Welcome to the World...

Brayden made his debut this morning, congrats to Jenny and Brandon!
I know he will fill your life with joy and the occassional mess, but it is entirely worth it!
I look forward to taking on the role of "Aunty" and promise to do my best at such role.

We went up to see the new family and I forgot at how small the new babies are, he was all bundled up and just as precious as could be - when I held him, he opened up an eye and you could see his mop of dark hair poking out of his little hat. They change so quickly, especially those first few weeks. And of course, it brings back memories of my own little ones, which seems like yesterday, but also so long ago.

So I'm going to take a moment to list some advice (at least what I think)

• Take the help you are offered - those first few weeks are going to be a struggle as you adjust, so if someone offers to bring dinner or clean your house - take it...it doesn't matter if they clean like you - it takes one thing off of your mind. (this was one I struggled with and in the end, you'll be glad you did)
• Sleep when baby sleeps - again you'll want to do all the stuff that you can't do when the baby is awake, but as a new mommy, you need rest
• Baby Blues are normal - sometime during those first few weeks, you may have some episodes of crying for no reason or anixety, if it continues for a couple months then you may want to talk to someone
• One day you will forget what life was like prior - I don't know what it is, but one day you will realize that you just couldn't imagine life any differently
• If in doubt, ask - I don't know how many times I called the peditricians office to ask "is this normal" There were plenty of times I felt silly asking, but I felt a ton better afterwards.
• Relax and enjoy the moment - they are not babies forever and someday they won't want you to hold them, so cuddle, hold, and simply enjoy the fact that you are holding a miracle.

Okay, so now here are reasons why it's great to be a parent (again only what I think)

• Feeling a tiny fist wrap around your finger
• Gazing into your child's eye and knowing they completely and utterly trust you
• The smell of a new baby - nothing greater
• The first time you pick up your crying baby and they instantly stop because they know it's you
• Seeing new qualities in your partner that you never saw before
• Watching your child sleep
• The first smile that your baby makes
• The first giggle you hear and how contagious it is
• Seeing yourself in your child
• Discovering the child in yourself
• Discovering a forgotten favorite child's book or toy
• watching your baby's expression when you enter a room
• The first time you hold your child's hand when you cross the street
• The first time you hear you baby say Mommy or Daddy and "I Love You"
• Enjoying the chance at being silly again
• bubbles
• Re-discovering the world again through your child's eye
• Lots of hugs and kisses

Alright, so that is all I could think of for now, but there are no words to say how life changing having children was for me and I hope you find it as wonderful and beautiful as I have. And don't get me wrong, there are going to be sleepless nights, crying, fussing, but know that this will pass and it is all part of the watching this little tiny being blossom into greatness.

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."-- Eda J. Le Shan

Happy Father's Day

Happy Daddy's Day to fathers everywhere!

Today, I'm letting my man sleep in and then we will go to brunch and celebrate. It is so much fun to be a parent and I'm fortunate to have such a hubby who provides for us so I am able to stay at home with our children these first few years of their lives and most importantly who is such a wonderful daddy that the kids absolutely light up when they see him. I love you, babe - you are a great daddy!

And I couldn't continue on without mention of my father, a quiet man who has always been a rock for me. Growing up I hated how he was in the military, how often we moved, and how he would be gone for periods of time and missed my Girl Scout Father/Daughter Dance, but it really wasn't until he retired after 26 years in the service and we moved for the last time that I realized how much his military life impacted mine. And I wouldn't change any of it, I've been able to live in many places, see beautiful places, and experience lots of things that have helped shape my life today.

My dad would do anything for any of us kids, no questions asked (well perhaps some questions with a bit of advice thrown in), but we know we can turn to him, we know we can count on him just as I did when I had trouble in softball with my hitting - he took me outside and for hours he just threw ball after ball or most recently when hubby was in IL and the sewage water started coming into the basement and my dad rushed over and stayed till 3:30 a.m trying to move anything that was in the way. And no matter how old I get, he is my Super Dad!

So happy father's day to my dad! And happy father's dad to hubby!

"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty." -- Unknown

What A Mess....

Last Thursday around 11:30 pm, I woke up to hear a bubbling sound - the kids and I were sleeping in the basement since we were in tornado watch. I walk over to the sump pump and see it working hard and so I go into the bathroom and step in water.....and see this rush of water coming out of the shower drain. I immediately went into a panic since hubby was still over six hours away. I ended up calling my dad and he came over and called 911, we went outside and our neighbors were experiencing this same thing. After about 12 hours of sewage water coming into our basement, it stopped, but only after hubby called the DNR to report that the city of Windsor Heights was not willing to do anything to help.

So we spent Saturday tearing out carpet, collecting our damaged items and then finally disinfecting the basement. Yet, more was to come.....

Sunday about 11:00 am, I went downstairs to remove some more of what was "saved" and sure enough I hear the sound again and here comes sewage coming out of the shower and toilet. This time it was twice as fast and disgusting, we had about 13 inches of sewage floating in our basement, anything that was saved, was now ruined. Hubby asked if the city was going to bypass again, to which he was told no...so hubby had to call the DNR again and what do you know...here comes the city to begin pumping. The second incident lasted about 22 hours - once is hard enough, but twice - I was ready to melt, however, I knew that I wasn't the only one going through it and I didn't want my babies to know something was wrong. At one point, I did start to cry and my sweet pea came over and handed me her blankie. I just wrapped my arms around her!

So we are now cleaned up, but it is still a mess and we don't know if it will happen again....I suppose we will find out soon...