Next?

It seems there are always people out there curious about "what's happening next".  As soon as you start dating someone, they ask, "So when's the wedding?".  As soon as the wedding bells quiet, they ask, "So when's the first baby?".  And as soon as the first baby comes, the inevitable "So when are you having baby number two?".


We've had no less than ten people ask us when we are planning on making our little threesome a foursome.


And the funny thing is, I don't exactly know.  And I'm ok with that.  Me, who has to have a plan for everything.  The one who was desperately wanting and impatiently waiting for Baby #1.


It's sort of a strange feeling, to be ok with our family size just the way it is.  For so many years, I was hoping and planning and waiting for the "missing piece" of our family.  And now that Cole's here, I honestly am loving how perfect our family feels right now.


It's like the difference between a kid waiting for Christmas and a grown-up waiting for Christmas.  Am I excited and thrilled to add to our family someday?  Absolutely!  Maybe even more so now that I know just how much fun we're in for!  


But for right now, everything is just right.  And we are enjoying our family just the way it is!

Working Mama vs Stay at home

I don't think there is a greater debate or guilt-inducing discussion among mamas than the age old working mama vs stay at home mama debate.


Here's the thing: does it really matter?  Every single mama I know (and every single woman I know) is simply doing what's best for her family. Many women are working full time jobs outside the home, not because they want to but because they have to provide for their families.  Mamas sacrifice their bodies, souls, hearts, and minds for their families.

Many women I know who work long to stay at home with their children.  Some women I know who work love working and do an excellent job of balancing work and family obligations.

While I don't know how those working mamas do it all, I know one thing for sure:  I was not meant to be a working mama.  I can't do it all.  Something suffers if I try to do it all.  I am so fortunate to be able to stay at home with Cole almost full-time.  Do I judge those who don't stay home?  Absolutely not!  On the contrary, working moms have my highest respect.  

I think the most important thing to remember is that every mama is different and every parent knows what's best and most important for her/himself and their family.  

sick...

My baby is sick. 


Nothing major - just a cold, fever (102.9), cough, sneezing...something an adult probably wouldn't even stay home from work for.


But to me, it's like the world is ending.


I hold his feverish little body in my arms, wishing with all my heart that I could make him feel better.  I look into his glassy eyes, hoping to bring him some measure of comfort.  I long to become sick myself, if it would make him healthy, happy, and smiling again. 


Nothing can prepare you as a parent when your child is sick. My helpless little baby, listless and red-eyed, stuffy and coughing - it's truly the worst feeling in the world. 


Fortunately, he's on the mend, recovering quickly and already showing signs of being back to his normal good spirits.


And it has made me all the more thankful for his healthy little body.

Is it just me, or does meat baby food look and smell an awful lot like canned cat food?

photo via

photo via

Bleh! Good thing Cole likes his veggies!

There is nothing quite as sweet as my baby sleeping:

Unless it's my baby laughing!

The things we've handed down

I remember growing up how relatives who never saw us would always say to my sister, "You look so much like your dad!" and to me, "You look so much like your mom!".  I never got it.  Um, hello, I look like ME!  My mom is OLD, I don't look like an OLD person! (mind you, I was six, so anything over ten was old).  And have you people noticed that my sister is a GIRL and my dad is a BOY so they obviously cannot look alike!

But now that I'm older I totally see the resemblences between us.  Especially looking back at old photos of my mom when she was my age.  And I've learned to pick out traits in Meaghan's face that are an exact replica of my dad's.

Enter Cole - and one of the first questions everyone asks is, "Who does he look like?"

Sorry to disappoint, people...but he looks like a BABY.  He looks like himself.  A squirming, adorable, sort of BLOB of cuteness - but I never saw any resemblence to pretty much anyone in our families.

Until yesterday.  I was editing some photos taken over the Christmas break and saw this one:

And my first thought was, "WOW he looks sort of like me in this picture!"  I'm pretty sure he has my eyes and unfortunately he may have my ears (sorry, Cole!).

How cool is that?  I mean, it's not like I'm not sure if he's my son or not (I was sort of there when he came out), but to see parts of yourself echoed on your child...awesome.

Let's just all hope he gets Chris' eyebrows and not mine!

Dear Baby,

Yesterday was your seven-month birthday.  At the risk of sounding like a repetitive old lady, WOW! You sure are growing fast!  And you are keeping your mama on my toes - I can't leave you alone for a second, you've become so adept at rolling to wherever you want to go and this irresponsible mama of yours STILL hasn't baby proofed the house. 

Little man, I've been thinking a lot lately about what you'll be like as a grown-up man.  I know there are some traits that may stick with you from infancy on (will you still hate to have anyone touch your nose?) and there are some traits that will manifest themselves later on.  I know there are some that your daddy and I will hopefully instill in you and some that will make their way into your personality whether we like it or not!  But here are some of my dreams for you:

I want you to be kind, loving, tolerant of other people's beliefs and ideals, intelligent, well-mannered, and respectful.  I want you to be the type of man who stops to helps someone stranded on the side of the road, who stands up for someone being bullied. I want you to take responsibility for your actions and lead by example to others.

I don't care if you become the President of the United States, or a Nobel Prize winner, or a gas station attendent.  Because what you do isn't as important as who you are.  Those every day choices, the little ones that don't seem to matter much in the great scheme of things - those are the ones that really make a man.  Those are the choices that will make your daddy and me proud of who you've become.

I love you so much, my darling boy.  And every day I love you just a little bit more.  Happy seven-month birthday!

Love, Mama