Sorry I've been MIA lately....it's Isla's fault (but what's new?! :)
The little lady is going through a growth spurt and teething on top of it...she has refused to nap since Monday. I'm trying to just give her what she needs (i.e. extra cuddles, milk or time out of the house) to get through it. (ok, that 'time out of the house' is purely for me) At this point sleeping ANYWHERE (i.e.: car, stroller, floor, sidewalk, a stranger's yard...wait?! :) is an improvement.
I will say that she's napping in her crib now and even if she only sleeps 45 minutes that will be an improvement from last week. For a while I swore she was one of those people who could sleep like 4 hours a night and be fully rested. Now I just know that she's busy growth-spurting and needs that precious zzz's to exercise her mental muscles and motoring around during the day. If it was up to her she would sleep 7am-7pm with a wake-up to eat between 2-4am. Then resist her 10am nap and push on until 12:30 when she'd crash land and snore loudly for 20 minutes until she woke up mad (that she fell asleep I presume) and power on until she started to meltdown at 5:00 and continue to torture us with constant whine/crying from 5pm-7pm. ug. This new Isla schedule coupled with the dreary winter weather will also explain B&my newfound wine habit. Winter is here. :)
I did have a Mom victory last night....After a REALLY long day with Isla who only napped for 20 minutes in the car when we were out and about I put her down at 6:30pm. When I came out of her nursery B had fallen asleep on the couch! Like an old man! I silently fist pumped--BOOM!- He finally gets it. (This will also explain why that Friday Happy Hour "meeting" he announced he "needed" to go to didn't go over well on the home front. I think the "I AM LOSING MY MIND with YOUR Daughter" talk was pretty clear :) Ha! Thankfully, my Sis and I are going to see The Charlie Brown Christmas Show at the Performance Center across the street on monday...coupled with a glass of vino with my Sis it will be a great night! Can't wait!
Well Friends, I hope everyone had a great holiday and your Littles are sleeping soundly and loving all the Christmas decorating going on -- Isla's mesmerized by all of the glitzy holiday flare. I love seeing her eyes light up--pics of that and our upcoming adventure to find snow to come!
Hope everyone's enjoying the long holiday weekend!
xoxo.
S
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Good 'head-space'
So this was me yesterday.
Yep. Two words:
ONLY. CHILD.
My kid is a teething terrorist who won't nap.
We went to Bothell's Country Village with friends in the morning. I'll have to blog about that place--it was kid paradise with the cutest toy store (I grabbed Isla's stocking stuffers!), tons of ducks, good coffee and a kiddo play area so moms can sit around and sip mochas while their kids burn off the 'crazies.' That was the highlight of our day.
The rest was a serious low light.
After chasing around Isla all day -- she is seriously the energizer bunny, having her refuse BOTH naps and watching my condo become a total and complete disaster (she leaves a path of destruction) when I got B.Daddy's text at 5:00 that he had to make an emergency trip to Longview (2 hours away) to fix an urgent tech issue I was in burnout mode. I literally looked at Isla and said, "We're going to QFC to get Mommy booze" ---OMG, I can't believe I said that! (But don't worry- I didn't have wine until she was tucked into her crib :) When I got to the register and the super-helpful Cashier informed me that if I bought SIX bottles of wine I got 15% off I knew I needed a break.from.the.baby. (In my defense, 2 bottles are for our holiday plans!)
Thankfully, when I got up today and informed B that I wasn't ready for another 'yesterday' he told me he'd be happy (he said "HAPPY") to take Isla with him to view our rental house that's under construction in Snohomish. It was THE MOST ROMANTIC thing he's done this week. I seriously could have planned another baby in that moment (OMG-what's wrong with me! This is how couples end up with an entire tribe of terrorists. I should mention I felt really bad for myself last night until I watched Sister Wives--those CRAZY women have 19 kids...19 FREAKIN kids- are you joking me?!) After coming back to reality I thanked him profusely and sent Isla out the door with Daddy.
(I also have to make a side note that Isla LOVES and I mean LOVES that commercial for the Lion King musical with the big Lion King intro song--you know the one? See Here. If you haven't seen the musical you should seriously go--I can't wait to take her when she's older--she's going to love it. Anywho--B thinks it's hilarious that she's so mesmerized by that...he told me when he gets to our rental in Snohomish he's going to hold her up like Simba's Dad does in the movie and tell her "one day, this all will be yours"-BAHAHHAHA I died laughing. Lets just say the rental isn't exactly the African Savannah :)
Anywho.....
I have had the house blissfully silent (besides the white noise of the dryer humming away) for the last hour and let me just tell you it is MUSIC TO MY FREAKIN EARS. I REALLY needed to get my head back into a 'good space' - if you know what I mean. Especially before we embark on our Thanksgiving holiday adventures tomorrow--lots of traveling, family and eating. I'm expecting to be pleasantly "full", tired and thankful :) Now--if I.baby would just nap in the car it would make the whole thing perfect....pray for me.
Happy Holidays everyone :)
xoxo.
S
PS- A VERY special thank-you to my Mom who just so happened to call around dinnertime when I was 'losing.my.sh*t' and offered to jump in the car and come up. It didn't work with Isla's 7pm bedtime but I appreciated the gesture more than you know! Next time- you're on!
PS- A VERY special thank-you to my Mom who just so happened to call around dinnertime when I was 'losing.my.sh*t' and offered to jump in the car and come up. It didn't work with Isla's 7pm bedtime but I appreciated the gesture more than you know! Next time- you're on!
Monday, November 18, 2013
10.months
Oh, how time flies :)
A very happy 10.month birthday to our little beauty.
(These were literally the only 2 pictures she would hold still for :)
You make every day better.
xoxo.
Mommy&Daddy
A very happy 10.month birthday to our little beauty.
(These were literally the only 2 pictures she would hold still for :)
You make every day better.
xoxo.
Mommy&Daddy
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
My job.
Hi Friends-
I can't tell you how many times I've started this blog, saved it, rewritten it, deleted it and resaved it. I have tried to tackle the heavy, taboo issue of being a stay-at-home Mom versus working outside of the home and I just can't get it out in the right way. In a way that does it justice and says what I need to say. I have saved that 7 paragraph (yes 7!) blog post and archived it because I've come to terms with the fact that I just may not be able to finish it. Maybe I'll look back in my drafts folder in a couple of years with another baby in our family and feel like the time is right or I may just let it sit in there and mull over the possibilities of what it could be. I decided to refocus this post on 'what I do.' I have heard this question asked many times over the last 10 months since my Daughter was born. When I answered, "I stay-at-home with Isla" on one occasion a friend responded, "well, at least you have your Photography" ......
mmmm.hmmmm.
I was taken aback (to put it nicely). Mind you...I love my Photography but that doesn't make the work I do as a stay-at-home Mom less of a job, or not a job at all for that matter!
Instead of letting that experience hang over me and consider all of the things I should have said...I've decided to make a list of many (although not all) of my job responsibilities. I'm sure you have many to add to this list as well. The list grows and changes everyday...that's one of the many beauties of being a Parent.
1. I cuddle my baby when she is sad or just needs a hug.
2. I absorb parenting books, magazines and blogs to try and be the Parent I want to be.
3. I work my day around a sleep schedule.
4. I manage our family life and our home (which is why B calls me the Ambassador of our Personal Life :)
5. I change diapers and inspect for diaper rashes.
6. I teach kindness and work to instill 'good manners.'
7. I make hard decisions and have to say "No" more than I like.
8. I create a diet plan to make sure everything that goes on her tray is nutritious and just what she needs.
9. I advocate for unplugged time for our family, solo time for her and her Daddy (who works more than full-time) and Family time with our relatives and Friends.
10. I schedule playdates to help her socialize (and to keep me sane).
11. I cook (and I generally hate it). I bake (and I generally love it).
12. I shop (which is not fun with a baby--don't get too excited. The last time I shopped with her she barfed on me and had a screaming tantrum in the shoe aisle.)
13. I hung up my Calvin Klein heels for a pair of Asics and yoga pants. My daily uniform.
14. I find time to fit in my own hobbies, pull out my camera, read books when the night is silent and cuddle my hubby. All things that make me a better Mom.
15. I debate my own decisions. Did I do the right thing for her? Did I say the right thing to her? Should I go back to work outside the home? Am I doing this right?
16. I feel guilty....for yelling 'No', for seeing how hard my Husband works to make this work for us, for insulting other drivers (Seattle road rage) and for being too 'connected' to my iPhone and computer.
17. I work to find patience and humor...when it seems I've run dry.
18. I seek mindfulness. I feel time speeding by and I work to stay in the moment. I know Mindfullness is directly related to feeling gratitude.
19. I try to stay sane.... to have adult conversations with friends and my Hubby, to stay up to date, to read and learn, to write and absorb, to get out of the house and enjoy a Corona and laugh with my Sister. I know when I've reached my limit and I know it makes me a better Mama to get away some times.
20. I give baths, clip nails, chase after a crawling baby and soothe crying.
(....and the list goes on....)
I am proud of what I do.
It is work. It is important. It is critical to who Isla will grow up to be. This time with her is an investment in the strong little girl who will grow up to be a woman, who will hopefully one day be a Mama. This is the most challenging, most intricate, most beautiful work I've ever done. It cannot be underestimated or taken for granted, and to those cynics to believe it's not a 'job'....I utter predictable words, try it.
Just try it.
Give your body over to another life for 9 months, bear intense pain to bring that life into the world, make all your needs secondary and strip yourself bare so your heart is exposed ... because there is nothing more powerful than knowing that your heart is so vulnerable...that the little person you created is now part of this huge, cruel, wonderful world...it is terrifyingly beautiful.
So when you ask what 'I do' I will just simply say, "I'm a Mom"--three little letters that mean so much more. To quote one of my favorite movies, "such a little name, for such a person."
With love,
Sandi
I can't tell you how many times I've started this blog, saved it, rewritten it, deleted it and resaved it. I have tried to tackle the heavy, taboo issue of being a stay-at-home Mom versus working outside of the home and I just can't get it out in the right way. In a way that does it justice and says what I need to say. I have saved that 7 paragraph (yes 7!) blog post and archived it because I've come to terms with the fact that I just may not be able to finish it. Maybe I'll look back in my drafts folder in a couple of years with another baby in our family and feel like the time is right or I may just let it sit in there and mull over the possibilities of what it could be. I decided to refocus this post on 'what I do.' I have heard this question asked many times over the last 10 months since my Daughter was born. When I answered, "I stay-at-home with Isla" on one occasion a friend responded, "well, at least you have your Photography" ......
mmmm.hmmmm.
I was taken aback (to put it nicely). Mind you...I love my Photography but that doesn't make the work I do as a stay-at-home Mom less of a job, or not a job at all for that matter!
Instead of letting that experience hang over me and consider all of the things I should have said...I've decided to make a list of many (although not all) of my job responsibilities. I'm sure you have many to add to this list as well. The list grows and changes everyday...that's one of the many beauties of being a Parent.
1. I cuddle my baby when she is sad or just needs a hug.
2. I absorb parenting books, magazines and blogs to try and be the Parent I want to be.
3. I work my day around a sleep schedule.
4. I manage our family life and our home (which is why B calls me the Ambassador of our Personal Life :)
5. I change diapers and inspect for diaper rashes.
6. I teach kindness and work to instill 'good manners.'
7. I make hard decisions and have to say "No" more than I like.
8. I create a diet plan to make sure everything that goes on her tray is nutritious and just what she needs.
9. I advocate for unplugged time for our family, solo time for her and her Daddy (who works more than full-time) and Family time with our relatives and Friends.
10. I schedule playdates to help her socialize (and to keep me sane).
11. I cook (and I generally hate it). I bake (and I generally love it).
12. I shop (which is not fun with a baby--don't get too excited. The last time I shopped with her she barfed on me and had a screaming tantrum in the shoe aisle.)
13. I hung up my Calvin Klein heels for a pair of Asics and yoga pants. My daily uniform.
14. I find time to fit in my own hobbies, pull out my camera, read books when the night is silent and cuddle my hubby. All things that make me a better Mom.
15. I debate my own decisions. Did I do the right thing for her? Did I say the right thing to her? Should I go back to work outside the home? Am I doing this right?
16. I feel guilty....for yelling 'No', for seeing how hard my Husband works to make this work for us, for insulting other drivers (Seattle road rage) and for being too 'connected' to my iPhone and computer.
17. I work to find patience and humor...when it seems I've run dry.
18. I seek mindfulness. I feel time speeding by and I work to stay in the moment. I know Mindfullness is directly related to feeling gratitude.
19. I try to stay sane.... to have adult conversations with friends and my Hubby, to stay up to date, to read and learn, to write and absorb, to get out of the house and enjoy a Corona and laugh with my Sister. I know when I've reached my limit and I know it makes me a better Mama to get away some times.
20. I give baths, clip nails, chase after a crawling baby and soothe crying.
(....and the list goes on....)
I am proud of what I do.
It is work. It is important. It is critical to who Isla will grow up to be. This time with her is an investment in the strong little girl who will grow up to be a woman, who will hopefully one day be a Mama. This is the most challenging, most intricate, most beautiful work I've ever done. It cannot be underestimated or taken for granted, and to those cynics to believe it's not a 'job'....I utter predictable words, try it.
Just try it.
Give your body over to another life for 9 months, bear intense pain to bring that life into the world, make all your needs secondary and strip yourself bare so your heart is exposed ... because there is nothing more powerful than knowing that your heart is so vulnerable...that the little person you created is now part of this huge, cruel, wonderful world...it is terrifyingly beautiful.
So when you ask what 'I do' I will just simply say, "I'm a Mom"--three little letters that mean so much more. To quote one of my favorite movies, "such a little name, for such a person."
With love,
Sandi
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Chomp.
So this morning.....this lady bit me.
BIT ME!
....and then as I looked her straight in the face and said, "No, that hurt Mommy- No Isla!" -- she smiled maniacally.
.... and all I could think of was....
crap! I'm screwed.
xoxo.
S
ps- Yes, she's a million times cuter than the Joker--but the resemblance in striking. :)
BIT ME!
....and then as I looked her straight in the face and said, "No, that hurt Mommy- No Isla!" -- she smiled maniacally.
.... and all I could think of was....
crap! I'm screwed.
xoxo.
S
ps- Yes, she's a million times cuter than the Joker--but the resemblance in striking. :)
Monday, November 11, 2013
Food Rut
Hi Friends!
As many of you know, when we started "solids" Isla didn't stick around in the puree'd phase for long. She quickly 'demanded' finger foods and different consistencies. She also is super strong willed and loves nothing more than grabbing that spoon out of your hand to feed herself (even when she has one of her own!) The good news for us is that she loves to try new foods even if the result is an adamant shake of the head. I've realized in the last week that I'm kind of stuck in a food rut with her diet (and ours for that matter).
Unfortunately, the aforementioned 'food rut' is common for B&I. We both have super 'go,go,go' personalities and usually eating on the run or grazing is our meal mode. Since I've been home with Isla I have been making her meals in the kitchen and then grazing on snacks while I do dishes, clean or chat on the phone. This method works great but I am realizing that it's important to sit and eat with her several times out of the week (especially now that she works to mimic us so frequently) and it helps me think through a more 'rounded' meal for her and I.
I go through phases and food ruts pretty consistently. One week I will eat 4 quesadillas and the next week I will be on a toast binge. Considering that we are Vegetarians and we're choosing to raise Isla as a Vegetarian I am trying to be more responsible in making sure we all get the necessary nutrients we need. (This whole thing is kind of funny since I'm sure we eat healthier and more consciously than the vast majority of eaters out there....that being said, it's always good to put yourself in check every now and then :)
Tonight I got serious about doing my 'homework' on what she should be eating at 9-12 months and got reinspired with her diet and the 'new' foods she can try. I'm headed to the store tomorrow to restock her shelf in our cabinet & fridge.
To help stick with it- I'll be posting her little menu and pics here to help you stay inspired too! If you have any advice send it my way--my ears are always perked up for seasoned words of wisdom!
oh......and I'm taking applications for the lucky party who would like to clean up this blueberry fiasco next time we dare put them on her tray (HOLY!!!!.....)
xo-
S
Unfortunately, the aforementioned 'food rut' is common for B&I. We both have super 'go,go,go' personalities and usually eating on the run or grazing is our meal mode. Since I've been home with Isla I have been making her meals in the kitchen and then grazing on snacks while I do dishes, clean or chat on the phone. This method works great but I am realizing that it's important to sit and eat with her several times out of the week (especially now that she works to mimic us so frequently) and it helps me think through a more 'rounded' meal for her and I.
I go through phases and food ruts pretty consistently. One week I will eat 4 quesadillas and the next week I will be on a toast binge. Considering that we are Vegetarians and we're choosing to raise Isla as a Vegetarian I am trying to be more responsible in making sure we all get the necessary nutrients we need. (This whole thing is kind of funny since I'm sure we eat healthier and more consciously than the vast majority of eaters out there....that being said, it's always good to put yourself in check every now and then :)
Tonight I got serious about doing my 'homework' on what she should be eating at 9-12 months and got reinspired with her diet and the 'new' foods she can try. I'm headed to the store tomorrow to restock her shelf in our cabinet & fridge.
To help stick with it- I'll be posting her little menu and pics here to help you stay inspired too! If you have any advice send it my way--my ears are always perked up for seasoned words of wisdom!
oh......and I'm taking applications for the lucky party who would like to clean up this blueberry fiasco next time we dare put them on her tray (HOLY!!!!.....)
S
Annoyance
Does this strike fear in anyone's heart besides mine?
Yep, that's right....the Twilight Turtle's lights finally dimmed and went out.
At right about the same moment the Baby Einstein Soother was right on cue as it uttered it's last lullaby. Dammit! Why do all the toys with the most complicated battery replacement go out on the same day?
(Confession: the turtle's batteries died two weeks ago--I've just been staring at it every night at bedtime, trying to 'will' it to work again).
There is nothing I loathe more than unscrewing 15 screws to replace batteries...constantly. I might as well just watch the years of my life be eaten up by this worthless task.
Now that I've ranted that out....time to go make friends with that fluorescent screw driver and manhandle that turtle. ug :( Pinot anyone?!
At right about the same moment the Baby Einstein Soother was right on cue as it uttered it's last lullaby. Dammit! Why do all the toys with the most complicated battery replacement go out on the same day?
(Confession: the turtle's batteries died two weeks ago--I've just been staring at it every night at bedtime, trying to 'will' it to work again).
There is nothing I loathe more than unscrewing 15 screws to replace batteries...constantly. I might as well just watch the years of my life be eaten up by this worthless task.
Now that I've ranted that out....time to go make friends with that fluorescent screw driver and manhandle that turtle. ug :( Pinot anyone?!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Sleep Update
Hi Friends!
I'm sure many of you are still dealing with the Fall time change as we are. Somedays Isla wants to sleep late and others she refuses to nap. I think the lighting is really messing her up which is completely understandable. It doesn't help that it has been so gloomy here lately with resulting dark days.
I had a final consult with Rachel from ChildWorks yesterday (PS- Isla's now on her website! CUTE!) I was feeling like I may have messed up Isla's progress with weekend trips away and the time change coupled with a 9.month sleep regression that her Doctor warned me about. Thankfully Rachel encouraged me that I was doing the right thing and even when I went off "plan" my instincts were correct. As a Mom that was a great thing to hear since I spend most of the time second guessing myself (I'm really hoping that tendency settles down with Baby #2). Rachel's a Mama of 3 and sleep guru so I figure she has pretty good general advice to go along with her genius sleep plan!
One of the biggest things for me has been dialing in Isla's schedule. She has been doing great with her 7:15 bedtime (I learned 7:30 was too late and 7:00 was too early) and she is up most days between 7:00 and 7:30 but I have still been trying to dial in her naps.
This week she's been going down easily for her first nap and sleeping almost 90 minutes with one little wake up. Let it just be said, NINETY-FREAKIN-MINUTES is a miracle for my little "sleep-fighter." The issue is the 2nd nap--she HATES the second nap.
This afternoon I did her normal schedule and then she did the "running man" in my lap as I tried to rock her and sing her lullabies before laying her down. Once I laid her down she worked up a very load "MA-MA-MA-MA.mamamamamamamamma"
yi-yi-yi.
This was her moments ago as she was manhandling her bla-bla fox and chanting "MAMAMAMMAMA" = totally pissed.
and now....I just looked up and she is a sleeping angel.
I love how that works out! I feel like we're making progress and it's further proof that 'yes, I'm doing the right thing!' She needs sleep to keep those big-brain gears turning! :)
Time for me to edit pics and order a baby feeding guide .....review to come!
xoxo.
S
ps- More snippets on her 9.month sleep regression to come. I definitely want to remember these things for the next one so I'm not blindsided! :)
I'm sure many of you are still dealing with the Fall time change as we are. Somedays Isla wants to sleep late and others she refuses to nap. I think the lighting is really messing her up which is completely understandable. It doesn't help that it has been so gloomy here lately with resulting dark days.
I had a final consult with Rachel from ChildWorks yesterday (PS- Isla's now on her website! CUTE!) I was feeling like I may have messed up Isla's progress with weekend trips away and the time change coupled with a 9.month sleep regression that her Doctor warned me about. Thankfully Rachel encouraged me that I was doing the right thing and even when I went off "plan" my instincts were correct. As a Mom that was a great thing to hear since I spend most of the time second guessing myself (I'm really hoping that tendency settles down with Baby #2). Rachel's a Mama of 3 and sleep guru so I figure she has pretty good general advice to go along with her genius sleep plan!
One of the biggest things for me has been dialing in Isla's schedule. She has been doing great with her 7:15 bedtime (I learned 7:30 was too late and 7:00 was too early) and she is up most days between 7:00 and 7:30 but I have still been trying to dial in her naps.
This week she's been going down easily for her first nap and sleeping almost 90 minutes with one little wake up. Let it just be said, NINETY-FREAKIN-MINUTES is a miracle for my little "sleep-fighter." The issue is the 2nd nap--she HATES the second nap.
This afternoon I did her normal schedule and then she did the "running man" in my lap as I tried to rock her and sing her lullabies before laying her down. Once I laid her down she worked up a very load "MA-MA-MA-MA.mamamamamamamamma"
yi-yi-yi.
and now....I just looked up and she is a sleeping angel.
I love how that works out! I feel like we're making progress and it's further proof that 'yes, I'm doing the right thing!' She needs sleep to keep those big-brain gears turning! :)
Time for me to edit pics and order a baby feeding guide .....review to come!
xoxo.
S
ps- More snippets on her 9.month sleep regression to come. I definitely want to remember these things for the next one so I'm not blindsided! :)
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
30.Days of Gratitude
Hi Friends-
Tonight I was feeling guilty that I didn't do my 30 days of Thankfulness posts like I did last year on my personal blog.
I feel bad for Thanksgiving.
It is like the kid that has their Birthday on Christmas--no matter how much you try to celebrate BOTH ...the kids birthday always gets trumped by Jesus'. That's real.
This year I feel behind on the festivities. I wanted to decorate for Fall at the beginning of October but my house just feels so cluttered I promised myself I wouldn't haul any decorations out until it was clean. Yesterday I was shocked when I realized it was my BFF's Birthday, which always signals the beginning of November. I wanted to shout from the rooftops--"I'M STILL STUCK ON HALLOWEEN" (or the end of Summer for that matter).
Thankfully, I'm going to get my act together and we're FINALLY cleaning out our condo this weekend and taking loads of boxes to storage....and hence, I finally get to decorate. It is with this plan in mind that I can open my brain to Thanksgiving and give it the due acknowledgment it deserves. It is one of my favorite holidays because not only does it pave the way to the dash to Christmas (my all-time-favorite) but it is the one holiday you don't spend money on or buy presents for. It's just about FAMILY and provides time for reflection on what we're most grateful.
(And I'm putting this is parenthesis because I don't even want to give it another thought--I say "shame on you!" to Kmart for opening their doors at 6am on Thanksgiving--meaning Kmart Employees have to get up and open the doors for consumers who are going to eat up this marketing ploy like a bunch of seals. rant over. I'll just let Huffington Post do the talking for me: link here )
Back on task....
As I was rocking Isla tonight .... feeling guilty that I haven't even begun to think about the meaning of Thanksgiving I realized that I do something better and more meaningful....I profess my gratitude to those I love and look-up to throughout the year. I send 'thank-you' cards by snail mail because I think a written note still means something personal. I profess my love to those who support me and keep my 'crazy' at bay: my 'Mama' friends (the girls!) and my family on my blogs and in real life.
Most importantly.... every single day (and that is not an exaggeration) I thank whatever higher power is out there for the beautiful life I've been handed.... that I was given the blessing of finding a relationship with Brandon that grew into a marriage we thrive in. Our companionship over the last 13 years is brilliantly fun, meaningful and most importantly- REAL. Every night as I rock my sweet girl before laying her down I say a prayer of protection and thankfulness for another day with her. Every single day, no matter what has happened I thank my lucky stars and all that lay beyond for that amazing little lady we created. I am blessed beyond measure and I have never been more aware or grateful of the beauty in my life.
....and with all of that I feel better. much better.
xoxo.
S
Tonight I was feeling guilty that I didn't do my 30 days of Thankfulness posts like I did last year on my personal blog.
I feel bad for Thanksgiving.
It is like the kid that has their Birthday on Christmas--no matter how much you try to celebrate BOTH ...the kids birthday always gets trumped by Jesus'. That's real.
This year I feel behind on the festivities. I wanted to decorate for Fall at the beginning of October but my house just feels so cluttered I promised myself I wouldn't haul any decorations out until it was clean. Yesterday I was shocked when I realized it was my BFF's Birthday, which always signals the beginning of November. I wanted to shout from the rooftops--"I'M STILL STUCK ON HALLOWEEN" (or the end of Summer for that matter).
Thankfully, I'm going to get my act together and we're FINALLY cleaning out our condo this weekend and taking loads of boxes to storage....and hence, I finally get to decorate. It is with this plan in mind that I can open my brain to Thanksgiving and give it the due acknowledgment it deserves. It is one of my favorite holidays because not only does it pave the way to the dash to Christmas (my all-time-favorite) but it is the one holiday you don't spend money on or buy presents for. It's just about FAMILY and provides time for reflection on what we're most grateful.
(And I'm putting this is parenthesis because I don't even want to give it another thought--I say "shame on you!" to Kmart for opening their doors at 6am on Thanksgiving--meaning Kmart Employees have to get up and open the doors for consumers who are going to eat up this marketing ploy like a bunch of seals. rant over. I'll just let Huffington Post do the talking for me: link here )
Back on task....
As I was rocking Isla tonight .... feeling guilty that I haven't even begun to think about the meaning of Thanksgiving I realized that I do something better and more meaningful....I profess my gratitude to those I love and look-up to throughout the year. I send 'thank-you' cards by snail mail because I think a written note still means something personal. I profess my love to those who support me and keep my 'crazy' at bay: my 'Mama' friends (the girls!) and my family on my blogs and in real life.
Most importantly.... every single day (and that is not an exaggeration) I thank whatever higher power is out there for the beautiful life I've been handed.... that I was given the blessing of finding a relationship with Brandon that grew into a marriage we thrive in. Our companionship over the last 13 years is brilliantly fun, meaningful and most importantly- REAL. Every night as I rock my sweet girl before laying her down I say a prayer of protection and thankfulness for another day with her. Every single day, no matter what has happened I thank my lucky stars and all that lay beyond for that amazing little lady we created. I am blessed beyond measure and I have never been more aware or grateful of the beauty in my life.
....and with all of that I feel better. much better.
xoxo.
S
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Adventure in Eating (continued....)
Hi Friends!
I've begun the long and gratifying road of outsmarting my baby when it comes to sneaking food she should be eating into her diet (and onto her plate!)
She used to be a great little eater and would try anything at least once. Then she turned into a consistency snob. Now, if she doesn't like the look, feel, color or taste of something she furiously shakes her head, stares me down and then bangs her tray until it falls on the ground. This proved to be incredibly frustrating since I'm usually doing 10 other things at the same time. Then at the end of last week I started ignoring her and even though she did the same routine she started trying some of the hated morsels. That's progress!
I also looked up ways to sneak more veggies into her diet. She only wants to feed herself so purees don't work for her. That being said, she also doesn't like to handle smooshy veggies. I made her two types of butternut squash (that I blogged about last week)--both were rejected. I ended up reading a tip to put it in a quesadilla with black beans, cheese and avocado (another food she won't touch). Surprise, surprise--today she ate it! She just lapped it up like a brand new puppy! It was perfection.
She even smiled. The knowing smile that says, "yes, I know you slipped forbidden veggies in here Mom....hence, I don't care. Just knowing you know is enough for me. That is all"
(and then she combed her messy hands through her hair in retaliation knowing I'd be on bath duty next---she's always one step ahead)
Next up: Omelet. I finally got her to eat a hard boiled egg when I gave her citrus fruit first (her fave!) and slipped in pieces of yolk. Hey, they're all yellow--cool!
If you have more tips send them my way!
xoxo.
S
Monday, November 4, 2013
Time Change Adjustments
Hi Friends-
I'm not sure if I'm the only one who completely underestimated how hard that time change would be on myself and Isla-pants. I was just going about my merry way yesterday when I felt like I got sucker punched. That could have had something to do with the fact that Isla missed the "FALLING BACK" memo and sprang forward by an hour--awesome. She was up at 5:50. When I tried to nurse her back to sleep and she patted me on the back and squealed...she might as well have been congratulating me on my valiant effort but laughing in my face..."A for Effort MOM!" After fighting naps all day she was a bit of a mess by 6:00....which I soon realized was actually 5pm since our clocks weren't turned back---DAMMIT! We hit the road at 6:30 for a "mommy-needs-a-drink" beer run.
and then she gave me this look which only verified that she knew what I was up to. Judgmental much?
Last night was a mess--she was up every 3 hours but thankfully went back to sleep pretty quickly even if I had to rock her a couple times. Today was a little better but she only slept 30 minutes on her 10am nap and then did this......
She's like a cat--she likes to unroll that toilet paper with both paws batting at it furiously.
Needless to say the 2nd nap was guaranteed and I was determined to stick with it and get us back on a schedule. She went down within 10 minutes and then woke up after 20 - her MO. I swear if it was up to her she'd take two 20-30 minute naps a day and terrorize my life from 5-7 until she went to bed. Instead, I comforted her and she went back down for another hour nap.
and now....I'll go clean up after the
Hope everyone's having a great night.
xoox.
S
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