A Note on Memory Keeping

Oh me, oh my, where do I start? I’ve been putting off writing about our trip to Disney for many reasons, the most important of which is that so much happened, and I just don’t have the time to get it all down. But, as I told Trent on the way home from the airport, my purposes in writing this blog (or Twitter even) has changed so much in the past few years. Whereas this used to be a place for me to spew whatever nagging thoughts were swirling around in my brain, now I look at it as sort of a time capsule. I remember Gwen Bell saying once (on Twitter or her blog or the like) that she wished her mother had some sort of online journal or Twitter account. Her mom, who died when she was quite young, is somewhat of a mystery to her, and she wondered what her Twitter would say, what she would share with the world, and wishes she could peek into her private thoughts. Every time (well, almost) I write something here or anywhere online, I think of that. Of how someday my children will read this, and whether I’m still on this Earth or not, they will gain some insight into who I am as person, not just their mother. They can read my perspective, learn about things I was interested in, understand me so much better. Sure, there are things I don’t want them to know that they will probably learn here and elsewhere, but it’s all part of my truth, the person I am. And them seeing that I am a mere mortal, a person who makes mistakes and learns and grows is more important to me than sheltering them from said mistakes.

What I’m trying to get at, is although I have no time, and honestly, not much desire to chronicle our trip to Disney here, I know I have to. Lucy’s experience of this trip will be remembered through five year old eyes and ears, it will be muffled and selective. I want her to be able to read this in five or ten or twenty years and learn what she said the first time she saw the castle over the horizon or how she grinned while sitting on her dad’s shoulders or what she said as she met Cinderella for the first time. I want her to see her beautiful self through my eyes. So even though it may take forever to get it all down, and regardless of who will read it today, I need to write this story. For her. For Tate. So they can remember.

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5 Months

Dear Tater Tot,

Today you are five months old…I know, right?! When your sister was five months old, she got two teeth, rolled over and went on a week-long nursing strike. Be ye not so dramatic, son. Spare your poor, fragile mother. Maybe you could just rock around on your back and stay stationary for another month or so. What do you say?

Adorable like whoa.

Tate, I literally can’t count how many times in the last month I’ve been complimented on your amazing demeanor, like I am the one who created it. Ha! That is all you, little man, the most mellow, happy baby in the world. Your daycare providers tell me every day how amazed they are with you and how you may be the happiest baby they’ve ever taken care of. Even on days when your gums hurt and your mama drinks coffee and then feeds you (whoops!) so you don’t sleep all afternoon, it doesn’t seem to faze you. In fact, just yesterday I was talking with one of the ladies at your daycare who said you’d only slept about 15 minutes all afternoon, but it never seemed to upset you. You just squealed and laughed and babbled away, completely oblivious to the fact that you were exhausted. That is, until you got in the car and promptly passed out. Poor baby.

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Vocally, you have changed quite a bit this month. Now you are not only talking, but trying out new sounds and pitches. I hate to say it, son, but you scream like a girl. It’s the best. Your dad tells you to deepen that pitch a bit, but you just squeal again and give him a big grin. You’ve also hit a bunch of those baby milestones, like trying real food for the first time, finding your hands and feet, rocking from side to side and standing in your jumper. I am amazed at how fast it’s all going by, and I know before I realize you’ll be 18 and smelly and asking me to do your laundry. And I’ll do it. Just for you. Because it’s impossible not to be smitten with you.

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Next week we are switching things up on you again, and you will now be staying home with a nanny for the summer. We felt this would be the best thing for both you and your sister, and I’m so pumped for you to finally beat this stupid, congestion/cold that has plauged you since starting daycare. You will be spending your days at home, with the awesome nanny I’m hoping will become like another member of the family. You know, I’m all about realistic expectations. What I’m most excited about is for you to get to be home with Lucy every day, as you two really bring out the best in each other. Watching her become a sister and watching you love on her has been the best thing about adding you to our crazy, little family. You light up when she enters a room, and she can never be close enough to you. One day I imagine you two will team up against me, but for now, I’m just enjoying the show.

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Tate, we are so lucky that fate somehow intended you for us. I am in love with your sweet spirit, your easy-going demeanor, your ability to just laugh and smile while we drag you from soccer games to dance recitals to preschool music shows to playdates….on and on and on. Thank you so much for being you, my little man.

Love always,
Mama

Working Mom Must-Haves

When Lulu was a baby and I went back to work, I (like everything else I did when Lu was a baby) had no clue what I was doing. I didn’t know where to look for resources or advice on how to balance having a career and motherhood, so I made up the rules as I went along. I suppose it worked out, but it definitely wasn’t easy.

This time around I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by an amazing group of working mothers who support each other and have made this whole surreal experience of motherhood a little less lonely. I’ve gained so many tips and tricks that have helped me in the transition back to work, and I wanted to share them here! Beware, I will mention the word breast. And maybe even boob. God help us all.

Work Wardrobe: I know, I know, you just had a baby, right? So money isn’t really flowing in (especially with all the doctor bills, new infant gear, diamond encrusted baby spoons, et cetera), but trust me, a few new wardrobe pieces are super important. First of all, your body is now different. Regardless of whether you’ve lost the baby weight, things just won’t fit the way they did before. Sorry, that’s life. Secondly, if you’re like me and you’re still nursing, you’re going to need some easy boob (ack, there it is!!!) access in order to pump during the day. And finally, it will make you feel better. You’re going to be sad to leave your little one at home, and getting all dressed up in some new digs will make you feel confident and happy. Yes, I know that’s vain. But it’s true.

I recommend just getting a few separates to spruce up what you already have. My new work purchases included a few cardigans, two new pairs of shoes (purely for fun), two new dresses (one that is button up and one that is a wrap…again for easy pumping access), and a couple of cute tanks/shirts. I didn’t spend much (mostly shopped at Target, sale rack at Nordstrom and Kohl’s) and felt way better about my return to the office. I’m lucky that my work is mostly business-casual attire, so I can pull off jeans on Fridays and don’t have to spend much to enhance what I already have on hand. Below are a few pieces that have inspired me so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. Included with some work attire are a few fun pieces for weekend/summer wear as well.

Outfit Inspiration

Inspiration (clockwise) from Anthropologie, Target, H+M, Forever 21, Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters and J. Crew

[And look, I even was spotted on the street as super-stylish! Yes, my good friend runs that site, but whatever, I’ll take it! This outfit pictured is one of my new work purchases…note the separate pieces, great for pumping/nursing during the day.]

Online Shopping: And no, I’m not talking about clothes. You’re going to have to get those in-store to figure out what fits your post-baby body. But everything else? Hells yes!!! My schedule is totally full during the day, and now that Lucy is older our weekends tend to book up quickly as well. So when in the world am I supposed to go grocery shopping?

Here are a few sites I love and use weekly (if not more). They have totally saved my sanity.

Hy-Vee: Online grocery shopping in the Kansas City area. You just order and pay online, then you can either pick up your order at the store or have it delivered right to your house. Yes, a small fee is included. My time is worth the extra $10.
Diapers.com: This is where I get most of our baby gear, including diapers, wipes, toys, clothes, baby food, nursing supplies…the list goes on and on. I am also a big user of Soap.com, which provides pretty much anything you could find at a drug or beauty supply store. Shipping is free over $40 and orders usually arrive the day after they are placed. It is pretty much the best thing ever.
Hallmark.com and Amazon.com: With three siblings for both Trent and I, plus three sets of grandparents, two sets of great grandparents and six nieces/nephews, I am constantly running into stores to buy cards or little gifts for all of the occasions that require a little something-something. Now I can order a great card, personalize it with pictures or words, give an address and Hallmark will mail it for me. Awesome-sauce. Amazon is wonderful for gifts, and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, 2-day shipping is free. You know, if you forget until the last minute or something. Which I never do. Ever. Ahem.

– Good Nursing Bra: I know, I just said bra. Ew. But you’ll need one. A good one. Trust me, I didn’t spend the money on this the first time around, and really, really regretted it. My recommendation? Go to Nordstrom, get fitted by a lingerie specialist as your body and boobs (ahhh word bomb!) have changed and your size won’t be the same as it was before, and then if they don’t have your size in stock (hahahaha 34 DDD!) they can order it online and it’ll ship for free. Dunzo.

A Good Breastpump: Get a Medela…I have the Pump N’ Style in a backpack and it is awesome. It isn’t heavy, it’s easy to carry and it’s discrete. Which you need when you work in a office full of men. And be prepared to be asked if that is your lunch in the cooler or to have awkward encounters while cleaning the parts in your office kitchen. Guys can be dumb. But they mean well.

A couple of other accessories I’ve found useful are the quick clean wipes (so to avoid that whole kitchen cleaning fiasco), sanitizing steam bags (just pop in the microwave with some water and your pump parts are sanitized), and of those ridiculous looking bustier things that makes it easy to pump both sides at once (beware, boobs abound in this link!), which will save tons of time.

Smoothie Maker/Protein Powder: When Trent bought a fake magic bullet smoothie maker online I laughed and laughed and told him he was an idiot. I am the nicest wife ever. But this thing has been a life-saver for our crazy mornings that almost always end with me being late for work regardless of what I do. Since I’m still nursing, I have to eat like crazy to keep milk supply (ugh, sorry!) up, and adding protein to my smoothies has really helped. A banana, some plain Greek yogurt, a handful of frozen strawberries and blueberries, add in some orange juice and a splash of pomegranate juice and you’re good to go!

Smartphone: If you don’t have a Droid/iPhone/Blackberry, it’s time to invest. I keep everything from grocery lists, to nursing charts, to videos of the kids, to calendars on mine. I tend to spend a ton of time on the go, to client meetings, soccer games, daycare runs and wherever else I need to be, so having everything on hand and easy to manipulate is a must. And when I find myself having to nurse or change diapers in my car due to lack of time, the games and videos keep Lucy busy. Win, win.

Daycare Planning: Nothing is going to make leaving your baby with a childcare provider easy. Sorry, it’s just a sucky part of being a working mom. But trusting your daycare provider and being comfortable with your set up is so, so important. With Lucy, I just made a snap decision and spent months being freaked out and worried about her. With Tate, we decided early on that we needed a daycare that was reliable and almost always open, instead of a in-home daycare. We loved in-home care because of the specialized attention and low cost, but it wasn’t worth the headaches when the provider was sick or wanted vacation time or whatever, and we found ourselves scrambling to find last minute care. So we now do a full center during the school year, and then summers with a nanny. Not that much more expensive and gives me peace of mind. Best decision ever.

Some websites that might be helpful in your daycare search:

Daycare Connection: This is how we found Lucy’s daycare when she was a baby. It is for the Kansas side of the KC Metro area, and is free (though they ask for donations after a few free searches). All the daycares are state accredited/certified and they provide contacts for all types of care, including in-home, daycare centers and nannies.
Daycare Resource: Similar to Daycare Connection, but for Missouri. We didn’t have as much luck with this service, but we know others who have, so I wanted to list it for you Missourians.
Care.com: This is a nationwide service that, again, I haven’t used, but I’ve heard great things about. If you’ve used it, leave a note in the comments letting me know how your experience was.

A final tip: When it comes to childcare, try to start looking early, and if your first choice doesn’t work out, don’t freak too much if you want to switch. Lucy was in four different daycares during her first year (plus a few months) and she turned out just fine.

A Great Boss: I can’t find you this, but hopefully you’ll end up with someone who understands that a happy home life leads to a happy (and productive) work life. The more satisfied that you are managing this unfathomable balance, the more you’ll want to work your ass off to keep your job. I’m so lucky in this regard, and it makes being a working mom as easy as it can be.

Anyone else have any tips to share with the working moms of the world? I’m always looking for help/feedback, and trust me, we have to stick together!

Mother’s Day Redeux

So, I had grand plans for a lovely post on Mother’s Day. One that talked about my transformation as a mother, from scared kid to a real grown up. One that explained in detail how I have finally grown into my motherhood, how a person who used to do anything to show people that I am “MORE THAN JUST A MOTHER!” now puts mother first in the description of who I am, and is totally okay with that. Happy, in fact.

But instead Trent and I got food poisoning and spent our Mother’s Day evening puking our guts out and yesterday sleeping/moaning in pain.

So instead, here’s a super adorable picture of the kids from Easter. They are what make me who I am. A mother. A happy, lucky mother.

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Four Months

Dear Tate,

Today you are officially four months old. Four months ago you came in to our world, a world that can now not be imagined without your smiling mug in it. Before December 20, 2010, I worried (aloud, in private, right here on the Internet where no one can hear you scream) how your entrance in my life and the lives of those around me would shake up our happy existence. And time after time, parents more seasoned than I told me I couldn’t comprehend how awesome and altering adding another child to my family would be. “Your heart will grow in ways you never expected,” they said. I scoffed at their clichéd musings and worried some more. But my oh my, were they right. Clichés be damned.

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This month our situation has changed in almost every way that it could. I am no longer home with you on maternity leave. We no longer start our day at a snail’s pace, making our way out of the house to take Lulu to preschool by 10 a.m. (if we were lucky). Our days aren’t filled with trips to Target, the park, or the mall. We spend less time in bed watching daytime TV and giggling. My face isn’t the one that is with you most of your daytime hours. To say it has been hard is a grave understatement. But Tate, your very self has made this transition all the more simple.

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You love your daycare, both the people who work there and the other babies. You are old enough now you interact with those around you, laughing and smiling at the elderly woman at the daycare center who is usually holding you when I show up for your mid-morning feeding. You lay on blankets with the other babies and laugh at each other, sometimes even holding hands. Lucy finds this to be hilarious and is constantly referring to your “girlfriend,” another little one who you seem to like the best. My little ladies man. Look out females of the world, Tate is on the prowl.

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This month you have really grown into your belly laugh, which reminds me quite a bit of your sister’s at this age. Your toothless grin is wide and joyful, your little eyes squinting into slits as you burst into laughter. You have officially noticed the world around you, staring out the window in our kitchen at the dog or whatever else might be outside. You love long walks, and have discovered the pure awesomeness of the swing set at our neighborhood park. I imagine our summer will be filled with time outside, and I think of how lucky you are, to have an older sister who forces us to leave the house. Because, little man, if it were up to me, we’d probably just cuddle in bed all weekend. And while that would be fun, you seem to like watching soccer games from the sidelines a bit more.

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Tater, you really are a wonder. Thank you for making the transition back to work so easy for me. Thank you for smiling when I walk into daycare to pick you up, and not crying when I leave. Thank you for being easy-going and flexible, alleviating so much of the guilt I was afraid would take hold as soon as my days were spent in my office instead of with you. Thank you for continuing to nurse, as that was something I was so scared we’d be unable to continue once we started this phase of our relationship. Thank you for being you.

Kisses,
Mama

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