Getting Organized.

Here's a little peek inside my home office! Ok, not really. But if you were to drop by our house on any given day, you will find my "work station" camped out at the end of our dining room table.

I was hoping to touch on this sort of topic during my 31 Days series, but I think we all got to see the extent of my hot mess-ness while trying to keep up with the blog challenge; publishing sub-par posts and neglecting most of my daily chores.

I am happy to report now that I actually am able to (sort of) stay on top of my housework when I am not blogging every day.

One of the things that is helping me to stay in line is keeping a house management binder. I did not invent this concept, however I was able to tailor one that is specific to our family's needs. I have sections for cleaning, cooking/ menu planning, health/ essential oils, and DIY projects. I am hoping to add some more tabs for kids activities & finances.

Here's what I reference for cleaning chores. There are dozens of these checklists available across the web, but the key is finding something that is actually feasible for you. My favorites are the Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist from Real Simple, the Weekly Checklist for House Cleaning by Household Management 101, and the Project: Organize Your ENTIRE Life Mega Cleaning Action Plan from Modern Parents Messy Kids.

I printed these out and placed in clear pocket folders so I can check off with a dry erase marker and reuse.

I also use the same clear pocket folders for my grocery shopping list. This list is also from Household Management 101 & is proving to be more efficient than the bits of paper I had been scribbling them out on.

In addition to my house management binder, I also use a good old-fashioned planner. I bought one that shows the calendar month with grand intentions to do some meal planning. Turns out, I suck at it.

A system I find a little more realistic for me is to keep my main dishes on post-it notes and place them on the calendar after a big shopping trip. This way I can easily switch them around if our plans change or we don't feel like eating that particular thing that night. This is a new system I am implementing, and so far, its helping.

So, those are just a few of the tools I have been using to better manage our home! I've definitely missed blogging since my 31 Days series ended, but I have really been enjoying a clean house. Also, knitting. It's officially the time of year to bust out the needles and bask in the stench of seasonal pine & cookie scented candles. I'm trying so hard to restrain myself from decking the halls until after Thanksgiving, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out on that...

We Made It [31/31].

31 days. 31 blog posts. Phewsh. This sort of feels like a huge accomplishment for me. There were lots of times that I felt like giving up or that this challenge wasn't worth doing, but as I look back on my blog posts this month, I'm so glad I stuck with it. The month that I cut the net from beneath me and plunged into this sweet, wild world of being a Stay-at-home-Mama.

If I ever decide to do a blog challenge like this again, I'll definitely go into it with a much better game plan. There were lots of potential topics I would have liked to write about, but maybe this "fly by the seat of my pants" concept was the most honest portrayal of life as a beginner SAHM I could have displayed.

I received a number of encouraging comments throughout this challenge, some from people I have never met, that really helped me keep going these last few days. Sincerely, thank you. I do intend to keep blogging, but not at the pace I've been at this month. Obviously. I would suggest subscribing to my Bloglovin feed if you want to keep following along.

Again, thank you for reading. Now, pardon me while I go catch up on all the housework I've neglected since I started this challenge...

I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

GUEST POST: My Sister-in-Law, Nicole! [30/31]

Readers, you are in for a treat!! I am SO excited to be sharing this post from my sister-in-law, Nicole! Not only is she a beginner stay-at-home-mama, she's a new mama to boot! Nicole & her husband, Scott, are adjusting to their new life as parents while in the process of renovating an adorable, old home in Minneapolis, MN. She's done some blogging in the past, but maybe if we send her enough love, she'll get back into it! Until then, you can find her on Twitter or Instagam.

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I'm very excited to have the opportunity to do a guest post on Erin's blog! She's done such a great job giving us glimpses into her everyday SAHM world. I'm quite new to the SAHM life and feel like I know almost nothing yet. My daily companion is my 7-week-old son, Peregrin. As my husband and I started discussing parenthood several years ago, we both felt that me being home with our children was the right choice for our family. Now here I am!

Nicole's husband, Scott, & Peregrin. 

One of the biggest lessons I've learned so far as a SAHM is that balancing caring for my child and getting anything done is hard. Obvious, I know, but this reality is still rocking my world. Last week I cooked a meal for the first time since Peregrin was born. That's right. It took me SIX WEEKS to pull off cooking a full meal. Clearly I have a lot to learn. Daily I wonder how other moms run their households, how they balance caring for their children with their many other responsibilities. I cooked for the second time last night. In fact, I made both dinner and a crockpot breakfast that we'll be able to eat in the mornings all week. I did not, however, have the time or energy to clean-up after myself and went to bed with my kitchen looking like this:

                                                   

This piece was created for me by one of my aunts 34 years ago when I was a baby. It's now hanging on my son's bedroom wall and it's a daily reminder of what's really important during this season of life. I could put any number of things in place of "cleaning and scrubbing". Cooking, watching my favorite shows, decorating our new (old) house. These are all fine things, some are necessary, but I don't want to take this moment in time for granted. I'm stunned at how much my son has changed in just seven weeks, how much more in seven months! So I eat whatever is easy, ignore my bare walls and play with my tiny son. 

Of course things do need to get done at home and this is where I need some serious refining. I'm realizing that being organized and having a plan isn't just good, it's vital. Gone are the days where I could pour over recipes to find something new, make a list, go to the store for just that one meal's ingredients and then spend hours cooking. Gone too are the days where keeping on top of our family's finances could happen whenever and as often as needed. Of course, finding time to sit and draft a working schedule for my life isn't easy either so it's going to be a process. In the mean time I'll have to live with more crazy than I'm comfortable with but by God's good grace we'll manage to eat something and the bills will get paid on time, even if just barely.

                                      "What may be done at any time will be done at no time."

True. Being a SAHM is my new job and I desire to do it well, to take it as seriously as the work I did outside the home. I no longer have a boss potentially looking over my shoulder and my deadlines are more loose, if they exist at all. But I believe this is the most important work of my life and it's up to me to provide my own structure so that I can thrive in this roll. Right now Peregrin rises early (6 a.m.!), too early for me to rise before him, but I hope that over time this will change. Everyday I realize how incapable I am of handling all this on my own. I hope to rise before my son and spend time with the Lord at the start of each day. I need His strength and wisdom. I need Him to pour into me so I have anything at all to offer my family. On the lonely days I need to be reminded that He is with me.

Every day is its own adventure right now and mostly I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants. Years from now I hope to be able to look back on these days and see them as the beginning of a journey of maturation, of coming into my own as a wife and mother. As for tonight, dinner consisted of nachos and ice cream. But hey, I spent the evening playing with my son and I whipped that kitchen into shape so I'm still going to call it a win. 

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I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

Up All Night [29/31].

That was us last night. Sterling is dealing with some cold-related congestion (again), so we camped out on the couch, waking every hour or so. It was brutal, but I didn't get too frustrated. When my kids aren't feeling well, I can somehow adopt this Florence Nightingale persona I didn't know I was capable of.

The worst part was once Sterling was able to get comfortable & fall back asleep, I couldn't do the same.

I think I am losing my ability to fall asleep. 

Naps are easier, but I had the opportunity to take one today and just...couldn't. My mind doesn't want to sleep. It is too busy thinking about how fast these days are going by and how little I am getting done in them.

Part of this lack of productivity can be attributed to my childrens' ages. They're babies. They require a lot of attention, maybe even more than the average. And it is my great pleasure, as hard as it is, to give them all the attention I think they deserve.

The other part is that I have an infant that does not want to be put down. He fusses if somebody is not holding him and I can only handle the fussing for so long before I'm pacing around with him in my arms again. I cracked open this book today that a friend lent me in hopes to find some insight on our situation, but no luck thus far.

We know it isn't anything wrong with him and we know this stage won't last forever, but it's really easy to forget that when you're in the trenches.

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining too much because there are MANY sweet moments punctuating the craziness. A smile from Sterling or a hug from Ruby can so easily bring my heart back to a jovial place. But if I'm going to be honest about what being a beginner SAHM entails, then this is just part of it.

In the vein of this slightly subdued post, I read something on Shauna Niequist's blog today that really resonated with me. About the word SHOULD in relation to the way you think things SHOULD be. From Shauna's post:

We all have these weird rules about what we should love and what should make us happy and how things should work.  Should is a warning sign, frankly. When you’re using the word should more and more often, it’s a sign that you’re living further and further from your truest, best self, a sign that you’re living for some other set of parameters or affirmations that you think will bring you happiness.

Yep.

I was hoping by the end of this 31 Days challenge, I would have nailed something down or solidified some habit. In reality, it has only exposed how so very far away I am from having it all together. And that's ok. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any room for grace or need of a Savior.

The kids are now asleep and I'm sitting amongst piles of folded laundry that will just have to wait until tomorrow to be tucked in their drawers. Instead, I'm going to take shot at getting some much needed sleep and praying I get more of it tonight. Amen.

P.S. I have yet to read one of Shauna Niequist's books. I hear they're all amazing. Where should I start?

GUEST POST: Jessica from For the Love of Justice [28/31].

You guys. I am SO excited for day's guest post!! Jessica writes at For the Love of Justice, a blog about intentional living & everyday justice. She's a little bit more of a seasoned SAHM than I am & has so beautifully captured a day in the life of their family. Her kiddos are ADORABLE and it looks like the 3rd one will be making his arrival sometime TODAY! Be sure to check out her blog & fair trade database when you get a chance:)

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Hi there!  I’m Jessica and I am so excited Erin allowed me to share a little bit of my SAHM life with you!  I have two kids – Laura who is four and Titus who is almost two.  I am also about two weeks away from the birth of our third child, another little boy.  Life is definitely crazy around here!

I began my SAHM journey with the birth of our daughter.  Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a mom, dreamed about it, really.  Before Laura was born my husband and I decided I would stay home with her and I’ve never regretted that decision.  While some days are complete chaos (as Erin so honestly describes!), other days are so beautiful, I feel like I have the greatest job in the world.  

The best way to describe my life is to show you.  I loved the idea of taking a photo an hour for one day so here is a little peak into our lives:

7:00 – Titus wakes up and starts calling for me.  By the time I go to get him Laura is coming down the stairs.  I would love to say that our early mornings are wonderful but that is simply not the case.  I need space and silence to fully wake up but the kids don’t understand that concept yet!  I don’t know if it’s just me or what but they are always ridiculously loud in the mornings.  I make breakfast while reminding them over and over that, “It’s too early to be this loud.  PLEASE be quiet!”

8:00 – By eight things are usually looking a lot better.  I’ve had coffee.  The kids are fed and Laura is out of her pajamas.  There is a load of laundry in the washer.   Today the kids are content to play together without arguing so I slip out on to our front porch and drink in the cool crisp air.  This wakes me up more than anything else.  We moved to Idaho from Alabama about a year ago and my favorite part is still SEASONS.  Especially fall.  The leaves are beautiful right now.  

The kids are still playing together (miracle!) so I take a minute to read my Bible.  I have been slowly reading through Psalms and highlighting every place where “steadfast love” is used.  It’s in there A LOT.  I love it.  God’s steadfast love: immoveable, constant, unwavering.  I need a reminder of that daily.

9:00 – My husband is awake (today is his off day, yah!!) and entertaining Titus.  Laura is engrossed with coloring so I jump in the shower.  By the time I am out the TV is on, something that happens for an hour or so every morning around here.   

10:00 -   I convince Laura to come outside to play while I rake leaves.  Titus has a complete meltdown because the TV is off and he doesn’t want to go outside.  Or be held.  Or play with toys.  He wants to wander around the house and yell/cry.  Great.  He eventually gets over it and joins his sister in playing in the dirt.  It’s their favorite outdoor activity.

11:00 – I make a quick lunch, which is really breakfast – eggs, fruit and hash browns.  We are a breakfast loving family and can eat it for any meal of the day.  Oh, and trucks and trains are never far from the hands of my kids, even at the table.

12:00 – Titus goes down for an early nap because we have a mid-afternoon doctor appointment.  Laura heads to her room to rest and play quietly (sorta).  While the kids are in their rooms my husband and I catch up on the latest episodes of New Girl and our new favorite, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.  I am unusually tired today (thank you, nine month baby) so it feels good just to lie on the couch and relax.

1:00 – Laura’s rest time is almost over.  She usually watches a show while I finish up the projects I was working on during her rest (like blogging) but today I go up and spend time with her instead.  We read and tuck her favorite puppies into bed.  This photo-an-hour deal is making me pause and see things a little differently.  I probably should spend more time with just Laura instead of trying to get so much work done.  It’s a balance I think I will struggle with all of motherhood.

2:00 – We are on our way to the pediatrician to get Titus’ staph infection/diaper rash checked out AGAIN.  This thing never goes away.

3:00 – The kids love watching the fish in the waiting room.  Titus couldn’t stop stringing together long lines of excited gibberish.  Thankfully, our pediatrician confirms  what I think, the rash appears to be healing and this will hopefully be our last visit for a while.  Yah!

4:00 – While we are out, we swing by the mall to get my phone contacts and such switched to my husband’s old phone.  My phone had a tragic accident with the sidewalk earlier this week and has a spider web of cracks to prove it.  We pick up dinner at the food court and wander around a few stores before hitting up one of our favorite parks on the way home.

5:00 to 6:00 – We spend a while walking around the park.  It’s basically a huge, beautiful wooded area with sidewalks and a pond.  Last winter we saw three deer.  In the spring we saw geese with their fuzzy babies.  It’s a cool place and also, we discovered, THE place to take family photos. We counted no less than ten families getting their Christmas pictures taken, plus two weddings.  

7:00 – We finally get home and the kids watch a little TV before bed.  Bed time is often one of the hardest parts of the day for me, not going to lie.  Everyone is tired and cranky, the kids are both going through a stage where they hate baths…fun times!   My husband works the evening shift so bedtimes are usually my gig but since he is off I get some extra help.  Tonight I put Laura to bed while my husband wrangles Titus.  

8:00 onward – After the kids are in bed I get some quick blog stuff taken care of and then start on my big project : coming up with meal ideas and making a grocery list for my shopping trip tomorrow.  Sometimes I enjoy this job but lately I haven’t been into cooking AT ALL.  By the time I am done planning, browsing Pinterest and chatting with my husband, it’s almost 11 and I am ready for bed.  I check on Titus one more time to make sure he actually fell asleep in his bed (a feat that has only happened a handful of times since we moved him to his toddler bed a month or two ago).  He actually made it into bed tonight and I take a minute to watch him sleep before I go to bed myself.  It’s so peaceful.  

I can hardly believe I’ve been at this mothering thing for over four years.  Sometimes I feel like I am a fresh-faced newbie who knows nothing.  Every stage has its own unique challenges.  One of the most important things I have learned is to take the time to find out what really works for you.  There can be a lot of pressure to be some kind of perfect mom or to do things a certain way but everyone has different ways of dealing with motherhood and running a home.  One way is not better than the other.  Find a routine, a method, a way of doing things that makes things easy for you.  Just like at a typical workplace job, if you don’t love what you do, work becomes a chore and something you dread.  Being a SAHM mom is the same way.  If it’s not working, if it’s more frustrating than fulfilling, something needs to change.  Maybe it means you create a routine, you re-think how you are doing laundry, you ask for outside help, you intentionally take “time off” to be by yourself.  Make it work.  Love what you do.  When we find our sweet spot (which may be different with each changing season), it shows.  We become a better parent, a better wife, a better homemaker.

Well, that’s all I have…thanks for letting me share a bit about my life with you!  As a side note, you can find me at ForTheLoveOfJustice.com – a space I created to talk about my journey in living intentionally and practicing everyday justice.

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I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

Other Mothers [23/31].

I used to be the kind of person that would get hung up on aesthetics when entering into new relationships. There's actually a word for it: pretentious. I'm not proud of it either. I still have a tendency when meeting new people to think a friendship might not progress because it does not appear (on the outside) that we would have anything in common.

Don't get me wrong, aesthetics can act like a glue in some relationships. But believing its the only thing might have only done me a disservice in the long run.

Motherhood has kind of forced me into this new world of relationships. It's a good thing too because I'm not always good at them. For example, the playgroup with some other SAHM's from my church. We come together because we have children and need something to break up the crazy that is our week with some adult interaction. We keep going back because we find out that we share similar battles, and even secrets.

Today was the most OUT OF CONTROL playgroup I've ever attended. Every kid there seemed to be out of sorts. It was like they were feeding off each other, trying to out-cry the next. All this while the Mamas were trying to discuss a chapter in our book study on emotional wounds.

The crazy thing is that even in the midst of our chaotic surroundings, it was probably the most powerful meetup to date.

There are some ladies I've been "familiar" with for a long time that I feel like I know now because of some mutual struggle. Turns out I'm not the only one that has had that particular experience or thought. There is healing that awaits in those encounters, if only we allow ourselves to be open to them.

I'm glad that I'm finally learning this about myself & others. Better late than never.

P.S. Even though our playgroup was super crazy, Sterling was a ROCKSTAR today. He barely even cried. It's hard to explain, but I could just feel that we were being prayed for. So, sincerely, thank you.

[Image source.]

I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

Sweet Surrender [22/31].

I read an online article yesterday called Two Lists I Make Every Morning. One of the lists is titled "If I could live today over again I'd...", which is based on the idea that you are living this day for the second time and the choices you would make differently. I liked the idea of this. I thought about it this morning. And then everything went out the window...

First of all, my day got started around midnight. Sterling would wake up every time I tried to put him down, so I ended up pacing around with him in an attempt to keep him from waking everyone else up. We're both not sleeping through the night yet, so when I did get up for the day, it came with a headache. (There are few things worse than waking up with a headache, am I right?)

We were really starting to think that the colic-y phase was beginning to subside, but I'm pretty sure its back and its taking a toll on everyone. He's not just having episodes in the evening either. It feels like he is fussing more while he's awake than when he's not, which is can be extremely wearing on all parties involved. Unless he's being held or in his car seat (see above), he's not happy.

As a result of the tension and tiredness, it was a pajama's til noon/ TV on all morning kind of day. Heck, since I was already winning so hard, I grabbed us all McDonald's for lunch. I was even supposed to go to a funeral today, but knew I'd max myself out if I even tried taking both kids.

I got a text yesterday from a friend with a link to a daily reading from My Utmost for His Highest. I decided to read it while trying to get Sterling down for a nap this afternoon and literally had a "come to Jesus" moment. The Utmost link had since refreshed to this new day's reading, and in it featured this verse:

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I felt so weary in that moment. I prayed. I held on to those words. And you know what happened next? Well, Sterling cried for a few more minutes, but both he & Ruby took a crazy long afternoon nap after that. Which meant that this Mama got to get some rest too. Thank you, Jesus.

The rest of the day went on much better than it started. Sterling was still fussy this evening, but I was fortunate enough that my sister was willing to come over and shoulder the load with me. We even topped off the night with fake Dippin' Dots (have you heard of Itti Bitz??) and funny YouTube videos.

So, even though this day felt like it was shot from the start, all was not lost. If anything, it was a good reminder to surrender sooner next time. And praying friends, would you lift one up for Sterling that he comes out of this crying phase sooner rather than later? It is as hard as it is heartbreaking to see your sweet son having such a hard time for seemingly no reason. Please and thank you.

I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

Outtakes [20/31].

Hi All! Getting in my 31 Days post at the last minute, but getting one in nonetheless! Phewsh. We've had a packed weekend, but here's a few shots of our sweet, crazy world from the past few days. 

This was taken during my photo-every-hour challenge. It wasn't taken on the hour though, so it didn't make the final post. Still, I adore this pic.

Visiting our new niece, Brielle, at the hospital. It's crazy to think that Sterling has not one, but TWO, cousins now that are younger than him!

Papa had a three day weekend, so this Mama was able to go out and do a some shopping on Friday. I brought along this little guy, of course, and it was pretty smooth sailing once he fell asleep. I even got to hit a thrift store before going home! It's the little things...

Tickle party with Papa & Ruby! There are times when I want to just sit back and enjoy these moments without viewing them through a lens, but I fear that my memory will fail me. These times are just too precious  - I never want to forget them!

Last night was the wedding of one of my oldest friends. We were home-schooled at the same time, went to high school together, the same college, and even studied abroad in London the same semester. Needless to say, it was pretty surreal to see so many people I knew from so many different places in one space.

Waking up next to my sweet boy this morning. What a blessing it is to be his Mama...

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!! As always, thanks for reading & for bearing with my seemingly directionless 31 Days series! xx

I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

Just Embrace It [19/31].

We've got a wedding out of town today, so not a lot of time to be sitting around blogging. Not like I have a lot of that anyways;)

Also, I'm looking for any other SAHM that might want to be interested in doing a guest post before the end of this challenge. It'll be simple, plus I can provide some guided questions to get you started. Comment if you are interested!

HAPPY WEEKEND XX

[Image source.]

I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

Stay-At-Home-Mama Must Haves [18/31].

If only my new role as a SAHM came with all these goodies at orientation, my job may be slightly more fabulous. But there was no orientation and I've already got my own janky version of each of these reco's. Hopefully though, after Birthday & Christmas, I'll have a few more "tools" for success. So consider this my wishlist (and what every SAHM should already have):

1. THE DAY DESIGNER. It's easy to forget what day of the week it is when you're a SAHM, so I would suggest that every Mama get a planner to help stay organized. And this "Day Designer" is SO much more than a planner. There are special sections for meal planning, payment reminders, & goal planning. The $55 price tag seems steep, but if you broke it down by cost per use, is 15 cents a day worth staying organized (and fabulously so, I might add)?

2. The SAHM Notepad from Harper Gray. If you're like me, then you already keep an ongoing list similar to this. Except it's on a crumpled legal pad that your 2 yr. old scribbled all over. $14.

3. LIFEFACTORY GLASS WATER BOTTLE. Does any other SAHM out there fail to stay well hydrated through the day? We take care of our littles, but we need to take care of ourselves too;) Glass is best & a fancy bottle may motivate one to drink more aqua. $20-26.

4. BETTER LIFE BAG. Confession: I hate lugging around a diaper bag. I usually just pack an over-sized purse or canvas tote with kiddie essentials. Why not do it in style (while also supporting a great mission)? These bags are fully customize-able and handmade in Detroit, MI by underprivileged women. I'll take two.

5. YOGA PANTS. But not just any yoga pants. "The Most Loved Yoga Pant" from Victoria Secret. And as of 10/17/13, they are 2 for $55 on the website. You're welcome.

6. A CUTE PAIR OF EARRINGS. Because even if you look like a hot mess, a cute pair of stud earrings will give the appearance that you actually care. I got this pair of Kate Spade ones from Zappos. $38.

7. AUDIOBOOKS. Never stop learning, Mama's. Plus, it's nice to hear the voice of another adult in the midst of a day spent reasoning with a toddler. Currently, I'm listening to the Bible (how else do you think I am getting through my Bible-in-a-year readings?) when I'm washing dishes. 

Here's a guide to get you started on audiobooks. Or a list of 16 Audiobooks Read By A-List Celebrities (because most ladies I know would pay to hear Johnny Depp read the phone book - can I get an amen?).

Also, PODCASTS. My top 3 would be Radiolab, Simple Mom, & the Relevant Podcast. 

8. DRY SHAMPOO. But the jury is still out on the best one on the market. Any recommendations?

Is there anything else that should be added to this list? Anything that would make life as a SAHM more simple/ efficient?

I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.

A Day In The Life [16/31].

Nothing quite motivates you to be intentional with your time than committing to photograph your day hour-by-hour. I wasn't sure what I'd end up with (or if it would even be worth blogging), but I think it's safe to say that this is a pretty accurate account of a typical day in the life of this beginner SAHM.

9 A.M. - Sweet Sterling in a sea of Lalaloopsy dolls [outfit #1]. With Papa fresh out the door, this is the time things really get started. I did not have the good fortune of taking a shower today.

10 A.M. - For some reason, Ruby is more into pens & blank paper over coloring books & crayons. Is that typical for a 2 yr old? Also, this lasted about 1 minute.

11 A.M. - T.V. is on while I'm tidying up/ figuring out what to fix for lunch. Just being real here.

12 P.M. - Ruby is the pokiest little eater in the land. I think we got started around 11:20 A.M.? As long as Sterling [outfit #2] is happy in his swing, I'll try to clean up the kitchen, etc. I actually made smoothies today!

1 P.M. - I finally get Sterling to sleep, take this beautiful picture, and he's up after, like, 3 minutes. This boy does not sleep well unless he is being held or in his car seat. He also won't take a pacifier or allow me to carry him in the Bjorn either. I love all the snuggles, but it's hard to get anything done.

2 P.M. - The view from "Mommy Daddy's room". 1 of 2 kids are sleeping now. I usually sit next to Ruby as she falls asleep while nursing Sterling. Depending on the day, I'll take a nap too at this point. I was not so lucky today since there was some construction going on at a neighbor's and men yelling outside of my house.

3 P.M. - I've got a load of laundry in the wash and a sink full of dishes. So productive today!

4 P.M. - Some chores are done. Sterling is napping. Time to catch up on my Bible-in-a-year readings (which I am falling slightly behind on). I also squeezed in an episode of New Girl since Ruby was still asleep.

5 P.M. - Dinner prep time. Trader Joe's pollo asado in spinach wraps. Not too shabby.

6 P.M. - Papa is home! And it's time to eat. We can all breathe a sigh of relief now. Sterling [outfit #3] doesn't usually sit at the dinner table with us, but he wanted to tonight.

7 P.M. - Post-dinner cuddles with my little man. He did not get very good naps today, so here's hoping he'll sleep well tonight!

8 P.M. - Bath time with Ruby. This girl is pure entertainment pretty much all of the time.

9 P.M. - FINALLY sitting down to blog, but not on my own terms. This post took about an hour to write between rocking/ walking/ nursing Sterling. A Mama's work is never done...

Hope you enjoyed "spending the day" with us!!

I'm Not Beyonce [14/31].

Maybe you've seen this quote floating around the Pinterest boards. The first time I saw it, my initial though was—"Damn, right! What's MY deal?!" And I kept thinking about it. What I had originally found motivating about the quote soon became intimidating.

Why does it feel like I am accomplishing so little in these 24 hours I have been given?

Need I remind myself that comparison is the thief of joy. And making comparisons to Beyonce isn't doing anyone any good. There's no denying that Beyonce has worked very hard to get where she is. The woman is an enigma.

What the quote fails to mention though is that is takes a village to keep Beyonce operating at the level she is at. Beyonce has a personal assistant, a publicist, stylists, a nanny—and it's likely that is just scratching the surface of her entourage.

I think it takes a village to do this whole motherhood thing well too. The first families up until recently (in the scope of mankind) heavily relied on their extended families in raising their nuclear families. So why is there so much pressure nowadays to carry this duty alone?

One thing about motherhood that has maybe forced me out of my comfort zone more than anything is learning to ask for help when I need it. You guys. SO hard for me. It's taken a few (rather embarrassing) emotional outbursts to realize this about myself.

My husband & I had made the decision to put down roots near our families with the idea of having kids in mind. And you know what? I am so glad we did. Because being a Mama is a tough gig. Don't get me wrong, it is THE BEST, but it does not come without its trials (and gray hairs).

I rely on my Grandma to come over and hold baby Sterling when my to-do list is overwhelming. I rely on my Mom or Wayde's Mom to take Ruby for a few hours so I can catch up on work or have a quiet night in. And I rely on my Sister to help entertain the kids with me when Papa is out doing band stuff.

I used to feel burdened in having to ask these women for help, but I think each one of them would agree that they enjoy the opportunity to spend time with my little ones and to feel needed. I would like to think that my children's lives will be richer for having these women (and so many others) feeding into them.

So, I'm not Beyonce. I can't do it all. And that's ok. I'm just very fortunate to have the people in my life that are helping me make it through.xx

No Return (To Work) [13/31].

It's pretty crazy to think that tomorrow would be my return-to-work date if I hadn't resigned from my job. 

I remember the night before going back to work from my maternity leave with Ruby. Ugh, those emotions still feel so fresh...The days and weeks leading up to it, I couldn't even talk about it with getting choked up. 

We did have a daycare set-up that was more than ideal though. Ruby spent all that time I was working with her Aunt, her Grandma, or her Great-Grandma. It was always reassuring to know that she was with people that loved her like one of their own, but still, it broke my heart not being the one taking care of her. 

Sunday nights were the worst. I'd have that sinking feeling in my gut just thinking about another week of only being with her for a few short hours each day. I think our gut can tell us a lot of things. I think mine was telling me that I was not operating in the role that I was designed to do. 

I know not everybody feels this way. I know not everyone who wants to stay home with their kids is able to. People need to make decisions that are best for their family, so I'm not out to judge anyone here.

I read a blog post this week called, "You're a stay-at-home-mom? What do you do all day?" The title may be humorous, but it actually brought up some beautiful points about stay-at-home-mom"ing". 

"These women are doing something beautiful and complicated and challenging and terrifying and painful and joyous and essential. Whatever they are doing, they ARE doing something, and our civilization DEPENDS on them doing it well. Who else can say such a thing? What other job carries with it such consequences?"

I'm not sure what I set out to achieve when I started writing this post. But tonight, this Sunday night, I am not feeling that sense of dread if I were to be going back to work in the morning. Instead, I feel grateful. I feel happy. My new role is certainly not easy, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Family Photos [12/31].

Here's a sneak peak of the family photo shoot we took with our good friends, Dave & Mariah of The Wedding Format. It's pretty special to have such gifted photographer friends. Dave has captured many of our family memories including our 8 mm wedding film.

I'm not sure if I'll look at these photos someday when they're framed on our walls and remember how crazy hectic the week leading up to them was. But as I look at them now, I can't help but feel crazy blessed to have the little family that I do.

Being a beginner SAHM is tough enough without adding the pressure to blog everyday about it. The direction my series has taken since starting isn't really what I imagined, but being a Mom is kind of like that too. There are a lot of days where I feel like I'm just stumbling around, trying my best to keep it together. If that hasn't been reflected in my blog the last couple weeks, then I don't know what.

I committed to the 31 Days with these things in mind: to push myself creatively, to exercise consistency, and to build community. Do I feel like I am making progress in those areas since I've started? I think so, be it minor. And it is only Day 12 of the challenge! Boy, do I have a long way to go...

I’m linking up with The Nester every day in October for #31Days. You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here.