Our baby girl celebrates her half birthday!

Seriously ... I can not believe Baby RayRay is 6 months old.

July 31, 2010 seems like just yesterday, except at that time it was like 95 degrees and today we are a far, far cry from 95 degrees as we gear up for a ridiculous ice and snow storm and freezing temps (yay...que sarcasm now!).

But no, really, it's amazing how fast time has flown by!

It's hard for me to digest the fact that she is growing out of her 6 months clothes already - the munchkin is 26 inches long plus now. She is growing like a weed (a cute, wonderful weed!). Every morning I pick her up and I swear she is getting heavier (and she is!). She is rolling around like crazy, popping her head up and babbling up a storm. While she hasn't started crawling yet, you can tell she certainly wants to. Nothing has been more fun than being able to watch her grow.

Last week, we started her on solid foods. While the first couple days, she didn't seem too into the whole "food" show, last night she was gobbling the rice cereal down like one of our little baby piggies!

Here are some recent pics that you may enjoy!

Loves playing and jumping in her jumperoo!

Our little stinker

Baby's first bite of solid food!

Tripping from the Guilt Trip

After 28 years, I have discovered or pinpointed if you will - my ultimate pet peeve. I think I've been in denial for sometime that I even have pet peeves because if you know me, you know I'm pretty laid back and don't get peeved about much at all.

Whelp so much for that ...

So what is this recent revelation  ... I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT STAND WHEN I GET THE GUILT-TRIP.

I'm not sure if I have a sticker on my forehead sometimes that says, "Hey, make me feel guilty about something, anything."

Ever hear the phrase ... "Some things are better left unsaid." Yes ... I like that one and I exercise it because I don't want to say something to make someone feel bad to make myself feel better. Unless maybe they are guilty ... of a CRIME!

Anyways, I'm afraid I'm coming off too harshly. I should explain where all this is coming from to better illustrate my point.

I have been breastfeeding Baby RayRay for 6 months. Yay...milestone achievement, right?

Or ... not.

Not if you're RayRay's sitter and nearly every Monday (for the past 4 months) she struggles to readjust to having a bottle and not Mommy. And who can blame her, Mommys are awesome!

RayRay is the only one at her daycare on breastmilk and my sitter is not 100 percent supportive of my journey to feed RayRay only breastmilk for 12 months. Let's be honest, I'm not sure she's even 50 percent supportive.

Don't get me wrong, she is absolute wonderful lady, wonderful with RayRay and just overall super super nice! But ... she's getting tired of fighting with RayRay and the bottle and gives me the guilt-trip about not switching her to formula, already.

So ensues the guilt-trip on Meggie. I get the guilt trip about not bringing enough breastmilk. I get the guilt-trip about not giving her any bottles over the weekend or holiday breaks. I get the guilt trip ... I think you get the point here. Listen, I'm sorry, but it's not real conveniant to pump (meanwhile RayRay is screaming) and then feed her a bottle in my off time. I pump enough at work when I get home, I'm kinda done with it!

As you can see this guilt trip thing really irks me, but its part of life. And soon enough I won't let it bother me too much. But I'm not sure anyone likes the feeling of being guilty, whether you are guilty per se or not. So after the guilt-tripping, I go through like a solution phase, where I determine how I can make this person understand what's going on and come up with some sort of compromise so I can take the sticker off of my forehead.

In this situation, I've decided to try yet, another brand of baby bottles.
Avent- NO.
Playtex-MAYBE, if I feel like it. (She gets this attitude from her daddy)
How about ... The First Years Breastflow Technology. We'll see.

I'm sure my sitter will let me know and then once again try to encourage me to cut off the breastfeeding. Well in some books, 6 months is impressive and baby we're going for 12 (months) so somehow I'll get my sitter online and maybe, just possibly limit the guilt-tripping!

TOP 10 of 2010!

Holy smoke ... it's really 2011. 2010 was a great year - 2011 has a lot to live up to.  So what makes 2010 such a great year for this Hoosier Farm Babe ... I thought I'd run through a quick Top 10 list. Number one was a no-brainer.

1. The birth of our daughter - Reagan Raye - who I will now refer to in my blog as RayRay. It's true what they say, when you have a child, you will wonder what you ever did before she became a part of your life. I never thought I could LOVE anything more than I love Big D. I was wrong. RayRay is the angel in my heart, the light in my day, my little munchkin who can do no wrong and one of the greatest loves of my life. We. Are. Blessed.

2. Celebrating 5 years of wedded bliss with Big D in October. I married my sweetheart Oct. 15, 2005. Seriously, one of the best days of my life, EVER.  Looking forward to more of forever with Big D in 2011. Click here to read our love story.

3. Big D and I's babymoon to Vegas in March. One last vacation pre-baby. He took me to see Cirque Du Soleil Viva Elvis. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!!

4. Reagan's baptism and becoming members of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church. It's a new beginning in our lives and I'm looking forward to strengthening my relationship with THE big guy in the sky and making new friends for life at Cross of Grace.

5. Starting my blog in April - Hoosier Farm Babe Tell Tails. I was invited to an intro to blogging workshop and I have to admit I was skeptical at first. I didn't have time and what on earth do I have to write about. Well thanks to Cris at Goodeness Gracious and Leah at Beyer Beware - I am a convert. Thanks ladies - you've inspired me! I think I may be only slightly addicted to blogging now!

6. Becoming a Real Farmwife of America. I am part of a group of women blogging about life on the farm and all the dirt in between as The Real Farmwives of America. (Here is my first post!) The Real Housewives of Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills got nothing on us!! Check out this group of amazing women in agriculture and look for our future posts in 2011!

7. Baby's First Christmas and our first Christmas as a family of three. Lots of great memories and this momma dusted off her video camera and caught it all on film of course!

8. It was the year of the girl on our farm! I own 10 Jersey dairy cows and out of the 10 I had 8 sweet little baby heifers (females). When you're in the dairy business - bulls aren't worth much, but heifers now that's what you hope for. So I basically doubled my herd. YAY! Look for some of these sweet little heifers to hit the show circuit in the summer of 2011!

9. Being a part of Liz @ Two Maids a Milking New Year's wedding to her love - Russ! It was an honor to be a part of their big day and we had a great time!! Myself, Liz and our friend Meag were known as the Boiler Babes in college (at Purdue). This is the second of the Boiler Babes to tie the knot. I was the first. Liz was the second. Meag?? 2011??

10. Despite a volatile economy, low hog prices, high feed costs - Big D and I are still farming. It's not easy to be a young farmer and we made it through 2010 and in this economy that is an accomplishment.

So 2011, I'm excited to see what you've got in store for us! My prediction - it's going to be a another GREAT year for this bloggy mom!

A supermom sighting

Now that I am mom, I am convinced that there are many women out there who are truly "supermoms" or basically "superwomen" with special powers giving them the ability to hold it altogether making being a mom appear effortless. Screaming, tandrum throwing children coming from all directions ... ehh no problem. At least that's what it looks like from the "outside" meaning all of us starring in amazement at how this "supermom" just handled an otherwise challenging situation.

At this point, 5 months into the job (of motherhood, that is) I certainly have NOT earned the title of "supermom" and I'm not sure I'm particularly striving for the title - I just want to raise my daughter to be healthy, happy and oh yea ... well-behaved!

Anyways .... (I digress), I attended a wedding for my good friend Liz@ Two Maids A Milking, recently, as a matter of fact, I was actually part of her big day in the bridal party! This is where I had my first "supermom" sighting ... well the first one I actually paid attention to.

Me and the gorgeous bride!

This unmasked "supermom" was also part of Liz's big day, as was her husband and their three adorable children. Throughout the day of hair, make-up, lunch, driving between locations, and photos all around town in below 30 degree temps ... I could begin to see this "supermom" was getting stressed and frazzled. Who could blame her - I wanted to help, but I had my own munchkin to keep track of. Keeping three young children happy, fed and entertained all while filling in obligations as a bridesmaid is no easy feat. But she was handling it all so well ... while I did notice a couple tandrums here and there - this "supermom" handled the meltdown in seconds and then smiled and poised for a photo within the same 60 seconds. Wow.

She mentioned to me once that she was "about to lose it," but not once did I hear her scream or even raise her voice at her kids or even her husband. At least, by that point, my husband probably would've gotten a few choice words just to let out some steam on someone. I think that may be what impressed me the most.

All in all - I was pretty impressed. At first, I was unsure whether or not to identify this "supermom," because who knows she may want to write a book someday and publish the secret to being a "supermom" or at least appearing to be so.

Preparing to ring in the New Year after the wedding rehearsal

Amy and one of her adorable munchkins!

Hey Amy @ Two Maids A Milking I know you probably think I'm just being funny, but no I'm serious ... I'm onto to you and your secret mommy powers. :)