Girls just wanna have fun

I love nail polish, manicures, pedicures, facials, hair, make up and well all things girly. This of course had taken a back seat to all things mommy through neglect on my part. First it was the stress of the NICU, then being home with a premature infant as well as being a first time parent and guilt I felt over my daughter's start in life.

It's not something that every preemie parent goes through but it is something that I went through and still am dealing with today. Looking through pictures of myself on Facebook and even just through the house I realized how much I'd flat out given up on. My hair was a mess, tangles, knots, split ends on top of my spilt ends, breakage etc. My face was abysmal, my feet look like I make a profession of walking in powder. I really am not perturbed by my weight just yet so i'll give that a miss.

My husband has never said a word except when I wear a bun but he despises buns on general principle. My mother on the other hand made it her life's mission to inquire what was wrong, why was I not doing XYZ anymore. She never failed to mention that I used to take such good care of myself and now I did the bare minimum (brush my teeth and use deoderent). I now realize she wasn't being malicious she was being honest. I did take care of and pampered myself rotten. My outward appearance was a reflection of how much I loved myself. If my husband wanted to make my day just bring home a bottle of new nail polish and my eyes would glaze over. Now I can't even be bothered.

Have my priorities shifted? Absolutely. Does that mean I can't continue my girly pampering? Absolutely not! I just have to take the time out to remember to focus on me. My beauty rituals were never long but they aided in my relaxation down time. It's time to love me again, one nail at a time.

Currently Reading

Head Over Heels by Jill Mansell

"Welcome to being a Mommy"

I had plans to head to Atlanta for the long holiday weekend but on Friday daycare called my husband to let him know that Stuffing had diarrhea and needed to be picked up right away. So there went out weekend of cooking out, the Aquarium and the park. I was in no way comfortable taking a 5 hour drive with her in the back seat and diarrhea. So we've been home all weekend so she can recuperate. Of course I call my BFF bka my mummy and her sage words were "Well kids, welcome to being a mommy, you do what's best for your baby and nothing less. I'm so proud of the woman and mother you're becoming"

I love mummy a thousand times over, but my reasons for not going were no where near so altruistic. The thought of having to scrub her and the car seat down with a couple bottles of Deer Park water was not appealing. So I'll try for another trip later in the summer. I really do want to eventually make it to the Aquarium because I've never been and I hear rave reviews.

Being Natalia's mother is great and I can roll with the sacrifices for her because I generally don't see it as a sacrifice. Any excuse to spend 3 days in bed or the sofa being bums together is actually a high lite in my life. Dropping her off at day care 5 mornings week is the bigger sacrifice. Vacations come and go.

Check out Progressive Phonics - Progressive Phonics

I want you to take a look at: Progressive Phonics - Progressive Phonics

Bookmarking because now that Stuffing is one, it's time for literacy to kick in. I am an advocate for all children being literate.

Blogging from the Bahamas

Currently Reading

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Currently Reading

Good at Games by Jill Mansell

Currently Reading

Thinking of You by Jill Mansell

Summer Loving

The Closer starts on July 11 and True Blood is back June 26 HOO RAY! they will get me through to September when Glee, Fringe, and Grey's come back

Favorite Picture of the Week

Stuffing was very determined to wake her daddy up and what better way to wake up than with kisses!

Support Systems

As a working mother, the most important lesson I’ve learned and the first piece of advice I would give to a mom to be or a new mom is to get your support system in place immediately. Start pinpointing the people in your life who will step up to the plate when you need assistance. While many offers of assistance will materialize, “Oh I will help you any time! Just call me”, these are hardly ever backed up with tangible help.

I’ve been home with Tali-baby for two days while she’s getting through this fourth episode with an ear infection and viral throat infection but needed to return to work today but knew she was not ready to be back in day care with all the germs that are floating around. I called my sister at 7am, waking her up, and asked if it was possible to drop her off, and she jumped at the chance. She loves spending the day with her favourite (and only) niece and if available has yet to turn me down. This is the kind of support you need when you’re a mom. People who are true to their word and will provide the assistance promised. This is not to say that people who don’t provide assistance are somehow lacking because not everyone is gung ho about being a baby sitter especially if they already have obligations or just don’t want to be bothered. Not everyone likes babies or children, even if they have them. Which people find impossible to understand. It’s just beneficial to use what you have and go the distance.

Passport

What every babe to a travel bug mama needs!

A Spoon Full of Sugar

Tali-baby woke up from her afternoon nap today with blue lips and the chills, to say I was panicked is the understatement of the decade. Fearless Leader had left not long before for work so I was alone and terrified. I grabbed her and drove straight to our pediatrician's office where we were seen right away. Now yesterday she only had a viral infection which was causing fevers and a nasty sore throat; today we have an ear infection in her left ear. The ear infection sprang up over night because yesterday her ears were "just fine" per our regular ped.

Now she has to take Omnicef for the ear infection as well as the Dukes for the sore throat and the children's Motrin for the fever.Not to sound like a grump but can my baby catch a f****** break seriously. She is the happiest smiliest baby and always in such good spirits and I completely understand that children get sick but she's been sick from day 1 and I'd like for her to have one month of peace. The next person to ask when we're having a second is going to be told to take a running jump.

I can't wait to take her on vacation so she can have a somewhat normal weekend of fun family time.

Sick Days

I had a completely different post for today but then Tali-baby got a fever of 101.1 and daycare called me and hubby so someone could pick her up. I got a last minute appt with her ped and took her in. My girl has another viral infection. We had to use a different pharmacy this time because our Wal-Mart no longer compounds and of course I forgot all of her insurance information because Wal-Mart already has every thing on file.

Ugh, I just want her to feel good all the time. With such a long nicu stay I hate hate hate her getting sick so much. I want to lock her in a bubble and not let her out until she's 30 but that's the PTSD talking.

Working Mommy

This is the hardest part of my day, work. I don't hate my career field by any means, it is something I'm passionate about and enjoy immensely but I love getting spit on, slapped, and smiled at much more.

She is growing so much every day and will be 11 months in a weeks time and I have zero clue where the past year has gone. My 1 lb 10 oz Super Girl is crawling, babbling, getting teeth and growing up. I am so proud to be her mummy and able to watch her grow.

Starting Fresh

I've been on a hiatus due to pregnancy complications and now that my life has been sorted out I can get back to blogging.

Candi

Bed Day

Pregnancy, work and school have taken it's toll on me today. It's my own personal bed day, where I simply stay IN BED!

Birthday Plans

God spare life I will be skiing in North Carolina for my birthday. Help! I've never skied before but it's on my 101 Goals in 1001 Days list and by gosh I'm going to get it done.

Fall 2009

The semester has one month left! I'm not getting a 4.0 (thanks Business Law *smirk*) but I am grateful that I'm passing. I've learned the behind the scenes work in the hospitality industry and it's comparable to any other business industry however the people factor is a great obstacle. I need to help my industry out and head somewhere for a night.

I'll be back later with my review of Push by Sapphire I had to break down and buy the book because my local library was obviously never going to get it to me before the movie comes my way. I plan on doing a double review (book + movie) compare and contrast.

Toodles!


RIP Shaniya Davis