OcalaMom.com

Hello everyone. I've always gone to sites and read everyone else's blogs but never actually joined one. I feel like the blogs I have read have been so beneficial to me so I should become a part of "Ocala Mom" so maybe I can be of some help to others. My new favorite blog is that of The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck. It's so nice to see that even "celebrities" have frantic, crazy, sleepless, depressing, exciting, overwhelmed days just like the rest of us (most of them, not like Brittany or others whose nannies raise their children).

Anyway, I am 24 years old and have a 21 month old daughter who has been the absolute highlight of my life since she was born. My husband is in law enforcement and works crazy hours so sometimes I feel like a single mom doing everything by myself while also working a demanding job in banking. Luckily my daughter has 2 sets of grandparents that I wouldn't be able to live without. They watch her during the day so that I don't have to put her in daycare and I am sure they love her as much as I do.

What I have learned from blogs is all of the books you read on "milestones" and what your baby should be doing at certain ages should be thrown out the window! Every baby reaches certain accomplishments at different ages and it doesn't make one baby smarter or than the other or one parent better than the other (except for extreme cases). However, it is nice to be able to compare with other moms just to see if your baby (I know, I refuse to call her a toddler, not ready yet) is doing all of the same things.

My daughter's newest thing is talking and singing. My husband sings pretty much 24 hours a day (in the shower, car, and while watching television) so I think she picked it up from him. Her new favorite word is "cool" and she uses it at all the wrong times but it is still hilarious. She is in love with Bear and with Big Blue House and The Backyardagains. I like Bear because I feel like it is at least somewhat educational while I don't feel like she is learning anything from The Backyardagains.

Ever since she was born she has been in the 90-99 percentile for height and up until 1 year she was the same with weight. It seemed like the didn't gain an ounce after she started walking and she's not my little "Chunky monkey" anymore. Her clothes are now more true-to-size now rather than everything for her age being too small as her first year was.

I am a scrapbook addict. Before I had my baby (yes baby, not toddler) my aunt started scrapbooks for all 3 of here adopted children and I thought it was the most unique to capture moments and memories. Prior to beginning scrapbooking my camera was like those commercials that talk about pictures being deleted because I never printed them out! They went into a folder on my computer and that was their home. I just completed my first book (only because I cannot fit anymore pages in it) and it is my most rewarding possession. My daughter also loves looking at it and I'm sure she will appreciate it ever more when she gets older.

This is all I have time for now. I hope you enjoyed my first post and will be back for more; lots more!

Welcome to OcalaMom.com.
We're so glad you decided to come join the fun.
I love to scrapbook, too. Where's your favorite store to get supplies locally?
Robyn

Hi and welcome!
I completely agree about the milestones, etc... -- but it is still fun to chat about them like you said.

WTG on scrapbooking! I can admire them but don't think I have any talent in that area. lol

Hi and Welcome!

I would LOVE to get into scrapbooking! I hate it that all of my sons pictures are on the computer and not in a photo album or scrapbook somewhere. My husband put them all on disks for me, but that scares me even more b/c what if the disk breaks!! All our wonderful memories gone!

How did you motivate yourself to actually sit down and get started? I'm alittle overwhelmed b/c my son is almost 4, so I wouldn't know where to start!

My favorite place to get supplies is Hobby Lobby. They have such great sales so I am always watching the ads for their 50% deals!

quote:

Originally posted by SBEditor:
Welcome to OcalaMom.com.
We're so glad you decided to come join the fun.
I love to scrapbook, too. Where's your favorite store to get supplies locally?
Robyn