Baby Products that Will Make Your Life Easier - Part 1

I wanted to create this list for my friends who will be moms soon. I will show you what I use and why I love it. It is hard for first time moms to know what we really need for the baby. There are too many things to buy and when you are thinking of what you need, you think that you will need everything. The truth is, there is never enough time to use it all. You do what you can and convenience is what you need the most. I will only review the things that I've used. I will make another list of things that are not really that good. I hope that this helps. This is only Part 1 or maybe 3. Don't freak out... These are the Basics.

Pack and Play:
This was where Emma first slept. She never got used to her crib and I was happy to keep her next to me for all the mid night feedings. Get one with the napper. It's perfect for the first weeks. I didn't buy a moses or a bassinet. I'm glad I didn't spend the money because my baby was so big she only used the little napper for 3 weeks. They are cute but you will need the room and the money for other things.

Stroller and Car Seat:

You want to get a "travel system" which means the car seat clips to the stroller. When your baby is falls sleep in the car, you can take the car seat into the stroller and still run your errands or eat out. We used the one from peg perego and I was not impressed with the quality of the stroller. The peg perego car seat was great. I got it because my sister had it for my 3 year old nephew and they love it. Sadly, It was not the same for us. Our stroller was the pliko P4. It is now discontinued. When we tried to claim the warranty, Peg Perego informed us that they don't make this stroller since 2011. You can still buy it but they don't make it so they only sent us a replacement part without instructions. We now use a cheap stroller since we know that it will break I don't want to spend $300 more. We also have 2 other car seats. A cheaper one from Graco as a secondary car seat for my husband's car. It's comfortable for her but it's heavier and hard to carry around. We also have a Brtitax roundabout 55 which is the car seat we use now since December. She can look forward instead of backwards and it made a huge difference with her crankiness in the car. We got it when she was over 20 lbs but this car seat is great and it can be used since they are born (rear facing first).

Pacifier:

We bought different brands and our favoirte is MAM. It's shaped in a way that there is no up or down so Emma can put it in her mouth and it always fits the correct way. I wasn't sure about using pacifiers when she was born. It took one day for the nurse to suggest the pacifier when we were still at the hospital. I heard many things about babies having trouble breastfeeding because of it and thankfully it was not our case. She loved my breasts more than the pacifier but she also used the pacifier. I limit the use for the time she needs to fall asleep or if she is too cranky. It really calms her down! I suggest getting the strap because you will lose too many of them. Each pacifier brand needs it's own strap. 

Bottles:

There are many options. I got the avent bottles because a friend of mine gave me the sterilizer. I have the classic bottle and the natural bottle. The natural bottle is easier to clean because it has less parts. You need bottles even if you are breastfeeding. Moms need a break and that's when pumped milk comes in handy. The bottles from the Medela breast pump are great for storage but the nipples are terrible. I don't recommend them. 

Microwave Bottle Sterilizer:

We still use it every day for 5 minutes at the time in the microwave. The quality is amazing and I love having my baby's bottles clean. Some pediatricians say that you dont need to sterilize but I was not comfortable with only using the brush and soap plus the microwave does the work. A friend of mine uses the electric one and it looks nice but I like mine better (and it's cheaper). I even put the pacifiers and sippy cups in it. By the way, always wash bottles and nipples first. Milk fat will not come out with just water. I used to buy 7th generation baby bottle soap. Now we use 7th generation dish soap for all of us. I got tired of buying 2 different things and it's healthier. 

Breast Pump (Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump On-The-Go Tote):

The Medela breast pump is the one that hospitals use and the one that I used. It was worth every penny. I carried it everywhere! Nobody knows is a breast pump because it looks like a tote. I will write a separate post about breastfeeding and pumping is an important part of it. To be continued.

Diaper Bag

When I was pregnant I spent a long time looking for the perfect baby bag. I wanted something fashionable and there are many options. However, those don't have enough pockets. I looked at the popular Petunia Pickle Bottom bags. My cousin gave me one but I didn't like it because it is too heavy. I decided to get one from Le Sport Sac. I love their designs and they weigh next to nothing. 

Ergo Baby

There are many baby carriers available. The wraps look cute but they look complicated and unsafe for larger babies. I used the baby bjorn for months and I liked it. I decided to get the Ergo baby because Emma was getting too heavy. I wish I had used the Ergo Baby from the beginning. It's comfortable and easy to use. I can use it as a backpack now and I haven't tried yet but I know that I will. Sometimes this is the only way to do laundry and other things around the house while holding your baby. Just imagine having your hands free again!!! 

Bottle warmer

Munchkin is one of my favorite brands. This bottle warmer was a gift and it has been very useful. We still use it. Milk should NOT be heated in the microwave and running hot water takes forever. We used to do that and a friend gave us this warmer when she saw how long it took us to heat up a bottle. Using this bottle warmer makes you a perfectly warm bottle in 2-4 minutes (depending on the amount of milk). 

Drying Rack

After sterilizing the bottles, I always use this drying rack.  The brush and the rack in the picture are from munchkin. 

High Chair

You can use this when they are around 6 months old. I love to give her toys while I do things around the kitchen. She is safe and she loves being around me. 

Boppy Pillow

This is supposed to be to help with beast feeding. I used it for a lot of other things including naps when she was little and helping her "sit" before they can hold their head up. I recommend having 2 covers because many accidents will happen. 

Diaper Geanie

This is the best idea! Another one of my favorite items to gift. It really keeps the odors away!! We buy the cheaper refills from target and the work great. Make sure that you buy the one with the foot pedal. Typically you will only have one hand available to do things. 

This is only part one and I already have many things in my head to add to the list of "basics". One of my best friends created the baby shower list for me. She explained to me why I needed all those things but it took me a while to figure it out. To be continued...

*unless Emma is in the picture, they are from www.babiesrus.com and www.target.com

Emma's First Birthday

For Emma's first birthday in January, I wanted to create a photo book with some of her best pictures. Since we have taken so many pictures, it took me about one month to select my favorites. I collected pictures from my cell phone, my camera, Andre's phone, my mom's camera, her first photo shoot at the hospital, the studio session she had done in December, and Andi's pictures (still my favorite pictures of her). I also asked our families to write her a letter or a message. This book will be kept in a "vault" until she is old enough to take care of it. Her first year was one of the best and toughest years of my life and I love that now we have it documented and preserved. This photo book was perfect because I enjoy making scrapbooks but I don't have the time anymore. The result is shown below:

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

The Myth of Having it all

As a working mom, I often feel like I'm doing everything I can but it's never good enough. I feel that I am a mediocre wife, mother and that my house is never clean or organized the way that I would like it to be. I no longer take time to get dressed or do my hair and makeup. I do what I can with the time I have and most of the time the result is just...mediocre. I got my first pedicure since October last week and that felt like a luxury. Something harder to accept is that I am not the employee that I was once. I can't work a 60 or even a 50 hour week anymore. I'm not available 100% of the time and I take sick days if my daughter gets sick. The best I can do is work during my lunch break and use that hour productively instead of driving to buy lunch. I was finally allowed to have a laptop and I've worked after 8:00pm when Emma falls asleep. I have about 2 good hours before I want to fall asleep. Recently, I've started to cook at night to take my lunch the following day. At least I'm doing something healthy for me and my family. Emma ate chicken with broccoli and quinoa last night. She has been a picky eater for several months. She is even rejecting my mom's cooking which is amazing!

We have spent time at the beach the past 3 weekends. We drive in the afternoon and stay a few hours to let Emma enjoy the sand and the wind. The water is still cold but she loves to get her toes in and walk holding our hands. Seeing her happy is what makes me happy. I've taken my camera out and I have lots of pictures to share. I will upload them soon. I always abandon this blog when I get overwhelmed. The art of balancing my life is something that I have not mastered. Until I can find the secret to be super mom/woman I will have to accept that I'm doing the best I can and I'm OK with it. 

**Thanks to "Lean In" and Sheryl Sandberg for letting me see things differently. If you haven't read the book please do. I wish I had read it when I was starting out my career. 

The Best of 2013

January

The year started with Emma still in my belly. The first week I was sent home by the doctor because of my high blood pressure. I was extremely busy at work and stressed all the time. I "lost" 2 weeks at home with Emma because I was only allowed to take a total of 12 week leave from work. I really felt like I couldn't do it anymore. The swollen feet and the work load were too much for 38 weeks pregnant. It was the last time that I had time to do nothing and sleep late!

Emma's birthday was January 13th and after that my life was changed forever. 

February

I stayed 10 weeks at home when Emma was born. Watching her grow was an incredible experience. One that allowed me to take naps with her on my chest. Those were my favorite moments of the day. She was so tiny and she loved to sleep there too. She still does :)

March

The whole month of march I was still at home. Andre was in between jobs and he was also at home with us. I will always treasure those moments together plus he became really good at changing diapers. 

April

Going back to work was extremely difficult (emotionally). However, this also allowed me to get some of my "normal" life back and also not only talk about feedings and diapers. The few hours that I get to see my baby a day are the best hours of my day. I was exhausted because I had to be productive to leave on time, rush to pick Emma up, pump my breast milk several times a day, store the milk for the following day, wash the pump and the bottles, give her a bath and finally put her to sleep. She was waking up between 2 to 3 times every night. 

May

May was a busy month. We celebrated my dad's birthday, my first mother's Day, Emma's baptism and I had to do a lot of over time at work. I can't remember much of this month. That is probably because of the sleep deprivation. 

June

Three of my best friends visited us during June. I am extremely lucky to have friends which I can almost call sisters. They loved spending time with Emma and I was happy to see how at different stages in our lives we can still be great friends.

One of those friends, Andi, took some great pictures of Emma and I. I will treasure these pictures forever. Thank you Amiga :) next time you have to be in the pictures. 

July

Summertime in Florida means lots of pool and beach time to cool down. 

August

Emma loved going to the beach. We will have to go back next year. 

September 

My parents, Andre, Emma and I went to Canada during Labor Day weekend. Our trip to Canada was great. Emma was a great little traveler. After a bad New Year's Eve a long time ago, I made a promise to myself to travel to at least one new country every year. I have kept that promise even pregnant and now with a baby. Canada is not far but it was a good start. Traveling with a baby takes a lot of planning and it is exhausting but it is what I enjoy the most. 

October

October is my favorite month of the year, not only because it's my birthday. The temperature is nicer and I can finally enjoy being outdoors and not hate it because of the heat and humidity. Emma was very sick on my birthday for about one week. She had a strong respiratory virus that became bronchitis and ear infection. She was feeling better by Halloween. 

November

I was finally feeling like I was catching my breath at the whole working mom routine. We had another trip planned and I was counting the days to take a week off work. We went to Busch gardens several times. I loved watching Emma clap to the Sesame Street show and get excited with Elmo. We had a trip to Colombia planned and I broke my leg a week before the trip. We didn't travel and the good thing is that I have a voucher until October of 2014 with American Airlines. I have been using crutches since November and we can't do much these days. Andre has to take care of both of us when we go out. I want to take Emma to see Elmo again soon since our passes expire in April of next year. 

December

This year, Christmas was exciting  again. I want to create new traditions for Emma and also teach her some of my family's traditions. She got many gifts from our friends, family, Santa, and El Niño Dios (baby Jesus). 

Everyday, I am thankful for my supportive family and friends. Partcularly this year, I don't think I could have made it without them. At the beginning of the year learning how to be a mom and again at the end of the year to help me with the challenge of not walking or doing much by myself. I am ready for 2014 and I hope that we can take advantage of not paying for Emma's plane tickets for another year. Her passport is waiting and I can't wait to live new adventures with her and my loving husband. I have to get my 12 grapes ready for tomorrow and also pack a bag to "travel" in 2014. Do you have any New Year's Eve traditions? Happy 2014! 

Things Nobody Told me About Motherhood

When I was pregnant, I attended a birthing class, toured the hospital, and read the book "What to Expect when you are Expecting" cover to cover. I washed all the bodysuits and my clothes in hypoallergenic baby detergent. I heard all the birth stories from my friends and family. Being a mother is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me and also the hardest. I don't mean to scare my pregnant or soon to be pregnant friends but I wish I knew what to expect after the big day. After all that research I still wasn't ready. That's why I'm writing this. Maybe with my experience I can help a few soon to be new moms. Two of my best friends are pregnant and 2 more are planning to have a baby in 2014.

Motherhood has made me a big cry baby. I did not have postpartum depression, but I cried for different the reasons. The baby blues is when hormones play with all of your emotions after the baby is born until you get back to your normal self. Everything is very intense the first days or even weeks after you give birth. Make sure that you call a friend to vent when you get too overwhelmed and if you get too sad check with your doctor. You will also cry of happiness. Just thinking about the moment when I held my baby in my arms for the first time brings tears to my eyes. It's incredible to finally meet that baby that was inside of you for so long. By the way, she did look like the 3D scan that we did at 30 weeks pregnant.

You know that childbirth would be painful but it was more difficult than what I ever imagined. You will be poked with needles since you arrive to the hospital. Epidurals rock, but when the needle is going into your back the pain is intense. Pitocin is painful and contractions too. I only felt them for 2 hours before asking for my epidural and my life changed (for good) after I got it. I never wanted an induction but my blood pressure was too high to be safe for both of us. I didn't want pitocin and I still had to have it to get things rolling. Having my water break (by hand) was the most painful moment of my life. As a result of not having enough dilation, I ended up having an emergency C section. After 36 hours of waiting and suffering, I was relieved to go into the operating room. I was also happy when I found out that my daughter weighted 8.5 lbs. I was afraid to push a big baby. However, I was in pain another week because of the wound. One thing I learned the hard way is that birth plans are only plans, nothing really works out as planned when it comes to having a baby.

Hours before meeting my baby

Minutes after birth

After your bundle of joy is born, you get some skin to skin time and also you will have to start breastfeeding as son as possible. Breastfeeding is challenging. I knew it because my sister told me that it would take 2 weeks to be ok with it. Sore nipples are very sensitive. I was miserable for the first three weeks because of the pain. Every 2 or 3 hours when she needed to eat, I cried and I wanted to quit. My guilt wouldn't let me give up so I cried because I felt like a bad mother. A lactation consultant from the hospital came to the room and helped me figure out the most comfortable position and she also made sure that the baby was latching correctly. I never got used to leaking breast milk. By the way, you can't really go anywhere without worrying that in less than 3 hours you will be in pain because of a full breast, leaking, or publicly showing your breasts. Invest in a good breast pump even if you stay at home. They are worth every penny. I used my medela for 10 months so divide the cost and it's not that much. I never perfected the use of the "bebe au lait" cover so I ended up a few times in my car feeding Emma. Make sure that you bring your breast pump EVERYWHERE. There are lots of videos and information available to successfully breastfeed. I used BabyCenter all the time and I would recommended their app and website to everyone. I breastfed until last week. I feel happy to say that I breastfed Emma for 10 months. She only had breast milk until she was 6 months old and after that I slowly started to lower my supply to only nights and mornings. She did not wanted to stop but I was exhausted from pumping at work and I also wanted to get some good quality sleep at night. I loved our time together and I do think that it was a great bonding experience. After 2 days she completely forgot about it and never asked me for more. It was easier than what I thought. 

You also get very emotional when something is wrong with them or when they cry. I remember 2 particular bad days. The first one was when Emma was 2 days old, she had jaundice. She was away from me and the anxiety was high. I knew that she was safe at the nursery but I felt that she was so far from me and I couldn't stop crying. I also didn't want to go home and leave her at the hospital. We were lucky that she only had to stay for 24 hours and we went home together. The second time was when she was about a week old, she choked while she was breastfeeding. That moment when she didn't breathe, it was the scariest moment if my life. We had to call 911 when she would not breathe. She even started to turn purple. I was lucky that my mom was around and she knew what to do. I didn't know what to do and I was still very limited with my movements. After everything I was OK, I couldn't stop crying. My nerves were out of control for several hours. We signed up for a child's CPR class the weekend after this happened. I don't even want to think what would have happened if I was alone with her. After that time, I always had to have someone with me to feed her. I was too afraid to have the same problem. 

Before I was a mom I was always afraid of the lack of sleep. I used to sleep until noon if I could. I was also very sleepy when I was pregnant. Sleep deprivation feels like a constant hangover. You are exhausted and at the same time sleeping during the day is difficult. Sometimes we were too tired to get to bed and just slept where we could. You learn to sleep when the baby sleeps. You never really get used to it but you learn how to survive. The worst part is having to be productive at work and since I had to watch my caffeine intake for my breast milk it made it even more difficult. As a nursing mom, you get very little rest. As much as others are willing to help, you have the food. You could pump but it also takes time and then you have to get the milk to a bottle before your hungry baby wakes up. 

Dads always feel left out after the baby comes home. They are an important part of all mother's mental health and in my case he was also my nurse. I couldn't even get out of bed by myself. They really need a lot of patience. Some days I had to ask him to cut me some slack because I was too sensitive and frustrated. I admire single mothers or mothers that can't get any help with their kids. I don't think I could have survived without Andre. I also had my mom helping us and that was a blessing. I have 2 nephews but I had no idea how to take care of a new born full time. I appreciate Andre so much more since he was been doing everything for me. He did everything I asked him to do even when  he was tired.

I have to say that the best part of being a mother is when they finally start smiling at you. They melt your heart and you remember that all the pain and the sleepless nights were all worth it. Your life is forever changed because you never knew that your heart could love SO much. 

Hello Canada!

Emma did great during her first flight and also during take off and landing. Having 4 adults for one kid was a great idea! I'll write more updates later. 

How to Survive Pregnancy (According to me)

One of the most surprising things that happen after having a baby is that you forget how miserable you felt while you were pregnant. When I talk about my 39 weeks of pregnancy I feel like I'm telling a story about someone else. Before I completely forget, I wanted to create this list for my friends who want to become mothers. 

• Maternity clothes are extremely comfortable. Accept your new body and love stretchy pants since early in the pregnancy. There is no need to be tight and uncomfortable. Some of them can be fashionable if you are willing to spend money on a pair of designer jeans. I never got a pair because I didn't know how big my butt was going to get. However, after the 3rd or 4th month the part of my body that really grew was my belly. 

• Buy comfortable shoes, I never thought I was going to love crocs. Your feet will get swollen. I never got a pair of crocs before. I wore them everyday the last month when the weather got too cold for flip flops. There are some prettier ballet flat like styles. They are really comfortable and wide enough to fit your new elephant size feet. My feet were 1.5 sizes larger while I was pregnant and now I'm a permanent half size larger. 

• Watch your weight. Its normal to gain a good amount of weight. However, the heavier you get, the more miserable you will be at the end. Try to gain what the doctor says its healthy. I gained 30 lbs and it was "normal" (up to 40 it's ok). I didn't have any cravings but I ate what I wanted!! I can't imagine how many pounds you can get if you get cravings. Many women lose weight at the first months because of morning sickness. It wasn't my case. 

• Morning sickness can happen at any time of the day. Mine was every day until I was 14 weeks, after 6:00 pm. At least I could work all day and come home to lay on the couch until I fell asleep. Iced lemonade and crackers helped a lot. I should have said no to many visitors or late dinners while I was pregnant and I didn't. All I wanted was to take it slow. You shouldn't feel guilty to say no. Pregnancy is exhausting and people should understand and respect that. 

• Get many pedicures and manicures because you will miss having time for yourself and I don't mean time to take a shower. After the baby arrives, you will barely have time to take a shower and that's if you are lucky. My first manicure was when Emma was 6 months old. Take as much time for YOU as you can. Go out to dinner with your friends, watch movies, go out of town often, and even take a babymoon. You can still do those things with kids but it takes a lot more time and effort. 

• The really restrictive diet begins when you are nursing because there so many foods can make the baby get gas (even if it never gives you gas). Enjoy everything you like now. It's a long list. I gave up dairy fro months just in case Emma's colics were my fault. I didn't have broccoli, cabbage, onions, or citrus just to name a few. 

• The pregnancy "glow" is a lie. I had acne the first months and I haven't had acne since I was 15!! 

• Get as many used baby items as you can from your friends and family. It will save you a lot of money. I will be eternally grateful to my friend who mailed huge boxes from Houston filled with her boys stuff. Most things are animal themed and can be used for boys and girls. I have tons of burp cloths that have cars or are blue. Really, who cares if you don't have a girly design if it will be used to clean up spit ups. Use the baby shower to get the most useful items. Don't add clothes to your registry. Most people buy the baby clothes that they like. Also, don't be shy about adding the most expensive items since many people like to buy one big gift as a group. If you don't get them as a gift, most stores will give you a discount on the items from your list. 

• Read the book "what to expect when you are expecting" in the month that you are. It's a LONG book but if you read it by chapters you will actually remember it. The movie doesn't count. 

• The nursery won't be used for a while after the baby is born. If you don't have it ready before the baby comes, you will not have enough time to do it. Also, it's fun to prepare for the new member of your family and to get dad involved. 

• Keep extra clothes (pants and underwear) with you and a few pads at all times. Nobody tells you this but sometimes accidents do happen. When you are pregnant you need to pee A LOT. At the beginning because of hormones and the baby pressures the bladder as it gets bigger. When you think it's bad, it will get worse. The accidents are not a lot but enough to be uncomfortable. Besides you can't really run anymore and sometimes there are lines for the restroom and nobody ever offers to let you go first. 

• It's a really good idea to take a birthing class and tour the hospital. You will be happy you did when the time comes. I had to go 3 times to the hospital because of my high blood pressure and it was easy to get in alone. I drove and waited until someone met me there.  This leads to the next item... 

• Pack your hospital bag, breast pump, and baby bag ahead of time and put everything in your car. The day of the first false alarm I had left my bags ready on the stairs. Emma decided not to arrive that day, but I also learned that at least someone other than your partner needs to have keys to your house. I never took a breastfeeding class and I wish I did. Breastfeeding is really challenging. There is a whole post about that coming. 

• Have a plan B. Ideally, contractions start when you are at home, but knowing that my sister's water broke at work I was terrified that it would happen to me as well. I thought of the many things that could happen and tried to have someone at work ready to call Andre, drive me to the hospital, and call someone to clean up in case my water broke. This never happened, but it gave me peace of mind knowing that someone was in charge while I was panicking or in pain.  

Last but not least, get dad involved. If you are single, get your friends and family involved. Don't try to do everything yourself including all the nesting at the end. I went to a lot of doctors appointments alone but there are some good ones that its nice to have someone with you. I went with my mom or sisters several times. They loved to come and see the baby or just knowing that they can help. The day you confirm the pregnancy, the first ultrasound, the day they check for the sex and when you hear the heart beat for the first time are special moments to share as a couple. I had 2 urgent appointments so there will be some scary moments too. Sadly i was alone during those. Also, you will get blood taken sooooo many times that it's nice to have someone for moral support. It's hard to believe that there is a human being growing inside of you. It's even harder for men, so help them out by making them feel important.

I thought I didn't remember but it looks like I did. If anyone wants to add anything to the list please do. When you are pregnant you can't get enough tips and advise from other mothers. Just for the record, you should always listen to your doctor. Every pregnancy is different and you should always follow their advise. 

My baby girl is 7 months

As a working mom, I am away from my daughter so much that leaving her even for an hour a day to go to the gym makes me feel like a horrible mother. Going away for longer, like a weekend without her is not even a possibility right now. I enjoy every second that I have with her. I have been back at work longer than what I stayed at home during my maternity leave. I don't pump during the day anymore. I'm only breastfeeding in the morning and at night. Emma finally likes formula and I don't feel like a cow 24/7. I still don't sleep the whole night and I don't know what to do so I gave up and now Emma and I share a bed after she wakes up at midnight. I know, I know I shouldn't do that but I need my sleep. I never thought that I was going to be so attached to Emma. I knew I was going to love her but its more than what I ever imagined.

Tomorrow, I will start going for one hour to the gym after work twice a week. Andre will pick Emma up and I will get home just in time to bathe her and put her to sleep. I still have several pregnancy pounds to lose and I will be a bridesmaid in a month. I have some extra pressure to look good. I have been working out but without a routine I end up skipping workouts and losing my motivation too often. 

I have a few posts that I'm writing to help my friends with their future pregnancies and babies. One of my closest friends had a baby last month and giving her advise has given me some ideas of things that every new mom should know and that nobody tells you! Hopefully I can help by sharing my experience. 

Emma at the beach

Last Sunday, we took Emma to the beach for the first time. She LOVED it. She was a happy baby playing in the water. We went to Treasure Island, our favorite beach in St Pete. 

                               

                               

I got a tent to protect her from the heat and the sun. The 3 of us ended up spending most of the day under it. I also used baby sunblock for her delicate skin! (my mom asked if I did). We were lucky to find a few trees and a nice shade. It was a hot summer day and this tent was the best way to enjoy it.

                     

It was an "adventure" to get all set up but once we got comfortable it was probably the best Sunday of the year. I worked many hours for 2 weeks and it was our anniversary weekend. I really needed a break from the routine and I'm sure that Andre felt the same way. I can't wait to be back to the beach and I'm sure that Emma will continue to enjoy it more as she learns how to play with sand. 

I'm going to follow a good friend's advice and keep this blog open as a way to keep some of the activities that I enjoyed before becoming a mother. Motherhood is amazing but one thing that also happens is that the list of your priorities is endless. First comes the baby and your partner, your job, house work, and some social life to make you feel normal and after all that there is time for you and what you like to do. Please forgive my typos and lack of formatting since I will be using the blogger mobile app and I will have very little time to edit.