Quick Breakie/ Mommy Breakfast

Love this,  they are quick and still healthy options.  I find I don't have a lot of time in the morning, since I get up when he's up usually,  and I really try to follow the cardinal rule of eating within 2 hours of waking up (jumpstart your metabolism).

Thanks Women's Health for laying it out so simply!

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/quick-breakfast-ideas?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-womenshealth-_-content-food-_-QuickBreakfasts

The little things are the biggest reward

Motherhood, well parenthood, is challenging for sure. Having a newborn requires energy and patience.  There are a lot of sleepless nights and cries to learn, although there are books, most of it is trial and error until your baby seems satisfied. You are trucking along as well as you know, and checking in with the doctor monthly; all you want to hear is "great, he looks great...keep up what you are doing".  When you do hear that, "phew" you think, "I don't suck as a parent!  YES!"

As they grow a little more, then start the rounds of vaccinations.  Your baby is happy and healthy and now you have to poke them...all while YOU hold them. So not only do you feel sorry for them, you are now feeling guilty because they are giggling in your safe arms and then WAHHHHHH!!!...they have been poked.

After a few months you notice a pattern and set schedule occurring, your baby is starting to sleep longer hours at night and, hence, so are you. The first few months are conquered and you are now in the "more energy" zone.  You can begin to plan things based on his schedule and feel super confident, taking care of him is literally a piece of pie (you don't want the pie because you are now actively trying to lose excess baby weight).  But wait...did you hear about sleep regression?  That's right as your baby hits a growth spurt, a significant one (commonly seen at the 4 month mark), everything regresses back to those 2-3 hour waking periods, and out goes the neat schedule.  This episode knocks you on your butt, you feel exhausted, and look it too...as your hair and skin are now paying for those 10 months of pregnancy glow and hair fullness (hair is now shedding and skin dries like crazy).

All in all, it's quite alright because the regression passes and your sweet baby finds himself falling back into a pattern and seems content again. 

Then he starts to teeth...

It's tough for sure, but, and I kid you not, it is by far the best few months of my life so far.  You go through this to ensure he is comfortable and has everything he needs, that innately becomes your only concern (far above yourself), because his smile and laugh and watching him grow and develop...well words can't describe how ridiculously amazing it feels.  As you are going through the first few months, you notice his strides in development. It feels like a trophy won or a a blue ribbon, each time he achieves something;  he smiles now, he baby talks, he now grabs his toys, he now reaches and grabs his feet, he knows me and his dad and goes crazy whenever he sees us enter his room, he blows raspberries, he loves to touch our face, he loves his reflection...the list goes on.  All these "little things" are understatedly the best things I have ever experienced, the biggest joys, and I know there are more to come.

The whole point is that, each little thing Caiden does, is so huge in my heart.  A couple of nights ago, he woke up at 2 am, I was just exhausted...I got up , fed him and put him back to bed.  As I was putting him in the crib, and ready to go back to bed myself, my angel muffin started giggling in his sleep.  He looked so damn adorable, I could've stood there forever just smiling back and staring at him and beaming to myself. No matter what, every day I look at him and whenever he opens his beautiful eyes and looks at me, that alone is wow, but then he smiles, another wow...then the laughing and playing (he is at such an interactive stage now).  Each little thing he does is awesome, and makes me fall in love daily.

Precious to the maximum this little fellow is, I love being his mom. 

Happy Halloween...Grrrrr

Caiden's first Halloween, though was too young for trick-or-treating,  was special.  He was the cutest little tiger and spent the day showing off (ok I was showing him off) to our families and smiling for the camera.  I had no idea tigers were so happy! 
Thanks to mausi for finding him the perfect costume!

Best Birthday to Date!

I've had a lot of great birthday celebrations,  a lot of good times,  drinks, nights out,  memories,  milestones, surprises etc. However,  none surpass my first as a mommy.  It's amazing how special I felt waking up to an adoring husband and a smiley baby...my family,  my boys.  Cards (if you know me you know I love cards and getting my first Mommy card was AWESOME), flowers and breakfast from my boys was the perfect start to my 3_ birthday! 

This is a special day,  I have new feelings envoked within me, different from any other year.  I feel truly blessed and incredibly lucky. I loved spending the day with my boys.

The evening brought my siblings and best friends to come by cut my favorite cake from Breka!  Hubby chilled and had me pop some Dom (then thanked me for agreeing to be sober for a year). Had a few sips...not a bad way to start my first drink in a year!  Later we all went to our friend's fund raiser for breast cancer (which also counted as Caiden's first event).  Caiden was able to sleep through the noise (didn't need those headphones after all) even when the entire hall sang me happy birthday.  I got tired just before 11 and had to get home...but my party animal baby was wide awake and playing at this time... again just like, well you know how it goes by now.

Ended my day with my baby beside me,  enjoying a cupcake and a glass of milk (in a wine glass). I couldn't have spent it in a better way...and Vick really made it a special one. It's all about feeling loved and holy crap did I! 

Thanks to everyone for all the love and wishes and especially: Vick, Val, Neil and Nashaan, Resh and Rohan and Varsha, Jeff, Greg, Shonika, Priya, Parm, Jeassea and my main homie Caids!

Best Birthday to date!

Got my hands full but I love it

Remember back before Caiden was born?  I had a hunch I was having a boy, but more importantly just had a feeling the baby was going to be "just like daddy".  Well I was right,  so far.

Caiden sleeps just like daddy.  Caiden looks just like daddy (but he has my dimple). Caiden snores, a bit, just like daddy.  Caiden tosses and turns just like daddy.  Caiden loves to kick his legs just like daddy.  Caiden goes through a tonne of clothes just like daddy.  Caiden wants to be up late and play... you guessed it just like daddy. Lastly, we joke about him being a bit of a diva...hehe just like daddy.

Ohhh boy, now if this trend continues I'm definitely bound to eventually get those greys I've only heard about. I can see it now,  both of them coming to me saying I need this please,  giving me the same cute face no matter what the age difference.  Or attending one's masters soccer game and another's U-something game,  making sure both have their clothes ironed and hair perfectly gelled (yes even for a game).

Truthfully...I love it. It's cute to see my husband turn daddy (no pun intended) and bond with his boy. No matter what, they are both my boys and love them to pieces. 

I am excited for what the future holds for our new family.  I love my boys... hopefully they don't drive me nuts!

Reminder...

Peek-a-boo! I'm still here!

Hello friends... it's been a while. 

Life as a new mom is busy but mostly a blur. The days and nights sometimes seem the same and it does fly by while you are in a semi-awake state.  You find yourself amazed that you are able to still shower let alone clean your place...so yes blogging has been difficult.  In fact,  I think,  I know,  I haven't been able to think straight enough to even string together a comprehendable sentence.  My language lately has been "coochy coochy goo boobly woobly woo".  Translation you ask?  The answer is...who knows.

But it's pretty cool folks.  Not glamorous but fricking cool to be a mom. My baby rocks.  Literally I'm rocking him as I write this.

The first month flies by, hubby and I didn't sleep for the first few weeks at all as you spend time trying to figure out what he needs and when.  Also learning what to do, how to do it, and not freaking out takes a few weeks.  Wow...looking back the first 2 weeks were nuts!  Difficult,  trying,  special,  exhausting,  rewarding all in one.  I was lucky to have two moms that helped me with meals and chores, so I could heal and get some rest during the day (and just worry about taking care of Caiden).  By the third week I wanted to take on everything without help, so it was game on in terms of "turning mommy" and being a wife and functioning human on my own around the clock,  24/7.  It's a grind that every new parent can attest to, a life experience to realize how much your parents did to bring us up and that no job compares.  Still cool though guys...if you can believe it. 

With time, however, you start to learn what each cry means. Now, 2 months later,  we can guage it a lot better.  I'm still not sleeping like a bear but we manage, knowing I will be up every 3 hours.  By the way,  whoever says sleep when baby sleeps must have a nanny or not eat, wash, clean; yes I definitely try to "nap" when I can with him,  but when he's out I take advantage and take a shower or do laundry or eat!!!!  You would be amazed at how many times I've felt like I was 22 sneaking in and out of the room after putting him down. 

I think it's fascinating learning about what Caiden wants and bonding with him.  But the coolest is when he smiles and does baby talk.  As tired as you are, you can cuddle And play with him forever.  Thank god for a good baby... So far that is. 

Caiden is super cuddly.  He loves to baby talk,  be held, and loves music and sounds.  He's round and cute and not too fussy.  We have been able to take him shopping,  go for walks, etc.  At 2 months he doesn't have a rock solid schedule,  and of course, because I breastfeed, right now I feel like literally a pair of breasts with legs.  So making plans or going anywhere for too long is not an option.  But I anticipated this and definitely not ready to leave his side. The question is when he is on a schedule,  will I be able to? Shudder the thought,  I'm hooked on my son. 

Anyway,  I'm not going to edit or review this post before I publish... it's raw new mom ramble. 

Also just a quick love shout out to all our family and friends from literally around the globe.  We received so many calls,  visits,  gifts,  and love from everywhere it's been overwhelmingly amazing.  Thank you!!!!!!  Caiden, and the two of us, are so lucky!

Until next time, good night.