My First Mother's Day

Exactly one year ago yesterday I was counting down the days to my due date with only two more to go. My feet so swollen that not even my flip flops fit and my ankles had permanently disappeared. I was anxious and had no idea what life had in store for me.

Almost one year of broken sleep, dirty diapers, and loads of laundry later, I celebrated my first Mother's Day. Stella was so excited that she woke up at 6:30 in the morning. This was fine with me because we were off to Disneyland for the day.

We were able to beat a lot of the crowds and get some popular rides in without too much of a wait. The sun came out mid-morning which made for a beautiful day. Disneyland even handed out carnations for all us mommies. How haute is that? Note to Disneyland: very sweet but plain pins to pin the flowers on are not handy for us mommies who carry our babies.
Back at home, I was even to take a little nap with Stella before heading out to dinner. Hubby even got me a darling little dress that I had seen in a store window a few weeks ago! Points for hubby!

I felt so lucky and honored yesterday to be a mommy thanks to my wonderful family who sent cards and my loving friends who flanked me with phone calls and texts. This will be a tough Mother's Day to beat!

Stella playing peek a boo with me while taking a break at Disneyland

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Haute Mother's Day Deal!

Udder Covers has a great deal to honor all us haute moms...they are giving them away for free this weekend!

It's as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Go to UdderCovers.com.
2. Click on "Shop Now" and select any nursing cover you like.
3. Once you have made your selection, you'll automatically be directed to the shopping bag.

Enter the promo code "MOTHER" and they'll deduct 100% of the of the cover - all you pay are the shipping fees. You can use it more than once - just open a new browser window each time you do.

Happy Mother's Day!

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Haute Mom Dilemma #42 ~ Forever a Mommy

10 days old

I have been a little emotional lately.  Melancholy, reflective, wishful have all been moods that have come and gone.  I am not sure what has caused this; perhaps the fact that in one short week, my little baby girl will turn 1-year-old.

In the middle of all the crazy birthday party planning, I have had so many feelings jolt through me as I watch Stella and think about the year that has gone by.  My hubby keeps asking me, "What happened to our baby?" and I am wondering the same thing.  We now have a spunky, outspoken little girl on our hands who is now walking up to 4 steps all one her own!

2 week shy of her 1st birthday

Last night after I put Stella down, my hubby and I sat down and selected pictures from each month of her first year to display at her birthday party.  We had TONS to go through because I vowed when I was pregnant that I would take a picture of her every day of her first year.  I have not only kept that promise but I have done more than that.  I have over 1,200 pictures of Stella's first year of life, with at least one picture a day, and for the most part, more.  I can't believe that changes that I have seen in her with so many more to come.

I have had such a hard time lately with not being able to be a stay-at-home-mom.  I love my job to death and being in education, am more than fortunate to have my job but ladies...it has been TOUGH to go to work each day.  My  heart aches when I leave in the morning and I can't wait to see her at the end of the day.  I feel sad that I cannot be with her all day long and I am constantly wishing for money to fall from the sky so that I can be at home with Stella.

At any rate, I am thankful for where I am at in life and SO THANKFUL for a happy, healthy baby girl.  It feels like yesterday that I was bringing her home and I pray that year two slows down...just a bit. The good thing is that I will be a mommy forever, and a haute one at that!

 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND TO ALL OF YOU!

Thrifty Thursday - A Great Site for Some Mother's Day Shopping!

I know that each week I give you sites that offer good deal and most of those sites are for children's items.  Well in honor of the u pcoming Mother's Day, I will share a site that I have used for a long time that offers deals for all us moms, our little ones, and even our hubbies. 

Ideeli is a site that offers specials categorized by store or brand.  Click on the brand and find yourself in a world of discount.  I like this site because I can shop all items of my favorite designers without having to jump from dresses, to shirts, to shoes, etc.  I can click on one designer like Miss Sixty (who is currently featured right now) and view all of the great deals for that one brand.  This is the way it works for all the categories, men, children, home and...wait for it...travel!  A great little deal for a weekend in good ol' wine country Napa caught my eye today!

It is free to become a member and like many of the other sites, you can sign up for the daily deals and notices via email.  You all know how I LOVE to wake up to a list of shopping deals!  Check the site out; I know you will find something (or many things) for yourself and your family!  Happy shopping haute moms!

WELCOME WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP

Happy Hump Day! Happy May to everyone!  I am in serious need for some hoppin' so I hope you join in! What better way to get over the midweek hump then to kick off your heels and do a little blog hopping!




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This week we have our Guest Hostess- Dawn from Mom-A-Logues. She is a mother of two beautiful girls and blogs about her life as a mommy of a family of 4. If you didn't visit her last week, be sure to stop on over and say hello!




Blog Hop Rules: This is a low key hop. After all...it is Welcome Wednesday, here to get the inspirational juices flowing and find other blogs we can stalk! Put those feet up, relax, and join the bloggy fun. There are a few rules though:

1. Follow the hostesses, Haute Mom! Be sure to leave a comment so that I can follow you back.
2. Follow our guest hostess Mom-A-Logues.
3. Link up your blog for all of us to love.
4. Make an attempt to check out at least two new blogs. Don't know where to start? How about the two blogs above you? If you love the blog, become a follower and leave them a comment letting them know.

So link up! You don't have to post about the hop...but you know how we ladies work, the more the merrier. We would love it if you would help us spread the word and help Welcome Wednesday grow!  One of you could be next week's spotlight guest hostess!

Haute Mom Dilemma #41 - Self Weaning?

This weaning thing has gotten me into a slight frenzy. Not only from the unanswered question of what will fill the void (now I know whole milk and other foods) but also from the excitement of ditching my old ball and chain...the pump!

I attempted to switch Stella's afternoon nursing session with some breastmilk in a sippy cup and that didn't work out so well. Instead of nursing her before dinner she now takes a bottle of breastmilk without batting an eye. The small taste of freedom has my mouth watering for more!

Last week I noticed that Stella was turning her little nose up at her mid-morning bottle so I began giving her whole yogurt instead. She loves it. I think she has chosen to switch out her bottle for some yogurt on her own, making for one successful elimination of a feeding! Yay for Stella!

I have been doing a lot of inquiring about how to wean and what foods should take its place. As I continue to search the answers out, my daughter may decide to help her old mom out on her own.

Next stop - milk in a sippy cup for all feedings except morning and night! I think I can...I think I can...

Stella's excited too!

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Back to Reality

I have had such an amazing week off with Stella. Not only was it amazing to have her visit with her grandparents (who live 400 miles away) but to also spend the days with her without worrying about having to go to work the next day or being tired from being at work all day long. Tomorrow, it is back to reality.

Times like this make me grateful for having a job where I am able to have time off with Stella but also wishing that I could be a full-time mommy. I have felt like I have learned or seen something new each day and wonder what I miss while I am at work. Luckily, I was able to take Stella to new places where I can watch her enjoy the new experiences in front of her. We have been working on her first steps and she was also introduced to the beach where I learned that we have a water baby on our hands! With the help of a good mommy friend, I had to overcome my dislike of being dirty after seeing Stella's joy in the big wide world of sand. Ick.


Isn't it funny how one can always feel as though they can never win? I love being home with Stella without having to worrying about paying for childcare or missing out on a big milestone. If I was a stay-at-home-mom, I would probably miss the working world and being around other adults. Can't a lady ever be satisfied?! I guess in a way I do have the best of both worlds, working on a teachers schedule with breaks and summers off but I can't shake that "she's only young once" feeling especially since the big 1st birthday is two short weeks away!