Wordless Wednesday

Brothers for Life...

A Stay At Home Mama {no more}

I'm officially a working mommy! Well part time working anyways. (I think it's time to  change the ABOUT ME  section of my blog.... I'm no longer a SAHM  *tear*)

Before I went back to work  I thought I  had no time (or sleep) for anything ...... what am I going to do now?! The decision to go back was definitely a financial one but it sure does come with a heavy load of emotions and plenty of changes. New routines and schedules.... this kind of scares me it took a very long time to establish those in the first place.... maybe because my love of spontaneity.... but the kids definitely loved those moments.  The emotional issues are tough. My husband and I strongly believe that our boys belong at home with us and not at some daycare all day long. We didn't  have children so they can be raised by strangers. They should be with us and their brothers, they will spend many years of long hours apart once they all go to school. This decision  comes with a price ..... working opposite shifts! However we will have one day together. I'm sure we'll treasure and appreciate that day a lot. The emotions aren't easy at work either ...... I'll think about the baby constantly ..... even though I know he'll be fine with his daddy just like the other two but I'm just not use to being away from him yet. It wasn't easy being on a tight mat pay, it took some real budgeting, and plenty of coupons but I'm thankful I had that time at home with my boys. Although it will be nice for me to be around adults for a change .... fingers still crossed for the lotto so I can be a SAHM of at least 5!

Cheers to many more of my lists ..... that my husband so loves ;)

Our Favourite Book

I read to the kids often. We've read many books together but my  boys are always excited about "Green Eggs And Ham" by Dr. Seuss, it is a classic for us. At age 4 Alex read it.  I was sure he had it memoriezed.  He would struggle with a few words so I was sure he must be reading! In amazement I listened as he read his first book to his brothers and me. We've read it so much I can say it in my sleep. We've read it in many different places but never with a fox or in a box.

You should read it.

You do not like this book .

So you say.

Read it! Read it!

And you may.

Wordless Wednesday

OUR TRIP TO THE MUSEUM

Things Nobody Told Me When I Was Pregnant

Sleep Deprivation - Sure EVERYONE told you "Sleep Now While You Can" as if you could bank your sleep and withdraw some in the first few weeks as you need it. No one can prepare you for the first weeks to months with lack of sleep(yes! months which can turn into years if baby#2 will follow shortly). Sure if you're formula feeding and dear husband can help you do feedings but if you're breastfeeding .....you're @#!&$# !!!.  Unless you work ALL day to pump an extra bottle so hubby can give the baby and you can actually miss a feeding and sleep for 3 or 4 hours in a row only to wake up drenched in milk. Only when you have a baby you will actually cry because you NEED sleep. Is it a wonder sleep deprivation is used as a torture technique?

Sore Nipples - I remember reading about sore nipples when I was preggo with baby #1 .

 I soon learned that the book could of not been written by a breastfeeding mom. To me "sore" means a little rash that annoys me not HOLY &%#$, hold your breath, curl your toes, and hold on for dear life with every latch on. Cracked, painful, bleeding nipples attached to a couple of huge watermelon sized, painful to touch engorged breasts. Don't think that small and sweet baby will be gentle.... they can suck like a leach!

Time for Depends - Do you pee yourself every time you cough, sneeze or laugh while you're preggo? This continues to happen weeks after baby too.  Sure I did all those kegels but felt like running to the drug store and getting adult diapers in case I was out and someone told a funny joke.

Sex @ Six - Usually at your six week postpartum check up, the doc will ok you to resume sexual intercourse. Sure you want to {it's been 6 weeks so it would probably last no more than 5 minutes if you're lucky} but seriously you would rather spend that 5 minutes sleeping. Not to mention it's how you got into this in the first place and your body is definitely not the way it was when you were having fun conceiving.

Eat like you're in jail - Ok, I've never been in prison but I hear they eat really fast.  Your baby will follow Murphy's law and start crying before you're about to sit down to eat ANY meal! Smoothies while you're breast feeding are your best bet.

Balding? - Everyone knows you "glow" when you're pregnant. Your nails are stronger than ever and your hair is shinny and thick. It's all  those hormones that make you grow extra hair only to fall out about 3-6 months postpartum. All that extra hair you've grown will fall out in bunches. You'll be shedding for weeks. But not to worry you will grow new hair and since new hair grows from the root you will look like you've cut your bangs way too short if you're wearing your hair up. What you don't have bangs? You will.  Maybe this is why most women go short after baby.

{It can't be that bad though I did have two more babies after my first after all.  We do what we do because even if it's the hardest thing we've ever done that little baby is still the best thing thats happend!}

bitter-sweet milestones

On Wednesday I posted a video of my son Jacks 1st steps. As I watched him take his steps time stood still {at least that's what it felt like} if only for a few moments. I was such a proud mommy! So why do I feel a little sad at every milestone?

Alex is only five and I can't honestly say I would remember many  milestones when he was a baby clearly  if it wasn't for photos, videos or scrapbooks.  They reach their milestones so fast I quickly forget the previous ones. Every day something new is learned and I'm a proud mommy once again. I just wish those moments would last a little longer and make my boys stay little  longer.

Well I can't stop the clock, all I can do is enjoy my children now and hope one day I'll be sharing those captured moments with their children .... and the memories of dirty diaper, tantrums and teething  will be long and forgotten.

Wordless Wednesday

hoppop diaper bag / booster seat

I love any BABY product that can do double duty. That's why I LOVE this diaper bag that turns into a booster seat. Now instead of using unsanitary boosters at restaurants or lugging your own heavy and bulky seat all you need is this diaper bag.

A Shopping Disaster

One of my first grocery trips with all three kids ended in tears ..... and I did most of the crying.  When my husband came home from work that night I asked him to go out and get me a bottle of wine. Without having to tell him, he knew, it was one of those days.

I reviewed that grocery trip in my head for days and realized it was totally my fault (here comes the mommy guilt).  I was out with the kids all day running errands trying to get everything done in one day. The kids were overtired, bored and hungry except for baby Jack who'd been sleeping in his car seat all day and by the time we got to the grocery store he'd had enough of being confined to his seat. Not to mention how tired, cranky and  frustrated I was  running around the store like a mad woman cuz that grocery list I was working on all week was left on the kitchen counter and all the coupons I searched and dug for in my purse were expired. I've had enough. The next trips to the store were like a dream. We'd go after lunch during the week, the kids would be fed and the grocery store wasn't as busy. Jack almost always slept at this time and I could easily transfer his car seat from the car onto the shopping cart without waking him up. He'd sleep till I got home. I would get my 5 year old to read over our shopping list on the way to the store and get the boys to see how many items they could remember. Getting them involved in the process made it fun for them. The boys payed attention to products on shelves and pointed out if they noticed anything from our list.  I'm not big on junk food but I would promise to buy them gum if they behaved in the store (bribing almost always works). 

Even though it's a lot easier now, store displays will get ruined, the stack of oranges will come falling down and a clean up on aisle 5 will be needed, I do have 3 boys after all.

Christmas Survival Guide

Even though I LOVE Christmas, I'm in Christmas denial every year up until a week or two into December.

Every year Christmas gets more and more stressful for me and every year I promise myself next year will be different.

Here I go again!

 

My Christmas Oath .....

1.   I will not wait till the week of Christmas to START filling out Christmas cards.

2.  I will not wait till it's so close to Christmas that I'm fighting a parent  for the LAST toy at the store my kid wants.

3.  I will get the kids to write a letter to Santa early enough to get a response BEFORE Christmas.

4. I will get the kids Christmas photo done BEFORE Christmas so I can use them for the Christmas card.

5. I will not wait till the week of Christmas to START decorating the house.

6. I will buy extra batteries BEFORE Christmas so I'm not taking out batteries out of remotes for toys

7. I will HIDE some sweets and treats from my boys so I actually have something when I have visitors

8. I will not gain 10lb this holiday season

9. I will write a  thoughtful list of what to buy early so I don't end up getting EVERYONE gift card on Christmas eve

10. I will not wrap ANY gifts on Christmas Eve

Wordless Wednesday

OUR HALLOWEEN FAMILY PHOTO '09

THE SUPER BROS.