"THAT Mom"

Since high school (or at least, somewhere in that time frame), I've always prayed that God would help me not to be "THAT Mom" when I grow up. Don't even act like you don't know what I'm talking about. We all have someone in mind. No matter how much we love them...they are still "THAT Mom", and we cringe a little when they go on the prowl!

But let's be honest with ourselves, ladies. We are all "THAT Mom", sometimes. There is no way to perfectly guard against it! The best that we can do is surround ourselves with family and friends who will brave the fire-breathing dragon that is "THAT Mom" to let us know when it's time to reel in the rod of unwanted opinions, facts, and lengthy stories about our children's milestones.

All through my pregnancy, I would get so annoyed with older moms telling me "just wait til..." or "it goes so fast!", or even telling me all kinds of labor stories, tips, and tricks. 

Now, looking back, I appreciate the love and support from those mothers, but when you're 5 days past due and feeling like you could rival a beached whale, you just want to scream every time someone says, "Oh, she just needs longer to cook!" <--- No. She's being an evil newborn who hates her mother before she's ever been born. (<--- I know that isn't actually true, but, that's really what you feel in the moment. :-)

Being on the "other side" now, I often say to my husband, "I can't believe I almost typed to her that it's going to go SO fast!" (Speaking about commenting on my pregnant friends' statuses on Facebook, of course.)

I get up in arms about car seat laws, outraged when someone is prohibited from breastfeeding in public, and giddy at the sight of a coupon that will save me BIG bucks on diapers. My daughter passes gas during the most inappropriate (albeit hilarious) times, reaches little milestones like... you know, licking the windows, and is 30-something weeks old (come on, now, just say almost 8 months!). I don't post these things on Facebook, not because it isn't important to me, but as a deterrent for myself, so that I will not be tempted to be....you guessed it... "THAT Mom".

Wait...is me writing this post being "THAT Mom"???

Seven Months

Sometimes I can't believe that Molly's 7 months old...other times, it feels like we've known her/had her forever. It's hard to remember a time without her. Isn't it funny how you can feel like you loved someone before you ever met them...or even before they existed? I digress...

This is just a little update on Miss Molly's ever-changing, ever-individual personality. Her likes and dislikes.

Likes:

Banana Puffs. She screeched at me in frustration the other day when I put the container away. Don't get between a baby and her puffs!

Sophie the Giraffe. She deserves her own post. Not kidding - there will be one.

This YouTube video. She dances to the song, and jumps and bounces and flips out. You're welcome.

Taking walks. She looooves walks. Walks are our go-to thing if she is crazy fussy, which has been happening a lot lately.

Anything Mommy is eating/has in her hands........need I say more??

PULLING HAIR. ouch.

Peek-a-Boo! She thinks this is hilarious, however, still will not give up the belly laugh very often. Aw man, she's totally my kid.

Wipes. Yep, as in...baby wipes. She goes nuts if you give one to her to hold while changing her clothes or diaper. That's been my saving grace lately because she HATES getting her clothes on/off.

Dislikes:

Naps. Or sleep. I think she just hates sleep. It's really very sad.

Getting clothes changed. ALLIWANNADOISPLAYDRESSUP. But noooo, we can't, because she will scream her head off!

Getting buckled in her car seat. After our trip to Tennessee, she won't tolerate the car seat for any longer than absolutely necessary. Can't say I blame her.

.......did I say sleep already?? ;-)

Generations

In this day and age where women seem to be having children later in life versus earlier, it is becoming less and less common to have multiple generations alive at the same time. This is why it is such a blessing and an extremely fun thing to document that Molly's great-great-grandmother is still living!

The other day, we went out to her "home for the aged" to visit, along with Patrick, Patrick's mom, and Patrick's grandparents. FIVE generations, y'all!

 

We accidentally took the picture youngest to oldest, but oh well. :-)

A Blankie For Baby

I wanted to write a quick "review" of one of my favorite gifts we have received for Molly so far in her little lifetime!

 Click Here to get this AWESOME Lands End baby blanket for YOUR cutie pie.

I have shamelessly pushed for this blankie to become Molly's "lovey", and now she is pretty attached to it.

At first, it doesn't seem particularly soft, but the more you wash it, the softer it becomes! It's soooo soft now.

Also, it's crazy warm, despite the small holes - which makes it breathable, so I have no problem putting it in her bed with her. AND it has her first and middle name embroidered on it, which makes it even more precious, if that's even possible.

 

The Chattanooga Adventure

As long as I can remember, my parents have never shied away from road trips just because there was a baby in the family. Probably because for the majority of my childhood, there was always a baby! 

So, when my sister in law was asked by one of my dearest friends to photograph her upcoming wedding in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I jumped at the chance to go along.

Last week at this time, we were driving through Somewhere, Virginia listening to one of the 12 (yes, 12) mix CDs that we acquired for this journey and munching on Sundried Tomato Basil Wheat Thins. <-- Check those out, because trust me when I say that they are the bomb diggity.

The trip was beautiful and enjoyable, and Molly did great! She was sooooo done by the end of the ride there, but still, we never had major meltdowns for more than a few minutes and she definitely brightened the day for many a rough-lookin' traveler by waving and grinning out the windows everywhere we stopped!

The wedding was lovely (and fun!), with the most hilarious bridal party I've been around to date. FOUR random singing/dance parties, all pre-ceremony. And Waves made a beautiful and laid back bride, despite the torrential downpour right as it was time to start taking pictures outside. 

Besides the wedding, we also got to visit with some other treasured "old" friends - Morgan, Josiah, Johanna, Jimmy, and Owen.

The ride back, however, was not quite as pleasant. :-( There was a good bit of traffic (Labor Day - we had expected that), rain almost the entire way, and about an hour and a half from home....our car died. Just up and died! I mean, fair enough, the poor dear had about 203,000 miles on it - but, really? Right now? I know God is trying to teach me something in this, I just haven't figured out what yet. 

Thankfully, we had friends in the area who took us in for the night, and my grandfather came to get us the next day after the auto repair shop owner let us know that our wonderful Buick had breathed its' last breath.

So, here we are. Looking for a vehicle to get us from point A to point B, and bumming rides in the meantime.