Greatest Confession of All: Motherhood is Awesome.

I think the reason it's been so long since I've posted is that - I confess - I've found motherhood to have gotten a lot easier!

Since Reuben started crawling and pulling himself up to stand at 7/8 months, he has been a different child. He is happy, giggly, inquisitive, cuddly, and adorable as ever! We have had one horrendous week where he had a virus (and got a tooth), and it was really rough. I was clueless and felt so discouraged - taking care of a sick baby who is either throwing up or asleep is the hardest thing I've ever done.

BUT...a result of that sickness was that he was beyond exhausted - this lead to an easy transition to sleeping through the night! My little man now sleeps 7pm-5am (wakes for milk) and then goes back to sleep til 6. Life is good!! He is SO much happier and well rested now (as am I!) and it makes life so awesome. I am enjoying every singly minute I spend with him and he is learning things at a rapid pace.



I think Ashley and I have a joint confession - that no matter how hard babies might be sometimes, we still wanted more!!! We are both due to have babies 16 and 17 months apart from Addison and Reuben.

I'm sure this will lead to many more confessions of motherhood....

It has been a while!

I guess it has been 3 whole months since Sara or I posted on here! I have been busy gestating and enjoying my last few months as a Mommy of one. Today I felt inspired to write about all the conversations I have been having with a wonderful friend of mine. She is on the cusp of having children- that scary "do we, and if so when?" time of life. I remember it well. All of the insecurities of "will this ruin our marriage?", "what will happen to my body?", not to mention all of the wonderful horror stories people tell you about birth. As a pro-family person I have tried to be reassuring and let my friend know that everything she is feeling is totally normal and us Moms feel the same way about kids as non-Moms do. Here are three of the most important...

"UGH! Shut your kid up!"
This occurance was a trip we took to Ikea after a dinner date with our hubbies (we had secured a sitter). It was late, close to closing, and everyone had their children there. They were tired, hungry and melting down around every corner. I felt the need to explain: I want those kids to shut up too. This is not about bad kids- it's about the parents who think it is a great idea to take their offspring out at all hours despite their age, health, schedule and the appropriateness of the outing. Feeding off of this...

"Us Moms don't love every kid. Most of us just like our own."
Being a Mom does not turn you into a cooing baby oogler or child obsessed. No, we don't think every baby or child is cute and having one doesn't make us want a million. Yes, we may be more tolerant of those crying kids at Ikea but its mostly just because we live with a little one we love (and in all honesty, we've all got caught with a crying child). Our children mean the world to us but other kids can be annoying and even repulsive. Do we love playdates or breastfeeding support groups? Yes, because it gives us a chance to have human conversations and if we were only around kids all the time (including our own) we would go nuts. However, yes, I will say it. Being a Mom doesn't automatically make you a "kid person" and you don't have to be one to be a fabulous Mommy. On a positive note...

"You are going to be an amazing Mom!"
Many of us didn't believe it either until someone else reassured us. We don't feel like Supermom or Wonderwoman every day. Or week. Or month. I was brought to tears the first time my Mom told me she thought I was a good Mom just a few months after I had my daughter and there is no bigger compliment. We all have those insecurities but you will still be you, you will have your spouse, family, friends, sense of humor, kindness and love you did before. Life still goes on after kids. You can still do all the things you want to do and accomplish your dreams but the path to get there might look a little different. There is this wonderful thing called nap time. There are also wonderful people called "Grandparents", "Aunts", "Uncles", "babysitters", etc. who showed love and support to you and your kids. And let you nap. Or shop. Or go on vacation. Or whatever it was you did before baby. Although most of these things you can do with kids, but they look a little different.

So, my dear friend- there are lots of people who will try to convince you not to have kids for a variety of reasons but there are many more of us who will cheer you on and tell you all the good stuff about having your own family. Hands down, next to marrying my husband it is the best decision I have ever made and my life is better because of it.

The joys of Jetlag

Well, I meant to post this a few days ago when I was still in the midst of the stress of jetlag.

We just got back from America (see photos below!) and there is a FIVE HOUR time difference. It took a few days to get things back to normal - normal meaning only waking up every 2 hours or so. On top of that, for the first few days Reuben wouldn't go to bed until 11pm every night. Glad that's over with, although he's still super tired and I just let him cry himself to sleep (it didn't take long, maybe 3 minutes. I don't believe in the cry-it-out method.)

Anyways, the worst part of all this schedule-messing-up-ness is that RIGHT before we went to America, literally, days before, we finally got him into a great routine of good afternoon naps and sleeping 4-5 hours at a time at night. It was beautiful. Now, he won't nap more than 45 minutes at a time during the day and although we've had one bout of good luck (a sleep from 7pm-12am), he has been up every 2 hours or so.

I was so happy to have finally got him into a good routine and I feel like we're back at square one now. I'm encouraged because I THINK I know how to solve him sleeping well at night (Good naps) but I'm at a loss as to how to make him nap for more than 45 minutes. Bah!

Breastmilk Ice Cream... only in the UK!

Ashley ClarkSara Bradley

Too boob friendly?!

 London Ice Cream Shop Sells Breast-Milk Ice Cream - Food on Shine

shine.yahoo.com

Ice cream made from human breast milk? It's true. Baby Gaga, is not the name of one of the many pint sized Lady Gaga impressionists flooding YouTube with their Born This Way covers. Baby Gaga is, however, available by the pint. If you’re…

• • Sara Bradley oh. my. goodness. i wonder if i can get paid the $24 for 10 oz...hahah!! seriously though, gross. i'd give it to reuben though. haha

    Yesterday at 4:27pm ·
  • Mike Donahue grossssss

    22 hours ago ·
  • Ashley Clark Maybe you could sell yours? Who volunteered for this?! I saw this and had to share just in case you needed a snack on your way home :)

    4 hours ago ·
  • Sara Bradley bahhaha sick. and nope i already looked,...cant find a place to sell it! ahhaha.

    3 hours ago ·
  • Ashley Clark Maybe Adam needed a snack?! Haha, does that constitute cheating? I was sure you could sell it somewhere or get a job at that shop!

    about an hour ago ·
  • Sara Bradley HAHa ew ashley. lol. Yeah I could get a job there...place your order and i'll whip up some fresh ice cream for you. sick.

    about an hour ago ·
  • Ashley Clark You are well qualified but I don't think you would get maternity leave.

    about an hour ago ·
  • Sara Bradley hahahaha. you'd get...maternity..extra pay?

    4 minutes ago ·
  • Ashley Clark OVERTIME!!!

Mommy's Nap Time

I have been battling allergies this week, even during Sara's visit I had to take Benadryl to not be an itchy, sneezing mess. I felt a bit better until yesterday they manifested themself into a massive headache. Addi had her afternoon nap interrupted by a large poop and didn't go back to sleep. Therefor we were both grumpy. texted Eric to make sure he was coming home on time so I could get a little relief. Being the good husband he is, he came home a half hour early and offered to take crying Addi. Quite relieved, I ran to our quiet, dark bedroom. A few minutes later I heard Eric put Addi down in her room for a nap. I yelled from our room (with a heating pad over my face) "NOT FAIR! CHEATING! I BROUGHT YOU HOME TO SUFFER SO YOU CAN KNOW WHAT I DEAL WITH!!!" Laughing, Eric came in to say goodnight and give me a kiss. I felt pretty bad when I woke up 2 hours later to find that dinner (plus dessert) had been cooked, Addi had only napped for 10 minutes but was now in bed! I don't deserve him!

So Happy Together

The first time our babies met...

Locked In

Oh my goodness. Yesterday, during the morning I was cleaning our room. Addi was playing and our dog, Baby Roo, was visiting with us upstairs. Our bedroom door is broken and locks on its own if slammed closed. Wouldn't you know, Addi slammed the door closed. Pleased with herself, she clapped! I delayed trying to open the door because I was dreading the inevitable- it wasn't going to open. Finally, I knew Roo needed to get out and Addi would need to eat soon so I gave it a tug. Nothing. Tried again. Nothing. And again and again. Finally, I knew I would need to call my husband. But I couldn't find my phone. Panicking, I kept looking and even though it wasn't where it was supposed to be I found it!

Let me out!!!

Laughing so hard I was crying, he was quite concerned about me calling him in the middle of the day. He is a college administrator and teaching at the moment when I said "Our 9 month old locked us in our bedroom with our dog and now I don't know how to get the three of us out!" He started laughing and we couldn't stop for a few minutes! Finally, he talked me through trying to use a pen to turn the handle. I tried it earlier but this time it worked and we were free! I don't know if it was just this experience but I opened all the doors and windows (hey, it was 60 degrees in February in New England) and took Addi for a long walk. A little too much cabin fever I guess!

The Sleep Obsession

I had no idea that once my baby was born, my life would become one giant obsession with sleep.

I thought that Reuben would keep me up for a few late nights in the first 12 weeks and then sleep peacefully through the night after that. I did not picture my life as it is now: infatuated with the idea of 8 (heck I'd take 6) hours sleep straight. The topic of sleep dominating every conversation I have. The constant, daily advice I get on how to make my baby sleep through the night. The books I have read and have been advised to read.

Sleep is constantly on my mind. How did Reuben sleep? How many hours in total? How many straight? How many naps did he have that day? How long were they?

Daytime naps, catnaps, long naps, the way they all influence his night sleep. Night feedings, weaning him to solids and how this should help him sleep. Toys that make womb noises to help him rest.

And how do I get him out of the habit of being rocked to sleep? Should he have daytime naps in his crib, or someplace else so he can differentiate night from day?

Everywhere I go, the topic comes up. "Is he a sleeper?" No. No he's not.

This is just about Reuben's sleep. What about my sleep? I try to go to bed when he does but that is 7pm. I usually lay there for 1 or more hours. He then wakes up.


Today has been one of the worst in the past 2 weeks. We finally had his daytime naps lasting longer and thus he had a great nights sleep last night (Slept 4 hours, then another 4 1/2) - then we battled for another hour of sleep.

By 11am he was ready for a nap - VERY ready.
So I rocked him and got him to sleep.
21 Minutes later, he woke up... wide eyed but clearly still tired. So I quickly picked him up and rocked him again. 15 minutes later, he was finally asleep.

And as I was laying him down, the phone rings.

I could have cried.
I could have punched Adam - who was calling to let me know he was on his way home.
I shouted "NEVER CALL ME AGAIN, GOODBYE!"
I was so angry. Here we are, 3 1/2 hours later, and Reuben is just down for his first nap of the day. UGH.


I'm tired. And tired of talking about it.

Why blog?

Why blog? To share our ridiculous stories of course. We love, love, love our kids and write about all their cute, adorableness on our seperate blogs but I think Sara and I commiserated about some of the not so cute and not so fun parts of being a Mom. It is the hardest job in the world and it just clicked. Women can spend to much time tearing each other down when we all just need a little encouragement. Or to laugh. Or both. A little encouragement might sound like...

"You didn't kill your child today. This makes you a good parent!"
 
or

"I have been there too."

We had confessions that we didn't tell anyone but had both experienced. It felt good to get them out. Like today. Sara, today was a good day in our house including a 3 hours afternoon nap (Addi not me)! However, this does not make me want to give up the opportunity of free babysitting tonight. That's right. Sometimes I go to church (guest speaker tonight) because of the free childcare. I don't think I've ever gone more (or needed to)! We even teach Sunday school now. 1 hour alone with my husband and I get to chat with other humans (no, my daughter does not count as she cannot walk erect or talk) before and after. Sometimes there are snacks. Addi can play with other kids. Win-win all the way around. Let the fun begin!

Update: No church for us tonight- Addi passed out at 6:15pm! A little extra time with the hubby either way!

Oh no...Silence?

Some days it feels like Reuben never stops screaming or shouting for my attention. Last week I literally thought I was going to go insane because every time I just sat and listened, I heard crying. Most of the time, there's nothing even wrong. It drives me crazy.

Yesterday morning I went into the kitchen to get breakfast and Reuben was on the living room floor. He has recently, in the past couple weeks, learned to roll onto his tummy and move himself around. Every day he gets more mobile, and every day I get more afraid of all the things he will soon be getting into. My house is no where near baby-proofed.

Anyways. I was in the kitchen. And then there was silence. I ran into the living room to find this:











Fortunately it was only a pack of tissues and not scissors or something. Like I said, house not even close to being baby proofed.

I thought I'd start my "Confessions" with something relatively lighthearted.

I did enjoy that silence though.