A motherhood word vomit. Things I've learned. Things I've done. And just random mom stuff.

E has never watched regular cartoons on TV. Ever. She only watches Baby Einstein DVDs. I'm not sure why. I have never been against it when I was pregnant, or when I had E, but we just always started her out with Baby Einstein and I found that they were the most educational for her. I have tried to turn on regular cartoons and she has no interest. So for now, we stick with baby E {clearly match made in heaven}.

E fell out of bed twice. I still have nightmares about it. Once when she was 6 months old, and once 15 months old. Both times, trying to be selfish and "co-sleep." Obviously, it didn't quite work out. So we are a NO-CO-SLEEP family. Per Elliana's choice. Obviously. 

Since we are on the topic of falling... E fell down a couple stairs {twice}. Eeek. Never down the stairs fully... just 3-4 steps. But girlfriend was quick at the time. She was fine every time. But that baby gate went up quicker than the speed of light. Actually it went up slow... but it's up. That is all that matters.

I breastfed for 11.5 months, but I did give baby girl formula when she was 6 months old just because I had it in the house and it literally was speaking with me. Like a drug. "Come get me. I will make your time worth while. I will make you feel good." Why yes fake cocaine, you did make my time worthwhile and it felt good to have a bottle feed my child.

I give E bites of anything sweet I am having. However, she has never had a whole piece of anything. Cake, cookie, whatever. But I never hold out on her. I believe that every child should have a piece of something sweet.... anytime mama does :)

E has never had McDonald's or any other kind of fast food. Okay, shes had bites of taco bell before, but that doesn't count as fast food. Not in my book at least. But as far as McDonalds goes... she will probably never have it. Just a no-no in my book. {Even though I recall my love for two. Not one. But two Big Mac's when I went as a child. Heffer.}

I don't teach my baby girl enough Russian. As I should. As I swore I would. What started out as "solely" speaking Russian to her has turned into when I remember to. And that is not okay.

I was ready to have baby #2 as soon as E was born. I recall in the hospital being like, wow, I want to do that again. Tomorrow. Here we are 16 months later... and no baby #2 {yet}.

I waited the full "recommended" 6 weeks to... you know... do the... hot dog bun.

Elliana's baby food was made solely by me. She had jar baby food just a handful of times. Otherwise, I prepared her meals. For the most part she eats all organic/all natural foods. It is kind of funny because I swore I was not going to be that "all organic" type mother. SWORE. And here I am. I promise though... I turned out just fine. And if kids don't eat organic? I really don't care. I think I just got... pressured into it. Ha.

Sometimes, we have days where we just lay around and watch baby E, eat our meals, and hang. And nap a lot.

But a lot of times, as long as weather permits {40 degrees and above}, we spend our time outside. Just me, E, and the camera {and papa if its the weekend}. Cell phone aside. Enjoying the weather. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I spoil E. Love. My attention. Clothes. And I have no shame. No regret. When the time comes, I will enforce the necessary rules. But for now? She's my baby and I will embrace every part of it.

I believe in spanking. Just the hand. And only one or two spanks on the bottom, with no obvious force or anger behind the spanking. Those are crucial elements. Otherwise? Go at it. I'm all for it. In fact, E has gotten a few pats on the bottom here and there. Not that she cared or noticed. Again, just like her hard-headed mama :)

However, I think time out is the most effective tool of discipline. We have enforced time out since she turned 16 months old and will continue to enforce it... until she is 20 years old :)

I wish Betheny Frenkel and I could be mom friends.

I wish I had real mom friends. {Correction: I now DO have some. Yay!}

I wish my best friends would have babies.

Or at least, get married. Engaged. Something.

I will make plans with friends and then cancel last minute because the thought of not spending that time with my child just bothers me. I know this is bad, but honestly.... she is my best friend. I could spend countless, endless amounts of time with her. And it never gets old. And I am not sorry about it.

We have only spent 1 weekend away from E, and it was not per my choice.

We have never gone a day without a nap. Ever. And we intend to keep it that way. Yes, her naps have been delayed... by many hours before due to other plans, but to this day we have not had to miss a nap. And I am a thankful mama because of that.

There have only been a handful of times that Elliana has not gotten a bath every night. Probably about 6-7 nights. Otherwise, every night, same time, same place... bath time. And it's a favorite for her.

I did not have an intense connection with E when I was pregnant. I couldn't fathom that there was a real human inside me, even when I was in labor it didn't seem real. But the minute that she was placed on my chest? The connection was like nothing I had ever experienced. The love is indescribable. And being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me. And ever happen to me.

Elliana is a mama's girl through and through. She loves her papa to pieces. And she is a total papa's girl as well. But girlfriend is digging her mama and I am flaunting it every chance I get :)

Baby girl didn't wear shoes for the first 11 months of her life. Maybe once or twice. Very very rare. Girlfriend hated shoes.

I have to wipe down every centimeter of the grocery cart that E sits in. Every bit, front back, side to side, inside and out.

But I'm not a germ freak. Just something I do.

Sometimes, E will do the doogy while I'm in the middle of something... I make a mental note, and then I sometimes forget. And 1 hour later? Oops. True life.

I've had Elliana's birthday outfit since she turned 1 year old. THE TWO YEAR OLD birthday outfit. You know. The one she will wear when she turns 2... in November.

So yes. I buy clothes WAY in advance. Sometimes 1 year. Sometimes 2. I even have some stuff for when she turns 4. Crazy? Yes. It's called... i love to shop.

Elliana had a bottle until she was 14 months old. We transitioned to sippy cups around 9 months and she still had a bottle once a day in the morning up until 14 months old. I stopped this when one morning I tried to give her a sippy cup and she freaked. So the bottles were out.

And although these are only a fraction of motherhood truths. Maybe 2%. They signify 16 months of a beautiful journey. Not perfect...but absolutely beautiful. And the best part about it?

It's my journey. Our journey. And I'll be able to look back one day and say...

Wow. I wasn't perfect. I didn't always know everything. I didn't always do it the correct way. Or the popular way. Or the "smart" way. But I did it. We did it. We loved it. We laughed through it. Cried through it. And at the end of the day...

We did do something right.