A Trip to the Library [8/31].

Papa had a sick day today, so we spent most of it out of the house in order for him to get some rest. So the kids & I went to the library. I'm still getting used to taking both of them out at the same time, which is no easy task. And I used to think just taking Ruby to the store was a challenge...

You'd think a trip to the library would be making an effort to reduce screen time, but I spent a good chunk of it supervising Ruby at the computer station. I truly want my children to love & appreciate books, but there's a lot to compete with in this age of iPhones and televisions.

Baby boy slept most of the time we were at the library, which made it easier for this Mama to wrangle the mobile kid. Thank you, sweet Sterling.

Can I just be honest now?

It's days like today where I feel really burdened by this 31 Days challenge. I'm behind on my housework, my sleep, my devotions--all so I can squeeze in the time to write a silly blog entry. I committed to this challenge so I could engage with the community and I barely have enough time to write my own post, let alone read any others. And it's only Day 8.

Just feeling discouraged...

Establishing A Start Time...Is A Good Idea [7/31].

One piece of advice that was given to me in regards to being a SAHM was to have a start time. My pastor's wife suggested this when I shared with her my struggle to get into a routine. It worked for her when she transitioned from one kid to two kids.

I've been meaning to implement this for weeks now and with what would've been my return-to-work date approaching shortly, I wouldn't have had a choice but to have a start time if I were going back. 

Today was going to be that day...but then last night happened. 

Currently, Sterling is on the tail-end (or I'm hoping what is the tail-end) of a colic-y phase. I refused to accept that it was colic until I googled it. "Episodes of crying for more than three hours a day for more than three days a week for three weeks in an otherwise healthy child between the ages of two weeks and four months," according to Wikipedia. Yep, that sounded about right. 

Ruby experienced the same thing too where she would just cry, inconsolably, for hours on end. At least this time with Sterling we know that it's not something wrong with him and, better yet, it doesn't last forever. Still, those intense moments can break down the strongest & most loving of parents. 

Sterling's spell last night took place sometime around midnight, which is later than usual, after everyone else had gone to bed. He's been a bit congested too, which I'm attributing to the changing of seasons. Anyway, I ended up sleeping on the couch, holding him upright so his sinuses could drain more easily. And that was after I paced around the house with him for what seemed like an eternity. 

So. Totally. Exhausting.

I forgot to mention that our 2 year old slept in a tent last night as well. We heard some noise coming from her sleeping quarters about an hour after putting her to bed. Wayde went to investigate and found her playing in the castle tent that we have pitched in her room. He made a deal with her that she could stay in it if she would go to sleep in it. And surprisingly, she did! All night long.

I kind of love that my husband didn't make her go back into her big girl bed. I come from a long line of people who sleep in random places other than beds (by choice), so it kind of made me proud of her. 

We all ended up waking for the day around 8 a.m. (which is later than my desired start time of 7 a.m.). To a messier than usual house, I might add. What a way to start the week...

But you know what? 

This day wasn't a complete wash. I got to take a shower. I went to a coffee shop with Sterling and hand-wrote this blog post over a cup of cheeseburger chowder. I got caught up on my Bible-In-A-Year readings (which is probably the only New Year's resolution I've ever followed through with this far into the year). And not only did I tidy the house, but I did the dishes and a load of laundry too! 

Actually, today has been a pretty good day. It's gone by fast, as most days do now that I have children. Something I try to remind myself of when I'm trying to calm my baby in the middle of the night. This is such a short, short season. But it's my favorite one yet. xx

Lessons Learned & A Small Victory [6/31].

FINALLY getting around to my Day 6 post at the last minute. This whole finding the time to blog thing? Not an easy task. It's been a good lesson in time management for me though. And creativity. And negotiating (as my husband sits across from me changing a diaper).

I'm thinking about reserving the Sunday posts in this series for some little things I've throughout the week and sharing successes (if any). So, here goes...

Things I Learned the Hard Way:

- Grape tomatoes are not a practical snack for toddlers. Seeds & juice EVERYWHERE.

- Always bring the stroller back into the house. We've had precious little rain this season, so the night I leave our double in the driveway, OF COURSE, it downpours.

A Success:

- Fitting back into my favorite pre-maternity Levi's. BAM.

Also, I wanted to share a link to this life-giving post on transitioning to two kids/ when things are hard. Because it's SO hard. And Lesley articulates is a whole lot better than I can.

I'll try to have more of this kind of thing next Sunday, now that I have some direction. Maybe I'll be more interesting too. Thanks for reading. xx

Bonfire Night [5/31].

Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." I definitely think this quote can be applied to parenting. Because if you think you can get away with hauling your infant to a late night birthday bonfire for a dear friend, then you should totally do it.

Since Ruby was with Grandma & PeePaw for the night and Sterling is still pretty much on his own sleep schedule, we figured it wouldn't hurt to attempt to take him over to Noble Oaks "Farm" and say 'hi' to the birthday girl. Worst case scenario: he'd get cranky and we'd go home. Best case scenario: we'd get to stay and hang out for awhile. I wasn't expecting him to fall asleep on my chest as I chatted with friends by the fire until one in the morning though...!

Snuggling my baby boy in the "Bjorn". I've tried an ERGO and a ring sling with this little man and, surprisingly, the BB is is favorite. It had been at my parent's house for ages, so last night was the first time we tried it with him—success!

Leslie's LEGIT campfire layer cake. I'm not a good enough writer to describe the deliciousness of this confection and do it justice.

Such a good night and SO good for this mama's soul. xx

The Job Description [4/31].

I always knew I wanted to be a Mom. I always hoped that I would be able to stay at home with my kids when that time came. Is it my dream job? I think so. It especially was when if felt completely unattainable.

Every job comes with a description of the role. I thought about this a lot before I officially became a SAHM. I thought about what my goals would be and how I would like each day to look like. It helped to put some of those ideas on paper. And this is what I came up with:

* Have a start time (7am for Mom; 8am for Kids).

* PJ's are not allowed to be worn all day (unless ill).

* No more than 2 hours of television per day (maximum). Extra points for not watching any TV.

* All meals to be served with at least 1 fruit & 1 veggie; no more than 1 juice per day.

* Consistent nap time schedule (2pm for Ruby - no more than 3 hours).

* Lunch served at noon; dinner served at 6pm.

* Find a feasible cleaning schedule & meal plan and stick to it.

* Have a ton of grace for myself. Remember, everything on this list comes with an asterisk.

Actually, as I write this the TV is on, we are all still in our pajama's, and my shirt is on backwards (don't ask). But this is the only window of time that works to squeeze in my 31 Days post today as we have family from out of town visiting. GRACE.

At least I have an outline now to reference which is a whole lot better than flying by the seat of our pants, which is what happens most days...

Sleep When The Babies Sleep [3/31].

As I look back on my life, it amazes me how little sleep I needed to function as a normal person. Actually, it makes me wonder how much more productive I could have been had I been getting suggested amount. But it all sort of came to a head in my mid-twenties when I started linking lack of sleep to some anxiety issues.

I'm already an over analyzer on my good days, so I can dream up some pretty dire situations when I'm sleep deprived. Prayer helps. Making sure I get enough sleep is also key. Which doesn't always happen when you're the the Mama of a 2 year old and a 2 month old. Even when I do find the time to sleep, I can feel too tired to fall into it easily.

One of the things I'm learning is that it is just as important to take care of myself as it is to take care of my little ones. Of course, their needs are always going to trump mine. But if I find a small window of time when we can all cuddle and snooze together, I need to embrace those (and them) with open arms. Even if it means that the dishes are going to sit there a little longer or I might not get to take a shower that day.

Each day will present itself with its needs and it is my job to prioritize those. And today called for a nap;)

Orchard Day [2/31].

Since becoming a SAHM, I've been able to join the mom's playgroup from our church. The whole thing is a little out of my comfort zone, but it's been good to get to know more like-minded mamas and break up the week with a fun activity for the kids. This week, we trekked to Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge, IA. 

Few things beat Fall in Iowa. I never realized how cleansing it is to have four definitive seasons until I spent a year in New Zealand. I'm a visual person, so to witness the changing landscape throughout the year is like reading chapters in a book. And Autumn, BY FAR, if my favorite. 

We took Ruby to Center Grove when she was a baby, so to see her this time old enough to embrace all of it's amusements and enjoy them with her friends warms this mama's heart.

My friend Shana, and fellow playgroup Mama, taught me a new trick today. How to get your kid to look at you when taking their picture. Just say, "Look at my nose!" Even if it means your child will translate it as an invitation to touch their own nose, there's a better chance of them facing your general direction;)

The biggest trampoline EVER. Worth the admission price alone.

I'm pretty sure this girl would fit right in on a farm. 

I forgot to add that I forgot to bring sunscreen! Mama fail. Temps climbed up to the mid-eighties and poor Ruby had to wear a jacket most of the day. Note to self: always bring sunscreen.

Chillin' in the corn pool. Also worth the admission price. I have at least two excellent reasons now to take this girl back before the season is over.

We were both finding corn in our drawers after taking this picture. So worth it though;)

Sweet Sterling slept at least 95% of the time we were at the orchard. But he was super happy when he was awake for the other 5%. Love this little guy SO much.

I was going to write here about how I thought I was going to be a rockstar Mom and get Ruby home before naptime (a.k.a. me time) and how she decided she wasn't going to take a nap and how frustrating that was, but duty calls. I've got Lalaloopsy dolls on my lap and a box of diapers to get from the store, else we might not make it to day 3...xx

The Start of Something [Day 1/31].

After linking up with the other 31 Days bloggers last night, I was feeling excited and confident. I went to bed early (well, 11pm if you consider that early) with the intention of writing my first post before the kids woke up. But when kids are involved, I should know better not to plan for things like that.

Sterling was up at least every two hours throughout the night. And each time I was up with him, my mind raced over possibly 31 Days topics. So when I woke up for the day too early (if you consider 6:30am early), I was beginning to feel like I had signed up for a marathon that I didn't train for.

I took a shower. At least my chances of succeeding in this day were slightly increased if I felt somewhat refreshed. I sat down with the laptop. And then the kids got up. The whole part of being a SAHM is spending intentional time with my children, so I closed the laptop. I made breakfast, even going as far as blending up some smoothies (!). I pretended to be a mama lion (and a mama horse and a mama duck, at Ruby's request). And after I tidied up the kitchen (key word: tidy, not cleaned), I cuddled with my kids on the couch.

Unless I turned on the telly for Ruby and plopped Sterling in his swing, this post was getting further and further away from being posted. So, I did the next best thing. I walked my babes down to the coffee shop.

I knew Sterling would fall asleep in the stroller and Ruby could watch an episode of Caillou while I cleared my head and loaded up on some caffeine. I am still re-acclimating myself to the stuff. I gave it up during my pregnancy, so I still get a bit shaky upon consuming it. Any little boost of energy helps though when there are two little people involved.

I also received acknowledgment of my resignation this morning. If it didn't feel official yet, it does now. We've been working toward this for a long time, but it still wasn't an easy decision to make. I am walking away from a really good job. It'll be tight on one income. I may still need to pick up some part-time work in a couple months.

But I believe that God has given me enough confirmation to go through with this. He's definitely opened some doors that otherwise would not have made this opportunity to possible. And I am so, SO grateful. I believe that he will take care of us in this new season. And I am looking forward to documenting the ways he reveals Himself to me as a beginner SAHM throughout this 31 day blog challenge. xx

Post script - The first draft of this post was written by hand.

31 Days as a Beginner Stay-At-Home-Mom (and finding the time to blog about it!)

I've been meaning to return to regular blogging, so what better way than by committing to a 31 Day legit blog link-up party? No pressure or anything. It's hosted by The Nester. You may have heard of it. I didn't have a whole lot of time to ponder over a writing topic, so I figured, why not start where I'm at?

You see, I just became an official, full-time, Stay-At-Home-Mom as of last week. I went on maternity leave at the end of July and my return to work date would've been on October 14th. This actually might be news to some people reading. We just feel that this is the best decision for our family and I hope to elaborate some more on that during this writing challenge.

I've allowed myself a certain amount of grace to this point since I am still "technically" on maternity leave, but I am ready to get into a routine and fully take ownership of my new role. And find time to blog about it;) Some topics I hope to touch on may include meal planning, budgeting, the SAHM's wardrobe, and other musings. I'm not an expert by any means, so this may be more amusing than resourceful.

Join me as I document about the crazy? xx

[1/31] The Start of Something.

[2/31] Orchard Day.

[3/31] Sleep When The Babies Sleep.

[4/31] The Job Description.

[5/31] Bonfire Night.

[6/31] Lessons Learned & A Small Victory.

[7/31] Establishing a Start Time...Is a Good Idea.

[8/31] A Trip to the Library.

[9/10] This is Real Life.

[10/10] White Flag.

[11/31] Spend Time With Other Grown-Ups.

[12/31] Family Photos. 

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

[14/31] I'm Not Beyonce.

[15/31] New Life.

[16/31] A Day In The Life.

[17/31] Adventures in Potty Training.

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

[19/31] Just Embrace It.

[20/31] Outtakes.

[21/31] THIRTY-ONE.

[22/31] Sweet Surrender. 

[23/31] Other Mothers. 

[24/31] Good Thursday & Another Target Run. 

[25/31] TGIF. 

[26/31] Nothing Is Easy Anymore.

[27/31] House Divided.

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

[29/31] Up All Night.

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

[31/31] We Made It. 

It's Been Awhile...and IT'S A BOY!!

I sort of dropped things off after a 39 weeks pregnant post, so you can probably figure out what has been keeping me occupied since then. Well, this little guy...

**** STERLING ARTHUR****

Born July 28th, 1:39 pm; 8 lbs 3 oz, 21.5 in

Happy, healthy, and oh so handsome. Thanks be to God. The past couple months have been spent getting adjusted to my new role as a Mama of TWO precious little ones and more recently (which I can FINALLY announce) as a STAY-AT-HOME-MAMA! My two weeks notice of resignation from my work was just submitted this week. I'm still sort of in a daze about it, but feel it is the best decision for our family. 

I've had a lot of time to think about life and things while on my maternity leave. About the kind of Wife/ Mama/ Friend/ Christian I want to be. Do I continue blogging? I want to. I'm not sure though if I want to resume writing here or start fresh somewhere else. 600 posts into "soZealous" and it still kind of feels like a big mess to me. Regardless, it's good to be back...xx