IRONIC

So I sell ice cream, milk & juice to public schools in 9 counties.
Wouldn't it be Ironic if I couldn't eat dairy?

Samantha has a sensitivity to dairy. I can't eat it, since I'm breastfeeding.
At first, I was in denial and thought it must be the formula we are supplementing her with. 
But after 2 weeks of trying different formulas, only breastmilk, only formula, breast milk with dairy and without, it is very obvious that she becomes painfully gassy when I consume dairy. 
Apparently it is quite common, and doesn't mean that she will be allergic when she is older. (Mark had to be on Soy formula when he was a baby but had no problems with dairy as a child.)

I really didn't know if I could go non dairy. I crave it. I think what I am experiencing is akin to quitting smoking. 
And Soy milk tastes like ass. 
But it is ok enough to put in cereal, and the soy yogurt is doable. 
It is the cheese that I miss the most. 
And I am cheating in small amounts, to test what I can get away with. She is pretty sensitive. The cooked cheese in the frozen pizza made her a little more gassy the next day. 

Well, breast is what's best for my baby and so suffer through I shall!

KID SISTER & ME

Yes, the hungry, hungry hippo is only 5 weeks old.

(and yes, that is my affection name for Sam.)

 

RACE OR CHASE?

We were watching the video of the police chase from yesterday with Joey to see if we could see Mark's truck, as he was passed while on 826. Mark paused it for a moment, and Joey asked: 

 

Joey: "Daddy, can you start the race again?"

Mark: "It's a chase, not a race Joey."

Mommy: "Joey, the difference between a chase or a race is if Grandpa is driving."

HAPPY 1 MONTH BIRTHDAY!

The 16th of August was Samantha's 1 month birthday!

We celebrated with Misha cupcakes. Mommy got to eat two... one for me and one for Samantha, that she would get when I nursed her later. (That SO totally counts!)

I dressed her in this watermelon dress on purpose, as I basically did birth a watermelon.

Kaki & Paka Rick came over to sing and celebrate.

As is the case with some of Joey's games, adults don't always understand the rules. I believe, Paka Rick and her were BOTH supposed to fit on the rug. 

Didn't work too well. 

MOMMY & ME

KICKIN' IT

One of Sam's favorite positions is the one leg up. It doesn't matter how you lay her in the boppy, she'll find a way to kick that leg up.

 How can you not love her!?!

EVERYBODY LOVES ME

BEHIND BLUE EYES

 Well, Sam has definitely decided on blue eyes.

The question remains: What shade? 

Grandpa & Uncle Chris's light blue?

Mommy's gray blue?

Joey's vivid blue?

 The betting is on!

I'M TOO SEXY FOR MY DIAPER

GO USA!

This was Joey's set up for watching the Olympics.

Go USA!

OLYMPICS

You should hear Joey try to say the word "Olympics."

It sounds more like "Pumpkins" than anything else.

If I had to try to spell what she says, it would be "Olympkins."

YOU GOT A FRIEND IN ME

Mark and I keep waiting for it. 

IT... being the monster child that can sometimes possess your first born when the new baby arrives.

Joey just loves her little sister! Sometimes too much, but she has almost mastered the level of gentleness required around the baby. 

Here, she was excited to show Sammy her room and "play" with her.

DRIVING MISS SAM

If you could read a babies thoughts:

"Well, at least I don't have to watch where's she's goin'."

Sam, like most babies, konks out when we go for a drive. 

Mark's family is prone to motion sickness. Joey, thankfully, isn't affected, in the slightest, whether driving on switchback roads through the mountains or deep sea fishing on a boat. 

Hopefully, Sam will follow Joey's and my lead.

4TH OF JULY

For 4th of July, we went over to GiGi's (Gail's) house to watch the parade around Whispering Pines Lake.

 Best Friends (Above)

The audience: Joey, Maddie, Kayla, Nicholas (Below)

 Because this was an election year, the parade was a bit bigger with candidates entering the parade and taking the opportunity to glad hand a bit. 

Dude, the kids just want you to throw the candy.

 Of course there were almost more golf cart entries then cars, but hey, this is Whispering Pines.

Fire Trucks, police cars, classic cars, monster trucks bicycles, ATVS... the only thing missing were lawn mowers. All very nicely decorated (one truck even came complete with a pool in the bed and girls in bikinis. That was Mark's favorite.)

 Thanks GiGi for the primo parade watching local!