Those Simple Moments

So, before we get started with this, a little intro!

Hey all!  I'm Jayne with a Y, and one of the new mom bloggers for Milan Maternity.  I'm a pregnant mother of one amazing toddler, and am due with baby number two in December of this year.  I also live with my amazing husband, our two dogs, and the newest addition to our family, our fish Bob.  Being a mother is just about the most amazing thing I've ever done, and I love to write about parenting as well as topics affecting mamas and babies this day and age.  (Gosh, I just sounded like my grandma, didn't I....!)  I'm glad to be here to spend a little time sharing about some of my favorite topics with everyone and would love any comments or feedback you'd like to add to my posts!

I wanted to begin today by sharing a few mama moments.  I'm a part time working mama and today was one of those working (out of the home) days.  After getting up pretty early (my alarm goes off at 5:30a, to leave the house by 6:30a), working my extended shift, and handling all my daily tasks and to-do's, I'm always pretty exhausted by the time I get into my car and start to drive home.  Most days, I just sit for a moment in my car before leaving the lot, taking a second to try and let go of the work and get back into my first job, being a mother and a wife.  It is hard sometimes to make the switch from being tired and just wanting to lay my weary pregnant self down into bed- to putting every need I have last until it is bedtime for everyone.  But, on most days, there are those simple moments that help me do my job as a mama.

Thankfully, without fail, my little man provides me with those moments every mama needs at the end of my day.  No matter how bedraggled I am by the time I make it to the daycare's door, the second he sees me, he comes running and squealing in happiness and wants to immediately jump into my arms.  Those first few hugs and kisses when I walk in the door are enough to carry me through weeks of bad days, but it doesn't stop there.  On our car ride home, most days he will be happy and content to sit and chatter away to himself in his seat.  Sometimes I'll talk back to him, but some days I just like to listen to his sweet little voice.  Dinnertime on work nights tends to be somewhat rushed.  Little man will get a little cranky then, mainly because it's been a very long day for him as well, and he is very ready for bedtime.  But even if he is a fuss bucket from dinner time to bed time, it's that sweet little moment right before I put him into his crib, when he looks up at me and says, "nigh-nigh mama," that just lifts me out of his room on a cloud.

Sure, there are great moments about being a mother.  There are not so great moments about being a mother.  But in the end, those simple, great moments are what carry me through.

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It Never Fails...

There are some things, that as a mother, you can always depend on. It was when the first thing on this list happened to me for the 1,215,576 time, that I realized that there are lots of things that in motherhood, never fail. (And I also realized I had the perfect subject for my very last post!)

-It never fails that when your child's diaper starts getting a little full, you decide to go ahead and change it, then within minutes, they decide it's a good time to do the deed. No point in wasting that on an already half full diaper, apparently.

-It never fails that your child seems to behave waaay better for other people than they do for you.

-It never fails that as soon as someone asks you how your baby is sleeping and you rave about how great they have been, that they decide to prove you wrong and wake up a million times a night.

-It never fails that as soon as you sit down for a few moments to try to rest, all of a sudden your child needs something to drink, or a snack, or help with something. Even though you'd been up for hours doing stuff, your child likes to wait until it's super convenient to ask.

-It never fails that witnessing your child's firsts (first time crawling, walking, talking) are some of the most exciting moments. Whether it's your first child or your fifth child.

-It never fails that as soon as you get yourself something to eat, your children come out of nowhere begging to have some of whatever it is you are eating. (This realization after being a mother for a mere 4 years makes me feel super guilty for all the times I asked my mom for a bite of something she was eating...and I was the last of eleven! She put up with that for way more years than I could imagine!!)

-It never fails that you can plan on your house being clean for approximately 24 seconds before another mess is made of it.

-It never fails that when your baby or child has been a complete angel all morning/day, as soon as you get out in public, said child turns into a complete monster.

-It never fails that when your child is doing something super cute, and they've been doing it for several minutes, that when you go get your camera to capture the moment it will be then that they decide to stop.

-It never fails that when one child decides to sleep in, the other child decides to wake up super early.

-It never, ever, ever fails that when your child is being naughty, all they have to do is smile, give you hugs and kisses and tell you they love you, and it makes it all better.

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Men Just Don't Understand

I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to post about for my last two posts on this blog. And after asking for ideas from my family members, I never would have guessed it would have been my brother-in-law that would have a genius idea.

So thanks to him, I bring to you my short list of things my man will never, ever understand about pregnancy and childbirth. (Isn't it a shame that men don't get to experience it?) It doesn't matter how much we try to explain, there are just some things he will never understand.

--He will never understand how amazing it is to feel a baby moving and growing inside of him. Sure, he can feel the kicks and stuff, but actually feeling it inside your body is one of the most amazing things there is about the whole process.

--He will never get what an emotional roller coaster pregnancy and childbirth are. (See myPhases of Pregnancy post for an explanation of the roller coaster ride that it is!)

--He can't grasp exactly how strong pregnancy cravings are. I know he's not happy when I NEED muffins at 10:00 at night, but I sure am glad he's willing to go to the store and get them for me.

--He will never realize how unbelievably tiring it is to just exist in pregnancy.

--He won't ever understand how frustrating it is to have him call from work daily during the last couple weeks and ask if the baby is coming yet.

--He will never, ever, ever understand the pain of childbirth. And there is no pain he can endure that he can compare to it, no matter how hard he tries to.

--He won't ever realize how excruciating, frustrating, and rewarding nursing a baby can be.

--He'll never understand why I cry so often for several months after having a baby...but I really can't blame him for that one since I usually don't understand why I'm crying either.

--He'll never realize how glorious it is to be able to sleep in any position I want again after the baby is born.

--He won't ever know what an amazing experience he's missing out on (even if we mostly complain, making it hard for him to realize how amazing it really is and feels).

This list only makes me realize how lucky we are as women to be the ones that get to experience growing a human inside of us, in spite of any pain and discomfort we endure. I know our men go through their own trials, emotions, and excitement during the process, but what a wonderful miracle it is that we get to "man up" and do this. After having children, it is all something that I will most definitely not take for granted! Even though he'll never understand, I know for sure that we are the lucky ones.

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Dating Our Little Munchkins

This past Monday I decided I was going to take my nearly 4 year old son on a date that night, and all day long I was mentally writing a post in my head about the importance of taking our children on dates. Several months ago, I'd take him on dates often, and it was so fun to have that time with him.

And then our date was about as fun as having someone pluck your arm hairs one by one.

But the truth of the matter is, it is important. I think we all learn that having one on one time with our kids is important (especially after more children come into the picture) but there is something about taking them on a date with just the two of you that makes them feel extra special.

So what do you do when you take your kid on a date? It's super simple. There is one thing that I strongly believe should always be involved: food. Generally speaking, where kids are concerned, eating any place but home is fun, so it doesn't have to break the bank. And of course, dessert. My son and I annihilated our Molten Chocolate Cake at Chili's in about 2 seconds flat. (If you haven't had one of those yet, quickly ask your child on a date, and go have one immediately!)

As far as activities go, truly anything they do with you, and you alone, is perfect. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. There is a strong possibility that I took my son with me to my chiropractic appointment on our date, and that was actually one of the highlights of the date. But really, anything goes. Going to the store, going for a walk, going to the park, the mall...anything.

Our children crave our attention and love, and taking them on a date every so often is a perfect way to give them that time they need. (Not to mention the time YOU need alone with them!) And if you have a torturous date like I did, don't let it get you down! And I promise, you'll love it no matter what, and so will they!

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It's Summertime! (repost)

It was just barely over a year ago that I said on this blog " During my first pregnancy I was in the huge, uncomfortable stage of pregnancy right in the heat (and humidity cause I'm on the east coast) of summer! It wasn't fun. And I vowed to myself that I will never be in the third trimester of pregnancy in the horrible heat of summer again!!!"

And now I find myself practically eating my words. Although I'm not in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, I'm still almost 24 weeks and practically just as miserable as I was during that first pregnancy. Somehow I thought that having my a baby at the beginning of September was horrible with going through the pregnancy in the horrible heat and humidity of summer. BUT I thought that having a baby two months later this time, at the beginning of November, would be soooo much better. I was wrong.

So if you are like me, you might need to be reminded of how to make a summer pregnancy more bearable and keep you as healthy as possible.

--Make sure to drink lots and lots of water. Dehydration and pregnancy are not a good mix. (for me it caused contractions). You should have at least 6 to 8 glasses a day. For me, if I have a glass soon after waking up it makes it easier for me to keep drinking throughout the day. And yes, you already have to run to the bathroom a million times a day, but it's better than the alternative. If you aren't a fan of water and find it hard to get in the 6 to 8 glasses, make sure to get some watery fruits and veggies, too, like honeydew melon, cantaloupe, watermelon, and cucumber

--Frequent the pool. It's a great way to cool off, relieve back pain, and get in some exercise. During my first pregnancy I was able to go to the pool often and it really was the best. And I'd hang out along the side of the pool doing leg lifts and other water aerobics. I may have gotten a few weird looks, but it felt so good, and I'm used to people looking at me like I'm crazy.

--Flip flops are pretty much the worst choice. It's so hard for me to say that since all my watermelon sized feet could fit into were flip flops, but most of them don't have the arch support that we really need while pregnant. Because of all of the extra weight and the stretching of ligaments, flip flops just aren't the best and wearing them daily could cause permanent damage. But if you have to wear them (I do believe I HAVE to) make sure to get some with good arch support.

--Prop up your feet. I'm not even kidding about how bad my hands, feet and ankles swelled because of the hot summer. (I'm tempted to show you a picture for you skeptics, but I will refrain) Keeping your feet up helps, and so does a nice foot massage! And going back to the first tip, drinking water helps with the swelling, too, along with taking in less salt.

--Stay indoors when you can on those super hot days. Yes, it can be boring, which is when you hit up the mall or go to a movie. And it can seem almost impossible if you have another child who needs to get out and get some energy. But do what you can to stay cool inside. Just take advantage of the cooler weather at sundown.

--Load up on sunscreen. I'm one of those people that will say this is a must anytime, pregnant or not. But did you know that higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy cause melasma and wearing sunscreen is the best way to prevent it? Make sure to wear SPF 50, even if it's cloudy. I've gotten my worst sunburns on overcast days.

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What I Wish I Had Known #10

I wish I had known that one of the hardest things about being a mother is not laughing when my kids are throwing a tantrum.

Oh my word! My almost 4 year old says the funniest things in the midst of his tantrums. Like "I need a break!" as he goes to sit in the time out chair or "That did make me very sad." The way he says it makes it so hard for me to keep a straight face. Sometimes, I can't!

My daughter. Oh, my dear daughter. She is a typical dramatic girl! At nearly 19 months, she has had the dramatic overreaction down for a looong time! The dramatic face, the dramatic storming away, the dramatic throwing herself onto the wall, couch, floor, or whatever else is close by. And she doesn't forget to look back to make sure we are seeing just how upset she is! I can honestly say I'd never seen such dramatics in person before and it's impossible for me to hold back my laughter. (I have to laugh now, because I'm sure 12 years from now laughing is the last thing I want to do when she does these things.)

I try to pretend they didn't inherit these dramatic tantrum traits from me, but the truth is, I remember throwing crazy tantrums all to well to deny it. I just wish I had known how funny it was and how impossible it was to not laugh at it! Just be prepared to hide your face when the tantrums start!

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Baby Friendly Jewelry

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine was visiting and she was wearing a super cute bead looking bracelet. Turns out, it was a teething bracelet. Since my daughter has been and still is (at almost 19 months) a child that likes to chew on EVERYTHING I couldn't believe it took me this long to realize how cute teething jewelry was....and how obviously handy it could be! My daughter got a hold of her bracelet and loved not only chewing on it, but wearing it, too.

So I've been looking all around the internet trying to figure out all of the teething jewelry I want to buy!

Here's my list so far:

The Oh Plah! teething cuff ($14.99) gets mixed reviews, but I can't help but want it. It comes in 6 different colors, and I love the chunkiness of it.

The Hudson necklace in black ($36.50), from Chewbeads. It also comes in lots of other colors, and would go great with almost anything.

The Cornelia bracelet in emerald ($12.50), also from Chewbeads (and also happens to be the bracelet my friend was wearing). I LOVE this color of green and it's the perfect pop of color for lots of outfits.

I love turquoise, and I really love this turquoise bangle from Teething Bling ($12.99). Another perfect pop of color.

I love these chunky looking Rock*ease necklaces by Teethease ($34.95). The three different colors are all good choices to go with so many different outfits.

And, if I was feeling like really dropping some money on some teething jewelry there is one necklace that I'd LOVE to get. (My birthday is a month away, so maybe I can work on my husband)

I'm a huge fan of silver, and I love the simple elegant look of this 2 ring sterling silver teething necklace, from Momma's Jewels ($259).

One of my favorite things about all of these items is I'd never look at someone wearing any of these things and think that they were sporting jewelry made specifically for their baby to chew on. And since wearing jewelry has become almost impossible since having kids, this is the perfect solution! Time to get shopping!

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Thursday laugh

I'm not certain if "pregnancy brain" and "mommy brain" are two separate things, or one in the same. But I am certain that I am in full swing of both.

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Must read!

Summertime is in full swing. For a large amount of people that means trips to the pool, beach, lake, etc. I am one of those crazy people that is afraid of water. Not that I don't get in the water, but I'm always worried about the dangers of it. And now that I have children, that fear has multiplied by a million. Something can happen in a matter of seconds!!

I recently read this article called "Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning". I think it's an article everyone should read!! If you don't have the time to read it now, at least read this part (PLEASE!!) I can honestly say, I had no idea what drowning looks like. From the article:

Drowning does not look like drowning – Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, described the instinctive drowning response like this:

1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.

(Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006 (page 14))

So while you are out enjoying some summer fun just please remember to be safe, never leave children alone in the water, and always be close by!! The article ended with this, and I think I'll end the same way:

" And parents – children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why."

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