Annual BSB Claremont Parade

I’ve blogged about the Claremont Parade many times…its a tradition that I really love that we do!

Started the year Owen was born (2009)…I met a group of girls at a Mommy Support Group and a few of us continued to be friends AFTER the support group was over.  You have read about them on this blog many times before…we call ourselves the BSB (Babies Supporting Babies)…and it really should be MSM (Mommies Supporting Mommies) haha. When I met these women at a First Time Mom’s Support group, we were strangers who were all anxiety rattled exhausted wives turned moms.  We met once a week for 6 weeks and bonded over EVERYTHING from deliveries, breastfeeding, husbands, hormones, formula, etc. we laughed, we cried (a lot) but it was a great 6 weeks.  So great that 6 of us continued to be buddies all these years later! 

This is the 6 of us back in August..we had lunch to send off Kristen.
She moved to Maine!!! It was sad but we all know that move was best for her and her family.

BSB Girls: Maria (pregnant with #4), me, Courtney, Kristen, Mayra and Erine 

But we had the parade again this year…and sadly not all of the BSBs could make it.  We were down to 3 of us this year…missed Courtney, Kristen and Maria!!

Rapunzel and Officer Souza were excited to get walking in the parade.  Maggie slept her way through the parade!  And Ella was scared for the first half and then finally decided to take off her braid and walk the second half.  Owen was pumped…he LOVES his costume to much that he just smiled and had a great time!

 

Gwen, Edward and Owen 

Our little BSB babies!

Lets see the years past…


 

There has only been 2 years where all 6 moms were able to make the parade! But the group continues to grow with more and more kids!! Its still a good time…and my kids love getting every chance they possibly can to wear their costumes!

Checking out the little candy bag they got at the end of the parade…this picture made me realize just how old these kids are getting!! They weren’t asking us to open candy or ready the cards in the baggies! They are little independent kids now. Crazy! Time is flying by way too fast!

And of course our little family…made had to get out of the carseat for a stretch and diaper change anyway (she wasn’t happy that I work her up!)
 

I really hope we continue to do this parade until all our kids are too old to continue doing it!! I love it. And every year I say that Yosh and I are going to dress up…and we never do! haha Some year we will…maybe.

Fun Updates – bottles, hearing, passports,etc.

The first month of a babies life there are SOOO many firsts and here are a few for us!

I’m SOO happy that our girl took a bottle!
 

Most people wouldn’t think much about babies and bottles BUT I was terrified that Maggie would pull an Ella and NOT take a bottle.  Ella was such a little rascal…she refused a bottle for months.  Which wouldn’t be an issue if I was a stay-at-home mom…but this woman had to go back to work!! We tried EVERY bottle under the sun with her and she wouldn’t take one. I remember being SO stressed leaving Ella with my mother when I went back to work and praying she’d take a bottle at some stage! And she did…took 2 days BUT she finally gave in and took a bottle for Nana. So with Maggie I wanted to try a bottle sooner than we did with Ella…to avoid the refusal! lol I was really nervous since Maggie refuses a pacifier…we have bought every kind and she gags with them ALL. Very frustrating being a human pacifier!  But I pumped and she took the bottle NO problem!! Thank Goodness.   Weight off my shoulders.  And we continue it by giving her a bottle everyday. Pumping SUCKS but you gotta do what you gotta do!!
The bottle we tried was one I got free from BuyBuy Baby…its a Lanisoh brand (which I had never heard of) and she took it NO problem. Of course its a bottle that isn’t sold at Target, but thats ok…Amazon prime had some at my house ASAP. I probably should have tried a NUK or Dr. Browns first but oh well..no messing around with it now! lol

Also Ella decided she was ready to bathe with Maggie….lol She was in the bath before I had time to refuse!! haha
 

First of MANY shared bath times for these sisters!

Another BIG one was that Maggie had her first (and last!) Audiology appt.
I mentioned how she failed her hearing test when she was born…and I was a bit anxious to get it tested again.  So we had an appointment with Audiology for a consult to retest her.  And, of course, that day Maggie gave mama a run for her money! We get into the room and the little booger wakes up (shes suppose to be asleep for the test) and poops.  No biggie. While changing her diaper she has a blow out on her clothes…no biggie.  Get her all changed and ready for the test and she poops again!! So we change her AGAIN.  During the test she decides its her awake time. So I was nursing her and trying to get her to settle and be quiet enough for them to test her.  Luckily after about 20 minutes she cooperated and we got the test done!  And I’m VERY VERY happy to report she passed!! No hearing loss in either ears! Thank Goodness.

Another big thing was we got Maggie’s first passport!  We took her little picture while in the hospital the day she was born. Yeah…not the most flattering picture of her BUT we had to get one with her eyes open with a white background!! Newborns and eyes openness isn’t easy to do! So we snapped this one, had it printed in a 2x2 and hoping it works! haha

Less than 8 weeks we’ll all be boarding a plane heading to Ireland for the holidays! Yes…either I’m crazy for traveling internationally with 3 small kids OR I’m a genius! haha I figured Maggie will be at an easy age…she’ll be held and nursed and thats it.  Owen is an awesome traveler..not worried about him either. I’m most worried about traveling with Ella. She’ll be almost 3 at that stage…and she has been our most challenging child thus far! haha Little Beast. But ready of not…the Souza’s will be taking Ireland…again!  I can’t flippin’ wait to be in Ireland for xmas!

So thats a few fun updates we had for the past few weeks.

Heroes vs. Villains Fun Run

Since Maggie arrived we haven’t done much.  I don’t have energy, motivation or interest in leaving the house much. I’ve learned of the things that trigger my anxiety, which is everything haha but since this is the 3rd time around I’ve learned.  So I stay home.  Being home with my little family is the easiest thing for me.  BUT day after day my kids are starting to get some cabin fever.  Yes Owen goes to school everyday…and Ella stays home with Nana and me OR goes to Marthas to play (2 days a week).  I know we need to start leaving the house as a FiveFamily…braving the outside world!

A few weeks ago Owen asked me to do a Color Run…he saw a mother/son participate in one on one of the reality shows we watch together (Our Little Family).  I thought HECK YES!! Thats exciting he wants me to do fun active activities like that.  BUT I’m not able to be moving like that post-baby just yet.  (i’ve been having issues with my incision and other stuff so recovery is  moving slowly!)

I saw on FB or somewhere an advertisement for a local ‘Heroes vs. Villains’ 5k or 1mile run!  How fun does that sound…and we could start our running with a 1miler rather than jumping into a 5k!  Since I’m not able to run I graciously signed Daddy up to participate! haha He was so thrilled. (insert winkie face).  Runners were the heroes and other people were the villains.  Each runner had flags on and the villains were to try and pull the heroes flags. Since Owen is in flag football this run was seriously like the perfect thing for him!  AND another bonus was this run wasn’t an early morning run…it started at 4pm.

We were the bat-family…and proud! haha

I told our friends about it and only one family wanted to participate too…Owen was excited to have friends run with him!

 

Getting their warm-up on!! The kids loved warming up with all the dance moves. So cute.

 

Ella wasn’t too sure…she saw some of the villains and wasn’t diggin’ them…at all!! 

It was a smaller event…which was great! So keeping track of all my runners was easy!! I wish I was able to run with them…but next time. There will always be plenty of time for that!

 

Poor Daddy had to bring Ella. I didn’t think she’d want to run BUT she did.  And Daddy did great. Owen shocked the heck out of me. He took off running and did SO good.  He even LOOKED like a real little runner.  He was in the front of the pack and kept his pace up the whole mile!

And he wondered why his back was hurting after this run?!? Poor Yosh.  Hot and sweaty, still holding his little girl!!

Owen finished top 10 of the whole race…I think it was actually like 5th.  I was so proud of him! That 100mile club is really paying off!

Ella was balling her eyes out as she crossed the finish line. The villains scared her…and she was tired!! One mile is a long way for those tiny little legs!

I loved seeing everyone so proud of finishing!! The kids were so pumped to get medals! And I was very proud of Daddy. He doesn’t exactly like running and he participated without pouting. 
Thanks babe…the kids love you!  

 

Can’t wait to participate in another fun run with Owen in the next few months. He said he’d love to do a Color Run or a Neon Run or a Mud Run. Score kid. Can’t wait!