Shiny and New

So here's why I'm loving blogging...

It's become an outlet to just share things---Big things & little things.  Even if no one is interested or cares to read about them.  It's sort of like transcribing the voice of my inner monologue, but with less cursing and some censoring of my weirdness.

It's cathartic.  Once Elena goes to bed,  I'm lonely.  Paul is generally out of town 4 nights a week, so  catching up and commenting on blogs, and sharing what's been going on during our days and in my mind keeps me busy.  Less lonely.  Awww, yea for cyber friends. 

I'm loving how it's allowed me to connect with others who inspire me, make me laugh, pique my curiosity, and make me want to put on something other than yoga pants everyday.  I vow to post an #ootd  before my blogging days are over.  Hold me to it.

It's introduced me to fellow Ohio bloggers, whom I'm really hoping I get to meet this weekend, and who won't judge me because I'm the RBN {Resident Blog Newb} with only 37 followers.

It's capturing our story.  Which is really what this is all about to me.  I struggle daily with my intentions here.  Some days my posts are fluff, and I'm disappointed.  Some days they delve deep, and I wonder if it's normal or okay to share so much with complete strangers---things that even in real life people don't know.  Other days, they serve as a running record of our life....simple, boring, fun, and challenging as it may be.

I want to look back here as a way to remember the details.  The stories behind the pictures.  I want to challenge myself to be more creative, more honest, more committed to something that makes me feel good.  Writing makes me feel good.

You know what else makes me feel good?  Pretty blog designs.  I'm envious of all the creative people out there who are saavy enough to pimp their own blogs.  I tried that a few times.  I failed.  Though I did finally learn how to add page tabs and thought I was  a genius.

So guess what I'm doing?  Going all shiny and new.  Getting a pretty new design here at Once Upon a Dime.  

At first, I felt sort of silly at first paying for a blog design since I don't have a substantial following and wasn't sure how invested I was in keeping up with my piece of the internet.  And then I realized how foolish that sounded.  Regardless of my following, regardless of how long I wind up blogging or how often, this is my space.  It should reflect my style.  It should make me feel good when I click "View Blog."

I purchased a pre-made blog template from Designer Blogs.  I may just be the most indecisive person on the planet, so to even decide on a design and commit to it,  is huge.  I figure, I'm still quite green when it comes to all the blogosphere know-how, so something custom can wait until I'm a little more seasoned. 

I'm super excited and can't wait to see how it turns out.  Stay tuned!

And because every post needs a picture, here are my two babies...

Professional road-trippers: Lainey and Lola

Weekend Review

So yeah, it's been a while.  Not sure what's up with me lately.   I suppose life is getting the best of me.  That's a good thing though, right?  We have been busy living here in Ohio, that's for sure.  We're finding our groove and getting into it more each day. 

Blogging has been on my brain a lot lately, though.  I don't know how all you devoted bloggers do it.  Make time to be so thoughtful and witty and real each and every day. Teach me.  Honestly, this toddler gig is no joke and I am spent by the time Elena goes to bed.  Like literally, good for nothing.  I honestly have to accomplish all I want or need to do before she goes to bed.  If I don't?  It doesn't get done.  Once she goes down I just want to hit the bottle and catch up on DVR decompress.  And nap time?  Well, that's when I do all the stuff I'd be too tired to do *after* she's gone to bed.  Clean.  Cook.  Work out.  Catch up with calls and cards and all the other stuff.  I find myself checking FB and Twitter on pee breaks and red lights and at 2 in the morning, thanks to my old friend insomnia. 

I'm re-evaluating a lot of things in my life lately and realize I need to work on my time management.  Making time for important things like documenting our life *is* important.  So,  I'm signing myself back up for blogging.  Starting tonight.  This little girl of mine is growing up at such an alarming rate and this mama doesn't want to miss one iota of it.  There is so much on the horizon that deserves to be captured and celebrated and remembered. 


And now, here's a little weekend recap for ya! {b/c if you're still here and still reading, you at least deserve some pics of my little love}

Friday Elena and I went to a local farm with the Mom's group we are a part of.  We're having fun making friends and getting to enjoy this beautiful mid-west fall.  For six bucks we got to pick a pumpkin from the patch and choose a gourd, enjoy a sinful sugared donut with some juice, and have some playtime.  Elena loved driving the trucks through the corn box (like a giant sand box, but with corn, obviously) and running around through the giant hay maze.  She had a blast and cried when it was time to leave. 

She's been a solid napper lately and Friday was no exception.  She was well rested for her second stop on the campaign trail...Lancaster, Ohio for a Romney/Ryan rally.  It was great energy and super exciting for all three of us.  We had a great view of the Governor and Congressman.  I haven't uploaded the pics from my camera yet, so here's a pic from the freezing cold rally we went to earlier in the week {we left before Romney arrived} and a mobile pic of Daddy and his little conservative at Friday's rally.

We left before Mitt was done speaking {Not gonna lie, I kinda felt rude, like hellloooo, we are walking out on the next President of the United States!?} But I hoped Mitt would understand this mama did not want to be stuck in traffic almost 2 hours from home.  Yeah, no.  Apparently Mitt doesn't like sitting in traffic either.  So, despite our best efforts to get outta dodge before the masses, the highway was SHUT DOWN in anticipation of Mitt's tour bus.  We were literally stuck. Luckily we were able to pull into a McDonald's so we could eat.  Here is Elena shoving a grilled cheese in her face.  I mean, seriously, I'm lovin' it.  Sorry.  I had to.  But really, she looks like 8 or something. 

Saturday was a big day for all of us.  It was Elena's first day without "milkie".  We are officially weaned.  It's an emotional subject.  Certainly due it's own post.  I've already written about in the notes on my iPhone and I'm hoping to transcribe it to the blog in the next week or two. We've gone steady and strong for the past 17 months.  To make it easier on both of us, I started a very gradual weaning process that eliminated one nursing session about every 2 weeks.  It has gone smoothly for the most part.  Today is day 3 and, though she is still wanting to nurse, she is easily distracted and I just keep reminding her that she has her big girl cup for milkie now.  My emotions and hormones are all over the place and I find myself crying at random moments.  Honestly, I would have been happy continuing until she self-weaned but b/c we are hoping to start fertility treatments soon, I can't be nursing on the meds I'll be taking. She's never been a big drinker from the sippy to begin with and although I've been offering whole cow's milk  in one since she turned 1, she is finicky.  Well, here she is on no-milkie-morning number one and girlfriend downed all of that milk in her tilty cup, which seems to be the only one she'll take it from.  And I've tried them all.  She drinks water from a straw sippy but will not take milk from one. Needless to say it was bittersweet but I was one proud mama.  There may or may not be some strawberry Quik added per pediatrician's advice.  And yes, those are Christmas pajamas. 

Take note of Lola going in for the snack trap of Cheerios. 

Luckily we had swim lessons on the morning agenda so we could keep her occupied and tucker her out.  She loves splashing with Daddy and had a blast dunkin' the punkin'. 

stupid blurry iPhone pics

Learning to get out of the pool

Sunday we did some stuff around the house and ran some errands.  Capped off the weekend with some Chipotle for dinner and lots of good TV.  

Loving this pic and how they are making the same expression and gesture.  My favorites, these two.  I just adore the bits out of them.  And yes, that's a tutu over her sweats #lovehavingagirl

Phew.  I feel like I just lost 10 pounds after all that.  Feels good to get some stuff out of my brain.  I needed that.  

Can't wait to get back to reading and catching up and commenting.  All that good stuff.  

xoxo

Hello? Is anybody out there?

I am a creeper.  A lurker.  A sit-in-the-back-and-wait-for-somebody-else-to-ask-the-question-I-want-to kind of girl.  I've been that way for most of my life, and although people who meet me would never guess I have social anxiety, it is real and I do. This is not a character trait I am proud of.  Certainly not one that I want to pass on to Elena as she blossoms into a young woman.  I want to teach her confidence.  I want her to be heard, to contribute, to express herself.  I want for her so many things that I worry I won't be able to teach her adequately because of my shortcomings-my anxieties.  I've realized that I need to work towards being a better version of myself so that I can be that example to her. 

So here I am today, coming out of hiding to share my voice.  So that maybe one day my little sunshine girl will know her mama as someone who had something to say and said it, even if no one wanted to listen.

I love reading blogs and there are a handful that I regularly keep up with. Today I've decided to officially follow them and be an active participant in the blogging world.  Now that I am a stay at home mom, preparing for a huge move to a place where I know NO ONE, I'm looking forward to blogging as a way to connect and share with people.  So, here goes this girl, out on a limb, ready to say whatever it is I want to say.  I'll start with thanks for stopping by :)

And GO!

Trying to be a new mommy blogger.  Not sure if the shoe fits, but I'm trying it on for size.  This is something I've always wanted to do, and have half-ass done more than a few times...The End Where I Begin, Equal Parts Hope and Faith, BabyCamp, Ten Cent Wishes....Yup, all past blogs that have gone the way of Blogger Heaven.  Hoping to stick with this one as a way to document our sweet life with our little mama and keep those interested in the loop.  Oh yeah, 'cuz we're leaving everyone and moving to Ohio.  Let the adventure begin.

Our little family