amen sister!

All moms should read this post. 

I can totally relate to how this mom feels. I've experienced this judgement as a new mom, and I'm sure it will continue.  From how I chose to feed my baby, diaper her, let her sleep, how I dress her, and who cares for her when I'm working....and the list goes on.

I've definitely had to make some tough decisions since Hadley was born. 

The most difficult - returning to work.  I worked in public accounting at KPMG for 4 years before beginning my new life as a mom.  It was challenging, stressful, and wonderful, all at the same time.  I had amazing mentors and clients and worked my tail off for 4 years.  I was so lucky to have 6 months of maternity leave (some paid, some unpaid), but I need to work.  It's part of who I am, plus we like paying our bills.  But working 50-60 hours a week did not appeal to me once Hadley was born.  So I decided to leave the only place I'd known for TVA where more work-life balance was available.  I'm so thankful for better hours and the wonderful people I work with - plus I get to work out at lunch (but I do miss KPMG and my peeps there).  It is hard to leave my baby at daycare - somedays its harder than others - but I'm so thankful that we found such a wonderful daycare for her to attend.  If I can't love on her from 8-5 everyday, we found the next best thing.  She loves her teachers and friends and is always smiling when we drop her off and pick her up.

Formula/Breast feeding.  Ugh.  Hate this one.  I desperately tried to breastfeed Hadley.  It was no easy task for us.  Hadley would get frustrated, and cry, I was frustrated, and I cried. We cried together for 3 weeks.  I read books, did alot of internet research, and contacted a lactation consultant, with little success.  Finally, I started pumping and giving her the milk in a bottle.  It worked for us for 7 more months. It was a ginormous pain, but I did it for her.  Since then, she's had formula, and I'm grateful that is an option for all mothers.

Sleeping. We co-slept with Hadley for about 4-6 weeks (starting when she was about 6 weeks old).  Because this mama needed sleep!  It worked for us at the time.  And them I read a few sleep books and came to the realization, this was really the only thing that was "ours" (mine and Brandon's) and that we needed our bed back.  So we put Hadley in her crib around 11-12 weeks.  We let her "cry it out" based on the "Healthy Sleep Habbits, Happy Child" extinction method.  I wasn't as hardcore as the book method explained, but in a week or two, we were all sleeping.  Hallelujah!

Clothing.  Thank goodness for consignment sales and Carters brand!  I don't feel like I need to dress our baby in $50 smocked outfits everyday.  Don't get me wrong, I love a cute outfit every now and then, but let's be honest, she crawls on the floor, self feeds, and drools all day!  Not to mention, she's growing like a weed!  I'm lucky that we have some great consignment sales around town.

Baby food.  Make your own or store-bought.  Who cares, as long as you feed that baby!  Hadley has had both.  I loved my Babycook from WS, but somedays, I don't feel like peeling, dicing, steaming and pureeing!  I love Sprout and Gerber for store-bought options.

All moms make their own difficult decisions, just as I have.  In most cases, it’s just a guessing game. We survive and we move from one day to the next.  I'm so proud of all my mommy friends.  This is the most rewarding and difficult job in the whole world!

Trying new things!

So a friend recommended "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" (thanks SB!) and I've been reading it the past few days. I love the book so far. What's crazy is that most baby books I read before Hadley was born and shortly after all say you can't spoil a baby in the first 3 months and do whatever they need and so on and so forth. And I sure did! And then magically when the baby is 4 months it seems they need 'tough love' (at least that is what is seems like to me). So I'm working on getting Hadley to sleep (at naps and at bedtime) without having to be rocked into a deep sleep before I put her down. She definitely associates me holding her close with her falling asleep. We are working on putting her down drowsy but not asleep. The past few days have been hard letting her cry, but I know she needs to learn to soothe herself. When she starts Goddard School in April when I go back to work, I doubt they will rock her like her momma! We've also been trying to put her down a little earlier and not rushing to her at the first peep she makes in the night. Tonight when I put her down, she just cried for maybe 1 minute and then did manage to get her self to sleep without crying. HOORAY! Naps were not as successful today, but hey, I'll take what I can get right now!

We also tried a little rice cereal yesterday and today. Yesterday she had no idea what to do with a spoon in her mouth and what to do with the rice cereal. It really seemed as I would put one bite in and about 2 bites worth would come out of her mouth! So I thought I would try once more today and if she did the same thing I would try again in a couple weeks. Well tonight she did so much better! Opening her mouth for the spoon and swallowing it. She actually finished what I had prepared for her (1 tsp rice cereal and 4 tsp breastmilk). I'm going to try some baby food in a few days. I heard try green veggies first, but I'd love to hear what you other mommys have done with your babies. I am thinking I may make her baby food (seems easy enough and I'll know what she's getting). Doing a little research and trying to figure out what I need to buy in order to make it properly....I'm no chef!

Hanging out in my Jumparoo

Riley is starting to like his sister!

My little chunky monkey!

The monkey pictures were taken about 5 minutes prior to her pooping out of her diaper, into her pants, all over her shirt, etc. It required an emergency bath!

Thanks Barnes & Noble!

Barnes & Noble is offering a one year subscription to Parents magazine for only $1.00 after entering coupon code.


Here is the Coupon Code: K9B9J4H


This magazine has Amazon diaper coupons, Gymboree coupons and many more. When you check out, enter the coupon code and the price will reduced from $9.97 to $1.


Here is the link!

http://gifts.barnesandnoble.com/Magazine/Parents-One-Year-Subscription/e/2000003284825/?itm=1&USRI=parents+-+one+year+subscription