Thankfulness

Today is the day after we reflect on what we are thankful for. (this day is also ironically the day many people push and shove others in line to get the best deal on material items-- I'm definitely not involving myself in crazy tradition.) As part of my new business venture, I've been taking 5-10 minutes each evening for daily gratitude to really focus on what's great in my life - to give thanks. I have to write down 3 things I'm thankful for, and what I have found is that that a routine of practicing gratitude is really good for the soul. For starters, I am amazed that never have trouble writing down three things - and it makes me very happy to think of the depth and breadth of things I have to be thankful for. My beautiful family, random acts of kindness, a good book or article. A heartwarming song, getting in touch with an old friend, the hope of something new.

I've been very focused on the law of attraction lately - which is outlined in a variety of forms like The Secret, The Abundance Book, and by many speakers and groups across the world. I've always believed in it, but I'm really starting to make sure I put it into practice on a daily basis. It takes patience, and it takes perseverance. I find that the more I focus on the good, the more good things come. The more I focus on what is lacking, the more things are lacking. It's truly interesting! Have you ever tried this for yourself?

So here I go - into the holiday season with a full spirit and lots of dreams and goals - and I will use my utmost diligence and strength within me to focus truly on what is important. I have a vision and I. WILL. GET. THERE. First, my family and friends who are like family. Alongside this in parallel my health (so I have as much time as possible with my friends and family.) Health = mental + physical. I need to be in a good state if I'm going to maximize my time. Then it's about spending the time doing the things I love, and recognizing that not every person or situation is going to fit perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle. That's okay. Imperfection is okay. If I focus on the positive, the imperfections don't really matter anyway, do they??!

Less than 4 weeks until Christmas. Time for joy in our homes and hearts, and giving to those who are less fortunate. I have been reflecting a ton and have some serious writing to do over the next month if I'm going to hit my 37 blogs per year!

Sleep well everyone, and think about what thankfulness means to YOU on a daily basis. Be thankful and focus on the positive. You'll get so much in return that you'll be glad that you did.

Building a Business

Building a business is riveting. It is fascinating, frightening, and downright amazing. My dad is an entrepreneur, and I've always known I had it in me to try something. Instead of wanting, now I'm doing, and that feels pretty great.

It's a test of resiliency, a test of character. Every decision, every step is my own. I choose how much I want to pour into it, when I need a break, and when I need to push through to reach another goal. As my cousin had said to me, I will feel so great because I will have created something that didn't exist before. She is totally right. It's slow going at times, but when there are successes, they feel like huge leaps. They make me giddy! When there are challenges, it feels like 2 steps back (sometimes 3). But I learn and iterate along the way, tweak my style and overall hope for personal and professional growth.

A former co-worker once said to me she thinks every person needs to own a business in a lifetime, because of the individual growth opportunity it provides. I think she's totally right.

Short and Sweet

This is just a short and sweet post to say how EXCITED I am about focusing on what the future has in store. I always have felt a connection to the future, as well as a nostalgic connection to the past. Lately, I've been feeling very future-focused, which is great.

We are having another baby in April (!), I am taking the GRE in 2 weeks to apply to another grad school program, and I am building a business - all great things that are life goals as well. I find that instead of dreaming, I should be doing, and while it is less certain than just being still, it is also more stimulating and rewarding.

What does your future have in store for you? I'd love to hear it! And I'll continue to update you on my future as it becomes my present; I promise. Because as fun as it is to live in the past or dream in the future, the MOST IMPORTANT is to be present with those you love and who make you laugh. Laughter in the present is the best medicine. :)

The Girl on the Plane

(written about a month ago)
I just returned to my hotel room after an exhilirating weekend in Phoenix. This conference - the things I learned and excitement generated in me are astounding. And the weekend started with a little girl named Joey. I sat next to her on the plane - and when I first got on the plane I wasn't so sure. I was excited to get away for the weekend for some "me" time, because as much as I adore my family, it was going to be nice to curl up in a ball on the plane and sleep, with no distractions or conversation. But, as I approached my seat I saw two little blond girls in my row; they looked like twins. The row behind had an equally blond younger sister and blond mom - clearly genetically blessed family.

I quickly learned the girls were 5, 4, and 2 (as they eagerly told me). Crazy mama burnt out with 3 little girls on the plane! When they started talking my ear off, their mom jokingly said, "Yeah, you won't get a word in the entire flight." I'm thinking, "Oh no, what happened to my kid-free me time?"

However, they did let me sleep for awhile, and when I woke up for the second half of the flight, little Joey became my pal. She started showing me all of her things, her stickers and drawings, and offered me a Hello Kitty sticker for my notebook. At one point, she wanted to look out the window, so I told her she could come closer. She literally climbed right up on my lap! Her mom asked if it was okay, and I said it was; it was so nice to have this little person to talk to and share things with. She snuggled in with me and we pointed at the mountains as we flew southwest.

She continued to go between her seat and my lap for the next short while, looking at me when her ears popped, asking for my help to pack her books in her bag. It was nice to perform these motherly duties even when I wasn't actually the mother. Maybe once you do these things for your own child it's obvious to all little humans?

At the end of the flight she asked, "Are you flying with us to San Francisco?" And I said, "No, I will stay in Phoenix." Her face got serious and she looked up and said, "Oh. I'm going to miss you."

It was the sweetest melt-your-heart moment from a complete stranger - a little girl with joy and love for the world. And she was headed to her new home in San Francisco, and I wouldn't see her again. This sort of positivity and love was a fantastic start to my weekend where I learned all things necessary to launch my new business. (and it's launching! more on that later.)

Thanks, Joey, for the day brightening moment. Even when I didn't think I needed it, it definitely felt right in my heart. <3 p="">

Kennedy at 18 Months! (couple weeks late)

18 whole months with this little lady?! Can you believe it??! In some ways it feels like life before Kennedy was an entire decade ago. In other ways, it feels like we are still getting used to this life, this beautiful life as mama and dada. And Lala (as she calls our sweet puppy, Callie).

Life at 18 months is pretty swell. Lots of smiles, lots of curls, more words every week. Personality extreme.

We're still finding our happy balance in this dance of life, but more on that later. For now, here is what she's doing, saying, and working on. I realize this is a long list, but I had to keep a mental note since so much has happened in the last 6 months, and this is really more for me to keep track of the little things. It's the little things, people.

• She signs "more" and "all done" regularly, and nods and shakes her head to communicate. She also made up this finger pointing sign and I swear she's communicating something to me, but I don't know what it is! She points repeatedly straight up in the air, then looks at me like I'm supposed to get it. It's funny. And we both laugh.
• She clears her throat back and forth with us and thinks it's hilarious! 
• She takes her taggie (blankie) and rests it on my shoulders to soothe me. She does the same with her stuffed giraffe and sometimes her teddy bear.
• She likes poking our eyes, nose, ears, and sometimes will plug both her ears and puff her cheeks out like a monkey! Again, a total ham. 
• One of our favorite games is "Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Kiss!" It's quite simple. I point to her eyes, nose, mouth, and then give her a big kiss on her face. And she just loves it! She blinks in anticipation. And she'll do it back to me (but still waits for me to kiss her after pointing to my mouth).
• She shrugs her shoulders and holds her palms up asking, "Where is it?" or to signal, "I don't know!"
• She loves running in place, on the steps, at the playground, at the top of her slide.
• She loves to dance to Raffi. Wiggling her body or if it's a slow song, twirling in a circle.
• She loves to be tickled. This is something I can't get over - I HATED being tickled growing up! I'm still scarred from all the tickle tortures! She loves especially when we tickle her on the back side of her calves. She'll try to do it to herself after we change her diaper, which is hilarious. "Tickle Time" by Sandra Boynton is a favorite.
• When I leave for work, she goes to the window on the couch and waves bye-bye. Almost every day, which makes going to work soooo much easier (and hard at the same time).
• Up was one of her first words, extending her arms for us to hold her. She used to whisper it repeatedly: "up up up up..." now it's more commanding, and sounds more like "Op! Op! Op!" Everything is more commanding with a toddler.
• She rests in a ball on the changing table, like in child's pose in yoga. No wonder they call it child's pose!
• Speaking of yoga, this girl is a seasoned pro! If we ask her to do yoga, she'll get into downward dog almost on command. Then she'll do a couple other random moves, sometimes child's pose or happy baby.
• She loves to go to the fridge and look for her own food. Her favorite requests are cheese "eeze", apples, "app", or bread "b b b".
• She also asks for water on the outside of the fridge (the dispenser). And every time she needs water, she asks for ICE. Ice was one of her first really clear, random words. Every time we have water, we need ice!
• She's great at knowing things are hot. She points at the oven, candles, the hot tub, fire, and says "hothothot"
• She's finnicky about what she wears. Not because of what it looks like, because it has to be comfy. Any sort of frilly dress or lacy top lasts about 2 seconds - and she throws a fit. T-shirt and leggings? Absolutely.
• She likes to pretend to sleep in her crib, and she asks for me to join her. So yes - we lay and play in the crib together. She points next to her and says "mama mama" so of course I get in!
• When we're going down the stairs, she instructs me to hold her hand and also to hold the railing. I can't just hold her hand, she stops and points at the railing, waiting for me to hold it.
• She's so careful with her baby, loving on her, cradling her, rocking her, kissing her, and patting her back.
• One of her favorite things to do with her daddy is play the chase game around the house. Whenever he makes a sudden movement she runs the other way and squeals with delight! So much fun being chased, and a big belly laugh being caught!
• She likes to take small objects (a crayon, a grape) and test us by putting it in her eye, her ear, her other ear, her nose - just looking at us and waiting for our reaction. Such a ham.
• This might be my favorite. She asks for water by making a water gulping sound. Almost every time! It's this deep sound of gulping water. I can't even replicate it. And we ask, "Would you like water?" Every time - yes.

This is truly a special age and I know those were a lot of little memories, but these are the things I'll want to look back on and tell her about, to close my eyes and remember when she's zipping around town as a teenager and I just hope for a few minutes a day. For now, we'll hold on to every moment. <3 div="">

What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid? (aka my new business adventure)

Questions have been swirling in my head lately. Questions, quotes, ideas, this fire and passion that I NEED to do something. For me, for my family. And maybe, for you. I've come across that answer, the thing I want to take on. 

• WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN'T AFRAID? - a nod to Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In
• The trending term, YOLO (you only live once)
• The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying: How do I make sure I look back on my life with no regrets?
• "We can do hard things + Love wins + We belong to each other" - Glennon Doyle Melton of Momastery

The list goes on and on. I am watching these people in the arena, and I'm thrilled to want to be there, too. I will be there.

My venture is all about promoting health + wellness, balanced nutrition, energy + performance, and giving our bodies what they need. Common side effects include weight loss, increased sleep quality, mental clarity. These things, in my book, help us focus on living a full life. 

More to come with details, but I want to share this journey with you because you may be interested! The products and company are awesome. Let me know if you want to hear more. I'd love to discuss and share this information with each and every one of you.

When I read Brene Brown's Daring Greatly, I made a promise to myself to "live and love with my whole heart." I wrote it down, and I'm going to live it. It's scary to take on a new challenge, to be vulnerable. At the beginning of her book, she quotes Theodore Roosevelt, and I think this really hits home: 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly.” -Theodore Roosevelt

It's Innate

Tonight, my daughter was drinking water from her water table. She does this often - I realize that most kids probably splash and play in the water, but she prefers to find a cup or container and literally fill it with water, pouring it into her mouth repeatedly. I think it's pretty cute. Then, after about two containers for herself, she filled the container and put it on the ground, and looked around and pointed at the water and called, "Lala. Lala."

This is what she calls our dog, Callie. And it's a great example of something that she does frequently. She wants to make sure that others are getting the same enjoyment out of the activity that she is doing. She wanted Callie to share the water, and she was SO CONCERNED that Callie was participating in her fun activity. (In the end, Callie came over and lapped up the water, which Kennedy thought was hilarious.)

Kennedy often does this, making sure that those around her are also enjoying her food, playing with her toy, and taking a turn on the slide. "Mama, mama," she says as she points down the slide because it's my turn. Or let's just sit on the step together, because that's fun.

It makes me (of course) proud to see her selflessness in action, especially in an (almost) 18-month old human who is the center of her own universe. And it makes me realize that our desire to share enjoyment with those around us is very much innate, within us from birth. We want others to feel happy when we are happy, and we want others to share in our excitement and joy. When we model selflessness for our kids, I think they just pick up on the behavior we are modeling. When they practice selflessness, they learn that it's fun.

So much of what we want - what we think we need - comes from what society tells us we need. Right now, Kennedy doesn't care if her room is sort of small, if our living room is also her playroom and also our office. She doesn't care about designer clothes or labels or fancy new things. She's got her priorities straight. She needs the basics - sleep, food, shelter - and love from the people who matter most. This world will show her what she will think she needs in so many ways, and it'll be our job to help create a balance between having some special things and having it all. Advertising and celebrities will do that to us. (As a side note, Simplicity Parenting is a GREAT book.) But, it's a great reminder for me as well to realize the happiest moments in my life are typically free, and typically meeting those basic needs: feeling rested, playing, eating good food, and spending time with the ones I love.

Mommy Blogs / Hands Free

So I have found a couple of 'mommy blogs' that I am really into lately. Two in particular - Momastery, which is witty, sassy, and a free, safe place to share ideas and remember that love always wins; and Hands Free Mama, which is this amazingly perfect place to ground and reground myself in what's important. It is very idealistic, but also very genuine and real. It is about the quest to have a Hands Free journey, which is a very enlightening, inspiring, and beautiful thing. I am like obsessed with these two blogs. Oh, how cool it would be to write a blog like these. Anyways, until my blogging gets that big, (ha!) I'll just have to reference some of their great ideas and keep them top of mind as I make promises to myself in a similar fashion.

The other day I was walking between buildings at work, which can take 10-15 minutes, so I often pull up Facebook and do a quick scroll. One friend had posted this article, and as I glanced at it, I found that I was being moved to tears. I got teary! So I closed it, and revisited it later, eating up every word:

The Day I Stopped Saying Hurry Up

I truly believe that parents learn as much or more from their kids, especially as they start to develop their little personalities and say things that make you think. This little girl has taught her mama (and now, all of her mama's readers) a very important thing: the beauty of the journey. I say it all the time, but it's so hard to live it. Especially when I am spending so much of my days looking forward to the evening, or my weeks looking forward to Friday, it's hard to get lost in the moment. I also remember when I was on maternity leave, I told a friend that I anticipated going back to work would be tough because I would be transitioning between two VASTLY DIFFERENT speeds every single day. At work we move at mach speed; at 17 months, things just go a lot slower. We stop to smell every rose. We read every book. Twice. We point to every face on the fridge, and then we do it again. We go down the toddler slide 50 times, and then 50 more times after lunch. We poke at our food. We pour tea into cups, we pop up the jack-in-the-box again and again. We change a diaper, and then learn it needs changing just 10 minutes later.

I also find myself so excited for the stages when Kennedy talks and shares her thoughts with me, but I also have to be mindful to not wish away this early, sweet age as well. I will never get it back. When I get into it, I think I do pretty well, even though the transition is exhausting. I'm just thankful I have people out there writing such insightful messages every so often to bring me back to where I need to be.

New England in Words and Pictures

So- our trip was amazing. Exhausting with a 1-year-old, but simply amazing. It was so great to have some days at home before the trip, to really recharge. And then, when we were on the trip I was between roles at work, so I had nothing to check in on during my vacation. I was able to simply unplug and enjoy time with our great friends and as a family.

The trip started with a flight into Boston, a night in Providence, but it was so rainy and dreary that we really just spent the night out to dinner (a small burger joint for sliders), driving by the Brown campus, and playing cards in our hotel room.

The next day we drove to Waterville Valley, NH, where the wedding would take place. The rehearsal dinner was a lobster boil right at Squam Lake, where the father of the groom boiled 50 whole lobsters. Amazing!!

The wedding was the next day, near the resort where we stayed. The bride, Mary, is a good friend and I was honored to be in her wedding. Here she's getting the finishing touches to her makeup.

The decor was very classy and well done. It all felt very New England.

This little chica had a lot of fun! She spent a lot of the evening walking on the dance floor, and it was funny watching her carry this pint glass around with all of her might. It poured (and hailed!) right before 

We stayed at this gorgeous quaint resort overlooking the water in our own condo. It was so picturesque! 

Mary and her dad dancing - absolutely beautiful.

I really enjoyed all the personal touches they put on the wedding day. It reminded me of our own wedding in that sense - which I can't believe was almost 4 years ago! Below, you can see Mary and Chris saying their "thank-yous" as well as getting ready to serve us some homemade ice cream they made, for dessert.

After the wedding was over, we still had almost an entire week in New England. We were going to head to Vermont, but first took a ride up the chair lift at the side of the mountain near the resort where we stayed for the wedding. This was still in Waterville Valley.

One of our first stops in Vermont was the Ben and Jerry's ice cream HQ and factory, where they gave us a tour. Miss K cared a LOT more about the bridge at the playground than the ice cream! Not so typical for a kid, but for her, the playground was delicious.

I just love her little ringlets and am so glad I captured this one. Just precious.

Another stop in Vermont was at Sugarbush Farms, where we pet and fed the animals, then went inside for a cheese making tour (and tasting for everyone but me!) and a maple syrup sampling. It was so low key and relaxed in the buildings where everyone was working hard to make cheese and syrup. I couldn't imagine this lifestyle of going to work at this quiet little farm every day. 

Kennedy had a few funny moments: here, she was shoving spaghetti in her mouth (she's been resisting bibs lately so we just go topless when we don't want to fight it). She enjoyed sitting on Crystal's lap during many meals, which turned into her associating Crystal with food. The entire trip, she would walk up to Crystal and sign "eat" to her, and continues to do it at home. Crystal's not so sure about this!

This moment below was one of my favorites. Kennedy is social. And when I say social, I mean VERY SOCIAL. Everywhere we go, she's turning around, waving to everyone, making sure every individual in the room gets their own individual wave from her. She's locking eyes and looking for expressions, hoping for a wave back. Below, there was a huge rock with soldier statues scattered about. We set her on the rock, and she went around to each statue and literally waved and kissed each statue on the rock. It was so comical! She didn't leave a single one out, and she gave them each equal attention. This trait will serve her so well in the years to come.

These pictures were taken in York, Maine - my favorite place on our trip (and Kennedy's first ocean visit).

Of course I needed to have an entire lobster. When in Maine...

The place we stayed in Kittery, Maine, was very nice. The owners lived upstairs from our floor of the house, which was perfectly homey. They also invited us out for a 4th of July boat ride to show us the river and ocean! It was a really fun time - and they have a little boy as well, named Beckett. They refer to his life jacket as a "boat coat" which I thought was a nice name for it. Below, Kennedy is wearing her boat coat!

The view of the house from the water - were were on the ground floor and the owners live in the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Our last night we went to Rye, New Hampshire for a second ocean visit. It was another beautiful beach, and Kennedy had just as much fun. This time we were prepared for her zeal with a full-blown swimsuit! She was not scared of the waves or the cold water. Meant for the ocean!

So... I'm down to 14 states left. It was such a wonderful trip with Kennedy, and with Crystal and Matt. They did so well traveling with a 1-year-old, and we had all of the wonderful inside jokes and themes during the trip that always seem to happen when traveling with good friends. I hope we travel with them again sometime soon! If you haven't been to these states, I'd highly recommend it.

The Little Lady and the Sea

Lots to update on from the past 2 weeks of staycation/vacation bliss! It's been the most glorious time, and reminds me how important it is to take these large chunks of time off (instead of just a day here or there, which is what I usually end up doing). It has felt like a summer break from reality! One more day off tomorrow, then I begin my new role at Target, which I am excited for as well. Change is good; I keep telling myself that.

First things first, my girl loves the ocean. THIS is an important fact, because it is yet another way she is just like her mommy. I have forever been taken aback by the wonder and amazement - the deeply nostalgic and sentimental feeling I have every time I am by the ocean. I love the lakes at home, but not in the same way I love the ocean.

So we went for her first trip to the ocean, and she danced with glee. 

I didn't even put a bathing suit on her because she's had a tactile issue with grass, and I figured the sand and cold water would keep her at bay. But she went bounding into the waves! She made her soexcited face, laughed, smiled, pointed, and we hobbled into the icy water hand in hand. It was a beautiful thing.

She got her clothes so wet that we ended in just the diaper, and she proceeded to run freely across the beach. With pure glee.

This all happened in York, Maine. The following day we did the same thing in Rye, New Hampshire and had an equal amount of excitement and participation, which makes me happy for our many ocean visits in the years to come. **More to come on the details of our New England adventure!