I put my Christmas tree up just like every year and it’s just with my mom.
I lost my mom this year.
Seeing every personalized ornament from her brought tears to my eyes.
You know, at the time of receiving them every year it doesn’t seem so important and decorating never seems like such a big deal. I was used to every Christmas opening a gift from mom that included a personalized ornament with that year’s date. It was just what was expected, until it’s gone.
Christmas was our thing. The ultimate Mrs. Clause’s. Everything about it. The decor, the lights, the music, the movies, the holiday coffee, gift giving. We loved it and we loved experiencing it together.
I knew this holiday season was going to be hard, traditions being kept up without her here with me. I just didn’t expect the punch to the gut at the reality of it all. That’s how grief is though, it hibernates for a little while until something brings it out of its cave again.
For me, that was ornaments.
If you do anything this holiday, keep up the traditions. Buy the personalized item every year. Bundle up and go ride around and look at Christmas lights, watch all the movies, bake all the goodies, buy the matching Christmas pajamas, build the gingerbread houses, turn up the Christmas music, have fun with elf on the shelf if that’s your thing. I would send her a picture every night of “Harry and Marv” getting into mischief.
Most of all though? Do all of it with the ones you love. Surround yourself with them as much as you can and just enjoy it all. You have no idea how much you will miss it when it’s gone.
The memories really do last a lifetime.
My Christmas tree is full of my mom and I’ve never been so thankful for it.
It really is here again, Autumn. Oh it makes me so happy just writing that.
The crisp cool mornings, I truly feel more alive when I am not sweating every time I step outside. The fact that it is the season of long walks in leggings and a sweatshirt is more than enough to have me feeling giddy.
Fall to me is like a hug. My favorite sweatshirts come out, pretty decor goes up, a warm cup of coffee makes you feel all fuzzy inside and my favorite cozy blankets and best of all? My reading gets all the more fun. AND!? Yes, there’s more. Gilmore Girls goes on in the background.
The kids and I were outside this week and I glanced up and noticed our tree’s changing. I know it happens every year but it just takes my breath away every time. Anyone else? Nature truly is beautiful and I am so happy I live in a place where I experience all the season’s.
What are your Fall plans?
I’ve been thinking of mine and I really want to try to make it to all the small festivals around here for the kids and even for myself. Make lots of cozy delicious crock pot recipes. There is also a book event in October that I am extremely looking forward to.
Anything you are excited to read?
I have a lot of romantasy and regular fantasy on my list for the cooler weather, plus some thriller’s as well and of course have to throw in a couple cutesy reads. My big one I think I am going to start though later in the season and attempt to read is the Zodiac Academy series. I am so nervous about it but I think it will be worth it in the end! Has any one read it? Let me know!
I just hope we all have a lovely new season. I know life can be overwhelming at times, but I just hope you know you are never alone and just try to enjoy the little moments as much as you can. When you are walking, look up and enjoy the beauty around you. When you are at home, crack open a book you’ve been wanting to read lately and make yourself a nice warm drink. Enjoy the presence of your loved ones. Enjoy all the joys your kids bring you. Just enjoy it all.
Let me know what you are most looking forward to for the Fall season, I’d love to chat with you! As always, thanks for stopping by and hanging out with me.
How was your Summer!? Ours was amazing filled with lots of trips, swimming and family and friend time.
Anyone else feeling a bit rusty at the early mornings and lunch packing or is it just me??
I feel like in the Summer it’s easy to get up early but even though I am an adult and work full time, when the school season starts I still find it harder to get up just like when I was attending school 😆
It’s so bittersweet. Every new school year just reminds you of how much your little’s are growing.
My son started first grade yesterday and although my daughter is still at home, the fact that she is starting pre school next Fall is just unbelievable.
Weren’t they both just in diapers toddling around and keeping me up all hours of the night!? I remember starting this blog and all I had was my little man, just figuring out motherhood together. Now they have sassy little comebacks and Lego’s and Barbie’s galore strewn across the floors.
Ok, cue the tears!
With September, I am saying bye to long Summer slow days and mornings and starting to fill my calendar with sports practices and school field trips again.
My son is starting his first year of hockey and my little girly is on her 2nd year of dance starting up as well.
As much as I do love a non busy day, sometimes I strive in the chaos with figuring out the kids schedules and how they work into my work schedule.
Adulting is being excited for new calendars and pretty pens and markers to use!
My friend and I have been gushing about our excitement for organizing and keeping schedules in check.
Also, my TBR list is growing outrageously now that it is September. I am so so excited about so many of my upcoming reads, let me know if you would like a post on that! Plus, share the book you are most excited to read this Fall!
Ok, enough of the rambling. I am mainly trying to say that I hope you and all of your kiddo’s have the best and the safest new school year! Wishing you all of the luck and just know we will all navigate this together!
One of my favorite things? Mini weekend getaways, especially when they are close to home.
We kicked off Summer vacation heading to Frankenmuth in our home state Michigan and it was a BLAST! Not only does it have the cutest downtown and the best shopping plaza but it has two fun waterpark hotels and we stayed at one of them, Bavarian Inn where they have the Bavarian Blast Waterpark.
I swear my kids are little fishes and would swim every single day if they could. I can’t blame them though, I was the same way when I was younger and still love swimming every chance I get.
We spent 6 hours total in the waterpark area on Saturday and there was plenty to keep them busy thankfully. You honestly didn’t even have to leave the water area. They had drinks, bars, and food all conveniently located in the waterpark.
That wasn’t the only hit though, their arcade area was massive and it was so fun getting dried off, comfy clothes on and spending the evening playing games, getting pizza, ice cream and hanging out. I think my husband may have had just as much fun or more in the arcade area. The best part was when our five-year-old made two hole in ones while we were playing putt putt and beat us all.
We spent Friday waiting for our room and Sunday after we checked out exploring the downtown and shopping area’s. The kids loved the big hills they had and were rolling down them, again made me think of my childhood. Nothing like a good hill roll.
They have so many shops to browse in and I of course had to make a pit stop into Charlin’s Book Nook because is there anything better than a coffee and browsing a used book store? I love those, you can tell how much a book has been read and loved.
It was such a perfect weekend getaway for us and we can’t wait to go back!
If you are visiting Michigan or even live here and have never been, you should. It has so much for everyone and it’s a great vacation spot for all.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I am scrambling more and more looking at my May calendar than I do in December! Talk about total May madness.
My oldest is in Kindergarten so this is my first full year with all the school activities so I never really understood the meaning behind Maycember until this year. He brought home his May calendar from school about a week ago and I never knew there could be so many days that have things going on! Brings back so many memories though especially seeing field day on the calendar. But all the end of the year parties, teacher appreciation week, performances, field trips, spirit type week days.
I defiantly feel the pressure of trying to keep everything straight. Especially when you throw in all the extra activities for both kids. Ball games, dance recital, birthday parties, Mother’s day, Memorial day weekend, trying to be in two places at once at times.
The feeling of an endless to-do list is real.
And we wonder why it’s so easy to get burnt out as a mom?
The part keeping me going though? It’s just a season.
It will pass and I will look back and I’m sure wish I could do it all over again because secretly the chaos is fun. I love being busy with my kids. I love supporting them and cheering them on and being there for as much as I can and showing the people who deserve it how much we appreciate them.
But that isn’t saying that all of it isn’t overwhelming because it is.
To help break up the chaos a little I’ve started writing everything down.
Prioritizing and making lists on what to get each week for the week coming up.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I fortunately have a wonderful support system and have family to help when my husband and I can’t be in two places at once.
Push things that aren’t pivotal that month to later in the next month to help loosen the up load of things to do.
And most importantly give yourself grace, remember you are doing the best you can and no matter what, you are doing a wonderful job!
How are you feeling momma’s? Anyone else feel the busy season of life brewing up? For some reason whenever Spring comes along, the older my kids get the more I just feel straight up busy. Defiantly a good busy though because I am desperate for that warmer weather and sunshine!
I’m looking at my May calendar and thinking how there is not a free weekend in it. Baseball opening day, dance recital weekends, school plays, birthday’s, Friend gatherings.
My kids are currently 5 and 3 and one of my favorite things has been having them try sports to see what they like and don’t like. So far my 5 year old son is loving baseball and if you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up his answer is to play for the Detroit Tigers. He’s taking a real liking to learning how to play hockey as well which is exciting and he just told me the other day he also wants to practice golf with daddy this Summer plus he tells me all about his playground adventures of playing basketball with his friends.
To say we may have our hands full with this one…
My 3 year old daughter is currently in dance which is so adorable to watch but lately she has been kicking balls around and wanting to play soccer. We are taking the Summer off of dance and our area has a fun rec program for her age that teaches tball, soccer and basketball so I am thinking that will be her activity for the warmer weather. She’s also begging to get out on the ice like her brother.
I never was much of a sports player but my husband was and I can tell he is just thriving in the newly developed sports era the kids are growing into. Which good for him, I have absolutely no problem being the on the sidelines and bleacher mom just ready with snacks after the games.
Speaking of my 3 year old, I can’t believe we are going to be a pull up free house soon. I honestly could not see the day ever coming and although it is bittersweet I would be lying if I said I wasn’t also excited about it.
Potty training my son was rough, lots of crying both him and I and frustration so when it was time for round two with my daughter and she started to show the same “I’m not doing it” attitude I was so nervous.
But….she took to it well after the first few times and we are on a good track and my relief is HUGE.
For a reward for doing so well these couple of weeks her grandma spoiled her and took her to get her nails painted which she has been asking to go with her to a nail appointment for a while and they turned out so cute! Fingers crossed it stays a positive experience for us all.
I am wishing you mama’s all the luck to you that are in your busy sports mom era, potty training era, newborn era, just mom era in general. We are all in this together the excitement, the tiredness, the hard parts. You are defiantly not alone.
May your coffee stay strong and the sunshine stay shining!
There’s something about being cooped up all Winter and then a sunny Spring day comes along and you just think “it’s all alright”
We had a Sunny Spring day here in Michigan last week and the kids and I took total advantage!
Growing up my parents always had trails in their backyard, back then they were pretty wooded and used a lot for four wheeling which we would do but now it’s a lot more cleared so it works so well for walks and adventures in the sun.
My favorite part was listening to my kids get excited about finding deer tracks but then thinking “is it a Bigfoot!?” Or finding big sewer drains and thinking “I wonder if ninja turtles are down there”
I love imagination 🥺 I think it’s just the best thing ever and I make sure I can bring it out as much as I can.
Days like this one just put in perspective how much you need outdoor time. Especially as a child, the best memories are made and it helps them reset so much. Get that pent up energy out. Unplug and plug back in!
Although if you live in Michigan or a state like it, Spring can still be chilly and very rainy but that shouldn’t stop the fun and the excitement that the warmer weather is coming.
Here’s our 5 favorite activities in the Spring to get outside even if it’s just for 30 minutes or so.
Bike riding
Hikes/trail walking
Bubbles/Chalk
Park Play Date
Scavenger hunts
Cheers to all the sunny days coming our way! ☀️ Let’s take full advantage of them and spend as much time outside as we can 😃
I can’t believe it’s already time to start saying Happy Holiday’s! Like where in the world did this year go!?
My family and I have had so much fun celebrating Halloween, the kids were Batman and a witch and the joy on their faces when they run around trick or treating is just precious. Halloween has always been one of my favorites but holidays in general are just my jam, especially as a mom.
We are fully ready to dive into the holiday season though and I’d be lying if I said my tree wasn’t up already because it is and I love it. Just like they say, turkey tastes just as good with your Christmas tree up 😜🎄
This year has been a tough one on and off though but especially these last few weeks actually but I’m faithful and hopeful it will all be ok in the end. You can only pray about the things you cannot control and that’s what I’ve been doing.
I’m really just ready to take a step back and relax this winter with my family. It’s been a big wake up call and one I wish I never would have gotten but family really is all that matters and the time you get to spend together is such a gift! It really, really is.
I feel like we worry too much about the things that don’t matter the most and I am definitely guilty of it.
My anxiety definitely gets in the way.
So let’s slow down, read those books you’ve had on your tbr for a while.
Watch those movies and shows that make you happy and relax.
Spend time with your family and loved ones.
Have game nights and date nights.
Just decompress.
That’s my goal the last two months of this year and I hope it’s yours too! (Last two months, so crazy!)
Thank you for letting me chat, sometimes I just come here to write because it helps get things out you want to say and do so I’m thankful for my readers ❤️
I never knew how much I needed a little girl until you came into my life.
Your head full of hair and sweet little cheeks, nose and lips I could not stop staring at when you were born.
The dreamy after feeding smiles and the long nights of walking around rocking you while you wailed and wailed.
My sour patch kid, and I could not love you more.
Your independence and your strength are admiring. Of course keeping up with your older brother I’m sure has contributed to that strength and sassiness you have but that’s ok. I hope you never lose it. It’s so important to be strong and independent as a child and as an adult, especially as a woman. I just know you will move mountains.
I hope you know how beautiful you are, even now at two-years-old with your blonde curls and big blue eyes, that cheeky little grin. I hope you never stop saying “I so pretty” when you put on a new dress or a new bow in your hair that you love. My words to you will always, always stay positive and I only pray your words to yourself will as well.
I hope you know I will always be there for you as your mom but as your friend as well. I will never let you feel like you can’t come to me for anything, no matter what. I will be there to help, to teach and to comfort and to listen to you and your brother, always.
It’s such a privilege that I was picked to be your mama.
Always keep your strength, your sassiness, your sweetness and your attitude. Your independence and your love for adventure. Your positivity and your love for everyone in your life.
Welcoming a new baby is an exciting journey, especially if you’re a first-time mom. Navigating the world of baby gear can feel overwhelming with so many options available. This guide aims to simplify the process by highlighting the essential items that will make your parenting experience smoother.
From must-have clothing to crucial health and safety items, you’ll find everything you need to ensure your baby’s comfort and well-being. By focusing on the essentials, you can better prepare for your little one’s arrival with confidence and peace of mind.
Baby Essentials
Getting ready for your new baby can feel like a whirlwind, but focusing on the essentials can simplify things.
When it comes to baby essentials, clothing and diapering are top priorities. You’ll want to stock up on onesies, which are versatile and perfect for layering. Sleepers are equally important to keep your baby cozy at night. Don’t forget hats and mittens; they help regulate your baby’s temperature and prevent them from scratching themselves.
In the diapering department, you must decide between cloth and disposable diapers based on your lifestyle and preferences. Ensure a reliable diaper cream to prevent rashes and a convenient changing pad for those inevitable diaper changes. Having these essentials on hand will make your early parenting days much smoother.
Feeding Supplies
Feeding your baby is one of the most intimate and rewarding experiences, but it can also come with its own set of challenges. Whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed, having the right supplies can make all the difference.
For breastfeeding moms, comfortable nursing bras are a game-changer. They provide the support you need and make feeding sessions more convenient. A good breast pump is another essential—it’s invaluable whether you plan to return to work or just want to create a stash of milk for those moments when you’re unavailable. Reliable pumps can also help maintain your milk supply and prevent engorgement.
If you opt for bottle feeding, having a variety of bottles and nipples can help you find what works best for your baby. Some babies have preferences, so it might take a little experimenting. A bottle warmer is a handy tool to have around, ensuring that your baby’s milk is just the right temperature, especially during those middle-of-the-night feedings.
When it’s time to introduce solid foods, a sturdy high chair is essential. It provides a safe and comfortable spot for your baby to explore new tastes and textures. Baby-friendly utensils, such as soft-tipped spoons and small bowls, are designed to be gentle on your baby’s gums and easy for little hands to manage. Making mealtime enjoyable and stress-free helps you and your baby build a positive relationship with food from the start.
Sleeping Gear
Ensuring your baby has safe and comfortable sleeping gear is crucial for their well-being and your peace of mind. A crib and mattress should be your first investment, as they provide your little one with a secure and cozy sleeping environment. Swaddle blankets are lifesavers when it comes to helping your baby feel snug and sleep longer, mimicking the comfort of the womb. Lastly, a reliable baby monitor allows you to move around the house while keeping an ear out for your baby’s needs, providing that extra layer of reassurance during those precious sleep hours.
Travel Essentials
Going out and about with your baby requires some key travel essentials to ensure safety and convenience for both of you. From car rides to leisurely strolls, having the right gear can make all the difference in your daily adventures.
The first thing to secure is an infant car seat. This is non-negotiable, as it ensures your baby’s safety during car rides. Look for a model that’s easy to install and meets the latest safety standards. Many car seats also have a base that stays in the car, making it simple to snap the seat in and out as needed—perfect for those frequent errands and visits.
A lightweight stroller is a parent’s best friend when getting around on foot. It’s less cumbersome than other models, making it easy to maneuver through crowded areas and transport in and out of the car. Despite its lighter frame, ensure it has sturdy construction and sufficient storage space for diaper bags and other necessities.
A baby wrap or sling is incredibly useful for hands-free mobility, especially in more confined or rugged environments. These carriers allow for close physical contact, which can be calming for your baby and convenient for you. Whether navigating a busy market or doing chores around the house, a wrap or sling lets you keep your baby close while freeing up your hands.
Health and Safety
Ensuring your baby’s health and safety is paramount, as it lays the foundation for their overall development and happiness. By being prepared with the right essentials, you can effectively manage minor ailments and everyday hazards, providing a safe and nurturing environment.
Having the right tools and items on hand will make it easier to handle unexpected situations with confidence. Below are some crucial health and safety items every parent should consider:
Baby Thermometer
First-aid Kit
Baby-Proofing Items
Playtime and Development
Playtime is not just fun for your baby; it’s a crucial part of their development. Toys play a key role in stimulating their senses and encouraging motor skills. Books are fantastic for fostering early language skills and instilling a love for reading from an early age. A soft, colorful play mat provides a safe space for tummy time and other activities, helping to strengthen your baby’s muscles and coordination. By incorporating these elements, you’re setting the stage for a well-rounded and happy little one.
Bathing and Grooming
Bath time can be a special bonding experience with your baby; having the right tools makes all the difference. A baby bathtub provides a secure and comfortable space for your little one to splash safely. It’s designed to support your baby and make the whole process easier.
A gentle baby wash is essential for keeping your baby’s delicate skin clean and irritation-free. After the bath, wrapping them in soft towels will ensure they stay warm and cozy, making the transition from water to the outside world a delightful experience for both of you.
Conclusion
Caring for a baby involves a lot of preparation and attention to detail, but remember, you’re doing a great job! From travel essentials and health items to playtime and grooming tools, these are key components that help ensure your baby’s comfort and safety. The effort you put in now will pay off in your baby’s well-being.
If you ever feel overwhelmed or need extra support, countless resources and support groups are available to help you navigate this journey. Don’t hesitate to reach out—you’re not alone on this wonderful adventure of parenthood.
Author Bio
Andrea Gibbs, a lifelong New Yorker, balances the demands of being a work-from-home mom with her expertise in business development, strategy, and social media marketing. Andrea contributes to the Kemit Academy blog in Chicago, IL, offering insights and guidance to help parents set their children up for academic success. In her role as Content Manager at SpringHive Web Design Company, she ensures the delivery of exceptional content for a wide array of clients. When not immersed in her professional duties, Andrea finds joy in exploring new recipes and spending quality time with her family.
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Quirky Workin' Mom's 
