This is Water

If this hasn't shown up in your news feed yet, allow me to pretend that we're Facebook friends and I'm tagging you as I post it. I saw it come up a few times before I clicked on it, and when I finally did, I was only planning to open it in another tab and then leave it until tomorrow. (This is something I do often when I find cool things I want to check out just as I'm trying to go to bed... and almost as often, it results in a browser with so many tabs open that I eventually lose patience and close out the whole thing without reading any of them. I sort of have issues with multitasking on the internet, by which I mean that I have to learn to stop doing it.)

Anyway. The point of that story was that when I opened the video in a new tab, it started playing automatically, and after just a few seconds I found myself not wanting to pause it. It's intriguing, eye-opening, and inspiring. If you take ten minutes to watch it, I feel pretty confident in promising you that you won't be disappointed.

Passion

Not too long ago, there was a weekend when my husband found himself working a lot of overtime and as a result, I found myself watching a lot of shows on Netflix. By 2 am on Sunday I had run through all my go-to shows and movies and by necessity had to move on to random documentaries. Bankrupt pro athletes, Mary Pickford, the diet industry, etc., etc., etc… I ran through them all and nothing really caught my interest until I stumbled on Jig- a film documenting several dancers’ journeys to the Irish Dancing World Championships.

I consider myself to be a dance enthusiast. I have dabbled in pretty much every type of dance there is at one point or another (including Irish dancing). I started young and haven’t stopped yet, but I’ve got nothing on these kids fighting to become World Champion.

When the show began, I felt like I could relate to most of the dancers and their never-ending cycle of classes and rehearsals. Dance teachers ‘round the world yell at their students to point their toes and I’ve been there and done that. Half an hour in, however, the mother of a particularly voracious 15 year old told how her son used to pull back the carpets in their living room and attempt to perfect the same reel for 7 or 8 hours a day. Of his own volition. After that point in the documentary it became startlingly clear- I never have been, and most likely never will be, that passionate about anything. Ever. Possibly not even about my future children (sorry baby I am currently growing, but it’s true).

That’s just a depressing thought right there. Of course, this all happened at 2:30 in the morning and since everything in my world seems so dramatic after midnight, I shouldn't be surprised... but still. Now the thought has popped in my head and I can’t take it back. It’s out there, floating in my universe.

Well, I’ve had several good nights sleep since then and have decided something. Yes, the world might be a more beautiful and safe and convenient and creative place because of all those passionate people out there, and I sure do appreciate all the hard work they do, but my world is a delightfully calm and (dare I say) lazy place. In the best way possible. No, I’m not the World Irish Dancing Champion, but I am going to perform in dance recital about a month before I'm due to give birth, so I am declaring myself Pregnant Tap Dancing Champion. Huzzah!

It's Friday!

Have you read this precious post from CJane? I love the way she describes her oldest daughter.  I love that her daughter's favorite show to watch is Rescue Bots.  I love that when her daughter finally looks at herself in the mirror, all dolled up, she just giggles with delight.  How often do you look at yourself in the mirror and actually feel giddy about how beautiful you are?  The times are few and far between, but they are so memorable. 

Cara shared this link and it's right up my alley.  A mother says this about her five-year-old daughter, "I wanted her to know the value of these amazing women who had gone against everything so she can now have everything."  Think of how much these photos will mean to her as she grows up. 

I am addicted to the song, You Belong to Me, from The Jerk.  Here's a cover from Zooey Deschanel and Ben Schwartz. Listen to it on repeat for a little bit.  Or just once in real life and then let it be stuck in your head for hours, which is where I may be at right now.

My sister got me this amazing necklace for my 30th (after I maybe pinned it five times).  It is my new favorite inanimate object.  You Are My Sunshine is the song my Grandmother sang to my mom, my mom sang it to us, and it is my favorite song to sing to my nephews. They don't have this version anymore (great timing sister of mine!), but they have this beautiful square version. The other stuff on the site (mimosa by m.e.) is also great.  Other favorites are here, here and here.

And lastly, I'm pretty much down with everything Kacy writes, but I love her posts on Babble.  Especially this one, "Our Favorite Fictional Moms and Why They Could Never Be Real." It's pretty spot on.

Confessions of a First Time Mom

I confess that when I was pregnant I broke our bed. I was just laying in bed reading, not even moving, when I heard some cracking noises, and then bam- the bed broke in half and I went crashing to the ground. The piece of wood that broke was directly underneath me so there was no question that it was my enormous girth that snapped it in two. My self esteem has never recovered.

I confess that after numerous birthing classes when we learned we just needed to think of happy colors and mentally open our birth canal, this is what my childbirth experience ended up looking like-

Seriously, I was so pumped and ready to have my baby in a stream while someone played the pan flute. Unfortunately, it didn't quite turn out that way.

I confess that I refused to buy new underwear when I was pregnant even when my undies started to look like a string around a pot roast. I have about five pair of underwear that I only wear to the gym, I've had them since high school (gross I know) and I refused to accept that I needed bigger ones. One night I was changing into my work out clothes, I got my underwear on and I saw in the mirror reflection that my husband was doubled up, on the floor, literally crying with silent laughter at the sight of me in those underwear. At that point, I couldn't really tell what they looked like so I asked him what was wrong. It took him a few minutes to stop laughing long enough to answer, "They don't cover the top third or bottom third of your bum. They only cover a tiny strip in the middle." 

I confess that I was totally planning on cloth diapering until I saw this slideshow. And then I was like sorry about that mother earth . . . how about I just donate to the Sierra Club or something and we'll call it even?

I confess that I use motherhood as an excuse for daily Diet Coke consumption. Whenever someone in church makes a comment that caffeine is really just the tears of Satan, I'm like yeah that's adorable but my baby makes me really sleepy....

I confess that after I spent pregnancy basically planning my run for president of the Le Leche League and cramming statistics about breastfeeding down everyone's throat, the best day of my motherhood so far was the day I decided to quit nursing. 

I confess that I go to great lengths to delay grocery shopping, one of which includes me eating my son's baby food. My favorites include baby yogurt, these wagon wheels that essentially taste like giant Honeycombs, and a particularly enticing pineapple-mango puree....

Now I'll say ten hail mary's and call it good. 

Relax and Snuggle

We got back recently from a wonderful trip to San Diego! We had a great time, especially at the beach, but we are glad to be back home also.

I was looking through some pictures we took at the San Diego zoo and thought the animals have it right sometimes.

This panda was surrounded by people, but it was just relaxing and eating bamboo. There was another panda that was spread out taking a nap in the shade. Pandas know how to relax!

Snacking and relaxing.

What animals are cuter than a mommy and baby koala snuggling in a tree? Not many- the zoo has a lot of animals, and these koalas were probably my favorite, followed by the cappybaras.

Mommy love.

Take a cue from these animals. They live in a stressful environment with people staring and yelling at them all day. What does the panda do? Kick back, relax, and have a snack. What do the koalas do? Snuggle together and take a nap.

Our lives can be very stressful, a lot of the stress being caused by other people, work, and the daily grind of life. Even in the midst of stress, you can take a moment to put your feet up, take a deep breath, eat a snack for energy, and relax. Doing this every day for a couple minutes will help you get a little perspective, have a better attitude, and feel more energized.

You should also take some time every day to appreciate the people in your life. Snuggle with the ones you love. Give your spouse a big hug and kiss when you see them. Sit with your kids and have a good talk. Cuddle your little baby close during nap time. Call your parents and have a nice chat. Get a friend to go on a walk with you. There are lots of ways to 'snuggle'.

Take time every day for yourself and for the ones you love in your life.