Holiday Memories: A Holiday Book a Day

People always say the holidays are so much better once you have kids.  And they are completely right.  Having a child to share and celebrate the holidays with brings me back to the days when I was little and everything about Christmas time was so exciting and fun.  Since I have such amazing memories from Christmas I want to make sure Anderson has great memories as well. 

Now that she is a little older and can enjoy the holiday activities with us this year I’ve planned a few more fun traditions to start with her. 

Anderson loves books.  She will only sit still for about a minute to listen to a story, but she gets so excited to pull out books and look at them.  Since I love books as well, I decided to wrap up around 25 holiday books.  She will open one book each night to read before going to bed. 

Thankfully we had about 16 Christmas and winter books already on our book shelves.  For the rest of the pile I raided the Dollar Store for $1 books and other discount stores for books under $3 to add to our pile.

Miss A will get lots of practice opening gifts before Christmas morning through this tradition, and it will be a fun activity I hope to share with her for many years to come. 

Holiday Memories: "Mistle Toes"

Time spent with family eating lots of food.  That pretty much sums up my Thanksgiving holiday.  It was a really nice holiday.  Anderson tried the entire Thanksgiving feast.  She was a big fan of noodles and green beans, but not a fan of the turkey.  As for me, I was a big fan of all of the quality time I got to spend with Miss A.

I was able to have five days off work at home.  Most of that time was spent with Anderson.  We got to spend lots of Mommy/Daughter time.  We even got around to tackling a couple art projects that I’ve wanted to do for over a year now with Miss A. 

The “Mistle Toes” wall hanging was, of course, a Pinterest find. It was one of the easier projects, which worked out well for someone who is not a great artist.  All it took was an extra pair of hands to help with the foot painting and imprint (thanks JC), washable paint, canvas and a happy baby.  All of that resulted in a perfectly imperfect “Mistle Toes” decoration.

Our happy baby wasn’t so happy after our fun art project.  She didn’t enjoy having green feet, but it’s something that will leave a smile on my face for years to come as she grows up and those baby toes aren’t so little anymore.

Mommy Misadventures: The day I had on mismatched shoes..

I’m definitely not a morning person and never have been.  Before baby I loved being able to sleep in on the weekends.  Of course now that is ancient history.  No matter what day of the week it is I’m usually up by seven. 

Due to my distaste of getting up early in the mornings, I tend to be rushing around each day trying to get myself out the door looking halfway put together for work. 

For Anderson’s one year Doctor checkup it was a typical morning rush to get dressed and out of the house.  We had scheduled an early morning appointment so both JC and I could accompany Miss A for her milestone visit.  Doctor visits are never quick, so it takes some real effort to keep a one year old occupied for 30 minutes or more, wearing only her diaper, in a cramped room. 

Since her milestone birthday Miss A had been working to meet her next big achievement, walking.  To pass time in the room, we walked back and forth across the room, over and over.

During one of our trips across the floor, I looked down and realized I had on shoes that did not match! 

“Seriously, I have on two pairs of shoes!”  I told JC.  His response, of course, was laughter.

In that situation, that was the best thing to do.  I know for a fact I’m not the only mother that has accidentally walked out of the house with two different, but very similar, shoes on.  In some way it could even be considered a rite of passage for working mommy’s.

During the appointment I kept my shoes tucked underneath the chair when possible, and quickly drove home to find the right match for my shoe before heading to work. 

The moral of the story is: laughter is the best medicine.  Sometimes life has its way of throwing a curve ball at you, but it’s best to just laugh it off (when it's not too serious), take care of what you need to and move on.  Life is too short to dwell on the small stuff.  In this instance, a mismatched pair of shoes is not really that serious.

Also, I need to get up earlier and give myself more time to get ready in the morning (or buy new shoes that don’t look similar).

Anniversary Getaway Misadventure

When a person becomes a parent every aspect of their life changes drastically.  Literally everything.  Relationships, sleep patterns (or lack of), eating patterns and interests are all things that have changed for me.

Before meeting Anderson I had the idea that I would still be able to have time to do “adult” things, like going to Broadway plays, concerts, eating at nice restaurants, or quick weekend getaways. 

Over a year into parenthood I can say we’ve checked two things off that list: visiting a nice restaurant a couple times over the year and (with the help of family) going away for a weekend trip.

Even away from your child, the duties of a parent don’t stop.  Case in point, a recent weekend getaway to Augusta, Missouri in celebration of JC and I’s five year wedding anniversary.

Five years of marriage is a big milestone.  To honor this milestone, we wanted to do something fun with each other.  With both of our busy work schedules and the daily demands of being a parent, we rarely get a time away from Miss A.  I wouldn’t want it any other way either.  I love spending every second of my free time with her.

JC had been planning our weekend anniversary trip to Augusta for a couple months.  He had checked out the fun stops along the wine trails and found a nice bed and breakfast to stay in. 

When we dropped off Anderson she wasn’t feeling great, but was still her happy self.  She was in capable hands, plus we were only going to be away for a couple nights.  Everything would be fine.

But it wasn’t.  Anderson ended up getting very sick with a terrible ear infection, and we made the decision to go home.  It wasn’t a difficult choice either.  When I heard her calling “mama” over the phone my heart broke and our car headed home.

Of course it is unfortunate that our weekend got cut short by a day, but as a parent I could not be away from my daughter while she was sick.  No matter how excited I was for the much needed “alone” time, nothing would have stopped me from getting home to take care of her. 

Despite having an abbreviated trip, and going home to a sick baby, the hubby and I were thankful for the short amount of time we did have together.  It had been ages since we were able to spend more than a couple hours alone doing something that we wanted to do together.

Over the past year I try to make a little time to enjoy “hobbies,” like reading, DIYing, or going on a short Netflix binge.  Those hobbies are much easier to do at home during nap time, or before crashing from exhaustion at the end of the day. 

My biggest and best “hobby” ever arrived on September 2^nd when my little girl was born.  Who has time for adult hobbies when it is so much fun to laugh, make animal noises and have tea parties with an adorable one year old? 

A Girl and her Dog

When I became pregnant with Baby Fultz one of my biggest concerns was introducing a baby to our very spoiled dog, Wrigley.  During those nine months Wrigley could sense that his life was about to become drastically different.  His behavior toward me changed often.  He would be snuggly and protective some days.  While others, especially during the last few months of pregnancy when my belly was taking over the house, he wanted nothing to do with me or that thing growing inside me. 

The first few months of having a new baby and a puppy were really great actually.  The baby slept often, meaning Wrigley slept often too.  When the baby needed our attention, one of us would be on baby duty, while the other helped pre-occupy Wrigley if he was in an ornery mood. 

The biggest challenge with our very energetic, outgoing dog those first few months was helping him calm down whenever we would have visitors.  Wrigley loves people and tends to be very loud and lovey when visitors come over.  He wants to show off by playing with his ball outside or be the center of attention with new people.  As you can guess, a little bit of jealous started to develop.  People were coming to visit the baby, not the dog.

As the months quickly moved by and Anderson started playing with toys, then crawling and becoming interested in things in her world, Wrigley maintained the center stage in our family.  Anderson adored Wrigley.  She has ever since she started noticing him.  The sight of Wrigley always brings Anderson to a huge smile, laugh and now pointing and babble talk.  She is as excited to see him as she is to see JC and me each day.  He is her brother.

Wrigley on the other hand doesn’t always show his excitement when he sees her; however I think he does love her (if dogs have emotions, which I think they do).  When he is in a very good mood he licks her on the face and lets her lay on him, give him kisses and pat him.  In a normal day at our house, this happens a few times a day, so really he is very tolerant of the excessive baby love. 

When he is feeling jealous though (which happens a good majority of the time), he wants nothing to do with Anderson chasing after him on her quick baby crawl runs.  This usually results in one of her toys becoming the dog’s toy.  Many baby toys have been put to rest due to the jealousy between our dog and daughter. 

Despite him ruining many toys and sometimes barking loudly, Anderson showers Wrigley with love.  She shares her food with him when she’s had enough during meals.  She teaches him lessons – pointing her finger and talking in her baby babble when he’s being naughty.  She sometimes likes his toys more than her toys (gross), and tries to rescue her toys when he’s decided to steal one of them.  When he's outside she stands at the door watching him and sometimes shows an attitude (just like her brother) if we aren't able to join him outdoors.  This friendship between my two children has been really interesting, fun and heart-warming to watch grow over the past year. 

In our very quick four years of being dog parents, we probably let Wrigley rule the house too much, didn’t discipline him enough and have spent way too much money on peanut butter and dog treats.  But he was our first child and makes our family (for now) complete.  He was Anderson’s first friend and will be her best friend for many years to come.  He is our protector and truly has a fun spirit.  JC and I may not get to spoil Wrigley as much now with every day trips to the dog park or his favorite cannoli treats from The Bakery, but he knows that we still love him just as much.  I think he's finally accepted the fact that Miss A is here to stay and he's okay with that, although he may not love it all the time. As far as Anderson goes, life with her big brother and protector is all sunshine!  And, in all honesty, he’s still the ruler of the house. 

Baby's First Chicago Cubs Game

It’s one of our favorite places on earth.  The streets are crowded with fans, the smell of hotdogs and popcorn is in the air, and cheers of Cubs fans are heard for blocks away.

This summer we took Anderson to her first Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley field.  Being loyal Cubs fans means we try to make it to Wrigley once a year for a game.  There’s nothing like Wrigley Field to us.  No matter where your seats are, or how terribly the Cubbies are getting beat, baseball games are such a fun, memorable event at the Friendly Confines.

 

 

Weather in Chicago can be a little interesting to say the least.  On game day we were somewhat surprised when we were wearing jackets and bundled up in blankets during our middle of June Cubs experience.  Despite the cold weather, Anderson was a trooper and had fun watching people, and her team play the Pirates.

Even though our family is extremely loyal to the Cubs, when compared to other baseball stadiums, the Friendly Confines ranks well below in “family friendliness.” 

Here’s why:

-Be ready to stand in a long line for the bathrooms!  The bathrooms have been updated and are much nicer than before though.

-There are no (or very few) “family bathroom” facilities.  JC did a Dad magic act and changed Miss A in a bathroom stall.

-There are not too many places to go to get out of any inclement weather.  There are awnings over some seats to protect from the rain, but be prepared to pack any items to help deal with the outdoors.  For us this would have been pants, jackets and blankets. 

-Strollers are pretty much not going to happen in Wrigley Field, unless you have the small, compact kind – and even then you might have some trouble finding a place to store the stroller.

-Be prepared (or prepare those in attendance with you) to leave a few innings early.  The crowds, and smaller stadium, make it hard to maneuver around with a baby.  Waiting until the mass exodus at the end of the game would be a recipe for disaster, even though this unfortunately means you miss being able to sing "Go Cubs Go."

 

 

Like most things in life now, going to Wrigley Field is no longer the same as it was pre-baby.  Our pre-game experience now includes bottles, diapers and handling baby preparations; a far cry from the Chicago hotdogs, pre-game drinks and laughs with friends.  The added stress of bringing a little one to her first Cubs game was so worth it as we were able to share another special moment with our little girl.  As our year of “firsts” is coming to an end, these last few experiences are cherished that much more.

Celebrating Red, White and Blue with Family "Firsts" and "Lasts"

With a husband who works in the media, holidays don’t always mean days off work.  In actuality, this year JC has only been able to celebrate one holiday at home with us – New Year’s Day.  This can make it difficult to plan any trips to visit family or fun outings, but we were determined to make the best of the 4^th of July this year despite his obligation to work that day.

The reason why, this was Anderson’s last “first” holiday.  She will no longer be able to wear “Baby’s First” outfits proudly.  It makes me nostalgic for the past days of infancy, but her new developments and discoveries she’s making almost daily are amazing to watch as she gets older.

To honor this last “first” holiday we decided to celebrate with a new activity, and one of her favorites: a parade and swimming.  Both of which are staples for the 4^th.

The 4^th of July parade in Sullivan wasn’t her first parade.  She was actually at the Eastern Illinois University homecoming parade; however that parade proved to be pretty boring.  She slept through it.  The 4^th of July parade was her first that she actually sat through with inquisitive interest in the loud noises from the police cars and fire trucks, funny little cars and mopeds driving in circles and various other floats, people and horses walking through the event.   Having a small child with us also made us prime zone for Popsicle throwing. 

If you remember from this post, Anderson is a little baby fish.  She loves being in the water.  The warm, beautiful weather made swimming a must on this holiday.  For a very short period of time we were able to spend some time splashing around in the pool with family before JC had to head into work.

We continued our 4^th of July celebration on Saturday with a day spent on the boat.  I’ve written about my fun summers the past five years on Mill Creek Lake with our family.  We’ve made many treasured memories floating around in the waters of the lake, and sailing across the water in our little speed boat.  Due to busy schedules we’ve not been able to use the boat as much as we should, so our family has decided to part ways with it.  

Saturday served as a beautiful day to say good-bye to the little Stingray.  Besides a grumpy baby when the lifejacket was put on – the rest of the day could not have been any better.  Bright sunshine, the smell of sunscreen, a band playing on a nearby dock and a few cruises on the lake topped off our last day of fun on Mill Creek Lake for a little while. 

As the “firsts” chapter of Anderson’s life comes to a close with her first birthday looming before us, I will relish in the remaining “firsts” of her life and treasure the memories we’ve made along the way.

Being "that family" at a wedding

A beautiful bride and groom, an elegant room filled with stunning table decorations, guests dressed to the nines in black and white – and a young family covered in orange baby vomit.  In the seconds after Anderson projectile vomited orange all over the white linen table cloths, my bridesmaid dress and JC’s all black tuxedo at my brother and sister-in-laws wedding, I was reminded how babies and weddings don’t normally mix.

After a very long wedding day and a very full belly of milk, baby food and some soft fruit, Anderson had too much – and showed us that very clearly.  In a mad dash of concern and not wanting to cause a scene, JC scooped Anderson up to make sure she wasn’t choking while I attempted to clean up the scene of the baby disaster.  Thankfully, a very sweet waitress helped us quickly clean up.  Anderson was fine – already crawling on the floor and happy to be in her jammies.  As her Uncles would say she “puked and rallied.”  And only about half of the room knew that we had been “that” family – making a very dramatic scene at a beautiful event.

Family photo.

This was a short glimpse into our lives during the wedding weekend of my brother and sister-in-law in Chicago.  The weekend was a fun time, ending with the beautiful marriage ceremony and reception.  But weddings, like many other things in life, are much different than they used to be pre-baby. 

Anderson is a wonderful child.  I might be bragging a little, but I could not ask for a more laid back, go-with-the-flow child.  She is very happy and loves life – which showed during the long days and nights during the wedding weekend.

Miss A was a trooper, being shuffled between JC and I, grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and family friends.  She did it all with a big smile on her face too.  Even though Anderson won’t remember this special event in her Uncle and Aunt’s life, I know she will enjoy seeing pictures of herself dressed up like Uncle Ty in her tuxedo dress.

For any other families who may be taking babies to weddings here are some tips:

-Be cautioned that car seats don’t fit into limo’s or coach bus seats.  But do take lots of pictures.  How cool is it to take your first limo ride when you are nine months old?! 

-Make sure there is downtime for your baby to take naps.  Thankfully, Anderson got a short nap the morning of the wedding and one during part of the wedding ceremony.

-Also hope that your baby can sleep through loud noise.  (i.e. – reception).

-Have a change of clothes handy for baby, yourself and even others helping out with the baby.  Refer back to the throw up dilemma. 

Miss A with her new Aunt!

-If you don’t have a change of clothes, or are able to clean up, don’t stress about it.  People realize that you have a small child and being covered in baby food and other baby things (vomit) is pretty normal for parents with small children.

-Don’t worry about your child getting dirty.  We finally let Anderson crawl around on the floor and explore in a small area of the reception site.  Her knees and feet were very dirty, but she was happy to be able to be a baby for a while.

-Thank friends and family who offer to watch your sleeping baby while you enjoy the wedding fun.  Thanks Jacque!

-Have fun!  After Anderson “puked and rallied” we headed out to the dance floor and boogied until she fell asleep.  Also, remember that even the bad moments may turn into fun memories down the road. 

Despite our rather messy baby incident during the reception, we all had a really great time creating a special memory with Anderson and our family.  Thankfully, our family was very supportive and encouraged bringing Anderson along to all of the wedding events.  It didn’t turn out to be a picture perfect baby wedding debut, but it was a special day for all.  JC and I are grateful to Ty and Daniela for allowing the three of us to share in their special day.

Daycare Dilemma

Being a mother has many challenges.  Some are things that were expected, like the early morning wake up calls, or dirty diaper dilemmas; however one thing that I never expected to be as complicated as it is: finding affordable daycare that meets my standards.

Our family’s work situation is not the normal 8 to 5 schedule.  With JC working in TV News, he works a second shift schedule.  This means he goes into work in the early afternoon and gets off late at night.  In theory, you would think this would be great for our budget.  We only have to have a babysitter for about 3 to 4 hours a day during the gap when we are both at work.  In our naïve pre-baby world, we thought it would be no problem finding a daycare provider for that short period of time.  Fast forward almost a year later, and we are still trying to find that “perfect” daycare situation – that doesn’t leave us with an empty wallet. 

We did have some luck.  The past seven months a reliable college student has been watching Anderson.  A second job and upcoming class schedule has changed her availability.  We are back to square one.

In the past year, we’ve visited a couple home daycare providers.  All of which have not been right for our family.  We’ve called many more – all are either full or have a waiting list.  The bigger daycare facilities in town are very expensive – much more than our budget can handle. 

I hear stories from other parents who love their child’s daycare provider.  The child learns so much and enjoys spending time at daycare.  I hope for that for Anderson because that’s what I was lucky enough to experience growing up with my babysitter.

Patsy was our babysitter/nanny.  To leave her title at that is leaving a lot unsaid.  She was much more than a babysitter, and still is despite much time and distance that has passed.  Patsy’s house was like my own house.  Our family’s spent holidays together and many evenings at sporting events.  When I think back to my childhood so many memories of Patsy and our days together come to mind. 

I realize that my experience is not normal for many families with babysitters.  My Mom and Dad were lucky enough to be friends with a wonderful lady who was in the situation to take care of me.  JC and I aren’t in that type of position (believe me; we’ve racked our brains trying to think of people to turn to – and nothing).   

Even though I know Anderson won’t have the “Patsy” experience that I did – I hope she will find a daycare provider that is caring, fun and kind.  I want her to look back on her childhood and remember fun times learning how to write her name, play outside and interact with other children at the babysitter.  To be able to find the right daycare provider is going to take time, patience and a lot of effort.  We won’t settle for just anyone, and finding that perfect daycare provider has proved to be a test in itself.

Any advice for us as we continue our daycare provider hunt? 

Water Baby

Summer has always been my favorite season.  The reason why: some of my favorite activities take place during the warm months.  Cookouts, baseball, days spent on the lake – and my most favorite summer past time: swimming.

Ever since I can remember my childhood summer days were spent at the pool.  My Mom, who had summers off since she is a teacher, would load up my brother and me in the car and head to the pool to pass the hot summer days.  Diving for pool sticks and pennies, jumping off the diving board (and eventually moving up to the high diving board), having “tea parties” at the bottom of the pool with friends and playing “Marco Polo” described my summer days.  The dreaded “10 minute time-outs” held every hour so the lifeguards could get a break, seemed to last forever.  This did offer a great time for us to head to the snack bar.  My Mom always came prepared for snack time with a wallet full of change.  After a long day at the pool, there was nothing better than coming home for a short nap before dinner.  Those were the best days of summer!

Unfortunately I have to work during the summer months, but I hope to still create many fun memories with my baby girl at the pool.  With this in mind, when summer “parent/child” swim lessons opened up at our local park district I quickly signed Anderson and I up.  Since that day in March, I’ve been anxiously awaiting baby swim lessons.

 

My purpose of signing Miss A up for swim lessons wasn't all for the fun either.  I was introduced to water at around six months.  Because I had swim lessons and have felt confident swimming for years I’ve never felt uncomfortable in the water.  I want to make sure Anderson feels that way too.  She needs to know how to be safe in the water, and in the process, will hopefully turn into a little fish too!

This week was our first night of swim lessons.  The weather wasn’t great for our water debut, but that didn’t stop my little baby from enjoying her time in the pool.  She definitely was not afraid of the water.  About 30 minutes into the class she was pushing at me to put her down so she could kick and play in the water on her own.  She is a very independent little girl in and out of the water.

Anderson loved picking up checker pieces in the water (and then putting them in her mouth when I looked away for a second), kicking in the water while sitting on the edge of the pool, and laying on her tummy while I whisked her around the water.  She even showed off when her Dad arrived after work by putting her face in the water on her own. 

I might be a little bit of a proud baby swimmer Mom, but she really seemed to love it.  This makes me extremely happy as this will be something we will both enjoy doing together for years to come.  Even though Miss A won’t have the same experiences I did spending every day at the pool, I know we will be able to create many fun memories on our future trips splashing through the pool!

A Trip for "Us"

In the months of preparation for our baby over nine months ago now, JC and I talked about all things baby.  We did not take our impending new job as parents lightly.  Planning and education was our way of coping with the excitement and nerves that came along with becoming parents.

In the midst of all the baby preparation, we also talked about how we wanted to maintain our relationship as it evolved into something new once a little person was added to the mix.  Date nights, continuing to travel and taking time for ourselves was, and still is, important to us to maintain our well-being as individuals, a couple and parents.

We’ve really tried our hardest to stick to our “parent plan.”  It is not always the easiest task though; especially of late with work obligations for both of us.

Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia.

When an opportunity arose for a short weekend trip to one of my favorite places in the country, Savannah, Georgia, with some good friends, we couldn’t pass the opportunity up.

As the days leading up to the trip dwindled I was very excited, but also sad to leave Miss A for a couple days.  Even though I knew she would be in good hands, this was going to be the longest amount of time both JC and I had been away from her. 

Now the trip has come and gone.  I was so happy to get back to my sweet, smiley girl, and I think she was happy to see us too! 

 

Being away from Miss A, I did realize that it is okay to want to go on an adult’s only trip or to spend time away from the baby.  Many people I’ve spoken with are surprised we left Miss A behind, almost bragging that they’ve never left their children and the kid is three years old.  Deciding to spend a little time off of parent duty doesn’t make me a bad parent.

Before the little one came along we did have a life that was actually really fun.  If the next 17 years goes by as quickly as the first nine months has, before we know it I’m going to be an empty nester.  Maintaining friendships and relationships outside of Mom duty is a healthy thing to do.

Plus, the time away allowed me to recharge my battery.  Having a nine month old baby is exhausting.  I don’t need to exercise anymore.  I get all of my cardio in chasing after my quick little girl.  This short trip allowed me to sleep in (a little) and relax for more than ten minutes a day.

Also, having a child shouldn’t mean that I can’t enjoy one of my favorite things in the world: traveling.  I loved traveling with Miss A to D.C. this winter.  We had a wonderful time.  But it is easier traveling when you are only responsible for yourself and not lugging around a stroller.  Plus we were able to make our own schedule, rather than scheduling activities around the baby’s daily needs.

I know these types of trips are no longer going to be a common thing for JC and me.  We will do what we can to maintain our relationship, and those of friends, and cherish those moments of “adult” time.  But above all else is our daughter.  She really is the person I want to spend all my time with, which is why the lack of “adult” trips won’t be missed too much.  Plus, I love zoos.  And going to bed by 8 o’clock every night is completely fine by me too!  Bring on the family fun!

Celebrating my first Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is definitely not a so-called “Hallmark holiday.”  If I’m completely honest though, I never truly understood the Mother’s Day holiday until I became a Mother, or like last year, was about to become a Mom. 

I remember asking my Mom one Mother’s Day why there was a special day for her and my Dad.  My rational was that there should also be a day dedicated to celebrating kids too.  My Mom, knowing my childhood innocence, said I would understand one day that as a child we are celebrated every day.

Best friends.  Mimi and Anderson.

Now I understand.  With that understanding comes an even deeper appreciation for my Mom.

In today’s society Moms have such a heavy burden to carry.  Media puts so much pressure on us to “do it all,” while still having an awesome post-baby body.  Then these articles touting their tips for getting your pre-baby body back asks you, “What’s your excuse” for not getting in shape or organizing and DIYing everything in your house.

Well, my excuse is that I have an 8 ½ month old at home who is crawling, climbing and standing on wobbly legs, needing my constant attention and care after I get home from working and commuting for nine hours out of the day. 

My excuse is that my husband is working six days a week (sometimes more) – meaning I’m working six days or more a week. 

My excuse is that I need sleep, more than I need my pre-baby body back. 

My excuse is that I can’t do it all, and I’ve realized that is okay.  If the house is dirty, or I don’t have the energy to do anything besides veg out on the couch watching Netflix marathons once the baby goes to bed, that is okay. 

As Mothers we need to appreciate ourselves and give ourselves a break.  We are all doing the best we can. 

Family visit to Scovill Zoo for Mother's Day.

 

First Mother's Day with Miss A.

 

As a new Mom, everything in my life has changed from the morning routine, to how I eat meals (in a rush) and how I think about things.  My daughter has taken center stage in my life.  I now put her needs and wants well ahead of mine, where her Father has stood for years now. 

Even though she is still an infant she shows me her appreciation in little ways.  The smiles and laughter at my silly faces or when I get home from work every day or the cuddles when I get her up in the morning.  I know I’m loved by Miss A completely trusting me as she begins to stand up while I stand guard, and saying “ma ma” as her first word. 

These small gestures of appreciation and love make the late nights, early mornings and other struggles so worth it as a Mother.  I know if I don’t measure up to what the media thinks is the “perfect Mom” that’s okay because I measure up to what Miss A needs in her Mommy.  And that’s what truly matters.

Thanks for letting me be your Momma Miss A!  You are truly a gift and I will do my best to follow Mimi's advice by celebrating you every day!

Everyone has an opinion ... on Baby Names

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” 

It’s a phrase most people learn when they are very young.  It’s also a phrase I try to remember to instill good decision making for myself still to this day.

Unfortunately, many people in today’s society don’t follow this motto anymore.  A good portion of society believes they have the right to share their opinion, even if it means hurting someone’s feelings or personally attaching them.  With the huge presence of social media in pretty much all aspects of life, people now feel even more protected and confident that it is okay to share opinions, especially negative opinions.

Before our daughter was born, JC and I talked about how much we were going to share about Baby Fultz through his work “fan” page.  He has over 12,000 fans on this page now. We both decided on some limits for our family’s privacy.

Anderson's first time on TV at one month old.

Going home from the hospital.

Once Miss A was born and a few days had passed, her birth announcement was read over the news and posted on the news social media sites.  It was a joyous time for us as we shared the news of the arrival of our newborn with a good portion of Central Illinois.

Most people were very nice, offering congratulations and kind words of advice for JC through his social media pages; however with most things in life anymore there were negative comments.  Most of those comments revolved around the name we chose for our daughter.

Anderson Regen. 

It is unique and very different – exactly what I wanted.  JC and I both grew up with very common names.  We both like our names, but wanted to give Anderson a name that was strong, and would make her stand out.  Since it is a unique name, people always ask us if she is named after someone.  No she isn’t, we just liked the name.

Picking out Anderson’s first name was very easy compared to deciding on a middle name.  We threw around family names, then finally decided to pick a name that was not family so we did not cause any unintended hurt feelings. Her middle name, Regen (pronounced Ree-gan), is the German word for rain.  Both of our family lineage traces back to Germany, we traveled to Germany while I was pregnant and during the majority of all of the major events in our life (engagement and wedding) rain has been part of those times.  Her middle name is very fitting for our life experiences. 

Anderson, two days old.

 In the midst of all of the nice comments about “how cute” Anderson was, or “how happy” people were for us, there were a few mean comments directed toward her name.  One person said that he “couldn’t believe we would pick that name for our kid.”

Because of JC’s public figure job, and remembering my motto even though others did not during our happy time, we blocked out those mean comments from our mind during the happiest time of our life.

Picking out a name is a special job that parents have.  It isn’t an easy job either.  It takes much time, discussion and negotiation to come up with a baby name that is just perfect.  Before becoming a parent I would have opinions (that I kept to myself) about baby names and whether they were good or bad.  Now, knowing the heavy job naming a baby is – I choose to celebrate the parents in this life-changing time and their baby as he or she is welcomed into the world with a brand new, special name.