Mommy Monday

Well, it's the last envelope today.

And somehow, it managed to be my mom's.

"Log on to messenger and just ask!"

Knowing she is there when I need her, no matter the time of day, even before opening this card, is the best feeling.

Mommy Monday

It really has been another crazy 4 weeks here.  When I realized it was Monday, I thought I'd pull out a card and see what the advice was.  Then I looked at the calendar.

Yeah, it's been 4 weeks.

So here we go!

The first is just great:

"I have no advice.  I have no kids.  But you are not alone and I love you.  Even though I'm far away, call me RIGHT NOW!  I will make you laugh :) "

That right there is my cousin.  I've thought of her as another sister over the years, and we are always there for one another.  I love her.

Next up is another cute card.

The youngest guest at the baby shower was the daughter of my husband's cousin's girlfriend.  (Bueller?  Bueller?)  Even at such a young age her advice is still sound:

"Give him a bottle and rock him."

She's going to make a great babysitter someday!

My SIL, who said she is never going to change a diaper, EVER, gave me this:

"Call me anytime you need a break.  I'll be right over - maybe I can even bring a milkshake!"

She knows my weaknesses!

And finally something from one of my husband's aunts.  She is really one of my favorite people, very straightforward, and not afraid to voice her opinion:

"Follow your own instincts and don't let others "boss" you around.  You'll know what he needs and you are equipped to give it to him! L - O - V - E!"


Told you she was one of my favorite people!!!

Mommy Monday

I don't even know where the last 4 weeks have gone. Somewhere between surgery and visits, life just kept moving along.

So here are 4 more cards from my pile.

The first is from my husband's great aunt, which makes her James' great great aunt, right?

"Give plenty of hugs and kisses."

Done and done!

Next, James' great grandmother on A's mother's side.

"Get a nap while the baby is sleeping.  Let A get up with him at night. Ha! It will come to you after a while."

I love that it's perfect and simple, and she somehow let's me know in that last sentence that I'd get it after a bit.

And I have one here from A's godmother.  Actually, technically, she has been the godmother to A's mom, all her siblings, and all their children.

"Remember when you're stressed that Jesus loves you."

This was the same woman that would bless my pregnant belly every time I saw her, and still does that over James' head when he see her.  She is honestly a remarkable woman.

Finally, my BFF, D, who planned the shower while in Washington state, and flew out and took care of everything, including making the cake!

"Rest when you can.  Take deep even breaths to calm you and enjoy each and every stage.  It's all awesome.  I was gonna say drink heavily, but they told me that wasn't good.  LOL!"

I really do love all the women in my life!

Mommy Monday

This next card comes from my MIL.  Reading it made me smile and nod:

"Take a few minutes for yourself, but hold him as much as you can.  He won't stay little for long!  There's no such think as too much love but there is such a thing as too much stuff."

I completely agree.

Mommy Monday

Well, it's been a four weeks since the last one of these, so today you will be getting fours peeks into the words of wisdom shared wtih me at my baby shower in March of 2011.

The first card actually wasn't signed.  It simply says:

"Be patient.  Give it time, they will calm down soon.  You are doing great!"

The next card is from my husband's great aunt:

"Have patience.  Plan to lose sleep so take naps when the baby does"

Then there's my husband's grandmother, James' great grandma, who actually does do this:

"Bring me the baby when I want him.  If he cries I will bring him back."

Before I go on to the next card I do have to say that this little boy love his great grandparents.  They are the ones who babysit for us whenever we want to go out, and they have their place set up so he can play and swim all summer.

Finally, the last card for today.  This is from my husband's aunt, James' great aunt:

"Expect the unexpected and go with it!"


Patience, support, and flexibility.  Definitely words of wisdom.

Mommy Monday

First off, I apologize for missing last week. 

But you know how things get on Mondays: You start working on something for work, and then you stop work and do dinner, and then someone needs a bath and bedtime, and then you are staring at the ceiling and wondering where the day went.

And suddenly it's Wednesday, you don't remember Tuesday, and you figure that you just need to move forward and not try to figure it out.

So, today I am giving you 2 pieces of wisdom from my shower last year to make up for it.

The first comes from a close friend of A's grandmother.  She's been a part of the family for years, and here is what she shared:

"Take a moment to get your breath and just thank God for that precious little one.  Say a little prayer and everything will be okay."

Then there is my husband's aunt, who is actually the niece of his grandmother:

"During bad times call Barbara.  Let the baby stay a lot with grandparents and great grandparents."

Both of those are great pieces of advice, and things I find I have done and am starting to do more of as time passes.

Mommy Monday

Today's advice comes from the sister of James' great grandma.  And she's pretty concise:

"If things go bad call grandma.  Patience is the real thing."

Mommy Monday

This week's tip comes from the significant other of my husbands cousin.

"Put the baby in his car seat, strap him in and put it on the dryer. Turn on the dryer and let it shake him to sleep."

Have I mentioned how happy I am that James never gave us those issues?

Mommy Monday

As promised, I opened another envelope this morning.  This one is from my best friend, Dawn.

"Remember to breathe.  Take a moment to yourself.  Remember that this too shall pass.  Call me if you need to.  I love you."

She's always been there for me, and reading this has me missing her so much.

Something tells me that these cards are going to only get more interesting from here.

Motherly Advice - For the Most Part

I can't believe that at this time last year I was anxiously counting down the days to my baby shower.

My mom's plane ticket was purchased, invites had been sent, and my cousin and best friend had planned their trips here.

The shower was perfect.  I loved the games, and we seriously had so many presents that I wasn't sure where we were going to put things.  I couldn't have really asked for anything more.  But it didn't end there.

One of the activities they did before I arrived was have all the women there write down on a card some advice or words of wisdom and then seal it in an envelope.  I was then gifted this stack and told they were to remain sealed until needed.  The cards were meant to be opened and read at times when the baby was fussing or I was reaching the end of my rope, with the thought being that they would provide me with sound advice from the women who were there even when they couldn't be there.

I've kept them all in a gift bag, waiting for the moment.  But luckily we've been blessed with a little boy who really is so well behaved and has always slept well.  There's been no need to open those envelopes, and now that he's 9 months old I've decided to start looking through them.

Starting today, I'm going to open 1 envelope each Monday and share the writing with you.  This way I can share some of these pearls of wisdom and maybe a laugh or two.

I was told that the first card I had to open was the one done by my then 8 year-old sister-in-law.  She carefully wrote on the envelope "Open in case of Emergency (Baby Throwing Fit)".

So here is what she had to offer:

"Hold it give it a bottle give it a pacifier Call grandma and send it to her or Michelle.  Kiss it hug it or diaper change if all else fails give it to A"

Even at such a young age, she is brilliant, don't you think?