Written by hopefulmidwesterner

More Than A Year | I’m Not Sorry

It has been more than a year since I have written. Please don’t be upset with me. It has been more than a year since I have addressed you, my faithful readers. But I promise, it really hasn’t. But it has. I have started posts since the last time I have written. I have started them, and stopped them. It has been more than a year – but the “more than a year” has been the strangest, hardest, most intense “more than a year” I think any of us, on earth, have ever experienced…

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

Lead

August turned one 3 months ago. It was a wonderful birthday party full of friends at the public pool near our house. Splashing, playing and eating abounded and not a single meltdown was to be had (adult or child!).

He had his 12 month appointment on his birthday, and his stats were […]

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

Trollfeeding

For those of you who I am friends with on social media, you’ve probably seen a recent exchange on my page with regards to the new study about Autism being proven to be 80% hereditary. For those of you who follow this blog, you’ll be simultaneously happy (because it […]

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

One Year In

One year ago today I ate a Sam’s Club hot dog and jalapeno cheddar pretzel, I waddled around the store drinking a gigantic ice-cold root beer and shortly after that the contractions began. 

One year ago tomorrow, […]

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

Cesarean

April is Cesarean Awareness Month but I wouldn’t necessarily wish someone a “Happy Cesarean Awareness Month”. From the vast majority of Cesarean Mamas I’ve met and […]

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

Mom Groups

Before I had August when people would mention “Mom Groups” I would shudder. Immediately the thoughts that came to mind were hoards of unsolicited advice, alternative remedies, keeping up with the Joneses and a whole lot of “Well I did it that way, and my kid is fine!” but what I came across, during my pregnancy couldn’t have been further from that image. […]

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

The Little Things

A lot of times parents with older kids give out gobs of unsolicited advice. It’s with the best of intentions, or at least that’s what I tell myself to stay sane. I hear parents tell me to write all of this down because it’s so easy to forget, and before we know it […]

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

I’m Trying

“I’m trying” has been my automatic response to receiving any sort of praise whatsoever for as long as I can remember.

If I did well on a project at work: “I’m trying”

If a friend or relative complimented something I was wearing: “I’m trying”

If someone congratulated me on my weight loss, our engagement or subsequent marriage, my pregnancy, or just holding our house together all day, every day: “I’m trying”

It’s recently come to my attention that this is not healthy. […]

Written by hopefulmidwesterner

Birth: Act III

When: Wednesday, July 11, 12:30pm – 2 days postpartum
Where: Carle Hospital, Post Partum Unit

We were packing our things to leave, and all of a sudden I realized that for the last 36 hours, I had been in this room, and this room alone. I did not remember […]