Morning! Looks like I will be doing some planning to set up a Blogger Holiday Gift Exchange. Quite a few of you sound interested and I certainly do think it will be fun! Look for a post with full details and the official sign-up in the next couple of weeks once I figure out logistics.

You know how I said I can’t get into Christmas holiday things until after Thanksgiving? Well, I lied. Last night I broke into this…

I have a few holiday teas leftover from last year (sugar cookie, gingerbread, and peppermint) and they all sounded so good when I peeked in the cupboard last night. What can I say? I craved a cup of relaxation. And I promise that craving for a cup of relaxation had nothing to do with this…

Peter had a surprise for me after I got home from tutoring last night. He picked up a haul of things from my sister-in-law for baby B. She has two boys and lots of clothing, blankets, and other baby goods she no longer needs. I am incredibly thankful to have these things to use. Baby stuff is expensive! Now, just to find the time to sort through and organize it all. “Yay” for still having 2.5 months. “Yay” is in quotations for a reason.

I guess I can truly say yay to the fact that we’ve done this before and know a bit of what to expect. And I just realized – this fits perfectly with another question for the Q + A series. I didn’t plan on doing one this morning, but when it fits so perfectly, I have to.

Teri asked: What’s one thing you wish someone told you before having kids?

I actually have two answers. One, I fortunately was told and it was the best heads up I have ever received. The other is the one thing I always tell friends who are expecting their first child.

One: The first six weeks SUCK! Yep. That’s good advice. It applies to everything. For some reason, that six week mark hits and things suddenly feel so much easier. I didn’t feel as tired. The baby picks up a bit more of a routine. A switch literally gets flipped in breastfeeding from painful and confusing to easy and natural. You finally feel more control over emotions as hormones level off even more. Basically, it felt like night and day. Thank goodness someone warned me about it. I had numerous moments I wanted to quit breastfeeding, scream and question “why did I DO this???”, and bang my head against a wall because I knew it wouldn’t be hitting a pillow. Being assured of a light at the end of the six week tunnel helped me tremendously.

Two: You won’t always LOVE your baby with that intense, heartbreaking motherly love you hear about right from the first moment.

Nobody told me this. And I felt like the worst mother in the world for a solid week. Sure, I loved Makenzie. I cared for her and wanted the best for her, but my heart didn’t ache for her from the get go. That guilt almost swallowed me whole. Then, I learned after talking with other moms and my midwife, that it was normal. Many moms take a few days to a few weeks to feel that special bond. I can remember the exact moment I felt that deep motherly connection for the first time and it hasn’t left since. If I had any say in the matter, no mom would go through that guilt of believing she couldn’t love her baby because nobody told her its not always instantaneous.

Well, there you have it. Another Q + A. If you have anything you want to ask or have me share about during this November series, please ASK ME ANYTHING!

• What is your favorite holiday tea flavor? I don’t know if I can decide!
• What is the best piece of advice you ever received for a big event? From things like baby/marriage to running a marathon or heading to college…

Before I begin this post, I first wanted to thank you all for your comments on the past two posts. First, for all the fabulous ideas on low volume, nutritionally/calorically dense foods. Avocados, nuts, full fat cheeses/yogurts, trail mix, lara bars, and hummus – here I come. Next, thank you for all the thoughtful comments on this morning’s post relating to faith. I didn’t intend the post to come across as me questioning sharing my faith or how I do so in any way. I am 100% confident in what I do here and solely wanted to share the why. I really appreciated reading all of your insights and opinions as well. Thank you to each person who shared!

Each day, I wear many hats so to speak. Most important of those is acting as a role model. More specifically, a role model to little M. She copies everything.

She tries to dress like mommy. She loves to play on her ‘puter just like mommy.

She picks up phrases like “holy cow!” from mommy. And shouts “Gooooo Dawgs! Sic ‘em!” whenever she sees a Georgia decoration.

She is into workouts with her mommy.

She has a sweet tooth like her mommy, evidenced by her constant begging for a lollipop at the doctor office today. She also loves things like tofu, apples, beans, broccoli, and yogurt like her mommy too.

I cannot deny that this little person closely monitors all of my actions, attitudes, and decisions. Or that I have the greatest impact on her development, especially at this stage when we’re together all. the. time.

That feels kind of frightening. I love little M so much and only want what is best for her. I want her to have a healthy relationship with her body. I desire her to feel loved and know how to show that love to others. I want nothing more than for her to develop into a strong young woman who believes in herself and holds to her values. Can you feel the pressure? I can. I can also feel, however, the privilege in this responsibility. And the unique opportunity it presents me to continuously grow and improve upon myself.

It was for her that I became more solidified in my journey to fully overcome binge eating. When pregnant with her I knew I had to continue working hard on the recovery I already started and having her in mind made it even easier. She kept the one relapse I faced immediately following my competition’s end from turning into more of a problem.

I never utter the word “fat” anymore because I don’t want that to ever be a way she views people. With her in mind, and sitting at my feet, I have had the power to stop myself from succumbing to old habits of critiquing my body in the mirror. Now the mirror is there to simply be sure I look presentable and move on. We own no scale so she will never see me step on and my mood change based on the number fed back to me.

I make sure to take time each day to laugh and play to bring more joy to her world. When things feel overwhelming, I find the strength to move on through prayer and do my best to never retaliate with frustration or anger. Even though that example doesn’t prevent two year old temper tantrums, I hope that my ability to stay calm helps her demeanor in troubles as she matures. I also always try to show kindness to others and take pleasure when she shares her cheerful demeanor with others.

Mothering poses so many challenges. Not only because we have to teach our children, but we also teach ourselves in the process. I think I do a pretty dang good job. It’s largely thanks to her though and the full circle process of learning from each other. I guess its true what they say. That the biggest challenges provide the most opportunity for growth. I feel it each and every day.

• In what ways are you a role model to someone?
• What challenges have helped you grow into a stronger person?
• Don’t forget to ASK ME ANYTHING for the November Q + A series!