28.9.08

things to remember when i'm a mom


01. read to them and let them read to me. even if it takes forever.

02. paintbrushes and a bucket of water on a sunny sidewalk creates instant and harmless masterpieces.

03. call the babysitter and tell them how much fun the kids had with them the other night.

04. don't try to do too many things at once. be present in the moments. don't rush the doing.

05. carry snacks. and bubble gum.

06. believe in the power of the bribe.

07. don't assume that every restaurant and/or home is child proof. watch them close.

08. let them make decisions. (but not every decision. remember who's in charge.)

09. make a journal, documenting things they say. it's too easy to forget.

10. take pictures. not just when they are dolled up on sunday mornings but even on the days when they dump rice krispies all over the sofa.

11. eat around the table together more often than not.

12. praise them. say sweet things about them on the phone when they're still in the room.

13. keep dating my husband. try to find more subjects than the kids to chat about. remember to ask him about his life too. even if mine gets super overwhelming. remember what it's like to be thick in a career.

14. make family traditions. even simple ones like kissing them before they get on the bus, cutting their sandwiches in silly shapes or going on sunday evening walks.

15. create cute nicknames for them.

16. write notes and stick them in their lunchboxes. even when they are too old for lunchboxes, leave it on the bottle of orange gatorade in the fridge.

17. volunteer at their schools. be available to bring forgotten homework or to fix their wig for the halloween parade.

18. hang up their artwork. put favorites in frames that descend down the staircase wall.

19. go on trips with and without them. let them see the grand sights of world. but remember to be a person all by myself too.

20. remember what's really important: children wearing hannah montana sneakers, not that important; exercising agency, very important.

21. buy them the book of their choice; let them learn to love to read.

22. sing them each their own lullabye and say prayers every night.

23. be on their level. play with them on the floor. hold them in my lap. ride roller coasters together.

24. tell them all the reasons why they are special. again and again and again.

25. say i love you. because you can never say it enough. yet refrain from yelling it to them from the car window on the first day of junior high.

PS: this is borrowed...i'm not this creative.

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 21.9.08

Now that I'm about six months into this pregnancy gig, I'm getting kinda bored. I think I can describe this emotion as "Preggo Fatigue". Being pregnant is a full-time job. It's all I can think about night & day.

When I "sleep" [and I use that word VERY liberally as I can hardly sleep through the night], I'm worried that I'm going to kill my baby. I once read that I should sleep on my left side, so when I wake up on my back or my right side I stress that I've killed my bebe. OR when I actually maintain the left side sleeping position, I'm aching from pain. I've got a body pillow, but despite my best efforts, it ends up on the floor.


In the daytime, I'm constantly worried about everything - from the food I'm eating [or shouldn't be eating!], my LACK of exercise, my growing belly, little aches, and exhaustion management. Further, I find myself constantly answering questions about my pregnancy to strangers: "When are you due?", "Oh, a New Years baby! You'll get your picture in the paper, won't you?", "Do you know what you're having?", "Are you planning on a natural birth?" That last question is probably the most offensive - I mean, when is it ok to discuss my vajayjay with complete STRANGERS? How about NEVER? It's like a pregnant women's body is all of sudden an open book, with any topic up for discussion. I don't mind most questions, but asking personal questions about my birth plan is tasteless.

Oh! Another one of my "favourites" is when strangers give you their unsolicited opinion re: finding out the baby's gender. Some people are so judgmental about finding out the baby's gender. This also includes U/S technicians. They always tell me, "I don't understand why women want to know. It's more important that the baby's healthy." My response is that these inquiries aren't mutually exclusive. I get the impression that they think I'm a bad mom because I'm curious whether I'm having a boy or girl! Of course I care about my baby's health!

Since I'm getting bored of constantly thinking and talking about my pregnancy, I need some combat strategies. I'm teaching and dancing a lot, and I'm busy with my church calling. I'm going to start reading the "Twilight" series too. I've been also keeping myself busy with my scrapbooking and paper crafts. Any other ideas to fight preggo fatigue???

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Thank you, Rumi

 6.9.08

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Modern Baby High Chair


I know it's against my religion to covet, but this high chair is to DIE for. I must, must, MUST have it! LOVE the orange. This reminds me of the old chairs at church, but much cooler! I'm definitely digging the retro vibe of this high chair!

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Finding "the One"-sie

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