Random Acts Update

So I've been working on my acts of kindness Lenten challenge for about of a week and a half.  I have to say I think I'm doing pretty well.  It's been fun and rewarding- I like planning out some of the acts and others have just happened naturally. Some of the acts on my list are so simple they really should be done without even thinking about it, but its nice to challenge myself to continue to work on these simple easy acts and put someone else in front of my own worries and stress.

I'm just going to re-cap the acts I have done so far- that way you guys can help make sure I get to 40 by Easter! 

1. Write a Thank you note:  I wrote a Thank You note to our mail man- just thanking him for delivering the mail every day through this very cold and nasty winter!  Hopefully- as much mail as he sees it was a nice surprise to get something for him!

2.  Say "Good Morning" and smile:  I am trying to do this every morning, its so easy and really should be done but sometimes we just walk by someone in the morning without thinking or we are already wrapped up in our work for the day.  I'm trying to make it a point though to say Good Morning to all of my co-workers each morning.  (some people are more morning people then others- haha)

3. Make Dinner for a Friend:  I made dinner for my family and friends on a Sunday evening- We have a set date every Sunday night where we get  together hang out, and then watch a show or movie. I usually make a dessert or snack but this time I made chicken and macaroni and cheese and a salad- it was an easy dinner but I say it still counts! (Look how happy they all are- my husband can't wait to eat it!)

4.  Praise a co-worker for their good work: This happened sort of by accident but I had a co-worker questioning her success and just getting a little overwhelmed.  It was really nice to help reassure her and help her see why she has earned and deserves all the success and opportunities she is receiving. I would have of course said the same things whether I was doing this challenge or not- but like I said some of these acts just happened naturally.

5.  Write a letter to a friend:  I wrote a letter to a friend who was expecting a baby Mid-April - just catching up with her and trying to reassure about becoming a mom and that she is going to be an amazing mom.  I wrote the letter last Thursday but I was waiting to send it because I was sending it with a little package- and on Friday I found out her little guy just couldn't wait to come into this world and he was born the week before!  I just sent the package today- hopefully the letter will still be a nice surprise and provide some encouragement in the first couple challenging weeks!

6. Hold the door for someone: This is another really easy one and it's surprising how it catches people off guard because it does not happen that often anymore.  I have been able to do this one three different times so far and I always get a Thank you in response- which is not needed but nice! 

7. Donate Food to a Food Pantry: I was able to do this last Friday, on Pi Day! I stopped into a local food bank and dropped off a bag of groceries and I didn't even spend any extra money picking up the groceries I just went through our pantry and picked out some items we had extra of. 

8. Buy Someone's lunch: A friend came to visit me on Saturday and we went out to lunch- I picked up the tab- much to her protest!  But it was nice to do and I told her she was helping me with my Lent challenge! :) 

9. Let someone go in front of you in line: I did this today at the post office while I was mailing the package to my friend. 

10. Bring my co-workers a special treat: In honor of St. Patrick's Day I made my co-workers a special treat- Lucky Charm Treats!  There are no more left in the cafeteria- so I assume they were a hit! 

I still have a lot of things to cross off my list- but I think I am off to a good start.  It has been very rewarding so far to make someone smile with such simple little acts!

JS

40 Acts of Kindness- Giving Back instead of Up

Ok so I know I said that my next post would be about actually balancing the mayhem of Mommyhood- but this idea just came to me last night and since Lent is starting today I feel that I need to post this today. 

Lent is beginning today- Lent the 40 day period before Easter Sunday- traditionally Catholics give something up during this period.  It signifies the 40 day fasting period Jesus experienced while in the dessert before beginning his public ministry. (thanks for the summary Wikipedia).

I personally always struggle to find something to give-up and I never really found it rewarding to so this year I am trying something new.  Instead of giving something up I am going to give back- with 40 acts of kindness. For me this is a more positive spin on Lent and hopefully by putting positive energy and goodness into the world it will help make it a little better and make a few people smile along the way.

Now the goal would be to do one act a day- but I know that may not happen so as along as all of them are accomplished before Easter- I say it counts.

I'm writing this entry as a way to make myself accountable to accomplishing this goal and as just a way to track the acts.  Also this is just going to be my list to work off of.

Here my list of acts of kindness- obviously there are only 20- so some of them I'm going to do more than once but I will complete each act at least one time in the next 40 days.

1. Clean up litter
2. Bring flowers to a friend
3. Compliment someone
4. Make dinner for a friend 
5. Donate food to a food drive/pantry
6. Make a donation to a charity
7. Leave a generous tip
8. Let someone go in front of you in line
9. Hold the door for someone
10. Write a letter to a friend
11. Bring Co-workers a special treat
12. Buy someone's lunch
13. Donate used clothing
14. Plant a tree/flowers
15. Be an active listener to someone who needs to talk
16. Give a Thank you note
17. Donate blood
18. Make breakfast for my husband 
19. Say "Good Morning" and smile 
20. Thank and praise a co-worker for their good work

My hope is that by completing this kindness challenge I will be setting and being an example for my son and in the future we can do this together. Wish me luck!  I will be posting updates as I complete each act! 

Back to work....

Ok after this post I'll be more fun... these last couple of posts have been more just my thoughts and story... but I promise the next one I'll talk about useful planning tips, and perhaps I'll feature a Crock Pot recipe! :) 

I've been back to work now for about three weeks. It's been a hard adjustment.

I have been on maternity leave since mid-November and working part-time since January. In this time I have been a little spoiled by making my own schedule- grocery shopping in the middle of the day, sleeping in a little bit a few days a week, and not having to be too strict on my own bed time.  It's been an adjustment becoming a mom but it's also allowed me to refocus my energy and get out of the hustle and bustle of my work life.

However that being said, I like being at work and the projects I am working on.  It's a challenge, it's rewarding to create presentations and deals, and to just be successful at work.  Being around co-workers and other adults is also really nice- just the contact with other people is something I missed on the days I was at home alone while my husband worked. (I'm definitely a people person- and go a little crazy when I spend too much time cooped up at home).  And of course its nice to hear that I was missed at the office while on maternity leave.

But I miss my little man and I miss my time at home.

I know some people have told me "You will be so ready to go back to work and get out of the house"- I am not one of those people.  I didn't mind staying at home- I found plenty to do and found it rewarding to be a homemaker and take care of my family.

Now I find that I am trying to do both and it is challenging; I see that it can be done, I guess the real question is do I want to do it.

I have the utmost respect for stay at home mom's- it really was a challenge some days trying to get it all done especially if my little guy was particularly fussy.  But I also have a lot of respect for women who go back to work- it's hard!  I want to be both places at once but unfortunately I do not have the Harry Potter Time Turner- so I'm stuck trying to balance it all in 24 hours day.

What I am finding is- I want to stay in touch, go out and spend time with my friends but when I am working 5 days a week until 4-5pm- I don't really feel like going out afterwards- I've got to spend that evening getting ready for the next work day.  And my weekends are my time with my little guy, I'm not really willing to give that up and get a babysitter- I know I can bring him along to some places but sometimes I feel it's just easier to stay home. I see now why some people loose touch after having a baby- but I am going to try my hardest to not have that happen to me.

I'm hoping that my family and I get into more of a routine, and I hope my little man doesn't miss me too much (though I'm sure I miss him more than he misses me)- I know he is well cared for with family helping out and so far just daycare once a week.

I guess what it boils down to is I just want to make sure that he sees and spends the most time with me.  As his mom I should be the biggest influence and presence in his life and I don't want to loose that by working full time.

We will see how this all shakes out- I'm a pretty stubborn person and I don't give up on anything too easily so I know somehow we will manage and will create a system that works for our family. We are only three weeks in... we just need to keep moving forward and taking it day by day (but still plan for dinners a week at a time :)

J.S.

Body Issues.

Ok so I am going to go ahead and try to tackle a sensitive and tricky subject..... body issues after pregnancy.

Let me preface this by saying I am judging no one and I do not have a stance on anything- these are just my thoughts based on my pregnancy, experience and feelings.  I am also not looking for a pity party or anything of the sort.  If anything I am just sharing my experience in hopes that it gives some reassurance to others who may be feeling or have felt the same way.

So let's just start by saying- before my wedding in October 2012, I worked really hard to get myself to a place where I was happy with my body- I felt good, energized, healthy and happy!  I had been running and eating healthier well-balanced meals. I honestly do not know how much weight I lost- I never stood on a scale- I just knew I felt better as a whole.

Now I said after my wedding I was going to keep up my running schedule- but I am not someone who runs on a treadmill- I need to be outside, listening to music, feeling the breeze.  (I will be the person that falls off a treadmill).  I could come up with an excuse as to why I did not keep running, the time changed it was dark earlier, it was winter and cold, it was the holidays.  Honestly, it was a combination of everything but the results are the same I did not keep my promise and started putting back on some weight. Then last March I found out I was pregnant so 9 months and a baby later- I'm back to where I started!

One of the few pictures of me pregnant.

When I found out I was pregnant I was excited we had been trying for a few months- but I would not say I was someone who loved being pregnant.  From the very beginning I just didn't feel like myself- I was tired and cranky, my hormones made me cry at the drop of a hat and then be furious a second later. I just felt- not right.

I did not like strangers commenting on my pregnant belly- "When are you due?" "Are you having a boy or a girl?" "Wow, you look like your ready to pop!" "Your feet are so swollen!"- Thanks, I know all of this!

I know all these comments were not made with any intent to upset me- but when you already feel off - they are draining.  I just wanted to say- I don't know you random cashier/waitress/person walking in the mall- I'm never going to see you again and frankly none of this is any of your business.  Of course as a "glowing" pregnant woman- that response is not acceptable- so you just smile and answer politely.

My entire pregnancy I tried to be healthy- I was very good about eating plenty of fruits and veggies, no caffeine, eating all my meals. But let's be honest I had a sweet tooth before I was pregnant and being pregnant I did indulge in my fair share of sweet treats! (mostly ice cream- so I feel like we can count that as dairy- right!).

Throughout my pregnancy I believe I gained about 50lbs- I was right on track until the last few weeks-when, holy cow, I just gained a ton of water weight.  In a two week period I gained 14lbs- I left the appointment feeling GINORMOUS- I mean how is that even possible! (My son did come about three weeks early- so I guess my body was just preparing with lots of extra water weight very quickly!)

Right after I delivered I lost a bunch of weight- that was FUN!  (I don't know exact numbers- I'm not a fan of scales- I just want to feel good and back to my normal self).  I was planning on breastfeeding, which helps you loose the baby weight- and I did for about 7 weeks but it honestly was just not working out for me and it was making me miserable (and an unhealthy/unhappy mom can not be a good mom or wife).  Since I have stopped breastfeeding I have also stopped loosing weight.

I am ready and wanting to get back into my wedding day shape. But I also have a whole new set of priorities in my life and my son is number one.  While my wanting to exercise and loose weight is important, I feel it is more important for me to spend quality time with my son at home after work.  I want to snuggle with him, play with him and just be with him.  He is my number one focus and time with him takes precedence over everything else in my life.

We are starting a healthier lifestyle as a family- which means eating at home more, making healthy sweet treats that include a lot of fruit, and choosing healthier snacks. I can already tell a difference in just the way I feel- I'm starting to feel better- which is really my goal. And as soon as this dreadfully long winter breaks we will be out in the stroller walking and running.

I am determined to get back to feeling as healthy and happy with my appearance as I did on my wedding day- and while the road to get there may be a little longer- it will be filled with fun active memories with my son and family.


JS

Renovated and Reloaded- Mommy Style!

It's been several months since I have updated and what a couple of months it has been!!  Never has my life completely and utterly changed so quickly- one night and WOAH it's all new!

My husband and I welcomed our son into our family on November 14th- immediately we were in love. It's the type of love that even though you just met this little baby you know you always have and always will love him! He is precious and perfect and I am sure will never do anything wrong and will probably rule the world one day. (maybe that's just my "mommy bias")

It's been challenging- but the best, most rewarding kind of challenging- and even being sleep deprived, spit-up, peed and pooped on all in one day- it's been the best time of my life!  I have had my fair share of breakdowns and freak-outs, but hey my hormones are working their way back to some level of normalcy.  It's overwhelming; I have to plan my potty breaks and shower according to little man's schedule, to leave the house I feel like I bring 90% of everything we own!

Now at almost three months old (I can't believe it) we are working into some sort of routine.  It is an indescribable feeling to look into our baby's eyes and see my parts of my husband and myself looking back. He really looks more like his dad right now- but I have realized that when he stretches out waking up or going to sleep it's almost the exact stretches I do when I am tired! Weird and Amazing!

When my maternity leave began (sort of unexpectedly- little man made a surprise arrival 3 weeks early) I felt like I had all the time in the world- but it flew by!  I can't believe that I am going back to work full time in just about a week! I am really not looking forward to this but now that we have this little guy we have to be able to afford him- so it is necessary that I go back to work.  We are lucky to have a very supportive family and that has volunteered to watch him a few days a week so we only have to do daycare part-time- I'm sure daycare days will be the harder days- (I wonder if I can just stay on the phone with the daycare all day so I can just hear him!)

I'm going to try and wrap up this blog post- because I honestly feel like I could just keep writing and I'm not sure anyone would want to keep reading!  But I hope to use this blog to share stories with out of town relatives and it honestly helps me reflect and focus; maybe it can also help other moms to hear another person's story about balancing the mayhem of work and family life. I'll post quick dinner recipes (I intend on becoming a crock-pot queen), fun craft ideas/activities, travel tips, and funny stories!


I feel like my life has been leading up to this like I have a real purpose now.  I have someone that I would literally do anything and everything for; someone I will protect above everything else. I don't know how to describe it accept he is mine.

Thanks for reading- I'll try to post again once I'm back at full-time; that's when the real balancing begins!

JS

It's a Marathon....

Fall is officially in full swing and I love this time of year!  We have been in our house now almost three months and paid two mortgage payments! (358 left to go.... I suppose I need to stop the countdown it will only make me depressed...haha)

One of my favorites from our wedding! 

It's crazy to think that this time last year I was just over two weeks away from marrying my best friend. Now a year later we are homeowners (or mortgage payers) and about two months away from having a baby!  What a year!

Little baby feet!

I am not just over 7 months pregnant and officially in full nesting mode! I just want to get everything set-up and decorated and just perfect for our new addition!  But I know I can't do everything at once... baby steps they say.  Unfortunately, I can't always see that and had a minor pregnancy breakdown the other night just thinking of all the things I wanted to do to the nursery and the house in general.  At the time it was an overwhelming list both from the amount of items on it and just financially.

However, after a good night's rest (as good of night sleep you can get seven months pregnant... which means at least two trips to the bathroom)- the list didn't seem so overwhelming and after a trip to Target I scratched off a few items and I'm feeling good!

I know that we still have time and even after the baby comes we will still have things in our house that we want to work on. I also know that having a perfect home to bring the baby home to is an unrealistic expectation. Life isn't perfect, it's messy and crazy and sometimes the craziest and messiest parts are the best parts about life!

I just need to take it one day (baby steps) at a time and enjoy the ride.  I can't get too caught up in trying to get everything done and checked off my list in one day.... sometimes I just need to sit down take a break and enjoy our home and life!  And I know that one way or another it will all work out because there really isn't another option. Ready or not.. there will be a baby on board this December!  :)

J.S.

Settling In

We have been in our house about a month now- and paid our first mortgage (only 359 more to go)!
I just have to say I am so glad we did not go with a house that needed some work. Our house was pretty much move in ready and we have still found plenty to do! It's been so exciting to set-up rooms and decorate, buy a few new things and really start to make the place feel like our own!

However, it's also been a little overwhelming!  We are trying to be very budget conscious because we have a house now and all the bills that come with it!  But we have had to purchase items we just never had to worry about before- all sorts of landscaping tools, shovels, clippers, a weed-wacker, a saw.  These items were especially frustrating for me to buy because frankly, I do not want to use them- but I can't have our house looking like a jungle either so.... we bought them. We also went from a small apartment to a three bedroom house with a large living area- so we have purchased a chair and an additional sofa. While we got a good deal on both items- it was still a large chunk of change!

We were lucky enough to pay for our down payment and still have some money in savings so most of these expenses have come from money we had put aside for moving- but sometimes it's still hard to spend the money we worked so hard to save!

One thing I have especially enjoyed is having a larger kitchen!  I finally have all the items we received as wedding gifts out of my parents basement and they are now happily being used in our new kitchen! I just have to say you can never have too many Pyrex containers!

Having a larger kitchen has allowed me more space to store food. I am trying to be very diligent about planning our dinners out for the week and then following this plan when grocery shopping each week.  This is helping our budget as well. I have become a Pinterest nut for quick and easy dinners to prepare.  I know I'm only a month in but I am hoping I will just make this a routine each week. So we don't run into what we had at the apartment- there is nothing for dinner, let's just go out.

Now that we are settling into our new place, I feel like this is the new beginning of a new chapter in our lives- dare I say I feel like a grown-up! Maybe part of the reason I feel this way is because on top of buying our first home, we are also expecting our first baby- a little boy due in exactly three months (Sorry, I have been keeping that from you for quite a while).  So I guess it really is time to grow-up and dive right into the land of diapers and milk!

I have to say moving and getting set up our new house has really allowed me to see how we can have a family here, and I am just so excited to be in a place now that gives us the space to raise our family.  It's definitely been a year of change and we are going to be ending with the biggest change of all- a new baby- I am excited and intimidated (I hope we can do this- since it's not just about us anymore) but most of all I just feel so blessed and grateful!

J.S.