Holiday MOMents

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  It's also the most stressful and expensive and exhausting time of the year.  I don't know if it's the cookie-induced sugar-highs or all the temptations of lights and new toys or just life with a toddler, but we've been having our fill of holiday moments (or "MOMents," as Sprout calls them).  I'm thrilled to be working with The Sprout Channel this month to celebrate all of those crazy MOMents that make life...well, life.  Consider this my Holiday Edition of "New Mommy Confessions."  We're keeping it real around here...

--  I ordered this adorable Advent Calendar from Pottery Barn Kids back in November and it's been hanging up in the perfect spot in our house since Thanksgiving.  I had grand plans to fill it with fun Christmasy activities and little treats for Mac.  It's now December 17th and I have yet to put anything in the calendar or even write down one single activity for us to do.  It's now just a constant daily reminder about how quickly the days are passing and how I'm totally slacking at this whole holiday-spirit thing.  Maybe next year.  #momfail

--  I've been letting Mac play with all his "gifts from Santa" for a month now.  They're scattered around the house and the playroom.  A few days before Christmas I figure I'll just gather them all up (if I can find them or remember what they were) and wrap them for a Christmas morning delivery.  He also helped pick out most of them (he carried a giant stuffed horse around the store for an hour; I couldn't say no). I feel slightly guilty about this, but figure he won't remember anyway, right?  (please say yes) (also, what am I going to do with a giant stuffed horse?!) #santafail

--  Mac has turned a corner and now HATES the camera.  I can't get a good photo of this kid to save my life anymore.  If I'm holding the camera, he will not look at me, will not smile, will not hold still for one second.  And it's not just me.  We've had 2 different photographers try to get good shots of him over the last month and he WILL NOT COOPERATE.  The mamarazzi in me is going crazy about this.  #justsmiledammit

--  We have entered the Toddler-Drama Zone within the last couple months.  We all live in a constant state of fear about if and when the dreaded meltdown will happen and over what.  I used to think people were exaggerating when they said their child would cry about stupid shit like their grapes being cut or toys being moved, but I'm now living with a tiny little monster that throws fits for absolutely no reason at all.  Major fits - for things like making him wear a shirt or not letting him dump water all over the floor or putting his snack in the wrong blue bowl.  Ugh.  It makes me never want to leave the house again.  And we're not even close to the terrible twos yet!  #toddlerdrama

"My mom made me wear gloves!"

--  Three days after Mac turned 18 months I finally got around to calling his pediatrician to schedule his well-visit.  I felt awful for waiting so long, especially since I knew our doctor wouldn't be available for months and we'd have to see a different doctor (again).  So imagine my surprise when the nurse told that Mac already had an appointment scheduled for the following week...and another scheduled for the week after that.  Yep, I'd already called and scheduled the same appointment TWICE before and didn't remember making either appointment.  So that makes THREE TIMES that I made the exact same appointment.  WTF is wrong with me?  Seriously embarrassing.  I bet the nurse thinks I'm on drugs....maybe I am, I don't remember.  #losingmymind

--  Despite all the drama, when he's not throwing a fit Mac continues to amaze me with how smart he is.  He picks up new words daily and his vocabulary has really exploded over the last few weeks.  He's counting and identifying colors and letters and understands way more that I ever imagined he would at this age.  He loves books and has even started "reading" to himself.  He sings and practices talking all the time, which is absolutely adorable.  We're getting better at figuring out what he wants, but still have a ways to go.  He always seems to be one step ahead of us and I am by no means a mind-reader.  I'm convinced that any day now I'm going to wake up to him asking me how I slept and telling me he'd like eggs benedict and a latte for breakfast.  #boygenius

--  We've spent the last four Christmases traveling - skiing or beaches.  Rough life, I know.  This year we decided to stay here and celebrate Christmas in our own home.  We wanted to decorate our house and get a giant tree and start traditions with Mac that we can carry on for years.  We want to take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park in the snow and visit Santa and wake up Christmas morning in our own beds.  In theory, this sounds so nice.  In reality, I'd give my left arm to be sitting on a beach, covered in sunscreen and spending our gift money on rum.  #isittoolatetochangemymind

--  Christmas cards have FINALLY been ordered.  They'll be here December 26th.   Awesome.  #ChristmasInFebruary

--  All kidding aside, I wouldn't trade one single tear, fit or meltdown for anything in the world.  :)  This crazy kid is such a blessing, I'd do anything to freeze time and keep him little and wild forever.  And if the stupid cards don't get sent out, at least I'll have them ready for next year!   #happiestmamaever

 Your turn!  

Fess up, what are your favorite (or no so favorite) holiday MOMents this year?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.