Moments of Musing

Merriest Christmas

Filed Under: Baby L //

Last year, our baby boy was in my tummy during the holidays. See above photo.

This year, Christmastime looks and feels a whole lot different. There seems like there are too few hours in a day to do all the Christmas activities I want to do. We are way more tired, and our bed is much less roomier. On the flip side, we have a fuller bed and fuller hearts.
We are more loved and really, isn’t that what the holidays are all about? 
Isn’t LOVE the true reason for the season? 
Christmas is no longer about the material items on our “Wish List.” When I was little, I used to want baby dolls for Christmas. When I met my husband and we dated we always spoke of how amazing Christmas would be with our own baby. When we got pregnant, we spoke about waking up and snuggling with our baby in the middle. He’s made our dreams come true. 

Christmas is now all about making him happy. And so, it holds so much more meaning, so much more importance. Because we are parents to our baby boy and feel fortunate to have been blessed with these roles. 
We owe all of the Christmas magic this year to him. It’s all about him, his love and his happiness now. It’s worthier to us than anything else–clothes, vacations, date nights. You simply can’t put a price tag on it. 


Celebrate your differences

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

It’s hard to believe Christmas weekend is basically here! I have off tomorrow and Monday so I am more than ready to clock out today and begin our celebrations.
Tomorrow calls for quite a bit of errand running followed by a Christmas PJs girls night. My group of girlfriends is very unique. We are not one in the same. Most of us are actually very different but I think that’s what makes our friendships work. We compliment each other’s differences. How boring would it be if we were all the same? 

That’s what Rosie and Friends- Positively Different by Helen C. Hipp is about. 

It follows the story of a pink hippo who’s different than other hippos. Her positive outlook and message are inspriring for young kids. She believes it’s important to celebrate yourself, your uniqueness and your differences. Because our differences don’t make us weak–they make us strong. 
The book comes with useful activities at the end. After reading it, I think it’s best suited and most appropriate for school-aged children. Kids can carry this important lesson with them throughout their school years when encountering students who might look, speak or behave differently than them. 
My husband and I read this book to Sebastian. While he really liked the colors used in the illustrations, I think it will take him a few years to understand the valuable message. It is one that we will be sure to teach him in the future, though. 

Check out the book’s website here. 

*I received this product for review but all opinions are my own.*

What I want for Christmas

Filed Under: life, motherhood //

Merry Christmas Week!
I’ve never really celebrated this but I think this year is the perfect year to begin, with a baby and political tensions and all. Now, for me, Christmas is family time and love and sheer joy. It’s about getting family and friends together. Love and laughter. It’s hot cocoa with marshmallows and the smell of our pine tree. Sitting by the fireplace watching movies or listening to jingles. It’s excitement and sheer joy. 
You see, Christmas is about so much more than the presents under the tree. (This realization is one that took me growing up to truly realize.) So it should come of no surprise that I don’t really want much this year. After all, I have my health and my loved ones. What more could a gal want?? 

Well, there are some nonmaterialistic and more sentimental “presents” I’d like:
Coffee. All. The. Coffee. Parent life is tiring in itself. Put together with working full time and it’s exhausting. Though it remains my favorite role in the universe, I need lots of coffee to get through my days. I didn’t drink any during pregnancy but now that I’m back to normal intake, I get headaches on days I go without. Not good, I know. But it’s necessary and I try my best to limit how many cups I drink. 
Girlfriends in gold. For my friends’ wedding, us bridesmaids were in gold sparkly dresses. We all felt like princesses and our different but similar dresses looked great together. I think we should have dress up days with each other, or just girls nights every so often. Life gets hectic and spending time with one another has become more of a feat.
The experience of Christmas magic with my baby boy. I simply can not put into mere words how much joy having him with us this year brings. I can’t. Because it’s so, so much joy. To say I’m excited for waking up Christmas morning with him and watching him “open” and play his presents is an understatement. 
Football for the family. This blanket made by my husband’s friends’ mom is our family in one. The Mr. roots for Michigan and I, of course, my alma mater PSU. We’re excited for the bowl games and to have something that includes both of our teams so our little one doesn’t have to choose…any time soon, anyway. 

Crib Sleeping…or Lack Thereof

Filed Under: Baby L //

What do you mean I’m supposed to sleep in this big thing for the whole night all by myself?? Not happening. – Baby L

That’s basically how the transition from the bassinet to the crib has gone. I’ve put him in the crib, rubbed his back and he’s fallen asleep…for 10 minutes. Or I’ve put him in the crib already asleep and he’s slept in it for…30 minutes. My husband has tried to put him in there for naps…to no avail. 
Some parents look forward to the days of crib sleeping. But I’m not that parent. The very first time we put him in his crib, I cried. Call me emotional but seeing my baby growing so fast is bittersweet. I can vividly remember the nights he’d fall asleep on my chest. Now, those times are few and far between, and I cherish each one I can get. 
Ultimately, we take him out. I know there are some who do the CIO (Cry it Out) method but I can’t find it in my heart to do so. I figure when he’s ready, he’ll show us. So for now, we place him in there for as long as he’ll let us. This life and these experiences are new to him, too, so I think it’d be unfair for us to do otherwise. 

A weekend to recharge

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Our weekend was so relaxing. It wasn’t really planned that way, though. Originally, we had big plans for Saturday. We were set to host our friends for a Secret Santa Christmas get together but a couple of them didn’t feel well so we decided to call it off. 

To say I was bummed is an understatement. I had ideas for Christmas-themed dessert stations and even a photo booth. But alas, health always comes first. I understood that my friends wanted to stay home to get better–and not get the baby or our pregnant friend sick. 
So instead, on Saturday, we headed to brunch up the block–something we hadn’t done in a while. I wrapped some presents. My husband and I picked up around the house. We played with Seb, listened to Christmas music, and watched movies.  
In the middle of a cup of coffee on Sunday, I thought to myself “these are my favorite weekends.” The ones full of simple quality time spent with loved ones. And now I feel recharged and ready to take on this week. Here’s to hoping your week is off to a bright start, too (regardless of the cold/rain/snow I know many of us are experiencing)!