Pregnancy certainly is a blessing, but I think I want to ring the neck of whoever says "I love being pregnant!" REALLY? Are you insane?
Don't get me wrong. My husband and I did put ourselves in this predicament by choice. But LOVE being pregnant? I don't think so.
I've resolved to the fact that my body does not like having a little visitor. With my son, I had morning sickness (although it was all day long) for 22 weeks. This time around, I had sickness for 15 weeks which included medication for nausea. (Thank God for that!) In addition, I have had random bleeding issues since the beginning, which caused my stomach to sink and my heart to pound each and every time. Luckily, nothing major, but ya never know. Off to the doctor every time!
As I sit here with 10 more weeks left in my pregnancy with a sweet baby girl (we call her Baby Wow) all I think about is her health - is everything OK in there? I assume so. I do all the things I'm told to do, take my vitamins, etc. As I suffer through swollen feet, hands, boobs, and just plain not feeling so attractive, people ask me, 'How are you feeling?' and my general answer is "Hanging in there!"
The reality is I feel tired, excited, scared, anxious, a little helpless and uncomfortable. Pretty much par for the course. I just want it to be all over so I can hold my baby girl in my arms and bring her home to a family waiting to love her even more.
So, for those of you who LOVE being pregnant -- you get a gold medal. For me, it's all about the result. Either way, nothing beats being a mom no matter how many times you do it!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
One Way to Keep Your Sanity
Being a mom has its challenges. Being a working mom has some different ones. My biggest challenge: What should we have for dinner every night?
Well, there's a few ways to deal with that:
1) Order or Takeout
2) Cook something (that's hopefully nutritious)
All that is fine and good, but getting to the grocery store is not exactly on the top of many women's list of "fun things to do with free time." One thing that I have found that saves my sanity is planning the meals for the week.
Although it takes some discipline (I am guilty of not doing it and then regretting it later), you will find that not only does it make it easier when you get home and you are trying to get dinner on the table (the answer to "what are we having?" is already answered), but you will also save money in the long-run cause food in your refrigerator (e.g., fresh veggies, fruit) will be eaten and not spoiled.
To help you out, here is a sample dinner menu for my family for a week, and to top it off, they are quick and easy (and toddler-friendly):
Monday: Sandwiches (usually toasted ham with cheese), salad and fruit
Tuesday: Tortellini, green beans
Wednesday: Turkey Meatloaf, baked potato (microwave), fruit
Thursday: Chicken quesadillas (use the already cooked chicken to save time), corn
Friday: Pizza (this I get takeout from a local place -- who wants to cook on Friday?), salad
Saturdays and Sundays are always up in the air. Sometimes we like to cook meals that take longer and sometimes we use the opportunity to hang out with friends and go out to eat. Whatever you decide, planning out meals allows you and your family to know what's for dinner and it's flexible enough to switch around based on your busy schedules or even prepare the night before to save even more time!
Well, there's a few ways to deal with that:
1) Order or Takeout
2) Cook something (that's hopefully nutritious)
All that is fine and good, but getting to the grocery store is not exactly on the top of many women's list of "fun things to do with free time." One thing that I have found that saves my sanity is planning the meals for the week.
Although it takes some discipline (I am guilty of not doing it and then regretting it later), you will find that not only does it make it easier when you get home and you are trying to get dinner on the table (the answer to "what are we having?" is already answered), but you will also save money in the long-run cause food in your refrigerator (e.g., fresh veggies, fruit) will be eaten and not spoiled.
To help you out, here is a sample dinner menu for my family for a week, and to top it off, they are quick and easy (and toddler-friendly):
Monday: Sandwiches (usually toasted ham with cheese), salad and fruit
Tuesday: Tortellini, green beans
Wednesday: Turkey Meatloaf, baked potato (microwave), fruit
Thursday: Chicken quesadillas (use the already cooked chicken to save time), corn
Friday: Pizza (this I get takeout from a local place -- who wants to cook on Friday?), salad
Saturdays and Sundays are always up in the air. Sometimes we like to cook meals that take longer and sometimes we use the opportunity to hang out with friends and go out to eat. Whatever you decide, planning out meals allows you and your family to know what's for dinner and it's flexible enough to switch around based on your busy schedules or even prepare the night before to save even more time!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Adults Need to Know How to Speak
Ok, so I'm at the grocery store trying to buy birthday cupcakes for my son's 3rd birthday. Of course, in the middle of the Valentine's Day frenzy, all they have are pink frosted ones with hearts. Valentine's Day stuff was EVERYWHERE. There was even an express lane dedicated to just those men who waited till the last minute to find something for their wives.
In the midst of all this Valentine madness I took my cupcakes to the check-out counter. The cashier said "Happy Valentime's Day!" Which I replied "You too" despite the boiling under my skin. How could a woman, who was at least in her late 30s, say... "Valentimes" when the word is SPELLED OUT all around her. Call me weird or whatever, but it just really bothered me that she didn't know the right way to say it. My son, at 3 years old even knows better!
So, this brings me to my favorite misprounounced words:
1. Valentimes (Valentines)
2. Supposively (Supposedly)
3. Birfday (Birthday)
4. Worsh (Wash)
5. Bolleyball (Volleyball)
In the midst of all this Valentine madness I took my cupcakes to the check-out counter. The cashier said "Happy Valentime's Day!" Which I replied "You too" despite the boiling under my skin. How could a woman, who was at least in her late 30s, say... "Valentimes" when the word is SPELLED OUT all around her. Call me weird or whatever, but it just really bothered me that she didn't know the right way to say it. My son, at 3 years old even knows better!
So, this brings me to my favorite misprounounced words:
1. Valentimes (Valentines)
2. Supposively (Supposedly)
3. Birfday (Birthday)
4. Worsh (Wash)
5. Bolleyball (Volleyball)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Potty Training a Toddler
Whoever said "Oh, my little angel just magically decided to go on the potty all by himself/herself. Training only took a couple days." Well, you make me sick. Whoever said potty training wasn't a process is fooling most of us. Potty training is hard work. And, at least I'm not in the minority. Ben's teacher, who not only has 6 children of her own (of which 5 are boys), but has potty trained gajillions of toddlers in her day as well as other professionals have said it is indeed a process and it takes several months and sometimes years.
Whew! What a relief! Things have always been so easy. Ben is so smart, so one would assume he would be one of those children that would only take a couple days. Nope. But, he really tries hard and I have had to learn patience. As he approaches his 3rd birthday, some may say "He's not trained yet?" My answer. No. According to all kinds of pediatricians and experts, those who think their child is ready many times is kidding themselves. My child wasn't physically able to even hold it in until just recently. You have to wait for their bodies to mature. And don't rush things along when they aren't ready. It'll backfire later.
Throughout the process, I have had to learn that what seems easy and logical to us is not necessarily true for a toddler. I have also learned to reach out to others for help. That's important cause most mothers feel like it's cheating to ask for help. That includes me. There's nothing wrong with asking for help. In fact, it makes life easier, and best of all -- less stressful!!
Reaching out to those who know what their doing has been invaluable. Let's be honest here... I'm a first time mom with one on the way. I'm by no stretch of the imagination an expert. I just do what makes sense to me. There's no rule book. I'm flying by the seat of my pants. But I do my best, and that's all we can do as mothers.
So, after nearly a month of what I would call full-on potty training, he's doing ok... he's making progress. I can't really ask for more than that. But it sure would be nice to be done!!
Whew! What a relief! Things have always been so easy. Ben is so smart, so one would assume he would be one of those children that would only take a couple days. Nope. But, he really tries hard and I have had to learn patience. As he approaches his 3rd birthday, some may say "He's not trained yet?" My answer. No. According to all kinds of pediatricians and experts, those who think their child is ready many times is kidding themselves. My child wasn't physically able to even hold it in until just recently. You have to wait for their bodies to mature. And don't rush things along when they aren't ready. It'll backfire later.
Throughout the process, I have had to learn that what seems easy and logical to us is not necessarily true for a toddler. I have also learned to reach out to others for help. That's important cause most mothers feel like it's cheating to ask for help. That includes me. There's nothing wrong with asking for help. In fact, it makes life easier, and best of all -- less stressful!!
Reaching out to those who know what their doing has been invaluable. Let's be honest here... I'm a first time mom with one on the way. I'm by no stretch of the imagination an expert. I just do what makes sense to me. There's no rule book. I'm flying by the seat of my pants. But I do my best, and that's all we can do as mothers.
So, after nearly a month of what I would call full-on potty training, he's doing ok... he's making progress. I can't really ask for more than that. But it sure would be nice to be done!!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Ode to Change
"Change is the only constant in life." I heard that somewhere - a teacher, a boss, someone. Things are changing. As my belly begins to get larger and the weather changes from hot to cold at the drop of a hat, other things have kept me on my toes. Change is all around us. Sometimes it makes us feel old. Sometimes it makes us feel young.
My husband has embarked on a new career journey - his own business. Scary? Yes. Exciting? Yes. Do I think about it a lot? No, cause I believe in him. He's a smart cookie and his motivation is not only for his own career aspirations, but to provide a better life for his family. I like that kind of change.
Ben is growing like a weed. Oh boy the potty training stories... but that's another blog posting!
My husband has embarked on a new career journey - his own business. Scary? Yes. Exciting? Yes. Do I think about it a lot? No, cause I believe in him. He's a smart cookie and his motivation is not only for his own career aspirations, but to provide a better life for his family. I like that kind of change.
Ben is growing like a weed. Oh boy the potty training stories... but that's another blog posting!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Happy New Year
'Tis the New Year when we all are determined to be more organized, more giving and well... thin! Well, I have an excuse. Being pregnant is a good excuse to forego alot of things -- that includes being THIN! I would like to be more organized. Who wouldn't? But I can honestly say that all I want is health and happiness. I'm good on those so far, I just hope it continues this year and for many years to come!
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