Beautiful. All the Time, in Every Way.

Yesterday something marvelous happened, and I just have to share. At almost 38 weeks pregnant with number 2, you can imagine I've heard many comments, from friends, coworkers and strangers alike. If you've ever been pregnant, you know the drill.  It goes something like this:

"Wow, you look like you're about to pop!! Any day now?"

"You look so good, you can't even tell you're pregnant from behind." (Well, surely I'm not trying to hide it???) 

"It looks like someone shoved a basketball under your shirt."

"The way you're carrying totally says boy (or girl)." 

"Wow, you're looking pretty pregnant!"

"Look at that pregnant b!$@#!" (Overheard in passing, while wearing a bikini at 8 months pregnant, so maybe I had that one coming?)

"Whoa, your belly is big."

"You're all belly, you don't even look pregnant anywhere else."

"You're so tiny."

We know they all mean well, or in some cases, completely lack manners. But I can guarantee, if you've been pregnant, you've likely heard a combination and variation of what's above. I know at some point it becomes obvious that a woman is pregnant. But it's not like we forget and need the reminder. The point is, people will likely continue making comments about your state of pregnancy, until, well.... I'm not really sure when they may stop. But yesterday, something happened and I wanted to share. I try very hard not to make comments like this at all, because it doesn't benefit anyone and could very well make the woman uncomfortable (you should hear the responses I come up with in my head to some of the comments I've gotten), but if you feel the need to say something, consider this.

I was at the park, pushing Blake in a swing. A young girl ran over, her mom close behind. As we stood there pushing our daughters, she said something like, "your belly is very beautiful." Now, I can't remember if those were her exact words, but it was something as simple as that. Something simple that didn't make me feel weird. Something simple that I didn't feel the need to justify. Or explain and rationalize. I could simply say, thank you, and really mean it. What woman doesn't want to hear they are beautiful? It was probably one of the most flattering things anyone has ever said to me while pregnant. I didn't catch her name. We chatted a bit more and then Blake wanted to head over to the slides.

But seriously guys and gals. If you take away anything from the variety of things you've learned today, take away this. Pregnant women don't need a description or commentary of what you think they look like at various stages of their 40 week (+|-) journey. We know. We are living it. Try something new, and give them a simple compliment like that woman did for me at the park. It will likely make them smile the rest of the day (heck, maybe even the rest of the week), and remind them that what they are going through is more than just a physical body transformation. It is more than a size, shape, or number. We are creating a human life, and that my friends, is a very beautiful thing.

Below are some images of lovely women, rocking a beautiful baby bump and growing a precious life inside. 

If you want to join this movement, send your favorite pregnancy photo my way and I will gladly add to this collection.

30 Weeks and House Projects

Sometimes when it's late, and everyone else has gone to sleep, I start to question whether I should go to sleep at all. The house is so still and quiet, and in those moments my growing to-do list starts screaming, oh so loudly. I start to ponder the things I could accomplish and finish, and how great that would feel. But thankfully my sanity has always kicked in before I do anything THAT stupid crazy. Because that would be both stupid AND crazy. Even now, I know I should be sleeping instead of typing. Of course I'll regret the late bedtime in the morning, but for now I am enjoying the quiet. Well the quiet, and the many, many little baby kicks and rolls happening in my belly.

This little one has been cooking for 30 weeks already. That means only 10ish to go. Some days it feels like I've been pregnant forever, but others I so clearly remember seeing a faint line on a dollar store pregnancy test and thinking, no way, no way is that a positive. And then asking Matt, do you see anything here in this little space? And he answered something like, "Yeah, a faint line. What does that mean?"

Eeek!!!! That's what that means. The 'real' test the next morning confirmed my suspicion and the rest is history. It's so interesting, having gone through one and a half pregnancies so far in a two year span. Some of the worries and fears remain the same. Some of them are new with baby #2. The excitement differs, as it is familiar and not completely unknown. I now have a general sense of how your heart explodes when you meet your baby for the first time, but also how that love changes and evolves as the days and weeks go by. And boy does it grow. I'll be curious how that continues when this second baby joins us. Just when you think your heart can't grow anymore, it does.

This is a couple weeks ago, at 27 weeks, but the bump is still looking the same, just bigger.  

This pregnancy has been different in many ways. Similar, but also very different. Before when I was tired or feeling worn down, I could take a break, kick back, nap. The options seemed endless. Now, when I'm tired, I might get a quick second of rest before I'm back to chasing after a very energetic toddler. I feel like the message to all first time moms should be, don't take your 'free time' for granted. Because first, you don't ever really have free time again, and second, life with a child is wonderfully busy! And it doesn't slow down because you get pregnant!

We haven't even started prepping the new nursery yet. In the past, this room has been used as a guest room, storage room, holding room and more. If it involves stuff sitting around; that is this room. I've slowly started getting rid of its contents because we really don't have any extra storage space in our house for the things in this room. Once I can get it cleaned out, we will be painting, adding trim (something we never finished when we bought our house over four years ago), adding a closet organizer and closet doors. I already have the paint colors picked out, just need to clear the space (easier said than done, as I'm sure many of you could agree). It is a slow process, and I know the longer I wait, the harder it will be for me to maneuver around. At least the baby sleeps in our room for the first six months or so, just in case we can't get it together in time, or this little one decides to come early!

Speaking of house projects, we finally updated our living room wall! We've had a number of frames sitting around (as I mentioned months ago), and on this last rainy Saturday morning, we got them all hung! The wall isn't finished just yet, however. I still have to paint a couple frames black and we will be collecting a few more things to add, but at least we hung what we have in the house and for that I'm super grateful. It always feels so good to get something checked off the list.

Still 'in progress' to some degree, but looking SO much better than before! And no more frames laying around!  

One of Those Weeks

It's been one of those weeks... You know, one that hasn't been easy. Filled with challenges, emotions, worries, hormones (don't get me started on the hormones), a little anxiety and definitely some frustrations. On a material level, Matt's iPhone was completely busted (dropped in the road and run over, at least once), but thankfully Apple did a swap for half the cost of a new phone. Then our washing machine crapped out. And by crapped out, I mean, it completely shut down and stopped working... Mid-cycle, lid-locked and all. Getting the clothes out and rinsed, and then draining the water took a few days. The first replacement part we ordered helped, but it's still broken. So a fixed washer is still pending and my fingers are crossed that the next piece Matt ordered will fix it. The pile of laundry that is mounting makes me cringe just thinking about it.

It's also been a tough week emotionally. Sometimes I have a hard time allowing myself to be frustrated or annoyed with things. That may seem strange, but as soon as I start to have negative thoughts, I stop and think about all the good things I have in my life, and then I feel guilty for feeling upset. I know there are others in situations much worse than me or going through something really difficult, and I don't believe my feelings are justified after I stop and think about that. I'm not entirely sure that is fair though... Even though what I'm going through may not be life threatening or full of true hardship, it doesn't mean that my feelings are any less real. I can still feel alone, even when I'm surrounded by people. I can still feel afraid, of the things that are unknown. I can still become frustrated that the same 24 hours I'm given, don't produce the results that I think others achieve with their 24 hours. I can still become discouraged that I'm not doing enough as a wife or a mother. I can still  have times where I feel inadequate in my job, or as a small shop owner. I can still desire to dream bigger and work harder.

So yes. To be honest, I think I've felt all of that in the last couple weeks. And maybe I need to take some time to think about why I'm feeling those things, and to accept that it's how I feel. I don't need to compare what I'm going through to those around me. Not to say I can't support those who are dealing with hardship, but to not disregard my own feelings because I think they aren't 'worthy' to be felt. It's interesting to take the time to sit and think about these things... I already feel like I've grown a little, having admitted to myself that I don't have to feel guilty for my thoughts. It's really eye opening and I'm not sure I would have acknowledged it without taking the time to write this all out. I usually have an idea of where I want to start, but sometimes the end result is surprising even to me. But life is all about growing, and I'm the first to admit that I still have a lot of it to do.

They May Look the Same, But They Aren't All Created Equal

I'm hoping the third time is the charm. As I mentioned in my last post, I think one of the struggles I had attempting to write this was trying to include too much information all at once. I was broadly glossing over things like food, body products, my own experiences and reasons why I believe using natural and organic products is so important. So I'm going back to the basics. The good news is, I'm the creator here, and the other good news is that these posts don't have a minimum or maximum word requirement. They can be as short or as long as I want.

One of the easiest places to start when moving over to organic, is your produce. Every year a list is published that has the dirty dozen (items you ALWAYS want to buy organic, if possible) and the clean fifteen. These items typically show up with the least amount of chemicals and pesticides, therefore it's ok if you can't get organic. One of my favorite places to check things is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They have all kinds of resources, including a few handy reference 'cheat sheets' that can be found here and here. They also include the background of the report, and a full list of produce, starting with the items that contain the most pesticides and chemicals (apples), to the one with the least amount (avocados). Sometimes it has to do with the type of fruit or veggie it is. Some don't have many 'predators' and don't need much to grow, while others have many pests and insects in the area and require more chemicals to keep them away. Another thing to consider is the skin. This isn't always the best way to determine, but usually the thicker the skin on your fruit or veggies, the less likely chemicals are needed and/or will end up penetrating what you will eat. 

I try to buy organic when it comes to the items listed on the Dirty Dozen, but it isn't always possible. Sometimes the items aren't available. Sometimes the price for the organic is outrageous, and I know that I do my best where and when I can. The EWG recommends that eating real food, in this case any fruits and/or vegetables, whether organic or not, is better than eating processed foods that contain artificial ingredients and additives. So do what you can. Maybe you pick a few off the Dirty Dozen to buy organic as often as possible, because you consume them the most. Maybe you buy organic one week, and regular the next. I think the main thing I want to emphasize, is that eating real food is important. The plainer and simpler the better. And each step you can take towards this will improve your quality of life. Even if you buy organic 25% of the time, that is still a significant pesticide reduction from prior consumption and exposure. 

A sneak peak into my groceries. 

I tend to always buy organic apples. The variety I buy will vary depending on price, but I always get organic apples. Strawberries are another one that is important to me, as well as cucumbers because we eat those for snacks almost every day. Lettuce is also up there, as well as potatoes. I buy regular avocados, grapefruit, bananas, lemons, onions and hard winter squash (like acorn and spaghetti).

I want to get people thinking about what they spend their money on, and how that translates to the health of their family. Awareness is key, and then use your best judgement going forward to make the best choices you can. 

New Things

It's been a couple months since I've posted. That is WAY too long to go between posts, and I don't want to make excuses, but there are two reasons for this delay. The first, and funnier reason, is that we discovered the show The Blacklist. Hooked after the first episode, Matt and I had a lot of shows to catch up on. Needless to say, we were watching an episode or two most evenings after Blake went to bed. The show is amazing for those of you who haven't seen it, but we didn't get much done during that time. We are happily caught up, and can now resume normal life. Phew!

Blake and her Maddie pup

Now, on to the second reason. A little more important than The Blacklist. In the past, I've written most of these posts while on the bus to and from work. For the last two months, I've been exceptionally tired and instead of multi-tasking, I've been boarding the bus, putting on my hood, and getting some shut eye for the 45 minute ride. I may not actually sleep, but I rest for sure. It takes a lot out of you when you've got a one year old who still doesn't sleep through the night, and your body is busy creating baby number 2. Yes, you read that right - baby number 2 is on the way, set to arrive at the end of August!

Yes, we were trying, but like with Blake it happened much sooner than I thought, so these two will be a mere 19 months apart. Part of me is so excited for those newborn snuggles and to watch another babe grow, but the other part of me is terrified. Terrified of how I'll manage a toddler and a newborn. Terrified because I don't know how I could love another person as much as I love Blake. I've heard and read countless stories of other moms with the exact same fear. How will they love their second child as much as their first? But I imagine it's similar to the way you can't imagine the love you feel for your first child, until the baby actually arrives. I had no idea the love I'd feel for Blake, until she came to be with us. You can try to anticipate it, but until you see that baby, there's no way to know how big that love will be. I think that's how it will be for this baby. I know I will love him or her, and that love will be just as big as the love I feel for Blake. But until that baby is here, I can only imagine what the expansion of my heart will be like.

It's a lot to take in. The journey of a second pregnancy is a lot different than the first. There are many distractions as you care for your first child. You may not remember what size of fruit the baby is each week, or think about it non-stop, but you still hope and pray for a healthy baby. You still dream of who this person will be. I am almost 15 weeks and really looking forward to feeling those first flutters. Somedays I think I feel them, but can't quite be sure so a little more time will tell. Before I know it, we will be holding this sweet little one in our arms. I know Blake will be an amazing big sister. She will want to help and be involved with everything. I'm excited to watch that relationship grow. 

DJ Daddy and Baby B

In my last post I mentioned that I was going to discuss natural and organic products. I've been working on this post for a long time now. I've actually started two different posts, trying to get a better direction, but I haven't had much luck. I feel so passionate about this topic, but I think I've had trouble writing about it because I'm trying to accomplish too much at once. So I'm going to try and start a third post, and breakdown the topics so I can focus more on each subject rather than try and cram everything into one. The discussion may turn in a direction different than what I had originally planned, but that is ok. I want to bring this topic to light and it's helpful for me to continue reading and researching. Blogging is a wonderful way for me to think about and express my thoughts. For those of you who are along for the ride, I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments along the way. I love to learn and sometimes the best way, is to listen to the words of another person.

Splish Splash, She Was Taking a Bath

When Blake was born, the hospital had somewhat recently changed their procedures about baths, in that, they stopped doing them. Usually a baby is given a bath shortly after they are born. Makes sense, given all the blood, amniotic fluid and vernix they are likely covered in. However, studies have shown that it is beneficial to delay a baby's first bath. The World Health Organization recommends at least 24 hours. Delaying the bath allows for more skin-to-skin contact, more time to bond and breastfeed without interruption, and the waxy vernix is actually good for a baby, even after leaving the womb. Babies also have a hard time regulating their body temperatures, so the delay avoids that disruption as well. 

After we came home, we realized that newborn babies don't really get 'dirty.' Yes they need a good wipe down during diaper changes. But they don't sweat, they don't spit up much yet, and generally don't go through the same things as an adult who may need a shower everyday. So, we waited until Blake was about two weeks old before she got her first bath. And only bathed her once every 7-10 days thereafter. The occasionally blowout required an extra bath here and there, but we didn't want to dry out her soft baby skin with too many baths. That worked great for quite some time. 

Fast forward to today. Blake is almost 11 months old, and definitely needs a bath more often. Part of the reason for the increase is that it has become a part of her bedtime routine. She has dinner, plays in the tub for a bit, then it's jammies, an evening nursing session or bottle, and then off to bed she goes. When we increased her baths to almost every day, I was worried about her skin drying out. We don't always suds her up, but even just water in the dead of winter can be harsh. So, I came up with a little plan. I make my own body butter, and decided to create a modified version that could be added to her baths. It is very simple, and consists of only two ingredients: coconut oil and olive oil. If you wanted to make your own, you could add a few additional oils if you have some favorites, but I kept it simple. 

I don't usually measure things, but basically you take 3 parts coconut oil, and one part olive oil. You can adjust to get your desired consistency. I like soft but not liquid. Add both ingredients to a bowl, and mix well. The best way is to use a hand mixer, but this time I just used a fork and smashed it around and did a little bit of weak whipping to get a some fluff. 

After you've gotten it mixed well, store in a container with a lid. I prefer glass to avoid any weird plastic chemicals leeching in, and used one of the many mason jars I have around the house. If you are in a warm climate, you may want to keep in the fridge, but we are in the cold months and can leave it in the bathroom for quick use. 

When it is time for Blake's bath in the evening, we just take a nickel to quarter sized dollop and add to the bath water. The heat should melt it fairly quickly with just a couple swooshes of your hand through the water. What is left, is silky soft water, that keeps her skin soft even after she gets out. You'll notice right away how soft the water is, and your babe's skin will be smooth and hydrated after you towel them off. So far I haven't noticed it bothering her if it gets in her eyes, but use caution at first. Every child is different. And it goes without saying, but never leave your baby unattended in the bath. Once you have them tucked in for bed, you may find yourself filling a bath of your own, and by all means, indulge yourself a little with this silky concoction. Your skin will thank you.  

The Finish Line

Do you ever find yourself, full of ideas and planning all sorts of little projects? Well I sure do. I love to stay busy, working on this or that. The problem, is that I have a hard time FINISHING all the things I start. You heard that right, I have a hard time finishing projects. Don't tell my husband, he will love to know he's right. All over my house and life, you'll find all sorts of things I started, but got distracted before I could finish. The half painted vase on the kitchen table. The crocheted scarf in the craft bin that simply needs to be connected as an infinity scarf for completion. The photos that are framed but haven't been hung.

    Sometimes I wonder, why is it that I have such a hard time? When I get so close to finishing, why not just wrap it up? I've come up with a few ideas. First, I think there's a little fear of failing. If you never truly finish something, you can't really fail, right? I realize that's a terrible thing to admit, but I do believe there's some truth to it. Second, I like to stay busy. Maybe having these unfinished things lingering around makes me feel like I've always got something to do (as if I needed something to fill my days). And lastly, what I really believe it comes down to, is procrastination. All through school I would wait until the very last minute to start working on homework or a paper. Even if it meant I'd be up half the night, it was as if I wanted to finish without a moment to spare. I think part of me craves the rush. It's almost like I need the pressure to cross the finish line. And with personal projects? Sadly there aren't any deadlines. Nothing pressuring me to complete the beaded bracelets I started two years ago. Or the wedding picture book. And as history has proven, my own deadlines aren't enough to get the job done.

So now I'm left, at age 31, wondering about a solution for something that has plagued me for probably the better part of 15 years. My mind tells me I want to finish all these things, but my actions say otherwise. And we ALL know.... Actions speak louder than words. Yes, we are nearing the time of year for resolutions. And I've never really been one for New Year resolutions, but this year might be the start of something new for me. In addition to being in the middle of writing this blog post, the other day, Matt brought to my attention all the things I've started, but have yet to finish. I mentioned I was in the midst of searching for a solution and writing this post. We joked about whether or not the post would actually even get finished!

And, all jokes aside, it truly is an issue I need to focus on, and overcome. This blog post is getting finished. The next project will be to hang our pictures. Following that, the scarf, and then the vase. I love making to-do lists. But they are usually for practical things like paying bills, errands and household chores. I need to make each thing I start a priority. Add it to the to-do list, even if it's an item that is more for fun than anything. If I started it, at one point it must've had a purpose or meaning. I need to place a value on the things I do, and finish the last project before starting a new one. I don't need a deadline, or someone telling me to finish something. I just want to finish what I start. Period. I need to be more responsible for my actions and my time. It's going to be hard work, but I want to stay focused and change how I operate. I'm fairly certain it will lead to increased productivity, a cleaner and more organized house, more discipline, and overall, a happier me. Now I can't wait to get started.

The empty gallery wall and all the framed photos, just waiting to be hung.  

Looking Ahead to 2016

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. There are many reasons why, but here are a few. I love crisp, clear days. When the sun is shining but the air is brisk, the coffee is warm, and the scarves have been pulled out of hiding. October is my birthday month. What is not to love about celebrations, cake and fun? It also usually includes a trip to the pumpkin patch. This year we had our own little pumpkin to take and I'd say she had a blast! 

Blake's first pumpkin patch | 2015

It is also the start of the holiday season. I've always loved the holidays, but with a child, I'm looking forward to this year even more. Blake is crawling now, and I can't wait to see what she will be up to in the next couple months. Christmas will be a blast, with all the lights, wrapping paper and family gatherings. I will be starting a new tradition with my family this year... We will all get one gift to open Christmas Eve. It will be something cozy, along the lines of new jammies, slippers, a robe or thick socks. My kids will get to look forward to this tradition and have something fun to wear to bed that night and wake up with Christmas morning. 

Now... back to why I love fall. The last reason, as corny as it may seem, is getting a new planner.

Enter 2016

I've been using a planner for about half my life. Back when I was younger (before cell phones and electronic calendars), my dad suggested using a planner to help me organize my time. Now, I'm still a major procrastinator, so I can't say it helped in that area. But I love writing down upcoming appointments, events, birthdays and deadlines and seeing them all at a month's glance. And over the years, my planners have become a sort of memory keeper as well. I don't use them strictly for future events, but also to track the things that happen in our lives. Maybe it's the day someone got engaged, or bought a home, or welcomed a baby. Maybe it's the day we hung Christmas lights, or completed a house project. The day Blake got her first tooth... All the things worth remembering, I try and write down. I have planners saved from when I was 18 and had my first job. It's fun to look back and remember what I was doing, what homework assignments I had once I started college, and how I spent my free time.

As I've gotten older, life's moments have gotten sweeter, and sometimes more bittersweet. I love being able to keep a simple record of those things, in real pen and paper form. Yes, I still use my phone for alerts and reminders, but to have a place to record all happenings, past, present and future, is really quite wonderful. 

Clean, empty canvas

In the Blink of an Eye

I knew the time would fly by. When we first brought Blake home, I tried to be aware of the fact that the weeks and months would soon blur together. It's hard to say if that happened because every day was on repeat, or if time truly is passing in the blink of an eye. But the one thing I do know, is that our tiny baby girl is now seven months old. She's closer to being a year old than the day of her birth. And all of a sudden, things are happening too fast. 

Don't get me wrong. I love the stage we are in together. She responds with a smile to almost everything we do. And that perfect smile lights up her entire face. 

Most meltdowns can be solved rather quickly, just by picking her up. The one thing that calms her is us and there is something so amazing about that. She feels safe and secure being in our arms, and the fact that she now recognizes that is quite gratifying. 

She is dabbling in solid food. Most days the smashed up sweet potatoes go down just fine. I think one of her favorite things to do now is drink from a grown up glass. I'm not sure if the cold water or milk feels good hitting her teething gums or if she just likes the change, but she can sit forever with a glass slightly tipped to her mouth. 

She can sit on her own, and is quite proud of that feat. She loves our dog, and her eyes light up when Maddie walks over. Hating tummy time is a thing of the past. She can now roll with ease from front to back and back to front. 

The babbling has commenced. Instead of just singing, she now chats with lots of mamamas and babababas. And yes, I will take credit that the 'mama' came before 'dada,' much to my husbands dismay. 

She loves to practice walking when we hold her hands. She protests if we go out of sight. Car rides still put her to sleep, and she loves splashing around in the bath. 

However, all this fun growth has helped her recognize a growing independence. She now pushes away when she is done eating. If she doesn't want to be held close, she will try to wriggle away. Gone are the times when she would sleep against us with ease. On the rare occasion that it does happen, I can hardly bring myself to lay her down. She seems to have a serious case of FOMO and sleep is the last thing on her mind. FOMO is 'fear of missing out' in case you didn't know. She takes after her mom in that regard. 

Our sweet babe is so fun and her personality is really shining through. I'm grateful every single day for her health and her wonderful little soul. I can't imagine life without her in it anymore. The thought of it literally squeezes the breath out of my chest. I realizd all moms 'know' this in their heads, but this is a gentle reminder to recognize it in your heart too.... Our babies aren't babies forever. Every day they are one step closer to becoming independent young adults.

So take in each moment that you can. Whether it's the quiet space after waking from a nap, the fun and laughter of playing a new game or the frazzling moments during a meltdown. Tomorrow is a new day with a new set of experiences and the ones from today will quietly get banked to memory (and hopefully a couple pictures if you're lucky). We'll never get this time back and I don't want to live with any regret that I let too many distractions steal some of those memories. We only have one today.  

9.6.15

What? Achieving goals takes effort?!

A couple weeks ago, I was feeling fairly confident in my role as a new mother. I'd been back to work for about three months and juggling that, along with my new duties as a mom, and I thought it would be a great idea to enact a couple personal initiatives. You know, things you want to do to improve your life, and possibly even the lives of those around you. It might be to eat better, exercise more, or go to bed earlier. We all have them at one point or another. Well, here were my three.

1. Make a dinner plan for the week, a grocery list to coincide with said plan, and ONLY buy the things on my list once at the grocery store. If it's not on the list, it doesn't go in the cart.

2. Ignore phone/social media on weeknights between the hours of 6pm-8pm. Given the fact that my babe is becoming ever increasingly observant, I want dinner and the time around it to be free from technology. It would be a time to bond and not be distracted by email, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

3. Lastly, de-clutter my home. Easier said than done, but my house is filled with trinkets and things I don't need. Particularly the guest, ahem, junk room.  

So there you have it. My three personal initiatives. I was feeling very proud of myself for coming up with these, and had no doubt that I could carry them out. Well, let me tell you. It has been harder than I had anticipated.

I started the plan over the weekend, and by Thursday night, the faint memory of these slipped back into my very sleep deprived brain. With the exception of my first grocery trip, I had completely neglected and basically forgotten about my grand initiatives. I hadn't expected this to be a walk in the park, but I also didn't realize how difficult it would be to focus on three seemingly simple tasks. Like most things in life, we have to work toward what we want. I shouldn't have expected to come up with these and carry them out with little resistance. If it was easy, I wouldn't need the personal goals in the first place. That being said, it is a new week and I've started over again. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit and these are things I'd like to continue on, well beyond 21 days. I now recognize how easy it is to lose focus and will be working extra hard to follow through.

An incentive to master the grocery shopping is to take it a step further. I'd love to prepare a simple meal plan for a month, full of clean eating and healthy options. It will include meal suggestions for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a variety of snack options to rotate throughout the week. I believe that if you have a plan and can stick to it, you really can change the way you eat, and in turn, live. The trick is to only purchase the items you'll specifically need. Hence initiative #1. No extras or impulse buys as you make your way through the store. I am a total sucker for this, and can easily add at least 10 things into my cart that I don't need at all. Maybe more.

So first things first. On to planning more, owning less, and decreasing my time spent on social media. I guess that means it's time to get off the computer. 

Here We Go!

I would have to say, this is a fabulous time to start blogging. I have an almost six month old and am in, what seems like, the middle of 11 house projects. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it's close. We bought our house in early 2012, and it was nearly uninhabitable. It had been vacant for about a year and a half, and we are pretty sure that either the previous owners or possibly squatters had turned the attic into a marijuana growing operation. The bottom floor had been stripped of carpet, which was probably a blessing because, after ripping up all the carpet from the second floor, I don't know if I could've handled anymore of that. Windows were failing, wallpaper (and I mean, lots of wallpaper) was peeling, doors were broken and the roof was leaking. It was in bad shape. But, somehow, and I still wonder how, we saw what our house could become and dove in head first. The majority of the projects took about two months, which you can read about here. But once we got settled, things tapered off and we just recently started back up on house project-ing. I would say we are now in the fun stages, doing projects that add character, not just functionality. We are working on the backyard, an art wall, new front windows... We recently completed a custom built-in desk and a custom mirror in our dining room. Those will likely show up in the next post or two.

House projects alone could keep us busy for quite a while, but back in February we added a little bundle of joy that is our most time consuming one yet! Becoming a mother has truly been one of the most challenging but rewarding things I've ever done. I cannot wait to see where life takes us as a family of three. All the trial and error as first time parents, to sleepless nights and first smiles. When one minute I'm wondering what we got ourselves into, and the next I'm hugging my sweet girl, knowing that all too quickly these days will become a distant memory. The weeks after her birth are already a bit hazy and I don't want to ever forget those first few days when she was so brand new. I often marvel at the life of a baby, and how their lives are full of firsts. First car ride, first bath, first poo (can we say, yuck!), first coo and first laugh. I know that she will be the source and inspiration of many stories in the future.

So let's get started. Welcome to the raw and unfiltered, but wonderfully homegrown and lovely lives we live. I hope to meet many new 'faces' along the way.