That's Life

10.12.2016

*This post idea is borrowed (or stolen, however you want to look at it) from Erin. Thanks, Erin!

HOME LIFE.
I love being at home with R and Jordan so much. On Saturdays and Sundays I soak up every moment and feel like we get some good quality time in. I struggle sometimes wanting to play intentionally with her (because I can't during the week) but also wanting to let her play on her own (and learn to not rely on me being in her face all the time). The other day while I sat and watched her play, I got out my big girl camera. I'm trying to be better at capturing some of the little details of her, and I love how these pictures turned out!

WORKING MOM LIFE.
I'll be honest: last week was hard for me. I seem to go in cycles of being really positive about my job situation and the working mom life and I'm all I've got this. And then the bottom drops out and I get negative and jealous about it again. Part of my problem is completely self-inflicted, which Jordan could tell you. I read things on the internet and on blogs that I know will make me feel bad, and I do it anyway. Why? I need better discipline and I'm working on saying no to clicking on links to things that I know won't help maintain positivity. (Examples: A day in the life of a SAHM posts, anything about daycare and a child's brain development, anything titled "How I was able to quit my job to stay at home" because inevitably they are doing literally everything we already do. Dear self: just say no. Also note: don't read comments on said posts. People are rude and don't know what they're talking about.)
BREASTFEEDING LIFE.
I am officially done breastfeeding and R is completely weaned as of a few weeks ago! I was still nursing in the morning and at night, but I just wasn't sure if she was even getting anything. My chest never felt full and I never felt a letdown and to be honest I was kind of just over the whole thing. Pumping at work and ultimately having to supplement with formula was such an emotional and kind of awful experience for me (just being honest) that I realized that I mostly said my goodbyes to nursing when R was 10 months old. One night I decided to just not nurse and see what happened, and then in the morning I gave her a cup with milk instead of nursing. 

As it happened, R never seemed to notice or put up a fight. She didn't wake up hungry in the middle of the night or try to pull down my shirt, and that was that! Feeding a baby is so.much.work. and while it was wonderful and I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to provide for R in that way, I'm not exactly sad to be done with that stage of my life.

BLOG LIFE.
I have a few sponsored posts coming up that I'm excited about. One of them is a giveaway for a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins! I used to get nervous about approaching brands to partner with for a product review, but I spend a lot of time on this blog and I decided to try and let it work for me. I never want to overload my blog with sponsored campaigns, but I am excited about the ability to monetize my blog even just a little bit! I hope you know that I would never share about a product I wouldn't want to use personally, and I'll always share my honest opinion with you. Check back in a few weeks for the moccasins giveaway! (Thanks to Courtney for the encouragement!)
TV LIFE.
The Cubs are in the 2016 playoffs, in case you aren't aware. We don't have cable, so we have to get creative about watching the games, but a true fan won't let that stand in their way. Jordan figured out how to get a radio feed for game 2 that we listened to online. This is happening, people!

Jordan has also used his nerdy powers to get me hooked on The Flash. It's a show currently on TV, but seasons 1 and 2 are on Netflix. It took me a few episodes to get into, but I am here to tell you that it is so good! There are so many layers of plot to this show it's ridiculous. You are welcome.
BUDGET LIFE
So I have a confession. I set our grocery budget at $200 a month for the rest of the year, and we have already spend $180 in October! Yeah, it's the 12th. This isn't going to go well. Looks like it's rice and beans from here on out, and I told Jordan we are eating everything there is to eat in our fridge, freezer, and pantry. No tiny food child left behind. In case you're interested in what we ate in September, go here.

R LIFE
Our little R turned 14 months old on Monday! She is getting more and more confident walking (she sometimes teeters like a drunk person and it's really funny), she still eats any and everything we put in front of her, and she's good about letting us know when she's done by tossing her cup off the side of her highchair. We're working on it. She loves baths, being outside, puzzles, and books. Recently I hit up two kid's consignment stores and found her some great stuff for the upcoming fall/winter! I even found a pair of baby TOMs that will be super cute once she grows into the size 4s. Things I don't want to forget: how she "dances" when she hears music by wiggling the top half of her body, how proud she gets when she turns the vibrate motion on her baby rocking chair, her tiny curl of hair at the back of her head, how she sleeps with her butt high in the air, how she gives kisses by opening her mouth wide and leaning toward your face.

So that's life right now! 
What's going on in your budget life right now? What are you binge-watching on Netflix?
Unknown said...

I always find that after a month that the budget is great and everything feels good the food budget goes crazy! Good luck!

Rachel Emily said...

Gosh, and here I thought my $100 week grocery budget was tight HA! Bless you and your PB&J eating ways (Makes me gag just thinking about that mushing around in my mouth). Our October budget was pretty much shot with car registrations, car trouble, and annual credit card fees by day 3 so #solidarity. Camden has been going to bed at 6:30 at night so I've basically rearranged everything so we can spend that hour after Nathan gets home together before he goes to bed. That time is SO precious to me right now, even though I am with him all day. Nothing like being with your guy and your babe <3

JSpan said...

If you enjoy The Flash, you should try watching Arrow as well - same superhero universe, but a little darker with more mature themes. Yay Jordan for bringing you into the nerd world!

Leslie Lukens Martin said...

This is a fabulous post idea that I might have to borrow/steal as well! Can't believe the little ones are 14 months old (H is today!). It's such a FUN phase right now though, isn't it? I feel like he's really becoming a tiny person...and we have to be a little more careful now because he repeats everything we say! Not that it would be clear to any normal person, but it's obvious to momma and daddy that he's being a little parrot!

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

The bigger Jack gets, the more his movements look like a tiny drunk person's. It's endless entertainment!

The Lady Okie said...

The arrow was IN an episode of the Flash! Jordan was so excited.

Rach said...

Aww, I love that you guys treasure that home time together so much. So great! And hooray for weaning going so easily. It kind of sounds like she self weaned in a way. I'm so glad that wasn't a traumatic experience!

Maria said...

This is fun. I may have to "borrow/steal" it soon, with credit of course!

My budget life. Hmm. Well, I usually start Christmas shopping this time of year to try and get it out of the way before the holidays hit. I have a gift giving budget on Mint and let's just say I'm in the negative. So many weddings and baby showers this year! Moccasins for the all the babies! I am going to take money from my fitness and auto budget to make it work since I have a good cushion with the both of them. My job offers us a free gym membership, so I quit my gym and am saving $50 a month. Woo. The things that excite you at 32.

Maria said...

Oh and to add to reading blog post that get you down - I hear ya. One thing I TRY not to do is to check social media during the day while I'm at work. That's when the SAHMs are out and about while I'm face planting at my desk while stuggling to figure out Fertility Friend. Good times :) Solidarity, sister.

Audrey Louise said...

This is a cute way to update others on your life! I love all the little details. Don't beat yourself up on stuff, lady. You're budgeting for 3 people and that's tough! Also, I'm not a working mom or a SAHM but I get the professional struggle. I question what I'm doing- though for different reasons than you, I'm sure. Don't be too tough on yourself!

erinhzauner said...

girl, $200...good for you. I've been cooking an extra meal every week in preparation for the babe, and trying to stock up a bit on essentials and freezer things when they're on sale or have a coupon, and I have blown our grocery budget out of the water the last month. you sound like you're not doing too bad! also, re: the breastfeeding. I basically lost my supply at 9 months and was having to pump EVERY DAY in order to squeeze out enough for the three days I was away from home, and I basically made myself insane. this time around I will be giving myself some grace. also, Amelia decided to stop nursing the night of her first birthday without asking me if I was okay with it. it took like a week, but it wasn't til I was completely done that I realized how stressed the last part of it had made me. good for you for embracing what works for both of you ladies.

The Lady Okie said...

YOU GET ME AND I LOVE IT.

Lauren M. Croke said...

Binge-watching: Stranger Things on Netflix. It just feels right to watch that kind of show during the spookiest time of the year. :)

Anna said...

The thing with breastfeeding is, it's great when it's working, but it's nice when you can both finish at the same time. I still kind of miss it sometimes (like when P's having a really rough day) but it's nice to be back to myself. I'm so glad you had a smooth transition out of it!

I always thought The Flash looked kind of lame, but maybe I'll check it out if it ever comes to Canadian Netflix. Boo.

You take nice pictures. I make up for quality with quantity. "Maybe if I take rapid fire pictures with my phone one will turn out okay..." You're going to have such great pictures to look back on.

Katie @ Live Half Full said...

Our budget life is kind of insane right now. We're going through our remodel and I feel like I'm just ready to be done and back to our regular budgeting!!! I'm not binge watching anything but that's my current motivator. Once our house is done I cannot WAIT to sit on the new sectional I have on order and binge my heart out.

Nadine said...

Drunk kid walks are the best! I am already avoiding all SAHM posts and comments because you are so right, people can be really rude and judgy and I don't need that negativity in my life. Those Freshly Picked moccasins are so cute so I am excited! Congrats on the collab!

Robyn B said...

i LOVE The Flash!!! it is one of the only shows I actually keep up with! we don't have cable but i used to watch it on Hulu - then for some reason it's not on there anymore! lame. BUT then i realized you can stream new episodes on the CW website- so yay! point is- the Flash is awesome!

Jenny Evans said...

I love babies sleeping with their butts up in the air! I have at least 100 pictures (maybe I'm exaggerating, but actually maybe not...) of my various kids at various ages in various pajama sleepers doing that.

Courtney said...

I LOVED this post! So many good things that I want to comment on!

Thanks for the shout out- I'm SUPER excited that you're teaming up with them and I can't wait to see what you chose for R!

We had the same problem with the Kansas City Royals last year- Jim usually ended up going to BWW- which hurt the budget! Speaking of- we've totally done the pantry thing like you have. You can totally do it! Some of the meals you make end up being absolutely crazy but it is SO satisfying to hit your budget goal!

Kayla MKOY said...

Caleb and I are obsessed with The Flash! We're so happy Netflix finally has Season 2 ready; its so addicting! We're total nerds, no shame. I cannot believe R is 14 months! How does time fly by so quickly?! I'm totally with you on needing to be better about NOT reading posts that I KNOW will just put me in a sour mood. You can do this!

On another note - I love this post idea...lets convince Erin to make it a link up ;) It's so great!

Katie Elizabeth said...

I'm loving these pictures! I need to break out my big girl camera more often. And for Netflix, we binge watched Stranger Things & Grace and Frankie this summer and were obsessed with them both!

Laura Darling said...

Great pictures! Makes me want to get my real camera out more often too! I think that's great about the Freshly Picked partnership...you deserve it and plus, they are so cute!

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

yay moccs! So funny, a blog group I was in the other day every said to STAY CLEAR of Freshly Picked but I loved working with them and can't wait to see your giveaway and your other sponsored posts.

I can't believe how old R is already. That is crazy!

Amy @ A Desert Girl said...

Such precious photos of your sweet girl! This update was fun. I'm so glad that weaning went well. I'm nervous about it.

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

Dave introduced me to The Flash too and it was kind of fun to watch!

Your pictures are super fun and cute! Sometimes it is nice to get some good shots.

I'm sorry going to work and the daycare struggle is hard some days. I think you do a really good job even if it is hard. Do you remember that post I share forever ago about a 'victory section' in my journal? It was when I was tempted to fall back into a certain sin that I struggled with I'd go to a section in my journal where I had written down all the verses, quotes and things God taught me. It really gave me victory and helped me a lot. Maybe you could do that for days when you struggle? Then instead of reading a SAHM post you could read that first and then if you still feel like reading that post after go for it. But you probably won't =)

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

i know i'm not a mom or anything, but i had to stop reading certain things on the internet that were making me feel a certain way. you can do it. it will make you feel better. i mean, it will suck for sure, but i think having it in your face all the time because you're looking at it or reading about it makes it worse. at least, it did for my problem, which was 100% not as serious as yours- not that your problem is worse but you know what i mean hopefully!! focusing on the bad/what makes us feel crap NEVER helps the problem. in my experience. not that i know what i am talking about, sorry. i'll be quiet now.
after reading your budget/meal planning post i hopped on mint.com to see where our spending was for the month and lol we've almost hit my goal budget already.... and it's just halfway through the month. we ALWAYS go over my 'goal' though. the only time we don't is when we are out of the country, which doesn't quite count.
i haven't watched The Flash but i did get into Arrow for a couple of seasons, and i think they are connected right? like same world?
as for what i am binge watching on netflix....... i'm slightly ashamed, but it's called miss fisher's murder mysteries. it is 3 seasons. i binge watched all of them in 1 week, then did the same thing the next week, and i am currently watching it for the 3rd time (but forcing myself to spread it out). there is something seriously wrong with me to be this obsessed over a show. i'm even listening to the soundtrack right now. IT'S A PROBLEM.

Julie @ Just the Joy's said...

I've got to get on board with a budget system! Your budget posts and ability to budget yourselves inspires me! $200 on groceries a month seems impossible to me! Although using the curbside pickup does help because then I'm not buying randomn things that "look good".

Your photography of R is so pretty. I feel like it captures such sweet moments and is timeless pieces your cherish for a long time. Small, precious details.

Yay for BF for a year and yay for having your freedom back! BF is hard work!

I can relate to the feeling of reading/looking at things that upset me in certain aspects. More like add fuel to my fire sometimes. I've found that it's better to keep off social media as much because of those feelings. Which does help. But I also don't want to block myself from reality and let jealousy win sometimes. I was actually in the process of writing a day in the life post but I'm always hesitant to post that type of thing because I don't like to offend others. I personally enjoy reading day in the life posts for both working and SAHM just because I find it inspiring and jnteresting to see how other moms manage it all. :)

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