Guardian Angels

Life as a new parent always poses new challenges... One challenge that I thought I had overcome was the whole running errands with a baby challenge. As silly as it seems, this is something that at first gave me complete anxiety. 
Did I pack everything I need? What if he needs a diaper change? What if he cries and people stare at me? Is he big enough to sit in the cart, or should I still lug in the carrier? 
With more and more practice, came more and more confidence in being able to knock out my to-do list with a baby on my hip.
Today, however, Nolan and I had an experience that has left me feeling completely humbled.

My day had gone along like any other- crazy busy. After a day of work followed by picking up Nolan at the sitters, I had one more stop to do as I needed to buy groceries for our Birthday Club at work that I would be hosting tomorrow. As we headed into the store I thought to myself, " this will be a quick trip, instead of bringing in the diaper bag, I'll just grab my purse and his snacks." It was right around 4:30 or 5 at this time, and Nolan can become quite a bear as he's ready for dinner. The snacks are always my saving grace as they keep him occupied until we get in the door!
We were almost finished with the trip, and I had just busted out the little Gerber Puff Snacks to get Nolie through the last two aisles.
As we made our way into the chip aisle, I noticed Nolan starting to cough and kind of stick his fingers in his mouth. He tends to gag himself and over exaggerate his coughing, so I didn't think much of it. I just raised his little arm for a second and was sure something had just "gone down the wrong pipe." As we continued though, Nolans cough turned into a gag, and I began to worry that he wasn't ok. 
I quickly got him out of the seat and lifted up his arm again hoping he would get whatever it was out of his system. The gags got worse, and the choking got worse, and Nolan soon began throwing up. I was in a complete panic, not knowing what to do, until I found myself surrounded by three mothers. One mother had her arm on my back, telling me he was ok while the other two were assisting me with Nolan. At this point I was worried he wasn't breathing as in between gags his chest sounded completely full of fluid. With his last heave Nolan got rid of a little mushy snack, accompanied by a tiny piece of paper. A piece of paper that had come from the seal on the top of his snacks. I had just opened the snacks and I'm guessing a little piece had fallen into his cart cover, and then ended up in his little mouth. 
As I stood there in tears, covered in puke, holding my baby boy that I was so thankful was ok, I realized I wasn't standing alone. The three women continued to stand with me, wiping Nolan and I down with Kleenexes. They all had tears in their eyes, telling me I was ok, and that there would be many more of these experiences. It was comforting at a time in which a mother can't help but feel extreme guilt for letting something like that happen to her baby. The look and emotion behind all of their faces was so humbling.  
I then continued straight for the checkout, though I didn't have everything I needed. The check-out boy grabbed all of my groceries and unloaded and reloaded my cart. Then a man and his daughter stepped in and helped me steer the cart out of the building as I still had Nolan in my arms. 
The second I got in my car, I broke down and cried. I cried tears of relief, tears of exhaustion, and tears of joy. Joy from the overwhelming sense of humbleness I felt from all the help I received from so many strangers. God is so good, and seems to be there even in the most horrible situations. 
I learned something from our little grocery store trip today. I learned that as a parent, you can't protect your child from the every day dangers of life. I learned that I love living in a small community - I had almost gone to a big grocery store in Springfield, but decided Nolan was in a mood to which a small town grocery store trip would be a safer bet. Chatham has been nothing but good to us. From our amazing neighborhood, to the check out people at my Ace Hardware, Dollar General, and County Market :), to strangers I run into on the street. 
God definitely provided me with some guardian angels today. I'm very thankful for that! 

Ohh, and one more thing I'm taking from this experience - I may be done with all the social, extra curricular clubs until my kids are old enough to be in school! I barely can keep my cabinets filled at home, let alone keep up with these extra trips for extra events. I'm still new at all of this and I am by no means a June Cleaver. I'm aware of what i can handle, and I think I have a pretty full plate right now. 

What a day! I'm heading to bed exhausted, and with a full heart.  

It's Ok If.....

So I know I've said this before, but I feel that as a new mom I am always second guessing my own judgment, and wondering if I'm horrible, or normal, or disgustingly unattractive.... You get the point.


So. I was wanting to do a post in which we all share an "It's Ok If.."  moment as a mom. I feel like it's good to know you're not alone and laugh at the craziness, grossness, etc. that motherhood brings. I'll start with a few, but would greatly appreciate feedback and comments!


It's Ok If.......

You sometimes feed your child by sticking him in a chair and propping a pillow underneath so it's hands free. They actually make pillows for this. Check it out at

http://www.amazon.com/Hands-Baby-Bottle-Holder-Buddy/dp/B002SC5V1Q

Your lipstick, and complimentary jewelry and clutch are now replaced with chapstick, a hair tie around your wrist, and a diaper bag.


You sometimes pee your pants when you laugh now.

You still have 10 lbs to go and it seems as though it's  been a long ass time since you were pregnant!

Please feel free to add more :)

A Shout Out to All You Stay At Home Moms and Single Moms

So..... I know this blog is a "Working Mom" blog in which I share my thoughts of a working mother who tries to do the balancing act between my job and being a mom, and not drowning in guilt from having my son in child care since he was six weeks old, HOWEVER.......

Tonight  I can't help but think about all you women who do this majority of the time on your own! You see, my son has been an absolute bear today, who when he wasn't sleeping was on my hip needing me to sing, do back flips, bust out my Beyonce moves, ANYTHING to keep his poor little mind off his horrible aching teeth coming through and the low grade fever that often accompanies this whole process. I normally work, but am fortunate enough to have a job in which during several weeks of the year I get to play the "stay-at-home" mom role. So today I was extra patient, and was trying to soak up the lather of his need and want to climb on me and cuddle with me all day. However, come 5:00 when this has now been going on for 12 hours, and my husband is stopping in for a brief moment to change clothes and head to the gym for a workout while I do the "balancing act" of keeping my child entertained while I also try to prepare a descent meal to throw on the table I'm at my whits end, and I can't help but think about all the women who do this day in and day out. I have so many friends that are either stay at home moms and/ or single moms, and I cannot tell you how impressed I am with all of you. I think it takes a certain type of woman - one with patience, pride, integrity, and a bigger heart than most I know.

So, as I sit here now with my glass of wine, and my screaming child who is now in a bouncy seat on the floor with a pillow propped under to allow him to feed himself his own bottle (which leads me to my next post... It's OK if....), I tip my hat to all you amazing women who have the strength and the love in your heart to do this on your own. God doesn't give you anything you can't handle, and you ladies ROCK it :)

As far as a recipe goes with this post, I'm not including anything specific, but am going to share a few things I cannot live without!

1.) Sams Club Membership in which I can buy things in bulk
... this leads me to

2.) Pre-Cooked, Diced Chicken (use it almost every day)

3.) A healthy meal we do once a week with that being said is kind of like our own rendition of a stir fry...

We brown the chicken with some soy sauce and evoo
Then in a pan take some some frozen veggies like broccoli and such and saute them with soy sauce.... Serve with a combination of brown rice and white rice..... I hate just plain old brown rice, but if you don't mind it then all the power to you! We go halfsies on them though

This meal is done in minutes and is always good :)  Healthy too!

My Thoughts Thus Far...

Becoming a working mom is a HUGE transition that no woman can ever fully prepare herself for. Yes, we all know that our lives are about to change, yes, we know a full night’s sleep will become a thing of the past, and yes we know our bodies won’t be quite what they used to be for a while- however, the lifestyle that awaits a soon-to-be mother is much, much more complex than all these obvious changes.

As I entered the world of a working mom 6 weeks after the birth of my first, I hit the ground running. I also at the time chose to make a career move, and take on some new responsibilities at work. I knew I was crazy, but was sure that everything would work out as it usually does! Now that I have my first two weeks off after entering this “working mom” world, I am taking time to reflect on all the components in my life that help me not just get by in the everyday grind, but that allow me to enjoy this crazy life I live J I’ve decided it would be nice every once in a while to share what works for me, and hopefully look forward to advice and input from other working moms around me! Here are my thoughts so far:

First of all, putting a meal on the table becomes a little tricky with everything else you’re trying to balance. We’ve started to try and plan out meals ahead of time on Sundays, that way we can get all the groceries and plan out how leftovers can work. Obviously we can’t stay this organized every week, especially when we’ve been out of town for the weekend, but when we can, having a plan really makes the work week go smoothly. I’ve also realized that I need to rely on some easy throw together type of meals. Here are a couple we use as staples.

Chicken Primavera Pasta Dish- A mix of Chicken Breast, Whole Wheat Pasta Noodles, Broccoli, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes!

Ingredients:

1 Box of whole wheat pasta (I prefer penne noodles)

Bag of frozen Broccoli

1 large can of pre-cooked/ diced Chicken Breasts or 2 whole chicken breast cooked and diced

1 can of diced tomatoes with olive oil and garlic

1 can of diced mushrooms

1 jar of alfredo sauce of your choice

Begin by cooking the chicken breasts in a deeper skillet/ Add mushrooms and sauté with the chicken.

Boil noodles according to boxed directions and drain.

Meanwhile, in microwave safe dish, heat broccoli according to package directions.(I usually only use ½ the bag). Drain and add to chicken and mushrooms once chicken has cooked thoroughly.

Add the tomatoes to the chicken, mushrooms, and broccoli, and continue to cook over low to medium heat. Add the jar of alfredo sauce and let simmer.

Once sauce is heated through serve over the pasta noodles!! We like to eat this with a salad or garlic bread!

Tuna Roll Up Meal:

Ingredients:

Two Cans of Tuna, 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup, 1 can of French Fried Onions, Shredded Cheese, Wheat Tortilla Wraps

Preheat oven to 350

Spray an 8 x 8 casserole Dish

Mix together tuna (seasoned with Salt and Pepper), half the can of cream of mushroom, and half the can of French fried Onions, an half a cup of shredded cheese.

Fill six wraps with the mixture, roll up, and place side by side in greased dish

Take the leftover cream of mushroom soup, and stir in a little milk to thin it out/ Add another half a cup of shredded cheese, and pour over the top of the wraps.

Bake for thirty minutes, Add remaining French fried onions and extra cheese if you would like the last 5 minutes!

Something else I’ve realized during the last 6 months is to live in the moment. As cheesy and obvious as this sounds, I think a lot of us take time for granted. When you get back into the working world, it’s easy to get stuck on a routine schedule in which you find yourself rushing around and stressing about every last detail. You think, “Ok, he’s down for a nap, I should really go ahead and fold the laundry, or grade papers, or run to the store.” Or, you don’t answer a phone call from a friend because you’re trying to take care of things you “need” to get done. My advice is, answer the phone, turn the T.V. on, open up a good book, just do what makes you happy! Life is a little messy when you have kids and that’s ok. If you really have things you should get done, prioritize, and decide what really is important and what are you just being anal about- Spread your chores out through the week, and mark them off the list as you get them done!  

My last “Ahhaa Moment” advice is:

            Have a little Faith!

My relationship with God has definitely strengthened since becoming a mom, and I’ve realized more and more that I simply just need to have a little faith!

We all of a sudden have a little miracle placed in our hands and a natural reaction is to worry, and chomp at the bit about each and every little decision we make for this tiny person. Am I feeding him enough? Is he on a routine? Should I have tried to breast feed longer than I did? Did he just bump his head? Every day becomes a constant inner struggle in which you are questioning every move you make. After all, being in charge of someone else’s life is a HUGE responsibility. But I’ve found I have to remind myself, that God doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle. And he gave you a little one with full confidence knowing you can raise him or her, and do an excellent job doing so!

This verse from Proverbs is always a friendly reminder!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3, 5-6

I chose to go back to work after having a baby, as it was financially a better decision for our family. This is something that I can’t regret or envy in other people who get to stay at home. Both are tough jobs, and I think in both circumstances women need to do their best to be at peace with what they do, and leave all the rest with God.
I’m finishing off this first post with a “Top Ten” Survival Guide for Parents of New Babies. It’s from a book I was given titled “The Happiest Baby on the Block,” by Harvey Karp M.D.

Except, I didn’t find them all too inspirational, so here’s my Top 7

1.)    Trust Yourself. You are the Latest in the Unbroken Chain of the World’s Top Parents.

2.)    Lower Your Expectations

3.)    Accept all the Help You Can Get

4.)    Get Your Priorities Straight- Should You Take a Break or Do the Dishes?

5.)    Be Flexible: It’s much better to Bend Than to Snap

“ You just have to accept that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.”

6.)    Keep Your Sense of Humor

“The only normal families are the ones you don’t know very well…”

7.)    Take care of your spouse, he or she just might come in handy some day!

To Dads- Appreciate Your Wife- The Great Goddess of Creation

To Moms- Appreciate Your Husband- The Man who Put the Us in Uterus!