This Beautiful Life.

Life with my people keeps getting better and better.  Whenever I pause and think of all that has changed in the last year I can't help but get a little choked up. So many wonderful memories have been made and so many more are awaiting us.   This is a beautiful life we have, indeed.

Wonderful weekends make it hard to get in the groove of things come Monday.  On Sunday night I begin to doubt my decision of being a working momma.  A part of me will always want to be home with my munchkin.  Yet, even as I type that I know that I have made the right decision. I love my daughter and because of this love I know that I must do everything in my power to provide her with the best possible start.  For us that means two working parents, c'est la vie.

So, on Mondays like today, where all my heart can think of is holding my sweet little love I pause.  I pause and reflect on how very blessed I am. My days may not be spent at home but they are spent making a difference.  Fortunately, it is easier for me knowing that I work for an amazing organization that blesses the lives of many all across the globe.  Together we work to better the lives of those individuals whose lives are not as fortunate. One day my daughter will learn of this, one day she will understand; because on Mondays like today where dropping her off felt like I was ripping a part a piece of my heart, it's what I hold on to.

So, here we are, just five days away from the two most desired days of the week. If you are feeling just a little down, don't. Our children will know of our sacrifices and know that everything was always done in their best interest.  I know this because my mother and father worked. They worked hard for their family and there is not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for that. 

Happy Monday!

xo

Renata

Cinco on Friday.

I'm not even going to lie.  These Five on Friday posts are a life saver for this working momma.  Throughout the week I jot down things I'd like to talk about and then on Friday, boom!  Easy, peasy, ya know what I mean?  Exactly.

So, here I am again, linking up with Christina, April, Natasha, and Darci for Five on Friday. I am also linking up with Karli for "Oh, Hey Friday?".  Any other Friday links?  I'll join those too ;)

-One-

As promised, one new music video every week.  This week my friends I present to you one of my favorite songs by T. Swift.  I am so late to get on the T. Swift  bandwagon, but, here I am.  Jumping on the train with a smile and a kick in my step.  Liv and I boogie to this jam at least once a day.  Well, I boogie, Liv sits there and laughs at me.  She doesn't appreciate good dance moves just yet, my friends.  Sometimes she does a little fist pump and returns to thinking I am hilarious.  It is all quite entertaining.

-Two-

You don't watch Pretty Little Liars?  Oh, we can't be friends, #sorrynotsorry.  I KID!  I KID! Seriously, though, I am not one to curse but WTF! WTF! WTF!  I just can't take the suspense anymore, please, just tell us who A is.  Pretty please? During nap time this past Saturday I read an article that if you go back to season 3 and watch all the episodes from then on that you can find out who A is.  Of course I went back and started from the beginning of season 3. And, well, nada.  I pride myself in being a puzzle solver, but, this is just ridiculous.  After every episode I feel like I have more questions than answers.  If I were a nail biter, well, I'd have no more nails.  Do you guys have any theories as to who A might be?  Share!

Source

-Three-

I cannot explain why, but I am obsessed, OBSESSED with eyelet patterned clothing for Liv.  So obsessed that her crib skirt from Pottery Barn is eyelet patterned.  This dress from Gap is begging me to buy it.  It is saying, "Aren't I pretty?  Wouldn't I look so adorably scrumptious on Liv?"  I mean, it is way, way, way too cute.  Do you think I could find it in an adult size?  

-Four- 

I cannot stress enough how much the saying, "Breast is Best" irritates me.  What I think is best is a happy mom and a happy, healthy baby.  If you choose to breastfeed, great!  If you choose to formula feed, great!  You must do what works for you and for your family, end of story.  So, when I talk about breastfeeding, I do not want it to seem as though I look down on the mother who doesn't. Being a momma is hard enough, we do not need to make it more difficult.  PSA over.  Now, what that being said, this article kinda made me laugh, because, so true.  

-Five-

My sweet little munchkin is becoming such a big girl.  This Sunday will be a whole eight months since she made me a momma. I still find myself thinking of how amazing that is; will that surreal feeling ever go away? I hope not. My people, they make this life worth the black circles forming under my eyes. Heart eyes for days, folks.

I truly hope your weekend is enjoyable, refreshing, and relaxing (And may you sleep more than me).  Till next time.

xo

Renata

You know You're a Momma When....

Being a momma comes with a whole slew  of things I never thought possible.  For example:

You know you're a momma when....

.1. Privacy no longer exists in your world. You pee, you poop, and you shower with an audience.  All.the.time. Oh, and let's not forget that you must entertain said audience at all times, no matter the circumstance.  It doesn't matter that the avocado chicken quesadilla didn't sit well with your stomach.  You HAVE to sing "The Wheels on the Bus" for the 1,000th time unless you are prepared for tears.

.2. A really nice present isn't a Tory Burch  tote, but 8 hours of consecutive, uninterrupted sleep.  Sleeping in till 8:30? Well, that's a bonus!

.3. You cry every time you see a Rogaine commercial, because you know that postpartum hair loss is real.  You've lost so much hair that you fear your scalp won't ever recover. Bald isn't a good look for you, so, you cry some more.

.4. You've left the house only to realize you didn't put on deodorant and your hair looks more like a birds nest than a chic, effortlessly done, messy bun.  You do  this on more than one occasion, in the same week.

.5. You walk around wondering what that awful, terrible, sour, no-good smell is only to realize it's you.  The little one spit up on you five hours ago and you still haven't changed. You realize it's in your hair, and you cry.

.6. You spend an hour at Target, fill up your cart, get to the cashier, pull out the diaper bag and realize your wallet isn't there. It is at home, on the kitchen counter, waiting for you to place it in said diaper bag.  You apologize profusely, blame it on mommy brain, and skidaddle.   You've done this twice; you just don't learn.

.7. You take off your socks before your shower and throw them in the trash can instead of the hamper (yes, this really happened).

.8.  You cannot remember what you had for lunch, three hours ago, but if asked about your child's last bowel movement you can recall the time, color, texture, and approximate amount; you don't even flinch when asked.

.9. You get a manicure on Tuesday only to have your nails chip on Wednesday. Bottle washing will be the death of my cuticles. 

.10. A wild night NOW consists of staying up past midnight, watching Empire on demand with your husband, all while folding five hundred loads of laundry.

You know you're a momma when you have the most chaotic of days and miss your little one while they sleep.  You sit there and stare at their angelic face and wonder how you've made it this far in life without feeling this kind of love.  You have no idea how you made it through the day, yet, you'd do it all over again, without hesitation.  Because being a mother is more wonderful than you could ever have fathomed.  You are exactly where you are meant to be.

xo

Renata