Happiness is not a gift; it is not a given talent. Happiness needs to be pursued. Go after it; make it your own. You can choose to be happy. It is your ability to do this. And, you will live longer and healthier because of it.
complete
dishes
drink water
30 pages/1 hr book reading
1/2 fruit
vitamins
moisturize
incomplete
20 situps
5 minutes of steps
teeth
read NS
2 veggies
everything on my checklist for starters. i’d also like to eat breakfast and have a shower every morning. and maybe set aside some time for reading a paper or publication as well as time for a book. then there’s the chores – cooking, planning meals and grocery needs, laundry, filing, and any general cleaning that needs doing.
20 situps – done
5 minutes of steps
dishes – done
30 pages – done
teeth – done
read NS
drink water – 2
moisturize
vitamins – done
2 veggies
2 fruits – 1
20 situps – done
15 minutes of steps
dishes – some
30 pages – done
teeth
read NS
drink water
moisturize
vitamins – done
2 veggies
2 fruits – one (clementines)
30 situps
15 minutes of steps – 5 minutes
dishes – mostly done
30 pages – why am i having such a problem doing this?
teeth – done
read NS
drink water – done
moisturize – done
vitamins – done
2 veggies – done (carrots, sweet pepper)
2 fruits – done (apple, clementines)
being a new mom has been overwhelming. i’m going to use this space to keep track of the things that worked for me and things that didn’t, since when i started out i had no idea what i was doing.
things i wish i knew when i became a mom:
1. the infant car seat is a neccesity. she won’t sleep anywhere else. not sure what to do when she gets too big for it, but it’s been a lifesaver so far.
2. the vibrating bouncy seat is also requisite. instant calm. at least for a few minutes anyway. it’s a lifesaver when i really have to pee.
3. microwave bottle sterilizer is good to have. keeps things simple.
4. reversible black and white / color crib mobile. mesmerises her in the morning.
5. gowns layered over onsies. that’s what she’s basicly lived in since day one. easy for frequent diaper changes and quick clothing changes when needed. so far i’ve liked Carter’s and Baby Gap clothes the best. For diapers we prefer Huggies Supreme, but they can be hard to find here.
6. sound beginnings language cds. she always listens intently and often falls asleep to it.
7. the ultimate recieving blanket – soft, warm, flannel and the biggest, most sensible size i’ve found. i bought four. also comes with swaddling instructions on the wash tag.
8. electric breast pumps are easy to use, though they do often require special bottles for attachment and milk collection. the tubing is only for sucking in air, not milk. they’re also loud and annoying and pumping the milk can take a long time.
9. until she perfected her latch at about three weeks, lansinoh was essential to have on hand. nursing bras are important, nursing tops, not so much. not all nursing/leaking pads are created equal. i’ve liked the lansinoh pads the best so far.
10. zippers are better than snaps.
to be updated.
i can live with being a stay at home mom. this gaol may be subject to reopening at a later date however.
to the digital edition of NS. it’s less expensive and more environmentalyy friendly than the print edition, but i don’t always take the time to read it like i should.
i intend to subscribe to Ms, but am having trouble coughing it up for just four issues per year. i wish it was monthly.
i’d also love to resubscribe to The Economist, but that one is even more time intensive and spendy.
and i should. some catch-up work:
~12 lbs, 22”, responsive smiles and coos, and 7 hour nights all at around 5 weeks. she’s getting more and more vocal every day, learning different sounds and “talking” to her toys. She even has a stuffed giraffe that she is particularly fond of talking to. we successfully bottlefed her some expressed milk on monday. She’s also been great about holding her head up and looking around, starting around six weeks i think. she’s got stong legs too. she gets bored and likes to go for “strolls” around the house so she can look at things. today we also had her first tummy time session. she seemed fascinated.
30 situps
15 minutes of steps
dishes
30 pages
teeth
read NS
drink water – done
moisturize – done
vitamins – done
2 veggies – half done (carrots)
2 fruits – half done (1 apple)
an understanding boss.
a beautiful baby.
inlaws who care.
a brilliant husband.
tivo.
a working breast pump.
ebooks on palm.
snoring dogs.
30 situps
15 minutes of steps
dishes
30 pages
drink water – done
moisturize – done
teeth – done
vitamins – done
2 veggies – done (brocolli & green beans)
2 fruits – done (2 clementines & 1 apple)
drink water – done
30 situps
15 minutes of steps
moisturize – done
teeth
vitamins -done
2 veggies – 1 celery
2 fruits – done orange, apple
avoid refined sugar/flour
30 pages
dishes
i hope to (work in progress):
-own my own house.
-live somewhere i love, surrounded by people i love.
-have a happy, healthy, thriving five year old.
-enjoy being a stay at home mom.
-have invested my money and earned substantial interest on it.
-visit new zealand and maybe scotland.
-be prepared to go back to work if needed, having attended any necessary training.
my amazing little girl, who’s getting bigger and smarter every day.
pop culture references – in poetry, in television, and in life. kind of makes things into a giant puzzle. and i love puzzles.
thanksgiving turkey.
the end of a very long week.
grandparents who care.
moms who do dishes and cook for you.
is just a baby right now, and of course i want her to be able to choose her own path in life, but these are some of the things i hope to encourage her to explore.
-martial arts
-drawing and painting
-art history
-languages
-comparative religion
-classical and modern music
-music history
-classic and modern literature
-sf/f appreciation
-poetry
-philosophy
-world history
-geography
-respect and appreciation for the earth and its inhabitants
-anatomy
-cell biology
-calculus
-physics
-kindness to others and to oneself
-charity and grace
-courage
-honesty
drink water – done
30 situps
15 minutes of steps
moisturize – done
teeth – done
vitamins – done
2 veggies
2 fruits – done (banana & orange)
avoid refined sugar/flour
30 pages – done
dishes
drink water
30 situps
15 minutes of steps
moisturize
teeth
vitamins
2 veggies
2 fruits
avoid refined sugar/flour
30 pages
dishes
