Life After...

1.11.2013

1.09.2013

It's pretty funny to look back at the way the design of this blog has evolved over the course of a year...

My current design? It's the longest I have "stuck" with one look.

One thing is certain... I like color! :)

Who knows... maybe I will change things up around here in the near future??

1.08.2013

1 Whole Year.

One year ago, I sat at my computer and typed out my first blog post. It took me some time to get my "flow" with writing, but it came.
It may sound dramatic, but this space helped to save me a little bit when I found myself in a weird spot last winter. Everything I had ever dreamed for myself had suddenly become my everyday reality. I was no longer waiting for "what's next" and was just supposed to start living.
Putting pictures of our life next to words and sentences and stories, it helped me to see the happy in the after. Connecting with other women - women who understood being a mom or a wife or a post grad or a pink lover or a beer drinker... women I could relate to, it made me feel less alone.
My relationship with this blog has changed over the course of a year. It has evolved. I am sure (at least I hope) it will continue to do so.
I am grateful for this space. I am happy it is here. I look forward to another year of sharing what my life is like after a good day, a bad day, or a new kind of day.
Down the road I look forward to documenting life after graduating with my masters, life after two babies, life after buying a house, life after getting my first "big girl" job...
If anything this blog has made me realize that life never stops giving you moments that are worthy.

1.07.2013

Snow.

A few days after Christmas, it was my morning to wake up with Jack. His first little cries came around 8 am and I tucked my robe around my waist as I walked into the makeshift nursery at my parents' house. Jack was bouncing up and down in his crib like it was a trampoline and I greeted him with a good morning hug & kiss.
After breakfast I looked out on to the snow covered golf course that is my parents back yard and decided it was time for Jack to go outside.
I gathered boots and mittens, snow pants, & coats. I got myself dressed first, stuffing my feet into my mom's too big Uggs and pulling a fleece headband over my ears. I was going more for warm and less for "cute mom frolicking in the snow with her one year old".
Jack was wiggly and impatient as I pulled boots on over his footy pajamas and swooned over his cuteness in bib snow pants. His mobility was seriously compromised but I loved how he tried to march around the kitchen, his legs making that "swish" noise as his pants rubbed together.
Once we were outside it didn't take long to strap Jack into his new sled and get him giggling. I ran in wide circles around the yard, spinning him around and around. His eyes were wide and he squealed with joy.

We picked up handfuls of snow and threw them in the air. There was a face plant (or two). Jack's cheeks grew red and his nose was a steady stream of snot. The dog ran along side us, as happy as we were for some fresh air.

It became pretty clear when the swooshy snow pants and cold air had lost their appeal and we made our way back to the house with papa taking pictures and daddy waving to us from the back window.

We were a flurry of snow pants and mittens walking through the door and it wasn't 2 minutes before Jack was distracted by one of his new Christmas toys. The whole event was no more than 15 minutes. But it was special, and wonderful, and so many other things. Photobucket

1.04.2013

Unprepared

Turns out Jack was the only one getting ANY work done over the holidays...

I am completely and utterly UNPREPARED to start school again on Monday.

As in, I don't even know what time/where my classes are at. Have not seen one syllabus. And I am desperately avoiding my school email.

This break absolutely flew by and I am not ready to give up my freedom!

One thing when it comes to school preparedness that I am NOT stressing about?! My books.

Remember this post? Well I really did use Campus Book Rentals last semester and they were everything they promised to be. I found my books on their site no problem, they came promptly, and when the semester ended, all I had to do was pop my books into the return envelope they provided (with prepaid postage and all) and send them on their merry way!

I cannot say enough good things about their service. I would HIGHLY recommend them and will be using them again this semester :)

I'm not sure how many of my readers are students, but those who are? Trust me! This company delivers.

Now who wants to go to class for me on Monday?
Photobucket

1.01.2013

Positivity

The summer before I met John, I decided to take a few months for me. I had ended a long, up & down relationship midway through the school year and while I had all kinds of crazy fun with my girlfriends (who were staying up at school for the summer months) I figured taking May, June, July, & August to center myself would probably be a good decision.

It was. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I gave myself structure, I woke up early each morning and went to the gym. I read books for pleasure, went to church, eliminated negativity...

By the time August rolled around, I had never felt better about myself. I knew what I wanted, and I refused to settle for anything less than the expectations I set for myself. My motto was "Positive in, positive out." and I LIVED by those words! Shortly after, I met John. I was ready for him.

Why am I bringing all of this up on New Year's Day?

Well, after I met John and the whirlwind that is our life began, I lost that centered-ness. I stopped putting in POSITIVE & PRODUCTIVE me time. I stopped caring about my health - physically & mentally.

I like new beginnings, clean slates, and fresh starts. The New Year provides just that. And this year, I am ready to put in some quality time to get myself to center.

I am going to eat less junk and exercise more. I'm going to purge the junk and clutter that is slowly taking over every space of our home. I am going to organize. I am going to make it so I can spend more QUALITY time with my husband and son, and less time sitting on my computer avoiding all the cleaning/working I should be doing.

I am going to crack open that dusty bible on my nightstand. I am going to go to church, and I am going to bring Jack with me.

All of these things? More than these things? They will make me feel better about ME- that will have positive side effects on my ability to be a wife and a mother.

I won't always succeed in doing what I set out to do, but I want to TRY. This year has so much potential for growth and I am excited to see it all unfold.

So I declare POSITIVITY to be the word of 2013. Only good can come it!