DC Metro Mom

Local Radio-Show Host and Mother of Three Finds Joy in Working From Home and Focusing On Family

There I was 6 weeks after having our baby boy and 30 pounds heavier trying on cocktail dresses for my husband's company Christmas party.

As my daughter played with her dollhouse in her room and the baby slept, I dug deep in the back of my closet to see if  a red strapless dress I wore to a company party two years ago would fit.

I took a deep breath, shimmied it over my hips and started to zip it up while  hoping it would make it beyond my waist and I could stave off a breakdown.  The zipper stopped at my back.  Even a few grunts and groans couldn't get it up to contain my back and chest.

As I prepared myself for a breakdown, my daughter runs into my room, mouth wide open and says, "MOMMY, YOU LOOK LIKE A PRINCESS!"  I immediately picked her up and hugged her close with tears of joy in my eyes.  She then says, "Can I put my princess dress on too?"

He is here!   Andrew Gregory Fisher was born 10-19-08 at 4:20pm EST.  He is 6lb 12 oz and 20 1/4 inches long.  He is perfect!  Mommy is doing well too.  Labor took about 10 hours and pushing 1 hour.  whew... We feel so amazingly blessed to have another healthy baby.  Thank you God! Love, Greg, Amanda, Emily, and Andy Fisher! VIEW MORE PICTURES HERE.

Cross posted on http://amandacarroll.wordpress.com/.

What is it about motherhood and pregnancy that makes you feel so invincible?  Maybe it's the hormones, or maybe it's just because all of a sudden you realize you have no other choice but to be strong for your children.

Yesterday, I did something brave for me, and had a professional photo shoot with my bare pregnant belly.  I'm typically pretty shy of taking pictures of myself especially when I feel well...as large...as I am.  But, when friend and fellow Vienna Mom Club member, Emily Korff, of VeraLana Photography brought up the idea, I went for it.  And I'm so glad we did it!  I will never forget the experience.  I felt beautiful.  I felt special.  I felt powerful to be a mama!

Emily Korff is one powerful mama herself.  She is an inspiration.  She has 2 beautiful daughters (Vera and Lana) and has created her own professional photography business.This weekend she celebrated moving into her own professional photography studio in Vienna! It's a big step and I am so excited for her!  She is an inspiration to us all.  If you've ever wished and hoped to take your creative talents and turn it into a business, she is a great example.  She is diving in!

I think that's all it takes sometimes.  A brave plunge.  A step where failure isn't an option, so success is the only outcome!

Inside the gates of the White House grounds

Help me stop the negativity and pessimism about the future of America today...and turn into Hope. The confident expectation in the future of our families and the future of America.

I'm tired of the campaigning surrounding the election...and the media coverage of it only discussing the worst about our country instead of the hope that we have in our future!  I'm tired of everyone being so negative and pessimistic about this Bank Bailout in the news freaking everyone (and the stock market) out.

Saw this tonight while surfing around for some baby gear at BabiesRUs.com.  I was looking for a backpack/sling to carry enough stuff for 2 kids instead of just one, and I stumbled upon this new product.  The Daddy Diaper Vest! Here's what the website said about it:

"DadGear introduces the Diaper Vest. This wearable diaper bag is the hottest innovation in parenting gear since the diaper bag itself. Our revolutionary twist on the traditional diaper bag sets the standard for our "hands free" line. Combining comfort and style, you can change, feed, and entertain your child with ease and no one will be able to tell you are wearing your diaper bag. We have strategically placed pockets for all of the baby-care essentials that a diaper bag would hold. The Vest is constructed with high quality materials for ultimate durability and longevity. It is better looking than most fleece vests available in sporting goods stores but with specific functionality for carrying all of your essential dad gear. This Vest even comes with a slim design changing pad included in a hidden pocket on the back of the garment."

Here are some more pics of the Daddy Diaper Vest in use:

What would you teach your children if you knew it was your last day with them?

I know it's a tough and morbid thought today, but I'm challenged with this concept after I read a great article in Parade Magazine on Sunday about the Last Lecture of Professor Randy Pausch .  He is a husband and father of 3, and he is dying of cancer.

So did I tell you I'm in a Rock Band?

Seriously, I'm learning to play the drums.  And that's kind of difficult given I have a 7 month pregnant belly that sticks out.

Greg plays the guitar.

At night after Emily goes to sleep we practice in the basement and play gigs around the country.

When Mommy puts Emily to bed it's quiet and calm.  We read a bible story, Goodnight Moon, say a prayer, and cuddle.

When Daddy puts Emily to bed he starts with silly stories, usually some tickeling, and tonight he's reading to her a book about Black Holes.  Well, I guess that book would put me asleep too!

Here's the actual title of the book he's reading:  "The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics". He picked it up at Borders last weekend.

I love my husband.

So, we hit a bump in the road with Emily's "Big Girl Bed".  The transition from the crib went so smoothly at first.  She's not getting out of it on her own....but it's so much harder to get her to fall asleep.  We made the mistake of falling asleep with her.  NOT GOOD.  Now, we have a whole new routine of books and cuddling and prayer with her.  And lately, she only wants Mommy.

At 7:35pm....Greg tried tonight to help and do the bedtime routine...but she cried off and on for an hour screaming MOMMY!  I finally went up to calm her down, cuddle, read her "tractor" book that she loves...and 30 minutes later I'm still trying to "get away"...but her please of "one more minute mommy" mealt my heart and I stay.

Then, my mommy creative hormone kicks in...a lightbulb moment...I ask her..."do you want me to get you a mommy doll?"  Her eyes lit up, her mouth wide open, "yeah," she said.

So, I walked downstairs to dig down in a drawer full of stuffed animals to find one that she's forgotton about...a big white fluffy bunny struck me as extra "cuddly".  As I walked back up the stairs I heard her asking, "Mommy....got da Mommy doll yet?"

They say, every pregnancy is different.

With my first pregnancy I could only eat plain foods.  Grilled Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwhiches, and Cheese Quesadillas.

With my second pregnancy I can't get enough TABASCO!  I put it on everything.  I've never eaten it before!

But now, I eat it with my eggs for breakfast, on my taco for lunch, and even on pizza.  I must have TABASCO.  Everything tastes so plain without it.

And, it has to be Chipotle flavored TABASCO.  It just hits the spot.

IT'S A BOY!

My hunch was right!  We are thrilled to announce that we are having a son!  He is perfect.  The doctor says there are no problems, he is healthy and strong!

We're thinking of naming him "Andrew" and calling him "Andy"...still working on middle names!

Memorial Day Reflections

Two Farmers
Two Worlds Apart
Two different sides of the war
Two Sacrifices
One Legacy
One American Girl

Emily, her ice cream sandwhich, and Oma (Greg's mom Gert) at the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.

It's not the boys on the football team you want to pay attention to... it's the boys that sit next to you in Calculus."
-Dave Synder, my stepfather

That's one of my favorite nuggets of advice from my step-dad, Dave.  His point was not to put down jocks, but to illustrate how there's more to looking for a mate than finding the hip cool guy that's good at sports and popular.  In his way, he taught me that it's important to find a man that can care for you and provide for you.  So what if he runs with the cool group and wears cool jeans?  He also thought that the guys in Calculus had better income earning potential!   He makes a good point.

This weekend, I have been gushing love for my husband.  Not because of some elaborate romantic gesture or piece of jewelry he gave me, but because he's present and plugged in to the silly everyday normal activities of our family.

He didn't complain when our Saturday morning family walk with Emily found a detour through a neighborhood garage sale.  Emily's adorable nature scored her a free stuffed bunny rabbit and teddy bear from a lovely mom that wanted her to have the precious toys her children used to love.  My bargain hunting purchased a HEAVY bag of solid wood blocks, and an entire children's full size bedding set from Pottery Barn for $3.  Good thing Daddy brought his wallet.  He generously cut our walk short to carry home our great bounty.  He didn't mind looking very UNcool while walking home on the popular hike/bike trail carrying a bunny, teddy bear, bag of blocks, and big plastic case full of fairy princess bedding.  Silly me for not bringing the camera along.  Now that is a MAN!

My friend and mommy mentor, Patty, introduced me to the coolest thing today, "Field Trip Day".

She does this every Wednesday with her 4 amazing kids.  Hunter (5), Abby (4), Dillon (3), and Jake (1).  Today, we were invited to tag along.  I've been down in the dumps for a couple of days...between pregnancy hormones and my natural "chemical imbalance" I was just blue...for no particular reason.  I confided in Patty, and she suggested we get out in God's creation.   She was right!  So much better than shopping...maternity clothes aren't that much fun to shop for anyway!

She reminded me that just because you are labeled as a stay-at-home-mom...doesn't mean you actually have to stay at home all the time!  It's so great to get out and experience something new with your children...especially nature.  Forgo the routine of motherhood for a day, get out of your rut, and give your family an experience.
Patty drove Emily and I along with 4 kids (yes we had 5 car seats in 1 SUV) to Great Falls National Park along with another mom friend, Angela, and her two boys.  It was beautiful.