We’ve MOVED! And we’re now Mom Generations!

Our regular Mom Generations (formerly Pinks & Blues) readers will notice something different around the site.

First of all, we will no longer be updating the Pinks & Blues Girls blog – but don’t worry, we’re still blogging, and all our old posts can still be found here!

From here on out, we’re just going to be organizing our blogging differently… and each of our blogs will be separate:

Audrey can be found here, and she will continue to blog about being a girly-girl fashionista who moved from the big city back to suburbia to raise her 4 boys under 4 years old.

Jane can be found here, and she will continue to blog about life as a no-longer-a-newlywed dog mom who loves being an auntie and is learning to be more domesticated wife (because she wants to be).

Sharon can be found here, and she will continue to blog about life as a former teacher who is now a grandmother to 8 (soon-to-be 9) grandchildren 7 years old and under… and the joys and tips and secrets she has to share.

Also, you can find Mama Loves Giveaways, Smart Mama and Celebrity Scoop in their new locations by clicking the links.

Please update your feedreaders so you can (hopefully!) all enjoy our blogs from our new locations.

You may encounter some kinks as your navigate through the new site, so please just bear with us as everything is straightened out.

We will be having a GREAT contest soon to celebrate Mom Generations launch, so stay tuned!!

– Audrey, Jane and Sharon

From a Grandma to a Daddy…

I remember so vividly bringing Audrey home from the hospital.

She had arrived six weeks before her due date (June 26, 1978… 30 years ago today!), on May 23. She spent a couple of days in the intensive care nursery, then graduated to the convalescent nursery, and then on to the regular nursery.

Audrey’s journey home took 12 days, but I was sent home on day 8. As you can imagine, going home without my baby was just so difficult. My husband and I drove to the hospital for each feeding during those 4 long days… so her homecoming was such a celebration of health and happiness.

As I walked into my kitchen with my bundle of joy, I sat down to feed her in her home for the first time. But all I could focus on were the dust bunnies dancing (no, mocking me) under the kitchen sink. We had one of those big basin sinks with the exposed plumbing underneath… and the dust bunnies were multiplying as I stared.

I remember bursting into tears. Not joyful tears of having my Audrey home. Not postpartum tears. But tears of doesn’t-my-husband-know-that-I-have-been-so-overwhelmed-with-missing-my-baby-and-recovering-from-my-c-section-that-he-should-have-known-enough-to-annihilate-the-dust-bunnies?

I knew I could care for my beautiful baby. I knew I could recover my health.

But those dust bunnies? Thinking of swiping them clean just pushed me over the edge.

So… ahem. I have been spending a lot of time at Audrey’s home helping with her boys. The older two are just about perfect with the baby, but a baby is a baby and he needs to be watched at all times. Benjamin is only 14 months old, so he needs supervision with kissing and caring. And Audrey is recovering from a c-section… besides having a husband, a home, and 4 boys under 4!

This is a message to Daddy… and all daddies out there. Here are 4 things to remember about new babies:

1. load the dishwasher, often
2. clear the counters, often
3. toss a load of clothing into the washing machine and dryer… and FOLD it
4. attack the dust bunnies

These “new baby” necessities will be remembered for years. I am going out on a limb here… but these 4 things are probably more appreciated than rest, food and changing diaper duties.

Clean goes a long, long way, Daddies!

(a note to Mommies… have I left anything out!?)

And so the adventure begins…

We’ve been home for 3 days.

3 whole days.

And William, Alexander and Benjamin are just in LOVE with their brother. In LOVE! As a parent, this is the most beautiful sight to see. Your children loving each other. Especially the newest sibling!

But it must be said… it has been absolutely hilarious listening to the things the boys have been asking us and telling us about Henry – or as he has been tagged by the boys, “Henge.”

And the boys are so innocent with their comments and remarks.

My favorite was when William walked in to see me for the first time after having Henry, and there I was with tears in my eyes as the boys greeted their brother… and the hugs and kisses… and the “can I hold him?” asked a hundred times in a row by William and Alexander.

But then William turned to me and said, “Mommy, I thought you said your stomach would be gone after Henry was born?”

Ahh… the innocence (honesty?) of a child.

And something only my son could get away with saying to me! 🙂

I will say that all went well with the c-section. It was a much different experience than my 3 previous births. Going into the hospital to deliver on a specific date, at a certain time, has its advantages when you have 3 little ones at home! And even though I’m somewhat confined to the living room and kitchen for the next 2 weeks, having Henry here is absolutely wonderful. Each time I look into beautiful eyes, I ask him, “How have I gone this long in life without you?”

So here we are. 4 boys under 4.

We’re back to 3 cribs. 3 boys in diapers (we’re still working on the potty training with Alexander!). And 2 boys with bottles!

Ah, life is perfect.

– Audrey

Caroline Patricia… an angel star

Stars.

My best friend Bernadette believes in stars. Stars bring comfort and light. Stars reflect earth’s dreams. Stars are God’s promise of morning.

And stars are reminders that her dad is watching and guiding from heaven.

Tonight, there is a star-garden filling the entire universe. Twinkling stars. Diamond stars. Wishing stars. And angel stars… stars with bright and beautiful wings that dance across the night sky.

I know that one of these angel stars is Caroline Patricia, who with her great-grandpa keeps perfect time in the evening dance of miracles.

Caroline is Bernadette’s granddaughter. Caroline was born a baby angel on June 14th, and she was laid to rest today. The love for sweet baby Caroline is beyond words. Greater than time and eternity. Infinite in its power.

The grief, the sorrow, the sadness, the pain in losing Caroline is unspeakable… unbearable.

Broken hearts. Questions. Faith. Searching for the eternal. Knowledge of God and God’s purpose.

And the love. The running, leaping, jumping, flying love for a little girl who danced inside her mommy all through the fall and winter and spring… right to the entrance of summer. The little girl who commuted to Boston by train with her mommy each morning and evening. The little girl who listened to her mommy and daddy and grandparents cheer on their beloved Providence College Friars at each home game. The little girl who would be welcomed with unrestrained joy and happiness.

It seemed that the world had come to an end.

This morning, the rising scent of summer flowers was sweet. The earliest birds delighted waiting branches. Dew glistened as the sun swelled in the sky.

God promised that the world would continue turning. I know this because the day turned into night.

And the stars began to dance.

The night sky is a celebration of promises. Especially now… with heaven’s newest angel, with her bright and beautiful wings, dancing in the night sky in the arms of her loving great-grandpa.

Caroline. Darling sweet baby Caroline. Your dance is dreams remembered and your light is the pure flame of life.

A diamond in the sky. An angel star.

A miracle.

Weekend round-up of cool links

Summer is officially here! While you’re taking a break from playing outside with the kids, be sure to check out these links from around the web:

• Leeanthro discusses how to pair wine with food – Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti

• Mom’s Favorite Stuff reviews a fun and functional play table

• Kim may only be five feet tall, but don’t mess with her – Road Rage, Interrupted

• From Dates to Diapers asks: Do you worry about your kiddos growing healthy bones and a healthy body? Enter to win a couple of the best products to keep your kids healthy – Staying Healthy

• This Full House Reviews: Kit Kittredge – An American Girl Movie, the first feature film based on the hugely popular American Girl book series (she and her youngest daughter were invited to the New York City screening!) – Mom and Mini-me’s Most EXCELLENT Adventure!

I’m counting my blessings.

As you enter my home, I have an antiqued wall hanging that expresses what I feel each moment of each day: Count Your Blessings.

This week, there were a million blessed moments. Counted. And I thank God.

– Sharon

Giveaway for Boston area moms + gratuitous baby picture

In the midst of baby central over here, I’d like to just give Boston area moms the heads-up on a campaign Mom Central is doing for American Standard.

They’ve created a site for Boston area moms to connect with each other about allergies and asthma, tips about keeping indoor air healthy while dealing with allergy season… and best of all, there is a chance to sign up to win an AccuClean whole home air filtration system.

They’re giving one away to a Mom living in the greater Boston area!

So if you live in the Boston area, check out the site HERE and sign up HERE.

Even if you don’t live in the Boston area, check out the site for the tips about allergies, asthma and keeping indoor air healthy!

(As most of you know, I recently began working as the Social Media Manager for Mom Central, so I’ll be sharing some of the exciting things going on there from time to time on my blog!)

And now for an adorable photo of Audrey and Henry, taken this morning:

– Jane

The perfect SMILE!

My mother took this photo of William on Tuesday.

Right after Henry was born Matt sent out a photo via cell phone to everyone in our family to announce he was HERE.

This was William’s face the VERY FIRST time he saw Henry’s photo. I don’t think I could have dreamed a more perfect smile or reaction!

– Audrey

And then there were 4…

Welcome to the world HENRY!

– Audrey

Baby updates throughout the day… *UPDATED w/ pic – HE’S HERE!*

… can be found on Jane’s Twitter page here!

Please keep Audrey and little Henry in your thoughts and prayers today! We are so excited to meet our latest family addition!

*UPDATE – HENRY HAS ARRIVED! HE WAS BORN AT 12:09 PM – 7 LBS. 14 OZ. HE AND AUDREY ARE DOING GREAT! MOMMY IS RESTING!*