We finally made our big announcement on our Facebook pages yesterday. Our original plan was to announce to people outside of our immediate family and friends (besides you guys, of course) at around 13 weeks but we kept putting it off for some reason. I guess it was because we told the people who were most important to us right away and then by the time 13 weeks rolled around the shout-it-from-the-rooftop excitement had died down a little I suppose. Anyway, we finally enlisted Big Brother Ayden to help us share our exciting news by making this video:
Today was a really great day. We were able to venture out of the house after two stay home days in a row (even if it was only to the grocery and a visit with my parents.) I think Ayden and I were both ready for a change of scenery. He took a great nap, he came with me to teach dance, and was in a great mood up until we said goodnight. We gave him kisses, turned off the light, left the room and didn't hear another peep. Good stuff.
I have a new ritual at night. David is working overtime on our house design so that we can break ground in March as planned so I have been taking care of all of the kitchen cleanup/general evening tidying. These are not my favorite chores and I really loved taking turns doing them. David tells me all the time that he feels bad that he's not helping out with them but it is not like I can trade him. I wouldn't even know where to start! Our agreement is that we are either both working or both relaxing and in this scenario we are both very much working. I am more than happy to take care of things on this end while he works on putting a roof over our head. Just because I understand and agree with our current arrangement, it doesn't make me magically like the chores though... I needed something to distract me and make the time pass faster. I have started watching "Call the Midwife" on Netflix while I do my evening cleanup routine and now I look forward to it!
David recently read a book on habits and he shared with me that it suggested that a person link a reward with an activity if you want it to become a habit. Something that will help you look forward to doing it. If you love smoothies, make one for yourself after every time you work out. If you like bubble baths, treat yourself to one every time you meet your grocery budget. If you hate doing the dishes for the 4th time in a day, start watching an entertaining show while you do them. Before you know it, you'll not only have good new habits but you'll look forward to them! Also make sure that is the only time you give yourself said reward. That way it is linked with the proper habit or chore you are doing. The show is actually an hour long and it only takes about half of the show to do my thing so the cherry on top is making myself a cup of tea and sitting down to relax while I watch the rest. Definitely a reward after a long day!
How do you find motivation to get the job done? Do you have any new habits that you want to form or chores that you want to like more?
~Sarah
Flashback!
Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Trying New Things"
And two years ago today: "Snow Day"
I like this tip regarding creating habits, I too hate the evening clean up routine, dishes the most, so I will be trying this.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if this is a good place to post this question, but I work in child care and was wondering if you could share what your thoughts on parenting were prior to becoming a mother and if/how they changed after Ayden was born. I mean, I know how to take care of babies and children in the general sense, diapers, feeding, sleep routines, structure, routine, playtime, etc. But as I am not a mother, there is a side of parenting I don't fully understanding. I want to be able to relate better/easier to friends with kiddos and to the parents of the kiddos in my class.
If you have spoken of this, could you link the post, please?
Thank you!
Let me know if it works for you too!
DeleteI had a lot of firm opinions about specific things before I became a mother and would get annoyed when people would say, "You'll see, it's different when they are your own and you are in the thick of it 24/7" but they were right. Not about everything but definitely about it being different. I think I have touched on this in a few posts but I could not begin to remember which ones... I think the best advice I could give is that while it is really good to have a plan when going into parenting, it is also important to be flexible. Be willing to give a little and change if what you thought would work isn't. If you are feeling stress it is a good sign that changes need to be made.
As far as relating better/easier with other parents, I just try to remember that EVERY situation and child is different. There is NO way for one mother or person to know what it is like to parent someone else's child. Every parent becomes as much of an expert as one can in raising their own child and the rest of the kids should be left to their parents. It was an interesting journey to get to where I am now with my parenting opinions but it is a much more forgiving and happy place :). Ayden helped me get there and this next baby will help us learn how we were wrong about all the things we think we know now. Haha. Life is a journey and we are always learning and evolving. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other specific questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Congratulations on your baby!! I am a super big fan of your youtube and this blog! You are definitely my motivation to get things done! :) Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Thanks so much. I need motivation too sometimes. Glad I can be a source for you.
DeleteCongrats on the new addition!
ReplyDeleteAwesome tip on habits. I'm going to have to try that out!
Thank you! We are excited. The tip has really helped me in a few areas. Let me know how it works out for you.
DeleteAhhh I'm so excited for you guys! When are you due? We are also pregnant with #2 and due in early September! When you get a chance, could you tell me what if any books you found helpful on breastfeeding?
ReplyDeleteThank you! My due date is August 27th. We are due around the same time! I really loved The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
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