Dear Adelaide,
Tonight I rubbed your back while you nursed yourself to sleep. You were curled into me, your legs tucked against my thighs, your arms tucked against my stomach. You make little noises when you swallow, noises that sound content which in turn make me feel so content.
I rubbed your back, so small. I marvel at how small you are. But I know that through years of playing in the yard with your dad, gardening with me, biking with friends, bending over building sand castles at the beach, hiking and camping and yes, even cleaning your room, your back will grow and become the back of a woman. A strong back holding you up tall, holding memories and experiences of life.
You will grow up. You are growing up. And in moments like the beautiful one I savored tonight, I remember that and my heart swells a bit. For the sweet little chunky baby that you are now, the spirited little girl that I know you will be, and the strong smart woman that you will become many years from now.
I am honored to have created that little back, and I will rub it as you drift off to sleep for as many years as you will let me.
Love,
your momma
May 13, 2011
My Mother's Day (the broken bathroom part)
Ok, this is the last part of my Mother's Day weekend... I meant to post this yesterday, but blogger has been down, so here you go today.
Sunday (Mother's Day) was a fussy day for Adelaide. She didn't sleep well Saturday night, and she cried, fussed and grumped all Sunday morning. She had a difficult time going down for a nap, so I finally decided to lay down with her and sleep a bit with her. (This usually works to get a good, long nap from her... and I appreciate the extra sleep too!)
After about an hour or so, I woke up to the sound of water. When Kevin soaks a skin to head up a drum, he uses a big tub in our master bathroom (one of those large gray tubs you can find at Walmart), and he uses the shower to slowly fill it up. That's what I thought I was hearing as I slowly woke up. But then I realized it was much too loud to be that. So I got out of bed, and peeked into our main bathroom in the hallway and saw a stream of water spraying down from the ceiling, with a quarter-inch of water on the floor already. It was so loud!
So I ran outside where Kevin was mowing the lawn, ran up to him waving my arms. I said "There's a leak in the bathroom! Turn off the water! It's spritzing!!!"
After shutting off the water and inspecting the ceiling/attic space, and not finding anything, I went to turn on the water for five seconds so Kevin could see where it was coming from.
This is the culprit:
A busted hose from the back of the toilet, that was spraying ("spritzing"... haha) toward the ceiling incredibly forcefully, soaking everything and making a huge mess.
As Kevin was cleaning up the water on the floor and all the gunk from the ceiling (while I kept Adelaide happy by holding her), we decided that we'd go ahead and redo the bathroom. This will include smoothing out the rest of the ceiling, taking down the wallpaper that the previous owners just painted over, repainting, and touching up the vanity area. I'll probably get new artwork and accessories as well. We hope to keep this under $100. Of course, I wish we could afford a total room redo, but that will just have to wait for another time.
So that was my first mother's day! Sorry it took so long for me to get it all out there to you. Time flies when you have a baby around and lots of other stuff going on. It's supposed to be warm here, but rainy all weekend, so I don't know what all we'll do. Probably just rent some movies and hang out at home. Oh, and catch up on blog-reading while Kevin helps take care of the baby! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Sunday (Mother's Day) was a fussy day for Adelaide. She didn't sleep well Saturday night, and she cried, fussed and grumped all Sunday morning. She had a difficult time going down for a nap, so I finally decided to lay down with her and sleep a bit with her. (This usually works to get a good, long nap from her... and I appreciate the extra sleep too!)
After about an hour or so, I woke up to the sound of water. When Kevin soaks a skin to head up a drum, he uses a big tub in our master bathroom (one of those large gray tubs you can find at Walmart), and he uses the shower to slowly fill it up. That's what I thought I was hearing as I slowly woke up. But then I realized it was much too loud to be that. So I got out of bed, and peeked into our main bathroom in the hallway and saw a stream of water spraying down from the ceiling, with a quarter-inch of water on the floor already. It was so loud!
So I ran outside where Kevin was mowing the lawn, ran up to him waving my arms. I said "There's a leak in the bathroom! Turn off the water! It's spritzing!!!"
After shutting off the water and inspecting the ceiling/attic space, and not finding anything, I went to turn on the water for five seconds so Kevin could see where it was coming from.
This is the culprit:
A busted hose from the back of the toilet, that was spraying ("spritzing"... haha) toward the ceiling incredibly forcefully, soaking everything and making a huge mess.
As Kevin was cleaning up the water on the floor and all the gunk from the ceiling (while I kept Adelaide happy by holding her), we decided that we'd go ahead and redo the bathroom. This will include smoothing out the rest of the ceiling, taking down the wallpaper that the previous owners just painted over, repainting, and touching up the vanity area. I'll probably get new artwork and accessories as well. We hope to keep this under $100. Of course, I wish we could afford a total room redo, but that will just have to wait for another time.
So that was my first mother's day! Sorry it took so long for me to get it all out there to you. Time flies when you have a baby around and lots of other stuff going on. It's supposed to be warm here, but rainy all weekend, so I don't know what all we'll do. Probably just rent some movies and hang out at home. Oh, and catch up on blog-reading while Kevin helps take care of the baby! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
May 11, 2011
My Mother's Day (the frozen yogurt part)
Yesterday I shared the botanical gardens part of my Mother's Day weekend. Now time for the frozen yogurt part. Yoforia was having a buy-one-get-one-free-for-a-mom special so we popped in for some sweetness.
We brought along the Bumbo for Adelaide to sit in, our first time taking it out with us. Let's just say it was GREAT being able to actually eat my very delicious and slightly (read: very) unhealthy yogurt treat. Previously I'd be balancing her in my arms and manage to eat a spoonful every few minutes. Instead I scarfed down that frozen goodness, and it was goooood.
We, of course, took lots of pictures. At one point, a lady approached and offered to take a couple pictures for us. We looked pretty awkward, I'm sure, trying to squeeze us all into a shot while Kevin held the camera out. (Note to self: figure out how to use remote!) But I like the goofy shots as well as the good ones. Mostly I love looking at my little girl, the reason I was able to get a free yogurt. Love you Adelaide!
Next up: the broken bathroom part.
We brought along the Bumbo for Adelaide to sit in, our first time taking it out with us. Let's just say it was GREAT being able to actually eat my very delicious and slightly (read: very) unhealthy yogurt treat. Previously I'd be balancing her in my arms and manage to eat a spoonful every few minutes. Instead I scarfed down that frozen goodness, and it was goooood.
We, of course, took lots of pictures. At one point, a lady approached and offered to take a couple pictures for us. We looked pretty awkward, I'm sure, trying to squeeze us all into a shot while Kevin held the camera out. (Note to self: figure out how to use remote!) But I like the goofy shots as well as the good ones. Mostly I love looking at my little girl, the reason I was able to get a free yogurt. Love you Adelaide!
Next up: the broken bathroom part.
May 10, 2011
My Mother's Day. (the botanical gardens part)
Saturday Kevin treated me to a day (really, more like a couple of hours) at the local botanical gardens. I had mentioned a few weeks ago that I might want to go there for mom's day, but up until Friday evening I didn't know that's what he'd planned. It was my first visit and although it ended up being much smaller than I'd imagined it was so lovely to spend my day among beautiful flowers and sweet smells with my two favorite people.
We waited to leave until Adelaide needed a nap so she'd sleep on the 45-minute drive there. She was out in five minutes and got a good nap in. When we got there, I wrapped her up in the Moby, put her on sunhat which is much too big for her, and off we went.
Moms got in free (me! yay!), and so did babies. And before heading off into the sun we rubbed little Adelaide's chubby pale arms and legs and face with baby sunscreen.
Kevin took loads of pictures of all the flowers. And loads of me and Adelaide. I got a few shots of them as well, but not many as I wore her for most of the visit.
She got lots of adoring looks from the other moms there, and even from another baby who was 5 months old. He squealed at her a lot and his dad tsk-tsk'ed him for flirting so young!
At one point I had to nurse her so we thought we found a nice pretty-secluded bench. I didn't have anything really to cover up with, and didn't really want to as it was warm, so I was thankful that not too many people walked by. I'm still nervous nursing in public though I'm getting a lot more comfortable with it each time I do. One woman smiled at me as she walked by, so that was a confidence booster!
Anyhow, it was mostly private, and Adelaide had just gotten latched on, when a horse-drawn carriage full of people came clomping by. Apparently we were at the end of the gardens and that was the turn-around for the carraiges! I took Adelaide off for a moment as I'm sure that's not really what the people signed up for! She enjoyed watching the horses go by - her first horse sighting!
I can see this being a tradition. Kevin and I kept picturing Adelaide throughout the years, of how she'd enjoy the gardens. There were a few water features for the kids to run through, and Kevin mentioned that when she's old enough we could bring colored pencils and a drawing pad to sketch the flowers. She's already our little nature girl and I hope she loves art too!
It was so much fun spending the day with my two loves. This is the best season of my life yet! I hope you all had a wonderful mother's day as well!
We waited to leave until Adelaide needed a nap so she'd sleep on the 45-minute drive there. She was out in five minutes and got a good nap in. When we got there, I wrapped her up in the Moby, put her on sunhat which is much too big for her, and off we went.
Moms got in free (me! yay!), and so did babies. And before heading off into the sun we rubbed little Adelaide's chubby pale arms and legs and face with baby sunscreen.
Kevin took loads of pictures of all the flowers. And loads of me and Adelaide. I got a few shots of them as well, but not many as I wore her for most of the visit.
She got lots of adoring looks from the other moms there, and even from another baby who was 5 months old. He squealed at her a lot and his dad tsk-tsk'ed him for flirting so young!
At one point I had to nurse her so we thought we found a nice pretty-secluded bench. I didn't have anything really to cover up with, and didn't really want to as it was warm, so I was thankful that not too many people walked by. I'm still nervous nursing in public though I'm getting a lot more comfortable with it each time I do. One woman smiled at me as she walked by, so that was a confidence booster!
Anyhow, it was mostly private, and Adelaide had just gotten latched on, when a horse-drawn carriage full of people came clomping by. Apparently we were at the end of the gardens and that was the turn-around for the carraiges! I took Adelaide off for a moment as I'm sure that's not really what the people signed up for! She enjoyed watching the horses go by - her first horse sighting!
I can see this being a tradition. Kevin and I kept picturing Adelaide throughout the years, of how she'd enjoy the gardens. There were a few water features for the kids to run through, and Kevin mentioned that when she's old enough we could bring colored pencils and a drawing pad to sketch the flowers. She's already our little nature girl and I hope she loves art too!
It was so much fun spending the day with my two loves. This is the best season of my life yet! I hope you all had a wonderful mother's day as well!
May 8, 2011
A letter to my daughter on Mother's Day.
Dear Adelaide,
You are the reason I can now celebrate this holiday! Last year on Mother's Day, I was about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant. We knew you were in there and so we treated the day as we should: I was a mom from the moment I found out you were on your way. Your daddy treated me to some fabric from the local fabric shop and I had great intentions to make slings for you. They never got made, but it's just as well because you love your Moby wrap. (I will make something from that fabric, though! I will!)
This year, though, is my first real Mother's Day. You're really here, my girl, my sweetie, my love, my daughter!
Each day I wake up with you next to me, smiling and cooing, my heart grows a little bit more. I never knew love like this. Loving your daddy is one thing (a really wonderful thing), but my love for you is bigger than the sun and deeper than the ocean and more than all the stars in the sky. It goes on forever and ever and is truly unconditional.
Living each day with you, I'm able to see the world in a new light. I see you staring at a leaf and I am able to see it through your eyes. The way the cats yawn, the way the steam comes out of the iron, the way light plays shadows on the ground: it's all new when I imagine how interesting and fascinating it all must seem to you. I've always found pleasure in the little things in life, but now even more so because, without even trying, you help me to recognize the importance of noticing all those little things.
Oh Adelaide! I want the very best for you in life! I want you to be so happy! I want you to be confident in your beauty (in and out) and your talents and your dreams! I want you to trust in the good in people. I want you to reach and reach and reach for that which you want. Anything is possible. Your daddy and I will help you to live your best life. You are definitely helping us live our's.
Thank you for making it possible to celebrate this holiday. Being your mother is the absolute best thing I've ever done. I love you like crazy, baby.
Love,
Momma
You are the reason I can now celebrate this holiday! Last year on Mother's Day, I was about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant. We knew you were in there and so we treated the day as we should: I was a mom from the moment I found out you were on your way. Your daddy treated me to some fabric from the local fabric shop and I had great intentions to make slings for you. They never got made, but it's just as well because you love your Moby wrap. (I will make something from that fabric, though! I will!)
This year, though, is my first real Mother's Day. You're really here, my girl, my sweetie, my love, my daughter!
Each day I wake up with you next to me, smiling and cooing, my heart grows a little bit more. I never knew love like this. Loving your daddy is one thing (a really wonderful thing), but my love for you is bigger than the sun and deeper than the ocean and more than all the stars in the sky. It goes on forever and ever and is truly unconditional.
Living each day with you, I'm able to see the world in a new light. I see you staring at a leaf and I am able to see it through your eyes. The way the cats yawn, the way the steam comes out of the iron, the way light plays shadows on the ground: it's all new when I imagine how interesting and fascinating it all must seem to you. I've always found pleasure in the little things in life, but now even more so because, without even trying, you help me to recognize the importance of noticing all those little things.
Oh Adelaide! I want the very best for you in life! I want you to be so happy! I want you to be confident in your beauty (in and out) and your talents and your dreams! I want you to trust in the good in people. I want you to reach and reach and reach for that which you want. Anything is possible. Your daddy and I will help you to live your best life. You are definitely helping us live our's.
Thank you for making it possible to celebrate this holiday. Being your mother is the absolute best thing I've ever done. I love you like crazy, baby.
Love,
Momma
Wishing you a happy mom's day.
To all the mothers in my life, I wish you a day of wonderful memories - those in the past and those that are yet to be made.
I hope you have a relaxing day, or at least some time in the day in which you can reflect on how wonderful this journey has been for you. Being a mother is truly a gift, and I hope you view it as such! I know there can be many difficult times during your mother-journey, but ultimately the good moments outweigh the bad. Take a second and relive in your mind's eye some of the good times. I know I already have some, even though I'm just beginning.
And if you are a mom in my personal life, know that I appreciate you. Happy Mother's Day!
I hope you have a relaxing day, or at least some time in the day in which you can reflect on how wonderful this journey has been for you. Being a mother is truly a gift, and I hope you view it as such! I know there can be many difficult times during your mother-journey, but ultimately the good moments outweigh the bad. Take a second and relive in your mind's eye some of the good times. I know I already have some, even though I'm just beginning.
And if you are a mom in my personal life, know that I appreciate you. Happy Mother's Day!
[via]
May 3, 2011
A day of Bradley babies!
Saturday was SO much fun. All the moms + dads + babies from our Bradley class (minus one set and the teacher) got together at one of the parents' houses in the late morning and early afternoon.
Except for one mom and her son, I hadn't seen any of them since September, when our Bradley birthing classes ended. I'd kept in touch with a few of them via Facebook, and of course we emailed our birth stories to everyone as they happened, but it was so so so good to see everyone in person and meet each of the little babies.
The oldest baby was almost 7 months, and Adelaide was the youngest at just over 4 months. She wasn't the smallest though - that little chunkster. :) Along with being chunky (though not the biggest by 5 pounds), I'd have to say that she was the most chatty of the group. Which surprised me, because although she can be pretty vocal at home, especially lately, she hasn't really "talked" much when we're around other people. Maybe she sensed that she knew them? I don't know, but it was pretty darn cute.
As for the moms, each of us that was at this get-together was able to use what we learned to accomplish what we wanted: a drug-free natural childbirth. Some at the birth center where I gave birth, some at hospitals. And that other mom found out at the hospital that her baby was breech so had to have a c-section, unfortunately.
Kevin and I snapped a few pictures, but this first shot (only) comes from another mom. She was snapping away throughout the gathering and caught this gem of my little family. I am definitely going to get this printed out and framed. I'm thinking of putting it in our bedroom and replacing a photo calendar from 2009. A much-welcomed replacement! My heart melts every time I look at this!
Except for one mom and her son, I hadn't seen any of them since September, when our Bradley birthing classes ended. I'd kept in touch with a few of them via Facebook, and of course we emailed our birth stories to everyone as they happened, but it was so so so good to see everyone in person and meet each of the little babies.
The oldest baby was almost 7 months, and Adelaide was the youngest at just over 4 months. She wasn't the smallest though - that little chunkster. :) Along with being chunky (though not the biggest by 5 pounds), I'd have to say that she was the most chatty of the group. Which surprised me, because although she can be pretty vocal at home, especially lately, she hasn't really "talked" much when we're around other people. Maybe she sensed that she knew them? I don't know, but it was pretty darn cute.
As for the moms, each of us that was at this get-together was able to use what we learned to accomplish what we wanted: a drug-free natural childbirth. Some at the birth center where I gave birth, some at hospitals. And that other mom found out at the hospital that her baby was breech so had to have a c-section, unfortunately.
Kevin and I snapped a few pictures, but this first shot (only) comes from another mom. She was snapping away throughout the gathering and caught this gem of my little family. I am definitely going to get this printed out and framed. I'm thinking of putting it in our bedroom and replacing a photo calendar from 2009. A much-welcomed replacement! My heart melts every time I look at this!
We thought it would be pretty cute to get all the babies together in one shot. I don't remember who suggested we put them in a circle, but I absolutely love how this turned out! Isn't Adelaide so cute with her blue dress (a $2.50 steal from JCPenney!) and white leg warmers ($2.00 socks from target with the feet cut off - no sewing!)?
And of course all the Bradley moms and their babies together. Thank goodness Kevin kept clicking, because with this many babies (and moms) it's hard to get a perfect shot! I think this one is pretty good though!
And all the Bradley dads! (Without planning it, almost all the dads, except two, lined up in the same order as the moms!)
I love this shot of my two favorite people!
We stayed outside because it turned out to be such a beautiful day. Perfect weather and perfect company. It was a potluck. If you had a girl, you brought something sweet. If you had a boy, you brought something savory. We brought a yogurt + jelly + whipped cream pie that is always a hit. We spent a lot of time talking about what the past few months has brought us, shared stories, let our babies hang out together on sheets on the ground, and really enjoyed each others' company. Even Kevin, who was dreading this get-together really loved seeing everyone (as I knew he would!). We will definitely be getting together again!
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