Put On Your Gloves

I'll start by saying it is not every day that I have days like this one. I "slept in" until 7a.m. and drank my two cups of coffee in bed while listening the my favorite (the only) Dr. Charles Stanley. His sermons alway rekindle a fire in my soul and a recharged love for God. His sermons also always leave me asking a few questions as well, but that is not the point of this post today.

I took a great shower - ladies you know what I mean, fellas get your mind out of the gutter. The kind of shower where you immediately put back on a P.J. type outfit, you don't dry your hair, and definitely don't put on make up. Then I scanned the house for what to "get done" first. My husband urged me not to clean but to instead truly take the day off by relaxing, recharging, and some other word that indicates "mental health and wellness" - the kind of day off I haven't done, all YEAR and definitely don't have time for on Saturdays.

Then came an email. This email was an invitation to participate in consigning Spring/Summer baby clothes in "My Kid's Attic" upcoming sale. I shopped in this kind of sale last Fall and was amazed at the amounts of kids' clothing at such affordable costs. My friend Jackie dubbed the event "Mommy Fight Club" seeing as how it takes place in a basement level HOT showroom and caters to about 200 mommies all on the hunt for smocked dresses, onesies, and baby gear at shockingly low prices. It can get brutal but this year, as a consigner, I am excited to dive in head first, get my top pics, and yes, volunteer as an organizer and check out Mom - during 2, 6 hour shifts.

Friends of mine have recently posted about the guilt associated with the "weening" process of breastfeeding. I am experiencing a different yet similar kind of guilt (sort of). I am having a hard time being ok with the fact that I will be selling/giving away my babies' infant clothes. I don't know why... most people spend a lot of time looking for opportunities to clean up and clean out. I am usually looking for the same opportunities. However, as I DIG through the 4 tall Rubbermaid pink plastic bins full of dresses and sleepers I am finding it hard to "let go." Each garment has a memory attached to it. I can see photographs in my mind of the day H&L wore a particular garment and my heart kind of twinges. "This is what they wore to their first eye appointment," or "this is an outfit my friend Tracy gave them at their baby shower." I admit their are a few pieces I just can't give or sell away. Ironically, the garments that would make me the most money are just not pieces I am willing to sell i.e. smocked dresses, designer onesies, etc. I may never have a baby girl again in which to "reuse" these clothes but I want a few outfits for the twins to be able to have one day to hold up and say, "I wore this tiny thing!?" And no question about it, I will NEVER rid myself of anything labeled "preemie." That handful of clothes is just too precious... and doesn't take up that much room in their closet anyway.

So that is the plan. This Saturday I will load up my car with a few dozen outfits and make the trip to the place where the "fight" will take place. Of course, all of this sorting through and trips down "Memory Lane" means I am officially in training for next Fall's "fight."

Our Weekend

We had such a great fun filled weekend.

Friday night we visited with some friends and about 12 other couples for "Weird Beer Night." The object of the game was in the name of the game. We sampled 10 unusual beers that couples brought and gave them scores based on a few factors. There were also delicious cheeses, crackers, and taco soup. I stayed up a little later than I normally do but it was really fun. I even ended the night by singing lead to "21 Guns" and "Dirty Little Secret" during Rockband.

Saturday we pretty remained as lazy bones around the house. We watched "Sunshine Cleaners" and ate leftovers until 2 in the afternoon when we decided it was time to get up and do something. So we all bundled up and drove to see our friends the Spiveys in Wetumpka. You know there are those afternoons that you just feel like driving outside of the city? Their home and land surrounding is beautiful and it was nice to see their sweet baby. Saturday night we watched, well started, the movie State of Play. So far it is really suspenseful but around 10:30 we had a crying baby who needed some extra attention and a breathing treatment before really going night night. By 11 it was just time to "get in it" as we call going to bed at our house.

Then this morning, my suspicions became real concern. These babies might have pink eye. I don't know yet if it is viral or allergic but they both are a little swollen and have the yuckies after they sleep. Once I clean them up it isn't that gross and they aren't complaining or rubbing their eyes. So maybe it isn't pink eye? I really don't know. I do know that to take them to the church nursery would not be kewl. So here were are this morning, playing in their warm nursery, with blocks, and books, and plush animals. Their favorite toy these days is the Noah's Arc and pairs of animals they got for Christmas. I love that every animal says, "RAAAAAAAAAARRRR" according to Lily. Lions, bears, tigers, rabbits, birds, and butterflies. I love that when Harper is ready for her nap she throws down whatever she is playing with and sprawls herself on the floor and start sucking her thumb and humming, "hmmmmmm. hmmmmmm" like "come on mama, you see me soothin' myself, now put in my crib!"

The rest of the day I will be doing chores and hoping to have some time to curl up and finish "The Lovely Bones." Also, I have a recipe to try for some home made soup. I'll give it a go and post the recipe if it is any good.

Happy Sunday all! Can you believe we are almost half way through January?

Playing Outside

Here is a little video, short and sweet, that I put together to show our latest favorite afternoon activity. At first, the babies were unsure about walking around on the grass, so different from tile and hard wood floors, but once they got used to it they cried when it was time to come inside! It is in moments like these that I am most thankful for my beautiful children.

Song "Letters From Far Away" by Coldplay

more about "Playing Outside", posted with vodpod

Things to do, later.

What is it about me that needs and thrives off of structure, planning, cleanliness, and organization yet dreads some activities that involve just that?

A few examples:

I don't mind dusting and vacuuming our bedroom but I hate washing dishes and cleaning the bathrooms.

I love to pencil in appointments and due dates on my calendar but I hate opening gmail and reading through my emails especially if I have to respond.

I love the feeling after a great walk or workout at the gym when I happen to go but I hate, really hate, thinking all day, "I NEED to go this afternoon" so much that a lot of times I talk myself out of it.

I love to buy a few new garments or accessories every once in a while when I find something great unexpectedly or on sale but when I have a gift card or money saved up and go out to look for something I get overwhelmed and want to give up 10 minutes after I start shopping.

My car needs gas but I hate stopping to get it and the same goes for grocery shopping... i love food and a stocked and organized pantry/fridge but I usually dread the grocery store.

And I love my little dog more than any other little dog in the world but why do I say for weeks, "I need to get her groomed" or "bathe her and comb her out 1,000,000 times" before I make the appointment?

Those are just to name a few.

I really do wonder why I have so many inner hesitations about little stuff that really aren't that big of a deal. It is odd. Or is it normal? What are some things you dread or put off that make you feel good once you get it done?