25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

I  just saw this on Pinterest and had to repost.  In a few months I will be a mother of a son and I will keep these 25 rules in mind.

1. Teach him the words for how he feels.
Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment.  He’ll cry from fear and bite out of excitement.  Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference.  Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion.  Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.
2. Be a cheerleader for his life
There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games.  There is no doubt that he will tell you to “stop, mom” when you sing along to his garage band’s lyrics.  There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts.  There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you’ve been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade.  He will tell you to stop.  He will say he’s embarrassed.  But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.
3. Teach him how to do laundry
..and load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt.  He may not always choose to do it.  He may not ever have to do it.  But someday his wife will thank you.
4. Read to him and read with him.
Emilie Buchwald said, “Children become readers on the laps of their parents.”  Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books.  Let him see you reading…reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles.  Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever.  Writers are the transcribers of history and memories.  They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important.  And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.
5. Encourage him to dance.
Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals.  No matter where you go, no matter who you meet – they have some form of the three.  It doesn’t have to be good.  Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it’s perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.

6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform (like Batman and LaMarr Woodley) will surround your son from birth.  But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen (Mark Twain), and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity (Officer Frank Shankwitz), and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).

7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphne Blake, Princess Jasmine, and Britney Spears) will surround your son from birth.  But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Marie Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).

8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.
You already are all of those things.  If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this:  If you have done any of the following:  a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering…you are a superhero.  do not doubt yourself for one second.  Seriously.

9. Teach him to have manners
because its nice.  and it will make the world a little better of a place.
10. Give him something to believe in
Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won’t be able to be there.  Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.

11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle
like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people’s feelings.
12. Let him ruin his clothes
Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes.  You’ll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don’t waste your energy being angry about something inevitable.  Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes.  Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.
13. Learn how to throw a football
or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears (or in my case alpacas), or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song.  Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.
14. Go outside with him
turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away.  Just go outside and follow him around.  Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions.  It’s like magic.
15. Let him lose
Losing sucks.  Everybody isn’t always a winner.  Even if you want to say, “You’re a winner because you tried,” don’t.  He doesn’t feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed.  And that’s a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids.  This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again…..)  Instead make sure he understands that – sometimes you win – sometimes you lose.  But that doesn’t mean you ever give up.
16. Give him opportunities to help others
There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help.  Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities.  Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together.
17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.
This doesn’t just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life.  You become a better writer by writing.  You become a better listener by listening.  You become better speaker by speaking.  Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks – they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing.  Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip.  Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier.  Practice, practice, practice.
18. Answer him when he asks, “Why?”
Answer him, or search for the answer together.  Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches).  Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself.  Someday, when he needs to ask questions he’s too embarrassed to ask you – he’ll know where to go to find the right answers.
19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.
Especially the wipes.
20. Let his dad teach him how to do things
…without interrupting about how to do it the ‘right way.’  If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything.  You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers.  And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom,  you will stay connected to what is happening in his life.  Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.
21. Give him something to release his energy
Drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog.  Give him something to go crazy with – or he will use your stuff, and then you’ll be sorry.
22. Build him forts
Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic.  Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders.  For the rest of his life, he’ll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical.
23. Take him to new places
Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.
24. Kiss him
Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet.  They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day.  But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender.  So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, ‘what happens in between that made you lose that?’  Let’s try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they’re loving and kissing them even more when they’re wild.  Kissing them when they’re 2 months and kissing them when they’re 16 years old.  You’re the mom – you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets – and make sure he knows it.  p.s. (this one is just as important for dads too).
25. Be home base
You are home to him.  When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back.  When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile.  When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you’re the only one who will listen that many times.  When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands.  When he is sick, he will call you.  When he really messes up, he will call you.  When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious.  Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun.  Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.

Originally posted on:
http://studerteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/25-rules-for-mothers-of-sons.html

Copied from:
http://gimundo.com/news/article/25-rules-for-mothers-of-boys/

Scatter Brain

If anyone ever says being a mom is easy, they are CRAZY.  I am just having one of those days.  They seem to be coming around more frequent recently :(  I already felt like a scatter brain just being a working mom, but being pregnant makes it worse AND having a child teething with a cold and double ear infection does not help either. When I was at the doctors this week with E, as she screamed her pretty lungs off for hours, the doctor had the nerve to say to me "you really need to make sure you are getting sleep."  UMMMM NO CRAP LADY!!!! 

Does not help either that since I had E with me in DC all weekend, then home sick this week, she is extra clingy to me.  Normally, she always wants me if I am there anyway, which can make it hard to get ready for work, clean, etc.  We are trying really hard to break this though before the baby comes.

SO all you moms of 2 or more, did anyone else have this issue?  Breaking the clinginess prior to baby #2 coming. Any suggestions are welcome?  We are now just tyring to have her daddy do more with her.  More walks. Put her to bed. Bath time. 

I hope this phase ends soon or I will need about 5 clones of myself.

TGIF :)

Very Thankful

I have been doing my 30 days of thanks posts on my other blog but I thought it would be approproate to do one on this blog as well.

Around the holidays, I am ALWAYS reminded how thankful I am.  It could be that I am 7 months pregnant and emotional, but this year I feel extremely thankful. 

My husband does not have it easy.  He has to deal with me being a stressball, working late, being pregnant ...too much to even name.  He handles it all with ease too.  Rarely relaxing and when he does, it is for a short run or watching a quick football game.  Well Pete if you read this...THANK YOU!

Then there is little E money.  She is the light of our life.  She is such a vibrant, demanding, smart little cookie.  She is going to give her dad and I a run for our money though!

Next year we will have a new little boy!!!  I just pray everyday he is healthy.

Pete and I are so lucky to have so much help too.  We just went to NYC for the night and our friend kept E overnight.  I did not even worry at all cause I knew she was in good hands.  We have such amazing friends and family.

During this holiday season, I am going to do my best to stop and smell the roses.  Enjoy life!  Enjoy everything I have to be thankful for.

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!!!

Finding A Balance

Recently, things have just been crazy.  Work is super busy, working on getting our house fixed up, travelling, E is teething and had a cold, etc.  This week I am finding it a little harder to keep control.  I know all you moms out there know what I am talking about.  Just seems like things are a litter crazier.  We all have been getting less sleep since E has been sick and teething.  I swear her gums have been swollen for weeks and each day we expect to see some teeth pop through but nothing.  She has been rocking 2 teeth for like 4-5 months.  I really hope like 6 pop through so all of this is for a reason. 

So I pose this question to anyone and everyone who can possible give me some advice...

How do you keep things under control when it just gets crazy?

I know I should worry less about my house being clean and the dishes in the sink but it is just in my nature.  Plus we need to get E on a better sleep routine and used to her daddy putting her to sleep before the baby comes.  She tends to only want me, especially when she is tired.  When this baby arrives in February, I will be consumed with him and his feedings. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Time is ticking

November and December seem to FLY, then January is a pretty busy month for me at work, which means February will be here before I know yet.  There is so much to do before this baby boy arrives in February.  To be honest, I am starting to stress.  All I have really done is order new furniture for E so the baby can have hers and sort through her clothes that are neutral and in the right season.

Still lots to think about!!!  To name a few...

• What 2nd monitor to get?  We have the Summer Infant Slim ones now and they are a little noisy.
• What exactly do I need for a NB winter baby?  Emily was about 4 months by then so I was not as worried.  I am guessing lots of warm pj's, long sleeve one piece outfits, we have a BundleMe, warm blankets, etc.
• Do two carseats even fit in my husband's little Subaru? haha

Any advice is welcome :)

Surprise!!!!

Little E is going to have a baby brother!!!!!! 

We are so excited!!!!!

Softy or Strict

Are you the parent that your kid(s) always runs to when they fall and scrap their knee or are sad OR are you the tough parent that goes by the "you will be okay" philosophy?  Well I am definitely the soft parent.  I am not sure if this all started because E was my first baby or if I am just a sucker for a baby crying.  Now with that being said, I never smothered her or let her do whatever she wants.  We have rules in our house and do use the word "no", but sometimes I just give in (yes I admit it).

I  just love when she runs up and hugs me or grabs my hand to walk with her.  On the flip side, in the morning trying to get ready with a kids hanging off my leg is hard.

How did you find the happy medium or were you even able to?

Unconditional Love

Yesterday I drove past a woman who was holding a sign that said "Begging mom needs food for her 3 kids".  Now I know her sign may be untrue and she was just looking for some sympathy but it made me start to think.  If I was not so lucky to have a job and for my husband to have a job that allows for us to provide for our family, what would I do?  Now I am a known hussler (haha)...always have a job, if not one, then two.  I have just been that lucky but not everyone has such luck.  Not everyone has a college degree, masters degree, sewing machine to make tutus, etc. 

My main point is I guess I would do whatever to provide for my family...at least within my moral standards.  Flipping burgers, cleaning houses, walking dogs...WHATEVER!!

Recently, I have caught myself getting all stressed and frazzled about my life but when I see some other people's situations, I quickly realize my life is not that bad.  I have MORE than enough - an amazing family, great friends, a job, a great husband and a wonderful daughter. 

What more does a girl need????

Don't forget to stop and think about how lucky you are!  Maybe you work late one night (or 5 nights) but at least you have a job.  Maybe you cannot afford that new pair of shoes, but there is food on the table.  Maybe you got no sleep cause your daughter is teething, but at least you have a healthy daughter, a roof over our heads and beds to sleep on (well eventually sleep on).

I love my life...the good times and the bad!

XOXO

My baby is one

This year has flown by so quick and I cannot believe my little girl is one today.  It seems like yesterday we were in the hospital with anticipation for her arrival.  When the doctor told us "you have a little girl", I knew our lives have changed forever. 

She is our everything now.  When I wake up, I still get excited to walk into the room and see her smile.  When I pick her up from daycare and get that big hug. 

Her personality is really starting to shine.  She is so funny but has a loving side. 

Happy birthday baby girl!!! 



Sensible Shoes

I saw this poem on a blog and just had to share!

Sensible Shoes

by: Emily Baer

Motherhood is mostly about wearing the right shoes.

We are ballet dancers with our newborns in the middle of the night. We are construction workers on the living room carpet with our toddlers and their building blocks. We are scientists and mystics when banishing bad dreams and monsters in the closet. We are coaches, cheerleaders, teammates when life gets tough and faith is thin on the ground. We are therapists and sometimes we are drill sergeants. We are intuitive, understanding, and forgiving. We are the kissers of boo-boos, the medical team on the field, the picker-uppers, the duster-offers, the go-get-em-now-ers.

We are the teenage battering rams. We are the least liked chefs. We are the ponytail wearers, the carpool drivers, the wipers of smudges, the please and thank you enforcers.

We are the grateful recipients of dandelions and painted paper hearts, of whispered I love you’s and little hands held in the dark; and also of rolled eyes and skeptic pre-teen attitudes.

We are a brave face. We are pilgrims on our knees asking for guidance, direction, and a few tablespoons of grace. We are the tearful-proud standing in the corners, watching our little ones blossom for all the world to see.

We are believers of make believe and impossible dreams. We are the keepers of maps, the holders of keys, pilots and co-pilots when those dreams take flight (and they regularly do).

We are champions of the underdog. We are party planners and cupcake decorators, banner hangers and town criers when the world should know how wonderful our children are.

We are the oft under-consulted consultants. We are collectors, curators of our children’s hopes and histories. We are the ride to the movies, the ticket to freedom, the tether to self discipline.

We are the first sought when something is amiss. We are the seekers and the finders, be it mittens, or homework papers, or broken heart pieces. We are a harbor. And a force. We are just the right words at just the right moment; a quiet resolve to see things all the way through.

And when it is entirely necessary, we are professors of lost arts, like how to spin around barefoot in the sunshine.

Check Check AND Check

I am on my 12th day in a row working, which is not good when you have an almost 11 month old, planning to sell your house and go on vacation in a week.  NOTHING has gotten done in FOREVER. 

I realized yesterday that E's 1st birthday party is creeping up and I have not ordered invites.  I had high hopes of making her a tutu to match the party theme for the invite but day after day passed and nothing was accomplished.  I could not find an existing picture I liked, so I decided to take a new one.  My husband was running a 5k, so I needed to organize this photoshoot myself.  As soon as I went to get her changed, she threw-up and got cranky.  Gave her a bath, put the outfit on while she screamed, then bribed her with cheerios to take some pictures.  It all worked out so good and I placed my order with Tiny Prints last night.  CHECK!!

Then I was off to my next task to tackle - new convertible toddler carseat.  I knew I wanted one Britax but no idea which one and I did not want to spend that much on two.  Luckily, earlier in the day, a lady I work with that has 3 kids told me she has like 6 extra carseats she was looking to get rid of.  PERFECT!!!  But know I needed to still buy one.  Sitting there honestly not caring what the difference was between a Marathon 55 and Marathon 70, I just but the bullet and got the one with the best reviews.  CHECK!!

One more things on my list for the night - send a baby gift to our friends who just had their first baby.  I resorted to my FAVORITE website Layla Grace and ordered my FAV Aden and Anais swaddling blankets.  CHECK!

Wahoo!  Now on to looking at new houses and getting our house up for sale!  I CAN DO IT!

TGIF

Adrienne xoxox

My Little Animal Lover

I knew that Emily loved dogs but I did not think she was such a huge animal lover until we went to the Philly zoo this Sunday.  Whether it was a crazy monkey running around or a gorilla just sitting there in a still meditative position, she was excited.  She takes after her Aunt Lauren who literally could be a tour guide at the zoo :)

I cannot wait to take her to Animal Kingdon in October!

Two Teeth and Counting

My poor little Emily cut her 2nd tooth this weekend!  Unfortunately, we were at the beach for a long, relaxing weekend.    She had a slight fever on Friday before we left but I just assumed she was teething and it would not get bad.  Well....it did!  I felt so bad cause she seemed better Saturday morning so we went to the beach.  She slept a lot through the day but around 5:30, her temp spiked again.  Now I was starting to worry because it just seemed like the fever kept coming back.

However, through this all, she still was such a happy baby.  I mean what baby who is teething, with a fever and little sleeps, looks like this on the beach.

She is such an amazing baby!  We ended up having a good beach weekend with our families.  When we got home last night, she was back to her CRAZY self, but we LOVE her to death!!

~Adrienne xoxo

Bumps in Pumps

Now these preggos wearing heals prove you don't have to look frumpy when pregnant.  Well at least not when you are an A-lister haha.  I wish I had the motivation to wear shoes like that when I was pregnant, but I guess if I was getting paid as much as they do to attend events or make movies, I may make an exception and move from flip flops to stilettos :)

But either way, these ladies rocked these shoes, especially Reese!!

www.people.com

Daddy's Little Girl

Happy Father's Day weekend!  Little E is so lucky to have such an amazing daddy!

"There's two things I know for sure.
She was sent here from heaven,
and she's daddy's little girl."

-Butterfly Kisses

~Adrienne xoxo

Only Moms

Only moms....

• Have gone to work with formula, throw-up, food, etc on them and not freaked out
• Spend more time getting their kids ready than themselves
• Are up until 10pm making food/lunches
• Workout at either 5am or 9pm
• Shop more at Babies R Us than Nordstrom
• Get excited when there is a big sale on diapers or formula (forget about a good shoe sale)
• Read Pat the Bunny instead of the Hunger Games
• Take more pictures than the paparazzi and have over 1300 pics on their phone

With that being said, most moms would not change a thing.  It may be a crazy life being a mom but it is a AMAZING life!!

~Adrienne xoxox

Diaper Bags and Carseats

Sometimes I can be very indecisive about shopping and other times I am a little too impulsive. 

I have this Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper bag that my husband always says "I HAD TO HAVE IT" but now I think it is too big.  We really do not need that many items in it for the most part.  The "accountant" in my husband says to just suck it up.  However, the shopper in me is telling me I would like a smaller bag.  The problem is that when I start to look at bags, there are so many I want and some that I want but I know my husband would kill me if I spent the money. 

So I pose this question to all you mom's....what bags have you liked or disliked?  Here are some of my contenders...

Skip Hop Diaper Bag Duo Deluxe Blossom

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag Touring Tote Classic Copenhagen

Another tough decision...I have known for a while that Emily would need to move to a convertible carseat this summer and I even know the few I like, yet week after week passes and I do not purchase.  I am SO sick of carrying that infant carseat, you would think that would be my motivation.  My main concern is we have to have two carseats but I do not want to spend a ton of money on both.  My thought process was that we will get one good one for my car, which we take the most, then a cheaper one for my husband's car. 

Any thoughts on the two carseat situation or specific carseats?  Here are a few contenders...

Britax Marathan 70

*main carseat

Graco My Ride 65 LX

*Seconary

Decisions, decisions, decisions :)

~Adrienne XOXO

5 Ways I Survive As Working Mom

I thought my days prior to being a mom were busy but boy was I SO wrong. In reality, I had a ton of time. As a new mom, there are certain things I could not survive without... 1. Calendar 2. To-do List 3. Cell Phone 4. Jogger Stroller 5. Support I have always been the type of person to keep a calendar and to-do list just to stay organized but now I do it more as a survival tactic. In the matter of a few weeks, I managed to miss my own dentist appt and go to one of E's appts a day early. To make it worse, both of those appts were on my calendar and I told people at work to remind me. Being organized minimizes the risk of situations like these happening :) A cell phone is a must have now not to check Facebook but moreso to call daycare when I am running late (which happens often), call into meetings from the car or home, or simple tasks like reminding my husband to do something. My cell phone takes a beating now though, whether E is throwing it or I forget I put it on top of the jogging stroller and take off running. Speaking of jogging stroller, which is worth every penny I paid to buy from my friend, I would never enjoy a weekday run to even have lost the baby weight without one. I consider myself lucky to get in a few miles in after work while little E is people watching or napping in the stroller. Last and most important, great support from family and friends is a must. My husband shows his support all those long days I am at work where he has to take and pick up E. My mom is always on standby to pick up E when we are both stuck T work. It is also extremely important for me to have "me" time...movies with my BFF, pedicure with my nail buddy, dinner with a friend, etc. Now all I need is a full time maid, chef and personal trainer and I should be set ;) Adrienne XOXO

My Little Fish

Every since E was little, she has always loved baths and water.  This one time her and my husband had the stomach bug and all my sister could do to get her to stop crying is run the water in the sink.  We noticed once she was able to actually sit up in her bath tub, she would have the time of her life in during bath time!  So I signed her up for Shrimp swimming lessons at the YMCA.  We had our first lesson on Saturday, which is only 30 minutes long, and she LOVED every second.

I am so excited for this summer and cannot wait her to have fun in the pools and at the beach.  Come on warm weather :)

~Adrienne xoxo

Craziness of being a mom

I used to think I was busy with just work and a personal life but I did not know the true meaning of "busy" until I became a mom.  I mean I am a pretty organized and VERY clean person but my house looks a mess.  Toys, bottles, laundry, dishes are overtaking it!!! 

Last night I rushed out of work at 5:15 to get home to take little E to Gymboryee.  We had to rush home so I could finish a few things for work, while similtaneously make cupcakes and cookies for teacher appreciation month at daycare.  My husband always yells at me because I am ALWAYS doing to much, but it is in my nature.  I could not even tell you what we had for dinner last night.  My poor husband is training for a race in the beginning of May and has to run at like 9pm once she is sleeping.

It is a good crazy though and I would not trade it for the world.  However, a wine tour on Sunday with some friends on a beautiful 80 degree spring day is definitelty something I am looking forward to.  "Me" time is a must still to keep my sanity...well whatever of it remains :)

Adrienne xoxo

Little E's First Easter

I cannot believe E is 7 1/2 months old and it is her FIRST Easter. I am so happy that she is moving around now and so much fun, but she is growing up SOOOO fast!!!

After work today, I have to somehow manage to get my house in order so I can actually walk without tripping over boxes, toys, etc. Tomorrow we have a 1st bday party then we are off to the beach for Easter. It is NO fun packing up a baby and dog to head to the beach for one night, but it will be worth it to have some quality family time!

PS - Why do kids need so much? hahah

Happy Easter to everyone!

~Adrienne

Spring Fever

Bring on the spring time weather! Even though we have had a oddly mild winter, I still love spring time when you can be outside more! I know when my lilacs start blooming, spring is here and my house is about to smell A LOT better!!!

I am looking forward to more runs with Emily!!

More trips to the zoo!!!

Spring also means summer is close....BEACH TIME and OBX!!! YAH :)

~Adrienne

Boy things have changed

As I was packing the car to head to the beach with my mom this past weekend for a few days, one of my neighbors walked by and said, "Are you moving?" I did not know whether to laugh or cry. I have a crossover SUV and it was bursting at the seams and my husband was not even with us. Did I pack WAY to much??? Well, we ended up using about 90% of the things I brought. Every bib was used, every blanket, pack n' play, bouncy seat, monitors, food, & clothes. I could have brought a little less clothes for Em, especially since I bought a decent amount down there.

The funniest part of this whole story is that my husband thinks he is getting a sedan. UMMMM if a crossover SUV is too small, a sedan will definitely not be worth it. I am trying to convince him we need to get a 3 row SUV! UGH!!!

The whole point to this blog (sorry got off track) was if I look back to St. Patty's Day weekend a few years ago, we would have been going to to the bars, out with friends, etc. This St. Patty's Day I spent a few hours with my girlfriends and the rest with Emily, my mom and my friend Jen! My husband was lucky enough to be at Phillies Spring Training in FL :) However, I would not have change a second of it. Well...maybe would have wanted the weather to be a little warmer. I enjoyed getting up and relaxing until 10am, shopping and going to lunch!

I love every second of watching Em smile, laugh, roll around, etc. LIFE IS GOOD :)

Nicknames for Your Kids

Did you ever just stop and think about all the nicknames you have for your kids? I just call Emily random names and they tend to stick. Sometimes my husband will ask me where I got that nickname from and I will have no idea.

Last month we both started referring to Emily as Leelee. I have NOOOOO idea why and only we do it. I sometimes call her stinkerbell....not cause she stinks or anything :)

What are your nicknames for your kids?

Traveling With Kids

This year we will be traveling with the nugget quite a bit! Do you have any tips for traveling with a baby or kids?

Here is one idea I saw:

*A bracelet with your phone number on it*

Great for when you are in the airport, amusement park, etc.

Let me know what other tips you have!

~Adrienne xoxo

Dear Emily: Need Sleep

Dear Emily,
You are too cute that I could NEVER be mad at you but I simply ask for a few nights of sleep. I know you were sick last week, so that is understandable. However, this week since you learned to turn over, you get stuck in the middle of the night (every hour or so) and we have to come in and turn you on your back. I am so glad that you are reaching your milstones and will be 6 weeks this week, but mommy needs sleep. I love you baby girl!

~Mommy xoxo

Baby Milestones

Every mom wants their kids to grow up and reach those important milestones, but that does not mean their will be lots of tears along the way!

A few important milestones in the 1st year:

1. Laughing
2. Rolling over
3. Pulling up to standing
4. First words
5. Walking

Emily has only reached the first two and those were happy yet sad moments. How has 5 months passed already?? I remember when she was just over 5 lbs when we brought her home and now she is moving all around. I just try to stay positive and think that I am lucky she is reaching these milestones when she is supposed too or even early in her case.

Everyone says they grow up so fast and now I realize that is true! Cherish every moment...even if you are crying while doing so!

~Adrienne

Post Baby Body

As most of you know, it is such a struggle for some people to lose the baby weight. I have always been the type of person who works out a lot and eats pretty healthy. However, after Emily was born, that just did not seem good enough. 5 months later and my pre-pregnancy pants are still a little tight. I knew it was not going to be easy going since I had a ton of friends tell me how hard it is and to be patient.

I am currently doing Weight Watchers to stay on a good diet and I try to run at least once a week at lunch and go to the gym once or twice a week. I wish I could workout in the morning but I just am too exhausted. Maybe once she starts going to bed earlier, I will have more time.

I know I need to be patient but I needed to vent. I would love to hear some ideas on what other people did to help lose the weight. I know my pre-pregnancy body is probably long gone, but I would like to at least fit into my clothes comfortably again :(

Adrienne xoxo

*PISH POSH BABY DAILY DEAL *

Skip Hop Jonathan Adler Duo Diaper Bags

Pre-order online now! Shipping begins in March 2012!

**ONLY $75**

http://www.pishposhbaby.com/jonathan-adler-duo-diaper-bag.html

Don't forget to use my ID at checkout 201219 :)

Adrienne xoxo

*Posh Posh Baby*

I am so excited to be a part of the Pish Posh Baby team. I have been browsing their website since I was pregnant with Emily. They have so many different products for such amazing prices. I definitely recommend you checking them out :)

I am going to start doing a "DAILY DEAL" everyday, so stay tuned!

A few of my favorites:

Maclaren Quest Sport Stroller (2011) - Limited Edition Denim

On Sale $224.99

Baby Jogger City Mini Double 2011 Orange

On Sale $399.99

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at adrienne@shopdestinationdiva.com. Also, when you please an order, please make sure to note my ID 201219.

Thanks,

Adrienne xoxo

The 5am Blues

We were on a roll where E was sleeping through the night until about 6-7am from about 2 months until about 3 1/2-4 months. For the last month or so, she has started waking up around 5am everyday!!!! It does not matter if I put her to bed at 8pm or 11pm or whether I feed her 5 oz or 6oz. She is like clock work! Honestly, I do not mind getting up with her. I normally nurse her for 5-10 min and she is back to sleep. Also, some of my friends warned me that just when you think they are in a rountine, they through you a curveball.

My only question is should I be trying different things to get her out of this 5am habit or should I just let it be? I mean she goes back to sleep until 6:30-7:30, so she is getting 8-9 hours of sleep.

Any thoughts?

How could I be mad at this face, even if it is 5am?

Adrienne xoxo

Stylish Crib

Like or dislike the crib Beyonce's baby Blue Ivy is apparently sleeping in?

I am not too crazy about this crib so I guess I have more of a traditional style! To each his own!

Adrienne xoxo