This Amazing Day

Bye Bye Crib

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:53:00 +0000

I'm going to try to write this post without getting all crazy emotional. I can't promise anything.

This weekend we converted Hannah's crib into a toddler bed.

I always said that I would wait forever and a day to do this because cribs are awesome. It's nice to know that your kid is safely confined at night when you can't keep an eye on them. Hannah loves her crib, so I figured we had some time before we needed to make the change. As long as she wasn't climbing out, we weren't fixing something that wasn't broken.

And then she climbed out. I put her down for a nap one day last week and left the door cracked. I came into the living room and in a few minutes I heard rustling and baby whispers close by. I turned to look but didn't see anything (I'm assuming she was hiding in the hallway, not wanting to let me see her). I waited a little while then went to investigate, and sure enough she had climbed out of bed and was in my closet trying on a pair of stilettos. It was definitely a "holy crap you aren't a newborn anymore" moment. I have them often these days.

So Saturday was the big day. Wytmer and I were convinced that we were destined to a night of crying (on all our parts). But you guys? She was amazing! I read her a book while she was already laying down, then I did our normal seahorse-book-lights out-kisses routine. I closed the door and that was it. I checked on her eventually and she was still asleep in her bed. It was a toddler miracle. I don't want to boast too much because yesterday we did have a get out of bed ordeal. But she was quickly comforted with another story and was asleep only 30 minutes later than usually. Tonight marks our fourth night, and she stayed in bed with no problem.

I think part of our success is due to the fact that we have a really solid bedtime routine and I kept everything really similar to normal, so she knew what to expect. That, and Hannah adjusts really well to changes. She is also very independent, so she enjoyed getting in bed by herself. However, she is the most stubborn and dramatic little girl ever, so I know we will have bumps along the road eventually.

I am so incredibly proud of my baby.

XOXO

Eleven Things

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:20:00 +0000

I'm sure you all have read 10 million of these posts. I was tagged by Amanda, so it's my turn to play along. :)

Rules
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them that you've tagged them.

Randoms

1. I was born and raised in a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. I moved to Texas when I was 13 because my dad met my step mom online and they were getting married. I'm still a Canadian citizen, but I have my green card, and all that legal shiz.

2. I brush my teeth in the shower.

3. I'm obsessive about things being cleaned and tidy. If things are out of place it makes me anxious and physically uncomfortable. Sometimes Wytmer will mess with me by moving the angle of a picture frame to see if I notice. I do, and I don't appreciate it.

4. I put chap stick on my eyebrows. It keeps them in places and makes them look more defined.

5. I worked at Target for 3 years during college. That is actually were I met Wytmer. I worked in customer service and he worked in grocery. He would help me bring heavy boxes into the backroom. I thought he was too nice, and he thought I was a mean girl. We were both (mostly) wrong.

6. My favorite part of teaching ninth grade is the weird kids. You know the ones who write Pokemon fan-fiction, wear the same shirt everyday, and run through the halls so they won't be late? Those kids are the best people. They are hilarious, fascinating, and sadly under appreciated.

7. I take parenting very seriously. I research everything and always try to make thoughtful choices about Hannah's life. I tend to lean towards the views of Attachment Parenting, and strive to be a gentle, loving, and attentive mother. I don't always act perfectly, but that is my goal.

8. I am a quiet person. Loud noises make me uncomfortable. I like to be alone, too. I guess you could say I'm an introvert. I still enjoy being social, but alone times is essential to my sanity.

9. Growing up I was obsessed with Hanson. My friends and I plastered cut out photos from Teen Bop all over our walls to the point where it looked like wallpaper and my parents were considering an intervention. The first concert I ever went to was Hanson.

10. I am terrified of needles and knives. The idea of getting surgery terrifies me, and I pass out when I have to get a shot or blood drawn. This was one of the reason I didn't have Hannah in a hospital. My OB wouldn't agree to forgo the IV, so I switched over to a birth center in my third trimester and had a beautiful, all natural birth. Obviously I am not afraid of pain. I am just completely irrational about needles.

11.Can I be crazy mushy for this last one? Because I'm about to be. You know how people always ask if you could have dinner with anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be? My answer is honestly my daughter. I know that it's crazy, but she's basically the most amazing human being in my world. She's spectacular and I wouldn't choose anyone else to spend my time with. But, if I could be fancy with it, I'd want to spend it with a future version of herself. Or maybe the newborn version. Or today. She's pretty wonderful today.

Amanda's Questions
1. What is your favorite meal? I love Mexican food. There is a local Tex-Mex chain around where we live and I could eat their queso, chicken quesadillas, and citrus tea every day of the week. Plus, they have a free ice cream machine. You can't get much better than that in my book.
2. Did you ever (or do you still) have a nickname(s)? What were they and how did they come to be? My parents called me Puff. I think it had something to do with me holding my breath and puffing out my cheeks when I was upset.
3. What is your favorite time of the day? In the evenings Hannah and I have quiet reading time after dinner and I look forward to it all day.
4. What is one chore that you absolutely hate? I hate vacuuming because my vacuum sucks (but not in a good way).
5. If money and gas prices were no object, what kind of car/vehicle would you love to own? I really like the new Ford Edge. I want my next car to be higher up and roomier, because I have a Honda Civic now and getting Hannah strapped in her car seat is always a hassle.
6. Lefty or righty? Lefty! I'm the only one in my family. I thought Hannah might be a lefty for awhile, but she settled on her right hand.
7. Would you consider yourself to be an organized person? Yes, to a fault.
8. Do you get nervous speaking in front of small groups? Large groups? Actually, yes. I know that doesn't make sense because I am a teacher. But for some reason, teaching is different for me. When I had to give speeches in public speaking classes I would always freak out for days.
9. Do you have a celebrity crush? If so, who? (pictures are totally acceptable ;) I'm not big on celebrities. They all just look the same to me. But strangely, I have a pretty serious love for Otis Redding. His voice is so sexy, and his live performances are so intense. Never mind the fact that he is dead, and that he could be my grandpa if he were alive.
10. If you could eat only fruits or vegetables for a whole week, which would it be? Fruits or veggies? Fruits. I try to love veggies equally, but I have a sweet tooth.
11. What is your favorite local (non-chain) restaurant (or coffee shop, ice cream parlor, etc)? Oh man, there are so many! I really love this little Vietnamese sandwich shop that is next door to my apartment complex. Sometimes, when I roll down the window of my car to open our gate, smells of smokey, grilled pork waft into my car and I basically have to turn back around.

My questions
1. What is your worst habit?
2. What is something that you are most proud of?
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
4. What kind of music do you listen to?
5. Would you ever consider sky diving?
6. What are your top 3 favorite blogs?
7. What are you afraid of?
8. What was your first job?
9. What do you usually order at Starbucks?
10. Do you like to exercise?
11. What TV shows do you regularly watch?

I tag Jessica, Kim, and Randalin

XOXO

Book Chat: My Favorite Couple

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:56:00 +0000

So, my friend Jessica over at Sweet Green Tangerine just started this pretty fabulous feature on her blog called The Book Chat. Basically, every week she gives us a prompt/question related to books and we all link up our posts on Thursday. I am not so big on linky parties anymore, but this one? Is basically right up my alley of awesomeness (if book nerdiness is awesome, which of course it is).

This week the question was who is you favorite fictional couple. I have been thinking about this all week. The word favorite is always hard for me, because narrowing things down to just one is a little difficult. Still, I have to say that my favorite couple is pretty much the most obvious one.

source

I tried to be original in my choice, but how could I not pick Romeo and Juliet? I do teach 9th grade English, after all. I read this story six times a year, and I love it more each time.

Romeo and Juliet are very young when their story is told (Juliet was 13) and they fall madly in love within minutes of seeing each other. They know each other for just a few hours before they decide to get married in secret, despite their families' feud. Their relationship is completely impractical and almost silly. They are naive, innocent, and passionate to the point of insanity. But gosh, I love them for it. That all consuming first love is something that so many of us can relate with. For me it brings back a whirlwind of memories of a certain fifteen year old girl (read: me) who was so "in love" that she could barely think straight. I think that the innocence of Romeo and Juliet's relationship only serves to worsen the audacity of their parents' grudge, which ultimately leads to their deaths. Do I think they felt true love? No, probably not. But I don't think this story is really about true love.

Make sure you check out The Book Chat, and join in on the fun!

Mama Reads. Baby Reads.

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:07:00 +0000

Mama reads...The Road by Cormac McCarthy

From barnesandnoble.com:

The searing, postapocalyptic novel destined to become Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece. A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food-—and each other.The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.

Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Wow. This book. When I downloaded The Road I didn't have a clue of the premise behind the story. I didn't even read the overview first. Honestly, I was completely confused for the first 15 pages. The story takes off right away with no back story, and not much is ever given. I was left wondering what had happened to leave the world in such ruin, but no definite answer is to be found. There are no chapters, instead the story is written in chunks, cutting abruptly in and out of scenes. The language and sentence structure of the book are very poetic, which took a little while for me to get used to. I kept telling myself to slow down and appreciate the deeply beautiful language of this book. But at the same time, the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, frantically going through pages with my heart in my throat. It was hard to get through at times because the devastation and hopelessness really got in my head and upset me. Still, I am glad I read this book. I found such strength reading about the father's complete dedication to keep his son alive. It was inspiring and really made me think.

Baby reads... The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

This is such a fun little story. Lately Hannah has fallen in love with dragons. We have a little stuffed dragon that she uses to terrorize the princess in her toy castle. It's pretty fantastic. Whenever I pull this book out at bedtime Hannah yells, "DRY-IN!" And I kind of love it as much as she does. The story is about a unique little princess who sets out to save her fiance from a ferocious dragon in a paper sack that she wears because all her clothes were burned by the dragon's first attack. She outsmarts the dragon, only to have her fiance criticize her for being dirty and wearing a paper bag. The end of the story is what I love the most.

What a fantastically unconventional story for a little girl, right?

Happy reading, friends!

XOXO

a day in my life

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Lately the days have just been flying by, even though I'm doing my best to stay in the moment and appreciate it all. So many days go by and I'm left at the other end with hardly a clue as to how I spent my time. I thought it might be nice to document an average day of my current life, because I know one day I will be glad for the reminder.

Thursday morning begins with an early 5:15 alarm, which I am not a fan of. The snooze button gets the better of me, and I finally pull myself out of bed at 5:40. I make a quick stop by Hannah's door to listen to her sleepy breaths, then head to the kitchen to get my coffee started. The pot is all set up the night before so I just have to press at button and it is good to go. Next stop is a quick shower, then clothes, makeup, and a quick blow dry to tame my bangs. At this point I'm running later than I'd like, so I hurry to grab my lunch, bag, and coffee before racing out the door. Hannah and Wytmer are still snoring away in bed; they will wake up in a couple hours and have some daddy-daughter time before Hannah heads to the sitter and Wytmer to work.

The road is dark as I make my way onto the freeway, but hot coffee and Pandora keep me company. This morning I have on my Chasing Pavements station, which is a pretty amazing mix of Lauryn Hill, John Mayer, Adele, and John Legend. I'm not a fan of morning traffic and long commutes, but secretly I welcome the quiet time in the morning to just be alone. Lately these moments are few and far between.

Once at work, I jump right into teaching first period. Today the kids are writing literary essays, and I am busy grading endless stacks of assignments. This week we had exams, the end of a grading period, extra meetings, and tutorial sessions to manage. It's the busiest time of the year right now, as our big state exam approaches, and I always feel like I'm scrambling to keep on top of things. The good thing is that the day passes quickly, and before I know it, it's 3pm and I'm on my way to pick up Hannah.

As I'm driving I realize that I haven't planned anything for dinner, so I make a quick call to Wytmer and we decide on Chinese take out. There aren't many non-home cooked meals that Hannah will eat, but she loves egg rolls. I stop to pick up our dinner before getting Hannah from the sitter. When I arrive I see the kids outside playing and Hannah barely notices that I have pulled up. She is busy giggling and climbing all over a power wheels jeep. I talk for a little while with the sitter and we eventually convince Hannah to leave the jeep by letting her borrow a book to look at on the ride home.

At home we eat dinner right away and then spend a few minutes tidying up. Hannah loves to help clean. She takes a wet rag and goes around cleaning every surface she can reach. I load up the dishwasher and start a some laundry before asking Hannah if she wants to read some books in mama's bed.

This is my favorite part of the day. Hannah and I have eaten, the apartment is fairly clean, and I'm pilled in bed with my favorite girl and a stack of books between us. Hannah will read silently to herself for a few minutes, and I take advantage of that time by doing some reading of my own. I love that she is old enough to do this now. I crave that peaceful moment with her each night and I love that we can bond together by doing something that we both love so much. Plus, I think it is important for her to see that mamas read, too. Eventually she wants to share her books with me, though. So I put away my nook and we read a few picture books together with the blankets pulled up to our noses.

The rest of the evening is spent building block towers in the living room, watching yo gabba gabba, and folding a load of laundry. Hannah's bath time is 7:30, but tonight I let her get in a little early because I know she will want to play in the tub for awhile (and Mama is a little tired of DJ Lance's face). By 8pm Hannah is in her pajamas, with her teeth brushed, and a bedtime story picked out. Tonight it is The Paper Bag Princess, one of our favorites. After we read the story together, I lay Hannah in her crib with her book, baby, and sea horse. She closes her eyes and smiles when I ask if she wants me to take a picture of her in bed.

Once Hannah is in bed I make sure I have my lunch, coffee, and outfit for the next day all ready to go. Around 9pm Wytmer gets home and we spend an hour together watching basketball (him) and blogging (me). By 10 I am exhausted and head to bed, ready to do it all again in the morning.

XOXO

This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:10:00 +0000

This week just flew by, didn't it? Thank god for instagram photos, because otherwise I would have no way of keeping track of it all.

Probably the biggest thing that happened this week was that Hannah started drawing faces. She drew her very first face on Valentine's Day. She has been drawing little circles all over her magnadoodle for a few weeks now, and that night she drew two little circles inside a bigger one. I said, "Hannah, what is that?" And she said, "eyes." I think my heart stopped beating at that moment. She completely took me off guard. My baby is drawing faces? Craziness. She added a little mouth at the bottom, too. Her faces are pretty creepy, but gosh, I am so proud. Last night she drew a face with hair, eyes, ears, a mouth, and a nose. We are celebrating by getting her a bigger magnadoodle.

A few other things that happened this week:

Wytmer brought home a handful of broken cookies wrapped in a napkin that he stole from a work meeting and gave them to me for my Valentine's gift. I know I should have probably been disappointed or something, but I loved him for it.

I ate a lot of bagel sandwiches. I kind of have a way with breakfast foods. There is just something so perfect about a well scrambled egg. Combine that with crispy bacon and a toasted bagel? It's a beautiful thing.

I also got my bangs trimmed on Friday. I always put off trimming my bangs until they aren't bangs anymore. It took me ten minutes and five dollars to finally get them fixed. I should do that more often. Fresh bangs are exciting.

And I started reading a new book this week. It's called The Road and it's written by Cormac Mccarthy. I read the first few pages last night and I have no idea what is going on yet. But I hear good things, so I'm not giving up yet. If I do get into it I might feature it in an upcoming Mama Reads/Baby Reads post. I kind of love doing those posts, and I hope you guys like them too.

And now I'm in the middle of a pretty fantasatic long weekend with mi familia. We haven't got much planned besides a trip to the grocery store tomorrow and ten million loads of laundry to put up. But just being home together is enough to make me happy. I hope you all are having a fantastic weekend!

XOXO

A commercial that made me cry

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:04:00 +0000

I know everyone is currently talking about this commercial from last night's Grammy's (by the way...Adele! Yes!). Anyway, I just wanted to share this commercial here, just in case anyone didn't catch it. I was really moved by the message and thought it was something worth acknowledging in this space.

I know I need to do a better job remember this everyday. As a mother, I think this concept of going "back to the start" is vital.

What did you guys think about this commercial? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments!

XOXO

Saturdays are my favorite

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:32:00 +0000

Just a few pictures from today. Daddy had to go to work so Hannah and I spent the day cleaning and cuddling. My sweet girl has really started to show an opinion on the clothes she wears. Some days it is a football jersey with a tutu. Today she wanted to wear her new rain coat and old sandals over socks. It was a little chilly out today, but the sun was shinning bright, so Hannah played on the patio while I folded some laundry and kept an eye on her from inside the screen door. The rest of the day was quiet until Daddy came home and my two sillies had a dance party in the living room. Hannah has got some serious moves. But now the little is off to bed and I'm snuggled up in some fresh sheets and my nook. Life is good.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

XOXO

Rain Boots and Puddles

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:16:00 +0000

I love this picture of Hannah. There is just something about a kid wearing rain boots and splashing in a fat puddle. I wish you could hear the shrieks of laughter that were coming out of her when I took this photo. She ran as fast as she could up to the edge of the puddle and then took little but heavy steps all the way through; savoring splashes. "Watee! Boots!"

This moment was everything that childhood should be.

Recipe: No Bake Nutella Cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:04:00 +0000

I found this recipe on Pinterest the other day and was inspired to try my own version. The original is individual cups and much more fancy shmancy. I lazy-fied the recipe by buying a pre-made oreo crust and making it whole. And you guys? This one is insanely delicious, and ridiculously easy. Nutella cheesecake? Plus it's no bake? Sign me up.

Ingredients
*premade oreo crust
*one 8 oz package or cream cheese
*2/3 cup Nutella
*1 tsp vanilla
*one 8 ounce tub of cool whip
(top with extra whip cream/cool whip)

Directions
Blend together Nutella and cream cheese until well blended. Add the vanilla. After the vanilla is well blended, mix in the cool whip. Pour into the oreo crust and smooth evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Done! Easy, right?

Enjoy!

XOXO

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Favorite Things: Natural Beauty Products

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:32:00 +0000

We try to choose natural products as much as possible. I'm not a big fan of all the harsh, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous ingredients that are so often put into big brand items. It's nice to have a variety of natural items to choose from, and I thought I would share some of my favorites with you today.

1. Weleda Natural Tooth Gel for Children. It took me so long to find a natural toothpaste that is safe for toddlers under two. Hannah doesn't mind the taste and I can buy it at my usual grocery store.

2. J.R. Watkins Lemon Cream Hand Cream. I've actually blogged about my obsession with this lotion before. My love affair is still going strong. Best smell ever.

3. Burt's Bees Honey and Shea Conditioning Bar . I actually use this soap myself, and on Hannah. It is 100% natural and makes our skin feel so soft and clean.

4. Burt's Bees Baby Bee Original Lotion. This baby lotion smells unbelievably good, and it isn't too heavy or sticky. I steal this for myself all the time.

5. Jason's Natural Biotin Shampoo. This shampoo is mega moisturizing. I actually don't even use a conditioner after I use this, which saves me time and money.

XOXO

Raising a Biracial Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Recently my students were reading Martin Luther King's famous speech, "I Have a Dream." As excited as I was to share such a momentous time with my ninth graders, I was also a little scared. What could I possibly do or say to make them understand? Lord knows I didn't when I was their age. But I wish I did. We sat together in the darkened classroom to watch King deliver his message, and as he spoke these words--"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"--my heart fluttered and goosebumps covered my skin. Yes I thought, listen. All day those words ran through my head and I kept seeing my daughter's face. Her gorgeous skin that becomes the softest shade of caramel in the summer. Her full lips, round cheeks, and button nose. Her blue eyes, and her blonde, kinky hair. My beautiful, biracial daughter. And I asked myself, how will I teach her this lesson? How will I give her this history?

Hannah's life so far has been cocooned by my protection. She knows only love and kindness. Sure, we've noticed a few angry glares in our direction, but she doesn't see that. She is completely innocent to the hatred of this world. I'm not fooling myself that this will last. One day she will have to face this beast head on and I want her to be ready. I want to build her up before anyone has a chance to tear her down. And I want her to believe that she has no reason to feel shame about any part of who she is. My daughter is black. My daughter is white. And that duality is beautiful. Because for every person who sees her biracialism as a reason to hate, there are a dozen more who love her for the same reason. Almost fifty years ago Martin Luther King shared his dream with our nation. Today my daughter is that dream incarnate. Her blue eyes and full lips are a symbol of a love far greater than just that between her father and me. Her life is a symbol of the love that burned in the hearts of every person who refused to live in a racially segregated county. Men and women risked their lives and were killed so that we wouldn't live divided. My child, she means so much. And I see it now, in the soft aged eyes of those who believed and fought for freedom. They stop to ask a question, to touch her hair and smile. I see a "thank you" in their gestures. Not for me, but for God in letting them see this day.

So yes, Hannah will meet a lot of ugliness in her lifetime. But I want to teach her to see the beauty first. I will share the stories of our history with her. I will be the one to give her Rosa Parks, the freedom riders, and Martin Luther King. I will fill her mind with heroes and heroines that belong to her. I will surround her with role models that she can relate to, because she should not feel alone. And I will love all of her, even the parts that are different from me. I will give her a safe place to be all of herself and the freedom to decide what that means. And I will pray for the wisdom and determination to show her how to be a strong, confident woman even when the world doesn't want her to be.

My daughter will understand.

Why I am banning movies like Toy Story from our home

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:19:00 +0000

I am having a bit of problem right now.

You see, I gave Hannah this baby doll for Christmas, right? Well she's been loving on that baby pretty hard for the past month. She carries it around, kisses it, and sleeps with it in her bed. And that is all fine and good because that is why I gave her the doll. Except today we visited Wytmer's aunt and she had a little present for Hannah...a new baby doll. It is a gorgeous little doll that says mama, blows kisses, and giggles when you tickle her. At first Hannah was scared and clung to her old baby, but eventually she got interested in the new doll and has been playing with it all night. And the old baby? Well she has been pretty much abandoned.

Tonight I tucked Hannah into her bed and she asked for her baby. When I tried to give her the old one she said, "no, no no!" Until I gave her the new one. And that is when I started to worry. You see, I'm not the most rational person in the world. I can admit it. And I am afraid of a lot of stupid things. But I've seen those freaky movies about toys that come to life, and I know how jealous Woody got when Buzz came along. Heck, I'm not even going to mention the really scary movies like Chucky. What if Hannah's baby dolls come to life while she is sleeping? Old Baby would be pretty pissed. Who knows what Old Baby would do?

So I tried to reason with Hannah. I even tried to give her both babies. But she wasn't having it. She wouldn't even let Old Baby sit at the foot of her bed. New Baby officially took over. So I left Old Baby on the chair and kissed Hannah goodnight. I headed out of her room, glancing back at the chair before closing the door.

And now I'm sitting her, a grown woman, worried that my child is going to be attacked by an angry baby doll. All kinds of freaky scenarios keep popping into my head. What if I go to sleep and wake up with it in my bed? What if I get Hannah in the morning and the babies are switched?

God forbid the day when Hannah asks me to check her closet for the boogeyman. Your on your own, kiddo.

eff this funk

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:55:00 +0000

First of all, thank you for the sweet words about my honest and crazy post the other night. I love that I can come here and be completely real to the point of insanity and still be met with open arms and encouraging words. It is very therapeutic to feel like someone out there understands what I am feeling. That is what drew me to blogging in the first place.

One thing that I keep hearing from everyone this week is that a lot of us are struggling with the blahs. And that just is not cool. So I thought it would be fun to find a few ways to get over this yucky funk and salvage a little awesome this week. If you are looking for a quick fix to brighten your mood, maybe you could try one of these suggestions:

1. Do something nice for someone else.

It's pretty hard to feel like poop when you are helping or giving to someone else. I always get a little happy buzz when I know I'm going to brighten someone's day. Hold a door open for stranger, let someone in front of you in traffic, bring a gift to a friend, or leave a love note for your husband. It doesn't have to be anything huge.

2. Go outside.

I know some of you may be dealing with snow storms, but I still think sunshine can do wonders for getting over a bad mood. Even if I just get in my car and drive around, sometimes just the open sky is all it takes to clear my head.

3. Make yourself feel pretty.

Seriously, a good hair day can change my entire outlook on life. Even better? Try something different, like a new up-do or lipstick color. Insta-happy.

4. Make a list of specific things that make you happy.

Sometimes we need a reminder of all the good things in our lives. Make a conscious effort to focus on those things instead of what you don't have.

Do you guys have any tricks for getting out of a funk? I'd love to hear what works for you. And remember, if all else fails just get lost in pinterest for a couple hours and you just might forget what was bothering you in the first place (that kind of unintentionally happened for me while I put together this post).

Oh, and p.s.? Tomorrow is Friday. BAM...happy.

XOXO

[photo sources 1, 2, 3, 4]

Video: Hannah reads me a story

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:33:00 +0000

I took this video last night while Hannah and I were reading some books on the floor. Lately she has been making up baby talk stories while she flips the pages and I just think it is the cutest thing in the world.

Hannah Reading from wendy davitt on Vimeo.

Gosh I love this little lady.

XOXO

I might be losing my mind

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:53:00 +0000

This space has been rather quiet lately, and I just wanted to pop in to say hello. And to tell you all that life is currently kicking my butt.

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the monotony of the everyday. It kind of sucks the life out of me. I feel like I spend half my life waiting for something to come, whether it be the weekend, a holiday, or just 3pm. And then it all just rushes by so fast that I'm back to waiting again. Being an adult? Yeah, it's hard. Because I finally feel like I know what makes me happy in life (being a mom, writing, and creating) but there's never enough time in the day. Probably one day I will accept reality and just get on with myself, but I think I'm young enough now to still be pissed off, with an unrealistic, idealistic attitude. Who needs a 9-5 anyway? Let's just dance circles in the sunshine and talk about love. I wish.

Anyway, I'm going to try to do a better job at being more consistent in writing here. Because I desperately need this creative outlet, just so I can continue to function in my very structured life. I need this space to let down my hair, push at the walls and strip down to whatever it is that I'm trying to be.

XOXO

A Curly Conundrum

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:37:00 +0000

One of the first things people notice when meeting Hannah is her hair. It's not everyday that you see a baby running around with a brownish-blonde afro, but this little girl is the exception. Her hair can be a little intimidating sometimes because it has a tendency to get matted together with extreme tangles and frizz. Still, I love her natural hair and see it as a reflection of her spunky little personality.

That being said, I still make the effort to tame it down. If I didn't brush it she would just have a big rat's nest on top of her head. But when I do brush it, it just sticks straight up. So most days Hannah has her hair in a ponytail. I thought it might be fun to share some of my secrets for dealing with Hannah's curls, and maybe if anyone has any tips of their own they could share them in the comments. Because really? I have pin straight hair and this curly stuff is new territory. I need all the help I can get.

Here's what I know so far:
*her hair should not be washed every night.
*leave in conditioner/treatments make a big difference.
*boar bristle is the only brush that works.
*to get her ponytail into that soft curl I brush the curl around the curve of my hand until it is smooth and bouncy.

Umm...yeah that is it. Any curly girls want to help me out?

XOXO

A Day Off

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:56:00 +0000

Sometimes the simplest days are the ones we cherish the most.

Today is Martin Luther King Day, which means I have the day off to spend with my favorite little lady. We have been having a good, quiet day at home. This morning Hannah insisted that I put her socks and shoes on her baby doll. She thought it was the greatest thing ever. Then I got the idea to paint Hannah's toenails for the first time ever. She picked out the color herself and sat so still in my lap while I put it on. I keep looking at her little toes and smiling. Having a daughter really is a lot of fun. She even let me brush her hair and put it in a little baby top knot. A little gabba bribery was necessary, but I'm just glad she let me tame her hair at all today. Normally she falls on the ground and thrashes if she even sees the brush.

And now Hannah is taking a nap, I've got a really yummy smelling roast cooking in the crock pot for dinner, and a load of towels that needs to be folded.

And I am undeniably happy.

XOXO

Obsessed.

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:23:00 +0000

source

You guys. I know this isn't news or anything, but The Hunger Games? Amazing. I downloaded the trilogy onto my nook about a week or so ago and I've been devouring it ever since. I just finished the second book, Catching Fire, last night and I'm already well into the last book. I'm so worked up in the story that I'm even dreaming about it. Oh, it is so good.

I'm the kind of person that adores book series because I always feel a little sad when a good book is finished. Kind of like I'll miss hanging out with the characters. But with a series there is still more. And the plot is so exciting. Objectively, I can say that the actual quality of writing is not that great, but the plot makes up for it. And then there is, of course, the movie to look forward to. I have to admit that I've watched the trailer too many times to count.

Anyone else obsessed like I am? It's okay to expose your nerdiness, and admit it here. You will be in good company.

XOXO

Wedding Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Did you know that Wytmer and I aren't married? Sometimes I think that people assume we are, because I don't really talk about it either way. But we are not. My pregnancy with Hannah was a bit of a surprise. I had just graduated from college and was starting my first year of teaching at the time. We decided to not get married right away because we didn't think that our marriage should be based solely on the fact that we have a child together. So we waited. We both want to get married, but every time we talk about it we just see dollar signs and stacked up bills. It just seems like such a frivolous thing to spend money on since we are already parents together. And really, I don't have a problem with waiting. Honestly, I'd like to lose some weight first so I can feel confident when I walk down the aisle. We've even talked about getting married at the courthouse and maybe eventually renewing our vows when we have more money. But really, when do people ever have "more money"? I'm not holding my breath for that one.

So even though reality and my dreams aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment, a still think a girl can dream. And what better place to get lost with wedding inspiration than Pinterest?

Needless to say I've lost myself a little in all the pretty.

And now I'm heading back in for more.

XOXO

ps...are we pinterest pals yet? Follow me here.

Recipe: Chocolate and Toffee Shortbread Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:52:00 +0000

I was going to post this last week but I figured it was too close to new year's resolution time, and I didn't want to be responsible for anyone ditching their weight loss plans. A week is enough time to abandon our goals, right? Maybe not. But, I can't wait for this any longer. Because really? These cookies are amazing. I mentioned this on twitter already, but I'll go ahead and say it again here: There is one way that I can tell if something I cooked or baked is really good, and that is if Wytmer takes a bite and mutters, "oh f***" under his breath with his mouth full. These cookies earned the "oh f***" seal of approval. If that doesn't sell you, I don't know what will.

I found the recipe on pinterest, but tweaked it a little by adding the toffee chips on top. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 bag toffee chips
1 bag semi sweet mini chocolate chips
1 tbsp vegetable shortening

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mix together powdered sugar and butter. Mix in the vanilla. The flour gets added next. At this point the dough will be pretty dry, so once the mixer got things well incorporated I used my hands to need it into a ball. Next add half a bag of chocolate chips and a half bag of toffee chips. Keep the rest aside to use once the cookies are baked. Roll the dough into 1(ish) inch balls, pressing the tops down lightly and arrange on your cookie sheet. They will not expand much as they bake, so it is okay to put them pretty close together.I think I put 16 on each cookie sheet.

Put them in the oven for about 14 minutes, or until they are jut barely turning brown on the edges. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Then, use a double boiler to melt your remaining chocolate chips and the vegetable shortening. Put the remaining toffee bits in a small bowl. First dip the cookie in chocolate, and then immediately roll it in the toffee chips. Lay each cookie down on parchment paper to set. I put mine in the fridge for a few hours to make sure the chocolate hardened.

And your done! It might sound a little tedious, but it really is a simple process. And the cookies are so good! The shortbread is not too sweet so it goes really well with the super decadent chocolate and toffee. These were the cookies that we left out for Santa, and I think they will be a yearly Christmas tradition.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Pin It

Working Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:03:00 +0000

I went back to work this week after the Christmas break. The transition back is never easy for me. It takes weeks for me to numb myself from this one thought that is haunting me tonight: there are 24 hours in a day and I can only spend 4 of those with my baby. Every night I lay her down to sleep at 8, knowing that I won't hold her again until 4pm the next day. 20 hours of her day will pass without me in it.

One of my core beliefs as a parent is I should always strive to be in tune with my maternal instincts. When I have to make a decision for Hannah I pay close attention to what comes naturally first. I cannot deny that I am drawn to be with Hannah. I feel anxious when I am away from her for long. Everyday as I drive my 30 minute commute to work I become agitated. It feels wrong. One day she will be in school herself. She will be busy and the idea of working all day may not be so hard. But now she is less than 2 years old. Her world is being filled more and more each day. My soul is telling me to go home, to hold her close, and to give her all of me.

But, I can't.

Next week I will look at the bright side. I will tell myself that she is learning social skills, and that I enjoy my job, and that she knows how much I love her. Because she does. But tonight I am going to give myself this small space to just acknowledge what is really going on in my heart.

XOXO

Mama Reads. Baby Reads.

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:09:00 +0000

It's been awhile since my last Mama Reads. Baby Reads. post, and so I'm really excited to be sharing our latest books with you today. Hannah and I have been reading up a storm over the Christmas break due to the extra time and all the books that we were given as gifts. Here's a little peek into what's in our library now:

Mama Reads...

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Description from Barnes and Noble:

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

I just finished this book last night and I really enjoyed it. The characters are very well developed and the plot is engrossing. The only thing that I didn't love about this book was that some parts of the dialogue were a little unbelievable, but it was still a fun book. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie soon.

Baby Reads...

Little Girls Bible Storybook for Mothers and Daughters written by Carolyn Larsen and illustrated by Caron Turk.

This book was a Christmas gift from my step-mom this year, and I simply adore it. I don't usually write about religion on this blog because I believe that it is a deeply personal thing, but I will say that I want the majority of Hannah's religious education to come from her daddy and me. This book is great because it is designed for mothers to share with their daughters. And what makes it really special is that it looks at all the classic stories from the bible through the perspective of women. And there is built in conversation starters to help start a dialogue about what it means to be a woman of god. Hannah is way too young to understand any of that now, but she is definitely old enough to sit through a couple of the very short (1-3 page) stories a night. And every page has gorgeous drawings to help keep her attention. We've loved reading this book before bed, and I see it as something that we will continue for a long time.

Here's a look inside:

XOXO

Resolutions for 2012 (besides avoiding the end of the world)

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:18:00 +0000

These photos have nothing to do with this post, but gosh, I love them.

So, 2012, huh? That is just crazy to me, because I remember 1995 like it was last week. And that makes me feel genuinely old, since the 9th graders I teach weren't even born then. That spectacularly blows my mind every time I think about it. And speaking of my students, they like to remind me constantly that 2012 is going to mark the end of time. I guess that is exciting to them, but damn, I hope they are wrong.

So assuming that they are in fact wrong, I've put together a few resolutions for the next year. Some may think new year's resolutions are stupid, but I just see them as a few goals to use as motivation. I'm always trying to make improvements to my life, and the start of a new year is a great time for that.

So here ya go:

1. Be more present with my family. I honestly have a tendency to get overcome by social media, my iPhone, and all that internet-y crap that can be fun, but can also take me out of the moment. Hannah is growing up faster than I can handle, and I don't want to miss it because it was my move on Words with Friends.

2. Start saving money for Hannah's future. This is something that I have been putting off for awhile and it just needs to get done. I'm kind of interested in the Gerber Grow Up Plan. Anyone have any experience with it?

3. Lose weight. Yeah, I'm a cliche. But I've been waiting two years for this damn baby weight to melt off and it just ain't happening. I used to like the way I looked. That was fun. I want that back.

4. Read more books. I love reading, but it is hard to find time when you work full time and are raising a toddler. But part of being a parent is setting good examples. If I want my daughter to be a lifetime reader, then I should show her what that looks like.

5. Take more videos of Hannah. I love the videos that I have of Hannah as a little baby, and I wish I had more. I want to try to bust out the flip camera at least once a month this year.

I think that will be it for now, because if I make think of too many I will just forget them all. If you have a list of resolutions for 2012 I would love to read it, so link it up in the comments!

XOXO

Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:55:00 +0000

Isn't that first photo just pitiful? Hannah has spent the last couple days with a yucky little cold. She has a low-grade fever, runny nose, cough, and an upset tummy. It's never fun to see your baby sick, but she's handling it well. She's a lot better than she was yesterday, so hopefully it will clear up fast. She tends to keep runny noses for a long time, and she is already sick of me wiping her nose ever five minutes. At least it came after Christmas.

Besides taking caring for my sicky, I've been cleaning and doing laundry like a mad woman. I'm a little anal about keeping a tidy home, and Christmas just about set me off my rocker. I loved it, but wow, what a mess! I'm looking forward to this weekend when we will take down the tree and put away all the decorations. Also, I've been thinking about making a few new year's resolutions, and cleaning up my diet is at the top of the list. I'm thinking of doing a blog post about my resolutions like I did last year, so be on the look out for that in the near future. I always love the freshness of a new year and the possibilities of setting and reaching goals.

And now I'm off to fold and put away more laundry before Hannah wakes up from her nap and wants to be held for the rest of the day (which I secretly love).

XOXO