(My mom, brother and me)

I gave much deserved credit to my wonderful husband a view posts ago for being extremely supportive on the road to parenthood. There is another person who deserves a major shout out….my mom! From the first phone call after I saw the “yes” on the stick to the day I brought Lily home, my mom has been the biggest help. I can say with 100% that I would not have been able to stay sane through my pregnancy and stay somewhat sane up to this moment without her.

Living only a few minutes away she would pop over with yummy homemade banana bread or other tasty treats while I was preggo. She was always down to meet me for lunch, like at BJ’s where I would moan over some of my top cravings -BBQ salad or their tomato bisque or a mini Hawaiian pizza=> my mouth is watering now! Not only did she come over to feed my cravings, but she was always bringing Lily gifts. There were only a handful of times that my mom walked through our door without carrying an adorably wrapped gift!

Now I hated cooking while I was pregnant- and NO this was not a ploy to get Mike in the kitchen while I sat and watched! The thought of dealing with raw food made me gag! That is one of the main reasons why I ate out 90% of the time that Mike was out of town (and THE reason why I gained so much weight!).  One night while mike was out of town the power went out in the neighborhood. Of course eating an apple or a BB&J was not in the cards, and as I grabbed my keys it dawned on me that I couldn’t get my car out of the garage without power!! My wonderful mother came to my rescue and drove me to the closest McDonalds. Those fries tasted AHmazing. When I got home I started to light candles to give me a little light to wolf down my burger, when the smell of the scented wax made me dizzy!  I called my mom and being the amazing woman she was she drove back to pick me up so I could go back to their house and be in a non-yankee candle environment! She did anything she could to make me comfortable! The last few days she even sat next to my pool to keep me company as I floated on a raft moaning and teary eyed that I was STILL pregnant…any pregnant woman can attest that those last days drag on like no tomorrow!

My mom was there during the birth to help hold my feet and take the very first pictures of Lily. During my stay at the hospital she was bringing me coke and jimmy johns sandwiches (major thumbs down to hospital food).  I got the best care while at the hospital because my mom had a secret weapon….Starbucks cake pops. She came with individually boxed cake pops (pink ones!!) and any nurse or staff that came to my room to help she would give them sweet treats. Anytime I needed anything the nurses were so eager to come and help me because my mom went out of her way to make sure the nurses knew they were appreciated!  I will remember this when it is my turn with Lily.  Today if I eat one of those cake pops I am flooded with memories of the first few days with Lily in the hospital.

When we got home from the hospital I was greeted with balloons, a cute pink wreath on the door, beautiful flowers in the kitchen and in my bathroom. Plus she had food and snacks to last us and company for a week….not including all the pre made freezer foods!  My parents even took our dog Bentley while we were in the hospital and for our first few days home so we could have some adjustment time. I think we are still adjusting! As a mom she has been a wealth of knowledge from learning to be calm when Lily cries to breastfeeding tips. She often tells me I am doing a good job and boosts my self-confidence as a first time mom. 

She has been an amazing mother my whole life. Ever since I can remember she has showered my brother and me with so much love.  She was my very first friend, and remains the closest one I have.  I can only hope that when the time comes for Lily to be a mommy I can be the rock for Lily like my mom has been for me.

Thanks mom for the whole enchilada! Love you! xoxo

It is official.....I STINK at blogging!!!!!

Life feels like it is just flying by. Lily is 6 months and two weeks old!! Just yesterday she decided to sit up! She falls to the side and to the back when she reaches for something...but baby girl can sit up!!! Since the last time I have posted Lily is sleeping in her crib and in her room!!! It has been fabulous for Mike and I- PLUS she sleeps through the night! AMEN ;)

We had our first holiday season with our little bean, and it is wonderful to experience it through Lily's eyes! She loved Christmas! I think she enjoyed the tissue and wrapping paper more than the gifts!!!

Yikes- the bean is up and rolling around in the crib- hopefully I will be able to post later, but here is picture of Lily....how I love that smile!!!

This is LOOOONG overdue. I have expressed my deepest gratitude to my husband personally and I want to let all my friends and family know how the last year would not be possible if I did not have such a supportive partner in Mike.

For obvious reasons I would not be sitting here today looking over at the sweetest child swaying in her swing if it wasn’t for my “co-producer” Mike. From the day we found out I was pregnant Mike was ecstatic for our growing family!

From reading my past posts it is quite evident that I did not have the happiest experience being pregnant. Thanks to my husband and loving mother I do not know how I would have had the peace of mind to last the entire 9 + months and labor without them!

When we found out we were going to have a little girl I was a wee bit nervous, as I knew Mike wanted a boy so bad.  I knew that if he had a boy first it might be easier to get all the “baby firsts” out of the way until he juggled joining team pink. But it was somewhere during the sixth month that while driving Mike confessed he was actually happier to be a daddy to a girl….that day I fell in love with him even more. I knew he would be that dad holding flowers for Lily as we watched her dance during a recital. That dad that would stand up to give a huge “Goooooo Lily” when she ran onto the stage for a cheer competition. The dad that would allow his daughter to put a dress and hat on him for a late afternoon tea party with her favorite stuffed toys.  That kinda dad. I had always known he would be that way…it was a main reason why I said, “I do.”

During my pregnancy he was wonderful. Do NOT get me wrong there were tons of moments in my high hormone rages that I wanted him to pack up and leave for a few days. It did take him a LONG time to figure out how to cope with a pregnant wife. There were some days I almost fell asleep at the dinner table and couldn’t listen to how his day went because I was so tired. There were weekends were I slept the ENTIRE time to catch up from work or prepare for work the next week.  Then there were those moments where every pregnant woman cries. Cries for any reason at all. Those were the toughest for Mike. Especially those huge crocodile tear fests. When I would get all Miss Diva Hormone. He had a hard time just sitting back and accepting that this “B!%@h “ attitude was something I could not control. I eventually went to Barnes & Noble and bought him a book. A funny book written to explain to him what us woman truly going through while we grown a human being inside our bellies! That booked saved us from so many future arguments. There were a few points were I would start to moan about a new pregnancy symptom and Mike would jump into the conversation telling me he understood what I was going through because he read it in the book! One.Of.The.Best.Purchases.Ever! 

Besides the lack of knowledge on how to deal with a raging bull of a wife, Mike stepped up big time in all other avenues of being a supportive daddy-to-be (well minus back rubs- his consisted of a one finger dagger rub- very painful!). Basically during my entire pregnancy I had a horrible time preparing food. The smells made me want to curl up into a ball. Mike was my amazing in home chef. And by in home chef I do mean- mac-n-cheese and pankcakes….meals for champions! Also during my every hour bathroom trip during the middle of the night I would find myself dehydrated and often starving! Mike would get up, fill up my cup and bring me some oatmeal or cheerios.

I also had an extremely hard time during my pregnancy at how my body changed physically. No one can prepare you. And by the way, SCREW those Mtv teens that pop out their babies and look normal by the next episode.  Sorry had to vent as I just saw a commercial on tv for that horrible show. When it came to what was changing physically, Mike was my rock. Between the acne, gas, grey hair (yes I got grey hair people!) stretch marks and apparent massive weight gain, Mike told me he loved me everyday.  

Once Lily was born I discovered I really hit the jack pot when it came to husbands. I mean he truly goes out of his way to make sure he is there for both of us. I know it kills him to be on the road. So sometimes Mike will get up extra early to get on the road instead of leaving the night before so he can be there just for bath time rituals! Every morning he is home he helps me tremendously by taking Lily in the morning so I can take a shower ( a luxury for mommies!).  He makes coffee every day….something I know we both need to combat the day, but still it is one less thing I have to do in the morning. These are just some of the many things Mike does....

So to my loving husband, I thank you. Thank you for being my better half, my rock….Thank you for loving me through the good and the bad times on the road to being parents. You have given me so much, but the most amazing gift you have ever given me is the gift of motherhood.  I love you so much muffin….