Archive for the ‘Life’ Category
Weekly Routines – Friday Joy
Posted on: January 13, 2012
- In: Life
- 6 Comments
{via Abby Sokeland on Pinterest}
That quote pretty much summarizes my personality. Jonathan is complete spontaneity, and I am planned spontaneity. It surprisingly works well together. But with the holidays over, with nearly two weeks of no plans and just spontaneity, it has been a happy, happy feeling to be back into a real routine this week.
Julia started back to school on Monday which brings a sense of structure and order to our household. We have spent the week rooting out bad habits, like excessive television and sugar binges, while introducing new ones, like reading chapter books with Julia and Hannah {well, more Julia than Hannah}. This week we’ve read Pippi Longstocking, My Father’s Dragon and started Clementine.
Have I mentioned before that I love how much Julia loves reading?!
Hannah’s newest routine is acting like a 2.5 year old. And if you’ve ever parented, babysat, been in the same room as a 2.5 year old, you know what I’m talking about. That girl has some will power. Big time. Which has given her a new nickname :: Picosita or Picoso {Spanish for spicy/fiery}. But, no matter how picoso she gets, she slays me with her big eyes.
Joseph has been forming a routine of sorts. I’m a mama that doesn’t schedule feedings, naps, etc until my babies are closer to 6 months. And even then, I blur the lines pretty often. But, Joseph has been getting more dependable about when he wants to sleep and eat, which has been nice for scheduling play dates and trips to the store. I won’t go into his overnight sleep, because every time I mention it, people look at me as if to say “bless your little heart”. Then their eyes bulge out when I tell them I really don’t take issue with how much/little he sleeps, because it’s par for the course and my kids just don’t sleep through the night while nursing. Then they verbally say “bless your little heart” and make a mental note to send me to the looney bin.
Do you crave routine? Or do you blow with the wind?
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- In: Life
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I’m not sure when I first heard about Downton Abbey, but when I saw the name floating around the internet recently I decided to finally check it out. I watched the first season on streaming Netflix. It took maybe 15 minutes of the first episode for me to become hooked. Seriously.
The series starts off with the sinking of the Titanic and the first season ends with the start of World War I. It weaves in and out of the lives of both the aristocratic owners of Downton Abbey as well as their servants. It paints a clear image of differences between aristos and working class peoples, giving the viewer a sense of understanding from both sides.
Downton Abbey contains the best of everything. Love. War. Intrigue. Not to mention characters that move you to love them, and characters that move you to hate them.
While you can purchase the second season off Amazon {the show is currently in season 3 in the UK, but only beginning season 2 in the US}, the second season has just begun airing on Sunday nights on PBS. I don’t pay much attention to dramatic television, preferring my dramatic theatre to come from Phil Dunphy, but I will say, Downton Abbey is everything I’d want in a new “hook me” series.
Have you seen or heard of Downton Abbey?
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
- In: Life
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It’s been a long while since I’ve written anything about running. But as February 19th approaches and I’m staring down the Austin Half Marathon, I’ve been thinking a lot more about training post baby. Of course, my first half was post-baby, but Hannah was 6 months old when I first started. But training at 6 months is different than 6 weeks.
Half Marathon Training Post Baby – Simple Tips
1. Hydrate – I’ve talked about this topic before, but I can’t stress how important it is to be well hydrated especially if you are nursing. As a nursing mom, your body is already draining itself. Top that with working out, and your need for water is essential.
2. Focus on Distance NOT Pace – When you’re starting out, don’t focus on your pace, working on your distance. Pace will come. I’m currently running 1-1.5 minutes off my normal pace. And I’m okay with that. Because the more I run, the faster I will become.
3. Make Running a Family Affair – If you can afford it, I highly recommend buying a jogging stroller. We were gifted a double jogger and I love it. We haven’t taken all three kids out yet, but now that Julia’s school has started back, I’ll be taking Hannah and Joseph out for a stroll.
4. Enjoy Yourself – You aren’t racing against anyone else. You aren’t competing against other runners on the street. You are only competing against yourself. So enjoy it. Enjoy running. Run with friends. Run in fun races. Just enjoy it.
{photo via Tara Chen on Pinterest}
What workouts do/did you do post-baby? Do you have any races planned this year?
*Disclaimer: All tactics/tips are my own personal opinions and not medically backed. Please seek medical advice before starting any running program.
- In: Life
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Typically, I try to stretch the Christmas holiday out for as long as possible. I’ve been know to keep our tree up until February {feel free to laugh, I’m like the cat lady of Christmas decorations}. But this year, I took down all our decorations by January 1st. It felt good to shed off the holiday, clean up the house and get the new year started.
With a little push from my friend Adriane, I decided to put out a few Valentine decorations. This is all new to me, since we’ve been known to not celebrate Valentine’s Day. Jonathan helped me cut out a big felt heart, and I made a cute banner to hang over our fire place.
It’s a sweet little ode to my type of Valentine’s. Not all about coupling up and exclusion, but about spreading love and opening up arms.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day with decorations?
A New Year, A New Friday Joy
Posted on: January 6, 2012
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
My joy is sweet children
Beautiful babies
And daughters that make me smile
Today I’m reveling in starting a new year as the Fab Five. 2012 is going to be the best year yet.
What’s your Friday Joy?
- In: Life
- 9 Comments
I ended 2011 by jumping, fully dressed, into a pool.
It was cold. It was crazy. It was awesome.
I’ve realized I’m not going to complete my 30 before 30 list by my birthday in March. Sure, I still have time to knock off a few items, but it won’t be fully completed. And I’m ok with that.
When I first wrote my list two years ago, it was a personal challenge. A challenge to push myself to try new things, be okay with failure, and most of all to say yes to life.
So on Saturday, December 31, when I had the chance to jump in a freezing cold pool, I went for it. It’s something I’ve always secretly wanted to do, but never thought would happen. Well it did happen. I said yes and made it happen.
What are you saying yes to? What adventure should you try?
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This post will be linked to Try New Adventures Thursday with Alicia’s Homemaking.
- In: Life
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I love reading. And if there is one trait I want to pass along to my children {besides a love of Indian food}, it’s to have a love of reading as well. Because of that, we read. A lot. After countless trips to the library, reaching the max limit of books allowed and reading for hours a day, I’ve got my favorite “go to” children’s books.
1. Fancy Nancy {by Jane O’Connor} – I love Nancy because she uses “big” words and gives easy definitions {a plume is a feather}. Plus, the stories lines are super cute, girly, but oh so smart. And it doesn’t hurt that Nancy loves all things Parisian.
2. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe {by C.S. Lewis} – I don’t remember when I originally read this first book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series, but I have always loved it. Even as a child. And over the Christmas break, I decided to read it to Julia. Based on her begging to read it every day, I think she loved it too.
3. Where The Wild Things Are {by Maurice Sendak} – Again, a favorite from my own childhood, I think this book perfectly represents my two queens of all wild things.
4. Chester’s Way {by Kevin Henkes} – A great story about being your own person, making friends and taking adventures.
5. Green Eggs and Ham {by Dr. Seuss} – While all of Dr. Seuss’s books rock, I love this one the most. That could be because I use it as leverage when my girls don’t want to try new foods – I just tell them, “I do like them Sam I am!” and they buy it every time.
6. Good Dog, Carl {by Alexandra Day} – The “Carl” series is a sweet story of a Rottweiler who plays nanny for a baby. There are very few words, but the pictures are sweet, creative and lead to lots of fun imaginative questions.
7. Harold and the Purple Crayon {by Crockett Johnson} – Harold, an inquisitive boy, makes his own world with his purple crayon in hand. A favorite with Julia because of all the purple.
8. Olivia {by Ian Falconer} – A spunky, adventurous little pig with great style. What’s not to love?
9. Giggle, Giggle, Quack {by Doreen Cornin} – Hilarious. Seriously, every time I read it, I belly laugh. Love it.
10. Harry Potter {by J.K. Rowling} – While this series is too mature for the kids right now, I’m looking forward to the time we can all read it together.
What are your favorite children’s books?
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Word of the Year – Present
Posted on: January 2, 2012
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
Last year I met a lot of different people who had their own Word of the Year – a word that they were focusing on for an entire year as a self improvement effort. I’ve been thinking for the last few weeks what I’d want my Word of the Year 2012 to be. I finally figured it out.
Present
Since Joseph’s birth, it has become increasingly clear to me just how quickly time passes. What’s that saying… The days are long but the years are short? So true. Often my days can drag on, yet I still have a sense of holding sand in my hand, the time is fleeting. Frankly, I don’t do a great job of always being present with my kids. Sure, I am with them, but not always present both in body, mind and heart. This is something I want to work on this year.
But “being present” isn’t a very good goal as it doesn’t have any defined boundaries or standard. I’ve decided to make a “being present” goal for each month in 2012. January’s goal? Board games. The girls both got board games for St. Nick Day and we’re going to put them to good use this month. My plan? Board games twice a week. Might not seem like a big goal, but I’m trying to be realistic and set an achievable bar.
Here’s to fun games of Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land this January!
- In: Life
- 6 Comments
I’m a big cookie fan. Actually, if you add sugar to any food product and I’m a big fan. Cookies just happen to be at the top of the list. And while I will eat and enjoy just about every cookie I come across, chocolate chip cookies hold a special place in my heart.
While chocolate chip cookies flood me with numerous memories, one of my favorites is when I made them one parentless afternoon with my brother Jesse. I must have been about 9, he was about 14, and we made a batch of chocolate chip cookies while our parents were gone for the day. The best part? We never even cooked them, just ate the batter. Every kids dream.
I’ve tried chocolate chip cookie recipe after recipe, and hands down this is my favorite ::
Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/8 cup flour, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Mix butter, sugar, egg and vanilla together until creamy. Add flour, salt and soda. Mix until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoon on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
Preferably eat while warm with a large glass of milk.
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
You Know Those Days
Posted on: December 20, 2011
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
You know those days, where every good intention is overshadowed by real life. Where your kids fight the entire time you’re out grocery shopping {“I’m not touching you, I’m not touching you!”}. Where your daughter decides to touch the ceiling, which means she literally climbs the wall, falls off her curtain rod and tears a hole in the wall. Where your 30 minute appointment turns into an hour and a half. Where, during said appointment, your daughter {who climbed the wall} colors all over the baby scale while the adults aren’t looking.
Those days where your two oldest don’t nap and your youngest decides to stay awake till 10pm. Those days where all you hear is “Mom. Mom. Mooooooom!!”. Those days where you go to a birthday party and leave more exhausted than your kids. Those days where you’re certain you’d hire a nanny on the spot if you could.
As crazy {and I do mean c-r-a-z-y} those days are, they also mean days where your husband cooks dinner and cleans out your car. Those days you manage to squeeze in a workout, which gives you a much needed break. Those days that end in a complete blur and you’re ready for bed by 8pm… no make that 6pm… but stay up much later than you should. Those days that seem like they might make you go gray before your 30th birthday. Those days are what make life. And no matter how hard those days are, those days are still good.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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