< Things I Can't Say: Blog Friend Feature: My Crazy Busy Life

This Page

has been moved to new address

Blog Friend Feature: My Crazy Busy Life

Sorry for inconvenience...

Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service
body { background:#fff; margin:0; padding:40px 20px; font:x-small Georgia,Serif; text-align:center; color:#333; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; } a:link { color:#58a; text-decoration:none; } a:visited { color:#969; text-decoration:none; } a:hover { color:#c60; text-decoration:underline; } a img { border-width:0; } /* Header ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #header { width:660px; margin:0 auto 10px; border:1px solid #ccc; } } @media handheld { #header { width:90%; } } #blog-title { margin:5px 5px 0; padding:20px 20px .25em; border:1px solid #eee; border-width:1px 1px 0; font-size:200%; line-height:1.2em; font-weight:normal; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; } #blog-title a { color:#666; text-decoration:none; } #blog-title a:hover { color:#c60; } #description { margin:0 5px 5px; padding:0 20px 20px; border:1px solid #eee; border-width:0 1px 1px; max-width:700px; font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#999; } /* Content ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #content { width:660px; margin:0 auto; padding:0; text-align:left; } #main { width:410px; float:left; } #sidebar { width:220px; float:right; } } @media handheld { #content { width:90%; } #main { width:100%; float:none; } #sidebar { width:100%; float:none; } } /* Headings ----------------------------------------------- */ h2 { margin:1.5em 0 .75em; font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#999; } /* Posts ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { .date-header { margin:1.5em 0 .5em; } .post { margin:.5em 0 1.5em; border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; padding-bottom:1.5em; } } @media handheld { .date-header { padding:0 1.5em 0 1.5em; } .post { padding:0 1.5em 0 1.5em; } } .post-title { margin:.25em 0 0; padding:0 0 4px; font-size:140%; font-weight:normal; line-height:1.4em; color:#c60; } .post-title a, .post-title a:visited, .post-title strong { display:block; text-decoration:none; color:#c60; font-weight:normal; } .post-title strong, .post-title a:hover { color:#333; } .post div { margin:0 0 .75em; line-height:1.6em; } p.post-footer { margin:-.25em 0 0; color:#ccc; } .post-footer em, .comment-link { font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } .post-footer em { font-style:normal; color:#999; margin-right:.6em; } .comment-link { margin-left:.6em; } .post img { padding:4px; border:1px solid #ddd; } .post blockquote { margin:1em 20px; } .post blockquote p { margin:.75em 0; } /* Comments ----------------------------------------------- */ #comments h4 { margin:1em 0; font:bold 78%/1.6em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#999; } #comments h4 strong { font-size:130%; } #comments-block { margin:1em 0 1.5em; line-height:1.6em; } #comments-block dt { margin:.5em 0; } #comments-block dd { margin:.25em 0 0; } #comments-block dd.comment-timestamp { margin:-.25em 0 2em; font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } #comments-block dd p { margin:0 0 .75em; } .deleted-comment { font-style:italic; color:gray; } .paging-control-container { float: right; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; font-size: 80%; } .unneeded-paging-control { visibility: hidden; } /* Sidebar Content ----------------------------------------------- */ #sidebar ul { margin:0 0 1.5em; padding:0 0 1.5em; border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; list-style:none; } #sidebar li { margin:0; padding:0 0 .25em 15px; text-indent:-15px; line-height:1.5em; } #sidebar p { color:#666; line-height:1.5em; } /* Profile ----------------------------------------------- */ #profile-container { margin:0 0 1.5em; border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; padding-bottom:1.5em; } .profile-datablock { margin:.5em 0 .5em; } .profile-img { display:inline; } .profile-img img { float:left; padding:4px; border:1px solid #ddd; margin:0 8px 3px 0; } .profile-data { margin:0; font:bold 78%/1.6em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } .profile-data strong { display:none; } .profile-textblock { margin:0 0 .5em; } .profile-link { margin:0; font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } /* Footer ----------------------------------------------- */ #footer { width:660px; clear:both; margin:0 auto; } #footer hr { display:none; } #footer p { margin:0; padding-top:15px; font:78%/1.6em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } /* Feeds ----------------------------------------------- */ #blogfeeds { } #postfeeds { }

Friday, April 22, 2011

Blog Friend Feature: My Crazy Busy Life

Sometimes, when you start reading someone's blog or talking to them on twitter, you just know: you'd so be IRL friends.  That is how I felt about this week's Blog Friend Feature: someone so easy to talk to and a real sweetheart....even if we both might occasionally have our moments when we aren't so sweet. Shhh, that's just between us.

I met Natalie from My Crazy Busy Life at Blissdom and I know that you will adore her as much as I do!

When I got the email from Shell asking me to be her newest BFF, I literally jumped for joy. I’ve been a fan of hers for awhile now and was lucky enough to meet her at Blissdom. She is one of th
e sweetest and nicest girls. Plus, she’s a ton of fun on the dance floor.


Like Shell, I’m also a mom of 3 and I thought I would share a few things I’ve learned along the way about the various stages of motherhood.


Baby 1: Rushing the Progress
With my first baby, I was young and inexperienced. I had no clue what I was doing, but I couldn’t wait for my sweet little boy to get bigger and older.

When would he crawl? Talk? Walk? I couldn’t wait for him to play sports, start school and be a big kid.


Baby 2: Ignorance is Bliss
Baby number two was not much different than baby one. They’re only two years apart so many of their infant and toddler phases are one big blur. I couldn’t wait for the new bundle of joy to sleep through the night, get potty trained, be able to play with his big brother. I wanted them both to share toys, read books and enjoy each other.


Baby 3: Slow & Steady Win the Race
This time, I was older and wiser- as wise as one can be at the ripe age of 26. By this point, I had been at the mommy game for 8 years and felt like I had FINALLY learned a thing or two about how to wrangle a baby.

Instead of wishing for time to speed up, I wanted to slow it down. When my daughter would wake in the middle of the night, I snuggled a sweet newborn. I dreaded the day she sat on her own because I knew it was the beginning of many milestones leading to her independence. When she started walking and talking, I cried because I knew it was only a matter of time before she would be starting school.

Like the two boys before her, my daughter reached all of the same milestones quickly: Crawling, walking, talking. The boys are now playing sports, going to school, best of friends and get along great (on most days).


Many of my friends are now starting their families and I hear them voice many of the same wishes I myself had in the beginning. I simply smile and remember how I couldn’t wait for my babies to be big kids and the difference a few years of experience made. I managed to go from wanting them to grow to wanting them stay little forever in such a short time. I learned to savor each moment. They change and grow in what seems like a blink of an eye.


Fleur Di Dee Blog Designs

Please leave Natalie some comment love here and then go follow My Crazy Busy Life.

Labels: ,

48 Comments:

Blogger Sorta Southern Single Mom said...

Great post! I've said many times that I wish I could have one more so I could savor that baby... my two are 18 months a part, making the phrase "big blur" an understatement!

April 22, 2011 at 7:19 AM  
Blogger Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Big blur here too. Mine are a little over 2 years apart, but since my second was plural, it made it even more of a blur ;-)

April 22, 2011 at 7:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Learning to savor those moments! Sigh! So true!!!

April 22, 2011 at 7:56 AM  
Anonymous Making It Work Mom said...

My first two are 25 months apart and then my third 4.5 years later so I recognize that blur with the first two.

I feel like now everytime I look at them something has changed with them physically or they are saying something that sounds so old. They must get so tired of me stopping them just to look at them or run a hand through their hair.

April 22, 2011 at 8:07 AM  
Blogger The Sisters' Hood said...

It goes by in the blink of an eye ... up in DC right now and yesterday took my eldest to lunch. She's 13 and looks 16 with her poise and curves, but she is sweet and make up free - and sass free (quick thanks to God inserted here)

As she chatted thro lunch, I kept looking at her trying to visualise that 'little' girl that once sat chatting this way ...
too fast
too fast

Happy weekend to you both!

April 22, 2011 at 8:19 AM  
Blogger Jessica said...

I couldn't agree with this more. I was so anxious for my older kids to do everything and now, with my youngest, I want everything to happen slowly. And when he does reach milestones? I am excited but a little sad at the same time because I know it is the last time I will cheer on one of my babies for the task they've just mastered.

April 22, 2011 at 8:22 AM  
Blogger Liz said...

So fun to see Natalie here! Memphis in the house. :)

April 22, 2011 at 8:25 AM  
Blogger Kmama said...

I totally agree!! My first did things slowly. I was impatient. With my second, who I knew was likely to be my last, I wanted to savor every last moment of "baby", but he was determined to do everything so quickly. He was crawling, pulling up on things, and had six teeth by the time he was 6 months old. It killed me.

April 22, 2011 at 8:48 AM  
Blogger Patrice said...

Sounds like a friendship made in heaven! Thanks for following my blog; I'm returning the favor!

April 22, 2011 at 8:50 AM  
Blogger Erin said...

Wow I don't even know if I want a second. I have pressure from hubby and my in-laws but I'm the one who takes care of Sam and don't know if I can take care of two right now.

April 22, 2011 at 8:51 AM  
Blogger KLZ said...

I already cannot believe how big my first is!!

Natalie is so fantastic - go follow her!!

April 22, 2011 at 9:11 AM  
Blogger Natalie said...

I know...I was the same way couldn't wait for all his milestones...then I realize he won't be small for long and to enjoy it. Great post!

April 22, 2011 at 9:21 AM  
Blogger Evonne said...

I love seeing my first hit all her milestones. With our second (who's probably our last), every time he hit a milestone, I said "I can't believe he's doing X already!" I wish I could turn back time some days.

April 22, 2011 at 9:31 AM  
Blogger MommaKiss said...

I love your BFFs girl!! Natalie, I've sorta forgotten everything between kids. Oof.

April 22, 2011 at 9:37 AM  
Blogger Jenn said...

Awe. I was just saying this the other day - that IF we have another baby, one of the things I'd really focus on is not waiting for the milestones, but just enjoying being in the moment.

April 22, 2011 at 9:58 AM  
Blogger Jackie said...

I couldn't agree more! You want them to hit all those milestones so fast because you're happy.... excited.... everything. But the time goes so fast and all to soon they're grown up!

My oldest is 15 and the youngest is 1... and it's all a blur. No idea where the time went!

Enjoy it while you can.

April 22, 2011 at 10:04 AM  
Blogger Lisa said...

AWesome post. This is so true - except I stopped wishing my son would do things now that he's 2. I want them both to stay 2 forever.

April 22, 2011 at 10:09 AM  
Blogger Jessica said...

I had my kids almost 6 years apart so in between the two I learned to slow things down instead of wanting them to fly by. Except the sleeping through the night part, I wanted that to happen right away.

April 22, 2011 at 10:28 AM  
Blogger Macey said...

LOVE Nat. :)

April 22, 2011 at 10:30 AM  
Blogger MommyLovesStilettos said...

So very true. Makes me want to have just one more now that I know not to rush the process :) Shhhh don't tell my boyfriend I said that ;)

April 22, 2011 at 11:04 AM  
Blogger Kir said...

This is my 5th attempt to comment ...lol
I was just thinking that with twins so many have happened simultaneously that I am always lost for the memories..wishing away the bad times but never savoring the good ones for lack of time, patience, 8 arms lol. I have been working on living in the moment , tucking those memories away..breathing through them.

Great post!!!
*high Shell*

April 22, 2011 at 11:13 AM  
Blogger Sara said...

Aw, this was sweet!! Love her :)

April 22, 2011 at 12:18 PM  
Blogger PBJdreamer said...

Yes I had the same nostalgia for my third and last baby..

He is 11 now and I still try to slow things down.

Great Post

that is all

April 22, 2011 at 12:49 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

It really does go by so quickly. My 12 yr old son is almost as tall as me (I'm 5'5") and my daughter is starting to sprout little boobs. How did the get so big and independent? I love the people that they have grown to be but boy do I miss those toddler cuddles....

April 22, 2011 at 1:26 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I will be savoring Easter moments this week. I am off to check out her blog.

April 22, 2011 at 1:28 PM  
Blogger Fields said...

That's the best advice you can give a new mom! It is so true that it all goes by so fast and then you really miss it when it's gone. Great post Natalie!

April 22, 2011 at 1:29 PM  
Blogger Crystal said...

Isn't is crazy how much we learn from each kidd. After 4 kiddos I finally feel like we are pros at this thing...but now we are venturing tween-dom...and I'm scared!!

April 22, 2011 at 2:01 PM  
Blogger Elena Wollborg said...

I am always, always pushing time to go faster. Someday I will totally regret it! I always try to remind myself to slow down & enjoy!

April 22, 2011 at 2:17 PM  
Blogger Jane Bitch said...

So so true. I'm no different. I couldn't wait with the first one to do everything sooner. My last I am savoring every single second!!

April 22, 2011 at 2:32 PM  
Blogger Ma What's 4 dinner said...

Great words of wisdom! It really does start to go so fast. I find myself wishing the same with my third.

Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhatsfordinner.com

April 22, 2011 at 2:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yay for the BFF! I so need to remember to slow down and enjoy those moments!!

April 22, 2011 at 3:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everyone told me that I needed to cherish every phase with my daughter and I brushed off the advice. She's one now and I'm missing when she was a mushy baby, all cuddly and small. Great post!

April 22, 2011 at 4:49 PM  
Anonymous Missy said...

I totally get it. Mine are 5.5 years apart, so I did get to savor the sweetness of my second. And I'm so glad I did b/c I don't think it's in the cards for me to have a #3. Sigh.

April 22, 2011 at 4:51 PM  
Blogger Minivan Mama said...

I've spent the day today snuggling with my sick baby. I would never have done that with my two older kids, I would have felt like I wasted the day away. But today, I am cherishing this day of snuggles for I know these days are short lasting.

April 22, 2011 at 5:05 PM  
Blogger Jen said...

I can completely relate to this post! My baby just turned one yesterday, and I'm so sad! I don't want them to grow up!!

April 22, 2011 at 5:13 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I wish I could stop mine from growing too! I'm off to visit her blog. :)

April 22, 2011 at 5:13 PM  
Blogger Sherri said...

Natalie, your words of wisdom are perfect! You had enough time between kid #2 and kid #3 to really realize how quickly it all goes...

And how fun to be at Shell's place today!

April 22, 2011 at 6:11 PM  
Blogger Vi Win Win said...

Yes, kids are realli a complex! you want them to grow up quickly yet to stay young and cute, but you love them unconditionally no matter what =)

April 22, 2011 at 6:21 PM  
Blogger Alexandra said...

Expert advice.

We do get smarter with each kid.

Wish I hadn't had such a late start, I'd had more, just think how I could write a book then!

April 22, 2011 at 8:26 PM  
Blogger Katie Hurley, LCSW said...

This had me in tears! I have always wanted to secretly slow my kids down. My "baby" is 2.5 now. He's so sweet and cuddly and I'm petrified that one day he will wake up and decide to be a big boy who doesn't cuddle and hug me constantly! Make it stop!

April 23, 2011 at 12:58 AM  
Anonymous Paula @ Simply Sandwich said...

I have often said that I don't want any more children I just want to go back and absorb the ones I have. Soak it up while you can! :)

April 23, 2011 at 1:48 PM  
Blogger Emmy said...

So so true!! I really am enjoying my number three so much as I do realize it goes too quickly-he is going to be one next month :(

April 24, 2011 at 7:28 PM  
Blogger SharleneT said...

And then they grow up and have babes of their own and you hear your own words falling from their lips. No, no, savor those moments, I want to say. It's not in the pictures. Pictures get lost, Make the moments last by focusing your mind and capturing it, that way. Then, they are always with you, each and every step. It's too fast; it's too fast...

April 25, 2011 at 9:44 AM  
Blogger katsidhe said...

OMG, I'm not a mom, but was a kind of surrogate for my niece for her first two years. I thought that I was nuts when I was sad as soon as she started to walk. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who felt those first toddling steps were the beginning of her walking on her own path where she wouldn't need me to hold her anymore.

April 25, 2011 at 10:41 AM  
Blogger Toni said...

Great post. I'm pregnant with my second, so I hope I can keep this in mind. I actually do get sad seeing my son become more independent. I love the toddler stage, and as much as I want to see him grow up and play sports..I don't want to lose my baby!

April 25, 2011 at 12:19 PM  
Blogger Cyndy Bush said...

It was the same for me, age-spacing and all. I treasured every moment with the last baby, knowing she was the last baby. When she started kindergarten I nearly lost it! It still kills me each year as she gets older. She turned 10 this year!

April 26, 2011 at 3:29 AM  
Blogger Renee said...

They grow up so fast. My third was supposed to be my baby forever. She's now five, in school and will soon be a big sister! Guess I have one more chance to savor those baby moments.

April 26, 2011 at 6:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had always heard how fast it would go by and damned if they weren't right!

I live for the milestones and special moments, but I find myself looking for the pause button more and more.

Nice job, Natalie!

April 29, 2011 at 3:22 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home