2013

Ohman Year in Review 2013 from Tamara Ohman on Vimeo.

I made a video of 2013. It is full of growth. Unfortunately, the music didn't upload correctly. Enjoy.
2013 was a favorite and will be cherished forever.

This were are hightlights of 2013.

Our trip to Seattle in January.

Finding out we were having a BOY on February 28, 2013.

Going home in march for a small baby shower with friends and another with family.

Grow, grow, growing a baby.

Celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary.

Laboring for three days and pushing for 3 hours, OMG!

Falling in absolute blissful love with our firstborn, Wells Emerson.

Many of firsts have been praised and excessively celebrated: first smile, first pout, first poot, first high five, first snort, first roll over, first coo, first blow out, first flight, first road trip, first bottle, first boob, first bath, first food, first sip... all the firsts make us take a step back and not take one moment for granted.

Sharing our birthday for the sixth time.

It's been an amazing year.

2013 the year we became parents!

5 months

Months crawled and weeks screeched by while I was pregnant for Wells. The anticipation for his arrival consumed long days. But, then July 24 (the day I went into labor) everything started speeding up and blurring together. Since his arrival on July 28, I can't seem to make days last long enough. But, we deal and savor all these previous moments that speed by. We are three days post Christmas and turning 5 months old. We are back in Louisiana and surrounded with family just like when Wells turned 1 month. It amazes me how much he has grown in this short amount of time. 

Wells hit a growth spurt this past month. He holds bigger and feels more like a toddler. During this spurt, his sleeping patterns were varying. For about 2 weeks, he would wake in the middle of the night one maybe two times. I have two theories on this sudden change in our nights, growth and then rolling into the side of the crib. We set him up in a better position for sleeping and he went back to his 9/10pm to 7am nightly sleeps until he came down with a cold. Also, after asking some of my mommy friends for advice I stopped going to get him if he woke up. He doesn't cry during these wakings. So, I would check on him via our video monitor. Most of the time he would play for a bit and then fall back asleep. At times I think it would be easier to just go get him and nurse him back to sleep because it would take five-ish minutes and I can go back to sleep faster. But, I do believe it's good for him to gain independence and fall back asleep himself. Our house was kicked with a nasty cold leaving both Ted and Wells miserable and at my mercy. Absolutely awful coughing spells, congestion, and everything else that comes with a cold. We've recovered our nights and sleeping after we kicked the colds.

Our four month check up was unintentionally, perfectly scheduled on the spike of this cold. Doc said to let it run it's course and everything else is looking great. Wells is 97% in height, 74% in weight, and his head is around 50% (I can't remember the exact percentage). He's wearing 6-12 month clothes. I'm still exclusively breastfeeding but we have gave him a few sips of water. The first taste was greeted with the best yuck! face ever but he was also grabbing for more. Now anytime I have a glass of water, he is begging me for a sip. Many people including strangers have been asking me if we are feeding him solids. The answer simply is not yet. I plan to exclusively breastfeed for the first year with some introduction to real food at some point. Food for developing motor skills (he feeds himself real cooked food as opposed to puree's) and introduction to texture and flavors. Ideas adapted from Baby-led Weaning with our own personal touch because I am a firm believer that breast is best.

Besides the few days of extreme cuddling as we fighting that god awful cold, Wells is very active. He sits up mostly by himself and is learning to keep his balance. He loves his toys and absolutely can't resist eating books. He has figured out a way to get across the room without steaming rolling. He started this last month with what I was calling the worm. I should have a video of this because it was pretty amusing. He would tuck his knees under his belly which would be excellent if he could figure out how to push off his hands to crawl but we aren't there yet. Instead, knees under belly and nose dive forward. Inch by inch he gets to his destination which happens to usually be the Christmas tree. Then one day about a week ago, he started army crawling! He is all over the place now. 

Wells met Santa, fell asleep under the Christmas tree, and is a fan of getting new toys. Most of all he is always reaching for our wipes container. Typical kid that would be happy with wipe containers than any toy we could buy. He is getting harder to dress and diaper changes are more challenging as he is like a fish out of the water. He loves touching everything. My face, handfuls of my hair, anything on the dinner table, and anything in arms reach. Wells strains to sit up and manages countless stomach crunches a day. He sits up without falling over, most of the time. He talks to himself in the mirror which keeps him entertained most days while I'm getting ready. He naps solid blocks of time more consistently anywhere between two and four hours. He is very curious about he world. He loves people watching and finally realizing he can look out the window in the car. 

The holidays have been simple and sweet. Wells is enjoying the extra mommy and daddy time while we are all out of town. I am too. My favorite part of vacation is being able to spend each day with Ted all day instead of waiting for him to get off from work. Wells managed his third set of flights just fine and we have a few more to go. He loved all the airport people watching, napping in flight, and smiling at flight attendants.We are all loving being around family at my grandparents visiting with my parents, aunt, and my cousins.

Happy five months Wells Emerson! 

Screens

Last mother's day, my brother's and I gifted an iPhone to my mom. This was a big jump for her and blessing. She learned little by little how to use her smart phone and since life has never been the same. The best thing about smart phones or technology is the ability to share life with those who we don't see often. Recently, my mom had to up her data plan because I send too many pictures and video. Plus you have to calculate in her facebook stalking and facetime.

I usually send at the least one picture to my mom daily. And usually there is a video of the day too. One day I was sitting on the couch reviewing the video I was about to send, Wells snuggled up on my lap happy as can be. I sent the video and put the phone down. Wells m e l t e d. Full out dramatics. I decided to try something and I brought my phone back into view. He i m m e d i a t e l y stopped. Reaching, grabbing, until I played the video again at which he smiled a few happy grunts. I put the phone away and cue the second meltdown. So, I looked Wells in the eyes and told him enough with screens. I flew him through the air and onto the ground were we played happily with actually toys. 

I've thought countless times about screens. 

Here are some questions I've asked myself: How many times are you checking your phone? How much does the TV need to be on? Do you really get on your phone every time you nurse him? On and on. 

Screens are so distracting from real life and we all know it. 

What has worked for me is a few guidelines for screens that I'm trying to stick to. I don't turn the television on, check any social media, or look at a screen before I have read my Bible. I put my phone down for nursing Wells a few times a day. Breastfeeding isn't just about nourishment but bonding. Since I've implemented this rule, I've felt like we connect so much. The truth is these precious moments happen for a short period of time and then your baby is grown. So, I'm trying to savor them without screens. When Ted comes home, we typically spend time together. It organically was set into place without screens. We noted the fact that we have enjoyed all the noise and limited distractions setting it in as the norm. Sometimes we go for a walk, cook together, talk, or spend time playing with Wells. It's amazing how much time we wasted prior on stupid news. Then when we do turn the television later in the evening, we enjoy it. 

Every so often I do let Wells watch videos of himself, because it's so darn cute to watch him do so. But, as a guideline we try to limit or avoid all screens for him. For us. For each other. We've talked about locking up the television cold turkey (we just won a new television at Ted's work holiday party) but can't see it happening in the foreseeable future.

Note: The AAP guidelines for media for infants and toddlers.

Last week it snowed three times. I'm a believer that if it has to be cold at least let it snow. The first snow started while we were at church. After church we went to celebrate a friends birthday at his house. This was a really good snow. We didn't get out in it with Wells so when it started snowing on Tuesday we set out. As the flurries hit Wells in the face he laughed. He was a little confused and looked around in wonder, but enjoyed it all.

Hot & Steamy

A friend of ours invited us to resurrect our roles of Mary & Joseph at her church's Christmas Live production. They just needed a hour and a half fill, so we obliged. The weather wasn't conducive for a real baby Jesus so we planned to part with Wells leaving him in the churchs nursery.

We've left Wells with my mom a few times like when she was here, while I was in the hospital for surgery and when we were visiting Louisiana a few months ago. Other than that we've left Wells twice. Once being with our friends wonderful mom and we were gone a whole hour and some change. Twice was the night before last when we attended Ted's work Christmas party. This was the first time we've paid for babysitting. Our friend Matt's sister came over and everything went without a hitch. I even enjoyed the event and didn't feel anxious.

Christmas Live is such a great production. Groups of people are guided from scene to scene outside and the story tells the entire life of Jesus. There are more animals than you could imagine to get the true Bethlehem-esque vibe. Peacocks, goats, donkeys, horses, cows, a camel, sheep, chickens, you get the picture. Upon arriving I dropped my sleeping baby off in the nursery and put on an insane amount of layers to fight the cold night. I went back to check on Wells and sure enough he was just waking. I settled him into the nursery and he was playing happily.

Two hours passed and I went to check on my babe, I was waiting for someone to open the locked glass nursery door scanning the crowd for Wells. I couldn't spot him. Odd. Finally someone came to let me in. I explained I'm looking for my baby, Wells. A few workers look frazzled and looked back and forth from two closed doors. One kind of hesitated before opening one of the doors. There was my baby... screaming in a dark room with a stranger holding him the oddest way.

Oh my, my heart almost jumped out of my chest.

I took my screaming baby and went into another room to calm him and nurse him. The second the door closed, I was a hot mess and not just because I was digging through eight layers to find boob. I cried steamy tears. He was so freaked out. After he was feed and we had a moment, he was fine. I was fine. BUT, boy my heart was sore. I'm not saying anything wrong was happening in the nursery. But, something felt off. I was so happy to rescue my boy.

Lots of snuggles today, we will work on gaining our independence from each other another day.

Happy Snow Day

Cozy scarf, Clouds n Love, Mooreseal, Block Shop, Photo by the Sartorialist

Happy snow day! We are all tucked inside, Ted included. After Wells takes a nap, we are bundling up to introduce Wells to snow. It snowed Sunday but we were at friends and didn't make it outside. Although I'm kind of over cold weather I do love snow. If it's going to be cold, it should snow everyday. There is something so calm, clean, and refreshing about it. Enjoy the links. 

Living My Dream

When I was little my two favorite things to play were school - because I was home schooled and fantasized about going to a real school - and house. Typical childish games. (Might I add, we would also play Noah's Ark countless times with family friends. I'm a PK, can you tell?) High school came and I had list of things I could see myself doing like being a hairstylist (I looked into going to Aveda), photographer (looked into going to the Art Institute in Chicago), family counselor (my first major in college), and a chef (later graduated culinary school). Even when I chose to go to culinary school, it was toss up. I had six different interests that I could go with: accounting, elementary education, photography, culinary, videography, or graphic design. BUT, all along the way all I've ever really wanted to do is be a wife and MOM. For this, I have never apologized. I'm t h a t girl and I'm absolutely comfortable with it.

Pinpointing an interest was always hard because it always came up secondary to being a mom. When I was single, I may have mentioned to a few people "I'd get married just to have babies". Obviously that would be a horrible reason to get married but that's how bad I wanted to be a mom. I always thought I'd be that person that got married and immediately had children. 

Ends up we decided to wait a few years before having kids and it served us well. But, now my life is so rich with a stellar husband and my firstborn son. While Ted's at work, I get to stay home nurturing my boy, fostering his growth, teaching him tricks, and lavishing love on him. Some days are mundane and it can be hard to stay motivated to get everything done, but thats okay. I just enjoy being Wells mom and Ted's wife which has always been my dream. More importantly, I believe motherhood is a calling, my calling.

December

Woolen winter coat, Design Love Fest DIY wreath, trees everywhere, Saveur's Rhubarb recipes,

Emmadime's crisp cocktail, Wine gift wrapping, Cranberry tarts, CS Lewis quote

You can follow my pins on pinterest by clicking here.

Four things about mothering

We love(d) co-sleeping. While pregnant I began to open up to the idea of co-sleeping. After hearing other parents talk openly about it and reading about it, we thought we could stop prejudging those who co-slept. For the first 2 months of little bean's life, we co-slept. Mama, pops, and baby bear. It meant many wonderful things. A beautiful bonding experience, easy night feeds, and peace of mind. I admit, we did try the bassinet. I worried more. Plus the out of bed whole getting him for feeds just was unnecessary work for me. So we threw the bassinet idea out the window. I feel like co-sleeping for us welded our hearts and sleep patterns together. I have a picture waking up our first week back home. It's Ted just waking up on the right side of the bed, Wells sleeping in the middle (taking more than his fair share), and I'm eating cereal to the left. We have crazed bed head still recovering from lack of sleep, but I love it. I'd have to say the transition from our bed or crib was organic. We just did it one day without a peep from Wells and a possible tear from mama. *For safety precautions we never swaddled Wells when he slept with us. We kept a baby rail on my side of the bed in case I was sleeping in the middle and Wells on the outside. Wells slept on top of our covers and had his own sleep sack. His area was pillow and blanket free.

It's true, I'd love to be pregnant again. Right now if I coud. Even after my traumatic labor and delivery experience, I can't wait to do it again. We recently were at our birth class reunion (we took the Bradley Method - and highly suggest it!) and I mentioned this as everyone glared at me a big 'omg, really?' I'm wouldn't be so excited about the nauseous first few weeks or the inability to move BUT the birth, delivery, and BABY. Oh my, I can't wait! I already miss the newborn stage and feel like Wells is growing far to fast. I had a c-section and very hopeful for a successful vbac next go and preferably at home. So I will wait a year for my body to heal. Plus we have a move next summer. So, who knows when the next Ohman will be born but I'd just like to confess, I can't wait to do it all again!

I've come around to pacifiers. My mom was very upset that I was not going to use a pacifier. I'm not into the whole pacifier thing. BUT, I bought one for our flight to Texas. Wells didn't even like it. But, we've kept it around since he was a month old. He didn't really love it or need one. Then I bought one of these for our roadtrip and it's been handy in the car. He loves to play with the fabric and 'teeths' on the whole thing. I wouldn't go as far to as its a lifesaver but it's been used. From a previous no pacifier rule, I came around and see that it aight that big a deal.

I love hunting baby clothes. We don't have a closet full of clothes. I'm more of a quality over quantity type of girl. Several of our items are hand me downs from wonderful friends. A few are purchased second hand via thrift stores, sales like just for friends, and instagram. Other items were gifted to us by wonderfully generous people. I started a instagram where I buy and sell baby clothes. It keeps my p-l-aypal full. I have had one large sale on instagram and continue to sell items from that post. I'm looking forward to our second sale. I've made right around $200 by selling off our clothes on instagram. With my earnings, I buy clothes or items for Wells from small shops like on etsy and instagram. I also enter a lot of giveaways that circulate on instagram. By doing so, I've won a pair of leather moccasins and some leggings. It's kind of a win/win situation.

Quick look

Wells is growing little by little. 

months 1 - 4

I am thankful.

I am thankful for my daily cup of coffee with creamer. Thankful that Ted makes the best chemex brewed coffee, without it I'd be grumpy.

I am thankful for the opportunity and huge blessing to be a stay-at-home mom/wife. I get to watch my baby grow each day. He makes me appreciate the simple things in life. I am truly living my dream.

I am thankful for such a godly, hard working husband who inspires me daily. We have created such a beautiful life together and can't wait for the next adventure. He always keeps me laughing. I am thankful that I can learn so much by the way he loves, leads, and cares for me and others.

I am thankful for my parents who have showered us with so many gifts this past year. For my mom taking one month off work to help us. I am thankful for all the cakes she baked, groceries she bought, the chance to sleep, and countless things they have blessed Wells with. Also, for paying our way to fly home three times this year.

I am thankful for all my friends that I've become a new mom along with. Thankful for friends I can confide in and learn from. Thankful for the ones that have cried, laughed, and remind me that its okay not to have everything figured out. Those who walked me through the first few weeks of being a mom and beyond.

I am thankful that God is faithful. Leaving Philadelphia in about six months is scary. I'm at peace because I know God is going to be faithful to us and will meet our needs again wherever we may be.

I am thankful for friends in which we can always pick up where we left off like no time has passed.

I am thankful for warm socks, good books, swings at the park, and network television.

I am thankful for the ability to breastfeed. Such a huge blessing that it has come so natural and continued without a hitch.

I am thankful for families who open up their home to us on holidays.

I am also thankful to be able to go home for Christmas and New Years this year.

I am thankful for our church - although not perfect - serves us well. Thankful for godly men and women for us to look up to. Also, thankful for the nursing moms room at church - gliders, snacks, water, television to live stream the sermon, and people there to serve you. I hope this is a normal thing for churches to do because it should be.

I am thankful for forgiveness and the ability to change. I am thankful God keeps changing me inwardly. I am thankful for the lessons along the way because they produce character. I am thankful God has met me time and time again softening my heart when it would be so easy to be angry, resentful, and hopeless. He graciously sustains and builds up.

My heart is full. Happy Thanksgiving.

A very thankful 4 months

It is very fitting that Wells is turning four months on Thanksgiving. My heart is so full of gratefulness for the past four months. Falling in love is so sweet. First blissfully with Ted. And now, we've fallen for Wells. It's a different kind of love that parenthood brings. One that I've never experienced before yet still gives me butterflies. Ted & I have also fallen for the park. Wells has too. He laughs when we push him on the swings. He coos as he goes down the slide. But, mostly loves to watch other kids running around.

Wells rolls constantly across the living room floor. He dances at music class. It's as if he wants to stomp his feet. We have taken to lots of fun weekly activities as of late like music class, story time at the library, meeting with our friends at barnes and noble, and the park. Wells seems to enjoy being social. He seems very concerned about this cold weather change. Me too, lovebug, me too. Not that he cries but I've bundled him up to go to the park but he keeps a very stern concerned look the entire time. Wells loves being thrown in the air and still stuck on the ABC song.

Wells had his first taste of college this past month. Ted and I woke up at 2 AM to transfer Wells from crib to car seat loaded into our packed car and drove to Kentucky. I was a little anxious to see if Wells could handle 10+ hours on the road. He did great. Not even a peep on the way there only coo's and Zzz's thankfully. We enjoyed a few days with my little brother, Paul, and his girlfriend. Paul's roommate gave up his room for us which was surprisingly furnished with a queen bed. We survived living with college guys for three nights. I used a white noise app on my iPhone more for my own sleep. It was such a fun trip. Lexington is filled with such delicious and cheap food, score.

I can't wait to bring Wells to his fourth month check up to see how much he's grown. Little bean is so tall. I think we are in that chunk stretch chunk stretch . . . mode. Currently in the stretch. He loves to eat his toes and sit up by himself leaning in on his hands. He loves playing with toys. This past month we taught him to point out our noses. At first he was such a champ working with all his concentration to look at our noses and use all his muscles to land his hand on it. He used so much effort that one time he landed on my nose and cried out of relief. We thought it may be coincidence and not actually smarts. After pointing several times, he decided the trick was old and stopped. But has since picked it back up. We are on to pointing out ears.

Wells still has a great sense of humor. I'm sure he wishes we had more tricks. He may have contagious giggles on something you do for a day then be over it the next. His stare reads 'seriously, this again?!' Keeps us on our toes making him laugh, sometimes literally. He does continue to laugh as I dance to club-style music (don't judge) while I'm cooking. Thankfully my dance moves never get old. Those I keep fresh daily.

Our nights have been consistent this past month and went without a hitch through day light savings time. Wells sleeps from 9pm to 7 or 8am. He naps on the floor, bed, car seat, crib, bjorn bouncer, carrier, and sometimes in my arms. He doesn't seem to prefer one over the other and often times naps on the go. He lets friends hold him as wells as people he meets for the first time. He still is unsure when we first walk into a crowd that is giving him too much attention. A little shy but take a step back for 5 minutes and he'll get comfy in your arms. He's really snuggly and not too wiggly yet. I'm savoring it.

You can read our previous monthly updates here: 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months.
All photos taken with my iPhone 5c.

Put together

Kentucky from Tamara Ohman on Vimeo.



One of these days, I'd love to plan out a video that I throw music on. I'm one of those people that like taking pictures and video but feel extremely weird doing so, like I'm annoying you. I know that I take a million photos, but I even try to hurry and shoot so I don't annoy Ted. So many times I wish I would have snapped a few more or put more attention to detail. But, the snap and go method works for me right now. We recently took a family roadtrip to visit my little brother, Paul, in Lexington. We mostly ate food. Really, really good food and yet I didn't get one clip of it. It was a short but very delicious trip.Wells did great winging it with college boys and in the car for 20+ hours (there and back and then some). I can't wait to go back in May for Paul's graduation!

I'm over at Life Blessons

Carmen is running a new series on her blog, Life Blessons, about Redeeming Motherhood. 

You can find my story here. If your clicking over from Life Blessons, welcome.
I believe the link to my birth story didn't connect due to my blog url change. You can find my birth story here.

Longwood Gardens

*all photos by iphone 5c edited with VSCOcam*