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mom life

Daily Life

The “Watch Me” phase…

Posted on September 7, 2018

Cooler weather this week meant we got some time to connect with nature. We really needed it! We all had kind of a difficult week again this week. Isabelle is teething and hasn’t been sleeping well, which means no one is sleeping well. K is in a new “Look at this! Watch me!” phase which has made it tough for me to get things done.

K is in a new “Look at this! Watch me!” phase.

On one hand, the mom guilt is real! If I don’t watch one time, will she need therapy for the rest of her life?! I can already picture it… “ONE TIME my mom couldn’t watch me stand on one foot, for the millionth time!” (Okay, so maybe not need therapy, but you know what I mean. I don’t want to ruin her self-esteem!) On the other hand, I have certain things I need to do. Eat, make my work deadlines, pick up enough that we aren’t living like hoarders… It’s hard to find a balance.

Eat, make my work deadlines, pick up enough that we aren’t living like hoarders… 

I feel like the “Watch me” phase is almost a regression. K was doing well playing independently for part of the day so I could get things done, and now it’s back to only getting things done during quiet time (formerly nap time for K) and bed time, and I’m feeling spread really thin. As soon as the kids go to their beds, it’s like a mad dash to do everything. And what do you do and what do you give up?

What do you do and what do you give up?

Work deadlines are obviously a priority, picking up a little bit is necessary, now do I choose shower or eat or laundry? Because I can’t do them all! I know it’s just a phase that will pass, and I know I can say “Mommy’s busy” some of the time, but does anyone else have advice? How do you get through this phase without losing your mind or damaging your child?

Daily Life

Isabelle is in a big girl Graco carseat!!

Posted on August 27, 2018

Where has the time gone?!  It seems like yesterday that Isabelle was a tiny little baby.  (Well, she’s still pretty tiny – but not so much a baby anymore!) Now that she’s older, she’s not a fan of lying down in a carseat.  She notices that big sis is sitting up, and she wants to see stuff too!

Now that she’s older, she’s not a fan of lying down in a carseat anymore. 

We wanted a carseat for her that would sit her up, but would still be rear-facing.  We also wanted something that we could switch to front-facing after she is at least 2 years old.  Then we wanted some add-ons like cup holders (because food is our only trick to keep her awake on long midday rides! All moms know that one short car nap can ruin afternoon nap time!)

Food is our only trick to keep her awake on long midday rides!

We decided on the Graco Extend2Fit Platinum Convertible Carseat to fulfill all of these needs (gifted to us by Graco.)  Actually, we have been a Graco family since Day 1.  Our infant carseat, infant stroller, jogging stroller, toddler carseat, high chair, and pack n play, are all Graco.  If I had to guess, I would say I put about 2,000 miles on that jogging stroller before it was broken in the cargo hold during a flight…  I think I could have easily put another 1,000 on it.  (When you have a baby with colic, you surprise yourself with how many hours per day you can spend walking!)

We decided on the Graco Extend2Fit Platinum Convertible Carseat to fulfill all of these needs. 

So, back to this new carseat!  I was really surprised at how easy everything was.  It came in one piece so there was no assembly required.  To install it, you simply click one strap into each lower anchor in your car’s seat bight (the space between the back rest cushion and cushion you sit on – I totally had to google the name for all these car parts!) Once you are latched in, you pull a lever to automatically tighten the straps so you don’t need to put your weight on it and tighten manually.  There was no base to mess with, and adjusting everything was easy too.  To adjust the strap height, you pull a lever at the top and slide up.  This also adjusts the head cushion.

The Extend2Fit extension panel provides an extra 5 inches of additional leg room, which accommodates taller kids or so you can keep your little rear-facing past age 2 if you want.

To recline, (because you need to recline somewhat for rear-facing carseats), there is another lever on the side.  It is clearly labeled which positions are acceptable for front-facing vs rear-facing.  And there’s even a little bubble indicator on the side of the carseat that lets you know if you chose the correct position. The Extend2Fit extension panel provides an extra 5 inches of additional leg room, which accommodates taller kids, or so you can keep your little rear-facing past age 2 if you want.

The Extend2Fit Platinum Convertible Carseat is designed for rear-facing infants from 4-50 lbs, and front-facing toddlers from 22-65 lbs.  At the rate Isabelle is growing, she will be in this carseat until at least 8 years old!  To shop this carseat for yourself, click here!

Daily Life

Katie’s new 2 wheeled Razor Scooter!

Posted on May 16, 2018

She’s doing an awesome job on 2 wheels! We bought K her first Razor scooter a few months before she turned 2. It was the Folding Kiddie Kick Scooter (at bottom of page) and she LOVED it. She spent countless hours scooting up and down the bluff while Jason and I walked alongside her. Now that she is getting older, her balance has improved and she wants to go faster! The kiddie scooter is perfect for learning to turn and learning to balance, but it isn’t made to go that fast because it’s for kids.

We love that Razor scooters are small, portable, and foldable

This week, Razor Scooters sent us this new 2 wheeled scooter (the A3 Scooter – recommended for ages 5 and up) and Katie is taking off! She loves scooting because she can get out and be active while also learning and improving a skill. We love that Razor scooters are small, portable, and foldable (because we live in the city and space is at a premium!) And if she scoots somewhere, it’s easy to fold it up and put in the stroller while we play at the park, or carry it around a store while we shop. I would definitely recommend these scooters to moms of toddlers and young kids. They are fun, convenient, and the perfect level of challenging.

Daily Life

Happy 1st Birthday Isabelle!!

Posted on May 8, 2018

Happy 1st Birthday baby girl! I feel like your first year has gone by a thousand times faster than Katie’s (although I guess we have been twice as busy!) It has been such a joy watching your personality develop. It’s amazing that one year ago they were pulling you out of my belly and now you are walking around, pointing and shouting at things you want, and running over when Jason and I kiss because you are becoming a little person and you want to be included in everything!

One year ago they were pulling you out of my belly and now you are walking around, pointing and shouting at things you want.

My favorite thing is watching your relationship with Katie blossom. It makes me so happy to see the bond that you two share. It cracks me up when you are crying for something and I say no, and Katie sneaks it to you anyways. That’s what siblings are for! You are still the biggest eater I’ve ever seen and I hope you continue to be a foodie (because I love food too!)

Even though you’re tiny, I know you will be mighty.

You are already climbing up on our bed and the couch and I have a feeling you might be a climber like your sister (and I might have a heart attack before I turn 35.) You are still absolutely the sweetest baby. You are so snuggly and I love when you lie your head down on me and suck your thumb. Even though you’re tiny, I know you will be mighty. (I think you have to be having a big sis like Katie!) I can’t wait to see what the next year brings and continue to watch you grow and become your own person. Happy Birthday, IB!

Daily Life

1 Year Ago today…. 39 weeks pregnant with Isabelle

Posted on May 8, 2018

What a difference a year can make! Here I am 39 weeks pregnant with Isabelle! 1 year ago right around this time, I was having my c section. I remember driving there and being so full of worry. Partly about the surgery and recovery, but also about what a new baby would mean to our family. How could I love another baby as much as I love Katie? How would Katie feel about our new family member? Would my relationship with Katie change? Was I selfish for bringing another baby into our family and forcing Katie to split the attention? How on earth would I manage 2 kids?!

How could I love another baby as much as I love Katie? How would Katie feel about our new family member? Would my relationship with Katie change? 

It’s so funny looking back now. Even in the beginning, it felt partly like Isabelle was brand new, but also like she had always been a part of our family. Yes, the girls fight over toys sometimes and there are days where it seems like someone is always crying, but watching them roll around together laughing reminds me that having them was the best thing that has ever happened to me. The days can be long and hectic, but my heart is always full. And just as these worries from last year are gone, I try to remember my present worries are not so big that they won’t be gone this time next year too.

Daily Life ExploreLongBeach

EPIC Series Obstacle Race

Posted on May 6, 2018

The ultimate EPIC Sunday Funday! Almost exactly 1 year after my c-section and I am so proud to have just finished my first EPIC series obstacle race. It was the perfect mixture of challenging but still achievable (even for someone who may have neglected to do weights for almost a month.)

Almost exactly 1 year after my c-section and I am so proud to have just finished my first EPIC series obstacle race

I loved that this race was so obstacle-heavy, and also that each obstacle had the option to do beginner, intermediate, and hard variations. I stuck with beginner and intermediate and am feeling like I’m on top of the world, and also a little bit like I got hit by a truck.(If you look through the photos, you will see the “hit by a truck” look on my face towards the end! But in a good “I’m a badass” kind of way.)

If you look through the photos, you will see the “hit by a truck” look on my face towards the end! But in a good “I’m a badass” kind of way

It felt so good to push myself in different ways for each obstacle. Running and climbing come really easily to me, so I was able to breeze through those obstacles. Climbing the rope and hoisting the keg with a pulley were great intermediate challenges because they were hard and different, but I still did okay. The upper body challenges were the toughest for me.

Does anyone else cry after really intense workouts or am I a total weirdo?

Carrying the keg around the track for that last lap was brutal! I couldn’t even get it onto my shoulders without help! But once it was on there, I made my way around the track and finished. And totally cried at the end out of pride and relief. (Does anyone else cry after really intense workouts or am I a total weirdo?) If you are looking for a fitness challenge, definitely check out the Epic course in your city. You can use promo code PARENTDAZE for 10% off at any of their events in 2018!  Here is their link! https://www.epicseriesocr.com/

Did I mention there was a kids’ course too?  For $20, Katie got to participate in the kids’ EPIC course!  She loved learning new workouts and testing her limits.  And I loved sharing this fitness experience with her.  It was a great opportunity for the whole family to enjoy fitness together.  And watching Katie made me realize I need to improve my planking!  Hers is on point!

Daily Life ExploreLongBeach

Date Night at the Long Beach Aquarium Member’s Prom!

Posted on May 4, 2018

We had an amazing childless night at the Long Beach Aquarium Member’s Prom last night. It was Roaring 20s themed and I could not have asked for a better night. We had so much fun drinking and dancing, and actually got to look at the animals without having to chase our kids. And to top if off, we Postmated happy meals and sundaes from Mcdonalds after we got home and ate them on the couch! It’s nice to have some time alone to remind us why we fell in love. I woke up today feeling so lucky to have someone as wonderful as Jason. (And perhaps a tad like I had one too many beers . But mostly lucky.)

Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/

 

Daily Life

Threenager Problems. Send help.

Posted on May 3, 2018

Okay friends, looking for all the advice right now because this little threenager has been… what’s a nicer word for horrible? Yeah… she’s been that. Typically things go in 2 week cycles around here. We’ll get a phase where she seems to be listening well, using her words, following directions, and I think to myself, maybe she’s just growing up! And then it’s like a flip switches overnight and I have a demon child. (Oops, I mean, a strong-willed child who struggles with listening…)

And then it’s throwing, hitting, stomping, shouting, being mean to her sister, all without pausing in between one bad thing to the next!

And then it’s throwing, hitting, stomping, shouting, being mean to her sister, all without pausing in between one bad thing to the next! I am exhausted. I have tried talking to her one on one when Isabelle isn’t around asking what’s going on and am only getting answers like “I hit her because I didn’t want her to hit me” or “because I wanted to be near her” or “because I wasn’t behaving.” Basically not getting answers. Isabelle is newly walking so maybe the extra attention she’s getting is making Katie jealous.

We are trying our best when Isabelle is awake, too, to split the attention, but Isabelle also needs attention

We have been trying to give K more one on one time and even been doing games just the three of us every night after Isabelle goes to bed. We are trying our best when Isabelle is awake, too, to split the attention, but Isabelle also needs attention. She’s excited about walking and looks at us all proud and I don’t want to feel like we can’t get excited for her because we’re scared it will set Katie off. That’s not fair either.

I’m seriously at my wit’s end.

I know any day now the cycle will switch again and we’ll be back to better days, but I need help in the mean time. I’m seriously at my wit’s end. I would like to get through this without having everything in our house broken, without Isabelle getting hurt, with my sanity, and preferably without any new wrinkles (is that last too much to ask?)

Daily Life

Through the eyes of a child

Posted on February 18, 2018

It’s so funny how spending time with a child changes the way you look at things. I probably passed these things a thousand times without looking through them when K was a baby. Now that she’s old enough, she wants to look through them every time we pass them. What’s funny is now I look through them too, even when she isn’t with me.

I feel like being around her makes me appreciate the beauty around me more. I look up at the clouds and the leaves in the trees (I feel like I never used to look up!), I squat down to get a better view of flowers and bugs, I even started appreciating all the different types of transportation more. Before kids I would have spent my drives being annoyed with traffic and never would have thought, “Wow, today I saw 2 tankers, a fire truck, and a garbage truck! How cool is that?!”

It’s no wonder toddlers and babies sleep so much, noticing everything is like sensory overload! When I listen to K point out not only objects but the colors and shapes that make up those objects and the letters or numbers on them, I can’t believe the details I overlook in every day life. Don’t get me wrong, of course there is a time and place and it only makes sense that us adults overlook those things. Can you imagine trying to navigate your way to a new destination while also noticing every color and shape and letter around you? It would be impossible! (And also probably why it takes toddlers so long to get from Point A to Point B .)

But, when it’s safe and you have the time, there is really nothing better than looking at things through a toddler’s eyes. It’s truly magical.

Daily Life

Watching K enjoy Michigan

Posted on December 28, 2017

Taking a bath in my parents’ big tub. It was mine and my brother’s fav when we were little! (Actually still my fav when I come home ?!) It takes a while to fill up and you have to make sure no one else has showers scheduled after you because they might not get any hot water, but it’s worth it!

It’s almost like swimming when you have a little toddler body (or even an extra long toddler body like K ?.) I am just having so much fun watching K enjoy all the things I did when I was little in the house I grew up in. Bathtime in the big tub, lounging in front of the fire, making a snowman, helping my mom cook. It brings back the fondest memories of growing up and makes my heart swell so big!