Bedtime Rituals

Miss Lucy hates going to bed.  It started when we put her in own room at 6 months.  She can tell if you are taking her to her room for a diaper change or playtime, or if she is going down for the dreaded nap.  She cries, clings to you and in all ways acts completely pathetic and heartbroken.

We have a nighttime ritual.  Feed, bathe, change, toothbrush, read.  And then we put her down with her "baby" which is really an Ugly Doll and listen to her cry for 5-10 minutes.  After nearly 9 months, this schedule hasn't changed.  She still cries, every single time.  We wait to put her blankets on after she falls asleep, otherwise they are thrown out of the crib in disgust.

And so, one night, when I went to put her blankets on, my heart melted with this dimly lit view.  How sweet is this?  Lucy is not a fan of the baby when it isn't bedtime, because she associates it with her crib.  However, it is her comfort all night long.  After she calms down, we hear her talking to it,

"no, no baby."
"mmmm, yum, yum, yum."
"peek a boo."

and she usually wakes up peacefully talking to her doll.

Pictures like these, make trying days and months worth it.  And by trying months, I mean Lucy has been sick in January.  All month long.  Between a black eye, a 2.5 week cold, and an ear infection, we are about done in.

Thank goodness for sweet, sleeping moments, and Ugly Dolls, to make my heart sing.

Dear Today

I really love you.  I do.  So many sweet and simple and silly things happened.

Like Lucy picking up my phone, and pretending to laugh.  Or taking a tissue and wiping her own nose.

Or when I was on the phone with a sweet (apparently young) customer service rep, who was so surprised when she found out my age.  It was complimentary and offensive, all at the same time.  "What, you are THAT old, but you sound so, so, young."  Yep, I'm 32 and fabulous.

Or when I found out I have been selected to be in PDN Top Knots issue.  That is kinda a big deal for me.

Or when I found out that one of my weddings will be featured in Style Me Pretty.  That is also super cool.

Dear Today, I ate really healthy, and I felt good.  Veggie chili and homemade sourdough bread for lunch, mmmmmm.  Tikka Masala, brown rice, and veggie/barley salad for dinner?  Even better.  It makes me feel good to be in control of my life, eating healthy and delicious food (well, Lucy ate chocolate pudding).

I ran 30 minutes.  For you runners out there, that is small potatoes.  For me, it was like climbing Everest.  3 months ago I couldn't even fathom running a mile.  I feel strong and powerful.  I feel empowered.  I'm so proud of myself.  Today I did 60 minutes of cardio total.  Go me.

and I was sad that I couldn't read, "The Book Thief", because Scott left it at work.  But it is probably just a well because I wanted to read it in the bath, and inevitably I would get water on it, and ruin it for him.

Today, I saw the sun, and there was no inversion and the snow melted.

I spent some time with an old friend, and by old, I mean we have been friends for 13 years, because we are NOT old.

I watched Lucy give herself a chocolate mustache with her pudding, I gloried in her new, darling haircut, and we played peek-a-boo and talked about colors.

Today, I ate dinner with Scott, and sent him off to night class,
while I bathed and read to Lucy (she surprised me with a choo choo when we came to the train; Scott secretly taught her). 

So, Today was a good, good day.  Thanks a whole bunch for being awesome.

-Lindsey

Goals

This year I'm not making resolutions.  But I am working on goals.  A lot of these goals I have already started.  Some of them I haven't.  Most are focused on having a more harmonious and healthy lifestyle.  Something I struggle with, when I'm so busy.  But I thought I would lay it out there, in an attempt to keep me accountable.  I feel good about all of these, and although the list is long, I think it is totally manageable.  I'll divide them in categories, because I'm silly like that.

Healthy Lifestyle
-Go to bed before 11 (this is so, so, so hard for me.  Right now it is 10:49, so I should wrap this up quick!)
-Exercise 5 times a week (I have been doing this since November)
-Drink 64 ounces of water a day
-Cook 4 healthy meals a week (I have been really good at this, but I'm not in busy season yet)
-Cook 1 new meal a week
-Lose 25lbs.  The baby weight wont come off.  No matter what I do.  I'm dedicated to losing it, because I just don't feel comfortable in my skin.  It has been 2 years since I have been able to fit into my old jeans, and it will happen.  The natural, healthy way.
-Run a 5K with Scott and Lucy

Work Goals
-Take on less work
-Raise my prices
-Get featured in some of my favorite wedding blogs
-Shoot more film
-Do more personal projects (because I have more to say than just weddings)

Lucy Goals
-Stay off the computer during the day (except for naps, which is my work time)
-Go on more outings
-Be more in the moment

Spiritual Goals
-Pray more, read my scriptures more
-Be less judgmental.  I'm trying to remember that everyone has their own hard road, and I don't always know what it is.

Big Goals
-IVF (this is really freaking me out, but I want to do it before Lucy turns 2)

Scott Goals
-Don't always talk about work together
-More dates!

Woah, a lot right.  Not really.  Okay, maybe, kind of.  But I want to phase out my hectic, don't ever eat, or sleep, hardly ever see Scott lifestyle and move into something simpler.  I used to pshaw the whole housewife thing, but I see a simplicity and balance, that comes with spending my days with Lucy and making sure my family is healthy and whole. 

So there you go.  I don't know what the year will bring, but I hope it finds me happy and healthy.  And it is now past 11.  Shoot!

On the Move

When did she become so big or so good at walking?  Lucy is changing from a baby into a toddler.  I see it every day.  And here she is in her Christmas PJ's.  I didn't take a single photo on Christmas (Lucy was sick and crying the whole time).  You can see though, she is pretty cute in them.  I love these jammies because her big belly sticks out.

Daddy's Girl

Scott Reading the Grinch to Lucy

About 2 weeks ago Lucy decided that Scott is awesome and me not so much.  I tried to not take this personally, but I kind of did.  While I love seeing her love her daddy, it broke my heart that she would push me away and say, "no, no momma."  Only Scott could comfort her, pick her up, change her diaper, play with her.  She only wanted to sit on his lap, give him kisses and hugs.  

The fact that it even happened surprised me.  I guess I had been Lucy's comfort source so long, I didn't realize she was capable of suddenly switching sides.  Apparently this is normal.  Baby Center said so.  I have a tendency to think things will last forever so, I despaired that she would never want me again.  I guess as a parent, it is sometimes hard not be selfish.  I'm learning.  And things are now back to normal, with Lucy loving on both of us.  These last 2 days have been really sweet with Lucy.  She has wanted me to read to her, sit on my lap, and will come over for hugs and kisses.  But I'm sure this isn't the last we have seen of her favorites.  All my online research told me to beware the teenage years where girls love their daddies best.  I guess that means I need to have a boy, right?

Lucy's Words

If you have spent any time around Lucy you know she loves to talk.  As in talk, and talk and talk.  She will be sitting around the table, with all the adults, and jump right in.  You might say she dominates the conversation.  It's one of my favorite things she does right now.  It's so cute.  She is really saying something and she assumes you know what it is.  She knows what she is saying, because she will repeat herself while looking at you.  She will ask questions, raise her voice, make it go higher, look you straight in the eye and talk for 5 minutes straight.  If Scott and I are talking in the car, she will jump right in, just another participant in the conversation.  If we are sitting with family for Sunday dinner, she will talk until we stop and listen to her.  She has lots of jabbery words, mixed in with understandable ones, and there is so much variety.  I can only imagine how much she will be talking when she is two.  As far as real words, she says,

Here you go (she says this when she wants something or is giving us something)
Baby
Hi
Hello (ello)
Bye Bye
Ollie
Momma
Dadda
Ohhhhhh (accompanied by a hug)
Uh oh
Peak a boo (beekaboo)
Boot
Sock
Doggy
Banana (nana)
No (no, no, no)

My favorite right now is ello ollie.  It cracks me up every morning.  I need to get her sweet voice on tape.  It melts my heart over and over again.  Except for the no, no, no part.  Then we wonder whose child she is.