Reality of Motherhood...........

Tis the season to be pregnant. I have 11 friends right now that are expecting. Five of them are brand new mothers. I was inspired to do this post by one of my favorite blogs, Motherhood Uncensored. Very few of my friends were candid enough to fill me in on the "real" reality of motherhood. You girls know who you are. Thank you for opening up and letting me know it's not all sunshine and unicorns day after day. Those conversations I still hang on to when life comes to a screetching hault at 3 am and nothing is working. Here are a few her thoughts and mine combined. Take what you want from it. Just my thoughts......

* every woman doesn’t LOVE being pregnant. there definitely are some women who do, but i wasn’t one of them. i never had that “pregnancy glow”. all in all, pregnancy isn’t exactly my favorite stage in life.
* stay in the hospital as long as possible. you might be bored & lonely, but when you go home, you’re on your own. at least in the hospital you can call a nurse for help.
*people who say, "Isn't being a mother the greatest thing in the world"? These people obviously have forgotten the newborn stage. being honest, at this point it's not. little sleep, showers that come not as often as they should, crying (both you and baby), and nights that you think will never end aren't my idea of "great".
* breastfeeding might be natural, but it is definitely NOT easy for everyone & often times it can be painful for some.
* your boobs will never be perfect again… they’ll get super huge (& probably painful while engorged), & then they’ll shrink down, practically becoming indentations.
* just because you carried the baby for nine months, doesn’t mean you can soothe & quiet them when they are screaming bloody murder, for hours & hours on end.
* falling in love with your newborn isn't something that always happens instantly. it isn't always a love at first sight for everyone.
*although you have a significant other or family member helping you, you realize in the end it is all up to you. the feeling of responsibility can feel as heavy as a semi truck backing over you.
* sometimes, you’ll go days without showering. a pony tail will become your new ‘do, a hat your new best friend, & you can go hours without realizing you haven’t eaten anything or changed your clothes in 48 hours.
* sleeping more than 3 hours in a row is a luxury
* getting the time & energy to clean the house, fold the laundry, or load the dishwasher will make you feel like you’ve won the lottery
* counting the number of hours your newborn slept became my favorite hobby. as soon as she would wake up, I instantly count how many hours she has slept. It keeps me entertained during 3 am feedings.
* you’ll find yourself thinking “of a day as units of time, each unit consisting of no more than thirty minutes. Full hours can be a little bit intimidating and most activities take about half an hour. Taking a bath: one unit, watching countdown: one unit, web-based research: two units, exercising: three units, having my hair carefully disheveled: four units. It’s amazing how the day fills up. (especially when you are feeding the baby every 6 units!).
* i always knew i was going to breastfeed, i just was never prepared for how much i could (and would) leak. i didn’t realize that i could soak through my shirt, even while wearing a nursing pad. it's really fantastic when it happens when you have company over and don't realize it until they have left.
* others comments and advice. no, allowing her to go out without a hat on in 75 degree weather will not give her a cold, ear ache, or stomach ache. i appreciate stories of your perfect children but please keep them to yourself until mine are 20. remind yourself that all children are different, what worked for your friend's kid might not work for yours.

I know that 20 years from now, (probably a lot sooner) I will wish for these days back. I will never fully remember her this little or what it was like to be a new mom, what her sweet "I'm hungry", cry sounds like, or her facination with finding her new voice. So during my times of chaos, I remind myself to "keep calm, and carry on". Hope this helps a few of you girls out there. A big WELCOME to mommyhood to 2 friends who delivered this week!
May this be a reminder that you don't have to be the perfect mommy that our society assumes we should be!

Morning Smiles....

In the morning we get up play for 15 minutes, eat, and then she's in her bouncer chair and it's nap time. She was overly excited this morning about the windows in her room. Yeah, that's what she was smiling at. I fight to keep her concentration every time she eats from not practically breaking her neck to get a look at her windows. I even placed black out shades behind the drapes just so she couldn't see the light peaking through. The girl loves windows. Whatever keeps her happy!

Happy Halloween

I think Lauren will sit this one out. But next year we'll be out and about! Happy Halloween everyone!

Bath Time Baby...

Just a quick post on a cute baby wrapped up in a towel! This was the 2nd bath in a row where there were no tears! Ryan does a good job on distracting her. She just stares at him like he is the greatest thing since pacifiers. I'm just the old make-up-less hag that she sees everyday...I'm old news! ; )

I hate goodbyes...

My Aunt Barb and Aunt Pat arrived on Thursday night. The sole purpose of their trip was to finally meet their great niece. Both of them have played such a huge role in my life. They are truly the most encouraging, supportive, and loving people I know. I cherish the relationship that I have with the both of them. To see them with Lauren was pure bliss for me. They loved her more than life before they met her and now it seems unmeasurable. They rocked and sang her to sleep, fed her, told her stories, started her college fund, and filled her full of love. My heart is heavy that we had to say goodbye tonight. In this picture, I can see just how much they love her. It was when they were saying goodbye to her. Safe travels Aunt Barb and Aunt Pat. We will see you very soon on Skype. We love you both so much.

Much needed thank you...............

A friend and I were talking this morning and I said, "How thankful are we for our parents?" We both agreed that without our parents, raising children would be near impossible.

This week has been the most trying as a mom. You all know that I'm a little control crazy. The past several days Lauren has decided that she does not need to take a nap during the day. A 5 week old without a nap all day long is completely exhausting, miserable, and completely insane!! Being the control freak that I am, she has ruined what I thought we had as a schedule and has thrown me into overdrive trying to "fix" this problem. Instead of sleeping I sit online, trying to figure out the answer. News flash, if there were a perfect answer to getting babies to sleep, obviously we would all know it and babies across the world would sleep peacefully all night and day......

We'll life at the Farley household has been a little stressful. There is a lot of crying going on and Lauren is doing the least of it. Here's the jist of the post, finally....

Without parents I wouldn't have been able to shower, go to the grocery store, get a moment of sanity (although it left quickly), and most importantly sleep. Without these special people in my life I would have commited myself. Sounds dramatic, but seriously I mean it. Never did I imagine how hard this would be.

So a big thank you for coming and taking her for a walk, for taking her while I go to the grocery store, for keeping her so I could sleep, for listening to me for the 100th time that day ask "what in the hell am I going to do?", for being the best parents we could ever ask for. THANK YOU!!!

My Aunties are coming to town!!!

Tomorrow Lauren's Great Aunt Pat and Aunt Barb will be flying in from Seattle to meet their niece for the first time! We've been counting down the days!!

10/13/2010

Lauren, you turned a month old yesterday. I can't believe that for 30 days, I have been a mommy. We both have learned so much from each other in that time.

You are sleeping 3-4 hours at a time.
At night you wake up twice just to eat and go right back to sleep.
You get the hiccups ALL the time.
You love to watch Dora the Explorer and Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends.
You have to be swaddled in order to sleep. If not your arms will wake you up.
You have gone through 4 different types of swaddle blankets. All you can escape from, but seem to settle on the Miracle Blanket.
You weigh 10 lbs and are 22 inches long.
You are super strong and hold your head up with no problem for several minutes at a time.
You strongly dislike it when you potty in your diaper and make sure everyone knows in a 20 mile radius.
The only time you cry is when you are hungry, tired, potty pants, or hot. Other than that you are calm as can be.
I am so thankful for such a good and patient baby.
I am working on being more of a patient mommy.
Happy one month birthday my little Wren.

Our second photo shoot........

mosey on over to Katie's blog to see more!!

Sunday night football continued

Of course life comes to a screeching halt on Sundays and Monday nights during football season. Lauren has become pretty accustom to it and even seems to watch it fairly closely when it's on.

A DIY post.....finally!

This afternoon after I put Lauren to sleep, I did this quick little project that I had seen months ago! Galvanized pails, mums, black sharpie, and a initial of your choice from Word is all you need. I did this in less than 15 minutes! I'll change out the orange ribbon for brown after Halloween so I can keep them up for Thanksgiving. I also did another font on the other side with a brown sharpie for that reason. Hope you had a fantastic weekend!

A first time....

Today Lauren had her first bottle. We had tried once before and she completely objected to it. My mom brought over a Dr. Brown bottle and it was a success! I was so proud of the both of them for being patient with each other, both learning to do something totally foreign for each of them. The sight, though I kept my distance (experts say that a baby can smell their mommy 20 ft away!) brought tears to my eyes. The first of many first times.....

How the years go by......

Here we were last night, three exhausted mommies.

This was us ten years ago, at a Britney Spears concert I might add.

Oh how the years go by.........amazing memories girls. Just thought I would be a little sentimental. ; )

October 6, 2006

4 years ago we were doing this.........

4 years later, here we are.....

Happy 50th Angie!

On Wednesday, Ryan's mom turned 50! We had a little celebration for her before her sisters take her on a spa weekend this Friday. Of course everybody wanted to hold Lauren. She as always, was a good sport and let everyone entertain her. It was a great night! We hope that you make wonderful birthday memories this weekend Nanny!

I pray this is not a "phase"

Lauren had her 3 week checkup today. She rocked the scale at 10lbs and 1 oz. From there we went to Pier One, Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, and the realty office. Never once did she make a peep. She was quiet all day long.

After we got home, I put her down for a much needed nap. When I crept in my bedroom 45 mins later. I found this. Who knows how long she had been there awake. I hope this peaceful angel business isn't a "phase". Perhaps this is her demeanor. Oh wouldn't that be grand.......I won't hold my breath.

Thanks Uncle Kyle

This morning we made a jaunt across the street for breakfast at Grandma Phyllis's and Grandpa Al's. We were able to try out the darling hat that Uncle Kyle got for her. She was so dang cute in it!!

Rub and Dub Dub, Crazy Haired Baby in a Tub

She had her first "real" bath last night. We've been giving her sponge baths up until now. I think her hair will be something we will learn to conquer. Don't you just love that just out of the bath baby smell??!!

Poor Pitiful Child....

This is the only way we can get her to sleep! Swaddled, with her legs out (she hates her legs confined), no pants (she is hot like a radiator and sweats), and a clothespin to secure the swaddle blanket. Since her legs are out, she can wiggle out of the darn thing and the clothespin ensures the blanket doesn't end up around her mouth! God love her, it looks pitiful, but I swear she likes it!!

Good Morning .....

Watching Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends

Sunday

On Sunday while Ryan was gearing up for Sunday Football, he took a moment to watch a video on ESPN.com. Lauren was enthralled by it. She sat there and watched the whole thing. I thought it was hilarious to watch. The two of them are pretty cute. I love them so......

The two loves of my life.....

Monday night football always consisted of a long nap on the den floor. Now we have a new fan to add to the slumber party.

Lots of photos

I just wanted to update all you guys on Lauren. Since her birth at a whopping 9.5lbs she has now gone down a pound and is at 8.5 lbs. We are doing the whole eat, sleep, change the diaper routine. Routine, oh how I wish that I meant the real definition of the word. No routine here. Not yet anyway. After coming home, we looked at a picture of Ryan at the same age. She is his twin. No doubt about it. Right now she has this funny look on her face most of the time. It's like a little furrowed brow look like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. A family friend said that it's because she's an old soul. I liked that.

Enjoy the pictures....I hear a little girl crying.

Ryan at her age. I couldn't crop the darn picture.

Morning girl talk time

At the hospital. I was exhausted. She obviously was as well.

Proud Nanny

Proud Poppy

Very very very ridiculously proud daddy...He keeps saying how pretty she is. I say, it's because she looks identical to you! Of course you think you're pretty. ; )

She is here!!!

We welcome Lauren Olivia Farley to the world... She was at a whopping 9 lbs 5 oz and 22 inches long.

We have a date with the doctor......

Tomorrow morning we will be arriving at the hospital for Lauren to arrive via c-section. Apparently, the only small part of my body is my pelvis. Figures.......

I'm am a complete wreck right now. Mainly because becoming a parent is sinking in like the Titanic! If you know me at all you know I'm a complete control freak. I know I can kiss this goodbye because Lauren will refuse to even humor my "set" schedule and my particularity. Wish us luck tomorrow. Our computers are packed so we can post as soon as we are able!!! This is my last post before I am a mom. Very strange.....