mom-mode post # 85 - on momfessions

Inspired by this post by my friend Sheila. Perfectionism has long been my middle name and now more than ever I struggle with the high expectations I set for my self. So in an effort to just let go and remind myself that there's not such thing as the perfect mom and wife, here are my momfessions:

1. I have half a cheese quesadilla for lunch almost everyday. Call it stuck in a rut lunch, I call it an easy way to fill me up.

2. I feel guilty when my baby doesn't nap  right on cue. Or that I still rock him to sleep. But he is a baby, not an exact science and I'm finally OK with that. Besides I love the extra snuggles I get when I hold his sleepy little body in my arms.

3. I often pretend I don't understand the local language when locals tell me to put socks on my baby when it is 100 degrees outside ( or insert any other cultural custom here). Would this be considered lying? I call it surviving.

4. I've gone to bed having forgotten to brush my teeth only to remember it right as I'm falling asleep. Some days I don't get back up.

5. I envy those moms that snapped right back into shape after the baby and wonder why I have to work twice as hard to get everything back? Then I'm reminded of my genetics and how it's always been this way when it comes to losing weight.

6. My windows are probably the dirtiest in all of my building. I just haven't had the guts (or the time nor the will) to prop myself up on the window seal to clean them.

And I'll end like my friend Sheila did:

I’m not sure why I’m telling you all of this.  Maybe I just needed to get it off my chest.  I’m not the perfect woman, and I don’t think I mind all that much.

mom-mode post # 84 - on father's day

To my daddy - Who is far away today. And it is not even "Father's Day" in Brazil today. But I celebrate you today. We have been through thick and thin and I'll always think of you when I hear Steve Wonder's song: "I just called to say I love you". Today I just wrote to say I love you. We celebrated you today. O is blessed to have a vovo like you.

To my dad-in-law - Who is also far away today. You've modeled what it means to be a Godly man to my husband. You've raised him to be the same. You've taken me as your own daughter. Your hard-work to provide for your family all these years is so admirable and inspiring. We celebrate you today. O is blessed to have a gramps like you.

To hubby - O's daddy. Back in our dating days I knew you were going to be a great daddy. But I have to say that the day Oliver was born you've exceeded all and any expectations I had. I am so blessed to be together with you in this parenting journey. And if it's possible I love you even more now that I've seen you as O's daddy. O and I are blessed beyond measure to have you as the leader of our little family. We celebrate you today.

mom-mode post 83 - on cheering for mommy's team

                                                         It's the world cup and it's a big deal.

mom-mode post #81 - on flying with a baby

I could not have asked for a better traveling companion. He kept me busy just enough to keep me from getting bored, he gave me space when I needed to get things done and he slept when I needed to rest...
Baby O behaved like a seasoned traveler.
The first leg of the trip, a one-hour flight. O slept through the whole thing.
Then, a lay over a JFK. O felt all cozy in his stroller and slept like a baby. Allowing me to go from Delta counter to Delta counter trying to get a bulkhead seat, so O could have a bassinet on the plane. Also allowing me to make a quick stop-over at Chili's for  deliciously juicy bacon cheeseburger. Yay for not losing baby pounds. I guess I just couldn't pass that up.
Needless to say, the Delta people were less than helpful, leaving it up to me to arrange that bulkhead seat. I think I must've shed a tear or two out of shear desperation. How was I going to fly with my 3 month-old baby for 9 hours ( and some) without having a place to put him down to sleep?
I got on the plane, baby in tow and the flight attendant were very helpful, asking me what I needed. I promptly said: a bulkhead seat, please.  They said they would help me by asking whoever had that seat to change with me. Three young guys had those seats. They were traveling together and were ready to enjoy each other's company. I KNOW I ruined their trip when I asked to change seats... His first response was a simple no. So appealed to begging: sad puppy eyes, holding my baby, slightly crying voice: you see sir, I'm traveling alone with my baby and I need that seat so they can attach a little bed for my baby to sleep... The flight attendant added: and you get free drinks for being nice! And just like that our smoothest trip as of date started.
O quickly fell asleep right after dinner was being served. The kind flight attendants brought my dinner afterwards and I enjoyed a calm quiet flight. O woke up thirsty minutes before we landed and offered up smiles to everyone around us.
Things were going down without a glitch until O's pants started to leak... A quick trip to the bathroom quickly solved that. And off we were to customs, baggage claim and our dashing hubby and daddy's arms.