An activity a day…
…keeps stir-craziness at bay!
Lately I’ve had one big thing each day to keep me occupied and active. I tell you this has worked wonders for me! I can do this if that’s all it takes. I can totally find one thing to do that gets me out every day. Even on slow days where no one is available and I’m all alone with Vera- I can still pop her in the sling and walk to the co-op for some eggs or something.
I feel lately like things are so do-able. Vera certainly slows me down and takes time and attention, but I feel confident that I can be peaceful and patient about it and avoid frustration by good planning and a go-with-the-flow attitude. This is my goal. Sometimes I’ll find that she whimpers and needs me right when I’m about to do something I’ve been waiting to do for a while, and I have to remind myself that this is the only time she will need me like this. Soon I’ll be swooning over other people’s babies remembering when… right? That’s what they all seem to do. I have this very strong feeling that I can’t become impatient about this stuff- otherwise I will really miss out and I’ll just make life harder for myself.
Like today, she’s been really awake and active and I’ll be able to unload half of the top rack of the dishwasher, or fold part of the laundry in the basket, or read one friend’s entry here, another there… I can’t believe I managed to make rice pudding for dinner tonight. Anyway, my point is, she’s been wide-eyed and beautiful today, and although I wasn’t able to finish a lot, I was able to see her smile about a dozen times. I’m not just talking gas smiles but big old “I’m happy” smiles. I don’t know if they really were “I’m happy” smiles, but I do know that when I can make her do that with a tickle or a kiss I don’t know that I’ll be able to stop. And so really, who gives a shit about the dishwasher?
We went to see Jeff’s grandma. It was awesome, as usual, and she gave me a bunch of canvases and painting supplies that she isn’t using anymore. I think it’ll be nice to start painting again. I’m excited to start doing lots of things again now that I have the brain space. Maybe I’ll even write a new song… Time never really was the issue, even though I thought it was. I always make time for things I really want to do. It’s being mentally and emotionally tired that really keeps me from exploring new territory.
March 2nd:
Our upstairs neighbor and dear dear friend, although I love him very much, is a complete slob. He knows this. We know this. And yet, I still am fascinated by the fact that despite the trash can being located less than 3 feet away from this very spot, he still can’t seem to dump the ashtray in it. It’s the only time I break my Don’t-Ever-Touch-Another-Cigarette Rule.
March 3rd:
Ok, you may remember that last fall our precious front porch rocking chair was stolen. Yes, STOLEN. I couldn’t believe it either. I spend a great deal of time out there and I couldn’t imagine a summer spent without it. On our way yesterday to Jeff’s parent’s house we noticed this brown beauty on the side of the road. But lo! There was not enough room in the backseat because there was too much baby! We had to wait until that night to go back and hope it was still there for us- which it was. I am very pleased.
Quote of the day:
“As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.” -Henry David Thoreau
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HOW do you find these things???
They are everywhere… you only have to open your eyes. Well, in this case it was on Hamilton near the highway. You do mean the rocker, yes?
I LOVE finding things on the side of the road! We have furnished much of our place this way. It’s good for the dollar, good for the earth!
Your baby is very cuuuuuute!
Yay I love it! Maybe we should have a “What have you found?” entry- posting pictures of your favorite found items and the story behind them…
Awww! So cute. 🙂
I can’t wait for you to meet her! When are you free next?
Are you busy on Monday?
I quit my job (last day is this Friday) and don’t start my my new one until Wednesday. Hopefully we’ll be able to hang out more often since I’ll be in Ypsi every day now and will have a very flexible schedule.
I’m so happy for you! I know you were just waiting for your out.
Monday sounds great! I guess just let me know what time is good for you. 🙂
Any time before 3 would work for me. 🙂
Great! That’s fine by me too. Why don’t you just come on by anytime- just give me a call!
Okay! I’ll see you on Monday. 🙂
WARNING TMI
It good for your sanity to be able to do stuff everyday. reading about you putting vera in the sling and walking to the coop makes me hurt though. be careful cause you are still healing. i know you know best. i just remember walking around for a couple hours with eli in the sling 13 days after he was born…..not only did my vagina feel like it was falling off from between my legs but later that night i passed a fried egg sized clot. UGH.
homework: cast on 31 loops and knit 4 rows.
Re: WARNING TMI
haha I love you. Yeah, during the first week or so when I would walk too much it would feel very heavy down there. What a strange feeling! I am trying my best to take it slowly. I’m fighting my desire to exercise! I would rather be safe though and not wear myself out.
I will do that homework!
Re: WARNING TMI
I can’t speak from experience with a natural child birth but I can from a Cesarean. 2 weeks after having Jonah I was walking around Disney world all day in Florida. Some people thought I was insane and told me after their c-sections they still weren’t out of bed at 2 weeks. So everyone heals and pushes themselves differently. I decided that a c-section wasn’t going to hold me back and it didn’t. If you feel like exercising then do it, don’t fight it. Your body will tell you if you are doing too much (I know your a good listener ;-).
Re: WARNING TMI
Thanks! That’s actually really great to hear. I think maybe I should just trust my instincts on this one and stop if I feel I need to. It’s been 3 weeks, but I felt almost back to normal in the first couple of days. When I was too active I definitely bled a little more, so then I slowed down, but why not listen to my body now, right?
Thanks Tisha. 🙂
Oh the joy of learning to let the household tasks go. Letting them go and/or only doing half was (and still is) a lot more difficult then what I had anticipated. In my mind I thought that I’d have SO much time because I was home all day. The pressure I put on myself to get it all done was even greater! On top of that I would feel guilty (and like a bad mom) because I’d get momentarily frustrated because I couldnt finish my task because Jonah needed my attention. I’m always reminding myself that Jonah is only going to be small for a short time and that I should cherish our time together. Even now I still struggle with feeling inadequate because I have a tendency to still worry too much about the house. On top of that sometimes I feel guilty that I’m a stay at home mom even though I know I would go crazy if I were. Ah the joys of motherhood…hmm i may post this (or something like it) as an entry on my blog.
All this to say, I understand, try not to feel bad. You DO make her smile, its not gas. 🙂 Baby V loves her momma!
It’s nice to know that you know how that feels! I was so used to being on my own schedule- I could bury myself in work for an hour or so and feel so accomplished! Now it just takes… longer. Honestly it just makes me feel better to know that this is really common and I’m not just unable to do things!
Re: Aw
Yay! Just let us know when you can come! We’d just love to see you.