How We're Doing

Today is my 1 year anniversary of living in California. In some ways, it has seemed like the longest year of my life. In other ways, it has flown by. Regardless of how long it has seemed, 1 year has passed away from our families and we survived. Here's how we're doing.

Homesickness

For the first 6 months, I cried almost every day. I was painfully homesick. I prayed for a way to go back to Tennessee where JD could keep his current job. I was pretty miserable. It wasn't until after my first trip back home that I started to feel at home here. Now, I still miss my family, but I really feel rooted in our new home and in our new community. It feels good to like where I live and finally feel at home here. Now if only our entire family would pack up and move to Los Angeles, things would be perfect. 

Friends

Almost immediately after moving here, I made friends. We started out meeting at playgrounds so our kids could play, but then we grew real friendships. We lend parenting advice, coffee creamer, and shoulders to cry on when needed. We get together so we can talk. We fill in for faraway family members at holiday dinners. We watch each other's kids. I can honestly say it is because of my friends that I have adjusted to California so well. Without them, this would be a big ol' lonely state.

Geography

There is not a lot to be desired about our town. It's small so I have to drive out of town to do any shopping other than Target and the grocery store. There are only a handful of restaurants here and they are hit or miss in the deliciousness department. And there is a lot of crime in the surrounding areas. But, we live walking distance from the clean beach, the fishing pier, and about 10 playgrounds/parks. For the girls, this area is really great and they are thrilled with all of the stuff they get to experience weekly. JD and I often joke about how different our L.A. experience would be if we didn't have children. We would live downtown, check out the nightlife, and eat at world class restaurants. But since we do have these precious girls, our L.A. experience is much more family friendly. 

Climate

It truly is paradise here. 9 months out of the year it never gets warmer than 70 degrees and is always breezy and sunny. The nights and mornings are chilly, the afternoons sunny. We love it.

What We Don't Love

The cost of living is ridiculous in California. JD makes a lot more than he did in Tennessee, but our rent is 3x what our mortgage was back east, gas is $1+ a gallon more here, and food costs are sky high. Thankfully we live walking distance to so much fun stuff because after we pay rent, buy gas, and eat, we have nothing left. Kidding, sort of. 

We really, really miss our church back home. We found a great church here, but it is 45 minutes away and it's just not the same as the church I attended since I was 12. Honestly, if we are regularly homesick about anything it is our church in Tennessee. Sigh.

Traffic is still the worst thing about living here. We hate it.

In a nutshell, we are doing pretty great. We really like California and feel pretty blessed to live here. I am kind of proud of us for moving across country and setting up house with our little family in a brand new place without any major meltdowns. 1 year down, wonder how many more to go....

Winners

Unless you are a dude or live under a rock, you are knee deep into Pinterest right about now. I have gleaned so much inspiration for fashion, decor, and all sorts of creative things from that site. But mostly, it has revolutionized our food repertoire. Every delicious thing ever published on the internet can be found on Pinterest. The only problem is, some of the recipes can be hit or miss. They all claim to be The Best whatever you have ever put in your mouth, when in reality some things are not very good at all.

JD is a little reluctant to new recipes so he gets pretty antsy when I say we're trying something new for dinner. I assure him that I won't make him anything disgusting, but with some new recipes you really never know how they'll turn out. So far, we have only had a few duds. Most of the yummy recipes I have found are just that - super yummy! Here are some winners that will stay pinned in my heart (and Pinterest) forever.

Enchilada casserole

Source: justgetoffyourbuttandbake.com via Aly on Pinterest

I posted this in the February photo challenge post yesterday. It was so, so good.

Mini deep dish pizzas

This one didn't have an original source so I can't link it, but it is so easy. Roll out canned biscuit dough (crescent rolls) and press into greased muffin tin. Spoon in marinara sauce, top with mozzarella cheese and pepperonis. Bake at 400 for 10 - 15 mins. So good.

Balsamic pork roast

Source: jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com via Aly on Pinterest

I made this last night - perfection. So yummy.

Lemon blueberry yogurt loaf cake

Source: lemondropsfoodie.blogspot.com via Aly on Pinterest

This is the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. Make this and change your life forever.

Chicken broccoli supreme

Source: justgetoffyourbuttandbake.com via Aly on Pinterest

Really good, but it could use some rice in the casserole to bulk it up.

Maple pork chops with bacon cheese grits

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Aly on Pinterest

I make this several times a month. I love a recipe that incorporates real maple syrup.

Lasagna soup

Source: foodgawker.com via Aly on Pinterest

Really yummy and lasts forever. Perfect if you like leftovers.

Spicy chicken rigatoni

Source: tastebook.com via Aly on Pinterest

Very spicy! Very yummy!

Expand your food repertoire and make one of these recipe winners!

I Miss A Lot Of Things

I miss my friends.
I miss my family.
I miss Tennessee.
I miss winter.
I miss my church.
I miss my hairdresser.
I miss my grocery store.
I miss knowing where to find the balsamic vinegar in my grocery store.
I miss knowing where all the back roads lead to.
I miss knowing where the good shopping is.
I miss seeing familiar places.
I miss strangers saying hi. No one does that here.
I miss my mom's comfy kitchen chair.
I miss my mother in law's cordon bleu.
I miss Sonic's Route 44 cherry limeades.
I miss Cracker Barrel's biscuits and blackberry preserves.
I miss long weekends in Gatlinburg cabins with my brothers and sisters in law and Brandon and Kristen.
I miss Mafiaoza's pizza.
I miss the south.
I miss public squares.
I miss historic Main Streets.
I miss cousins and aunts and uncles.
I miss my Nana.
I miss being invited to friends' houses for Super Bowl parties/dinners/just because.
I miss feeling rooted somewhere.
I miss my old life.

I am still in denial.

Operation Old Wives Tales

I am officially the most pregnant I have ever been. I had Beatrice 5 days early and by the way this pregnancy has gone with regular contractions since about 24 weeks, I am shocked that Penelope is still in my belly. Shocked and sad and nervous and scared and anxious and a whole bunch of other adjectives. I want to be unpregnant, but more than that, I just want to meet my baby. So I have enacted Operation Old Wives Tales. All week I have been doing the rarely effective but oldest recommended ways to naturally induce labor. I discussed these methods beforehand with my OB. She was skeptical, but okay with me going ahead with my mission. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

Sexytime

-Semen produces prostaglandins which can help soften the cervix, possibly leading to contractions. Sexytime at this stage in the game is awkward and uncomfortable (and for me, ineffective at starting labor), but we are troopers and will do whatever it takes to get this baby on her way out. Hi mom!

Spicy eh Meatballs (say it with a cheesy Italian accent, it’s fun)

-Spicy foods are supposed to wake up the digestive track, causing the uterus to contract as well. I love spicy foods with a passion and they usually love me. So far, they are only making me poop though, something that makes the above a little less appealing for everyone involved...

Walking

-Walking makes your hips sway and helps position the baby in the birth canal while gravity causes everything to drop. So far, I have been walking up a storm. All it’s done is make me need an extra shower everyday.

Eggplant 

-Not sure why this is supposed to induce labor, but people swear by it so I have been eating it. 

Pineapple 

-There is an enzyme that is supposed to soften the connective tissue of the cervix found in fresh pineapple. I am buying a pineapple tonight. 

Pedicure

-This is not proven to induce labor, but pretty toes make me feel better.     

Snuggling Hairless Cats

-Seth and Jenny have 2 hairless cats. They are excellent snugglers and if you've had a recent pedicure, I hear snuggling them is twice as effective.   

So far, I can get contractions going but they stop as soon as I rest. Ultimately, I have failed at inducing my own labor. But I’m not giving up. Penelope must come out and if means doing the maritals with JD while full of spicy eggplant and pineapple after a long walk with hairless cats and pretty toes, so be it. 

Coveting Is Bad, Mmkay?

I made a big mistake this morning. I did a little online browsing on a few of my favorite shops just to see what I'm missing out on this season. I thought it would be fun and give me something to look forward to after having this baby, but it just made me sad and really jealous of people who are wearing these cute things right now. If I had a huge shopping budget and a waist, this is what I would buy right now:

Photo courtesy of J. Crew.
I love everything about this dress, the color, the eyelet trim, the bohemian feel of it. I want to wear it with these. I love it so much, I'm tempted to buy it in my regular size and wear it when I'm my regular size again. All of you people currently living in your regular size can buy it here. Just don't wear it around me. This dress is like that high school crush I had on a certain beautiful football player that didn't know I existed, but my friends were forbidden to date him because that is friend law. If you are my true friend, you will not wear this around me. Or better yet, if you are my true friend, you will buy it for me.....yes, I like that idea very much.

Photo courtesy of J. Crew.
I love this dress almost as much as the first one. It screams flirty California fun, dontcha think? I think it is lovely and I'm digging the bright coral. Me likey, me likey a lot. Untrue friends, get yours here.

Photo courtesy of Anthropologie.
I want this shirt with all of my heart and soul. I mean, it has lemons on it. Lemons. I love lemons. And on a shirt? Is there anything more darling? I think not. I want it. I want it bad. Please, please be on sale in August after I have Penelope. I need a lemon shirt. For those like me who need lemon shirts, go here immediately. Just save a size 6 for me. Thank you.

Photo courtesy of J. Crew.
This dress completes me in the joking way that material objects offer false fulfillment. I love it. I want it. Buy it for me here.

Photo courtesy of J. Crew. 
I can be any size and wear these, but they would look so much better with stylish clothing. Something that doesn't exist at my current size and budget. JD, you can go here and purchase them as a gift for your wife who is feeling particularly unpretty right about now.

Photo courtesy of Sunglass Hut.
I asked for these for Mother's Day. I'm not sure why I didn't get them. JD says to get them. I think I'm going to get them. Be like me here.

Photo courtesy of Piperlime.
I love jeans. I have over 27 pairs in my closet. I need just 1 more. These will do.

Enough with this torture! All of you regular sized people, happy shopping. Think of me when tightening a belt or wearing a breezy sundress. I will be here wearing my maternity gauchos, dreaming of cute clothes.

A Perfect Beatrice

We had dinner with my brother and sister in law a few weeks back. They are newly married and have no children. After spending about an hour with Beatrice playing and talking, they announced to each other that they want one. She has that effect on people all the time. She is awesome and funny and smart and silly and cute and really, really sassy. She is the perfect mix of JD and me in 1 tiny package, but with her own quirky personality that makes her uniquely Beatrice. The most perfect Beatrice I have ever met, in fact.

She has not always made people want to procreate though. For the first several months of her life, she was grumpy and needy and demanding. Typical baby stuff really, but I wondered if people considered her a good-natured baby. She was my only baby and even I questioned the goodness of her nature. Something happened after her first birthday though. She became a person. An awesome little person with preferences and jokes and sass. I know every parent says this, but she is the funniest, most awesome little person I know. And very, very good-natured.

Bee-triss

Beatrice has been saying her name for over 6 months now, but we're in a very cute phase of third person Bee-triss. "Bee-triss wants mama." "Bee-triss walk upstairs." "Bee-triss rock rock you." It has rubbed off onto mommy too. Mommy thinks it's really cute. Mommy loves this age. Mommy needs more popsicles. See? Third person speak is contagious. Mommy implores you to try it. 


Tractor

We met JD outside as he was coming home one afternoon and Beatrice had a fit to drive Daddy's tractor. She sat in his lap and beeped the horn, reprogrammed his radio stations, and reset every setting on his dash. She freaked when it was time to come in. We decided that it was time to get her a riding toy. We searched the internet for push riding toys, pull riding toys, powered riding toys, pedaled riding toys, you get the drift. We decided on this.

It has cup holders, a cooler, SPF canopy, and seat belts. It's a pimped out wagon. She calls it her tractor. So far, we have only been on a few very hot walks in it, but she eats breakfast and lunch in it nearly everyday so we feel like we're getting our money's worth.

Naked


Beatrice likes to take her clothes off all the time, but especially when we're outside. I think it's really cute. JD hates it. Her latest naked escapade included a little skinny dipping.

Naked gardening, anyone?

Potty Chair


For a few months now, Beatrice has been telling me when she needs a die-pah change. I decided to set the potty chair in her bathroom just to test the potty training readiness waters and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that she loves to pee pee on the potty. We're going full steam ahead with potty training in about 2 more weeks. Wish us luck.

Mook


I nursed for 15 months. When I weaned, Beatrice would have nothing to do with cow's milk. I made a lot of homemade ice cream back then from refused whole milk. Mmmmm, ice cream. Anyway, we have tried everything to convince her to drink milk. Nothing worked. Until one day out of the blue, I offered her some in a baby bottle. She sucked it down and has been drinking moo juice ever since. The only catch is, she only drinks it in a baby bottle. JD makes fun of me because I am the mom that threw away her pacifier at 11 months, but now at almost 20 months gives her a baby bottle. What can I say? It makes perfect sense to me. And she loves it. "Bee-triss wants mook baby bottle."

Sass Attack


90% of the time, Beatrice is a sweet, obedient child. She loves snuggles and helping mommy and praying to God. But the other 10% of the time, she is sassy. She throws fits, she tells us no, she says she doesn't love us, and she hits things. We have discipline under control, but these little sass attacks are occurring a little too often.

 

So that's what Beatrice has been up to. Just riding her tractor naked to the potty to pee pee because she drank too much mook in a baby bottle while being sassy talking about herself in third person. Just your run of the mill awesomeness. I don't blame you if you have an undeniable urge to go procreate now. It's a natural phenomenon that occurs around such a child. She is definitely not perfect, but she certainly is the most perfect Beatrice.

Some Updates

JD is not 100% okay with this blog. He is fine with the silly ramblings I write and the self-deprecating humor, but when it comes to sharing information about our family, it makes him uncomfortable. We watch a lot of Dateline and 48 Hours Mystery so we automatically think of worst case scenarios for almost every scenario we find ourselves in. He imagines perverts checking out our pictures and stalkers hijacking our personal info with each new entry. I really have to censor what I post on here to keep him comfy and maintain a little bit of our privacy. 

I get this face when he feels that I have over-shared.

But not divulging everything is really hard. I'm a sharer. I like sharing our life, I like sharing my feelings. Of course there are certain boundaries I will never cross as a blogger (like writing about marital relations or posting the cutest naked hiney pics of my toddler), but there is a certain level of intimacy we share as a blogging community that makes it difficult to not talk/write to you all like we're old friends. People "know" us and want to know about our lives. I get emails and Facebook messages from readers wanting more info (hopefully) because they care and not because they are psychos. Psychos, kindly click the red X in the corner of your computer screen and never come back, thank you. Some degree of opening up is expected when you put yourself out there in blog land. I am trying to find the balance in that. Bear with me. And I'm totally in trouble for posting that picture of angry JD up there. Big trouble. 

The Move

We are on track to move in 5 more weeks, however there is a small possibility that we may be delayed a few weeks. This has made planning our move impossible. We don't know when we will be moving so we can't schedule the movers, plan the nursery, or buy my plane ticket. Not knowing when to move is only the beginning of the fun. We cannot select our new insurance until JD starts his job and without a concrete start date, we can't select doctors. I have no idea where I am having this baby or who will be assisting me. We are at a complete stand still. Sounds wonderful, huh?

The House

After nearly 6 months on the market with tons of activity and no offers, we decided to rent. 3 days after I placed the ad, we had 2 qualified applicants fighting over our place. We selected tenants and they are moving in August. I met them yesterday and they are awesome. We hugged. I feel a huge sense of peace about renting and having these tenants take care of our place for the next few years. I am stoked. 

The Baby

I have no idea where to have Penelope. With the insurance fiasco, we will be starting over with new coverage once JD begins his new job. That means we have to meet all of our deductibles anew. If we go in 5 weeks, I will be 35 weeks pregnant. If we are delayed, I will be further than that. We are debating whether or not it will be best for me to stay behind and have her here with plenty of help from family or me go on to California with JD and have her out there. Either way, it is going to be expensive and cost us a bazillion dollars. I have absolutely no peace with either scenario, not because of the finances, but because I want to be with JD. But I also want to be with our family. I want it all, okay. Beatrice will go wherever I go, of course.

The Bright Side

This move has been the biggest lesson in patience and waiting on God. We have absolutely no control at this point. We cannot make even the smallest of decisions because we don't have all of the information. All we know is that this season of our lives is moving forward as if it were being powered by something bigger than us. Some might say that would be the government, but I like to believe it is God. We have been praying that God open the right doors for us and make the crooked paths straight. While it is kind of scary, it is pretty liberating to just sit back and let God make the next move for us. I am nervous and excited, but ultimately have a hope that cannot be shaken that my God has plans to prosper us and make a way where there seems to be no way. 

That about sums most of it up. We have been busy doing the things that we can, like changing banks and insurance companies to national branches. We have been spending lots of time with family and we have been doing our best to imagine ourselves completely settled and ready for Penelope, wherever we are. 

Beatrice has been up to a lot too these days, but she deserves her own post. It has to do with tractors and skinny dipping and peepeeing on the potty. Can you hardly wait?

Target Missed

This morning, we ran out of soap. I made a list of about 5 things that we needed to hold us over until the big grocery shopping trip and Beatrice and I headed out. To Target.

Now, if you're a normal person, Target probably doesn't have the same effect on you that it does on me. I cannot be controlled at Target. I go in with a list of 5 things and come out with at least 2 or 3 times that much because hello, who can resist the dollar bins in the front and all of the colorful merchandise with clever advertising? Not me. Nope, I have never left Target with only the items on my list. Which means I have never honored a budget at Target. Which means JD hates it when I go to Target.

This was my list:

And this is what I came home with:

I doubled what was initially on my list. And this isn't even all of what I bought. I took the liberty to omit the 2 liter of Coke and bag of Doritos from this photo. I didn't want you all to think that we eat like a bunch of couch potatoes. We really don't, the 2 liter was on sale for nothing and I was craving nacho cheese. It's awfully misleading of me though, isn't it? Target brings out the worst in me. I'm working on it.

Here's what I couldn't resist today:
1. Dial Soap. Point for me since it was the whole purpose of the trip, AND I bought it in bulk. JD will think I am very resourceful.
2. Dum Dums. I have a whole post started about my emergency diaper bag kit and the Dum Dums are apart of that, but for the sake of this post, Dum Dums are an instant tantrum-killer around here. They are a staple for restaurant patronage, meetings with the guy at the bank handling some business for us, and for doctors' appointments lasting way longer than any toddler can handle while maintaining a sweet disposition. Dum Dums are a lifesaver. 
3. Starburst Red Fruits. Don't judge me, I was hungry when we went shopping. 
4. Archer Farms Fruit and Nut Trail Mix. This is healthy and a good representation of typical snacks in our house. 
5. Hand Soap. We ran out, which indicates good hygiene so another point for me. 
6. Welch's Fruit Snacks. These are good and do not have any pesky additives. They are made from fruit juice and Beatrice loves them as an afternoon snack. Or if I'm out of Dum Dums, these have the same effect. 
7. Stauffer's Iced Animal Crackers. 2 words: dollar bin. 
8. Orbit Raspberry Lemonade Gum. Impulse buy. 
9. Market Pantry Fruit Snacks. These are Target's version of the Welch's fruit snacks. Actually, I don't know why I bought both. Subtract a point for poor planning. 
10. Annie's Bunny Graham Friends. These are favorites at our house. They are organic and only have recognizable ingredients you would find in your own kitchen. They're not really healthy per se (since you know, they're cookies and all), but they are void of all preservatives and additives making them a smarter cookie choice than the majority of the selection on the shelves. And they were on the list. 
11. Stickers. These are for my emergency diaper bag kit I mentioned earlier. Stickers are good for hours of fun. And on the list. Except when I put them away in my secret stash, I noticed that I have an unopened pack of 200. Oops. Subtract that last point after all. See? I suck at Target shopping. 
12. Plum Fruit and Vegetable Puree Pouches. These are actually baby food purees that I serve to Beatrice as juice pouches. She loves them and they are a great way to get otherwise icky vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and pumpkin into her daily diet. These are a staple, healthy, and on the list. Win. Win. Win. 
13, 14, 15. Not pictured: Plastic Toy Watering Can, Coke, Doritos.
And I completely forgot the body wash. Actually, I didn't forget. I just didn't want to spend $5 more when there was already so much extra stuff in my cart. And I'm lying again. Target is not good for my moral compass.


Because of my inability to maintain restraint at Target, we don't go very often. But when we do, we can't wait until we get home to dig into our goodies.

As you can see, I am really no good at Target-ing. Or maybe Target's no good for me, because the more I talk to people about sticking to the items only on their list the same thing seems to happen. I am convinced that Target has some sort of brainwashing ability or amnesia inducing mist that is sprayed on patrons as they enter the store. There is no other explanation for my lack of self control. At least that's what I tell JD.

Favorite Things, Christmas Edition

I've always considered myself a connoisseur of life's finer things. I like fancy cheese, I see legs in my glass of wine, and I love a nice handbag. But sometimes life's finest things can be really expensive. So I decided to make a list of my favorite affordable holiday things. Kind of like Oprah. Except I won't be sending you home with all of my favorites and my list won't be as extravagant as hers, but fun nonetheless.

1. Holiday Shirts. My friend, Sarah makes darling baby and children's shirts using embroidery, fabric, and ribbons. They are super durable with the most precious designs for little people. Beatrice has several of her shirts, but the Christmas line is my favorite. Sarah is still taking orders for Christmas but only for a short while. Get over to her site now and order before she closes up shop for Christmas.

2. Snow. You can't buy this one, but if you live somewhere not really prone to December snow storms flurries like we do then you will appreciate it making it to the list. We have had fat snow flurries all morning that have left all of us wondering if it's going to stick.

3. Cookie press. I love making Christmas goodies and cookies are everyone's favorite. Using a cookie press makes even the most ordinary sugar cookie recipe seem special because with all of the different discs, you can make intricate and dainty shapes. I got mine from Williams-Sonoma.

4. Picnik. I love editing my photos using this free site. They offer several cool fonts and stickers to decorate your favorite photos with. It is super easy to use and did I mention it's free?! You could totally design your family's Christmas cards using this site. Ever wonder how I make some of the photos uniquely mine on the blog? Picnik, baby. 

5. OPI The Thrill of Brazil red nail polish. I like a good red polish for Christmas. This one rocks. I don't like pictures of feet but my toe nails are the only thing painted. I tried to make this particular photo of my feet festive by sticking my feet in the Christmas tree. JD said, "what on earth are you doing?" It's sad that all I have to say these days is "blog" and he understands. Internet Psychos, please don't do anything gross with this picture of my feet. 

6. Pink decor. I love our outdoor lights this year. Nothing says Christmas like a pink flamingo and pink candy canes. We got ours at Target.

7. Satellite Christmas music. I'm pretty serious about my holiday tunes and since I only get to hear it once a year, I don't want any commercials getting in my way. That's why I love listening to satellite radio. JD has Sirius and I have XM and both play nonstop, no interruption classic and contemporary Christmas music on channel 4. Check it out.

8. Shutterfly photo cards. They ran a promotion for bloggers last month to promote their fabulous Christmas cards. If you wrote a blog about their designs, they would give you 50 free photo Christmas cards. At first I felt like a bit of a douche touting their wares without some sort of sponsorship, but for 50 free cards I went through with it. AND I found the perfect card to compliment our odd outfit combo of red and pink. They are scheduled to arrive this week so I can't wait to share them with you. And for only $7.99 (the cost of shipping), I think I'd love them even if they weren't so darn cute.

9. Pottery Barn monogrammed sheets. These sheets have been on my Christmas wish list for a few years now. After I got married, I became obsessed with monogramming everything. What can I say, I like bearing my man's name, or initial. We finally got a set similar a few months ago when my mother surprised us with new bedding, but these sweet little red dots would be perfect during Christmas.

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn.


10. Gold Canyon Christmas Presence candle. This may be my most favorite candle scent ever. It is citrusy and spicy and yummy. After I had Beatrice, my head explodes into a migraine every time I smell something too strong, but this candle doesn't bother me. Be prepared to fall in love.

Merry Christmas!

Disclaimer: These are solely my opinions on the awesome things of the Season. I was not paid to endorse any of the items I have showcased in this blog. I'm just sharing the love, holiday style. 

Motherhood

Motherhood is picking someone else's nose and wiping its contents on your clothes.
Motherhood is sitting in a parked car outside of your house so your baby can finish out her nap.
Motherhood is always having mystery backwash in your drink, and drinking it anyway.
Motherhood is having Cheerios on the floor constantly. And not caring.
Motherhood is having a closet full of dresses that will never get worn and they don't belong to you.
Motherhood is eating cold meals. Again. And again. And again.
Motherhood is forfeiting your dignity in public places in order to keep your child content.
Motherhood is an aching back at the end of every day.
Motherhood is work. Hard work.
Motherhood is walking around for the rest of your life with your heart outside of your body.
Motherhood is finding joy in a dirty diaper or a poop on the potty.
Motherhood is exercise.
Motherhood is not feeling confident in what you're doing all of the time.
Motherhood is a lesson in patience.
Motherhood is exhausting.
Motherhood is effortless love.
Motherhood is juggling many things at once.
Motherhood is an adventure.
Motherhood is spending hours in prayer over tiny, sleeping bodies.
Motherhood is being the first one awake in your house and the last one to sleep.
Motherhood is the perfect balance of meticulous planning and carefree spontaneity.
Motherhood is a big responsibility placed on us by God.
Motherhood is finally getting an understanding of God's love for us.
Motherhood is the greatest joy of my life.

Fair's Fair

One thing that I love about JD is that he is fair. If it's his turn to clean the litter box or do a chore that all out sucks, he does it so I won't have to. A few weeks ago, there was a big sale at one of the mens' shops around here. If you bought one suit, you got $1000 of free merchandise. He bought a suit and got about ten ties, several button downs and sweaters. We did not plan this expense but with such a great deal offered, we decided it would be foolish to pass up. So after buying him a new work wardrobe, JD said that come bonus time, I could have it to spend however I wanted. Love that man. 


I have been racking my brain for two weeks now on how I am going to spend that money. It's not thousands of dollars, but enough to get a high tech electronic device or a new fall/winter wardrobe complete with accessories and shoes. I don't do well with lots of money. Give me a small budget and I can stretch that bad boy to the max. But give me a large chunk of "extra" money and I am liable to A) piddle it away on pumpkin spice lattes and sparkly bracelets or B), buy something totally extravagant and stupid just for the sake of buying something. I have made a list on possible things I need/want to do with my money.

1. An iPad. I don't need one, I have a MacBook that I adore. But I love all things Apple and this beauty is calling my name. This would be classified as an extravagant purchase that I might not regret, but definitely do not need. 

2. J. Crew fringed moccasins and glitterati flats. As much as you might not believe me, I actually need both of these. My shoes are a million years old and these would cover both my casual and fancy footwear needs. I just said fancy footwear. 

3. Yarn. This is the last thing that I need, but with my Etsy sales up and my inability to spend extra money wisely, I will probably buy several skeins of the stuff. Somebody have an intervention, please.

4. Save. BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do plan on saving some of it. If I'm smart, I will buy a few fall clothing items, Beatrice a winter coat and some larger things for the house. We are headed out now. Hopefully I won't come home with an iPad and $500 worth of bracelets.