Posts Tagged ‘Random thoughts from my brain’
- In: Life
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Quite the title, uh? 🙂
Since Mabel was born, she’s had cradle cap. We had it under control for a while last Spring, but since her hair has gotten longer I’ve just sorta stopped caring. It’s a little gross nowadays, cause at this point it looks like dandruff that’s flaking off. Well, last night I figured I’d give it one more go and bought some lotion just for cradle cap. I tried it this afternoon, and it worked pretty well. It took off a majority of the scales and I’m guessing if I keep up with it, she might actually be “flake free”.
This week I started spin/yoga and Body Attack. I took my first spin/yoga class on Monday. Can I just say I had my butt thoroughly worked, literally! It was good, but really hard. And then tomorrow night I have Body Attack. The name alone scares me. 😉 But, I’ve heard it’s really good and a great way to lose weight and tone muscle. I’m all for it then! I’ve got about 5 pounds to pre-baby weight and 15 to my “goal” weight and then 20 to my “ideal goal” weight. Wish me luck!
As for Hannah – I am still impressed with how far she can spit up and poop. Changer be warned if that girl poops while your changing her diaper. You will find that not only does she need a new change of clothes, so do you, the changing table and most likely the wall and carpet. Woo. And the spit up. Wow. It can fly five feet from where I’m standing. It’s pretty impressive. I wonder if they could make an Olympic sport out of it, cause for sure she’d get a gold metal!
We’re heading out to Tennessee this week. Wanna know what? Packing is a big ole pain. Having to pack for myself and two kiddos for a week long trip; making sure the house is clean, we don’t forget anything, we have all necessary toys/blankets/videos/etc to survive is a tad overwhelming. Not to mention that I’ve put off doing much of anything for the trip, making, I am sure, the next two days a little crazy. Ah, alas, that is life.
*Edited: I should also add, that God has really been teaching me to lower my expectations. This is really hard. I am daily having to learn (and re-learn) that having a toddler (who doesn’t nap consistently or well) along with an infant, simply means that nothing productive will get done during the day. I will start lots of things, but they will never, ever actually get finished. Like writing a blog – my average blog writing takes 3+ days. Crazy, I know, but true. I start a blog one day and finish it sometimes several days later.
A change of seasons
Posted on: August 23, 2009
- In: Life
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By far my favorite season is fall. There is a relief from the summer heat, a crispness to the air, a growing warmth to homes. In many ways, I find a newness, a beginning, in fall. Perhaps it is that fall signifies a new school year, or perhaps it is inching closer and closer to the holidays, whatever it may be, I revel in it’s wonder.
The girls are tucked away in bed, Jonathan is out riding his motorcycle and I am sitting on the porch, listening to the crickets call, reading through Midwest Living and enjoying the chill in the air. Apple pie, hot cider, pumpkins and fall leaves are dwelling in my mind. I am daydreaming about a family roadtrip through southern Iowa to see the changing leaves, explore hidden towns and capture memories.
Perhaps that is just it. Fall is like a memory that is ever sweet. Fall speaks of families huddled together around bonfires. Reuniting with friends after a long summer’s break. An ability to enjoy the outdoors more leisurely. Fall speaks of warm pies and my mom’s homemade potpourri. Fall speaks of endless possibilities.
While there is still, deep within me, the desire to move back home to Texas, it would be difficult to part with an Iowan fall. The apple orchards, hay rides, pumpkin patches and cool evening nights. It’s times like this, nights like tonight, that I know, Iowa is and could always be, home.
Comic relief
Posted on: August 13, 2009
My friend, Dana, once wrote a post about how she thinks her life is an episode from Seinfeld. I decided that whatever show my life takes after, I must be the comic relief.
Tuesday morning I took the girls to run a few errands. One of them was going to the library to pay a few late fines (they really should have a new mom leniency program). When we first got there, I took Mabel to the potty. As I’m steering my ginormous double stroller into the restroom, Jonathan calls. I walk into the family bathroom (it’s not a stall, but actual bathroom) and the automatic light doesn’t come on. The stroller is so huge, that I’m struggling to push it all the way into the restroom. All the while, talking on the phone, trying to turn on the light (that is, again, suppose to be automatic and has no real switch), and keep Mabel from peeing in her big girl pants. I toss my purse off my shoulder onto the counter (still in the dark), when I hear water.
Water is never a good sign.
The light finally comes on, I turn around to see my purse, laying in the toddler sink, water running. Because, clearly, the automatic light won’t work when I need it, but the sink will! I grab my purse, just to see that the bag of M&M’s I brought as potty rewards is sitting in the sink soaking wet. Perfect.
For about 10 seconds I was pretty irritated. Then I realized just how ridiculously funny the situation really was, and I laughed. My life might not be an episode from Seinfeld, but one thing is for sure; if there is ever a show about the ridiculous things that happens to moms, my life could supply ample amounts of material.
I got me a good man
Posted on: August 3, 2009
- In: Life
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Southern Living does a personal/fun story on the last page of their magazine every month. July’s issue was “What Southern Women Want in Men”. There was a list of 15 things Southern women like/want in men (not just their husbands, but all men). I’d say with the exception of one (something to do with college ball) I agreed with all of them. Somewhere on the list was “the ability to build things, i.e. homes, home renovations, etc”. And ya know what? This Southern gal really likes that her man can build things. In the last two months, Jonathan has renovated our basement and then this past weekend he built this:
Pergola
With the help of two friends, Jonathan constructed our pergola. It is a beauty! I sat outside for part of this afternoon and the porch is nearly completely shaded. It’s wonderful. Kinda like Jonathan. 🙂
Nicknames
Posted on: July 28, 2009
- In: Life
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We’re a family of nicknames. Even as a kid I had a ton of nicknames (Liz, Lizard, Sissy, Bob – don’t ask). Anyways, Jonathan and I found it pretty easy to nickname Julia. Here’s just her short list of nicknames:
Jules
Mabs
Mabeline
Maby-baby
But for whatever reason, nicknaming Hannah has prosed some troubles. The best I’ve come up with is Hannah Bear. Some others are:
Hanners
Hanni
Mitchy
I wanna do more with her middle name (Michelle), but can only think of Shelly/Shell. I did come across Mitzi which I think is kinda cute, but it’s been hard to catch on to, which is a clear sign it’s not the best nickname.
So my blog reading friends, have you got some good nicknames up your sleeve for my little girl?
Merry Christmas in July
Posted on: July 24, 2009
- In: Life
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I love Christmas.
A lot.
Like crazy a lot.
So, we’re celebrating Christmas in July tomorrow. We’re taking the girls swimming, I have a small little present for Mabel (Hannah just got some new clothes today from my aunt that count as her gift) and Jonathan just bought a bike.
I seriously considered putting up the tree. But then realized that I am would shoot myself half way through the project and it just wouldn’t be good. Instead, I’m just sticking to watching some good classic Christmas movies. Mabes and I watched Elf this morning and I plan to watch A Christmas Story during naps tomorrow. It’s just a shame there aren’t any chocolate covered cherries to be consumed.
So….
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Who is God?
Posted on: July 15, 2009
- In: Life
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Last night, Jonathan and I had a long talk about who I believe is God. Meaning, who is God to me? His character, the way He shows love, etc.
I confess that I have been holding onto some lies about God. My heart and my mind don’t always line up, making it hard to believe what I know to be true. One of the hardest truths for me is that Jesus has paid for my sins. I struggle with feeling like God is going to pay me back for a sin I committed yesterday, a year ago or even ten years ago. I especially feel this way when things are either too hard or too good in my life.
I challenged myself earlier this week to get to the root cause for my thinking this way. One memory stood out clearly in my mind. My miscarriage and the death of Judah. Perhaps it was because these losses were one after the other and seemed sorely unfair, I saw (maybe even till see) them as a punishment for past sins. There were a few more that came to mind, but are a tad too personal for a blog.
Then I delved a little further. I am scared that God will stop loving me. That I will sin bad enough for Him to finally give up. This correlates with being punished for past sins. I sin, years later am punished, then God is satisfied and can keep loving me. Somehow in all this I struggle to prove myself worthy.
Alright, I know, really, I know that this is not true. I know, in my mind, who God is and that this isn’t God. Jesus paid for my sins, Jesus took my punishment, Jesus satisfied God. But my heart doesn’t always align with that thinking. In our talk last night, Jonathan addressed some key issues and I think it helped me get on the right track to seeking out the truth in these areas. I know who God is, now it’s a matter of believing it to be true.
In the car this morning, I heard “You never let go” by Matt Redman. These lyrics rang out to my heart:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
*On a completely random, non-God topic. I was eating a sandwich while writing this and just want to say that the one thing that grosses me out the most in this world is when you go to put mustard or ketchup on a sandwich and the first little bit that comes out is all watery and stuff. Gag me. Seriously. I could handle a massive blowout but not that watery mustard/ketchup nastiness.
Coffee, friend or foe?
Posted on: July 13, 2009
- In: Life
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Julia woke up this morning at 1:30. Didn’t go back to sleep till after 4. For an hour.
Hannah woke up at 3:30. Didn’t go back to sleep till after 5.
I originally woke up at 2:30 (since Jonathan got up with Julia). Fell back asleep until 3:30.
I have been up ever since.
Around 9:30 this morning I was in desperate need of coffee.
Got said coffee. Took the girls to the park to burn off any remaining energy Julia had.
Came home. Ate lunch.
Put Julia to bed around 11:30.
Put Hannah to bed around 11:45.
Me? Still awake.
Physically tired, but mentally awake.
Can’t sleep.
Wish I could.
Stupid coffee.
Coffee, my love.
I’m still trying to figure out if I love coffee or hate it.
Since the girls went to bed, I’ve cleaned the upstairs, started three loads of laundry, paid random bills, had a quite time, cleaned my bedroom and surfed the web.
Without coffee, I could be asleep right now.
Without coffee, I would not have made it through my morning.
With coffee, I got a lot of stuff done.
With coffee, I am wired.
Friend or foe?
My life in numbers
Posted on: July 11, 2009
In sequence –
1 – the number of Pepsis I’ve had so far today.
2 – the number of miles I walked with Jack this morning.
3 – the number of hours I slept in a row last night.
4 – the number of years Jonathan and I will have been married this month.
5 – the number of pounds I’ve lost this week! 🙂
In random order –
166 – the number of days til Christmas.
8 – the number of weeks until the “4th trimester” is over.
27 – the number of pounds I’ve lost since having Hannah.
19 – the number of days til our anniversary.
21 – the number of days til the apple orchard opens.
And my favorite set of numbers to report:
3.5 – the number of weeks and days it took to fit into pre-Hannah pants!
That’s right. Today I officially fit into my pre-Hannah pants. I started wearing them last week, but had to tie the button with a hair tie to help them fit. But not today! Today they fit.
Next goal is to wear my pre-Julia jeans. They still have to be tied, but hopefully not for much longer! 🙂
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Once again, this really is for girls only.
No boys allowed (except for Jonathan, although, really, even you might wanna stay away).
Some of you might recall a while back I wrote about using cloth pads after I had Hannah. Well, here’s my update on my thoughts/feelings/ideas post baby.
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being deeply in love with cloth, I’d go with like a 7. I don’t passionately love them (or rather why I need them), but I really don’t mind them at all. They’re quite easy, rarely messy (more to come) and serve their purpose well. Overall, I’m glad I’ve made the switch and imagine that I won’t go back to store bought pads.
The nitty-gritty of the truth:
You really do need to change frequently, because they aren’t as absorbent as disposable. I think you could push them a little further if they have PUL or some other waterproofing material, but to save money and time I opted out of having any.
Maybe it’d would have been a better idea of a cleaning system before starting to use them right after a baby. Since I don’t have anything disposable on hand, it’s very, very important to not miss a washing day. Which seems far more taxing right after having a baby. But I’m getting use to it. Good news is, they’re small and wash/dry quickly.
Since mine are handmade, I don’t know what others are like, but it took me some time to figure out a layering system to know what absorbency and coverage would be best. I’ve found that two inserts, slightly over top one another work best.
Thickness isn’t always the best option. I’ve found having three thin layers works better than one super thick layer.
I’ve found, just like with Julia’s diapers, it’s best to have the pads already ready to go, so I don’t find myself fumbling around at 2 in the morning trying to put in inserts. Just switch and go.
Overall I really like them. I spent under $30 for 12 and have to say have been really happy with the switch. I’m tempted to buy a name brand one just to see what the differences are, but figure they can’t be that much. My friend who made them did a really excellent job and said she’d be willing to make more for anyone who’s interested. 😉
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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