The Everyday: Week Two

Our lives were filled with the welcoming of new life this week. We consumed cupcakes with mustaches on them. 

I was awake far too early, way too many times this week. Coffee is my companion. 

I've never felt the need to work on "Plan B" so much in my entire life. How's that for vague? 

(Stewie. Soon to be a big brother.) 

(Don't mess with my kid. She's tough) 

(Celebrating new life. A baby shower for my sister.) 

(Slowly but surely, I am working through this.) 

(Sometimes you just have to have toast with almond butter and apricot jam.) 

(Early Morning Fuel) 

Currently Clicking: Week #23

Each and every week, I gather links of all of the places I have been perusing in the great, grand internet. There are plenty of people out there doing big things and small things. Some of these are practical, some are inspiring. This week we are reaching deep into how to live an exceptional life and have gratitude. There's a new coffee house in town that I didn't know about. I am thinking about baby proofing and trying to find ways to make it look better. Then, of course, I've thrown in a cookie recipe, because why not? 

1. I think this is a reminder that all of us need sometimes, especially when life isn't full of adventure but is full of routine and putting down roots somewhere. How to live an exceptional life, even when life doesn't feel exceptional. 
2. On the same track, wasting time is not something I am fond of. I have had many an afternoon wasting away in front of the television,  binge watching Netflix. Don't Waste A Moment. 
3. First of all, I love coffee. Second of all, I had no idea this coffee house even existed in my own backyard. I think what they are doing is neat. Colorado Coffee Shop Employing Homeless People Is 'Opening Up the Eyes' of Its Community.  I will need to go check it out sometime. 
4. Before we know it, our little gal will be mobile. I think baby gates are necessary but not very cool looking, decor wise. Here is a DIY red door, baby gate. I think it's great! 
5. These chocolate dipped, peanut butter cookies look great! 
6. A shift in perspective is always good. We can get caught in stuff that really just doesn't matter. Give Me Gratitude or Give Me Debt. 

Weekly Lovelies: Currently Clicking #13

Where are these weeks going? So far in the past few weeks, this little blog has only seen Baby Marin posts and Currently Clicking posts. My apologies for the lack of further content. My days pass by so quickly. I blink and here I sit creating this post of lovely links for your enjoyment.

Each and every week, I gather links of all of the places I have been perusing in the great, grand internet. There are plenty of people out there doing big things and small things. Some of these are practical, some are inspiring. This week, we are keeping things fairly practical with some awesome snack ideas, what you barista is really thinking about your coffee order, a DIY for your kid's room, and some frugal ideas in baby-land and beyond.

1. I love a good avocado. Stuff a salad in it and I'm sold. Try these Avocado Cup Salads, Two Ways. 
2. And to further our journey on the good food & snacks train, try this Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip or this Grilled Cantalope. (I have to try this!) 
3. The hubby and I want to sell our home next spring. We also want to be debt free before doing so. Any post that involves living frugal, I'm all for. Check out this post on Frugal Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap).
4. I'm still not sure if we will ever head in the direction of cloth diapering. It is so much more affordable, but there are a lot of steps attached. Here is one woman that used to cloth diaper, then didn't, and then returned to cloth diapering. Interesting. Confessions of a cloth diaper drop out (and how I got back on the fluffy bottomed bandwagon.)
5. Once Marin gets older, I would love to do this little DIY for her room: Kid's Clothes Rack DIY.
6. And finally, 5 Coffee Orders & What Your Barista Really Thinks of Them. I worked as a barista and can relate to each and every one of these. 

On a side note that isn't from a blog or somewhere online....

We went on a lunch date yesterday and tried out a new place in town. I am obsessed. It was such an enjoyable meal. We went to a place called the Mainline in Old Town, Fort Collins. 

I ordered the Southern BLT, which has fried green tomatoes on it. Oh My Gosh. I love fried green tomatoes and have only had them once or twice in my life. 

We also had the staff picks beer choices for lunch. Mine was a darker beer with bourbon infused into it. 

We will be going back. I am sure of it.

Highs and Lows

I was planning on posting a home design piece today, but something told me to just sit down and write instead. The few people that actually read this blog (thank you, by the way) usually end up reading my more intimate posts than the ones about my favorite cleaning product. So here you go. 

Yesterday was a bit of a challenge. It presented its highs and lows and I tried to take them on with ease and clarity. Motherhood really doesn't function that way, so I am learning, ever......so......slowly....... I caught myself yesterday trying to get through my to do list but then telling myself to sit down, chill out, and nurse your baby. Relish the moment. Be ALL there. Don't think about the laundry that needs to be folded or the fact that I've been trying to workout for the past week and have failed miserably. Don't think about the extra weight around my middle section or how I just don't feel too sexy at the moment. Don't think about the ice cream in the freezer that I don't need to be eating right now. Just don't think. Relish. Soak. 

Marin has been on a growth spurt, as mentioned in my previous post. She has been fussier than usual and seems to think I am ready and willing to nurse her every second of every day. I know this will pass at some point, but I feel fairly tied down at the moment. In these moments, I am forced to reevaluate my to do list and adjust accordingly. 

As far as the lows from yesterday go....

I had finally taken a shower, probably around 2pm. No shame. Once my hair was actually blow-dried and I had on something other than my pjs, I knew we needed to get out of the house, even for a little drive. The weather was INCREDIBLE. 70 degrees and lovely. I had one goal in my mind: an iced latte from the Starbucks drive thru. Driving always calms down baby and I didn't mind taking a little excursion. We went through the drive thru. I was stoked. The simple things are the things you have to reach out for every once in a while. My thing yesterday was an iced latte. 

We made it home, Marin sleeping peacefully in her carseat. I went to take a drink of my beverage and realized that they had given me a very wrong order. I ordered a iced, skinny, 1 pump hazelnut latte. So, in other words, I want a latte with a little, little, little bit of syrup. That's how I roll. Well, I went to take a sip and almost spit it out all over myself. I read the label and it stated that I had been given an iced, skinny, 13 pump hazelnut latte. First of all, who in their right mind orders 13 pumps of syrup (sorry if that's you, but ick)?!!? Major bummer. I can't believe I didn't notice it until then. So, after I managed to get myself and the baby out for a while, I came home with a completely undrinkable drink. I was so not winning. 

The rest of my afternoon was spent feeding my kid and cleaning my kitchen. Marin had calmed down quite a bit and was sleeping peacefully in her bouncer. I went to feed her again and unwrapped her from her swaddle. I was shocked to find the diaper blow out of the century. Instead of going up her backside, it had managed to travel all of the way up the front of her. She was unfazed. We hadn't had a good diaper in a while, if you know what I mean. She had clearly been saving it up for this blow out of epic proportions. I had to clean out her belly button. I bet that paints a nice picture. 

Overall, yesterday wasn't the best of days. It also wasn't the worst of days. So many things were challenging, but so many things were there to slowly continue to teach me about this thing called parenting. The one redeeming factor from yesterday was that Marin slept last night from around 10pm to almost 7am this morning. 7 am. 7 am!!!! I could hardly contain the excitement when I realized what time it was when I got up to feed her this morning. Praise the Lord! 

It's the little things. The baby that SLEEPS at night. The fact that my house is fairly clean. The weather outside has been great these past few days. The fact that I still am on maternity leave and get to spend this much time with our child. The fact that breastfeeding is still going very well. I count my blessings on that one. 

I just need to remember to soak in these moments. Soak.