Shannon’s World

A girl by the name of Lizzie Palmer put this together…she is only 15 years old. It has received over 3 million hits. YouTube SlideShow

Wanted to let any readers who may be purchasing the mass quantities of diapers that we are know about a good deal at Target. If you buy two 80 count packages of pampers (for $17.40 something) you get a $5 Target gift card. In addition to that, here’s a coupon for $3.00 off the purchase of pampers and wipes at Target (expires May 31).

Here’s a coupon for waterbabies sunscreen (expires June 20) I thought I’d pass along, too!

I am truly blessed!  P.S. Aunt Diddles: Please notice the chapeau!

Yesterday was another great day, not because I was surrounded by loved ones or the weather was gorgeous. . .it was great for more selfish reasons.  I found my two favorite pairs of jeans and they fit!  How excited was I?!?  I even found some jeans that didn’t fit prior to having Libby and they fit now!  I was on cloud 9! 

A note to pregnant and future mom’s out there: even though the jeans fit and I’ve lost the baby weight, my body (particularly the stomach region) doesn’t look like it did before I was pregnant, but I think these things just take time!  I am actually amazed how far skin can stretch and bounce back . . .pregnancy, childbirth, the human body and babies are just amazing! 

Time to hit the pavement and keep up my walking routine - it’s definately paid off (the 500 calories you burn breast feeding don’t hurt either)!

Mike posted about the great Saturday we had at the Zionsville Country Market; it was truly a great day: beautiful weather, shopping and time with two of my favorite people in the whole world. I wanted to highlight a few of the vendors I enjoyed most at the “market”. I love finding local artisans/small business owners with neat and unique products and I get even more excited when they are women small business owners!

Lucky Ducky Designs - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the chocolate bloom pattern and bought myself a great headband in it. Sandy sells great bibs, burp cloths, blankets (I love the cuddle blankets), diaper bags and aprons for little ones (headbands, too but they’re not on her website). In addition to her website, Sandy also has a blog.

Karen Cowden - I bought several beautiful cards at Karen’s tent. They’re cute, creative and fun!

Brown’s on Main had a great sidewalk sale of retired Vera Bradley patterns. Brown’s is a great store; I sometime’s think is should be called Bradley’s on Main because most of their shop is filled with Vera Bradley!

Another one of my favorite vendors does not have a website yet, but will (hopefully) soon: Apron Strings. They sell darling childrenswear and accessories that are inspired by the past. I bought Libby two onesies with vintage pink and brown fabric squares sewn onto them - they are so cute!

I am bummed I didn’t pick up a business card from the woman that was selling pillow case dresses - these things were so adorable. There were all kinds of tops and dresses made from vintage pillowcases; they’re hard to describe, but I found a picture of something similar here (and if you are the creative type, directions on how to make them here . . . now I just need to find super-cute pillow cases). They were so, so sweet and looked cute as a summer dress or over a long sleeve t-shirt and pants in the winter.

I mentioned in a previous post that Libby wore shoes for the first time, so I thought I’d post a picture. It was a big week for her, not only did she sleep through the night, wear shoes for the first time (they’re still big, but they work!) but she also wore jeans for the first time, too (not just any jeans, but EMBELLISHED jeans)! In addition to her jeans she wore the cutest little wrap top . . . having a girl is so much fun!

By the way look at the cover girl pose she’s got going on . . .Mike and I are in trouble!

She’s rollin’. . .rollin’ . . .rollin’. Sort of, anyway - Libby can turn herself up on her side but can’t seem to go any further. She’s starting to give her cousin Jackson a run for his money; he turned over at 2 months. Please excuse the nudie picture on the top. . .we were “airing out the privates” when Libby started to roll towards her favorite stuffed animal/toy, Mr. Panda (aka Tai Shan).

Libby turned 2 months old on May 9th and she had a great 2 mo check-up. She weighed in at 11 lbs 9 oz (check out all the creases in her legs in the pictures above!) and is stretching out at 23 inches - 75% for both. The Dr. told us she is doing great developmentally and was very impressed with how she follows objects. Libby also got 3 vaccinations at this appointment and she did a great job.

We hit another milestone this week, Wednesday night as a matter of fact. Miss Libby Claire slept for 8 hours and 43 minutes!!

What gal doesn’t love shoes? At 2 months old, Libby wore her first pair of sandals last week and her first pair of robeez yesterday and I could just tell she was thinking, “FINALLY - these sox just won’t due, Mom. . .this is what I was missing!”.

I read about Tom’s shoes in Parents Magazine and think it’s an amazing company and opportunity to get some shoes, do some good and help others. It’s simple, buy a pair of Tom’s shoes and he’ll donate a pair to a child in need - two shoes for the price of one. So simple and the shoes are cute, to boot.

There are children’s and adult sizes. . . I just might have to get Libby some - but I can’t decide between the pink camo and the (IU) red!

A couple thoughts for current mothers and mom’s to be out there. I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate my first Mother’s Day this year… thanks for making me a Mom, Libby!  A special thanks to my Mom for making me the Mom I am.  While I am not sure I can ever fill your shoes, you taught me everything I know and I am grateful . . . Libby is especially grateful, too!

There is a great, great, great article at NYT. Like the Mom in the article says, ” …I am amazed this little girl is mine.” (Thanks for the link, Erin.)

Before I was a Mom. . .
Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Nathaniel Edmunds Photography (our wedding photographer, good friends and occasional part time employer!) has launched a new website and blog that Mike created and I must say I love it!

We had some family pictures taken a few weeks ago and they are featured on here, his blog. I love the images Nate captured of Miss Libby Claire!