No Babysitter Needed!

If any of my friends ask me what to do before their little ones arrive my list is always the same.

1. Enjoy sleeping on your stomach because after 20 weeks you probably won't be able to again until after your little one is born... and that will feel like forever.

2. GO OUT! Go out on dates, go walk around a store, heck, go through the drive through for a burger and fries. Remember that feeling of simply walking out of the house when you decide to go because it won't happen again probably for another 13 years.

3. Go on dates because its harder after the baby comes and you probably will go out and only talk about the baby so it's not the same.

4. Enjoy sleeping period. Because after about 30 weeks you'll be too uncomfortable to sleep well until the baby is born and you've healed up a bit... but the baby doesn't care and they will keep you awake anyway.

I miss being able to just jump in my car and go out sometimes. I've substituted shopping in store for online shopping. It's okay because I paid for Amazon Prime, which is awesome, so I don't pay for shipping. And it's 2 day shipping that I get with my yearly fee.... and honestly my days are so busy things arrive at my door before I realized two days have passed! Not surprising. It's amazing how long it takes me to remember and find time to do stupid things. Example, there is a picture over my couch that has been slipping from it's frame. I noticed it about a month ago. By the time I have a chance to fix it, I've completely forgotten about it... and I re-notice it when I have a fussy or hungry baby in my arms and then I can't do a thing about it!

I don't spend money on myself online shopping really. Mostly it's stuff we need for a Chloe. I drastically underestimated how many burp cloths we would need for her. But then again I had no idea that she would have acid reflux so it's not my fault.

The last thing I bought for myself was a crochet hook (with a 40% off coupon) and some yarn... on a rare day when Chloe and I made it out of the house.

And that brings me to my point of today. The best thing I've discovered since having a baby (that I wish I had discovered before I had a baby.... like when my husband was deployed and I was sitting around bored, lonely, and pregnant for 4 months) is crocheting! When Chloe goes down for a nap and I am too burnt out from wrestling her down for a nap to clean, then I crochet.

It's a relaxing thing for me to do that doesn't cost much money, I don't have to leave the house to do it, and I don't need to hire a babysitter. Plus I can pick it up and put it down whenever I need to. Added bonus it keeps my hands and mind busy enough that I'm not snacking or checking the refrigerator 30 times!

And of course there is that feeling of accomplishment when you finish a project. I'm working on blankets right now (1 of 5 that I'm planning before I can work on some for myself!) and I just love watching it build up. Crochet tends to high five you as you go along, it's like 'Go you! Look what you're making! You're awesome!'

(blanket as of last night before Chloe fell asleep. day 2)

Give Me A Tiara, I'm Gonna Pageant Queen Cry

Biggest victory in my married life yesterday. No, it wasn't giving birth. Yesterday I made a meal that my husband genuinely ENJOYED. He will try anything I make so long as it is compiled of ingredients approved by picky toddlers, so it's hard to impress him. Not to mention my mother in law is a phenomenal cook. Every time we visit or she visits I manage to gain a minimum of 4lbs in a week. Sometimes more.

Back to the point. I made pot roast. This is a huge step for me anyway because I always look at roasts and think they are way too much money and predict I will mess it up and it will be awful and I will have just wasted a ton of money and then be miserable. But I went for it. And to quote my husband. "That was awesome. You did a great job." No exclamation points because he is pretty laid back. His words were sincere but not nearly as enthusiastic as I would have made them. However I do tend to be a bit over the top and dramatic - a trait our daughter inherited.

I looked over at him and practically teared up as I said "I've been waiting my entire life to hear you say that." And I was completely serious. He replied with a typical, 'You haven't known me your entire life.' And I told him "Fine, our entire married life. Don't ruin this moment for me." Then me and my victory pants walked back into the kitchen to celebrate and be gross and eat a ton more food.

Of course the roast was delicious but I managed to under cook the potatoes. I have never undercooked potatoes. I am Irish and had a serious potato craving during my pregnancy. Apparently I can never get everything all together at once.

If you're curious this is the roast recipe. You should probably make one.