Failure to Thrive: Mommy Edition

I've been holding onto this post for quite a while.

However, this post pushed me into pushing the publish button.

I swear...this lady reads my mind.

And makes my crochet-deprived fingers itch.

Now, to the meat of things...

I have been infatuated with all things babies for as long as I can remember.

Growing up I would always say that I wanted nothing more than to be a wife and mother.

I went into motherhood thinking that I was pretty prepared.

And then, the baby came.

And my world crumbled around me.

I couldn't control what was going on.

I couldn't fathom not knowing what to do.

I couldn't even plan a basic schedule for my day.

And, hey...you're telling me that babies don't know how to nap straight out the womb?!

I kept asking people on Facebook what they did for their children, worried that I would make the wrong decision for Charlie.

I read book after book and googled my fingers off.

I still couldn't figure out why my child cried for hours some nights but not others.

Why she seemed to only like me for my boobs.

Why she cried her head off for me all day, but settled down for my husband.

I wanted to make sure that she was "normal" and did things that other peoples' "normal" children did.

I didn't use the swing to get her to sleep at night because I thought that was cheating.

I didn't use the swing to get her to nap so I could take a quick shower.

I would wait until my husband got home to take showers every day because she wouldn't nap long enough for me to get undressed.

I spent a week crying my eyes out because I thought I wasn't a good enough mother for my child.

I wasn't following the books.

I was too worried about others.

I asked my mom when the happy, smiling baby on the covers of magazines would arrive in my household.

Then, my mom figuratively smacked a little sense into me.

She reminded me that parenting isn't about perfection.

It's about survival.

Put down the books.

Stop googling every little thing.

Listen to your gut.

Pay attention to Charlie's cues.

She'll let you know what she needs.

The swing got a lot more use after that!

I had to remember that I WAS and AM good enough.

Will I ever be a perfect parent?

Hell to the no.

Is my child a happy, healthy baby?

You bet.

That's what matters.

Laters,

Mrs. B

Mommy Wars

Ho.  Ly.  Crap.

Ok.  People judge.  I know this.  I've lived it.

...or so I thought.

Then, I became a pregnant and started reading up on things and discovered the comments sections on blogs and forums.

Breastfeeding vs. formula

Cloth diapers vs. disposable

Attachment parenting vs. whatever you call it

Baby led weaning vs. purees

Store bought baby food vs. homemade

Organic vs. not organic

Natural childbirth vs. pain management

Stay at home mom vs. working mom

I could go on and on and on...

UGH!

I'm going to say this as nicely as I can...

Cut the shit.

It is so disheartening to see people who could be lifting each other up and encouraging one another tear each other to shreds. 

Due to personal and physical reasons Charliebabe is going to need to be introduced to formula to supplement her nutrition once I go back to school in a few weeks.

I couldn't believe the downright NASTY look I got from a mother while plucking that container from the shelf in Target.

I just smiled broadly at her, commented on her adorable children and sauntered down the aisle...all while withering a little bit on the inside.

I am a confident person, however, I was embarrassed even though I know that this is the very best decision for both Charliebabe and myself.

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times...

women can be vicious.

This is NOT a "Why can't we all get along?" post.

It's a reminder that we can do so much good.

It just takes effort and an open mind.

Have you been a victim of the mommy wars?

Laters,

Mrs. B

Baby's Asleep! So...

mommy's back to blogging!

I can't lie.

I enjoy hanging with my Charliebabe waaaayyyy more than anything else.

However, I constantly find myself composing blog posts in my head!

They range from mommy ramblings to teacher musings to random things that pop into my head when nobody's looking.

Here's a little of what I've been up to for the last 6-ish months...(note: these are apparently out of order and I'm too lazy busy to fix them.)

Watching Handsome Husband fall in love with another woman.

Falling in love with baby yawns.

Celebrating my first Mother's Day.

Loving this killer smile.

Laughing at how much Charliebabe resembled my father-in-law in the beginning.

Loving those first "smiles".

Celebrating her first (of many) visit to Target!

Smiles!

Cuddling after her first real bath.

Becoming a family.

Watching the Super Bowl.

Introducing Charlotte to her great grandfather.

(We aren't allowed to call her Charlie around him.  Haha!)

Four generations!

A hospital visit.

Pumping and pumping and pumping...don't get me started on the panic attack I had during the power outage last week.

Realizing that babies weren't always pooping and sleeping.

They spend a lot of time crying for NO REASON.

Getting her hips checked by her great grandfather.

It's a tradition!

He's an orthopedic surgeon (retired, obviously) and founded this place.

Loving the stuff that Handsome Husband's students would send home.

Realizing that a swing is THE BEST THING you could ever buy.

She spent more nights than I care to admit in this thing.

Taking walks in the cold because mommy desperately needed it.

(We only went a block to Nonna and Rock's.)

Buying and returning 4 different tubs until we found the right one.

Dealing with poop.

Lots of poop.

Leaving her for our first night out.

Snow, snow and more snow.

Ugh.

However, I couldn't have picked a better winter to take maternity leave!

Going back to school.

(I miss having hair at my temples!  No one tells you that your hair might thin in spots and not just all over!  Baby hairs for life!  Just kidding...they're coming back.)

Loving this grump.

Laughing when she's attacked by Jaja.

Begging my dad to assist when our babysitter's daughter was super sick.

They both survived and are better for it!

Taking Charliebabe in the pool for the first time.

Finishing up the school year with a bang!

Trying cheesesteaks in Philly with this dude.

Being naughty with my brother.

Taking Charliebabe to her first wedding.

She stayed up until 11 and was amazing!

Taking her to her first baseball game.

Crocheting again.

Taking Charliebabe on her first road trip.

(Spoiler alert!!  She wasn't a fan.)

Dying over those crossed ankles.

All.  The.  Time.

Forgetting to put shoes on to run errands.

Loving her even when she wakes up from a nap needing a nap.

What have you been up to?

Mrs. B