Molly Saves! In The Nursery: e-digest review

Ok, so I may be slightly partial since one of my best friends is the project manager for these digests, but seriously, they are filled with great ideas that are extremely useful and fun!

The July digest is about Saving in the Nursery and I sure wish I had this when my girls were babies!! Since I have so many friends that either currenly have babies, are about to have babies, or are trying to decide when to have babies, I wanted to share some of my favorite things I learned in this issue!

* The This N' That section has a great list of items that are on sale in July. So handy!
* Ideas for frugally decorating for a baby...things don't HAVE to cost a fortune to be adorable!
* A great idea for a new mom gift: A nighttime basket full of things that would be helpful while up for  middle of the night feedings. That would have been great to have!
* I didn't realize there were so many different types of cloth diapers!
* And, I love that, at the end, it summarizes all of the links referenced throughout.

There is so much great information and inspiration packet into these digests! And since the English major in me is addicted to quotes, here are my favorite that were included in this issues:

"The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable." ~ Lane Olinghouse (This is SO true!)
 
“Babies are such a nice way to start people.” ~ Don Herold  (I completely agree.)

If you don't already get these Molly Green digests at Econobusters, I'd highly recommend them! Check them out here.

http://www.econobusters.com/

Go Figure

As a first time mom, I had all the same worries that any other first time mom has. Will I be able to tell what my child needs and when? Will my child be healthy? Will I be comfortable nursing in public? Will I ever be able to get back to that pre-mom shape??? My head flooded with questions that multiplied by the hour. After two and a half years, I feel confident in my ability to know what my child needs and when she needs it. We survived nursing and it was almost a breeze. No, my child is not completely healthy with the multiple bouts of ear infections she has had to deal with. But, as these issues arise, my husband and I are able to conquer each task and are proudly raising a very happy, outgoing and smart little girl. It is the last question of getting back my figure that seems to have gone unanswered.

As I think back to what my figure was in high school, when my (high-school sweetheart) now husband and I first met, I wonder why I hadn’t relished in the days of jumping, flexibility and eating anything without gaining an ounce. With the new metabolism that graciously protrudes itself around my mid-section; I can’t help but feel that those skinny days were just a dream. Of course, I have the pictures on my fridge and my husbands’ memory of cheerleader skirts and skinny legs to remind me that, no, in fact, I have gained quite a bit of weight. And while I have tried many diets, I quit drinking soda pop, and I exercise during my only hour to myself most days, the weight seems to cling to me as much as my daughter does when she has a high fever and an ear infection.

Why can’t I lose this? I have no idea. So, this is what I propose…A new way of looking at what I have “gained”.

~ I have gained a wonderful daughter who looks more and more like me everyday and who, for the moment, loves her mom terribly and wants to do everything she does. I know I’ll miss these days when they go.
~ I have gained the admiration of my husband who does remember to tell me what a great mom I am when I tuck in our little girl in the middle of the night and read “Good Night Moon” for about the millionth time.
~ I have also gained admiration for my husband who, before our daughter was born, would not dance in front of anyone without a nice amount of alcohol in his system. Now they constantly entertain me with their many new dance styles. Let’s hope these days last as long as possible.
~ I have gained a sense of pride at how happy out little family is and I wonder in amazement what Samantha will say and do next.
~ I have gained patience that I never knew was possible. Food dumped on the carpet…no problem…just get the vacuum. Crayon pictures on the wall…well, I guess we did need a little redecorating.
~ I have gained a new kind of love that every new mother gains. It’s not the kind of love you have for your husband, your parents or your siblings. It’s a protective kind of love where you would do anything to keep this little person happy, safe and healthy. This came only with a new addition to our family.

So, while I may have gained a little around the middle, I have also gained many wonderful emotions and memories that take my mind away from the fact that my stomach is now and forever lined with shiny stretch marks. To that, I say…”Go Figure?!”