Category Archives: babies

Blog At Home Mom

My days have never been quite so full, or so exhausting. I could fill up the whole day with housework, errands and play dates. It is actually easier to let those things dominate the schedule, because their needs are so obvious. But as much as I truly love this mothering life (however challenging it is) I have my own needs, too. A lot of times, most of my needs don’t get met: more sleep, a shower, haircuts, flossing, just to name a few.

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I’ve come to realize that there is a long list of things that will make me feel nourished and fulfilled if I get just a little time to do them each day. Lately, the main list contains (in no order):
- drawing
- painting
- taking and editing photos
- reading
- blogging
- sewing
- talking with friends
- time with Scott

I am so glad that there is such a long list, because that means that I can switch off between them and keep things interesting. Plus, it’s more likely that I can grab time to do one of these things no matter where we are.

Here are some of the tricks I use to grab more time to do the things I love while making sure the kids have everything they need:

- My iPhone is a total game changer. I read book after book (we’ve had to rearrange the budget for this) on my Kindle app. I buy books on Amazon. When the kids are older, I will utilize the library a lot more to compensate, but when it’s so hard to get out with the kids (not to mention go somewhere quiet) this is a much better solution. Plus, I always have my book with me and can get a new one at any time. My WordPress app lets me write blogs and approve comments anywhere. I can save ideas for future posts in drafts when something comes to mind, and that makes it so much easier to keep things going. My Etsy app keeps me updated on orders and conversations and sends me alerts as they come in. (I haven’t been compensated or approached to endorse these apps, I just like them and use them often)

- I try to play with the kids or take them somewhere exciting in the morning, that seems to make it easier for them to play independently later on, and I can use that time to get things done. 2013_05_04-182354b thl

- Instead of the “clean as you go” philosophy, I do big sweeps at once. At the end of the day I will pick up when the kids are sleeping. I will do laundry and change the sheets on the same day. I use play dates to motivate me to do big wipe downs and sweep ups right beforehand. This way, when I am working or trying to fit in some relaxing time for myself, I’m not constantly distracted by trying to do the next little thing. If I’m going to draw or edit photos, or write a blog, I need some time to really dip into it and focus. So the house gets reaaaaaallllly messy, and then… pretty clean.

- I say no. Sometimes, for example if I know I am going to take the kids somewhere in an hour, I say no to playing with them for now. I will set them up with something that will buy me time if necessary. This way, later on, I can totally unplug at the park and give them my full attention. And yes please, cartoons.2013_05_03-151104 thl

- I find that it takes less time than I think to satisfy the kids’ need for attention. Sometimes a two minute conversation, direct eye contact and a big smile can make a huge difference. I try to tell Ben when I can stop what I am doing and turn my focus on him, and when I can’t (like diaper changes). I will sit down and play cars with him and after awhile he will forget about me. Then when I move on to my own activity, he will seek me out and try to get me to come back. I remind him that we just played together and we will play together again at such and such a time. “For now, you need to play by yourself. Do you want to color?” If he pitches a fit, I tend to ignore him and he eventually gets distracted by a toy or something shiny.

Trying to get anything done with the kids around is incredibly hard. I am constantly saying, “Oh, you are fine. Here, play with this.” Or just listening to them fuss for five minutes while I finish something. Or reading my book side by side with the monitor so that I can simultaneously tell Ben to get back in bed over the intercom. It’s juggling and dealing in blurry lines, and taking deep breaths. 2013_05_07-094501 thlRight now, Ben is actually going down for a nap for the first time in three days, but no such luck with Baby Sister. She is tired, laying on the floor sort of half-whining. Probably trying to poop. The bottles aren’t made and the house is a mess and I need to pack for a trip, but I have time. Right now, this is what I need and taking the thirty seconds of half-quiet that it requires to type this last paragraph (ya I don’t write all this in one sitting) is worth it for me.

Sending you support and motivation to conquer your me time this week!

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8 Months

Eight Months. I can’t believe it, and I can believe it. The days are long, but the time is definitely passing and my little baby will not be a baby for very much longer. Can you believe the difference in this month’s photo? Holy moly, she is looking like a little kid already.eight monthsAnd she’s huge compared to Ben’s butterball baby photo from this same month two years ago.08 months old alina and ben Doesn’t she look just like her Daddy here?2013_04_15-142650 thl That hair- growing down to her eyes in a triangle, sticking up in the back- all Daddy. Plus that small smile, the whole thing. Most of the time though, her eyes are big and soulful and dark, dark blue and I don’t know quite where she got that.

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This last month she was practicing standing up while we hold her, she popped her two bottom teeth through on April 7th, and is working on the top right, although it plays hide and seek with us. I started letting her practice standing up to play today, with my legs as support. She started army crawling on Monday! May 6. So exciting. I am glad she will be able to move herself around corners a bit more because maybe she will freak out less when I hop into the next room to grab something.2013_04_15-142718 thl

She still isn’t really into food. She’s hungry and she eats puree stuff and chews on toys but she’s not loving texture and she still doesn’t have any interest even in puffs. I tried to give her some chicken soup that I had finely shredded in the Bullet and she looked at me like I had betrayed her. So we are taking that slowly. She still only eats two solid meals a day and hopefully she will suddenly love the food we offer her in about another month or so.2013_04_10-134425a thl

She is so aware these days. She wants to be in the action. She’s started saying Ma-Ma-Ma and Da-Da-Da but I don’t think there is any connection to us. She knows what we are doing and what our routine is, and understands a lot. She is watching her letters and numbers videos and I am trying to spend more time pointing and naming things for her. Even though she can’t say them back, I know she is learning the words for everything.

The way she sleeps is just wonderful. She flips around her bed, trying to talk to Ben, and then when she is really serious, she sucks on her pacifier and closes her eyes with purpose, and then flings herself onto her side like below.2013_04_17-083219 thl

I also find her sleeping on her stomach a lot. She is more than capable of lifting her whole body up and away from something, rolling over, popping her head up easily with her arms. So I don’t worry about her suffocating but I do try to keep the things in her bed to a minimum until she’s over a year. And her one blanket is a nice, loose knit.

We are not in a great napping zone these last two days. She is napping over two hours in the morning and catching Zs in the car when we are going here and there. Ben hasn’t napped in two days. It’s not pretty. At least they are cute.2013_04_17-083320 thl

She doesn’t seem to have a favorite toy like Ben did, I guess because she has Ben. She just plays with whatever is nearby and rolls around happily. She watches his cartoons and yells and flaps her arms and chews on things. She’s a happy girl. I am so excited to see what she is doing next month!

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