//Weekend Fun

I always look forward to the weekend because Andrew is home! He usually only sees Liam for a little bit in the morning and by the time he's home Liam is already in bed. Which as much as I'm not a morning person, I would rather get up early and have Liam in bed earlier in the evening so me and Andrew can have it all to ourselves. 

Friday I got together with some friends from high school. We're all moms now so it's really a fun chapter we've all entered together. 

Baby H on the left is due in April! Not sure if a girl or boy will be joining the bunch! 

Saturday Andrew and I lounged around a bit but we went out for lunch and some errands around town. 

Liam is over my picture taking. 

 Our necklace is from: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thevintagehoneyshop

IG:thevintagehoneyshop

It's such a great teething necklace, keeps little hands distracted and is so cute to wear! 

Sunday we went to the beach! Oh my heart missed Santa Cruz and Capitola! 

Our first stop was to Verve. 

 Then we walked around downtown Santa Cruz for a bit before we headed to the beach. 

Since we are out Saturday we packed a lunch and had a picnic on the beach. 

Liam had so much fun! Andrew and I just couldn't believe how much he loved looking around and feeling the water and sand. He's an outside kid for sure. 

I hope you had a nice weekend as well. I'm already counting down until next weekend. 

Love Forever, 

Chel Chel 

//Day in the life

I think what society portrays a SAHM vs. a typical day as SAHM are very different. 

Our day typically starts between 5-6am. Liam gets up and is ready for a bottle since his last one is between 6:30-7pm at night. He's almost sleeping through the night. He's still learning how to settle himself. This new sleep sack has really been a miracle worker. 

He can't touch his face and eyes anymore which was waking him up when he was clearly exhausted. 

Usually we still see Andrew and my mom before they leave for work for the day. 

I turn on the news and Liam plays. I sip coffee and then when it's breakfast time I bring Liam to high chair to eat with me. He's still not interested in food so sometimes I give him banana to play with and other times we just sit and interact. 

He enjoys playing and interacting so I know when he's ready he will really start chowing down. 

After breakfast we usually play until naptime. 

Usually during this nap I don't get much done. I just use it to relax and just enjoy the quiet for a bit. 

Once Liam is up he gets another bottle and we play and eat lunch together and then I usually get us ready for a walk or playtime at the park. He loves being outside and it usually gets all his energy out. 

He seriously just gets so calm being outside. So on especially fussy days I really look forward to this time of day. 

He usually takes his afternoon nap sometimes in the stroller or by the time were home he's out in the crib. 

The evenings are hard for me usually. It's just that time of day where sometimes I feel it drags on but everyone comes home so he can get loved on by grandma, papa dig, auntie and sometimes daddy if he gets home early enough. 

Typically we play and I get dinner started and then I start our bedtime routine. Quiet play, a book, a bath ( although lately he's been over bath time) a bottle and a song and then I lay him down. 

It's pretty nice to have the evening to myself to just relax and Andrew and I can just talk and hang out. Usually I take a nice long bath to end the day. 

This routine has taken a while to get the hang of but I'm so happy to finally be in a rhythm even if it's the same everyday. It's created a lot more harmony having a routine for the day. I couldn't imagine not spending by days at home and I'm grateful everyday for them. 

Love forever, 

Chel chel 

 

// Motherhood Unfiltered

 

The past seven months have been absolutely life changing. 

When the nurses put Liam on my chest I knew my world would be forever different. He just looked me in the eyes and knew I was his mama. When we finally were released from the hospital it was so so surreal. What now? It took so much adjusting, learning, trying to keep my eyelids open. 

I have learned an incredible amount of information, had emotions I never knew exsisted and became much more open minded. 

I told myself so many things I would never ever do. I even made fun of people who did parent certain ways and boy do I regret that! I have learned you just have to go with the flow or you will just go insane with everyone's unwanted advice and opinions. 

Each child, family and maternal instints are different. I ended up doing so many of the things I said I would never do and you know what, it is okay. 

Liam is happy, healthy, the biggest flirt and runs circles around me. 

( pajamas pretty much all day, everyday!)

To you, who is pregnant or a new mom, give yourself grace. Let yourself make choices and be okay with it if it makes you and your baby happy. Your happiness is just as important! Nod nicely to the unwanted advice, stand firm in your choices, love that sweet baby and know you are an amazing mother. 

Just last night I felt super self conscious. I got roped into the category that because I formula feed that means I am a non-gentle mama, speaks ill of co-sleeping, is a spanker or would be and lets my baby CIO. It really hurt my feelings because it was far from the truth and to be roped in a category by one decision is just ridiculous. 

Liam has taught me a lot. Between the great moments there are also hard moments. Each moment passes so quickly though that I try not to dwell on the hard to long. Do not let yourself fall into the trap that we don't all struggle as mothers. Many just choose to post the amazing filtered side of life. Post the great, but try to stay transparent too. It will help you and might help you gain a new mom friend!

Love Forever, 

Chel Chel