Happy 10 Months Samuel!

A typical morning at our house...

As of yesterday, my youngest is 10 months old. And boy is he darlin'. I know I'm a little biased, being his mom, but I could just kiss his little cheeks every minute of every day. Nothing is better than watching him grin and giggle as I shower him in x's and o's.

These days Samuel is always on the go. And he is getting into everything. I will turn my back for one second and the next thing I know, he has scooted (or army crawled) three rooms over and locked himself in a closet. It's amazing what they can accomplish when they're so small and aren't even able to walk, yet. Victoria always seemed so...still. I suppose that's the difference between a girl and a boy; at least, with this girl and this boy.

Samuel is still nursing and I treasure that time so very much. It's really about the only time he's still, and he loves to grab ahold of the edge of my shirt and rub it in-between his fingers, as he looks into my eyes and seems so say, "I love you, mommy." Although, if Victoria is around, there is no nursing to be done. The second Samuel hears her voice, he is ready to go! It's like he knows that when she's around, it's play time! He loves his solid food at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we recently starting giving him little bits of food to chew. So far he's been liking kidney beans, shredded cheese, and peas.

He's not doing a whole lot of "cruising" (walking as he holds onto furniture), but he is working hard at getting from the ground to standing. He's a pretty big boy, so I can tell the weight makes it tough for him. His little legs will shake under his weight, and he'll start to fuss after standing for awhile. He's scared to let go and knows he'll probably fall over if he does!

Sam-sam, as we often call him, loves Mickey Mouse and any sort of ball he can get his hands on. His favorite toy is his little "Sam-size" soccer ball. It seems ironic that I decorated his nursery with a sports theme! Maybe my motherly instinct knew he would like it.

Samuel's talking consists of "dada", "mama", and "nigh-nigh", which he seems to say when it's time for a nap or bedtime. We like to think he's saying "night, night". He also loves to blow bubbles and spit. He just figured out how to stick out his tongue and spit - very attractive! Screaming contests with his big sis are his favorite. This usually happens when they're both stuck somewhere together, like the bathtub or the car. It's pretty hilarious.

Samuel is such a happy kid, and I love every minute that I get to spend with him. Being able to stay at home with him this year has been such a blessing. I definitely missed out on the first year of being home with Victoria, but we are making up for it now.

xoxo,

Mommy Revelations

I've had lots of "mommy time" this week, as in, time with other mommies. If you are a brand new mom or are expecting your first child, I have some advice for you. Find other mommies to be your friend. You will need them to get you through all the tough times ahead.

As I mentioned in my Being Me, Bravely post, being a mom is not easy. It's a job that you have 24/7 for the rest of your life, and those first few months are a brutal awakening. Literally, you will be awake way more than you want to be or can physically tolerate. You will be needed by your child all the time. You will either be feeding your baby (or trying to if you're still figuring out breastfeeding), dressing your baby, changing your baby's diaper, cleaning up spit up or pee/poop that made it's way out of the diaper, washing your clothes and your baby's clothes, trying to figure out how to swaddle your baby so he/she will fall asleep and stay asleep if you lay him/her down, saying "sh, sh, sh" repeatedly while hoping your baby will actually fall asleep in the first place...and all of that literally takes up 24 hours of your day. So, there is no time left to take care of yourself, feed yourself, bathe yourself, or rest. We're exhausted and losing our minds. This, my friends, is why we need mommy friends. We get it, like no one else will.

This is me trying to act like I've got it all together but I'm miserably exhausted.
 (Samuel, a few weeks old)

Husbands can be a huge help, and maybe some are no help at all. Either way, we mommies tend to think that we have to be strong all the time. We think it all rests on us and that we are not allowed to have moments of weakness. We'll shower someday, we tell ourselves, and we'll sleep again one day, we hope. Do you know how hard it is to live on little- to-no sleep? If you've ever been the mommy of a newborn, then I know you do. And I want you to know, you are not alone. I am here for you. And there are other mommies out there that want to be there for you.

My new hometown is filled with so many resources for moms, but you have to be willing to take a chance and meet new people. You have to be brave. My MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group is where I have met so many fabulous women who are crazy about their kids, but who also appreciate their "mommy time". We get together so that we can grow emotionally and spiritually and find other moms who get what we're going through. We get together to support one another and to reinforce the fact that we're not alone. We learn about things that are important to moms, like how to deal with our mommy fears, or how to start building Christmas traditions. We learn how to be crafty together and we give what we can of ourselves through service projects. And when we have sleepless nights, or feel like our home lives are struggling, we're there to listen, pray, give advice, and pick each other up.

Part of my village - MOPS friends!

One of my MOPS friends, Julie Ann, said something during a playdate this week that really stuck with me. We were discussing how hard having little bitty babies is, especially when you feel like you're alone in your role.

She said something alone the lines of, "It really is true that it takes a village to raise a child. This is our village."

This is a traditional African proverb, and one that I've heard many times in my life. However, it now has an entirely different meaning to me. My children are being raised by me and their dad, by their grandparents, by their teachers, babysitters, and child care workers; but, I know that I also need the support of all those mommy friends to do my part. They are part of this village, too. Without their wisdom, encouragement, guidance, support, and love, this mom gig would be a lot harder. Having my mommy friends has taught me that I'm not strong when I'm on my own. I'm strong when I know how to ask for help. Somehow, we got this notion that we are the glue of the family and we are supposed to take care of everyone. I guess it's just in our nature. But, we have to take care of ourselves, too. It's really hard to do that when you are brand new at this gig and you are so scared to mess something up and you're just so tired....hey, it's ok. Take a deep breath, know how blessed you are, and if you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed - ask for help. If your husband or family can't give you the help you need, that's when your mommy friends come into play. As my wise friend Julie Ann reminded me this week, it takes a village to raise a child.

Mind blowing, right?

xoxo,

Delicious Dishes : Giada's Orecchiette (Pasta)

One of my favorite creative outlets is cooking. It has become challenging to accomplish with two little ones, but I try to fit it in at least once a week. A homemade meal makes it's way into my "to be repeated" category when it lasts for more than one night (we moms love leftover nights!), isn't too challenging to figure out, and tastes absolutely delicious. Now, I know that seems like I'm being kinda picky, but these meals do exist! My goal is to share my meal of the week with you so that I can let other moms (or whoever is cooking dinner) know what is worth putting your time, effort, and money into.

This week's delicious dish comes from my all time favorite chef, Giada De Laurentiis. I LOVE (understatement) Italian food, especially pasta dishes. Do not be surprised if many of the recipes I share on here are pasta! It's hard to ruin, usually delicious, involves cheese (another favorite of mine), and it's a great food for runners. This meal is called Orecchiette with Sausage, Beans, and Mascarpone. It was my first time making it and it was scrumptious! I chose to go with this one because we already had sausage in our freezer, as well as some orecchiette in the pantry. Orecchiette means "little ears" in Italian because this type of pasta actually looks like little ears. It soaks up the mascarpone cheese, while the sausage and beans can be found tucked away inside the "ear". Yum, yum, yum!

How cute is this pasta? Little ears!

What do you need?
1 lb. oreccheiette (or other small pasta)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. sausage (I used regular mild sausage but Giada uses turkey)
1 onion, chopped
1 (15 oz.) cannellini beans, drained & rinsed
2 tbsp. fresh oregano leaves (or just a bunch - that's how I usually use herbs, throw 'em all in!)
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese (but I used an entire 8 oz...the more cheese the better in my book)
salt & pepper (for flavor)

Now, this does take a little bit of focus and concentration, so I recommend giving the kids something to do. Victoria has a cabinet in the kitchen that is hers and is filled with "child friendly" cooking bowls and utensils so she can "cook" while I cook. Samuel is constantly crawling in all places he shouldn't be, so I either stick him in the highchair with some puffs to much on, or let him bounce in the exersaucer.

my little chef

The pasta: Boil water & cook your pasta. It takes about 8-10 minutes. Now I have come to realize that not all people know how to cook pasta. So this is important because YES, you can mess this up!
Heat water (I usually fill my pot about 1/2-3/4 way full) and put in a few dashes of salt to flavor the water. It will make the pasta taste better. Add your pasta to the water once it's boiling. Don't put it in and then wait for it to boil - that's another NO-NO. Then, once it's close to the itme it says to cook it on the box, start checking to see how it tastes. You DO NOT want to cook your pasta so long that it's all floppy. That is not how it is meant to be cooked and is a major misconception! You want to cook it al dente so that it is tender, but firm to the bite. Also, before you drain your pasta, use a large ladle to spoon out about 1 cup of the pasta water. You will use this reserved water to add to the sauce and it is SO important! You do not want to use water from the sink because it will not have the same flavoring and thickness of your pasta water.

The sauce: While your water is boiling/pasta is cooking, start your sauce. In a large skillet, heat your olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onion together and break up the sausage. Cook until the sausage is brown and the onion is tender. Add the beans and the oregano and cook for another couple of minutes. Now you will add in the reserved cooking water, stir, add the cheese, and stir until the cheese dissolves into a sauce. Add salt and pepper for flavoring and then add the pasta. Stir until it's all mixed together and voila! Dinner is served. OH! And Giada did not do this, but I added some grated parmesan to the top. I always add parmesan to my Italian meals because it's fabulous and tastes good on everything! I feel like my meals are naked without it. I recommend buying a block of parmesan and grating it yourself whenever you need it rather than buying pre-grated parmesan. It's always much fresher that way.

This meal was not only loved by the adults in the house, but 2-year-old Victoria loved eating the "little ears", and 9-month-old Samuel enjoyed the beans! Just the right size for his two teeth to munch on. It also lasted for about 2 and 1/2 nights of meals (4-6 servings) - that means it's a winner!

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Being Me, Bravely

For my mom friends who are in MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), you know exactly what my post title means. "Being you, Bravely" is our theme this year and our challenge, as moms, is to embrace ourselves, face our fears, and take those brave steps of motherhood. Being a mom is so hard - in fact, it might be the hardest thing I've ever done. There are so many unknowns, so many challenges, and it can be scary.

But what I've learned from this amazing group of women and the many MOPS resources, is that I'm not alone. You, fellow mom, are not alone. We are in this together, because we've all been there. When your baby is up every couple hours, hungry and crying, and you just want to sleep because you're so sleep deprived you might go insane: we've been there. And when you just can't do it anymore and you leave your baby to "cry it out" and you feel like your heart is being torn in two and that you're a terrible mom for letting your baby cry like that: yup, done it. How about when your two-year-old starts taking her diaper off in bed for no apparent reason, except to pee all over the bed and then yell for you in the middle of the night for hours, so the next night you try duct taping the diaper shut and sticking a onesie on her? Ok, maybe that's just me. But the point is - motherhood is one BIG FAT challenge! And I wouldn't trade it for the world. Nothing is better than the sound of those little feet running down the hallway, the giggles between siblings as they chase each other through the house, the eskimo kisses before bed...yup, so worth it.

I'm a mom. It's so hard. And I love it.

So this year, I'm taking on the challenge of being me, bravely. One part of this challenge is "The Brave Collective." The head honchos at MOPS describe this as choosing to share your courage with others, because when you share, the courage multiplies. Collectively, we become brave. The plan is to grab a group of ladies, sit around a table together, and share your "brave" (something that you want to take on this year that requires you to be brave). Then you can share your journeys with each other as you conquer your braves, knowing that your friends are holding you accountable and as fellow brave moms, are there for you. And it doesn't have to be something monumental. It can be anything that is something you feel you need to do, want to do, for YOU.

Well, I haven't done the table part, but I want to share my brave with you today. This year, I, Lizzie, want to become a blogger. Yes, I'm already blogging right this minute, but I want to be a REAL blogger: writing regularly, making it a priority, growing in the blogger community, sharing my deepest moments with my fellow readers, and reaching out to other moms, letting them know they are not alone. I love to write and I love being a mom. So there it is. I'm already feeling a little braver! Now the plan is, because I've decided to be brave and share my brave thing, hopefully I will continue to be courageous and reach my goal. Thank you so much for your support already by reading today's blog. Now it's your turn! What's your brave?

xoxo,

My Fix!

 A few days ago I posted on Facebook about my awesome experience with "Stitch Fix": an online styling service for women. They encourage you to do so upon receiving your "fix", so you can share your experience with other women, perhaps bring more customers to Stitch Fix, and then gain credits for your next fix. However, I made it clear that I wasn't posting just for selfish reasons like gaining credits (although, you can't deny it - that's sweet!). I just was so in love with all my pieces and amazed at how easy it was to suddenly look hip  as a stay-at-home mom, who often has baby vomit in her hair (see evidence in pic). 

Look closely in the braid...some lovely spit up! 

But it came from this guy - so worth!

It's easy for me to share words about how much I love Stitch Fix, but it's hard to really understand without seeing my "fix". (I love their name - whoever came up with that is a genius!). So this afternoon while the kids have been napping, I got all done 'up for you guys and did a fashion show in front of my mirror with my iPhone. Classy, right?

I hope you like 'em, cause I got them all! That's the other great thing about this service. You pay $20 up front for the service, which they apply toward any clothes you decide to buy. Then, if you decide to buy all 5 pieces, they give you 25% off the total. Yes, please!! So back to my pieces. First I took pictures of my 5 pieces, but it's hard to see how cute they are unless someone is wearing them, so that's where the fashion show comes in. Enjoy!

Remi Striped Side-Gathered Tank with Porter Legging

Esteban Open Back Striped Top with Porter Legging

My favorite part of this striped top - the back! (notice how it's different from the front)

Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan

Kalli Empire Waist Faux Wrap Dress

So, there you have it. My 5 pieces from Stitch Fix. I specifically requested to have items that are comfortable, since I stay at home with the kids, as well as items that are easy to nurse in. My stylist found two nursing-friendly tops that aren't even made for nursing, but they work perfectly! So, see? You can nurse your baby in public (or at home) and still look cool! It can be done! I also told my stylist that I wasn't interested in dresses, but she encouraged me to try out this dress (in the pic above), because it would work great with nursing. She was right. I love it. 

How did I know what my stylist was thinking, you ask? Well, they not only send you clothing items, but they send you pictures with ideas of how to style each piece and a letter from your stylist letting you know what he/she was thinking when the item was picked out for you. It's so  personal! 

Ideas for styling each piece! 

Personal note from my stylist

Now, I know you're probably wondering if the clothes are expensive. I mean, they must be for such an awesome service, right? The answer is that they will be as expensive as you want them to be. When you sign up, you fill out a survey (so make sure you have at least 20 minutes to yourself when you sign up - I did it at 11:00 PM one night when I didn't have children climbing all over me and I wasn't sidetracked by the television). The survey asks everything and anything about you, including how much you want to spend. If you want each piece to be around $50 or less, click "the cheaper the better". And remember, if you don't like them all - it's ok! You don't have to get them! But I'm all bout getting gorgeous clothes (that are inexpensive) shipped to my front door for me to try on in the comfort of my home at a time that works for me. Plus, I don't have the challenge of getting the kids to the store, or entertaining them at the store, or even dealing with tired/hungry babies while trying to get home from the store. Thank you, Stitch Fix! You ROCK! (and thank you to my friends who informed me that Stitch Fix exists! You ROCK too!). 

So are you ready to try it out? Click here to sign up and let me know how it goes!

Happy shopping, friends.

Love,
Lizzie

How Being a Teacher Has Made Me a Better Mom

Last week, my husband Trey went on a trip to Canada (Winnipeg, to be exact), and I had to become a true "supermom". I had no idea how much I really depend on his help to carry out the evening activities. I think our night time routine (dinner, bath, and bed time) is the hardest part of the day, because everyone is tired. Tired babies (which are sometimes overtired babies, due to being two-years-old and trying to skip nap time!!) are a lot harder to work with. Naturally, everyone needed mommy at the same time. So, for about an hour (sometimes longer), I learned to take a deep breath, pray to God for patience, and hold my babies tight as we worked our way to sweet slumber.

How does being a teacher help me accomplish this? Let's see if I can effectively explain. When you teach, you are challenged with teaching a large group of children, who all have different strengths and weaknesses. As a fifth grade teacher, I had to teach five subjects everyday, to 20+ kids : below grade level, on grade level, and above grade level, while maintaining a structured, disciplined classroom, and keeping my sanity. And some of those kids are running up and down aisles, slamming themselves onto the desks of other children, screaming out randomly, and throwing objects. I kid you not. Of course, for students like these, I usually had a second hand in the room (you know who you are and I am forever grateful for your help), but nevertheless, it's utter chaos. And you know that if you don't figure out how to get the material taught and mastered, you could lose your job. These days, teaching jobs are a lot harder to come by. So you figure it out and you get it done. 

That's how I felt this last week as I was putting my two children (ages 2 years and 6 months) to bed. I know, it's a bit of a ridiculous comparison, but it made me feel like I could persevere. Now, I know there are "supermoms" out there who have to do this everyday because their husbands have jobs that make them unavailable, or maybe things didn't work out with their husbands and they're single moms. I praise you all - you are ROCKSTARS in my book. Somehow, I thought that with my husband being on vacation, I too, would have a little vacation for myself. HAH! I forgot that he helps me with so much in the evenings (this is a shout out to you, babe). By the time I got everything done that we both usually tackle, I was exhausted and ready to pass out in my bed.

My good friend Kate, and her son Noah, came to visit while Trey was away.
Bath time was easy to handle - throw 'em all in and let the dog supervise!

So, back to the point: how do you teach children with different needs at the same time? You do what you can keeping the kids together in a whole group, and then you work with them in smaller groups. You give the kids who have "got it" something that will challenge them while they work on their own, so that way you can focus on the students who "don't got it" and work one on one or in small groups to strengthen their abilities.

I took this strategy that got me through my three years of teaching fifth grade, and applied it to our bedtime routine. Now, depending on levels of exhaustion, hunger, and wellness (Victoria had a fever two of the nights), different children got to work independently. If Samuel needed to go to bed NOW (he lets you know), then I nursed him while Victoria danced around us and read books. If Victoria needed to go to bed NOW (she lets you know), then Samuel would lay in her floor and roll around, working on his core strength, while I read a book with Victoria, said prayers, and sang to her (and yes, if she wasn't too tired, Samuel joined in on reading, praying, and singing too). Sounds obvious, I'm sure. But I'm so used to doing things a certain way when Trey is here, that change is hard. Usually, I'm in charge of putting one of the kids to bed and he's in charge of the other; so when he's gone, I feel like the substitute, who's been left with no lesson plans, trying to figure out how to best teach the material that needs to be learned.  

Now that I'm staying at home with my children, I often think back to my days at Hollins University where I studied to be a teacher. Or maybe it's my monthly student loan bill that reminds me. But do I see my studies and time spent teaching as a waste? Absolutely not. How else would I have learned how to get my kids to bed when Trey is gone? Thank you, Masters in the Art of Education! Totally worth it. 

See you mommies later, 

Lizzie