Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Another Mother's Day Post
Mother's day was wonderful! Mom got me tickets to see Wicked, and it was fantastic! I read the book years ago and had always wanted to see the show, so as a special treat Mom surprised me with third row seats! It felt really nice to dress up and go do something "grown up", too. I left poor Chase with an incredibly cranky and teething baby girl all day, but he handled it like a pro! Apparently, he took Natalie shopping and she was a whirlwind on destruction. He said nothing within Natalie's reach was safe... she was ripping things from the shelves. That's how he picked out my Mother's Day card (yeah, be bought it the day of... so what?), she pulled it off the display and threw it. What a little devil, never in her young little life have I ever known her to be a brat! Maybe she knows she's got Daddy wrapped tightly around her little finger, and therefore pushes her limits? Whatever the case, she wouldn't even sit in the cart (which she usually LOVES), Chase had to carry her in one arm and push the cart with the other. I think the Wicked (Ha!) side of me was a little grateful he had to experience butt head Natalie, now he understands a little better what my life is like day in and day out... what perfect Mother's Day gift! Actually, nothing is a perfect as the gift he did give me. He went to a pottery place and had Natalie's handprints glazed on a mug for me, it was really sweet. It's a great way to remember my first Mother's Day and my tiny baby girl!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
My First Mother's Day
Tomorrow is my very first Mother's Day! Chase gave me my present today, it's a mug with Natalie's handprints on it. I absolutely adore it, it's just so precious! So, in honor of my first Mother's Day, I thought I'd post some pictures (sparing you the details of my 21 hour labor.... you're welcome) of the day I became a mom. Otherwise known as the happiest day of my life. Please excuse my appearance, it was a rough day... to say the least. Feel free to laugh at how smily I am at the beginning in contrast to the pictures with Natalie. I do.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Ready, Set....
CRAWL! Well, almost. In the past few days Natalie has been trying her hardest to crawl. Poor thing, she's not very good at it. Bless her heart, she tries with all her might. It's actually really funny. She isn't quite strong enough yet to hold all of her body weight. If she's pushed up all the way with head up and arms straight, she can get one knee up (usually her left... I think she's going to be a lefty) and propels herself forward with just that one leg over and over again. She doesn't make it very far. I don't think she's figured out that if she switches legs, she might actually get it! Anyway, her other crawling attempt involves putting her face in the floor, inching her toes up to her chest so that her bottom sticks straight up in the air and then collapsing. She can usually gain a few inches this way. Either way, she's now able to make it pretty much anywhere in the house she wants. I wasn't ready for this yet!
After Natalie was born I remember feeling completely overwhelmed and out of control. I couldn't imagine how I would ever find the time to take out the trash, let alone shower! I didn't realize how EASY it was to have a newborn! Why didn't someone smack me? They sleep ALL the time. There were days where Natalie would sleep in her swing for hours and hours. I don't know where my mind was, or why I didn't take those opportunities to get things done. I guess I was just being stuck on the 3 hours a day Natalie was fussy. I remember thinking "when she can [insert milestone] it will get easier". I still think that way sometimes. It didn't don on me that when a new milestone is actually achieved it brings a whole new set of challenges along with it. Although I do believe that her newborn stage was a period of blissful ignorance for me, I do enjoy not having a child attached to my breast every other time I turn around. And even though I now realize that having a newborn isn't quite as difficult as I made it seem, I will never do it again. Let me repeat: I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!
Which leads me to how annoyed I am with some people. So many people tell me I'll change my mind, or that I'm going to want a sibling for Natalie, or they give me an obnoxious grin and I know they're thinking "Just you wait". Whatever. Not only was my pregnancy the most horrendously uncomfortable 37 weeks, one day and 21 hours of my life, but I'm not the type of person that can divide my attention very well. Ask Chase. He's been demoted, big time. Having said that, I would do it over and over again for Natalie. And only Natalie, no one else, second child included. I can't imagine ever saying to Natalie "I'm sorry Natalie, Mommy can't watch Barney with you. Baby Jerome [just kidding] needs his diaper changed". I am the only child of an only child, Chase has a half sister (by his father) years younger than him... so his Mom has an only child, several of my closest friends are only children; and we all turned out just fine. We're not selfish, we're not stuck up, we're not spoiled, and I'm pretty sure none of us feel any love lost over the fact that we have no siblings. In fact, I was talking to a friend, who is in the process of making her second child decision (you know who you are), about some research she has done. While I know there is positive and negatives to both sides, I like what the research says about only children. They're read to more, typically have higher IQ's, excel in school and develop more meaningful friendships. Why can't people just accept it when I say I simply do not want another one? Rather than giving me that knowing smirk that just makes me want to smack them silly, a simple "oh, OK" would suffice. I don't think I've ever responded with "You'll change your mind" (or something similar) to people who tell me they want more than one child. Why can't the same courtesy be extended to me? Is it really that far fetched to believe a husband and wife truly do not want more than one child? I hate being made to feel like I'm hurting Natalie by not providing her a sibling. I cannot tell you how many people I know that can't stand the sight of their siblings, so I just wont accept the "she has to have a sibling" argument anymore. Period. And I hate feeling like I have to justify our decision. We just don't want anymore. It always seems to be strangers or acquaintances that so freely offer their opinions, too. Why is that?
Disclaimer: Just because I feel this way doesn't mean I think my friends who have more than one child or want more than one are wrong. In no way do I disagree with having a larger family. Children are a blessing. I just know that it's not best option for our family. However, I think the Duggars are out of their ever loving minds.
Not quite sure how a post about Natalie almost crawling turned into a rant about happily having only one child, but it did. Sorry to take my frustrations out on all 4 of you that actually read my blog. I know you're good friends and good listeners, thanks for letting me vent.
After Natalie was born I remember feeling completely overwhelmed and out of control. I couldn't imagine how I would ever find the time to take out the trash, let alone shower! I didn't realize how EASY it was to have a newborn! Why didn't someone smack me? They sleep ALL the time. There were days where Natalie would sleep in her swing for hours and hours. I don't know where my mind was, or why I didn't take those opportunities to get things done. I guess I was just being stuck on the 3 hours a day Natalie was fussy. I remember thinking "when she can [insert milestone] it will get easier". I still think that way sometimes. It didn't don on me that when a new milestone is actually achieved it brings a whole new set of challenges along with it. Although I do believe that her newborn stage was a period of blissful ignorance for me, I do enjoy not having a child attached to my breast every other time I turn around. And even though I now realize that having a newborn isn't quite as difficult as I made it seem, I will never do it again. Let me repeat: I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!
Which leads me to how annoyed I am with some people. So many people tell me I'll change my mind, or that I'm going to want a sibling for Natalie, or they give me an obnoxious grin and I know they're thinking "Just you wait". Whatever. Not only was my pregnancy the most horrendously uncomfortable 37 weeks, one day and 21 hours of my life, but I'm not the type of person that can divide my attention very well. Ask Chase. He's been demoted, big time. Having said that, I would do it over and over again for Natalie. And only Natalie, no one else, second child included. I can't imagine ever saying to Natalie "I'm sorry Natalie, Mommy can't watch Barney with you. Baby Jerome [just kidding] needs his diaper changed". I am the only child of an only child, Chase has a half sister (by his father) years younger than him... so his Mom has an only child, several of my closest friends are only children; and we all turned out just fine. We're not selfish, we're not stuck up, we're not spoiled, and I'm pretty sure none of us feel any love lost over the fact that we have no siblings. In fact, I was talking to a friend, who is in the process of making her second child decision (you know who you are), about some research she has done. While I know there is positive and negatives to both sides, I like what the research says about only children. They're read to more, typically have higher IQ's, excel in school and develop more meaningful friendships. Why can't people just accept it when I say I simply do not want another one? Rather than giving me that knowing smirk that just makes me want to smack them silly, a simple "oh, OK" would suffice. I don't think I've ever responded with "You'll change your mind" (or something similar) to people who tell me they want more than one child. Why can't the same courtesy be extended to me? Is it really that far fetched to believe a husband and wife truly do not want more than one child? I hate being made to feel like I'm hurting Natalie by not providing her a sibling. I cannot tell you how many people I know that can't stand the sight of their siblings, so I just wont accept the "she has to have a sibling" argument anymore. Period. And I hate feeling like I have to justify our decision. We just don't want anymore. It always seems to be strangers or acquaintances that so freely offer their opinions, too. Why is that?
Disclaimer: Just because I feel this way doesn't mean I think my friends who have more than one child or want more than one are wrong. In no way do I disagree with having a larger family. Children are a blessing. I just know that it's not best option for our family. However, I think the Duggars are out of their ever loving minds.
Not quite sure how a post about Natalie almost crawling turned into a rant about happily having only one child, but it did. Sorry to take my frustrations out on all 4 of you that actually read my blog. I know you're good friends and good listeners, thanks for letting me vent.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Naked Time
Natalie is a drooler. There, I said it. She drools like no other child I've ever known, but that's OK... we love her despite the constantly wet chin, slimy clothes and small puddles she leaves all over the house. By the end of the day, after she's soaked through approximately 12 bibs, we sort of just give up and have "naked time". I should clarify: only Natalie has "naked time". What's the point? There's no need for Natalie to don a new bib or sparkly new outfit at 6 p.m. when she's an hour away from bed time. Here is a cute video and a few funny pictures of "naked time".
p.s. Notice how well she's sitting? She wobbles from time to time, but I think we can go ahead and declare this milestone ACHIEVED!
Oyster Fest
Every May the Junior League of Moore County hosts an Oyster Fest and the whole town comes out. There's good music, drinks, food, friends and of course, Oysters (yuck)! I never get to participate in the fun because I have to work the event, since I'm in the League. So, I trusted Chase with the camera and told him to get lots of good pictures of Natalie at her first Oyster Fest. Silly me. We ended up with two pictures and that's it. Albeit, they are very cute. The camera finally came out at the end of the evening when Natalie, exhausted from a day of fun, fell asleep while Mom was holding her.
Swinging Fools
Some more pictures of a fun park date with Natalie.
Sorry if the video gives you motions sickness!
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