What I'm Learning From My Boy

I have to admit this is not where I planned on taking this post today.  I was going to share my favorite health & fitness apps and totally challenge you to get your butts into gear.  However, in light of everything going on I just wasn't feeling it.  Workout Wednesday will return some day, just not today.

If you will, allow me to digress on this Wednesday to talk about my boy.

My sweet, energetic, dirt-loving little boy.

I want to make sure that my blog isn't only a place to share my favorite things, inspire your daily outfits, and make you laugh but that it's also a place for me to document my life.  Time passes so quickly and I want to remember every little detail, especially the ones with Graham.  So without further ado, here are some things I'm learning from my 14 month-old.

1) Life is best lived dirty.

There is nothing like seeing Graham's face when he has a hand full of sand, dirt, mulch or a combination of all three.  There's no use fighting it (not that I ever really did), he's a boy and he's going to get dirty.  Heck, I guess he gets it honest - I played outside in the dirt all the time growing up.  My favorite toy was my ant farm.  I was made to be a momma to a boy!  I had just forgotten how fun it can be to let go and get dirty!

2) Silence can be terrifying.

My best friend Emily recently told me that she was going to buy Graham a kazoo but she thought I'd kill her.  On the contrary, I like the noise!  The noise means Graham is busy playing with something he should be playing with (most of the time) and not trying to climb out of the playpen.  Bring on the musical instruments, work benches, and noisy books!

3) Temper tantrums are quite funny.

Mom of the year right here.  Yes, I have to force myself not to laugh when Graham goes into his full-blown legs-flailing, head thrown-back fits.  He can just be so dramatic sometimes and I know the minute I bring out an apple (he is obsessed with eating apples) he will straighten right up.  Future Academy Award winner, perhaps?

4) I can do almost everything with one hand.
Who else has mastered the art of holding your child while using the restroom because the thought of him/her walking around a public bathroom gives you nightmares?  Yep, me too.

5) Toddlers can have rhythm.
I mean I'm not trying to brag but my son has rhythm.  I like to think he got it from his momma but Josh is typically the one rapping to him so I can't take all the credit.

    6) The best things in life truly are free.
There's no better feeling than when Graham falls asleep on my shoulder or runs to me when I pick him up from the nursery.  No amount of money could replace the joy I feel from my boy.  I love him so much and cherish each day we have together.  I look forward to learning even more from him through the years.

Mommy loves you Son!



Inspiring Instagrammers You Should Follow

Do you love Instagram like I do?  

I find myself spending much more time on Instagram rather than Facebook these days.  It's more streamlined, which I love.  I can enjoy pictures without clutter: no ads, no play-by-play of life from the same people, no "suggested friends", you get the idea.  I love seeing snapshots from inspiring people & companies I admire.  There are a handful that I always stay up-to-date on because they're THAT good.  Each of these accounts inspire me in different ways: fashion, faith, family, and many more.  Make sure you check each of these out and follow along with me!

@shopdandy

My dear friend Danielle is a huge sensation on Instagram.  So many women turn to her account for daily outfit inspirations and uplifting posts, myself included!  She has this wonderful way of pairing classic pieces like Louis Vuitton and Celine handbags with affordable, trendy items from ASOS, Dorothy Perkins & Target.  I promise she will not let you down! (Side note: Danielle has already helped me tremendously with my blogging and I am so grateful for her thoughtfulness and guidance!)

{{Visit Danielle's blog at www.justdandy.org}}

Rockabye Baby: Favorite Bedtime Products

Hello friends,

Today I want to share with you some products that Josh and I like to use every night while we're getting Graham ready for bed.  

I have to admit that we were very fortunate to have a baby who slept through the night at 5 weeks old.  I'm not sure if my strict adherence to a nightly routine made a difference or if it was just our awesome little man.  Either way, we were't complaining.  I do think that using the same routine every night helps tremendously.  Ours relies heavily on the following items and if one of them is ever missing or broken then we're in trouble!

1 - Cloud B Sleep Sheep

This little sheep is wonderful!  I received it from one of my friends at my baby shower and had no idea what it was.  It's basically a cute, fluffy sound machine that you baby can cuddle with.  You can hang it on the side of the crib (which we do) and take it with you in the car. It has various sounds to help your baby fall asleep and stay asleep.  It stays on for 25-45 minutes depending on your settings.  Graham's favorite sound is the ocean waves.  

2 - Lavender Lotion

I'm sure you're aware that lavender has calming effects.  This makes it perfect for babies right before bedtime.  I like this Aveeno one because the scent is faint and not too overwhelming.  Combine it with a little massage and your baby is ready for sleep!

3 - SwaddleMe Swaddlers

These are a definite must for newborns up to around 4 months.  It keeps your baby wrapped up snug so he/she gets the same feeling of being in the womb which is very comforting to them. (It's also much easier for us parents who aren't very good at traditional swaddling.) Just make sure you stop using the swaddler when your baby can rollover.

4 - NoseFrida

We like using this product before bedtime when Graham is congested.  I know it looks strange and the concept is even stranger but I promise it works so well.  It's much more sanitary than the bulbs from the hospital because you can clean the tubing after each use.  Plus, it's gentle on your baby.

5 - Motorola Digital Monitor

We love this monitor!  We have the version with one camera (the cheaper option) and it fits all of our needs.  The picture is so clear and we can even talk back into the monitor to Graham.  This is a definite MUST HAVE!

I hope this list helps you get hours upon hours of uninterrupted sleep! (A girl can dream, right?)

Experienced parents, are there any items I'm missing?  What would you have on your top 5 list?

Confessions of a Worried Mother

It was the day after my son's first birthday party. 

As I always do I put off cleaning until the next day. 

I took down the streamers, deflated the balloons, disassembled the sign of pictures from his first year.  Each picture a memory. A reminder that this year has passed in the blink of an eye.

A reminder that my son is growing up.

A reminder that he doesn't need me for nourishment anymore.

A reminder that this has been the best but fastest year of my life.

And that's when an all-too-familiar feeling came back. I knew exactly what it was because I felt it a few days after delivery. Almost a year ago to the day. Why was this happening again? I have no reason to not be happy. I am so blessed.

My mind started to run wild. I pictured Graham going to school, leaving for college, getting married. My mind started to fear. What if something happens to him? What if something happens to me and Josh and we can't take care of him? How much time will I have with my son?

Worry. Anxiety. Fear.

These are the things I didn't truly grasp the depths of until I became a mom. What little fear I had before I became a mother became amplified.  I thought I would worry less once I finally had my baby in my arms but I was wrong. Most of the things I used to worry about became meaningless and minuscule compared to the significance of raising a child. 

I used to worry about my weight. Now I worry that I don't eat enough to produce the milk he needs.

I used to worry about advancing my career.  Now I worry that I spend too much time at work away from him.

I used to worry about not being a good enough friend. Now I worry that he'll miss me when I'm having a night out.

Worry. Anxiety. Fear.

I just wanted these feelings to go away. That's when I turned to the #1 person in my life who I knew would understand: my mom. And what she said will stick with me forever. "You worry because you love him so much. You're a good mother."

All of a sudden the heaviness began to lift.  She reminded me that I'm not alone; all mothers feel the same way.  If we didn't love so much we wouldn't care. The depth of our love can create depths of worry & fear. 

Sometimes I wonder if we're supposed to have these feelings, almost like our motherly instincts.  But then I remember that His Word says, "there is no fear in love." (1 John 4:18) Christ came in the form of perfect love and as it is written in 1 John, "perfect love drives out fear."  We don't have to be afraid, worrisome, or frightful.  We can trust in God to lift us up when we're down.

As a mom I often try to fix things on my own without asking for help. But I know the peace & strength I need can only come from Him.

The strength to enjoy each day with my boy without anxiety. 

The strength to make sacrifices in my life to enrich his.

The strength to let him learn from his mistakes.

The strength to share my struggles with all of you.

My hope is that my openness and transparency blesses your life. I want my experiences to be an encouragement to you. And I hope and pray you will encourage others.  I want us all to be blessed and to learn to trust in Him, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, at all times.

And always remember - you're a good mother.

With love & gratitude,

Heather

"Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)



Motherhood: What They Don't Tell You

One year ago today I thought I would be delivering my son. 

God had other plans.

For a control freak like me, labor & delivery was a lesson in trusting The Lord.  I had planned out in my head how everything was "supposed" to go.  However, things didn't work out that way.  On Friday I'll share Graham's complete birth story with you. Let's just say it was one of the few moments of my life that God clearly spoke to me. 

As I mentioned above, I'm a bit of a control freak. Type A if you will. When I was pregnant I spent those 9 long months reading books, blogs, forums, whatever I could find to help prepare me. Looking back I've realized there are some facts that are rarely ever mentioned. With so many of my friends becoming moms I feel the need to share. 

1 - You will lose an OBSCENE amount of hair!  Seriously. I thought I was balding. No I take that back - I was balding! I looked at some beach pictures from this past summer and I definitely had premature balding at my hairline. Lucky me, now it's all growing back.  FYI - baby hair in adulthood is terrible. I can't control it, it's all over the place!  For me hair loss started around 4 months postpartum and lasted about 4 months.  Every time I washed my hair I would leave literally a ponytail in the shower. I felt like a shedding dog, my hair was everywhere. Poor Josh.

2 - You will be in pain.  And I don't mean the obvious pain of stitches, tears, abdominal surgery that so many of us experience. I'm talking about your joints! I literally thought I was 80 years old. I couldn't walk up the stairs without my knees popping and cracking.  It started a few weeks after I delivered so I had no idea what was wrong with me. After researching and finding some (barely any) information online, I realized our changing hormones affect our joints. Ouch, I was so glad when that was over and I could exercise again. 

3 - You will be a hormonal MESS.  You might think something is wrong with you. Don't worry, it's normal.  It started a few days after delivery for me and lasted less than a week. I had no idea why but I would just get so upset. Luckily my mother stayed with us that first week and she knew exactly what was going on (aren't Moms the best). It helped me to talk about it and take a break.  We were still living in our small 1200 square feet condo after I had Graham and it would feel like the walls were closing in on me. Mom would watch Graham while I took a walk around the neighborhood. The sunshine and fresh air helped tremendously. Then after a few days I felt like myself again.

(If you have similar feelings that seem to last more than a couple of weeks, contact your doctor. Postpartum depression is real and affects many women.  You don't have to suffer!)

So mamas, if you just delivered and start experiencing any or all of these don't worry! You're not alone! Just know that being a mother is the BEST feeling in the world. I wouldn't trade it for anything! Your heart is going to experience a love like you've never known. Get ready!

Did I miss anything? Was there something you wished someone would have warned you about when you were pregnant? 

Source

With love & gratitude, 

Heather