Remind Me

This picture popped up on my desktop today during lunch and I realized how much I love it.

This picture was taken along with our pregnancy announcements. I was about 5 weeks pregnant at this point.

I love that Brian’s freckles had made a reappearance after some time in the sun. I can’t say I remember the conversation we were having or why B has that grin on his face but I do know that in that moment I was totally in love. And that’s what I need to remember some days.

Those days were super simple. We were so excited about the babE that would be joining our family soon. Bedrest hadn’t happened, NICU wasn’t even a thought in our minds.

Those days seem so simple, and I know we’ll get back to days like that. But today I needed the reminder.

What’s your favourite picture? Can you narrow it down to just one?

 

 

First Momma-Versary: Becky and her boys

 

I’m so excited to be starting Twin month with Becky!! She is the first of the twin mommas I know celebrating her First Momma-versary this year.

This post is going up a day late – Grey and Micah turned one yesterday, but both have been a bit under the weather. Say a prayer for them okay?

So here’s Becky talking about her sweet boys and her first year as a mom.

 

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Hi! I love guest posts, I love questionnaires, but I really REALLY like to talk about myself and my babies - thus the blog. My name is Becky and I have two adorable little one year old boys named Micah and Grey. Our family looks like this: 

What 3 things would you tell a first time mom about the first year of their baby’s life.

1. Everybody has advice. Everybody has horror stories. Everybody wants to tell you what kind of mother to be, and what kind of child you have. Ignore them. Experience this yourself. Let your baby show you who she is, and discover what type of mother she needs. Then just be that. 

2. Write. Write. Write. Photograph. Photograph. Photograph. So many little things happen every day, and so many changes occur that you’ll have a different baby every week. Document things so that you don’t forget. Try to take at least one decent picture every week, and once a month write down all your baby’s new tricks, likes, and dislikes. 

3. Forget the bad and relish in the good. When you look back at the first year of your baby’s life, you don’t want to dwell on the baby puke pooling in the cups of your bra or the way that you freaked out at your husband after 14 straight sleepless hours. Those things don’t matter. Remember them only as funny anecdotes. The memories to hold on to and cherish are of your baby sleeping on your chest. The first time he smiled, I mean REALLY smiled at you. His first words. That funny sound he made when he was gassy. 

What has been the best moment of your first year as a mom?

Moment? There can’t be one best moment, can there? My favorite moments though, are quiet ones. Usually they’re when my little boys are snuggly and close. It might be early in the morning, when my husband Travis brings them in to bed with us to play, and they’re just so excited so see us and be awake that they want to tickle and play and kiss. It might be on a drowsy summer afternoon, with a baby on my chest and a baby on Travis’ and all they want to do is play with my hair and coo little baby songs. It might be sitting outside their bedroom door, and listening to them in their beds, talking to each other and laughing at each other before they fall asleep.

But it’s hard to say. There are lots of best moments. 

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?

I can’t wait until my boys can talk. Right now they sign a little, and they say a few words. They sing CONSTANTLY, and it’s so funny. But I wish I could tell what they were thinking.

The other day, Micah woke up from his nap and when I picked him up he yelled “Jack!” several times. Jack is my brother, who we hadn’t seen for a few weeks. I think he was having a dream about his uncle Jack, and I just can’t wait until they're is big enough to tell me things like that. 

Hmm, what are those little boys thinking?` 

Tell us about your little one.

I actually have two little ones! Grey and Micah are identical twin boys. They are so spunky and fun. Micah is a little skinnier, because he’s always running around. He doesn’t have time to sit still and eat! He’s so wiggly, and silly! He’s taken to making silly faces, and shaking his head while he walks around until he falls over, and then lies on the ground and laughs! He loves his brother, and is always trying to stroke, hug and kiss Grey. He is a daddy’s boy and a grandma’s boy, but not a mama’s boy. (Sad face.) 

Grey is a little solemner, and is (thank goodness!) a serious mama’s boy. He loves to go to the park, and will stand and knock at the front door until we go outside to play. He’s so sweet tempered and hates to see other people sad. Even in the midst of crying, he’ll smile and laugh to try to make someone else feel better. He loves to touch faces and snuggle. He’ll sit quietly singing on my lap and is always talking. He even talks in his sleep! 

How are you celebrating Grey and Micah’s birthday?

Their birthday was actually this weekend and sadly the boys were so sick! I tried to take birthday pictures and they were so pathetic! I made them an elaborate and beautiful cake, and they refused to eat it. Grey accidentally got some frosting on his hand (when he was trying to grab the lit candle) and started panicking and crying. He was trying to wipe it off, and stick it in MY mouth, but he refused to try it. Hopefully everyone will be better next weekend and we’ll have a party. I’m even going to let them each have a cake to smash, if they want it. 

What was the biggest hurdle you overcame in the last year?

I guess my biggest hurdle was two-part, first I had to stop judging myself when I “failed” at something that I thought was important, and second was to stop judging other moms when they parented different than me. When I started giving my babies formula in addition to breastmilk... I seriously had hourly meltdowns. I thought I was failing at breastfeeding because I didn’t have enough faith. I thought that if I stopped breastfeeding, I was a bad mom. I thought that if my babies could take a bottle, then just anyone off the street could feed them and mother them as well as I could. 

And I was wrong.  

I just couldn’t physically make 2.5 liters of milk a day (not an exaggeration). That didn’t make me a bad mom. It made me a human instead of a cow.

And likewise, sometimes I see a mom give her kids candy or get away with bullying and I want to to march in and give her a piece of my mind. And then I remember the types of women who lectured me when I gave my boys bottles, and I reign my crazy in. We’re all different types of mothers. We don’t need to be the same, because our kids and our lives aren’t the same. 

What kind of mom are you?

A good mom.

Is that enough of an answer?

I try really, really hard to be a good mom. 

\Thanks for letting me participate, this was such a fun little thing to fill out, and I was searching through pictures for it and found lots of gems that I hadn't seen in months! I need to start printing more photos!

xoxo,

Becky

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Go show Becky and the boys some love over on her blog! And be sure to check out her photoshop actions – HoneyBee Actions – I absolutely ADORE them and they make photo editing a breeze. She uses them all over her blog, and I’m sure on every one of the pictures (but don’t quote me on that)

Also - if you're celebrating your First Momma-versary in 2012 and want to participate send me an email. I would love to have you. babEblessings@rogers.com

Blessings All!!

Jac

I am still alive I swear!!!

Wednesday was the last day of RRSP season. As of 5pm on Wednesday I get to have my brain back a bit.

Wednesday we had an office lunch that was splendid!! We ordered Swiss Chalet and ate in the boardroom as an office, and then my co-worker Amy brought in some treats. And she loves me so much she spoiled me with a Vegan Wheat Free cupcake that was almost too pretty to eat. I did however eat the entire thing in about 20 minutes; which is pretty fast since I haven’t had much sugar and my sweet tooth is almost non-existent. 

It’s March now and it’s a bit crazy!! The last two months have flown by!!! I’m really excited to be able to have the mental capacity to blog more and I have so much I have to update you on. Hopefully you’ll be all caught up on life in the E house before the end of the week.

 

 

Sponsor us

It's almost March
-
which means you still have time to be one of our very first sponsors.

I'm so excited to be working with some amazing blogs coming up. I'm currently sponsoring 7+ blogs, which means you're exposing yourself to 7 blogs worth of readership by sponsoring us.

Until March 1st I'll even give you a great deal. Sign up for 3 months and you'll get the 4th month free!!!

email me for more details - babEblessings@rogers.com

 

Our Story

Bekah's sharing Brian and I's story over on her blog.

go check it out

 

First Momma-versary: Jenn and Claire

Today I'm wishing my friend Jenn happy first momma-versary. She's here to tell us about her first year as a mom and her little doll Claire!

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Last year at this time I was doing something I had not ever done before; getting ready to unexpectantly have my first baby over a month early.  To celebrate my daughter Claire’s first birthday (and my first momma-versary), I am again doing something I have not ever done before...writing a post for my friend Jac’s blog.  Thanks Jac, for the challenge:)

My daughter Claire was only a little over 3 pounds when she was born by an emergency c-section on Valentine’s Day - 5 weeks early.  Even at 5 weeks early, she should have been bigger than she was, so she spent the first few weeks of her life in the NICU at Grand River Hospital.  She is now an active and happy 16 pound one year old!!  She sleeps through the night, eats a wide variety of food, loves her pet dog and cannot get enough of bathtime!

In the last year I have kind of settled into and developed my own “mama-style”.  I am a very realistic and practical mom.  I know my baby will get sick sometimes but I still let her put toys in her mouth and crawl on the floor.  I know she needs to make a huge mess in order to learn to feed herself.  I know she has to cry when she is teething.  I am okay with all of this.  I know she she sometimes test my patience, but I also know the smallest smile or moment of snuggle time can erase a bad day.  I am also very non-judgemental when it comes to parenting.  You need to do what works for you, whether it be disposable or cloth diapers....breastfeeding, pumping, or formula feeding....whatever.  You do what you need to do to make yourself and your baby happy.  Do not judge other mommies and hope they will not judge you in return.  Period.

When I think about my baby turning 1, I also congratulate myself and my husband for surviving the first year!  Being a preemie mom was a challenge and brought with it it’s own set of hurdles, such as pumping, learning the language of the NICU, and even trying to find clothes to fit my 3 pound baby!   I think one of my biggest hurdles in the past year, other than preemie issues, was learning to trust my own instincts.  Being a first time mom is hard, and you do not know when something is really wrong; when to take your baby to the doctor, when to let her cry herself to sleep, if she has eaten enough, or if she is warm.  Learning to trust your own developing “mommy instincts” is hard, but it comes with time and you build your mommy confidence with every good decision you make.  

I have been truly fortunate to have many “best” moments during the first year of Claire’s life.  Some of these moments have been very emotional. The day I was able to bring her home from the NICU was one of the happiest days of my life.  The first time she smiled my heart melted and the first time I saw her smile up at her dad, my heart melted again.  Hearing her say Mama and Dada was music to my ears, as was her first giggle.  Some of these moments have also been quite practical, such as the first time I left my house alone with my baby daughter (to get a zucchini from the grocery store), or the first time she slept through the night (bless you Lord!).

Out of these moments, both good and bad, you learn many lessons.  Accept help when it is offered.  If your mom wants to clean your house, say okay.  If your best friend wants to fill your freezer with homemade goodies, thank her.  If your mother-in-law offers to do your laundry, let her.  It is the help from others that allows you to retain a small part of your sanity during the first few weeks after birth.  Find a friend or a group with whom you can relate.  Get involved with a Y, or Early Years Centre, or something.  This helps immensely when you need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to bounce an idea off of, or a friend with whom you can enjoy stroller walks in the park.  My friend Jill and I both had preemies and met in the NICU and we now touch base, if not get together everyday.  You will have great days, but you will have tough days too....and with a friend you can embrace all days together!  “Expect the unexpected”.   Be flexible, and be able to change your schedule daily of needed. I quickly learned to let the heap of laundry grow and not feel stressed; that dinner at 8pm was still dinner, and that bathtime could happen again in the morning if Claire’s diaper dictated that way:)

Despite our best efforts to keep Claire’s first birthday low-key, we are having many celebrations for her.  Her daddy and I will enjoy seeing her mash her face into a giant cupcake on the actual day of her birthday.   Then, her grandparents from BC are coming for a birthday visit, and her other grandparents are celebrating with her the following weekend.  Finally, we are having a special little party for her baby friends, on her “should have been birthday”, my original due date in March.  

In the next year, I am looking forward to watching Claire grow, and develop, and learn new things.  I look forward to watching her make new friends at daycare, and teaching her how to walk and use the potty.  I look forward to seeing her discover her world and master new challenges.  

Happy 1st “parent-versary” to my fabulous husband who is an amazing daddy.  And Happy 1st Birthday to my special valentine, Claire Nicole.  We love you more than anything, our little kangaroo!! XO

Happy Birthday Claire!! You are absolutly amazing!

 

Girl Behind The Blog

HI everyone - I'm linking up with the Girl Behind the Blog Vlog link up party.

Please spare a vote for us.

What Obstacle?

Watching Gray and Brian playing last night made me laugh more than usual. Gray would drop his soother, so Brian would put it on the far side of the couch. Gray would notice it there a few minutes later, and then he would climb over Brian(‘s face) to get his soother.

Gray didn’t see Brian as an obstacle; he just saw his soother and wanted it. He was like: What Obstacle?

It made me realize that when I set a goal I always seem to see the obstacles in my way. In order to do this I have to do this this this and this first.

Sometimes I need to stop looking at the things in the way and just work on getting to my goal. I think focusing on the obstacles makes them bigger than they are. So I’m going to stop looking at the things in my way, plow through them and get to my goal.

 

Quick Favour

I would love it if you could take a minute and vote for us.

The numbers have been reset, so hopefully we can stay in the top 100 if we keep the voting up.

How can you not vote for this little guy?

Thanks so much!!