When I picked the theme for this year of Holidays, I did it out of a need for a little more joy and fun after how rough 2020 was. It is funny, this has been a weird year so far in which I am also feeling deeply the need to simplify some of the bigger holidays. Continue reading
family time
February wrap up and March Goals
No frills in this post, just a quick recap of February’s tending list and a look at how I’m planning to work on my goals in the month of March. Here we go… Continue reading
Olaf and my Mental health
I have young kids in my house- specifically a three year old girl in my house- which means that, like many of her peers, she is constantly requesting the Frozen and Frozen 2 soundtracks be played on repeat. After years with the original movie’s music blasting through our house, I think I’ve become immune to the original soundtrack, but I’ve been surprised to find recently that Frozen 2 songs have become a pretty good barometer about my own mental health during this pandemic… (also… spoiler alerts for frozen 2 ahead… and if you haven’t seen the movie and don’t care… this may not be a post that makes any sense to you anyway and you can totally skip this one!) Continue reading
Thank You Twighlight Turtle
We have been in some pretty consistent lock-down status since mid-march. We live in a pretty small house for the five of us so it was always a challenge. The summer heat has made the challenge immensely more difficult. Continue reading
A few more good things…
Oh man… I have really REALLY felt the weight of the world recently. It is hard to make myself write anything or get through more than basic survival and my mental health has not been at its best. I know one of the best self care things I can do besides moving my body is to cultivate gratitude, even (especially) when I don’t feel like it… so I’ve been brainstorming some more of the good things from our COVID19 lockdown: Continue reading
Prenatal Anxiety Part 2: Fighting for Fun in a Hormone Induced Hurricane
I wrote this post very shortly after coming home from the hospital last month- before the COVID-19 pandemic had really escalated. In light of that I debated taking a break from posting, but then I wondered if maybe my anxiety coping mechanisms could help people out as we all go through this anxious time… I certainly find myself needing to use them again as I struggle to get through the fear of how long this will last, how bad it will be, and how uncertain everything feels- no clue what is next. So I’m publishing it today and hoping it doesn’t sound too tone deaf given how quickly our world seems to have changed…
In my last post, I wrote about how in all three of my pregnancies I struggled with prenatal anxiety, but the way I dealt with that anxiety changed as I learned more about what prenatal anxiety was, what it meant for me, and how I might deal with it given my choice to have more children. This post talks about some of the ways I “dealt with it” during this last pregnancy…
*Just like in my last post, I do list some specific fears and anxieties in this post so it could be triggering for others suffering from anxiety or those who have been through miscarriage or infant loss* Continue reading
February Wrap Up and March Goals
Well, Just like that, even with the extra day this year, February just flew by! Probably because it was such an eventful month over here… so today I’m recapping my February tending list and providing an overview of what I’m focusing on in my Powersheets this March! Continue reading
February Tending List and January Recap
In case you missed my post earlier this year, here’s what I’m focusing on for my goals this year.
I promise I’ll share my last “G” of the year soon, but in the meantime I wanted to recap my January tending list and give a peak into February goals. Continue reading
A Letter to my Daughter for her Third Birthday
Sweet Girl,
I can’t believe you are now three years old. Somehow I simultaneously feel like there’s no way that much time could possibly have passed since your birth, and other days I can’t believe how bright and talkative you are for only having lived three years.
You started preschool this year and have loved this transition. You are going two days a week and clearly wish it was more as you STILL try to run into your brother’s class when it isn’t your school day. You love talking about what you learned and showing me your art projects. You have so much to say but still are hesitant to talk in big groups, preferring smaller interactions.
You also started gymnastics this year and you LOVE talking about the different jumps you practice there and how you want to practice your balance beam. You look forward to gymnastics day all week. That’s not the only physical fitness you are interested in- you have become OBSESSED with hiking and were very upset during the hot months of the summer when we didn’t go- you would ask almost every day and were so excited when the weather cooled off enough for us to hit the trails again. You transitioned from hiking with mom in a baby carrier to insisting you are a hiker that can walk on her own. You can rock out several miles of trail and are fearless when tackling the steep, rocky parts of a trail. Sometimes this makes me a little nervous, but mostly it makes me super proud and I have loved our one on one hikes the past year. You even asked to have your classmates join you for a hike for your birthday instead of inviting them to a party which probably would have been overwhelming for you.
You have continued to find your voice this year- your vocabulary continues to blow us away and you have learned that sometimes you have to be as loud as you brother to get a word in. This has made our household a lot louder, but also even more entertaining. Your dad and I love hearing you and your brother sing together in the morning or tell each other stories. You love playing pretend with him, whether that is creating tea parties or dressing up as Elsa or giving us all doctor check ups.
Other things about this past year: Your most common phrases are “Can I just try a tiny bite?” “Where is teacher Jen?” and telling people your full name. Your favorite foods are apples, chicken, chips and salsa, and anything mom is eating- it doesn’t count unless it’s on my plate though. You still love picking out your own outfits, especially shoes. Your favorite game is Feed the Woozle. Your preschool teacher has told me on numerous occasions that she is convinced you will one day run a small country. You are obsessed with sunglasses.
I am so excited for this new year- not only because I know you will keep learning so much as a three year old, but because you are so excited about being a big sister and I can’t wait to see you officially meet your little sister. Each morning you come and kiss my belly and tell her good morning and ask when she’s going to come out and play. It should be less than a month until that happens- your wait is almost over!
I want you to know as you become the middle child that you will always be so unique and special to us. I promise we will still have one on one dates, that I will listen to your stories and questions, and that I will continue to treasure what makes you unique from your siblings (Don’t forget that! Even as I express the love I have seeing the things you have in common!)
I love you so much and wish I could slow down time just a little to enjoy you all the more.
❤
Mom
August Goals: Back from Break and Forging Ahead…
Hi all…
It’s been a month! Continue reading
