Things I'm Making, Books I'm Reading

I mentioned last week that I've discovered that taking care of two small children leaves little time for blogging. Well, I also rarely find time for two other things that I love to do - crafting and reading. It's been months - probably nearly 4 (notice Kate is nearly 4 months old) since I've finished a book. And I am not okay with this!

I love that I am able to stay home with my babies and that we are able to play and read and build things, and I love that I am able to have dinner ready at night and keep a moderately clean house. But I've noticed that since Kate was born, the only "free" time I have is naptime and as soon as I get the kids down, the race is on. I'm straightening up the house, running down to the basement to do laundry, getting things ready for dinner, taking a shower, etc. Then when the kids go to bed it's clean up from dinner, fold more clothes, wash dishes, and then I'm exhausted and just want to go to sleep!

But I miss my crafts and I REALLY miss my books. So, I've decided that some days, the house will just have to wait. No one is going to come through at the end of the day and check my work. Tyler will not get home from work and ask why I didn't get that load of towels washed or scrub the bathtub. So in addition to blogging more, I hope to make a few things and read a few books. And so far, so good!

I participated in the "Pay it Forward" challenge on Facebook in which you hand make something for the first five people who respond to your post and mail it to them sometime during the year. These are the gifts I've made and sent so far...



I also made this recipe card holder for my friend's birthday...


Nothing fancy, but it sure felt good to just take a little time to be creative.

I've also started reading Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Piccoult and, of course, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by my favorite, the Pioneer Woman.

I plan to finish these books within the month and have others on deck to begin. I also have three more people on my "Pay it Forward" list as well a couple of birthdays and several weddings coming up in the next few months that I plan to make gifts for.

Ideally, I will be able to manage these projects while maintaining some kind of order in my house, but if the laundry piles up a little and the floor goes a little longer without being vacuumed, I'm going to be ok with that. Stay tuned to see how this all pans out!

P Dubs, In the Flesh!

If you have the extreme pleasure of being my friend on Facebook (har har) then you already know this, but I couldn't help but dedicate a blog post to it also... I MET THE PIONEER WOMAN!

If you follow her blog, you know she is amazing. If you don't, you should.

If you've bought her cookbook, you know her food is amazing. If you haven't, you should.

If you've read her new autobiographical love story, you know her writing is amazing (and that her hunk of a husband whom she calls the "Marlboro Man" isn't so bad either). If you haven't, you should.

Anyway, with all of that said, she was just as pleasant in person as I always thought she would be, and now I just wish more that she was my BFF. I could totally see us hanging out (at her house, not mine, cause she lives on a sweet ranch) drinking a couple beers and (her) cooking delicious food for us to share while having witty conversation. Have I thought about this too much? Probably. But I just love her.

Aaaand... she lives in Oklahoma. And I live in Oklahoma. Anyone want to join me on a road trip to the ranch?! Nah, we better not - she probably doesn't care for stalkers. In the meantime, though, I'm going to keep stalking her blog and sharing her awesomeness with all my friends. Hope you all get the pleasure of meeting her one day, too! You won't be disappointed.

Challenges

Well, hello friends! I have not fallen off the face of the earth, in case you were concerned... I've just discovered that keeping up with an almost two year old, a three month old, and a blog is more than I can handle, and something had to be neglected. The blog was the obvious choice.

You haven't missed much, save for lots of diaper changes, baby feedings, and a few overwhelming trips to the grocery store (see photo).

But, I'm back! Maybe more sporadically, but I'm back.

I've self-imposed two new challenges in my life, the first of which I've just covered - getting back to my blog. Kate's a little older and less needy now, Wyatt can easily be entertained by Mickey Mouse & friends anytime I'd like to sit down to write, and I've missed having a little outlet. So I plan to do my best to get on at least once a week and jot down some thoughts.

The second challenge that I've recently begun is a 10 week long fitness challenge hosted by BuffMother on Facebook. It is, as she calls is, a "quest for consistency" that will result in major life and body changes. My goal is to lose 20 lbs (maybe not in the 10 weeks, but by October) by counting calories and keeping a consistent workout routine. The official start date was on Monday, but I've been going at this for a little over a week now and have already lost 5 pounds, so I feel like I'm on the right track.

The changes a body goes through during pregnancy are overwhelming, to say the least, and I'm hoping to regain some semblance of my pre-baby body. With as crazy as things get around here sometimes, and with as much attention as two small children require, it's very easy for me to forget to pay attention to myself. So that is really the ultimate goal, I suppose - Take time to take care of myself so that I'm in the best possible shape I can be in to take care of everyone else in my life.

I feel like I'm off to a good start and I'm excited to start seeing some results. I'll keep you posted as I go and probably rely on you for encouragement!

I did take "before" pictures, but I don't think I'm quite ready to post those for all the world to see just yet, but maybe after my dramactic transformation ;) Stay tuned! In the meantime, I'll leave you with a little something to brighten your day (much more than a picture of me in a bikini would...)

Today and Every Day, Give Thanks

Well, it's been a while since I last posted. A long while, actually, and for obvious reasons. For the past five weeks I've been attempting to acclimate myself to life as a mother of two, and you wouldn't believe how little time that leaves me for blogging (or for anything outside of diaper changing and baby feeding and laundry doing, for that matter). But you know what? I could not possibly be happier.

I've found myself with a bit of downtime today, and I thought - what better day to pick back up on my blog and make note of the many things I have to be thankful for today and every day.

I am abundantly thankful for my two beautiful, healthy children. They bring more joy to my life than I ever knew possible. I know now that I was made to be a mother and that these two babies were made just for me.

I am thankful for a loving, hardworking husband who provides for our family's every need and whose job allows me to stay home and raise our children. He is my best friend and my helpmate and I am proud to say that we will soon be celebrating three years of happy marriage.

I am thankful for a supportive family. Being a parent myself now, I am fully aware of how much love and sacrifice goes into having children and I will forever be grateful to my parents for theirs.

I am thankful for many friends, old and new. I am blessed to have old friends who feel like family and new friends who have helped ease the transition to a new lifestyle, as well as the ability to maintain relationships with each no matter how far apart we are.

I am thankful for members of the military who, on a daily basis, make sacrifices the rest of us could never begin to understand, and who don't always get to spend holidays like these with their families because they're busy serving our country and protecting our freedoms.

There's so many more things I could list, as I feel like there's a new blessing to count each day.
Thankfulness overwhelms me and I'm glad this day comes around once a year to remind us all how much there really is to be thankful for. I truly am blessed beyond measure and for that I give thanks. Today and every day.

D

So, as I predicted, I'm not good at this. I'm obviously far from making daily posts. But nevermind that, I'll get to them when I get to them, I suppose! Life before blogging.

Anyway, like I said, D is for dachshund. And that's because I currently feel like I've been quite neglectful of my two long little loves and I'm feeling a little guilty about it. Who knew how hard it would be to have dogs AND kids?! Now let's not go too far here and assume that they are in any way mistreated. I mean, they kind of have it pretty good, if you ask me. They have free reign of my house and my furniture, they nap all day, get tasty treats, and sleep in a very comfortable king sized, 200 thread count Egyptian Cotton sheeted bed at night. Sound rough? Hardly.

In fact, I just talked myself right out of my guilt. If I lived that comfortable a lifestyle with nothing to do and nowhere to be, I think I'd be alright.

In fact, as I write this, they lie curled up in their respective positions, just soaking in the day and its lack of responsibility. Ahh, to be a dachshund.

C

is for cake!

For about the past two weeks I have craved cake every day. I'm not exaggerating, EVERY day. Sometimes it comes in the morning. Like, the moment I wake up I think, hmm, it wouldn't be awful to eat a piece of cake for breakfast... Sometimes it's later in the day or maybe even just before bed. I don't really have any tendencies toward a certain kind, but I do want it to be warm and frosted.

Luckily, I had the self-control to not buy any cake mix during my last trip to the grocery store, and I'm much too exhausted to attempt anything homemade at this point, so I haven't exactly had easy access to any cake.

The funny thing is, even after all these cravings, the two times I have been presented with cake, it has absolutely repulsed me! Couldn't even take a bite! I didn't like the looks of it and certainly couldn't stand the smell.

So what does this mean? Do I want cake or not? Where are these cravings coming from and why do they plague me every day only to then torture me when I could give in?! I'll never understand the tricks pregnancy plays on my mind, but one thing's for sure... I'm certainly glad I haven't given into two weeks' worth of cake cravings! Cause S is for scale, and mine is screaming, "NO MORE!!"

B

is for Baby.

A baby that will soon be here. A baby whose room is fit for a princess and finally ready for her. A baby whose big brother has no idea what's in store but who will love her more than anything.

This is our Baby Kate and she will be here in ONE month. Ready or not. Physically, I've never been readier. Mentally, my mind is entirely blown at the idea of soon having 2 children. I'm not sure there is anything one can do to prepare for this either.

All I know, is she will have food to eat, a place to sleep, and will be showered with just about as much love as one little baby can handle ♥