Future Park Ranger

Since returning to work and only getting to spend a couple hours in the evening with Max...I have decided that every weekend needs to include some sort of special family time.  It was finally sunny here this past Saturday, so first we hit up Tim Hortons for an assorted ten pack of donut holes (which involves me picking out the ones I like and giving the leftovers to Rob - and he totally doesn't seem to mind).  The donut holes and chocolate milk provided the sustenance we needed for our 2.5 miles hike at our local Metro Park called HighBanks.  You might be wondering how an almost three month old participates in hiking....but never fear, we have the Baby Ergo!  The Ergo is a baby carrier - meaning you can "wear" your baby while you walk.  At first I was a bit skeptical but I actually really like it and it turns out Max does too! 

The key is keeping Max cool -- so basically we stripped him down to a onesie and put him in the newborn insert (aka - baby taco).  This provides a little boost for his bottom and supports his neck :)  Also - to up the cuteness factor we had to add his bucket hat!  It was a bit sunny in some parts of the forest...so I suppose it's better to be prepared. 

 

This particular Saturday Rob was the one "wearing" Max and it was absolutely precious!  Because he is still pretty small and doesn't have total neck control - Max must still be worn facing us..but, we don't mind because then we get stare at his cute little mug!  Max was fascinated with everything in the forest - he kept craning his neck in all different directions - staring at the tall trunks and green leaves.  I, of course, tried to narrate everything we were seeing (i.e. "oh look, there is a sycamore tree...it has white bark").  Max conked out about half way through the walk...but I can tell that he really loved it...and we will for sure be returning! 

 

Once we completed our hike - we took Max out of the carrier and attempted to change his diaper.  He showed us how he felt about that by peeing everywhere in daddy's new car!  haha!  We got it cleaned up quick and were on our way to a delicious breakfast at Scramblers :)  Saturdays are my new favorite day of the week :)

 

xoxo

 

We survived!

It was not my intention to not post at all last week - but let's just say life got busy :)  And, I realized that the most important thing now is giving Max our undivided attention when we get home from work (even if that means I get literally nothing else done).  While it's definitely not been an easy transition (read - I may have had some teary breakdowns) - we are so fortunate to have such a loving, wonderful woman watching Max.  She greets us everyday with a smile, her four year old loves Max, and most importantly she didn't think I was a crazy person for calling multiple times the first day to make sure everything was going smoothly!  Max has been sleeping from about 8:30pm until 5:00am (or so) and that works out pretty well because Rob can get up with him just a little earlier than he normally would to give him a bottle.  Then he goes back down until I wake him up at 7:00.  This gives me time to get ready and make sure all our stuff is together.  I love to go in his room, and unwrap the swaddle.  Max will slowly open his eyes, take me in, and then gives a big smile! I LOVE IT!!  He also loves to stretch and love to watch him and marvel at how big he is getting.  Sometimes, I swear he grows overnight! Then, if I'm really good I can spend about 15 glorious minutes with him singing, talking, playing, or reading before we have to be out the door. I really cherish those 15 minutes because its just Mama and Max.  Another great thing is that Rob gets off work at 3:30, and so he can pick Max up at 3:45!  One of my favorite parts of coming home (other than seeing Max of course) is reading his cuddle gram.  The "cuddle gram" is a glorious piece of paper that gives a me a peek into his day.  It contains information such as when he ate, how much he ate, diaper changes, nap times, and fun things they might have done.  I love it because then I can really get a picture of what he's been up to! (Side note:  The woman watching him said she could send them electronically over email and my amazing husband told her that was not necessary because I would want to save them for his scrapbook!  Have I trained him well? haha!) Overall, last week went really well.  Speaking of - here is our glorious reunion picture from last Monday.  I think the look on my face says it all :)

(I think he missed me!)

(Daddy and Max after work - I have a feeling this bib will be in heavy rotation)!

A Royal Obsession

I think it's because Prince William and Kate Middleton got married just two weeks after Rob and I - and I might have set my alarm to watch their wedding and then continued to watch coverage all day while writing thank you notes...ahem.  And now, of course our babies are less than three months apart - but I can honestly say I'm obsessed with the royal baby.  I was on baby watch (along with half the world) the week prior to Kate going into labor ...and from there, waited with nervous anticipation for the announcement of the baby's birth (a boy)!  And maybe, I stalked the computer at work today to see if there was an official baby name (George Alexander)!

I mean the similarities are astounding - Kate loves polka dots (I LOVE polka dots)!  In breaking with royal tradition they aren't having a nanny (shocking I know, but we don't have a nanny either).  They are both on Facebook and Twitter (hello, I'm a social media lover)!  William drove them home from the hospital with Kate in the back of their car (same driving scenario as us :)  And, upon close inspection (read - practically stalking) I'm pretty sure they have the same swaddle blankets as we do.  Coincidence?  I think not.  But, until Kate decides we should be besties (fingers crossed it's soon - Kate, have your people call my people) - I thought I might throw some internet advice her way.  Granted, I've not been part of the circle of moms long myself - I've learned a thing or two these past few weeks.

1.) Other than breastfeeding, there are virtually no baby duties that dads can't do.  William can certainly help you cuddle, cook, change diapers, bathe, clothe, teach, and babysit just as effectively as you.  (And if George is anything like Max, he'll really enjoy a little daddy time)!

2.) Take some time for your little family of three - but don't be afraid to take baby out either!  After you get over the enormous amount of "stuff" you need in the diaper bag - it's actually quite easy to go out with baby socially.

3.)  Put down the smart phone.  Sure, it's tempting to want to tweet, instagram, snapchat, facebook the crap out of your baby - some days you just need to soak in their awesomeness.

4.)  Time will literally fly.  Like, at their one month appointment, you'll be going - "did we have a newborn?"  "Was our baby ever that small"? Soak it up.  I cannot reiterate this enough.

5.)  Realize the sleepless nights won't go on forever.  As George gets bigger and eats more food - he will begin sleeping in longer stretches - I know!!  Right??  Amazing I tell you.  And, it's totally normal if you wake up and panic because the baby didn't get up.  And then you tiptoe into the nursery to check on him.  And there he is - still swaddled and breathing and STILL SLEEPING!  Hooray!  Give yourself a pat on the back and go back to bed.  I repeat - go back to bed.  You may be tempted to hustle around the house getting other crap done - but really, go back to bed.  You can thank me later.

6.)  Don't try to straighten each mess right after its made or even every time you leave the house.  I went through a period where I was straightening the piles of books every single time I left the house and four times in between.  This is borderline ridiculous.  Instead, tidy up toys and books once a day, or even (heaven forbid) just every other day.  (Or perhaps you'll have a house keeper do this?  If so, I might be a little jealous).

7.)  Other moms and especially sisters are awesome - especially your own.  Dont' be afraid to call them, lean on them, ask them for coffee, and parenting tips.  Seriously - they want to help.  I mean it.

8.) Babies like routines and predictability. I swear Max knows its bedtime when Rob and I take him upstairs and do bath, diaper change, onesie, maybe a story or two, and bottle.  He totally gets it (he might be a genious...just saying). 

9.)  Forget about being a perfect mom - that's a term defined by culture and other people.  There is no such thing (but a million ways to be a good mom) and working to appear as one requires so much effort that there's not much energy left for you to spend being a loving parent - which is obviously top priority. 

10.)  Dearest Kate, perhaps the best advice I can give you - your body will look strange.  You may even look in the mirror and think - "wow - I've got a lot of work to do".  :)  Everyday though - it gets easier and your body recovers.  Then, you might think, it would feel great to get a hair cut, maybe a dye job.  So you head to the salon.  Here's where you need to listen.  YOUR HAIR IS AMAZING!!  Literally, the most beautiful hair I've ever seen - put down the scissors.  Don't get a "mom cut" just yet - give yourself some time.  Just get bangs (like me!) if you need a small change :) 

You've got this - it's not too scary after the first couple days.  And really, call me - I've got more where this came from. 

XoXo

Working Mama

Dear Max,

Today has nearly come to a close - the house is quiet - the toys are picked up.  I'm listening to the sound of your breathing on the monitor and daddy is alseep upstairs.  Tomorrow is a big day for us.  My maternity leave is over and I will head back to the Zoo and into the classroom. Today, I tried to be really present with you all day long - to soak in you at (almost) eleven weeks.  Some days I turn the tv on during your feedings or catch up on instagram while you nap.  But, today I put a lot of my normal "busy-ness" aside to focus on you.  Your smiles, your squeals, your breathing, your head craning to see me on the changing table, your pride as you held your head up during tummy time, and your joy at seeing daddy coming through the door at 3:45. 

I never want you to question if I love work more than you Max.  It will feel surreal to leave you behind tomorrow.  But, if I'm honest, it will also be a bit of a relief to relax into the normalcy that work brings too.  I crave adult conversations and my work friends.  Some people work to earn a living and some people are lucky to get paid to do what they love.  I'm lucky that I'm sort of doing both.  I knew I wanted to be in environmental education very early on.  My parents fostered a love of the outdoors and I still get excited to share that wonder with the preschoolers in my classroom.  It makes me proud when my students make a connection between animals and conservation.  When you become an adult Max, I would never want you to sacrifice what you love for the people you love - no matter how much money you make. 

But, back to the matter at hand.  There are many reasons moms work and they might not always be what you think.  These are mine.

I work because I like my students and I love animals.  Because interacting with them, makes me happy and that in turn bleeds over into other areas, including how patient I am with you and the fun activities I will plan for us!

Because some day, you may want to play lacrosse.  Or, soccer.  Maybe even want guitar lessons - and those cost money.  Because this house and the things you need cost money and are made possible by two incomes.

Because I want our little family of three to be able to travel - not just to see your grandparents but all over the country. 

Because I know that being away from me will encourage you to become your own person.  Make new friends.  Develop your own skills without mommy hovering over you. And also, opening your eyes and heart to loving other people. 

Because I want you to be proud of me.

So, I love you Max.  If I had to choose, I would choose you - over and over again.  But, I'm glad I can also provide for you and give you the wonderful life you deserve. 

Love you forever,
Mama

Raising a Reader

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved books.  Some of my fondest memories are being read to - particularly the Little House on the Prairie series.  My mom would gather Stacy and I before bed and we would read a chapter or so at a time.  I suppose I was intrigued by life on the frontier (sod on your roof...and the whole make do and mend mentality - the Ingalls family really knows what's up).  It was also quite common while I was growing up to see my dad reading the newspaper after dinner and then moving on to other novels later in the evening.  For the longest time his prized possession was a tattered mouse book mark I made him in grade school.  He used it well past it's true expiration date - to the point where both it's googley eyes had fallen off.    

My elementary years were filled with reading series like The Babysitters Club, Boxcar Children, and Anne of Green Gables.  We participated in the summer reading program at the library and my love of reading for pleasure continued to grow.  My favorite class in college was "Childrens Literature" (a class I didn't even need) - where we discovered new childrens authors and even met at local bookstores close to campus for class.  I've even been known to stuff my suitcase when we go on vacation with an obscene amount of books - I hate getting stuck without reading material!  And truth be told, my secret desire is to write a children's book (the market is serioulsy lacking on books about chinchilla's and other lesser known zoo animals...)

By the time I had committed to environmental education as a major - I had built a nice collection of childrens books. Every zoo trip, family vacation, or even garage sale was an opportunity to add to my collection.  When Rob and I moved into our house - our basement quickly filled with boxes of my books.  Being the awesome guy that he is - he never even mentioned it - and in fact he loves reading too!  He has his own box full of books and granted our tastes are vastly different (him - Science Fiction...me - Nora Roberts) - but I LOVE that he can hunker down with a good book just like me!  In fact, he's often the one to suggest a trip to the library for new books!  There is something so old fashioned and lovely about visiting the library and being surrounded by stacks of boxes...each with a whole new world of characters just waiting to be met. 

When we started arranging Max's nursery - I knew it would need to include a space for books (heck, I even had a shower where people brought books!)  Rob helped my vision come to life and we have three bookshelves full of stories to be read and shared.  I probably have enough books to start a small library (it's the teacher in me I think...) but I plan to rotate the books according to his interests or season...time will tell :)

After Max arrived, I couldn't wait to start "reading" together.  Now, when I use the term "reading"... I mean we are sitting together, paging through his books, and pointing at the animals or colors etc.  He's always been able to sit and look at the pages - but lately it seems like he is staring at the page longer and genuinely interested in holding (eating?) the books.  It might have something to do with the silly voices we use or the brightly colored animals (there is definitely an animal trend happening around here) - but I'm so happy he is interested!  We have now made reading part of our night time routine and I can't wait to continue to help foster his love of books!

 XoXo

My Mama Heart

I doubt very much that I'm the only one who uses the term "mama heart" - but lately, it's all I've been thinking about (well, that and when did Max last eat?).  For those whom it's been a while since you took anatomy - the heart is a vital organ found in the center of your chest.  I think though, it's more like a muscle, because man, has mine done some stretching over the last year.  Being pregnant was sort of a warm up if you will - and then a tiny human emerged (from a different organ, just to be clear..haha).  This tiny human, Maxwell James, has stretched my heart in so many ways over the last ten weeks.  Similar to the Grinch on Christmas Eve, I swear it grew three sizes when he arrived.  And since then it's been stretching..and stretching, and growing to accomodate each smile, coo, and milestone. 

 

In one short week, my maternity leave will be over...and while it was different than what I expected, it was also magnificent in so many ways that I wasn't expecting.  Being able to bring my little one, all swaddled like a baby burrito in bed with me in the morning for that last hour before getting up...being able to study him all day long...seeing all the expressions he goes through while sleeping in my arms...burying my nose into his neck after each bottle...figuring out what each cry means, and knowing that he needs me in a way that no one else does.  Suffice it to say that knowing our mama and Max routine will be coming to an end soon (as we have to hustle out the door in the morning and struggle to keep our routine in the evening) has me more than a little emotional and a lot hormonal.  And so, my mama heart continues to ssstttreeeetch.

And, while my heart is stretching - my tear ducts are working in overtime.

In no particular order - the things that have made me cry this week (maybe this last hour?)

-the smell of Max's swaddle blankets

-singing " you are my sunshine"

-watching the Gilmore Girls (the episode where Rory graduates from Yale)

-doing a practice run to the daycare lady's house on Tuesday

-actually going to the daycare lady's house for a couple hours today

-Rob's voice on the monitor as he puts Max to sleep last night

-sorting through clothes today that Max is now too big for

-Wedding invitations

-Missing my friends at work

-Filling out Max's daycare forms

-Rob's tone of voice as he asked me if I thought the sleeper we put Max in was too small (there is a good chance I overreacted...I know you're all surprised).

-Going through my closet and weeding out all the clothes that don't fit (turns out I'm not going to fit into those jeans from high school ever again).

 

Likely there will be more meltdowns and tears over the next week or so until I officially return to work (and then, it's acceptable to just sit in my office and rock myself in the corner, right?).  So, as I prepare to join the workforce again next week - and my mama heart prepares to loosen it's grip on Max, send some positive thoughts my way, please.  And, thank you.  Also, pass the tissues.

(love this little mug)
xO 



A Budding Romance

It was only a matter of time before Max and his future girlfriend Brianna (daughter of my good friend Liz) went on a second date.  (If you recall - they met up for ice cream last month). Liz and I schemed and agreed we should go on a zoo date...luckily Max and I know some people there ;)  

 

The night before the big date - Max did a little reading...and brushed up on his animal knowledge!

The day of their date turned out to be the hottest day of the summer so far - but, Max pulled it together (read - he fell asleep) and we managed to spend a couple hours at the Zoo.  Our first stop was Discovery Reef because it's air conditioned - and also I thought it would be calming and serene for the babies.  Unfortunately, so did half the population of Columbus - so we didn't spend much time there.  Next up - Manatee Coast!

Max and Brianna were less than impressed with these gentle giants - Sea Cows if you will....
So - we made our way to African Forest. 

 While the gorillas weren't up to much (does anyone really feel like doing anything in 90 degree heat?)...this is where things really start to heat up between the wee ones.  You can see Brianna in the above picture, really craning her neck to get a good look at her beau. Max, on the other hand - is still sound asleep - but ready to fight off any potential threats to her honor (see his tiny fists?)

Brianna starts to get the hint and turns her attention elsewhere (see below!) 

We finished off with lunch at the food court.  Brianna enjoyed some rice cereal and Max enjoyed catching some more zzz's.  We decided to call it an afternoon due to the heat, humidity and increasing amounts of people at the Zoo! Once home - I stripped Max down to his diaper to help him cool off.  It's safe to say he enjoyed it...and is already looking forward to their third date!

Xoxo