Lovely Little Reads

It's been a while since I've mentioned my children's book blog and instagram on this site, so wanted to fill you in about this project I've been working on. 

As a former 1st and 2nd grade teacher, currently on sabbatical for a few years while I stay home with my young kids, one thing I miss most from my teaching days is the reading and sharing of children's books.  Hence, I created my own page to share my favorites, brief synopses, and links so you can check out these books on your own.  I hope you'll follow along!

instagram @lovely.little.reads

facebook @lovely.little.reads

blog www.lovely-little-reads.com

10 Years of Blogging

Somehow I managed to let a major blogging milestone slip past me in the last two weeks...January 7 marked ten years of blogging for me.  TEN. YEARS.  Holy cow...  It's hard to summarize everything that happened in those ten years, but ultimately a lot has changed, and I do appreciate returning to this little corner I've created.  It's my muse, my yearbook of sorts, marking special occasions, milestones, pitfalls and highlights in my life. 

These days, though I aspire for more, posts are fewer and far between.  Many bloggers I followed in 2008 have since retired or taken hiatus, but I sincerely still love it.  I always loved writing, perhaps because it's just one of those things that just flows to me. And though this blogging community has evolved significantly from those early beginnings of the late 2000's, it's still a space I find delight in returning to, time and time again.  It's also exciting to see how some of my virtual friends have flourished.  For example, I began reading Cup of Jo when it bore its original bare bones template, and Joanna and I used to comment regularly on each other's blogs, and these days, she's a household name garnering millions of followers.   I've enjoyed this community of blog friends, maintaining virtual friendships, some which have even translated to real life (Ashlee and Vivian).

So here it is.  10 Years!  Happy Birthday little blog.  I'm glad you're here.

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Happy 8th Birthday Blog

Happy belated birthday little blog.  It's hard to believe you are 8 years old (on January 7th).  I've loved having this space to write, to exhale, and to just be.  I know my followers have declined over the years as my posts have become more infrequent, but if you're still here reading this, thank you for sticking around and following this journey with me.

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Cookbook Crush: Date Night In

This episode of Cookbook Crush is especially special, as not only have I purchased this cookbook after my usual pre-reading via the local library, but I made three recipes from it within my first week of purchase.  Cha-Ching!  As such, it is definitely crush-worthy, and worth a look!

Date Night In is the brainchild of Seattle chef/baker Ashley Rodriguez, author of the popular food blog, Not Without Salt.  This cookbook reads as a smattering of heartfelt anecdotes, describing how amidst their hectic lives, both working full-time, and raising three kids, she and her husband Gabe felt the need to reconnect weekly in order to sustain their relationship.  However, not being able to afford pricy date nights out every week, they were forced to improvise. Hence, "date night in" was born.  They began having date nights every Thursday - meaning dinner for just the two of them - no kids allowed, enjoyed after their children were tucked away in bed.  

The cookbook is organized in a series of complete meals portioned for two people, in addition to timelines for prep in the days ahead, handy lists of ingredients needed to complete the meal, and notations relaying the significance of the recipes chosen.  Now often, I skip the little blurbs in cookbooks, after all I'm here for the recipes, right?  But no, not with this one.  Ashley's cookbook reads like a love letter to both her craft and her family, and it's emotion is palpable and inspiring.  

So far, I've made maple-coriander carrots, apple radicchio slaw, and strawberry shortcake trifle, with about a dozen other recipes bookmarked for future endeavors.  All were superb and I find myself actually excited to read and reread this cookbook again and again, it's truly that good!

Happy cooking!

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6 Years of Blogging

This blog is 6 years old today.  SIX!  Where has the time gone?!  While my posting frequency has lagged in the last year(s), I still love blogging and hope to continue it indefinitely, even if my posts do become fewer and far between.  Blogging for me began as a hobby, a creative outlet to write, share, ask, and express.  But this blog has evolved into so much more for me, and become a time capsule, preserving moments of my life in time.  Now look back on and reread snippets of my thought process from the most important moments from my life with nostalgia...meeting my husband, falling in love, getting married, my pregnancy...it's a gift to read these feelings preserved in time.  

Here's to 6 more years of blogging...and BEYOND!

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Back to Blogging

{Riley, 2 days old}

Thanks to Lea, Ashlee, Julie, Teresa, Erinn, Amira, and Claire for their fantastic guest posts on motherhood while I've been away adjusting to life at home with a newborn.  I hoped you enjoyed reading their sweet wishes and wise words as much as I did.  

We are settling into life at home with our sweet Riley, and I hope to be back to blogging more regularly soon (I consider my 3 posts since her birth a HUGE accomplishment!).  I do hope to pick back up sooner than later, as I love having this avenue to help document our new life with our little one as she grows.  Even rereading my pregnancy posts inspires emotion and nostalgia, and makes me thankful I wrote down how I feeling during that time.

Until then, a friend reminded me of this quote, "The days are long, but the years are short," - Gretchen Rubin...I can feel the truth in this already as we're creeping up on 1 month of having a daughter!  

Guest Post: Beaktweets

There is no greater cliche in parenting than, "Time flies." Everyone says it to you, every step of the way. And yet, it is so true that it won't soon stop being a phrase we share with expecting and new parents.

My best advice for new moms is to just enjoy it. We live in a culture that puts a lot of pressure on doing it right. We are inundated with too much information which leaves us less willing to simply trust our own instincts.

A day when I really did just sit and hold her and enjoy her

One of my most vivid memories from the first month of my daughter's life is sitting on the couch, holding her and watching TV, thinking I should have been doing more. Tummy time or reading books or some other educational game. She was merely a few weeks old and already I was stressed about how well I was performing as a mother. I wish I could go back and tell my new-mom self to take a deep breath and be confident that cuddling my little baby as she took in her brand new world was exactly what I was supposed to be doing.

When well-meaning people tell you "It goes by so fast," as if you've never been told that before, I guess it is just their way of reminding you that all the other stuff can wait. The laundry, the dishes, the cooking, the educational activities and schedules for sleeping and eating- it will all happen in time. But those first few weeks are a gift. A chance to disconnect from the outside world, to take a break from normal chores and activities and a time to commit your energy to simply loving your brand new baby.

Guest Post: Shades of Gray

Hello Lovely Little Things readers! My name is Amira and I blog over at Shades of Gray. I'm so excited to be guest posting for Michelle. If you are reading this, that means she is enjoying her new little bundle of joy. As a new mom myself, I know how completely smitten she must be right now...and also how sleep deprived.

When I was pregnant I did everything I could to prepare for the labor and birth experience. My husband and I took classes and read books. I knew without a doubt that I wanted to breastfeed, so we took a breastfeeding class as well. Ah, if only that class could have prepared me for the journey I was soon to face. 

Breastfeeding was hands down the most challenging and trying time of my entire life. Avery was such an amazing baby. She hardly cried, and even as a newborn slept 5 hour stretches of time. I should have been in complete newborn heaven. Instead I spent those first few weeks crying and in a lot of physical pain. I wanted to share my experience with you, and offer up some "tips" or things I would have done differently. You can read my entire story here, but the cliffs notes version is that Avery had a very strong latch. My nipples were cracked and bleeding by the 2nd day, so when one of the nurses offered me a nipple shield I lept at the chance for some relief. Unfortunately, Avery had a hard time getting enough colostrum and milk through the shield (extremely common with these shields, which I didn't know at the time). Ultimately, she began to lose weight, and my milk supply began to dwindle. On the 5th day, we had Wendy from Latching with Love (miracle worker) come to our house. She helped me to get Avery to latch onto my nipple without the shield, and she also put me on a pumping schedule to get my supply back up. It was the longest week of my life, but in 3 days my supply had tripled and Avery was beginning to gain weight. I learned so much from Wendy that I wish I had known prior! 

Soon I began talking with so many of my mom friends who started sharing their stories with me. I realized it was the same story over and over again. So many moms had struggled with nursing and were unsuccessful. Moms were having to supplement with formula because they weren't making enough milk on their own. It turns out these poor moms were either using a shield (which can drastically affect your supply), or had been told by doctors to supplement with formula before their poor milk could even come in! For most women it takes 3-5 days. If you can avoid supplementing with formula during that first week, and just let your baby nurse on demand you have a much better chance of a bountiful supply.

**Now I know I cannot speak for every woman as each situation is different and of course there might be other reasons that nursing is unsuccessful. The baby could have a poor latch or a tongue tie, mom could have a powerful letdown, etc. I can only speak for my own challenges.**

Nursing Tips: 

1. I would have pushed through the pain and refused a nipple shield. While the temporary relief is heavenly, it just isn't worth the risk of affecting your supply.
2. Have the phone number of a lactation consultant that will come to your home if you are having troubles. You won't want to scour to find someone once you're in the throes of hell. I had been crying for five days straight, was healing from my c-section surgery and the last thing I wanted to do was venture out of the house to a breastfeeding class. Having Wendy the LC come right to my home was a God send. 
3. You will have people tell you "if it hurts you aren't doing it right" and that just isn't true. Some people don't experience anything more than mild discomfort, but the truth is, for a lot of women it is extremely painful. It DOES get better and I promise it's worth it. Within a couple of weeks it was much better, and by a couple of months you don't even feel it.
4. Invest in Lanolin! It is a nipple cream that you apply every time you are done nursing. It is safe for baby, so you don't have to wash your nipples before every feeding. It works like a chapstick. If you let them dry out, they will crack...and bleed, eek. Also, make sure to rub the cream between your fingers and get it warm, this thins it out and makes it easier to apply. It comes out of the tube rather thick. You can also buy gel soothies that you keep in the fridge and you put them in your bra after feedings. It is the BEST feeling. 
5. At the beginning you will feel chained to your couch. Newborns eat every 2 hours (10-12 times a day!) and can take 45 minutes to eat! Which means that you could potentially be nursing every hour. I remember feeling like a recluse. I had no idea the time commitment and had a hard time imagining how I could possibly do this for a year. It gets SO much faster and easier as time goes by. Avery is 6 months now and takes about 20 minutes to eat (a lot of babies only take 10 min!) And she eats every 3 hours. I've also become a pro at nursing her in the car so I could stop planning my outings only 2 hours at a time. So enjoy the first few months as much as you can! My husband and I watched all 7 seasons of Modern Family those first few weeks. Now that she's older I would give anything for hour-long nursing sessions to blog or read :-)
6. Babies go through frequent "growth spurts" during the first few months. They will want to nurse constantly for 2-3 days. Do not be alarmed that this means you aren't making enough milk. Your baby is stimulating your breasts to make more as he/she grows. 
7. And last but not least, do not beat yourself up if nursing isn't for you. Us mamas need to stop judging one another and start supporting one another. Even if you only nurse for a few weeks you are providing your baby with valuable antibodies they would otherwise not receive.

I thought these were neat statistics all of which I found at The Alpha Parent:  

Breastfeeding Benefits Timeline 

By exclusively breastfeeding for...

At least 1 month: 

you have given your baby significant protection against food allergy at 3 years of age, and also against respiratory allergy at 17 years of age.

Six weeks: 

your child now has less risk of chest infections up to 7 years old (NCT).

3 Months: 

you have given your baby a 27 percent reduction in the risk of asthma if you have no family history of asthma and a 40 percent reduction if you have a family history of asthma (Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-Based Practice Center).

If you have exclusively breastfed for this long, your baby will have enhanced development in key parts of the brain compared to other children who were fed formula or a combination of formula and breastmilk (Dean et al).

By this stage you have also given your baby between a 19 and 27 percent reduction in incidence of childhood Type 1 Diabetes (Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-Based Practice Center).

4 months: 

you have reduced your baby’s risk of cot death.

6 months: 

you have given your baby significant protection against eczema during their first 3 years (Chandra et al).

You are now in the 1% of mothers who have breastfed for this long! Bravo! (BBC 2012).

You have also given your baby a 19 percent decrease in risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia and a 15 percent decrease in the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia (Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-Based Practice Center).

7 months - 9 months: 

Babies breastfed for between seven and nine months have higher intelligence than those breastfed for less than seven months (Johnson)

1 year: 

As a result of receiving your breastmilk for at least a year your child is more likely to display better social adjustment when they begin school (Kneidel. S).

By breastfeeding for a year you have given your child a lower risk of becoming overweight in later life and lower risk factors for heart disease as an adult. Oh, and you've saved yourself at least $720 on formula! (NCT).

Good luck mamas! And just remember, YOU are the mama and know what's best for your baby :-) 

Congrats Michelle!

Guest Post: Strawberry Swing and Other Things

The time honored cliche of "they grow up so fast"...

Hi everyone!  I'm Erinn from Strawberry Swing and Other Things.  When Michelle asked me to guest post while she gets to settled to life as a new mom, I jumped at the chance.  I love sharing my stories and of course, love reading about others too, so I thought it was great feature.  However, I had such a hard time deciding what to share.

Looking back over the last 16 months I feel like there have been so many moments and milestones passed, how could I choose one to focus on!  And it's true, they grow up so fast.  My daughter is already quick as lightening, talking up a storm (even if it's really only clear to me, she has a pretty extensive attempt at vocabulary), and already learning skills like sorting shapes and (trying to) put on her shoes.

How did this little baby who was born at 35 weeks gestation weighing only 5lbs and needing preemie clothing, smaller than what some of her dolls would wear, turn into this little child?

So, instead of lamenting on and on, I thought I'd share some of my favorite ways to track all those milestones and make sure you "never miss a moment" memories.

I tracked a lot of Ashlynn's first year in my Mom's One Line a Day journal, of course, not every day, but I did a really great job of attempting to write something each night as I kept it on my nightstand.  I always made sure to mark the major moments - rolling over, smiling, first words, first steps, first foods, etc.

I also purchased a Baby Book from Ruby Love Designs.  I love that I had the ability to personalize it and it was able to add on additional packages to cover other milestones that a traditional baby book doesn't have.

Of course, blogging is an online diary in itself, not to mention my weekly check-ins.  While it did become a struggle getting Ashlynn to lay down for her weekly photo shoot, I'm so glad I can go back week by week and see her meet her milestones, when we struggled, and our all happy times too!

Lastly, Instagram.  Not much to explain here, especially if you are an instagram addict like myself (@ehayes1183), but it makes snapping those every day moments so easy.  Sometimes it's hard remembering to pack or pull out the camera, especially with a baby in your arms, but you always have your phone!

How have you been tracking your little one's first year?  

Guest Post: The Girl in the Red Shoes

Hi friends! My name is Julie and I blog about life as a new mama over at The Girl in the Red Shoes. My son, Hudson, will turn one in September and I can't believe how fast this first year has gone! I have been breastfeeding Hudson since day one and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. I started a series on my blog called The Breastfeeding Diaries in which each week I feature a different mom's breastfeeding journey. This series has been such a blessing to me as well as hundreds of new mamas out there! So, if you are a mom, or soon-to-be mom, I encourage you to check it out. Breastfeeding can be hard and it is so wonderful to know that you are not alone.

When I was pregnant with Hudson I had a lot of worries and anxiety about breastfeeding. Would it work? How would I know if he was getting enough? Would it hurt? How often would I have to feed him? The list went on and on. Part of my anxiety was due to the fact that it seemed like everywhere I went new moms were telling me how hard it was to breastfeed. And how tired they were. And how they gave up because it was too much work. 

So, I was scared.

I wish I could go back in time and tell my pregnant self to stop worrying. Yes, breastfeeding can be hard when you are first learning, but it gets easier. Yes, it's a huge responsibility. And yes, at first it hurt (just a little!). But I can say with 100% confidence that 

it is worth it. 

I know firsthand how confusing and emotional breastfeeding can be. New-mom emotions and exhaustion make everything ten times harder. It is ridiculously hard to keep your baby fed and (mostly) happy if you breastfeed or not! I believe that every mom is doing the best that she can for her baby. And in the end, that's all that really matters.

My number one recommendation for moms who know they want to breastfeed is to do your research. First, attend a breastfeeding class. Most hospitals offer a birthing class, which is great, but they usually spend very little time on breastfeeding. The hospital we used also offered a separate breastfeeding class that I attended with my mom (my poor husband was traumatized from the birthing class, so we let him skip this one....however, if I had it to do all over again I would have skipped the birthing class and just attended the breastfeeding class. It's important for husbands to attend this class because they are most likely going to be your breastfeeding support system. They will be with you when you are struggling or upset and it is helpful for them to have some background knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding so that they can encourage you when you are feeling overwhelmed. My husband did some research and also read part of my breastfeeding book to make up for not attending the class! And don't worry husbands, the breastfeeding class is totally fine for men to attend.)

Second, start thinking about a support system. Most hospitals or even some pediatric offices offer a breastfeeding support group. Find out where there is one by you and write down the meeting times. Hudson's doctor's office has a lactation consultant on site to meet one-on-one or in groups with nursing moms. Take advantage of this service! I attended a support group meeting with the lactation consultant and it was wonderful! The lactation consultant will weigh your baby, watch you feed him/her, assist with your latch, and answer any questions you have. After you finish feeding they will weigh your baby again, which is great for new moms who wonder if their baby is getting enough....the lactation consultant will be able to tell you pretty accurately how many ounces baby is getting (and if that's enough for him/her). It really is encouraging to hear you are doing it right! Okay, now for the breastfeeding supplies I recommend for every new mom. Did you know that breastfeeding supplies are tax deductible? So keep your receipts ladies!

1. The Nursing Mother's Companion is a great book to read when you are pregnant. This book is very comprehensive but it helped me mentally prepare and understand the importance of putting your baby to the breast frequently during those first few days. By frequently I mean you should make 10-12 attempts (or more!) at feeding within a 24 hour period. (And yes, that seems like a TON, but it was accurate!). I'll talk more about my first few days of breastfeeding in part 2 of this series next week. 2. A breastfeeding pillow is a must! You'll need something to help you support your baby, especially when you are first learning to breastfeed or if you had a c-section like me! I use the Boppy but I know some people prefer My Breast Friend. Test them out at the store to see which one you like better. I chose the Boppy because it was simple to use and could be used later to prop up the baby or help him sit. Plus, sometimes my husband uses the Boppy while he feeds Hudson...and there is no way he would have used something called the "breast friend." But to each their own! 3. Comfortable nursing bras. For those first few weeks you'll want a nursing bra that doesn't have padding or underwire. You'll be wearing them a lot so be sure to invest in something that is comfortable! I really like these by Gillian & O'Malley at Target. 4. Nursing Pads. You'll leak all over the place the first few weeks....and months. Trust me on this one. These are great because you can throw them away. They were a little bulky on me so sometimes I cut them in half! I think the next time I have a baby I'll ask my mom to make me some washable ones out of flannel. 5. Soothies Gel Pads are like heaven on your sore nips. Buy just a few pairs...you won't need them after the first month...in fact I think I only used two pairs. 6. You'll also need some nursing tank tops. I bought these Gillian & O'Malley at Target  tanks in several colors. They are great to wear by themselves or under a sweater for discrete nursing sessions. I found that after a few weeks of constantly wearing a bra or nursing tank top my skin was getting irritated. I'm not sure if this happens to everyone but I have super sensitive skin. I ended up wearing my regular Old Navy tank tops at night. They are stretchy and just tight enough to provide a little support  without any elastic digging in to my skin. 7. Lansinoh Lanolin cream is a must have! I used this for the first 4 weeks and it helped me avoid chapped and cracked nips! And it feels awesome. 

8. A nursing cover. This one isn't something everyone must have, but it does come in handy when you need to nurse the baby and have visitors. Or if you have to nurse your baby in the car (like I have!). 

9. And finally you need a good double breastpump. The Medela Pump in Style Advanced seems to be the most popular pump...and for a good reason! It comes in a tote bag so it's easy to take to work. Plus, once you learn what you are doing it is easy to use. You'll want to at least familiarize yourself with your pump before you have your baby just in case something happens and you are not able to nurse him/her right away. I didn't bust out my pump until Hudson was 4 weeks old because I figured I would forget how to use it....but that's just me. Please feel free to stop by my blog if you have any questions!

Guest Post: Where My Heart Resides

Next up is Ashlee of Where My Heart Resides!  I had the privilege of meeting Ashlee back in early June while she was in the Seattle area visiting friends.  She's a fabulous blogger, and mama to adorable, 16 month-old Everett.  Check out her blog here!

Six Gift Ideas for a New Mom 

So your wife/sister/daughter/best friend just had a baby and you’re on your way to the hospital but don’t want to show up empty-handed. Do you bring balloons? Flowers? Diamonds? Booze? A teddy bear for the baby? All of the above? Chances are you’ve already spoiled the baby rotten in the form of cute onesies and baby registry items, so this time around, it’s perfectly okay to focus on the new mom (and let's be real: she earned it!). Here are some of my favorite ideas for new mom gifts...

1. Something symbolic: A Peace Lily plant or succulent. The key to giving a “new life” gift is this---get one that won’t die. The best plants to give a new mom are the ones that require very little water and care, basically the types of plants that are the opposite of a newborn baby.

2. Something delicious: Food, food, and more food. One of the best gifts you can give a new mom is food that requires little to no preparation. Freezer meals, big bags of granola, and ready-to-eat snacks are all great choices. If cooking's not your thing, a gift certificate to local take-out would probably be more than welcome. 

3. Something beautiful: A ring or necklace with the new baby’s initial. One of my favorite gifts I received after having my son Everett was a tiny "e" ring from Catbird. If you're on a budget, Etsy also has a ton of affordable options for initial jewelry.

4. Something practical: A housecleaning gift certificate. My mother-in-law gave us six months of house cleaning after our son was born and it was amazing. Once a month, I left the house for three hours and wandered around Target before coming home to a sparkling clean kitchen and perfectly vacuumed carpets. Heaven!

5. Something that makes her feel pretty: A birchbox subscription. Birchbox is a monthly beauty box filled with skincare and makeup samples. In those first few sleep-deprived months, it can be difficult to feel pretty. I loved having makeup samples show up on my doorstep, and made a ritual of opening the box at the kitchen counter and immediately trying everything at once. I felt like a queen, despite my spit-up covered t-shirt, oily hair, and stretched out yoga pants.                                                                                      6. Something sentimental: A newspaper from the baby's day of birth. If you're on a strict budget but want to do something special, this is an easy gift and especially great for moms who like to keep memory boxes or scrapbooks.

All set with your new mom gift, but still want to get something special for the baby? Check out Iviebaby, Children Inspire Design, and Little Hip Squeaks for super cute, unique gift options! What was the best gift you received when you became a mom?

Guest Post: Free to Be Lea

Hello friends of Michelle! I'm Lea from Free to Be Lea, and I was thrilled and honored when Michelle asked me to guest post on Lovely Little Things!

This year I became a first time mommy myself, and I'm so excited for Michelle to meet her baby girl and experience the magic of motherhood. I had my baby boy (Tommy) last November, and it has been a beautiful ride, so I thought I'd share a few SIMPLE and helpful tips that have helped me along the way.

My son was born 3 months early. YES you read that right, 3 months! Thankfully he is happy, healthy and thriving. I can remember looking into that incubator and thinking two things. First...... I love him so much and second.... I wish he would hurry up and GROW so I can take him home! Well, guess what? He did grow, and he's been growing at a lightning speed ever since! I look back at old pictures and can't believe how much he changes from day to day, which brings me to my first tip.

Tip #1 

TAKE TONS OF PICTURES! 

Everyone tells you to enjoy it, because they grow so fast and it's true! Document it as much as you can. You don't want to miss a thing, so grab your camera, iphone, whatever. You'll be so glad you did.

Tip #2 

SLEEP!

Sleep when the baby sleeps. Seems easy enough right? It's what EVERYONE tells you to do! This was a tough one for me, because I love to take care of my house, cook, blog, facebook, whatever! I had to remind myself that to be a good mother to Tommy I had to take care of MYSELF first. Here's the secret. Babies sleep a lot, especially at first, so even if you sleep during just one of their naps you will feel refreshed and revived to not only be a good mother but to do the things you enjoy. I chose to sleep during my sons first morning nap. That way, I had more energy for the rest of the day. I'm also a bit lucky to have a husband who works from home. He takes Tommy for 2 hours in the morning so I can sleep in. I know. I'm a lucky girl!

Tip #3 

DON'T FORGET YOUR FURRY FRIEND!

It seems like people have a baby, and they forget their first babies. The animals! True, it's hard to give the same attention you used to give your pet when you have a new baby in the house, but they should be included as much as possible. Having a new baby is an adjustment for everyone, even your pet, so make sure to include them. Afterall, pets are part of the family too!  Even if it's just laying next to you on the couch while you feed the baby, make them feel included. Pets are great for children. Pets teach children to be gentle, loving and more compassionate adults. As you can see Tommy loves my little buddy Jake!

Tip #4

RELAX & ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!

As I said above, my baby was a preemie. The road has been a rollar coaster of challenges and emotions, but at the end of the day, I am blessed to have a healthy and happy baby boy! Being a new mom can be stressful at times, but I keep reminding myself to go with the flow. Trust your instincts. Every mother has them and they will never steer you wrong. Get rid of the baby books, limit the googling, appreciate other moms advice but listen to your baby! Every baby is different and you learn as you go.

Most of all enjoy every single moment. It's the toughest but most rewarding job you will ever have in your life. Don't get me wrong, I've had my days where I fantasized about having a nanny but then I realize I am blessed that I don't! I have the luxury of staying home with my son to be a full time mom. It's ME who gets to see all his firsts and not some nanny! I get to see his first gummy smile, giggle, roll, crawl, kiss, transition to solids, everything!  And I wouldn't trade that for the world! 

Guest Posts on Motherhood

With our due date come and gone, and in anticipation of our baby's arrival, I'll be taking a little hiatus from blogging.  Have no fear, in the mean time, I've enlisted some of my favorite bloggers - who also happen to be moms themselves for some featured guest posts while we're enjoying our (hopefully soon) first few days of motherhood.   

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."

~ Author Unknown

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Meeting Blog Friends

Have you ever met up with other bloggers in real life?  To date, I have met two bloggers in person, and hopefully more to come!  

My first blog friendship turned reality was with Vivian of Lost in Translation.  Vivian is a Canadian ex-pat, living in Japan as an English language teacher.  During the planning of my 2009 trip to Japan, Vivian and I corresponded via email as I pieced together my itinerary for a 2-week tour of the country.   She was immensely helpful, providing me with ample recommendations of sights to see and things to do. Inevitably we found a way to make our schedules align to meet up in Osaka one night toward the end of my visit in July.  We met near the Dotonbori Bridge in the early evening, with our two friends in tow, and clicked immediately.  Our night was filled with Japanese dance clubs, convenience store sake, and kareoke bars.  Not be your typical blogger meet up I'm sure, but it was a memorable night drinking, dancing, and soaking up the Osaka nightlife out until 3 AM.

My second blogger meet up was just a few weeks ago.  I had the privilege of meeting Ashlee of Where My Heart Resides while she in Seattle on a family vacation.  Ashlee's blog has always been a daily read, and we've been frequent commenters on each others blogs for years.  So when she proposed meeting up while in Seattle, I was admittedly a bit starstruck and excited to meet one of my favorite bloggers in person!  We met up up at a local coffee shop in Kirkland after I got off work, and caught up on life, love, babies, and beyond.  Unfortunately our schedules didn't allow us to talk for too long, but it was a great opportunity to make that blogging connection personal.  

Blogging is a whole new world when it comes to connecting people.  I love the possibilities that blogging provides, connecting individuals across continents.  Whether it be commenting on each others blogs, sending side emails, it's often baffling to think you feel like you know these people, but in reality, you've probably never met.  I'm happy to say I've forged blog friendships with these women, and made these friendships extend beyond the portal of the internet to become a reality, if even for just a cup of coffee or a night out exploring a new city.  

Have you ever met up with a blog friend before?  How did it go?

image/pheartache

Feedly It Is!

It's official - Google Reader, I'm sad to see you go, but I've officially moved on over to feedly.  I played around with bloglovin' but feedly really parallels Google Reader it its organization and formatting, plus you can continue to press the "J" key to scroll down, and "K" to scroll back, (as in GR).  In addition, its clean, simple aesthetic is also appealing,   Best part, all of your existing GR data transfers over unbelievably fast, truly it was maybe 10 seconds, seriously!  Another fun perk I've discovered, feedly recommends other blogs you may like based on your current data content.  I'm always looking for new blogs, and this cuts down all the work for me!

Here's a great tutorial if you'd like some assistance in making the move yourself.

image/pheartache

Google Reader No More

Have you heard?  Google Reader is retiring!

My first reaction was WHAT?!?! What am I going to do now?  I have countless blogs in my Google reader feed.  It's unbelievably convenient, efficient, and I love having the option to preview a post within reader rather than having to click every post open for comment.  

So...what's up next?  I've been hearing about a few alternatives on other blogs, including feedly and bloglovin', but I haven't done my research yet to know which is best. 

What are your thoughts?  Where are you storing your blog shortcuts next?

image/pheartache

5 Years of Blogging

Today marks 5-years of this blog.  Five years, holy cow!  I've always heard others utter the expression "time flies" off hand, but now I'm really beginning to gather the meaning of the phrase.  I don't often sift through my past posts through the years, but I take comfort in knowing that they are there, documenting, cataloging my thoughts, musings, worries, and feelings of each day I decided to write. It's  a unique glimpse word-worthy events of my life, a way to relive past triumphs, sadnesses, and everyday thoughts.  

So, 2013, here goes.  Aforementioned in my goals for 2013, I do intend to commit more to my blog this year, and continue this practice of thinking and writing for the future.  I hope you'll stay with me.

image/bloom

Balance

Sorry for the lack of recent blog posts...  

With a new school year kicking off, teaching a new grade level, and juggling my personal life, blogging has unfortunately drawn the short straw.  I'm hoping to jump start my posting in the upcoming weeks, so if you're still out there...thanks for staying with me!

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Pen Pal

I love getting mail.  Somehow, receiving an email is just not quite the same as a good old-fashioned, stamped letter delivered to your home.  I'm looking forward to participating in the pen-pal project, organized by the lovely Elizabeth of E Tells Tales.  

Elizabeth matched everyone participating according to age, similar interests, and a few answered questions, and voila - I have a pen pal!  I've had a few pen pals in my day, but not since I was a kid, so I'm excited about a new correspondence with a blogger from afar.  I'm responsible for writing the first letter and we'll see how it goes from here!

image/kristeng

Sibling Love

I just stumbled across delightful photos by Jason of JLW Photography!  His personal blog documents his darling daughters' sibling love at its best.  I love their facial expressions, they are pitch perfect!  I've recently been intrigued by photo journal blogs such as these.  What a great way to document your children growing while simultaneously being accessible to family and friends far away.  

image/kristinandkayla

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