If I could tell new moms ONE thing...

If you are looking for expert advice on parenting, you have come to the right place should probably venture elsewhere.

But if you want some honest tips from a semi-clueless first-time mama who is managing to raise a pretty darn awesome kid? Okay, I can help you there.

I have now lived three years, five months, and five days with my lovely, precocious little darling.

She is worth the exhaustion.

She is worth the "mommy brain" from which I still often suffer.

She makes me laugh every single day.

So, what advice would I give to a new mom?

Do not lose yourself. Instead, take care of yourself.

Do not let society lead you to believe that a good parent must be a martyr. Don't let unsolicited advice make you doubt yourself. Do not put so much into raising your child the "right way" that you forget to raise yourself up at times. A good mom? Is a happy mom.

So, new moms? Repeat after me.

I will take time to be myself.

I will take time to be alone.

I will do something, just for me, on a regular basis.

I will not apologize for making myself happy.

When I am happy, my child will know it, feel it, and live it.

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Join in the fun with Mama Kat!

Me me me

Writer's Workshop Thursday again!

This week, I chose Mama Kat's prompt to spruce up my ABOUT ME page.

So click on over and check it out. If for no other reason than the extrememly cute photo of a 1-day old Amelia on there. How can you not love it?!?

Worn out from the weekend

I have blogger's block. I am worn out from a busy weekend yet again. I only have myself to blame. Because I am a work-from-home mommy, I find it very difficult to stay in the house on weekends. I am surrounded by these same walls day after day after day. So when the weekend comes, I tend to overlook my need to relax and give in to my need to get the heck out of here.

It doesn't help that 8 out of 10 activities we try to do with Amelia result in some kind of crying episode. This is going to be the longest year ever. And do not give me that "terrible twos don't end at age three" speech. I do not want to hear it. Fingers in ears, la la la la la la la.

So anyway, I am tired. I do apologize for the blogger's block today. I promise to perk up and find something interesting to say very soon. I foresee a big Dunkin Doughnuts mocha iced coffee in the morning.

In the meantime, here are a few pics to sum up our weekend:

Amelia called them Mommy's "wedgie shoes"

Steve worked hard to spruce up our front landscaping. Removed some bushes and added color. I may or may not be able to keep these alive. Wish me luck.

Aunt Anne came over Saturday evening, bearing gifts. A rainbow feather boa from New Orleans and a bouncy light-up ball from Uncle Brian.
Simply FAB-U-LOUS.