Guilty.

Let me just go off for a minute.  (Me?  Shocker?!)

To say I LOVE being a Mama, is a major understatement.  It is the absolute best thing I have ever done; I could just sit and watch Laura Helen play and figure things out, all day long.  On the flip side, I think that as soon as that sweet baby girl was placed in my arms, I automatically inherited the "guilty gene."  Mama's feel guilty about every choice we make.. is the right one?  will people disagree with me?  what if I do this wrong and mess up my child for the rest of her life? etc, etc, etc.  It's hard; this precious little life is dependent upon me and her daddy.  Sometimes we know exactly what we are doing, and other time we are completely clueless, but nonetheless, we do the BEST we know how to do, always looking out for Laura Helen's best interest.

Now, I am about UP TO HERE in hearing Mama's put down other Mama's for their (not life threatening) choices.  I had LH in a sterile hospital (after being induced), with monitors and drugs (oh, WONDERFUL drugs) and nurses and doctors.  I formula feed (gasp!) my child and she wears disposable diapers and is up to date on all her immunizations.  I even let her "cry it out" (don't report me to DFCS).  I know it's just because this is the season of my life, but I feel like I have read and/or heard numerous accounts, stories, blogs and articles about these certain things, all written to convince me (the unnatural mama) that I have failed my child and there is no way I have bonded with my child as tight as the mama's who had natural births, at home with a midwife. 

PEOPLE!  We are all Mama's, doing what WE think is best.  You do it your way and I'll do it mine.  I might think you are a little crazy, but I sure as fire wont tell you that did anything the "wrong" way.  You love your child and do what you think is best for him/her, just as I do for my little Laura Helen.  She is (very) loved and healthy and progressing quite nicely, if I do say so myself.  :) 

So quit busting my bubble and let me go on being a proud Mama, sure that my child is the smartest, sweetest, easiest, cutest, funniest..............

My sweet girl and me.

Linking up from Kelly's Korner...

My name is Cara Lea and I live south of Atlanta with my husband, Jim and 10 month old daughter, Laura Helen.  We have been here for about 2 years now, after moving up from Americus, Georgia and before that in Athens, Georgia.  My husband is originally from about 25 miles south of here, so he knows a good amount of people in the area.  I am actually from Mississippi; born and raised!  Although, after marrying a Georgia boy (7 years ago) I made the move.  My husband teaches in the local high school and I have recently quit my job (Medical Social Work) to stay home with our sweet girl.

We are big SEC sports fans in this house.. Mississippi State for me, and Georgia for my husband (I will win the battle and Laura Helen will become Mississippi State, too!  Ha.)  We both graduated from these schools (although, I graduated from both; undergrad from MSU and grad from UGA.)  We enjoy tennis and just doing ridiculous things together with our sweet little family.  I, personally, love Swedish Fish and Diet Coke.. I swear I could live off of those two things!  I love all things southern: accents, double names, fried food and smocked or monogrammed children's clothes (slightly obsessed.)

Thanks for stopping by!

 

(and fyi.. I have neglected this blog since my daughter was about 20 days old (she is now 10 months) so there isn't much on here.. I am trying to get back into it and be more disciplined!)

Bathing Beauty

How did we go from this....

... to this?  (although her head/lack of hair has remained )

Well...

Last time I posted, Laura Helen was 13 days old... now she is 10 months old.  

She crawls, pulls up and is talking non stop.  She is the funniest thing with a big personality.  Her thighs are perfectly chunky with lots of squeazability.  She is perfect in every way (well we think so.)

 

She loves her Mama, but she is definitely a Daddy's girl.

Shall I try this again?

Apparently, the blogging world is not cut out for me.. but atlas, I will try, try again.

I am no longer working, but staying at home with my sweet girl.  I might possibly have some free time to TRY this blogging out again. 

I have 3 million precious Laura Helen pictures I could post... but I will try that later on.

Here we go.. again.

Firsts.

** FOR MAMA: If you want to see bigger versions of the pictures below, just click on the picture and it should enlarge it for you.  Thought that might be better.  Enjoy.

 First Outing- to get dog food.  How exciting.

 First Doctor's Visit.

 With Daddy at the Doctor.

 Not loving the Doctor's Office.

 First ride in the stroller.  

Headed for walk around the neighborhood.

 First Bath.

 

Not a first, but this is just a cute picture. 

Please notice LH's knee-highs, compliments of her Daddy.

Festivities.

Welcome to the world, Baby Girl!

Laura Helen and Nan

With Grandmama

Laura Helen with Mama and Grandmama

With Aunt Lali

First Family Photo

With Big Dave

Aunt Gael

Sweet Girl

Nan

Grandmama

With Aunt Lali, Papaw and Grandmama

Sweet Smile

Meeting Aunt Amy, Uncle Clark and Adeline

Sweet Daddy

Hello Papaw