Parenting Support #8

Could no one have been straight with me about how hard parenting is?

Rely on the crib and some wine.

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Parenting Support #7

Could no one have been straight with me about how hard parenting is?

We're in the middle of a rough patch too. That being said, he came up to me this morning and said, "Hug Mama?" Ok. All is forgiven. There will be moments that make it all worthwhile but when you're having those bad days, don't hesitate to call and just vent! It helps!

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Project: Baby's First Day Memory Box

I wanted to preserve and display all the mementos I have been saving from Bugga's entry into this world. I have several souvenirs from that exhilarating trip to the hospital for her birth...and of course that day changed our lives so it is fun to think back on it. I thought a shadowbox with all of these memories would be a great way to present everything.

There are all sorts of ways to build a memory box like this...this is my version and how I did it.

Items you can use:

Collect items used in the hospital 

• baby hat
• baby shirt
• newborn-size diaper (or whatever size your munchkin was on Day One)
• hospital bracelets
• going-home outfit
• baby socks/gloves
• first bottle, etc.

You can also use other relevant things like the baby announcement, baby footprints and photos.

Also craft items...

• shadow box (I picked up mine at Michael's with a handy 40% off coupon so it was about $12)
• craft paper with a bright design
• tape/rubber cement
• pearl-head pins (I used the ones that came with the shadow box, but there were only 4)
• safety pins
• letters (I pulled out what I had on hand - some little wood letters left over from some wedding projects, sticker letters, etc.) or a nice calligraphy pen for adding the baby's name (you can also just print off your printer using a specific font
• corner punch

1. I printed off a few special pictures on our home printer. You could also get some prints done on photo paper, but I didn't feel like waiting that long to get them. I just edited 6 pictures in Picasa to make them black and white (to keep the crowded box from feeling even more busy) and printed them on regular paper. Obviously, the more pictures you want to use, the smaller you need to print them. I wanted to use those special moments - when Mom (hey that's me!) and baby first met, the first time Daddy got to hold the new family member...I also wanted one with our Labor & Delivery nurse because she was that fantastic.

2. I opened up the shadow box and removed the back. I laid out the items to make sure they all looked right and were not a complete mess (it is easy to get carried away). I have seen projects like this that are just the baby hat and a little name plaque, but I wanted to use pictures, the little shirt Bugga wore, and the teeny bracelet that went around her ankle so I needed to find a layout that looked put together. I essentially did a photo background and then laid out the little outfit on top of that.

3. Once I was happy with the layout, I removed the items and started working layer by layer. I used tape to affix the craft paper over any of the shadow box background that would be exposed after everything is in place to add a pop of color. Then I used tape cement to keep the pictures in place where you want them.

4. I taped the diaper in place from the top so it "hangs" from the display. I then pinned up the shirt in the back using safety pins for a "tucked in" look, and used push pins to hang the shirt, as well as the little hat.

5. I attached the hospital bracelets in the remaining open space using tape on the back so you cannot see it when displayed.

6. I thought about putting a headshot of Bugga between the hat and the shirt, but once I saw how that looked, the display didn't feel right. Instead I added a little name plaque so we know which baby this is for (easy now with only one...but there could be more!). I used a piece of solid craft paper, punched the corners to give them a softer look, and used silver letters for her name.

7. Put the shadow box back together and display!

Parenting Support #6

Could no one have been straight with me about how hard parenting is?

The first year challenges everything you thought you knew about yourself. You'll probably like the new You even better, once you figure out who she is and what kind of mother she is. It takes time to work this all out.

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Parenting Support #5

Could no one have been straight with me about how hard parenting is?

We did! But no one believes it can be THAT hard until they live it. But let me tell you now, so you won't blame me later: two kids is at least three times harder.

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Parenting Support #4

Could no one have been straight with me about how hard parenting is?

It's completely normal! Especially the guilt over feeling frustrated. I second a previous comment to revise expectations and not expect so much from yourself. That in itself is hard, but you can learn to do it :-) Most of all, talk to someone that "gets it." It's the best way to get through the tough days. I've been there. Hang in there!

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Parenting Support #3

Could no one have been straight with me about how hard parenting is?

Someone once told me that children are cute so you are less inclined to eat them. We had some ROUGH days...take a deep breath. It gets better.

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Living the Baby Life

I'm pretty sure my husband and I did not realize how much our social lives would change post-baby. Sure, we knew we would be doing more kid-friendly activities, and probably be spending less time in the bar scene. But it never even crossed my mind to think about day vs. night entertainment and how our social time of the day would change.

While pregnant a daydreamed of us introducing Bugga to all our favorite music by spending her first summer picnicking outside amphitheaters so we could bring along all our bulky baby gear and still enjoy the sounds we love. My husband and I talked about how fun it would be to now have an excuse to go see all those great animated movies that are now released every other weekend.


Well here we are, Bugga's first summer, and guess what? Babies have a bedtime. And it is generally before it even GETS dark, so all those summer concerts that normally start at 7pm? Not happening. Oh and taking the baby to the movie theater? Yeah, I didn't even THINK about the volume in those places - apparently it is very dangerous for tiny ears.


So for awhile we are limited to daytime events, squeezed between meals and nap times, and reasonable decibel levels. Gives my husband an excuse to invest in a stellar home movie system.

Happy 4th of July everyone! I'll be catching my fireworks on tv this year!