Category: personal

quick takes

one

The weather in southeast Texas is heating up, and I am beginning to question whether or not I’ll be able to keep up with my running over the summer. The only time I have to run is right after work, and the sun is still out in full force. Thankfully the free gym at work is opening up in June or July and I’ll be able to get most of my fitness in there, but I really am enjoying my runs and would like to keep them up.

two

We are going to visit the shelter this weekend and possibly get a new dog to be a friend for ours since she seems to be completely calm as long as there is another pup in the house. Borrowing dogs from family members isn’t a permanent solution and although we are nervous to take on another one, at this point it is the least stressful of all the options. We aren’t rushing into it though and are looking for just the right fit.

three

Liam had his first belly laugh this week! It was before bed, I laid him down and while I was getting Meredith changed David went to talk to him and he was just cracking up. Makes it all worth it.

four

The most recent Book Riot podcast was all about book recommendations, and so my to-read list has grown that much more. Sometimes I get sad thinking about how I’ll never be able to read all the books I want to, especially since I don’t have much time for it these days. But I’m also happy that there are so many great books out there. (Side note: if you’re a book lover, check out that podcast as well as Books on the Nightstand.)

five

One of the best things about our family life is how connected we are to our parents, siblings, and the kids’ cousins. We see everyone a lot and we all get along. Right now Meredith is in love with her cousin Cameron, who is the next oldest from her (he turned four in January). She wants to play with him all the time and when they’re together she copies everything he does. It’s sooo adorable the way she just unashamedly admires him. Seeing her like that also makes me very afraid of her getting her heart broken one day but hopefully that’s not happening anytime soon. :)

six

I love that other than checking out rescue dogs, I really don’t have any plans for the weekend other than regular housekeeping stuff. I’m hoping to be able to get some more frames on our bedroom wall and maybe do some projects for fun. Have a great one!

May 2, 2014
around here

Meredith is a slow eater and doesn’t like us to put away her food even when we think she’s finished. This was one night before bed, after bath, when we were getting Liam ready and she just casually wandered back out to the table and started eating again.

The grapefruit right now is so sweet and juicy.

Fun at the park for cousin Lucas’s 5th birthday party.

Morning smiles.

The kids hardly ever nap simultaneously, but at least I can still get some work done with just Liam awake.

Little man accompanied me to the store to finally get myself a sports bra that fits, along with another pair of running pants. The one I’ve been wearing fit me back when I used to exercise pre-baby, and it’s ridiculously small.

Nursing during the sermon at church. Thankful for the little nook they have for breastfeeding moms so I can still hear the message.

My brother-in-law’s dog Sydney stayed with us last week. And guess what? No panic attacks from our dog Eddie! It’s so sad that she has been experiencing separation anxiety from our dog Cleo who recently died this whole time. Sydney went home on Friday and Eddie had another attack that night. It’s unlivable to have her like that, so currently we are borrowing my parents’ dog Maisie and so far so good! Maisie is high energy though, so we’ll see if I can manage her!

We had a good weekend. It felt very busy and I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get everything done that I wanted to, but everything fell into place. It usually does happen that way. Other than the birthday party we also got the chance to go out to eat (Mexican food…yum) and I had a book club meeting. We discussed Lexicon by Max Barry which was so good! Now I’m going to turn my attention to finishing Allegiant. Not a lot of crafting done this weekend, just some Project Life and a few stitches on Liam’s stocking.

Here’s to a great week ahead.

April 28, 2014
in my bag

My bag situation has changed quite a bit from the past, so I wanted to share!

That’s my bag there. It’s the transport tote from Madewell and it’s my dream. My husband spoiled me with it for my birthday and it’s amazing. This is what I keep inside:

1 – Whatever book I’m currently reading (or the Kindle). Currently it’s Lexicon by Max Berry.

2 – My wallet. It’s an old one by Fossil.

3 – This is a RuMe foldable bag I got at Target. I use it for shopping trips or whenever I need an extra bag.

4 – My bullet journal, which is a Moleskine cahier squared notebook.

5 – Thieves essential oil by Young Living. I have this in my bag because I get sores on my tongue and this stuff heals them in like two days which is amazing.

6 – My house key. The keychain is my late dog Cleo’s tag.

7 – Work name badge.

8 – A Sharpie pen, my favorite.

9 – Zipper pouch from Etsy seller Half Orange Handmade.

I love this little pouch. It’s the perfect size for all your extras, and the quality is excellent. I keep boring stuff inside:

1 – Mini scissors, because you never know when you’ll need them!

2 – A phone charger plug.

3 – Tiny Tupperware container to stash emergency headache meds.

4 – Abreva, because I also get cold sores on my lip every few years and you’ve got to attack those suckers when you first feel them coming on.

5 – Lanolin, which I use for my lips.

I also throw in my water bottle when I’m going to work, and if I’m going somewhere quick with the kids I put a few diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes for the baby in a wet bag and all of that fits in there easily. When I don’t need the baby stuff I just take the wet bag out. I am super minimalist when it comes to baby stuff so I really don’t even need a diaper bag. The kids each have a bag for daycare, and if we are going to be gone from the house for awhile I will just grab one of those to fit in extra diapers. It works!

What’s your bag situation?

April 24, 2014
quick takes

one

I have mentioned a few times that our 13-year-old dog is having panic attacks every day. They started after our other dog died and have only barely become manageable. She has been on anxiety medication for over a month and we have also been giving her a nightly sedative just so we can sleep, although it is not really supposed to be used that often but life is just unbearable otherwise. And it doesn’t even work all the time. We have tried a thundershirt and a pheromone collar and we take her on long daily walks or runs. The attacks usually happen in the evening and at night when we are home, but this week she had one during the day and I came home to this:

That bench was handmade by my grandfather and the cushion was custom so it can’t be replaced easily. Now every day I am worried about whether or not she will tear up more of our belongings. We are thinking about crating her during the day even though she’s never been crated before. This weekend we are borrowing my brother-in-law’s dog to see if that will help…thinking maybe she is having separation anxiety from our other dog who died a couple months ago.

two

I’ve been eating too many sweets. I need an intervention, I can’t stop myself! Seriously though, is there anyone out there who wants to do some sort of challenge with me, something like only two desserts a week? My entire needs an overhaul actually, but this would be a great baby step for me. I really need a challenge and accountability for it to work though.

three

We started a new tradition of having breakfast for dinner every Thursday night, because Thursdays are tiring (you’ve had a lot of week but it’s not quite over yet). We also go eat at my parents’ house every Friday night, so that means only five meals for me to plan each week, and one is leftovers! Anyone else have any weekly meal traditions?

four

I want to make a lot of progress sewing my quilt top this weekend. I might be doing it totally wrong but it’s coming together. Good thing I have no interest in perfection. The tips of my triangles are getting cut off because of the seam allowance…anyone know if this is normal?

five

If the kids cooperate (with being calm and/or taking naps) I also want to make some stuff to hang on our bedroom wall. Right now this is all I’ve got and it’s kind of sad. Look at that huge blank slate though!

six

Two new podcasts I’m enjoying: The Lively Show and Elise Gets Crafty.

seven

It’s Good Friday. My prayer is to never take my Savior’s sacrifice for granted. I am so immensely blessed.

April 18, 2014
meredith lately

Me: What’s your full name?
Meredith: Merma Susannah Forbes!
Me: Good! Do you want to know mommy’s full name?
Meredith: Mommy Susannah Forbes!
Me: Oh yeah? What about daddy’s?
Meredith: Daddy Susannah Forbes!

After her second Gogurt of the night…
Meredith: I want anudder one!
David: okay, but will you share it with daddy?
Meredith: yeah
David gives her the yogurt and she eats most of it…
David: can I have some now?
Meredith: no!
David: hey, you said you would share with me.
Meredith: well I not nice.

Going through the drive-through for fast food at a time of desperation…
Me: I’ll have a kids’ meal with a cheeseburger –
Meredith: I wanna cheeseburger!
Me: – and an apple juice –
Meredith: I wanna apple juice too!
Drive-through attendant: Will that be all?
Me: I’ll also have a medium iced mocha.
Meredith: I no wanna iced mocha.
Me: oh you don’t? Well that can be for mommy then.

At the doctor’s office after I put on the lovely paper gown…
Meredith: Whoa mommy, you be so cute!

In the shower…
Meredith: Wook miss mommy, you got a butt!
Me: Yup, I do.
Meredith: (laughing) I has a butt too! Evvybody has a butt!

Meredith: When I get bigger I drive.
Me: Yup!
Meredith: I get bigger I have kids.
Me: Ok, good!
Meredith: And I eat cookies and more food.
Me: Oh, and what else will you do when you get bigger?
Meredith: I don’t know…eat cake. And cereal. And Cheerios. And pickles. And cupcakes.

On our way home from school…
Me: Did you do anything fun today?
Meredith: No! I no wanna talk!
Me: Okay, fine. Baby Liam, what did you do today? Did you eat? You did? And poop? And have your diaper changed? Wow.
Meredith: No, I no have my diaper changed!
Me: I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to baby Liam because you don’t want to talk.
Meredith: I baby Wiam!
Me: Oh really? Because I thought your name was Meredith.
Meredith: No, my name Wiam! And I no poop!

Some of our favorite mispronunciations…
Strawberry is strawbeedas
Sandwich is finjer (was pretty proud when I figured out what she meant by that)
“I don’t know” is oh no
Diaper is bider
Blue is billow
Backpack is packpack
Her cousin Lucas is Reekoo
Chick-fil-a is Chick-er-a
Scary is scaredy
And my favorite, when singing ABC’s “W” is ducklebucks (I am doing everything I can to perpetuate this one. When she started singing it correctly I nipped that in the bud. Now she says, “when I get bigger I say dubyoo.” Sure kid. But for now let’s keep saying ducklebucks, k? See the following video for cuteness proof.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l2XoAY3Nks&feature=em-upload_owner

And expressions…
When we eat everything off a plate (or bowl or cup or wrapper) it’s a “happy plate” (or bowl or cup or trash)
“I wanna hold you” when she wants me to pick her up (I hear this phrase a hundred times a day)
“I’m talkin-a you!” while grabbing my face
“Imma be so shy” before we get somewhere or see new people

Lately…
>She is WAY into nursery rhymes and songs. We sing them all day, every day, and these weird YouTube videos will entertain her for longer than anything else.

>When we watch anything else on TV she requests Barbie. We came upon it on Netflix by chance and now she doesn’t want anything else, no matter how much I try to get her to watch Jessie again, or SuperWhy. Barbie is surprisingly funny, but there are only four episodes on Netflix, so it’s killing me a little bit.

>She has tons of little random toys, which I’m sure is common. At first they bothered me, but then I realized I can just dump them all in her many purses and going through the purse can keep her occupied for quite awhile.

>Asks me to hold her “wike a big baby” aka with both arms, head in one arm, legs slung over the other. It’s cute for a few seconds and then I’m tired and my arms are incapacitated.

>She has Opinions about what she wants to wear (as evidenced by the three photos at the top of this post). Getting dressed is a struggle as she would prefer to wear only a diaper at all times and doesn’t want anything to do with the clothes that I think are cute. She also won’t let me touch her hair even though I’m dying to play with it.

>When she gives attention to Liam she usually starts by rubbing his ear. She also likes to hold his hands and kiss him. She gets way jealous when I hold him or nurse him, though.

>Every day when we pick her up from school she runs up to us with a huge smile and says, “Mommy I be good!!” (She went through a phase where she was biting at school so we would give her a pep talk in the mornings and now she loves to brag on herself.)

>Her favorite color is purple, but she also likes pink and blue. She loves reading books, blocks, riding on shoulders, going places, being carried, legos, bugs (in theory; she is scared of real bugs), Spiderman, listing all of her friends and family by name, jumping on couches, and trying to keep up with her older cousins.

That’s Meredith summed up at the moment, but she is also so much more than that. She’s not even really a toddler anymore but a little girl. My heart. Gosh I love her.

April 16, 2014