Working in my bed

So, when I work from home, I tend to start my day with a workout/shower/coffee/and go right back into bed.  To do work. Until 5pm.  It sounds appealing but can be monotonous.   When I first began, I would mix up my days with working from my bed or bringing everything down to the kitchen table.  I'm all for a change of scenery but being in the kitchen for more than three hours made me want to A) eat everything in the cupboards and B) make some kind of baked good.  Positive outlook indeed, but not too productive.


I actually do a lot of things around my laptop.  It's weird and kind of convenient I guess.

 Note:  I only eat foods that don't involve crumbs around my  keyboard.  But peanut butter is a close one as it would be hell to clean up between those keys.  I just realllly wanted peanut butter on a spoon this particular day.

This is the only time I actually remember doing work at the kitchen table.  The first year with a baby truly is a blur. 

Q:

If you do work from home, where do you typically work and how do you organize/ vary your days?

I'll probably be keeping this bed-desk up for a while unless I come up with a cooler name.

Never Assume Anything

The title of this post was originally intended to be written about someone who made me feel guilty for mentioning how tired I felt the other day and how the hubs and I still get out here and there and how we look forward to it. Call me crazy, but I think getting out is healthy. Every parent needs it. Also, I'm not going to be made to feel like I was 'complaining' about being tired. That's like the #1 rule in parenting. You're going to always be a little more tired. Could you tell yet that this person doesn't have kids? Hey, I get it. Life is difficult and tiring without children. But the saddest part is that I know they want them in the near future and they are no where close. We've never discussed it personally, but what I gather from others, it sounds like that's the case. So, this person assumed that since I 'complained' about being tired and how some days I can't wait to slip out with my husband, that I'm not grateful. Again, they didn't say those exact words, but actions speak louder than words.

The title is still fitting. So I kept it.


Before I had a baby, I had not a clue. I would see photos of babies and it all looked so perfect and easy. I can't believe I'm even typing the word easy. I just assumed the parents were rock stars at being parents and they had it all figured out. The babies’ hair was combed just right. That baby is smiling so he/she must be happy all the time. Her bib is placed so perfectly. They took their baby to church? Didn't it cry? Bath time looks like a fun time.


I just assumed these things because I didn't know. And I think that's a natural thing to do. When we don't have any experience with something, we sort of make assumptions about them as if we do know about it or it's like we wish we knew more.

And let me preface what I'm about to say to anyone I personally know and love who don't have kids and to the billions of people I don't know who don't have kids at the moment. You all rock! However, this is what it is. It's just the truth of the matter. You simply have no clue what it's like until you have a child of your own. Until you become responsible for another human life, you are clueless.


And that's totally fine. That's not a put down so please don't take it that way. It's not a bad thing that you are clueless right now. I'm not calling you stupid or naive. You just have to experience it to know. It's that simple. And did you know that once parents become parents, they are still clueless? At least for the first few months. It's all new and challenging and just takes its course. You learn as you go. And you eventually just grow into it. It becomes another appendage. Being a parent is a complete and utter emotional roller coaster.

That's the best way to describe it.

And hey, I'm almost only 1 year into it. The year went fast, but some days I'm still totally clueless. I am about to celebrate my baby girl turning 1. You better believe I'm going to be having a tiny celebration with my husband, too. I'm thinking champagne and cake! We deserve a little parent celebration for surviving 1 year. All parents should!

As I'm clearly excited about this milestone coming up, I'm getting sidetracked.

Friends who are not parents yet, please don't fret. If I've upset you, which I hope is really not the case, just remember that I bake really good cookies. Friends who are about to become parents, all of this is normal. You're in for a real crazy journey and that's all I honestly have to say about that. I'd like to end this post with a few facts about how clueless I have been in the past with an infant, to most recent. You're not alone in this parenting gig. Let's all never assume other people have it perfect and good. Because that's just not the case. And remember that a photo can really portray perfectionism. Social media makes it so easy to snap a photo and assume that a person's life is wonderful 24/7.

See below for a few of my clueless moments as a parent.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Mrs. Moderation xo

1. My baby isn't really a baby anymore. When I take her out of the tub, she's shivering. Yes that's normal, but maybe if I use a larger, normal size person towel instead of her newborn baby bath towels, she may not shake as much. Lo and behold, the other day I did just that and she barely shook! Warmth!

2. The sound machine has been our best friend pretty much since Claire's been alive. Lately when she naps and a few random times she's been put to bed without it on, she sleeps just fine. We should probably stop using it soon. Tough call right now though. Anyone with 1 year olds and older still use a sound machine?

3. We have a two-story house. Claire is crawling fast and everywhere and slowly learning to walk with her push toys and assistance. She also started going up the steps. (With assistance of course). We still have yet to get a child gate and place it at the top of the stairs. I will go in the bathroom with her bedroom door wide open, knowing very well she will crawl down the long upstairs hallway. I just remember to either be quick, or if I 'm brushing my teeth I stand out in the hall and watch her. Not the safest I know. But it's real and it happens sometimes. We will be getting a gate sooner than later.

4. Word to the wise:  Don't fill up your coffee cup holder with piping hot coffee and bend over your child to pick something up with it in hand. I've never spilled coffee on my child (sorry for the mini stroke), but it's shit like that that makes me upset or angry. We are so busy and have ten million things going on. My coffee cup holder had a tight, closed lid. But it's the principle. I've learned to not hold coffee anywhere near my child. Which still kind of sucks because I feel like coffee should be nailed to my hands.

5. When my child screams her head off and becomes beyond fussy only around me sometimes, she doesn't hate me. I think she does though. And on days where I'm just crazed with work and her shenanigans and I would like a cuddly hug but nothing will satisfy her, I get upset. I have to keep telling myself that my baby doesn't wish me dead. She's just got her own problems too.

6. Parents are not mind readers. We are still human. Take this new life with a grain of salt.

Having a Girl

Good morning!

The day I found out I was having a girl, I didn't cry. But I wanted to. I thought I would cry or shed at least one tear. My husband and I were in the ultrasound room when the tech was swirling her slimy wand around my belly. It was THE appointment- to find out the sex of our baby or not. We both knew that we wanted to find out for a long time but I couldn't believe I didn't cry at that moment.  

My husband just smiled when the tech confidently announced, GIRL. I looked at him and smiled back. Maybe it was just being there on the table with a stranger in a small, dimmed room that made me not want to cry happy tears?  I wasn't embarrassed, I just don't know why I didn't get choked up. And I'm the crier of the family. ;)  I think I said something like, "Aww- yay!"  Ugh.  Such a nerdy response. But at least I responded.  I didn't want the tech to think I was made of stone.

Of course I was thrilled to hear we were having a baby girl. We were going to have a daughter.  I've always wanted a girl. But weeks prior to that appointment, I had dreams of having a baby boy and I had a hunch that I was carrying a boy.  So strange. We left feeling really excited and couldn't wait to call our family and friends.  I remember the baby wasn't in a good enough position to be able to see her heart- the four chambers. I had to go back the following week so they could look again.  It still took a little bit, but finally the tech saw everything she needed to and you better believe I made her confirm, again, that it was in fact, a GIRL.


As long as it was healthy, that's all that mattered to me. To us.

Later that night, I cried happy tears.


Do you remember the day you found out the sex of your baby ( if you wanted to)? I'd love to know your stories.

If you didn't find out, how did you do it? I could never not know! The suspense would kill us both. Did you make it all the way to 40 weeks without knowing?

My sweet girl will be 10 months old on the 3rd. Time sure is flying! :(

What Helps You Fall Asleep?

I'll spare you a photo of me sleeping so you can see this cutie in dreamland. 

I'm not gonna lie.  I'm a little grumpy pants today and exhausted. Claire was up non-stop crying from about 10:30-midnight last night.  She slept thru until about 6:30 this morning.  If she didn't, then I never heard her.  

I really hope it's teething.  I'll be downing lots of coffee today.


Unless I'm completely depleted out of my mind and in zombie form, { today}and/or sick, I can't fall asleep right away.  I've always been the type to toss and turn constantly; kicking the covers on and off until I felt settled and comfortable enough to finally drift off.

That can take anywhere between ten minutes or an hour.

Below are some of the 'remedies' that I've tried in the past: 

-Warm milk

-Sound Machine { verdict: it works better for babies }

-Turning QVC or The Home Shopping Network on low ( I always found the way they talk on there relaxes me )

-Reading

I read real books, too.


And something finally seems to do the trick...


Reading a book while laying down in bed.  I swear within five minutes, usually, I'm out!  And sometimes I fall asleep on the couch while watching a movie.

Do you have to try different things so you can fall asleep more easily?  Do you not?  If you have more tips, I'd love to know them!


Have a great Tuesday!