what I'm learning : new mom edition

A few new things I've learned from my 3 1/2 months of being a mom:

• Mommy guilt is very real...and it stinks.
  
• Spit up, drool, blowouts and other messy discharges (whether it be in public or at home) really no longer phase you after, oh say, the first couple times.
  
• How fast I can shower.  I mean, why did it take me so long before?
  
• Successfully cutting baby nails should be rewarded with a prize.  Every.single.time.
  
• It's amazing how much you can miss your husband, even though you still share daily life.  I really understand the "ships passing in the night" phrase now.
  
• How much I can do with one hand.  Perhaps they should start a one-handed mommy Olympics of sorts.
  
• Despite the lack of postpartum hormones, it's really easy to get emotional.
  
• When your child looks different than you, complete strangers believe that means it's totally normal to ask you all sorts of questions about their background.
  
• How much I feel like I'm not doing my best in any area of my life as I juggle the new routine of work and life with a baby.
  
• How hard it is when you can't fix or don't know how to make something better for your child.
  
• The depth of longing to have a relationship with E.J.'s birthmom and just know that she's ok.
  
• What being tired really is.  I often felt tired pre-baby, but man, I had no idea.
  
• The fact that I can still work, socialize, and function on few hour blocks of sleep.
  
• The difficulty of walking out the door in the morning when E.J.'s not yet awake.
  
• The amount of dirty laundry a tiny person can make.
  
• Guilt about the days when you just can't wait until it's bedtime.
  
• The rate of speed in which a 5 lb. 7 oz. newborn can become a 14 lb. 2 oz. baby.
  
• How quickly the pain of the wait is put in its place.
  
• And lastly, despite the exhaustion, tears, frustrations, and fears, how absolutely wonderful it is to be a mom.

fun with one

Col and I were able to watch Jeremiah while his parents went away for their anniversary.  I had so much fun playing with him for three days!  The two dogs together drove me nuts, but he is such a good-natured one year old!  I am so thankful to have friends who allows us to watch their little ones!

Jeremiah David

Baby E was born!

4/3/13

8 lbs, 11 oz

 

 

Aubrey LeBrun

Our newest niece!

Born: 3/21/13

7 lbs, 2 oz

Love her!

tales of a pseudo mommy

I recently got to babysit for our friends' 13 month old for three days while they were away, and I had a blast!  I was a little worried when I went to get her up the first morning, since I had come over super early so they could make their flight.  If she was surprised to see me instead of her mom or dad, she didn't show it at all.  And our time together was wonderful :)

From where I'm standin' there is seriously nothing like:
-being greeted with a smile every.single.time. you go to get a baby in the morning/from nap
-bath playtime
-sleepers/footie pj's.  I miss them myself (they were my pajama of choice until I was like...oh maybe say, 12?  Yup, I just admitted that.)
-being hindered from walking around because a little someone is standing against your legs holding on to them
-hearing baby babble from the monitor
-long walks talking about the squirrels and birds
-cuddly moments
-playing on the floor all day
-reading storybooks, especially my all-time favorite from when I was a kid, Goodnight Moon
-snuggling in the rocker before bed, watching eyes get sleepy

So thankful to our friends for entrusting us to watch their sweetheart.  We enjoyed your house, fireplace, and HGTV too ;)

Friday ramblings

The sunshine today is making me a little wacky.  I feel like it should be a lot warmer out, but I'll take the good mood that always comes when the sun decides to visit Rochester.

The dog that we are watching from Col's work went home today [ four days early ].
Mendon was so sad when Col came home from work without him.
I'm sure he's ecstatically happy to be back home and getting some rest after being at daycare all day and playing with her in the mornings and evenings.
This means that we get time with just our pooch for the first time since we adopted her!
Here's to seeing what living with one dog is like compared to having two, three, and even four at once.

Not gonna lie though, I'm looking forward to my three days living at our friends' house while I baby/house-sit for them while they are away.  I know for a fact that their little one sleeps longer, better, and more often than our puppy.
I love you Mendon, but this girl isn't used to waking up so early and is looking forward to some catch up sleep.  Even despite daylight savings.

[ the two days off of work aren't too bad either ;) ]

Hooray to Friday and the weekend, a long one [ for me ] at that!

P.S. I'm anxiously and happily awaiting news on two very special babies.  Our niece is due very, very soon and baby E not long after!
P.S.S. Right now, Dairy Queen is having a promotion: buy any Blizzard get the second for .99 cents! [ we already partook last night ]
P.S.S.S. We paid off another one of my student loans last week.  Only ONE more to go!!

Teenie's baby shower

I was honored to help host my dear roomie's baby shower today.  I can't wait to meet baby boy E soon!

Theme: She's about to POP!

Food: flavored popcorn, rice crispy treats, fruit and veggie pops (skewers), cake pops