Bringing home Benjamin

Our new addition is finally here! Benjamin arrived Sunday, April 12th around 1:15pm just in time to watch his first Masters. A few days before his arrival I began feeling anxious about how our family would change and how adding another sibling would affect the boys. Thankfully, Luke and Jett are smitten with their little brother.  They want to kiss him and hold him constantly. They tell him goodbye when they leave for school and he's the first person they want to see when they come home. Mr. YSP is thrilled to have a future Father's Day golf foursome. How lucky am I that I get to spend everyday with these handsome guys?

I'm recovering nicely and am anxious to get back into a routine. Sleep has been here and there but this time around I don't mind the middle of the night feedings as much.  I feel like they're some of the few moments I get alone with Ben and can give him my undivided attention. It's hard to believe I started this blog almost five years ago during a late night feeding session with Jett! I had no idea what a blog was but desperately needed a creative outlet for myself. I'm looking forward to giving this space new life in the coming months too!

As for now, we're trying to keep life simple. We are getting to know Benjamin and what makes him unique. Like the way he prays with his little feet...

 And the way he loves to hold hands...it just melts my heart.

And the fact that he has the most gorgeous blue eyes and dark hair. I wonder if they will stay?

Luke is such an amazing big brother which comes as no surprise. I call him my gentle giant. He has such a sweet, tender heart and will protect his little brothers at no cost. He loves to hold and snuggle Benjamin and talks to him softly. Before I left the hospital, Luke said he wanted to take the week off from school because he felt the need to be home taking care of me. Unfortunately, I couldn't take him up on his offer coming off a week of spring break but I appreciated his thoughtfulness.

Jett is also adjusting well. He is such a great helper and will run and grab a diaper for me or talk to Ben when he's crying. His compassion is really shining through. He also comes and gives me hugs and writes me little love notes when my postpartum hormones get the best of me. There was a little tinge of jealousy the first 48 hours just because Jett loves (and is so good at) being the center of attention but I think he realizes he still has the stronghold on that position. He' always dancing and singing and entertaining us with funny stories. 

The hardest part (for me) of having a third child is making sure everyone gets the attention they need and deserve. I also need to be conscious of taking care of myself and not do too much too soon. However, I'm anxious to begin driving again so I can take the boys to school. I want to go to the park and play with the boys. I want to be able to run after them on their bikes. I want to go on dates with Mr. YSP. I know the time will come and I'm trying to be patient with myself and assure the boys I will heal soon. Life outside the home will resume but right now I'm trying to enjoy little moments, taking it all in and photographing as much as possible.

When we ARE ready to get out and about, I'm prepared, thanks to my friends at Skip Hop. If there's one baby product I would recommend to all new moms, it's the Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station.  I love, love, love it and used it with the older boys too. I was due for a new one as my old one was pretty "well loved." It makes diaper changing on-the-go SO much easier!

They also sent me the Skip Hop Duo Special Edition Diaper Bag in French Stripe which is the perfect size and a great casual, everyday diaper bag. I love that it's cleanable, durable and has lots of pockets. With Luke, I used a "designer" diaper bag which was a very thoughtful gift from my husband. I still have it but it's not practical for everyday life with three boys. I carry it to church and on occasions when I need something a little more formal. Who says you can only have one diaper bag?

I also want to thank you for all the love, support and comments across social media! It means so much to me and is very encouraging. If you want to see more of our life at home and everyday YSP, please come follow me on Instagram. There's lots of good stuff over there that I sometimes don't have time to share here. Would love to connect with you there!

Your Southern Peach,

Amy

*Disclosure: Thank you Skip Hop for sending me the Pronto Changing Station and Skip Hop Due Special Edition Diaper Bag. 

When you become a mother

The ones I love 

Have you ever asked yourself, "Am I ready to be a mom?"  "Would I be a good parent?" "Could I handle the responsibility of raising a child?"

With Mother's Day approaching, I've been reflecting on how much my life and myself has changed over the last four years.  My husband and I always knew we wanted to have children but I never had that strong urge or heard my clock ticking so to speak.  We just got to a point in our lives where we thought it was the right time.  Even when we decided to have our second child, I wondered if I was capable of loving two children equally and fully.

Throughout my pregnancies, I was a mix of emotions from excited, happy, anxious and afraid.  "Was I ready to be a mother to one or even two children?"

And then, something magical happens.  You labor, you push, you breathe.  Suddenly, a precious little goo-covered person is placed on your chest and you gaze into their eyes for the first time and you fall utterly and completely in love.  It's that simple.  In that very instant, you cannot imagine your life without them.  You would do anything to protect, love and nurture this little person.  

You become a mother.

I vividly remember the very first thought that came into my head when I held my oldest son for the first time.  I thought to myself, "There must certainly be life after death because the love that I feel in this very moment cannot be expressed in the years I have left on this Earth."  My heart was filled with an eternal love that is so deep and so unconditional that it is hard to put into words.  And the second time around with my younger son, the love doubled and the joy I felt while holding him in my arms was indescribable.

Now that I am a mother, I often reflect back on my own childhood and recall every lecture, word of caution and warning my mom constantly gave to my sisters and I.  I remember how she would endlessly tell us how much she loved us and how special we were to her.  I'm sure we rolled our eyes at her many of times over her enormous displays of affection.  But it all makes sense now.  Every single last bit of it.  

And so in preparation of Mother's Day, I'd like to tell my mother thank you for loving me from day one, through the good and the bad.  You are an incredible role model and friend.  I feel so very, very blessed that you are in my life and in the lives of my children. 

Happy Mother's Day.  I love you.

Mom and all her grandkids

Don't forget to enter my royal giveaway!  I'll announce the winner tomorrow on The Friday Five.

Superbowl Hangover

We had a small party of sorts for the game this weekend.  Being that my mom is a Pittsburgh native, she routes for the Steelers as does all 582 of my family members who live in PA.  (Maybe that number is an exaggeration, but it's pretty close.)  I'm on salt overload from all the nachos my husband insisted on making.  It's kinda his Superbowl tradition.  Apparently, it's also tradition that a man have seven bags of chips on hand during the biggest football game of the year.

My sister (also born in PA) came with her Steelers bling compliments of a care package sent by one of our cousins.  Thanks Chris!

This was my idea of decorating in black and gold.  Spring, we miss you.

Some black and gold brownies for the kids.  (And the adults too...who am I kidding?)  So good and made with Godiva chocolate.  I just packaged up the leftovers to go to my husband's office tomorrow and labeled them "Loser Brownies."

And even though the Steelers lost, I got a new gold sweater from my mom out of the deal.  Thanks Mom!  You're the best.  Sorry the Steelers lost...maybe next time!

How was your weekend fellow peaches?  

Mom's Pot Roast

My mom is amazing.  That's her.  Isn't she cute?  There aren't enough words in the world to sing her praises!  Now that I'm older, I've come to realize that mom is always right.  Anytime, I've gone against her advice, I've ended up saying in the back of my mind, "Mom was right...again."  It's funny how it takes us so long to figure this out.

I thought it might be nice to do a tribute to mom by featuring one of my favorite fall dishes, mom's pot roast.  Mom's cooking is plain and simple, which also happens to go right along with one of her favorite sayings "Plain and simple is best."  For me, this pot roast is comfort food and reminds me of home.

Mom's Pot Roast/Ingredients:

1 Rump Roast
1 bag small potatoes, cleaned and halved
1/2 bag carrots peeled and halved
1 yellow onion cut into sixths
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 carton chicken stock
1/8 cup lemon pepper

Ingredients

Cover the roast completely with

First combine the soup and stock in the crockpot.  Then add roast and vegetables.  Cook on low for 8 hours.

Enjoy!

It's just a pumpkin

Yes, we did the pumpkin patch thing. The kids love it or so we (their parents) like to think they do. Honestly, my oldest son talks more about "the old red tractor at the pumpkin patch" more than anything else. If I could just get one of those things in my backyard, I would never have to go anywhere ever again. But that wouldn't be much fun, now would it?   However, after reading this post a few months ago by a favorite blogger, it made me think twice about what events or "memories" meant the most to me.  I couldn't agree more with her opinion, but after careful consideration, our annual pumpkin patch visit is not one I'm willing to give up...just yet. 

You know, I never carved a pumpkin until I was in my late twenties?  I learned how to roast the seeds and all that good stuff from a friend who had grown up doing this fall tradition and  I remember thinking to myself, "Why didn't mom ever do this with us as kids?  It's fun!"  Well, I can guarantee that as a single mom, it was too much for her to do by herself, dragging three young kids to some rural pumpkin farm or even carving a store bought pumpkin with three kids wanting to help.  Sure we did lots of other stuff as a family but the pumpkin thing was something she choose not to do and I don't blame her one bit.  (She sure enjoys taking the grand kids though!)

For me, our visit to the pumpkin patch symbolizes the culmination of  fall with Thanksgiving being the grand finale. I actually really enjoy admiring all the unique characteristics of each pumpkin and watching my son pick what he thinks is "the perfect pumpkin."   The pumpkin patch doesn't cause me stress because there's no start time that we're committed to make, there's not a huge financial investment made upfront, the kids can run around and play and if they start having a meltdown, we go home.  It's just a pumpkin.  If we luck out with a cute picture, great.  If  not,  no big deal.  Its just a pumpkin.  Some years we get around to the carving and roasting part, some we don't.  It's just a pumpkin.  And quite frankly, how many more years do you think these sweet children are gonna indulge us in this simple pleasure?

There are no fonder memories than those created in your own home.  However, suburban living just isn't cut out for pumpkin farming.  Maybe next year I can try my hand at planting some pumpkins here. I've heard pumpkins are actually very difficult to grow but how hard can it be?  It's just a pumpkin.  For now we'll be supporting local farms with our annual visits which is a "very good thing."  What family traditions or events do you cherish most?  I'd love to hear from my fellow peaches!

Tiny Treasures

You know that weird, creepy guy on the beach with the metal detector?  I get him.  I really get him.  There's something so peaceful about being caught up in the moment, searching the beach for unknown treasure.

Growing up, my family vacationed at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.  One of my fondest memories as a little girl was combing the beach with my mom and sisters, searching for seashells.  When I was about ten years old, I found a huge conch shell perfectly in tact and I have been hooked on seashells ever since.  Now I vacation primarily on the Gulf Coast for it's white beaches and turquoise waters but finding shells can be hit or miss.  Until this last trip. 

I was so inspired by the beautiful color palette of blues, peaches, tans and whites.  Most of the shells were so tiny in size but that didn't keep us from hand picking them from the sugar white sand.  On the last day, just before the storms rolled in, we got lucky and found some beautiful larger shells that I plan to put here.

This trip was extra special because my mom went with us.  Being on the beach with her really brought back some great childhood memories.  I hope I can foster these same type of memories for my kids because that's a treasure that lasts a lifetime.