Stay at Home Mommy! ...it's been 6 months!

Kali Becoming a Stay-at-Home Mommy - - - 6 months in:

My sweet little Norah is a moving, grooving, fun little girl and chasing her around has become my world since becoming a stay-at-home mom! I have to admit it's not without it's challenges and feelings of being completely overwhelmed. You can't get anything done that you would like to and concentrating when she's awake is a thing of the past. At first I was afraid to take Norah out by myself; fearful that she would break down, I wouldn't know how to handle it and that people would stare and judge. That feeling slowly went away but there were other negative thoughts that set in....

I will say for the first 3-4 months that I felt like a failure as a human being. I felt like I let my family down by not being able to provide for them financially, that I wasn't taking Norah out enough, that she wasn't socializing enough, that I didn't give her enough attention, etc. I was also worried/slightly depressed about the fact that I don't get to see the same group of people everyday. No one was worried about where I was or what I was doing. However, I was mostly scared to not live up to the 'pinterest mommy' mentality, attitude and accomplishments. I have learned so much about myself and about other people in this 6-month journey. It's not about 'looking' good! I tried the the whole paint your own pumpkins for fall and decorate a pumpkin with your families hands thing this year...and you know what it accomplished??? A rotting pumpkin sitting on my mantle. I did this in hopes of appearing like that omnipotent pinterest mommy but it really just made me walk around thinking something stank like POOP in my house, which absolutely drove this preggo nose CRAZY! This was entirely representative of my attitude towards becoming a stay-at-home mom. Being a mom and a parent is about encouraging others, including your children and other moms/parents, going through what you have, are and will go through. It's about community of support that we should all give each other! I LOVE that part of it! I hope to be even more engaged with other moms and groups in the future BUT grasping that concept was INVALUABLE for me!

I am absolutely 100% sure that me not having a corporate America job is what is best for our family, in the here and now. I feel like a better person, I know I'm happier and Paul and I are elated that the one 'training' our kids how to be individuals is yours truly! So many people make it work the other way, but I see the challenges that these folks face and can only think back to how hard it was for me personally. All of the sicknesses and feeling guilty for having having to make the decision to take off work or be a mom. It sucked! I'm very humbled by the people who make it work so seamlessly and seemingly effortlessly because I KNOW that both choices have their challenges and downsides.

I do miss not having a 'real' job that I get to sit down in 'important' meetings and talk about changing the world through our role. However, with my bookkeeping/accounting business up and running I have to say that it is the best of both worlds. I get to do accounting work from home, when I have a spare second or two, and still provide a little bit of income for our family. Although I must admit that I'm very grateful for Paul's new job as Regional Sales Manager with WIKA Instruments that supports our growing little family! Without him my role as a stay-at-home mom would not be possible. He is doing so well with all the transitions in both of our lives, and I am so PROUD to call him my husband and our girls' FATHER! :)

I'm very excited to see how adding a new little one to the mix of things is going to shake things up around here! I finally feel like I have a relatively good grip on what needs to be in order to keep things moving. I feel like I've taken some of the burden away from Paul, although having a pregnant wife is not without it's own burdens. ;) Planning meals and making sure things are 'handled' as Olivia Pope would say is my normal routine. I love that I have the time to be able to plan and think about what to buy at the grocery store instead of throwing whatevers in reach in the 15 minute shopping spree in the cart because Norah's pissy and tired and I'm pissy and tired and the mentality is just to 'get 'er done'.

I went through the 'oh my goodness' how can I <3 another human being as much as I love this sweet face! But that passed, right along with the gas I've been experiencing this pregnancy. I think I could belch ANYONE under the table these days! Gross, I know! I kind of laughed when Paul went through the same worrying about his ability to love someone as much as Norah more recently; because I remember how overwhelming that feeling was and how I just realized that your heart grows to accommodate another bambino in the crazy world we call life....kind of like the Grinch!

I'm sure I'll be on a steep learning curve as this new one enters the world...but this mommy is up for the challenge and ready for anything! :)

NORAH IS 1!!!! A Video & A letter!

So my little angel turned 1 year old a few days ago and this momma is sooooo excited to have had the opportunity to watch this little girl grow in her first year of life. She is amazing in so many ways and has astounded Paul and I almost on a daily basis. I never knew I wanted to be a mother until I met the man of my dreams and most undoubtedly knew that we wanted kiddos together. I guess that's why we didn't wait very long after we got married. It felt right and we knew we were as ready as we were gonna be.

 

The journey has had bumps and bruises along the way; however, it's been the most amazing, life-changing, inspiring adventure that we've ever been through.

Here's a little video & picture representation of our journey....

Norah's 1 - - - Our Journey

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J

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Y

 

And a little letter to my love:

Dear Norah,
 
My sweet little angel! You have transformed me...more than I ever thought was possible. My selflessness with you has proved more than I thought myself capable. I transformed into someone who thinks, loves & cares for you over everything else. I've learned how to juggle (metaphorically) of course between learning you, even when it means letting you cry 2 nights ago when you were fighting daddy and I to go to sleep. I was there with you...watching your every angry move & cry, crying right along with you. Your daddy and I have a world full of love to show you!!! We can't wait for the journey ahead but I felt it fitting to take a small pause in our very hectic lives right now to jot down a few feelings about this momentous occasion.

Almost 1 year ago today I was finally feeling the real contractions, not any of those Braxton hicks, that would help me push you into this world and that would let daddy & I hear that first amazing scream of a cry. My goodness you have some lungs on you. That day started our journey together as a family. We have watched you develop so quickly before our eyes and been marveling at your tenacity, drive & intelligence. You've been milestones ahead of all of my weekly baby updates and because of this daddy & my own parenting abilities have been tested at times, the first set of many I'm sure. 

Your character, your desire for exploration & food have been such a joy to watch! I'm continuously thinking of things we 'must share with Norah'! I guess that's why daddy saved you an email address norahstpierre@gmail.com so we can share things now so we won't have to store them all up...because life is going so quickly these days and we don't want to forget anything...you know old people. Thank goodness for accessibility to video, pictures and all things to document our fun journey as a family. We try to focus on the good primarily although we'll get through any of the tough times as a family too!   

I love watching you play with some of your favorite toys, the little piano that makes little star pieces fly up when you hit the keys, your drums, the random leprechaun pen that punches, your baby doll stroller & anything else you can fit in your hands...

You love bath time, except when mommy gets soap in your eyes or when daddy dumps your rinse pale on you half drowning you. Lol! As long as you are able to be free to explore and mommy and daddy are close by you are a pretty content little girl, although eating at restaurants has become quite the stressor for us lately. You do not like to be immobilized. Lol. 

You've been desperately trying to talk and have mastered just a few words, the most unmistakable and hilarious is your 'whhhhaaaT?' This seems to be your response to everything. Your first 'official' world was dada though. Your daddy was worried I would be upset that your first word wasn't momma but I know how much that man means to both of us so I'm grateful that you said that first. I was actually quite a treat for me to watch you yell it at my iPhone when we facetimed daddy who was training for his new job. You were empathic! So sweet!

I can already tell that food is going to be an awesome ongoing experiment and exploration for you and our family. You have favorites like mango, grapes, string cheese...but you've been a great eater for us most days, sometimes eating a whole pack of babyfood in 3 min flat.  Quite impressive! No puréed meats for you though and I don't blame you...that stuff is awful! 

You are still a little thing, which we assumed you would be. You're average for weight and head circumference but you're kind of a little shorty, only in the 12% percentile for height on your 1st birthday! But daddy and is aren't super tall people so you for right in :)

I strive to teach you much about our world but I don't think I could give you any greater gift than to give you roots to grow & wings to fly...

 

...and I will do so until the day I die!!!

 

All of these things may interest you when you're older and curious about what you were like as a baby, much as I was curious about myself. But just know this: Norah Renee St. Pierre, whom I carried and created with your amazing daddy, I love you more than I love life itself! You are my heart! ...& the saying that I found when we were proofing your newborn photos 'Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is the decision to forever have your heart walking around outside your body!' by Elizabeth stone, is so true!  

 

I love you angel!

- Your mommy

 

Hickory Bourbon Chicken Salad Sliders, Kale Chips & Apple Chips

So I LOVE Stubb's BBQ sauce...have you tried the stuff? Mmmm! The spicy version is my absolute favorite but I made some Hickory Bourbon Chicken Salad Sliders that were pretty epic. Lol. I had these along with some homemade Kale chips and Granny Smith Apple chips for lunch. Pretty tasty!Recipe as follows:

1 can 14 oz Tyson Chicken
2 TBSP Mayo
Pinch of salt
1/8 TSP of pepper
2 TBSP Hickory Bourbon Stubb's BBQ sauce
Mini Rolls
Dill pickles or Sweet Relish

Slice in half and toast rolls. Combine chicken, mayo, salt, pepper and 1 TBSP BBQ sauce or to taste. Spread 1 TBSP BBQ sauce on toasted mini rolls, pile on a heaping layer of the chicken mixture, add dill pickles and enjoy!

 

 

Apple Chips: Slice 3lb of Granny Smith Apples, bake at 275 for an hour, turn and continue to bake at 225 for another hour and a half.

Left side has a little bit of cinnamon and sugar. Right side is just plain apples.

Enjoy!

 

Kale chips - the snack food for those that NEED crunch! Take two bunches of kale, washed and thoroughly dried. Sprinkle with 2-4 tbsp olive oil and toss. Bake at 250 for 20 minutes, turn and bake at 225 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper as soon as you remove them from the oven. Enjoy!