Mother's Day Recap

I decided on my birthday last week to take Leo to Color Me Mine to do some Mother's Day crafts for Leo's Grandma's and Great Grandma.


What I learned about Color Me Mine with a one and a half year old, is that it's not something you want to do solo. Thankfully my cousin Gia came to help assist, and without her, we would have probably walked right out the door.

Thanks to Gia, I got to enjoy the entire process, and Leo had a lot of fun doing it. We lasted for about 40 minutes and he really liked playing with the paint and paint brushes, and didn't entirely hate getting his hands painted either.

We made coasters for my mom, a vase for Joel's mom, and a little trivet for my Grandma. They were all ready before Sunday and made for darling Mother's Day Gifts.

The Saturday before Mother's Day, I had spent the entire day (and night), downtown with two of my girlfriends. We've made it an annual tradition to try and get away around this time (last year was Mexico) and I always think a little time away makes you return so much more refreshed. 

We left the city really early Sunday morning, and when we got home, Joel had a bunch of gifts on the table along with a huge brunch ready to roll for me and my family.

For Mother's Day, Leo got me a helmet for our new bike and trailer and an oil diffuser and essential oils. 

 

Around 11:30 my family came over, we had mimosas and brunch (blueberry french toast overnight bake, an egg and sausage casserole, bagels and lox, fruit and donuts!), opened a few presents and just enjoyed each other's company.

 

I am so thankful to have my mom and my Kuka in my life, and even more thankful that Leo has them too. They've truly taught me how to be a mom and they're both role models to me every single day. 

 

I ended up sneaking away after brunch (which Joel not only cooked but cleaned every last thing....he's good.) to take a much needed nap right when Leo went down too. 

After nap we decided to break out the new bike trailer and hit the road for a little family bike ride.

 

It took Leo a little time to get used to the helmet, but once we started moving he was happy as clam. I have a feeling we will be riding all summer long.

Sunday night our friends from LA were in Chicago and were able to spend the night with us. I am so mad we didn't take one picture, but we had a blast having them, ordered pizza, let our kids play together, and after like one glass of wine, everyone went up to bed before 10pm. We're getting old.

It was a pretty packed day, but felt relaxing and indulgent all at the same time. Joel and Leo were good to me, and I am so, so, so thankful that I get to be a mom.

Birthday Party Recap

I spent the entire day reminiscing about what I was doing exactly one year ago. 

At 6:40am, I told Joel, last year we had just loaded into the Uber en route to the hospital. At 6:49am, last year, our uber driver started to cry "You're bringing life into this world toady, and I'm so touched I get to be your driver". 

At 8:00am, I was in the bed in triage getting stabbed multiple times to try and get the silly IV in - inwardly freaking out as the couple next to us wheeled our of our little waiting room as a family of 2, and back in as a family of 3. 

At 10:20am, I was taken into the OR to get a spinal, and before I knew it Joel was in the room with me and the surgery had begun. At 10:51am my baby boy Leo John was born and my life was forever changed. 

And then, 10:51am 2016 hit, and my baby boy was officially ONE! 

 

checking into the hospital ::: leaving the hospital ::: celebrating 1 year 

The best, happiest, craziest, fastest, wildest, most joyful year of my life. 

And to celebrate all that means, we threw a big birthday party for our shining star.

We started the day with a few presents from us and his grandparents, and then went on to watch a VERY fun Vols.

 

The party was held a neighborhood pizza place, and they were so amazing to work with. My sister-in-law Corie and I got there about an hour early, set up a few fun decorations, and by 4:50pm, our guests started to file in.

The decorations that I brought (his darling bib, the "ONE" banner, and hit cute party hat)  were c/o of my favorite Etsy shop Dainty Couture.

I DIYed the "1" sign, and the chalkboard, and then found a few other cheapy decorations at Target and Marshall's.

We set up pitchers of beer and as much pizza as our guests could eat, and then basically let everyone hang and play. 

 

 

 Right before 7pm, we decided to sing Happy Birthday to Leo (who was clearly ready for bed!)

  

Leo loves cake.

A lot of the kids broke into Leo's toys which proved to be hilarious - and great entertainment. 

But by 7:30, everyone was ready for bed, so we loaded the car with tons of new toys and goodies for Leo, and cheersed to the best year of our lives.

Bad Mom Confessions

I just saw Bad Mom's in the the theater this past weekend and found it SO refreshing.

Just because you got your baby to sleep through the night at week 3 or your four month old is walking and talking, it really doesn't make you any better than the mom next door whose ten year old is still waking up twice a night. 

I think its really easy to feel proud, and come off as an expert, but this movie really reminded me that we're all doing the absolute best that we can. 

It also reminded me to not lose sight of what is truly important when raising kids: kind, happy, good people. 

But, in the spirit of being a bad mom...I thought I would share a few confessions lately just to make sure you know that we're not always at baby classes or swim lessons, or whatever else I've shown on here to make you think that you should do more - because that is total bullshit if I've ever made you feel that way.

 

:::Unless Leo's crib sheet is like dripping in pee, I let the small pee stain dry and put him at the opposite end of the crib for his next nap. We don't have in-unit laundry and his pee is basically water.


::: I've convinced Joel that Leo only needs a bath every 3rd or 4th night because his skin can get really dry.  Leo's eczema flare up is gone but I'm sticking by my sentiment because the bath just adds twenty extra minutes to his bedtime routine and I don't feel like doing it every other night.


::: Speaking of bedtime routine, Leo lately has been playing in his crib for almost 45 minutes at night. but there is no way I'm stretching his bedtime....by 7pm, I need to clock out.


::: I sleep with earplugs in and many, many times have forgotten to turn the monitor on at night


::: Leo is always dressed adorably, and I always look like his underpaid nanny. 


::: Roscoe is somewhat like another toddler in the house, and I end up screaming at him to stop barking at least 100x a day, so now he takes naps when Leo does too. He goes into his kennel in one room, and Leo goes into his crib in the other, and I relish in the silence as best as I possible can.


::: I had to try on bathing suits at target this week with Leo in tow, and struck gold with getting the extra large dressing room so Leo could crawl around the floor.  All was perfect until I found him sucking on the door stopper that had chewed gum on it!!!!!!!


::: I'm trying everyday to get Leo to like a TV show. I would love it if he would sit and watch Paw Patrol while I jump in a ten minute shower, but he has no interest at all. It would also be VERY handy while we travel if he would watch something for a few minutes so I'm literally training him with a few minutes each day


::: Every day during Leo's nap, I take the dog outside. (Mom, DON'T FREAK OUT!). I always lock the door, take my keys and the monitor, and let Joel know when I leave and when I come back. I stay right in front of our building and go outside for like 4 minutes, but it sort of thrills me in a sick way each day I do it.


::: We switched cleaning ladies recently and our new one isn't half as good as our old one (and more expensive), but she does our laundry and folds it, and I will clean up after she leaves to prove to Joel that she is way worth the money. I hate laundry that much.


::: Very few days of the week do I wait for 5pm to have a beer or a glass of wine


::: In that vain, I feel like I day drink more now than I ever have in my entire life. These mom play groups or lunches after a class very rarely don't include a drink.


::: Every single day I try and get Leo to learn a new trick, because it gives me anxiety that I'm not teaching him enough. Like, how long do you practice "blow a kiss"? I've sat in front of him for two weeks trying to get him to attempt it with no luck. And that sometimes worries me.....am I a bad teacher? Is Leo a bad student?


::: I'm on my phone WAY too much during the day, and I feel a lot of guilt about it, but I get freaking bored.


::: I don't really flinch at crying. I've always been totally ok with letting Leo cry it out. Unless he is screaming in pain, he's staying in his crib until 6:30am every morning. And, I get car sick in the back seat, so there is no way I'm sitting back there either. Some of my girlfriends literally run into the bedroom when their babe starts to whine, and I sort of wonder if maybe I'm too tough!

---

I'm sure if you asked Leo, he could give you about 15 more confessions, but lets just keep it at this for today!

Don't leave me hanging here...........cough up a confession to make me feel a tiny bit better about my parenting skills!!!!

5 ::: Things I'll do differently with Baby #2

And no, baby #2 is NOT in our immediate future.

We are reallllly enjoying this sweet spot with Leo. In fact, I think right now is the most fun, easy, joyful, and exciting our life has ever been. We feel content (in most areas) and I want to revel in that feeling for a while. 

But, I have been finding myself lately saying "next time" or "I'm glad I learned ____" or "I would NOT do that again" and I thought I'd get pen to paper before I totally forget what having a baby is like. 

::: 1 :::

I'll move the baby out of my room a little sooner

 Once we moved him into his nursery, I actually got sleep! When he was next to our bed, every gurgle, grunt, and grin had me up, turning on a night light, checking his vitals, which cost me more sleep than necessary!  It was silly, and all of my commotion often stirred him awake in the first place. While it was nice not have to leave my warm bed, I think once the baby is only waking once in the night, that will be my cue to kick um' out! 

::: 2 :::

I won't do newborn photos right away

 As darling as they are, and I'm obviously glad to have them, I wish I would have waited a little bit. Babies just don't come into their own right away - and I felt like 10-13 weeks would have been a really amazing time to do the shoot. Not only was I feeling a lot better about myself, but Leo was smiling, had delicious cheeks, and opened his eyes for more than 6.6 seconds.

::: 3 ::: 

I won't wake a sleeping infant

In the beginning, babies sleep A LOT. I had always heard that, but in all honesty, it sort of freaked me out. I couldn't get over the fact that literally all Leo did his first month was eat, sleep, and poop - so I would force him to "play". I would actually blow into his face to try and keep him stimulated. Why? I have no idea...I guess I just felt like I wasn't doing enough - and that was silly. 

::: 4 ::: 

I won't be afraid of formula

I was having this conversation with my cousin this week but so often I hear moms say exclusively breastfeeding, exclusively pumping, or exclusively formula..... My question is, why does it have to be exclusive? We stopped being exclusive at seven months, and an enormous weight was lifted off of me. I wasn't having to pump 4 times a day in order to make an 8oz bottle so that Joel could feed the baby. I was nursing during the day, and then his last bottle was formula. And you know what? It was ok, it was freeing, and I regret waiting so long to do that.

::: 5 :::

I'll trust myself 

 

Everyone kept telling me, just trust your instinct. And I really, really didn't think I had an instinct. I triple guessed everything, asked for validation on it all, and didn't listen to my gut. I sort of doubt most first time moms do have that ability, but I'm actually excited for myself to be a mom the second time around. I already feel so much more confident in my abilities, and I think it will make bringing home a second baby that much more of an enjoyable experience for our family. 

And I won't be afraid of spit up, cutting finger nails, burping a baby too hard, green poop, cradle cap, not sterilizing a bottle, rolling over too soon (or not enough), or the other 6,742 things that rattled me as a new parent. Its hard work learning how to do this thing, but it's so, so worth it. 

SAHM Wear ::: Athleisure?

Have you heard of this word? 

I guess mainly its just dressing up workout wear and when I'm actually working out, I really don't feel the need to put on my makeup or find cute accessories.

But, considering that I'm on the floor for 80% of my day, I'm finding that I don't wear 99% of my closet. Being in workout clothes is truly the only thing that makes sense, but I still want to feel cute. 

I think it's a little easier in the winter to look cute while rocking this look but I've struggled this summer. I did buy these two skirts from Lululemon (wish I would have bought them in the "Tall" because they're a little short) and have been basically wearing them on repeat.

  

And while it looks like I'm playing tennis everyday, I feel ok talking walks with Leo, taking him to the park, stopping at the store, and then seeing a friend for a playdate. It's tough to find ONE outfit that you can do all of that in! 

I'd like to pick up a few light weight long sleeves tops that I can throw over my workout tanks so I'm on the hunt for a few of these to complete the look! (found all from Nordstrom)