Fresh Mommy Blog: April 2009

Today. Thursday.

Today I'm feeling pretty random. Unlike the rest of the time when I'm clear headed, focused and straight to the point. {grin}

It's raining. Again. I'm cold and yet within minutes I'm hot. I need to paint my nails. I've been drinking what feels like loads of water today, with added trace minerals. Baby Blue's hair is in a ponytail fouhawk today, and it's cute. We almost added another kitten to our clan, and then decided to stick with Dolce. She has enough love to go around, but I may need Ginko.

And so, a puppy not 30 minutes from where I live was picked up in a 70 mile-an-hour gust of wind, later found, and survived. Did I start laundry this morning? I'm making pasta for dinner. I hope the weather in Florida is nice. Besides, I'm planting a garden this year and haven't ordered a single seed. And my aunt's birthday is Sunday. On top of that, I don't like walking on bridges and The White House is on Flickr!

Don't think you're off the hook that easy, there's more.

I'm so glad my girl can get along with boys.

She had a blast with these guys.

We miss them, and from what I've heard, they miss Auntie Tab's house. Gigi, you'd better send them right on over, and that's an order. Please?

But one thing is certain, I don't have swine flu.

Wordless Wednesday... Memories

Resembling.

There are days that when I wake up, I want to eat. I don't mean eat a bagel with cream cheese and I'm set, I mean really EAT.

Days that I don't want to stop chewing to talk to someone. They may talk to me, and I will answer with head nods, grunts and pointing until they figure out what I'm saying. But to stop and talk... my mouth is already occupied.

Please don't judge, or mock. It's an urge. The bottomless pit that is referred to as my stomach goes to great lengths to let me know what it needs. I've tried clasping it with my hands, prodding and poking it into submission. It still wants. It's a necessity.

I'm not much unlike this cow. Eating and chewing and eating again make up a majority of some days. Visitors don't bother or nudge me away from my food. I just keep eating, keep chewing. Letting them do the talking. I will stare, I'll smile, I'll nod. And I'll eat.

The last time I resembled this bovine creature, I was pregnant. I want to feel that way again.

"Movie Feater" part deux

Be warned. This post is just kids in a Movie Theater. I mentioned it was coming, and here it is. Just kids is a theater.

Why is it that kids can't seem to sit still in their seats and chew? It was constant wiggling.

Mmmmm, butter drenched bites of sweet corn goodness. A theater necessity.

Well, that, and candy.

She didn't want to leave.

And quite frankly, neither did I.

Sunday Citar

How did it get to be almost 11pm before posting today? Well, I guess I do know how it happened. A broken battery charger = dead battery = no laptop... all weekend. The good of it was lots of time with family, friends, and kittens. Oh, the kittens. They were delightful.

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"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about."
~Angela Schwindt

I hope you all have sunny, warm days in your near future, with barefoot romping in the backyard.

"Movie Feater"

When you love movies as much as we do, there's just no other option than for it to rub off on our offspring. So, when we announce that we're taking Baby Blue and her friends to see a movie, it's no surprise that she runs around all day telling everyone she sees, "We're going to the movie feater and are gonna eat pa-corn!"

This is just a sneak peak of that day... many more photos to come. Don't say I didn't warn you...

This is my day... laden with laundry, and quite a list of other tasks and work projects.

What helps me is that I live by a few guidelines to assist me:

1) Prioritize

When the dishes need to be done, my baby girl needs me, someone is at the door and I have a deadline to meet... what do I do?? My first priority is always my family. They come first before anything. We try to put each others needs first, and many things get taken care of that way. I try to incorporate many household tasks into spending time together... we make a game out of folding laundry and matching socks, out of picking up toys, baking in the kitchen, etc. I usually do a few things at once, but not more than I can handle. Oh, and I almost never iron clothes! Pick your battles and leave the rest.

2) Slow Down

I've learned my limit, and when I reach it, I just take a deep breathe and slow down... sometimes the act of slowing down will actually help me think clearer and work faster. Let the clutter go!

3) Get Help

I'm not talking about hiring help... a housekeeper would be nice, but not realistic for me right now. What I mean is that I enlist help from those in my household. My husband is wonderful with my daughter, and we take turns giving her baths and putting her to bed. My 2 year-old's hands can hold a dust rag just as well as mine can, so she helps out with cleaning. Don't try to take on every task by yourself. You've got help around you, use it. Sometimes you have to ask for it. People might be more than willing to help, but they can't read your mind... ASK. Do what only you can do or what you do really well, and let others in your life help with some of the other tasks, it'll be more rewarding for all involved.

4) Put it Down

On paper, that is. Get in the habit of getting it out of your head. It you can think it, you can write it. Then your mind will be free to think about the task at hand and not worried about remembering what you've got to do next.

5) Master It

Learn how to say "no." That was a hard one for me. I don't like telling people no. I don't want to disappoint. My husband really helped me with learning this. One night, after crying because I felt too stressed, we figured out what I had committed myself to that I really shouldn't have... there were too many things going on. From then on, I learned to wait to say "yes" until I knew it was something I really wanted or something I knew I could handle.

My guidelines or priorities may be different than yours, but figure out what works for you and stick to it!

Originally posted as part of a guest post in November 2008.

Wordless Wednesday... Bubble Bath Bliss

Run a bubble bath, turn on a bubble machine and let the fun begin!

Jason + Michelle

Remember that one time... like months ago... when we shot a Valentine's Day wedding for that one super awesome couple....

and Michelle's super awesome, super sweet daughter.

Did I mention it was ages ago... like Valentine's Day.

Ring, ring! Who's there? Destiny? I've been expecting your call.

Jason and Michelle are purely AWESOME!

Is it obvious that I've been watching Bolt a little too much?

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For the winner of the [IN] Place Giveaway, click here.

today:: april 20

right now, I am...

thankful:: for the close friends I have that can just call and say they are coming for a visit... for the week.

hearing:: the short silence that is nap time in a house full of kids.

excited:: to take all the kids out for a movie adventure.

full:: from breakfast that was hours ago, but full of fresh belgian waffles and breakfast casserole.

wondering:: how it got to be late afternoon before I posted today?

laughing:: constantly from all the silly games, conversations, sing-songs and phrases coming from all the little people around here.

loving:: the way this rat-pack loves each other.

dancing:: after bath times to the sweet tunes of "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."

laundering:: piles of towels, sheets, and clothing that comes from a household that doubled in size over the weekend.

anticipating:: the rest of the week being just as lovely and full as the beginning.

asking:: what are you all up to today?

wishing:: you all a fulfilling day, rain or shine (ours, unfortunately, is drenched in rain).

Sunday Citar

“A gentle word opens an iron gate”
~Bulgarian Proverb

So many things have happened in our lives because of the way we speak... good and bad. Truly, many doors have been opened because of a gentle word. Have a wonderful day, full of wonderful words!

Riding the Fence.

Sometimes my daughter just likes to climb. To have her feet off of the ground brings such a thrill. It doesn't matter how high, she doesn't ever seem to notice.

I, on the other hand, do.

I notice the pride she takes in getting to the top all be herself. I notice the big grin that attaches to her lips the moment she looks down. I notice the daring way she wants to try and balance, without holding on.