Louisiana for the weekend.

See y'all Tuesday!

Remember this stylish lady?

Yeah… I barely remember her but she seems vaguely familiar. I know she is around here somewhere; I can feel her trying to breach the surface but she just can’t make it.

Well, I want to get back to this. I have heard so much lately about being a lady and that that equates to leaving the house put-together, feeling confident, and wearing cute undies. I know that in being a MOM it truly doesn’t matter what I look like. But there comes a point in every new mother’s life when disregarding how you look eventually leads to disliking how you look. The baby is important, yes. The MOST important in fact. But you can’t argue that the marriage is equally important. And you also can’t deny that you, as an individual are important. My doctor told me that to be the best mom I can be, I need to take care of myself.

So, here I am, plotting. My client is planning a visit to the Memphis office at some point in the near future, so I know I need to polish up on the basics: hair and outfits.

HAIR

Easy. I know what style I want, it’s just a matter of waiting now. I’ve scheduled my hair cut for the 21^st and yes, I am getting it CUT. Not trimmed. Not thinned out. Say bye-bye because it’s gone. I know most moms are advocates for the long hair, which makes it easy to put in a ponytail, but five months later I am sick and tired of the pony. First of all my hair is thick and I get headaches from it being in the pony so long. Second of all it’s so long and absorbent I am spending way too much money on shampoo and conditioner, not to mention the amount of time needed to style it, if I want to. Yes, I have the option to do more with it but do I ever get time and do I really care? No. With my new short do, I will save money, time, and it will take me all but 10 minutes (or less) to style it in the morning (without putting it in a pony). The last reason I can’t wait for my short do: because I like my hair that way. I have kept my hair long for other people. Honestly, I have. So many people have told me how they love my long hair, but none of these people are sitting at my house in the morning, offering to style it for me. I love you guys, but I will be a happier person with a hair style that I like.

OUTFITS

Not as easy. First of all I will be the first to admit that yes, I do have nice clothes. If you were to inspect my closet you would long-lasting brand names like Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, and The Limited (my fav’s for work clothes). However all articles of clothing will exist in Smalls and size 6. No matter how much I’d like to be that size… I am not. At least not yet. I’m on my way but in the meantime it is not acceptable to wear maternity clothes. I am not pregnant. But I am not a size 6. My solution: lose the weight, and in the meantime buy clothes that I love, that fit me now, and that I can get tailored to fit me when I lose the inches. I don’t [can’t] want to spend as much money as I used to on clothes, but I can shop smarter. Instead of off-the-rack purchases I will only buy clothes on sale and clothes from consignment stores. Seriously. And I think I will limit myself: 2-3 pairs of slacks, 5-7 tops. This way I do not become comfortable where I am, weight-wise, and I will continue to shrink.

I can't fit into this dress anymore. Believe me, I've tried.

I used to LOVE this outfit.

I miss these jeans. :(

And this shirt.

Okay so this is just goofy me. But look at how skinny I was!

So, ultimately this has become my 2012 Resolution. I need to APPEAR like I have my act together, although that requires some actual getting-togetherness (made-up words are fun). Feeling good about myself will benefit my important relationships, and will make for a happier Marie.

(As a side note, wanna know what other resolution I wanted to take up? I wanted to promise to Organize Our Lives… but I am saving that one until we move into a HOUSE, instead of this 13 month lease apartment. I’ll try to incorporate organization into my Having My Sh*t Together resolution anyway…)

Wish me luck!

Pictures of updated hair/wardrobe to come!

So I’ve added a new FAVORITE to my mommy list:

www.powerofmoms.com

I am just now touching the surface of this website, and all of the many branches of information it offers (apps, retreats, Learning Circle, etc.) but I can tell right now that I am a mom who will benefit from this website.

(Preface: This entry is about being a mom. I am also a wife, which is very important to me and I hope to write on that someday soon. I don’t want to suggest, from my abundant mentioning’s of motherhood, that being a wife is any less important than being a mom.)

First of all there are hundreds of websites and information sources out there for moms. It’s unbelievable how much information there on every aspect of mothering. It’s great. But it’s also overwhelming. And when it comes down to it at the end of the day when I go home to Bria most of that information goes out the window of my mind while I just try to play/feed/burp/nap her. When people say “there is no manual for parenting” they are very right, but there are many many tools one can utilize. But:

“Our focus is on strengthening mothers as women and as people who have chosen to make motherhood a primary focus in their lives. Unlike most motherhood-related sites, we don’t talk about cooking, shopping, fashion, cleaning, decorating, or potty-training.  Instead of focusing on how to look, what to buy and how to react to the problems that pop up in our lives as mothers, our website focuses on pro-active ideas that will help us BECOME who we really want to be as mothers and as women.” –Power of Moms website

And I love this outlook. I work full time. I’m a full time wife. I love to cook. I love to craft. I do a lot of things. But being a mom is definitely a primary focus of my life. Whether I work the rest of my life or eventually leave the corporate world to be a stay at home mom, being Brianna’s mom is my focus. As POM suggests, I want to be a deliberate mother.

But anyway,

One thing I have gathered from the website is the idea and opportunity to create a Learning Circle.

http://powerofmoms.com/empowering-opportunities/learning-circles/

A Learning Circle is:

• part girls’ night out (with a meaningful purpose – in addition to having a great time)
• part book group (with a lot less pages to read…yep, you can complete the reading for each month in about 30 minutes)
• part support group (we all need more opportunities to learn from, encourage, and even sometimes commiserate with other moms)
• part motherhood course (because you deserve a monthly class to help you grow yourself, build your fellow mothers, and shape the future that starts right in your own home)

And yes, I want to start a Learning Circle.

I want to invite moms who may be interested in joining this learning circle to read through the Power of Mom’s website link I posted above. Read what it’s about and then contact me, letting me know you’re interested. I will be sending out invites as soon as I get more established in life in general, so that I can predict a starting date. I can’t say that this learning circle will begin before spring or summer, but that should be enough time for most moms to determine whether or not they would like to participate.

My goals for the Learning Circle are:

-Meet monthly. At my house (once we move into a house with more space).

-Eat monthly. Create a schedule of who will bring what food and when.

-Communicate always. Set up a Facebook group/email string/text string so that we can share pictures and mom-relative information all the time.

-Become accountable. If we hold each other accountable we will truly make this Learning Circle work.

-Attend mom-related retreats (perhaps down the road when we are more available as moms. I know with a 5 month old going out of town without her might be completely out of the picture).

-Create a support group of moms that can rely on each other and whom we can turn to for advice and friendship.

-Possibly write articles and submit them to the Power of Mom’s website. I want to help our little group but would love to help the rest of the moms out there too.

What consider before becoming a part of this Learning Circle:

-We will meet once a month, 2-3 hrs each time.

-We will meet to RELAX, eat, discuss, and enjoy each other’s company. Cell phone’s welcomed but only to use in emergencies.

-We will need to agree to help with food. I want everyone to be fed when they come but I can’t do all the cooking myself.

-Each person will need to pay $20 dues to get the monthly installments to be discussed.

I can’t wait to start inviting moms to join this Learning Circle. I hope I, and many of you, can get a lot out of this type of group and can become the best mothers we possibly can be through the program.

Weekends are for rest.
Unless you have a baby. In 5.5 months I have had zero days of rest. But I had 5.5 months of overwhelming joy. I don't know if I ever really understood happiness and the meaning of being joyful until Bria was born. It's amazing.

But, in an effort to achieve rest, today I will start my weekend Pinterest Blogs. Instead of writing I will just take one pin from each of my pinterest boards and re-pin them here.

I HEART...
(All things that I love)

Blazers!! They are my favorite piece of clothing this year.

Source: alittledashofash.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

FOR MY B
(All things for Bria)

Can't wait til she's old enough to safely sit in the tub on her own. I'll blow her mind with this idea!

Source: ffffound.com via Marie on Pinterest

DREAM HOME
(All things related to my imaginary dream home. Michael and I love the classic, rustic, repurposed, and slightly eclectic look.)

I would love to do this on an outside wall...
Moss graffiti: put in blender - one can Cheap beer, Few handfuls moss, one teaspoon sugar. Paint on wall and mist daily until it grows.

Source: craftingagreenworld.com via Marie on Pinterest

MR. & MRS.
(All things related to Michael and me)

I guess I gotta do this before Bria learns to read. ;) Gatta keep married life fun/exciting/crazy

Source: zimbio.com via Marie on Pinterest

HOLIDAY.
(All things for the holidays. thanksgiving to Easter. Halloween and Christmas. I love 'em all!)

April fool's is on its way! I have some good ideas from the below pin. Beware!
http://texasmonkey.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-fools-pranks-and-fun.html

Source: texasmonkey.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

CREATE.
(This pin board has to be my largest to date. I scrolled all the way to the bottom to grab something fresh and found this one.)

I LOVE mason jars! sometime this winter I hope to make the mason jar pin cushion, as my first sewing-related craft of 2012 (with, hopefully, many more to follow).

Source: craftgawker.com via Marie on Pinterest

DECORATE.
(All things decorate.)

I love the idea of a shelf above the washer/dryer! The colors of this laundry room turns me on too.

Source: houzz.com via Marie on Pinterest

PROBLEMS SOLVED.
(Creative and clever ideas to make my life easier.)

I like this because I like organization (although you wouldn't know it looking at M's and my bedroom) and this makes me wanna raid office depot and begin my home organization project ASAP. Nothing would make me happier than having a space for everything and time to put things where they belong (plus time for everything else in a mom's life.)

Source: abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

EAT.
(All things digestive. If I had the chance to live a double life I wouldn't do illegal or immoral things. No, with no holds barred I would go to culinary school, move to Italy or France and chase after the culinary dream.)

I've made these so I can testify that they are the bomb diggity. Paired with spaghetti sauce dip, you've got yourself a plate of relish.

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Marie on Pinterest

QUOTE.
(All things worth remembering. I reference this page a lot.)

I try to do this, daily.

Source: Uploaded by user via Marie on Pinterest

PHOTOGRAPHY.
(All things pertaining to photography.)

another double life I would lead (or at this point, triple life) would be as a starving artist. And more specifically, a photographer. if I ever get back into wedding photography I would love to provide my brides with this keepsake (and it would be cute to use in dress photos):

Source: etsy.com via Marie on Pinterest

PLACES.
(All over. every place. every where. This world is amazing.)

Source: geishazs.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

FITNESS.
(All about getting in shape and staying in shape, the right way and for the right reasons.)

perspective. Sucks cause I love me some m&m's, straight outta the freezer. :(

Source: tinyfacts.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

ANIMALS.
(All animals. they are all beautiful. But you'll see a lot of elephants on this pin board -- they're my fav)

Elephabts are beautiful as is but this "make up" is even more so, especially because I know the meaning behind the art is important to those who believe in it.

Source: Uploaded by user via Marie on Pinterest

FUNNY.
(Because you gotta laugh.)

Source: ifunny.mobi via Marie on Pinterest

CAN'T BE CATEGORIZED.
(A place for all the weird and random stuff.)

Source: tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

I have always liked Elizabeth Banks but everything about this article makes me love her even more, especially as a mom.

http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/01/03/hunger-games-elizabeth-banks-talks-surrogacy-in-lucky/

-Taking Bria skydiving in her teens or as her 21st birthday present is a great idea!

-Knowing that even actresses and people with a lot of money can get so wrapped up being with their babies that they aren't "looked-after" is good to know. I haven't, physically, taken care of myself at all lately. I wish I had more time to take care of me.

-And knowing that celebrities have flaws and that they NEED to wax and tan and use a SURROGATE is kind of a relief. We're all human.

I desperately need new clothes.

Let me tell you a secret…

I am still wearing my maternity clothes.

And my mind’s eye (that constantly daydreams) is salivating over Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, The Limited, White House Black Market clothes. This is an official invitation to the fashion fairy: Please come to my house tonight and drop off a big load of cash. I promise to use it for shoes and slacks and tops and maybe even a haircut.

When you have a kid it’s hard to buy for yourself. I went shopping last night with one of my best friends and Bria (to get her worn out; she has been so cranky lately with teething and being constipated. More on that in a sec.) with a gift card I got for Christmas. The gift card was for Hobby Lobby, which is one of my favorite stores of all time, especially since my discovery of pinterest. And although I had a good amount of money to spend I found myself holding back. “I want this…” I would say. And then a few seconds later I would put it back on the shelf and in my mind would say that if I really wanted it I could come back another day. But when it came to the kids section I put two pairs of baby leg warmers in the cart and a camo baby dress shirt. I ended up buying Bria more than I bought myself.

That’s how it is. Even when you have the option you would rather give to your children than take for yourself.

And it’s okay. I’m glad it’s that way. The leg warmers are cute and so is the camo shirt – I’m not working for myself anymore. I’m working for my family. I’ll go clothes shopping one day, and I might get a haircut soon. But as long as my husband and my daughter are happy and taken care of (I’m sure Michael feels the same way about us), then I’m good to go.

As far as Bria’s milestones:

-Yes, she’s teething! She has two little [sharp] teeth coming in front and center, on the bottom row. The drool is now coming in buckets and the crying seems to never end. Poor little thing; I remember how it felt to have teeth come in. A few years ago my wisdom teeth decided to show their ugly little faces and it’s painful. For Christmas B received a pair of Munchkin Safe Feeders, where you put entire slices of fruit and veggies (frozen or not) and let them gnaw on it. This way they get the flavor and some of the fiber from the solid foods but not the dangerous big chunks that could kill. It also helps with the teething in that she can chew it, and if the food is frozen the cold relives the pain.

But along with solid foods comes constipation; and least for our little girl. Every time we try to introduce a different solid (bananas, applesauce, pears, etc.) she gets constipated. She can eat oatmeal like a champ but the rest leads to a baby with a hurting tummy. Prune juice and water has becoming a staple with her. It looks like it’s gonna be slow-going for our little Briabug on the solid foods front, which doesn’t surprise me because EVERY SINGLE change we have thrown at her she has a hard time picking up (ahem-sleeping in her crib, bottle feeding),  but once she gets the hang of it she is the best.

She is also rolling – A. LOT. She will roll front to back and vise versa and often wakes herself up during the day because she wakes herself up during naps. I think when she gets better at rolling back to front this won’t be as much of a problem as it’s been, but for now it’s little sleep for baby and little rest for mama and daddy.

So the fifth month has proven to be interesting. We are on our way to the six month (15 days away!) and pretty soon she will be crawling then walking then running, and I won’t  be able to hold her in my arms and rock her to sleep. I’m cherishing every single day with this little girl and trying to spend as much time as possible soaking in the experiences, even if those experiences are slobbery, toothy, tearful, sleepy, and bloated.

Sleeping, holding onto Mommy's hand.

Happy, in between toothing fits and bloated belly constipation.

So… you’ve heard me rave about thebump.com, right? I have loved that website as a resource and have used it since the first day I found out I was pregnant. I frequent the community boards so that I can complain/ask questions to the other moms with babies around Bria’s age. We are all going thru the same things and we are all asking the same questions we’re afraid to ask our real-life references. We also complain about everything mom’s complain about (too much unwanted advice from the peanut gallery, feeling like your toes are being stepped on as a mom, tacky girly clothes, insane/funny/sweet stories about motherhood).

Anyway, I was on there today and I saw a forum topic about losing weight. Now that the New Year is here we are all trying to lose the baby weight. Most of us have stopped breastfeeding so the weight loss isn’t as easy as it was. The holidays are over and the warm weather is a few months away. As moms of the 21^st century we feel the need to be super moms: good parents to our children but fit, sexy, and in shape.

So, as a bump.com group we are losing weight and keeping track of the weight. Below is the Week Zero information sheet I submitted:

Week 0- Getting to know you (reply with as little or as much as you want)

Name: Marie

Age: 25

Location: Memphis TN

Weight Loss Goal (# of pounds you want to lose): 20 lbs (2-3 pant sizes)

Weight Loss Plan: 30 Day Shred & dieting

Info.: Married to a hottie ;), Michael. Our daughter is our first child and she is Bria. Cat = Peyton and dog = Rigby.

Hobbies or Unique facts about yourself: Have traveled all over the world pre-marriage/pregnancy. Italy, Greece, Germany, S. Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sipan, Hawaii, China, as well as 12 states. Michael and I can't wait to travel to the ends of the earth with our family (Bria has already been to 3 states)!

Other information : GOOD LUCK, LADIES!

And while I was filling this information out I realized something.

Brianna was unplanned but I really was ready for her. I had a lot accomplished before getting pregnant and really am not missing out on a lot of anything now, post baby. I don’t need people feeling bad for me or reminding me how different my life has turned out to be because really… it isn’t THAT much different.

Let me clarify.

Having a baby does change EVERYTHING.

But it changes all of the small things and how you think and your priorities. Everything that SHOULD change, DOES change regardless of when you give birth.  

As far as my life experiences… I have experienced all that I wanted to experience. For those moms who have their children early, they might possibly miss out on: stupid, all night partying, traveling, making stupid mistakes with little to no repercussions, etc. They miss out on being selfish and self-centered. And what I realize now is that no, I didn’t miss out on anything. The natural progression of my life led me here and I am exactly where I am meant to be. Because I did things out of order has no effect on where I am and how I got here and what all I may have missed. I traveled, I went to college (and no I didn’t graduate but I don’t think I would have even without baby), I partied ( a lot), I have met a million different types of people and different types of beliefs. My mind has been closed and then opened again. I have gone as far away from God as one could get and I have traveled back to kneel before him. I have learned important life lessons by living on my own, and I have learned the importance of humility and grace. And I have a lot more still to learn. I have been to Asia, Europe, and to many many states. I have seen most of the world and made most mistakes young people make. I have learned to say sorry and how to forgive. I have learned what a family should be, and what a family shouldn't be. I have learned what love really means and now I’m learning how to make a marriage work. It just makes sense that I learn to grow a family, and how to raise a child. My life is flowing exactly as God intended it to. If He’s happy, then I’m happy. J