Being A Mom

I haven't talked about L or being pregnant this time very much. Probably because I have a toddler that I can barely keep up with, due to the lack of oxygen I have because of baby girl in my lungs all the time! However as L is taking her nap I was just thinking about her and really how amazing she is. Motherhood is such a world wind and I think a lot of the time I feel like I'm not doing enough or I'm not being the mom she needs. However these past couple month L has surprised me with her maturity and communication skills. In no way I can take full credit for that, she is the most independent child I know. Since she was born she has known what she wanted and I have tried to provide ways for her to learn how to get them.I also read so many books and articles on parenting. Then I talk with Robbie and then we adjust if need be.
Adjusting is something I have tried to take to heart as becoming a mom, because lets face it nothing on a daily bases is the same and no matter how much planning you have done, your baby has other plans in mind or even emotions.
I also like to say that I never thought I would be that  mom that is semi strict about naps or having an elaborate sleep set up for my child. But here you go. We have always feed and rocked L to sleep since she was a baby. She has never been a cuddlier and never wanted to sleep in our bed (I know your thinking what! why are you complaining) Even as a new born she preferred her bassinet over sleeping next to me, she hated being swaddled and never liked a sling wrap things that people swear by. So feeding/sleep time was that connection time for both Robbie and I.
Here is the thing, people swear not to do that, that they become dependent on it. But amazingly L has adjusted at each stage when she was ready. At nine months she decided she was done breast feeding, at 9 months she decided she didn't like bottles so we switched to a sippie cup. She crawled at around 6 months and she walked at 11 months. She never liked a binky as a baby so that wasn't an issue. Till her side and back teeth came in and then she wanted a binky to just chew on and play with. She does have a blanket that she is very much attached to and has to have it everywhere we go. She started on solids at around 4 to 5 months. She has slept through the night since she was 9 or 10 months old and sleeps till 7:30am-8am! She has always taken naps and if she doesn't its basically the worst day for everyone. Now I'm not saying this to brag or that I have the "perfect child" Because believe me she has her moments and days. We all get frustrated and we all get upset. I say this because I think we get wrapped up in what people say, what articles tell us to do, what books recommend and why. I mean its all great information and some or all of it is very helpful to us. But I think sometimes we have to trust our self. Trust our instincts or even try something that goes against what is "recommended". We are given these little humans because we are meant to be the best parent for them, to teach them the most important things in this life. We aren't perfect at it and we make mistakes but that's also good for our kids to see and understand.
With L I chose to feed her, her milk and then rock her to sleep. She also has black out curtains, a noise maker, a fan and sometimes a humidify going. We take almost all of that stuff with us when we travel!I know we are committed. However she sleeps through the night and doesn't get up at the crack of dawn. I will tell you, the last couple weeks she has had her milk while Robbie or I rock her and when she is done, she hands us her cup and then says "rib, rib" meaning crib. We lay her down and she goes to sleep. No fuss no tantrums. Putting pjs on is a whole other issue (I mean you would think we were hurting her ) but anyways. L has shown me that I know whats best for her, and by trusting myself and doing things that seem a little over kill I have truly enjoyed. I have enjoyed watching her fall asleep in my arms even with a growing belly and her soon to be baby sister kicking L. I have enjoyed watching her grow from my arms to my lap. I have heard special promptings as I just sat there and listened. In these moments I was prompted two weeks before L decided to stop breast feeding that I should cherish these moments because they weren't going to last. Little did I know how fast. Others have been to enjoy these single moments with her because it will never just be you and her again, which is good but remember, remember these moments.
L is my world right now, my first baby and the best little girl I could have asked for. but I owe everything to my Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. For showing me how to be her mom and how to love her in the best way, to teach her, and to grow with her. Babies are hard truly! But they teach us so many lessons in life and show us the true meaning of our Savior.
Sorry this is a little longer then I expected but I hope you enjoyed!
Shanel

Valentines Day

So if you dont know this I have always loved Valentines Day probably because of the colors but most of all because my dad never for got to remind, not only my mom but also my sister and I that he loved us. I woke up for 19 years to flowers in my room and a card telling me how proud he was and how much he loved me. My dad created an example of how I needed to be treated and he understood that one of my love languages was recieving gifts.
So after I got married Rob has taken over that role like a champ and is always spoiling me and making sure I feel loved. He does an amazing job at it and really thinks about the gift he is going to give me. However me on the other hand I really really struggle in this department. Many of my "awesome" gifts that I have tried to come up with either take a month longer to get here, broken when we recieved them, or just really werent as "awesome" as I thought. Rob would disagree and say he loves all my gifts but I think he is just being nice 😉.
On the other hand since September of last year we have been part of Jordan Page (funcheaporfree.com) BudgetBootcamp.com and have been paying off debt like crazy. We took a little break in November and bought somethings we both have really been wanting for a while. However now that it's the new year we have really been getting back into gear. We have some pretty hefty goals to meet by July. A new baby coming in May and a two year mark to be completly debt free! It might seem a little far fetch but when you really find a system that works, you sacrifice for a short time, and you start paying things off you really feel like you're accomplishing things.
So with that we took some advice from Jordan, where her and her husband switch off Valentines Day and their Anniversary! So I have Valentines Day and Rob had our Anniversary this year! Then next year we switch. We figured we would save money by one of us just spoiling the other. Believe me, I had some great plans, like a couples massge. However I have to be a least 8 months pregnant in order to get one at the spa I really wanted to go. So that was a bust. The Disney Lion King on Broadway is in Michigan right now but all the good seats are taken and I didnt want to risk $300 tickets (for both) to be a waste. I was feeling a little discouraged because I wanted to do my best! Seriously Rob deserves a great night with how hard he works, at work and at home. So I just started talking to him about things he wants to do. He said you know I really just want to go to the movies! I thought what!?? However he then said, since L was born we haven't gone to a movie theater. We used to do that a lot and I enjoyed it! So I got to work. I will let you know about how it goes later, since I still have a week and half!.
But heres another thought. Jordan Page the mommy blogger I talk about a lot. Was talking about the trips her and her husband were taking this year and how and why they can do it. She stated something that hit me hard and reminded me of our goals. They are in a place in there life where they are out of debt, savings in the bank, retirement is being saved, their business are making money. She said we are in "Phase 2" of budgeting. Which means they can save and plan for "expensive" trips. This point that I want to make is you have to scarifice so you can live your "dream life". So to have my dream life of traveling and being debt free. I have to just stick with some simpler dates. That way we can eventually plan for those more exciting trips! Being reminded of the big picture is sometimes what we need in life. When we are in the middle of our own struggles or hard goals it can be hard to think we will ever accomplish them. But when we have support and encouagement we can do it. And I have to remind myself that I put way more preasure on myself as an individual, wife and mother then anyone else. In reality I'm doing a pretty good job not perfect but none of us are.