The Belly Story

My Girl

Yesterday after dinner I asked Quent if I could scrapbook a little before Jeralyn woke up from her nap. So I left the dirty dishes and kitchen clean up for him. He's awesome like that! And then I scrapped! It was so much fun, but I felt myself feeling like I had to hurry. I had to scurry around my digital stash to find what I was looking for, but I was able to complete the page! Yeah!



I have to say that there have been some frustrations with being a mother. Whew! It's not been a smooth sail every day. I'm learning. I'm making adjustments. What I am figuring out about myself is that I'm not very good at being flexible or just 'going with the flow'. I get these ideas stuck in my head about how I think things should be working and then I have a really hard time letting go of those expectations. Maybe it's the perfectionist side of me? I think I can be so hard on myself at times. Well, I don't just think that, I know that. I've had different moms tell me that this stage is one of the hardest, that the first month and a half is challenging. I have no other stages to compare it to, but I can say that I've definitely had some challenges along the way so far. Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE my little girl!! She's so precious to me!

I'm learning. I'm growing. I'm so thankful!

You had me at HELLO

I think it was last week when I scrapped this page. It was so much fun and wow, just so awesome to be scrapbooking my very own daughter! I have dreamed of this for so long!



I think some of the pages I create of her first year will go into her baby book, which is more like a scrapbook. And then some of the other pages will go in our regular books. I'm not quite sure how to go about that yet. I keep on thinking about what Ali Edwards has done. I should look into it more. Any suggestions or ideas?

I scrapped another page today! I'll share that soon!

I hear her waking...

On Being a Mother--the typed version

I meant to post more than just pictures in my last post, but our other computer is having an issue with typing any words while posting, so...I am posting this from our older computer.

Jeralyn is 3-1/2 weeks! I can’t believe how fast time has flown by already. I will admit I was pretty much in a fog the first 2-1/2 weeks (maybe I still am). Our house finally feels like our house to me again. What a huge, beautiful change and adjustment to our lives! Our daughter is so precious to us! I have experienced such joy in having our little bundle of joy and love in our home and in our arms. There have been some struggles along the way, but we are smoothing out those wrinkles as we figure out what is working for us. And that has led me to thinking a lot about parenthood and how everyone has their own way of doing things.

Quent’s aunt sent me a book about finding your own mothering style. It’s a quick read with tidbits of information about how different mothers have found strategies that work for them and their children. In all of the years I have preached about being true to your own style, I realize that one’s unique style applies even to being a mother. And I realize that what works for one mother may not work for the next mother.

There were a few days I was feeling a bit stressed and frustrated because things weren’t going in the direction I was hoping (I still have those days). I felt guilty for wanting things to go a certain way because of what others had said to me. But I realize that their recommendation is what works for them; it doesn’t work for me. So once I realized that I have the freedom to do what works for me and for what fits my personality, it was like I could soar! It was a HUGE relief to me! So I’ve been making some adjustments and it’s already paying off! Whoohoo!

I love being a mother! I have dreamed of this for so many years! So many times I have tears come to my eyes knowing that this is really happening, that I am really holding our little promise. She’s so beautiful and sweet! And funny! And I can’t wait to see her personality bloom more and more.

I'm also learning a lot about myself. Like that I have this independent spirit that is having a hard time going away. I can't just do whatever I want, whenever I want...and I thought this was going to be more of an issue for my husband...hahaha!

The other day I had to set aside some of her newborn outfits since she’s already outgrown them. It makes me sad to know that she’ll never be that little again…that we’ve already passed that stage. It makes me realize even more how I want to relish and cherish every single moment I have with her. I do look forward to the days when she and I can bake cookies together, when she coos and smiles more, when she takes her first steps, etc., etc., but I so want to bask in these moments.

Last week my friend Jamie came over to meet Jeralyn and after she had held her for a little while and put her in my arms, she said she could see Jeralyn relax more, like she knew it was her mama holding her. I know this might sound weird, but it was at that point I realized that I’m her mother, the one who will comfort her and kiss away those hurts. Wow!

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

--Washington Irving

I feel so honored to be Jeralyn’s mother, to be there for her in all of the ways that I can.
So with these thoughts I have shared, I want to stress again about the importance of being true to your own style! No matter what the subject might be (scrapbooking or being a mother)! Be true to who you are!

On Being a Mother

Hello there!

Hello! I thought I'd post something and give a little update on how life with baby Jeralyn is going. She's such a good baby! She sleeps a LOT! My days are full of her and I just love it! It's funny to think back to weeks ago when I was desparately trying to find things to keep myself busy as we were waiting for her arrival. Oh how things have changed! Before she came a lot of people would say to Quent, "Your life is about to change!" It certainly has! Sometimes I wonder where the hours of the day go. Or the days! Quent is taking such good care of us. He cooks, he cleans, he changes diapers! And he just loves Jeralyn! The cats are doing really well, too. They are used to a baby crying now and sometimes it seems like Shadow is trying to help. It's sweet! I feel bad because I feel like I don't show them as much affection as I would like, but I think as time goes on, it will get better. They are such good kitties!

Remember the dress I knitted? It's too big for her right now, but I just had to try it on her. *smile*

I just love her!

I've been thinking about how I want to document her first year of life. I am pretty sure I'm going to do a weekly kind of project. So far I've been keeping a Word document open and just journaling that way for now. I've never done anything like this, so I'm hoping I won't lose motivation.

Well, this is all for now. Happy Labor Day!