What parenting REALLY looks like

Let's have some real talk for a minute.  I follow a ton of blogger and social media influencers that show a home life that "appears" to be clean and picture perfect. I mean lets be real, is your house really that clean all the time with 4-5 children under 9?!?!  Let's also discuss how all of the houses are white!  Everything is all white!  How do you have a ton of kids under 10 and a white house that is completely clean all the time?  

If this is in fact the case and your house is completely clean and white all the time with no help from the outside word, then you my friend are a much more organized person than I.  I find myself thinking "I am really dropping the ball here because my house if rarely organized and definitely not white."   Then after a few minutes of self pity I just think to myself "well we must have more time for fun then!"  

To try and help balance all the clean white fancy house photos out there, here is what my house looks like on the daily with 2 children under 3.  It may just make you feel better about yourself.  You're welcome :) 

Pretty sure I have dishes on the counter that need washed 90% of the time!

This is real life right here.  Dirty bottles, paint on the wall from the kitchen remodel from 3 years ago, and toys everywhere are my real life.  I'm pretty sure that toys only stayed put away for a hot 10 minutes before they are dumped all over again!

Happy Monday friends!

Life as a mom of 2

I had someone recently say to me "this baby must be a better baby than Wyatt because your blog has been pretty quiet".  With Wyatt I had so much content because he was a challenging baby for the first 2 months.  Feel free to relive that here New Mom Confessions.  This new lil nugget of joy (baby June) is the complete opposite of her brother.  She eats, sleeps, and goes through an abundance of diapers. Thats it.

 Look at those cheeks!

While it's not that this new baby is so great I just have no content to share, it's that sweet jesus there is no time!  Moms of multiples out there am I exaggerating?  This baby is in fact a great baby, her 2.5 year old brother on the other hand........  We are struggling.  Don't get me wrong, he loves his sister to death, the problem is that he would rather not share me.  

Toddlers have this awesome ability to be sweet and loving and then the minute your hands are full feeding the baby, or bathing her, or anything that involves you not being able to help them or give attention they turn into tiny assholes.  Yes, I said it.  You all have thought it.  He waits until I am busy to then throw a complete temper tantrum, need something right NOW, or just like mentioned above be a tiny asshole.  My cousin once told me that having one child is easy, two is life changing, and every one after that is just one more.  This couldn't be more true!

While it can be challenging taking care of the baby and keeping the toddler in line, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I mean she is such a good baby she makes it easy to want a third!  What ya think husband?.............

He can be precious when bribed with candy

I love you the mostest

I don't know if it is the pregnancy hormones, the fact that I will be going from a mom of 1 to 2, or just being a mom in general, but lately I have had this crazy fear of something happening to me at a young age and leaving my babies without me.  Now granted they have an amazing dad so I know they would be in good hands, but it just tugs on my heart.

It normally comes right after my son gives me the biggest neck hug ever and says "wuv you mommy", or when his dad gives him a bath and he insists I take over and get his jammies on him.  There are just some things that kids need their mommy for, right?

It got me thinking about ways to leave a remembrance for them no matter if i live to 40, 60, or 90.  I want them to always know how much I love them and to help remember the kisses, cuddles, and giggles.

My struggle is what are some creative ways to do so? I have a million photos and videos.  Do you put them on a CD, flash drive, save them to a cloud.  Hope that in 20+  years you are able to retrieve them off said device with the rate technology changes?  Just good old fashioned penmanship?  What if there is a fire?  AHHHHHH  these are my questions.  Share with me your ideas!!!!!

Lessons learned flying with a 1.5 year old

Happy 2017!  While one would assume this post would be about reflecting on 2016 and looking at goals for 2017, I thought I would post something more useful.  Useful, like the lessons I learned while flying recently with my lil nugget to Daytona Beach.

There is nothing better than an ice cream sandwich for lunch on the beach

Now lets remember one thing, this is my advice if you have a 1.5 year old that doesn't just sit in your lap content, like a precious angel child.  If you have one of those, congrats, and scroll on.

1.) My first piece of advice......just bring the car seat.  Strap them in the damn car seat.  I think lap child legit goes away at 1 year old.  My son hasn't wanted to snuggle with me since he was 8 months old.  You can only imagine how enjoyable it was for him to have to be contained on my lap for over 2 hours.  Pure. Joy.  There is something about a car seat that children instantly know to sit down and shut up.  It has a magic power.  I encourage you to take that power with you.

2.) Do NOT assume that if you have a late flight your precious angel will sleep the whole trip.  Wyatt is an early to bed type of kid.  By 7:30pm he tells you night night and is ready for bed.  We thought that with an 8:40pm flight this would be perfect!  Try again.  There is this thing called overly tired.  It does exist.  Huge bags under his eyes and all, he fought to stay awake the WHOLE flight because, well we would hate to miss something.

3.) Have 5 million different things to distract their short attention span to help keep your sanity and anxiety of them just screaming at the top of their lungs because they just want to run the aisle.  Toys, puzzles, books, coloring pads, and stickers were all attention keepers for us.  My kid has no interest in TV or an ipad.  NONE.  I find it to be a blessing and a curse all at the same time. While I love that he would rather play outside then listen to that god awful hot dog song from mickey mouse club house, this is an instance I wish I could capture his attention with a show for a solid couple of hours.  If your kids likes shows.....take a phone or ipad.  It will save you.

4.) Snacks!  If all else fails, you can buy some time with food.  All kids love food. Have a variety of snacks and that should get you.....15 minutes.  Ha!  For real though, snacks and a bottle of water because just the idea of getting to drink from a bottle of water is the greatest thing to a 1.5 year old.  I don't suggest drinking after them because there will be a million floaties from goldfish in there.

5.) Get an umbrella stroller.  Who wants to carry around a 50lb stroller through an airport when your kid decides he doesn't want to ride in it anymore.  We own a Bob stroller and love it, but it is not travel worthy.  It is heavy and can go rock climbing if you know what I mean.  With the helpful advice from my cousin who is a nanny and has had tons of experience traveling with little ones we got a Maclaren Volvo stroller.  It was worth every penny!  It weighs a whopping 8lbs, has a back pocket and basket, and is a smooth ride!  I highly recommend one!

They must be comfy too!

With all that being said, we ended up having a fabulous trip!  It only took one day to recoup from the late night flight and travel.  By day 3 he was good to go and happy as can be....just in time to enjoy a couple days and head home.  Ha!!

This was the flight home.  He had a cold so I gave him dimetapp, which also makes him drowsy.  I would suggest that as a flying tip but that would be taboo right?

I hope you have a great start to the new year!  If you have other flying tips with toddlers please share them!!  

Enjoy!

Attention NEW Moms: Behold the Power of White Noise

If I can share one thing I have found to be most useful in my journey as a new mom it would be discovering the power of white noise.  Yes, white noise.  That sound of static that drives most people crazy.  Wyatt is currently 13 months old and it still comes in useful.

For example.....
Wyatt is a product of a routine.  If his routine is off, he is off.  Yesterday he had a day full of fun and received a little to no nap.  When I put him to bed, like clockwork, 2 hrs into his sleep he woke up screaming.  This happens every time he doesn't get a nap or has a big day.  After 10 minutes of walking around the house trying to calm him down (to no avail), I walked in the bedroom, grabbed my phone, turned on the white noise app, and magic happened.

The app I use

He instantly stopped crying, laid his head on my chest and went back to sleep.  It is legit baby magic!  As a baby when Wyatt would start screaming on vehicle rides I would just turn on the white noise and he instantly stopped screaming.  I think it is baby hypnosis.

For all you new moms out there with screaming babies.  Get yourself some white noise and thank me later!  I owe my life to my friend Lisa for sharing this amazing magic with me and now I am sharing with you!  Good Luck!

A Lumberjack Bash

My lil nugget turned 1.  Thanks to pinterest, I quickly realized this birthday thing is no joke.  A theme?  It is clearly all about the theme.  I remember just hanging some streamers and maybe a balloon when I was a kid.  Those days are long gone.  So it got all pinteresty up in here:

Cutest lumberjack you will ever see

I mean if you are going to do a theme (ours was clearly lumberjack) one must have a photo shoot for the invite pic right?

Party day arrived!!  Full credit goes to my sister for writing out the sign.  However my creative genius came up with the "so plaid you came".

The food and decor was pretty spot on:

 the birch bark straws were definitely my favorite!

And last but not least, the glorious smash cake!

This creative genius credit goes to the very talented Kristy's Cakes at the Bake Shop

He would have ate it all if I would've let him

Next year I think i'm going to have the streamers and balloons make a comeback.  So much work for a couple of hours of fun he will only remember in pictures.  But it's cute right?!

The self feeding stage: the WORST

You guys, this is no joke.  I have found the worst stage of babyhood.  Self feeding.  I find myself looking back at when we first introduced food to wyatt and it was so clean.  I fed him, he opened his mouth, it was a great system.  Minus the occasional rubbing his hands all over his face and putting food in all crevasses that food shouldn't be, it was pretty calm and clean.  Not any more........

 this was a mild day........

I'm seriously considering doing away with the highchair all together.  I would be time ahead.  I will just screw some straps into the floor and put his food in front of him and then he will lose the lovely sensation to chuck it onto the floor.  It will already be there,  My son is precious.  If i am minding my own business he eats his food fine.  The minute i look at him, he throws it on the floor.   What kind of sick game is this child?  Forget the getting him to use a spoon because that lasts a hot minute in his hand and it is so gracefully thrown across the kitchen.  Since he has the hand to mouth thing mastered, can we just go back to me feeding him?

We also no longer want to eat yogurt, applesauce, or cottage cheese because he can't pick it up with his hands so we literally scream through eating it.  WHY are they so dramatic?

cute but ornery

Just a word to the wise, if you stop over and see straps screwed into the kitchen floor, understand that this is how i will now be feeding my child until this stage is over, and not some torture tactic.  So calm yourself.

Have a great week!

What is your ONE?

Many times I'm asked what is my Why?  Why are doing what your doing or pursuing what you are pursuing. I thought it was a great question to help make sure you are staying focused or on track to a goal.  That was until I attended the Alltech ONE  Ideas Conference this past week.

After having my brain go into complete overload of new ideas and information, it occured to me that instead of asking the WHY, we should be asking what is your ONE?  What is your one dream, one idea, one goal, one wish, that has just been sitting and burning inside you?  That feeling deep inside that is begging to come out or be brought to fruition?

I find words to be powerful, and Pearse Lyons is a man that can pick the perfect speakers to leave you in awe with the words they say.  While i'm not a Kentucky basketball fan, I am a fan of Coach Calipari.  He is a great role model and teaches his players respect and to do that ONE thing that helps or touches others.  Some of his wisdom:

• Build strong relationships on trust and respect. Under sell and over deliver
• Say more by talking less
• success is teaching kindness; kindness doesn't cost a thing
• Dream beyond your surroundings

My favorite:

• Fame is fleeting, money has wings; your legacy will be who you touch and your impact on others

If that doesn't ground you, let me introduce to you another speaker that left me thinking.  The Woz, Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.  This is the man that built the first apple computer.  

Some of the best advice he shared was that; You can be humble and have no money, and still bring ideas to the table.  I thought this was perfect.  You don't need millions.  You just need that ONE idea.

 I often have many ideas, ones that come to me in the wee hours of the night, normally when my child has woke up screaming at 1am.  Those are when the best ideas hit.  I should clearly start writing them down.  Like an air freshner for the diaper genie that actually takes that nasty smell away.  That would be a great idea turned invention.  Just a thought.

But regardless of how big or small, crazy or simple, capture your ideas. Write them down.  Find that ONE and go after it.  We only get one shot at this crazy game called life.  Many times our biggest limitations and hurdles are ourselves.  What will be your ONE?

On a side note; can we just discuss how amazing Mark Lyons hair is?  That is currently my ONE.  Figuring out how to make my hair and look that good!  #marklyonshair

Our First Mother's Day

Oh baby Wyatt, where do I begin.  It's almost surreal to think that you are almost one year old, let alone we are celebrating mothers day.  Mother, a term that I was not real keen on for a majority of my life.  I had travels to do, concerts to attend, and just living my life to the fullest really.  Or so I thought that was living life to the fullest.  Life pretty much revolved around me.

That soon changed.  The moment you popped out, my life had new meaning and it quickly revolved around you.  I cannot explain how you have changed my life in the most amazing ways.  I have found a new sense of pride in watching you grow and learn all the things you do, from crawling, to pattycake, and feeding yourself to babbling at the top of your lungs.  I have also found a new sense of worry. A worry of if you are coming down with a sickness, if I am doing a good enough job at raising you, if you are safe when I'm not around.  Prior to you I had little to no worries.  Fearless you might say.  I will take these worries over fearless any day.

I am quickly learning how independent you can become.  In the begining you needed me, all of me.  You needed my skin on your skin to know this outside world was an ok place to live.  You needed my milk to grow and become strong.  You needed my arms to hold you tight to make you feel safe and calm.   Now you drink a bottle on your own.  You feed yourself food, on your own.  You no longer cuddle at bedtime, but prefer to just be put to bed.

I cherish the moments when you come crawling to me with your hands extended "wanting me".  I know that those moments of 'needing me" will soon change as you grown into a young gentlman.  You will need me in other ways.  Instead of needing me to hold you tight when those mean teeth are pushing through, you will need my support and advice, Instead of needing me to save you when you roll on your back and can't get back over, you will need me for a ride to an event, or encouragement to ask that special girl to the school dance.

One of the best things that you have going for you is that I was blessed with the greatest role model of a mom.  If I am at least half the mom to you, that your grandma was to me, you will have a bright future little man.  I can't wait to see where this road takes us, you and me.

Love,

Your Mama

Milestones with a side of denial

I have this inner struggle where I want to see my son experience all the things of growing up, and then I cry because he is growing up.  When people told me that it happens so fast, I didn't believe them.  Dude, they weren't lying.

March was a huge month for baby Wyatt. He got his first tooth, and started crawling.  I was so ready for him to crawl, so that he wouldn't whine all the time when I wasn't in his face to entertain him......but as you can imagine, I would love to go back to that stage.  It all happened so fast. My friend came over with her 14 mo old twins who were crawling and moving everywhere.  Wyatt peacefully sat in his activity center and watched the madness.  The next day, i'm pretty sure he was like "awe hell no", i'm not sittin here anymore.  If they can do it then so can I.  He took off crawling!

Our first attempt at crawling

Now I watch him crawling all over the place, eating normal people food instead of purees, and I want to cuddle him up and pretend his is a newborn.  But without his newborn screaming because that was terrible.

Now with all of that being said, you would think that a child that can crawl all over the place, and push himself up to sit after crawling would be able to flip himself over when he rolls on his back at night.  Heavens no! We get a blood curdling scream.  I'm like, "really dude", how is this life ending for you?  I suppose I will embrace the moments when he still wants me to console him from that horrible back laying. :)

Happy start to the Weekend!!

My #MothersPromise

This is a sponsored post with Pampers and Walmart.  All opinions are my own.

I was super excited to get selected to help promote the pampers premium care campaign #motherspromise. This is such a great campaign because it encourages you to make a promise to your little ones and create a craft so that you can keep the promise top of mind.  The craft was a no brainer for me.  One of the first things I do in the morning while feeding my nugget is make some coffee.  This mama doesn't function well until after coffee. If I want to keep something top of mind, the best bet would be to put it on coffee mug.  So that's what I did!

  

DIY Coffee mug how to:

• Buy a white mug or light colored mug that marker will show up on
• Pick your sharpie colors to use
• Draw your design
• Let dry for a couple hours
• Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees
• Care...Hand-wash instead of dishwasher

My promise to my son is to love him unconditionally and to make sure he appreciates the value of gratitude.  I want him growing up understanding how blessed he is for the life he has.  Never take things for granted.  Always be willing to help those in need or lend a helping hand.  

From the moment Wyatt was born he has had pampers on his bum.  This was the brand of choice at the hospital and as a first time mom, I went with the sensitive line because I had this fear that his bottom would break out in a rash, so why chance it.

• Pampers premium Care Diapers are available at Walmart and Walmart.com
• Super affordable
• Top tier, high quality diaper
• 5 Star skin care, hypoallergenic, wetness indicator, unique absorb away liner, breathable inside & out, extra absorb channels

I am super thankful for this campaign because of what it stands for.  I challenge you to think of a #MothersPromise and create a way to keep it top of mind.  Feel free to share your promise!

I will just be over here sipping my coffee and hoping he stays Forever Young!

Botox and a Blog

Happy Friday friends!!  Did you notice anything different with your current visit?  We got a facelift!! This has a touch more of a grownup feel, yeah?  That is where the botox part comes in. Get it?  Botox.....facelift....  I did not get botox.  I have no desire to get something injected into my face to make me have a perma grin or surprised look on my face.  No offense to those that do though. However for those that have that resting bitch face, botox might come in handy for ya.  Just a thought.  

Recently I was hard at work sitting down with a customer and i receive this adorable little video from my husband.  Of course he is sending it to me because he is assuming that our child is saying dada as his first words.  I'm in denial and i hear none of the sort.  I suppose you can just add it to one of the firsts of many disappointments to come.  All babies should say mama first.  We carry them and then excrete them.  All the work and no glory.  

How does that saying go?..... When they're little they step on your toes and when they grow up they step on your heart.  Mine of course won't break my heart though, right?

Christmas in the country reveal!

One of my favorite things about the holidays is the annual Christmas in the Country gift exchange that some of my favorite blogger friends host!  There is nothing better than hand made gifts!  Luckily that is one of the requirements for this party!

This year my secret santa was Katie Pratt who blogs over at Rural Route 2.  She did such a great job at the gifts she selected!  I received popcorn that they grow on their farm as well as a home made sugar scrub.  I got a bottle of nail polish because.....you should always have your toes looking fresh!   I also received a jar of hot chocolate for those cold nights, and my favorite, a little note pad holder that holds a roll of paper that was hand made!  It was so creative!

For any of you bloggers out there, I encourage you to sign up next year.   It is a great way to meet other bloggers and share home made local gifts!

My Day with a Refugee

Happy New Year!  As I reflect on 2015, I quickly realize how blessed, spoiled, and fortunate I am.  My year mostly consisted of baby Wyatt coming into the world.  Then it consisted of baby Wyatt screaming for the first part of his life.  Now that we are past that and have a happy baby, my mind can wander to other more non important life events, such as......

Last week my favorite friend from the Husker the state came home to Michigan for the holidays.  We quickly planned a day to spend together.  What sounds like a good idea when you are wanting to catch up?  A spa day of course.  Our day started with talking to the receptionist about our jobs, which she told us we have such interesting lives.....I mean we told her I sell the grain and Lisa buys the grain.....or maybe it was the inseminating cattle and selling bull semen she found intriguing?  Anyway, this adorable older lady comes up and calls my name and it's time to start my facial......

I feel sometimes God throws subtle hints my way that I don't take the time to recognize, so then he throws a ton of bricks in my face to make me think, and that my friends is what happened this day.

Lupa was my spa day wizard.  She had been doing facials for 30+ years.  She had a strong Russian accent so I couldn't help but ask her what her story was.  Lupa was a refugee from the Former Soviet Union.  When her son was 4 years old, her and her husband realized they had to leave because of the genocide or they were not going to survive.  They made it to America and thanks to a church in Lansing that sponsors refugees, her and her family were given a place to stay.  She said that thanks to skype, she is able to see her family that were also placed all over the world.  Technology is amazing.

She was given $3 a day when they got over here and she said that their meals consisted of taking bread and putting it in a toaster to make croutons.  You then pour hot water over the croutons with a little bit of salt and that was their meal.  "For dessert, you just added a lil sugar", she said with a laugh. She then went on to say something I wish everyone could have heard.  She said,

"So many people today demand meat to be raised a certain way, and food to be grown a certain way.  They clearly have never experienced famine or starvation."

I pretty much jumped off the facial table and gave her a hug.  Yes!  Yes, I screamed!  She then went on to tell me about her childhood and how at Christmas they got oranges.  To them it was the greatest gift of all.  Also, payday for her father meant a piece of candy.  It was the little things but were such big things to them.

She said that seeing children today during the holidays open gifts and throw them aside because it wasn't what they wanted really makes her sad for them. She laughed and said they would be really disappointed if they grew up with her Christmas of an orange then. :)

Lupa is wise beyond her words.  She really made me think that day.  I don't remember the toys that I had or played with as a kid growing up, but I do remember the experiences.  I then decided that my resolution was to not worry about the "things" that I have or don't have, but more on the experiences.  That is also something I want my children to embrace.....but we have some time before we worry about that. :)  So here is to you Lupa in 2016.  You ended my 2015 with much to think about!

What are your resolutions for the year?!  Here's to a great 2016!

Amber teething, real or woo?

My lil peanut is starting to chew on everything.......I mean everything. Most of his time is spent shoving a burp rag in his mouth to chew on.  I'm no rocket scientist but I assume this is the beginning of teething no?  Lots of drool and chewing.  Sure fire signs right?

I see a TON of moms out there putting these necklaces on their kids and claiming that it is the miracle cure for the teething woes.  I am a fan of anything that relieves my kid of pain and takes him from angry panda to happy baby.  I decided to look into this miracle cure. 

(from google, of course)

I am a fan of science.  I feel that science proves many things in life.  Naturally I went to the science of these teething necklaces.   I had a hard time finding anything that shows evidence of these working.  Before you chew my head off, I'm not saying they don't work, I'm just saying there isn't much science to support them.  DO NOT start sending me links to mother jones or natural news with articles of how they work.   We won't be friends.  They are not an unbiased source of info.  Just saying

So here are a few questions to all the amber wearing teething moms out there.  I would love your thoughts and insight to help me make a decision as to if I use these.

1.)  Here is where I have a hard time.  Apparently it lets off this natural analgesic substance called succinic acid which is to be what relieves gum pain.  Wouldn't the concentration need to be pretty strong to be able to absorb through the skin, into the blood stream, and make it to the point of pain?  There is only around 1.4mg of said succinic acid in these necklaces.  To put that in perspective, in a regular dose of children s tylenol there is 160mg of acetaminophen which is your pain killer.  This is why I just find this hard to believe.  Not saying it isn't, I'm just saying the science isn't there to make me a believer.

2.) How in God's name do you put something around your babies neck and not fear of choking?  Didn't they remove the strings in sweatshirts and coats because of fear of choking?  Now we voluntarily will put something around their neck?  Gives me anxiety.  What if it breaks and they swallow the beads?  what if they get their hand tangled up in it?  These are questions I have?

So for all you amber wearing moms out there, share with me your success stories, becuase as of now, I have serious doubts.  Make me a believer.  Plus I just don't see my husband allowing me to put a necklace on his baby boy.  Ha!! 

Happy Day!

Mommy guilt and other nonsense

So we got new family pics done...... awe....

Becoming a mom has shown me a whole new group of crazy.  Prior to popping out my lil nugget, most of the crazy I encountered were all the anti's that were on facebook.  Anti anything really and you could find a group of people so passionate about their beliefs that they were on the verge of needing white coats.......

So now that I am a mom, I find that my newsfeed on social media, and the fact that my computer knows my every move and suggests creepy things I may just be thinking about, suggests and shares all things mommy.  Recently the ol' interwebs are being bombarded with the "DO NOT PUT YOUR COAT ON YOUR CHILD IN ITS CARSEAT".  Holy hell.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine an image such as this could wreak such havoc among mothers of today

Naturally I am a sucker for the comments......it's like a bad train wreck, I can't look away.  This is where the crazy happens.  A mom from Minnesota comments that she will not be taking the coat off of her baby in -20 degree temps.  Her child is well secured and will be just fine.  Well that didn't sit well with another mother as she replies to Minnesota's comment with "I hope that you and your children die from your stupidity"..........Um.......Wha..........I just.........   Where did that even seem like a good idea?  Who are you to wish death upon another family because they don't seem to see your view as the same?  Just.  Wow..

Since curiosity kills me, I had to test this theory. I put a coat on my lil nugget.  Strap him in the car seat.  Pull the straps tight.  Take him out, take off coat, put him back in and strap up.   Unless the 1/8 of an inch difference could be the cause of my child flying out of that strapped in harness (highly doubtful) I will also be keeping the coat on him.  There literally was hardly any difference from taking the coat off.  So to the crazy death wishing mom......cool your jets.  Do you.

I just don't understand this mommy shaming/guilting that is happening in today's society.  Who are we to tell everyone how to raise their children?  Maybe you are in fact doing it wrong?  hmmmmmm?  It is never ending. How about we start lifting each other up instead of dragging each other down.  Lets be real, it's difficult enough to get ourselves and the kid around in the mornings and out the door with child in hand let alone remembering to strap him in the carseat.  (did that happen?  maybe so, maybe no......).
Happy Day!

I see those Judgy Eyes

Happy October friends!!  It has been a solid month since I have posted......as you can see that real life Wednesday idea was great in theory.......good effort.  If you haven't picked up by now, clearly the Gerber soothe formula was a life savor.  Life. Savor.  After about week 8 we have had nothing but a happy, smiling, laughing, lil bambino.  With that, life has pretty much flown by at an incredible pace and my peanut is now 4 months old and we are 10 Fridays away from Christmas!!  If that didn't give you anxiety I don't know what will.

Speaking of flying and time and babies...as if all of those things are in common, we come to the issue at hand.  Last week a group of my closest girl friends and myself, whom are all turning the dirty 30 soon, hopped on a plane and took a nice relaxing poolside vacation to Las Vegas for the weekend.  I know what you're thinking.  Yes you there judgy eyes.  You quickly glanced back up to the previous paragraph to see that I mentioned my child was 4 months old and you quickly made a comment in your head such as......she left her baby at 4 months old!?  I heard this numerous times.  I guess I am confused.

Many were quick to let me know that their child was 3 years old before they left them for the first time.  Another was sure to share that they couldn't imagine leaving their child that young!  How could I actually leave and have a good time?  Well here is how.  I suppose I am one of the lucky few (?) that married an incredibly responsible and nurturing father who is extremely capable of keeping our little one alive for the 3 days that I was away?

I mean I didn't really think anything of the trip until everyone started informing me of the timeline between the birth of their child and when they left them for the first time.  It usually ended with the same time frame of over a year old.  Don't get me wrong, I missed the lil peanut immensely and we face timed daily, but my question lies........why are we so quick to judge a mother for leaving the child in the hands of the father at a young age.  We don't bat an eye when the father leaves and the mother is home caring for the child do we?  Just a thought.......

If you were wondering, the weather was perfect and we had a wonderful time preparing for upcoming milestone of 30........but in the words of Carrie Bradshaw... "30 is the new 20 right?"

Happy Day!

Real Life.....

So last week I said I was going to start a series of real life Wednesday......  As you can see this Wednesday business is clearly a difficult task.  So it's more like real life who really cares what day it is.  That will be my new title.  Here we are another week later.  Not much has changed except my child is a week older.  I get an email from the hospital that explains what my child should be doing week to week.  That shit will give a new mom straight up anxiety.  So for example this week it says that my child should start reaching his hands up at me when he wants picked up.  Are you freaking kidding me?  I swear last week they told me that he still can only see 10 inches away from his face and now you are telling me he can see me enough to let me know he wants picked up?  Blasphemy i say.  Who comes up with this weekly update?  So here I am standing in front of my son, testing this theory.  Fail.  He is still in a flailing arm stage.  They clearly have their weeks screwed up.

Pretty sure that most of my baby posts revolve around baby poop. Well this week is no different.  Pretty much every time my lil peanut makes a turd and I go to change him, he puts his foot in poop. I don't know how he manages it most of the time but he does. It's a conspiracy I swear.  Sometimes it may be a solid couple hours after a diaper change that I notice he has a poop smear on his foot.  Like it magically appears.  I swear I check to make sure he is poop free.  Where is it coming from?!?!?!

That is currently what I am dealing with in my real life.  The fact my child is behind on his arm reaching to let me know he wants picked up and his phantom poop smears that appear outta no where.

On a side note, we are 1 day away from one of the best national holidays of the year.  Labor Day you ask?  No, obviously because that is Monday and not 1 day away.  It's the beginning of Spartan football!!!!  He is pretty excited about it if you can't tell!

Have a great holiday weekend!!

Real Life Wednesday

I had the idea of starting a series every Wednesday that shares a glimpse of my real life.  I find that the ole interwebs tend to show people with the white picket fence, hair and makeup done, and dinner on the table with the perfect family.  However the real life behind the computer screen is mad chaos.  Why do we hide it?  Why do we try to paint a picture to everyone that we have life all together.  

I am here to break that mold and let you all know it is ok to not have your shit together.  My life is bananas right now.  Straight up bananas.  I have a hard enough time remembering to eat let alone have my hair and makeup done.  Here is a lil glimpse into my real life......

My kid makes man sized turds.  To the point that you see here.  I am feeding him, minding my own business and with one solid grunt I am holding a handful of poo.  As i tell my sister "Do something!" I was thinking more like grab the kid so I can wash my hand, she instead grabs her phone to take a picture.....classic

Currently my son has eyes for 6 ounces of milk but the stomach capacity for only 4 ounces.  In turn that means mama wears the bottle shortly after feeding.  Straight down the shirt soaked with curdled milk.  It smells wonderful too might I add.  

So there you have the first edition of real life Wednesday.  Stay tuned next week for more madness.