I'm finding that with motherhood I'm changing and growing more than I expected. With each day Olivia make leaps in her development, and as I watch her grow I do the same. I've learned to slow down and really appreciate the little things in life. I don't need an extravagant anything. I'm surrounded by beautiful and amazing things every day that make me cherish the life we've built.
1) Snuggle time. I've always been a snuggler, but cozying up to my baby girl brings a whole new meaning to it.
2) My morning cup of coffee. If I have the opportunity to sit down and drink my cup of coffee, without my arms full of laundry, phones ringing, etc, my day is already off to a stress-free start.
3) Pumping. As crazy as that may sound, I'm a breastfeeding mom who works full time. Because of that I pump when I'm away from Olivia to keep production up and store enough for her to eat. These 20 minute breaks during the work day allow me to unwind, look at photos and videos of my daughter, and remember that I am primarily a mother.
4) A jog. I've always loved running but I haven't quite figured out how to work it back into my regular routine. So once or twice a week when I can get out for a run it's very peaceful and cleansing.
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| Rugged Maniac Mud Run on Saturday |
5) 10 am talk time. Olivia is a chatty Cathy! She loves to gurgle and coo, squeak and talk back to me. I love it any time of day, but we've found that she is generally most talkative in the morning.
6) Crazy spurts of energy from my dogs. When I get home from anywhere, even if I'm gone for 30 minutes, my dogs go INSANE when I get home. I love watching them run out into the yard, often around in circles, being maniacs.
7) Evening family time. Once dinner is done it's nice to spend some time with Doug and Olivia before bed. It's usually quiet time, maybe with a little chatter from Olivia. We can all unwind before turning on a lullaby and putting the baby to bed.
8) Which brings me to my next simple pleasure. A glass of wine and some adult time with Doug. Even though the conversations may still focus on baby things, we still get to be what started all of this: a couple.
9) A clean house. Since my return to work it's nearly impossible to keep my house clean. I'm still a freak with keeping things organized, so it's never cluttered, but with 2 dogs and a cat the hair and dust does get a little out of hand. Thankfully we have a cleaning lady who visits bi weekly to keep up on the dusting, bathrooms, floors and windows so I can focus on more important things (like spending time with my daughter)
10) Family. Now more than ever I appreciate my parents, siblings, and extended family. I understand more the work and dedication that goes into building a strong family. I'm also lucky enough that my 19-year-old sister is living with us as our nanny. I can leave for work knowing my daughter is getting cared for in the best way. If she's sick, I don't need to leave work. I can spend every extra minute with her rather than having to work in time to pick her up/drop her off to and from a daycare. This set up is ideal and I will never take it for granted.
It may sound boring to some, but to me these little things mean the world.
