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Another year bites the dust…!

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Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Happy New Year Mamas! Can you believe that 2011 is over? Mama thinks that we blinked and it was over. In fact, Mama is having a hard time remembering anything that happened other than the news that we would be having a third baby and then she was here…just like that. If you would have asked Mama a year ago if Mama thought we would have a new bundle of joy to celebrate the new year with us, the answer would have been “NO!” But now as we just ring in 2012, Mama can’t imagine life without her. She’s perfect and our family is now complete.

So what will 2012 bring? For Lily-girl it will be finishing up kindergarten and starting first grade, while also keeping up her tennis lessons, horseback riding, gymnastics and dance classes. However in 2012, something is going to give for her as she decides which two activities to keep and which to let go. Baby Boy will have a big year as he (hopefully) gets potty-trained before or during the summer so he can head off to his first year of preschool and also takes up soccer and t-ball. And CeCe…well, she’ll have a year full of big milestones like holding her head up, eating solids, learning to crawl, stand, walk and talk. It’s going to be a great year!

As for Mama…there are a few goals in mind but less defined than last years because at this point in time, Mama is really trying to live in the moment. Mama is starting to think that too many moments of these little lives have passed by without being captured by Mama. So the big goals are to take more pictures and video so that as my memory gets older, there are more things to refresh it. It’s hard to even remember Lily-girl being as small as CeCe but then we see you a photo…it all comes flooding back. Pictures are definitely worth a thousand words and worth their weight in gold!

Other things to do in 2012…in no particular order…get back to being Mama and back to posting every day (Mama misses you!); try a juice cleanse; try a raw food diet; make the centurion wall at Pure Barre; accessorize more; manage time better; try a new recipe once a week; make a new cookie recipe with the kids once a month; do individual dates with the kids once a month and spend less time online when the hubs is home and actually have a conversation. Lofty goals, eh?!

So here it is January 2nd and well, he’s 3 today! Baby Boy is 3 today. It was a day that changed Mama’s life forever (of course!) when everything went from just pink to pink with large amounts of blue. Baby Boy is a wild one to be reckoned with that loves his cars more than anything and is like a Tasmanian Devil going through your house. You’ll know he’s been there by the amount of toys thrown around. But again, Mama wouldn’t change it for the world. He’s my Baby Boy and Mama knows that he’s going to do big things for the world one of these days…but for now, Mama wants him to just enjoy his toddler years because soon enough, he’ll be a teenager not wanting anything to do with his Mama.

Now Mama sits here and while it’s exciting to ring in a new year, it also means that he’s a year older and wiser and that makes Mama sad. They grow up entirely too fast…and a new year means it makes Mama one year closer to empty nest…!

Do you look forward to celebrating a new year? What are your lofty goals for 2012?

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Mama survival mode…

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Monday, December 5th, 2011

Before Mama goes and pats herself on the back, we must discuss how this is all possible. You know…having multiple children and actually getting out of the house and getting things done. You forget how much work these little newborns are. Yes they do sleep A LOT but they also EAT a lot too and if they’re eating like they’re supposed to be eating then they also poop a lot. Not to mention the doctor’s appointments, the never-ending laundry because they poop and spit-up all over everything and also how they just want to be cuddled and held (which in turn makes them SLEEP). Yes, babies…they are so perfect at this stage in life but also ultra-demanding without meaning to be. It’s just the way life is. However the one good thing is that they are also so portable so you can go anywhere with them by your side in the car seat, snap ‘n’ go, stroller or infant carrier — they’re just like an accessory that needs to be changed and burped every so often.

What brings this on you ask? Well just as Mama was about to give birth to CeCe, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar announced that they are in fact expecting their 20th child. Mama’s first reaction — WHAT THE H#$%??

Didn’t their almost 2-year old little girl almost not survive when she was born three months early at only 1 lb. 6 ozs.??

Also, how can they do that to their other children??

How do they even have time to MAKE a baby??

While Mama believes every little baby is a blessing, there comes a time in every family when there’s a breaking point and you’re just outnumbered and you have one too many kids to take care of. You don’t want to get to that point because eventually one of the parents shuts down and it burdens the other parent and impacts the entire family. Sometimes there’s a happy ending and sometimes, there’s a divorce over it. While three isn’t Mama’s breaking point, one can only imagine if there were more!

How do you have time to get anything done for yourself or care for the children you have?

Ah yes…it’s the older children taking time out of their own childhood to care for their younger siblings. It’s an age old story where the oldest child is burdened with taking care of the rest of the family and in the end, resents their siblings, their parents and the youngest child for the rest of their life for robbing them of their own childhood. Sad but true. Often times the oldest doesn’t even want their own children because really…they’ve already raised a few. This must be the case in the Duggar household because Mama is having trouble feeding, bathing and getting everyone where they need to be on time with just one three week old joining the family. Imagine having to go to 20 soccer practices and games each week — impossible! Do they even get to enjoy outside activities like sports and playdates outside their own home? Most likely NOT because their parents are too busy procreating to take them.

This week Mama is in survival mode. The hubs is off galavanting the world (working so we think…) and Mama is in charge of the three. This morning went well all before a cup of coffee — early to school, Baby Boy to his gym class, CeCe fed and diapered, grocery store attempt was semi-successful and now there’s a little time left for Mama to rant a rave here. What more could anyone want?! Definitely not 20 of these little munchkins, Mama can tell you that much — especially three weeks post-partum…ask Mama again in another year and we’ll if the answer still remains the same.

Mama has also discovered a few things like…

  • Yes, breastfeeding is better than formula but a little bit of both never hurt anyone — especially when there’s one of you and three of them to feed. 20 minutes on each side = 40 minutes of precious, precious time. Bottle of formula = 5 minutes and you’re on your way to school!
  • Attend to the older kids first — they’ll remember and the baby won’t remember the four minutes you left them crying to get your three-year old on and off the potty.
  • Babysitters are NOT a luxury — they are a NECESSITY for your own sanity.
  • One day without a bath will NOT make them the dirty kids on the street (in fact, go for two and see what happens).
  • It’s okay to fall asleep amid the chaos — at least you won’t be mad while it’s happening but be prepared for a major disaster when you wake-up.
  • Chocolate milk and Cars Gummies for breakfast, lunch and dinner is OKAY to avoid major toddler meltdowns while you’re in survival mode. It’s healthy!
  • There’s NO such thing as too much TV, too many movies or too much electronic play during the first six weeks…it’s 2011, let’s embrace technology!
  • Yes, you can do it all but make sure you have a cup of coffee for each kid before you do it.
A few words of wisdom from Mama to you…what’s your survival secret?

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Sexy post-partum style…

By admin · Comments (1)
Thursday, December 1st, 2011

First off, is there such a thing as being sexy after just having given birth? No, not really BUT you can fake it (which is what Mama is all about these days…). Second off, this is dedicated to Mama’s darling Lily-girl who this morning looked at Mama and said in such a serious tone, “It looks like you still have the baby in your tummy!” Fantastic way to start off the day that began at 1 a.m. and then again at 4 a.m. and well, never has seemed to end (hence, why Mama is just getting to this NOW…a few days later).

So while Mama packed the lip gloss and the mascara for the hospital, one can not make the weight they’ve gained in the past nine months disappear like magic once they’re ready to vacate the hospital (don’t we wish…). So for now it’s a muffin top that Mama is everyday willing and willing to go down. It stays…and stays…and on some days…it seems to grow bigger. That is so not sexy. Actually, Mama doesn’t even care to look sexy these days but rather, just normal. To feel normal…once again and that is why Mama is faking it with these helpful style tips that can be used for post-partum style or perhaps just because you’re feeling bloated from the holidays. Not that wearing a maxi pad for six weeks post-delivery, large underwear (note, no thongs allowed), sore nipples, unwashed hair, eye bags and coffee breath (can’t seem to find the right time to brush), isn’t sexy…or is it?! According to most men and women Mama knows, that it is NOT.

Here’s Mama’s guide for surviving the next few weeks…

 It’s not what you wear on the outside, but what you wear on the inside that counts. While Mama is now rockin’ the nursing bras and tanks, it’s so hard to feel normal as you constantly snap and unsnap your shirt and bra a zillion times a day. It’s hard work and struggling with your daily wear is just not normal…especially when it’s in BIG sizes (34G, anyone?!). While this may be just too much information for the average individual, what Mama can tell you is that there is help out there to feel sexy from the inside out. It’s called CAKE LINGERIE and Mama is loving it to wear morning, noon and night (yes, one must sleep with a bra these days). The sexy styles and easy to unsnap and snap clasps make it so nice to wear and it comes in underwire and non-underwire so if you need an extra lift…it’s there for you! Here’s Mama’s favorites right now…The Licorice Bra, $59.90, at cakelingerie.com. Also has matching underwear which you might as well get because matching sets are so sexy and make you feel so good! And NO, that is not Mama in the picture (HA!).

And because Mama LOVES anything PINK…this one is also in Mama’s drawer! Coconut Ice Plunge Bra, $59.90, at cakelingerie.com.

Throw out the maternity wear but DON’T wear anything too tight. After about two weeks of delivery, you should now be putting all the maternity wear into a bag or a box and sticking it far, far away. People saw you wear it through your whole pregnancy and they will know that it’s maternity wear. Spend a little bit of money at some of Mama’s favorite budget-friendly stores like H&M, Old Navy and Target to get some new clothes that FIT YOU NOW but aren’t budget breakers as you know that eventually you’ll be back into your old wardrobe. You’ll feel half-way normal wearing real jeans again without an elastic waist and save the stretch pants for when you’re lounging at home nursing/feeding the baby because that’s when you should just be comfortable. Also, all your shirts will be belly shirts. That’s okay too but wear tanks underneath them and also make sure they’re not TOO tight. Go for loose fitting tops and tunics that hide and forgive all of your post-partum lumps and bumps. Forget wearing the maternity shirts — they are too stretched out for you to look decent and will creep up on you exposing parts that you just don’t want seen. Here’s a great blouson top for only $32 that hides everything and looks so great, Floral Pleated Blouson Top, at oldnavy.com.

Always wear your mascara and lip gloss — even if you don’t have time to shower! Like Mama always said, there’s something to be said for these two products because even when you don’t look good, they make you look good. They give your face a facelift even though you’ve got puffy eyes from lack of sleep and make you look less pale and alert. About those puffy eyes…Mama was introduced to Eyedews by a friend this summer AND seriously, they work more than those cucumber slices (plus, who has time to go to the store to get cucumber then slice them). Go ahead and try it…you may just thank Mama later…Eyedews, $25 for 6 packs, at eyedews.com.

So what do you think…can this Mama bring SEXY back? Let’s try it and see (pictures to be posted later…perhaps after a DryBar blowout and a swipe of mascara)!

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Categories : fashion;, pregnancy, Rant;, sleep; babies;, Uncategorized
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Little girl lost…

By admin · Comments (4)
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

As it is with every pregnancy and with any type of hormones raging through your body, Mama decided a long time ago to not watch the news during the last trimester and immediately post-partum. It gives Mama heart palpitations to hear what’s happening in the world with people killing people, tragic car accidents, what’s going to give us cancer next and overall just really depressing news about the world today. However, in the age of social media and with Mama living and breathing the Internet world, it’s impossible to be an Ostrich with the news anymore and just bury your head in the sand. In fact, it’s what makes life interesting…

The Casey Anthony trail, for example, was an obsession for most Americans. They were glued to the stories online and on TV to find out if this girl would ever spill the beans about what really happened to her little girl. It seems that only the most horrific news is broadcast these days. The happy stories are few and far between and even then, Mama cries. Happy, sad…it doesn’t matter — the news will make any hormonal women cry.

Which brings Mama to the news of Baby Lisa that has missing from her Kansas City home for over 10 days now. As we know, with any missing person case…time is of the essence. You can’t hesitate when someone goes missing as you just give them more time to take your child/friend/spouse further away. In fact, Mama is a big believer in instinct. A Mama senses when something isn’t quite right in their world. You feel it in your gut and while most often it’s not something as serious as your child going missing from your house while you sleep — you know that you need to take action PRONTO!

So now 11 days later the mother of Baby Lisa has come forward telling the Today Show that she has not been honest and that at the time her baby went missing from her house she was drunk. So drunk that she “blacked out” not being able to recall the exact details of when she last saw her daughter and not hearing the baby monitor, the dog barking or anything else that would have set off her Mama’s intuition that fateful night. Mama’s friend, Ooph over at SDMomfia.com, wrote an article yesterday about how we shouldn’t be so quick to judge her and that just because she was drinking doesn’t make her a bad mom…what do you think? Is she a bad mom for drinking?

Mama on one hand says absolutely. If you grew up around any one that may or may not be considered an alcoholic you might agree with Mama. It’s scary to be a child and watch your parent go from a role model to a zero in less than three drinks. At the time Mama might not have noticed it as much but knowing what Mama knows now — it’s frightening. Therefore it shows through in Mama’s own parenting. If I’m in charge of the kids sleeping or not sleeping – there’s no drinking. What if there’s an emergency in the middle of the night? Who will drive them to the hospital? Would you still be able to make rational decisions after downing a whole box of wine (that is a whole other issue — who drinks boxed wine??!!)? And Mama is asking these questions and doesn’t even have an infant that is likely to wake up in the middle of the night and can’t do anything for themselves yet — probably not even walk!

While Mama isn’t saying that the disappearance is deserved (NO MOTHER DESERVES THAT!!) or that it’s her fault or that parents aren’t allowed to indulge in the occasional martini or glass of wine, what Mama is saying is that she did let her guard down and allow her Motherly Instincts to be impaired that night. There were signs that someone or something was near the house with the dog barking and the baby monitor clearly on but was being ignored because the drinking was just too good to stop. This reminds Mama of many other cases of missing children and it seems that in some way on either the abductor or the victim’s side that drugs and alcohol have been involved. It’s scary to see what these legal and illegal substances can do to a family if your guard is let down.

Then there is a whole other issue of alcohol and the suburban mom…remember when the mom took her kids and her friends kids for a joy ride on the wrong side of the freeway…killing all seven of them….what’s next if we don’t get to the root of the problem that Mamas are struggling with these days?!

Mama would love to hear your thoughts on this issue…do you think that having a few drinks while the baby and kids sleep is okay?

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Categories : news, parenting, Rant;
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A controversial Mother’s Day?!

By admin · Comments (7)
Monday, May 9th, 2011

Mama hopes everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Mother’s Day! However, for some…it happened to be quite controversial. For Mama it’s not really about the gifts but more of just having a day of doing nothing but enjoying time with the little ones and their attempts at “being good” for the day. Which only consisted of two meltdowns instead of the usual five.  Although, they did get some store bought goodies for Mama, the best gifts were the two homemade pins with their photos on it that Mama proudly wore all day long (that was…until the rain ruined them)!


Then as the day goes on Mama gets a phone call from a friend. “Mr. XX doesn’t believe in celebrating Mother’s Day for me…only for his own mother.” WHAT?


No homemade cards from the kids…not even a single flower?!


Mama was actually quite shocked. While Mama knows it’s just as important that your husband honor and acknowledge his own mother, he should also be praising your everyday efforts that you do with your own kids. As we all know it’s not an easy job and this one day wouldn’t kill him to give you at least a card and a hug…would it? 


Or are we supposed to wait until our kids are of age to acknowledge our hard work on their own — which is what…about age 30?


Is Mama alone on this one or do you think the husbands should be training the kids to acknowledge their mother on this special day?

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My philosophy is simple: just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to forgo style or your life. You can do it all with a little help from Mama. Mama makes life easier by doing all the shopping, crafting and ranting for you because really...what Mama has the time for that?! Mama will not lie, I can bake but if you're looking for cooking tips you might be better off going someplace else!

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