From Morning To Night

My great friend Whitney passed some sort of magic sleep training manual along to us and it appears to have made a HUGE change in our sleep lives over night. We aren't totally in "sleeping through the night consistently" territory quite yet so before jumping the gun I'm going to wait a few more days to hate the details. 

Go, Ayden, go!!

Something I do want to talk about tonight is showering. I used to be shower in the morning kind of girl. I by no means am a morning person so back in my teaching days (when I'd "greet" the day at 5:30am) a shower would help me wake up. Nowadays, since moving from tired teacher to tired mama, I prefer to shower at night. It is when Ayden consistently sleeps in deeper, longer stretches, when David can take care of things if he does wake up and it frees up my mornings for sleeping as long as I can since I really prefer to get myself ready first thing. 

It took me a while to get used to the switch but as I get older I am becoming wiser. I am slowly beginning to realize that we do not (and should not) force ourselves into any pre-determined mold, routine or expectation. We would all experience more success throughout our days if we would take a step back, realize the natural rhythms of ourselves and our loved ones, then shape our lives and homes around them.

During this season in my life showering at night, among other things, fits better into the natural rhythm of Ayden's and my internal clocks. There may come a day where night time showers add strain to my days. That will be my cue to take that step back and find a new way to mold my life around myself. 

Obviously this post is about a little more than showers. This applies to everything in our lives. It's all about trouble shooting and process of elimination until we find a combination that brings peace and makes our lives more simple. 

Can you pin point a source of consistent strain during your days?  Is there anything you can tweak so you could maybe find relief? Remember. Your home and your life work for you. It's not the other way around!!

~Sarah

Flashback! Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Paleo Chocolate Cake Win!"

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Toddler Tuesday: Snow Dough

The weather here has been pretty lousy.  It is cold enough to be winter but not cold enough for snow.  We've been having misty, overcast days that have been keeping us indoors aside from our chicken chores, of course.

On days like these we like to have some extra activities on hand to keep our toddler engaged for all of our sanities.  This one seemed perfect for a non-snowy winter day.

Materials you need:

-Ivory soap (HAS to be Ivory.  No other brand will work
(FYI, Ivory gets a score of 3 on environmental working group)

- 1/2 roll of toilet paper

- water

Step 1: tear toilet paper into small pieces

Step 2: let your toddler help you unwrap the soap

Step 3: microwave the soap for 1 minute
(if there is still some solid soap in the middle, keep microwaving at 15 second intervals until it is all fluffy)

Step 4: shred the fluffy soap
(it will be sort of paper-like consistency)

Step 5: Add water (about 2 cups)

Step 6: wring out any excess water and form a dough ball

Step 7: Set your toddler free!

He liked cutting it with his knife

Step 8: Don't forget to have a little fun yourself
(this was snapped just before he pulverized my snowman)

What's your favorite homemade play dough?

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "My Breastfeeding Essentials"

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Here Comes Santa Claus

Today was a whirlwind of a Monday!  We had a rough night last night, play group from 10-12, stopped by one grocery store, home for lunch, attempted a nap together (unfortunately a no go), office work at the studio at 2:30 (of course, Ayden fell asleep on the way there so he napped in the Ergo while I personalized studio ornaments). Home to let the chickens in and change Ayden into something handsome. Off to meet David at the Santa place for a 5:30 appointment.

They used photo shop to merge Santa and Ayden together.
I was sitting in the chair for Ayden's real picture.  Haha.
(we do not blame Ayden for not wanting to sit in a stranger's lap)

Dinner and some more grocery shopping at Whole Foods then to the YMCA on our way home for a family swim in the warm water pool. Ayden did GREAT in the water. I think the warmth freed him to really let loose and enjoy himself since all the pools we swam in over the summer were on the cool side.

We got him at 8:30 and got Little Man to bed. It was a full but fun day. The only thing on our agenda tomorrow is getting the house back in order after a whirlwind of a weekend/Monday and Yoga. 

I updated my FB status asking who all were members at my gym and if anyone was interested in a new workout buddy. I had 3 ladies respond so we've started a workout buddy group. When we decide when we're going to the gym and what we're doing we get on and let everyone know. If anyone is interested in joining it's a date!  One of the girls is meeting me for the Yoga so that should be fun. We used to dance together and go way back. It will be fun to catch up. 

I plan on going to bed when David does tonight. I need to catch up on lost sleep from last night and prepare for a possible repeat of early morning wakings. This always makes David's night when I let him know I plan to go to bed at the same time as him. He respects my need for quiet alone time but also loves to cuddle me while we fall asleep.  What girl could complain about that sweetness?!?

Did you have a crazy, busy Monday today?

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Our Newborn Must Haves"

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2013 Toddler Gift Guide

Christmas is fast approaching and it's time that we finish up our Christmas shopping!

I tried something new this year and did most of my shopping online.  I may never go back!  I have an Amazon wish list just for Ayden that I add to all year round as I come across things he may like.  When Christmas or his birthday draw near, I share it with anyone who have asked for ideas for him.  Some of our family even reference it throughout the year for special, no reason gifts.  Here 10 of the items from Ayden's wish list this year that I think most toddlers would enjoy.  Ayden will be finding a few of these items under the tree this year and a few more for his birthday!

Personalized roller backpack.
{buy it here}

Tree blocks.
{buy it here}

Good old fashioned wooden blocks.
{buy it here}

Block accessories.
{buy it here}

Easel and supplies.
{buy it here}

Play-doh accessories
{buy it here}

Roll and learn blocks.
{buy it here}

Magnetic robots.
{buy it here}

Harmonica
{buy it here}

Barn with farm animals
{buy it here}

Of course books, books and more books are always great gift ideas too!  

Hopefully this can help anyone who may be stuck on those last couple of items your toddler may enjoy finding under the tree!  

What have you gotten your toddler?

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Lifesaver"

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Random Acts of Kindness

We had a date night tonight!!

After my nephew's birthday party this afternoon, we came home for a little nap (Ayden and I did at least). Then my mom came over to hang with Ayden while David and I went out to eat and to a local ballet company's production of The Nutcracker. David got the ballet tickets from work and also won a $100 American Express gift card in their annual Christmas party prize drawing.  We took both and made it into a full, free (for us) date night. 

Our dinner ended up costing a little over $60 and instead of keeping the rest for later, we decided to leave the remainder of the balance as a tip for our waiter. We know it's not much in the grand scheme of things by he was a really great waiter and we are hoping that a 57% tip just might make his night. We've always heard of people doing random acts of kindness like paying for the order behind you in a drive through and the like but have never done it. Now we have and we can see why people do!

Have you ever done a random act of kindness?  Please share ideas!

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Back On Track"

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Hurts So Good

We had a successful trip to the gym today!  Ayden didn't even look back as he went in to play with all the other kids. Someone once told us that attachment parenting would rob him of his independence and autonomy. I am positive that it did the opposite.  He is a very confident and independent child in social situations. It makes a mama proud. 

I took a class called Power Hour. It felt really good and I was already sore by dinner time. Hurts so good, right? Haha. 

When I went to pick Ayden up he was crying. They told me he started about 5 minutes earlier when a few of the other kids got picked up. I guess he finally started to wonder where I was. He held me so tight when I pulled him into my arms. I don't get to experience these types of reunions much and have to admit, I liked it. We stayed and played for a bit longer so we could leave on a good note then headed home. He fell asleep for an early nap on the way. 

I guess all the playing wore him out!  He said he waned to go back so we will see if he separates as well next time or not. I was thinking for now, until he gets used to it, I may leave my classes a little early and pick him up before other kids. 

There are pros and cons to working out at home and to being a member of a gym and for now I think we've made the right move!  

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "In and Out"

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Seasons of Change

Little Man is on a constant quest to touch the our ever evasive chickens. Every now and then one will crouch down and tolerate a few strokes before scurrying away.  That's enough for him, it makes his day!

It is interesting to me how things ebb and flow and even come full circle during different seasons of someone's life.  We dropped our gym membership years ago along with cable TV, Netflix, landline phone, excessive amounts of dates to the movies, and going out to eat, etc.  We did this so we could free up money to put towards me being a stay at home mom and becoming debt free.  Now that we have achieved those goals, we are ready to add a couple of things back in.

Group fitness is my favorite form of exercise so back in the day, I put in my fair share of time at the gym.   Once Ayden arrived, my perspective was changed and I just didn't have an interest in (or the energy for) exercising much.  I've done things here and there and we even did 5 weeks of T25 back in September before falling back into our old rut.  Working out at home for an extended amount of time just wasn't making me feel fulfilled.  My choices were to workout while Ayden was awake which meant interruptions and distractions; or to do it while he was sleeping which meant that I was using valuable baby-free time that I'd much rather use for things for myself or the house that I couldn't do when he was awake.  Needless to say, any effort to work out since his arrival has been short lived since over time it seemed to add stress rather than provide stress relief.  It was something I felt like I *should* do or *had* to do rather than something I wanted and enjoyed to do.

All of that being said, I've been having a pretty big itch to work out for a while.  Since we got T25 back in September I guess, but I just couldn't get excited about anything I tried.  After talking it over for a couple of weeks, David and I have decided to join a gym again!  Ayden and I stopped by our local YMCA  today and came away with membership cards. 

 I didn't realize just how much I missed it until it sunk in that I get to go take some group fitness classes. Tomorrow if I want!  I get to make some more friends, find inspiration and be a part of a community.  Another bonus is that they offer a really good childcare program that is included in the membership.  That means Ayden gets to make new friends too and mama will still get to take nap time for whatever her heart desires.  Win, win all around if you ask me!  

Ayden was most excited about the pools.  There is a lap pool, an outdoor pool (which is closed at the moment of course) and a warm water pool.  He kept telling the guy who was working with us, "I wan see pool!" We are excited to take our first family swim in the warm water pool.  Sounds like the perfect evening activity during these cold winter days if you ask me!

I am so excited about this new season of my life.  I am ready to feel strong again and ready to  take this time for myself.  Who knows how long it will last but does that matter?  What is important is that we do what we are inspired, interested or motivated to do in the moment and  then when we are ready, we have the freedom to move on and experience a new season.  

Have you had a recent change of season?  Do share!

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Night Owls"

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