Always a bright side.

Every week on my way to grad class I treat myself to a guilty little pleasure - a coffee from Starbucks with sugar and cream. This particular trip to class was special because it was my last class for the semester. I thought I'd live it up by getting an iced coffee instead of my normal hot one. The Starbucks was pretty lively and there were several busy baristas making coffee, taking orders, etc. As one of them took my order she rolled her eyes as a baby squealed in the background. She huffed and murmered something under her breath. I looked back to see a precious little baby with his mother, feeding from a bottle, giving his mom a hard time by arching his back and stretching his neck away from the bottle. I knew that move. My mind began to drift to Claire when it was yanked back to reality by the barista. "God! If you can't control your kids then don't bring them," she said to her colleague, quiet enough that the mom couldn't hear. At first I was offended and wanted to stand up for the mommy and the baby. But then I realized something - she wouldn't have said that within earshot of me if she thought I was a mommy. Guess my mom jeans and messy hair aren't as bad as I thought. :) I'll take it.

Bon bons and soaps

I have heard the question a few times. "So what do you do all day?" The question is always from people without children. I don't expect them to understand how much work a baby is. Before I had Claire I used to think how nice it must be to be a stay-at-home mom...since they could get up whenever they wanted, do whatever they wanted, etc. I had my ten-year reunion this past weekend. I went to a very small private single-sex high school. About 15 out of the 45 of us were there...one-third is a decent turn out I think. It was fun catching up with old classmates and friends. I don't know why I wasn't suprised when an old friend (no kids) asked, "So what do you do all day?" My response always seems to be, "Um...ya know. Take care of the baby. Try to get stuff done." Doesn't quite encapsulate what I really do all day. I should've asked her, "What do you do all day?" Describing what you do, no matter what it is, never sounds as busy as it really is.

Slee-pea

When Claire was an itty bitty baby she would sleep in my arms or on top of me while I lay in the recliner. It was so peaceful and relaxing to feel her breathe and listen to the baby noises she made as she slept. I am glad I savored those moments because they did not last long. Now, when she is tired she is happiest lying in her crib with her blanky, her soother on, and the sounds of the ocean coming from her Sleep Sheep noise machine. But now and then I still get to hold my baby girl as she sleeps quietly, looking like an angel. Today was one of those days. She was a little unsettled today and wouldn't go down for her second nap. So I brought her downstairs and sat her next to me in the recliner. I had the tv on and covered us with a blanket. She was so content sitting with me, but I was just waiting for the moment when she would fuss to tell me she was over it. After about 10 minutes I noticed the rhythmic cadence of her breathing that could only mean that she had fallen asleep. I sat so still the whole time trying to make it last as long as possible. And then I had another one of those moments where it hit me that this perfect little person is mine.

Hello, I love you.

Claire, who is 7 mos old now, has begun to wave to us! I noticed her opening and closing her cute little hand a while ago. I didn't realize at the time that she was practicing another way of communicating with us. We saw her do it several times on Sunday and it seemed like she was directly doing it to people. But last night Claire woke up around 10pm. She doesn't normally do that and I wouldn't normally bring her out of her room but she was so cute and cuddly I couldn't bare to put her back down. Plus Parenthood was on and I really like that show. So I brought her down and nursed her a bit. She finished her snack but was still awake. I brought her over to daddy so he could kiss her goodnight and he waved to her. She waved back! She held up her cute little hand and opened and closed it. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. She acknowledged Matt's wave and responded. I am one proud mommy.

Cats Wars

Right after we went under contract on our house we noticed a few cats that were hanging around the property. I thought, "How cute!" A few weeks after we moved in we realized that there were about five cats that felt very at home in our yard. They glared at us as we pulled into the driveway or walked outside. I noticed that a small plate of catfood kept appearing behind our garage. My husband was PO'd! The cats were constantly hanging around and the neighbor even was feeding them in our yard! It was a little annoying but the neighbor is an old lady...who can be mad at a sweet old lady?! Then I found cat hair on my patio chair/pillow. And then they started using our newly mulched flowerbeds as litter boxes. So began the Cat Wars. My husband has made it his life's goal to get those cats to stay out of our yard. This has proved to be a tricky task. We found a lot of remedies online but are apprehensive to try any. For now, my husband quickly and quietly sneaks out the door with a super soaker to make his attack. Usually the cats get away before his water ammunition even nears the cats. Cats 10, Us 0.

Babyfood

Recently I have become more aware of the junk that is put into our food supply. It all started when I began registering for my baby shower. Everything said BPA-free...bottles, spoons, pacifiers, etc. I didn't know what BPA-free meant but I shot that registry gun at every bar code I saw with that logo on it. Whatever BPA was I didn't want it! Finally a few months ago I researched it online and found out that it is a chemical in packaging that could have negative imacts on our health. I found out that it is present in more than just baby products...it is in tuna cans, jars of sauce, and obviously in many things plastic. Immediately I began a crusade against BPA, trying to rid it from my home and looking for brands of stewed tomatoes and tuna that do not use BPA in packaging. Apparently anything in cartons or pouches is poison free...I mean BPA-free. I found out, too, that many baby food companies use it in their jars and plastic packaging. So I have found four BPA-free and organic baby foods all of which are sold on diapers.com. Neurotic mommies rejoice!! The brands are Sprout, Happy Baby, Plum Organics, and Ella's Kitchen. Happy Baby makes cereals too, at a reasonable price, that do not have preservatives like the Gerber ones I have been buying. I am making most of The Pea's food, but there are some that you are not supposed to make on your own, due to nitrates in the soil, until they are a little older. Also, recently I completed a project for my grad class (only one more class thank God!) about the issues with our food supply. I found a ton of info that is enough to make me want to become a hippie, move to a compound, and eat tofu. Then just when I think I'm living happily in my BPA-free bubble I find out about BHA...another chemical in packaging and in foods. Today at a party I found myself wondering if a mom new that the food she was feeding her son has BPA in the packaging. It has taken over my life!

I feel like there's always going to be something to worry about so I'm just going to do my best without driving myself too crazy.

First blog!

What to say on your first blog?!

I am a mommy to a seven month old (she is 7 mos old today actually!) I am a teacher, but am taking a break to stay home with Claire. Her nickname is The Pea from when she was the size of a pea when I was preggers. It said she was the size of a pea one week in What to Epect and the name just stuck. My husband and I were married for two months before we got pregnant. And we bought our home one year ago and it is one of those old, yet charming, fixer uppers. It needs sooo much work. Besides learning to be a mommy, a wife, and making home improvements I am in grad school, am trying desperately to learn to cook and have been working diligently (ok maybe that is an exageration) on losing those baby pounds. And since it's spring I've decided I need to learn to garden. Why not, right?

I decided to write a blog because a) I follow several that I enjoy b) I have lots to say! c) why not?

We'll see how it goes!