10 Important Things I Learned as a New Mommy

Deacon, Peyton, and Skylar May 2008

(This post is dedicated to my dear friend Shirley who is about to embark on a new journey called motherhood).

10 Important Things I Learned as a New Mommy

1. No need to set the alarm clock - these little buggers newbies will NOT forget to remind you that they are hungry. As in screaming, squealing, crying at the top of their lungs reminding you that they want that milk. Right now.

2. Do you remember when you were still pregnant and drooling over that cute little outfit for your baby in the store window? Imagine that same outfit on your baby accessorized in spit ups and (gasp!) - not gonna say it - just let your imagination run wild.

3. Sleep deprivation is painful. You should warn your husband that if you get sleep deprived too much, you might just confuse the breast milk in the refrigerator for coffee creamer.

Guys - You. Have. Been Warned.

4. Wipe warmers are a joke. No need to elaborate.

5. Love that 5 second rule. And with each additional kid, I've found myself adding 5 more seconds on top of it.

6. Keep your valuables stored safely away. Or you just might find your 3 year old son trying to give your engagement ring to the family dog.

7. Ditto for designer clothes and such. There are some things that the drycleaner just can't take out. Again, just let your imagination run wild.

8. You wait for that heavenly time of the day when the kids finally go to sleep but after 5 minutes of peace and quiet, you get the urge to wake them up again.

9. Hugs and kisses are important. Even coming from sticky hands and lips smeared with chocolate.

10. Enjoy and cherish the craziness of your life right now. I'm sitting here, typing this post with ketchup smeared on my shirt and hair from my kids' lunch. And I'm watching my 2 year old empty the contents of her sippy cup on the carpet. And the dog vacuuming up the leftovers on the kitchen floor (hey, when it's on the ground, it goes to the hound!). It's crazy. But beautiful. I wouldn't trade a minute of it.

Ornament Exchange

Look at what I just signed up for! This is going to be super fun!

Come join the fun - just click on the picture and sign up!

Thumbs - Up for being Two!

Happy birthday, Peyton Isabelle!

I can't believe that you are two years old today!

Has it really be two years already?

Here is a picture of you and me and your big brother Deacon the summer before you were born.

Dr. H said that you are going to be a BIG baby.

They were right.

One botched up epidural and 8 agonizing hours later, out you came.

38 weeks and a healthy 8 pounds and 20 inches long.

Your cheeks were even bigger than your sister's.

Three months old and already 15 pounds - you gave us your first real smile.

Almost 4 months old. What did I tell you about the cheeks?

4 months old and already a daddy's girl.

You also tipped the scale at 20 pounds!

6 months old and sitting up!

You loved two things - sleeping and your exersaucer. I think the picture says it all.

Memorial Day 2008

Martha's Vineyard June 2008

The days, weeks, and months flew by so quickly.

One day, you were a baby, and today, a big girl.

It is so bittersweet to think that my baby is not a baby anymore.

Look at how fast you are growing!

First day of preschool September 2009.

Abby's birthday October 2009. Look at my little dare devil going down that slide!

Throwing tantrums are your specialty!

I still love this picture of you and me.

Peyton, you have brought so much joy into our lives.

You are my little missy, my little moo-moo.

I love watching your grow.

I love hearing you laugh.

Everyday, your babyhood disappears right before our very eyes.

But you will always be my baby.

That will never change.

We love you.

Happy birthday, missy mo0 moo!

Coming soon... our new art wall

What do you do when your work space suddenly turns into a big jumbled mess? And it's not even your mess - it's your kids'. I saw this post a while back from one of my blog list (I apologize to the post author - but I can't remember which blog it is from) and was inspired to recreate it to give my children's artwork a new home (away from my work tables).

So this is one of my big projects this weekend. I will do another post when it is done so you can do it as well!

Hey there, good looking!

Mommy (drying Deacon's hair after bath time): You are my handsome boy, Deacon!

Skylar (frowning): No, mommy. My daddy is handsome. He is the handsomest! He has nice clothes too. (Mommy rolls her eyes).

Deacon (frowning now too): I'm handsome too, Skylar.

Skylar: No - my daddy is.

Deacon: I'm handsome too because I LOOK LIKE DADDY!

Yep. Arguing back and forth are what Skylar and Deacon do best.

Deacon and Daddy 6/08 Martha's Vineyard

Deacon and his "baby" - baby sister Peyton

Deacon and Skylar

Happy Halloween!!!

Have a very...

happy...

Halloween!!!

Something old and something new.

I love the fall/winter/holiday season. I love the cool, crisp weather, the leaves changing, my sweet potato soup, and my oatmeal cranberry cookies that I make for Christmas. I make them every year. It is my own recipe and very popular with our friends. So when a friend of mine recently asked me for the recipe. I said to her that it is on my blog. She looked and said that it's not. WHAT? I never posted it? It is my oldest and dearest recipe and I have not put it up on my blog. Well here it is. Finally.

Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 sticks butter (room temperature)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup oatmeal (I use McCann's Irish Oatmeal - the plain kind)

1 cup dried cranberries (Craisins)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Sift together flour and baking soda. Set aside.

3. In electric mixer with dough paddle, cream butter and sugars until light and fluggy.

4. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.

5. Gradually add flour mixture a little at a time.

6. Add oatmeal, cranberries, and chocolate chips and mix by hand or with a wooden spoon.

7. Shape dough into little 1 inch balls and press flat into a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

8. Bake 8-10 minutes until light golden brown (do not overcook!).

That's it! Isn't it easy? Go make them - you won't be disappointed! And just in case you're wondering what's up with the lack of posts this week. Here is why:

Yep - made over 200 Happy Flower headband pieces the last couple of weeks for some of my boutiques. Don't they look so pretty in the box? Whew. I couldn't wait to close the lid and ship them out. And take a look at this Lulu the Owl. It was custom made for an Etsy customer. I am loving Lulu with the funkified look!

I was also so inspired by this post that I decided to try my hand at it. And this is what I got:

The Mommy Series Heather Headband

I call it The Mommy Series because this new line is inspired by some really special mommies. Within the next few weeks, I will be adding some more headbands and some hair clips as well. So keep checking my shop. And yes - this headband was indeed inspired by one special mommy. She worked so hard making my little niece a custom blanket that I wanted to give her something special as a thank you. Ssshhh.. she doesn't know it yet - it is a surprise!