d'ope!

Did your child go through this phase?

Levi had about a five day period of constantly sucking on his bottom lip.

I'm so glad I got some photos... ridiculous and funny.

But I'm also glad this wasn't a lasting habit. Not a good look for a teenager.

Dear mommy-friends, what do you think? Teething? Or just another random baby phase?

still giggling,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

sweet sleeping child-O-mine: paparazzi

My child is famous on facebook. He's got to be one of the most photographed kids on the planet, celebrity children excluded. (Come to think of it, he probably could rival most celebrity babies on this one.)

For all the hundreds of photos we've posted on facebook... there are hundreds more that never make it past the folders on my hard drive labeled January, February, March... and so on.

Apparently even little Levi can get tired of mama's antics:

{"please mom, no flash photography" pleads levi at five weeks old.}

Dear mommy-friends, I'm trying to think of a clever question to ask related to this post and it's just not happening. So instead I'll go ahead and let you leave comments about how cute my kid is... even when he's asleep. (Don't you love those monkey jammies?)

up way past my bedtime,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

some "happy six month" photos... of my seven month old

Dear Levi,

Here are a few of your six month photos.

Sorry that mommy's a bit late.

Happy seven months today son.

It has been a good seven months, hasn't it? {Best ever.}

Mama loves you, and thinks these photos capture how adorable you are...

...even if you were too busy chomping and sucking and examining and lifting and shifting to give me a smile.

I know how important the business of play is to you, and I can appreciate that.

{I also know that the camera doesn't phase you in the slightest since you think it's an extension of my arm.}

Dear mommy-friends, it's the thought that counts, right? Although I took the six month photos at six-and-a-half months... and then posted them at seven... I thought about it months in advance.

in need of a little more organization,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

mommy's little helpers... do you have them?

There are a few "mommy's little helpers" on my wishlist. I can almost taste the sweet ease that these helpers would bring... Surely they would change my life.

A dishwasher. Seriously. Mommy needs a dishwasher. Do I really need to explain??

Laser eye surgery. Don't you think it would be amazing to wake up in the middle of the night to feed the baby and actually be able to see as I fumble around in my sleep? Oh. So. Good.

A dryer. Ok, so dryers aren't commonplace in Australia. We use the clothesline all year except for rainy season (when we have every chair in the house draped with drying laundry). The fresh air is nice and all... and being "green" is awesome... But mommy wants a dryer for those days that hanging the clothes and finding the pegs is just the straw that breaks the camel's back. (Oh, and I'd like a laundry-folding fairy too, please.)

A baby whisperer. I want a baby whisperer or a supernanny to come and watch me take care of my baby so she can tell me what I'm doing wrong and coach me in how to get my sweet child to sleep through the night. Seven months feels like an eternity and I'm tired!

A chef. Is this too much to ask? I just want a personal chef that will make my family and I healthy and delicious meals to eat before I put the plates in my new dishwasher. I don't think that's unrealistic. Oprah has one.

A 13" macbook pro. Mommy needs the proper equipment to feed her blogging addiction hobby and to store her bajillion photos of the baby.

A holiday. To be more specific, a weekend away with my hubby. Someplace nice, someplace close to home in case the little angel baby needs us. Someplace that we can order room service and have breakfast in bed.

I think having these "mommy's little helpers" would be amazing. Don't get me wrong, I'm so grateful for my life and the mountains of blessings in it... I have far more to be thankful for than most of the people on the planet.

But a girl can dream, can't she?

Dear mommy-friends, what's on your "mommy's little helpers" wishlist?

dreaming pipe dreams (but without the pipe),

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

all the besties

I've been working on a monster compilation... and I'm pleased to say that it's finally up and running as a new page on the memos. (In fact, all my pages are finished now... have a look around if you'd like.) 


If you're new here, or just want to dig around a little, here's a bit of the memo's best of...

Most clicked posts:

• Dear Nap time
• Breaking all the bloggy rules: 100 things about pregnancy, birth, and motherhood
• Dear Natural Birth Club
• So this is what it feels like to have someone call you “mama”?
• I gots me some mama badges
• The Line
• "You're a great mum." (Please tell me again.)

{besties by category}

Bump:

Hey you, pregnant lady!

Gimme some red high heels

100 things...

Birth/postpartum:

Dear Natural Birth Club

The Line

Splish splash, I was going into labor

100 things...

Don't sweat it mama

Baby:

Oh fair Nap Time, where art thou?

Oh baby, these are my favorites

Tiger wrestling

Tantrums, teething, and turning points

Baby faves {product reviews}

Tips and tricks for breastfeeding in public

Like father, like son

Taking your baby out bush

I {heart} baby fashion

What's in a name?

Your baby can fly

Motherhood:

“You’re a great mum” (please tell me again)

Sacred parenting: living in the midst of holy teachers

100 things you ought to know...

So this is what it feels like to have someone call you “mama”?

I gots me some mama badges

Who’s growth spurt is it anyway?

Mommy for president

Baby steps to becoming a better mom

Mr. Mom saves the day

I think we need a padded doorway

The view from down here

Tips:

100 tips about pregnancy, birth, and motherhood

Decorating a nursery on the cheap

Camping with an baby

Breastfeeding in public

Traveling {and flying} with an infant

For the expecting first-time-mamas

Humor/just for fun:

Dear Nap Time

Like father, like son

Long live my fabulous ankles

Burning down the house

I got punk’d by my sweet baby boy

Pookie-wookie, bunny bear

Don’t sweat it mama

Secret agent bebe seeks placement

Mommyhood Memos: you know life has changed when… {series}

I gots me some mama badges

Oh baby, these are my five month faves

An ode to poo

Personal:

Let me introduce to you a little girl in a land far, far away {a photo story}

The Line

“You’re a great mum." (Please tell me again.)

It’s a jammies sort of day

Froggy bum

Tantrums, teething, and turning points... oh my

So this is what it’s like to have someone call you “mama”?

The view from down here

Living in the midst of holy teachers

Who’s growth spurt is it anyway?

Some precious baby bliss…

Photo posts:

dear God

I {heart} baby fashion

Sweet sleeping child-O-mine

Dear mommy-friends, guess what? I've gone camping. You'll still be seeing me around here {I've scheduled a few posts} but if I don't respond back to you for a few days... don't feel rejected. I love you sweet ones, and I promise to connect again when I return from the bush.

A-camping I will go...

leaving you with my best,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

sweet sleeping child-O-mine: froggy bum

So lately... I've been wanting a baby.

I know, I know. I already have one. (A really gorgeous one at that.)

I think I've been looking at some of these too much:

Twelve days old seems like years ago.

My husband keeps saying we should have another baby so that we don't have to share. He can hold one while I hold the other. Sometimes we "fight" over who's turn it is to cuddle Levi.


Our love is hard to contain within the space of one little child.


Can you please just look at those sweet little lips and that cute little bum? {gasp}

I've been having some serious belly envy lately. I'm looking at these preggo mamas in all their big, round, belly glory... and I want one of those.

But who am I kidding? One is plenty enough for now. We'll give this child a brother or sister... when it's time.

For now, to appease myself... I'll just keep looking at these "old" photos.


Aren't they precious? Is my sweet sleeping froggy bum child not one of the most heavenly sights you've ever seen? Any newborn that smiles in his sleep... must be divine, I tell you.

Dear mommy-friends, how do you appease your belly envy and newborn envy? Please feel free to remind me that one baby is enough for now. Someone needs to keep me grounded in reality.


dreaming of a bigger belly,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

hey you, pregnant lady! these tips and tricks are for you. (part 2 of 2)

Like I said yesterday, I’d never actually say “hey you, pregnant lady!” in real life… but somehow, on the computer screen it works. (Well, in my mind at least.)

But if you’re pregnant, and especially if you’re pregnant for the first time, I’m writing this post for you! Hopefully I got your attention.

If you missed part 1 of this post, you can read it here.

And now, for the rest of my tips for first-time-expecting-mamas-to-be:

12. Give yourself some grace. 

Some days, as a new mama, you will feel incredibly accomplished. Other days you will feel like it’s a struggle just to find time to shower… much less cook, clean, run errands, and whatever else you want to do. Especially during your “fourth trimester” (the first three months post-partum) give yourself time to find your groove. Do what you can, but give yourself grace for what you can’t.

13. Be prepared to be hormonal. 

Unfortunately the emotional rollercoaster doesn’t stop as the pregnancy gives way to birth. Your hormones will still be raging for a while. If you have really high highs and low lows for a period, don’t be alarmed. You might cry easily or anger easily, but this will also pass with a bit of time. (Case in point: When my baby was a few weeks old I was singing "You are my sunshine" to him as I changed his diaper. When I got to the line "please don't take my sunshine away" I burst into tears. My husband walked in to find me a blubbering mess and asked me what was wrong. "I just love him a lot {muahhhhh}" I responded as I continued to cry my little eyes out.) Apparently that's normal. {grin}

14. Reach out to others. 

You have a lot to process right now as your life changes. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others and make sure you keep talking. Talk through your emotions and your expectations. Talk through your fears and anxieties. Talk about your joys and talk about your challenges.

15. Be honest with yourself related to the “baby blues.” 

If you feel like you have the “baby blues” then take it seriously and find out more. Research or talk to your health care provider to see what’s normal and what’s more serious. There’s no shame in having the “baby blues” or even in having depression, so if you suspect you need help, then get it. You’ll be a better mother for it.

16. Don’t try to get your old body back, aim for your best new body. 

Even as a thin person who didn’t gain a ton of extra weight during pregnancy, I still needed to realize that my body will never be the same. There’s nothing wrong with this, it’s the progression of life moving forward. Don’t live in the past and spend time dwelling on what used to be... Instead spend time making the most of where you’re at and where you’re going. (And enjoy those big boobs if you’re normally a size B like me… they don’t last forever either!)

17. Write baby milestones down on a calendar as they happen. 

We all love to think we’re going to capture everything in a baby book or a blog, but sometimes we don’t have a firm grip on the reality of the work that will be. Write your baby’s milestones on a calendar that you can refer back to when filling in the baby book. As much as you think you won’t… you will forget. (And it sure beats scrolling back through months of your facebook status updates to try and remember what happened when!)

18. Early on, establish goals for you time and husband time. 

Even if these aren’t set in stone, at least have them in place and try your best to follow-through. You’d be surprised at how quickly a month can go by without having taken time out for yourself or for a date with your husband or your girlfriends. Be as deliberate as absolutely possible to prioritize these. You’ll be a better (saner) mom because of it.

19. Don’t be ruled by your insecurities. 

Becoming a parent inevitably unearths fears and insecurities. Instead of being alarmed by this or feeling like it disqualifies you or makes you a failure, realize that having them exposed is part of the process of dealing with them. Give yourself some grace, learn, grow, and rise above them.

20. Cuddle your baby as much as you want. 

He will only be tiny once (and not for very long), so don’t be too eager to start schedules and routines and rules. Just snuggle in together, let him sleep on your chest, and do as you please… especially for the first couple of weeks. Both you and your baby will be happier for it.

21. Take a million photos. 

You will never get this time back. Take as many photos and video clips as you want. In fact, take more than you want. You can always delete them later. If your husband forgets to take some with you in them, order him to do so. I’m so glad to be in lots of the photos from the first few days… I really was there at the birth and I have photos to prove it! {grin}

22. Remember that you can only do what you can do. 

No parent is perfect, but the parent who loves deeply, commits whole-heartedly, faces challenges with dedication, and cares for their child the best they know how… that is what qualifies you for greatness in parenting. You are the best mom your baby will ever have so don’t sell yourself short and don’t get trapped by lies that tempt you to think you’re not “good enough” or “competent enough” or “anything-else enough”. This must become your mantra: I’m a great mom, I’m a great mom, I’m a great mom.

Dear mommy-friends, if you are an expecting mom, did you find this two-part post helpful? And if you’ve already had your babies, what’s the best advice that you were given as a first-time-mom and/or advice that you now give to other expecting moms?

learning more all the time,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

hey you, pregnant lady! these tips and tricks are for you. (part 1 of 2)

Never-ever would I say, “hey you, pregnant lady!” in real life… but it did get your attention, didn’t it? Now before I go further, let me say congratulations on your pregnancy! What a wonderful time it is.

I was recently asked to write about things I’d tell a first-time-mama-to-be and—since I love this subject—I am thrilled to do so.

A few things you should know about me going into this: I love being a mom. I loved becoming a mom. I was one of those ladies that absolutely loved being pregnant. From my perspective, it’s such a special time with your baby… before you have to share him with the rest of the world.

Being pregnant, giving birth, and having a newborn is a big deal. Here is some of what I learned in the process:

1. Get educated about giving birth.

Explore your options for giving birth, listen to birth stories, ask moms what they’ve learned (things that helped and things they regret) and ask your doctor or midwife lots of questions. The more you know about birth, the less room there will be for fear. An educated woman is an empowered woman, and birth is no exception.

2. Research parenting philosophies, but remember that you’re the expert.

You will probably naturally be drawn to one end of the spectrum more than the other when it comes to things like sleep training vs. co-sleeping, feeding schedules vs feed-on-demand. But take a look at both camps and then make your own decisions. What works for one family will not be right for the next. Don’t be afraid to do what you feel is “right” and don’t waste time defending your decisions to those who oppose. For every opinion there is an opposite! Remember that there are no rules when it comes to caring for your child in areas like feeding and sleep. Once you decide then be consistent. Children, even babies, learn quickly what to expect and it’s hard on them if you’re all over the place. In saying that, if you’ve been trying something for a while that’s not working, change your approach and find what does.

3. Don’t be presumptuous and don’t judge.

Do yourself a favor and try to not be too presumptuous or too judgmental of what you see other parents doing. You will be surprised in a few months time when you find yourself changing your stance or approach on different things. Remember that parenting is not easy and all you can do is your best. It will change as you learn and grow in the midst of it. Appreciate other parents for their strengths and try to learn from what they do that works, rather than judge them for what you see that you don’t like.

4. Realize that you have expectations that you may not be aware of.

We all have expectations… but some of them lurk under the surface and only appear in our conscious minds when they are not met. This is fine, in fact normal, but just knowing that you’ve probably got some expectations that you can’t articulate will help when you’re faced with the ones that aren’t met. (Knowing is the first step toward processing.)

5. Have a friend rally friends to prepare you dinners post-partum.

Not doing this is a regret of mine. Especially since I had an unplanned c-section, having this kind of support would have been so good for us. Since my husband is a rockstar, he did all the cooking and taking care of the house… but he was exhausted too. In hindsight I wish we had organized some outside help from friends to give both my husband and I some extra support. (And don’t think you’ll be up for asking when the baby comes – do it in advance.)

6. Have your husband ask for extra leave in the event you end up in surgery.

This is another thing that I wish someone had suggested to me in advance. I had planned on having a natural water birth, and then while in labor had to be transferred to surgery for a c-section. I ended up staying in the hospital for five days (husbands aren’t allowed to stay overnight here) and so by the time I was released we only had a week together as a family at home. I wish my husband would have asked in advance for an extra week paternity leave in the event of an unplanned c-section. Not only would the family bonding time have been really wonderful (especially as first-time-parents), but I really could have used the extra help and support physically and emotionally as I recovered from the surgery.

7. Have a plan for your birth and communicate your desires.

Think through your goals and priorities and discuss them with your husband/partner and your medical providers. Don’t assume that in the thick of labor they will be able to read your mind (and don’t assume you’ll be able to communicate clearly then either). Include contingencies. (For example, I wish I had stated that in the event of a c-section, I still wanted to hold my son for a few minutes before they took him off to be weighed and checked. I didn’t get to hold him until about an hour after he was delivered, and medically there was no reason for this.)

8. Be nice. 

Yes, your D-Day is about you and your baby, but don’t forget that you’re not in this alone. Make it a goal to be nice to your husband. Just supporting you is exhausting and emotional, and don’t downplay his role. Appreciate him. Appreciate your support people. Appreciate your doctor, midwife, and the nurses that take care of you. Birth is monumental for everyone, and a little kindness and gratitude will go a long way.

9. Write your birth story as soon as possible. 

Even if it’s unpolished and doesn’t sound pretty, write your birth story as soon as you possibly can. Write the details that you think you’ll never forget… because most likely you will. You can always edit your story later on, but just having some of the play-by-play written out will make it far easier when you do want to make it sound “pretty”.

10. Help your body heal. 

Remember that although giving birth is totally natural and wonderful, it is also a massive strain on your entire being. Be patient, rest when you can, and nurture your body with lots of water and healthy food. Oh, and keep taking your prenatal vitamins, especially if you’re breastfeeding.

11. Let people take care of you, and if they don’t, ask them to. 

No matter if you have an “easy” or a difficult labor and delivery, giving birth is hard work and your body has gone through so much. Take the time you need to recover, and get as much help as you can. You have years to prove yourself as supermom… now is not the time.

TO BE CONTINUED… part 2 of 2.

Dear mommy-friends, please check back tomorrow for the second half of this post!

from one new mama to another,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

dear God, thank you for big, ridiculous toys that allow mommy to take a shower

I thought I'd be the mom that would never buy gigantic play centers like this. Because, you know, kids like to play with shoes and wooden spoons and remote controls... But then Levi started crawling and Target had a sale and... I changed my mind.

A friend of mine refers to their monster toy conglomerate as "baby jail" for when she needs a few minutes with the baby contained somewhere safe.

I like to think of ours as "baby heaven"... where the ammo for chomping is never beyond reach...

...and where big boy gets to "stand up" as much as he wants without depending on mama's help.

Really, it keeps everyone happy... for 20 minutes at least.

Dear mommy-friends, what are your favorite ways to keep your baby imprisoned entertained while you "get stuff done"?

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

i think we need a padded doorway

{my little jumping joey}

Do you ever get to the end of a day, absolutely exhausted from cleaning, organizing, cooking, washing, diapering, laundering, folding, planning, grocery-ing... and a thousand other "-ings"?

That was my day today: a full and extremely productive Saturday.

In fact, it was one of the most productive days I've had in a very long time. You know the ones... where you cross a few things off your "to-do" list that have been collecting dust on that piece of paper for a couple of months? {ahem}

That probably never happens to you.

No doubt you're much more on top of things than I am. {grin}

But enough about you. Back to me.

It really was a monumental catch up day around the house. Only another week's worth of those and I will be able to obliterate that dreaded list completely. But let's be honest... it's not gonna happen. So I'll just be pleased with today.

Pleased and exhausted.

To end a day like today, it seems appropriate to throw myself on the couch and be waited on. But since that's mostly likely not going to happen, the least I can do is end on a light note... Hence my reason for sharing my new favorite giggle video.

In my humble opinion it's a minute and a half very well-spent.

And you're wondering about all that rambling up to this point? That was actually my intro to the real reason for this post: incredible Levi cuteness and out-of-control baby (and mommy) laughter.

I dare you not to laugh along with us...




Dear mommy-friends, as most of you read this you'll be just starting your Saturday. May it be all that you're hoping it to be. I, on the other hand, plan to be enjoying my Sunday on the other side of the world... in my pj's until noon. And on that note, have I told you lately that I love you? Yes, mommy-friends, I love you. Thanks for sharing life with me.

tired but happy,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010
do not reproduce without written permission