Baby/Toddler Style Wednesday

I don't have a girl, but this makes me really really want one!!

Zulily/ Bunnies by the Bay

Up to 55 percent off 

Up to 75 percent off Rene Rofe
How adorable is this romper?!

But I do love these styles for boys from Joah Love: up to 50% off

The Lies of Motherhood

My husband will tell you that he thinks all mothers are crazy.  Yes, when he says this it does hit a nerve, but look closer at what he is really saying and you might tend to believe him.

 

I was reading a story on BBC News today that made me think of this quote of my husbands.  It was about how mothers admit to parenting lies.  You know, the one where you child sleeps through the night at 2 weeks, or the one where you only allow your child 10 minutes of tv a day.  We all do it in one way or another, but why?  

The point behind the article is that we should all take a different approach to these parenting lies.  The reason behind the lies is the feeling of inadequacy that we all suffer from.  Being a parent is tough enough without the feeling that you aren't living up to the standards of other mothers around you.  You don't want to be the one on the playground with the kid who had a cookie on the way over, when all the other mothers have a reusable bag with organic edamame in it, do you?

In a way it is like high school all over again.  Who has the best bags, the best clothes...the best strollers, the most organic household.  Don't get me wrong, there is definitely an upside to having these standards.  There is nothing wrong with striving to be the best parent that you can be, but there is a price to pay when we set these standards to high for ourselves.  

I have to admit, my standards have gone down a little since having my second son.  I honestly just don't have the time or brain capacity of making sure that every meal I serve is organic, or that my first little one reads x number of books per day.  Sure, I still try my best, but there is only so much mommy to go around.  I just wish all mothers would take a step back and support each other more instead of making it into a competition of who raises their child best.  The most important thing you can do for your family is be "the glass half full."  Support from other mothers, friends, and family is one of the biggest steps.  In order to get there...we need to be more honest with each other. 

The link to the news article is: Mothering Lies

Two under Two...or worse??

This post could mean a lot of things.  When getting ready for little guy number 2, I did a lot of research on things.  Double strollers, activities to keep the bigger dude busy while nursing, ways to keep my sanity, etc.  Never did I realize though, that once Little Man 1 stepped over the hurdle into the actual two's, things would get a lot crazier.  Granted I have only been a mom to two little ones for a little over two months, but I have to tell you...I think just having my one little two year old would have set me over the edge.  I don't know if it is the fact that he has a cold, or is getting his last molar in...but he has reached a new level of manic.

These past two months have been a whirlwind.  It started out with a bit of euphoria in the hospital.  I couldn't wait to get home to the little man and have him interact with his little brother.  Breastfeeding was going much better this time around and this baby seemed to be a lot more laid back.  This lasted for all of a day of being home.  Baby blues quickly kicked in.  Wow, did this bring back memories.  I thought for sure since my second pregnancy was so much more relaxed that I would skip these terrible blues.  That wasn't the case.  I was ready to leave my whole family behind and go away to the Bahamas.  As everyone assured though, this phase ended within a couple of weeks.  There was a good month there where I thought I could really get the hang of this thing.  Well, I guess it was just another stage.


Maybe it is the holiday stress that has jump started my anxieties, or the constant feeling of being tugged in two directions...whatever it is though, I need it to go away now!  At my 6 week checkup (which I didn't actually get to until last week) there was a concern about postpartum depression.  I am being very vigilant with keeping an eye on myself.  I have started trying to exercise again, taking all my vitamins, and just being more insightful into my moods.  Sometimes I just feel like I can't get through another day and the quickest way out of here would be to return to work.  Well, I guess that would not be too easy, now would it? lol.  Anyway, I am hoping this is just another stage in my journey and that I can return to some normalcy soon!  I am glad that I have an outlet though, all of you, to bounce my feelings off of and join on the journey with me.  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!