I really AM a mom...

This morning, Cole and I were playing with trucks, a very common sight for us lately, when something happened to me that I wasn't expecting for another couple of years. He came up to me, bent down, grabbed my shirt, and used me like a napkin, turned and went back to playing. My mother warned me this would happen. Maybe it's because I did it to her, or that she is very keen to remind me of my past actions, but this small gesture my son so innocently performed, has brought me to a whole new stage of motherhood. What an exciting feeling it is. Thanks Mom for preparing me for this!

In other news, we went to the park last week to feed the ducks, we only only found two. We only found two, and they wanted nothing to do with us. Hmmfff! At least there was a playground. Cole couldn't get enough of the slides!

Mommy Diaries

I had hoped to post more often in reference to my mommy diaries, but it seems I'm always on the go these days. Anyway, my newest entry is a really simple one. Pee before you feed. See? Simple. I don't know how many times I've started feeding Cole only to realize that I have a full bladder. You'd think I'd learn. I try to remember, but it's like Russell from "Up" I didn't have to go before.

Carrot Puree

Tomorrow will mark Cole's half birthday. I can't believe he's going to be 6 months old. Man, time flies! To be honest, I'm a little sad that he's getting so big, so fast. He's always been a big baby, but now he's at a point where he's seeing us enjoying our food, and wants to join in the fun as well.

I've been able to exclusively breastfeed for almost 6 months, and I'm pretty proud of myself! As much as I had hoped to go the full 6 months, my sweet babe decided otherwise. Josh and I successfully introduced rice cereal, and on Thanksgiving Coleden ate some sweet potatoes (from the jar), but I wanted to try my hand at some homemade baby food.

It's really not difficult at all, and is kind of a fun process. Best of all, I made it with fresh carrots, so no preservatives, and it was pretty tasty-bonus!

1. Peel and cut carrots into small chunks.
2. Place carrots in a steamer* and steam until tender. Don't reserve any of the water from the steamer for thinning out the carrots because nitrates may seep into the cooking water.
3. Toss into the blender (or your choice of pureeing machine)
4. Add water as necessary to achieve smooth, thin consistency.

*I don't have a steamer, and if you don't either, don't sweat it. Grab a pot, fill it with water (about 1/3 full), place a colander on it, throw your carrots in the colander and place the pot's lid on top of it, boil the water and voila! Steamed carrots.

This is a very special day!

One year ago today while Josh and I were back in Omaha visiting our families, before our big move to Germany, we got some news that would change our world forever. We were pregnant! Now we have a beautiful son and couldn't be happier! Today is a great day.

The Mommy Diaries

Everyone has their own way of parenting. Honestly, the best piece of advice I've received is not to listen to anyone's advice. No one knows your child and what is best for them better than you. That doesn't mean my experiences and the things I've learned for my son shouldn't be shared. Obviously, each child is different, but I think it's important to at least try to pay it forward.

I view myself as the new kid in the mommyhood. See what I did there? Like neighborhood, but for mom's. You know you thought that was a good one! I'm never going to claim to be an expert when it comes to infants and children, the lessons I've learned so far aren't earth shattering revelations; a lot of it is trial and error mixed in with research I've done. Some of it may seem like common sense, but if you have a screaming, inconsolable baby, you won't necessarily be thinking straight.

Now that I've made my introduction, my first entry into the mommy diaries is in regards to when I was still in the hospital. LRMC (Landstuhl Regional Medical Center) doesn't have a nursery, so we had Coleden with us in our room. At first I had wished that there was a nursery just so we could get some sleep (having a baby is super exhausting in case you didn't know), but thinking back on it, I'm so glad there wasn't. Having our son with us the whole time helped us bond and I believe that the time we spent getting to know each other helped us get off on the right foot.

When we were finally discharged, I wasn't stressed about having to care for Cole without the nurses because Josh and I were the ones who cared for our son, not them. I'm happy they left Josh and I alone so we could start learning our newest family member.

For all I know, some hospitals might require some nursery time. I can only speak from my experience. Had there been a nursery, I don't know what I would've done. To all the expecting momma's: I merely suggest that you weigh out your options and figure out what's best for you and your family. To the already-been-through-it momma's: what did you do when you were in the hospital? If you have more than one child, or are expecting your next child; if given the option would you use the nursery since you've been through it all before and have a better idea of what to expect?

I had myself an ah-ha moment

Shortly after Cole was born, our friends Sarah and Tim (and of course Ben) dropped by for a visit. Sarah and I were chatting about how crazy different everything is after you have a baby. She had said how she couldn't remember what it was like to just get herself ready and out the door. I nodded politely in agreement, but honestly we hadn't really gone anywhere with Cole at that point.

Now I get it. Now, I am nodding my head vigorously to you Sarah! I was having my morning coffee today and realized my son is only 9 weeks old. That's it. It feels like he should be so much older than he is, but it also seems like time has gone by so quickly. Kinda like when Friday never seems to get here soon enough and when it finally does, you think "Man, this week has just flown by."

I really don't remember what it was like B.C. (before Cole haha), but that's a good thing. I love being a mom. Cole has grown in so many ways. Yeah, he's a huge baby, and only getting bigger, but he is also developing such a fun personality. I love waking up everyday and chatting with him, or singing songs, or reading a book. He is so interested in everything around him, especially momma's hair!

I don't know how it happened, but this child of mine is a morning person. Josh and I-not so much. I wish I was a morning person. I feel like my day is way more productive when I get a lot of stuff done before noon, it's a competition I have with myself to see how much I can get done. An added bonus of having Cole is that I'm forced to be a morning person, and I like that.

Now for the photo section of my little blog. Excuse the poor quality of these photos, they were taken on my phone, but I just wanted to share! I love my flesh baby and my fur baby!