MD 2012

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Marriage Stats

Eight years married, tomorrow, April 3rd.

- Four cats

- One dog

- Two daughters

- Two houses

- Four apartments

- Eight cars 

- One separation and two near separations

- Trips to Paris, St Croix, New Orleans and LasVegas

- Countless road trips

- Four "cities" - Chicago, Portland, College Place, Milton-Freewater

- One man

- One woman

- A whole lotta love and patience

The A Team 03.25.12

Aggie:

- dressed up like a princess this week (and slept in the ensembles)

- says "of course"

- loves rice

- when pretending to be a dog or baby, she fully commits to the character and refuses to use words

- knows all her colors

Mimi:

- can pull herself up to standing

- received her first bang trim courtesy of her Papa

- sings the "ashes, ashes" part of Ring Around the Rosy

- thinks people saying "ow!" is hilarious

The A Team 03.16.12

Aggie:

- when at home, prefers to wear just her diaper

- points out what she sees on the drive to daycare

- skipped her nap twice this week

- loves it when the "whole family" is together

Mimi:

- had some weird eye infection which turned out not to be pink eye (whew!)

- says "hi!"

- loves to pull her sister's pacifier out of her mouth

- drinks from a sippy cup

(No pics this week :( )

The A Team 03.11.12

Mimi:

+ now drinks cow's milk and likes it

+ loves getting into whatever her sister is doing

+ gobbles up her Papa's BBQ

+ will sometimes reply when you talk with her

+ pets the cats and dog very gently

Aggie:

+ wants to go potty directly after she has soiled her diaper

+ will occasionally thank me for doing things, like making her chocolate milk or washing her clothes, unprompted, in full sentences

+ tells me to not be cross

+ spontaneously told me she loved me today

Word.

This writer nails it -

http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/04/2011-lesson-2-dont-carpe-diem/

Problems

The other morning, I had the thought, "You know what my problem is? I think I have problems but I don't actually have problems."

And two of my bloggers came out with posts that resonated:

Daily Groove:

...remember there are two components to every problem:

    1. The actual condition
    2. Your *belief* that it IS a problem

Superhero Journal says:


...most importantly:

• There is nothing wrong with me.

• I didn’t do anything wrong.

• I am totally lovable.

Ah, Universe. You work in mysterious ways.

The A Team 03.02.12

Mimi:

+ got in 3 teeth in a week, bringing the grand total to 8
+ gives high fives

+ refuses to sit still for dressing or diaper changes

+ has a bite shaped bruise on her knee, the result of pulling another kid's hair

Aggie:

+ introduced me to her day care teachers

+ has two daily chores - helping to feed the outdoor cat, Clara, and checking the mail

+ sometimes calls things she considers hers "My Aggie" (i.e., "My Aggie boots")
+ sometimes will just lie on her bed, taking a break

Update

So, I got a new job!  I started this week and so far so good. I work up to 30 hours a week and my schedule is four 7 hour days. I get to work by 9 am, so the girls and I can have a leisurely morning together. I get Mondays off, but the girls will be at daycare, so I'll be able to run errands, do chores and have some alone time. It's looking like an ideal work schedule.

Since being back to work this week my mood has improved drastically. I think this position is a better fit for my skills and personality. I certainly hope so. I really don't want to go through the whole job search thing again.

Thanks for all your support. Hugs and happy weekend!

The A Team 02.24.12

Aggie:

+ favorite toy is her "baby" red car

+ was sad when her grandparents left on Monday

+ loves dolphins and flamingos

Mimi:

+ Pulled herself up to standing

+ likes to look at books

+ likes to wrestle

The A Team 02.17.12

Mimi:

+ gives kisses when asked

+ pulls herself up onto her knees

+ devours homemade scones
+ brushes her teeth (kind of)

Aggie:

+ is learning to use the potty

+ loves the movie Cars and the book Where's the Green Sheep? 

+ does not enjoy her sister's loving yet rough touches

+ devours corn tortillas with peanut butter

+ loves jumping on the bed

Spring 12

Spring 12 by corad

Pencil top
$60 - anthropologie.com

J Brand slim fit jeans
$158 - anthropologie.com

Flat heel shoes
$69 - modcloth.com

Chloé flap handbag
$1,795 - mytheresa.com

Kate Spade floral jewelry
$78 - katespade.com

Alexander Wang beige shades
$172 - forwardforward.com




I found this great site, Polyvore, that allows you to create fashion (and other) collages. Love! My inner fashionista is really geeking out now.

Creative Cravings 02.15.12

Loving Def Leppard's Hysteria album of late


These make me want to hop on a plane to London just so I can mail something

A visualization of literature that I can get into (via Neatorama)

This letter cheered my job seeking heart

I really want to try this, if only for novelty's sake (as you wish!)

Comfort without the frump

This show is geeking out my inner fashionista

What I thought church should've been like as a kid (god+nature)

Feeling Blue

Since Sunday night, I've been feeling blue, down in the dumps, for every reason and no reason at all, if that makes any kind of sense. We had a good weekend balanced between being out and about in the sunshine and snuggled up at home. Facing another week of being at home and job hunting just brought me down. I had an interview today - should hear by the end of the week.

So, that's why the radio silence. I just did not want to face up to the mood, even though it was staring me in the face.

Sigh. I have all kinds of ideas on how to free myself from the blues but feel entirely unmotivated to do so. Which drives me crazy when other people do this. At least I'm developing some compassion. ;)

But, please, this is not a pity or worry party - I just wanted to own up to my feelings.

The A Team 02.10.12

Aggie:

+ loves to cook

+ adjusted great to going to day care full-time this week

+ now goes to bed at 8:30 pm

+ likes to help check the mail

Mimi:

+ can crawl!

+ will occasionally hold her own bottle/sippy cup

+ loves to dance

+ thinks her big sister is hilarious

Over the Moon

A family friend forwarded me these pics - the ones below are my favorite. If you know who should receive credit for them, please let me know!

Valentines

Valentines for Geeks

Field Notes as valentine

Love bugs! (via Laughing Squid)

Valentines that become toys

Marshmallows as valentines

Valentine goggles

Toy boat!

Valentine lei

Creative Cravings 02.08.12

All these years I was misled into thinking VD was something you didn't want (via Neatorama)

Apparently, a heart is no longer required

Who knew that violence could be so pretty (via Visual News)

Simply lovely wallpaper (via Feeling Lovesome)

Artful affirmation (via Feeling Lovesome)

Ironically, this is vegetarian (via Neatorama)

When I refer to this cat as two-faced, I am not speaking metaphorically (via Laughing Squid)

Very cool method of before-and-after shots

Cakes gone horribly, laughably wrong (via Neatorama)

Long-term love stories (via Silly Grrl)

Too much kitty cuteness and silliness (via Neatorama)

Taxidermy for vegetarians

Better

Thanks so very much for all your words of support. Nan hit the nail on the head - if they feel loved and love themselves, that's all that matters.

The last week has been a lot better. I'm working with a new counselor. The girls are in day care full-time this week. I spent yesterday thrifting and tomorrow will spend time with a friend.

So, thanks. Your support means the world to me.

Promoting

Jason has two cousins (who are also sisters) with mad skills that I thought I'd share with you.  

Feeling Lovesome is a blog by Erin that is mad with style and seemingly doable craft projects (I say seemingly doable because I feel like I could accomplish them but we all know I ain't gonna actually do them).

Her older sister, Hillary, has opened an Etsy shop, where she is selling these fantastic bib/burp cloths. Have a spitter-upper in your life? Go buy one, now!

Three cheers for the cousins!

Freedom '90

Absolutely stands the test of time, both video and song. Freedom!

The A Team 02.03.2012

Double stroller from Craigslist that only cost $40!!!

Mimi:

+ says "whoa"

+ shakes her head no

+ plays peak-a-boo by putting her head down then lifting it up

+ likes turkey bacon

+ still isn't crawling (something that frustrates her quite a bit)

Aggie

+ loves raw carrots

+ put herself down for a nap yesterday

+ likes to push Mimi in the stroller

+ says she's "cross" when upset

+ now sleeps back in her old room (bed time last night - 9:30 pm!)

Case at hand

I mentioned last week that we got a Macbook Air (loving it!). Of course, I am now shopping for a case. Here are my four favorite off of Etsy:

JiuJiu 

Sleeway

Adimaa

BluCase

Form+Function

aka, functional art

Water Powered Alarm Clock (via Neatorama)

These help your pocket stay neat and, well, neat (via Neatorama)

Recycling made gorgeous (via Laughing Squid)

Captured to preserve (via Neatorama)

No ordinary iPhone case (via A Cup of Jo)

To the point (via Laughing Squid)







And art for art's sake:

Pretty Art

Not paintings (via Visual News)

Creative Cravings 02.01.12

Putting together this list is one of the highlights of my week. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Liz Lemon is my homeboy:

(via A Cup of Jo)

An ET tribute

Please, someone make me this (via exactly)

Et tu, Botanists? (via Neatorama)

I'm a guru!

Ridiculous yet true (via Neatorama)

Trip Plan 3 (via Laughing Squid)

This is more my style than roller derby (for which I'm too much of a wuss)

Surprisingly lovely

You know what a fan I am of nontraditional holidays (via Neatorama)

Brilliant (via Laughing Squid)

A hilarious take on a hilarious song (via Laughing Squid)

Whoa

Interesting experiment (via Neatorama)

So, I guess I just need to reload my brain? (via Neatorama)

Last but not least, my amazing friend, Liv:

A Good Mom

Today, the girls and I are together all day. Today, my mind is in an endless loop of criticism about my mothering. The last couple of weeks, I've been overcome by frustration and run completely out of patience and empathy. Today, so far, I have not. I have felt that burning knot of bile rising in my chest and taken a step back.

Growing up, my mom always told me I could do whatever I put my mind to. Being the perfectionist I am, I thought, well, I should put my mind to being the best, most perfect. I thought I should look like a super model, be valedictorian, etc - if not, then why even bother.

Today's loop has focused on being the best mom. More accurately, on how I'm not being the best mom today and everyday. It's exhausting and demoralizing. I'm trying to stop the thought chain and focus on being a good mom. A good mom loves, plays and cares for; a good mom takes breaks, says she's feeling frustrated and let's the kiddos safely play on their own, including watching TV (I still really struggle with that last one and the guilt that comes with it).

I want the absolute best for my girls, and I often feel like I am not that. But, then, I see them be loving to others, laughing, exploring and feel I, along with many others, must be doing something right.

Sigh. It's so turbulent in my chest, such a big battle waging. A seemingly futile battle that I need to just walk away from and find the joy and peace waiting for me.

This I think is what the universe is sending me. This time is my own personal purgatory. How I handle this time will either send me to a better place or a worse place. The hardest thing to accept is that the choice is mine. Much is outside of my control but not this.

The A Team 01.27.11

Mimi

+ loves making the "wahwahwah" sound (hand hitting open mouth)

+ is *this* close to crawling - I swear, any minute it will happen

+ weighs 19 lbs and is 29 in long

+ likes to play with books

+ wants to feed herself, unless it's yogurt
+ has so much hair, I swear it grows a half inch a day

Aggie

+ has a new bed time of 9:30 pm* 

+ loves dolphins

+ prefers painting with a brush

+ likes fresh spinach leaves

+ says "take care" or "have a good day" when she's saying goodbye

*after fighting it for three weeks, we finally acknowledged that Aggie is not ready to go to bed at 8pm. Sigh. I'll start taking naps and Jason and I will start trying to squeeze in couple time at other times of the day.

Mac Attack!

source

No, not one of those.  One of these:

Oh yeah.

Test driving it now. Vroom vroom.

Art Au Naturale

Similar to last week, I have culled a collection of art links, this week's focus being art made from Nature. Enjoy!

via Laughing Squid

Simultaneously taking art less seriously and sandwiches more so

Hole-y art (via Neatorama)

Crab Galaxies (via Neatorama)

Tattooed science (via Neatorama)


Under the Sea


Older than dirt (via Laughing Squid)


To scale (via Neatorama)


Scapes (via Laughing Squid)