Saturday, April 17, 2010
Shoes Night Out
After a long absence, I took my boys to the mall this week to walk around and shop a little bit. Before I realized it I had been sale-suckered into buying a pair of super high Steve Madden heels (let's say it involved a few scratch-n-save cards and two very enthusiastic scratchers who were elated to discover a 40% off coupon). Upon returning home and posting news of my new additions on Facebook, a conversation commenced between my stay-at-home mom friends lamenting the fact that we never seem to get the opportunity to wear our fancy footwear. And an idea was born. Shoes night out. Boxes were pulled from the top of closets, shoes were dusted off and out went the Mamas! We had such a fantastic time - this will definitely become a new tradition. Here are some of the guests of honor and a shot of the Mamas :)
Sunday, April 11, 2010
End of an Era
I've really been wrestling with something lately that I've felt compelled to write about.
As my friends and the salvation army already know, I've been cleaning house and getting rid of most of the baby stuff. Gone is the floor gym. The swing has been re homed. The baby books have gone onto more ready-to-be-fertile pastures. And by now I'm sure the majority of the baby clothes have found other babies to warm. Even the baby bucket has left the building.
That's right, this family has reached capacity.
I'd be a liar if I said that it is an easy decision. I always envisioned myself having four children. But these little men arrived at such breakneck speed that the mere thought of adding another one terrifies me. And yes, we thought about waiting and having another at some point down the road, but I see what good friends Fin and Dash are and I know that Kell gets closer to becoming their partner in crime every day. Waiting and adding another child to the mix just doesn't seem fair - to have one that was always left behind? And then I do have days where I think that maybe I could handle the demands of one more little man. But like I say to my kids (and people who wear their clothes too tight), just because you can doesn't mean you should.
If I'm going to be honest, and let's face it, I always am, realizing that your child-bearing years have come to an end is kind of like the first time you start to face your own mortality. It means that so many of life's burning questions have been answered. You know where your life will go, where you'll live, who you'll marry, how many children you'll have and what they'll look like. The questions that you now face are mostly hinged on your children - who will they be? It feels like the first glaring streetlight to "Old Town".
I cleaned out my closet this weekend, post-partum fat clothes be GONE! I started to get down my large containers of maternity clothes but I just wasn't ready for that. Any mother will tell you that it just might be the wardrobe equivalent of having your tubes tied. No one, NO ONE wants to recreate the maternity closet - especially in CA where it's not even seasonal. I have a friend who will be in need of them soon, but not yet. I'll hold onto them just a little longer. Who knows, maybe I'll even change my mind in the end.
Then I look at my four boys, cuddling in bed with me watching a movie, and I think my life is so very full of love already.
As my friends and the salvation army already know, I've been cleaning house and getting rid of most of the baby stuff. Gone is the floor gym. The swing has been re homed. The baby books have gone onto more ready-to-be-fertile pastures. And by now I'm sure the majority of the baby clothes have found other babies to warm. Even the baby bucket has left the building.
That's right, this family has reached capacity.
I'd be a liar if I said that it is an easy decision. I always envisioned myself having four children. But these little men arrived at such breakneck speed that the mere thought of adding another one terrifies me. And yes, we thought about waiting and having another at some point down the road, but I see what good friends Fin and Dash are and I know that Kell gets closer to becoming their partner in crime every day. Waiting and adding another child to the mix just doesn't seem fair - to have one that was always left behind? And then I do have days where I think that maybe I could handle the demands of one more little man. But like I say to my kids (and people who wear their clothes too tight), just because you can doesn't mean you should.
If I'm going to be honest, and let's face it, I always am, realizing that your child-bearing years have come to an end is kind of like the first time you start to face your own mortality. It means that so many of life's burning questions have been answered. You know where your life will go, where you'll live, who you'll marry, how many children you'll have and what they'll look like. The questions that you now face are mostly hinged on your children - who will they be? It feels like the first glaring streetlight to "Old Town".
I cleaned out my closet this weekend, post-partum fat clothes be GONE! I started to get down my large containers of maternity clothes but I just wasn't ready for that. Any mother will tell you that it just might be the wardrobe equivalent of having your tubes tied. No one, NO ONE wants to recreate the maternity closet - especially in CA where it's not even seasonal. I have a friend who will be in need of them soon, but not yet. I'll hold onto them just a little longer. Who knows, maybe I'll even change my mind in the end.
Then I look at my four boys, cuddling in bed with me watching a movie, and I think my life is so very full of love already.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
My Bucket List
I've been meaning to start a list like this for a while. Maybe by writing these things down, I'll actually get to do some of them! I'll keep you posted with any additions or hopefully, any achievements...
1. Travel to Australia.
2. Photograph a birth.
3. Photograph a wedding. - DONE! 10/14/12
4. Learn to play the guitar.
5. Be a foster parent.
6. Be a "Room Mother".- DONE! 2011-2012 (Finley, Kindergarten with Mrs. Caudillo)
7. Travel to Greece.
8. Travel to Hawaii.
9. Write a novel. Even if it's just for my children to read someday.
10. Live by the Ocean. For a month at least.
11. Learn to surf.
12. Finally lose the last of the baby weight.
13. Go on a shopping spree with no limits. Just once. Hopefully after completing #12
14. Complete a half marathon. Preferably running.
15. Take my boys camping.
16. Learn to sew. Well.
17. Take cooking classes.
18. Drive a car that can only hold two people. On a regular basis.
19. Take photography classes and/or apprentice with a professional.
20. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and help build a house.
21. Learn to play golf.
22. Ride a horse on the beach.
23. Spend a whole day at the movies.
24. Have a nicely decorated bedroom. - DONE! 2011 (just need new lamps...)
25. And a big bathroom. With a stupid big tub. - DONE! 2011
26. Be a "Team Mom"
27. See something on Broadway.
28. Go on a week-long vacation with my husband and ONLY my husband. - DONE! 2011 (Paris for our Anniversary)
29. Take my boys skiing.
30. Teach my boys to drive.
31. Teach my boys how to treat a lady.
32. Drive cross country one last time with no time constraints.
33. Have a room of my own to use as I'd like.
34. Take my boys on their first big roller coaster.
35. And drive them on their first date.
36. Go to Paris - DONE! 2011 (for our Anniversary)
1. Travel to Australia.
2. Photograph a birth.
3. Photograph a wedding. - DONE! 10/14/12
4. Learn to play the guitar.
5. Be a foster parent.
6. Be a "Room Mother".- DONE! 2011-2012 (Finley, Kindergarten with Mrs. Caudillo)
7. Travel to Greece.
8. Travel to Hawaii.
9. Write a novel. Even if it's just for my children to read someday.
10. Live by the Ocean. For a month at least.
11. Learn to surf.
12. Finally lose the last of the baby weight.
13. Go on a shopping spree with no limits. Just once. Hopefully after completing #12
14. Complete a half marathon. Preferably running.
15. Take my boys camping.
16. Learn to sew. Well.
17. Take cooking classes.
18. Drive a car that can only hold two people. On a regular basis.
19. Take photography classes and/or apprentice with a professional.
20. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and help build a house.
21. Learn to play golf.
22. Ride a horse on the beach.
23. Spend a whole day at the movies.
24. Have a nicely decorated bedroom. - DONE! 2011 (just need new lamps...)
25. And a big bathroom. With a stupid big tub. - DONE! 2011
26. Be a "Team Mom"
27. See something on Broadway.
28. Go on a week-long vacation with my husband and ONLY my husband. - DONE! 2011 (Paris for our Anniversary)
29. Take my boys skiing.
30. Teach my boys to drive.
31. Teach my boys how to treat a lady.
32. Drive cross country one last time with no time constraints.
33. Have a room of my own to use as I'd like.
34. Take my boys on their first big roller coaster.
35. And drive them on their first date.
36. Go to Paris - DONE! 2011 (for our Anniversary)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
To Kell at 7 Months
My Dearest Baby Kellan,
I was diligent about writing notes to your biggest brother Finley and then somewhat regular at writing them to Dashel, but the three of you keep me so very busy that I haven't found a free second to write one to you!
Part of that is because you are THE MOST high needs babe on the planet! You can't stand to be put down for more than a few seconds (you are, in fact, sitting on my lap as I write this). I never thought I would look forward to a child learning to crawl, but if it gives you a sense of independence and gives my arms a rest, I will welcome it! When I'm not too busy holding you, I'm taking your picture. Your cuteness thrills me to no end. Truly, I apologize in advance for what your future girlfriends will have to endure.
I wish I could say that you are sleeping through the night, but you're still waking up and often more than once. It's a good thing that you're so cute otherwise you'd be in trouble! We tried to stop swaddling you a few weeks ago and it didn't go well AT ALL. So for now you're still a swaddled babe. We were in Palm Springs last weekend when an accident ruined your only swaddle blanket and Daddy tried to wrap you up in the extra hotel room blanket. It was pretty funny but mostly did the trick!
You're still taking all your meals "at the bar" but are anxious to try any foods mama is eating too. I can't wait till I see your first teeth so I can share more with you. You LOVE those baby yogurt chips and puffs too. We're trying to get you on a schedule of eating babyfood every night before bed too, I'm hoping that might help you to sleep better. But overall I'm trying to enjoy each moment of your remaining babyness. I've gotten rid of the swing, the bouncer, and most of the clothes you've outgrown. It's hard for me to know that I'll never bring home another new baby of my own, but the three of you are enough work for this mama! Rest assured, you will always be my littlest baby.
You're babbling up a storm, but so far Mama is the only real word you have - and only then when I've allowed someone else to try and hold you. Which means that so far I've only gotten to hear it as a pathetic wail. Hopefully more words and better circumstances are around the corner! You laugh easily and often and you seem to think that your brothers are the most hilarious people on the planet - you just can't wait to go play with them! You've finally mastered the art of sitting and I think that crawling will be right around the corner. Now if only I could get you to do it all without the spit up :)
That's your life right now, Kell. As long as Mama's holding you, you roll right along with everything your brothers have on their schedules. And don't tell your Dad, but I'm ok with your needy baby self. I know that you'll be independent in the blink of an eye and with that all my baby days will be behind me. So for now, I'm just going to enjoy it.
All My Love,
Mom
I was diligent about writing notes to your biggest brother Finley and then somewhat regular at writing them to Dashel, but the three of you keep me so very busy that I haven't found a free second to write one to you!
Part of that is because you are THE MOST high needs babe on the planet! You can't stand to be put down for more than a few seconds (you are, in fact, sitting on my lap as I write this). I never thought I would look forward to a child learning to crawl, but if it gives you a sense of independence and gives my arms a rest, I will welcome it! When I'm not too busy holding you, I'm taking your picture. Your cuteness thrills me to no end. Truly, I apologize in advance for what your future girlfriends will have to endure.
I wish I could say that you are sleeping through the night, but you're still waking up and often more than once. It's a good thing that you're so cute otherwise you'd be in trouble! We tried to stop swaddling you a few weeks ago and it didn't go well AT ALL. So for now you're still a swaddled babe. We were in Palm Springs last weekend when an accident ruined your only swaddle blanket and Daddy tried to wrap you up in the extra hotel room blanket. It was pretty funny but mostly did the trick!
You're still taking all your meals "at the bar" but are anxious to try any foods mama is eating too. I can't wait till I see your first teeth so I can share more with you. You LOVE those baby yogurt chips and puffs too. We're trying to get you on a schedule of eating babyfood every night before bed too, I'm hoping that might help you to sleep better. But overall I'm trying to enjoy each moment of your remaining babyness. I've gotten rid of the swing, the bouncer, and most of the clothes you've outgrown. It's hard for me to know that I'll never bring home another new baby of my own, but the three of you are enough work for this mama! Rest assured, you will always be my littlest baby.
You're babbling up a storm, but so far Mama is the only real word you have - and only then when I've allowed someone else to try and hold you. Which means that so far I've only gotten to hear it as a pathetic wail. Hopefully more words and better circumstances are around the corner! You laugh easily and often and you seem to think that your brothers are the most hilarious people on the planet - you just can't wait to go play with them! You've finally mastered the art of sitting and I think that crawling will be right around the corner. Now if only I could get you to do it all without the spit up :)
That's your life right now, Kell. As long as Mama's holding you, you roll right along with everything your brothers have on their schedules. And don't tell your Dad, but I'm ok with your needy baby self. I know that you'll be independent in the blink of an eye and with that all my baby days will be behind me. So for now, I'm just going to enjoy it.
All My Love,
Mom
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