The Magz Wed

My cousin Krystle FINALLY got married on Sunday.  And I don't mean that in a way that we thought she would never get married or anything.  It's just that this whole month of April has been dedicated to her and her special day.  I've seen her the most this month than I have in the last few years put together.  (That's actually sad, so I hope realizing that changes things.)  Besides her birthday, 1/4 was the wedding shower, 2/4 was her bridal shower, 3/4 was her bachelorette and the wedding made it 4/4.  Let's just say her bridesmaids were counting down just as much as the bride(zilla).. haha.

All teasing aside, the wedding was beautiful.  

The reception was at the Bel-Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades.  

Their hors d'oeuvres were to die for! I loved the mashed potatoes smothered with mushrooms, green onions, cheese, onion rings and truffle butter sauce..oh my! And if I could, I would have stuffed my face with the ahi tuna.  The food made up for the no alcohol and no dancing.  Though I did sneak in a small bottle of Moscato and used Ian to get my groove on by "lulling" him to sleep.  I'm surprised he got 2 naps in!

I wish I was able to take more pictures of Krystle's dream wedding 'cause everything was beautiful and matched her taste & personality.

Btw, Krystle is a floral designer, does candy stations and photo booths for all occasions. 

Visit bloomeriafloraldesign for more info!

Realization of the night- Weddings don't get to me anymore.  I don't envy the couple's love and think of what my special day would be like with my "perfect guy" that I totally made up.  Don't get me wrong, I look forward to getting married one day.  I guess it goes to show where my priorities lie at this time.  I'll say it over and over.  Ian is my number one.  I am completely immersed in my love for him.  I've never felt any love like it.  And just as couples marry and choose to commit themselves to one another, I am fully committing myself to Ian.  

Two take-a-ways from today:

1) Ian is growing up way too fast.  

He's not my little tiny baby anymore.  He's wearing a tie! 

aaand he's just as big as his 1 1/2yr old cousin.

Button down shirt: OshKoshB'Gosh Pants: H&M Baby
Tie: Children's Place Hat: gifted
Shoes (shown below): Carters

 2) #1 reason I'd want a boyfriend:
I need someone to always be there to take good pictures of me and Ian.

True story- 

I've cried because my parents are incapable of taking decent photos of us.

So if you see pictures of me and Ian, you can guess that it took 10 shots
..or I used a tripod.

With that said, here's Ian's first bathroom pic/selfie.

I specifically got a Micky Mouse case so he'd look at the camera.

It works like a charm 'cause he LOVES Mickey.

<3

Melissa

Ian's Easter Basket

Ian's only 7 months old.  He can't eat candy and definitely can't play with the little toys found in Easter eggs.  But that doesn't mean Ian can't have an Easter basket full of goodies.  Instead, I filled it with swim trunks he's going to need this Spring/Summer when we go on vacation (tell you where later), Easter eggs with new snacks he CAN eat, a trainer sippy to practice with and candy for him to share with me and his grandparents (Reese's, Twix and KitKats please). 

Swim Trunks: Mickey - Target,  Anchors - Walmart

Trainer Sippy Cup: Nuk

Snacks: Gerber Puffs

Best thing, I chose a basket that I can reuse to keep in the toys that are currently scattered around his room.  I'm envisioning him lugging his basket around as he follows me pointing to toys he needs to "collect" (ha ha ha).

Can't wait to take Ian on his first Easter Egg Hunt!
Follow us on Instagram to see how many eggs Ian finds..

and if he's not freaked out by the Easter bunny.

<3

Melissa

Love Me..or not.

Sunglasses: vintage Sweater: Forever 21 Necklace & Ring: vintage
Shorts: Ally Purse: L.A.M.B Shoes: Enzo Angiolini (Nordstrom Rack)

I get asked if I'm dating more often than I'd like to.  I know it's a valid question being a single mom and all, but is it that important for me to be "finding someone" right now?  Is it necessary for me to find a father for Ian already? I mean, he's only 7 months old.  My focus has been on him.  How am I suppose to find the time to not only meet someone, but to invest in getting to know the guy and make sure he's the right one for US?

So here's my answer: No I'm not dating anyone.  

I don't plan to until I feel I can balance "finding the one" 

with raising Ian how I want to raise him. 

I'm choosing Ian.  I'm choosing to make sure that I don't miss these important moments when he depends on me.  Besides, whoever can steal my gaze away from Ian will be worth the wait. 

Fairytales were never meant for me.  Like most things in my life, the best things come unexpectedly.  It's not being "complicated." It's life.  

You do what's important and the rest will come.

<3

Melissa

A Look Back: My Baby Announcement

"A year ago today, I announced you to the world.
Today, you make yourself known in your own way."

Finding out you're pregnant can be nerve wrecking, heart pounding, confusing, joyful, oh you know, every emotion in the spectrum rolled together.  But when you announce it to the world, it's exciting, thrilling even, just knowing that you have this HUGE secret that you're hiding and are about to reveal to your loved ones.

You see photos with couples cutting into blue cake, or looking up as pink balloons fill the sky. You hear stories of how they announced it to their friends and family - sonograms in picture frames, soon-to-be siblings wearing announcement shirts, etc.

When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I couldn't announce it "loud and proud" like many couples do.  I didn't have a boyfriend, wasn't dating anyone.  My parents never met a "friend" that I was hanging out with.  So to say "Hey, I'm pregnant!" would be a shock to anyone and everyone.

I knew there'd be explaining to do, but I didn't really want to.  At the time, I respected the baby daddy's decision in not wanting to be a part of the baby's life...to even be known as the baby's father.  The situation is beyond complicated and I understood.  It was a relief on my part as I wanted to do the best I could to care for my growing seed - no stress, no drama.

So for my baby announcement, I decided to show my story by creating a video on YouTube. To most people, it might be a bit confusing, sad and lost in translation...until the last 10 seconds.  But to "him" and those who know him...the message is pretty clear.

As the song says "I'm going to find a way to make it without you."

 And so far, I've done a f*ckin'great job at it.

<3

Melissa

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

I found this shared on Facebook.  It hit close to heart especially since I'm raising Ian on my own.  Yes, he has his grandparents, but ultimately, it will just be me and him.  

I can't do #20. Hopefully he'll have his grandpa to look up to.  Maybe I'll find him a stepdad who can be a great example for him.  Maybe I'll be enough..

I look forward to doing my best with Ian.  

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

1. Teach him the words for how he feels.
Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment.  He’ll cry from fear and bite out of excitement.  Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference.  Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion.  Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.

2. Be a cheerleader for his life.
There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games.  There is no doubt that he will tell you to “stop, mom” when you sing along to his garage band’s lyrics.  There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts.  There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you’ve been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade.  He will tell you to stop.  He will say he’s embarrassed.  But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.

3. Teach him how to do laundry.
..And load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt.  He may not always choose to do it.  He may not ever have to do it.  But someday his wife will thank you.

4. Read to him and read with him.
Emilie Buchwald said, “Children become readers on the laps of their parents.”  Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books.  Let him see you reading…reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles.  Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever.  Writers are the transcribers of history and memories.  They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important.  And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.

5. Encourage him to dance.
Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals.  No matter where you go, no matter who you meet – they have some form of the three.  It doesn’t have to be good.  Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it’s perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.

6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform like Batman will surround your son from birth.  But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen Mark Twain, and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity, and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).

7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphna Blake) will surround your son from birth.  But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Maria Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).

8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.
You already are all of those things.  If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this:  If you have done any of the following:  a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering...you are a superhero.  do not doubt yourself for one second.  Seriously.

9. Teach him to have manners.
Because its nice.  and it will make the world a little better of a place.

10. Give him something to believe in.
Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won’t be able to be there.  Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.

11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle.
Like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people’s feelings.

12. Let him ruin his clothes.
Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes.  You’ll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don’t waste your energy being angry about something inevitable.  Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes.  Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.

13. Learn how to throw a football.
Or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears, or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song.  Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.

14. Go outside with him.
Turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away.  Just go outside and follow him around.  Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions.  It’s like magic.

15. Let him lose.
Losing sucks.  Everybody isn’t always a winner.  Even if you want to say, “You’re a winner because you tried,” don’t.  He doesn’t feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed.  And that’s a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids.  This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again…..)  Instead make sure he understands that – sometimes you win – sometimes you lose.  But that doesn’t mean you ever give up.

16. Give him opportunities to help others.
There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help.  Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities.  Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together. 

17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.
This doesn’t just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life.  You become a better writer by writing.  You become a better listener by listening.  You become better speaker by speaking.  Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks – they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing.  Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip.  Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier.  Practice, practice, practice.

18. Answer him when he asks, “Why?”
Answer him, or search for the answer together.  Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches).  Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself.  Someday, when he needs to ask questions he’s too embarrassed to ask you – he’ll know where to go to find the right answers.

19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.
Especially the wipes.

20. Let his dad teach him how to do things.
…Without interrupting about how to do it the ‘right way.’  If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything.  You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers.  And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom,  you will stay connected to what is happening in his life.  Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.

21. Give him something to release his energy.
Drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog.  Give him something to go crazy with – or he will use your stuff.  and then you’ll sorry.

22. Build him forts.
Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic.  Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders.  For the rest of his life, he’ll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical.

23. Take him to new places.
Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.

24. Kiss him.
Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet.  They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day.  But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender.  So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, ‘what happens in between that made you lose that?’  Let’s try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they’re loving and kissing them even more when they’re wild.  Kissing them when they’re 2 months and kissing them when they’re 16 years old.  You’re the mom – you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets – and make sure he knows it.   p.s. (this one is just as important for dad’s too). 

25. Be home base.
You are home to him.  When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back.  When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile.  When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you’re the only one who will listen that many times.  When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands.  When he is sick, he will call you.  When he really messes up, he will call you.  When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious.  Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun.  Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.

<3

Melissa

This AMAZING Feeling

Ian is into his 7th month and I'm really feeling the time zooming by. The first 4 months were REALLY tough and I kept hoping for the days to go by faster so he'd be a little less dependent, mobile and saying "Mama."  Now with him babbling and testing his voice, loving standing up in his crib and reaching for me when I walk by, I wish I could pull a "time out" like Zach Morris.

I don't lose sleep because he's up crying, but because I find myself watching him sleep.  HE.IS.PERFECT.

As I watch my sweet boy sleeping, I'm just in awe that I created such a being. His soft hair, beautiful eyes, cute nose, adorable lips, chin, fingers..

OMG I LOVE IT ALL!

You'll hear it over and over, from every mother, for all time.

Being a mother is an amazing feeling.  

Truly unexplainable.  Unique to only you and with every child.  

It's such a beautiful thing. 

I am so very thankful each and every day that I was blessed with Ian.

Mother or not, cherish every moment.

<3

Melissa