"Just a Mom"

No, it's not that I'm just a mom and nothing else.  Trust me, I know that's not true!

A very sweet friend of mine Facebook messaged me last week.  She's read my blog since I started writing it almost three months ago (my blog has almost moved from newborn to infant!).  I was thrilled to hear how much she could relate and how much she enjoyed reading it.  I was so overwhelmed with happiness.  I had no idea she was even reading it, much less enjoying it so much!

Then she told me she is a member of Circle of Moms.  She knew they had a blogger program, because she would read various blogs from time to time.  She also reads a few blogs that had badges proudly display a "Circle of Moms Top 25 ________ Blogger".  She decided that MY little newborn blog should be nominated (she is a REALLY good friend - although she told me she did NOT want my prize of a public shout out).  I was very excited.  I'm really enjoying writing, and I've been researching how to reach a larger audience...maybe even blogging for a bigger site (like BlogHer or Cafe Mom or Parenting or something like that).

Well, that joy was short lived, because in her next sentence she told me she couldn't.  Voting opens and closes quickly and my blog didn't qualify because the only open category to nominate was Food Allergy Moms (which thankfully, I am not).

So she looked at the other categories they had, which weren't currently open.  And she informed me that she wouldn't be able to nominate me after all.  Because they were all really specific (Coupon Mom, Homeschooling Mom, Teacher Mom, Mom of Multiples, etc) and I was "just a mom".

I guess it's true.  I don't, and my blog doesn't, fit into one little box that can be neatly voted on.  I'm not exceptionally funny.  I don't make my blog spiritual.  I don't tell you how to coupon, organize your home, craft, or cook.  I'm not from a major geographical area (New York, San Francisco, Australia, Canada). 

But I'm not JUST a mom.  I fit into a LOT of little boxes (just not ones Circle of Moms defines on their site).  To name a few...

Hip Dysplasia Mom - thankfully not for long, but I've dealt with newborn ultrasounds and x-ray and 24 hours in a soft brace

Leap Day Mom - that's right...Reagan will be forever young.  Her choice...she was almost born in our car 13 minutes before midnight on February 29.  I would have loved it if she'd given me another couple of minutes...at least time to make it into a labor room.  We looked back...she was born six minutes after we made it to the hospital. 

Neutopenia Mom - I know more about a CBC with differential and what the different white cell counts mean than anyone not in the medical profession should have to.  I'm the mom who had to give her daughter injections and be completely paranoid about bacterial infections.

Stay at Home Mom - Um, yeah.  That's sort of my focus of this blog.  That's a subcategory for sure, but too broad for Circle of Moms.

Natural birth mom (unintentional!) - Thanks to Reagan and her speedy arrival.  I am a champion of the epidural and will totally opt in if there is a major cosmic shift that causes me to want to have a third child.  But I can proudly say I've gone through labor unmedicated. 

(Former) teacher mom - There IS a category for teacher moms.  But I'm definitely a full time stay at home mom right now, so that didn't apply.  However, having been a teacher definitely gives me that little edge to try everything I can to avoid being THAT mom.

Wannabe overachiever mom - I wrote a whole post on this one!

Wannabe couponing mom - Adam already thinks I'm insane and all I do is subscribe to one Sunday paper and print some coupons off the internet.  But since I'm not working, I like the idea of saving us money.  So every Friday night I come home and tell him how much I spent and how much I saved.  I'm dying to break the 50% mark, but since I refuse point blank to buy anything we don't need, and I buy produce and meat, I don't see it happening.

That's just a LITTLE bit of who I am...and I know that I'm even more.  Yes, my blog is sort of all over the map.  It's about me and my girls.  I don't try teach, I just write about my life, hopefully in a way people can relate to, so we find a connection.

Just a mom.  Ha.

By the way, she wrote to me again and told me she did nominate me because a category opened up.  I actually had to nominate myself and write a little blurb because it required a lot of information she didn't have.  The category is Top 25 Home Management Blogs.  I don't know that I totally fit what they're looking for, but some "general mommy bloggers" were there, so she encouraged me to go for it.  If nothing else, maybe some moms will read and find an internet friend in me.  

NO PRESSURE...but if you want to vote for me, the link is Top 25 Home Managment Blogs.  I added my badge to my sidebar.  

Thanks for reading!  Even if you didn't, I'd keep writing, but it's nice to know people are out there, enjoying my anecdotes and relating to me!

25 Things I Love about Mothering my Girls

Yes, this topic has been done to death by every "mommy blogger" on the internet.  But it's my 25th post AND, after my last post, I hit 2500 total pageviews, so it seemed appropriate!  Thank you to all those who read my ramblings...I am finding it so much fun AND therapeutic!

Some will be funny, some will be cheesy, some will be cliches, some will be heartwarming.  Much like my mom experience itself!

And we're off...

1. The smiles.  Every single one of them is precious, from Reagan's (still) gummy grins to Madison's silly "cheese" face.

And cheesy ones...

And messy ones too!

2. The cuddles.  They both have a bit of an independent streak, but they both love to snuggle.

3. The laughs.  Both girls have the BEST giggles.

4. The clothes.  Little girl clothes are probably the cutest things in the world.  You can have a girly girl, a preppy girl, classic style.  Pants, dresses, shorts, bathing suits...there is NO END to cute little girl clothes.  And because they grow out of them so quickly, I'm able to indulge my shopping cravings often - from Target to Gymboree!

5. The compliments.  I will never, ever, tire of hearing how cute, or well behaved, or sweet, or smart my girls are.  Even when I know it's not completely sincere, I love hearing validation of what I think of them every day.

6. Greeting either girl after ANY amount of time away from them - from getting them up from a nap to picking them up from the church nursery to Madison's very first drop off class.  It is DELICIOUS to see them so happy when we reunite.

7.  Watching them grow and being amazed, even though I see them every day, about how suddenly it seems to happen.  The other day Madison was wearing her jeans and a t-shirt, but with her hair back in a ponytail and listening to her talk, with inflection and full sentences (oh who am I kidding.  She's her parents child.  She talks in paragraphs.), she suddenly seemed like SUCH a big kid and less of a baby!   And Reagan is sitting up, playing and interacting and trying to crawl!  Isn't she my BABY???



8. Being the one who can comfort them.  Both of my girls have gone through some pretty un-fun medical things, and all they want is their mommy.  I hate that they go through it, but I love that I can make it better.

Madison during her ear/neutropenia time

Reagan in her harness

9. The toys.  Yeah, they are the girls', not mine.  And they've completely taken over our house.  But I've built some pretty cool towers out of MegaBlocks and those classic wooden blocks.  There are some pretty awesome toys out there now.  When Adam and I "Santa shopped" last November we had so much fun picking stuff out. 


10. Nursing.  Some women love it, for others it's a chore they do because they're supposed to and they feel obligated, some try and can't continue, some never start and never regret it.  Not a battle I'm getting into here.  Personally, I love that bond.  I love the closeness I have with my babies, that private time in the middle of the night (even though I didn't always cherish it at the time).  When I accepted that Madison was truly DONE, I cried. 

11. The TV.  Yes, I know.  But come on.  Some of the shows are stinking adorable.  Yes, there are some I can't stand.  My solution?  We don't watch those.  I control the remote.  We watch the ones I think are cute.

12. Watching the girls play WITH each other.  Yes, already, they don't always play nicely.  But it's so sweet to watch them actually play together - with the same toy!

They don't always share (Ok, Madison doesn't always share).  But it's fun when they do!

13. Toddler pronunciation, syntax and accents.  It's so cute.  Madison speaks pretty clearly, but there are still words that just come out in her own little adorable way.  Adam and I will go out of our way to ask questions that will have an answer she'll say in her own brand of toddler-ese (for instance, when she walks around with her pack-pack).  I also LOVE how she'll have a random Southern/British/Boston accent.  For reasons that we can't figure out.

14. The giant hug and the "Sorry Mommy" I get when Madison is released from time out.  It's almost worth whatever misbehavior put her there.

15. How the mundane becomes fun.  Washing dishes.  Doing laundry.  Clipping coupons.  It becomes such a fun game when seen through the eyes of a toddler who wants to be just like mommy or the baby who loves all that fun crinkly paper.

Helping wash dishes.  There is a picture of Reagan clipping coupons with me, but I can't find it anywhere.  If I do, I'll add it.

16. Seeing how much my girls love each other.  They really do.  Every time I'm worried Madison is going to kill Reagan with her tackling hugs I see the giant smiles on Reagan's face.

17. Bath time.  It's at the end of the day, and we're usually all tired, but my girls are true Mommy's girls, and they love their tub time.  I love watching them splash and play (even when Madison thinks that stealing the rinse cup means her hair won't get washed).

Taken by Daddy up above!

18. When the girls acquire a new skill and I just think "WHEN and HOW did you learn that?".  From putting their own binkies in, to Madison climbing into her booster at dinner, to Reagan starting to become mobile.

19. The friendships my girls have encouraged me into.  I have friends I've made solely because of the timing of our children's birthdays, but who I am thankful for every day.

20. How having the girls and wanting the best for them has inspired ME to be a better person.

21. Sneaking into their rooms to check on them every night and watching the sleeping positions they get themselves into.

22. Watching Adam turn into a Dad.  If I have any readers who knew him in his youth, you know what an amazing thing it is to watch - just how much he loves these little girls and how much fun he has with them.  (Don't tell him I said that.  He doesn't read this blog and is always worrying about what I'm saying about him.)

I don't want to hear a word from anyone about their shirts.  This picture shows a Dad who loves his girls.

23. When the girls fight over my lap.  Usually it's Reagan who is already there and Madison trying to stake her claim.  But when Madison's the one there Reagan will reach out to join us.  I love fitting the two of them there.

24.  Reading all my old favorite books...from Angelina Ballerina to Goodnight Moon.  I can't wait to get to some of my other old favorites!

25. How much closer it has made Adam and I and how much stronger our marriage is now that we are journeying together as parents.  We definitely know how much we need each other!

I love reflecting on this journey!  This is a pretty sappy post, but it seemed appropriate for #25. 

Thanks again for reading!