Hey! New Mom...

Seasoned moms: remember when you had your baby?  Your first baby.  The one that was supposed to eat, sleep, and poop.  Oh, and cry only when really necessary and only for a moment until you swooped in and figured out his or her needs with ease. The one that you went to birthing classes for and read a few (too many) books for.

The fantasy of having a newborn is often completely different then the reality.  

I mean, here's what we think we look like:

[accidentally good, blurry, sideshot post birth]

But in reality, here's what we're thinking and feeling (and looking like if we're being totally honest):

[swollen, exhausted, flustered, trying desperately to smile through the fear + pain]

In our dreams, giving birth will be awesome and our baby will be easy-going, easy to figure out, and fit neatly into the package we call our lives.  In reality, very few have that “dream” come to life.  I was reminded of that recently when I got an email from a friend who has a brand-new baby.  Every word she wrote reminded me of myself when I had my first son.  Reading between the lines, I figured that her email was saying what most new moms feel but don’t want to say:

HELP! I’M GOING CRAZY HERE.  I’M TIRED, I’M HUNGRY, I’M SORE, I’M CONFUSED.  I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?

Remember that feeling?  I sure do!  Crystal clear to me.  

So while, when asked, I’m more then willing to give my advice (which really is only my experiences through trial and error), more often than not I find that a new mom only needs to hear a few things.

You are doing a great job!

New moms, it’s hard out there! 

Everyone has advice that is “sure to work”! Everyone wants to tell you how to take care of that 8 pound wailer in your arms.  Everyone wants to “help”.  And it’s hard not to take all of this to heart.  Because you are genuinely tired, and sore, and frustrated and confused.  You can’t really be prepared for the changes that will occur in your life when you have a baby.  You can’t possibly know how to deal with a child that you have no experience with. And with each piece of helpful advice or correction you feel a little less capable, a little less confident, a lot less sure of what you got yourself into.  

But the reality is, new mom, you are doing an amazing job.  

The fact that you are concerned about your baby shows that you are an amazing mom.  The fact that you cry when your baby cries shows how much you love that little thing.  The fact that you desperately search for ways to pacify your child highlights how great you are at motherhood. 

So somewhere, when you’re giving advice to a new mom, may I implore you to tell her:

You are doing a great job!

And really mean those words.  Because nothing will lift a new mom’s spirits more and ease a stressed-out, worried mind then having another mom tell you that you’re good at this whole mom thing. 

And new mom- I've been there. I know what it feels like. You're going to make it through the sleepless nights and the tough days. You're going to thrive, just like you baby is thriving right now.

And you know what else? 

I think you're doing awesome!

New Mom-On-The-Go Survival Kit!

Hey, you're a new mom! Congrats- it's life changing in every good and bad way imaginable.

Getting out the door will now take you at least 15 minutes longer than it ever used to (add another 15 minutes onto that if you live in a wintery climate like I do)

1. The Diaper Bag- Make sure it’s big enough to fit everything you might need (including your purse!), sturdy, wipeable/washable and not too expensive! (you’ll likely end up going through a few!)

Get a good diaper bag, big enough to fit your purse AND all the baby essentials you will be hauling:)

2. The Baby Changing Kit- Gotta change a bum on the go? Be prepared!

• Stock your "baby bag" with a few onesies because you are guaranteed to have at least one diaper explosion/unplanned spit up during your travels.
•  Keep a travel sized package of wet wipes and diaper wipes in your bag (the wet wipes are for messy hands, cleaning spit-up out of your hair, etc.; the diaper wipes are self-explanitory…I hope!)- even if you cloth diaper, a few disposable diapers are handy! 
• A small, travel sized bottle of hand sanitizer stuck into the side pocket of your diaper bag for all those times you end up changing a diaper in the backseat of your car and have no where to wash your hands!
• Vaseline for those cute baby bums:) 

3. Burp Cloths- I never knew the importance of these until I had my first son, who spit up EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME. Keep a few fresh, clean burp cloths on hand at all times.

4.  The “Keep Baby Busy” Kit- Once your baby starts moving and noticing things around them, sneaking in a coffee or chatting with a friend will become much more difficult. Include a few different items that your child likes such as:  

• colourful, stroller-safe toys
• mum-mums or Cherrios to munch on
•  sensory books
• shatter proof mirror
• anything that jingles and is bright, colourful and fun:)

5. Mommy Kit- Listen up, you are important too! Make sure you have some essentials in that bag, including:

• pack a few healthy on-the-go snacks that can STAY in your bag (no refrigeration required) such as: protein bars (my favourite is the LaraBar- all natural, non-GMO, vegan friendly), granola bars or an apple. 
• include some travel sized deoderant, mouthwash, gum, and hair ties- anything to help you freshen up (just in case you forgot to, ahem, shower that morning!)
• lip gloss/chapstick/anything else you can apply in a pinch!
• don't forget to throw in a magazine or something to keep you busy while you're waiting for your baby to wake up from that inevitable car nap!

Everything you need: all packed into zipper bags so they are ready to go at a moment's notice!

6. Zipper Bags/Plastic Bags- For all those times you end up changing a diaper on the park bench or mopping up spilled milk with your burp cloths, keep a few sealable bag or old plastic bags (from the grocery store) on hand. They make the perfect protective carrying case for any item you may need to wash/dispose of once you get home!

7. Coffee Card! –Self-explanatory, no? Just make sure you keep it loaded up:)

Back At Work

I'm back. Back at work. Full time, long commutes, a rush to make dinner, bathe, bed, make lunches, pack essentials, finish marking, sleep, start all over again.

Truth? I'm not even sure what I signed up for at this point. I feel right now like I can handle it. It won't be too much because I'm organized and prepared (ahem, I write this as I have 5 boxes full of product sitting beside me, unopened bags of school supplies, an entire catalogue of ABC books dumped onto the floor and animal shaped magnets strewn throughout my bedroom. so, ya, organized...). I think I've done everything I can humanly do to be ready- it's just a matter of it all working out the way I hoped it will.

Going back to work was such a hard decision. But, in the end, it's the right one because I know it will give Z the kind of lifestyle we want him to have. If I was to leave teaching now, I would most likely never work as a teacher again. That's how crazy the job market is and I'm still not done paying students loans, so...
However, nagging in the back of my brain, is the ever present "did I make the right decision, what if?"

Case in point- Z goes to daycare. I think he likes it but he misses me (who wouldn't?). First week was great until Friday (today). He's sick. Bad cold. Luckily I didn't have to be at work today, so it's no biggie in the long run but GAH! C'mon! Sick the first week of daycare??? Could you make me feel more guilty kid?

So Sleeping is for Losers (which it totally was last night!!) is going to become a bit of a journey following me as I return to work and start a new family dynamic. I hope it works- I keeps saying that I'm not against staying home if I find Z can't handle daycare, but am I really?

You'll probably meet some new people on my blog- I'm sure I'll talk about our daycare provider (K), my mentor at school (J), hubs, my students and, of course, me! Bare with me as I figure out what/how to share- tell me what you're thinking, because, just like when Z was born, I'm going to need your help!!

Face-Licking and One Nap

Today, Z wrestled me to the ground.  Fun times.  Ok, I "let" him wrestle me, but he feels like he did it.  Then, he grabbed my cheeks with his chubby little hands, squished them together, and licked my mouth.
LOL!
I think he was trying to give me a kiss...I think??
Regardless, it was so cute and he was so proud of himself.  Little stinker!

In other news, I believe we are entering one nap territory.  Which drives me BANANAS!!!!!  He is 7 1/2 months old and he should still be having two naps (I feel).  He gets up at 6am, has a "cat-nap" (30 mins...tops...which is not a nap and doesn't count!) at about 8am, then a real nap from 11am-1pm.  That's it.
So his new bedtime has become 6pm because he just cannot make it any longer...not that I'm complaining because I actually get time to work on things like writing (which I love) and reading (which I love even more)...and housekeeping if I remember/desire/have to...
But, between you and me, I wouldn't mind if he went to sleep at 7pm and woke up at 7am...that extra hour of sleep would be amazing!

Bootcamp Kicked Butt- Week 1

I have complained about my mommy body on here a lot.  Or at least I have complained about it to a lot of people I know.  I was no fashion model before baby, but I looked good.  I didn't think so then, but when I look back at pictures I can see that I LOOKED GOOOOOOOOD!  Wish I could tell myself that:)

Since having Zach, I have been so busy that I just CANNOT will not find time to exercise.  I could if I wanted to .  I could eat better if I wanted to.  I just don't.  So I finally decided to do something about it.  I joined Bodysculpt Bootcamp.

I was so nervous before my first class.  I had threatened hubby to within an inch of his life if he didn't come home early from work so that I could make it.  He got the message and got home nice and early so I could change, gather my stuff, and get out of the house before Zach had his last bottle (he's easily distracted if someone else is there).

Putting on my pre-pregnacy yoga pants/top was a joy in and of itself.  They don't look quite as good as they used to:) Go figure.  But I did it- and arrived a my bootcamp with butterflies in my tummy and really heavy weights in my backpack.  But am I ever glad I went.

This was such a good class- one of the best I have ever been to, and I've been to quite a few in my day.  I was expecting screaming, DROP AND GIVE ME 20 MORE, humiliation, tears...maybe vomit?  Instead, the instructor was AMAZING.  She kept us moving the whole time but was adamant that we do as much as we can at the pace we could.  She walked around checking for form, gave us tips on how to make an exercise more effective....especially DIPS! I still feel them today.  But best of all, I didn't feel out of place.  Which is what I was afraid of.

But I don't want to give the wrong impression- she kicked my flabby butt!  I was a sweaty mess by the end of the class but instead of feeling sick and fat, I felt really motivated and energized.  I loved the squats, lunges, dips, curls, pushups...I loved it all.   Finally I was doing something that would really benefit me, and I think Zach, in the long run.  I found myself excited for the next class and wishing I didn't have to wait another week:)

I'm sore though.  OUCH! That's what I get for not working out since the day I found out I was preggo.  But, in all seriousness, I think I've found my new passion- bootcamp.  This particular class is phenominal and, from what the other girls told me, no two classes are ever the same...so I can't WAIT to see what she has in store for me next week.  This flabby butt will definitely need another kick by then:)

If you live in the area and have the desire to work out but need that motivation, you need to check out Bodysculpt Bootcamp.

My new blog on urbanmoms.ca

I am so honoured to have been asked to be a blogger on an amazing site for moms:
urbanmoms.ca.   My blog will be called "Mom Without A Map" and I will be waxing poetic about new mommy-hood...the trials, tribulations and triumphs.
If you get a chance, please check out my first blog: Mom Without A Map and leave me a comment.
I plan to blog there about twice a week, but I'll be keeping up my Zach posts here...can't leave you hanging.
If you get a chance, check out Mom Without A Map and let me know what you think!  Better yet, become a member of urbanmoms.ca- they have great giveaways, forums, and articles for moms with kids of all ages!

Don't forget to enter my awesome giveaway from Sarita Baby!  Only a few more days left:)

I forgot to mention...

Prunes work.  Amazingly.

So does apple sauce.

My son, however, can still not eat peas or green beans without being up all night long with heart-wrenching, sobbing cries.  He will turn a nice shade of orange soon- I'm sure of it!