How Warm Is Your House?

I am just curious. I hear that Josh and I like our houses to be really warm. Right now it is at about 72 degrees. In the summer we cool it down to about 80. I think it is great. So, what is normal for you?

My New Favorite Thing To Hate

Yes, it is my new retainer.
The story is that Thor got a hold of my really old retainer and chewed a piece off. Pretty gross. So, I went to my local orthodontist to get a new one. Not bad after 10 years. Well, I got my super cool purple with silver stars retainer and it was too loose. So, my bottom teeth slid out of place and are no longer straight. This really bugs me because I spent a lot of years getting them straight. I kinda like them to stay that way. Well, to get them back to straight I have to have 2 or 3 of these awful things. In high school braces and the like were okay because you had to do lots of other awful things too. Today, it is not so cool. In fact the day I got it I wanted to pull it out, throw it on the floor, and stomp on it. Yea, I really don't like it.

Crazy Week

Last week was a CrAzY week! It was so crazy that I am still recovering, and I got sick.
Here is what happened for Rome.
Sunday- I got my first tooth!
Monday- I was cranky all day
Tuesday- I turned 8 months old, started eating lunch, ate yogurt
Wednesday- I started crawling, ate cheese, ate chicken, stopped nursing
Thursday- I started taking a bottle
Friday- decided I can cruise along flat surfaces, like the back of the couch
Saturday- Grandma and Papa Perotti came to visit and I stayed up soo late!

Here is the video of me crawling.

I am so much better already and don't cry the whole time.

Name Stuff

So that is why I worry so much. Who knew...
Also, funny how we all have mental tension.
This is from Annie and this website.

Your First Name of: Jocie

• Your name of Jocie gives you the desire to understand and to help others but, at the same time you can become too involved in their problems and, as a result, worry too much.
  
• You desire a home and family of your own and have the ability to create understanding and harmony in family association as you are pliable, forgiving, and tactful.
  
• You love children and would not hesitate to care for any children who might need you.
  
• Whenever possible, you avoid argument and turmoil because you prefer not to face an issue if it means hurting anyone's feelings.
• Although the name Jocie creates the urge to work in harmony with others, we point out that it causes a superior, interfering expression.
  
• This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the fluid systems, worry and mental tension.

Your First Name of: Jocelyn

• Your first name of Jocelyn has given you a quick-minded, sensitive nature.
  
• It gives you a clever, creative ability in art, music, singing, or drama and an appreciation for refined surroundings.
  
• Your sociable nature expresses affection, kindness, and thoughtfulness to the extent that it is difficult for you not to be affected by others and governed by your emotions, rather than by logic and reason.
  
• As you respond to love and encouragement from others, your romantic and dreamy nature can easily lead you into love affairs.
• Although the name Jocelyn creates the urge to understand others, we point out that it causes you to be emotional and temperamental.
  
• This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the fluid systems, liver and the bloodstream.

Your First Name of: Rome

• Your name of Rome gives you the desire to understand and help others with their problems but, at the same time, you can become too involved in their problems and, as a result, worry too much.
  
• This name creates a pleasant, easy-going, yet responsible nature.
  
• It gives you a natural ability to express affection to those close to you, without feelings of embarrassment.
  
• You tend to avoid issues, however, and put off until tomorrow the things which should be done today.
  
• Accordingly, you would find difficulty in achieving success in positions requiring aggressiveness and drive.
• The name Rome creates the urge to understand and help others, we emphasize that it causes a interfering, bossy quality.
  
• This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the fluid systems, worry and mental tension.

Your First Name of: Josh

• Your name of Josh creates a quick, clever mind capable of grasping and assimilating new ideas.
  
• You are rather studious, mentally challenging each new idea before accepting it.
  
• Because you learn so quickly you have little patience with those whose mental processes are somewhat slower, and you could become supercilious or somewhat "know it all" in your attitude.
  
• This characteristic could make you rather unpopular with your associates.
  
• Although you are very knowledgeable and intelligent, you often find spontaneous verbal expression difficult.
  
• You crave friendship, understanding, love, and affection about your reserved manner appears forbidding to others.
• Although the name Josh creates the urge to be reliable and responsible, we emphasize that it limits self-expression and friendly congeniality with a moody disposition.
  
• This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the heart, lungs, bronchial area, worry, and mental tension.

To Pump Or Not To Pump....

That is the question.
Here is the situation. Rome is teething. He has been for months. However, since his first tooth came through, he has not been breastfeeding very well. If at all. Sometimes I can get him to nurse in the middle of the day. Sometimes in the middle of the night. Sometimes none at all. He will start to nurse, then arch his back and scream and try to jump off my lap. I was putting his binky in and then switching and it worked for a while.
He does eat solid meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner. He just started eating cheese and some meat if it is blended up. I also started feeding him yogurt at lunch. So, he is getting some dairy and protein during the day. He will also take a bottle and wants it whenever he sees it. I think because it is cold breastmilk and it feels good on his teeth. But who really knows. (Side note: he will only take a bottle from me, not Josh. Funny.)
Anyway, it has been about a week since he really ate well. I am, needless to say, in PAIN. My girlies hurt all day long and especially at night. I have started to pump just to not hurt anymore. I have not pumped in 4 months, it takes forever and I only get about 2 ounces on both sides. I know it will get better if I keep at it.
So, here is the question. Is this normal? Will he start to nurse again? How long should it last? If it does last, should I pump and just give it to him in a bottle?
I was beginning to worry about weaning him by his first birthday and Now, I am worried that He won't start nursing again. I REEAALLY don't want to give him formula. HELP!!

8 Months

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

New Years Smilebox

Make a Smilebox greeting

Beary, Toothy

These are kinda old, but still so cute! I love this little bear jacket!

These are from Sunday when Rome's first tooth finally came through.

I know you can barely see it. It is that tiny white spot on the left. It was really hard to get a picture with his mouth open. The one on the right side isn't far behind. No rest for the teething.

Christmas Pics

I know you all want to see them. They are super cute.

Buckled up on the Plane, Christmas Eve

With my kind of cousin Andre, I don't like Pictures with G-Grandma

Stocking, What is this? Oh, this is okay.

Presents, Paper

Rasta Hat, Hurry up Dad

Family Pic, Its a little early for that Rome.

Breakfast, Yum! Ready to go swimming, Lucky the pool is heated! (it snowed on us)

Christmas Dinner, More presents

Uncle Rene, Uncle Ray

The dogs in their new coats

Santa

Rome's first pics with Santa.
The first time was crashing my friend Misty's Family Reunion.

The second was at G-Grandma Perotti's Christmas Eve Party.

I am turning into my Dad

Yikes! I love my Dad, but he is a little weird and out of touch with reality sometimes. He does odd things like lay in bed for hours, not asleep, just thinking. I, on the other hand, reeeally like my sleep. 9 hours, if I can get it, and I am a happy person.
Well, it has not happened lately.
I did not mind not sleeping when I was pregnant. If I took a nap too late in the afternoon, then I just wouldn't sleep at night. And then I was so uncomfortable that I didn't sleep. It didn't bother me. I just got up and read a book or played on the computer.
Now, it is not so cool. The last couple of nights I have been awake for hours. I want to sleep. I am tired, but no. I just lie in bed, awake, thinking.
Dang it!
It could be that I have been sick and taking naps all afternoon. Pooh, I like those naps. I thought I needed them because I was sick. Don't you NEED extra sleep when you are sick? I even feel better now. I took some medicine and can breathe for a little while. I SHOULD be able to sleep. No, sorry.
It's the thinking that gets me. I always end up yelling at people in my head. Then I want to really do it. Maybe not sleeping makes me agitated and I want to share with other people.
Sometimes I can get back to sleep by 6 or 7. Well, I have been up since 2:30 when I fed the baby and it is not looking good.
UGH.
Maybe I will get a nap tomorrow. And maybe I will catch up on some reading tomorrow night....