Bringing Home Baby!

Going Home!

The first few weeks and several months after becoming a brand new parent are TERRIFYING!!! During the 9 long months of pregnancy you prepare and read all the books soaking in all the great parenting advice and what to expect, let me just say-NOTHING can prepare you for when the time comes you are home alone and the only one in charge of caring for the tiny little human you just brought into this world! At home, there are no nurses or doctors there to help. I spent that day staring at Zane waiting for him to wake up and then trying to know what it was he wanted. I'd think "when all else fails, fed him! That should do the trick!" For us, a fresh diaper and some formula usually worked! We are extremely blessed and have an "easy" baby as they call it, no such thing! All babies are hard because you have no idea what you are doing! But, he did not have colic, reflux or food allergies, no screaming cries, so in a sense he was easy!


First night at home.

1st day home alone! Just staring and waiting.

In the beginning I obsessed about everything, like which brand of formula is the best (I didn't breastfeed), obsessing about sanitizing the bottles and the million little parts that went with them, then if he was cold or too warm,  also not wanting to take him anywhere because he hadn't had any shots yet, worrying if his head was being jostled around in that carseat, making sure he was breathing, checking if he was still breathing, OH and triple checking he was breathing!!! This never got old, it was going to drive me crazy and eventually it did! I slept with my bedside lamp on and would stare at him from my bed, me not sleeping like I should have been! Then the obsession grew to dressing him in stripes at night, this made it easier for me to see his chest rising and falling. It took a long time for me to be able to sleep with that lamp off! Also, you question how do I care for the umbilical cord, and YIKES his winkie looks painful and I was scared to death of it! I made about a million and one late night calls to the doctor about this! I will never forget making an "emergency" appointment because it started bleeding. Crying to the doctor, I said "I'm scared I ruined his peepee forever!!! People will make fun of him!" (Yes, I used the highly sophisticated word "peepee" when crying to the doctor) To which the doctor examined him and said "It's fine! He will look like all the other 7th grade boys in the locker room." I was relieved!! From then on I put vaseline on some gauze and covered "it" to keep it safe and let it heal until the plasti-bell fell off. This was also the day I drove him for the first time. I was shaking! I stayed in the farthest right hand lane of the highway the entire time! I have a sedan and his carseat would only fit on the passenger side in the back seat, so I figured staying in this lane, if someone were to hit me it would be on my side not his! I went just under 60 mph, keeping my hands at 10 and 2 and always using my signal! Eventually, this got easier and less scary. I was also nervous the first time I had to trim his nails, worried I'd cut his little fingers. His first bath was an experience too! Don't get the umbilical cord wet, just lightly clean around it...and that dreaded circumcised area again-don't submerge him in water until it's healed...I forgot, do I start cleaning head to toe or head last? Oh then he just peed all over me and himself, I need to start over. And they will cry because they are cold and this makes you more frantic to hurry so you can comfort your newborn and make the crying stop! But this my friend is easier said than done! Wet, wiggly babies are hard to hold onto!!  

I keep looking back at pictures from the beginning to remind myself of that chaotic time, it's almost like I blocked it out, maybe it was the lack of sleep or the fact that I have "baby brain" still. I obviously no longer have a newborn, rather, a 16 month old who is ALL OVER THE PLACE and constantly keeping me on my toes (still), But now bath time is fun! Trimming nails is NOT! And the winkie department is no longer scary! I could probably change a diaper in my sleep. I am still quite aware and cautious when I drive with him, I refuse to text and drive (you've seen those commercials). We made it past those scary times and know there will be more to come! It's all entirely worth it! Zane is currently in my lap helping me type, so I apologize for any random letters thrown in the mix...and now I smell something unpleasant, and have given you all a frightening glimpse into my crazy mommy brain, so I think I'll wrap this up! At first everything is new and scary, but you get the hang of it and I always think of Trace Adkins' song "You're Gonna Miss This" you will, it was exciting just as much as scary! I love each stage with Zane, but there's nothing like your first experience having a newborn!

Being a Mommy...HONESTLY??

Well, my SIL suggested a new feature for my blog, get ready...Being A Mommy - the good, the bad and the (ahem) ugly!!! The blog is titled "Mommy in the Making" and I think parents are always "in the making" we are constantly learning new things and your children constantly keep you on your toes! Each child will give you different things to experience and learn, afterall they are different people! I am only a mother of one, so far, but I have a sibling and know well enough each child will give a parent different joys and challenges.

SO! Being brutally honest? Even about the hard, not-so-fun things? This could bring alot of judgment my way as well as harsh criticism. Here is my stance: each parent is different in the way they choose to discipline, teach and play, etc. This is OUR way and we do not think it's better than anyone elses, we are just doing the best we can and yes sometimes we fail, we are human too!  Let me just say (and I will keep reminding in my posts that I LOVE my son with every ounce of my body!!! I would die for him!

Who is Zane? Well he is the most amazing 17 month old! He is stunningly smart, outrageously goofy-he is always making us laugh until our sides hurt! He is stubborn and he is mischevious. He has a mean streak, but is usually very sweet and cuddly. He will do anything for a laugh, so we feel sure that in the school days we will get the occasional phone call "Mrs. Ward? Zane is acting up and getting the other kids all worked up" He's a little performer, but hopefully we will be able to teach him the right time and place for being "class clown." For right now, we let him have fun and be a baby, but do try and discipline when he is doing things he knows he shouldn't!

Here I go, embarking on this new blog idea, I hope I'm not judged too terribly and bring some good laughs and maybe some tears along the way! Stay-tuned for my very 1st honest post! I'm waiting for our little guy to give me a good story, that shouldn't take too long! I will try to always have a picture accompanying the experiences, some could be quite gross! You've been warned!

Love Beauty Products?

I sure do!! If you're anything like me, and can't get enough beauty products, you need to do this too!! My friend told me about this amazing website called Birchbox. It's only $10 a month and each month they send you a box full of samples of the best name brand beauty products! I just got mine in today and I was practically giddy with excitement when I saw that hot pink box!! Also, the more friends you refer and they list your name as to how they found out about their wonderful website, you earn points where you can buy the full-size product that you fell in love with from your last birchbox. I love getting fun mail, and this is like a present just for you each and every month, what girl wouldn't love that?? Here's what I got in this months box:

Color Club Nail Polish in "Status Update"
Kate Spade Eau de Parfum Spray called Twirl
Boscia Oil-free Nightly Hydration
Tili Plastic zip-lock baggie
WEI go Beauty Real Clean Gelled Oil Cleanser & Ideal Skin Perfect Finish
A $25 coupon to Madewell
Twistband hairband

All that for $10!!!!!!! That's a steal!

In previous boxes I have gotten earbuds for my iPhone, a full size liquid eye-liner (which I love), other perfume samples like Juicy Couture, lipgloss, lip stain, anti-aging cream and much more!! Remember they are all those expensive brand name products! Sign up to get yours!! And say Lesley Ward referred you, please, so I get reward points!

This and That...

What have I been up to lately?  That's a good question (obviously not blogging, right??).  Well let me make up for that!  But, actually the answer is pretty simple: nothing! Other than trying to keep up with a toddler and losing the baby weight (YES, STILL!!) I don't have that exciting of a life. I do a little decorating/updating the house here and there, go to the gym when I can if I feel like it!  Oh, and chase this little babe, named Zane around my house all day!  He is quite a little character and so much fun, more about Zane in just a minute.

I mentioned I do a little decorating time to time, if the wallet allows and time permits. My one big eye sore in my home was the laundry room! Everytime I come home I enter my house through the garage and the laundry room is the first room I see.  It's a teensy little room, which used to be a deep red, and made it seem even smaller. I knew I wanted to re-paint this room, but I couldn't nail down a fun exciting color.  You're thinking "What, red isn't an exciting enough color for you???"  Well I'm kind of over red. Since I kept him-hawing around I decided to just go for it and paint it the same color as the rest of the house, real exciting right? You know, it's just a pain with those huge washer and drying machines to paint it a "fad" color and then paint it another "fad" color a year later when the previous color is no longer "in".  Since I lack alot of room in this room, I knew I needed something to hang-dry my clothes on.  I wanted something quirky and functional. I looked at Ballard Designs, but their drying racks were way more than I wanted to spend! But luckily, one day I stumbled upon this gem at Hobby Lobby!

note: the wall color. Behr Brown Teepee

The wire baskets are perfect for those lost socks and the hooks I can hang my non-dryables on them! I love it! While I was at Hobby Lobby I bought the overly large safety pin, I thought it blended well! I have more ideas for a blank wall in this room that I haven't gotten to yet, but will sometime this year, I hope!

I confess, I am a little bit of an organizing freak! Like I said earlier, Zane is all over the place, and that means so are his toys!! I used to just line them up neatly in the corner of our living room and it looked alright for about 5 seconds until he pulled them all over the place again.  One day while at Target, I saw they had these big wicker baskets with a chalkboard label sign thing on the front and back. I had to have it!! Now Zane's toys are out of the way and it looks much more organized! Of course he knows this is HIS basket and the toys don't stay in for long, but that's ok, he's a baby and playing and exploring is his job!

The official first day of Autumn will be here tomorrow!  I couldn't wait to get my fall decor out since Dallas is actually having some not-so-sweltering-heat at the moment.  It just felt fall-like! There's not much but here's some  pics.

I found this free printable via Pinterest, click the link to get it too! And, Follow me!

I am obsessed with Pinterest!  It gives me so many great DIY ideas and recipes! This next project I also found off the addicting site right here!

I got my very inexpensive cardboard letters at Hobby Lobby, where else? Along with the spray paint and Command Strips for hanging.  Cost about $12, the Command Strips were the most expensive!!

Thes little suckers go on alot like velcro, except they lack the fuzzy side. The plastic teeth-like things lock together. You stick one on the object to hang and then lock the other on top, remove the film cover and press on the area to hang, cool right? And ta-da!!

And my FAVORITE project that I have done is the newborn shadow box of Zane. I also saw this idea on Pinterest and saw that one of my mommy friends had done this also. So next thing you know I am at Michael's (you thought I was going to say Hobby Lobby!) And found a shadow box on sale, bought some pearl needles and when I got home I raided Zane's closet for things that were very sentimental and reminded me of when he was born. I will cherish this shadow box forever!!!!!

I made it large so you can see, it's hard to tell with the glare of the glass. Inside I have his birth announcement, a picture from when he was just minutes old, the t-shirt they dressed him in and the hospital cap, as well as his hospital wrist-band.  I also added a sonogram picture and the corsage I saved from one of my beautiful showers!  This was so easy to make and my heart melts each time I see it!

So since we are on the topic of Zane, let me get you up to speed on how my little man is doing!  He is almost 16 months now. He started walking at the beginning of September and it is so cute!!!! He is constantly asking "What's this?" and of course I tell him.  He knows too, cause later my husband and I will ask him "Where's the fan?" and he points right up to it! He knows alot, he is a very smart boy! He loves to make people laugh and is constantly trying to get a reaction and a giggle out of his audience. This child eats and eats, however at his 15mo check up he only grew 3/4 of an inch and gained 1.75 pounds.  He is small like his mother, cause we KNOW it's not lack of nourishment. He loves bananas like crazy, green beans, peas, carrots, broccoli, avocado, onions (he's nuts), chicken, beef, pork, meatloaf, you name it!!!! The only thing he is not a fan of is strawberries and a few other fruits. He and I snuggle every night at bedtime and daddy takes him to bed after he's dozed off. I love our snuggle time, he lays his head on my chest every night! A few weeks back he really got into this hat phase! He would see a hat and would HAVE to wear it, whether he was being rocked to sleep or eating in his highchair or going grocery shopping. Here are a few pictures.

Where it all started, he saw his Poppie's hat and wore it for a whole weekend and then some!

Then he saw his straw fedora in his closet and we had to wear it to Brookshire's. Adorable!

Here he's wearing the hat his uncle got him!

So there you have it, our last few months in a not-so-much nutshell.  I told you I'd make up for lost time! Stay tuned for more exciting projects to come and more Zane updates!

Homemade Enchiladas

My mom has made this recipe for years! It's SO good and I think it's all in the sauce. It's more an enchilada casserole, I put mine in a 9x13 Pyrex dish. What you'll need:

1 pkg of corn tortillas
1-2lbs of ground beef or shredded chicken (works either way)
1 chopped onion
3 cups of chicken broth
2 Tbsp of minced garlic
2-4 Tbsp of olive oil
4 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp oregano
1-2 cans of tomato sauce
Salt & pepper

First, pour olive oil in pan. Then, sauté the garlic and onion. Once soft add chicken broth and remaining ingredients. Let simmer.

Next, brown your ground beef or cook your chicken through and shred. Once both are complete grab your tortillas and dip them in your sauce and add your meat and roll, (you can add some shredded cheddar if you like the cheese) repeat until your pan is full. Your tortillas WILL fall apart, but that's ok in the end result! Then you'll pour your remaining sauce on top. And top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 until bubbly and enjoy!!!!!

Pair with homemade pinto beans. Put them on to boil. Let them get soft and add some mild Rotel and cumin as wel as salt and pepper. YUM!!!

Zane is 1!!

Well I can't believe it, our baby boy is 1 year old! The time has gone by so fast, I literally cannot believe that this time last year I was holding this newborn baby boy! I was an exhausted, hormonal, terrified and inexperienced new mommy. Through all of that, this past year has been pure joy! Zane seems so grown up and such a big boy! He makes us laugh on a daily basis and is so full of personality it's crazy! Our son is amazing to say the least! So...with all this said when Zane turned 1, I decided to go all out! I planned and worked my booty off months ahead of time to get ready for the big bash! I really liked the colors and fun feel of a circus themed party. And it gave lots of room for going big!

When you walked up to the door you heard circus music and saw this chalkboard which I wrote on to let the guests know to come on in!

Once inside there was the "Midway Signs" which I made on my sister-in-laws Cricut.  Also there was a table with a bucket of clown noses to grab and "Clown Around." But, not before you signed a sweet little note to Zane in this book his Aunt hand made.

My favorite part of the whole party was the Big Top! It took my husband and I about 2 hours to get up. It was a MUST HAVE to make this party great!!

We found authentic vintage Ringling Bros. circus posters at an Antique shop near by, along with a  few other items.

I made a yummy Funfetti cake batter dip and animal crackers for dipping.  There were peanuts, but they were more for show.  And of course I had popcorn, which turned out to be a big hit!!

I got the cake from a fabulous local bakery called Yum-Yum Bakery.  She also did his cake for his professional 1 year pics (more on that later) Her cakes are amazing and delicious!

On the other side of the house I had the lemonade and hot dogs and chips. 

This banner I made as well as the one that read "Welcome to Zane's Big Top"  These took quite a bit of time and required lots of paper!!!

On the bar I served Root Beer and more water and displayed one of the best features of the party, Zane's progressive timeline!  This and all the food and water labels as well as the invitation and thank you's were made by the amazing Bleu Print Shoppe

After presents it was time to eat cake! And my little man loves cake!!!

And the party favors...simple but perfect!!

Proud Mommy and Daddy!

My Birthday Boy and I

He and all of us had so much fun at his party!!!! It was a huge success and I feel super proud of all the hard work I put in!  I am also infinitely grateful to all those who helped!

NOW....let me share a few of my favorite pictures from his professional 1 year pics by PhotoJewels Photography!