There are so many thoughts swirling around my head right now. Let’s get them down on paper (“paper”), shall we?
+ I really hope this baby and Parker become best friends and that it’s like the best thing that ever happened to him. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit, though, that once in awhile, I’m like, “What if they hate each other?” Tell me you’ve had the same thoughts when you added another? Of course, I hope William and Lindsey (and the older boys for that matter) love this baby too, but I suspect the adjustment won’t be quite as big for them.
+ Sleep is getting trickier, blah blah blah, so imagine my delight when I was sent one of these. It is so easy to use. That shouldn’t be my first point to highlight about it because there are way cooler features than its ease of use but when you stumble downstairs after a semi-sleepless night, it’s pretty great to pop in the capsule and still feel sophisticated when I look like crap but have an inch of crema on top of my coffee. (Even saying crema makes me more sophisticated than I was last week.) More to come on it, but wanted to give you the heads up that there’s a 25% off sale on them this weekend. (Thank you Nespresso!)
+ You know how all those articles or blog posts get shared like rapid fire on Facebook: why you need to slow down and say “yes” to your kids more or why Mom-guilt is crap and you’re entitled to take your alone time when they are sitting watching a cartoon. You know the ones. Well, they each have their valid points, no doubt, but there are times when Mom-guilt is going to getcha no matter how many articles or blog posts you read that say, “Don’t let it!” So, last night when I checked on a sleeping Parker, I felt so bad for always taking his Charlie Brown Christmas watching to get stuff done. He almost always asks, “You wan watch wiff me?” and I basically always turn him down to get stuff done. To my umpteen-month-pregnant-self it was enough to make me cry last night. This is a point that needs so much unpacking and would be worthy of its own post, I think. But I would like to ask, how do you all deal with that? What do you do? This will only get more complicated when I have another, so I think that post is in the works…
+ I plan on taking William to see Mockingjay soon — assuming he finishes the book (I force my kids to read by promising the movie afterwards!). I am excited. And it’ll probably be the last movie I go to for like a year, so he better get that book read. Lindsey is too cool for us and is going with friends.
+ Steve is en route to California for a conference as we speak. Fear not, doula numbers one and two (my Mom and Dad) are coming both for back up and for a Thanksgiving feast (my Dad isn’t actually going to be my doula, though I do adore the man.). Let’s just hope I don’t go into labor while he’s gone though. I really would not like that.
+ I bought these
for Parker for Christmas and I think they’ll be a serious hit. The reviews look good and I imagine it’s something that’d be useful to take on a long plane ride too, right? What are some total toddler-present wins in your book? He’s always loved the Caterpillar toys, and honestly, Matchbox cars are never, ever far from him. What are you getting your teens? Teens are so hard, all they want is electronics or clothes that you don’t entirely trust yourself to buy them (style’s ever changing!).
for Parker for Christmas and I think they’ll be a serious hit. The reviews look good and I imagine it’s something that’d be useful to take on a long plane ride too, right? What are some total toddler-present wins in your book? He’s always loved the Caterpillar toys, and honestly, Matchbox cars are never, ever far from him. What are you getting your teens? Teens are so hard, all they want is electronics or clothes that you don’t entirely trust yourself to buy them (style’s ever changing!).
+ What I would highly, highly, highly, highly suggest you add to your Christmas list is these leggings. I have heard so much hype about them but, come on, $50 for leggings? Well after asking if it was worth it on Twitter and having all positive responses, I decided to try for myself. Holy moly. Lululemon but half the cost, my friends (and apparently the same people behind the company?). So soft, so thick, good stretch, matte (so they’re really not specifically work out but could easily go under a dress in the winter). The best part of my day? Putting them on. Just kidding but sort of not. I’d honestly write a whole post on how much I love them but I already did that about sweats and two posts about comfy clothing seems a bit much.
Okay, I think that’s it. Thanks for bearing with me, today and all the days! Have a good weekend.
I have those leggings and they are well worth the price!
seriously. it's taking restraint to not buy three more pairs.
(i've worn them two days in a row and just heard the dryer ding cause they're clean again. woohoo! make that three days!)
Oh I remember the worry when I was pregnant with my second….all the, how will I love another baby the same? will they get along and be friends? how am i going to do this? and so on but it's funny to me now to remember that I even had those thoughts cause they were so silly. I am doing it and I love them both to pieces and they are THE best of friends (at age 1 and 4) and they have adored each other from day 1! You got this…Parker's got it and man will you be delighted to see the bond they have when you are least expecting it!! And the mom guilt, I feel it a lot for diff reasons especially at night after they have gone to bed, that's when it stirs the most but I always tell myself that tomorrow is a new day and boy do those kiddos forgive and love hard….they really do!! Happy Friday! Enjoy your time with your parents!
Liz, you have such a way with words. Always. Can you please come and sit and have coffee with me???
(Same age difference Parker and this one will have! I'm glad to hear that from you especially.)
coffee + chatting + Bridget would = one great morning!
Oh, Mom guilt. Yes, it's going to get you sometimes, no matter how many inspiring posts you read. I had a really big week of Mom guilt. After taking two years off, I went back to work this Fall, just as my youngest was starting kindergarten. Big transitions for both of us. Both of my boys seemed to adjust so well, and I breathed a sigh of relief, but perhaps too quickly. I think the novelty of the new routine (new afternoon babysitter and a program they attend once a week) has worn off, and my little man has started getting super clingy, not wanting me to leave him, making me promise that I will wake him up in the morning before I leave (I leave early for work so I can get home early, make dinner, etc)…. He's not getting enough sleep, which always makes everything worse. And he's started asking questions, like "Why do you want to go to work?", which are fine and important questions, but certainly ones that kick the Mom guilt into high gear.
What do I do? Well, I hug my boys as much as they will let me, I tell them I love them all the freakin' time, I make dinner and eat with them every night, I try to make time when I can to play a game or legos with them, and I drink wine.
Oh, and the whole "will they be best friends or will they hate each other?" question….the answer is both. All siblings go through phases of loving and hating each other. You gotta think about the long game. My boys are similar age difference (I think? 2 1/2 years). My oldest loved his new baby at first, and then he'd get mad when I couldn't do something with him when I had to feed the baby, and then he'd love him again. When he was old enough to play with him, they became buds. And then he'd get annoying and not want to play with him for a while. They are also so, so, different! Now they are playing together all the time, and when they're not playing, they're bickering and screaming at each other. All is as it should be, and none of it is in my control.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mary! That sounds so crazy tough–him asking why you want to go – gah!! And add not enough sleep, and recipe for… tears. It's all phases, right? I will join you in that glass of wine in a few weeks time.
I should know the answer to the "will they hate each other" question – I mean, goodness, I've seen it all (the fighting! the love! the fighting! the love!) with three older sisters and then Nathaniel, Jordan, William, and Lindsey… but yet I still ask myself it a lot! Your last sentence is so very true.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
yes yes!! i wear my zellas eeeveryyyy daaaay! the chick i think that's the head of… something… for them used to work for lulu. that's the story i read! you cannot beat the price and quality, i rave about them, too 🙂 and mom guilt still makes me cry! maybe it just helps us keep striving to be our best? it's hard!!! have fun with your parents!! how wonderful that they're coming to be with you!!
I love your thoughts! I know your other children with love the new baby, with that much love in a family it's really the only possible outcome. Happy Friday lady!
xo
Michaela
http://michaelajeanblog.com
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your familiy.
I hope you husband has safe trip and comes home in time – I would not have liked that either!
Our teens are getting books – they actually really like reading, so it's not that difficult to please them – in addition to that a new bookshelf, some clothes and a notebook for themselves (we lost the fight against the electronics…)
We had some serious phases with jealosy and rivalry, after our second child was born and I was devasted and felt so guilty and – yeah, like the worst mom ever, because all I heard and read was, how much the other kids loved the new addition to the family and I was so sure I must have done everything wrong then. It was so hard watching his insecurity, seeing him cry, whenever I took the baby, we were both heartbroken, I guess.
We talked endlessly, made sure he his "quality time" with his dad (and me), encouraged him to help and be a part of all but nevertheless it took him about 3 or 4 month, to really adjust with the new situation – they are best friends and partners in crime now 😉
Seeing them now, attached at the hips and having so much fun together is the best cure for my mom-guilt and now, pregnant with another one, I know, that I can do it, we can do it and – quoting my source of wisdom now 😉 "it is such a welcome lesson to have under my belt"
I wouldn't knock a second comfy clothes post… I took your sweats recommendation and am wearing them now!
Happy Friday! Ok, it's official I need some of those leggings. As a new first time mom, I just can't dress up more than leggings or sweats. Sorry, but not sorry!
I felt SUCH guilt when we were preparing to have our second (2.5 years ago!!) because it had just been Jasper and I for 4.5 years (okay dad too but he was a full time student and had a full time + job so really, 95% of the time it was just the two of us. And then after Tindra came, I felt guilty that I waited SO LONG to give him a sibling. Mom guilt. Slightly ridiculous. Now preparing for #3's arrival I know I'll feel some guilt about having to spread my time/attention even more, but I see how much joy they get out of each other, and how especially excited Jasper (now 7!) is to be getting a little brother that I'm not worried about how they will adapt. Kids are made for this!
Isn't that funny? Mom guilt for having the baby, Mom guilt for NOT having the baby (soon enough).
Kids ARE made for this. Thank you 🙂 Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
Search "learning resources" on Amazon. Really neat toys for toddlers. There's a "sorting pie" that I'm thinking my 3 year old boy would enjoy!
Ooh! I will try that!
Also, do you have any "Pete the Cat" books? Both my boys (3 and 19 mo) love them! We got a few for a birthday gift.
And your worries are totally normal. I know I can't tell you anything that will make you not worry though. Been there. 😉 It just all works out somehow. You'll just have to see for yourself. 🙂
We don't have any books! The house that has nearly every book does not have Pete the Cat. Thank you!
I truly go "live in" those leggings. I like them better than lulu! And, the nespresso…Heaven. My parents have one, and I love it! I think I might steal your idea for the magnets for the kids – I bet they'd love them, too! have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and soon-to-be birth 🙂