a january list.

i, like most of the rest of the world, do something at the beginning of every year. i make a list. a note to self. a journal entry. an essay. it's not exactly new year's resolutions...ok, yes, that basically is what it is. but i call it a january list.

what i love about this list at the beginning of every year is how it feels like a blank slate, like a possibility. like i haven't rewritten this exact list nearly every year since i realized college was over (which took a really long time, because i kept going back to school). the other thing i like is when i read back over this list, later in the year or years later, and realize how many of those things i actually did. i think it's a little because when you write it down, you make an intention for your year, and even if you don't refer back to the list or even think about it consciously at all, somewhere your subconscious has kept track of that intention. basically, more things get done if you put them into a list. which is what i'm always telling j. but ANYways. ;)

i realize it's february, so this is kind of not relevant (or is it!), but i've been thinking lately about the list i made in january. i also think a lot about an article like this article (not this exact article, but i can't find the exact article so this article has to do) that i read a year or so ago. it's about the theory that you only have 4 burners (the burners being your capacity/time you have to give to things), and that if you want to be "successful" you have to turn off or down one of your burners. you can't successfully do 4 things at one time, the theory goes. well, i don't really care all that much about the rules and theories of it, but i do think it's an interesting idea. and it kind of helps me put into perspective why dinnertime (or Lars) might be super neglected or why i'm not actually writing anything — because i have too many burners going. so, this idea is a hard one to combine with my january list because a january list has more than three things on it. at least mine does, because i get kind of excited (over-ambitious) about january lists so i tend to make them long.

after i make my list, i usually circle a few that are the most important. because obviously "eat more veggies" is just not on par with "write another novel." a lot of the things i write down are more like wishes or hopes. i don't intend to beat myself up about them, but if they could just sort of happen that would be great. (ha! wouldn't all of life?)

my big three (4? 5?) (wishes? hopes? goals?) for this year are:

1. read the Bible and the ministry am and pm.
(this is always at the top of my lists. it's also always the hardest one.)

2. write another novel

3. be present with my kids and
(4.) take weekly photos of them
(and (5.) blog said photos)
(yes, this list is getting really screwy. i'm starting to see why i maybe don't get more done.)

in-between the lines of these "resolutions" are a few things on my list which are also implied in the success of these, like "continue not watching tv (except downton abbey)." tv-watching and (let's be honest) book-reading are my number 1 and 2 enemies to the big three. mostly because it's hard to do them in moderation. like, i find it hard to go to bed when i'm in the middle of a good book. i blame that on my mother, who did, upon one occasion at least, stay up all night reading a book to us. i love that about her so much. may i be the same way, even if it interferes with my "list."

i'm not entirely sure if or when i'll get to number 2 (hopefully before nanowrimo is all i ask). that is currently making me a little crazy. in the past, the only way has been to get up at a horribly dark hour of morning (night in my opinion). and i'm gearing up for that, but it really takes some gearing up and some desperation. i am soooo not a morning person.

i'm also not being very consistent with number 1, so feel free to encourage me in that direction. ;)

basically what i'm saying to you is that it's been almost two months and all i've done with it is take some photos of my kids. and i don't even have a great dinner-making or dog-walking record for the past two months to blame! all i have is the excuses of sickness, restarting this blog, and the daily mundanity. somehow (i'm still trying to figure out how), those things take up way more time than i plan. obviously this is not a how-to article and clearly you will not be coming to me about how to be more productive with your life.

do you have a january list? or a big three? if so, i'd love to hear them!

note to self: the truth about right now

right now is sucking a little bit, if you want the truth. from the flu that just keeps giving (apparently you can give yourself pink eye?!) to the been-inside-for-what-feels-like-years-now to the resentments congealing on top of every little tone, it's not been the most stellar of februaries (last year's was pretty terrible too now i think about it...winter is not our time of year...), and i'm sorry to say i've not been hitting it out of the park in the grace and forbearance department. often in these kinds of circumstances, i put my head down, grimace and bear it. i just try to get through it, and basically will the days away. i go through the motions of breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime, with some laundry-folding, fight-break-up-ing, book-reading, dish-washing in between. and it pretty much is awful, until a change of scene, a bit of sunshine, some friends, and some gratitude intervenes.

yesterday, it hit me: you need some gratitude.

then, a friend texted me. and i was miserable and complain-y. i may have cried a little into my daughter's bib. and then, i started to count my blessings, because i have so many, but they can be easy to lose sight of sometimes.

today,  i'm grateful for:

1. the chance to be home with my babies...even if i sometimes wish that would look a little bit more like this and a little bit less like this.

2. our new coffee maker, which i teased j for getting (i'm convinced he is incapable of being satisfied with any coffee for long), but now i take all my eye rolls back. all of them.

3. the coziest slippers j got me this past winter.

4. love day flowers and that giant box of chocolate-covered strawberries that i ate almost all by myself.

5. the sweetness of my baby boy napping. oh gosh his little face! i get so frustrated when he won't stay in his room at nap time, and then i practically melt all over his face when i go to wake him up.

6. the sweetest, cuddliest, huggable-est baby toddler girl who is still more baby than toddler. (let it always be so!)

7. the best of friends who are just a text away.

8. the best of friends who send you flowers overnight.

there! i mean, what was i even complaining about yesterday (and all weekend long;)??

i am really the luckiest.

and i'm ever so grateful.

daily guide to happiness

this fall is quickly becoming the time to start new habits and create a healthy lifestyle around this ol' grace house. monday night i began my mission to woo loverboy with the charms of yoga, and i'm giddy to report that he liked it! what with that, the gluten-free diet, and our once a week designated movie day, i almost don't recognize this family. we've even sort of talked about going to bed early! what?? well, let's not get too frisky, you never know how these grand ambitions are going to pan out.

but, as an ode to the beginning of another year (isn't fall the beginning of the year? i was a forever student after all. oh and there's my birthday, so there you have it;), i humbly submit my daily guide to happiness. or, if you prefer, ways to feel good, because happiness, really, is so much bigger (and smaller) than a method, or a list of things to do. don't you think?

still, these are making me happy right now:

1. reading the Bible before bed and time with the Lord in the morning. first of all, this is the most important thing, which is why it's numero uno.
2. am and pm yoga. loverboy and i are using this dvd together in the evenings (really not that good in my opinion). i also like the free classes on this website. and this is a pretty good youtube ashtanga video. do you have a favorite yoga website/dvd we should be using? do spill!
3. more tea, less coffee. starting tomorrow (always starting tomorrow;).
4. less cleaning, more creative projects. 
5. such as, a daily writing time. 
6. more reading books, no tv watching. 
7. more spontaneity on the weekends, less planning. this is always, always better for my expectations. (i feel very proud of our trip to michael's last weekend for nursery projects. loverboy and i didn't even fight over color schemes once!)
8. an earlier bedtime. 
9. one handful of trader joe's dark chocolate covered pretzels. two if it's been a very long night;)
10. mom friend dates. even if it's just a phone/google hangout/facetime date. 
11. gratitude for this life of mine.

All My Favorite Baby Stuff for the First Three Months

a friend of mine asked me recently about my favorite baby products. i am by no means an expert on these things, and i firmly believe that everyone's ultimate baby list really depends on their family/situation/environment/baby/personal style, etc. but when i was pregnant i loved looking at other people's lists (this one and this one were great) to get an idea of what i might need.

so, i thought i'd put together my own list of the 50 (or so) baby products you might need for the first three months. i've broken it down to what i had to have, what was really nice to have and what i haven't really used (yet) but could be important. since it's only for the first three months, i haven't included things like high chairs, baby proofing apparatus, etc.



WHAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE (if you're like me):

Gear

1. obviously the one thing you have to have to take your baby home in a car is an infant carseat. we got the chicco keyfit 30 and it works fine (although my baby is not fond of being in it), but next time i would consider getting one that converts to forward facing for when baby gets bigger.

2. baby carrier. we have the moby and the baby bjorn. the bjorn is easier to put on, can be used longer and the husband likes it too.

3. baby swing/seat so you can get stuff done during baby's awake times! we bought a cheap one at target or you could get one used.

4. my stroller came with a bassinet that was perfect for having him with me in other parts of the house while i got something to eat or took a shower. the only thing about this stroller is that it doesn't turn easily enough***. if you're active, you might want to look into this stroller. also, get a stroller adaptor that fits your carseat. ***edit: we have since figured out how to unlock the wheels (head slap!) so actually we love this stroller and find that it turns wonderfully well when you have the wheels unlocked. ;) 

Clothing

5. infant long-sleeved shirts with fold over tops for tiny little fingernails. it was nice that the hospital provided a few of these because shirts are better than onesies since they don't irritate the cord stump as much. also, tiny little newborn pants. you might want 6-12 of these depending on how often you want to do laundry (babies are messy!). also: 8-12 onesies (0-3 months), 4-6 pants (0-3 months), socks, mittens.


Sleep

6. swaddles. i used SwaddleMe at first. you'll want two packs because there are numerous blowouts in the beginning. now i LOVE the truewomb swaddle, and i only need one because he doesn't blow out at night anymore.

7. a bassinet to keep baby near you at night. we like this one. (plus a mattress, mattress pad and sheets)

8. a sound machine. we got the travel sleep sheep which is perfectly sized for throwing into a bag; however i hate that it turns off after 45 minutes.

9. a fan. adds an extra noise buffer to the room and keeps air circulating which is linked to increased infant safety while sleeping.

10. an awesome baby monitor. probably the most important thing after the swaddle for baby's sleep/mom's peace of mind.

11. a nightlight. you'll want to be able to look over and check on baby during those first few weeks at home without waking him up. also, really handy for nighttime feedings when you want to keep things quiet and boring so he goes back to sleep easily.

Nursing

12. lanolin for sore nipples. the hospital might provide a tube. i went through at least four tubes before i stopped using it. i also really recommend Dr. Brown's All Purpose Nipple Ointment if breastfeeding continues to be painful after the first week or so. you need a prescription from your doctor or midwife and the pharmacy will have to prepare the compound for you.

13. a million disposable breast pads. even if you don't leak, the lanolin will stain your clothing so you need a pad for protection. i don't recommend the washable ones because you will go through literally a gazillion in the beginning so it's not worth it. and, if you're like me, you won't leak after the first month so you will eventually stop needing them at all. i went through maybe 15 boxes? you can buy lanolin and pads at target in a pinch but they are cheaper on amazon.

14. a breast pump. after a month of pain, i pumped every other feed for a whole weekend to give my nipples time to heal, and it worked like a charm. $200 well spent. and if you exclusively breastfeed, you'll want to send your baby with breastmilk if you ever need a babysitter, even if it's just for a few hours.

15. this nursing bra (you'll want three) is pretty comfy, though the removable pads are a little ill-fitting sometimes. a sleep bra is also nice to have.

16. burp cloths. these work great for us.

Postpartum Relief

17. pads or panty liners for the first 6-8 weeks of bleeding postpartum. it's just the name of the game. ibuprofen, witch's hazel, and epsom salt also help with healing.


Diapering

18. disposable newborn diapers with cut out for cord stump. (p.s. babies go through 10-15 diapers a day in the beginning!)

19. wipes

20. this diaper pail is great for disposable (keeps the odors in). but the opening is too small for cloth diapers. here's a pail i like for cloth, and more carbon filters. a pail liner, if you're going to cloth diaper. and while we're on the subject: cloth diapers. diaper sprayer. sprayer shield. diaper detergent.  drying rack. 

21. changing pad

22. changing pad cover

23. changing pad liners (trust me on this and get atleast two packs)


Health

24. baby tylenol/ibuprofen (ask your pediatrician. ours recommended ibuprofen versus tylenol)

25. thermometer

26. hand sanitizer


Bathing/Grooming

27. baby nail clippers

28. baby shampoo and lotion

29. baby bathtub

30. baby washcloths

31. infant hooded towel

32. baby brush


Soothing

33. we never bought a rocking chair and instead used an exercise ball to bounce baby during those first 6 weeks of evening fussiness. it also helped to put him back to sleep at night. 

WHAT IS REALLY NICE TO HAVE:

34. a breastfeeding pillow is really nice for the beginning when breastfeeding is difficult. My Brest Friend was better support but the Boppy was more convenient.

35. we love this travel crib. it's lighter and easier to assemble than a pack and play. it's great if you need to take him to a babysitter while you go out or if you want him to nap while you're visiting a friend.

36. wipes warmer. soothing for middle of the night changes. you'll need more inserts eventually.

37. these linen blankets are so, so nice and very handy. i use it as a sheet, a nursing cover, a car seat cover, a wrap, a blanket and a burp cloth!

38. a nice diaper bag. i love this one though it's really big. bonus: it comes with a changing pad. 

39. a wet bag to throw in your diaper bag for stashing dirty clothes or diapers. it's washable, but i wish it were larger.

40. sun shades for the car

41. books, soft rattles, colorful teething links, high contrast picture cards, and other toys for baby to look at and hold.

42. bibs to catch all that drool.



WHAT COULD BE IMPORTANT (though I haven't really used them much yet)

43. pacifiers. my baby generally doesn't take one, but every baby is different and sucking is an important calming reflex for a baby. you can also try different kinds.

44. diaper rash creme

45. snot sucker and saline drops for little stuffed noses

46. humidifier

47. bottles (you do at least need a nipple for the bottles that come with the ameda breast pump)

48. bottle brush cleaner

49. teething toys. this one is so cute and made of all natural material so it's safe for baby to chew on.

50. all-natural sunscreen. it's not recommended to use sunscreen on a baby before 6 months, but ask your pediatrician.

51. gripe water and/or gas drops. my pediatrician recommended this, but i haven't tried it.



well, that was fun. hope it's helpful! and i'd love to hear of anything i missed that you thought was useful in the comments!

happy march day!

i'm so sorry for being mia and all that, but i'm a little swamped in real life right now; 

however, i had to say happy march 1st! because who doesn't love the firsts of things? 

and because who doesn't love march? and springtime? not me, i love it. ;)

so anyways, i also have a little list of things i'm looking forward to in march: 

1. completing all my rewrites for this thesis-majigeree

2. a break from school! yay! so i can keep writing my thesis :(

3. the first day of spring!! don't you love spring? i hope it's longer than last year!

4. a wedding, a wedding! can't wait to see my beautiful sisinlaw in her wedding dress!

5. going to as much yoga as i can before my passes expire!

6. keep on running, gosh am i glad i started that up again!

7. visit the doctor to make me good as new again (he will, right??)

8. and i'd love to finally do this. 

9. and this.

10. and this!

and who knows if i'll have time for anything else, but i'd love to hear what you're 

doing in march! anything exciting! i'd dearly love to throw a spring party, but

don't know if it's in the cards. anyone throwing a spring party for me?
let's have these flowers:

via

love, 

B

this week's happy

on my list:

1. cereal with blueberries

2. taking the plunge & putting pen to paper

3. sweating through thrice weekly jogs

4. the glorious picnic photos in this magazine

5. news of friends' engagements

(and being asked to take engagement photos!)

6. the thought of sleeping in on saturday

7. the sixth month mark of my 365 day celebration!

8. my first art history class ever

9. getting to take classes in the main building

the to-do list

my day planner. 

(without which i would not be surviving right now). 

i'm kind of obsessive about writing things down. i love lists. 

(not doing them, just writing them. and crossing things off them). 

 as boring as it sounds, i think there needs to be a celebration for the invention of the day planner. 

although when i really think about it, maybe there was no such thing as deadlines before this.

in which case, i understand why there is no such holiday. 

but if i don't write everything down, it won't all get done. 

i'd probably forget my own name if i didn't write it every day.

although, i did spend all day thinking today was march 1st. 

but you get what i'm saying, right? 

P.S. yes, if you studied the second pic, you'll notice today is public sleeping day. alas, i saw no one sleeping in public, although I was mightily tempted to. sort of. sleep that is. not necessarily in public.