being a mother

It's always encouraging when someone you don't expect expresses how great they think it is that you've made the choice to be a stay-at-home-mom. Not that I am unsure of my decision. It's just really nice - affirming - to hear it from someone from whom you don't expect it. From the time I was a little girl, I knew that "when I grew up" I wanted to be a mommy. I never had aspirations or dreams of a great career. Instead my dreams were about puttering around my house, making cookies and doing fun things with my kids. And now that my life is just that, I am happy. Fulfilled. I don't want more. Of course I have days when I feel like going insane because the only people I've seen for three days are my husband and infant daughter, but that's easily remedied by a trip to Target or Starbucks. :) This is a good life I lead. As always, God has been good.

Starting New

Every so often I make a resolution to myself to begin blogging regularly... A few posts are made and then I get distracted and forget, or fail to make the time. And yet, I really like blogging. So here I am, once again, making a resolution to start blogging. Again.

Life is a little different now, and yet still very much the same. Difference #1: The baby is here, and how incredibly precious she is. Three months old already! She's got the chubbiest cheeks and thighs with the cutest rolls... *sigh* I fall more in love with her every day. Difference #2: I'm no longer working and am officially a SAHM. Funny thing... I don't really miss it. Methinks I was meant to live life this way. Umm... I guess those are the biggest differences.

Mommyhood is awesome. Yes, there are trying days, but the joys - like seeing my daughter's face light up in a huge slobbery grin - erase all the irritations. Lack of sleep? Yes, but holding her warm little body in the middle of the night fills me with a new burst of energy. Fussy and clingy all day long, leaving me with little time to do anything else but hold her? I forget all that when she falls asleep on my chest while we rock in the rocking chair, sucking her little fist. She's overtaken my life, and I couldn't mind less.

I have a new hobby. It's not all that glamorous, but it's fun. For me, at least. Couponing! It's a game. A challenge. And I get a little crazy over it sometimes. But it's been SO cool to see our food and household item selections grow without spending any more money. Rather than living from one weekly shopping trip to the next, having to almost completely stock up each time, we now have extra ahead of time. Advance warning: from time to time, I am going to post about my savings adventures and deals I find. Hope it doesn't bore you, and if it does, well... you were warned!

Today I'm babysitting a 7 month old. He's been hanging out with me and Baby Girl all day. It's been a little interesting... Baby Girl, who can't yet entertain herself, and K. After I agreed to watch him I wondered if I'd been crazy, but gratefully it's gone rather well. (knock on wood) Their naps have alternated a little, overlapped some, and right now Baby Girl is still asleep while K sits on my kitchen floor, happily banging plastic measuring cups together. All in all, I give today's adventure a two thumbs up!

One more thing, and then I'll go for today. I must get this post-pregnancy body back into shape! The first 6 weeks were ok, and even good - I felt so small after delivery. But now... ugh... My goal: to fit back into my clothes, not only from pre-pregnancy, but from pre-marriage! (Why is it that the first year of marriage so often leads to extra pounds?) That's a good 20 pounds or more and it's going to be brutal... I love eating and hate exercising. Accomplishment: today while the babies were both napping I did 30 minutes of Pilates. Cheer me on!

What's new in YOUR world?