Mom Code

As young girls, even as a young adult woman there was the unspoken Girl Code.  You know - no dating each others exes, no copying the same outfits, no gossiping, keeping each others secrets, and no fornicating with the enemy... whoever the enemy of the hour was.   None of that crazy applies to my current life.  Obviously becoming a wife and mom crosses plenty of that off the list and the rest is hopefully just irrelevant to adult life.  But then there is mom code.  Mom code is the unspoken code of conduct for us baby bearing broads.

Do not expect me to roll out a freshly vacuumed red (or any colored for that matter) carpet for you when you arrive to a play date.  I may answer the door.  I may just holler that its unlocked.  Obviously on a first mom date I will go out of my way to make you feel welcomed.  After that make yourself at home.

Real friendship is not high maintenance.  If I don't call you for a week its because I'm probably losing my mind or can't find my phone.  Hurt feelings over being left out are silly.  Invite yourself - it is one less thing for me to think about.      

Be real.  Sometimes I am put together  and my house is perfect - usually that's Thursday after my greatest luxury, my cleaning lady leaves.  If you pop in on a Wednesday we are a wreck.  Roll with it.  We live here.  Between the two kids, two dogs, and Tasmanian devil I married, I am doing good to be caught up on laundry and have food in the house.  

Day drinks.  Every now and then, the sun will come out, the kids will be playing in harmony, and a wave of relaxation hits and you think, "I would love a mimosa the size of my head" to really feel like I'm on vacation here.  Having a day drink with the girls is always fun because we don't have to plan for sitters, or stay up past bedtime, we can have a girls night in the middle of the day.  Then there are days when everything goes wrong and you need an emergency drink at the local hang spot because... life, kids, and husbands. 

There is no greater contribution to this world than the people we raise.  I love my kids beyond measure and I know you love yours too.   Of course they also drive us nuts.  I will never judge someone for saying their kid is acting like a jerk, or for sarcastic jabs spoken under your breath as you fill a sippy cup for the hundredth time, or remind your toddler to stop doing something while counting to three through gritted teeth.

This is real life, with real problems and trials.  If something in your life is totally going wrong and you need me I will get a sitter and be there.  If you really just need a sitter to be alone - drop them off.  Mom friends, aren't just friends it is a sisterhood.  A safe place to not take it all too seriously.  

Fruitsicles for Fall

This week has seen mother nature usher in that crisp fall air we wait all year to enjoy.  We have been enjoying the cooler air, but we are also suffering with the first virus of the season.  While I wade through the not so fun mom tasks of sick kids, one who is the proud new owner of molars, and even worse a sick husband, I have something fun for you guys!

While we love the season changing there are a few things the kids miss about summer.  No schedules, less clothing, and Popsicles.  I try to be creative with how I introduce new foods to the baby, but also getting my toddler to eat the same things.  So when I saw this Garden Fresh Fruitsicle Frozen Pop Tray from Nuby I had high hopes of getting the boys to finally try yogurt, disguised as a Popsicle, and all kinds of other clever concoctions.

When it arrived on my doorstep, it saved me.  The kids have had fevers and tummy issues the last few days.  Preston won't drink anything other than milk.  He hates juice and water.  He is also getting a brand new set of molars, which he is hoping came with a 30 day return policy.   After a trip to the pediatrician's office I swung through the pharmacy to snag an infant electrolyte drink.  He threw the bottle on the floor, and screamed what I am assuming were baby obscenities.  I happened to glance over at the Nuby box and was like electrolyte Popsicles might work, and oh did they ever.

I made two of the electrolyte pops, and put his favorite breakfast (pureed banana, cinnamon, and oats) in the other two spots.  Preston was obsessed and ate two in one sitting.  Leavitt also feeling under the  weather loved the strawberry electrolyte pops.  It was so easy to pour the liquid into the tray, or scoop the pureed food.  They felt like they were having a treat and for the first time in a few days I felt good about what they were eating. 

The Nuby Garden Fresh Fruitsicle Frozen Pop Tray features:

- Freeze and feed Popsicle molds, with perfectly shaped handles for kids.

- Turns purees and juices into 1 oz Popsicles.

- Wide base handle design catches drips.

- Soothes gums for teething babies.

- 6 months + 

- BPA free

The Fruitsicles Tray can be purchased here on Amazon.   

Want to win one? Enter to win one our Facebook Page Brining Up Leavitt

Bringing up Leavitt is a Nuby parent blogger and was given products in exchange for reviews.  All opinions are and always will be my own.

Preston's First Fiesta

If you have been keeping up you know my precious little man is one.  I threw him a little fiesta to celebrate his first birthday and we had the best time.  It is no secret we love our local Mexican restaurant so it felt perfect to host a fiesta theme for our favorite little birthday boy.

I'm not a huge kid party fan, and after my first born's first birthday he has had family parties only.  I  decided this needed to be as mom friendly as it was kid friendly because after all we do all the work, am I right mamas?  I know I am! 

I made a huge batch of "I made it a whole year mothering two children and we all survived"  AKA skinny margaritas, for my favorite moms to take the edge off while our kids bounced themselves silly in the pirate ship bounce house.  The dad crew sipped on their favorite local beers as bribery to spend a Saturday afternoon with sugar drunk children.

The cake was so cute!  Noelle at Sew Sweet always gets it right.  I ran the fiesta theme by her, showed her a couple pictures and she hit it out of the park per usual!  Preston devoured his entire smash cake and really went to town on it.  The rest of us had lemon cake with blueberry filling, which we enjoy on every special occasion around here.  The cake toppers came from Inspired by Alma and they were so stinking cute! We had discussed the theme and she instantly had something personal and fun for us.  She made one with Preston's name on it and then another one with the cactus and his age. She also sent matching cactus party picks that I scattered on the food table in different dishes and on the smash cake.  I love personalized everything so having his name was so special and fun, I will be keeping it as a keepsake for sure!  

The kids snacked on Chick-fil-A nuggets and waffle fries, my kids favorite treat.  Let's be honest there were plenty of adults perusing the kids food table snacking on waffle fries!  I figured I had better have some good bribery food if we were ever going to get the bigger kids off the bounce house!  I totally underestimated the level of destruction my older son and his posse are capable of and   am for sure renting a space if he has a party in December!  While my house was trashed I have to say it was worth every pit of shredded tissue paper just watching them all play together.  Leavitt has a really sweet group of friends and to see them all loving on his brother makes my heart so happy to watch them celebrating him.

On that note, someone bring me a margarita, how on earth is my baby one already?



I was provided with some of the items in this post.  All opinions are and always will be my own.  Post may contain affiliate links.

Dear Preston: Year One

| Danielle Brady Photography |

Preston,

You are one.  I never thought I could love someone as much as I did your brother, and then you came and rocked my world with your light.  You have a gentle loving smile that reminds me so much of my dad.  I am blessed beyond measure with your perfect temperament.  I have yet to feel frustrated by you.  There is something extraordinary about your calmness and I cannot wait to see how this natural gift serves you in life.   Your easygoing nature has been the perfect compliment to your brother, and your dad and I could not love you more.  I adore your smile and your zest for life.  You cannot wait to keep up with your brother, and despite my reservations you already love to rough house with him.  I'm always so scared you will get hurt and then you emerge from under his pig pile with a smile ready for more.  Your fun loving side is only matched by your serene demeanor.  

In your first week of life you had attended church, been to my mommy group, dropped your brother off at school, and been my sidekick anywhere I went.  You hit the ground running with me and we haven't stopped since.  Now that you are ready to start running I can only imagine you will take off and not look back.  I hope you know I will always be standing there behind you cheering you on and shooting you a wink if you decide to look back.

Around three months we started going to the library while your brother was in school for the morning.  You loved looking at the other kids, singing the songs, and listening to stories.  You have a magnetic personality, people are drawn to you, and you always make their day by being happy to see them.  It is a gift not many have and I pray it stays with you, but something tells me it will.  Lately you have been showing signs of a temper, which has me feeling oddly proud.  You are a force to be reckoned with, and will not be pushed around.  A couple weeks ago while I made breakfast you found a stray fishing lure and hooked yourself with it.  While that is a story for another time, you shocked me with how high your pain tolerance is and I have more gray hair than ever. 

Your first word was "mumma" and I did a major celebratory dance inside that I could claim that!  You say "dada" a lot now too which has him pretty smitten.  I watch your dad look at you with so much pride in his eyes it makes me love him even more.  The way you look at him and crawl to the door to greet him is the sweetest thing, and I'm sure after a long day at work away from you that it is exactly what he needs.  That's the thing about you, while you need us, we are getting so much more from you.

I hope you can feel my love and prayers being poured into you every day.  The lord has trusted me with you and I can think of no greater calling than to raise you.  I know you are going to continue to bless our little family, and show us all the ways you will make us better.  You'll forever be this baby to me.  A husky little baby, ready to run, crazy for a hug, explorer of your world, and a sucker for a good nap.  

So incase you don't already know - you are so loved, treasured, and adored.  We could never repay you for the happiness you have brought our whole family, so I'm sure you will work on figuring out how to even the score as you inch towards two!  We love your Preston Frederick and can't wait to see how far you go in your next year!

All my love,

Mommy

Preston: The Birth Story

| Danielle Brady Photography |

I am not a huge fan of birth stories.  Some people love them, I don't happen to be one of those people but I never want to forget that day.  So for the sake of my memory and anyone who loves a birth story here we go!

5:30AM I wake up soaked.  I am not totally sure if I peed my pants (gross but possible), if my toddler peed on me in his sleep (also gross, also possible) or if my water broke but I know I need to get up.  As soon as my feet hit the floor so does some more water.  I jump in the shower knowing we just spent our last night as a family of three.  I let Nick sleep and text my doctor.  As I finish getting ready Leavitt wakes up and I get him breakfast and ready for school.   

8:30AM I drop Leavitt off at school.  He's crying.  I start crying.  Pissed we are sharing our last moment together in this little school kitchen crying in front of what feel like strangers.  The teachers suggest my tears are making it worse, so I tell them I will be having the baby today, which for some reason is really difficult to verbalize.  It was so hard to have to say bye to him as the baby there.  I kept telling him his grandfather would get him from school and he could come see me later.  

9:00AM I get to my doctors office who confirms my water broke.  He seems to think I did a good job breaking it as he shows me on an ultrasound what looks like my baby kissing the placenta.  He sends me over to the hospital.  I start to let my mind calm down knowing all these visits to this office were all in preparation for today and I need to just let everyone do their job when I get to the hospital.  I call my husband who is at work, and I head home to finish packing. 

10:20AM  we check into the hospital.  I start to feel super calm.  I chat with the registration girl about how different the hospital is since I got done working there.  The first of a dozen people who will recognize me, making me nervous I will have to be vulnerable around people I know.  

Our last picture together before we became parents for the second time.

In the afternoon we had visitors bringing Nick food, checking to see how long before we have this little guy.  I relaxed most of the afternoon.  Checking in with my father-in-law who had picked up Leavitt from school for us.  I brought a travel oil diffuser, calming music, and prayed to keep things into perspective.  Sitting around makes my mind wander.  I started thinking about the last time we were all up there together welcoming one little one into the family and saying goodbye to another.  It was so important to keep my mind positive so I refocused myself on little Preston and how lucky I am to be his mom.  

At about 4:30PM I got my first epidural... that had to be taken out and replaced.  Then the second epidural was only working from the knee down.  By the time it started working where I needed it to I could feel literally nothing and was kind of excited to be pain free for the first time.  

6:00PM.  A quick chat with my doctor and he was heading home, he told Nick and my mom that it would be another 6-12 hours.  I knew that couldn't be.  I just knew he would be here sooner than that.  But I trusted my doctor so I tried to get some rest.

Around 8:00PM My mom went for a walk but when they checked on me while she was gone I had progressed enough that they needed to call my doctor back.  I finally put the gun to Nick's head to pick a name for the baby.  We had agreed on Preston months ago but needed a middle name.  Nick suggested we use Frederick, my Dad's first name, who passed when I was 6 months pregnant.  It also happens to be Nick's great grandfather's first name.  I laid there for a few moments as they wrote his name on the board thinking about all the ways I hope Preston is able to be like my Dad even though they will never meet here on earth.  My Dad loved life and having fun, thinking about him gave me a good smile and I really knew everything would be OK.

At 9:10PM my doctor was getting ready to let me push soon, and my sister showed up.  

After two contractions of pushing the doctor asked me who was cutting the cord.  Nick said he was all set to stay up by my head.  So I said I wanted to do it.  Then the doctor tells me ok, he will be here soon.  

9:35PM he was born.  So peaceful.  No crying, just staring at me.  The most perfect coloring, precious pouty lips, and dark hair like his mama.  The nurse begged him cry, shaking him on my chest with a towel to irritate him into a cry.  My mom and sister told me after that made them nervous.  I wasn't nervous at all though.  The way he looked at me, his perfect color, and his rooting around in the first few minutes I knew he was fine.  After a minute of bonding the doctor hands me the cord and a pair of scissors with Preston still on my chest I cut the cord.  My doctor then jokes I'm his new hero, I am pretty sure I laughed at that... he's an old army doc after all.  

Our first picture together just moments after he was born. 

There it is folks, the nitty gritty details of meeting Preston for the first time.  It was a great experience and I would do it all again tomorrow if I could.  The mix of hormones, adrenaline, fear, love, the whole darn circus of emotions somehow always make me feel so at peace.  Never have I felt greater purpose for my life than in the moments leading up to and after giving birth.  I will always feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to have had this experience, and it having been a good one.  So many people can't say that and I don't take it for granted that I can. 

| Danielle Brady Photography |

Baby Steps

We are on the downhill to Preston's first birthday and my mama heart is in complete and total denial.  It's as true as it is cliche that they grow up so fast.  One day last week I was able to set him anywhere, the next he was opening doors and pulling himself up on everything while hauling things out of the baskets or drawers.  We are on the move folks!  The first birthday means a few big things.  We survived a year of being a family of four.  Our newborn, turned infant, is almost a toddler who will be walking.  Is it just me or is it a little cruel that they turn one and walk around the same time? Oh my Heart!

Ever the shoe addict and overly sentimental mama, I had to find the perfect pair of shoes for those first steps to be taken in.  Never one to value function over style I settled on these Cactus moccasins from Freshly Picked.  They are the sweetest little moccasins, and as stylish as they are functional so he adores them too!  The elastic opening means easy on and off for mama, and they stay on all day.  The soft leather bottoms are my absolute favorite part.  He can easily feel the floor making it easier to learn to walk for him, and once those little feet are on  the move his footprint will be worn into the bottom for me to keep forever.  I cannot explain the feeling I had when I was going through Leavitt's old shoes to use for Preston when I stumbled on the moccasins Leavitt walked in for the first time.  Seeing his little footprint worn into the sole felt so bittersweet but they are a treasure I will forever keep.

I can't lie it stings a little that he is pushing for independence lately.  I have traveled this road once before with his big brother only this time I know what to expect.  Less concerned with meeting the milestones, and more concerned with burning them into my memory.  I have watched these boys bond with each other, Preston just adores his big brother.  So I know he is trying his hardest to get those feet under him and take off.  When he does I will be there cheering him on, dying a little inside, and when he's on to his next pair of shoes I will have these moccasins with his footprints worn into them to remind me of these days I'm desperate to live over and over again.  

To help celebrate Preston's first birthday Freshly Picked & I are giving a pair away to one lucky reader!  The giveaway is being hosted on my Facebook page to enter head over there to enter!

Bringing up Leavitt is a Freshly Picked partner and I was provided with a pair of moccasins for this post.  All opinions are and always will be my own!

Mommy Needs A Drink

I love summer don't get me wrong, but holy heck is it hot.  Not just that but our social calendars are all packed, and mommy attends every one's obligations.  Trying to make everyone happy and involved is killing me!  When I get a hot second with my gal pals, or the end of the day when the babies are all sleeping, mommy wants a cocktail.  

If you've ever grabbed a drink with me you probably know my drink of choice is raspberry (or blueberry for summer) vodka with sprite zero... my friends and family have dubbed it "The Samantha" and they are all on the bandwagon.   Many of you also know I am trying to be a little healthier so I decided to ditch the diet soda in an attempt to do that while also being able to indulge in an evening lifter.  

If I have to be healthier I might as well make it fun, so to jazz things up I  grabbed some coconut vodka and watermelon lemonade seltzer.  I then tossed in some frozen watermelon and fresh mint leaves I have kicking around for infusing water to stay hydrated throughout the day.  Guys, it is literally so good!  Smells like vacation, tastes like vacation, and is super low cal - 133 calories per 1.5 oz serving of vodka and the seltzer is zero calories.   I've been serving these up to my ladies and they are a major hit!  You could even use a drink dispenser for a party,  I might just have a party just to serve them up!

Mix up a batch of these, by eyeballing the ingredients because ain't no body got time to measure things, or do extra dishes!

Shopping List:
Pinnacle Coconut vodka
Polar Watermelon Lemonade seltzer
Frozen watermelon
Fresh mint leaves

Over Ice

Enjoy!

Thanks to Cassandra from and there's this for taking these pictures and sipping cocktails with me!