diapers and skinny jeans

With less than two weeks to go, I've started my preparations for my journey back  into the workplace .  While you can never completely prepare yourself for that first day back on the job, there are a few steps that I've taken to make sure that everything is in place and at the very least, make the transition a bit more smooth. I'm hoping these might help anyone going through the same thing, and maybe even start a discussion, too.  I'd love to know what helped you make your transition! Inventory your freezer For those of you breastfeeding, it was so important to try and gauge how much milk my child would need for the amount of time I would be away from her and plan accordingly.  If you have the ability to start building up a stockpile of freezer milk before you go back - even better! Plan a practice day It's as beneficial for you as it is for your newborn to have a trial run of being away from each other.  Practice setting your al...

While it has been a magical few weeks being a stay-at-home mum, I have my feet planted firmly on the ground with the realization that my return to work is quickly approaching.   Much  too quickly, might I add. I wish I could say I've taken this whole time to rest, recover, and lay happily in bed snuggling my newborn.  However, my role as mother, and the boundless love that comes with it, stretches to more than just one precious little girl - two of them, to be exact! This bittersweet, slightly painful, slightly freeing time is something I've experienced before. With Sofia, I threw myself into the abyss of seemingly endless 40+ hour work weeks. I fought for months to keep up with the demands of breastfeeding and my diminishing supply through broken breast pumps, no privacy, feeling bad about taking breaks and more. Those are memories I don't particularly enjoy revisiting, however, they have taught and prepared me with beaming confidence to tackle the...

A few weeks ago, Little Alba turned a month old - still so new and tiny, but a precious soul that seems like she's been here all along.  Her thighs are quickly chunking up, as are her cheeks, and this mama can't get enough! The days are long and my time is stretched thin, but we are having such a wonderful time just figuring each other out. When evening hits, the tummy troubles begin and we rock and sing to make the gas bubbles go away. Once you've finally fallen asleep, you'll remain that way for the remainder of the night and we'll feed again once the day breaks.  You are alert and learning, constantly filling our hearts with more love than we ever imagined.

With many of my friends and family members all expecting new bundles of joy, (or those of you looking for great eco-friendly gifting options), I have created a list of a few of my most used items in those first few weeks.  It's certainly not everything, but it's a very good start to some of our most used, tried and true essentials.  I'm sure I'll have more to add, and would love to hear some of your favorites, too! feeding: I am happy to report that Alba is a fantastic sleeper at night, and I think that has something to do with her nursing around the clock during the day.  While I've been at home, I've been pumping with a Medela Pump-In-Style Advanced to try and stock up our freezer before returning to work.  When I do end up getting a few hours out, the bottles from Life Factory are eco-friendly, durable, and some of the best I've used through two babies. And of course, who wouldn't love these handmade cloth bibs ? sleeping: The most com...

These days, though blissful and dreamy, seem to have a much slower pace.  We are all taking time to get to know one another, to find our new rhythm, and learn how to fill our new role as family of four.  Five straight days out of the week Erick is working and I'm left alone with one completely rambunctious toddler and a little dove, still so very new.  I try to stay in bed most days (if I'm lucky enough to do so!) and nap with my two girls, read stories, catch up on emails and comfortably nurse. My mother brought us a few wonderful, home-cooked meals, friends have dropped by with gifts and treats, we've received so many beautiful and thoughtful well-wishes from near and far.  My heart is warmed, and though I may not have had much time to comment or respond, I have read each and everything that has been said, and opened up each package sent with a squeal of delight. We are all individually overwhelmed with gratitude! On Wednesday, the sun was shining...

first bath, mother's day 2013 we bathed you in the afternoon sun, warm and snuggled between layers of terrycloth. your sister gently helped shampoo your hair and wipe the bubbles from your skin. your papa took your photo as i held you between my hands, still so very little. your lips, softly open. your eyes, gazing outwards toward the shining sun. we live for the simple moments - there is no other way i could have imagined this day. just as it is, just as you are. a mother. it's my most favorite thing to be.

Sofia, Just five days ago was April 1st, your 10th month birthday.  April Fools!  No, really.  It was.  You can stand!  You can grab!  You can pull everything out of every cupboard and bookshelf that we own!  You can tear off pieces of your Dad's loofa for a quick snack! (If I were you I wouldn't be eating that thing, though.)  You're smart.  You're really smart.  You can follow simple commands and play along with a wide variety of sing-song games.  Every day it seems like you understand the world around you a little bit more.  To be honest, there are a few things that you confuse me with, though -- for example, today, I was sitting on the couch and you grabbed my knee and started lapping my skin up like a dog.  I definitely have no idea what that means.  But rest assured, Sofia, I've already planned to save this said knee-licking story for a more appropriate time.  A time when you're much ...

Every Wednesday is our Family Day.  It has been for as long as I can remember.  Even when Erick and I were only first dating, we had our Wednesdays off from work together and we would always wake up late in the afternoon for brunch and spend the day exploring different parts of the city or sometimes -- just lazing around the house making sure to take as many naps as we could. Now with our daughter, we've made it a point to make sure we get out of the house almost every Wednesday to show her something new and make new memories together as a family.  Yesterday we went back to Oak Park which honestly feels more and more like home each time we go.  Erick shot some video of our day and I can't wait to show it to you!  I miss posting the videos on my blog, and it's something Erick really enjoys putting together. Things have been really great lately.  I love this little family of mine more than I love anything else in the world.

There aren't a ton of photos of Sofia and I together.  Finding moments like these on the memory card are always a great surprise. Thanks,  Erick.

Things have been running at a slow pace this week.  For as much as I've taken the time out for myself by running, working out, going to yoga and taking extra long bubble baths I still can't seem to shake this feeling I've got going on.  I'm moody, I've been more anxious than I've been in a long while, and really, just feel incredibly out of sorts.  The only thing I can associate this with could be the natural weaning that's happening between Sofia and I. This stuff is hard.  No one really prepares you for it.  The books I've read have no *disclaimer* that I would fall into a depressed and panicked state out of nowhere.  I thought that I chose when I wanted to be done.  Because guess what?  I'm not ready.  And I'm sure if Sofia had her way, she wouldn't be done either.  However, despite my consistent battling, my body has gradually been making less and less milk between Sofia's overnight weekends with her Grandma and my wor...

"In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony". - Eva Burrows

Hi everyone!  Lately, we've just been hanging out at home the past few days- and let me say that it has been a much needed break from all our working lately.  We managed to tackle a few projects around the house, and if I'm lucky, I'll be able to compile some kind of virtual "home tour" so we can share how we live as a family with some pretty tight living quarters. Right now, Erick and the baby are taking a nap together while I finish up some dishes, straighten up a bit and hopefully get a quick pilates session in.  Life around here has been lazy, great, and so very relaxing.  It's going to be hard to get back in the groove of our regular workweek!