What a slowwwww week it has been. I’ll try not to make these quick takes reflect just how slow and boring my week was…
After reading Katrina’s very late birth story, I got all excited about having another baby. Nope, I’m not having another baby right now. But the thought of it got me all excited and I pinned a bunch of stuff and did a lot of research like I was. I’m not quite as crazy as Martha who just lovvvves labor, but I like the thought of it.
I graduated from college 5 years ago. My sweet little school has such a big chunk of my heart. I couldn’t imagine college anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine not having the friends that I met because I went there. I’m so thankful that my sweet husband knew how important of a place it was to me and proposed to me there. It’s where we fell in love (well there and at the stadium…). Some of my most favorite moments took place in those halls and on those grounds. I can’t wait to see it soon.
Based off of the advice from my whine fest last week, I gave up on pureed baby food. Not only was it a pain to make the food, it was a pain to feed it to Mikey. So now he enjoys waffles and eggs for breakfast. Chicken and green beans for dinner. Everyone is happier for it. (Well I wasn’t happy when I changed his diaper this morning… it was super gross).
I’ve fully embraced bare minimum mode. I’ve noticed I’m actually getting more done by not letting myself get stressed about things. I’ve spent time just vegging on the couch catching up on blogs or emails casually. I watched Jeopardy this week while the baby hung out in the jumperoo. Seriously, life is infinitely better.
For those of you joining me on my drink more water challenge... how are you doing? So far so good here! I may have missed half a cup yesterday, but I’m doing well! Oh, and I tried to start drinking green tea instead of coffee too… I’m on day 2.
Notice how I didn’t use the name “M” up on numero tres? Yep. Mikey it is. I’m over it. I’ll randomly throw in J’s name sometime… we’ll see. But Mikey is Mikey and that is that.
I just started reading Organized Simplicity and I am HOOKED. Seriously, I read 30 pages last night. I haven’t read that much of any kind of document since last summer. Seriously, as I sit at work, I am itching to get home and finish reading it and get started in implementing it. When I found out it was written by a blogger, I got even more excited. This library book is for sure turning into a purchase. (Amazon Affiliate Link btw!)
Linking up again with Jen at Conversion Diary! Go there for more not-slow-takes.
I’ve found that I’m best at following through with things if I keep track of them on the good ole blog. Case in point: Couch to 5k, M’s monthly photos, and my pregnancy updates. I have a few small goals that I’m trying to work through, one challenge at a time. So you readers are my accountability. First up – drink more water! I’m good about not drinking juice or soda, but coffee and I are good friends.
My goal is to drink 72 oz of water a day. I’ve read to drink half of your weight (so if you weigh 150lbs, drink 75oz a day). I have no idea if that is actually good advice or not, but it sounds good to me. No, I do not weigh 144lbs, thanks for asking. Gotta start somewhere though!
I have a big ole water cup at work that is 24 oz. My goal is to drink 2 of them while at work, accounting for 6 of those 9 cups. The other 3 cups I’ll have to drink at home (which really is the hard part!).
They say it takes 21 days to make something a habit. I’ll post a challenge update around 10 days after I’ve started and again at the end of the 21 days. Wish me luck!
Oh dear me… the months are just flying by now! Last year we had some friends in town for a wedding. Both of them had baby boys that were about the age that M is now. I was pregnant then and remember thinking how those boys were hardly babies yet hardly toddlers. They were in a funny middle ground. Now to think that M is there? Crazy. Every day M is becoming less and less of a baby. I’ve seen him get frustrated when he can’t do things on his own. I’ve seen him look at me with a look of “Hey Ma, can I try this?” I’ve seen him totally ignore what we tell him in a typical my-parents-are-so-lame fashion. Thankfully, he still likes to cuddle and be rocked and looks just darling when he’s sleeping.
On to what has happened in the last month or so…
army crawling! fast army crawling.
he can get up on his knees but can’t quite put one knee in front of the other just yet.
teething his top two teeth slowly but surely
started to pull up on things
yikes!
explores everything. if he sees something interesting on the other side of the room, he will scoot on over there and get it. this list of course includes things he shouldn’t be messing with like cords, bottles of wines, pictures we haven’t hung on the wall yet, drapes…
he went on his first camping trip!
he has added “na-na-na” to his vocal repertoire of “da-da-da”
I don’t think I ever mentioned solid foods before… but he eats them. When he wants to. If he could live off of milk, puffs and mum-mums, he’d be set.
That’s our little man’s 8th month! It’s hard to believe that we’re working on the 9th month already… I’ll have to start planning a 1st birthday party soon! Eeep!
I wasn’t going to blog today, but here I am. Bloggity blogging. Linking up with the ever-amazing Jen of course.
Ever-amazing you say? Thanks to JoAnna’s comment the other day, I have discovered Jen’s “Bare Minimum Mode” and I am fully implementing it. Crock pot. Sleep. Dishwasher. Lack of hair-washing and drying. Yep. Bare minimum here folks!
In case you missed it, I totally and completely love you guys. Your comments the other day are still ringing in my ears. Earlier this week I was SO OVER (!!!!) this stage in my life but I am slowly calming down and realizing that this is life. This is my path to holiness. This will pass. I was able to pinpoint a few things that need changing (like the damn sleeper pjs have gots to goes… in with 2-piece sets!) and they are a-changin’!
Speaking of bare minimum mode… I am 100% totally ready to get my garden going and start my mini little homestead (you know without chickens or cows or anything but maybe 2 veggies). Taking on massive projects is bare minimum right? Good. Because I just requested two books from the library about it.
I’m currently listening to Caroline talk about why she blogs. I’ve been thinking a lot about that very topic lately. In my paring life down to bare minimum, I’ve thought about giving blogging up. This little blog has been around for a little over 3 years now, and it has changed here and there over that time. I love having it as a creative outlet. I love having it as a way to keep in touch with friends and family. Most of all, I love it because it actually leads me to pursue my interests and find new ones. I love sharing my DIYs and my running successes (and failures) and the silly things my little boy does. Now, I’m glad to have my readers with me as I try to manage motherhood and my feeble attempts to move to a more natural lifestyle.
This is a long take! Whoops!
I had an awesome birthday weekend. Oh, btws, it was my birthday this past weekend. Anyway, I got a hella-awesome birthday gift. I ran in the marathon relay. We spontaneously went out to a Mexican restaurant (on Cinco de Mayo) and drank 32 oz Coronas… and got cheered on at the bar for doing so (and doing so with a baby in tow). It was a good day.
Oh! The husband and I are starting a new tradition. Friday night date nights. I cannot tell you how excited I am, even though, it’s kinda lame. Basically, after the baby’s in bed, we crack open a bottle of wine or some fancy spirits, turn off our cell phones and spend some time actually hanging out. Ground breaking, no?
On the subject of my husband… for anyone and everyone who suggested he help out a bit more (in response to my whine-fest). Let me be clear: HE DOES EVERYTHING! Which is why I get stressed, because I feel like he should do less and I should do more. Take my word for it, this guy is a saint.
I mentioned the awesome birthday gift… did you think I wasn’t going to tell you what it was?!?
Yes! I’ve been wanting one forever. Well, at least for about 7 years. I’ve already taken a ton of pictures with it, none of which have been posted anywhere just yet. I’m relearning how to take real photos (I took a class in college but already forget most everything I learned) and can’t wait to get some really good shots.
Ok maybe I should have stuck with not posting today… if you made it this far, please head over to Conversion Diary for some more interesting tidbits from more interest personas!
Y’all… you guys are the best. I can’t thank you enough for all of your wonderful words yesterday. I was being super whiny and by the end of the day felt a little like I was throwing myself a pity-party but I am SO thankful for all of your sweet comments. Here were a few of my big take-aways:
“I repeat the lines of a country song, “It sounds like life to me, this ain’t no fantasy. I hear you talkin’ like you’re caught up in some big tragedy – but it just sounds like life to me.”"
- Martha
my best friend and idol in pretty much everything… she tells it to me straight
“You’ve just made it through another day, which is a victory in itself.”
- JoAnna
fellow running college friend with insight galore
“Messy houses just means that M is a very loved baby!”
- Stef
my friend turned cousin who is in the same boat as me!
“The alternatives have their own share of work…”
- Michele
college friend of the husband turned bloggy friend of mine. she understands the grad-student husband thing!
“You may not think you are getting everything done, but you are getting the important things done.”
- My very own Momma
no explanation needed. she’s the best.
“That’s what I was suspecting, you’re at the “I can’t even hit the bare minimum” phase. It will get better.”
- Rachel
college friend turned natural parenting guru in my book!
“… through all the frustrating times, you will become closer as a family. You just need to find the balance. It does exist.”
- Kathy
college friend, virtual running buddy, down-to-earth awesomeness
“You are his mom- in his eyes you are perfect, beautiful and exactly what he will look for in a wife someday!”
- Laura
one of my high school bests. miss her like you wouldn’t believe!
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Seriously y’all… you rock. Today is another day. I must add though… my husband is a rockstar. For those that suggested he help out a bit more: no can dosville baby!* He already does everything and he does it willingly! I have been blessed with an amazing husband.
Moving along… thanks again!
*If you can place that phrase, then we really are friends!
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