CROSBY | 5 Months

STAY-AT-HOME MOTHERHOOD

Man, a LOT has happened in the last month. I've been trying to get some work-from-home side projects going to get more involved in my community, as well as earn a little bit of supplemental income. There is a lot that is still up in the air so I don't want to broadcast anything just yet (but stay tuned!). Let's just say, this Mama is going to have her plate full!

BREASTFEEDING

Up until a few nights ago, Crosby was still waking up on average every three hours to eat. I'm happy to report he's started sleeping 7-ish hour stretches! I trusted my Mama's intuition on his sleep habits and just trusted that he would figure out the whole sleep thing on his own, and he did! He finally did! 

BABY FAT

I'm still maintaining a weight that makes me happy, but this winter weather has not been good for my activity level. I finally broke down and signed up for a free 30-day trial with Daily Burn. Charlie and I tried kickboxing together. And although he preferred climbing all over Mommy when she was planking, I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I've never enjoyed working out from home, but since it's currently my only option, I'm giving it a shot!

As for Crosby...

LIFE

With so many side projects happening, I'm on my computer and phone all day long. Sometimes I really have to remind myself after hour three of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood to back away from the screen and actually spend some quality time with my kids. It's harder to accomplish than it sounds because I'm someone who thrives on feeling productive and accomplished. There's no feeling of productivity from tickle fights and reading Little Blue Truck (which makes me sound like the worst mother ever). I really need to be more intentional about this. Motherhood is my full-time (and most important) job and these sweet boys deserve a Mommy who is actually present.

MILESTONES

This has been a big month for his sensory development. He finally has some hand-eye coordination and loves laying on his play mat and batting at his toys. He smiles and laughs when we tickle his belly and blow raspberries. We also gave solid foods a try! So far, he's tried rice cereal mixed with breastmilk and some sweet potatoes. He seemed to like both, but still hasn't quite gotten the hang of this whole spoon thing. 

STATS

Crosby won't visit the doctor again until his 6-month appointment, but according to our bathroom scale he's weighing in around 15 lbs 13 oz. He's still in Size 2 diapers and pretty much exclusively 6-month clothing, although even some of those are starting to look tight! I feel like I just broke out the 6-month onesies and sleepers and I'm already going to have to sort through Charlie's 6-9 month hand-me-downs!

> > > 

Happy 5 months, Crosby Loren! I have so enjoyed this last month of smiles, laughs, and snuggles with you. I'm so excited to see what this month has in store for us.

Can we all take a minute to appreciate this outtake that makes Crosby look like an evil villain? Haha!

What I Read | January Check-In

It feels strange not to have my usual list of book challenge categories to cross off. As you may remember, one of my 2017 goals was to hit the pause button on reading challenges for a little while. I found that I wasn't enjoying a lot of what I was reading and I wanted to get back to solely reading for pleasure. Not committing to a reading challenge in January really didn't alter the frequency or the quantity that I read, but it did feel liberating to give up on books that I lost interest in, or completely change course when something new struck my fancy.

Here's what I read in January:

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham (★★★)

I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting but I felt a little disappointed. The whole book felt like a cobbled-together attempt to capitalize on the buzz around the Gilmore Girls revival. She did get me excited about the possibility of more future Gilmore Girls, but that was about it.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (★★★★★)

I am so thankful to have just finished a book I couldn't put down for the first time in awhile. There are so many things I want to say, but don't want to spoil the plot. The protagonist was wonderful and gave so much insight into women in situations like hers. Frankly, all the characters were fantastically written. The author's note at the end made the entire book for me, however. This was one of those books that just needed to be written. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

March: Book One by John Lewis (★★★★★)

I've never read a graphic novel before, but this was the absolute best one to start with. Written by Congressman John Lewis, this three-book series tells his story through animated flashbacks of his involvement in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. This book read quickly and was absolutely fantastic. I'm planning to read the other two ASAP and purchase the series so that my boys can read it when they get older. I have been so fired up with everything happening in our government right now. With the Women's March fresh in my mind, I am so glad I picked up this book when I did. 

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker (★★★★★) 

Chuck and I have been on a kind of self-imposed budget trim down. That's what happens when you try living off of one income. However, as we've been reviewing our past spending habits, we've had to face the fact that we've been completely irresponsible with our money when we've had it and are trying to reform our ways. We want to be good stewards and this book came at the perfect time. Hatmaker sets out to eliminate excess in seven areas of her life and documents her endeavor through a diary-style narrative. It was so motivating for me to get our own finances under control and nudge us in the direction of a more simple, less wasteful lifestyle.


Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick (★★★★)

As far as celebrity memoirs go, this is a good one. It felt authentic, light-hearted and not overly cheesy, much like Kendrick herself. I particularly loved the chapters in which she talked about her past relationships and how she grew from them.






Currently, I'm alternating between The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. What are you reading?