Bunny & Dolly is getting a makeover! As I prepare to make some exciting changes, I’d love to know what you currently like and dislike about the blog.
Would you kindly click this link and answer a quick 10-question survey? It would really help me as I plan the new-and-improved Bunny & Dolly. I will keep the survey open until Friday, April 13th.
{image via MamaTita on Etsy}
He may not realize it yet, but one day Levi is going to want a teepee. A fabric-covered hideaway where he can play with his toys or read some books. And when he asks for one, I will be happy to oblige. Kid-sized teepees give off this minimalist/crafty/hippie vibe that I appreciate because, really, I’m none of those three adjectives. But most of all, I just love how adorable they look in a living room or bedroom!
Instead of waiting for Levi to ask for a miniature teepee of his own, maybe I should go ahead and create an adult version now–the tented reading nook.
(images via: decor8, elle decor, design*sponge, ish and chi, house and home)
Today I’m 32!
Thirty-two seems so old when I consider all of the things I still want to accomplish (personally and professionally) and then start comparing myself to other bloggers who seem to have amassed so much success despite being younger. Sometimes I don’t give myself credit for what I’ve already achieved, though. Are you the same way?
I suppose the upside to getting older is that you also become wiser. I definitely know more about being a mother than I did a year ago. I definitely don’t have all the answers, but the learning curve is not quite as steep as I had feared back then!
On a lighter, sweeter note, doesn’t this homemade Momofuku Milk Bar birthday cake look absolutely delish? I’ll never make it because the recipe intimidates me, but I can almost imagine what it would taste like: a gourmet version of my favorite Funfetti cake. Mmm…
PS: Happy birthday to Reese Witherspoon, who turns 36 today!
{image via Kitchen Heals Soul}
I spied this motivational poster in my Facebook feed this morning, and it’s message really spoke to me. A good reminder for all of us overwhelmed and anxious new moms.
Yesterday’s weigh-in with the pediatrician did not go as well as we had hoped. In the six weeks since the start of Operation Chubbs, Levi has only gained 4oz. According to his doctor, this isn’t necessarily bad news but it isn’t great either. The positive is that Levi didn’t lose any weight. Unfortunately, his Paula Deen-approved diet didn’t seem to pack on the pounds. That may have been my fault. Apparently, I was being too conservative with the amount of butter I was melting into his food.… READ MORE!
One of the reasons I started Bunny & Dolly was to share the honest, sometimes uncomfortable thoughts and feeling I had about being pregnant. I couldn’t related to other blogs that told sugar-coated tales about becoming a first time mom. That just wasn’t the experience I was having, and I knew that other moms-to-be must have felt the same.
I’ve tried to continue to portray my transition into motherhood with the same transparency. With that in mind, I have a confession to make.
I’m not happy.
Actually, it’s not that black and white. It’s not that I’m unhappy. I have an awesome baby, a supportive husband and a generally well-behaved dog, among other positive and good things in my life. But I feel weighed down by stress and worry thoughts to the point that I feel distracted and a little bit sad.
Some of the things on my mind?
When I feel overwhelmed like this I tend to hold everything inside. I choose not to share my feelings with friends and family. Sometimes I don’t even want to talk about them with JB. But I know that venting can be beneficial, so I’m giving it a shot. Also, I want you, my readers, to know that my life is far from perfect and probably–hopefully–a lot like yours.
Of course, if you can solve any of my problems or provide answers to any of my questions, I’m listening!
Before Levi was born, a friend made me laugh with the exotic names she bestowed upon the plush toys hanging from her infant son’s car seat. They were so creative, and I couldn’t wait for my own kiddo to have stuffed animals to name. How fun!
JB and I have tried our best to come up with clever monikers for Levi’s toys, but I’ll be the first to admit that we sort of suck at naming stuffed animals and toys. Here’s what we have so far:
Sophie. Officially, she’s Sophie the Giraffe. No point in renaming her, as she is most definitely a Sophie.
Jingle Bird. With a bell in her belly, this bird jingles when she’s rattled. Original, huh?
Robertito and La La. We call him “Tito” for short. Obviously, they have the best names, and it’s because their naming happened organically, as it should be. Boy monkey’s moniker comes from the pet name our Puerto Rican waiter gave to my dad when we celebrated his birthday in Miami. Girl monkey gets her name from Blabla, the company that makes the knitted animal rattles.
Do your kids have stuffed animals with funny names? Did you have any cleverly named ones growing up? Inspire me with your creativity!
Levi is obviously too young for playdough, but I’m going to file away this homemade playdough recipe for when he’s older. I also love the idea of gifting this D.I.Y. kit with a mini rolling pin and cleverly shaped cookie cutters.
Have you ever made your own playdough?
While I managed to avoid having my belly touched while pregnant, I wasn’t immune to the judgmental comments of strangers. People I didn’t know seemed to love to assume that I was either due to give birth at any second or was carrying twins because of my size.
A fascination with size has come up in conversation again, this time directed towards Levi. One particularly frustrating interaction with a woman in the children’s section of Half Price Books went something like this:
“How old is she? Three months?”
“No, he’s almost six months old.”
“Oh, I thought he was a girl because he’s so pretty. If he’s six months, he must have been premature, right?”
“Um, no. He was a hefty 8lbs 5 oz. And f*ck you.”
And she isn’t the only one who has questioned Levi’s age based on his sized. Several other strangers have assumed that Levi is younger than he is. Why do people think my baby looks so small? At his last doctor’s appointment, he measured in the 90th percentile for height!
Maybe it’s because he’s not particularly chubby. He doesn’t have the Michelin Man rings of baby fat stereotypical of infants. And that’s ok. Apparently, some babies are too fat.
But worse than the ignorant comments of strangers are their unwanted touches. At the supermarket, two passersby actually reached out and pet my son. They ruffled his hair and stroked his arm.
Do you ever feel like telling people to keep their hands — and comments — to themselves?
