother?..his dead pan reply: "No thanks"....ohhh great...lol..
Sondra has made so many little comments..like she is saving her money for baby clothes...or how she will do everything for the baby...and seeing her step up her game around her little cousins I see I'm going to be very thankful for the spacing between my kids...I'm going to have a wonderful little helper....

I got for my first ultrasound Monday...I told them I needed one b.c. I needed to know that it was only ONE...it freaks me out...it freaked me out when I was expecting Stu before our first ultrasound...if I had twins with Sondra that would have been okay I wouldn't have known any better..but with Stu I thought oh no I can't have 2 Sondras...and then with this one... oh my gosh...I couldn't handle 2 Stuarts...trust me..he is a good candidate for "The Problem Child" movie...

now its deciding between names and the anticipation for the 20 week ultrasound....and looking for a stroller/car seat...play pen... and clothes...happy, happy, happy!


I do not even have enough time to explain to you how good God is. I am so excited for this baby to be born..I am.. and so I'll forewarn you I am sorry for my excitement and just ignore my posts... I know there are women out there who struggle with conceiving or carrying a baby and miscarriages...and I am sorry that this blog may bring sadness for you...but I can not hide my joy or my thankfulness...but know that struggling to get pregnant for 1 plus years isn't a big deal to some..but it was to me..so I know some of that pain and that is why I am so excited..please...don't write me off...

Oops I did it again :)

SO...I did it again... I was going to let me hair grow out..but I'm blaming this on my sister in law Rachel..she got her haircut off to donate..but she looks so "refreshed"..and it made me think about how nice it feels..so I checked with my Cousin Megpie to see her plans if she had time..and sure enough... yes!... I really like it...Stuart got his hair cut for his pictures today...and after I got mine Sondra says I want mine cut like yours Mommy...UMMM No!.. your hair is too pretty to cut!~..... I don't hold on to my hair... like how people are attached.....but Sondra's...its a pain..but its so pretty! :) ..., Jake only knew I was getting it  cut he doesn't like it when I cut it... Meg's exact words were::...Jake's gonna be mad at me!..but I won't see him for a while so its okay!!...LOL... and Jake's response... Well It isn't nearly as bad as last time lol.... Meg..I think its shorter than last time!.. lol :)...also I'll be to blame for my sister's and maybe even my best friend's hair cut...I told them to blame Rachel!..... anyways...there you have it... wanted to share :)

Got Home Last night and played with my hair 

this is will be different 

This morning when I got into work... 

didn't brush it... lol my kind of style just ran my fingers through this morning !

I'll post another pic in a few weeks to let you know if I'll keep this up

Weekend Plan.. CleaninOut... Tball..Father's Day

I'm happy about the weekend's arrival! :) I'm ready...Friday Tonight- is a cook out at your's truly's home...some of Jake's aunts/uncles and siblings are coming to hash out details of our big Clum Adventure :)... So- it wouldn't surprise any of you if you know me.. I don't keep the super put together home.. lol :) You know that sign you see on Pinterest... "excuse the Mess: we are making memories"... I need that sign in my home...

I believe this religiously :)..or it makes me feel a little bit better when people stop by and our home isn't what I want it to look like lol 

So- But Anyways... Last night we cleaned the house up...Sondra is at that age where she doesn't totally understand ..So I'll start telling you... When she was younger before Stuart got here..when it came to cleaning like living room and stuff..she didn't have a job... like I would ask her to help me..but nothing on a regular basis..(maybe I failed there)....when it came to her room: 

This is what it looked like a lot of times...lol 

but when it came to her room...I would clean it when I got sick of stepping on her toys and stuff..she would be int here with me and picking stuff up but the brunt of the job I did...I mean I guess I could make her clean it up...but that would require more attention and effort to telling her step by step directions on what to do...SOOO... now these days..she has a few chores she HAS to do....in the mornings we run around like crazy and change the kid's clothes in the living room and throw them on the floor..so when we get home after work..she puts away the dirty clothes...and then after dinner she rinses off the dishes... So..last night..I told her a couple jobs more b.c. I want the house in visitor condition lol..and I had Stuart pick up the shoes around the house and put them away... then he lost focus and I eventually put in a super hero movie for him...and I called out Sondra to the kitchen and told her what I wanted done....her reply "MOM that's is not fair! Stuart is watching TV~"....now- at first ya that doesn't seem fair..but here is my  thinking.... I for the first 4 years of her life picked up after her and so forth... so that means...she can for the next few years clean up after her brother....THEN when our next one comes along... Stuart can help clean up after him... make sense??...made enough sense for Sondra last night to without complaint finish cleaning his room! :)... Either way..we got the house picked up...except for our bedroom which doesn't matter.. b.c. nobody will go in their...any Clums reading??...your not allowed in our bedroom.. :) You'd be scared what you might find in there lol :) 

Saturday...Sondra has her last TBALL game that I probably don't have to go b.c. I'm maybe going to take some pics of my cousin's baby..then in the evening its a wrestler's Grad Party... one of my favorite Wrestling Family...gonna miss them next year...they are sitting out a year till the next son is in high school... ugh!... 

Sunday- fun day..father's day! :) ... alright.. my kids are pretty lucky to have such a good Dad...I have a few awesome choices in my life..and he is at the top of my list...Then...the week starts all over again!... 

TBALL- I'm so glad for Tball to be over... It really wasn't So Bad...but I'm happy its over... It made me happy that Sondra was happy and I was going to support her either way...Now...Wednesday Tournament game...I really wanted her to lose..but I did cheer her on... lol...if they lost they would have been done..but of course they won and they played last night and now Saturday... Thank you to all the family that came out and supported Sondra at her games :) ....Very Much Appreciated!~ 

also- I need extra special prayer..for God's Will and his guidance... I'd really appreciate that! 

Whelp!.. I must be going! :) Have a great weekend and see you next time :) 

Vacay!...HerbLady..Reds..weekend Cowgirl

This is from Jordan & Brittany's Wedding walking in... :) Doesn't Jake look so lovely without his beard. HE thinks he likes his beard... 

SO- in a little less then a month I will be on Vacation...oh I can't wait...I"m ready for a break...with that being said..if anyone wants some portraits done please let me know..I'm trying to make some extra money :). We are going to Myrtle Beach for a week w/Jake's family..no not just his Mom Dad Brothers Sister and niece and nephew...a lot of his extended family too... :)... I'm excited...Sondra & Stu will be running wild with their Clum Cousins

My Potted Herbs 

Also- I have become quite the little Herb lady... I've been reading about each one I have and their uses...Here are the herbs I have:
Basil
Sage
Oregano
Parsley
Cilantro
Orange Mint
Lemon Balm-Melissa
Kentucky Colonel Spearmint
Garlic Chives
Eucalyptus

My Favorite.. Orange Mint smells so good!...Least Favorite...Eucalyptus...it just looks like it isn't doing to well..I don't know what else to do for it..I did however use my first fresh herbs... now mind you I know know very little about herbs...anytime I have questions I'm googling it..I have just been watering them...today I was reading when to harvest and how to....so anyways... On Wednesday I was reading about how easy Basil is to grow and was a bit disappointed b.c. mine was looking rather sorry and then I found a article about how they should be pruned..ohh okay..so I went home and pruned it..brought it inside to keep a careful eye on him...but I wasn't sure what to do with the leaves I took off..so I added it to supper... which was...Hamburger helper lol.... You might be a redneck.... you know what..it did make it taste better...I'm just a little embarrassed to tell people I did that... oh well..My next venture... I'm going to make some Pesto with my Basil produce..I see it all the time and wonder what it tastes like...

MY Weekend plans... hmm..lol..well.. unexpectedly We are going to a Red's game with my Great Aunt Catherine! Jake heard her say she wouldn't mind going to a reds game..so you know Jake..if there is a will there is a way...oh and also The Friday before our vacation we are going to a reds game and THEN driving to myrtle beach lol..... tonight is home doing laundry and more laundry...I hate trying to keep a tidy house..never seems to work! ....

Sondra was pretty excited about her new lasso & boots my Mom brought back from her trip. She had to dress up in FULL cowgirl gear the next day...yes lol..I know... 

Well- I gotta get going! :) I've got stuff to do!