grown up

So, lately I've had lots of "reflection time" - which translates into lots of looking at photos of my baby and my husband.

I love thinking back to when we got married.

And when we got our dog.

And then when we bought our house.

When Danger was born!

I can't believe how grown up we are! I know that sounds dorky, but sometimes I can't believe that I'm a mom, and that I have a little baby!! (well, not so little anymore!) It still catches me off guard that Shark and I have a monster running around. It makes me happy.

Look how mature we are!!

9 months and tips

So, as soon as I hit publish last time, I remembered a few things!!!

- stink-proof diaper bags. I get mine at the Dollar Store! They are the least expensive things and they are wonderful!! I posted about an easy way to stash them in your bag. They are 75 bags for $1 and they are awesome. and they are 1 big-diaper size, but not 3 big-diaper size (I got some at a baby shower and there came with a cute little case that keeps popping open, but they were HUGE, I'm talking way HUGE. Pretty sure I could have carried Danger around in them when he was born!) Freaking awesome, I always have at least 3 boxes in my house! They make awesome baby shower gifts!

-FRIENDS!! Do NOT lose contact with your friends. If you move, email them, call them, text them, facebook them!! If you have a baby, make special time to hang with them, even if you just go over there (or they come over to your house! or you meet at McDonald's playland and let the kid run!) and talk to her while she cleans. Or help her clean. Or just talk and pin things on Pinterest. Go hang and craft things or get your toes done. Do not let your friends go because you need them!!! They will help you more than you can ever know. And you will help them even more than you can imagine! Even if it's just going over there to talk to her while she cleans her house.

-Sleep when baby sleeps!! I know it's what EVERY woman tells you when you have a baby, but seriously, it's true. When they're little yes, follow this completely, everything else can wait - dishes, laundry, even cooking.... it all can wait! Now when they get older and take naps regularly (and hopefully on a schedule!) during their naptimes is when you do dishes and laundry and clean up after the little monster. But as soon as that baby's head hits the crip for BEDtime, you better be following suit. Yeah I stay up and watch a tv show, but I try really hard to not stay up too long. Sometimes I lose track of time and end up looking at a clock around 1am. Yeah.... the next day is always a booty-dragger. Trust me, go to bed at the same time!

Now onto the cute stuff!!

Danger is 9 months old! Holy crap! He's crawling on all 4s and crawling upstairs, and I've been teaching him to go down the right way. Last night we had spaghetti and I blended it up and he LOVED IT! He's such a little ham, and loves smiling for the camera. He's sooooo darn cute. But he's a little monster. Now that he can crawl, he's perfected it and man oh man, does he crawl FAST! He stomps his little hands down, and if he's got a spoon in his hand (and he usually does) he sounds like a running pirate, like a little peg-legged running at some treasure! He gets huffing and puffing, and kinda giggles when he starts running!

Yup... My cute little ham! Look at those wings!

Yup that's my little cute guy!! Soooo cute! I love this guy!

Survival Guide

Alright, so I've seen a few people have written "Survival Guides" for being married, having babies, moving, nursery callings.... You know... So I have decided to write my survival guide to my monster. This is how I have survived. (You're ways of survival might, and probably are, different. I understand not all methods work for all people, I'm not saying THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE, I'm saying, this is how I'm doing it. This is what works for me.)

This post is going to be revealing, there is probably going to be some things said about myself that you didn't know and probably never ever wanted to know. Be warned.

1. Always get dressed. I've never been in favor of getting "dropped in on" while I'm in my PJ's. I always get dressed in the morning, It makes me ready for my day, makes me do my hair (sorta), it makes me put deodorant on, it makes me brush my teeth. I always put my contacts in, I can't wear my glasses for very long without getting a bad headache.

My reason for getting dressed is so that I'm ready for everywehre my day takes me. So that I'm ready for random errands. But my main reason for getting dressed is : I feel better about myself when I get dressed. I feel like I've already accomplished something. And that is a GREAT feeling to start the day with. :)

2. Have a hobby If there's something you love to do, don't drop it because you have a life change. You have to find time to keep up your hobby. I crochet and do all manner of crafts. After baby has gone to bed, I watch tv and crochet. Sometimes I blog. But I always try to find time to do something I love.

3. Have some YOU time. Whether it's a bubble bath, getting your hair done, nails done, reading a book, taking a drive, or even going shopping : make sure you make some time for YOU. Remember you have to have some alone time. You need some time for your mind to reconstruct itself.

4. Have goals. I always try to make a To Do list each day. Now, with my jobs I try really hard to keep my list small. Only a few things. Keep the list obtainable and normal tasks. Like laundry (yes, laundry is a goal, and it is obtainable!), cooking dinner, giving baby a bath, cleaning the living room, wash the dog, start a project, finish a project, make a grocery list.

Trust me, I've tried goal lists in the past, look to the left sidebar if you want proof, and let's face it, some of my goals were unobtainable. Remember to push yourself and reach for the stars, but make sure you can see the stars you're reaching for!

5. Don't just sit there. While baby is playing in the living room, throwing toys around, and Sesame Street is playing for the 3rd time, you can't just sit on the couch and veg. You can't just be a couch potato, that ust leads down the road to depression.... My mind is always working, the gears are always turning, my hands are always doing something. I can't just sit and watch TV, if I just sit there I chew my nails, and I hate it when I do that! It's better for me personally to always be doing something. So like I said previously, I'm always crocheting while watching TV. I fold laundry, I pick up toys, I pay bills, I plan meals, I make grocery lists, I draw up projects. If I'm not in a making/doing mood, I sit there on my phone and pin things on Pinterest, or play games on my phone.

6. Date night. Whether it's once a week or once a month, make sure you get out with your honey. If you have kids, find a babysitter, ask grandma and grandpa. Make sure you're making time for the two of you. You have to feel like newlyweds again!! You have to spend time to reconnect. There are tons of cheap date ideas, groupon, tickets to games, stargazing. cereal in the park, feeding ducks, there are all kinds of cheap things!!

7. Baby & daddy time. This also falls under YOU time, but make sure your baby and your husband hang out some times. They need bonding time, hang time. Plus, it's awful cute to see them together. Whether it means he's got the baby downstairs while you're chilling upstairs or he gives baby a bath.

(Also I understand there are stay-at-home dad's, this isn't just aimed at moms. It's for people who have had maor life changes,)

Yeah this is my survival guide. Oh, and chocolate milk. Chocolate milk gets me thru the day. I'm sure there are more things to how I survive, but these are the ones I can think of now. :)

Enjoy life!