Our First Date Night

Well we did it! Scott and I finally went out for an impromptu date night. It wasn't planned, it was more like spur of the moment, get me away from the baby for a few minutes. My mom mentioned that we needed to get out because I was starting to feel really stressed out and missing Scott. Believe me, you miss your spouse because there never is time for just the two of you anymore. So after thinking about and knowing we had the gift cards that we had been saving for date nights once Chloe was born. I told Scott as soon as he walked home, were taking Chloe to my parents and were going out for dinner.

So as I prepared for date night, I tried to pump enough milk for her so she could eat while we were away and of course since it wasn't planned, I had a hard time getting enough milk to make myself feel better knowing she would have more than enough. So I learned that I need to pump throughout the week, freeze it and have it available for date nights and when Mommy needs to just get out of the house for awhile. So the bags are on the grocery list to get.

As I dropped Chloe off with my parents all I could think about is I know she doesn't have enough Milk and I feel guilty even though my mom told me she thought what I had was enough. We weren't going to be gone long. So the whole time while we are trying to enjoy our evening out all I could think about was her being fussy and hating me for leaving her with not enough milk. What the heck is wrong with me? Scott told me to get a drink and I did and it loosened me up a bit but I still was worried.

The entire time we ate, all we did was talk about Chloe. Funny how you get away to just be "US" again and we just go back to talking about Chloe. Next time, I will refrain from talking so much about her. But I guess since it was the first time I had been away from her for a while and needing someone to just talk about how I am feeling, that was all that was on my mind was her.

Next time we have date night, there will be no baby talk! Can I hold that promise will see! ;)

First Mall Trip

So like every day, I am without a car because it's one of the luxury's I've had to give up to stay home with Chloe. Eventually I will get a car again but for now I basically rely on my parents to tag me around places during the day. Today my mom came over to take Chloe and I out to the mall and that was a stressful event. The couple of times that we have taken Chloe out with us to do some errands or run to a store, she has been so good. Sleeps the whole time and wakes up when we get home.. WELL that did not happen at the mall. She was very fussy and was awake the entire time. Here is my first mall experience story with Chloe.

We get to the mall, actually got an upfront parking spot which is nearly impossible at Lakeside. Take the stroller out and since it's new we are still getting used to how it functions so I am trying to strap the carseat in and it won't go through.. it's kind of cold out so I am like just forget it, will figure this out once we get inside the mall. So we get into the mall, still not working I start feeling pissed off because why is nothing working then finally I flipped the seat inside the stroller around and pop the car seat in and bam it connects.. perfect we are ready to go. She's happy for the time being until we step foot into macy's. She gets very fussy, doesn't want her binky and my first thought is great she needs to be nursed, where the hell can I go to do that. So I find a fitting room, which is small as hell and park the stroller inside and nurse her. I'm sitting in a small seat staring at myself in the mirror and feeding my daughter, it was quite the picture and the realization of this is what my life has become. Shopping will no longer be a quick trip.

Then the big kicker, my mom comes into the fitting room as she was finishing up. She needs her diaper changed at this point and my mom takes over to do it on the floor.. of course Chloe pee's all over the place and lets out a good poop.. it was quite funny. Thankfully my mom took care of that mess because that probably would've set me over the edge and we would be leaving empty handed at the store. So I finish up nursing her and we head back out.

So my mom is picking up every outfit in sight saying ohh and ahh and she needs this and that and this will look so adorable on her while once again, I try and calm Chloe down as she continues to be fussy even after her feeding. I can't even look at any clothes because she refuses to be in the stroller at this point. Of course she just wants to be held.. she is my little cuddle bug. So our trip was cut short after my mom spends $100.00 yes ONE HUNDRED BUCKS on a few outfits.. she's the crazy one not me. I of course can't buy a damn thing, but am absolutely grateful that my mom is able to buy all these cute outfits for her to wear. Hey, while she's out throwing 100 bills around, I could use a new coat and a pair of after being p

regnant jeans since my fat ass still cant fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes.

So we leave the store, my mom's strolling the stroller and I've got my baby in my arms.. of course that draws attention to everyone and we get all sorts of compliments on how beautiful my daughter is. She really is cute! See for yourself:

And that was our mall trip. We ended it with two Starbucks in hand and a bagful of beautiful clothes to enhance my daughters beauty :)

Life Changes

Before Chloe was born I didn't realize how much of my life I would give up to devote my time with Chloe. I've complied a list of the few things that have totally changed my life and want to look back in a couple of months to see if these things have changed or got worse.

Taking a shower is no longer on my own time. It's more of a routine now. I usually have to wait till Chloe is fed, diaper is changed and she is in a happy mood and in her bouncer so that I can take her in the bathroom with me. I am one of those freakish mom's right now where I feel like she needs to be in the bathroom with me. But it works out well for me because the sound of the shower puts her right to sleep and allows me the time to get ready which is very nice.

Sleeping, yea that.. I have no idea what it's like anymore to sleep for more than 4 straight hours. I had the luxury before she was born to get acclimated to this change, as I didn't sleep through the night anymore starting during my 8th month of pregnancy and lasting all the way till she was delivered. So the lack of sleep I am very much used to, but it's taken a whole new meaning now. Someday's I have no idea how in the world I am functioning but I do. I hate hearing other people say I am so tired because I just want to slap reality into them and say you have no idea what tired means until you have a baby!

Eating.. yea eating a meal.. wouldn't think about that. I usually have to rush through my meals now because for some strange reason Chloe wakes up or needs something as soon as I bite down into my delicious meal I have prepared. That bar far is the hardest for me.. someday's I just want to sit down and enjoy what I am eating without thinking ok how fast can I eat this and not feel sick to my stomach afterwards. I have learned that my crockpot is my best friend now because at least I can make dinner and it stays hot. Thanks to Pintrest for all the amazing recipes I have been able to provide to my husband and myself.

Relationships.. yes your relationships with your husband and friends change drastically. Scott and I no longer have time for just us. Which is really hard right now because I miss him like crazy even though he lives in the same house with us. Every time we go to lay down with each other, thinking Chloe is totally out, low and behold her eyes flinch and out comes the cries. I swear to god it's like she knows ok, Mom is relaxing, time to stir the pot up. That bar far is absolutely beyond frustrating, so we have to take turns seeing what the heck she is crying about. You have really no time with your friends for a while because your so damn sleep deprived and just want to sleep whenever your baby does and those without kids just do not understand what your going through the first couple of months so they just don't get it when you say I gotta cancel plans for the day. Since sleep is so valuable these days.

Time.. ha leaving on time for somewhere or to be somewhere is damn near impossible. When you get invited somewhere you might as well say see ya when I can make it over there because your time is on your babies time. I have to laugh, I was invited to my aunts super bowl party and it started at 3:00, we didn't get there till after 5:00. I am not one to just wake up my baby to be somewhere unless it was really important like a doctors appt. but other than that I'm on her time and no one elses. So if she is sleeping or nursing when we need to be somewhere, I just let it go and say oh well. I've learned real fast I can't freak out about it because really, it doesn't matter. I'll get where I need to be when I get there.

There is a hoist of more things but these are the biggies that have turned my life into a complete 180. Let's see if they get worse or better as the months going on.. I am sure I will probably add a few more to the next list.

Welcome to my life

So I have decided to start up another blog.. why it's just another thing to do in my life, right? However, recently I've discovered I need time to myself and to write out my feelings and journeys through life now that I have literally so much going on being a new mom, a wife, and a somewhat business owner.

So let me take you through my journey, my journey as a new mom, a not so new housewife.. which I have been now for almost two years and what I call a somewhat business owner now. I call it somewhat because right now my number one priority is taking care of my baby girl and putting the business on hold until we establish life together as a family. Before Chloe came into my life, my business Kaliah Designs, was my life. It was my baby and it was motivation to get through most days being a housewife.

I lost my job back in 2009 and since then I have been a housewife and business owner. Why? Well to be honest, I didn't want to go back to work. I was not happy working in advertising and marketing which is what I went to college for. I liked doing certain aspects of the job but overall I was not happy. I went to college because back then it was the right thing to do, there was no such thing as just finding a great guy, getting married and tending to the house and raising kids. In my mind, that was all I wanted to do. I told most people growing up all I wanted to be was a wife and mom. Stay home raise a family and be happy. Sounds great to me!

Well I never thought I was going to have it that way until I lost my job. I lost my job 6 months before I was going to get married to my husband and in the worst economy since the depression. Why did I lose my job? It wasn't because of my performance because I kicked ass, I was told daily by my co-workers, it was because the company didn't have enough clients and I just wasn't needed anymore. So I was left with a college degree ( a freaking piece of paper if you ask me) and a few years of experience working in the field. I tried to look for work else where but nothing would come through.

I decided to focus my energies on planning my wedding because I love planning events. Hosting parties and making sure people have a good time is my blood so I figured I was going to throw the best wedding people have been to in a long time. Did I accomplish it? I sure as hell did.. I still get people saying that our wedding was by the far the best one they been to. How in the hell did I mange to do that with a limited income? Just get creative and hire the best of the best in certain areas? I had already booked one of the newest halls in town so that part was already booked before losing my job but after that everything else was just about focusing on what I needed to focus on.. Music is what makes a party so I made sure to hire a DJ that would be sure to get the people on the dance floor having a good time and I sure as hell did that.

So after my wedding I was left with a thought of either I gotta find a job now or I could do something else like be my own boss. So begin's Kaliah Designs the birth of my first love my jewelry and hair accessories business. I had the determination, the skills and the creative to make this come alive and so I did and I've never looked back. I believe I have been blessed to have been able to find this outlet in my life because I never in my wildest dreams thought of having my own company. It wasn't something I sat around dreaming about like my husband did with his business, hell he never thought I would do something like this.

Soo.. am I happy with being what many may call me now a mompreneur? That I can not answer right now because I havent been able to find the balance of being a mom and a business owner. My daughter, Chloe is still only 6 and half weeks old and we are still trying to figure her out. For the most part she has been such a perfect little baby. I really have no complaints. She sleeps good for me and she is a happy little baby, sure she has her moments like most babies do but she is just perfect.

Now balancing being a mom and a housewife, well that is a whole nother story. That I am still having a hard time doing. It's hard to take care of a baby basically by myself because I chose to breastfeed her and take care of my house. Now I am sure your thinking where is your husband? Well he is working. He works 40+ hours a week at his day job and his night job is his business in which he spends another few hours working on when he is home during the week and on the weekend, he basically works all day. Why? Well he is trying so hard to get his business off the ground with his partner. My husband, Scott is trying so hard to provide the best life for our family. Right now, life is pretty tough because we are down to one solid income and lets face it, babies are super expensive and we've given up so much for me to stay home and raise Chloe now. So I sit back and let Scott do whatever he can to get our family in the position we want to be financially. Sometimes I feel like a single parent, and I try to get Scott involved in as much as I can. I just need to come up with a plan of action to get him more involved and not miss out on Chloe's early years because he's been so busy working.. babies are babies once and building a business can happen at any time, I just hope he realizes that before it's too late.

Well Chloe needs mommy now so gotta run :)