A Letter to Ro on his Third Birthday

Happy golden birthday to my first baby. Today, you are 3 years old, the best 3 years of my life. In so many ways, it seems like you were just born. Like you were just wearing onesies, watching Mickey Mouse in your jumper and eating rice cereal with a bib on your chest. But in many others, it seems like you’ve been two for a while now— perhaps that’s because of quarantine or maybe it’s because we’ve watched you grow up so much since you’ve become a big brother. Partly because you’ve had to but also just because you’re learning so much every day and your independence is blooming at a rapid rate. Two was a big year for you - once you started talking, you never stopped and your vocabulary is flourishing (though we could do without the god damn it’s!). You developed a love for the water through your swimming lessons. You have amazed us on a regular basis with your numbers, colors, shapes, dinosaur species, presidents names and more. We tried basketball class - You weren't a huge fan. We potty trained (big thanks to m&m's). And most of all, you became a big brother to sweet Lawson. You have adjusted to this change with more patience than I imagined and we love watching you get excited when he wakes up in the morning and kiss him goodnight. Thank you for sharing us with him.

You are truly your own person, I have learned. You have a wild and curious spirit that can never be tamed. Your laugh is infectious, the best sound my ears have ever heard. You are painfully stubborn, persistent and focused which makes makes for MANY challenging moments now but these are qualities I’m confident will serve you well later in life. You never run out of energy, doing everything full-speed until the moon is high in the sky and you have no other choice but to fall down and sleep. You really don’t like art activities. You really DO enjoy music. You love little figurines you can carry around, sleep with and take in your bath. You’re extremely nurturing - to your stuffed animals (your “friends”), your baby brother, even the squirrels and birdies we find on our walks. You want to pet them all, squealing “aww, they are so cute!” You have a beautiful face with a smile that makes us all weak, which always makes us cave for one more “fruit nack” or another “green M.” You’re still very passionate about Peppa pig: her show, your comfort...her camper van, your favorite toy and Peppa world, which we visited in Michigan almost a year ago to the day. You are still asking when we can go back...”Soon,” I say. A little white lie, as this measure of time, "soon," hasn’t applied to many of our favorite adventures for some time now.

But despite how much has changed in our lives since Covid began, we’ve had some of the best times at home together - I mean, how lucky are we to HAVE this Family time? We recently took a walk down our block together, your tiny hand in my left and your bug catcher in my right. You decided we should sit down right there, in the middle of the sidewalk with our magnifying glasses and look for ants. You gathered a few leaves we could use to scoop them up and we just waited. I knew brother and dad were waiting for us at home but I could not possibly rush this moment. It was so exquisitely simple - I watched your eyes dart back and forth as microscopic ants made paths on the pavement. You thought every curved stick was a worm, holding out hope. Our street was fairly quiet and you were so content to just be there with me and I felt the same. I am quite serious when I say it is THESE small and insignificant moments that I never want to forget. When you inevitably start shutting your bedroom door for privacy or the first time you take our car to pick up your friends, I want to remember how we looked for bugs together...I wish we always could.

As you turn another year older, I want to remember how you call out “mama! Mama!” a thousand times a day, saying you just want to see me or give me a “huggie.” How you want me to lay on your sheep beside your bed at night. How we end each day talking about our favorite parts and singing a song. How obsessed you are with the vacuum. How you talk about Santa all year long. How we have indoor picnics on the big blanket. How you ask dada and I “you wanna come?” anytime you go anywhere. How you want us to sit RIGHT next to you when you play. How you live for going to the lake house. How we took walks every night this Summer to see the "kitty and puppy" and the "owls eyes" (neighbors lawn decor) and how excited it makes you. 

How it sounds when your feet run across our kitchen floor. How you come downstairs in the morning in your paw patrol pjs and we lazily watch Peppa and make breakfast. How much you love life, not wanting to miss a single thing. How much you care for your family and friends - unconditionally. How excited you get when your grandparents come over. How badly you want to sit in everyone’s car and “drive” to the coffee shop. Our Peet’s dates by the fountain. How we say “I love you to the moon...and back.” Because I really do - I hope you know...you mean the world to me.

I want to hold on so bad - more than anything. I want to keep you home forever with me, snuggle in your chair at night and read every story on your shelf. I want to sit beside the bath tub and watch as you let your imagination run wild, splashing, singing and talking to your toys. I want to sit next to you on the swings, climb into the clubhouse and laugh as we take turns shimmying down the slide. I want to make smoothies and chocolate chip cookies with you standing next to me on your stool. Brush your teeth at night as we sing the Daniel Tiger song. Help you put on your strappy sandals. Comb your hair. Squeeze you just one second longer...

Here's to year 3 - I hope it's as wonderful as you are. 

Thank you for being you...there's nobody better. 

Love always, 

Mama

A New Baby in a New World

I remember sharing the news with my co-workers that we were expecting our second child. I taped up a picture of our announcement in the kitchen at the office and waited to see the reactions. That was earlier this year, maybe late January and from there on out, the girls and I would talk about it weekly: What we were having (another) boy, what names we liked (Lawson vs Liam), how I was feeling about expanding the Family, how my bump seemed so much bigger this time around...and then one day, it all just stopped. The conversation, the camaraderie, the work - The world. We were placed under a "stay at home" order, something that seemed so unimaginable, it couldn't be true. But there we were...We left the office one day in March, notebooks open to lengthy to-do lists and computers put to sleep until the next morning, or so we thought. It's now mid July and those same notebooks are still sitting open and the computers have long since been shut down. Change had only just begun...

The baby is no longer in my belly, but sleeping soundly next to me, while we both listen to the sounds of his noise machine. He, much like everything else this year, caused quite a stir with his arrival into the world due to an "emergency" c-section that nobody, me especially, could have predicted. In fact, this birth story is much like a metaphor for our entire Covid-19 experience. After experiencing a smooth induction that moved quickly and being told I was ready to push, everything changed in a matter of seconds - He was breeched and he was coming, whether we were ready or not, so a storm of doctors and nurses flooded the room and with tears streaming down my face, I was rushed to an operating room, leaving my husband behind and counting the minutes until I saw him come through the door to be by my side. I felt completely blindsided and beyond scared, as I had no time to mentally prepare for major surgery and immediately thought of my toddler waiting for me at home. Waiting for me to come home and put him in my lap for songs and a story before bedtime. I told the nurses through my tears how much I wanted to be able to do that when I got home, to give him every sense of normalcy I could, since so much of that had already been stripped away - no parks, no play places, no choo choo restaurant and to top it off, a brand new brother who would demand much of my time. But there was no turning back and it all moved so quickly.

I felt them poking and prodding me but never any pain. I squeezed my husbands hand and stared up at the bright lights, wondering if I was dreaming and just waiting for it to be done. I thought about my parents at home, who so desperately wanted to be sitting in the waiting room and I wondered how long it had been since they heard an update. I couldn't stop shaking, my teeth chattering uncontrollably and the nurse assured me that was the drugs, that this was normal. But really, none of this was normal. I waited to hear him cry, to hear that he was healthy and see his face, which we had been imagining for 9 months prior. I felt the weight of him as they placed him on my chest, my husband supporting him, as I could not physically manage that. He was beautiful and everything I imagined yet at the same time, nothing like I thought. Thank God he was here safely.

It felt odd not to have any hospital visitors. To have to put on a mask every time a nurse entered the room (which was often). To watch "Couples Retreat" with the volume almost too low to hear on the TV in our room. Neither of us even like the movie - We laughed because we were just too tired to find anything else. To order pizza via Door Dash and have it delivered to the hospital. To not be able to receive any gifts to our room of any kind (My Mom is still upset she couldn't send flowers). To see a gift shop, lights off and doors closed. To know how badly our Families wish they were there, kissing the new member and wishing us well. To not have the option for newborn photos, commemorating such a magical moment in our lives. I've said this so many times but what an odd time to have a baby.

I was extremely sore and still in a bit of shock that I had major surgery. A few days prior to my induction, the dr had felt my stomach and said the baby was in perfect position. How could he have flipped this late? Or had he? I couldn't move with any ease or do anything on my own which was disheartening. But the morning after delivery, I woke up when the sun was starting to rise which highlighted the tiny little profile of our new little man and I had deja vous from the first hospital morning after Ronan was born. It was quiet besides a few hospital beeps, my baby boy's chest was moving up and down ever so slightly and my heart expanded beyond what I ever thought was possible.

I admit, I felt frustrated that I was going to be left with a massive scar smack dab in the middle of my stomach. It is now 2+ months later and I have such different, unexpected feelings. I find myself hoping that no matter how much it lightens over time, I will always be able to see it. Babies don't keep and we try to capture their spirit, their innocence as much as possible through film and photographs but even those get lost or fade over time. I have a physical mark to remind me of the exact spot where my son entered the world...to remind me of everything we went through during this unprecedented time. But most of all, to remind me of how amazingly strong Mothers are, creating life and nurturing it for every minute after.

Though Lawson's birth story is a bit upsetting, his presence is anything but. He is an angel baby, a missing piece of our Family puzzle, who spends his moments awake with a massive smile on his face and sleeps peacefully, rarely causing a ruckus. He is something I am so sure of in a world where it's hard to make sense of anything.

It's hard to believe how quickly everything can change. Those co-workers I mentioned at the beginning, I haven't seen them in so long and they were such a big part of my life. The trade show and event industry we were thriving in just months ago has completely shut down, leaving us all wondering where we'll go from here. I miss so many things, some significant, some not. My job - The inside jokes - The Target dollar section - The library - The park(s) - Sharing sandwiches with Ronan at the coffee shop - The Farmers Market (as it was) - The Children's Museum - The aforementioned train restaurant - Restaurants in general - Going to the movies - Going anywhere, really - Being able to use public restrooms - Swimming pools - Ice cream shops - Not wiping down every grocery item - Being able to smile at a stranger when they walk by. You don't even realize how much you miss the little things until you no longer have them.

But as important as it is to talk about how hard all of this is, I must also acknowledge that parts of it have been a blessing. We are healthy, number one. Family time together we would have never gotten otherwise. Completed house projects. Utilizing what we have. Realizing we were moving way too fast and seeing the benefits of slowing down. As much as I love to be on the go, I have relished in living life at a slower pace. Not looking at the clock as much which means we all go to sleep at 10pm and wakeup late, a Summer schedule at its best. Daily morning (and evening) walks to spot pinecones, fireflies, cicadas and our neighbors lawn decor (the kitty's eyes light up!). Barefoot in the grass chats with our neighbors, sitting on the porch playing eye spy and eating breakfast on the deck. These are things we might not have thought of pre-quarantine but I have loved watching Ronan experience a more simplified Summer and honestly, I think he's had the time of his life. I know he has loved having both of us around all the time and we've gone above and beyond to make sure he doesn't notice any of the missing things from our normal routine. A children's roller coaster now sits in our basement, a dinosaur pool in the backyard and popsicles are had at 9am, all of which we have justified by the quarantine and big smiles like this one.

Our Families have been amazing support systems and we are lucky to have each other. We've kept them close for our mental health and sanity and roughed this storm together. We've done our best to stay safe and optimistic, despite wading through a never-ending sea of unknown and we will continue to put on brave faces for our two littlest faces, who I hope only learn anything about Covid-19 from an article they may read many years from now, while sitting at a restaurant, sharing a meal with their friends and making plans to head to the movies.

- - - 

"Sometimes life throws us a curveball, for no reason that we can fathom. But we do not despair - We are not alone. We can persevere. This, too, shall pass, like the heat of Summer."

Making "Mom Friends"

If you're lucky like me, you have one of those friend circles that's been together since the early days (and very late nights) of pool parties and poker nights. Beer pong and bar hopping. The same group of people who will be gathering in someone's Family room 20 years from now, with wine and the same but not tired inside jokes. These people are loyal and a second Family in many ways. We've endured break-ups, witnessed get-togethers, danced at each other's weddings, become homeowners and begun parenthood together. Our roots began many years ago and seemingly, everyone has these relationships that they've been building since they were little. This can make it hard to forge new friendships as an adult and find a way to fit other people into your life.

...Until you become a Mom, I think. 

Then all of a sudden, you have this little human by your side who is a magnet for conversation starters. How old is he? He's so cute! What's his name? Is he talking yet? Before I had a baby, there would have been no catalyst to facilitate such an in-depth convo with a stranger in the TJ's line. But now that I'm always out in the world as a duo, it happens constantly and it's a strange concept, really. Sparking discussion with a stranger, trading "me too" and "I know the feeling"(s), feeling suddenly connected and hoping you have more in common than your children. It feels similar to the beginning of a blind date and so far, I've been been really lucky with "swiping left," to put it in modern dating context.

Together, Ronan and I visit a lot of play spaces - Every single one in Dupage County to be specific ;), including our local library on a weekly basis. Because we are there so often, I have begun to recognize many of the familiar Mom faces who are also on a mission to simply get out of the house. Last September, I was chasing him around the children's area and noticed (an admittedly trendy looking Mom with cute style I was eyeing) doing the same with her toddler. I asked how old her son was and minutes later, we were deep into a conversation about how our beloved dogs have now become pests and nap schedules. We went to breakfast a few days later which felt totally normal, as if we had known each other for years. Without a second thought, we launched into a conversation about our lives: Our backgrounds, kids, aspirations, Mom wins/losses, working from home challenges, etc. I found it so easy to connect with her and found myself texting her almost every day after. It's now 7 months later and she has become one of those girlfriends I feel I can trust with anything. She moved here last year not knowing anyone and sometimes, it feels like we were supposed to meet that day.

As another recent example, I met a Mom through Ronan's music class. If we're being honest, he isn't always the most compliant child, especially in a structured group setting because he's very much an explorer who has no interest in sitting or following the leader. This was very obvious to the rest of the class, as I spent most every week chasing him and pulling him back to my lap, with one specific class being harder than the others in terms of testing my patience. That day, this Mom reached out and said something that made all the difference: "Trust me, you're not alone." Sometimes, that's all we need to hear, isn't it? The next class, I mentioned grabbing lunch sometime, we exchanged numbers and met up for a playdate a week later.

These kind of interactions do take a little bit of "going out on a limb" to reach out and extend an invitation. Who knows if the other person is going to think it's strange or be a total mismatch when you actually get to know their personality? But I think more often than not, we are open to solidarity in Motherhood and womanhood in general. We welcome connections with others who make us feel good and those we can call on when we need something. Those who can empathize, making us feel less alone in all of life's challenges.

Ronan has definitely allowed me to become more extroverted and candid with new people and if you're willing to expand your social circle, I think children offer so many opportunities to meet a lot of amazing women who may end up being in our lives forever in one way or another. He has also allowed me to become closer with many of my longtime girlfriends, by making me more vulnerable and strengthening our bonds. Outside of my husband and immediate Family, it is my girlfriends who have been the biggest support system during these first few years of Motherhood. I have relied on them for so much, whether it was their shoulders to cry on, breast feeding how-to sessions, text threads with free advice that's worth so much, a million playdates at each others houses and a few moments we have spent childless together, relishing in our (cocktail-fueled) temporary freedom that was previously under appreciated.

But even if you're not a Mother, the moral of the story is the same: Girlfriends simply make our lives better. Instead of being close-minded about opening up your circle, try finding a little extra room. Compliment another woman's shoes in line at Starbucks. Tell her you also read that book and how it became a fast favorite. Schedule a yoga meet-up. Say hello. Smile. You never know who you will meet and how a little extra kindness and shared connections can make the difference.

- - -

How do you make friends as an adult? 

If you ARE a Mama, do you find children have made it easier?

Easy Weeknight Dinners with Meez Meals

So many things have changed since we became parents - Almost all of them for the better but let's be honest, your normal routine kind of falls by the wayside once a baby arrives and this includes any semblance of healthy eating. Before becoming a Mom, I considered myself a pretty healthy eater - I regularly ate salads, quinoa, breakfast smoothies, protein, heart-healthy fats, you name it. I have a  sweet tooth but I exercised regularly and did a decent job of staying on track.

But, NOW - Now, everything has changed. It's the typical Mom situation, where I basically finish my son's leftovers at home (typically chicken tender bites or mac and cheese - so cliche, right?!) and end up snacking on anything that's quick because if I'm lacking in anything, it's time. Unfortunately, dinners usually aren't that much better. By the time my husband and/or I get home, it's a rush to make dinner for all of us, play with Ronan and get his bedtime routine done on time. I've come to enjoy cooking from scratch but it takes time to find the recipe we want to make, make a trip to the store and then stand in the kitchen chopping veggies - this is NOT reality, guys...especially with a 16 month old running around and full time job. 

So, we keep the fridge and freezer stocked with things that are easy to make: Pasta with sausage, burgers, chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, etc. These things aren't necessarily "unhealthy" but our dinners certainly aren't as nice as it used to be when we had the time to spend cooking an extensive, homemade meal and furthermore, actually sit down to enjoy it. 

This is precisely why I was SUPER excited to partner up with Meez Meals!

Do you guys know about them? I know there are so many different meal services, it can be hard to keep track but this one is nice because it's a little smaller than the others (they deliver to 9 different states), has awesome weekly menus and really DOES make it that quick and easy to cook. It is definitely my favorite service BY FAR because Meez Meals delivers everything you need to make delicious dinners from scratch which means the onions are diced, the spices are measured and all you have to do is put it all together, which is the fun part.

Here's a few reasons why I love it so far:

• Personal delivery: A messenger brings an eco-friendly cooler to your door at the time you choose
• There's NO subscriptions! You just get the meals you choose, whenever you want them!
• You can set your ingredient preferences: Gluten-free, vegan, allergies - They will cater to it all.
• No Surprises: You can check out the cooking instructions and nutritional information before you order, so you get meals just right for your family. They even include tips to lighten up recipes and rate the meals from easy to more complicated.
• Low cost per serving: The larger the meals, the lower the cost per serving. It's value that’s family-and-entertaining-friendly.

So far, we have tried two meals and LOVED them both! Both of them were full of flavor and each unique which was nice because we got to experience tastes and combinations we wouldn't have otherwise. To give you an idea of what the recipe and instructions are like, here's what came with both of our meals:

Sweet Potato, Kale & Rice Bowl with Peanut Sauce

This was probably my favorite out of the two because I love all types of "bowls." Any rice/noodle/veggie/meat/sauce combo is great in my book and the ingredients in this one are perfect for cozy Winter nights, plus it's jam packed of healthy ingredients. I could've eaten the peanut butter sauce with a spoon and this was my first time trying tofu. I don't think it had much of a taste but it added nice texture to the bowl. Plus, I enjoy sweet potato everything (hello waffle fries!) And P.S. It even got my picky toddler to try a vegetable - I'll take it! 

Pecan Maple Salmon

This meal was EQUALLY delicious! If you asked my husband, he would confirm how many times I brought up the maple flavor and pecan topping while we were eating. I've never eaten salmon with such a rich flavor and now I feel like I never want to have it any other way, Plus, it had been a while since we roasted brussel sprouts, and MAN, I forgot how good they are. It was SO nice that the brussels were already cut up and ready to be seasoned/cooked. This meal took LESS than 20 minutes to get on the table and we felt really good when we were done - Nothing processed, just simple, healthy and homemade. 

We have two more months of meals coming up and I'm already getting antsy to try them! I always look at the weekly menu and I want to try EVERYTHING! Oh, and I've saved the best part for last...

50% off YOUR first order: Use code Kait50p at checkout. 

I hope you will try it and love it as much as I do. I think the best part is you don't feel any pressure if you want to try it - You don't have to remember to cancel the next week and you won't get any annoying emails about your subscription. You can just order as often (or not) as you want to. 

I will continue to share our meals on Instagram so make sure to follow me there! If you try it, let me know what you think!

How I (Try to) Balance Work and Motherhood

"I would say the hardest part about being a mother who works from home is that you are expected and feel the pressure to fulfill two roles to the fullest: a full-time employee and a mother (thinking of a SAHM). Finding the balance is hard and just because you have the option to do both things from the same place doesn’t magically help you create more hours in the day." - Source

I remember going to classes in college that were a part of my "Gender & Women's Studies" minor, discussing and writing about feminism and thinking ahead to when I would eventually become a Mom. I always knew I would battle an internal struggle, feeling torn between having my job (or at least some sort of work I was passionate about), and being fully dedicated to raising children at home because that's what my Mom did and I loved every second of her being with me.

The thing is, I've always wanted to "have it all" in many different respects: See the world but be a homebody. Practice a healthy lifestyle but indulge in ice cream. Have close access to a downtown area yet live a small town lifestyle. Live near my Family but move to the mountains one day. For me, it just seems like there's a constant push and pull to try everything and BE everything. Now that I have been a Mom for a year and then some, I still struggle with these things but over time I think we've found a healthy balance of it "all."

A Little Bit of Background...

I've never shared much about my job much on the blog (Sisters Marie OR here) because I've always felt they were separate entities but I have worked there for 9 years now so it really is a significant part of my life and a big reason I'm allowed to lead both of the "lives" I want. I am the Director of Marketing at Katherine Frank Creative, a Family-owned boutique design agency who specializes in custom trade show displays, temporary and permanent installs and signage/graphics. We are a team of just under 20 so it's a small (but mighty) force and over the years, my co-workers have become a second Family to me. It sounds strange to say but the owners moonlight as a third set of parents in a way and they are two of the people I most admire. I have also made some lifelong best friends, one in particular who is my "call at 3am with anything" person and I know will grow old alongside me, while we quote OC episodes well into our 70's 😂

2 of my longtime co-workers and our babies, all born within a year of each other

When I started here as an intern, I never expected to be here almost 10 years later but I'm of the mindset that a lot of things happen for a reason. The company is very supportive of a work-life balance and generously agreed to letting me work from home a few days a week after Ro was born. As my maternity leave came to an end, I was having a very hard time with the thought of leaving him and missing all of the milestone moments as he grew up so I am very thankful they trusted and respected me enough to create a new schedule that would benefit us both.

Our Weekly Routine

I work two full days in the office and three part-time days at home. While there are days where it would definitely be easier to be one place over the other, this is working for us right now in this stage of our lives. My parents take care of Ro when I'm in the office and we are endlessly appreciative of everything they do for us. He feels so comfortable at their house and I feel equally safe knowing he is in the best hands. Daycare was never a consideration for us - It's a personal decision and it was mostly based on the fact that I wanted Ro to be taken care of by someone close to us. He is making memories with his Grandparents, which is a blessing and a privilege.

My 3 work from home days are a luxury but certainly are not easy. Even though I'm working half-days, there are a lot of moments where deadlines come into play so I am juggling graphic design files and keeping Ronan from climbing on our toilet at the same time. When he was a newborn, it was much easier to schedule conference calls and work on our loft computer because he wasn't mobile and slept - a lot. Now, these things require some extra prep, whether it's loading up a few Daniel Tiger's from our DVR (this is survival, my friends), or crossing fingers that he's either napping or eating lunch in his high chair at this time, which is basically the only 2 ways he is contained and quiet. 

It can be very stressful - some days, I just count the minutes he goes to bed and I can turn my brain off for a little while. He is extremely inquisitive and busy, more-so than I expected him to be at this age so a lot of my energy goes towards trying to keep him out of trouble (aka from opening the gate to the basement, pulling things down from the counter, trying to climb in the oven --> Yes, SERIOUSLY!) all while answering emails, finishing up marketing blast designs and trying to find a moment to eat/breathe.

On the OTHER hand, I am very grateful of the part-time schedule at home because it still allows us to have some special time together which we make the most of. This Summer, we were at the park almost every day and on extra warm days, we enjoyed the water table on our deck or hit up a local splash pad. Now that it's getting cooler, we spend a lot of time at the library (checking out/returning books) and playing in their kids area, as well as enjoying morning music class with Tiny Toes and becoming official members of the Dupage Children's Museum which by the way, is going to be super helpful on freezing Winter days when going outside isn't an option and we're feeling cooped up in the house.

Now that you know a bit more about our weekly schedule, I wanted to share a few tips that I find helpful when it comes to balancing working from home and watching a baby/toddler:

Wake Up Earlier

I know, I know, we're already beyond tired so the thought of getting up early can seem repulsive but sometimes, it makes all the difference. If I wake up an hour or two before Ro gets up, I'm amazed at how much work I can get done in so little time without interruptions. Sometimes, I will have sent an entire morning's worth of emails before my co-workers even get in the office and it makes me feel ahead of the game. Not to mention, some quiet time to yourself in the morning isn't bad at all, especially because you can sip your coffee and eat something in peace! 

Make the MOST of Nap Time

Naps are a work from home Mom's dream! Ro is still napping twice a day (usually) and both of them happen on a pretty regular schedule so I know exactly when they will happen and can plan out the most important things on my to-do list around these moments of quiet. Whether you have a kid who sleeps for 40 minutes (like mine sometimes does!) or 3 hours, learn how to utilize every minute of this time to finish assignments that require your complete focus and concentration. Most days, I don't even shower until 8:30 or 9pm, when I've gotten my work done and my son is asleep and I have time to breathe. It's not ideal (after all, pillow air dried hair isn't always pretty) but it just comes down to a matter of prioritizing. 

Expect Chaos

It's just inevitable that you will run into unexpected interruptions or sh*t show moments while trying to work and take care of a tiny human being at the same time. For example, there have been a few conference calls scheduled when Ro has a sudden diaper blowout or decides now is the perfect time to learn to crawl on top of our toilet and try to touch the light switches. These moments my friends are what the mute button is for! I try to spare my co-workers and/or clients as much background noise as possible so by muting until it's my turn to speak. This way, I can be actively listening and keep it professional at the same time. I just try to be prepared for anything to happen and have solutions for said situations that can be useful in a pinch.

Keep the Kid(s) Entertained 

Easier said than done, right? I know. Ro is only 14 months old so he isn't quite ready to entertain himself just yet but I have found that if I dedicate a little time to getting him started with something, he may continue playing after I walk away, even if it's for 10 or 15 minutes. I consider those blocks of time to be good progress in his independent play and sometimes, it's just the amount of time I need to answer emails. In addition to his bin of toys in our Family room (which is where I'm often stationed with my laptop), we keep a box of books readily available, which I rotate regularly, a few Montessori activities (shape sorters, stackers) and as much as it pains my pre-parent self, we have a lot of his favorite shows DVR'd because he really enjoys them and they can often buy us an extra few minutes. 

Even though most days I'm exhausted and falling asleep with a book on my face in bed, I consider myself one of the lucky ones. My son is only going to be little for so long and I love that we get to spend this time together. It's also nice to have something that is my own, a job where the work is interesting, the people are great and the balance is respected. 

Mom's: What is your Family/Work balance like? 

Whether you are a full-time SAHM, career woman or both, how do you manage each role? 

I'd love to hear from you guys!

6 Products from Our Baby Registry We Still Use Every Day

It's kind of amazing how much stuff such a small human requires. When Ro was a newborn, we had 3 different contraptions for him to sleep in (travel bassinet, pack n play, rock n play - oh, and don't forget his crib) because we didn't have any idea what we were doing and we wanted to be prepared. Now that we're 12+ months in, we feel a little more knowledgable when it comes to buying for baby and what has long lasting quality/purpose and there are a few items I consider to be CRUCIAL because we have used them almost on a daily basis since he was born. 

Here are 6 of my favorite baby products with everlasting life:

Hushh Noise Machine

I am not exaggerating when I say this tiny noise machine our number one favorite item from our registry that still gets as much use today, as it did 12 months ago. I remember the day we got it – Ro had been in the world just a few days and my aunt came over to meet him slash give us a welcome home gift. We unwrapped the noise machine and thanked her, not knowing it would become as important in our daily routine as our hair brush or house keys. That afternoon, we put Ro on his Boppy Lounger for a nap (another early favorite of ours) and  urned the white noise on. He slept so soundly and we loved that it blocked out the rest of the sound in the house, some of which we can’t always control (aka Fitz barking at the neighbor’s dog). Since that day over a year ago, Ro has not taken a single nap or nighttime sleep without this glorious machine which actually has 3 different sounds but we routinely use the standard white noise function. 

Fun fact: I think we actually own 3 of them at this point because we broke a few in the early days of stumbling around in the middle of the night and then decided we always wanted to have a backup in the house - This is serious stuff, guys. We rarely leave the house without it and have a charger in our car so we can use it for Ro’s naps on the way to Wisconsin. Now...You can say what you want about creating bad sleep habits and you may be right – Maybe he will always have to sleep with some sort of noise (like his Mother – I bring a travel fan on trips with me!), but I consider that to be small potatoes in the world of getting your kid to sleep well through the night. Earlier this week we had crazy storms including hail that pelted our windows and guess who slept through it? RO. Thank you, Hushh 😉

Graco FastAction Fold Jogger

I knew I wanted a jogging stroller before I had a baby – Before I got pregnant, actually or was even in the realm of being Mom ready. When I would be out running in my early 20’s, I always saw young Mom’s running behind a stroller with 3 wheels, pushing their baby, voluminous ponytail bouncing along and I thought they made it look so easy. Maybe it WAS possible to have a baby and still keep my workout routine in tact. Turns out, it IS possible, though I’d like to go back in time to girl(s) with said ponytail and tell them I’m sorry for thinking anything about Motherhood was easy 😉 But this stroller DOES help I researched a lot of them before adding this to my registry and ultimately decided on this one because of its consistent rave reviews and because I knew and trusted the Graco brand. 

There are a LOT of fancy strollers these days, some of them closely resembling the bat mobile and some of them being more fashion than function for the leggings-north face-Starbucks tribe (not that I’m too far from that level of basic), but this one has proven to be a perfect choice for us. It is SO smooth, both in terms of pushing for me and the ride for Ro, whether we’re walking or running. There’s a ton of storage space underneath, plenty of cup holders/space for my phone and even though it’s large, it folds up with one pull of a handle so we can store it in a tiny space in our garage. Before we had Ro, I was so worried about where everything would go, especially the strollers because we own 2 but it becomes super compact which makes our lives much easier. 

Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother

I am NOT lying when I say this crib soother was KEY in Ro learning how to self-soothe. During the infant months, there were many phases where he would wake up crying and we would run in there to rock him back to sleep. Out of desperation, we had tried so many different sleep aids including several different types and brands of sleep blankets and swaddles, hoping one of them would provide the answer (btw, the Magic Merlin was the only one that actually worked and provided a great transition from the Rock N Play to the crib).

But then, around 4-5 months, we installed this adorable fish tank in his crib and it instantly became one of his favorite things. We would lay him in there during the day just for short breaks and he would watch it with a smile on his face, kicking his legs and making giggling sounds. Now, if he wakes up during the night, he will stand up and turn on the tank, watches the floating sea creatures (we have it set on low with music and movement) and a few minutes later, he usually lays back down and goes to sleep. This is AMAZING and such a change of pace from waking up and screaming because he's afraid or unable to get back to sleep on his own. He also turns it on EVERY single morning when he first wakes up. We will hear him through the monitor hit the on button and that's how we know he's up and he will stay content in there just watching the fish for at least a half hour which gives us a little time to get up and moving. We LOVE this product and recommend it to all parents when they're ready to put baby in the crib!

Moonlight & Melodies Elephant

This item was on our registry but we actually didn't start using it until about 6 months ago. A) I kind of forgot we had it and B) I didn't think we needed to add another thing to Ro's sleep routine but my Mom showed me a soothing hippo she used for his naps that played music and a projection on the ceiling and he seemed to like it which made me remember our SkipHop Elephant. Since that day I brought it out, it has been a staple and one of his favorite things in his room. I actually only turn this on before his nighttime sleep (not at nap time) because I like how calming it is and I think it's the perfect thing to signal to him that sleep is near. I give him a bath (every single night - I know, slightly crazy), read him a few of his favorite books, give him his bottle, turn off the lights and turn on the elephant. 

It has a star projection for his ceiling and lots of different songs/calming noises to choose from but we usually use the rainforest sounds for bedtime. It has 3 different time settings which is awesome so I just set it to 15 minutes and it typically turns off by the time he's sleeping. It has also saved us on his hardest nights, like the ones where has threw up all over his crib, followed by 2 hours of inconsolable crying. In order to get him to finally calm down and go back to sleep, I would turn on the elephant softly, rock him in my arms and then put him back in his crib, letting the elephant continue to play while he dozes off. It's calming, comforting and all of the things a baby should experience when they're falling asleep. 

Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib

Our crib was one of the only things I didn't waiver on when it came time to register because I loved it's mid-century modern style and clean aesthetic from the moment I saw it. It's made with eco-friendly, non-toxic materials (which is comforting since Ro went through a heavy rail chewing phase!) and when we're ready, it will easily transition into a toddler bed and daybed so it can grow along with him for years. It comes in grey, white and a few two-tone options so there are a lot of choices depending on the style of your nursery. It was very easy to lower the mattress once Ro was mobile and we feel good knowing how comfortable and safe he is in there every night.

Dr. Browns Bottles

Though we are working on transitioning off of bottles soon, these were our go-to brand by far and we tried a lot of different kinds in the beginning. I breastfed Ro for 10+ months and early on, I was very concerned about finding a bottle that wouldn't deter him from that because I wanted to continue for as long as I could. I knew my Mom was going to be watching him a few days when I went back to work, so I didn't have a choice when it came to introducing a bottle and luckily, these worked out perfectly, allowing him to seamlessly switch from breast to bottle with no issues. 

The Natural Flow bottles use a patented 2-piece internal vent system which creates positive-pressure flow for vacuum-free feeding that is similar to breastfeeding. The breast milk or formula flows freely without nipple collapse and as the baby feeds, air is channeled from the nipple collar through the vent system to the back of the bottle. Air never mixes with the breast milk or formula so oxidation is prevented, thereby maintaining essential vitamins such as C, A and E. The vent system eliminates air bubbles in the formula or milk, which helps to reduce feeding problems like colic, spit-up, burping and gas. Dr. Brown's bottles are completely BPA, PVC, lead and phthalate free for baby's safety. 

SHOP OUR FAVORITE BABY PRODUCTS:

Mama's, what registry/newborn items are you still using a year later? 

 Let me know your favorites!