Fab Friday

<center> <a href="http://www.theeverydayjoys.com"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8318981570_be1642f6c4_o.png"></center>

- - -

Today, I want to talk about these fab things...

The house.
Last week, a full basement, and now, doorframes and floorboards! I feel like something much bigger should happen before I do a real house update, but we'll get there. For now, if you really want to see, follow me on Instagram.

Losing inches and exercisin'.

Since I last took my measurements at 3 weeks postpartum, I've lost 2 inches off of my waist, and an inch off of my hips. I've lost the most off of my thighs, which I won't complain about. Exercising is going really well. I've been doing 3x a week, and I'm ready to up it. I love getting a good workout in, and have been averaging a half-hour each time, burning roughly 200 calories. Not bad for a re-starter. :)

Flowers.

The husband got me flowers for our anniversary one week ago, and they're still going strong. There's something about having pretty flowers around the house, you know?

Nehemiah.

She Reads Truth just started a new study in Nehemiah. As always, loving it. She Reads Truth does it again. Join us, if you are looking for a good study!

Moms On Call.

Someone suggested I get the book 3 weeks or so ago, and I did. I read it in a day, took notes, and for half a day, I did what the schedule said. And that was it, because then, Gabe was doing decently with sleep. But...not so much lately. This entire week, he's been going less than 3 hours each stretch, and sometimes as little as 50 minutes. Talk about being exhausted. I started up MOC yesterday from the time we got out of bed, and it went SO WELL. However, I'm scheduling this post, so, I'll update on how the NIGHT went. (Update: It worked! Fed him at 8:30, went to bed at 9, and he was up only one time, at 1am!)

Your turn! What's FAB in your world lately? 

Stupid List

I'm a very organized person. In fact, in some areas of life, I'm too organized. Somehow, this only hit me last night, as I laid in bed, thinking of all the things I hadn't accomplished that day, and feeling defeated.

Gabe's decent sleeping has gone backwards, and he's been up anywhere from every 50 minutes to 3 hours since the weekend. It's taxing. I find myself getting frustrated, waking up with bad headaches, and just not performing as well as I need to.

There are times when being organized is very helpful. I mean, that's the point of being an organized person, right? It's supposed to help you. But then, there are times when, say, you're trying to nap because you're lacking sleep, and you just can't fall asleep.

I've never been a napper, but yesterday, I needed a nap, and my mind just wouldn't shut off. I kept running a list through my mind of all I needed to do. I ended up napping all of 20 minutes. Stupid list.

Last night, my head hit the pillow around 8:00, which is our new normal with our recent sleep schedule. I'm in bed by 7-8 every night, and that makes me sad, because if I could stay up later...I could get more done. Yep, I said it. But it took me about 30 minutes to fall asleep because I was running through the list again.

I have a blog design I need to do. My first assignment for my class that began last week is due tomorrow. When will I get that done? I wonder if I'll get to exercise tomorrow since I didn't today. The sink is full of dirty dishes because the dishwasher is full of clean dishes that need to be put away. I have to send out Scent of the Month bars. I have to mail out challenge prizes for my team. I have to prepare a basket party for someone. I have to find time to go to storage and sift through and find party invitations (highly unlikely). I have to edit wedding photos. I have to iron out details for Saturday's session. I have to mail out the payment for my c-section. I have to reply to about 5 people who have e-mailed me lately about sessions and weddings. I have to go through Ethan's toys so that we can take some to storage because the mess is stressing me out. I have to vacuum. My planner has a list of about 5 reviews I need to do. I have to put the 5 loads of clean laundry I finally did away. I have to meal plan. I have to grocery shop. Gabe needs more 0-3 month clothing. Must shop.

I mean, it goes on and on and on, and my mind just takes so long to shut off.

A couple of months ago, I actually spent money on this Confident Mom Household Planner. I thought it was the greatest thing. I mean, it breaks down your week so well, giving you different tasks each day, then your weekly tasks. I love crossing things off. It helps me feel accomplished. But as I thought about this, unable to sleep last night, I thought, Tomorrow, I'm throwing that thing away. Because while it's absolutely helpful in keeping me organized, it stresses me out. If I cross things off, sure, I feel great, but if I don't, let's just call it the Unconfident Mom Household Planner, because I feel like I'm inadequate and unable to keep up...and I'll just say it, I'm not good enough.

Because I need to hear it, and I need to type it out, and I need to force myself to believe it: This is a season. This lack of sleep? It won't last forever. This not being able to tackle what I normally can? It won't last forever, and it is not a crime. Everyone is thriving. Everyone has full bellies. There's coffee in the morning. There is sleep, even if it isn't ideal sleep. So, while I didn't throw the planner away, for now, I'm vowing to ignore the planner, to allow messes, to give myself some extra grace for lacking so much sleep, for having a newborn and a toddler by myself for hours day after day (a toddler with a double ear infection and an attitude, nonetheless), to just get to things when I get to them...not because a planner says so, or because I need to cross things off of a list to feel confident, to feel good enough, to feel accomplished.

In the words of Mase: Breathe, stretch, shake, let it go. :) ...and drink coffee. A lot of coffee.

I Love Being Your Mama

To my Gabey,

I love your wide, bright eyes and how alert you are.

I love your little button nose that is so your daddy's.

I love the strong personality you've already begun to show us.

I love your full, round belly right after you've eaten.

I love the bond only you and I share.

I love your sweet, baby smell.

I love your sleepy smiles.

I love the way you now react to your big brother oogling over you (and sometimes often crowding your personal space - sorry, buddy).

I love that you actually enjoy tummy time, and your determination to lift your head up and see the world around you.

I just love you, and...

I love being your mama.