3.31.2017

2017 Goals | 1st Quarter Check-In


At the beginning of this year, I published my 17 Goals for 2017. Three months in, I thought I would take stock of how I'm doing so far:



PROFESSIONAL
  1. Submit a grant proposal
  2. Continue working with my former employer. I start next month!
  3. Apply for Advocacy Corps.  (January 12, 2017) The application deadline is April 10, so I will hopefully know within a matter of weeks whether I was accepted or not. Keep your fingers crossed!
READING
  1. Read 52 books in the year. (In progress) 8/52 completed. I did well in January, but work began picking up in February so reading has really taken a backseat.
  2. Hit the pause button on reading challenges. (In progress) So far, so good. I've been reading what I want, when I want and it's kind of an amazing concept. 
FINANCIAL
  1. Pay off a credit card. (In progress)
  2. Open up college savings accounts for the boys. #momfail
BLOGGING
  1. Publish at least 3 posts per week. (In progress) Over the last three months, I've averaged 2.6 posts per week. I'm not quite there, but I'm getting better!
  2. Have one of my DMB posts garner more than 1,000 pageviews. (January 30, 2017) Not only did I reach my goal, but I blew it out of the water! What I Wish Someone Had Told Me about Postpartum Sex received 2600 pageviews in January!

HEALTH
  1. Do the splits. Ha!
  2. Run 13 miles.  Haha!
  3. Hit my goal weight. (March 28, 2017) I snuck in just under the deadline, but I did it! I hit my goal weight of 120 lbs. I will have to write a separate post on how I made it happen, but for now- hooray!

HOME
  1. Convert basement into playroom. (In progress) All I've managed to do thus far is turn one of the walls into a chalkboard wall, but it's a work in progress!
  2. Finish painting and designing upstairs bedroom. (In progress) I removed the outdated paneling and painted the fireplace with chalkboard paint. We still have a long way to go, though. Check out my progress and inspiration board here.
  3. Plant a backyard garden. (March 23, 2017) We have a garden! We're a few concrete blocks short, so it looks pretty jankity at the moment, but it's a place for our lettuce, spinach, kale, and onions to grow so I'm a happy girl!
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MARRIAGE
  1. Go on monthly dates. (In progress) In January we had a restaurant date at Cooper's Hawk in Cincinnati. February was a swing and a miss. Our one opportunity to go out while my Mom was visiting just happened to be the same weekend I was in bed with the stomach bug, so no Mommy/Daddy date night for us. This month, we got a couple bottles of wine and snuggled up on the couch to watch Chef's Table on Netflix. I realize how lame that sounds, but it was a wonderful evening and so needed.
  2. Take a weekend getaway for our fifth anniversary. 
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Four out of 17 is pretty good! How have you been doing at your goals for the year?


3.29.2017

The Things I Want to Remember


This past Friday, one of my friends who is going to Cosmetology school, came by at nap-time to further her education on my horribly outgrown mane. She has three girls of her own so our conversation of course drifted to parenting. She mentioned that she keeps a journal and periodically jots down funny things her kids say or things she wants to remember about them at that age. She naturally assumed that I must do the same. Which would make sense, since I document just about everything else about my family's life. But weirdly enough, I don't. Charlie is so much fun and full of laughter and joy at this age that I realized I need to get better about documenting the day-to-day. I know I won't remember the little things five years from now.


CHARLIE



I want to remember...the way that Chuck taught him to say, "Rock n' roll, man!" every time we leave the house.

I want to remember..how he pretty much wants to be jumping at all times. He loves playing "blast off" on our bed with Daddy and hopping around the house like a frog saying "Ribbip!"

I want to remember...that although he's super excited about helping Mommy water, he hasn't yet figured out how to pronounce "garden" and refers to it as our "garbin."

I want to remember...that he has the scene from Elf memorized where the store manager yells "Hey! No singing in the North Pole!" and always responds, "Yes, there is!" in his squeaky, sing-songy voice.

I want to remember...his favorite TV shows and movies. How when I ask him what he wants to watch, he'll "Hmm..." and "Umm..." and then exclaim "Daniel Tiger!" or "Toy Stor Stor!"

I want to remember...his obsession with anything that goes vroom! He loves Daddy's "mow mow" and perks up when he hears a truck, motorcycle, or construction vehicle drive by.

I want to remember...watching him dance in the kitchen to Jack Johnson or The Beach Boys and giggly saying, "Shake your booty!"

I want to remember...the way he shows such concern for when people (or stuffed animals) look sad or hurt. He always kisses Mommy and Daddy's booboos and says "All better!"

CROSBY


Crosby and his friends, Kiah and Zeke

I want to remember...the way he grabs my lips and chin when he nurses, or runs his fingers up and down my side.

I want to remember...the way he cries initially when he's done nursing like he's completely heartbroken that it's over, but calms down instantly when I put his binky in his mouth and hug him close to my chest.

I want to remember...how he loves hugs and cuddles from anyone, but his eyes light up the brightest when Charlie shows him attention.

I want to remember...the way he lays on his side and arches his back to watch the TV or check out what's happening behind him.

I want to remember...the way he giggles when I nibble at his belly and toes.

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The time I have when my boys are this little is so fleeting that I want to remember all these little things at each phase of their life. I hope to become better about recording the small things as they grow older.

If you're a parent, what are your favorite things about your child's current age?


3.13.2017

CROSBY | 6 Months


STAY-AT-HOME MOTHERHOOD
I keep waiting for the point when I question quitting my job and start to grow tired of being a "domestic goddess," but it hasn't happened. I genuinely love being a SAHM. Sure, I have some guilt and insecurity about not working when I have a massive pile of student loan debt that my husband is now working toward paying off. And I think a lot of the reason I'm as content as I am is because I do have a number of side projects to work on to keep my mind sharp. But I just freaking love spending time with my babies. You'd think that spending all day with them, I'd be weary of them over time, but nope! They are both such wonderful, enjoyable little humans and I genuinely adore their company. Last Saturday, I was away from them both for a few hours while I was busy with Side Hustle #1, and I actually missed them. These two are just such cool little people and I count myself immeasurably blessed that I get to be the one to spend my days with them.

BREASTFEEDING
Not much change here. I have transitioned Crosby to just one feeding per night around midnight in hopes that we can get him sleeping like a normal person, but so far, it's hasn't seemed to change his sleep habits at all. We're still exclusively nursing, with some solid foods added in for good measure.

BABY FAT
Can we please talk about the fact that I haven't weighed this little since pre-Chuck?! I chalk it up to three things, 1. Breastfeeding, 2. Sticking to a strict weekly food budget (i.e. No snacks for Mommy. Sad face), 3. Chasing after the world's most energetic toddler all day! I still have a long way to go before I consider myself "in shape," but I'm getting there. I've gone out for a couple runs with our double jogging stroller during our fluke 60-70 degree days. I did pretty terribly, but I'm also cutting myself some slack because running while pushing 40+ pounds of babies isn't the easiest thing in the world.

As for Crosby...




LIFE
Life is...great. Financially, we've been better, but we knew that was a reality when I quit my job. Otherwise, I'm just having a blast spending my days going on walks, running errands, and snuggling while watching Disney movies. I have enough happening on the side that our days rarely look the same and we stay pretty busy. On days when I have meetings that I can't bring the kiddos to, their Papaw will come over to our house for an hour or two and watch them while I get my Mama hustle on. I don't know what we'd do without out him and he's made our life infinite times easier.

MILESTONES
Someone found their feet! If he's not busy grabbing his little toes, Crosby is on the hunt for anything else within arms' reach to handle. Frequently, this happens to be Mommy's hair- ouch! We also got some real laughs out of him thanks to his silly big brother. Perhaps most notable though- he started solid food! We started out with some rice cereal per our pediatrician's recommendation and I was instantly reminded of how frustrating spoon-feeding a baby is. I had heard about baby-led weaning before, but hadn't really looked into it. So, I put a call out on Facebook for tips, advice and suggestions from my Mama friends who had experience with BLW. My friends came out of the woodwork to praise this feeding method, so I had to give it a shot. We've been at it for about two weeks now and I'm a full-on convert. I'll have to devote a post once we have more experience under our belt, but both Crosby and Mama have loved it! So far, Crosby has tried bananas and avocado, and has also had some nibbles of sweet potato, pineapple, and cucumber! He's seriously loved everything I've given him and feeding has been so much more fun and less stressful than it was with Charlie.

STATS
Crosby's 6-month appointment was on Friday morning where he weighed in at 16 lbs even. He's in Size 2 diapers until we finish his last pack and move up a size. He's wearing some combination of 6 mos and 6-9 mos clothing, but will probably be growing out of those before we know it. This kid is growing way too quickly!

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Crosby Loren, this last month with you has been complete and utter joy. I love your crinkly eyes when you laugh, and the way you grab your toes whenever it's time for a diaper change. I love your naptime cuddles and the way you follow your big brother's every move. I am so in love with who you are and can't wait to get to know you better this month. Stay sweet, little one.



3.06.2017

We're Done Having Kids


A few weeks ago, I had a scare. You know, that kind of scare. I was playing around with Charlie in the living room. I had my Spotify dance playlist blasting throughout the house as I did my weekly cleaning spree. I picked him up as we danced, and twirled him around until both of us were wobbly and dizzy. He shook his dizzy spell off, but mine never quite faded away. For the next three days, I felt as though I was completely and utterly morning sick. I was terrified.



I confessed to Chuck that I knew this feeling. This dull, insatiable, inexplicable nausea had to mean I was knocked up. Despite the militant-level of discipline I practiced in taking my birth control pill. Despite the fact that I still wasn't out of my postpartum sex funk. Despite the fact that I was breastfeeding non-stop and my cycle hadn't yet returned. Despite all of these things, I was convinced the worst had happened.

He stopped by our local pharmacy and picked me up a test on his way home from work one evening. I took one, and then later that night, I took the other. Both read NEGATIVE.

And though I hated to admit it, I could not have felt more relieved. My weird dizzy spell came to an end the next day. But the damage was done- Chuck and I were one hundred percent convicted that we did not want another baby. I didn't want to be pregnant and go through labor again. He didn't want me to be pregnant and have to sit by helplessly while I suffered through Round 3. But most of all, neither of us wanted to add another member to our family. I love the children we have. But they're exhausting.

Charlie is the Energizer bunny from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed. He is sweet, funny, and adorable- but he's a handful. Crosby, on the other hand, is my snuggler. He's pretty easy during the day, so long as he receives his requisite amount of daily cuddles. At nighttime, however, he has not figured out the sleep thing and I am up every three hours on the dot...lately every two hours as he goes through his 6-month sleep regression. I have never experienced the level of exhaustion I'm experiencing these days with these two ginger babies.

I have no desire to become that frantic and frazzled mom of three who is losing her shit in the grocery store. I'm pretty frantic and frazzled as it is. I love our family dynamic and I don't really want to be outnumbered. I like that we're an even number. I like that our house is the perfect size for our boys to eventually have their own rooms if they'd like. I like that they will grow up as best friends, with no one feeling left out. I like that two is still financially manageable enough to do vacations and fun activities without breaking the bank.

Before those pregnancy tests, my mind remained un-made up about whether we'd eventually have more children. But now? I'm pretty certain this is it for us. We're done having kids, because our family of four is perfect just the way it is.

Of course now having written this, I have sealed our fate as a larger family ;)

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