What I Should Be Blogging About

I could blog about how we just enjoyed our first Christmas as a family of three.
I would write about how much fun we had, how much food was enjoyed, and how Charlotte was the bomb in general.
I could blog about how a certain 1st birthday is approaching very rapidly and how it freaks me out.
I could even blog about how my neighbor wrote a book for NaNoWritMo and it features only the most magnificent people on our street including yours truly. It's important that I mention this, since it supposedly excites the neighbors to be included in my blog posts.

But I don't feel like it. I'm in a bit of a strange funk and it's hard to describe. I feel sort of selfish lately. I feel like I've been missing out on fun times, even though I'm pretty sure I haven't. For some reason, I feel a sense of nostalgia when recalling the past. It's not that I'm not satisfied with where I am (because I most certainly am), it's more that I worry that my best years may already be behind me. Today I was complaining about feeling/looking haggard while I'm pretty confident that my husband continues to get better with age. And basically, I'm feeling sorry for myself. And with a new year approaching, I tend to do my usual reflection on the year that has past...and it's the biggest jumbled blur...and I feel like I'm supposed to say it was the best year of my life and I've never had so much fun and I feel more fulfilled than I ever have <--well, that's sort of true.
But it simply wouldn't all be true. Sleep deprivation defined more than half of the year. The other half was defined by my dissatisfaction with my bulges and bumps and attempts at self improvement. I'm not sure what I should have expected with a year of motherhood under my belt, and in reality, this probably isn't too far off from my expectations. This is beginning to sound quite depressing and that's totally not my point. I'm just sharing. So stop giving me a dirty look.

Next time I promise a brighter and cheerier post. But only if I feel like it.

Something Smells Funny

This morning my nearly 4 year old dog, Darby refused to go in her crate. Normally this is not a problem, but for some particular reason, today she decided be stubborn. I had tried a few times, put my coat on, put Charlotte's coat on, and tried again. I'm practically chasing her around the house to get her to go upstairs.

She's actually been quite good over the last few months. I've been home a lot more, and when I do leave for an hour or two at a time, she's completely fine.

Since I was running late, per usual, I decided she would be just fine hanging out today.

I didn't think about it until I was on my way home this evening and a wave of terror washed over me. I realized it had been a long day. What did she get into? I panicked. I went back and forth with myself, thinking she probably just layed around all day, and then thinking that she ate the house.

This is what I came home to:

• scraps of cardboard from a light bulb box all over the floor
• a light bulb (thankfully!)
• a chewed up pacifier
• a chewed up dog bone
• a not chewed up blanket
• multiple baby socks not chewed
• a chewed up nook cover. <-- this is when I started to go crazy
• a chewed up duvet cover
• a chewed up pillow
• lots and lots of fluff from said pillow
• a spoon
• a nasty, gassy farty dog.

I guess I learned my lesson. Hopefully she digests everything and we don't discover more things out in the back yard. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are known to be destructive dogs and Darby proves that right.
The funny thing is, she's never tried to get into the trash. I'm about ready to introduce her. At least we were already throwing those things away...

I'm stressed out this week (and it's Monday!?) so I'm having a giant glass of a beautiful buttery oaky chardonnay in lieu of dinner.

Where Are My Magical Powers?

So I've been on this clean eating/weight loss kick for 8 weeks now. I've cut out most processed foods, I drink a cup or two of green tea daily, I've lost nearly 10 lbs. But um...I don't feel any different. Where is my glowing beautiful skin? Where is my boundless energy? Why do I still have internal conflict every.single.day about NOT getting fast food?
I know. I need to work out. It's been nearly 2 years since I had my awesome fitness routine and I felt amazing. I did Insanity a couple months ago but only lasted about 3 weeks.

I randomly started getting email newsletters from a local personal trainer and I thought it was spam. I ignored it. They kept coming. I started to read them. I became intrigued. He's offering free sessions and I don't know if I should try it. (The place where he trains also offers classes) It's a big time commitment and with Marcus busy two evenings of the week already, that means I would have to work out on nights that he is home, and then we would never see each other. So that leaves the "work out at home" option. booo. I need motivation. And apparently my squishy gut isn't motivating enough.

You know what isn't motivating? The fitness boards on Pinterest. If I have to see one more hot girl's abs with tips on how to stay trim...I might lose my cool. I saw this tip somewhere : Eat ice chips when you feel hunger coming on." Woah woah woah sister. That is a TERRIBLE idea. The reason she looks so amazing is because she works out for 2 hours a day, 7 days a week. Good for her.<tramp>




"5 Rounds 20x squats, 20x pushups, 20x situps and a big ass boob job"
via:http://pinterest.com/pin/94575660894473758/

 I WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE THIS NO MATTER HOW MANY ROUNDS I DO. Ugh.

EDIT: I'm not saying I want to look like that...I'm just saying that no amount of  "working out" would make anyone look like that. except them, apparently.

I'm bad at Christmas

I love getting people gifts. I love the idea of finding something that I feel like they would really like and surprising them. I like wrapping it up all nice with a matching ribbon and putting it under the Christmas tree.
I do not like waiting until Christmas to give them. Not one bit. Every year I've given Marcus an early gift because I simply cannot wait.
Today, during Charlotte's nap time, I was wrapping up some gifts. But by the time she woke up, I wasn't quite finished. I had one gift left to wrap.
It was hers.
So I let her play with it while it was still in the box.
But she liked it so much, I took it out of the box.
And she played with it for nearly 30 minutes.






She loved it. And yes, she's almost always pantsless by 4pm.




















 I reluctantly repackaged it so I can wrap it up and put it under the tree and save it until Christmas...but I just couldn't resist a little teaser.

I hope she's still surprised... :)

Randomness

Here are my random thoughts for Tuesday, November 29.

Me to the car in front of me : Why are you slowing down? Oh, are you turning into your driveway? Why don't you use your blinker, you idiot? Why do you wait until your garage door is all the way up before pulling into your driveway? Don't you realize I'm behind you and I have to go to the bathroom so I'd like to get home?

Today I feel like an grumpy old lady. I was shopping at a (one of my favorite) kid's clothing store today. The teen sales associate asks if there's anything she can help me with. When I asked her a question, she answered with "Ugh. my brain is fried! FINALS!!!" <silence and a crinkled brow by yours truly>  Maybe it's because I work in customer service or maybe it's because I'm a grumpy old lady, but seriously, chick? Your job is to help, especially since you asked me if you could help. Your job is not to tell me that you cannot actually help me because you have been facebook chatting about why Team Edward would dominate Team Jacob on the streets of Detroit and looking at damnyouautocorrect.com when you should be studying for finals, you dingbat.

There is a sickness going around, and it's miserable. I'm doing better, but my husband isn't feeling so well. But regardless of that, he's meeting some clients for dinner, doing some Christmas shopping, and playing a soccer game, just to wake up for a 7am meeting tomorrow. Dude, take care of yourself!

Have I shared my glitter obsession with you this year? I have ALWAYS loved all things sparkly, but this year it is out in FULL FORCE, yo! And the worst part is, I have no holiday parties to attend! What the what!? How can one wear sequins to an office and not look like they've gone insane? I know Glamour would have all kinds of suggestions on how to wear them during the day, but Glamour doesn't work at a medical supply company.

My dog is currently acting a fool. She got spooked by the couch and is now laying on top of me. The couch did nothing to her, exept allowing her years of comfort.

Charlotte is almost 1. oh. m. g.

EDIT: I forgot to mention the total creeper Santa we met today! He was crabby, his beard was yellow, and he was anything but jolly. His beard was yellow.

Thankful

Today I am more thankful than I've ever been. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.
It's so easy to take what we have for granted, and just rattle off what we're thankful for without really reflecting on it. But today, I truly have thought this out.
My husband and I both have jobs that enable us to stay on top of our bills and then some.
We have a stocked fridge and pantry with nutritious food.
We have a warm home, even if we choose to keep it at arctic temperatures.
We have a beautiful daughter who is healthy, smart, strong, funny and the stinking light of my life.
We have "we". A wonderful marriage (that of course is not wonderful every moment) - my husband is easily the greatest man I know. He is reasonable and level headed which is the perfect balance to my crazy and impulsive nature.
We have wonderful and loving families.
We are so healthy it's sickening.

I'm not sure what we did to deserve this crazy outpouring of blessings but I am so grateful. SO grateful.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, friends.

Baby Talk

Tonight I am saying special prayers for some special people.

One friend in the adoption process. It must be such a long journey with lots of roadblocks. But I will pray for patience for you.
Two friends who have newborn babies. If you're reading this, it's okay to lose your mind by week three, but praying that it won't come to that.
Three friends who are waiting for those two pink lines.
And a few more friends who wait as their due date approaches.

Wishing you all a restful night where you can feel a sense of peace.

xoxo
Emily