Time Flies

It was so nice to have a few days to just hang out with one of my best friends in the world! I enjoyed our chat time and all the fun things we had planned, and it was sure nice to take a few days off of work. Now I'm back to it and it's always such a let down when it's all over--I always hate that part! I must say that it's always such a joy to see your good friends interact with your baby, particularly the friends that have known you forever and seen you through everything, including wearing the lampshade on your head at parties.

Watching my friend (and I've experienced this several times over) interact and play with my little girl is something truly amazing. To see somebody who knows you so well share in this next and very important chapter of your life is something very special, and I always take a snapshot in my mind to have that as a nice little memory, particularly one that I can share with Faith someday. Some of the people that I've grown up being closest to were great friends of my mom's, and I hope to share that with Faith someday too!

I'm about to begin a couple of larger projects though of course I worry until I see that the money has been funded and everything is officially in gear......who am I kidding, I worry until the check clears and the work is complete! So I'm bracing myself and enjoying the calm before the storm working on a few things here and there. We are so anxious for Jeff to take his exam and PRAY that he will pass so he can just be done. It will be nice to enjoy summer together as a family too, everything is just so much more enjoyable now that Faith is old enough to get it. Just a couple more weeks and then hopefully we can kick back and enjoy summer together!

Finally...Relief!!

I did it! I finished the big project, got some work done on a few other projects, and am feeling more like my old self. I even changed out our closets and am getting close to having the house in order for company this weekend. I finally feel like I can breath a sigh of relief (and perhaps enjoy a nice glass of wine!) without worrying about what's next. I'm working on lining up some new projects but am otherwise feeling good and hoping to enjoy a nice long weekend with the family and one of my very best friends in the world!!

Faith is an adorable little stinker lately! So fun and so energetic (mommy can hardly keep up with her! ) but just learning to test her limits. It's pretty hard to get upset when she smiles and giggles at me when I try to discipline her, but we're getting there one day at a time. I swear I say this to my friends all the time, but these are the parts of parenthood that nobody tells you about. She's saying more and more everyday, I'm loving learning her new vocabulary as she builds it. It's a truly satisfying and wonderful phase, even though the antics can make mommy ready for that nice glass of wine at the end of a long day. (I've earned it after all of this hard work, haven't I?!) We're praying that daddy passes his last test that he's studying so hard for but I think that we've all earned some nice relaxation time this weekend. Particularly when I look at just how busy summer is shaping up to be. So for now, I will sit back, look around at my nice neat house and relish in the fact that I've worked my butt off and now can enjoy more time with my little trouble maker!!

Just Exhausted

Oh wow, my head is just swimming as I sit here in bed writing this. I did it! I got my biggest project done after far too many hours and far too many tears. It was grueling, tedious, and I am so glad it's done. I think that Faith is too, we both just seem so much more relaxed. We took a nice walk to Starbucks (of course) today and just enjoyed some mommy daughter time together to celebrate mommy's big project. It was awesome! The sun was shining and now if I can just get through a few more smaller projects this week, I will be a happy woman.

Faith is saying so many words, it's simply amazing how much she's picking up. She's repeating and making an attempt to say a ton of different things. She was repeating Fred saying "MOVE" to me, and they were both cracking up--like father like daugther! She's been saying "cup", "car" and the list goes on--this is a really exciting time as we see her just thriving. It's a lot of work but a lot of fun and I can tell that she's going to be a funny kid. She may dance like her mommy but humor can always make up for the things that we lack, right?

So glad to have some of the stress behind me, especially as summer is almost upon us. It's looking like another busy summer and we're really excited to share some memories with Faith as she's so alert and aware now. Mommy is of course hoping for some fun times with the adults too, but these days that comes secondary in nature. I now need to collapse and zone out to some reality shows but am hoping that more fantastic projects are just around the corner.

Overcoming and Overwhelming

Yet another mommy meltdown! Not a big surprise as I am under a huge amount of pressure with this project, but I hate when I give into it. I'm trying, one day at a time. Faith is of course adorable and fun as usual, but also learning to test the limits. There's a part of me that wants to bust out laughing when she shakes her head at me and throws her food on the floor, but then I know that the part of me that gets upset because that's not good behavior needs to win out. I'm trying to figure her out as she's trying to figure me out. In some ways, having a toddler is kind of like the newborn phase all over again as we are meeting each other in a whole new light. I'm trying to roll with it, but if you know me, you know that's not one of my specialties. We'll get there!

I'm making headway on this project but I can't wait for it to be done. I've been at this stinking kitchen table for like three days straight and I am fried. My dear mom forced me to get out for a little fresh air today because I was crying over nothing this morning. Okay we've established that I'm emotional at times, but even I know a mommy meltdown when I'm in the midst of it. When Faith gave me a hug and a kiss today saying "hi mama" as she does to everyone and everything these days, I couldn't help but smile. I got a hold of myself, gave myself a little kick in the ass, and got my head on straight. There will be days like this and I know that I'm not the first mom (or the last) to get a little overwhelmed at times. I'm a lucky girl and I know it, just need to kick myself in the ass (and have a wine night with mom) sometimes to make myself shape up!

Not Giving In

I had a fabulous Mother's Day yesterday!! Faith (with daddy's help) sent me some beautiful flowers and got me an adorable cookbook on some of my favorite foods that I've always wanted to learn to make. Then her and daddy took Grandma and I out to breakfast and spent a day of relaxation and family time over at my sister's. It was wonderful!! The weekend overall was just amazing and we had a wonderful time together, I swear some of our favorite nights are just relaxing all together. It was just perfect!

And now....it's back to reality! I haven't had much time to blog, don't really right now but needed some sort of a break. I've been working at this kitchen table for about 8 hours now trying to chip away at this project. I keep thinking of the sense of accomplishment and nice paycheck I will get when it's all said and done, and I try to get motivated. But wow is it hard sometimes! I can feel myself getting frustrated and feeling as though I will never finish, but I will not give into it. I will stay on top of this even though I want to run far away from the laptop crying, and I keep Faith as my tiny little motivator. I've gotten a lot done but I have a ways to go, I just want it to be over and move onto the next project. I'm trying, trying to stay on top of it and not cave to the feelings of frustration. I haven't even had time to return calls or emails to friends let alone look into that fun summer getaway that we've been wanting to plan. I forgot to put on makeup today and am late in making both Faith and McGwire's next appointments, but I WILL NOT give in. I will finish this up and stay on top of it, and I will let her sweet little face be my motivator.

Ugh, now I get a break only to figure out what's for dinner! It's really never ending, is it? But it's all good, this is all good stuff and nothing for me to get upset (or complain) about!!

The Simple Things

It occurred to me as I saw that big beautiful smile on her face while she "raced" down the slide at the park, that parenthood is about the simple things. Never before would I have ever thought I'd get so much joy being at a park or going for a long walk. Watching Faith grow more everyday and getting a larger than life personality, I find that the little things bring me so much joy. We had an AWESOME weekend, just being together as a family. We took some long walks, went to the park and just revelled at watching her be a toddler. Oh and yes, I have finally accepted that she is no longer my baby anymore.....I truly have a toddler on my hands.

I watch her walk everywhere, picking things up, carrying them with her, laughing all the while. When did this happen? When did I go from being a new mom to a bouncing baby girl to having this beautiful little girl on my hands? Wow, it's true that time really does fly and I am loving every minute of it! She was all about daddy this weekend too, which brought my husband great joy. We couldn't help but laugh as she took off over and over again at Church yesterday. Buckle up, we are in for quite a ride--so fun!!

I'm working on that big project right now too. As is typical in Mary fashion, I am sure that I will never finish it. I don't know how in the world I will get all of this writing done within 9 days but I'm sure going to try. I keep my eye on the prize and remember what I'm doing it all for. But man it's hard sometimes, there are days that I would much rather play outside with her or sink into the couch with my favorite reality show to keep me company. I have to remind myself at that precise moment just how lucky I am to be home with her and running my own show, and then I move onto the next part. It will all pay off, the hard work is totally worth it! I swear, I've mastered the fine art of having conversations with myself!!

The Simple Things