Soaking up this phase of life called: Motherhood

My point here is, whatever phase you are in, look at it for what it is for YOU and only YOU. What is going on with the rest of the world, or in the magical land of social media doesn’t matter because that isn’t you. That isn’t what defines you. At the end of the day, what will you remember most in your life? IF that is your career, then by all means, dive in! But if that’s spending time with your kids and you have the ability to do so, then DIVE IN and don’t look back.

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Traveling with infants and children under 2

I find this is one of the most common mom questions I see on every mom blog and in social media. Let me tell you, everyone has their own opinion on at as well! While there are many circulating opinions, there are some hard facts that cannot be denied regardless of what anyone has to say. However, I’m always open and love hearing from other moms what they did and any lessons learned along the way for anything. Let’s face it, momming isn’t easy and if someone else has paved the way, rock on! Let’s hear how we can maybe make our lives better in the process.

Now that Alexandra is 15 months old, we’ve probably flown with her at least 10-12 times in her short time here on this planet! Our first experience at 6 weeks to Paris to the latest trip to South Carolina just last week at 15 months old! In that short period of time, I’ve learned a LOT! First being, traveling is no longer about me taking a nap and reading a book, its work! Its stressful, it makes me anxious and really you have little to no time to yourself - quite literally because you have a baby on your lap!

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Mom Boss - Routine is everything

I'm the worst when it comes to scheduling, keeping to commitments, arriving on time and etc.  I over-schedule, under-prepare and kind of just fly by the seat of my pants - or I used to!  Now, I've completely adapted my life to fit my new life as a mom and a mom boss.  Coming from the corporate world you'd think that I had it together in terms of being organized, scheduled, on time and etc.  In fact, I would project manage and that was really my role, holding the team accountable to timelines, scheduling and being prepared!  I don't know how I did it for over 6 years and I truly believe that career and ones prior prepared me for my greatest mom boss career that is today.

Now depending on the day, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday's I'm teaching about 3-4 classes on those days and working in between.  When I say working I'm doing anything from creating and filming recipes, creating workouts, blogging, exploring how to optimize my website, planning out the day/week, coming up with new content and etc.  To help give me time to do that, I take Alexandra to daycare on those days and typically they are very full days for both of us! 

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Good for baby blended foods - 6-12 months

So the first thing I was worried about as a crazy mom when I started introducing purees was will my baby get the proper nutrition.  Well, the answer is yes.  You aren't replacing food first and foremost you are simply adding to expand their palette.  When I first started with purees I was really expirementing with a lot of foods, some savory, some sweet, some combination.  My goal was to give her as many nutrients and GREENS as I could in a sitting.  I started my own blends like kale, apple and banana.  Then started doing some oats like whole grain oats with 1 banana as a sweetener and a dash of cinnamon.  I would also use my breast milk to thin it out as when you blend the oats they tend to get really thick!  When I was in a pinch I would use the cold pressed purees like the kale and apple, or broccoli apple and then started adding in the pouches - which lets be honest are LIFESAVERS!  Not only do they save time, but they are convenient and don't create a mess - as I still serve it to her because even at 9 months she would have it everywhere!

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The things I learned in my first year of Motherhood

I'd always dreamed about being a mom for most of my life.  I always knew I wanted to be a mom.  I know this isn't the case for everyone but it was for me.  However unlike most of my high school friends and many colleagues of mine in Michigan I was not even tapping the surface in my early 30's.  I hadn't met anyone I was divorced at 29 and thankfully never had children prior to that and I wasn't sure when it was going to happen.  At 34,  made a conscious decision to if I didn't meet anyone by 40 I would start the process and I was determined to adopt, find a sperm donor and do it myself if it came down to it.  

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Breastfeeding coming to a hault before I was ready

Yup, 9 months almost to the day she decided, “No thank mom, I'm good,” and turned her head as I tried to nurse her in the night.  I thought maybe this was just a fluke, but no I tried again, and again, and again and yes she was done.  I took it very personally and a little piece of me was lost as I didn't know how we would have our bond back and would it be the same?  Well I'm here to tell you after that moment of disappointment it does come back.  Consequently, the next couple of weeks I feel like she has been needier than ever.  Always wanting me to hold her.  Sometimes, wanting to nap or sleep with me at night.  In fact, if she's at daycare too long on days that I'm working all day she is very fussy and extra needy.  

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