Uncool.

We've got him addicted to the beach now! 

There have been several funny "mom moments" this last month. My life has changed so dramatically I can only laugh about it! Here are some of my favorite snippets...

• Mornings, Driving to work, feelin so fresh with my music pumpin in my beautiful Cherry BMW (try to ignore the crackers and toys littering the backseat and focus on how succulent Cherry and I are). Unnnntil I get to work and the car door hits my head on the way out and I have a sippy cup in hand to clean in the work kitchen sink. So HOT right?

• Afternoons, Rollin in my sweet succulent Cherry BMW...music pumpin...windows down...feelin so hot again. Unnnntil I get to daycare and the windows go up, the A/C on, and the music goes back to the Pandora "Indie Children's Music" station. Like Cinderella when the clock strikes midnight!

• Mommies always have wet wipes, a toy, and a snack in their bags AT ALL TIMES. Doesn't matter if its your work bag or weekend purse, it must be AT ALL TIMES.

• I don't know how to explain how excited we are to go to bed every night. Granted we wake up at 4 and 5 in the morning to exercise before work, but still. We are old. My love summed it up best the other day, "Everyday I am not sure what I am more excited to do...work out? See you and little buddy? Or go to bed?"

• I am lucky if I make it out the door without milk, pee, juice, snot, or some other liquid on my work dress. Whats more hilarious, is I don't really even care? As long as I can wipe it off and it doesn't smell...eh.

This Belle-Me¢re's evenings BEFORE her little bear joined.

...Run an errand after work, maybe get my nails done or run by the store for booze or dinner. Come home and make dinner, watch a favorite show on Netflix. Read and go to bed around 10. Sometimes grab happy hour or dinner with friends. Oh single life.

This Belle-Me¢re's evenings AFTER her little bear joined.

Scramble to get all my work done by 3:30 so I can leave for daycare! Enjoy my hour train commute home since its my only alone time! Rush over to daycare! Snuggle with my little bear, don't forget a snack and juice otherwise you will have a crab on your hands. Rush home and make dinner for little bear! Bath time! Bed time story and kisses! Quickly eat some dinner with my love. Pass out at 8:30p. 

While before my mornings and evenings were less crazy, at least now I get to crack up laughing at a little bear who comes out of his room after waking up wearing cowboy boots shoved on over his pajamas. And says to my dog Bella on our way out, "Bye Fella! See ya later!". What better way to start the day? And at least my evenings are ended with a "Daddy, I want hug you" and gives his Daddy a big wrap around hug and shouts "I LOVE YOU!"- What better way to end the day?

It's hard for me to explain how different my life is now...the amazing parts and the tough parts. But as much as my life has changed, and although we are still adjusting everyday, the sweet moments and complete joy always outweigh any frustration or exhaustion. Watching a precious little bear grow and change into this beautiful little person is such a privilege. So what I get a little pee on me sometimes?

xoxo

Belle-Me¢re

The Art of Shaving.

Gosh this kid just kills me sometimes. Our family gave Little Bear a sweet little shaving kit for the bath tub. Since My Love works nights, I kind of put it out of sight until there was an evening they could do it together. This boy LOVES his Daddy. For someone who has spent so little time with his Daddy, we are constantly surprised with his complete devotion to him. Since Daddy is in the military he has to shave every morning with proper foam and razor, Little Bear knew exactly what "shaving like Daddy" meant, and seemed to take it very seriously...

                 

We love "toys" that we can really play with him with. That get him moving and and thinking and doing. Watching My Love show and tell him about every piece, then demonstrate how to do it...it made me fall somehow more in love with that big tough guy. This seems to be a reoccurring thing, the gentlest tasks and voice My Love has to use with Little Bear just gets me every time! Such precious moments.

First Day.

Today was someones first day of daycare. He was pretty excited to meet his new friends and teachers, and although a little nervous before I left him...for the most part he was alright. You know who kind of lost it? ME?! This big and tough former Pre-K teacher had to have an extra hug and kiss before leaving...and almost teared up! I wasn't worried about him...and am even semi-excited to be back at work with adults...but he's my little buddy now. And he's just so small to be left there! When I got back this evening he ran to me and was so excited to see me, but also happy to go back again tomorrow. The main teacher is a kind older woman whose been doing this a long time, she sent me a picture today at work and I just squealed in my cube. She said he was doing amazingly well, joining in with everything and having a ball. We were all so proud. I quote, "You said he was a special little boy, and man were you right!". Come on, dying right now.

He's gone through so many changes these last weeks...I can't imagine how tough this all must be for a toddler who needs routine more then anything. I've learned my lesson in slowing down with him to allow time to get acquainted with everything, so after work for the next few weeks I am just picking him up and coming home. He was exhausted and a little crabby this evening after all the fun, so we just watched a cartoon and ate dinner before bath and bed. He's just like Daddy and never wants to go to sleep...second night now he's cried for Daddy and then snuck out of bed to turn on the light and read a book. As soon as I turn out the light again he cries for about a minute before passing out- come on buddy I know you are exhausted.

With every kiss, cuddle, and "eh-ter look!" I feel myself falling more and more in love and back into "Mommy-Mode"which has been quietly waiting in the wings while I worked for corporate America.

<3 Belle-Mére

Wanna Fight?

Favorite Things.

My favorite things these days...

This week we've had off to spend with our little bear, have some adventures, and get him settled. Today marks my loves first day back to work, and my last day of vacation. Having a stay-cation was kind of...awesome. This isn't something I would like to do all the time, but with a toddler it was perfect. There is already so much to do in SoCal and the weather is perfect...no need to bussle to another destination and try to manage a toddler in a new locale. We relaxed. Here are a few of my favorite things thus far...

Getting to sleep in until little bear would come in to wake us up. Little curly head peeking over the bed, crawling in to eat some cheerios and snuggle in between us and chat or watch Mickey Mouse Club on my phone. My love works nights so we never get to go to bed at the same time, or wake up together...even on the weekends. So this was pretty special.

This: "Baby, stop and come sit down". I realized this week I am a busy person. I always have a list of things to do in my head, therefore being home is never really relaxing. Typically I am on the move ALL day at work, then at home I cook and do chores, and finally once I sit down I am just pooped and thats it. However, this week, my apartment has been a mess. I have loads of laundry to do. Dishes piled up with all three of us being home. And yet...I am being forced to come enjoy family time when little bear is awake. And during nap time I am encouraged to go lay down to read and rest. My love puts me to bed early because he knows how much I need my sleep. We learned an hour or two at the zoo is all our little bear can really handle and this Belle-Mére needs to cool it with the adventures she has planned. Enjoying time we have together, not busying my mind and self with all there always is to do- just being in the moment.

Holding hands and teaching him "1, 2, 3, SWING!" through parking lots, the airport, anywhere with the three of us. I just die.

Family meals together. The three of us being silly and all at the table together. Plus he eats much more when we are sitting and eating too, I've noticed he can't really graze snacks and play. (playing is much more important!). Special time since my love is back to working nights now and these meals with the three of us will be rare.

Bedtime with cuddles, a story, and song. I am starting this tradition with Little Bear just like my parents did with me, it was a special time just for us before I went to sleep and I remember loving it. Continuing the tradition with our family...even with a little guy who hates bedtime.

Singing songs in the car and during playtime. He likes the ones with animals and always asks me to make a Giraffe sound for Old McDonald Had A Farm...no idea what sound they make but the boy loves Graffes. It was what he wanted to see at the zoo too. So random! But sweet.

Every time he toots announcing, "I tooted!" and smiling. Even in the bath tub with the bubbles. Hilarious.

How he says "sil-ley Daddy!" when something or someone is being silly. He has such a joyous heart.

So many sweet moments. I am so lucky.

-Belle-Mére