Gearing Up for Baby...

Well, Baby 3 will be here in a matter of days. DAYS. NOT WEEKS OR MONTHS. DAYS. I cannot wait. I love a baby and a swaddled one at that! I have actually been geared and ready for about a month now so now I am just pining away at if it’s a boy or if it’s a girl wish lists!

What’s on my lists? Well easy - 2 things: diapers and a blanket. As B was getting bigger I fell more and more back on disposable diapers. We had been using them as she slept and on vacations or trips or ventures out of the house. Still not too often but often enough. Getting the cloth diapers all out and stripping them and getting them all snapped up for a baby has gotten me all cloth crazy! I wonder if it is because I know the system I have now and want to try new or different one… but what has got me is not stuffing inserts. Moving away from inserts is opening quite a few doors for me, pricey , but luckily I will be reselling to rebuy! But any way that’s one obsession.

My second is the blanket. So with H & B my cousin made blankets we used and still use for them, then my friend and I had a tradition of getting these specific Dwell from Target baby blankets for each other as we had kids… the cousin no longer knits and Target stopped the line. What am I gonna do? Well as of today I will spend 50 dollars on a blanket. Don’t worry, a nice one. One I will LOVE - another one for me to snatch from the kids while they sleep in the car on the way to the beach or Maryland, or my better trick of getting under it when I nap with them. It’s true I steal my kids’ blankets. (they are so soft!) Right now I am all about the Aden + Anais Dream blanket. I have longed for A+A things since H was born but never jumped in and got things. Obviously my love of a swaddle had me all about swaddle blankets. But again I am very, very, very, pattern picky. I have 2 that I want - a boy option and a girl option. Last week I wanted a Goodmama Cuddles Blanket, I moved away from her because I couldn’t determine patterns.

But anyways, Adam is done with his big project at school, my sister-in-law is back from a wedding, all I need is my mom to be back in town and we can have labor… or I can be a good girl wait for my scheduled C-Section.

May.

I hold a special place in y heart for the month of May. At one point in my life I had dreamt of getting married in May. only to have a job that made May the craziest time of year for me ad that moved the wedding plans to December. But! May, I know it's spring it's beautiful everything gets warmer and ad a kid you can taste summer vacation.

This May has probably been my most favorite month in a VERY long time. Adam finished his first year of law school, I survived it, and our family has fallen into the groove of more time together. Church this month has had a strong focus in the modern family and how a family was meant to be shaped which in turn has truly blessed Adam and I and put commitment to each other. (gagging over the love feast?)

We have go e to the beach, had dates, worked through temper tantrums, had Adam be a stay at home dad, and now move to his internship.

Outsiders may look at some of our weekends and think we are insane. I work at the Y a few weekends a moth, sell Thirty-One And work full time. In turn Adam has a full time summer internship and also works weekends. We do this while juggling the kids and squeezing in family time/alone time/mom & dad time. To be honest this is my American dream. I couldn't be happier and next time I'm feeling burnt out (like this past Wednesday) all need I need to reflect on this month. Mostly because this month is why I do what I do.

Check out my beauty enjoying the kick start of May 2012.

How many miles makes a...

Running has been my “hobby” for 3 years now. I was never a runner before H was born, and to this day I sometimes battle with even calling myself a runner. I think I hold “runners” on some pedestal. But what makes a person a runner? Someone who has done it since high school? I don’t know, but I feel weird saying I am one. I do not think I look like a runner. I don’t have the defined legs and the lack of body fat, nor those amazing arms. I’m embarrassed in a swimsuit and shorts - but I can go run 15 miles in a morning. See my inner struggle?
I began running because I wanted to lose baby weight. It worked. I ran a full marathon and from that one until I was pregnant with B I did a half every other month because I didn’t want to lose my ability. After B I ran a half. I was not prepared as she was only born 6 months prior; I was not training as needed so I was angry at my time. I did a full after she was 1 then I started my every-other-month half marathon plan.
This past weekend I finished a half at a time that was surprising since I did more walking. Up until this weekend, getting a good time never really crossed my mind. I can only run if I have a race. Something about spending the money makes me do it. I have only not ran once I paid for it, but that was because the doctor told me to.

Finding myself reaching a new goal is hard: I have to admit I don’t really want to. I don’t really love running. But I do love the after-the-run. I do love the distance I accomplished on my feet. I love that H wants to run races, and he finishes mine with me if he is allowed.
I think the question still remains - am I a runner yet? Because as far I am concerned this little boy is.

Bags fo' sale.

While I was busy not eating meat, celebrating small things and getting over my Starbucks addiction, I dove face first into earning more dollars. Mostly so I can get Starbucks and not feel guilty. You know with the budget to consider.

Adam had gotten great opportunity this summer for an internship with the Attorney General, but with every great opportunity you go unpaid. We are excited, I used to say that with gritted teeth, but celebrating small things lets me see how happy he is and how much better this is for us in the long run, (2 years to be exact) But anyways… I will now be selling Thirty-One products. Now I know why?? When will you have time, aren’t you supposed to be saying no to things? Well, yes I am, but this is a way I can get little things for myself, make money, and organize! And you know I love organizing.

I don’t plan on driving the Thirty-One Cadillac—oh wait wrong one, but I do hope to do at least 2 parties a month, either in YOUR home or online. I hope to get my Pin Board all linked up and to make thing FABULOUS. It is really fun for me because I can get out and be social which meeting people and sharing stories is a pretty big part of who I am.

So if once a month you see a post on my little BIZ its ok, I’m just showing off, and hoping to brainwash you into ordering or having your own party. But if not here is my site, you can shop there anytime you wish. Go one you know you want to-- especially now when the outlet sale is going on.

Lent... we are getting deep here.

For the past few years I have not given anything up for Lent. I had stopped going to Catholic Church and have found myself learning and using more of my faith from a new church. When H was 16 months old we discovered HOPE. Even better, it is 3 minutes from our house, and on a Sunday morning with sleepy eyes you can’t beat that distance. You run out of the, “it’s all the way in Cary" excuses. This year, since I feel we have been so blessed to make it through the first year of law school, and law school budgets, giving something up seemed really important to me. I mean hello, when I think about God giving up his son, then I look at mine, it makes a much bigger impact.

I wanted to give up something I felt like I indulge in. Something I take for granted, it left me 3 things. 1. Starbucks, just 5 dollars wasted on a Sunday on my way to my nursery shift, or at lunch on a Target run. (Maybe next year I can give up Target). 2. Meat. I had dabbled in vegetarianism, right before H was born until I needed the iron from meat. Meat isn’t eaten much by the kids so why not. And 3. Celebrate the small things in my life. So often I find myself on the negative train and miss out on the small things.

I think Lent went great. Some people asked me why are you doing this if you are not a practicing Catholic anymore? But, right before the question was asked I read something. It said Lent wasn’t about giving up something, it was about when you are feeling weak in your 40 days and you seek God to give you the strength. And let me tell you when I saw my family eating seem Chick-Fil-A nuggets I prayed. HARD.

Since Lent is over I have had meat 2 times, both times it has made me sick. I am super excited to do some work at a Starbucks and drink a coffee. And, I see the light in my son’s eyes when he smiles, when B lays her head on my shoulder and when Adam tells me thank you.
Finally, I do feel restored in my faith.

So Lent. I liked it, and I can’t wait until next year.

Makeover!

Making over yourself and your habits is not an easy task. I do not feel as though I am a bad person, a hot mess or anything terrible. I do think there are things that I could tweak. Never to keep a New Year’s resolution, I figured it would be pointless to even make one. And as mentioned before, I love a challenge. I love a full plate. Overflowing plates are good too. I find that it helps my ADD and it helps my stress. Which with 2 little’s and Adam in law school, the stress release is the healthy way. So here is my little list of things I want to do and plan to do.
**Disclaimer: if I do not accomplish these things you cannot hold me accountable

1. Make hair clips. And sell them. Good ones.
2. Learn to sew. Hence clips.
3. Stay on top of sorting kids clothes. (up until Monday H would sometimes be wearing socks for a 12 month old)
4. Set up sewing machine and reclaim my bedroom as a crafty/peaceful place. (Maybe this should go before number 2)
5. Sell, sell, sell. Thoroughly go through the things I want to sell at consignment sales.
6. SAVE, cut back on the spending. I mean Law school is not going to pay for itself.
7. Learn to live with what I have and make it better.
8. Goal weight - only for 1 day. That’s all I ask. BUT, the work to get there is going to hurt.
9. Stop yelling. There. I said it. I yell - I want to stop - I doubt I can stop totally but limits are better.
10. Keep the phone or social media outlets off and away when the babes are around. They deserve all my time when I get the chance.

Those 10 things are a lot. Hopefully with prayer and work they can be accomplished. I feel like I have a good support system, which seems to be getting stronger every day, so I think I’m off to great start!

“You smell like Craigslist.”

Things in my mind are getting out of hand. The down time at work is getting the better of me. Pintrest has offically ruined my life, and my budget just won’t allow for any more projects.
The deal is this: I want to save money. A lot of it. I think that pinning and to do lists, making cleaning products, and reorganizing my home (which I have to admit is OCD clean), will bring in the dollars. As I go through a room, I determine Goodwill/Craigslist/trash. I cannot help it.

Craigslist, is my go to. I know I should be scared... ok I am I only let Adam do the posting or selling. But I have no time for a yard sale! All the tagging is just too time consuming, not to mention standing outside all day bores me. So I get back to it.

But here is my biggest Craigslist dilemma. When I read a blog, it tells me, “Oh like my new table I sanded, painted, re-sanded, and lacquered? It's from Craigslist for 1 dollar.” Answer me this Blog Mom, what city are you in? Where did you learn those bargaining tools? When on earth did you have time to fix that table to look like Pottery Barn when I have seen your 3 children who are clean and cute?

via http://knockoffdecor.com/refinished-mahogany-farmhouse-table/

Since diving into this blog and DIY world, I decided to check out the goodwill, and guess what - the woman in there looking at pants gave me the dirtiest look I may have ever gotten. So me and my kids high tailed it out of there. I just can’t win, and somehow doing these projects or looking at them seem to be costing me more money. Who just own’s this stuff around their house? And why? Why do you randomly own candle wicks. Ok, I now own them.

See I cannot win.

Travels with mom...

Well the adventure started last night. I did my long run before we were easing up to Maryland for a quick family visit ad work. After my run I called mom on the phone. She assured me I could sit in the way back of the van and afresh my legs. That little tid bit made me smile.

So, fast-forward to this morning. H, kept wanting this and that from the back of the van. Now my mother was in the way back. I was getting mad, I was trying to direct where the needs were. Dad pulled over I went to the back rearranged, (have I mentioned I'm ver particular about how my diaper bag and van is loaded?) I said to mom, "hey, let me in the back to help the kids." She basically said no he's more comfortable. Awesome, I think I love my legs locking!

So after a potty break I've made my way to the way back, watching Cars for the 124th time and mom is trying to talk to me. As if I can hear.

Oh joy! Well that's part one. (Adam normally warns me that tris with my mom always provide good humor.)

Oh goodness...

Now, I know that I am a perfectionist. Lately, Adam has been telling me it is OK to ask for help and that things don't have to be perfect. But why? Well that is not the point of this post. The point is something VERY scary happened to me and I must share. Don't worry it has to do with perfection.

So, in the evenings while I am feeding B, I sometimes look at different blogs, seeing where they are gonna take me. Mostly, they annoy me because they remind me of my inner desire to be crafty, but I just don't have the time to do it. Or the fact that I am such a perfectionist that when it turns out differently I'd be ticked!

But anywho... as I was cruising I saw the coolest thing! A ladies dishwasher! It was filled up so neatly, and cool! The dirty dishes looked so much fun! AND IT WAS ORGANIZED BY COLOR!!! Oh the sippy cups! I told you it was scary. I found myself in awe of an organized dishwasher. Maybe, it was her photographic skills, maybe the fact that Adam doesn't really let me load ours (he crams it all in there). But, regardless I know find myself stocking ours thinking, "How can I make our looks that good."

See it's scary; apparently being a perfectionsist and Type A is genetic too.

The Safety Dance...

look REAL close

Ok, so I am all about some safety. In fact I even envision danger lurking around every corner, slick floor, wet road, and flurries. But recently safety has taken over a new meaning in my home. It has left me speechless, annoyed, and crazed!

Let me backtrack. So H is 2, but during my pregnancy with him a friend handed me a bag full of home safety items. Known to most moms as "child proofing." Since, we live on a budget, who am I to deny freebies? Then one day after my mom came over to help out around the house we spotted them... OUTLET PLUGS! BEFORE THE KID WAS BORN. When Adam, and I asked her about the plugs now in our wall, she simply stated that it was to be safe. I accused Laurel, (our dog) of putting her paws in the sockets. In hind sight, it was well worth the annoying factor of having our outlets plugged during pregnancy, and the additional 7 months it took H to crawl because we became pros at getting those things out.

BUT the other day when I returned home, from work I saw that the outlet plugs have a new meaning...a plug was in an outlet in "The Hole." Now you are probably wonder, "what's the hole?" Well first of all I HATE it. It is the hole above the fireplace that people put their TV in. Yes, a plug was in the hole. Apparently while Adam and I are out, H & B, climb up there and put their fingers, knives, rattles, paci's and broccoli in this socket.

Either that, or mom sees a plug I have ripped out of the wall and just looks for an unplugged socket. But hey, it's all in the name of safety.