I am a SAHM

If you had asked me 10, even 5 years ago if I wanted to be a stay at home mom I would have no said no way. I always wanted to be a mom, but a working mom.

Soon into my pregnancy, I started to think what it would be like to be home with my little one. After talking to my husband, we both decided if it were possible when the time came, I would stay home. I didn't want a stranger taking care of my baby. Not to mention the cost of daycare is outrageous.

So, I'm a stay at home mom to an almost 4 month old (next week). Some of you know what I do because you do it too. Some of you don't. Being a stay at home mom means I spend 98% of my waking time with my son. That 2 percent is the occasional trip to the store alone or long shower. And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

I wake up and go to sleep to this face. Be jealous.

I sleep when he lets me. I eat when he lets me. I often eat with one hand while doing something with him and my food gets cold. I wake up early, sneak a nap with him, wash bottles, do laundry, and talk a lot of baby talk. Sometimes I forget about the poor dog because I'm caught up with Cooper. Luckily, she reminds me when she has to go outside. I usually don't take a shower until my husband gets home from work because then I don't have to worry about baby needing me. Before becoming a mom, I was always a 10 minute shower girl. Now I take my sweet time and enjoy it. When he was first born, I always went to bed exactly when he did. Now after I put him down, I blog, I watch tv, I call my best friend, etc. It's my "me" time.

A stay at home mom's job isn't easy. But it's also the best job I have ever had. It's not for everybody, but it's for me. I would much rather spend my days playing in the floor, making bottles, and rocking my sweet boy than dressing up and going to an office. I prefer my sweats and drool stained t-shirts and he even likes my singing :)

A Q&A Friday

I'm still working on blogging more, updating my page, etc. I figured an easy way to post more is to link up with other bloggers. So today, I'm linking up with a new blog I discovered, "A Blonde Ambition". It's a Q&A for a series she does called "Confessional Friday." Enjoy! And yeah, I'm a day late.

1. My worst fashion offense of all time has to be wearing overalls with one strap unhooked. Although wearing the overalls at all was quite an offense if you ask me. 

2. The most embarrassing song on my iPod is probably I'm honestly not embarrassed by anything on my Ipod. I like such a wide variety but I'm not ashamed.

3. The last white lie I told was  "I'm fine." That's a classic.

4. The celebrity I most wish would disappear is Britney Spears. Why do people still care?

5. Sometimes I wish I was 10 years old again.

6. My childhood crush was J.T.T., as many others said, and most of the Backstreet Boys. I was one of those little girls with the BOP! posters all over my walls.

7. I've never turned down chocolate. If I did, there is something wrong.

8. Driving in bad weather of any kind makes me a nervous wreck.

9. I'd rather watch paint dry than go to the dentist.

10. Much like a train wreck, I can't turn away from watching Teen Mom. It's pure immature drama and I love it.

"I'll pray for you" Will you?

"I'll pray for you."

"I'll keep you in my thoughts & prayers."

These are two statements I hear quite often, read on facebook, in cards and e-mails. There are also words that frequently come out of my mouth.

A couple of years ago, I believe, I realized that it was almost instinct to say those words to someone. If someone I knew was having a hard time or personally asked for prayers, that is what I would say. I'm a christian and I very much believe in the power of prayer. But my question to myself was, was I praying for them? When I asked myself this, I realized sometimes I would tell someone that I would keep them in my prayers, then go about my day and simply forget about the request. I didn't mean to lie. My intent was to pray for them. It just happened sometimes.

At that moment, I decided whenever I said those words, I would immediately stop what I was doing, close my eyes and lift them in prayer. Because if I didn't do it right then, I may forget. I want others to know that I genuinely care and am asking God to be with them.

So, next time someone is going through a hard time and you say those words, make sure that is what you are truly going to do. And I promise to you that if I tell you that I am praying for you, I am doing it right then and there.

MAD about Mondays

As I am trying to broaden my blog horizons, I am going to be linking up with a friend on some weekly posts. The first one is her "Mad about Mondays" series. It is a weekly post that talks about things that make you mad, get under your skin and bother you to your very core.

For my first Mad about Mondays post, I want to tell you about something that has been making me cranky lately. Noise.

Now, I'm not just talking about regular noise. It's not a crying baby in a restaurant or a barking dog at night that's bothering me. Let me tell you about the noise that has been disrupting my life.

I live in a very small town. It's one of those towns that if you blink you miss it. I like it. It's quiet, for the most part. Right across the street from our house, there is a small pizzeria. It's a tiny building that used to be a little convenience store that I walked to when I was younger. I moved away from the area for a while so I have never had the food, but I hear it's good. But mostly what I hear is ridiculously loud live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in my living room. We can also hear this music in our bedroom, in the nursery, my mom's bedroom...I think you get the point.

The music begins between 9 and 10 p.m. and goes on until midnight. I'm not opposed to live music that goes until midnight. Over the last 10 years I have been to plenty of loud concerts, but they were in cities and there were no neighborhoods anywhere nearby. I am, however, opposed to live music that goes until midnight in a small town surrounded by houses and apartments next door. I sit on my couch with my 3 month old and I hear "Woooo"; sounds only made by drunken patrons who are outside. I can hear rim shots and lyrics to songs that I was not aware existed.

My husband has called the police twice to complain of the noise and we received the message "We will send someone out." It went nowhere. So last week I took it upon myself to notify the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff. The restaurant/bar has been given a warning according to the county noise ordinance. To me this means, next weekend they better be quiet or the sheriff will be hearing from me once again.

So that, my friends and readers, is what makes me mad. Loud, inappropriate noise.

Why I did what I said I wouldn't

If you've read my previous posts or you know me personally, you are aware that when my son was born he spent 5 days in the NICU. The worst 5 days of my life.

I know many people who put their babies and young children in their bed. They put them there for the child's comfort, for convenience when nursing, or just to have them close by. It quickly becomes a habit and then you have a 5 year in bed with you. Before having a child, before becoming pregnant, I walked around saying "I will not put my baby in my bed". "I do not want my child to sleep with me". I was also opposed because as a child, I slept with my mom because I was afraid of the dark.

About 2 weeks into his life, only home a week I would say, Cooper came into the bed with me. When I put him in his bassinet he would cry. For some reason it broke my heart. I would lay with him on the couch or in the living floor. I would do whatever I had to do for him to sleep and be next to me. Within a few weeks, I accepted that I needed my son beside me. So for the past 3 months that is where he has slept. I comfort him. I kiss him. I watch him breathe. I quickly respond to any sound he makes.

Why did I do what I always said I wouldn't?

I've come to the conclusion that it was that week in the NICU that changed my heart. No one can really understand. I wish they could. I know that Cooper was not in a horrible situation, but he was in a place where I had to visit my own son. So when I got him home, I wanted him close.

There are two reasons I wrote this blog this evening. Number one: I needed to get it out. Number two: Never say you won't do something because you may just do it.

Next time: Transitioning to the crib...

Mommy Survey, just for fun

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes, very much so

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yep, 2 1/2 years

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?excitement, happiness, shock that it was real

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? No way.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 28

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I "knew" but I took a test

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My husband

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? definitely

9. DUE DATE? April 10, 2013

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Yes for at least 14 weeks straight and then more in the 3rd trimester.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?  everything! But I loved Pepsi

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?lots of things, I was grouchy

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? Boy

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?I wanted a girl at first but that went away pretty quickly

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? too much :)

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? yep

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? No just every ache, pain and bad symptom haha

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Bristol Regional Medical Center

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 14 from the time my water broke

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My mom drove, hubby was with us too of course

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Besides all the nurses & dr. and resident dr., my husband and mom

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?Epidural

25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7lbs 9 oz

26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? April 2, 2013 at 9:15 p.m.

27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Cooper Grant

28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 3 months