Tag: 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!

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.

We’re doing quick takes on a Monday today because I have a lot to discuss. Let’s go.

one

This is my last week of maternity leave. On one hand I can hardly believe it, but it also feels right. What I’m most nervous about is getting myself and two kids ready to go in the mornings and getting to work on time. (What I’m most dreading is being away from Liam for so long and pumping at work, but I know it’ll be okay.) So this week I’m doing a practice run and acting as if I had to work. This morning went smoothly and I was able to wake up in time to do my Bible study and have my breakfast, get everyone ready and dropped at daycare by 7:30am, and then I practiced the drive to work and it took me eight minutes. I still want to budget twenty minutes for the commute so I can figure in parking and anything else that might come up. Also, this morning Meredith was unusually cooperative and even got herself undressed and her outfit picked out while I got myself ready. So we’ll see. I’m also not allowing myself to do things during the day that I normally wouldn’t be able to do, like house chores or starting on dinner. I want to see how my new routines are going to work, because in my mind everything is perfectly timed. Once I figure it all out I’m sure I’ll do a post just on that.

two

I am sooo inspired by the Bullet Journal system. Even though I have several other systems in place (my iPhone calendar, Things app, and a 5-year journal) I am still giving it a try. After using it for a few days I can see that it definitely won’t replace my digital calendar or to-do list (the automated repeating tasks in the app are too amazing) but I think it’ll be a great addition.

three

The greatest thing ever happened last week! My best friend Becca came to visit! We went to high school and college together, but now she lives in Kansas so I get to see her once a year if I’m lucky. She has three awesome kids 5 and under and came by herself, so we did some serious relaxing. We watched a whole lot of Parenthood, she taught herself to crochet (with help from my mom) and I made a ton of progress on my autumn sampler, which I should be able to finish this week. We also tried making soy candles using this tutorial and it was super easy! I’m thinking I’ll make a huge batch of them for ourselves and to use as gifts during the holidays.

four

Becca also helped me fix the tension on my sewing machine and I was able to sew a row and a half of my quilt that I started over a year ago. I intended to complete it last year, but pregnancy and the fact that I couldn’t sew a piece together without the fabric bunching up derailed me. I’m way into it now though, and loving it.

five

Let me just talk about Meredith for a second. Remember how I said I weaned her from nursing? Well the week following that (the one before Becca’s visit) was a complete nightmare. She bit five times at daycare, had nightly meltdowns, was blatantly disobedient, wouldn’t eat for us, and I was legitimately scared that I had made a bad kid even though rationally I knew it was a phase. Then suddenly, last Saturday, a switch flipped and she was her sweet self again. Well-behaved at school, fun to be around, cooperative, big appetite, and way less tantrums. We had made some adjustments, like cutting out most treats for her, being more rigorous about a nightly routine, and thankfully the weather cooperated and we got her outside to play and for walks. But I don’t think those things (although good, and we will keep them up) are what did it. I think it’s just that she is two. It’s a crazy age.

six

Liam is two months old today, so look for his update later this week!

seven

David and I were super productive over the weekend. We fixed the headlight on my car, installed new blinds in our room, and did some rearranging of car seats. These were mostly new things for us, and there was some frustration and some words were had. But we survived, and we were successful, and our marriage is intact. :) Now that those things are out of the way, I can spend this week focusing on decluttering and crafts. Trying to make the most of this last week!

one

Here’s what I’ve been doing with myself during the days the last couple of weeks: I’m almost completely caught up with Downton Abbey, I finished 30 Rock, made more progress on my autumn sampler, framed another old completed project, and am almost done with a birth cross stitch for Liam (will share both soon). I finished my 2013 Project Life album and have started planning for 2014, I read the book Redeeming Love and am currently working my way through both Joyland by Stephen King and Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. I’m also doing a Bible study with the women at my church even though I can only attend a couple of the meetings, but I am doing the workbook on my own. It’s Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore and so far it might be my favorite of hers I’ve done, and it is very needed at this point in my life.

two

I love the Mei tai baby carrier for newborns. I can’t do slings (I need the symmetry of both shoulders), wraps take too much time, and the Ergo (my all-time fave) is for older babies (I have the infant insert but can’t master it). Since we don’t have a good double stroller I’ve been doing all our neighborhood walks with it.

three

Speaking of neighborhood walks, a fellow mom introduced herself to me while we were walking last week. I was so excited because she was super friendly and has kids the same age as mine. I wanted to follow up on it so I left a note on her door with my contact info, she texted me a few days later, and since then we have gone for a walk together and I went to her house for breakfast and coffee. We have a lot in common and I’m just so happy to have a friend in the neighborhood.

four

I finally broke down and bought a couple of pairs of transitional jeans in the size I’m at now. I won’t lie, it was hard, but at least I can feel more normal when getting dressed now. I am currently planning an overhaul of my entire wardrobe. This week I went through and got rid of everything that I never wear, doesn’t fit, or was worn out. I probably cut my clothes in half or more, and it felt so good. From now on I am going to be extremely selective about the clothes I buy, and I will save up for higher quality items that I really love.

five

Liam is six weeks old now, and at his one month checkup he was in the 85th percentile for both height and weight. He’s doing great and I’m cherishing these last few weeks we get to spend together.

six

I’m feeling more and more like myself these days. I can tell by the energy I have and the fact that the list of projects I want to complete is growing longer and longer. Right now they all revolve around decorating and simplifying. I can’t do it all at once though, so for now I’m trying to stick to one goal at a time and to keep from adding any more stuff to the house. I also want to set up some new routines to get back into normal life. Some things with work are changing (in a good way…will share soon) so that I will have more time at home and I’m hoping to be able to exercise and cook again. I’m really not dreading going back to work, and I am so grateful for that. Perhaps it’s easier the second time around, or maybe I just love my job. Either way, I’m at a good place right now.

one

This has been a really long and stressful week, and I’m not even working right now. The emotions of losing our dog have gotten to all of us. Monday night after the long day at the vet Meredith had a fever, so she stayed home with me on Tuesday. She was cranky and didn’t nap, so by the end of the day I was in tears exhausted. Wednesday our other dog Eddie had a panic attack that wouldn’t go away so I spent much of the day standing up because if I sat down she wouldn’t stop clawing me and Liam. Yesterday was better but I had a doctor’s appointment so I made the long trek to the medical center in the middle of the day (found out my blood pressure is still high), then I stopped by my work unit and spent a couple of hours talking which was nice but drained my energy. I am really trying to enjoy today since nothing is going on. Tomorrow and Monday I will have both kids home with me by myself again.

two

David and I don’t do anything big for Valentine’s Day, but he surprised me with a few treats this morning and it really brightened my day.

Tomorrow we are also planning an at-home movie date, and if I can bring myself to start pumping today we might even get to be completely alone.

three

Random hobby updates: I finished season 2 of Downton Abbey yesterday and I’m way into it right now. I’m also so close to finishing 30 Rock. I’m halfway through Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers for book club. Liam’s baby book is updated. And the autumn sampler I’m stitching is coming along well:

These were probably my favorite squares to stitch so far.

Next week I’m going to start tackling Project Life. I would also like to start planning some updates to the nursery to make it a little less girly. I ordered Liam’s birth announcements, so as soon as they arrive I want to address them and get them sent.

four

I have a bunch of other things on my mind that I am working through in my personal life and can’t update on yet, or am planning to blog about soon. Stuff like Bible study, my job, my personal style as I transition out of maternity clothes, the diaper situation, natural health & beauty products, photo printing, how to fit exercise back into my life, and eating well – for starters. As you can see, I have a lot of time to think lately and my mind has been busy. So look for some of that in the future.

five

What would this be without a baby picture? My littlest Valentine and I wish you a happy weekend.

He’s totally looking at me with love and not just hunger, right?