Our little girl is already 10 months old. How did that happen? I am pretty sure that I blinked my eyes and she sprouted overnight. She is pulling up, patty-caking, laughing, squealing, and screaming ma-ma and da-da! I am overjoyed/excited/anxious/and terrified of the future to come.
I worry about the future. What will the current state of world affairs hold? What will Addie have to face in her life ahead of her? Only God knows…which is why Waring and I took the opportunity to publicly proclaim our commitment to raise her in a Christian home and work each day to show her the Word visibly in her life. No, we will not be perfect, and neither will she. We will have have bad days and fall miserably short of the mark. No, we did not “baptize” her; that is a choice and an action that only she can choose to do one day hopefully in the distant future. Last Sunday, with our family and friends by our side, Waring and I made a commitment to share Christ and make him the center of our family. I pray that our actions continue to bring him glory and honor.
We thank the Lord each day for the blessings he has given to us in her.
1. Mommy (master chef, dirty diaper director, bathing supervisor, and the list goes on…)
2. Grad School Student
3. Middle School Teacher
4. Department Head
5. Gifted Certification Student
6. Home Seller
7. Home economist
8. Moving coordinator
I love being busy. I thrive on meeting deadlines and I totally geek out on making a killer to-do list, but even I have had to learn to say no. This week I was given an opportunity to pursue a professional goal, but after a few moments of dreaming I had to come back to the reality that I literally have NO TIME! I have a sky high revolving to do list that I don’t get finished with each day and it would be delusional to think that I could or would want to add anything else to the mix.
Since school has started it seems that Addie has made leaps and bounds of growth. She is over 23lbs and BUSY! She is moving all around the room and pulling up on everything that will stay stationary for long enough (including you if you are around)! As professionally driven as I am, I don’t want to miss out on her. She has given me more joy in my short nine months with her than the last five years of my career. I love my job, and it is very rewarding, but I have to remind myself that: It. Is. Just. A. Job. As much as I am making an impact on the students that I come into contact with each day, I am making an even greater impact on her life. I want it to be a positive one. So, if that means saying no to other obligations so that I can say yes to her, then okay. She is worth it.
I promise on one of my less busy days (haha) I will update you on my bucket list progress (or lack there of)!
I like stuff. I don’t crave expensive things, but I am sentimental so I keep things (like rocks from vacation and bricka brack from yard sales). I am not a minimalist. I will probably never be a minimalist, but I do believe in decluttering on a frequent basis and generally trying not to become a hoarder!
SO here is the challenge: Everyday for the next twenty-five days I will be putting items in a pile to donate to charity (hello tax write-off). Day one I will donate one item, day two I will donate two items, day three I will find three items…and well, you get it! Over the 25 day process I will have given away over 350 items. THAT IS HUGE!
Here is what has happened so far:
and so it begins…Day 1: REALLY old sweat pants….like from high school…Day 2: A scarf and a cosmetic bagDay 3: Three skirtsDay 4: CDsDay 5: 2 swimsuits, two dress tops, and a book.
So this weekend marked another bucket list conquering adventure into the world of ACUPUNCTURE!
I had bought a groupon a few months ago, but I finally found the guys to carve out some time and bite proverbial bullet…. As I pulled up to he office I didn’t know what to expect. I walked into the office to see fabric draped over the lighting, crystals and dream catchers hanging in the windows, and not a soul to greet me, except a dog (whose name turned out to be Doby).
I decided to make myself at home and soon the acupuncturist made an appearance. He took some time to address my areas of concern, which were aches and pains from running and stress, and then we went to a room for the procedure.
As I laid down on the table I could help thinking to myself, what the heck have I gotten myself into!?! Sometime these bucket list adventures don’t turn out like expected, and I braced myself for the pain….
But it never came! The needles are so thin that I couldn’t feel anything at all! Really!!! After a few minutes to insert the needles into my scalp, stomach, hands, feet, and legs he put a cover over my eyes and sprayed some herbal concoction and let me rest for about 30 minutes. I took a bit of that alone time to pray and off to dreamland I went. He came back in, quickly extracted the needles and I was on my way. I felt refreshed and relaxed.
I am not sure when I will go back, but I hope it is soon! Who knew!?! Also, he let me try these acupressure ear balls as well. They are supposed to reduce stress and calm you…but I think look cool too haha!
Another successful bucket list adventure in how book (or blog)!
Wow! Five years ago I began an incredible adventure with my best friend. July 27th 2009 I got a new name, wife, and the blessing of becoming joined to someone else. No, the marriage ceremony, the vows, or even the communion we shared after the vows did not cause a magical or miraculous change, but they symbolized our commitment to God and each other as we spend the rest of our lives working to become one in Christ. Now, just like this whole mommy thing, I am no expert, nor have I got the whole wife thing down either, but after five years of marital adventure…..here is what I know:
1. Marriage won’t make you happy. Sorry, but If you think that “putting a ring on it” will be a quick fix and turn your frog into prince charming, think again! Girl, marriage is hard!
2. Your spouse will not make you happy. Okay, hopefully he/she will bring you lots of fun, excitement, and love, but they CANNOT be the SOURCE of your happiness. Your true joy must stem from your walk with Christ.
3. You won’t be able to “fix” your husband. Yes, he will throw down his dirty laundry 2.3inches away from the hamper, and it may drive you bananas. BUT…you will always be five minutes late to events because you couldn’t find the (insert accessories, shoes, clothes) for the occasion, and it will baffle him every time! You can try to compromise and improve, but you will not change him/her…..
4. Food always tastes better when you are sharing with a friend! Dieting is hard when you are married, or at least it is for us. We love to indulge (and share)!
5. Bearing someone else’s burden is hard. Often times I find myself telling friends and family members that I will pray for them, or I am sorry for their loss, or etc…but when your spouse is hurting your whole world is turned upside down. The purpose of marriage is to become more Christ-life, and nothing could be closer to that than sharing in heartaches and being with your spouse through stormy seas.
6. COMPROMISE! Does this really need an explanation?
7. Enjoy the moment. Work will be there, and you can sleep when you are dead!
8. SAY YOU ARE SORRY (and mean it!) Okay, so I admit that this is an area in which I often struggle. If you know me, you know I am pretty opinionated and in the heat of an argument my pride often gets the best of me, but learn from my mistakes….
9. Love the flaws. Is my husband perfect? No. I love him BECAUSE of his flaws, not in spite of them. God created him with a plan and a purpose and he is fearfully and wonderfully made.
10. Becoming one takes time. True unity is something that develops over a period of time. It is something that develops through purposeful spiritual growth and devotion towards one another and Christ.
I want to become old and gray with this man. I want many more anniversaries, but most of all I am thankful for the time that I have been given with him.
Okay, so I am by no means a professional at this whole mom gig, but my husband and I just took our first big trip with baby in tow. The trip was a combo plane/road trip (five flights and 10 hours driving in total). Here are some of tips and lessons we learned along the way…
1. When in doubt, PACK IT! This motto has never been my mantra before. No matter whether we are traveling to Charleston or Capri my husband and I like to pack all of our belongings in a carry-on bag in order to save time and possible lost possessions. That rule was out the window with a baby in tow. When you are traveling with a little one extra baby wipes, toys, books, pacifiers, etc… are not creature comforts, they are lifesavers!
2. Baby Carriers are the way to go. I want to KISS the makers of the ERGOBABY carrier. They made our life so much easier. Our little girl quickly outgrew the cheaper carrier that I registered for when I was pregnant (rookie mom mistake). In hindsight I should have spent the extra mulah up front and bought a carrier that would hold up to 45lbs and checked the reviews for which one was most popular. I ended up getting the one we took on the trip secondhand from a friend at just a fraction of the price. Addie loves to be held and she often cat naps in it!
3. Leave the Stroller! We used the stroller a total or two times on the trip and it was a big hassle pushing it up hills and packing it in the car! Also, it was super inconvenient having to check it on the plane.
4. IF you have to take the stroller, GATE CHECK it! This way you get the benefit of using the stroller while you are in the airport and you get it right as you get off the plane instead of at the baggage claim carousel.
5. Don’t go it alone! Travelling with our best friends made it so much easier. When hubby was tired of driving he could switch off with Justin. If I couldn’t make Addie happy, Aunt Meri could make a silly face and get her to laugh. You know the saying…”it takes a village…”
6. Plan for some down town. We like to go go go on vacation, and for the most part we were able to keep a pretty jam packed itinerary, however it was important to plan a bit of down time in the morning or in the evening of every day. Addie just wants to roll around in the floor from time to time so it was best if we already had time scheduled out in the day that was just for her.
7. Use a Mesh Feeder. Feeding an infant on the road can be difficult, especially one who is used to having homemade baby food. I was able to take a banana or avocado and place them in her mesh feeder to eat. I didn’t have to worry about her chocking in the airport or out for the day, and she was still able to get in some solid foods.
8. Practice nursing in public. For me, nursing my baby is something I have become surprisingly passionate about, but it can still be a bit awkward in unknown public places. Make sure you bring a cover up that you have practiced with and that the baby and you are both comfortable with if you decide to go that route.
9. Bring a hand pump. Hand pumps are small and take up relatively little space. I did not use mine on the trip, however I felt more secure knowing that if I decided to make a reservation at the SPA or just have daddy feed the baby I had the option.
10. Disposable Bibs are life savers. We learned this the hard way….I packed a few of both types of bibs, but those soiled cloth bibs start to smell pretty ripe after a few days.
11. Ziploc bags are a mama’s best friend! I always keep a stash of these in Addie’s bag. They work great for blow out diapers when you don’t have a trashcan handy, soiled bibs and cloths, extra pacifiers, mesh eaters, bows, etc…
12. Pack baby outfits in ziploc bags. If you pack the complete outfit, complete with socks and bows, you won’t have to worry about that microscopic missing sock!
13. Stay in a vacation rental (think VRBO, AIRBNB, HOMEAWAY) instead of a hotel. You will have so many more comforts from home, more space, and a unique perspective for the same price as a budget hotel room.
14. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Yes, you baby may have a blow out in the middle of Yosemite. Yes, you may have to change her on a tree stump because the ranger station is closed. Yes, you may receive cheers from a whole bus full of onlookers, but you will make some the best memories of you life along the way!
Sometimes it takes getting back to your own zip code to be able to clearly reflect upon the journey. While traveling through California we saw a lot and ate a lot, but looking back I also learned a lot.
#1: I love to travel,but I am a small town kinda gal. Don’t get me wrong, I love San Fancisco but I am much happier exploring smaller towns like Monterey, Carmel, or even Portland.
#2: I love family owned establishments. Nothing warms by heart like a mom-pop restaurant where they truly take pride in their trade and make sure the you are enjoying your time with them.
#3 Home rentals are the way to go! Whether you use VRBO, Homeaway, or AirBnB, rental spaces are the way to go for vacations. We stayed in four different places over seven nights! Each place we stayed was unique. rentals give you the conveniences of home, such as a washer and dryer, full kitchen, and more space to move around. With a 7 month old baby in tow it was great to have the luxuries of home wherever we stayed. The added bonus is that you always get to feel like a local and the owners take care to personalize your stay and offer advice!
#4 It is just stuff….On one of our flights we accidentally left Addie’s bag of toys on the plane. Since our flight was the last one of the night for our plane the United workers told us to come back when we departed from the airport a few days later and we could pick up the bag then because the mechanics were available to open the plane back up that night. When we arrive back at the airport we secured the toy bag from the United desk, but it was missing 3 of her toys, a necklace we had bought her in Yosemite, and our iphone power cord. I could have screamed when we I got that bag back! How could you steal toys from a baby? Really!? And to know that it was one of the workers because they were the only ones on the plane make it that much worse!!! In retrospect, however, I know that a few toys is nothing compared to the riches that I already have in my family, friends, and little girl. I am truly blessed beyond measure, and no stuff lost, stolen, or otherwise could ever change that.
#5 Good friends are hard to come by, but when you do they are priceless! We were so lucky to be able to travel with some of our very best friends, Justin and Meredith. They are so easy going and great with Addie. We made memories that we will remember for a long time to come!
T-minus nine school days left until Summer! My students this year have been great, and my school is fantastic, but I am still looking forward to Summer Break more than I ever have. I am looking forward to sleepy, pajama-filled days, picnics, swimming in the pool, and adventures with Mom, AJ, and Addie.
All this daydreaming about Summertime fun has got me thinking about what excitement Addie and I have to look forward to in the years to come. I don’t want to waste any of this previous time that God has given me with my sweet girl, so of course I have made a list. The best part about this list is that very soon I will have lots of help adding ideas to this list as I get to know Addie and her personality.
Here’s what we have so far:
1. Take pics in my wedding dress
2. Throw a tea party
3. Plant a garden
4. Make a livingroom fort out of sheets and blankets
5. Bake holiday cookies
6. Pick blueberries
7. Have breakfast in bed
8. Go on a movie date
9. Stay in our PJs all day
10. Fly a kite
11. Spa night at home
12. Shop for prom dresses
13. Plan her wedding
14. Summer Camp Fun
15. Visit the zoo
16. Visit an aquarium
17. Cook dinner together
18. Craft night
19. Make a sand castle
20. Pray nightly
21. Read together
22. Visit the library
23. See a play
24. See a ballet
25. Go yard saling
****This is a work in progress. What else should we add?
Daily Drops in the Bucket 
