PGL: July 2011

Soooo, I have slipped up again. I have literally only taken 5-6 photos the whole MONTH of July. How pathetic am I? Pax & I are on summer break and we have gotten into a fairly predictable routine. I just kinda feel that blogging about the everyday nonsense just isn't quite as fun! So, I will spare you those mundane details...

I will say, that when school starts back in 3 weeks, I will definitely be back behind my camera. Hopefully sooner than that! I'm so ready for Pax to have fun little functions/parties at school and of course, BRING ON FALL!!! I promise to be a better blogger when the school year rolls around. Cross my heart...

; )

Anyways, while I'm actually BLOGGING, I thought I would link up with Kelly's "Show us Your Life", which is all about Parenting Advice this week. Now, don't get me wrong, I am FAR from an expert on babies/toddlers...but, I do have a few general rules I try very hard to follow. Some were set long ago, before I ever had kids and some I had to learn the hard way...by opening my BIG mouth and being put in my place. Either way, I think mommy advice can be a double edge sword. While some people openly accept ANY form of advice, solicited or not, I've humbly learned that unless someone ASKS me my opinion or for my advice-I don't give it.

And that's my rule NUMBER ONE: ONLY offer advice to mommies who've asked. Unwarranted opinions or criticism can hurt people's feelings and make you come off in the wrong light. Even if you come from a place of love or concern, just keep it to yourself unless someone asks.

Another RULE I have is DON'T compare yourself to other mommies. Don't compare your kids to other kids and what they've accomplished. Living in the blogging world can REALLY make this one hard. We are constantly bombarded with posts from friends like, "baby x can say her ABC's!!" or "I designed my son's entire birthday party decor!!" Worrying about what other kids/mommies are doing in comparison to you will literally drive you batty.

Finally, the BEST advice I can offer for being a parent is to follow NO ONE'S ADVICE. Do what feels right to YOU. It's up to you how you want to raise your child-no one else!!

Something else I wanted to blog about (which sort of fits in with this parenting topic but again isn't just advice) is my list of things that I DO NOT feel guilty about. Such as, things that I did/am doing in raising Pax that I have no guilt about. I read TONS & TONS of blogs that go on and on about all the "right" ways to raise a baby. It's kind of sad the amount of judgement other mommies hold toward one another. I admit I am guilty of this and have since corrected my issues with it. No one is an expert! So, I stumbled upon a blog that suggested (for mommies out there who are a bit more REALISTIC) to make an "I Don't Feel Guilty that..." list. No two mommies are alike and if I could give any mommy advice, it would be to NOT JUDGE OTHER MOMMIES!!! Aren't we all in this together? (Again, a lesson I had to learn the HARD way...)

So, here it goes...

I DON"T FEEL GUILTY THAT...

1. Paxtin wasn't breastfed:: Seriously, this topic annoys me. A LOT. I can not stand when people say, "Oh, she didn't breastfeed her baby. He/she gets ear infections all the time." Ridiculous. I was even given the side-eye at the hospital because I announced to the nurse I was bottle feeding. My baby, my choice people! Of course I know the health benefits breast milk has. Of course I realize it's an different type of intimate bonding opportunity. But guess what?? It literally melted my heart to watch my husband give Pax a bottle when she was so tiny. They could bond during that time together and we split feedings 50/50. I loved having the option of having him help me. Mommies, do what's right for you and don't let anyone make you feel guilty, it's not right.

2. I take time to be alone with my husband:: Before there were three of us, there were two. Plain and simple. We have to nurture and feed this relationship to make sure it stays as strong as it is. I do not feel guilty for wanting to get away alone with my husband and have adult conversations!! I do admit I USED to have a hard time leaving Pax when she was very small, but I'm glad I listened to my husband when he told me he needed attention to. ; ) Don't be all-consuming in your child. Go out and breathe a little. It honestly makes me a better mommy-coming back focused and relaxed.

3. My kid eats restricted sugar:: I've been called the 'UN-fun mom' and 'the stick-in-the-mud mom', but OH WELL! My kid has good strong teeth and she is one of the only kids in her class at MDO that eats her veggies. She LIKES her veggies. =) I want Pax to one day make healthy choices without me there to suggest them. Good eating starts very young and I've planted the seed.

4. I am excited to take Pax to MDO and have a 'mommy day':: I live for my days alone. As horrible as that sounds, being a SAHM allows you very LITTLE time to do things ALONE. I don't feel guilty AT ALL for getting a pedicure or grocery shopping alone while she's at school learning and socializing. I have read many blogs where mommies say, "I am APPALLED by daycare", etc. And to that I just have to say, I LOVE when Pax is at MDO!! =) Even if you can't afford daycare or a 3 day a week program, ask a friend to watch your baby or your husband. Just do something alone!!

5. My kid sleeps in the floor:: Oh man do we catch a lot of flack about this one. Every. Single. Family. member seems to have an opinion about Pax sleeping in the floor. And I always say, "she's happy. she likes it. SHE SLEEPS" And when the day comes that she wants to move back to her bed-she will!

So that's my "NO GUILT" list. =) Hope it doesn't offend anyone. I got the idea from another blog I read and thought it was such a good way to stand up for your decisions as a mom. Very rarely do we do that.

I'm so excited it's August!! Fall is just around the corner...

We had a great Independence day! We spent the first half of the weekend with Cody's family at their annual celebration. Cody's aunt Donnita always goes ALL out with her 4th of July party and this year was no different. How beautiful is her backyard??

Everyone had drinks and lots of different dips, while the kids swam in the pool. Pax had a blast swimming with her cousins! Lately at all the family get-togethers, Tony and Sayer have been bringing their instruments and jamming. What other family has their own jam band?!!? SO FUN!!

Of course, I forgot to get a family photo. =( But Paxi looked SO cute in her 4th of July shirt! I wanted some of her OUTSIDE in her shirt, but the moment she saw the pool, the shirt was off!!

Cody's fam is SUPER serious about their fireworks. This wasn't even HALF of what everyone brought-I think someone added up all the fireworks in the field and it totaled OVER $1500. INSANITY.

But they all have a blast (literally) shooting them off with each other. Cody is always down "in the trenches" helping light all the big fireworks, so I hang with Pax. She still isn't a big fan of all the noise. Can't really say I blame her there. :/ I love that our cousin Cammi always gets a picture of Cody with his head lamp on!! Such a goof!

We came back home Monday morning and rested a bit before we hit up another cookout. That night we went down to our old neighborhood and celebrated the 4th with some of our old neighbors. We may not live around there anymore, but those people will always be like our family!! Pax has a blast with her buddies Gracie and Nate. This was the only picture we could get of the kids-still pretty cute though!

Cody had to be at work REALLY early this morning, so we didn't stick around for more fireworks. We had such a great time though...LOVE family weekends!!