mother bleep

i don't know if you are active on instagram. or if you follow some of these pretty amazing mamas. [@helloamerikaw, @woolful, @heyitscissy, @julsgarces, @tissespieces, + @courtneybabyccino] but there is a lot of craziness happening in the world of instagram and their censorship issues.

as i look over my instagram feed i can look back on some pretty amazing memories. the time nathan wouldn't wear a shirt for a month. the time he splashed daddy from the bath for the first time. the time he stripped down to his bare bottom in public. and his recent love of shaking such booty.

the photos i have posted are photos of beautiful memories that would all be deemed inappropriate on instagram, especially if nathan were a girl. all the accounts mentioned above have been affected by instagram censorship.  courtney's [of @courtneybaccino] account was shut down and all her photos taken away because she posted a photo of her daughters adorably round belly. people are fighting to get these accounts back + i plan to join them. 

i believe that it is a mother's right to share beautiful pictures of her children. wether it be a shirtless child, a baby's tooshy, or a breastfeeding mother. that should always be our right. whatever is happening is wrong. if no one speaks, nothing will change.

if you would like to help me in fighting these ludicrous censorship rules then please first go sign this petition. then go to motherbleep.org and hear some stories as well as tell your own. 

  

notes on nathan

growing up around kids - volunteering in the church nursery, babysitting, nannying, camps, + now teaching- three has always been my favorite age.

these days, i am at times heartbroken by age three.

i know the correct, polite thing to say is that nathan has really been testing my patience lately, but what i really want to say is, nathan has really been mean lately. and i am left feeling lost. which makes me feel really unprepared for the even more attitude filled days ahead. i realize that i have no clue how boys are growing up. i didn't understand boys as a little girl + i don't understand them as a mom either. nathan has been mr. attitude around here + the sweetest boy in the world at times. he is defiant to say the least.

this has truly been my first inner dilemma with nathan. the first time as a parent, where i find myself staying up all night upset + worrying. (besides of course when we were completely sleep deprived with a newborn- i cried a lot then.) i can tell it is driving brian crazy as well. i know he is worried + can't fix it immediately.

we are implementing new rules + approaching our parenting in different ways. so far things are looking up + i think we will all be better off because of this in the future. (hopefully near future)

brian has been amazing. the other night when i had just had it + broke down so upset with nate's behavior that day. brian went to talk to him + they both came out to talk to me. nathan gave me a big hug (sweet nathan), then said, "mommy, i am not sorry for my 'haviors' today"(attitude nathan). brian told him that isn't a nice thing to say + nathan replied with a laugh. i know he is young + doesn't quite understand apologies + all of his emotions yet, but man that kid can really hit you where it hurts. brian has been teaching me to not spoil him as much. we are also implementing a responsibility chart to teach nathan we have to be nice + work hard in order to get the rewards we want.

i love this little one with all my heart, but feel very unprepared for this age. i love that nathan has his own voice + opinions. i love watching his personality develop more + more, as well as his independence. i just hope the attitude is a phase we can get through quickly. i love you so much nathan + can't wait for the next challenge we will face together.

in the mean time i am working on making sure i am always the nicest i can be to those around me. in the car stuck in traffic or when i get cut off, i am trying not to react negatively. if someone is unusually rude or irritating, i will try my hardest not to say a word, just smile. my mom always taught me to kill them with kindness, i hope to teach nathan this one day. if brian + i are disagreeing, we will move past it quickly or wait until nathan is asleep to talk out our issue. nathan needs to only see love to understand + show his own love.

thank you for allowing me to ramble + vent a little with you today sweet friends. any helpful guidance + advice would be greatly appreciated. sharing your stories would also help us to not feel so alone in this. what has been your hardest age?

real moms: a series

it only seemed approipriate to feature ashley after laura in this series. laura introduced me to ashley a few years ago, but it wasn't until recently that we became friends. she is a new friend + i couldn't be more pleased to have her + brit in our life. 

ashley is a fashionable, hard working, sweet, single mama to briton. i truly look up to her ability to balance it all so flawlessly. she has a level head on her shoulders + has always been so sweet  to everyone around her. 

[check out my first installment of Real Moms: A Series to get a background of what we are doing here] 

name(s) + age of kid(s):

Briton (Brit) + 3 years old

city:

Arlington, Tx

where are some of your favorite places to go with you little one?

The park hands down is our favorite place. Brit loves playing on the playground and watching all the other kids; and it't free! It's our Saturday morning routine. We go first thing in the morning and always stop on our way home for a Rainbow Popsicle; it's our little weekend ritual. We recently discovered a park that has a covered playground and a splash park. Best place ever for the summertime!

what is something inspiring or funny that your mother taught you about being a mother?

To relax and let him get dirty! I love styling and dressing him up in cool outfits. I have so much fun with it! When he started to become more active I would fret if he got a little speck of dirt on his shirt. She has really taught me to relax about that part, and I just need to let him have fun. Clothes can be washed, and if not, who cares!

what is something you hope your child gets from you?

I was always taught to be polite, to always say "please", "thank you" and "excuse me". I can already see that in Brit now. People tell me all the time how polite he is, and I take pride in that. I think he really get it, and he says those words so cute!

what is something you hope they don't get from you?

My stubbornness. When that boy sets his mind to something that is it! I'm very much the same way. Growing up my parents use to call them "projects". For example, if there was a toy I wanted, I would talk and talk about it until I talked my way into getting it, or got in trouble for talking abou it! I can see that in Brit. If he wants to go to the park or if he wants a new train, he will try very hard to get his way.

how do you stay creative at home?

I work full time, so I find inspiration every day when I'm out and about, whether it's from a photo shoot or something I see driving to work. I think creativity is all around us in our everyday life; including work and parenting. However, I do find easy inspirations like many of us do nowadays on PINTEREST! It's such a great, easy way to find new ideas from fashion to home decor to activities to do with your kiddos. 

what is the number one thing you hope to teach your child?

I hope to teach Brit honesty. Not just to others, but to himself as well. I think when you're honest, you will have peace of mind. And in order for him to have that is for me to model it best for him. Not just with my words, but with my lifestyle as well. 

how do you relax after a stressful day?

I love to put on some comfy clothes, slip into my bed and watch a good show. I'm a sucker for reality TV, I feel like I record them all!

please share a story with us about your little one:

Ever since Easter Brit has been obsessed with it! He has played with plastic eggs every day since then, I’m not kidding. His Easter basket and eggs are everyday toys for him. He loves to put random little things in the eggs and pile them all in his basket, and then turn around and take each one out at a time and open them… His reaction to each one is as if he had no idea what was already in there! He’s so cute and funny about it.

He’s also pretty skilled on his iPad and likes to open up YouTube and will request me to literally search “Easter Eggs” and then he will sit watch all these random videos about Easter eggs. He’s literally obsessed with Easter; it's very funny and very random!

ashley, thank you so much for giving us a peek into your life as a mommy to sweet brit. we love having you two in our lives. you are an amazing mom, person + friend. thank you again. xx 

notes on nathan

while i looked through photos i've taken of nathan lately, i must admit there were tears in my eyes. 

it is a very bittersweet thing to watch your child grow. 

it is not that i don't want him to grow and become the person he is destined to be, its that i love every moment and can feel those moments passing by at a rapid pace. 

i write to nathan with hopes that he will read this one day.

i hope he can look at these memories if he is ever doubting himself or angry at us and realize how amazing he truly is. 

nathan is three.

he is the silliest boy i know.

i love his easy going philosophy.

he loves big.

he is obsessed with daddy + everything he is into.

he could spend all day in the sun. 

his heart is unbelievable + makes him who he is. 

i love the way he smiles at me.

i love who he is.

we are so proud of who you are.

we love you fiercely.