Mommy and Daddy Time

Before we had our little bundle of joy, my husband and I had what I considered to be a marriage to be envied.  I listened to my girlfriends and co-workers complain how their other halves never lifted a finger except to mow the lawn (if they were lucky!). 
Mine?  Dishes, changed the cat litter, took out the garbage, swiftered the golden retriever's never ending shedding hair, brushed the never ending shedding golden retriever, and even cooked dinner.  Mind you, we both worked full time (sometimes up to 50 to 65 hours each a week) and all of this still happened.
Then, the baby came.  Being a mommy means that you can't do it all, no matter how hard you try.  And it also means your partner is even a bigger part of the everyday journey that takes so many turns you may not know which way is up.
So, how did we do?  Check back to find out!

Mommy Rules...First Installment

As a new mom, I think I've experienced the ups and downs with a touch of humour, the realization that I can't so it all, and the happiness that comes when you figure that one little thing out each and every day.
Like, how can I possibly shower when I'm running around like a crazy person after a nine month old?  How do I feed myself when all I do is feed the baby?  And how the heck can I keep up with this whole bloggarooni thing when I can't eat or shower?!?!?!
Then I found the answer...nap time. 
And the blog?  I plan on sharing my new little discoveries that make my life easier...my hope?  Not that I'm re-inventing the wheel, but that I can shed a little light on the craziness that any new mom faces.  If one person finds one thing (even if it's me!!) that helps make life more about the giggles, then so be it.  Mission accomplished!

Rediscovery...Tickle Time!

I hate being tickled.  Serious face.  It really pisses me off.  This all comes from all the time I was tortured as a child (and beyond!) by my mom.  She relished tickling me, and I never really understood why.  Did she like turning me into an evil snarling (yet giggling) demon child?  Was it torture?  Or was she just sadistic and wanted me to feel the pain of all the dishes and clean up she had done after me for my whole life?
Nope.
Turns out if it's anything like how I feel as a mom that she just loved to see me smile and giggle.  Uncontrollably. 
I now know this because there is nothing I love more, or that will make my heart swell and produce a big ol goofy grin on my face than tickle time with my little man.  From the moment I got that first giggle (which may or may not been from gas!!) to the uncontrollable adorable giggle fits, I was hooked.  My day, no matter how annoying (laundry, dishes, business, or economic freak outs!), suddenly changes into blissful happiness.
Not only can I not resist his beautiful laughter, it makes me love my mom even more....

Rediscovering

When I first found out I was expecting, we kept it to ourselves.  We waited until that end of the first trimester to spread the word about out upcoming life changing event.
My favorite person to tell, though (other than daddy, of course!) was my Uncle...who lives overseas.  We communicate by email and had reconnected just a few years ago.  The best thing he told me, as he had his first child only a few years ago, is that having his son helped him rediscover the joy and love of his own mother (my Nana!) and appreciate things differently about her.
So, that will now be one of the features you can check out...rediscovery.  The joy and love that we sometimes forget when the arguments and sad memories overwhelm us and cloud all the good.  Especially when that person is no longer here to help us remember...

Smile! Or, Not?

So much to do, so little time.  Which is why I take so many pictures of baby boy.  Everyone will tell you they grow so fast, and they are right!!!
The big question then, invest in a new fancy digital SLR (which I selfishly want to maybe replace my Nikon SLR that I still adore - real film will always have my heart), or suck it and get a new cell phone.  Because, let's face it, two years is forever in technology years.
And, it's here. (With a bigger memory than the old one, that has almost two hundred pictures and twenty videos capturing my cutie pie's growth from a little peanut to my lil dude who waddles with that adorable baby walk!!)
The issue?  I have digital camera.  It's the boy, you see.  Suddenly he has adopted this cheesy I have three bottom teeth huge grin and squinty eye picture face, obviously from the flash.
My problem?  I'm still slow getting used to the features on my new phone so every picture is, well, interesting but not adorable.
Sigh...
Practice is perfect, I suppose.  And there's always that camera on my wish list.