Other than our daily walks, my exercise routine continues to be non-existent. Add to that the need for J.T. and I to have some regular time together doing something other than hanging out with Isabella and his current health kick and you get two weekly gym dates on the weekends!
Not the most romantic way of spending time together but it is nice to kill two birds with one stone:).
J.T.'s first degree was in exercise physiology so he is an expert in this area and he sets up my routine for me and I just go through the motions. This is perfect for those days when I am running on no sleep and feel like a zombie.
You know what? This might also be the perfect time for me to revive the Zombies, run! running app I downloaded a couple of years ago. Oh wait, you were supposed to run AWAY from the zombie not BE the zombie...
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Addicted to (Yard Sale) Shopping
When I graduated for college and got my first real job, the financial freedom of a grown up paycheck was a bit more than I could handle. Having a roommate to share expenses, I had a fair amount of disposable income which I helped use to support local retailers. Especially retailers who sold clothes. As I got older I fortunately got things under control and became fiscally responsible; however, I still enjoy some good retail therapy now and again. Starting my little day care enterprise is proving to be just the ticket.
I am currently slated to have a 2 month old and an 8 month old starting at different points and the beginning of August and another 2 month old and two 3 year olds starting when school starts later in the month. I need ways of entertaining these kiddos and have essentially no start up budget, so what's a girl to do? Enter the world of virtual and live yard sales.
I had no idea there were Facebook groups you could join that would hook you up with almost brand new or gently used items for some amazing prices. Fun fact--the best deals seem to come from those people trying to clean house. They will let you take stuff off their hands for a fraction of the cost of retail. I have also discovered consignment shopping as a great source of cheap kids stuff.
I am adding to the collection slowly, but surely. We should be ready to roll come August and Isabella should never be able to utter the words "I'm bored" given the collection of toys and activities I'm accumulating for all of these different ages!
I am currently slated to have a 2 month old and an 8 month old starting at different points and the beginning of August and another 2 month old and two 3 year olds starting when school starts later in the month. I need ways of entertaining these kiddos and have essentially no start up budget, so what's a girl to do? Enter the world of virtual and live yard sales.
I had no idea there were Facebook groups you could join that would hook you up with almost brand new or gently used items for some amazing prices. Fun fact--the best deals seem to come from those people trying to clean house. They will let you take stuff off their hands for a fraction of the cost of retail. I have also discovered consignment shopping as a great source of cheap kids stuff.
I am adding to the collection slowly, but surely. We should be ready to roll come August and Isabella should never be able to utter the words "I'm bored" given the collection of toys and activities I'm accumulating for all of these different ages!
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Traveling and Sip 'n See
So little girl has continued to forget how to sleep. Some nights she is up as often as every 1-2 hours. I am in such a fog I feel like my brain is broken. I also feel like a broken record on this topic, so moving on...
Isabella took her first long car ride this weekend. My mom threw a "Sip and See" for us up in PA. J.T. couldn't make it because of work, but luckily my brother could go with us. He drove there and back-bless him! We traveled around her nap schedule and she did an amazing job. We stopped for "lunch" after she woke up from her first nap. It was like 10:30 so calling it lunch is generous.
We ate at a sit down restaurant. My brother and I share the same traveling philosophy--get from point A to point B as fast as humanly possible. So our usual MO is a single stop on this 7-8 hour trip for food, restroom and gas. So to stop for almost an hour was unheard of. But we survived and Isabella was better for it. She napped again after getting back in the car. We made one more stop at a Dairy Queen--traveling this way can definitely add time AND calories, but it was worth it because Isabella began fussing exactly 10 minutes from our parents house. Win!
We had a nice weekend. It was wonderful introducing Isabella to friends and family. The trip home was also a success. Even when she was awake she was pleasant.
Looks like we can add good traveler to the list of her three month accomplishments.
Isabella took her first long car ride this weekend. My mom threw a "Sip and See" for us up in PA. J.T. couldn't make it because of work, but luckily my brother could go with us. He drove there and back-bless him! We traveled around her nap schedule and she did an amazing job. We stopped for "lunch" after she woke up from her first nap. It was like 10:30 so calling it lunch is generous.
We ate at a sit down restaurant. My brother and I share the same traveling philosophy--get from point A to point B as fast as humanly possible. So our usual MO is a single stop on this 7-8 hour trip for food, restroom and gas. So to stop for almost an hour was unheard of. But we survived and Isabella was better for it. She napped again after getting back in the car. We made one more stop at a Dairy Queen--traveling this way can definitely add time AND calories, but it was worth it because Isabella began fussing exactly 10 minutes from our parents house. Win!
We had a nice weekend. It was wonderful introducing Isabella to friends and family. The trip home was also a success. Even when she was awake she was pleasant.
Looks like we can add good traveler to the list of her three month accomplishments.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Nap Cocoon
So while night time sleep continues to be a roller coaster, I think I have finally figured out the magic formula for naps. Creepily it is almost like I have recreated the womb, but without all the yucky goo. A less creepy comparison is that we have created a nap cocoon. Whatever you call it, it is working!
So step one is swaddling. Step two is that obnoxious (but life saving!) white noise. Step three is either putting her in her stroller with the cover all the up OR holding her until she passes out and THEN putting her in the stroller with the cover all the way up. I am pretty sure we are the only new parents who need a place for their stroller INSIDE their home.
The nap cocoon can even be replicated on the go! Instead of dragging the stroller into other peoples' homes, businesses, etc., I can replicate the cocoon with a carseat cover with equal success.
Using this strategy she will nap anywhere from 1-3 hours almost without fail. If I wasn't such a lousy napper myself I might actually get caught up on some sleep myself. But not knowing when she is going to wake up causes me to not be able to relax enough to go to sleep even if I am exhausted:(.
Now if I could just figure out the magic formula for sleeping at night. There HAS to be one...right?!?!
So step one is swaddling. Step two is that obnoxious (but life saving!) white noise. Step three is either putting her in her stroller with the cover all the up OR holding her until she passes out and THEN putting her in the stroller with the cover all the way up. I am pretty sure we are the only new parents who need a place for their stroller INSIDE their home.
The nap cocoon can even be replicated on the go! Instead of dragging the stroller into other peoples' homes, businesses, etc., I can replicate the cocoon with a carseat cover with equal success.
Using this strategy she will nap anywhere from 1-3 hours almost without fail. If I wasn't such a lousy napper myself I might actually get caught up on some sleep myself. But not knowing when she is going to wake up causes me to not be able to relax enough to go to sleep even if I am exhausted:(.
Now if I could just figure out the magic formula for sleeping at night. There HAS to be one...right?!?!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Heightened Anxiety (Part 2)
So much great information to process, but information can only take me so far. I am a doer, so I need to start DOING something to change things. Suggestions I found include:
"Breath long slow breaths"- It's amazing how often I actually find myself literally holding my breath.
"Invite rational brain in" (look at what is-what do I know for sure, what are the facts, what do I not know and where/who do I go to get it)." This is so me...well this WAS so me...I gotta get back to it!
"Develop some go-to mantras" This one has always been a favorite...
Be in the moment-practice mindfulness
Worry always lives in the future
"Self-care comes first: sleep, water, diet, exercise , mindfulness gratitude." LOL for days at the first example, but I can definitely take care of the others. The diet and exercise piece especially. I feel like I have been given myself a pass since I lost all of my pregnancy week in like 5 weeks (Thanks anxiety!), but need to focus on eating better and attempting some type of exercise besides walking)
Also, I'm going to give this book a read and see what else it can offer. Wish me luck!
Monday, July 10, 2017
Heightened Anxiety (Part 1)
This sleep regression may just kill me.
O.k. that may be a bit dramatic, but it is definitely a struggle.
I guess I should look at it like this. I have been fortunate to be pretty much a great sleeper and have slept 7-8 hours a night for most of the last three plus decades. What's a few months of sleep deprivation torture, right?!?! Turns out it is pretty torturous!
It also seems to feed my anxiety. I have heart palpitations, auditory "hallucinations" (I can hear her crying even when she's not), and even when she is sleeping I often can't because I am stressing about when she will wake up next. THIS. HAS.TO.STOP!
I don't feel like talking more either via the counselor or the support group will add any additional help though I will continue to use the support group. I need some real, concrete things I can be doing to...I don't know...reprogram my current thinking. This may turn out to be one of the few times my need to control may come in handy:).
I am praying A LOT and know that my weakness provides an avenue for God's strength, BUT I feel like I need to be doing SOMETHING.
I am listening to podcasts about anxiety and have found some interesting information, which I am going to process here.
Reliever 1- God is sovereign
Reliever 2- truth in the word. Focus not on "what if", but rather "what is"--"the thoughts of what if overshadow the reality of what is."
Reliever 3- focus on eternity rather than the albeit important blip of our life (perspective)
What am I anxious about? Failing? Fear of being wrong? Why don't I ask God before making these decisions? Do I just assume He will tell me if I am wrong? Probably!
"When the foundation of your life and personality - how you feel about yourself- is shaky, your world view and thought life are shaky" -THIS!!!
"Anxiety is an issue rooted in our belief system. We are anxious when what we put our faith in is something other than God." --I am trying to put faith solely in myself and my ability and the need for contentment with all facets of my life.
Am I using our adoption agency as a scapegoat for my anger? (This is one of the tangents my brain goes on at night when I'm awake). If so what am I truly angry about? Lack of control? Fear? I think I am angry about having anxiety!
"It’s no secret that when our minds feel out of control we try to control our environment … both our physical surroundings and the people around us" "I became immediately obsessed with time … what time, to the minute (and how many ounces, to the drop), did my son eat, have his diaper changed, etc. And, if the feedings were off, I would get wacky, anxious" Umm, did I say this, get recorded and forget? Oh, wait I have a daughter, but it's crazy to think someone out there is exactly like me...poor woman!
"Our thoughts are so powerful they want them to be true...we want them to be true. We believe they already are. We believe we are just making observations. When most of what we are doing is thinking. Worry doesn't protect us from what we fear. " I suspect the same is true of anger as it simply serves as a distraction for the worry.
"Hard to hear wisdom and answer to prayer during anxious times as these come through in times of peace." SO TRUE!
O.k. that may be a bit dramatic, but it is definitely a struggle.
I guess I should look at it like this. I have been fortunate to be pretty much a great sleeper and have slept 7-8 hours a night for most of the last three plus decades. What's a few months of sleep deprivation torture, right?!?! Turns out it is pretty torturous!
It also seems to feed my anxiety. I have heart palpitations, auditory "hallucinations" (I can hear her crying even when she's not), and even when she is sleeping I often can't because I am stressing about when she will wake up next. THIS. HAS.TO.STOP!
I don't feel like talking more either via the counselor or the support group will add any additional help though I will continue to use the support group. I need some real, concrete things I can be doing to...I don't know...reprogram my current thinking. This may turn out to be one of the few times my need to control may come in handy:).
I am praying A LOT and know that my weakness provides an avenue for God's strength, BUT I feel like I need to be doing SOMETHING.
I am listening to podcasts about anxiety and have found some interesting information, which I am going to process here.
Reliever 1- God is sovereign
Reliever 2- truth in the word. Focus not on "what if", but rather "what is"--"the thoughts of what if overshadow the reality of what is."
Reliever 3- focus on eternity rather than the albeit important blip of our life (perspective)
What am I anxious about? Failing? Fear of being wrong? Why don't I ask God before making these decisions? Do I just assume He will tell me if I am wrong? Probably!
"When the foundation of your life and personality - how you feel about yourself- is shaky, your world view and thought life are shaky" -THIS!!!
"Anxiety is an issue rooted in our belief system. We are anxious when what we put our faith in is something other than God." --I am trying to put faith solely in myself and my ability and the need for contentment with all facets of my life.
Am I using our adoption agency as a scapegoat for my anger? (This is one of the tangents my brain goes on at night when I'm awake). If so what am I truly angry about? Lack of control? Fear? I think I am angry about having anxiety!
"It’s no secret that when our minds feel out of control we try to control our environment … both our physical surroundings and the people around us" "I became immediately obsessed with time … what time, to the minute (and how many ounces, to the drop), did my son eat, have his diaper changed, etc. And, if the feedings were off, I would get wacky, anxious" Umm, did I say this, get recorded and forget? Oh, wait I have a daughter, but it's crazy to think someone out there is exactly like me...poor woman!
"Our thoughts are so powerful they want them to be true...we want them to be true. We believe they already are. We believe we are just making observations. When most of what we are doing is thinking. Worry doesn't protect us from what we fear. " I suspect the same is true of anger as it simply serves as a distraction for the worry.
"Hard to hear wisdom and answer to prayer during anxious times as these come through in times of peace." SO TRUE!
"We live out the stories we believe about ourselves."
"Use mindfulness to make a choice...avoid the habit of falling into trigger based thinking". Sooo easy to do when you are so exhausted you can't think straight!
"Everything is impermanent...nothing is permanent...there is always transition." I feel like I am living out one of the biggest transitions of my life right now.
"By expecting there to be no problems we are setting ourself up to fail...there are always problems." Sigh...so true...
So much wisdom...now what to do about it?!?!
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