It's Been A While...

It has been a while, hasn't it. Almost 3 months to the day since my last post. I didn't intend on disappearing for so long, but we had a lot going on around the W house.

Little Aria is now a year old. She walks. She talks. And generally she runs the show around here. She and the dogs are like a little gang of hoodlums that bounce through the house destroying things like little tornados. Except for Harper she's a big tornado. 

I stepped back from my job about a month ago. It became apparent to us that both of us employed full time just wasn't something that was working for us. That was a big change for me but I am comfortable with it, and honestly I have felt it coming for a while. Being home with our children is something that is important to me. I think that stems from my parents working so hard when I was growing up. 

That's another post for another day though.

I am a stay at home mom pretty much full time now. I do some work independently (you know, with all of my mad skills), but 95% of the time, I'm here running our ship.

I, myself, am doing pretty well. This past year I've been lucky enough to be blessed with the most beautiful gift, and at the same time it has been a year of big adjustments. I'm still learning how to manage it all and I haven't quite figured out how to take care of myself while taking care of  everything and everyone else…but I'm working on it.

Happy Tuesday Friends. I'm excited to be back!

Oh Motherhood.

It took 2 hours to get Aria to sleep for her first nap today…and she only slept for 30 minutes. This is why I'm never on time for work. Just incase anyone who is concerned about my punctuality is reading this.

She is going through some very big developmental stuff right now, so her little brain is on overdrive. Aria actually isn't the best sleeper anyway. She's one of those kids who wants to be awake all the time because she doesn't want to miss anything.

While I love her spirit…girl needs some sleep!

Well, I have one really awesome thing to brag about, and one really awful thing to shamefully confess.

On the awesome front…I made Aria this sweet little dress a few nights ago!

I wish I had more time on my hands. I love to make things…but the time just isn't there. Our days are so full right now, that I can usually choose one thing to do for myself every 4 days. The other 3 days I'm just so darn tired that I sit in silence until I start hearing my neighbors do whatever it is that they do so loudly over there, and then I watch Dexter kill people for an hour before I give in to sleep.

On the scary as shit, someone call the authorities because I'm obviously not qualified to take care of another, much cuter, human, front…Aria rolled off of our bed on Wednesday morning.

Our bed is high. And she just rolled right off the side.

My initial reaction was yelling her name in extreme desperation. Then I scooped her up saying "Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god." She was screaming because it probably hurt worse than anything she's ever experienced thus far.

I cuddled and snuggled and tried everything in my power to make her feel better. Calm on the outside, but falling apart on the inside. How in the world could I let this happen? How could I let my sweet baby fall off of my bed????
I suspected it a few times before, but now I'm sure that I'm the worst mother on the face of the earth.

She fell directly on her face, and her nose. I don't think I'll ever forget the sound of her hitting the floor. Or the sound of her scream.

I contacted her Pediatrician and he gave me the walk through of how to assess her, and what to watch for.

I've watched her like a hawk for the past day and a half.

She is okay. Her nose is swollen and bruised, and she has a rug burn. But overall she's as slap happy as usual.

My soul is a little darker and the mommy guilt has gotten me pretty good too. I also can't help but notice Aria's eyes are a little less trusting when she looks at me.

I even rolled myself off of the bed a few times, to see how it felt.

For the record. It didn't help me feel better.

In an attempt to end this post on a happy note, here are some pictures of my sweet pooper face from this weekend.

Happy Thursday.

32

Today I'm 32 years old.

I actually really like getting older. I feel like the older I get, the better things get. As I get older, I appreciate the little things more and more. I feel more complete and more peaceful, with each year that passes.

Not to mention I appreciate how free I feel being me, with every year that passes. It's a comfortable that 10 years ago I never would have imagined.

I had a beautiful day today. Aria and I had our first grass picnic. I did my annual Birthday Sufferfest at the gym. (Btw, muscles are just now starting to tighten up). I bought some fabric to sew some pretty little dresses for my warrior monkey baby. I cleaned the house. And I snuggled my little girl to sleep.

As I get older I also feel less that my birthday is about me. I feel more that it is about the people I love, and how much they mean to me.

So in this quiet birthday evening, here are a few words for my sweet baby and my tall husband…

To my sweet Aria:

You have changed my world. I always thought of soul mates as a term that was reserved for couples in love. Now it has a whole new meaning to me. We are soul mates. You have a piece of my soul and I have a piece of yours. I look forward to waking up in the morning to see your little face. Every time you smile at me, I swear I might burst with happiness.
We don't have a lot, but because of you I feel so rich. I have no idea how we got so lucky.


To my unbelievable husband:

You are the most amazing man I've ever known. Not because of the big gestures. Because you do the dishes, and you clean up before I get home on days that you get home first. Because when I'm stressed you tell me to go on a run. Because you take the dogs out when it's cold and you always put out the garbage and scrub the bath tub. Because you love me for the weirdo I am, and you support me no matter what. You understand me and accept me. You also love to laugh. And you make me laugh. Watching you with our daughter fills me up with so much admiration and love. I love you with every fiber of me.

Happy Wednesday friends. Have a fantastic night.

And if you're looking for a sweaty sufferfest, let me know and I'll send you my birthday workout.

Errands and an Accidental Heart Break

The amount of things I can get done in one day, with a baby attached to me, sort of makes me feel like I'm qualified to be Queen of the world.

Today was a busy busy day. Mondays are crazy town. I work during the weekend…so all of the things that people do during the weekend to get ready for the week, I do on Mondays.

Aria and I ventured out on all of the normal Monday errands…grocery shopping, Target, post office, buying craft supplies for my after school groups this week. Were actually going to do a very cute project, which I will post about later in the week. I don't want to spoil the fun too early.

I made the little monkey a springy/summery leaf garland headband.

So. Much. Hair.

We also headed out on a great nail polish hunt. Anyone who has known me for more than 5 minutes, knows that I have a pretty serious love affair with nail polish. I love color. In all parts of my life, but especially my nails. It's so fun to experiment with and wear all of the beautiful colors…without any serious commitment.

Recently I discovered (by complete accident) that my favorite brand of polish does some pretty serious testing on animals. It was heart breaking. Not only because of the actual testing. But because they have the BEST colors and I've been a seriously loyal customer for YEARS. All of my polish was this brand!!!

So, I gave it all away at the girls night I hosted Friday, and decided to start from scratch with some brands that weren't involved in testing on animals. Then I fell in love.

Ginger and Liz.

Vibrent colors. No creepy ingredients….like formaldehyde…and no kitten testing. I took home all 4 of these babies!

The best thing about grocery Monday is that the house is full of food! I made something on toast (surprise surprise) and Aria and I had some lunch in the back yard!

Mmmm food.

Well, I'm off to grill some dinner in this perfect weather.

Enjoy your night…and check out the unbelievable cuteness of these two smelly bellies.

I just can't even.