Welcome reality check. Welcome humility. Welcome to my life as one of "them"! This morning I got Annie ready-- spent several minutes foraging through the many outfits she has (compliments of Grandma and Grandma) to find just the right one to compliment her skin tone. Then, I combed her hair into a matching cute bow barrette and positioned her on the sofa with a stuffed animal for some cute little shots for memory's sake. Then it was my turn. I impressed myself with remembering I can't go out in public in pj's, so I did the sniff test with a tshirt on the floor and threw on yesterday's workout capri's (which I hadn't washed yet... woops) and threw my not-combed, not-washed, needs-colored-and-cut-badly hair into a low pony tail and headed out the door.
I was walking through Hobby Lobby (ever so excited to spend my $25 gift card from last Christmas... yes LAST Christmas on a new wreath for the door) and these women are passing by giving warm smiles to Annie that quickly turned into shock and awe as they lifted their eyes to see her disheveled mommy toting her around. It was almost hilarious... Carmel has standards you see. They don't allow new building of businesses that aren't brick. They don't allow certain colored Christmas lights. And they specialize in botox treatments and facelifts. Appearances are everything!
Now, I will say it is important to me to keep "trying" for Michael, who would never say anything even if I didn't, let's call a spade a spade. He's a man and he probably likes for me to look like I feel cute. But I feel a lot more pressure to make myself up at 4:30 in the afternoon for just Michael in our little apartment than I do when I go out amongst "us" and "them". I am shocked at the change in perspective after getting married and having a baby. I feel pressure to be a good mom, to entertain and educate my little one, to exercise so I can live longer to see her grow up, to eat well so I can be an example to her, and to keep dangerous stuff off the floor and vacuum dirt away from her crawling space (formerly known as cleaning). I do not feel pressure to go out and shop for the perfect dress or spend $150 getting a killer hair cut or spend 4 hours finding the perfect shoes.
I will note that it is very nice to be in a secure relationship, loved by a man who loves our little darling so much that he is perfectly content with life right now. Michael definitely makes the transition to motherhood a much easier one. While I do hope that I go back to having time to make myself look presentable, I hope I can continue to value my family and my God far more than any material stuff I might be tempted to put ahead of them.
On a lighter note, I was babbling along with Annie, saying "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma" and I'll be darned if she didn't "repeat" after me, "Da-da-da-da"! What?! I mean, she is supposed to say MOMMY FIRST! Sigh. Annie is quite grabby these days, taking things right off the shelf at the grocery store if I'm not careful! She also thinks a fun game is to grab peoples' noses. This has made me much more vigilant in keeping her nails trimmed.
I am happy to report that Annie's digestive problems have been all but solved! We don't use the reflux medication anymore and she isn't throwing up. We also have had normal diapers lately! Thanks to some vegan websites, I have found delicious egg- and milk-free recipes for cupcakes (that involve only two ingredients and hide some super nutritious veggies under a layer of chocolately frosting!) and for pancakes... two things I was missing on my mostly-mediterranean diet. I have not found a good substitute for cheese, but soy yogurt is great in fruit smoothies and since it is grilling season, we have just been eating a lot of chicken and veggies with potatoes or rice.
Well that's all for the updates for now! Until next time...
Katie- I was totally one of "us"... then I became a mommy and suddenly I was one of them. I was lucky to get out of my PJs at all. Joe always looked so adorable in his little OshKosh overalls... It's gets better... when they get older and are more independent. I actually have time to take a shower and put on make up and wear... clean clothes :-) You're beautiful no matter what you're wearing!
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