It’s no secret that I had to give up high heels in the third trimester of my pregnancy. My ankles were huge and my whole body was off balance. What I didn’t know, however, was that I’d struggle to master walking in high heels after Hudson was born. I usually only wear my pumps and stilettos on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings, but I always can’t wait to get them off.

Thank goodness the world of flat shoes is so kind! Seriously, there are some adorable flats. My closet is full of Tory Burch and J.Crew flats. Gotta say that any of the Tory Burch flats with elastic backs are God’s gift to mothers. They don’t rub. They don’t squeeze. They just rest on your heels. Amazing on your feet and it makes it so easy to move quickly around the house.

I’m also a huge Enzo Angiolini fan. In college and grad school, I’d always make the trip to Dillard’s to find a great pair of Enzos for an event. They never disappoint when it comes to comfort and they have timeless style. Even after years of wear, I always question my decision to donate an old pair of Enzos.

Look what I found for the Spring! I’m eyeing these three, completely affordable, pairs of flats by Enzo Angiolini.

These images are all from Zappos.com. Did y’all know that Zappos will always match the lowest price if you find the shoe somewhere else? And they always have free shipping– both ways. Three cheers for Zappos.

The Nexter in Yellow/Ivory

The Fiama in Turquoise

The Xcite in Dark Bronze

I have the perfect dress to go with these shoes. I’m pretty much obsessed.

One of my favorite things about living in Columbia is the annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival in 5 Points. We live steps away from the festival and love going every year. There’s also a parade, and in the past, we’ve loved taking Boudreaux to watch the parade with us. This year I couldn’t wait to bring Hudson to his first parade. We parked our BOB stroller in front of Kicks on Devine Street and had a great time!

wow– look at my roots!

parades make little boys very tired

I want to give a little shout-out to the amazingness that is Lands’ End Canvas. I placed an ordered the other day that included about 12 items and I got them for what it would have cost me to buy three items at J.Crew.

And the scarf I wore today (pictured above) is from Lands’ End Canvas. I think it’s so cute!

While Hudson has been learning and growing and becoming a pretty much amazing little human being, I have been doing some learning and growing of my own. This post is about me.

I have spent the last eighteen months of my life preparing to love and then loving a little person. My flesh and blood. These are the things that stand out about me (some important and heavy and some not at all):

1. I never knew I could love someone so much. Hudson is the joy of my life.

2. I sleep with one eye and one ear completely focused on him. I’m awake after the slightest peep– even when we’re away from him.

3. I miss a lot of the things we used to do before he arrived. Spontaneous trips to the movies or sleeping until 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday stand out the most.

4. I still love pop culture, reality TV, scripted TV, books, music, and clothes.

5. Lately, I’ve tried to watch less and less reality TV. Because I just become obsessed and stressed about it. Why should I let other people’s lives stress me out?

6. I’m constantly thinking about what is best for Hudson and what we can do to make his life better.

huge belly– the day before induction

7. I love my husband more than I ever have. It is such an incredible feeling to go through this process with your best friend.

8. I cannot imagine loving another child as much as I love Hudson.

9. I won’t have to know what that’s like for a while!

10. I want Hudson to be at least 2 years old before there’s another baby. And I want to lose 20 pounds and enjoy being 20 pounds lighter before I even think about gaining 40 pounds of pregnancy weight.

11. I’ve tried to stay the “same old Erin” with a baby as I was before I had a baby. I think this is completely impossible. I can’t go for a night out and just let loose and relax. I’m thinking about my child.

12. But I like to think that I’m still fun.

13. Pregnancy and breast feeding make your hair grow a mile a minute!

14. I appreciate my girlfriends more than ever. There are so many opportunities to make this statement in your life, but when you have kids, your life is about someone else and much less about you. Your girlfriends will always make it about you when so many others make it about the baby. I realize I may sound selfish by saying this, but it’s true. It is so nice to have girls to talk with– and you talk the same way you did with them with a baby as you did when you were 20 years old and staying up until 2 a.m.

15. I can do anything! Your parents always tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to, but it’s true. I am a wimp and I birthed a 9 lb 6 oz baby. I take care of him all day long. I experienced 2.5 months of sleepless nights. I did all of that! I can do anything!

16. “You can fight a bear for a little while.” This is something my grandfather always said to my mom and then she said it to me. It’s so true. You can go through some hard stuff as long as you know it won’t last forever. Sleepless nights don’t last forever. Pain from a tough delivery doesn’t last forever. Feelings of “what am I doing” fade and you become the most knowledgeable person about your child. Mothers know exactly what I’m talking about.

17. This motherhood road that I’m walking down and feeling my way through, is the most exciting, most challenging, and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.