Can you hear me cheer?

Because the victorious cry that I let out after I FINISHED O-man's stocking, was window-shattering.

Ok, maybe not that loud...but trust me, once the last stitch was tied off--I whooped and hollered and danced about the room!

If you remember, during 30 posts in 30 days in November, I said that C was for CRAFTS and I was announcing to blogland that I was going to hand sew O-man's stocking.


It started out looking like this: a lot of thread, felt and lines of instructions...





And it slowly started coming together:

But not without PLENTY of these minor set backs....



But it was all worth it--the tears that were shed because of the frustration, the finger pricks, but most importantly--the tears of gratitude that I am able to hang this stocking on our mantel this year--a Christmas wish come true....

From the entire Jeans household, we wish you and
yours a time of love and reflecting on the blessings from this year,
and the promise of what this next year holds...

Brought to you by the Great Blog Cross Pollination: Transitions

As part of the Great Blog Cross Pollination, a wonderful mystery blogger
has taken over the Jeans blog today!
Enjoy her post, and see further details at the bottom of the post!

---------------------------

Five months into motherhood and my mind is still stuck in IF land. Transitioning to a 'motherhood after IF' blog has been challenging. IF shaped me into the woman I am today. It taught me to be a better wife; a better communicator. It taught me to not take life for granted. It's time I put that behind me and focus my energy (what little I have) on exploring the life of a blogging mama.

Over the past couple of months I've considered taking a blog hiatus. I've even started a post about it. Apparently I have more to say because I haven't finished it. This community supported me when I had no one else to turn to. And now, as I'm off on this new adventure, I'm going to need all the help I can get! Hopefully I'll be able to return the favor and offer support to those still working towards building a family

I've been a "mama" for a while. Not technically a human baby mama, but just as important. (In my humble opinion.) My first nephew/Godson was born eight years ago. I experienced many firsts with him. He lives next door and I've been blessed to be close to him and watch him grow. A few years later we adopted our furbabies. Some people don't believe that you’re a mom when you have furbabies, but I whole-heartedly disagree. Bringing them to their forever home was life changing! We quickly discovered that we need them more than they need us. They taught us how to love unconditionally and to not take life so seriously. They greeted us at the end of each day to soothe our sorrow and mend our hearts. So, you see, my transition into motherhood has been a gradual one. My blog is still just trying to catch up.

When I started blogging I was eager to grow and learn from each post I wrote. I wanted to expand my knowledge of IF as a woman in a MFI marriage, and most importantly find peace with the challenge we were facing. I've mostly written about our struggles. My tone has been serious and sorrowful. It doesn't reflect my personality at all.

As a wise blogger (insert hyperlink: http://i-cant-whistle.blogspot.com/2009/12/rainbow.html) recently said, many new IF moms and IF pregnant ladies feel like "their lives are lived with one foot in each boat, like each one is somehow not true." I want to start paddling the other boat. I need to let go of the past, focus on parenting, help support those still struggling to build a family and continue to search for serenity in life and motherhood.

Now that I've given myself a pep talk, I guess this is the time. Time for a fresh start. Time to revamp my blog and start writing about my life as a new mama.

Strapping on my life jacket and starting up the motor!


---------------------------




Who do you think took over my blog today? And boy, what an awesome post she wrote. Something I can totally identify with....

So, before clicking here to see who cross-pollinated with me, take a stab at guessing who the blogger is in the comment section, as well as leaving her some love about her post! You will also find me over in her space.

Also, take time to go here to see the entire list of Cross-Pollination bloggers!

Alphabet Soup

It's just another regular day, another regular post--but can I say something really quick?

I DID IT! 30 posts in 30 days! YAY!

I hope that you as readers enjoyed the Alphabet Soup, and O-man's news reports--wanted to make seeing me in your reader every day for a month as enjoyable as possible!

And to celebrate, I'm getting into the season and and giving a gift! First person to guess what my favorite "Brought to you by: The Letter ____" post is from the 30 posts in 30 days, will receive a holiday-goody-package from the Jeans household!

I will be sure to add an update once the favorite word is guessed correctly!

*UPDATED* Sarah (Bio Girl) guessed correctly: READING was my favorite post--it encompassed so much that I love--O-man (of course) reading to him, memories of my mom, and the fact I get to read such awesome blogs! Yay, Sarah!

To refresh your memory, here are all the words:

ACTIVE
BOTTLE
CRAFTS
DOG
EXPRESSIONS
FOOD POISONING
GROWING
HOLIDAY
INCINTA
JUICE
KAYAK
LAUNDRY
MOTIVATION
NOISE
O-MAN
PARENTING
QUESTION
READING
SINGING
TOOTH
UP
VERY
WRAPPING
X-RAY
YELL
ZOO

Brought to you by: The Letter Z

Z is for ZOO

We are fortunate to live close to a great zoo--and we have taken advantage of taking our little monkey to see all the animals a few times this year.

We also adopted an elephant that has a birthday close to O-man's, so each time we make sure to go visit the BIG member of our family.

I know Mook and I get more out of the visits right now, but we can't wait to see O-man's reactions to all the beautiful animals at the zoo!

Brought to you by: The Letter Y

Y is for YELL

O-man has always been vocal--jabbering on and making noise--and I love hearing it!

And in the past week or so, he has found that this jabbering and noise level can go UP a few notches.

We decided to skip the 5th serving of leftovers on Saturday, and went out for a meal. During which, the O-man decided to entertain all in ear shot by YELLING a rendition of the song, "La-la-la-la"

Brought to you by: The Letter X

X is for X-RAY

Super Baby O-man says he would love to have X-Ray Vision:

Brought to you by: The Letter W (and Mook)

W is for WRAPPING

So, for those of you who know me well enough to know of my employer and the overwhelming holiday freight that resides each year from early October until New Years day, you probably know, and can expect, the holiday season to be a royal pain in the rear. For those of you who do not know, I am one of the major helpers for Santa, Ron Karenga, and the magic of the Menorah. For my decade of tenure in bringing holiday cheer, my own cheer has somewhat fallen to the wayside.

This is not to say that the holidays have been unhappy, but more to say, that the holidays (outside my beautiful wife and parents/in-laws) was tolerable. That was until this year. O-man has brought back the wonder and excitement to this special time of year. Work is still work, but I have a new revitalized understanding that my little bit of assistance brings joy to people all over North America (except Mexico... apenado).

Back to W. So, I'm done with my holiday wrapping! Yeah, that's right! I'm done. D. O. N. E., done! (Shameless self-promotion: I am happy to rent out my wrapping skills to anyone in need.)
I love wrapping--and in the spirit of tooting my own horn, I'm darn good at it!

I am amazed to see O-man's eyes as he sees the colorful paper on the various boxes now stacked in our living room corner. His wonderment gives me that warm fuzzy feeling that was void for so long. My love for Christmas and the anticipation to see him for many Christmases to come is now, once again, aflame in my soul.

Brought to you by: The Letter V

V is for VERY

I'm very grateful.

I'm very blessed.

I'm very happy.

I'm very full.

I'm very sleepy.

I'm very thankful for all my blog friends.

I'm very glad for days like today.

Brought to you by: The Letter U

U is for UP

Not quite a "Wordless" Wednesday. If you haven't seen it yet, I hope you will make time to watch:



Mook and I saw this in the theater when it came out in May, and we were so overwhelmed--in a good way. We plan on watching it over the holiday weekend---and I can't wait to watch it with O-man.

Brought to you by: The Letter T

T is for TOOTH

The drool has been non stop since he was 4 months old.

The hand in the mouth has been constant since he was 3 months old.

The inconsolable Ive-done-everything-for-you-I-can-think-of cry has crept in every now and then since he was 4 months old.

But oh no, tooth. You waited. You taunted us with your evil plan to push ever so slowly through the O-man's gum.

Until finally, finally, you have shown your craggy face.

And although I cursed you for months, I cried out in JOY when we discovered you yesterday!

But I also had a moment of sadness--this is one of those forever-moments that I know will be locked in my memory forever--another step along the journey of growing up...

Brought to you by: The Letter S

S is for SINGING

One of my favorite things to do.

You could find me on any given day in my 6th year of life, grasping a hair brush and belting out the lyrics to "Material Girl" for all the stuffed animals who were attending my tea party.

Singing has always been my outlet--some people walk, some people read, some dance--and I love those things too--I just happen to be in MY ZONE when I am doing my best to sound like Norah Jones or whoever comes on my Pandora play list. I even caught myself humming a Miley Cyrus song early this morning.

I love musicals--good grief, do I love them! I love acting/singing in them and I get the most euphoric feeling watching them on TV/movies, or even better--seeing them live. When I was in NYC with BeeCee earlier this year, we got to see Mary Poppins on Broadway--and it reminded me that I'm not ready to be done with my musical theater career just yet. I would absolutely LOVE to play "Roxie" in Chicago before (let me be dramatic here) the final curtain comes down on my theater career.

And there was a moment today that led me to tweet this:


How great would that be? If we all magically new the same song, and just busted out in harmony! And I think it's only fair that I share my "life in a musical" moment with you :)

Brought to you by: The Letter R

R is for READING

More than once, someone has told me how much I sound like my mom. Actually, my sister and I both sound like her--so it made it quite comical growing up, when we'd answer the phone and the person on the other end would hesitate before giving up and asking, "So WHO am I talking to?"

And I feel grateful to sound like her...her voice was (and still is!) so soothing to me during many moments--especially when she read to me.

I loved story time each night--the books were great, but the inflection and emotion that my mom put into each line she read, made the story. Each character had their own "voice" and I still can pick up the same book today, and hear her. And to hear her read to O-man--now that's "a page turner!" :0)

Mook and I both love reading to the O-man--and I hope he will enjoy a love for reading because of the stories we are reading him now--and I can't wait to watch him waddle over to me with a stack of books to be read.

We will read them all, my sweet boy.

Brought to you by: The Letter Q

Q is for QUESTION

List of questions currently rattling around in my noggin:

1. Will O-man sleep through the night?
2. Will Mook come home with more than was on the shopping list?
3. Do I have enough milk to put in my cup of tea?
4. Where did I put my iPod?
5. Did I switch the laundry?
6. Will I ever get the mothball smell out of my winter sweaters?
7. Is it really time for winter sweaters?
8. Why isn't my friend writing me back?
9. How can I make my to-do list shrink?
10. Will I finally figure out what to get Mook for Christmas?
11. Why is there red fuzz on my desk?
12. Where is the dog?
13. Why does it bother me that I can't end on #13?
14. Will I get to finish O-man's baby book before his 1st birthday?
15. Why can't I just do nothing and not feel guilty?

What are some questions you are thinking about?

Brought to you by: The Letter P

P is for PARENTING

I think the whole idea of "parenting" sort of sat on the back burner as Mook and I were actually trying to become parents.

I fully realize we are O-man's parents, but so far, I don't feel as if I have actually done the act of parenting. I take care of him, love him, and am doing my best to teach him things...but I'm actually getting anxious about being a PARENT to him.

Things I see on the 6 o'clock news are enough to make me a Nervous Nelly for the rest of my parenting life--everything you teach your kid today, is not going to be the thing to teach them tomorrow.

I accept the fact that I will make mistakes and that he will go through a phase where he thinks I am the most uncool person on the planet.

So I will FULLY take advantage of every moment to be a cool and wanted parent.

Brought to you by: The Letter O

O is for O-MAN (of course!)

I dont need to spend a whole post telling you how much I love the O-man. I will tell you that my love for him is like the letter O: never ending :) Cue cheesy, "Awwwww" response!

And Mr. O-man is under the weather today--I was proud of myself for listening to that Mom-Instinct I was worried would never kick in, and sure enough--he has a double ear infection, so he's not his jovial self today.

He has slept most of the day--and barely made it through our last swim class (this was before I knew of the ear infections-but Im glad I kept his head above water today!) but I did want to share his message for the day:

Brought to you by: The Letter N

N is for NOISE

There are all types and levels--but sometimes silence is the loudest of all noises.

It was a rainy, cold, fall day here--got me into my melancholy-analyze-everything-kind-of-mood...so I kept the TV off, the music on low, and O-man's music-maker toys in the off position. The silence was very peaceful...

But then I realized it was too quiet. Quick solution? Give the O-man a spoon and a kitchen pot, and noise will return to the room!

Poof! Melancholy silence: be gone!

Brought to you by: The Letter M

M is for MOTIVATION

I don't think the letter M is "yucky"--just loved that I could finally feature Oscar the Grouch!

Webster's defines motivation as: a force, stimulus, drive.

Motivating me right now? My old nemesis, Aunt Flo.

She's motivating me to make some decisions I have been putting off.

Some people, or most people, as the nurse kindly told me at my postpartum check up back in March, have "much lighter periods and light cramping" after giving birth.

Weeelllllll, I am not most people. But we all knew that a long time ago. So it has not come as a surprise that I have had heavier periods with Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type cramps.

Dude, seriously--the first three days of my sometimes 9 day long period, don't even think about *pissing me off.

I'm even cramping really bad around ovulation--so to feel this way every two weeks is starting to get really old.

And how uncool is it of me to WANT (*gasp*) to go back on the pill when it will: prevent me from getting pregnant...ya know, because it was so easy for us to get pregnant.

But back in my naïve days, when we were "preventing", I barely noticed when AF came and went--yes, I am one of those people who does well on the pill.

Not only do I need to go back on the pill for physical reasons, but I'm not too fond of being back in TP Tango land. Im not ready for that dance.

So I am fully motivated to call my super-duper OB tomorrow and get back to popping pills on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, eveerrrryyy daaay....ahhhhhh. (Yea that song is now in your head, isnt it?)




*I apologize for the snarky tone of this post--I am, in fact, currently IN that pissy part of the cycle. Now, SCRAM! :)

Brought to you by: The Letter L

L is for LAUNDRY

I don't mind sorting the laundry.

I don't mind starting a load and adding the detergent.

I don't mind folding the laundry.

But I LOATHE putting it away.

So I convinced a tiny person to help me put off doing that last part.

Best basket of laundry ever.

Brought to you by: The Letter K

K is for KAYAK

That's me earlier this summer:




First time I had been out in my kayak in a year and a half...and it felt so good. I love being on the water...by myself...paddling away. To make this even better, I am in the bay of my grandparent's beach house--one of my favorite places.

Ive mentioned how much this place means to me before--it's where Mook and I sought solace after our IVF failed, and its also where I thought I had lost O-man when we discovered my hematoma...

Being out there, breathing in fresh salt air, re-living both those powerful moments--and knowing that my miracle boy was waiting for me just down that wooden dock--I raised my paddle and let out one hell of a victorious war cry!

Brought to you by: The Letter J

J is for JUICE

During my stay at the Hotel de Hos-pi-tal I couldn't get enough apple juice.

I went most of my pregnancy not having any really strong cravings, (except milkshakes in the shower)
so it took me and Mook by surprise when I depleted the hospital's supply.

We have since learned that the cravings were justified...a certain little boy in this house is a big fan--and he's only had the watered down version! I have a feeling we'll be keeping a stocked pantry for a long time :)

Brought to you by: The Letter I

I is for INCINTA

In case any of you are fluent in Italian....NO, I am not.

For those of you who only speak-ah I-tal-ian-o like-a me-ah, it means: knocked up-o.

So to come across a blog that had the word pregnant as a title, I of course had my doubts...as I tend to shy away from anything that screams the P word.

I'm still not sure how I got there--I'm sure I clicked on one link that led me to another and then another--the awesome web affect of this community--but at this point, I'm not too concerned how I got there--just so glad I did.

Come to find out, Rotten and I were due within days of each other--and that was only the beginning of things we have in common.

Now, almost a year later, we've been through new mom boot camp together, countless "What the heck do I do with my screaming infant?!" e-mails/texts, and even shared a bottle(s) of wine--with more to look forward to next month when the Rotten family stops in for a bit-o holiday cheer!

So thank you Internet universe, for teaching me the word: Incinta.

Brought to you by: The Letter H

H is for HOLIDAY

I have random moments in my life that are forever burned into my brain--some I'm not sure why I recall so vividly, and others....well, it is very clear why they are so memorable.

- Blowing out the candles on my 6th birthday cake
- Loosing my first tooth
- Singing on stage for the first time
- Writing my first check
- Standing in my living room last Christmas unpacking an ornament while listening to Nat King Cole sing "A Cradle in Bethlehem"

I will never forget that last one. So much came over me in that moment--all the previous emotions of past holiday's and birthday's spent without a knowing when we would be parents. Hearing the beautiful song and holding my growing belly, I said a prayer of incredible thanks--as I pictured myself this Christmas listening to that same song, holding my sweet boy in my arms as he helps me hang that very same ornament on the tree...

Brought to you by: The Letter G

G is for GROWING

Why didn't anyone warn me how fast time would go?!??

OK, so I actually got warned quite a bit:

"It goes by SO fast--enjoy every moment..."

"You thought the year went by fast before you had kids? Just wait...."

"Time flies when you are having fun..."

I'm actually in a state of denial right now--Mook keeps bringing up that we need to start thinking about ideas for O-man's first birthday and I can barely speak of it.

I'm just not ready.

How did my tiny baby go from this:

To this big boy:

But G is also for GRATEFUL

I'm incredibly grateful that I have been able to watch this little miracle grow from a tiny fleck on the ultrasound screen, to a very active, healthy 9 month old.

And speaking of grateful: thank you to all our incredible service men and women. Thank you, so very much.

Brought to you by: The Letter F

F is for FOOD POISONING

Dude.

I had it bad. Still recovering--I am so dehydrated that I have lots of fluids going in, but very little going out...

So my apologies for not getting the last 2 letters up on time (they are up now!), but having F for today's letter of the day is appropriate.

And just so you all are aware, I will no longer support this establishment:



Whenever I get sick like this, it reminds me how GOOD a tall, cold glass of water tastes. I shall be keeping a tall, cold glass of water very close by in the next few days.

Brought to you by: The Letter E

E is for EXPRESSIONS

As you have seen with previous photos, Mr. O-man has quite the personality. Here are some of my favorite expressions caught-on-film!