Life After I "Dew"

I've been seeing this little link-up popping up all over my blogger dashboard for weeks now so I think it's about time I jump off the bridge with everyone else, right? Plus I have some pretty cool things to share so what better way than a bullet list and what better day than T.G.I.F. {just kidding, all of my days are the same now, Friday is no better than Monday in SAHM land}.

one.

I know I said I was going to focus on non-scale victories with this weight loss journey but until I can actually exercise the scale is all I have to show me progress.  I am shocked and amazed at this number.  Pretty sure I didn't hit 23 lbs lost until I was like 7 months post-partum with Kendall.  So proud of myself and seeing the scale go down has definitely made it easier to stay motivated.

two.
I posted this picture to IG a few weeks ago but I'm still in love.  Have ya'll had this NUTtrition peanut butter by Planters?  It comes in several flavors but Cinnamon Raisin Granola Mix is by far my favorite! I slather it on English muffins and whole wheat waffles and it's a most delicious breakfast treat.  Bonus? My Kroger had them on manager special for $1.33 {from $3.99} this week!  I may or may not have stocked up.

three.

We got the style network back {Dish keeps giving it, taking it away and giving it back, don't ask} and I couldn't be more thrilled.  My afternoons are spent snuggling with my sweet boy and catching up on all the episodes of Giuliana & Bill that I've missed over the past who knows how many months. Can I just say how much I love them?  If they ever get divorced I may be more devastated than when Nick & Jess broke up.  And their house?  Yes!  Yes!  Yes!  I want their interior decorator, please and thank you.

four.
These two.  I mean, I die.  This has sort of become their nightly thing.  Jimmy takes James to our room, lays down and before I know it they're both out.  I wish I didn't have to break up such a beautiful moment and every night I so want to just let them be but Jimmy is a wild sleeper and, so, off to the Rock n Play James goes.  But seriously, heart melting over here.

five.

Kendall starts preschool in less than two weeks. We went to pay her tuition yesterday and I took her with me, hoping we'd get a chance to peek in one of the rooms, and we did!  We have an orientation and an open house this week but I thought if I could even give her a little preview of what's to come it might help it make more sense to her.  The woman was so kind and showed us all around and at each room Kendall got more and more excited {hello new toys!} and it made me very hopeful.  I am so excited for this new adventure for her and now I think {hope} she is too!

OK good thing that was quick.  Baby is poopy and The Toddler needs a second breakfast.  Make it a good one!

Hi Life After I Dew Readers!! My name is Kate and I blog over at Raising the Rogers. I am a mommy blogger who talks a lot about her kids and husband, shares recipes and will be sharing lots of decorating photos since we just closed on our brand new house!! Whoo Hoo 


Today I am so excited to be guest hosting one of my favorite link ups!! Shannon was one of the first bloggers that I started following when I started blogging last November and a SWW post was actually my very first post!! When Shannon asked if anyone would be interested in guest hosting I definitely knew I wanted to!! I am so honored she is letting me "take over" for the day!

Without further ado, this is what I am saying SO WHAT to this week.

So what if....

• We hired movers to move us from our apartment to our new home. Seemed kind of silly since we got rid of most of our furniture but trying to move with 3 kids is not a joke so movers were hired.
• I cannot wait for school to start back. I am craving our normal schedule in a bad way even though this summer has flown by. 
• The August 30x30 challenge I am participating in stresses me out. Seriously, I hate body after baby #3 so getting dressed is hard {even when I only have 30 items to choose from} and taking pictures makes me cringe.
• I make my 10 year old take my outfit pictures for the said 30x30 challenge. I feel totally weird taking pictures of myself and he is easier to work with than the hubs mainly because he snaps away instead of trying to guide me into poses. Ever took outfit pictures? Totally akward. 
•  I am so so excited to host SWW that I have been telling everyone! Most people IRL don't even know what SWW is so I get a weird side eye like "this girl is from crazy town" but whatever, haha
• RHOC coming to an end is making me a little sad. Trashy reality TV is my favorite guilty pleasure. And this season was interesting to me, sue me. 
• A friend of mine told me that Maci and Bentley from Teen Mom are getting their own show. Really?? I will admit that I will watch but seriously, I will question why every second of the show.
• I feel like shopping for furniture is pure torture. I mean I was so excited to shop for it and the minute I walked into the furniture store I had an anxiety attack. Too much to choose from. Too many things that I think my kids will ruin. Too many design ideas going through my head. Too much pressure from the sales woman. Too much, too much, too much. Glad that's over with and I hope I like what we picked. 

Thanks,
Kate
www.raisingtherogers.blogspot.com

So, here we are, our first full day alone since James has been born.

I've done two loads of laundry, made all the bottles for the day, changed our sheets, prepared dinner, mailed some bills and now both kids are napping.  It's still weird to say kidS, as in I have more than one now!  Holy smokes!

I feel on top of the world today.

A few people have asked me how life with two is going, how everyone is adjusting and I have to say, it's going pretty freakin' well.  Knock on wood.

My mom was here with us last week and words cannot explain the gratitude I have for this woman.  She did some laundry, washed dishes, made us dinner, drove us to doctor's appointments, played with Kendall, held James so I could shower, it was glorious.  We even joked that she should quit her job and become my nanny, hey we can dream!  We were so blessed last week that I was a little nervous to wake up today.

James has been a great sleeper, so far, he's going about 4 hours between feedings at night {2.5-3 hours during the day} and just like his big sister he goes right back to sleep after each one.  I have been waking up for the day around 6 am, spending about an hour with him before Kendall wakes up.  At which point James usually is back to sleep so I can spend some one on one time with my big girl.  It's been pretty perfect.

Can I just stop for a second and tell you how proud I have been of Kendall?  At first she was a little timid around her baby brother, she would go up to him, kiss his head and that was about it.  Now she's holding him, helping me with his bottles and diaper changes, talking to him and when he cries she gets very upset.  She's taking to her new role with such ease and I could not be happier.

It's weird because all of the sudden I feel this sense of peace, almost, come over me.  Like this is what our family needed and now that we have it we are complete.  I feel like all of our relationships have grown and become stronger, more intimate, and, in a way, more pleasant.  Let's face it, I am a miserable pregnant and now that I'm getting back to my old self things have been a lot nicer in the Dew house.

For those wondering, I am not breastfeeding.  I started to in the hospital and did it for 4 days before I just decided it isn't for me.   It didn't feel natural/normal to me even though James took to it pretty quickly.  I was starting to dread feedings {something I always loved with Kendall, even being bottle fed} and I didn't want that for him or me.  So I switch to bottles/formula and I couldn't be happier.  I really wanted to like breastfeeding and maybe I should have given it more time but I can say I tried and it wasn't for me.

My recovery has been amazing, seriously.  From the moment James entered this world I didn't take any pain medication besides Motrin, I just never felt like I needed anything stronger.  My incision has not bothered me at all {except when I tried to wear jeans yesterday} and I can honestly say I feel almost 100% again.

I took both babies to Target on Saturday, by myself, and they both did so well.  Yesterday we went to cheer my brother-in-law on at his first half marathon and it felt good to be out and about as a family of four.  A lot of people think I'm nuts, seeing as my baby isn't even two weeks old yet but I just feel ready.  I'm not doing anything crazy like running or doing sit ups but I think just trying to get back into the swing of things, carry on as usual, has helped us all transition so smoothly.

I am so grateful for everyone's well wishes, thoughts and prayers over the past two weeks. From friends bringing us dinners to family helping with housework to blog friends sending congratulations, we have truly been blessed.  Each and every person has helped make this transition so easy for us and I cannot say thanks enough.  We are truly blessed.

Well boys and girls, it's time, time to get fit again.  As much as I'd love to continue eating my {at least} 2,000 calorie a day diet of Chipotle and pizza it's just not working now that I'm not eating for two.  So, back to My Fitness Pal we go {If you use MFP, let's be friends!}.

The female body is an amazing thing, like for real.  It grows babies, it is capable of so much more than we ever give it credit for and after the birth of James Weston I am even more in awe of the changes that have taken place in such a short period of time.  Granted I have a lot of work to do and a long way to go to get back to where I'm comfortable but the good news is that I've started already.


I've been using MFP again for two days and I forgot how much I missed tracking.  Yes, I said that, I missed tracking.  There's just something about being in control, holding yourself accountable and seeing results that invigorates me.

So before everyone freaks out, I feel like I need a disclaimer.

I'm not being super restrictive just yet.  I have my calories set but if I go over them I'm not stressing out over it.  I'm just getting back on the wagon.  No, I'm not working out.  Unless you count playing with KP and walking her up and down the driveway in a wagon, I'm remaining sedentary until I get the green light from my doctor.

As of this morning I am down 14lbs since last Wednesday when I went in to have James.  Granted he was 8.10lbs of it.  I went to have my staples removed on Monday and of course they weighed me, of course, and my doctor was pretty impressed that {at that point} I had already lost 12lbs.  I have to say, getting the pat on the back from my doctor felt pretty damn good.

This time I'm not going to focus on the number on the scale.  I mean obviously it will guide me but I'm not going to put my weight out there and say that I want to get to a specific number because I did that last time and I felt good before I hit that number.  Instead I'm going to focus on non-scale victories.  I want to be strong and "hellfee" {as KP would say} and that's the end of it.  I don't care if I ever weigh 120lbs, if I feel good and m body is strong at 135 then so be it.  That's what my goal is this time around.

Because every weight loss journey needs proper documentation, here is my one week, postpartum, beginning, pics.
 

Honored would be a minor understatement that the lovely Shannon has allowed me to post here on her amazing blog!! I am so happy for her and her family that they have added their precious James into their lives and I wish them all the love and happiness that a new baby brings into life.
With that being said...Shannon did ask me to post for her "So what Wednesday" which is probably the coolest link up I have been a part of and need to do more often for sure. I am sure we all have plenty of things we want to say "so what" to! :)

Mom, Dad, Big Sister and Baby Brother are home and doing perfectly.  Our hearts are full and our family is complete.

Hello all! My name is Alena and I blog over at The Adventures of the Pidala Family Five! I'm so excited to be guest posting for this weeks So What Wednesday! Good Luck Shannon! We all can not wait to see your new bundle of Joy!






*Remember if you would like to guest post for SWW while I'm enjoying baby snuggles please leave a comment below {make sure you have an email address attached} and I'd love to have you!

As we are one {ONE!} day away from meeting our newest family member we've been trying to make
these last days as a family of three as special as possible.  Kendall stayed up a little later this weekend, she got special pink pancakes with sprinkles and powdered sugar for breakfast and Jimmy and I even got to sneak away Saturday for a little last date/wedding action.

It's hard to believe that three years ago we were moving into our house, setting up the nursery and anxiously awaiting the birth of our first-born, little girl.  Those days were full of so much anticipation, "is today the day?",  wonder, "who will she look like?", and excitement, "our first child!".  These past few days have been no different except this time it's been a lot busier and easier to keep our minds of off, thanks to a very busy, almost three-year-old.

It's also strange to think how certain we were that Kendall was going to be our only child.  One and done, we said.  It wasn't because she was a bad baby or that we struggled it was just, at that time, we felt complete.  Then something changed last summer.  We started thinking, if we are going to do this we better do it soon, and we decided that we didn't feel complete after all.  Jimmy talked to his dad, who had four boys, and his dad told him, "the greatest gift you can give your child is a sibling".  Being an only child myself I didn't really get it but Jimmy did.

I can't imagine what our lives are going to be like with a little boy in tow.  I never thought I'd be a boy mom. When I was pregnant with Kendall I knew I wanted a girl and couldn't have imagined them telling us anything differently when we went in for that gender scan.  This time I was much more open {since I already got my girl} but in the back of my mind I thought, "What am I going to do with a boy?  I know NOTHING about boys!".  When we found out we would be welcoming a son into our family I remember texting Jimmy one night {during his stint on night shift} and saying "I'm so glad we are having a boy!" and I truly meant it.

People warn you about going from one to two kids.  How hard it is, how different it is and how unexpected it is.  I get it but at the same time these are also the people who told me how hard newborns were and I'd take a newborn over a three-year-old any day.  I know that we will have our bad days but I also know, I truly believe in my heart, that our good days will outweigh our bad.

As we spend these last few days, hours, with our only child I hope that she knows the joy, love, happiness, pride, twinkle in my eye she's brought us over the past three years.  While I know she'll never remember these days as an only child, instead her memories will only know life with a little brother, I hope that in this moment she knows what a light she's been in our lives.  We have our ups and downs with her but I wouldn't trade my spunky, headstrong, fun-loving, beautiful little girl for anything.  She's been my biggest challenge but also the most rewarding.

Our family of three will soon be a family of four and while I have NO IDEA what the future has in store for us I know that it means we are going to be full of more love than we've ever known.  I know that this little boy is going to be loved and kissed on just as much as his big sister and I know that everyone is anxiously awaiting his arrival just as much, if not more.

If you've been pregnant before you know that nothing invites more unsolicited advice and comments than a baby bump.  People see you waddling into Target and immediately they're full of information, questions, comments, concerns that you never planned on discussing, with a stranger.  From parenting advice to how you should stock up on sleep now to tips on how to get through labor and delivery, everyone is an expert when it comes to pregnancy.  Honestly, I don't even know why we need OB/GYNs because it seems as though every Tom, Dick and Harry is qualified to give you all the information you'll need for the next nine{ish} months.

When I was pregnant with Kendall I remember a lady walking up to me in the bathroom, I was roughly four months pregnant at the time, and she asked me, "When are you due?!" and I remember being so caught off guard, as she was the first total stranger to ask me about my barely noticeable bump.  Obviously I was pregnant otherwise that would have pissed me off in a totally different way but I remembered thinking that I was not showing that much, not enough for a complete and total stranger to ask, hell I don't even think I was wearing maternity clothes at that point.  So, the point here is unless you know, for a fact, that someone is pregnant, it is not nice to assume and ask about their due date.  Unless they are very noticeably, like 9 months, pregnant.

Which brings me to point numero dos.  Do not comment on the size of a woman's baby bump.  I don't care if I she started showing from the day I she peed on a stick.  I She doesn't want to hear that it looks like she's having twins, ever.  This is especially true when it comes to the opposite sex.  A man should never comment on a woman's growing figure, ever.  When we went to a wedding the beginning of June {I was roughly 7-8 months pregnant} one of Jimmy's friends asked when I was due and when I replied "August" his reaction was, "OH WOW!  I was hoping you were going to say soon so that there was an end in the near future" or something to that effect.  Excuse me?  Douche bag says what?!  True story people.  It's hard enough to accept the fact that your body is changing and growing and getting more out of control by the day but it's quite another thing to have someone remind you of it with stupid comments like that one.  Just don't do it.  Think it to yourself, tell other people behind my back but do not tell me that I, basically, look like a whale.  I'm, most likely, fully aware.

Last week I was in heaven, aka Target alone, and treated myself to my favorite TALL {as in small} iced caramel macchiato when the barrista {I hesitate to even call her that} asked me, "Is that OK for your pregnancy?".  Umm...no but the six pack of Miller Lite I just picked up in aisle 13 is.  YES.  I'm pretty sure caffeine, in moderation, is fine for pregnant ladies {my doctor has approved me to drink caffeine, I know some people are advised not to}.  Not to mention, the drink I got was like 90% milk so there's that.

My boobs are huge, yes they are.  Even when I'm not pregnant I'm a 32DD so pregnancy only makes it more impossible to find a bra at a reasonable price.  I'm fully aware of this.  Instead of saying, "Holy boobs batman!" when you see my pic on IG, just think it to yourself.  I'm already self-conscious about them, especially when I have to get my already large maternity clothes in a next size bigger just to accommodate my milk makers.  It's embarrassing and while I don't embarrass easy this is one thing that makes me very uncomfortable.

Now the sleep comment I haven't gotten so much this time around but when I was pregnant with Kendall, and anxiously willing her out of my body, I had so many people tell me to just enjoy my kid-free life and SLEEP.  Like every single person told me to take naps all day every day, as if I could store up this sleep and cash it in when the baby was born.  I have news for you, you can't bank sleep.  You can't catch up on sleep.  You can't pre-sleep your future.  It doesn't work that way.  I wish it did, oh how I wish it did, but it doesn't.  So telling someone who is so big and uncomfortably pregnant to sleep while they can is really not helpful nor is it something they want to hear.  Instead give them tips on things that will actually work for helping to get the baby to come out, sex, walking, spicy food, but not sleep.

The comment we {Jimmy and I both have heard it more times that we care to count} get now more than ever is, "Just wait".  As in, "Just wait till you have two."  As in, "you think ONE is hard, just wait till there's TWO."  OK, I get it, two is more than one, that's just simple math.  I also get that two kids means twice the work, twice the crying, twice the mouths to feed but it also means twice the love.  Warning me about how much life is about to suck is not nice or helpful.  Just like the dicks who tell you, "Oh you think The Terrible Twos are bad?  Just wait till she's 3, 4, 5 {whatever their least favorite age was}".  It's not encouraging to tell people that their life is about to suck worse than they already think it does.

So many times have I wanted to react to these types of situations by playing dumb "Oh what?  I'm sorry, I'm not pregnant" or acting like what dumb shit they just informed me of was actually helpful, "Oh really? I'll start sleeping NOW.  Thanks!" Instead I usually just smile and nod.  After all if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all, right?

different from all the other boys I had ever "dated".  He didn't even try to kiss me after our first date, something that I still admire about him to this day.

You know when you are in a new relationship you love whatever the other one loves.  Sushi?  My favorite!  Dave Matthews Band?  I've never missed a concert!  Dogs?  Love them!  It's all so new and easy and you think, "We are a match made in heaven!  There's nothing we can't agree on!".  And then you get married.

It's true that we are pretty much the definition of Brad Paisley's song I'm Still a Guy {"You see a deer you see Bambi, I see antlers up on the wall..."}.  He's the manliest of men {a hunter, hard worker, loves being outdoors} and I am a true girly girl {hate getting dirty, love shopping, most comfortable in dresses}.  And while we do agree on and share a lot of common interests there are just some things that we'll never agree on.

Movies & Books.  I've talked about how torturous movie night is in The Dew house and I wish I could report that it's gotten better over time but then I'd be lying.  He likes action, sci-fi, adventure, keep you on the edge of your seat stuff and I like comedies, romantic comedies and basically anything that leaves you feeling good when it's over.  I don't like things set in mid-evil times, I don't like things set in the future, and I definitely don't like movies where they speak in Old English {I suck}.  Same goes with books.  I read to escape so mainly I read fictional books and ones that usually have a humorous undertone.  Jimmy would prefer to read far-out things {Star Wars, Orson Scott Card books, etc} and I just can't even grasp things that are so far from reality.

Dogs.  When we met we each had our own dogs and they just so happened to look like twins separated by about 15lbs.  They were our babies, we love{d} them, and then we had Kendall.  Now that we have a child{ren} I am over dogs.  That's not to say I don't love our dogs, I do, but they are just one more thing on my list.  Some times I feel like they are actually more work than my child{ren}.  If I had it my way we'd never get any more dogs but Jimmy insists that we'll always have dogs {and he's trying to push for a 3rd at the moment}.

Cleanliness.  Not our own, bodily cleanliness but rather the cleanliness of our house at any given time.  I could look around right now and give you a laundry list of things that need done, laundry in the dryer needs folded, toys need picked up, the wood floors need mopped, sun room needs swept, trash needs taken out, lunch dishes need put in the dishwasher, etc.  If Jimmy were to come home right now he would tell me {he actually did tell me last night} that the house looks immaculate.  While I love that he is not the type of man to come home, look at a messy house and say, "what did you do all day?" but at the same time I wish that a company ready house was something that he thought was as important as I do.

Taxidermy.  My husband is an avid hunter and now fisher.  He hunts all the things, deer, duck, pheasant, quail, turkey, elk, hell he even goes "shed" hunting in the late season where all he's doing is finding broken off antlers.  So yeah he has a lot of "wall decorations" and is quite proud of each and every one of them.  I cannot handle it.  I had a deer head fall on me when I was younger and I think it scarred me for life.  I think it looks tacky {unless you're in a lodge} and it's definitely not my style.  However, I cannot deny the pride and happiness that these trophies make him.  Thankfully we've been able to come to a compromise on this subject and as long as I don't have to look at them, he may hang them.  So they go in the basement.  End of story.

Country vs. City.  Jimmy loves the country, he loves having land, he loves that our neighbors are not close by, he loves the quiet and being able to see the stars at night.  While I love aspects of the country life {it is nice to see the stars so bright} I miss having Chipotle down the road more.  If I had it my way we'd live about 20 minutes closer to Columbus, especially now that we have Kendall.  At first I thought the country life would be nice but now I just want to walk out my front door and take my child{ren} on a walk instead of loading up the stroller and driving 10ish minutes somewhere.  We've actually found a neighborhood close by that is the best of both worlds.  Large lots {bigger than what we currently have, actually} but still in a subdivision so I can go on those stroller rides, perfection.  Now if only we could afford to build we'd be doing alright.

Fortunately, for us, these "issues" aren't really issues in the grand scheme of things.  I'm thankful that if these are the biggest hurdles we have to jump then we're doing alright.  What are some silly things that you and your significant other can never seem to get on the same page about?

Having a baby is a scary thing.  You are all the sudden responsible for this little life and there is no instruction manual.  Having a baby the second time around is equally as scary but for a whole new list of reasons.

In some ways having a second baby is easier.  You kind of know what to expect in terms of hospital stays, postpartum dressing, learning your own baby versus what's "normal", etc.  Although each baby is different some things are just trial and error and therefore making each baby after the first a little less "scary" because you aren't afraid to try or do things that you think are right, regardless of what is "normal".

However, with that being said, I have run into a whole new set of fears as we get ready for Baby Brother's arrival.  No longer am I afraid of things like sleeping through the night {it'll happen eventually} or feeding on schedule {babies eat when they're hungry} or even going out in public {you just have to do it}.

Now I worry about things like love.  With your first you are guaranteed to love them with your whole entire heart no one else is filling that space so naturally your first born has it.  I read about a lot of people being fearful of not being able to love their second as much as their first and that's where I'm different.  I'm afraid I will love him more than her.  Hear me out.  With Kendall I had to go back to work after 8 weeks, she was still a tiny baby.  I worked until she was 18 months old and I feel like that period of her life is such a blur that I barely remember things like when she started crawling, her first word, and when she got her first tooth.  I remember things like our first family vacation when she was 5 months old, waiting in line to see Santa that first year and how adorable she was in my brother-in-laws wedding but that's because those were major moments. I hate that I feel like I was robbed of those precious months because of a job but that was a part of our story.  Now I'll be home with James Weston and I'll get to experience all of these things that I feel like I missed with her and that makes me feel like I'll be closer with him.  Partner that with the hopes of a successful breastfeeding journey and it's like a recipe for more James love.  Or is it?

I think about my weight loss the second time around.  Will I be as successful as I was the first time?  I am already in a better place than I was when I was pregnant with Kendall.  My weight gain, thus far, has been the same but my mind is in a totally different place.  After I had her I kind of felt like "well this is my new body" and just dealt with it for 6ish months before I decided to do something about it.  This time I'm ready now.  I already know I'll be doing MyFitnessPal again {counting calories} and I want to start on day one.  I am ready to have control of my body again but will my body respond the same way?  It's all unknown.  I know that no matter what I will share my journey just as I did last time so stay tuned.

I'm nervous about how my relationship with Jimmy will be affected.  Right now we are in a good groove, we know what to expect from Kendall and how to respond as well as making time for each other.  We have date nights because it's easy to find a babysitter for one kid.  We have a few hours in the evening alone because Kendall goes to bed at the same time {mostly} each night.  But a new baby means a new set of issues.  Will we be able to get a sitter for two kids?  James Weston might not go to sleep when his big sister does therefore intruding on our husband-wife time.  Will I be so stressed out after spending all day alone with two kids that I take it out on him when he comes home from a long day at work?  I hope not but I'm sure it'll happen on occasion {I apologize in advance Jim-bo}.  A new person brings a whole new set of struggles and I just hope that it doesn't impact us negatively but rather brings us closer together.

And then there's Big Sister.  I pray daily that she just slides into her new role as Big Sister as smoothly as possible.  I hope that it's love at first sight when she sees her Baby Brother and kisses him for the first time.  The truth of the matter is it could really go either way.  I can totally see her being all lovey-dovey towards him and helping me with him and just doting on him in every way possible.  Then there is the opposite which I can also see happening too.  Will she be resentful that I can't just drop what I'm doing and play tea party?  Is she going to feel like I'm pawning her off when I take her to preschool less than a month after he's born?  Is she going to regress when she sees him with his pacifier and remembers that it wasn't too long ago that she had one too?  I don't know, I just don't know.

So while having your first baby is beyond scary and all unknown, I think that the second time around is equally scary and for equally important reasons.  I know I'm not the first one to have a second child and that several millions of women have done this before me, and lived to tell about it.  Only 6 more days and then it's on to a whole new set of worries!

You know that old saying, "it takes a village to raise a child"?  Well it truly does and in this final week of pregnancy numero dos I am realizing how true that is.

Let's face it people, I am not a pleasant pregnant person.  I wasn't the first time around and, dare I say it, it's even worse this time because oh my goodness the toddler stuff.  I don't have the option to sit down and relax when my feet are on fire.  I can't take a nap even though it feels like little magical fairies are pulling at my eyelids, willing them closed.  I cannot relax in a warm bath to sooth my achy back whenever I want to.  My toddler/preschooler demands my attention and she deserves it too.

This week I set out to have a great last week as a family of three.  I was going to say "yes" to more things, turn the TV off, get out of the house, and just truly be happy and present.  Yesterday we were off to a great start.  We returned a few duplicate toys, got some lunch, met some friends to play and Kendall took a glorious nap.  And then came dinner.

She refuses to eat dinner.  She "doesn't like" anything, or so it seems right now.  She didn't want to sit in her chair.  She was just the definition of defiant.  I felt my heart start to pound and was literally sweating when I just got up and excused myself from the table {Jimmy was still sitting with her}.

I went in our bedroom with my new Glamour magazine and flipped through the whole thing before emerging back out to the scene of the crime.  I just needed a mommy time out.

Last night was epic.  In the 6 months that Kendall has been sleeping through the night in panties we've only had three "accidents" at night.  I consider that a win.  Last night was the worst of them all, soaked through the sheet, mattress pad, down to the mattress and when I picked up a HYSTERICAL Kendall she was literally dripping in pee.  Oy.  Top it off when I got into the linen closet to get fresh sheets for her I stepped in a huge puddle of dog pee.  My night was full of pee, ya'll.

This morning I was determined to make it a good one, remember we only have one more week as a family of one child, but yet again things went downhill quickly.  We have to get a new garage door installed tomorrow {$$$}, there is never ending road construction right in front of our house making it miserable to even get out of my driveway, I think the dog has a urinary tract/bladder infection, and I won't even go into the issues that I'm having with my very pregnant body.

Thank God for my mother-in-law.  It's like she could sense my blood pressure rising this morning because just when I thought I was going to literally lose my mind my phone rang and she was offering to keep Kendall for a few hours.  Even winning the lottery wouldn't have felt as good as that phone call this morning.

As much as I want to be the best mom in the world and do it all, the truth is in order to be that mom I need others.  I need my mother-in-law to make that phone call.  I need a time out in my room while Jimmy finishes dinner and takes care of bath one night.

I debated writing and publishing this post because I don't want to seem ungrateful but the truth of the matter is being a mom is hard.  To the women who do it without family nearby and single moms, you guys rock.  Seriously I don't know how you do it and you deserve a medal or a shopping trip or an endless supply of wine because you are doing something I could never do.

Are you the type of person that has a lot of friends/acquaintances or just a handful of really good friends? I can tell you I have exactly TWO good girlfriends, ones that I call my BFFs.  I can call on these two for anything and everything and even when we haven't talked for a while we always pick up right where we left off and we always know we are there for each other.  No matter what.  These girls have seen me through my lowest lows and my highest highs and have never judged me, let me down or forgotten about me.  Seeing that I'm an only child, I'd say these two are the closest thing to sisters I can imagine.  I mean, we've been friends since we were in kindergarten, after all. You might remember them, The Pregnants and I.

When I was approached to watch and review the special edition of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with my daughter Kendall I was 100% on board.  I have loved Winnie the Pooh since I was a baby (my nursery was decorated in Winnie the Pooh) and I love the message that you get when watching it. Friendship is important. Friendship is magical.  Friends come in all shapes and sizes and all offer their own strengths to the relationship. Tigger is silly, bouncy, hyper, and always looking for a great time, much like my friend Kelly (on the left).  Christopher Robin is compassionate and someone that others look up to, much like my friend Katie (middle).  Both are very different but equally important in our friendship equation.

As Kendall gets ready to start preschool this fall I think about the friendships she will create.  This will be her first time making friends on her own.  You know, ones that she chooses.  Ones that aren't just the kids of mommy's friends and therefore, by default, are her friends. I hope she chooses friends as good as the ones I have.  I hope that the people she chooses to surround herself with lift her up.  I hope that they help her to be the best Kendall she can be.  I hope they never let her down.  I hope they are always honest.  I hope that they are trustworthy and dependable.

In return I wonder what type of friend Kendall will be.  She's got a good heart.  She truly cares about others and is very helpful.  She's also fun, wild, and always down for a good time which is what usually draws people to her, even at her young age.  All the hopes that I have for her friends, I also wish for her.  I want her to be the type of girl that everyone loves and no one has a negative thing to say about. I hope, if nothing else, she learns from my friendships.  Just because I don't have many friends doesn't mean that the ones I do have aren't worth more.  I prefer my close-knit group to a large group any day.  I know that we are inseparable (even though Katie moved away) and nothing will ever come between us. That's what a true friendship is, in my book.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will be available for the first time on Blu-ray Combo Pack and HD Digital August 27th.  It is a great way to teach your children about friendships, imagination, and adventure, and is such a timeless film filled with memorable characters.  If you would like to learn more, you can visit their website and/or Facebook page.

Now, to enter for a chance to win a $50 Visa Gift Card and a Winnie The Pooh Blu-ray Combo Pack, share with us the importance of friendship, imagination and adventure in your child's life...

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
"b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: ""#SweepstakesEntry""; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post"
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 8/1/2013 - 9/3/2013
Be sure to visit the Winnie The Pooh brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!