18. I am thankful for weekends with family. Last weekend we spent some time with my family in Storm Lake and we'll be in Marengo for Thanksgiving later this week. Although we live much closer to our families than some, we still don't get there nearly as much as I wish we could. Between our busy schedules, need for downtime and the stress of traveling with a one-year-old who HATES the car, we're lucky to get back every six weeks.Once we're there, the time always goes too fast.
I fantasize about living closer so I can swing over for a cup of coffee with my mom or make it to one of the girls' volleyball games. We could have idyllic Sunday brunches and Louis could have one on one time with all of his aunties and uncles. Instead of the focus on what I don't have however, the point of Days of Thanksgiving is to focus on what I do. Louis had a wonderful time, although he would have loved more time with his Papa who stayed away because of a stomach bug. We ate GREAT food and laughed a lot. We shared stories and memories and played games. I'm thankful for a family that I genuinely like as well as love.
22 November, 2011
Days of Thanksgiving: Seventeen
17. I am thankful for bath time. Because I'm still nursing at night, Nevin usually does bath time. It gives us both a little bit of alone time after a long day at work. Sometimes, Nevin just needs a break and I just need a little more time with the boy. Bath time always cheers me up. Louis is goofy and happy in the tub and it's ten minutes of uninterrupted time with just the two of us. We read the same three books over and over and help Captain B catch his fish. He laughs and splashes and I cannot multitask. Bath time is good for the soul!
16 November, 2011
Days of Thanksgiving: Sixteen
16. I am thankful for a slow day. A day where there is no place to be and no reason to get out of our pajamas. These days don't come around very often but I'm hoping that during my week off I can at least get one. With the size of my to do list, I'm going to make it a priority.
Days of Thanksgiving: Fifteen
15. I am thankful for lists. I put everything into lists. To do. Wants. Needs. Hopes. Books to read. Goals to work toward. Things to stop doing. Grocery lists. Things that make me happy. Things that upset me. The next year. The next five years. The next twenty years. I love crossing things off of my list, but even more than that I love the act of writing the list.
Writing a list is the first step in conquering the unconquerable. It organizes my thoughts and makes everything look at least a bit more manageable. When life gets overwhelming, I first take a deep breath and then sit down with a notebook and a pen. I cannot even count the amount of times in my journey to becoming a mom, that I sat with paper in hand. "Get pregnant' and "stay pregnant" did not come as easy things to cross off my personal list, but I could "quit drinking caffeine," "buy skinny jeans and enjoy enjoy your body now" or "go out on a fun date with Nevin and then sleep until noon the next day." Lists have given me pseudo-control when I've been grasping for something, anything to center me.
I have been known to put things on my list solely for the purpose of crossing them off in the next few minutes, hours or day. Some of the things may not be crossed off for weeks, months, or even years but "shower" can be immediately tackled and conquered.
Amandajean-1 Universe-O.
Writing a list is the first step in conquering the unconquerable. It organizes my thoughts and makes everything look at least a bit more manageable. When life gets overwhelming, I first take a deep breath and then sit down with a notebook and a pen. I cannot even count the amount of times in my journey to becoming a mom, that I sat with paper in hand. "Get pregnant' and "stay pregnant" did not come as easy things to cross off my personal list, but I could "quit drinking caffeine," "buy skinny jeans and enjoy enjoy your body now" or "go out on a fun date with Nevin and then sleep until noon the next day." Lists have given me pseudo-control when I've been grasping for something, anything to center me.
I have been known to put things on my list solely for the purpose of crossing them off in the next few minutes, hours or day. Some of the things may not be crossed off for weeks, months, or even years but "shower" can be immediately tackled and conquered.
Amandajean-1 Universe-O.
Days of Thanksgiving: Fourteen
14. I am thankful for repair people. After putting my car into oncoming traffic and having my dishwasher deemed kaput, our dryer stopped tumbling. I knew I never should have put, "What in the world could happen next?" in print. I know one should never put all of their laundry off until the weekend, but that often happens in our house. I have a hard time staying up late enough during the week to get something washed, dryed, folded, and put away.
The incident was on Friday afternoon of course and there was no hope of repair help before Monday. We spent the weekend digging DEEP into our closets and even made an emergency run to Target for socks and underwear at one point. Monday over his lunch hour, Nevin was told all we needed was a new dryer belt. While that is $100 I would have preferred to spend elsewhere, at least we didn't need another trip to Lowe's!
I am thankful for people whose expertise is different from mine. I don't know how to fix a dryer (obviously) and when my dishwasher overflowed the best I knew how to do was turn it off and lay down towels! When my computer malfunctions, I yell for my husband, mom or brothers. If I want advice about resume writing, I have a friend in the wings. More information on current events, a great history teacher friend. Parenting, an abundance of friends and family (both online and off). I can't do it all. None of us can. It's not a weakness to ask for help but instead a strength.
May I know when to ask for help, but also when to offer it.
The incident was on Friday afternoon of course and there was no hope of repair help before Monday. We spent the weekend digging DEEP into our closets and even made an emergency run to Target for socks and underwear at one point. Monday over his lunch hour, Nevin was told all we needed was a new dryer belt. While that is $100 I would have preferred to spend elsewhere, at least we didn't need another trip to Lowe's!
I am thankful for people whose expertise is different from mine. I don't know how to fix a dryer (obviously) and when my dishwasher overflowed the best I knew how to do was turn it off and lay down towels! When my computer malfunctions, I yell for my husband, mom or brothers. If I want advice about resume writing, I have a friend in the wings. More information on current events, a great history teacher friend. Parenting, an abundance of friends and family (both online and off). I can't do it all. None of us can. It's not a weakness to ask for help but instead a strength.
May I know when to ask for help, but also when to offer it.
13 November, 2011
Days of Thanksgiving: Thirteen
Days of Thanksgiving: Twelve
12. I am thankful for Baby Tylenol and Orajel. Poor baby boy is struggling to get at least two new teeth if not more. I held him while he cried and patted at his mouth for over an hour in the middle of last night. Today his spirits are up and I'm hoping those buggers break through his gums soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)