Definition of Success

Before becoming a mom my definition of success would have involved big things like careers, homes, and money.

Today, I define success on a day-to-day basis.

Success is making dinner while holding a squirming 7 month old.
Success is getting out of the house dressed for an interview without getting spit-up on at the last minute.
Success is remembering where you left your cell phone.
Success is running a loud household appliance without waking the baby from her nap.
Success is finding time to take a bath instead of a shower.
Success is still being able to find the humor in things at the end of a long day.
Success is getting gas in the car, groceries in the fridge, and having lunch with the husband before the next nap time.
Success is remembering to move the laundry to the dryer.

Success is being able to enjoy the small accomplishments of day-to-day tasks while still looking out for the future.

Next on my to-do list? Moving! Our house goes on the market this week. Let's hope it's another success. :)

Crunchy mama

Seeing as I didn't have a home birth, am vaccinating my child according to a standard schedule, and have a baby that sleeps in a crib, I am not a totally crunchy mama...but there is growing evidence that I am a somewhat-crunchy mama and I am proud of it. Here are the signs...

1) Breastfeeding. While pregnant I had high hopes of being a breastfeeding mom, but I was well aware that it doesn't always work out. There can be issues with latching, supply, allergies, etc. - not to mention breastfeeding is just plain HARD. For something that is so "natural", it sure does take a lot of work. It hurts. And in the beginning it took so much time that it was overwhelming. Thankfully, things worked out just fine and got easier with time and I have been breastfeeding my baby for over 7 months. She is 21 pounds and full of rolls, which means I must be doing something right. :)

2) Baby-wearing. Whether using a sling, a wrap, or a carrier, I believe that wearing your baby is one of the best things you can do for both mom and child. Not only does it make baby feel like they are being held and snuggled while allowing mom's hands to be free to do a plethora of things, but it is also great exercise. Remember how much I said she weighed in the point above?? Yeah...21 extra pounds can do a lot for the back, abs, and legs while vacuuming the whole house. :) And due to the snuggly factor, it calmed Kate down on many a cranky day.

3) Homemade baby food. Why? Why would you make food when there are so many great (and now organic) choices at the grocery store?? Because it's cheap! And it's easy! And it tastes so much better! And it is HEALTHY! To date I have made: green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, squash, apples and pears. Want the recipes? Ok, here: Steam veggie or fruit. Puree. Freeze in ice cube tray. Ta-da! Don't you feel like a domestic goddess?


4) Cloth diapering. Say WHAT?! Cloth diapers....who? Where? ME! HERE! It's true. I've crossed over to the dark side. Again comes the question - WHY?? Answer: because I am tired of washing poop. I'm sure that was opposite of the answer you expected, so let me explain. My child's butt must be malformed. No matter what brand or size of disposable diaper we put her in, she manages to have multiple blowouts per week. Up-the-back-to-her-armpits blowouts. Which result in me washing her onesie, shirt, pants, changing pad cover...and on a really bad day her socks. While scratching my head for a solution I requested help from some lovely ladies (shout-out to my GP Mamas!) who suggested that I try cloth diapers. Instead of running screaming from the answer I started my research and soon learned they were right. It is the answer I was looking for. Cloth diapers offer a better fit (with an elastic band around the back specially designed for tiny malformed butts) and MUCH easier clean-up that includes a rinse of the poop and tossing the diaper into the washer. No more poopy clothes or unexpected surprises. Plus, cloth diapering is cheaper. A lot cheaper. And my Miss America answer - "It's friendly for Mother Earth." But really...it is. And who doesn't want to be a little bit more environmentally friendly?

So there you have it. Somewhat-crunchy Mama. Now please excuse me while I go put flowers in my hair and dance through a field of wheat. :)

99 Things

One rule: Bold the items that you have done in your life.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (well...technically I didn't swim in it. but that's because it's gross)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

There are quite a few items on this list that I haven't accomplished yet, but would love to. Like going to Africa and sleeping on an overnight train. There are also a few that I never intend to complete, like killing and preparing an animal to eat. :)

Chatterbox eats the camera

Since I've been a lazy blogger, I thought I'd just let Kate tell you a short story.

Honesty Award

My first blog award! The Honesty Award was kindly bestowed upon me by the lovely woman in charge of The Thomas Chronicles.

As part of receiving this award I must tell 10 honest truths about myself and my life. Here we go...

1) I am weird. Like...dance around the house when nobody is watching, make up songs about pooping and peeing (for the baby of course...), scare people with weird faces while driving, tell my husband made-up stories just to see his reaction WEIRD.

2) I don't believe in soul-mates per se...but I do believe that if anything ever happened to my husband I would go on alone. I don't think there is anyone else in the world that could "get" me like he does, or anyone else that I would want to spend my life with.

3) My husband is a better cook than I am.

4) I am to the point of being blatantly cocky that my 20-pound child has been exclusively breastfed for 6 months. I understand that there are many reasons why a woman cannot breastfeed and I whole-heartedly empathize with their situations. For me personally, though, I was so worried that something would go wrong that I am now filled with joy that Kate and I have made it this far in the breastfeeding game.

5) I cannot drink things that have flavor but are colorless. Like those drink mixes you put into a bottle of water.... they just plain freak me out if they don't have some color added in.

6) I am a full 10 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. Which happens to be 5 pounds under the "healthy weight" where my doctor wanted me to stay. While I understand and worry about the health implications (baby leeching calcium from my bones and setting me up for osteoporosis), and while I am doing everything I can to gain that weight back in a healthy manner....I enjoyed shopping for clothes this past weekend and trying on sizes I haven't worn since high school.

7) I don't think there is anything in the world more delightful than dessert. I often choose what restaurant to eat at based on their dessert menu.

8) While I love my daughter to pieces, I miss being able to do my own thing once in a while. Beyond the occasional shopping trip where I leave her at home and know that I only have x amount of hours to get home before she has a total meltdown and my breasts explode.

9) I don't know how I didn't end up kicked out on the street as a wee infant. Major props to my mom for being mature enough at the ripe old age of 18 to raise me and nurture me into the person I am today. Kate can give me a hard time some days and make me want to pull out my own hair. I, however, was a screaming, colicky, fussy baby who seemed to be part devil (according to my aunt) and my teenage mom still managed to raise me while going to school and making a wonderful life for us. Thanks, mom.

10) When confronted with something scary (like my husband jumping out at me while I'm walking down the hallway) my legs give out, I curl up in a ball, and I cry. I don't have the fight or flight instinct - I have the "be so pitiful that nothing would care to harm me" instinct. My husband finds hours of entertainment by triggering this response.

And now I will pass you along to three bloggers that I feel are deserving of this award as well:

Kit @ http://isitnaptimeyet.wordpress.com/

Jessie @ http://babypooface.blogspot.com/

Lady @ http://ladymgray.blogspot.com/

Half A Year

Six months ago...

Today....

I can't believe how much my life has changed in the past 6 months. I have learned so much about myself and about life...

I learned that it doesn't matter if I have spit-up all over my robe and my hair is a mess - my daughter will smile at me anyway.

I truly don't mind getting up during the night to feed and snuggle my daughter - I know these days are fleeting and enjoy every second I get with her, even if it is because of a growth spurt rearing its ugly head at 3 am.

What my mom always told me is true - shots are harder on the parent than they are on the child.

I can experience contradictory feelings at the exact same time, such as "I miss you and want to play with you" and "please don't wake up from your nap yet".

Children have an internal clock that immediately awakens them from a dead sleep when the microwave or oven has finished warming a meal.

Dogs are not only man's best friend - they are a baby's favorite entertainer.

Time truly does fly when you're having fun. I already miss the tiny baby I brought home from the hospital, but I am so excited to see the little person she is growing up to be. She is smart, silly and oh so sweet. I love my little girl. :)

2009 in pictures

Here we are at the end of another year. I can't believe time is going by so quickly. This year has probably changed my life more than any other. Let's take a look back...

I knew this year would be more momentous than any other as I entered it looking like this:

I was 14 weeks pregnant...out of first tri and enjoying my new little bump that made my old clothes fit awkwardly and my new maternity clothes feel like I was wearing a tent.


I started the new hobby of quilting... I made this one for my mom and gave it to her on her birthday.


My mom was able to go with us to our big ultrasound on February 25th, where I was shocked to learn that the bean was a GIRL. I was sure I had a little boy hiding in there, but was delightfully surprised to learn that my future was full of hairbows, dresses and the mother-daughter bond.


In March, K and I decided that we should take a mini-vacation before the baby came. We went to Vegas for a long weekend. We did a lot of walking, shopping, and eating. It was wonderful to get away and spend some quality time with my husband... even if it was unreasonably cold in Nevada and we had to wear our coats.


I had a fantastic first grade class that was keeping me busy and entertained. In May they threw me a wonderful surprise baby shower. They had made me a book and brought gifts. We had food, drinks and games. And the best part was - it truly was a surprise! They did such a good job at keeping the secret, I had no idea and they had worked on it for months.


Shortly after that I had my baby showers with my families. They were great and I loved seeing everyone.


July came around so much quicker than I thought it would and before I knew it I was on the verge of giving birth to our daughter. July 5th (6 days before my due date) I went into labor at home. We went to the hospital and got all checked in.


July 6, 2009 at 1:03 am my life was forever changed. Kate Elizabeth was welcomed into the world and our tiny little family started a brand new adventure.


I was, and still am, so proud of my new baby girl. I will never forget the sense of accomplishment and joy I felt in bringing her into the world.


Our good news was followed by some bad news when my Papa suffered a fall at home breaking his hip and landing himself in the hospital. From there he moved into a rehabilitation facility where he stayed for 8 weeks. Unfortunately, he never regained his strength and is now in a wheelchair. The extensive time spent away from home also accelerated his Alzheimer's. He is now at home with my grandma and a 24-hour nurse. I visit whenever I can and still love spending time at their house.


The summer and fall was spent hanging out with my baby girl. I had resigned my position as a teacher to become a stay-at-home-mom and was happy to have all my time devoted to raising this new little person.


In October, K, Kate and I went to pumpkin patches and apple orchards and soaked up the beauty of fall. Kate had her first Halloween, for which she dressed up as a little cow. She was the sweetest cow I've ever seen! :) K and I also reveled in the fact that it had been a year since finding out I was pregnant. Where had the time gone?!


In November we celebrated Thanksgiving with our families. It was great to see everyone and eat lots of great food!


At the beginning of December my mom had knee surgery. Kate and I went and stayed with her for a week to help out while my dad worked. It was great to spend some quiet days at home with my mom.


Kate's first Christmas was nothing short of wonderful. We had 6 different celebrations over the course of 3 days. She has now entered the "mommy" stage and only wanted me to hold her, but that was ok by me. She was a good girl and handled the overwhelming chaos pretty well.

I can't wait to see what 2010 brings for us. I have many hopes for the new year and can't help but wonder what will be coming our way. I'm ready...bring it on 2010!!