For me, this was an easy choice. Ever since I was little I wanted to be a mommy...take care of the house and kids, cook dinner, and just make it a happy home. Maybe this is because my mom stayed home, and was an awesome role model of a "housewife." She made our childhood a happy and memorable one. She never sat on the couch eating bon bons and watching Oprah! She played imaginary games, built forts, drove us to and from school and sports, etc. That is just what I wanted to grow up to be, and here I am:) Sometimes, it is harder than I thought it would be! But that is the same with any job...and if its too easy, then you probably are not doing it right! It is not for everyone, and I don't think thats a bad thing at all. When Emma was born I had to work full time, when Reaghan was born I was able to go to part time and eventually quit altogether. Working while my girls were little was something that I really had a hard time with! I missed them, pumping was just not the same
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Sep 08, 2009
Going along with the stay at home or go to work topic, I thought I would share my thoughts on choosing a daycare:) I have worked in three daycare centers in about eight years. It was a couple of years ago that I worked in childcare, but I do have a couple of "insider" suggestions for parents who are picking out a daycare center. One really good idea is to just drop in...don't call and make an appointment! Walk in and really listen to what is going on. I wont name the center I worked for that was not so great, but I will tell you the director would freak out when people did that because things were not what they should be! A good time to get an idea of what really goes on, is lunch time. This is when staff is starting to take their breaks, and a good time to see if a center keeps their adult to child ratio. Another important thing to do is ask lots of questions! Important things to know are...what their ratios are...there are laws but some centers choose to have less kids per
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Aug 04, 2009
Ok, I am not going to lie, life is crazy right now! Between everyone coming to see John, the lack of sleep, the mess..oh the house is a mess, engorgement, and worst of all the day we got home from the hospital Reaghan came down with a 103 degree fever! We have to try to keep her germs away from the baby and still encourage her to bond with him. Thankfully my awesome Grandma stocked our freezers with pre-made dinners that we just have to thaw and reheat...she made enough for a month! (GREAT idea for someone for a baby shower or something by the way, we have really appreciated it!) The days FLY by...I don't know where the time goes!Now, besides all of that, we are so happy to have our little boy! I am head over heels in love with this little guy, I dont even mind the middle of the night feedings and changings because we get to enjoy a peaceful house and just nurse and snuggle. The girls have really been great with him and all the changes that come with having a new baby in the
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Jul 17, 2009
I decided to write this entry because when it happened to me, I spent a lot of time looking it up online..and knowing other people had healthy babies after subchorionic hemmoraging made me feel so much better. When I was very early in my pregnancy with Reaghan, Emma and I went to get the oil changed in my car. While I was standing there waiting for my card to be approved I felt this huge gush, I was so embarrased I tied my sweatshirt around my waist and wished the guy would hurry up so I could get to the bathroom. So I had to bring Emma in this little bathroom at an oil place and realize that I had a huge amount of blood leaking, and try to stay calm so she did not freak out. We drove home and I just remember sitting in my car trying to get a hold of Wes or my Mom. Finially I got a hold of Wes, he came home and we headed for the ER. When we got there and had an exam, they told me I had most likely lost the baby, we sat and cried for what seemed like forever then they took me
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Jul 09, 2009
With the girls, I spent the last two months just wanting them to be born. The last couple months went by sooo slow and all I could do is wonder what they looked like, when they would be here, how big they would be and on and on. This time around I have not been in such a big hurry! For one thing I was not feeling ready, with two girls we have lots of pink stuff so we had to get him lots of new things. Also, he had no clothes! We had bedrooms to switch around and cleaning to be done. Finially, this last weekend we went out and got everything I was worrying about diapers, clothes, nursing pads, blankets, everything. His room is all set and ready. Bags are packed. However, having the baby stuff was not the only reason I was not feeling ready. Also, I was worried about the attention the girls would get from me after I had a new baby to care for. Sleepless nights with a baby and then early mornings with a toddler is not going to be easy! We don't like the girls to watch tv, so
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Jun 08, 2009
One example of anxiety that I really remember from my pregnancy with Reaghan happened when I was six months along. We were on vacation in Hawaii and our room was on the 7th floor. It was the kind of hotel where all of the rooms open to the outside so we had to walk to our room on a really long balcony. There was a safety rail, but for some reason I was so scared that Emma was going to slip and fall thru the rail. It was ridiculious because she seriously would have had to roll in butter to slip thru that rail! But I was so afraid I would make her walk along the inside with one hand on the wall, and have Wes walk on the other side of her. Still, silly as they are, feelings like that would really take away from me enjoying times that should have been fun. After I had Reaghan I felt even worse. We had two flights of stairs and I just knew if I carried her up the stairs I would fall and she would get hurt. I was scared to the point that I could not make myself walk up the stairs
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Jun 08, 2009
You hear so much about postpartum depression and anxiety, even Hollywood shares these problems with us. Well why didn't I ever hear of it starting during pregnancy?! When I had Emma I experienced minor feelings of postpartum depresson. Once, when she was a week or so old I ran to the store for diapers and left her home with my Mom. Well there I was in Freddy's walking down the baby aisle and "Wind Beneath My Wings" came on. Next thing I knew I was bawling, I looked down and I had leaked milk all over my shirt...luckily I was crying so hard that the big wet marks could have passed as tears:) That went on for about six months or so, feeling sad and crying. But everything I read said it was normal and it passed. Then when I was about six months pregnant with Reaghan I started having really sad feelings, crying spells (ok crying days) I figured I was just hormonal. Then I started having really bad anxiety feelings. Well I had no idea that this could happen while you were
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May 26, 2009
In my opinion, the second trimester is the best out of the three. The first is kind of hard because not everyone knows your pregnant, therefore they don't understand why you are so tired and spacy, grumpy, and or hungry. For me it is a trimester full of worries and wishing I could feel my baby move so I know everything is allright in there. The third sorta stinks because now your uncomfortable with an achy back, and I personally tend to get pretty impatient waiting for the day I get to meet the little person bouncing on my bladder and kicking me in the ribs. I'm usually back to that tired spacy feeling...maybe because I wake up to pee ten times a night! These are the reasons why I like the second trimester the best. The "baby bump" still looks cute rather than huge and maybe even covered in stretch marks, I have a little bit more energy and feeling my baby move brings me so much comfort that all is well. Not that the whole journey isn't exciting and a total miracle, but man
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May 26, 2009
Sometimes things happen and I think, I'm going to write a blog on that! And sometimes I make it to the computer and actually do it:) Yesterday I was reminded of an important lesson. Stop, and really enjoy life. I was having one of those days where nothing seemed to get done. We had put some stuff on craigslist to make some room and I was dealing with calls and emails. All the while trying to keep the house picked up..and why? So strangers who were coming to buy our stuff wouldn't think I was messy? The kids sensed I had extra tasks and seemed to need a few extra things done for them too. Long story short, I was hot, tired, and frustrated. Then it was time to make dinner. Now usually I include Emma in "helping" with making dinner, but today I asked Wes (and honestly probably not in a very nice tone) to make sure the kitchen was quiet and I could have some alone time while cooking. While I was grumbling to myself about my day I heard Wes start reading Emma the book she had
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May 14, 2009
This is my fourth pregnancy and I still have daily questions and or concerns! My Doctor has got to be the most patient woman in the world! Every other week or so I call her, convinced something is strange or wrong...and every time she patiently reassures me that everything is ok. When I visit her I usually have a list of questions as well. So, when I am in one of these worried moods or I just wonder about something I tend to look online. How on earth did pregnant women make it without the internet?! Well here are some really great sites I have found to have some answers:)
www.franklypregnant.com
www.babycenter.com
www.justmommies.com This one has a neat calendar you can check daily to see what your baby is up to:)
Happy
