Dear Grumpy Mama

Dear Grumpy Mama,

Maybe you're a really good person.  And maybe you usually have a great attitude.  And maybe today is just one of those days.  You're just plain grumpy.

Grumpy Mama,  maybe today your baby's teething and won't stop with that constant, underlying whine.  Or maybe she's feeling a little other the weather (and so are you) and you just don't want to haul her around on your hip all day.

Or maybe today your child just wants to be fed (or nursed) all day long and you just don't feel like preparing food or having your shirt up all day.

Maybe you got bad news from a family member or had a fight with one of your friends and parenting just doesn't sound like something you want to do right now.

Maybe today feels like it should be a pre-baby day in which you can curl in your bed and sleep away the afternoon or turn on the tv and watch a marathon of your favorite tv show (remember when I suggested you do that before the baby arrived?) only getting up to pee and eat.

Or Grumpy Mama,  maybe today you're sore from exercising or lifting something too heavy and your body hurts.  You just don't feel like being a snugly, nurturing, let-me-help-you-with-that kind of mama.

Guess what, mama?  All of us have felt that way some times.  We all occasionally want our "old life" back and to not have to take care of other people once in awhile.  You're normal.  You're not a bad mama for feeling that way.  (Let me repeat myself.)  You're not a bad mama.

In fact, I would say you're a healthy mama for being able to admit (at least to yourself) that parenthood is not all roses, gum drops, and baby giggles.  Sometimes you're just grumpy.

As long as the grumpiness doesn't overshadow the good days.  As long as you're loving life more often than you're not, it's ok.  (And if you're not, that doesn't make you a freak, it's possible you have PPD and need to talk to a doctor--like lots of other mamas.)

Grumpy Mama, I know people tell you that this time period is short and will pass quickly--and in a way it does--but some days it creeps by.  Hang in there, mama.  Your grumpy days will pass.

And if you and me are like-minded, these days will teach you to fully rely on Jesus Christ for your strength minute by minute.  Apart from Christ we can do nothing.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

Rooting for you, grumpy mama.
Love,
Mary

Our UNO-themed First Birthday

I've been so excited about Sam turning one year old since about, well, July.  And I came up with a brilliant and (what I thought was) original idea of using UNO cards and having an Uno themed birthday party--you know, since Sam was turning 1 and uno means 1 in Spanish. (I was shocked by how many people did not immediately put this together.)

After I came up with my BRILLIANT idea, I, of course, turned to Pinterest for inspiration, which is where I quickly learned it was not an original idea.  So I scoured the different pins and came up with some original ideas of my own and ended up having a really fun party with friends and family.

So the following is the culmination of a bunch of fun ideas.  Maybe someday you'll want to throw an Uno party for your baby! 

Sam's homemade invites printed on photo paper and mailed as postcards.

Sam's birthday banner.  A card for every month of the first year of his life.  A lot of work to make, but totally worth it!

A wreath I made for the door with Uno cards!

I made this garland from miniature Uno cards.  I love the tiny cards!

We cleared the cars out of the garage to make room for extra seating and had a different Uno games on the tables.

These are the fun, tiny, Uno cards.

I made Sam a custom 1-card/Uno-card shirt.  It looked pretty cute.

I made a spice cake and a funfetti cake and decorated them to look like cards.  So fun!

Sammy's enjoying his first tastes of cake.  I think he was a fan!

I went a little crazy with the color theme...note the bottle cap colors.  My mom also help me recreate some fruit trays that I saw on another blog that looked similar to a wild card.  We used strawberries, blueberries, green grapes, and cantaloupe (which is not yellow, but more edible for babies than pineapple.)  I also put out some bananas that were a big hit!  And we ate a Mexican-ish chili that I tied into the theme by claiming that since it was Mexican-ish, it went with Uno.

We had a photo booth that was fun, though next time I will use a sheet rather than a plastic table cloth.  It was...a little wrinkly.

And to end the party, the kiddos who came picked from a rubber ball or a punch ball balloon (that of course, were in the yellow-blue-red-green color scheme) as a party favor!

Hope you enjoyed seeing these ideas.  And if you were present, hope you enjoyed the party.  All three of us had a great time!  I'm ready to start planning for next year.