Naptime Blog

Although they may try to make Mother’s Day extra special for us, when you are a mom with young children, Mother’s Day can often be similar to every other day. Kids will be kids, and moms still have to be moms, right?

We were having my parents, my in-laws, and my aunts over for dinner. My husband planned to barbecue, so that I could have a break from cooking on Mother’s Day. Thing was, I still had to straighten up the house, finish the laundry so my daughter had her school uniform ready for school today, and prepare the side dishes. After breakfast, my husband set up to cut and marinate the meat, and the boys were playing in the living room. My daughter was cleaning her room, and the boys were running and getting into everything, so no matter what I would clean up, another boy would make a new mess.

My husband kept telling me to go shower and relax, but as a mother, I just couldn’t do that. What I did do was, instead of having the kids watch their movies and shows, I turned off the television and put on a few of my favorite CDs. I surprised them by putting on a Disney hits CD, and seeing all the kids march around the living room to Heigh Ho, singing and dancing at the top of their lungs, made me and Paul laugh and smile. I was reminded how wonderful being a mother actually is; times like those really make all the mischief and misbehavior insignificant (for a little bit at least!)

But my favorite Mother’s Day moment had to be in between courses. Paul was barbecuing and I decided to take a walk out in the yard with him. Naturally, eight feet followed us. While we were outside, I played Ring Around the Rosie with all four of my kids, and every time “we all fell down” and everyone giggled and fell on the grass in the beautiful breeze and warm sun, I got a tear in my eye and chills down my spine. After we sang the song about ten times, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. What a simple thing but yet it made such a difference in my day. “Falling down” with all my babies was my favorite Mother’s Day moment. What was yours?

This past weekend, kiddo did something very special for me. The week before, kiddo asked where his birthday money was. When I asked him what it was for, he said that it was a surprise for me and added that he didn’t want to tell me about it.

Now, kiddo is the average 10 year old – forgetful about birthdays/holidays/special events unless I let him know. His father doesn’t remind him of Mother’s Day or my birthday, so kiddo doesn’t have much encouragement to do things for a specific day.

When I informed kiddo that I used it, but hadn’t had the chance to replace it, he was very disappointed. He showed me a sheet for a request for flowers for mothers, grandmothers and any other special women in his life already filled out with his order. I told him that it was okay if he didn’t get me anything because I knew that he loved me.

Fast forward to Easter Sunday after the mass. As I talked with other members of the church, kiddo snuck off to a flower vendor a few feet away from me. When I went looking for him to take him for our usual Sunday brunch, kiddo presented me with a bouquet of yellow carnations and wished me a Happy Mother’s Day. I was so touched by this and hugged him tight. In that moment, I realized how blessed I am to be his mother because he’s such a great kid. He hugged back and then told me that the pastor had given him $5 for Easter and he got me the flowers with that. I told him that it was a very sweet thing for him to do for me and that I loved him very much. It was a great surprise for me. Parents, how have your kids surprised you lately?

I was so excited about this deal that I HAD to share!  I LOVE Tiny Prints!  I have used them for invitations, holiday cards and more!  So many of my friends send out Christmas cards and invitations with Tiny Prints and I have to say, EVERY one of them is my favorite!  So when I saw this deal today, I JUMPED on it!  I am going to use my three free cards for my Mother’s Day cards.  And I will be using them all year round instead of going to the cardstore!

Tiny Prints has you covered this year for Mothers’ Day with their Tiny Prints Greeting Card Collection, which lets you create individual personalized cards with photos starting at $1.99. They have cards for everyone in your life from your mom, to your grandmother, sister, daughter or anyone else important to you.  In a matter of seconds, you can create personalized Mother’s Day Cards and have Tiny Prints mail them directly to you or the recipient.  No more scouring the racks at your local convenience store for a lame last minute card, Tiny Prints has removed the hassle and added the fun back into Mother’s Day shopping with a personal touch.

As an extra bonus, from April 6^th to April 12^th, all Mother’s Day Greeting Cards will be $.99 cents and you can also sign up for a Free Greeting Card Membership, giving you three FREE cards to use right away, as well as discounts on future cards.

I’m torn between these cards…  I have to get my photos together and decide!

I just signed up to become a Mom-Bassador with Mothers Day Party!  I will invite a few of my friends over on Mother’s Day weekend and be a part of the Largest Mother’s Day Party in the world!  I’m going to get free goodies for me and my friends, and it is a great feeling to know that I will be joining 200 other moms around the country, working together, helping each other, celebrating MOMS!

Can you imagine inviting a few of your best friends and family over for a fun-filled afternoon or evening that includes a special video, worldwide connection, FREE stuff and a program of activities. Your event can include networking, health information, financial awareness, food focus, green, music, arts, crafts and more.

All you need to do to get involved is agree to host a party in your home, place of business, local bookstore, club restaurant or community center. Sign up and tell us what you want your event to look like. We’ll network you in with women everywhere, send you goodies, entertain you with music and literature and mentor if you to get started with your own business.

Here’s some more info about Mothers Day Party:  It’s a WORLDWIDE PARTY! But, the best part is, that we are all about creating new ways for women to be seen, heard and recognized. We want to shatter stereotypes and encourage diversity. We want to support YOU, the woman inside the role of mom. If you’re not a mom, then we still want you, because EVERYONE mothers someone or something. Ultimately mothering is not about biology but about psychology. It’s the nurturing we do in the world for our businesses, families, talents, home and planet.

See, we’re just about as inclusive as it gets, and MOST IMPORTANT, we don’t just want to just feed you the kool aid. We want you to find out for yourself, through meaningful interactions, inspired self-reflection and empowered activities just how incredible YOU are.

Visit www.mothersdayparty.com to join me and become a Mom-Bassador!

Jennifer
Wife to Paul, Mom to Juliana (7), Anthony and Louis (1) and Joseph (4 months)www.nevaland.com

As we recently celebrated another Mother’s Day, I got the chance to sit and think about Mother’s Days in years past.  On the morning of Mother’s Day, 2009, I woke up to hear twin babies cooing and their big sister telling them “Boys, it is Mommy’s day today”!

When I peeked into the twins’ room, I saw the two of them each in their cribs standing and staring in awe at their big sister, who was dancing in the middle of the room.  I couldn’t help the tears streaming down my face and the huge smile I had from ear to ear said it all – I am truly one lucky Mama!

I was immediately brought back to Mother’s Day eight years ago.  I cannot believe how time flies, and I also cannot believe how much my life has changed in those eight years.  That Mother’s Day of 2001 was one of the worst days of my life, and I couldn’t see past my pain.  I would have never thought these last eight years would be so wonderful.

In January of 2001 I had an Ectopic Pregnancy.  My baby never made it to my uterus and was in my left fallopian tube.  Within a week of learning I was expecting a baby, I was heartbroken to learn that not only did I lose the baby, but I wound up in emergency surgery where I lost that tube.  Only two months later, I was thrilled to learn that I was expecting again.  And just six days before Mother’s Day of 2001, I went for my three month OB visit only to learn that my baby had no heartbeat.  At the time, I was married to a man who was not very supportive, and my life felt like it fell apart.

I remember going in for my second surgery in three months.  As the anesthesiologist was introducing herself to me before being wheeled into the OR, I was in hysterics.  I remember her saying “Don’t worry, next Mother’s Day you will have that baby in your arms”.  And I thought that was a very cruel thing to say, for she couldn’t possibly predict that I would have the baby, and with my current track record, it didn’t seem feasible.  But she was right.

Juliana was born in March of 2002.  She was the most perfect little girl I had ever seen, and she was mine!  And on that Mother’s Day, I spent the whole morning holding her, thanking her for making me a Mommy.  Juliana is now seven, and she is such a lovable little girl.  She was so proud this Mother’s Day to bring me the vase of flowers she made for me in art class along with the card she drew and the Mother’s Coupons saying she would be my helper all day.

In the years that followed, I went through a nasty divorce.  Juliana was only three years old when we left, and although I wanted more children, I knew the best thing to do was to leave, and I hoped that some day I would be able to find someone special to have another baby with.  I met Paul and we married in early 2007.  Paul had a sixteen year old son and had also always wanted more children.

For almost a year we tried to conceive a child together.  Since we both had children before, we experienced secondary infertility.  We did fertility shots and IUI.  And one of the biggest shocks of my life (to date it was the second shock of my life) was when we learned we were expecting TWINS!

Louis and Anthony were born in July of 2008.  I had been on bed rest and in preterm labor for almost two months before they were born at 36 weeks.  I was very lucky to have kept them in there so long and they were born healthy and beautiful.  Juliana was thrilled to be a big sister, and Paul and I knew our family was complete.  Well, we thought we did.

My boys were only six months old when I missed two periods.  After losing pregnancies and experiencing infertility, I really doubted I was pregnant.  And the reproductive endocrinologist said to Paul and I after we conceived the boys that we wouldn’t have been able to get pregnant without treatments!  Well, he was wrong!  I took two tests and they were both positive.  It was the biggest shock of my life.

For three weeks I was very depressed.  I had no idea how I was going to manage, and although I was on the fence whether or not I was done having children, the thought NEVER crossed my mind that it would be this soon!

I am now five months pregnant with baby number four (Paul and I will have five children all together).  I still have no clue how I will manage, but I am getting excited over this new baby’s arrival.  Juliana is thrilled (she loves her brothers and is a great big sister) and the babies will be more like triplets than twins with a 15 month younger sibling.  Stay tuned for more about our life with four children! 

Jennifer
Mom to Juliana (7), Louis (9m) and Anthony (9m)
Expecting #4 in September!
www.nevaland.com

How exciting it is to be a mother! I enjoyed my very first Mothers Day! When Shaughn fussed a little during the night, my husband let me stay in bed while he went to check on him. And in the morning I awoke to breakfast in bed, courtesy of Dunkin Donuts and their bagels, and Starbucks of course. This was the first time my husband remembered to purchase a card in the last year which made it even extra special. Men don’t realize sometimes that it really is those little things that make us happy.

Shaughn of course just thinks its another day. Except instead of me doing everything, it was Daddy cleaning up, feeding him, washing dishes while I was able to just relax! I enjoy my life and taking care of Shaughn and the house but hey, it was Mothers Day so I took advantage. Starting around 6 months, Shaughn has always just babbled away saying a couple of words mixed in the jibberish but nothing really to call his first word. He can clap, kick his feet, jump on you, and give a high five on cue so while I was doing these with him and trying to learn more my husband comes up and asks if I know what Shaughn can do now.

I’m thrilled that he’s learned something new and tell him I hadn’t seen him do it. He leans in and says “Dada” in Shaughn’s ear. Shaughn smiles as if he reminded him he learned this and continued to say “Dada” all… day… long. I know it’s been said that the D’s are easier to pronounce than M’s, but come on! On Mothers Day? I couldn’t get over how funny it was and how happy I am that he’s continuing to learn, but oh wait, just wait til Fathers Day!

–Krystle