042: Goodbye 2012.

2012. 

The year I: 

Became a mama. 

Rode in a C130. 

Held a tutoring job. 

Celebrated my 2nd wedding anniversary.

 Nearly died. 

Discovered strengths I never knew I possessed. 

Started writing again. 

Prayed more fervently than ever before. 

Flew on planes with my baby who didn't cry.

 Made an effort to eat consciously. 

Rekindled my love for photography. 

Drank water, lots and lots of water.

 Learned the value of a dollar. 

Started my 2nd quilt.

 Lost old friends.

 Made new friends. 

Cherished nap time. 

Treasured play time.

 Began to love myself after years of hiding the hate. 

Whew. Big year.

blessings in 2013, sgym

041: Let's Be Jolly 2012

Merry Christmas!

As I'm rocking Malachi to sleep, I wanted to share some pictures from this Christmas morning.

Hubs and I are going to take full advantage of this naptime with breakfast, relaxing, and finishing up the grandparent presents.

I hope your holidays are merry and bright!

Christmas blessings, sgym

040: "Time is a Champion Racer."

My baby is 8 months old today.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? What did that happen?
Just yesterday I was laying in bed, Mal asleep on my chest, watching my DVR.
Just yesterday I was holding a special needs bottle in my left hand and a nipple shield in my right.
Just yesterday I was a broken record saying, "Watch his head..."
Just yesterday I was tiptoe-ing around my living room so as not to wake the sleeping boy in the bassinet.
Just yesterday I was lamenting that I couldn't even change my own baby's diaper.
Just yesterday I was hovering over a sleeping baby on his first airplane ride.

So many yesterdays already. So many to come. I hope I can keep focused on the today.

Here are the moments from today's monthly photoshoot.

happy eight months.

I love you, little man.

blessings, sgym

037: Mama Monday, Babywearing Dads.

So, yes, technically this post is a Mama Monday post. But I need to talk about Dads for a moment.

To be specific, babywearing Dads.

Babywearing Dads are not wimps.

Babywearing Dads are not whipped.

Babywearing Dads are not ridiculous.

Babywearing Dads are not hippies.

Babywearing Dads are not pushovers.

Babywearing Dads are not pansies.

Babywearing Dads are wearing their baby.

Babywearing Dads are holding their baby.

Babywearing Dads are looking to bond with their baby.

Babywearing Dads are possibly helping Mama out.

Babywearing Dads are trying to soothe their baby.

Babywearing Dads are having fun with their baby.

Babywearing Dads are Dads too.

Making loud comments about how you "would never want to look like THAT" or "would rather just carry the baby like this, that way is so stupid." Especially within earshot of that babywearing Dad? Please. We left middle school a loooooooooooooong time ago. (Maybe?) This has happened to a friend of mine. Her husband works long hours, so on the weekend, he wears their precious daughter so he gets extra doses of bonding time with her. Because he's her Dad. Because he wants to.

Making rude comments is stupid. I have no other words for it. Stupid. 

Be a parent to your kid and he'll be a parent to his kid.

.... Well, that was a rabbit trail. 

My main thought about babywearing Dads?

They are dead-sexy.

Ok ok, I might be a little biased, since this is my hubs.

But seriously. 

Real men wear babies too.

That's the end of this Mama Monday. Baby wearing. Dads. Love them. Let's not degrade our fellow papas for their parenting choices. Especially when they're this adorable.

Feel free to leave a shoutout in the comments for an awesome Dad you know. Does he babywear? Does he give baths? Does he snuggle before bed? Does he sing silly songs? Does he wrestle in the living room? 

They come in all persuasions! Make sure to give them some extra love!

blessings, sgym

030: let's be jolly '12, The 5 Gift Rule

Have you heard of the "Five Gift Rule" for Christmas? I recently stumbled across it in my many Pinterest wanderings and thought it was BRILLIANT. I want to make family, friends, and the time spent together the focus. I really do want Jesus to be The Reason For the Season in my household! This makes SO MUCH SENSE to me! Are you ready? It's awesome.

Something you want, 

Something you need,

Something to wear,

Something to read,

And something homemade.

Right? Isn't that awesome? Well. It simplified my Christmas so beautifully this year. It's little man's first Christmas and, quite frankly, I don't have the budget to spend a ton of money on him. And, really, will he remember it? No. I will though. I want to remember the fun traditions we are starting as a family (more on that in future posts!) and the awesome winter and holiday activities that happen in December! I have no more stressing about Christmas shopping for my boy, it's all done!

So, what did I get him? Well, I'm glad you asked! (ha.)

SOMETHING YOU WANT: A Melissa and Doug wooden rainbow stacker toy. Right? Perfect. Bright, works on motor skills, and doesn't require batteries. LOVE.

SOMETHING YOU NEED: A toothbrush. Can't deny it. My baby will need this soon. (Now?)

SOMETHING TO WEAR: Found this adorable one-toothed dino hat at Gymboree. It's a size 2T for my 7 month old. Big heads run in the family (both sides).

SOMETHING TO READ: The storytime lady at Barnes and Noble highly recommended this book to a friend and I for our little ones. I found it in the sale/clearance section at TJ Maxx. Jackpot.

But wait, where is the something homemade? It's coming. Naturally, hubs and I are still working on it. Everything is bought for it, but not assembled. Hey, homemade takes time! 

What are your gift traditions? Do you blow your budget every year? Are you just ready for it all to be over?

blessings, sgym

028: Mama Monday, the First.

Today is, was, mama monday. Today, my baby turned 7 months old. Just 5 months ago I felt like we were NEVER getting out of the rut of feeling sickly and tired, using the nipple shield to nurse, glugging back water every five minutes, and trying to keep myself from spinning into a spiral of self pity and PPD. So, the first mama monday is a reflection day.

1. Breathe.

I kept forgetting that the small(ish) baby sleeping near me while I caught up on my dvr wouldn't be that small forever. I couldn't figure out how to leave him alone and get the household chores done. The laundry was on its third full basket. I was trying to balance both extended families, church, husband, and friend time. It took me time, but I slowly learned to breathe. I've always been a people pleaser. I have a hard time saying NO. So. Stop. Breathe. Kiss your baby's head. They won't be that small much longer.

2. Follow your instincts.

Before my baby was laid on my chest, I knew exactly how I was going to parent. I had all the answers. Everything was figured out. HA. Yes. I'll say it again. HA. Now, I'm following my gut. It's been right 99.9% of the time so far. I know when he needs sleep, food, cuddles, more sleep, and even more food. I can't tell you how. I just know my baby. I hope I can keep with it as he grows. My instincts told me that I MUST breastfeed (and so did my monthly budget). I fell into co-sleeping by accident, did research, and now I think I could even call myself well rested. There are others, but those are the two I can discuss in one sentence.

3. Take a ton of pictures.

One day my little man won't be so little. Cliche. Yes. Don't care. He won't be and I want to remember these short and beautiful times.


In the spirit of my "ton of pictures" mantra, here is Mal. Newborn through 7 months:

 newborn.

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one month.

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two months.

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three months.

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four months.

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five months.

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six months.

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seven months.

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If you're caught in the cyclical depression of early motherhood; breathe, follow your instincts, and take a TON of pictures. You will be out of it soon enough.
Try to enjoy it, love.

blessings, sgym