February 2018 in Review

Another month has come to a close! Where does the time go? It’s already March 8 9 and I’m just getting to this post now. Regardless, this month we successfully:

  1. Spent our first night away from home with the baby
  2. Turned 42 (my husband)
  3. Kept a tiny human alive (two months in a row!)

Things we learned in February

  1. It’s ok to try again later (I’m looking at you cloth diapers)
  2. Tiny humans have lots of opinions on how and when things should be done.
  3. You can get by on a lot less sleep than you thought you could.
  4. Growth spurts are for real.
  5. If I’m going to review months, I need to start keeping a journal.
  6. The fog does clear.

Jack went through a for real growth spur this month.  Like one day he was the small, slow but steady growing baby we brought home and BAM, next day he was giant!  (of course, by giant I mean a whopping 10lbs 15oz. – you know some babies are born that big. Naturally!? Yowza.)

As our guy grows up it gets easier and easier to get out with him, which is great. We’re trying to get out and about as much as possible and soak up the last of the winter weather here in Florida. The heat is just around the corner I’m sure. We’re also all looking forward to the fall when we he’ll be old enough that we can rejoin our camping crew. (See how I just skip right over the torture that is Florida summer?)

Hmmm… what else?  Oh, we spent an overnight at my parents house in February and my in-laws arrived for a two week visit. Jack has the absolute best grandparents in the world on both sides, we just need to make sure they don’t spoil him rotten! Left unsupervised, they surely would.

Here’s some updates on the little man. The first photo is from February 4 and the second from February 28. The wubba nub is hiding Jack’s double chin, but I can assure you it’s there. 🙂 If you’re looking for a point of comparison, those are the same size diapers. He’s turning into a chunky monkey for sure. Just look at those thighs!

Anyway, March has lots of adventures for us… five days of housesitting at my parent’s house and then we’re onto our first plane flight (of many, we’re a traveling family!) to New England to spend time with Jack’s cousin Francesca, about 6 weeks older than Jack and my best friend’s baby Maggie who is about 12 weeks older than Jack. (There’s been a lot of babies in my circle lately…)

A Whole New World

Well, it’s been years, literally, since I’ve taken the time to write on here with any sort of consistency. My life has changed so much that I actually considered starting a whole new blog instead of picking up this one. But then I realized that this one is me.

Have I changed? Sure. More than just a little.

But so many things are the same. I am surrounded by amazing people who love me and lift me up. Some of those people are the same, my family, my friends, the rock solid relationships that have stood the test of time. That saw me threw divorces, marathon training, and some very questionable decisions. And some of those people are new. New family, new friends, more rocks.

In the past year, I have become a wife and (officially) a stepmom, and a new mommy to my sweet baby Jack. Oh, and then I turned 40! It’s been a whirlwind for sure. I know this time last year, I was parading around Scotland with my fiancee, yet it feels like an eternity ago. Or at least a few years.

I have always written most consistently when exploring a new challenge, something outside of my comfort zone. Specifically here on this blog it’s been marathon training and embracing minimalism (still a work in progress several years later, but more on that in the future.) So I figure this is a good outlet as I explore the challenges and highlights of mommy-hood. Will this blog be all about parenting? Probably not. Life is never just about one thing. So this blog will just be about life. But I think a lot of life is going to be different now that I am a parent. And I do hope to explore more than just parenting in my future, who knows, maybe another marathon?

Anyway, I’m back, for now.

 

2016!

Again I will share the words I wrote years ago.  They never stop being true.  No resolutions.  Just dreams and goals… Happy 2016.   

Breathe. Consciously. Drink more water. Eat less sugar. Run. Stretch. Remember that Karma is only a bitch if you are. Give more. Want less. Love, love, love. Have fun. Be BRAVE. Cry as necessary, but no more. Remember that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Remember that only you can change your fate. Remember that an eye for eye makes us all blind. Learn. Create. Inspire. Have a little faith that it will all work out. Believe in the here and now. Be present. Dance more. Dream more. Be reckless with your heart, but not other’s. Own your decisions. Own your thoughts and stances. Own your sexuality. Sleep enough. Meditate. Spend more time barefoot in the sand. Relax. Take a picture. or two. Draw. Paint. Play. Embrace life. Enjoy the journey. When you fall down, get up. When the going gets tough, get tougher. and bring back-up. Smile. Remember that bad decisions make good stories. Try something new…anything. Be the change you want to see in the world. Don’t just live, thrive.

Holy Hell it’s New Year’s Eve

So there goes another year, and not a single post.  At least not since by birthday, which is essentially a year… There’s no way to possibly bring the entire year up to speed. So I’ll say this. It’s been a crazy one. If you don’t pay attention the entire year will NO DOUBT pass you by.

It’s even more obvious now as I’m typing this on a mac instead of a pc. As I’ve given my pc to my pseudo step son. I never thought I would “give away” a computer. Ever.

Anyway… 51 weeks since my last post, I would say it’s been a damn good year. After two moves and one VERY LONG commute, I am settling in to life with the swede (and his mini-me.)  Will 2016 be the year that I blog regularly?  I hope so. I feel as though I have quite a lot to say.

But not tonight. Tonight, I am bundled up in Stockholm with the swede and his sister. Enjoying some vin (wine), mat (food) and much, much love.

Wow 2015. Thanks for the ride… all eyes forward.