Archive for March 2012
Theming…
Posted on: March 29, 2012
As Little M gets older, I start thinking more and more about her first birthday party..
Now I know it’s still too soon to start planning all the details.. but I like to be a little ahead of the game.. especially since I usually DIY all the invitations and decorations and everything in between..
Should I do a specific theme? Like.. Minnie Mouse, or the Bubble Guppies, or some other specific characters that she seems to be really into..
Or should I stick to something a little more broad and general.. like a color scheme.. or ladybugs.. or butterflies..
As she gets older, I notice that she has specific likes when it comes to characters she watches on TV, or toys that she seems to favor. Her current likes are the Bubble Guppies, Minnie Mouse, the Backyardigans, SuperWhy.. and the theme song to Lumayo Ka Sa Akin on TFC (The Filipino Channel).
But I know she’s only going to be a year old.. and she’s not going to remember this birthday party at all… she’ll only see the pictures when she’s older.. and even then.. it’s not really going to impact her that much.. I’ve always figured that first birthday parties are more for the parents than they are for the child..
Should I spend the energy creating this elaborate birthday party theme for a one-year old that really won’t know the difference anyway? Or should I save the special themes for when she’s a little older and can actually appreciate it more?
Parents, what did you do?
Vegas.. as a new mommy..
Posted on: March 28, 2012
The family and I spent the past weekend in Vegas for Hubby’s birthday.. we took Little M with us and I have to tell you that it was definitely a different experience than I’ve ever had before..
I thought being prego in Vegas was challenging.. this was totally an interesting experience..
I’m not saying it’s bad.. in fact, I enjoyed myself, and I’m sure Little M enjoyed herself too.. she got to eat foods outside of her normal “baby food” lineup.. she got to play in the pool area AND at the little outdoor mall..
Here’s a little list of befores and afters based on this past Vegas trip..
VEGAS BEFORE: Casino hopping all day.. casino hopping all night
VEGAS AFTER: Finding non-casino places to go during the day.. staying at the “home” casino all night
VEGAS BEFORE: Gambling all day.. gambling all night
VEGAS AFTER: Waiting for Little M to nap before spending an hour or two at the casino hoping she won’t wake up and cry before I get back.
VEGAS BEFORE: Going to a show with the hubs at night if we found one we wanted
VEGAS AFTER: Being in bed by 10pm with baby while everyone else was down at the casino gambling
VEGAS BEFORE: Getting all dressed up and accessorizing with the cutest purses and shoes
VEGAS AFTER: Wearing flip-flops and jeans, accessorizing with a diaper bag..
VEGAS BEFORE: Ordering my own alcoholic drinks..
VEGAS AFTER: Taking one sip of whatever the hubs got because I didn’t want to get too tipsy while taking care of the baby..
VEGAS BEFORE: Uninterupted eating sessions in all the great buffets on the strip..
VEGAS AFTER: Having to run up to the hotel room with a poopy baby while eating at the buffet in the “home” casino..
VEGAS BEFORE: Annoyed at the smoker that decided to sit at the slot machine next to you..
VEGAS AFTER: Having to get up and move slot machines (even if I was winning) because you don’t want to come back too smokey when you hold the baby..
There are so many other things.. like worrying about a stroller.. making sure to get a high chair.. and other baby-related things that really made this trip different..
It solidified the fact that I truly am… a mother.
New take on accountability…
Posted on: March 21, 2012
Last year, the gym next door to my workplace offered free memberships to those of us that work here.. unfortunately, I was prego with Little M and having a gym workout didn’t feel like it was something that I could do while I had a big ol’ belly..
This year, I asked if they still offered it, and they did!
So two days ago, I joined the gym.
Then yesterday, I signed up for personal training. Yes. Personal training.
Now I have no excuse. I have someone really pushing me to do what I need to do.
I signed up for two months, twice a week. I figure she can get me started on a workout routine, and then after two months, I can do things on my own.
I just really need to develop that “work out” habit again. I used to have it years ago when I used to spend 3-4 times a week at the local yoga studio. Then, I started trying to run using my parents treadmill, and that was going well until I injured my knee.
I really need to lose this baby weight and get back into shape. It’s just so hard for me to get started. It’s always that initial step that is the hardest.
But this time, no more excuses. I have deadline.. I want to be ready for the summer.. I want to look good by June. No more excuses.
My starting weight is still 158lbs. I want to get down to about 125lbs. That’s 33lbs.
I start Monday.
I’ll keep you posted.
Where’s the time gone?!
Posted on: March 13, 2012
I’ve been busy.
After Little M got over her cold, she’s been a non-stop fireball.. bouncing around EVERYWHERE.
She’s definitely keeping Hubby and I are on our toes.. it’s entertaining. I love every moment of it.. but I’m tired!
Daylight savings has totally messed me up.
For some reason, I had it backwards. I wasn’t looking forward to waking up “an hour early” but for some reason, I totally thought that meant that Little M was going to go to bed “an hour early.”
WRONG!
This time changes means she’s going to get tired “an hour later..”
I can’t wait til she gets used to the time change and starts getting tired at her usual time.. I’ve noticed that Hubby and I let her play on the floor a lot at night on her mats so she can tire herself out.. but it doesn’t seem to really work.. she just goes and goes and goes and goes.. like the Energizer bunny..
This year, like every year before it, seems to be flying by at lightning speed.. we’re almost halfway through March and I feel like we JUST rang in the new year.. seriously!
Every year gets faster and faster.. you think I’d be used to it by now..
Six months ago…
Posted on: March 5, 2012
Six months ago, it was Labor Day weekend. Literally.
I gave birth to my precious Little M six months ago. Well, six months and two days ago.. but she’s been a little sick and I wasn’t able to blog exactly on her sixth month birthday.. but that’s totally besides the point.
I gave birth to my little “late-preterm” baby. That was a nice way of saying she’s a premie, but only by a few days.. six days “premature” to be exact. My water broke at exactly 36 weeks into my pregnancy and she was born at 36 weeks and 1 day. Full term babies are born anytime after 37 weeks.. so.. you can see why she is still considered “preterm.”
Six months ago, she was such a tiny thing. She left the hospital at barely five pounds, having lost some of her weight during our few days in the hospital. It didn’t take long for her to grow into the big girl she is now.
Before she hit two months old, her pediatrician no longer considered her a “premie.” She found her own path on the growth curve, one that normal full-term babies followed. In fact, she never really needed any readjustments to her growth curve to factor in her premature status. I’ve never stopped thanking God for that. He’s truly blessed her in so many ways and it shows everyday.
Now, six months later…
She’s loud, squirmy, curious, a little dramatic, happy, and so so funny.
My daddy swears that she has little trampolines on her feet because she’s forever bouncing.
She’s learned to scream and make her voice go really high.. I swear she’s a soprano!
She loves going into her walker when she’s at her grandparents house (both sets!) because they have floors that allow her to walk around in her walker.
She LOVES to play. She entertains herself and also knows when mommy and daddy are playing with her.
She can sit up on her own, but gets sooo excited about the things around her that she constantly kicks or leans so far over that she finds herself lying down again..
She’s almost crawling, her booty up in the air, she still hasn’t figured out that she needs to use her arms to pick herself up.. but she can get around regardless..
Babies, in general, never cease to amaze me. In the short span of six months, they can go from completely helpless, to this active, mobile, talkative person! I see it in everyone’s baby. It’s just so amazing how fast they develop at this young age. All my friends and families babies that were born around the same time as Little M are all thriving and developing at lightning speed. It’s so fun to watch our kids all grow up together, even if we aren’t literally all together. We’re all very blessed with our little ones and God is truly watching over all of us.
So, Little M, when you get old enough to read this, just know that these six months have been the best six months of my and daddy’s lives. We can’t wait for what the next 6 months have in store for us.
And on that note.. it’s time to start brainstorming about birthday party ideas.. hee hee..
Living life in the carpool lane.. 