Sunday, December 30, 2012

7 Quick Taaaakes

Hosted by Jen (of Minor Revisions fame) for more! 


-1- 
Have you seen THIS: 


It's called Flyebaby and I just might buy it for our upcoming trip to Italy! And horse tranquilizers for me. It's been FOUR YEARS since I left the North American continent. 

 -2- 
I found the blog of cjane and was exposed to M o r m o n  d r a m a. It's nice to know other religions have their own interior debates among the faithful. 

-3- 
I got a job - did I tell you? Say hello to the new assistant to the pastor. HOLLA. I pray God will use me to help others through this position. 

-4-
I talked a lot about the lovely Maddie in my previous post, but I didn't show 
you her 
pretty 
pretty 
face
And her sweet boy, Thomas. 

-5- 
I am now back from the Rogers Family Christmas. BAH HUMBUG. I even forgot to make cookies - what kind of a domestic goddess am I?? 

-6-
This Thurday is Zuzu's Baptism. Mom and I got her the most amazing gown and cap, with French hemstitching and gorgeous pleats. The theme of the party is snowflakes, blue and white, to go with her pretty blue eyes

-7-
My favorite Zuzu face and sound is after she sneezes. She makes a little woozy sound, as if she is dizzy after so much effort. 
I love her! 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Bathtime Faces



Zuzu loves the bath.

Her cousin Maddie loves babies. This made for mucho bath time fun. (images courtesy of Maddie)







Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Rogers Family Christmas


This is Christmas with the Rogers (I was a Rogers, before I became Mrs. Oram). 

We are having Christmas at Kim's house. Kim is my oldest sister, and she loves Christmas.


Kim has two lovely children: Jake and Maddie (and of course a smoking husband, Eric, co-creator of said lovely children). I became an aunt to them when I was just nine.




We have gathered to EAT, drink, and make merry (not in that order), around Kim's huge Christmas tree.



Usually we watch Christmas movies, play Skip-Bo, and giving each other a hard time. But this year we have a new past time: giving new nicknames to the Zuzu. So far we've come up with...

Muffin
Muffin-Puffin 
Zuzu-Babykins
Babykins
Little Mama 



Little Pretty 
Little Sweetheart
Pooty Poot-well 
Little Peanut 
Punkin-Doodle-Dot 

Can you blame us?


Monday, December 24, 2012

How is Your Christmas?


Are you running around doing last minute things, or are you with it enough to have some peace and quiet?

My house is messy, my family is gathering up in far away places (Orlando and Valparaiso), my darling Mr. O is at work, the high today is 81, and for Christmas dinner we're having a decidedly non-Christmassy pork and pasta.

But it's still such a Happy Christmas!


Do you remember last year's Christmas? I do. It was sad and dark and dim. I still think of, and ask the intercession of, my darling Frances-baby, every night. 

And this year...this year God shows himself to be the God of second chances, the God of fulfilled promises, the God of renewal. This Christmas, just like last year but different, 

I am a mother!


And that is a great reason to say with my whole heart -

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY BEAUTIES! 



Sunday, December 16, 2012

7 Quick Takes!




And they'll have to be quick because the babe is sleeping...my child enjoys a good lie-in, as the Brits would say. 

-1-
We had the inordinate pleasure of having our friend David here two weekends in a row. Is there anything more delightful than a single man who likes babies? I think not! Watching him hold and chat with Zuzu was absolutely adorable. She seemed quite taken with him. A note to the single ladies out there - he is also single and looking to find a nice girl. Any takers?? (he's not Catholic, but I think he could be!!) 

-2- 
We've had a rough couple of days here. Zuzu had her two-month shots on Friday and it was awful. She felt poorly of course when it happened but then last night must've been experiencing some soreness and cried for a couple of hours. It nearly broke our hearts! It's enough to make me anti-vaccine, except we're headed to Italy soon and I don't think she could even get in without them. 

No more pictures, Auntie Jen! 

-3- 
I'm re-reading one of my favorite books, The Closing of the American Mind by Alan Bloom (whose translation of The Odyssey is quite good, if you're interested). Two lines really stood out to me in particular: "Every educational system has a moral goal that it tries to attain and that informs its curriculum. It wants to produce a certain kind of human being." Isn't that so true? It made me reflect upon what my moral goal is for the education of me child(ren) - the kind of human being I want to produce is, of course, a saint! This should inform all of my education of Susannah. What a beautiful, and helpful, thought. 

Miranda by John Williams Waterhouse

-4-
Finally got the tree decorated (pics forthcoming) after having it in the house for a week plus. It makes me wonder if inefficiency before children was just due to laziness?? Because I get more done while she naps than I used to get done in an entire day. 

-5- 
Jiff makes a Nutella knock-off at half the price of the real thing (Hazelnut spread - please, we see what you're doing there) and I think it's delicious. Jen thinks it's too intensely Hazelnutty. I encourage to do your own taste test!! 

-6-
Fresh peonies in my daughter's room. Isn't it such a privilege to have a little girl? 



-7-
Mr. O stayed up late last night and took turns with me in walking Zuzu while she sobbed her little heart out. While the one person held her, the other did laundry or dishes or called grandparents/friends (sorry Jen) begging for advice. He's amazing and I am so grateful for a husband who is such a wonderful father. My daughter is so blessed! 

Monday, December 10, 2012

An Unexpected Place

I love motherhood. I just want to put that out there.

And I think, if this were possible, for me to be 'just' a mother, I would be happy doing this forever.

But I'm not. I'm still a wife. I think I'm something like an attorney, but I don't know what my status is without having passed the Bar. I hope I'm still an intellectual, a daughter of the Church, someone who fell in love with Truth because of  Beauty.

How can I be all these things at once? 

To be honest, I'm having a bit of a hard time meshing everything together. I adored being just a housewife, as much as I longed for motherhood. I loved putting all my energy into serving God through loving my husband and being active in my community. Laying in bed discussing articles we'd read, leaving love notes in secret places, making sure to have a nightly "check-in" to see if we had loved each other well throughout the day.

What now? 

I have two goals: to be an excellent wife and an excellent mother. Oh but wait, I want to pass the Bar. And I feel there are real needs in my community that I think I should do something about. And I want to run again, really run, long distances. And I'm hoping I can get back into the swing of gardening. And maybe finish my theology masters and -

What am I preparing for? 

This was a question asked at the homily this past Sunday. That we are always preparing for something and that honestly looking at what we are preparing for shows us what we really value, what we truly love.

Having children has always been so important to me, I can't remember a time when I wasn't preparing for it. Storing up wisdom, researching hot topics, observing friends and the families I'd nannied for, keeping up with child development research, reading books on child education and homeschooling. And now it's here and all I want to do is focus on her. I dislike altering her schedule to fit mine and I dislike it when people imply I should. I have a hard time accepting anyone else's demands made of me - I get frustrated when people ask me to do things, thinking "don't you know I have a baby?"  I guard her ferociously. I want her to have the best of the world - I want to give her everything that is Beautiful and Good. I'll sacrifice so much to ensure that happens, but I can't sacrifice everything.

But I didn't prepare for her plus the rest of life, that hasn't actually disappeared. Maybe there was no way to, but I haven't. I don't know how to still offer myself to my husband as his beautiful wife, but then in a few hours, offer that same body to my baby as her source of comfort and food. I don't know how to spend all day thinking about her and then to turn it off as evening comes and think of him. My perspective on my body has changed - I see it as mostly inherently functional, and see its beauty in its function, not its form.

I'm in an unexpected place. I didn't prepare to be here, and I'm not sure how I ended up here. I am always so confident and so much of my life is exactly what I expected, but...the pieces aren't going together a seamlessly as I thought they would. And I'm not sure what I'm preparing for next.


Sunday, December 9, 2012

What I Wore Sunday: HEAT WAVE Edition



I'm so glad that it's nice and cold where everyone else is...but we are experiencing a heat wave. Not really, but it's definitely hotter than it can be down here in the swamps. I am super bummed - where's my great Fall weather? I left it back in Alabama, apparently. And with no holiday trip to the in-laws, there will be no reprieve from the weather - and no cousin time either! :(

Alright, onto happier things...I got dressed for Mass today with HEELS, which I love. And Zuzu was well-behaved, although she contemplated being fussy since we got there early and so was letting out staccato yells while I walked her around the back of church.


Zuzu and I, with her being very unimpressed and my skirt being decidedly non-modest. 


Full body shot, showing the classy extension cord running across my porch that I insist on because it makes our lighted garland light up the neighborhood

Deets: 
Top: LOFT via LOFT outlet (some years ago, present from my MIL) 
Skirt: NY&Co on super sale 
Shoes: Gift from Grace in the choir 
Belt: Taken from my mom...maybe without permission...years ago! 

My Marian medal from Sacre Coer in Paris combined with the cross my godparents gave me at my baptism 

Lovely woven belt...plus more detail on the awesome and liturgically-correct top I'm sporting 

Awesome leopard print sling-backs (and aforementioned classy extension cord)

And because my daughter is 10-pounds of cuteness in a 5-pound bag, here are her deets: 

Dress: Gift from an adoring fan, no doubt (maybe Miss Cammie? Mom didn't write it down, so I can't remember) 
Shoes: None, because a) my feet have never touched the ground and, b) girl, it's hot and I am not going to Mass with sweaty feet
Headband: None, because 1) my mom doesn't love me enough to buy me tons of headbands and, 2) I don't have any hair yet so I can't sport all the adorable hair bows that I have (and trust me, I have tons of them) 
Smile: Zuzu original, but I guess it's a combo of Mommy and Daddy 



7 Quick Takes: Sorry It's Been So Long Edition


hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary!

-1- 
My sweet baby is two months old! I know you are keeping track and that my telling you this is redundant, but hey, thought I'd help you out anyway and provide you with her big girl picture: 

Sitting up on a pillow?? Be still my heart! 

-2- 
As of today, I have bought a present or have a present idea that is about to come to reality very shortly, for almost EVERYONE in my and Tom's family. This is huge. I want to fall down, sobbing with relief. Side note: why didn't I think of gift baskets like ten million years ago? Really takes a lot of pressure off me and they really do have some great ones out there. 

-3- 
THRIFTING. Oookay people, do you thrift? If you don't, a bigger question is - why the heck not? So many of the gals who do the link up at Fine Linen and Purple What I Wore Sunday (coming shortly from yours truly) talk about their outfits and how thrifted they are. I used to do this in high school all the time (Savers in Orlando is amazing), but got out of the habit. Jen and I decided to give it a try since everyone there is all about it and we did GOOD. Check it: Four skirts, one dress, one nice cardigan, one pair of nice heels, and a book - for FIFTY BUCKS. That, ladies and gentlemen, is magical. Especially since several of the items were name brand (including a camel wool skirt from J. Crew). I would talk about what I get for Zuzu, but girlfriend's got a wardrobe until she's two. (not kidding...our parish is very generous) 

Enjoying the awesome massage chairs at BB&B (we sat here for 30+ minutes) - that green cardi is a thrift find from the Goodwill on Pine Ridge! 


-4- 
Started watching Mad Men on Netflix and it begs the question: would I be a better parent if I day-drank? (I'm just kidding, Mom, I swear)... But would I? 

-5-
This Advent feels sort of haphazard and pulled together, even though I'm still doing our Advent suppers on Saturday nights (first Saturday was pork tenderloin, last night's was lamb neck over polenta). But the one thing I can say is that I really identify more with that line "And Mary kept all these things in her heart." There are so many things in Zuzu's life that I just keep storing up in my heart - so many sweet moments, funny instances, little faces. I am the keeper of so many memories, and it's such an honor. 

Sleeping Zuzu, photo a la Auntie Jen

-6-
I have given up saying she has a schedule. The other night she was up till 1am (just chilling happily), but then last night she slept from 10 till 10 (with several wake ups for food and change). The good news is, I don't have a schedule either. How do moms who work outside the home do it? 

-7-
Try to ignore that all I have written about is Zuzu, shopping, and alcohol. My life really is starting to look like something out of the 1950s (with less cheating and girdles, thank God). 
Bye bye for now! 



Monday, November 26, 2012

The Wonder

By the time I reached the end of yesterday, I was feeling pretty rough. Without my sling, Mass was a bit more challenging (it's harder to soothe a baby in a bjorn as opposed to in a sling), and Zuzu was feeling a little starved for attention and didn't want to lay down for a nap...and the bjorn is not good for household chores, because it doesn't allow for the range of motion that the sling does. So...I hung out with my baby. 

All day. 

While my house looked like vandals attacked it. 

If there's one thing I try to do as a wife, it's to make sure that when Mr. O has a long day at work, he comes home to a moderately clean home. Straightened couch cushions, clean kitchen counters, shoes arranged neatly by the door. Nothing fancy, just looks neat - and maybe a few candles lit to make it smell nice. But yesterday, after a very long day of playing four Masses and having a rehearsal, he came home to the house looking like...well, looking like a house looks when you just get back vacation, don't really unpack but rather explode your luggage all over, and then spend most of the day caring for an infant. That is to say, a very messy house. 

I know it was hard on him - it was hard on me too. I like to feel like I'm 'pulling my own weight' and I feel that part of my job is to keep the house in reasonable order. Baby, food, home, social engagements, most correspondence - those are my jobs. I like my jobs. And last night when I finally crawled into bed at 1am, I felt sad that I hadn't done more. My husband had gone to bed long before I did, because he was so tired, and I felt sad...I morosely thought - gone are the days of a clean house and plenty of snuggle time with my husband! Did we even really talk to each other today?? What is happening to my marriage? 

But I saw this great quote today that put yesterday in perspective and helped me enjoy today more. 

Do not spoil the wonder with haste!

Said by Legolas in TLOTR, penned by the great JRR Tolkien, truer words could not have been handed to me today. The wonder...yes, the wonder of baby-land, the newborn stage, her babyhood. I cannot spoil it with my haste - haste to do chores which will get done, haste to give my husband this perfectly-kept home and all of my attention, haste to have my 'normal' schedule back. This is my new normal, this is the wonder I'm called to witness: 


So today I took it easy and just enjoyed her. I ran some errands, but was calm when I cut them short. I got some things done, was proud of that, and just moved the rest to tomorrow's list. I rethought my definition of 'productive.' I prayed and comforted myself that so long as I keep offering myself in loving service to my husband, God will prosper my marriage. 

And lo and behold, when my husband came home today (much earlier than I thought he would, which is why I looked a mess and the floors were still wet from mopping!), he was overflowing with praise. Praise for the effort I was putting into cleaning the house (Zuzu had a good long nap today!) and for our sweet baby. As he watched her sleeping, he whispered in reverent awe "you made her - you grew her in your body. You're incredible." 


He sees it. That this time is for wonder - and we cannot ruin it with haste. There is so much time for her to be big, and such a short time for her to be small. So much time to run errands and have a clean house, and only a little while for her to need me so desperately. I will not spoil this time! I will not hasten away her sweet babyhood. I will stay here in the wonder with my sweet little one. 


Sunday, November 25, 2012

What I Wore Sunday: Sans Jen Edition

Joining the fine ladies at Fine Linen and Purple for this totally fascinating post on what I wore today (don't you wish I did this every day??)

Today is our first week with baby, without help! That may explain my crazy eyes and the picture taken in a mirror with a cell phone...but really I shouldn't complain. Who has help w/ their baby for the first six weeks? Rich people? Anyway, I'm grateful for my family and for Jenny Jen Jen (as Tom calls her) for all the help with Zuzu.

I tried to crop out the explosion of our Thanksgiving luggage...traveling with a baby means MORE STUFF 

Deets on the outfit: 

Shirt: Gap bought on pre-Black Friday sale 
Skirt: Marshalls last year 
Hair: Day 3 of a half-hearted blow out done while Zuzu was sleeping in the sling and therefore very unappreciative of hot hair falling in her face
Shoes: Sperrys, not pictured because I could only let Zuzu freak out in her bassinet for so long (6 week growth spurt anyone??) 
Baby wearing device (not pictured): Baby Bjorn, because I LEFT THE SLING IN ORLANDO LIKE AN IDIOT 

So I will get nothing done this week because Jen isn't here, Zuzu is going through a growth spurt thus wanting to nurse for hours at a time, and I left the sling in Orlando. Please do lots of stuff on Pinterest because I will need something to distract me while I am nursing for the 15th time that day.


Zuzu:


Deets: 
Shirt: Unkown gift from unknown person 

We had no pants at this point because of a poop issue. But she's still so darn cute. 

Excuse me, I have to go feed my starving (read: fed 30 minutes ago) baby. 


Friday, November 23, 2012

7 Quick Taaaakes

Joining Jen again for taking 7 takes with great speed. 

-1- 
New blog format! I had been playing with it a while ago; it got all messed up so I made it as plain as possible, but really it needed some pizzaz. I'm still figuring it out myself, though - the format does seem to obscure finding posts by date. But it looks cool! Jen, if you think it's too confusing, I can change it back. :) 

-2- 
Zuzu is SIX WEEKS today! She's getting so big, I can barely keep up. I have gotten several questions about when Tom and I plan to have another one - which I've been surprised by, but haven't minded. We are loving this so much...I'm not sure if we've really made a decision about when, but I'm not sure we'd mind whenever it happens. 

A picture of Zuzu taken by my brother on my sister's camera - isn't she precious??


-3- 
Were you wondering? I failed the Bar. My apologies if this is the medium that the news it reaching you and you'd rather have heard it in person, but it's not really something I want to discuss anyway, if it's all the same to you. I missed the mark by just 7 points, 4 from one part and 3 from another, which means I have to retake both - YAY. I'll retake in February, which will be a blast and half. 

-4-
Also in February? Our trip to Italy with the choir. We'll be gone from January 29-February 7th. I...probably won't study for the Bar much that week. Sooo...hopefully I still pass. Not sure if I'd be up for take three. 

-5- 
I tried to do some light afternoon shopping today. Go ahead - laugh. I remember Black Friday shopping from years past and my memories were mostly happy. We approached it mostly as people watching, and relaxed shopping. I did not remember 2 hours of traffic or parking lots that were totally full. This year, I learned my lesson - Black Friday is not for the casual shopper.

-6-
One of the best parts about being home this week is watching my older nieces and nephews meet Zuzu. I was younger than they are now when they were born, so it's so funny and sweet to see them fall in love with her! My niece Maddie and my nephew Jake, whose childhoods I got to witness, now get to be here for Zuzu and watch her grow up. How wonderful. 

Cousin love

-7- 
I got a mani and pedi with my mom this past Tuesday and had a revelation in beauty. I have always done dramatic colors on my nails, but kept my nails in firmly in the pale pink category. But, wanting a bit of holiday fun, I decided to do OPI Kennebunk-port on both my fingers AND toes. I love it!! If you're looking for a great blue-based red, try this one - it brings me some holiday happy every time I look at my hands and feet! 

Happy holidays!



Thursday, November 22, 2012

Enough

This past Sunday at Mass, I had a great experience in my prayers after communion that's carried me through this whole week - and set the tone for it.

We sang "Taste and See" - a classic, we sing it all the time. But suddenly the words of the first verse struck me:

I will bless the Lord at all times/
Praise shall always be on my lips/
my soul shall glory in the Lord/
for God has been so good to me! 

God has been so good to me. My life and its goodness bears witness to the goodness of God, and his ability to work with flawed, broken instruments. As I sang the second, and then especially the last verse, I was moved to near tears: 

Worship the Lord, all you people
 You'll want for nothing if you ask. 
Taste and see that the Lord is good; 
in God we need put all our trust.

There is no reason for my life to be so good - no reason except I finally decided to ask God for help. Looking at my life, I do not deserve to end up where I am. When I was younger, despite what I said I wanted, I was on the road of destruction. I had spit in God's face by living contrary to what I knew was good for me, I turned everywhere else for comfort, I actively mocked his followers and tried to draw them away from the Faith. What reason could God have to want me anymore? 

And in thinking about all this last Sunday, I realized - it would have been enough for God to bring me into His love in the Catholic Church. That would have been plenty - I would have been blessed to overflowing just from receiving the sacraments and living under the loving protection of my mother, the Church. It would have been enough. 

But then God brought me to Catholic University, and to Mr. Oram. Not only did I meet my best friend, but God revealed His will for us to marry and seek Heaven together. That - that definitely would have been enough! My husband and my marriage are so incredible, such great gifts that I know would bring me to my God in Heaven above, if I let them. To have a man that I love who loves me, and to build a home and a life with him - it would have been enough. 

But God cannot be outdone in goodness. So he blessed us with children; first with Frances, who was taken home early, and now with Susannah. I have a daughter! A lovely blonde little thing, who smiles and coos and cuddles, all in my arms. A child, a child of my own, that I was able to birth safely and sweetly, the way I wanted. God could not hold back! His love is boundless and He pours it out on those who are least deserving - like me. 

This Thanksgiving, my life is more than enough and I am so grateful for all of it,  because I deserve none of it. 

Happy Thanksgiving. Glory to God. 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

What I Wore Sunday: Vol. 1

Joining the ladies at Fine Linen and Purple for the What I Wore Sunday link-up!


Today was Zuzu's debut at the 5pm Mass, which is the Mass that the youth group attends. I had been holding off, knowing there would be a lack of newborn baby etiquette, but couldn't wait any longer - I've really missed those kids!! They were all so excited to meet her and did a great job of satisfying my mommy pride by exclaiming endlessly over her beauty. We didn't stay long, but it was so good to see everyone and catch up a little bit. Hopefully soon I'll be back and leading some small groups again!

Before we headed to Mass, I got a TON done since Zuzu took a long nap. I even got in a nap myself earlier in the day, thanks to the wonderful Jen! However, my shower/prep time came last in my list of to-dos, so by the time I got to it, Zuzu was awake and wanting a good long feed. Hence, I wore jeans:




For anyone who knows me, I am not a jeans to Mass girl. I allow myself to wear them to 5pm contemporary Mass only when desperate. I think it has something to do with being a convert - I had years of casual services and I'm sort of over it. But considering I was just trying to throw on clothes today before Zuzu ate her hand or Mr. O's shoulder, and I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans!, I'm not complaining too loudly. 

Deets: 
Sunglasses - The Best of Everything (like a super cheap Charmin' Charlies, but it's only in Naples... and Kennebunkport)
White t-shirt with white beading - Nordstrom Rack
Jeans - Lucky Brand via Nordstrom Rack
Shoes (not pictured) - borrowed/stolen from my middle sister for my honeymoon...16 months ago! 
Jewelry (not pictured) - Just plain fake diamond studs and my wedding rings that finally fit! I still can't find my Pandora bracelet that forms the third part of my every day jewelry Trinity...I think it's gone for good :( 
Baby - Zuzu at 5 weeks, wearing her awesome Munchkin reversible sling




Also, hair style credit goes to this great YouTube video which illustrates 5 hairstyles for wet hair, which at this point in time is VERY much appreciated by moi. The flower is actually one that I wore on my dress on my wedding day and is also from the Best of Everything. 

Also, here's a post within a post since Zuzu expressed a desire to participate in the link-up: 

What I Wore Sunday: Zuzu, Vol. 1 

Okay y'all, I'm a baby so I don't have a lot to say, but I love getting dressed in cute clothes and flashing my adorable smile around, so I thought I'd join in. 


My mom has to hold me since my head control isn't the best yet. 

The Deets: 
Headband - hand made for me by my talented Aunt Ali
Dress - vintage 80s, of course, with hand smocking...this is an heirloom piece lent to me by my Aunt Sally! 
Diaper (not pictured) - BumGenius One Size 4.0 in white (hook and loop closure, of course!) 


Happy Sunday! 




7 Quick Takes!

Hosted by the lovely Jen...



-1- 
Turns out blogging with a baby is more difficult than it appears, hence my sudden absence...for all you mamas out there who  maintain a blog full-time with children, you are amazing!

Zuzu is impressed!


-2-
We have switched to cloth diapers full time and it isn't too bad, really. I don't think I'll turn into the die-hard fan of it that some women are, but it seems to work for us. I'm happy about it mostly from a monetary/environment/health perspective (diapers cost a lot/landfills suck/what chemicals are in disposables anyway), and so I think we'll stick with it. The nice thing about starting out doing cloth with baby #1 is that our stash of diapers can grow as she grows - we don't really need to do that $500 investment that most people do. We were also really lucky - my SIL and MIL got us four really awesome diapers for one of our showers, and then I bought seven more at a cloth diaper exchange. Since babies r' us and target sells them now, I also used some of the gift cards we received to buy more. Total cash investment cost? $76! 

-3- 
We finished LOST! I had a few friends in college who were super into it, but I never was. We watched it on Netflix and it was such a great show - I highly recommend it. Honestly, there isn't another show on TV today like it - it's incredibly sophisticated and smart, not to mention the musical score was amazing. It might be a show in a category all its own; I know it's talked about as a drama, but it's so much more. A lot of people were frustrated by the ending, but I felt it was fitting for such a cerebral show, so I guess watch at your own risk! 



-4- 
 I have realized that I have a hard time admitting when aspects of motherhood are hard. Other moms  have tried to get me to open up about my struggles, but I've just stayed positive - which is great, but maybe not so honest. So here's me trying to be honest: the one thing I really struggle with is that, due to nursing, my wardrobe is restricted again (just like during pregnancy) and now it mostly smells! I was so excited to learn the other day that I fit back into most of my pre-pregnancy clothes already (yay!) - but sadly, there's a good portion of them I can't wear because they aren't nursing friendly. And what I can wear, constantly gets milk or spit up on it. I love my wardrobe, which consists of a lot of investment pieces plus good basics in neutral colors, and so it's hard to not have worn a good portion of it for almost a year! Because even if I can fit back into my Ralph Lauren blouse, even if that blouse is button-up for easy nursing, do I really want to be trying to get breast milk out of silk? 

Cotton scoop neck tee? Not as fashionable but much easier to nurse in and clean!


-5- 
So I'm pretty much ready to get back into the swing of things, especially with exercise. I want to be in much better shape than I am and fall is the time to get that geared up in south Florida. But I have found that sports bras, even my nursing sports bra, is just really not good to wear during this time in my life. Tighter bras can restrict your  milk flow and, for me, just be really darn uncomfortable. But how does one run without a good sports bra? I guess I'll stick to walking and try to get to the gym for elliptical and swimming...

-6- 
My baby hates her car seat. 
This is NOT the norm!


-7- 
Which is going to make our 3-hour drive home tomorrow SO MUCH FUN. But in reality, even the prospect of driving with a screaming infant cannot dampen my enthusiasm to go home. I am so excited! And it's even more fun since I get to stay with my sister Kim, who I don't usually get to see as much when I am home, and she lives close to my other sister Ali so I should get to see her as well. My mom has the whole week off and we'll be there the whole week, so I should get mucho mom time too!! I haven't spent a Thanksgiving with my family in four years now, so I am really really excited!!