Trying to be Confident

I can't believe we're on our last week of the One Year and Beyond series. I love the topic this week "Feeling Confident as a Mom" I know I struggle with that constantly. I was just thinking about this last night and talking with Mr. on my feelings on this...not really knowing it was a struggle until I went to write this post, and thought it would be with my kids or feeling adequate enough, but the reality is, it is friends. The thing I struggle most with as a mom is my friendships. Navigating new waters, it's hard, it makes me cry, it makes me feel lonely, even though I have a great support system around me.

I try not to compare myself to other people, and their friendships.  I feel like the people I was once super close with, are drifting away. It makes me so sad, we're all having kids and our lives are busy with families and other life things, but it makes me sad to think that our relationships have changed.  Sometimes I feel it's something I've done to make them not want to hang out with us (and I admit that it's kept me up more than once, contemplating this and wondering what I could do different), but in reality I think it's just life with a toddler, adjusting to a new norm with a toddler(s). In the course of a 15 year friendship, it's bound to change, and I hope when we come out on the other side it brings us closer together because we are both moms.

Wow that was emotional, so here's some other things that I do to help me feel confident as a mom. I have learned I need to accept some things, like when we decided that I would work for a few more years to get us more financially stable, and then maybe go part time or just be a SHAM. But this is what works for our family, I can't compare myself to other people who stay at home, we made this decision based off of what's best for our family. I feel thankful for what we do have, wonderful daycare lady for the kids who love them and treat them like her own. I constantly remind myself to be thankful for what I have:

 A wonderful, supportive husband and two wonderful kids

 

  How do you feel confident as a mom?  Check out the other mama's blogs for even more on this!  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this.  

Like a Morning Cup of Coffee// From Here to Eternity// The Not Quite Military Wife//

A Cowboy's Life// My Delicious Adventure// Sadie Sky Boutique// Meet the Sullivan's//

Love and Life//  Foxy's Domestic Side// Everyday Love// Life of Faith

July 10:  Keeping your marriage alive with a toddler

July 17:  Favorite summer toddler activities

July 24:  Helping Your Toddler to Communicate (Words, emotions, etc.)

July 31:  Dealing with Separation Anxiety

Aug 7:    Car Trip Necessities

Aug 14:  Deciding when the time is right for baby #2 (and/or how to handle these questions)

Aug 21:  Tricks for eating out with your toddler

Aug 28:  Feeling confident as a mom (How to feel this way, Your struggle with, etc.)

An InLinkz Link-up

ALS - Ice Bucket Challenge Complete

I've been so lazy with my outfits lately. I seem to be wearing the same 5 things to work...rotate and repeat. I'm ready for fall and some other clothes that include long sleeves. I feel like half of my closet is getting ignored.

For some reason this outfit makes me look super short? The skirt is on the shorter side, so it's weird that it look so long in this picture. Weird. Perhaps it's the jacket. I should have taken some pictures without the jacket. Yes look closely at the pictures, I need a different jacket/sweater something else. Actually most of the day I didn't wear it, so I'm not sure why I decided to wear it for the pictures.

Side note: I love the leopard shoes, it's so something I would have NEVER done prior to the Spring and Summer Challenges, so thank you Alison for that! Looking forward to the Fall Challenge, they are currently in the middle of the Work Wear Challenge, I decided to give my pocket book a break, so I'll be joining back up in the Fall.

So Mr. has my computer up and running, yay! He really hooked me up, bought me a new hard drive, a new laptop battery (you know you need a new one,when you keep getting a reminder from your computer to consider replacing your battery), and a bunch of flash drives as another form of back up. So I was going to post this yesterday, but couldn't because I didn't have access to my computer till last night, so I thought I'd post it today.

I was nominated for the ice bucket challenge and wasn't sure if I would participate. But after reading this lady's story, I felt like I need to bring some awareness to the cause. She has no idea who I am, or that I am talking about her, but her husband has ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) since 2011, this is his story.

We donated to alsa.org and did the challenge for fun. Let's ride this 15 minutes of fame to get as much awareness out there as possible and hope that one day those with ALS will suffer a little less and will be able to live normal lives.

Here's mine

And Mr. and Baby Fox's

Linking up with Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, The Pleated Poppy, and Tucker Up

Best Birthday Gift a Husband Can Get a Picture Obsessed Wife

Guess what Mr. got me for my birthday? Remember when I told you guys that my hard drive ran out of room? Ever since then, I've been struggling to get pictures and things off of my computer and backed up to other places (which I should have been doing anyway, so it forced me to do it, which is good). Anyway last night my computer (laptop) is on the coffee table upstairs and I ask Mr. what he was doing with my computer. He said I bought you a new hard drive that has 4 times the available space for your birthday! I am so freakin' excited! That being said, I don't have access to my computer, so what I was going to post today, isn't actually going to happen, till who knows when. Not even sure if I'll get anything up tomorrow, might have to take some outfit pictures with my iphone...

Anyway, yesterday Baby Fox went to Disneyland with some friends and I think he just might have had the time of his life! They sent us pictures throughout the day, and I think EVERY SINGLE picture he cannot smile any bigger.

In case you guys were wondering, we took Baby Fox to Disneyland for the first time a year ago May, so it's been about 15 months, and yes, he's wearing the same exact outfit.

Olaf Cake Pop

Driving the Utopia car, we got a video and he was smiling from ear to ear and saying on no traffic jam over there!  When my computer is up and running, I'll post it for you, it's super cute.

Mean while...I didn't really have anything planned for dinner and since we only had one kid we decided to try out the new sandwich place that just opened up. So easy with just one kid that doesn't walk yet. If Baby Fox was there, we probably would have just found something at home. It's nice to get to spend time with just Mini Fox. She's still in her carrier because the high chairs they had there were made for way older kids and I felt like she would fall out of it.

When was the last time you were at Disneyland or Disney World?

Last time I went was in December with both kids, for some reason I didn't blog about it, bad blogger. But I do have the pictures. Mini Fox was only 3.5 months old, she spent most of the time sleeping.

Weekend of "Nothing"

Remember when I told you we had no plans? Yep we did NOTHING. Really...it was glorious and because we didn't do anything.

Friday I got home from work and Baby Fox did boy things and played in the dirt and mud

yep, he refuses to wear sandals without socks, he's channeling his inner asian

 Friday calls for homemade pizza right? This is the Trader Joe pizza dough (in the fridge section) and pizza sauce, we split into two, so we can get our own toppings. Of course cheeseless because I am allergic, Mr. did add cheese just before it came out of the oven.

The kids had this...well when I say kids I really mean Baby Fox because Mini Fox doesn't like two things, mashed potatoes and Yams

That really dark burnt spot there? That was from the other yam that I made...pictured below

 This is how much Baby Fox ate, he loves yams the most.

Mini Fox...no she's not walking...she's barely standing. See how it's blurry? It's because she can stand for 2 seconds before falling. Mr. and I have a bet as to when she'll start walking, I have 13.5 months and below, Mr. has everything above...he's  convinced he's going to win.

She looks stable, but she's not even close to walking...don't tell Mr. but I think he might win. I can't remember what we bet, but I do know that if I win, I will never let him forget.

We watched World War Z...we had no idea what the movie was about but we really liked it, you should see it too, really it's a zombie movie, but a good zombie movie.

Saturday, lazy day, we barely made it to the park.

Baby Fox picked out his outfit...can you tell?

Trying to help Mini Fox "walk"...

Exploring

Daddy's girl, through and through

She just wants to be included too #littlesisterproblems

yep she's pantsless

 Milk, it does a body good (okay it's not really milk, it's actually egg yolk, lol)

Mr. put that flower on the top of her head

We watched The Host, wasn't sure what to expect, but we really liked it, not a movie we'd watch over and over again, but it was good too.

Sunday:

Church time and then an impromtu concert: Introducing Mr. and Baby Fox with their rendition of "Dinosaur Train"

Baby Fox realized his guitar wasn't facing the same direction...

After naps we had some friends over for pool time and BBQing. Good times

Dinner time!

Ready for bed

Lots of people, a big mess but our hearts are full with such great friends to spend our time with

What did you do this weekend? Post your link so I can read about your weekend.

Linking up with Faith, Sarah and Heather for Mommy Moments

and with Bella & Lisa

Hip Hip Hurray, It's Friday!

Woo hoo, Friday! Hello Friday, I've been waiting for you all week!

1.

I sort of love this video and this song, it's just so catchy, don't hate, I like Taylor Swift, okay I feel better, it's out in the open. 

2.

It's my birthday next weekend and I need a new leather jacket and I'm sort of loving this jacket, hint, hint Mr.

3. 

I also need a new purse, this will do

4.

While we got rid of diapers (including night time) for Baby Fox, we still take him to the bathroom when we go to bed, 13 hours is a long time to hold it...I love how sleepy Baby Fox is, he used to wake up fully when we took him, now he just stays sleeping.

 

5.

I'm nursing Mini Fox here, and Baby Fox always wants to be right near her, loving on her. I love the bond that they've already created.

We actually have no plans this weekend, yay! We'll see what kind of trouble we can get into. It's suppose to be hot, so I know it's going to involve some swimming.

Linking up with: Erika, Andrea, and Narci for Friday Favorites and September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday!

5 Tips to Eating Out with Your Kids

 Only two more weeks left of the One Year and Beyond Series, for this round at least. This weeks topic is Tricks For Eating Out with Your Toddler.

Hmmm...tough one because I really do think it depends on the kid. I have really mellow-ish kids so taking them out isn't necessarily hard. What's hard is that I have so many food allergies that I am limited to where I can eat. But that's a different story, for a different day.

Tip #1: Something we do, rather don't do, we don't let him use our iPhone or iPad while eating. We think that sets a bad precedent, often times we'll look around at a restaurant and half of the tables have kids on some sort of electronic, not talking to their family. We value family and want that family dynamic you get when you're just sitting at a table with each other. Yes our kids are only 3.5 and 11 months, but we still expect them to sit there with us. Maybe that's it, we expect them to sit there with us, we tell Baby Fox when he wants to continually get up while we're eating, do you see Mommy or Daddy getting up and down while we eat our food? That's rude, and you need to sit back down. We've said it so many times that he doesn't do it as often any more.

Tip #2: We learned the hard way, NEVER get their food before your food. We did that ONCE and never again. We had to wait a bit for our table, so we told them to bring out Baby Fox's food right away, well guess what, he was done and we hadn't even gotten our food yet, and then what? He got antsy and wanted to go outside to play. We distracted him, but it was hard on both of us. So now we make sure his food comes with ours. Easier to distract him before our food comes, so we can all eat together.

Tip #3:  While we don't go out to eat very often (again the whole food allergy thing), we usually go to places with a kids menu, crayons and pictures to color.  We play tic-tac-toe and draw random things, that usually takes up about 5-10 minutes. If we went out more, I would probably have a little bag of things that he can do before our food comes. It's all about wasting time until the food gets there. Sometimes we play i-spy, now that he talks more, usually we can ask him about his day or he asks us random questions about EVERYTHING.HE.SEES. EVERYTHING.

Tip #4: Since Baby Fox is  pretty picky eater, we usually bring his dinner with us, and then order french fries for him (yep our criteria for a restaurant is, do they have french fries?), so for the first 10 minutes or so we have him do random activities and then the next 5 or so minutes we have him eat what we've brought him for dinner. We tell him he can't have any french fries until he eats what we've brought for him, that usually gets him to eat, and is a major time waster. We've never had a problem bringing our own food for him.

Tip #5: The last one...since having only 4 seems weird...be consistent. If you make a rule at a restaurant you should follow suit at home. We don't let him get up and down from his seat at home, so why would he be able to do it at a restaurant? side note: If you're having problems with them getting up and down, we usually give him a choice. We'll say you have a choice, you can either sit down at the table and finish or you can go straight to bed, since you're done eating you're telling us that you are ready for bed. Usually he picks the eating. We always give him a "choice" but the other choice is ALWAYS way worse than just sitting there and doing what we want, so far it's been working. One day he'll figure it out, but until that day...

Oh and one other thing, we don't usually go to places that is going to be longer than an hour, we find that 1 hour is Baby Fox's limit on patience and sitting still...so we go to places that won't take longer then that. Unless my mom insists on the kids coming to a fancy dinner and it taking over 2 hours. We let him get a hot fudge sundae at the end of that marathon dinner.

Us at that fancy dinner, I tried to get a picture of the ice cream eating, but Baby Fox was too excited to sit still for a picture.

Baby Fox feeding Mini Fox before our food got there

It helps when Auntie is there to distract them too.

Do you have any tips or tricks?

Now go check out these lovely ladies to see what they have to say.

 What is your secret trick to eating out with your little one?  Check out the other mama's blogs for even more tips!  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this.  

Like a Morning Cup of Coffee// From Here to Eternity// The Not Quite Military Wife//

A Cowboy's Life// My Delicious Adventure// Sadie Sky Boutique// Meet the Sullivan's//

Love and Life//  Foxy's Domestic Side// Everyday Love// Life of Faith

July 10:  Keeping your marriage alive with a toddler

July 17:  Favorite summer toddler activities

July 24:  Helping Your Toddler to Communicate (Words, emotions, etc.)

July 31:  Dealing with Separation Anxiety

Aug 7:    Car Trip Necessities

Aug 14:  Deciding when the time is right for baby #2 (and/or how to handle these questions)

Aug 21:  Tricks for eating out with your toddler

Aug 28:  Feeling confident as a mom (How to feel this way, Your struggle with, etc.)

An InLinkz Link-up