When I lived in Utah I didn't even want to THINK about spawn/kids/children/offspring. Now that I'm gone and don't feel the need to REBEL anymore, I want one.
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Saturday, September 20, 2014
The Homemaker in Me
I think I've figured out why I don't like cooking... you eat it and it's gone. There's no lasting enjoyment or opportunity to "show off" as in other homemaking projects. My husband thinks it's strange that I take pictures of everything I cook. I've been really good lately about making stuff... It's still been ingredients all conveniently placed in a box, but a couple of weeks ago I made this chicken Alfredo stuff and I had to cook the chicken on the frying pan and cut it and everything! Yes, I took a picture...I accidentally deleted it though and I'm really mad!
Anyway, like I was saying, I like some other homemaking projects like sewing for instance. I never thought I'd want to sew but after seeing a lack in cute matching collars and leashes for my boy dog I decided to learn how to make him some! Now I have my own small business making collars for a shop in Utah as well as lots of people here in Austin!
Lately I've noticed some of my friends dress up their cute little girls in the most ADORABLE hair bows!! I MUST learn how to make them! Anyone know how? I can't imagine it being very difficult. It almost seems like a matter of gluing.
I'm hoping if I start soon I can have a different color/design for every day of my darling little girl's infant/baby/toddler life!... And hopefully even have some for shower presents along the way.
I've told myself I WILL NOT buy things for a baby I'm not pregnant with... But I never said I wouldn't MAKE something *evil smirk*
Anyway, like I was saying, I like some other homemaking projects like sewing for instance. I never thought I'd want to sew but after seeing a lack in cute matching collars and leashes for my boy dog I decided to learn how to make him some! Now I have my own small business making collars for a shop in Utah as well as lots of people here in Austin!
Lately I've noticed some of my friends dress up their cute little girls in the most ADORABLE hair bows!! I MUST learn how to make them! Anyone know how? I can't imagine it being very difficult. It almost seems like a matter of gluing.
I'm hoping if I start soon I can have a different color/design for every day of my darling little girl's infant/baby/toddler life!... And hopefully even have some for shower presents along the way.
I've told myself I WILL NOT buy things for a baby I'm not pregnant with... But I never said I wouldn't MAKE something *evil smirk*
Saturday, September 6, 2014
The Talk
After my last post I really started to think... A lot. And the more I thought about it the more I talked about it, and the more I talked about it the more emotional I got. I'm not sure if my hormones are going haywire or if it's just me but my mind has shifted from thinking about "the urge" to thinking more seriously about the whole baby makin' thing. I'm looking more seriously at my baby bucket list thing now too because the time line which I pictured myself being able to complete it is quickly shrinking. That's right... You're eyes aren't betraying you, I think I really will need to start looking for one of those time lines with sperm swimming towards an egg. No, I'm not kidding if you find one let me know, I want it... Because I may be exchanging my remanding 2 years of birth control for something a little less effective. I'm not going to say when in case I change my mind tomorrow. But if I find that widget I keep talking about maybe I will. *smile* Ok, maybe not.
But I am excited, because now I feel like I have a date... A plan, and this whole parenting this is starting to feel less like an "us vs them" thing to me, and more like a reality. One thing that was left in the comments section that really struck me was "I think it's one of those things of when you're ready, you'll know," The Blond Duck said. "Kinda of like getting married. You want to be as sure as you were walking down the aisle."
That really struck home with me. Never have I been so sure about something in my life more than I'm sure of marrying my husband. I know there's a difference between being nervous and scared, and being unsure. I'm not feeling unsure, not this time--But that is scary.
Hmm, the more I think about it the more I think I may not tell you when it's baby makin' time because then there's no surprise! I like surprises! Plus, I think if I talk about it too much I'll either 1. Not be able to get pregnant for like 6 six years or 2. It will be LAME when I do, because it'll just be like "Finally... You've been talking about it forever!"
I will tell you it's not like tomorrow or anything... And if things don't take right away we'll be cool with that too. And hopefully I won't change my mind tomorrow.
Hmm, what do you think? Did you share your baby makin' timeline?
Oh, but I have to tell you a funny story but warning: it could be TMI.
When we were having this "Talk" hubby said "Well, we're going to have to start doing it more cause at this rate it would take us about eight years."
But I am excited, because now I feel like I have a date... A plan, and this whole parenting this is starting to feel less like an "us vs them" thing to me, and more like a reality. One thing that was left in the comments section that really struck me was "I think it's one of those things of when you're ready, you'll know," The Blond Duck said. "Kinda of like getting married. You want to be as sure as you were walking down the aisle."
That really struck home with me. Never have I been so sure about something in my life more than I'm sure of marrying my husband. I know there's a difference between being nervous and scared, and being unsure. I'm not feeling unsure, not this time--But that is scary.
Hmm, the more I think about it the more I think I may not tell you when it's baby makin' time because then there's no surprise! I like surprises! Plus, I think if I talk about it too much I'll either 1. Not be able to get pregnant for like 6 six years or 2. It will be LAME when I do, because it'll just be like "Finally... You've been talking about it forever!"
I will tell you it's not like tomorrow or anything... And if things don't take right away we'll be cool with that too. And hopefully I won't change my mind tomorrow.
Hmm, what do you think? Did you share your baby makin' timeline?
Oh, but I have to tell you a funny story but warning: it could be TMI.
When we were having this "Talk" hubby said "Well, we're going to have to start doing it more cause at this rate it would take us about eight years."
Monday, September 1, 2014
The Rituals--For Gender Selection
A little while ago I posted about the best season to have a baby. Seems like people HATE being majorly pregnant in the summer months... But the upside is swimming. I am cold all the time so I feel like I'd like being pregnant in the wintertime and having a spring baby... So when does that mean I'll have to get knocked up? (Counting backwards on my fingers)... I think that means June or so... Around there. I know I want to try NOT to have a baby towards the end of the year cause like some people pointed out... Having a birthday near Christmas isn't so fun. Plus, my birthday is in January and Hubby's is in November... Our anniversary is in December, there's just too much going on that time of year. June seems sooo far though! And what if it doesn't work right, right away? Ugh! Decisions decisions.Kayce also gave me a great website that seems to have a 77% accuracy rating for gender prediction. I looked it up and mapped out when my mom had all of us four girls... The system was correct! Same for some of my friends and their moms... So according to this calender if I conceive in June, August, or December I should have a girl (which is my first choice). June would be perfect cause then I should have her in April... Perfect, no? Spring baby!!
My friend also looked up some other stuff you can do to try to have a girl: Avoid salty foods, eat lots of dairy, mineral water and certain vegetables... Oh and my favorite: Put a wooden spoon under my bed and a pink ribbon under my pillow. Worth a try right?
Of course I don't mind what I have... We'll have more than one but it would be fun to try to choose before and see if that's what I end up with. Hubby wants a boy first so one of us will be happy. I know I'll be fine and happy either way though with a healthy happy baby. I wouldn't mind a mommy's boy.
Did you try any crazy techniques to choose the gender?
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
The Way to Break the News
NO I'm not pregnant, I'm just getting prepared for that day which may come soon or one day far far from now I have no clue! Hey, that's what this blog is all about!
I know I threw out the topic before in this post of sharing baby makin' time (or TTC for some of you). It seemed like a lot of you didn't. I don't think I will either... It takes away the surprise you know? (But still... No, I'm not). But when the deed is done and you're with-spawn, when did you share the news?
I hear 3 months is the general guideline, just in case there's a loss. I can understand that, but at the same time that's 3 months excitement out the door!
I guess it depends how open I am to disclosing the ups and downs of my pregnancy. I know people who told everyone (announcing on Facebook) the moment they found out!! I think I'll be somewhere in between. I want to keep it secret for as long as I can so we'd have time to soak it in. Then leak the news to parents and best friends, then maybe once I begin to get phat (yes I spelled it that way on purpose) I'll tell people I work with. Oh, and I don't think I'll be able to help but leak the news here on my blog right away either--Well, after family is informed... It's my diary for goodness sakes, I can't help it if people read it! (If you work with me you'll be sworn to secrecy) Hmm, what would you do if you were me? And what did you do?
Ok and next important matter to discuss... HOW
to tell. I've always thought it would be cute to think of a cute way to tell my husband and our parents but I know if I don't think of it WAY in advance I'll just blurt it out... Which is ok too but I think it would be fun to do something cute.
I'm not sure if he'll be the type to count down to the test date and want to know right away... I imagine he'll forget and I'll be the one alone with my count downs and tests, which is a better set up for a surprise. And what better way to share such exciting news than with a surprise?!
I've heard a few cute things like setting little shoes next to his shoes on the side of the bed. Leaving the test out for him to find. Michelle wrote a whole post with cute ideas!
I already know how I want to tell our parents! I'm not sure if they read my blog... Pretty sure they don't for the most part so I'll share ok?(and if you are reading don't peek!)-- I want to have a normal phone conversation with them, then when we're hanging up say "bye grandma" and hang up, and see how long it takes for them to call back. I dunno, it's an idea I heard of awhile ago and I thought it would be cute.
But other than that I have no idea where to start for ideas, and I'm kind of scared to even research any right now cause I may get too giddy and I don't need giddy right now... I need serious, level headed! So help me out! What did you do? Or what do you plan to do? What's the cutest idea you've heard?! Let's stock up!!
I also have not one or two but THREE more giveaways coming up! So stay tuned!! And if you have something you're interested in sponsoring here for a giveaway email me at babymakingmachine@gmail.com
I know I threw out the topic before in this post of sharing baby makin' time (or TTC for some of you). It seemed like a lot of you didn't. I don't think I will either... It takes away the surprise you know? (But still... No, I'm not). But when the deed is done and you're with-spawn, when did you share the news?I hear 3 months is the general guideline, just in case there's a loss. I can understand that, but at the same time that's 3 months excitement out the door!
I guess it depends how open I am to disclosing the ups and downs of my pregnancy. I know people who told everyone (announcing on Facebook) the moment they found out!! I think I'll be somewhere in between. I want to keep it secret for as long as I can so we'd have time to soak it in. Then leak the news to parents and best friends, then maybe once I begin to get phat (yes I spelled it that way on purpose) I'll tell people I work with. Oh, and I don't think I'll be able to help but leak the news here on my blog right away either--Well, after family is informed... It's my diary for goodness sakes, I can't help it if people read it! (If you work with me you'll be sworn to secrecy) Hmm, what would you do if you were me? And what did you do?
Ok and next important matter to discuss... HOW
to tell. I've always thought it would be cute to think of a cute way to tell my husband and our parents but I know if I don't think of it WAY in advance I'll just blurt it out... Which is ok too but I think it would be fun to do something cute.I'm not sure if he'll be the type to count down to the test date and want to know right away... I imagine he'll forget and I'll be the one alone with my count downs and tests, which is a better set up for a surprise. And what better way to share such exciting news than with a surprise?!
I've heard a few cute things like setting little shoes next to his shoes on the side of the bed. Leaving the test out for him to find. Michelle wrote a whole post with cute ideas!
I already know how I want to tell our parents! I'm not sure if they read my blog... Pretty sure they don't for the most part so I'll share ok?(and if you are reading don't peek!)-- I want to have a normal phone conversation with them, then when we're hanging up say "bye grandma" and hang up, and see how long it takes for them to call back. I dunno, it's an idea I heard of awhile ago and I thought it would be cute.
But other than that I have no idea where to start for ideas, and I'm kind of scared to even research any right now cause I may get too giddy and I don't need giddy right now... I need serious, level headed! So help me out! What did you do? Or what do you plan to do? What's the cutest idea you've heard?! Let's stock up!!
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And the winner of the Cloth Diaper Giveaway brought to you by DiaperKits.com is Lucky number Carrie of Make it Count! Woohoo! Get me your information! I also have not one or two but THREE more giveaways coming up! So stay tuned!! And if you have something you're interested in sponsoring here for a giveaway email me at babymakingmachine@gmail.com
Sunday, August 17, 2014
The 400th Follower Giveaway DISCOUNTS!
Miss the other parts of my 400th follower giveaway this week?
These are still going on!
Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5
Ok my friends. My 400th follower giveaway posts are coming to an end. I hope you don't mind but after this one I'm going back to my normal scheme of posting :) I'll still have a giveaway or two now and then but it probably won't be this size again for a while. We'll see! Did you like it?! I hope so! And new readers... I hope you'll stick around.These are still going on!
Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5
But guess what?! This giveaway has been such a hit some sponsors want to offer you even more chances to win! If you didn't win an actual prize (YET--Cause remember, there's still time on 4 other of my giveaways), it's ok cause you can still get something from these shops and get a discount!
Janiexy (remember, she make the cute plushy animals!) is offering a 20% discount to my readers if they mention "Baby Makin Machine" in their note to seller from July 11-July 30.
Suzie's Armoire (who has the beautiful bookmarks) is giving a 15% discount to anyone that orders and puts BABY in the note to seller--She'll refund through PayPal
Sweetirie (who has the cute wrist key chains) is giving my readers a 10% off coupon, which never expires. Use code SAVE10 at checkout to receive discount; it will be automatically deducted from your total!
Meghan Designs (who sponsored the adorable checkbook cover and business card holder) Says my reads will receive 10% off EVERYTHING in shop when you type "BMM10%" in the message to seller box at checkout. (10% refund after purchase through paypal)
Glow Baby (who sponsored the key to staying organized-Baby's First Journal) is also giving a discount to my readers 15% off until the end of July! Just use the discount code BabyMakinMachin.
ModMomMe (who has the cute diaper bag/ dog bag key chains) is offering FREE SHIPPING until 8PM ETS tonight!
A big thank you to ALL of the sponsors! And congrats to the winners... Giveaway Day 1 ends Monday, Day 2 ends Tuesday Day 3 ends Wednesday and Day 5 ends Friday.. So there's still more time to enter those and WIN if you're just stopping by!
I know there are probably a couple more discounts I'm missing so I'll add those as I get them!
The Results!- More Giveaway Winners
I've been thinking of ways to keep myself occupied while I'm waiting for my September "baby makin'" goal to roll around, and I'm feeling a blog transformation coming on. Nothing too serious, but I think it will help.
You have no idea how many things I've been reading about fertility and getting ready to make a baby. I've also been getting quite a few products to help the process along, and I'm going to try to do a really good job of reviewing them so YOU know about it too! I figure this is where I am... I'm not a mommy blogger, I don't have a baby to try baby stuff with, and I'm not a mother, so I can't really try all that cool mommy stuff out there yet. At first it was a little frustrating and sometimes seemed lonely, but the more I'm online the more I realize I'm NOT alone, and there are a lot of people feeling how I'm feeling and asking the same questions I am. SO... I'm going to try to do a better job of reviewing things I'm trying. Don't worry... I'll be giving some stuff away to you to try too when I can!
I hope this will be fun. Don't worry... Not every post will be a review. That's not me. But every now and then I'll tell you about something I'm trying and why it could be helpful for you. Sound good? What do you think? Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of review blogs, but I think trying these things has become a part of who I am and I'm hoping it'll all flow naturally.
Anyway, on to other stuff... "Mothers Who Work" did an article about me. It was a fun interview, and I'm happy with the way it turned out. Some of you here have asked me what baby names I have picked out, and while I've posted an old list on here, the final girl name I leaked in that article! Let me know what you think of it!
You have no idea how many things I've been reading about fertility and getting ready to make a baby. I've also been getting quite a few products to help the process along, and I'm going to try to do a really good job of reviewing them so YOU know about it too! I figure this is where I am... I'm not a mommy blogger, I don't have a baby to try baby stuff with, and I'm not a mother, so I can't really try all that cool mommy stuff out there yet. At first it was a little frustrating and sometimes seemed lonely, but the more I'm online the more I realize I'm NOT alone, and there are a lot of people feeling how I'm feeling and asking the same questions I am. SO... I'm going to try to do a better job of reviewing things I'm trying. Don't worry... I'll be giving some stuff away to you to try too when I can!
I hope this will be fun. Don't worry... Not every post will be a review. That's not me. But every now and then I'll tell you about something I'm trying and why it could be helpful for you. Sound good? What do you think? Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of review blogs, but I think trying these things has become a part of who I am and I'm hoping it'll all flow naturally.
Anyway, on to other stuff... "Mothers Who Work" did an article about me. It was a fun interview, and I'm happy with the way it turned out. Some of you here have asked me what baby names I have picked out, and while I've posted an old list on here, the final girl name I leaked in that article! Let me know what you think of it!
I also am done playing Oprah for now. I know you're probably DYING to know who won right? Well here are some more winners, including the first set of LIVE giveaway winners, and I'll add the rest here as the other dates end. Winners, get me your info. Without further adieu here are the winners according to Random.org:
Baby's First Journal, the all encompassing journal to keep track of your baby's schedule by Glow Baby goes to TWO winners: #76 Joanna and #60 Ashley (I read you're having Twins, so I guess you'll have to pick your favorite to use this on ;o) )But remember, everyone wins on this one.. Glow Baby is giving a discount to my readers 15% off until the end of July! Just use the discount code "BabyMakinMachin".
The year subscription to JustAskBaby, a place to get a baby's point-of-view and learn more about the way your baby things, as well as create your own baby profile for your family and friends to stay up to date on your baby's progress. Winner: #25 Dyar Baby Momma and remember, you can get a free 15-day trial on their site too!
Winning the adorable bows for little girls from Georgia Blue is: #12 Little Nut Tree
Next is the winner of an adorable baby bandana bib from Hippo Baby... Oh I make cute bandanas for Snoop but these for kids... I can't get enough! #67 Danielle
I'm not sure what's up with all of these low numbers but the next winner for a cute giraffe rattle from Bundled Etsy is #40 Randi!
Not that I don't love my commenters who were on the ball from the start but I'm happy to say the final winner of part 2 of my giveaway, winning some breast milk enhancing cookies from Harderlime's Etsy Shop is: #222 Milftobe (love your name by the way).
And already on to Day 3 of the giveaway...
Winner of the beautiful custom necklace from Garden Goddess Mosaics: #188 CandG-Jill~W.
I'm jealous of this winner cause I REALLY need a business card holder for BlogHer, but winning not only that but also a checkbook cover from Meghan's Designs: #11 Peterson Family!
Winning the BEAUTIFUL customizable photobook from Iris and Lily (can I steal it from you please?): Liz-Loving Mom of 2 Boys
The cute yoga mat case from Chella Bella Designs (which I also REALLY want to steal) sadly (for me) goes to: #157 Amy Lynn which is funny because she mentioned in that comment that that's what she wanted! Congrats!
It's not over yet... JK Vinyl Designs (which by the way was SO nice to send me a vinyl displace for my home, I'll show you pics once I get it up) is giving away the choice vinyl display to: #17 Emmy (and her cute little family!).
NEW-- PART 5 WINNERS:
#2 Courtney aka Mommy of Many wins the childrens games from Second Story Window.
Ok that's all the winners up until now.
#10 Kimberly and Clay win a beautiful swaddle wrap from Loving Baby Inc. I know Kim IRL so I'm so happy she won something too! Woohoo!
#113 Goldibug wins the beautiful mentrual beads from Doulahara's Shop.
#97 Slee won the teether from Discovery Toys... And good thing cause she said she already can see the teeth marks of where her snapdragon's bites would be!
And finally, I forgot one of the winner's from Part 3. The winner of the beautiful custom necklace from Garden Goddess Mosaics is #178 Steven and Wendy! --And they're having a baby, woohoo!
If you KNOW you won a prize in my LIVE giveaway let me know so I can pair you up with the sponsor, email your information to babymakingmachine{at}gmail{dot}com. It'll make it easier for me, cause I'm pretty sure you know if you won. I'm trying to get around to all of the winners so I can get your prizes out but I'm hosing a baby shower TOMORROW and am a little frazzled, so if I don't get to you right away I will this weekend. I'll give you a couple of weeks to get me your address before I pass it on to another winner.
I'm done playing Oprah but Danielle isn't. Check out her giveaway here.
Friday, August 15, 2014
The Wish List: My Push Present Request
I know I told you about Push Presents before... Some of my friends have heard of it and others had no clue what I was talking about. See...that's the fun thing about researching all of this stuff beforehand... I am trying to milk this pregnancy/motherhood thing for all that it's worth!
Of course, the baby is the ultimate present from the whole process, and that's what I REALLY want, but hey--It doesn't hurt to get an extra little somethin' somethin' on the side too right?
In my previous post I pictured some nice princess-cut diamond earrings I could just picture dazzling from my lobes. But after much thought and consideration I looked at the bigger picture... Literally. This is what I want:
It's a Digital Canon Rebel XS, an SLR camera. And I want one soooo bad! I know a few friends who have them and I've seen the BEAUTIFUL pictures they take! I can already imagine the art I could make taking pictures of Snoop, and our future kids. I could use it to document photos all throughout my pregnancy!!
But yea, that's the problem... I want it NOW. Not once the baby is born... Kind of like a rain check... An "IOU a baby" if you will.
They retail for about $600 but I've seen them on Amazon for $450. I've also seen them on Craigslist for $400 but hubby's not having that... He would rather me buy it new with a warranty and whatnot. So now here I am brainstorming ways I can "save" extra money to get one. Let's see... There's blood plasma, I could always sell more of my dog collars, and maybe I can sell ad space on this blog or something... I dunno. I also still want to have a mini gettaway the first of September and I have a feeling I'm going to have to choose between the two! ... Or that all of this spending will make him think "Let's wait a few more months," which... Um, isn't worth it to me. Sooooo... What would you do? Decisions, decisions! Ok... Now I know I'm really sounding childish.
But I can't be alone right? Is there something you really really want NOW?! Do you have a nice camera like this? Are they worth it? Tips on where to buy one?
Of course, the baby is the ultimate present from the whole process, and that's what I REALLY want, but hey--It doesn't hurt to get an extra little somethin' somethin' on the side too right?
In my previous post I pictured some nice princess-cut diamond earrings I could just picture dazzling from my lobes. But after much thought and consideration I looked at the bigger picture... Literally. This is what I want:
It's a Digital Canon Rebel XS, an SLR camera. And I want one soooo bad! I know a few friends who have them and I've seen the BEAUTIFUL pictures they take! I can already imagine the art I could make taking pictures of Snoop, and our future kids. I could use it to document photos all throughout my pregnancy!!But yea, that's the problem... I want it NOW. Not once the baby is born... Kind of like a rain check... An "IOU a baby" if you will.
They retail for about $600 but I've seen them on Amazon for $450. I've also seen them on Craigslist for $400 but hubby's not having that... He would rather me buy it new with a warranty and whatnot. So now here I am brainstorming ways I can "save" extra money to get one. Let's see... There's blood plasma, I could always sell more of my dog collars, and maybe I can sell ad space on this blog or something... I dunno. I also still want to have a mini gettaway the first of September and I have a feeling I'm going to have to choose between the two! ... Or that all of this spending will make him think "Let's wait a few more months," which... Um, isn't worth it to me. Sooooo... What would you do? Decisions, decisions! Ok... Now I know I'm really sounding childish.
But I can't be alone right? Is there something you really really want NOW?! Do you have a nice camera like this? Are they worth it? Tips on where to buy one?
Saturday, July 26, 2014
A Horrible Morning Brightened by a Flicker
Miss my good news? Read it here.
I woke up excited, anxious. It was the day of my first doctor's appointment... The day I'd find out if there is really a baby in my stomach, or if all of these symptoms are just a hoax.
I'd been praying that I'd get to hear the heartbeat. I called the doctors office a week before to see what we would be doing exactly so I'd know whether or not to bring my husband along. They told me they wouldn't do an ultrasound but that they'd check for a heartbeat. --How?
I wasn't sure but my friends told me they'd probably use a doppler to listen for it... But also warned it's hard to hear early, and not to worry if I couldn't hear it this time.
I got ready for work and finalized plans to meet my husband at the doctor's office in a few hours before heading out the door. Just as I was leaving I noticed I had a text message on my phone. ... A warning from someone I work with, saying that she wasn't the only person at work who reads my blog.
'Great' I thought to myself. Maybe only one or two people read it but that can easily turn into 10 or 20 once words spreads that a "juicy post" is up. I know there are some people who love to gossip but I didn't know the extent to which the news had traveled. A few moments later I received a text message from another friend... Asking about the story I was working on for the day, but also making a point to call me "a blogger" in the message.
The good news is I was warned. I knew it would only take a person or two for it to suddenly spread and turn into my entire company... But I wasn't prepared for the reactions.
Instead of feeling congratulated, I felt investigated. Instead of feeling excitement and anticipation from my colleagues, I'm left feeling like I'm 16 and pregnant. ... Not like the happily married woman I am who was planning to have a baby.
I knew announcing my pregnancy on my blog could mean that it would get out to people I work with sooner than I planned to tell people, but I didn't imagine people gossiping about it... Giggling about it, then interrogating me about my "secret pregnancy" as if they've cracked some Top Secret... As if I'm some immature teenager who didn't know to use a condom.
I wasn't upset about people "finding out" I was upset about the reaction. I thought people would be... Or at least seem happy for me... Even if they had read the news on my blog, or had been told from a someone else who did. I wasn't trying to hide it, if I was I wouldn't have published it, but I published it thinking the responses (if any) would be maybe something more like "congratulations."
I felt like I was in high school again... And I couldn't help but let the hormones take over and cry like a child myself. I was hurt.
The day didn't get any better in the couple of hours before my appointment. Technical problems followed by more pregnancy questions I didn't know all of the answers to myself, and looks that screamed "so and so told me about you." And then I prayed.
Now that the entire world knows I'm pregnant, I prayed to actually be pregnant. I didn't know for sure... I mean, according to several home pregnancy tests and my late friend I knew I should be, but I wasn't convinced there was a living being in there. I prayed that I am still and that I will continue to be pregnant for nine healthy months. I prayed I'd hear my baby's heart at the appointment to calm my fears and brighten my day.
I met my husband at the doctor's office and he was a trooper... Even though he was the only man in there for awhile, and unsure if he was really supposed to be there.
The nurse called us back and gave me a few more forms to fill out.
"This one just confirms that we won't tell anyone about your medical records... You don't have to worry about us telling the Newspaper or anything," she added.
'Yea, well the News already knows.' I thought to myself.
They took my weight, height, blood and blood pressure. Then the nurse told me she'd hook up the ultrasound machine for my doctor.
I was thrilled. I knew I probably wouldn't be able to hear a heartbeat yet, but that I'd be able to see it if we looked for it.
I tried not to get my hopes up... Thinking maybe she had forgotten how far along I was and was mistaken about the ultrasound. I kept a silent prayer as I met my doctor for the first time.
She was wonderful! Friendly, funny, and easy to talk to. Not in a rush at all. I felt welcomed and like she was a friend right away. She congratulated us on our first baby... It resonated well... Made me smile. Made me feel myself again.
But it wasn't until she turned the machine on and told us what we were looking for that my hopes began to soar. She saw the sac that my baby was in and a moment later our baby. Just a small dot right now... But a baby alright. And then a movement caught my eye. The movement I'd been praying for.
I saw the flicker of my baby's heartbeat... And that's when and all of my embarrassment, fears and frustrations with work went away. That small flicker melted my heart.
I didn't cry... I thought I might, but I kept myself from tearing so I wouldn't miss any of the flickers. I sent all of the negative energy away and collected every ounce of happiness, gratification and love and sent it to my baby.
... My baby who even now... No bigger an orange seed, already knows how to brighten mommy's day.
I woke up excited, anxious. It was the day of my first doctor's appointment... The day I'd find out if there is really a baby in my stomach, or if all of these symptoms are just a hoax.
I'd been praying that I'd get to hear the heartbeat. I called the doctors office a week before to see what we would be doing exactly so I'd know whether or not to bring my husband along. They told me they wouldn't do an ultrasound but that they'd check for a heartbeat. --How?
I wasn't sure but my friends told me they'd probably use a doppler to listen for it... But also warned it's hard to hear early, and not to worry if I couldn't hear it this time.
I got ready for work and finalized plans to meet my husband at the doctor's office in a few hours before heading out the door. Just as I was leaving I noticed I had a text message on my phone. ... A warning from someone I work with, saying that she wasn't the only person at work who reads my blog.
'Great' I thought to myself. Maybe only one or two people read it but that can easily turn into 10 or 20 once words spreads that a "juicy post" is up. I know there are some people who love to gossip but I didn't know the extent to which the news had traveled. A few moments later I received a text message from another friend... Asking about the story I was working on for the day, but also making a point to call me "a blogger" in the message.
The good news is I was warned. I knew it would only take a person or two for it to suddenly spread and turn into my entire company... But I wasn't prepared for the reactions.
Instead of feeling congratulated, I felt investigated. Instead of feeling excitement and anticipation from my colleagues, I'm left feeling like I'm 16 and pregnant. ... Not like the happily married woman I am who was planning to have a baby.
I knew announcing my pregnancy on my blog could mean that it would get out to people I work with sooner than I planned to tell people, but I didn't imagine people gossiping about it... Giggling about it, then interrogating me about my "secret pregnancy" as if they've cracked some Top Secret... As if I'm some immature teenager who didn't know to use a condom.
I wasn't upset about people "finding out" I was upset about the reaction. I thought people would be... Or at least seem happy for me... Even if they had read the news on my blog, or had been told from a someone else who did. I wasn't trying to hide it, if I was I wouldn't have published it, but I published it thinking the responses (if any) would be maybe something more like "congratulations."
I felt like I was in high school again... And I couldn't help but let the hormones take over and cry like a child myself. I was hurt.
The day didn't get any better in the couple of hours before my appointment. Technical problems followed by more pregnancy questions I didn't know all of the answers to myself, and looks that screamed "so and so told me about you." And then I prayed.
Now that the entire world knows I'm pregnant, I prayed to actually be pregnant. I didn't know for sure... I mean, according to several home pregnancy tests and my late friend I knew I should be, but I wasn't convinced there was a living being in there. I prayed that I am still and that I will continue to be pregnant for nine healthy months. I prayed I'd hear my baby's heart at the appointment to calm my fears and brighten my day.
I met my husband at the doctor's office and he was a trooper... Even though he was the only man in there for awhile, and unsure if he was really supposed to be there.
The nurse called us back and gave me a few more forms to fill out.
"This one just confirms that we won't tell anyone about your medical records... You don't have to worry about us telling the Newspaper or anything," she added.
'Yea, well the News already knows.' I thought to myself.
They took my weight, height, blood and blood pressure. Then the nurse told me she'd hook up the ultrasound machine for my doctor.
I was thrilled. I knew I probably wouldn't be able to hear a heartbeat yet, but that I'd be able to see it if we looked for it.
I tried not to get my hopes up... Thinking maybe she had forgotten how far along I was and was mistaken about the ultrasound. I kept a silent prayer as I met my doctor for the first time.
She was wonderful! Friendly, funny, and easy to talk to. Not in a rush at all. I felt welcomed and like she was a friend right away. She congratulated us on our first baby... It resonated well... Made me smile. Made me feel myself again.
But it wasn't until she turned the machine on and told us what we were looking for that my hopes began to soar. She saw the sac that my baby was in and a moment later our baby. Just a small dot right now... But a baby alright. And then a movement caught my eye. The movement I'd been praying for.
I saw the flicker of my baby's heartbeat... And that's when and all of my embarrassment, fears and frustrations with work went away. That small flicker melted my heart.
I didn't cry... I thought I might, but I kept myself from tearing so I wouldn't miss any of the flickers. I sent all of the negative energy away and collected every ounce of happiness, gratification and love and sent it to my baby.
... My baby who even now... No bigger an orange seed, already knows how to brighten mommy's day.
Friday, July 25, 2014
I Did Something for My Baby
Did you miss my pregnancy announcement? I'm now going back to the drafts I saved from before I told you.
5 Days past BFP Written 10/20 but saved for today
In order to make things feel more "real" I bought something for the little Spawn. Oh yea, did I mention that's its nickname? I know people have cute names like "sweet pea" "blueberry" I dunno... There's a lot. But one of the first things that came to mind after finding out I was pregnant was "I'm with-spawn."
I know it's kind of alienish, but it's also different, and my little nudge is gonna be different... In a good way of course!
So far I'm the only person who likes it but whatever... I can call it what I want and for now, it's Spawnie! And I think it's cute.
Ok anyway, I went to Babies R' Us today to buy something for my best friend, who is having her baby shower soon, and I bought the CUTEST stuff for her little boy. I also really wanted to buy something for my baby to make this pregnancy feel more real.
I browsed the onesies and couldn't find anything gender-neutral and cute enough. Just when I was giving up (because my impatient husband was ready to go) I saw the cutest thing that I KNOW my baby will look cute in. Boy or girl!
A cute little hat with ears and booties to match. I know Spawnie is due in June 25th but the hat is for 0-6 months, and they can wear hats in the summertime right? If not, by 6 months it'll be perfect for winter! And to be TOTALLY honest... This is the FIRST thing I've EVER bought for my baby! Yep... I promised myself I wouldn't buy anything for a baby I wasn't pregnant with first. But now... I can shop 'till my heart's content (or until I give my husband a heart attack)!
I think I've found a way to cure my fears about something bad happening during pregnancy... Shopping!!
5 Days past BFP Written 10/20 but saved for today
In order to make things feel more "real" I bought something for the little Spawn. Oh yea, did I mention that's its nickname? I know people have cute names like "sweet pea" "blueberry" I dunno... There's a lot. But one of the first things that came to mind after finding out I was pregnant was "I'm with-spawn."
I know it's kind of alienish, but it's also different, and my little nudge is gonna be different... In a good way of course!
So far I'm the only person who likes it but whatever... I can call it what I want and for now, it's Spawnie! And I think it's cute.
Ok anyway, I went to Babies R' Us today to buy something for my best friend, who is having her baby shower soon, and I bought the CUTEST stuff for her little boy. I also really wanted to buy something for my baby to make this pregnancy feel more real.
I browsed the onesies and couldn't find anything gender-neutral and cute enough. Just when I was giving up (because my impatient husband was ready to go) I saw the cutest thing that I KNOW my baby will look cute in. Boy or girl!
A cute little hat with ears and booties to match. I know Spawnie is due in June 25th but the hat is for 0-6 months, and they can wear hats in the summertime right? If not, by 6 months it'll be perfect for winter! And to be TOTALLY honest... This is the FIRST thing I've EVER bought for my baby! Yep... I promised myself I wouldn't buy anything for a baby I wasn't pregnant with first. But now... I can shop 'till my heart's content (or until I give my husband a heart attack)!I think I've found a way to cure my fears about something bad happening during pregnancy... Shopping!!
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Blog makeover winner according to Random.org: Winner #40 ~Mendie~ . Please email babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com so I can get you in touch with Danielle!Friday, May 30, 2014
10 Things I'll do differently next time around
I often think about what I'll do differently with my next pregnancy/birth/child. Pregnancy was SO FUN. I really enjoyed it. Every bit, right down to my cankles. In fact, I was a little obsessed with my cankles. Still am.
I don't have any regrets, but there are some things I didn't do with Lil' J that I want to try next time. You know, new experiments to do with my next victim. So without further adieu, here's my growing list of "next time arounds."
1. Not tell anyone I'm pregnant until I'm extremely fat. Not even my husband (kidding... sorta). Actually, it would be cool if I didn't even know until I was really fat.
2. I'll get a 3D/4D Ultrasound. It's one thing I didn't do with Lil' J that I wish I had.
3. Whatever my due date is, I'm adding a week to it from the start and calling that my due date. I know no baby of mine is going to be early, so I might as well expect it to be at least a week late. That way when I'm a week late (really two weeks) it won't be so stressful.
4. I won't find out the gender. I'm still not sure I'm brave enough to follow through with this. Maybe with baby #3. But I figure baby #2 doesn't matter if it's a girl or boy cause I'll be happy for Lil' J to have a sister close in age, but I'll also be just as happy to have one of each out of the way. If I have two girls I'll be dying to know if #3 is a boy. So it's the perfect opportunity for a surprise baby.
5. Buy cute maternity clothes. I was so excited I didn't need special maternity clothes, but I sorta wish I had. I think getting a few comfy maternity jeans and shirts can be something I have to look forward to with baby #2.
6. Take more bare belly photos. I only have a few from my maternity shoot with Tara and I wasn't even that big. I want to take a photo on the way to the hospital with skin and all.
7. Give birth in water. This isn't mandatory but I think it could be cool. Unless of course I get induced again. If that's the case I want an epidural right away. Which leads us to #8...
8. I'm getting the epidural ASAP. I waited as long as I could before, which was cool. My water broke and I was 5 centimeters dilated, but next time, just give me the drugs when I get there.
9. Give him/her a binky right away. It doesn't have to be habit-forming, but I'd like the kid to like them. Maybe he/she would have more of a chance if I actually gave him/her one from the start. No milk is coming out of the binky and I have yet to meet a baby who prefers a non-food producing binky over eating.
10. Move him/her to their own bed sooner. Like maybe even right away. Ok, maybe not that soon, but I'm not going to wait 5 months next time.
I think of more of these things daily, but I imagine I'll forget most of them by the time it's time for #2.
I don't have any regrets, but there are some things I didn't do with Lil' J that I want to try next time. You know, new experiments to do with my next victim. So without further adieu, here's my growing list of "next time arounds."
1. Not tell anyone I'm pregnant until I'm extremely fat. Not even my husband (kidding... sorta). Actually, it would be cool if I didn't even know until I was really fat.
2. I'll get a 3D/4D Ultrasound. It's one thing I didn't do with Lil' J that I wish I had.
3. Whatever my due date is, I'm adding a week to it from the start and calling that my due date. I know no baby of mine is going to be early, so I might as well expect it to be at least a week late. That way when I'm a week late (really two weeks) it won't be so stressful.
4. I won't find out the gender. I'm still not sure I'm brave enough to follow through with this. Maybe with baby #3. But I figure baby #2 doesn't matter if it's a girl or boy cause I'll be happy for Lil' J to have a sister close in age, but I'll also be just as happy to have one of each out of the way. If I have two girls I'll be dying to know if #3 is a boy. So it's the perfect opportunity for a surprise baby.
5. Buy cute maternity clothes. I was so excited I didn't need special maternity clothes, but I sorta wish I had. I think getting a few comfy maternity jeans and shirts can be something I have to look forward to with baby #2.
6. Take more bare belly photos. I only have a few from my maternity shoot with Tara and I wasn't even that big. I want to take a photo on the way to the hospital with skin and all.
7. Give birth in water. This isn't mandatory but I think it could be cool. Unless of course I get induced again. If that's the case I want an epidural right away. Which leads us to #8...
8. I'm getting the epidural ASAP. I waited as long as I could before, which was cool. My water broke and I was 5 centimeters dilated, but next time, just give me the drugs when I get there.
9. Give him/her a binky right away. It doesn't have to be habit-forming, but I'd like the kid to like them. Maybe he/she would have more of a chance if I actually gave him/her one from the start. No milk is coming out of the binky and I have yet to meet a baby who prefers a non-food producing binky over eating.
10. Move him/her to their own bed sooner. Like maybe even right away. Ok, maybe not that soon, but I'm not going to wait 5 months next time.
I think of more of these things daily, but I imagine I'll forget most of them by the time it's time for #2.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Cloth Diapers are Friggin' Hilarious
I was getting Lil' J dressed for bed after a bath, and stuffing one of her Fuzzibunz pocket diapers. We have a handful of those for night time.
As I pushed a cloth insert through the middle of the diaper I heard her giggle. I looked down at her smiling but I didn't know what was so funny. I continued stuffing the diaper with a second cloth insert and realized what was making her laugh. My hand stuck inside the diaper made it look like it had a life of it's own and she apparently thought that was hilarious.
Now the diaper tickles her each night after her bath before bed... Well, on the nights mommy puts her to bed. It never fails to get her going. I recently captured it on video.
It's not possible for me to watch this and not laugh myself.
As I pushed a cloth insert through the middle of the diaper I heard her giggle. I looked down at her smiling but I didn't know what was so funny. I continued stuffing the diaper with a second cloth insert and realized what was making her laugh. My hand stuck inside the diaper made it look like it had a life of it's own and she apparently thought that was hilarious.
Now the diaper tickles her each night after her bath before bed... Well, on the nights mommy puts her to bed. It never fails to get her going. I recently captured it on video.
It's not possible for me to watch this and not laugh myself.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Timing
Do I wish I had waited longer to have my daughter?
What would it be like had I not had my her when I did? Would I be in grad school? Working another job? Creating a better nest egg for my future children? Sometimes I don't even feel like I'm worthy enough to be her mom. Like it was selfish of me to leap so soon.
On the other hand, I don't even hear the pitter patter of my first child's feet along our floors, and sometimes I find myself already longing for more.
Moments after my daughter was placed into my arms my mother asked me if I was ready to do it all over again. Would you believe that I said yes? Maybe I wasn't physically ready, but I've wanted more since I realized how awesome just one was. Instantly my life was filled with purpose. It was like I was seeing the world with a whole new set of eyes. Everything was different, enhanced, and better.
The downside of this joy is timing. When you plan to have a child, you don't know when you'll be blessed with one. Right away? Years away? Months away? I had a feeling it would take a very long time but I was wrong. And now I feel like I've started a domino effect. Having one child starts a sequence of events if you want your children close together.
When are you having another?
When is it normal to ask that question? I know my sincere response "whenever" is anything but normal for most people with infants, but I don't know how to answer.
I didn't wait until everything was perfect and in line with the first but shouldn't I at least do that with the second?
It's as though my blog has come full circle with debating the when and how to operating the baby making machine switch. But I plan to do something different this time around.--Not plan.
I enjoyed our pre-parent time as much as I could but so much of the last bit of it was spent asking myself over and over and over when we'd begin the next part of our journey. I was looking towards the future and the present was passing me by. I won't do that to my daughter.
My maternity leave was the only time in my life I'd have with one child. One newborn to glue my butt on the couch with and pig out while watching TLC. That experience passed by in the blink of an eye and now I miss it.
I won't look back on these days and regret wondering about a number two. I'm going to spoil my daughter with light and love like no other. Because this is her time to shine, to have my full love and attention. Her time to be my one and only.
Before I know it today will be last year, and so I'm focusing on the present.
What would it be like had I not had my her when I did? Would I be in grad school? Working another job? Creating a better nest egg for my future children? Sometimes I don't even feel like I'm worthy enough to be her mom. Like it was selfish of me to leap so soon.
On the other hand, I don't even hear the pitter patter of my first child's feet along our floors, and sometimes I find myself already longing for more.
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| Very Baby Leggings c/o Agoo get 70% off by using code "cleanup70" |
The downside of this joy is timing. When you plan to have a child, you don't know when you'll be blessed with one. Right away? Years away? Months away? I had a feeling it would take a very long time but I was wrong. And now I feel like I've started a domino effect. Having one child starts a sequence of events if you want your children close together.
When are you having another?
When is it normal to ask that question? I know my sincere response "whenever" is anything but normal for most people with infants, but I don't know how to answer.
I didn't wait until everything was perfect and in line with the first but shouldn't I at least do that with the second?
It's as though my blog has come full circle with debating the when and how to operating the baby making machine switch. But I plan to do something different this time around.--Not plan.
I enjoyed our pre-parent time as much as I could but so much of the last bit of it was spent asking myself over and over and over when we'd begin the next part of our journey. I was looking towards the future and the present was passing me by. I won't do that to my daughter.
My maternity leave was the only time in my life I'd have with one child. One newborn to glue my butt on the couch with and pig out while watching TLC. That experience passed by in the blink of an eye and now I miss it.
I won't look back on these days and regret wondering about a number two. I'm going to spoil my daughter with light and love like no other. Because this is her time to shine, to have my full love and attention. Her time to be my one and only.
Before I know it today will be last year, and so I'm focusing on the present.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Just keep swimming... And spinning... And dancing
My husband gets grumpy when he doesn't go to the gym. I get grumpy when I don't have my afternoon photo shoots with Lil' J. Because capturing moments like these wash all of my worries away in that instant.
It's been a busy and difficult week, but sitting down to look these over brought a me much-needed laugh.
I'm not sure how she learned how to move like this but she has the baby ballerina thing down.
I'm finishing editing my 365 love letters for the week. Hopefully this cuteness will hold you over.
It's been a busy and difficult week, but sitting down to look these over brought a me much-needed laugh.
I'm not sure how she learned how to move like this but she has the baby ballerina thing down.
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| Tutu, top and bow from Izzys Boutique |
I'm finishing editing my 365 love letters for the week. Hopefully this cuteness will hold you over.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
6 teeth down and 5 teething remedies
I’m happy to report we are long past the days of up every two hours, which I thought we’d never escape. I decided to give her some time to see if she’d put herself back to sleep instead of rushing in her room right away and viola! After a few nights she stopped calling me in to nurse her back to sleep. remedies
But there are some exceptions.
When a baby is acting a fool, not sleeping through the night, or just plain driving us nuts, we parents usually like to blame it on one of two things: Growth spurt, and teething. I automatically assume it’s one or the other when Lil’ J is working my nerves or not sleeping. But truthfully, she doesn’t feel as good when she’s cutting a tooth, so I’ve been working through ways to help her to feel better. Here’s what has worked for me in no particular order:
This post is sponsored by BabyCenter in conjunction with the BabyCenter Blog Network. As usual, these are all my own opinions.
But there are some exceptions.
When a baby is acting a fool, not sleeping through the night, or just plain driving us nuts, we parents usually like to blame it on one of two things: Growth spurt, and teething. I automatically assume it’s one or the other when Lil’ J is working my nerves or not sleeping. But truthfully, she doesn’t feel as good when she’s cutting a tooth, so I’ve been working through ways to help her to feel better. Here’s what has worked for me in no particular order:
- Ice cubes in a wet towel: My yoga instructor told me this trick and it was my “AH HA!” moment. She’s not a big fan of the cold chew toys but she loves ice. I would give her ice cubes in the past but they’d slip and slide all over and she couldn’t keep a grip on them. I put an ice cube in a baby washcloth wrapped with a rubber band, and get it wet with cold water and tada! A homemade teething toy, which she tends to hang on to.
- Baby Orajel® Naturals: I used Orajel when my wisdom teeth came in and it was a lifesaver. I looked for a baby kind to use as a last resort when Lil’ J was cutting her first tooth, but stopped using it after awhile when I read about some of the active ingredients. But they recently came out with a new natural kind I like that’s dye-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free and benzocaine-free. It seems to work as good as the other stuff and I feel better about using it.
- Amber necklace: A friend of mine gave us their amber necklace because her little boy has most all of his teeth. The chemical makeup of amber is supposed to have a natural pain release that works through the skin. I’m not positive of it’s effects but it seemed to help when she’d wear it. Problem is I’d take it off at night and I’d have misplaced it by morning. I can’t find it at the moment.
- Tylenol: Another last resort for me was good old pain relief medication. If she just seemed to be hurting, running a fever and inconsolable I’d bust out the drugs and give her a dose. Shoot me.
- Cuddles: Last but definitely not least, snuggling and nursing my little girl always seems to help her feel better. She loves mommy time and usually in my arms, everything is better. This usually means my arms are looking extra toned by the time the tooth comes through, so I guess it’s a win-win.
This post is sponsored by BabyCenter in conjunction with the BabyCenter Blog Network. As usual, these are all my own opinions.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Because you asked...
Remember in my 365 post earlier this week I posted a picture of Lil' J with her crawling in her dress? Well, without her dress she still does. I guess it's habit now since she's almost always in a dress. In this video she's making a beeline for the pool. That's why I had to cut it short.
We were at a work pool party last night and I had just changed her before we left. I should have got this in her cute bathing suit but there will be pictures of that in next week's 365 photos. Someone wanted to see a video of how she looks so here she is. She kinda reminds me of Mowgli from The Jungle Book.
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| Source |
Sunday, May 4, 2014
A kid in a candy store
I was scared to back to "SOCO" as they call it, since the break in. But I couldn't let fear keep me from the cute avenue of photo backdrops forever, so I brazened up and went again.
Lil' J was dolled out in MudPie and I had everything packed in one bag I planned to keep on me the entire time. Luckily, I found parking spot right in front of the store we'd be going in.--The world famous (or so they say) Big Top Candy Shop.
We perused the store for a bit, scoping out spots to take photographs. Lil' J of course eying the shiny candy as we walked though. To my knowledge she hasn't had much--If any candy. Oh wait, she has had a bit of a sucker before. But other than that, she doesn't eat the stuff yet. But I had a vision of photographing her with a big rainbow sucker, and a big stick of pink cotton candy. They had bags of cotton candy but no sticks! I didn't realize the no-stick part until after I bought the bag. Big BOOO!
Sadly, they were out of root beer too, and it didn't feel right to let my one-year-old have a sip of my Dr. Pepper, so we got a vanilla ice cream float.
I plopped her on the stool next to me, and with my camera strapped around my neck, snapped away while we enjoyed our sweet snack.
She'd smile at me, and the people waiving at her through the window as they passed the store. I felt like I was just hanging out with one of my girlfriends. But with less verbal communication.
When we finished our ice cream I let her suck the lollipop from the outside of the wrapper, but she still managed to bite a little bit of the plastic off and get the sweet goodness out. She dropped it a few times and I thanked my lucky stars for not opening the thing. Not only would it probably had who knows what stuck to it (and she's already had her fair share of grossness in her mouth), but the wrapper was keeping all of the crumbled pieces together. So it still looked like a solid sucker.
We looked at the chocolates, and the candy dishes. The jelly beans and the taffy. She wanted to get down and scoot around herself, and she screamed and laughed in excitement.
Afterward we took a few photos outside a barber shop which looked like a step back in time. Even the people coming out had hair cuts from the 50s. I kid you not, one guy walked out looking like John Travolta in Greece with his black shirt, tight jeans and hair slicked back. He even had his little comb to tighten up his do! I should have taken a picture!
We went home and crashed on the couch for a nice long nap from our sugar high. I love this girl. Every day watching her learn and grow I feel like she felt as a kid in the candy store.
Lil' J was dolled out in MudPie and I had everything packed in one bag I planned to keep on me the entire time. Luckily, I found parking spot right in front of the store we'd be going in.--The world famous (or so they say) Big Top Candy Shop.
We perused the store for a bit, scoping out spots to take photographs. Lil' J of course eying the shiny candy as we walked though. To my knowledge she hasn't had much--If any candy. Oh wait, she has had a bit of a sucker before. But other than that, she doesn't eat the stuff yet. But I had a vision of photographing her with a big rainbow sucker, and a big stick of pink cotton candy. They had bags of cotton candy but no sticks! I didn't realize the no-stick part until after I bought the bag. Big BOOO!
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| Mudpie Dress from BNB Boutique; Matching Shoes by Robeez via Consignment |
I plopped her on the stool next to me, and with my camera strapped around my neck, snapped away while we enjoyed our sweet snack.
She'd smile at me, and the people waiving at her through the window as they passed the store. I felt like I was just hanging out with one of my girlfriends. But with less verbal communication.
When we finished our ice cream I let her suck the lollipop from the outside of the wrapper, but she still managed to bite a little bit of the plastic off and get the sweet goodness out. She dropped it a few times and I thanked my lucky stars for not opening the thing. Not only would it probably had who knows what stuck to it (and she's already had her fair share of grossness in her mouth), but the wrapper was keeping all of the crumbled pieces together. So it still looked like a solid sucker.
We looked at the chocolates, and the candy dishes. The jelly beans and the taffy. She wanted to get down and scoot around herself, and she screamed and laughed in excitement.
Afterward we took a few photos outside a barber shop which looked like a step back in time. Even the people coming out had hair cuts from the 50s. I kid you not, one guy walked out looking like John Travolta in Greece with his black shirt, tight jeans and hair slicked back. He even had his little comb to tighten up his do! I should have taken a picture!
**I bought the dress Lil' J is wearing from one of my favorite Boutiques: BNB Boutique. They had a Facebook contest last week. I promised if we won, to split my winnings with a blog reader, but we came in 3rd, winning the $25 prize to BNB Boutique, so instead of splitting it I've decided I'll give the full prize to one of you sweet readers.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting on my blog! Your words mean more than you know! Someone who comments on this post before next Monday the 14th will win the prize! If you're a subscriber of mine in some shape or form you can leave (one) extra comment for an extra entry. I'll announce the winner on my FB Page before emailing them. Good luck and thank you!**
PS: PLEASE make sure you have an email address I can find so I can contact you if you win! I have had to skip numerous winners in the past who had private profiles and left no email address.
PS: PLEASE make sure you have an email address I can find so I can contact you if you win! I have had to skip numerous winners in the past who had private profiles and left no email address.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Washing biracial (or curly) hair: My how-to
My daughter has extremely curly hair. People always comment on her hair, and when we're out people ask me where she gets her curly hair (me) and if it's naturally that way (No, I permed my 1-year-old's hair... Who are these people?). The most common question I get asked in emails from blog readers is how I manage Lil' J's curls. What can I say? It's a hot topic in our lives.
I have written the same response over and over again so I figured I should just write a blog post about my routine, that way I can link people here from now on.
First off, I don't wash her hair very often. Usually once a week to every 9-10 days. I use It's a Curl which I buy from Curlz.biz. I like it because it's organic, and gentle on her head. I haven't ever died or relaxed my hair and I want to be equally as cautious with hers.
They have a very active facebook page and when I was asking for a good product the directed me to their hair type page which matches the best products for different hair types and biracial hair tips. For kids under 2, this is the best because it's so gentle. I plan to keep using it after though. Make sure you check their fan page and retailmenot.com for deals. There's usually a coupon for 25% off. For February there's one using code "ilovecurls".
I bought the entire line (twice), It's a Curl Shampoo, Conditioner, Moisturizer and Leave in Conditioner. A long time ago I read a post by my friend Melissa and her hair washing routine for her little curly head. I couldn't find it for this post but I'm hoping she'll read this and share the link. I think our routines are pretty similar if I remember correctly.
For washing her hair and getting her curls "set" I use the shampoo and conditioner. I also use a big-tooth comb.
I've tried many variations of these steps and I think I've found what works best for her hair so hopefully this will help for many of you.
1. I wet and wash her hair with the shampoo. I don't use a ton of shampoo, just one squirt. Again, I don't shampoo it often, maybe once a week or week and a half. A lot of shampoo tends to dry her hair out more so I try not to use a lot.-Just enough to clean her hair, and rinse. Make sure you get all the shampoo out, no bubbles left.
2. With conditioner I'm very generous. This is what will get the tangles out so I use a lot and literally cake it in.
3. Comb those curls. I start with the wider-tooth part of the comb and comb through it, then switch to the other side, where the teeth are closer together to get more tangles out. This combs the conditioner through the hair too. I hang tight closer to her scalp while tugging at the ends so she doesn't feel it. She's usually playing with her toys and not minding what I do.
4. Rinse out all the conditioner.
5. Comb again with the wide-tooth end.
6. Don't towel dry or blow dry. Let your curly head run around until it's dry. This is important because a towel will frizz it up, and if they go to sleep with it damp they'll wake up with their hair sticking out and squished in weird places.
Here's a morning where I let her go to bed a little too soon before her hair was totally dry.
Here's an afternoon where I washed her hair mid-day and let it dry outside while she was playing.
Between washing sometimes I"ll use her leave-in moisturizing and conditioning products to keep the friz down and the curls cute.
Hope this helps! Any other questions? Leave it in the comments and I'll get back to you! And if you have a similar post or tips feel free to leave a link in the comments, different things work for different people.
I have written the same response over and over again so I figured I should just write a blog post about my routine, that way I can link people here from now on.First off, I don't wash her hair very often. Usually once a week to every 9-10 days. I use It's a Curl which I buy from Curlz.biz. I like it because it's organic, and gentle on her head. I haven't ever died or relaxed my hair and I want to be equally as cautious with hers.
They have a very active facebook page and when I was asking for a good product the directed me to their hair type page which matches the best products for different hair types and biracial hair tips. For kids under 2, this is the best because it's so gentle. I plan to keep using it after though. Make sure you check their fan page and retailmenot.com for deals. There's usually a coupon for 25% off. For February there's one using code "ilovecurls".
I bought the entire line (twice), It's a Curl Shampoo, Conditioner, Moisturizer and Leave in Conditioner. A long time ago I read a post by my friend Melissa and her hair washing routine for her little curly head. I couldn't find it for this post but I'm hoping she'll read this and share the link. I think our routines are pretty similar if I remember correctly.
For washing her hair and getting her curls "set" I use the shampoo and conditioner. I also use a big-tooth comb.
I've tried many variations of these steps and I think I've found what works best for her hair so hopefully this will help for many of you.
 |
| Before |
2. With conditioner I'm very generous. This is what will get the tangles out so I use a lot and literally cake it in.
3. Comb those curls. I start with the wider-tooth part of the comb and comb through it, then switch to the other side, where the teeth are closer together to get more tangles out. This combs the conditioner through the hair too. I hang tight closer to her scalp while tugging at the ends so she doesn't feel it. She's usually playing with her toys and not minding what I do.
4. Rinse out all the conditioner.
5. Comb again with the wide-tooth end.
6. Don't towel dry or blow dry. Let your curly head run around until it's dry. This is important because a towel will frizz it up, and if they go to sleep with it damp they'll wake up with their hair sticking out and squished in weird places.
Here's a morning where I let her go to bed a little too soon before her hair was totally dry.
Here's an afternoon where I washed her hair mid-day and let it dry outside while she was playing.
Between washing sometimes I"ll use her leave-in moisturizing and conditioning products to keep the friz down and the curls cute.
Hope this helps! Any other questions? Leave it in the comments and I'll get back to you! And if you have a similar post or tips feel free to leave a link in the comments, different things work for different people.
Monday, March 31, 2014
5 tips for air travel with infants.
Traveling on an airplane with an infant can seem like an impossibly difficult task. Though you would be right in assuming that it can be hard, there are some simple ways to make it easier on yourself and your baby. However, before committing to any travel with your baby (either domestic or international), I would highly recommend checking with your travel provider for their requirements and guidelines. Here are my personal top five tips for flying with an infant. These tips are only about making the actual flight easier on you and your baby, not the overall travel experience.
1. Wear your baby.
There is nothing so frustrating as trying to lug all of your things through an airport while trying not to disturb or startle your baby. If your baby is snuggled up next to you, warm and secure, it leaves your hands free to deal with the bags, the ticket and all of the regular juggling you would normally encounter in an airport. One of my favorite baby-wearing tools that is safe for infants is the Moby: http://ow.ly/7bdK . Be sure to check the age and weight restrictions on any baby-wearing devices, because some (like the Bjorn) are not very safe for babies under a certain weight.
2. Start the day by calming yourself.
Do your stressing about the trip the day before you go. Get your itinerary, bags, emergency formula (even if you are breastfeeding it is a good idea to have some prepared formula ready in case your little one gets hungry at just the wrong time for you to be able to deal with it), transportation to and from the airport and all other stressful details in line on the day before you leave. Start the day of the travel by having yourself a cup of chamomile tea, listening to some calming music, doing some calming yoga (if it's calming for you) and snuggling with your baby. The less stressed you are, the less stressed your baby will be.
3. Give your baby a pacifier, a bottle or the breast for take-off and landing.
Your babies ears will feel the pressure changes just like ours do, but infants are unable to "pop" their ears themselves, for an older child I would recommend chewing gum, or blowing their noses, but for infants, the easiest way to get them to stretch their jaw muscles enough to relieve the pressure is through a sucking motion.
4. Have hand-sanitizer easily accessible.
The last thing you or your baby needs is to get sick on the plane. Keeping your hands clean throughout your flight will drastically reduce the risk of coming down with a vacation-spoiling bug. Attach a key-chain sized spray or squirt-bottle to your belt or purse strap for easy access.
5. Bring soothing music/lullabies on an mp3 player.
Whether you use a pair of ear-buds, and simply lay them near your baby, or whether you use the in-flight earphones and try to position them on your babies ears (always test the volume on yourself first), this kind of low-level soothing sound can help your baby block out most of the over-stimulation that surrounds you on an airplane. Sounds from your own nursery noise maker can add a feeling of familiarity and homey comfort.
Airline travel can be hectic and trying even when you only have yourself to deal with. Hopefully these suggestions can give you a few more tools for minimizing the stress of the situation on your baby and yourself. If you have any questions or comments please leave them, I will try to respond to everyone who needs advice. Happy trails!
1. Wear your baby.
There is nothing so frustrating as trying to lug all of your things through an airport while trying not to disturb or startle your baby. If your baby is snuggled up next to you, warm and secure, it leaves your hands free to deal with the bags, the ticket and all of the regular juggling you would normally encounter in an airport. One of my favorite baby-wearing tools that is safe for infants is the Moby: http://ow.ly/7bdK . Be sure to check the age and weight restrictions on any baby-wearing devices, because some (like the Bjorn) are not very safe for babies under a certain weight.
2. Start the day by calming yourself.
Do your stressing about the trip the day before you go. Get your itinerary, bags, emergency formula (even if you are breastfeeding it is a good idea to have some prepared formula ready in case your little one gets hungry at just the wrong time for you to be able to deal with it), transportation to and from the airport and all other stressful details in line on the day before you leave. Start the day of the travel by having yourself a cup of chamomile tea, listening to some calming music, doing some calming yoga (if it's calming for you) and snuggling with your baby. The less stressed you are, the less stressed your baby will be.
3. Give your baby a pacifier, a bottle or the breast for take-off and landing.
Your babies ears will feel the pressure changes just like ours do, but infants are unable to "pop" their ears themselves, for an older child I would recommend chewing gum, or blowing their noses, but for infants, the easiest way to get them to stretch their jaw muscles enough to relieve the pressure is through a sucking motion.
4. Have hand-sanitizer easily accessible.
The last thing you or your baby needs is to get sick on the plane. Keeping your hands clean throughout your flight will drastically reduce the risk of coming down with a vacation-spoiling bug. Attach a key-chain sized spray or squirt-bottle to your belt or purse strap for easy access.
5. Bring soothing music/lullabies on an mp3 player.
Whether you use a pair of ear-buds, and simply lay them near your baby, or whether you use the in-flight earphones and try to position them on your babies ears (always test the volume on yourself first), this kind of low-level soothing sound can help your baby block out most of the over-stimulation that surrounds you on an airplane. Sounds from your own nursery noise maker can add a feeling of familiarity and homey comfort.
Airline travel can be hectic and trying even when you only have yourself to deal with. Hopefully these suggestions can give you a few more tools for minimizing the stress of the situation on your baby and yourself. If you have any questions or comments please leave them, I will try to respond to everyone who needs advice. Happy trails!
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