After my post about not wanting to be Just a Mom, Donna suggested I read Bringing up Bébé. It's about an American mom who discovers the secrets of French parenting. I'm only a few chapters in, and already, I know I needed this book. I have been the classic American hover parent. I cave in... Continue Reading →
Hospital bills
The day before we were to be induced, I logged onto my insurance's website and estimated how much having this baby would cost us. They estimated total costs of around $9K with my out-of-pocket being around $1,800. Steve and I were ecstatic. That was much less than our out-of-pocket cost with Brandon (I have different... Continue Reading →
Kerby loves
If you look closely, you will see that the "den" is brighter than all the other letters. That's because Kerby was my bear when I was little. He is a 1983 Avon classic.My mom took off the "ly" from Holly and replaced it with "den" so my son can have a piece of my childhood.Only... Continue Reading →
First smiles
There is this magical week when your baby starts smiling and cooing at you.It is then that you realize this isn't just an eating/pooping/sleeping/crying robot. This little baby is going to grow into a boy with a personality and hobbies and likes and dislikes and weird little quirks. That was this week for Holden. I... Continue Reading →
time out
In the spirit of honesty, I'll shoot it to you straight. I was unsure if I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. There, I said it. I know, I'm a terrible person. Whatever. But I have been working for a very long time and I get a sense of accomplishment and identity out of it.... Continue Reading →
a mother’s usefulness
I have not done this for years, I feelintensely happy, drawing the sockup the calf--Other foot--as if we are back in the days of my great usefulness. ~"Socks" by Sharon Olds; "The Wellspring"I think what draws a child so much to his mother is how useful she is to him. I am his world. I help... Continue Reading →
toddler selfies, pretty people, melted heart
This kid loves to take selfies: he thinks he's the cutest thing ever. Not that I can argue with him. He is a very photogenic kid. He doesn't take a bad picture. Now his brother, on the other hand, is more gorgeous in real life than I can ever capture in a photograph. Today I was... Continue Reading →
bucket list
Long before the term "bucket list" existed, I created one. I was a kid still, and I wrote it with a pink pen on a piece of notebook paper. I came up with fifty things I wanted to accomplish in my life. I have looked for this piece of paper, but have never found it... Continue Reading →
summer haircut
Don't you love summer time? When boys dress in t-shirts and cargo shorts and girls are self-conscious? We got Brandon's haircut today. I have considered doing it myself, but then I remember in January when he got his haircut last, he screamed non-stop. Snot and tears were running down his face. I will leave it to... Continue Reading →
what’s in a name?
When people hear what Holden's name is, they don't seem to get it. Most people don't know a Holden. They probably think I'm some sort of a weird hippie that's into bizarre names and just liked the sound of it. The truth is, there are a lot of reasons that went into naming Holden:1. Consistency All... Continue Reading →
holly pelesky 