home about contact sponsor why teaching midweek FAQs

Friday, June 28, 2013

Things I Learned in June & Insta Photos

I love this idea (and I need some easy blogging ideas right now), so I'm joining the party over at Chatting at the Sky today to share ten things I learned in June...


1. Swim shorts are all the rage. Remember I told you I bought a pair? Well, apparently so did every other mom visiting Great Wolf Lodge last week.  Whatdoyouknow?!?  Seriously, probably 85% of the moms at the water park were wearing swim shorts - which, by the way, are shorts designed to be worn over a bathing suit (like as a cover-up) and/or actually in the water (like as a bathing suit).  It's not surprising that they are popular; they are just too practical.  Being near water with a toddler is NO JOKE.  There is NO time for being modest or insecure, momma's gotta run and splash and frolick.  Swim shorts for the win.  (Mine are from Target & LL Bean, in case you were wondering.)

2. Being a stay-at-home mom is HARD.  I am absolutely loving the extra time I'm getting to spend with Sam these days; but y'all, I am exhausted.  Sam has two speeds: fast & asleep.  This really doesn't jive well with my "slow & asleep" lifestyle lately.  Anyway, I'm pretty sure I had learned this lesson before (and probably will learn it over and over again) but anyone who thinks taking care of kids all day is an easy job is a cryin' fool.

3. Spray tans are a (pale) girl's best friend.  Look, I don't mess with skin cancer.  Also, to my knowledge, beauty trends have not shifted towards sunburned, peeling, and freckly any time recently.  But, man, everybody looks better with a tan! (Except maybe Nicole Kidman.  She totally rocks pale.) Since June 13th, I have had THREE (to be fair, I bought a package that was basically buy one at a reduced rate and get two free as long as you use them within two weeks) and, well, I'm seriously considering picking up another job just to continue this habit.  It is amazing what a spray tan will do for my wardrobe, my thighs, and my self confidence.  I'm sold.  (I get the VersaSpa spray tan in medium-clear, in case you care.)

4. I am an all or nothing kind-of person; but, I need to be comfy in the middle. Recently I've been noticing this character trait about myself in SO many areas... If my house can't be 100% sparkly clean (which it NEVER is anymore), then it may as well be a dump.  If I already ruined my day of healthy eating with a donut at breakfast, I may as well have french fries at lunch too.  This, obviously, plays out in bigger heart issues too, and, I imagine, has had a big effect on the process of trying to find balance in my life as a mom, wife, teacher, friend, etc.  I'm learning about being content in the middle - about baby steps, and being comfortable in between.  Learn-ing.


5. My old t-shirts make excellent "night gowns" for toddlers when everything else is dirty.

6. Old friends are priceless.  In June, we got to spend a great weekend with old high school friends celebrating our friends Aric & Caitlyn's wedding, and (again) I was reminded how blessed Jeff & I are to have friends that we have shared so much of our lives with.  The groom's dad said at the rehearsal dinner that he had known many of us for 20 years.  We have seen each other through the awkwardness of middle school, the pressures of high school, the changes of college, the challenges of "the real world," and, now, the journey of marriage and parenthood.  That is special and unique, and I don't want to take it for granted.

7. New friends are really wonderful too. Also, as the weather has gotten warmer and we've been around the house more, we have gotten a lot closer with our neighbors.  (There are four families within eight houses of each other, all with toddler boys.)  I absolutely treasure the friendships Sam is developing with those little boys and get giddy thinking about his days of bike riding and flash-light tag playing with his buddies.  But, sometimes even more than that, I am thankful for the relationships I am developing with their mommies.  Most of my college girlfriends have kids, and I have the online community of moms (of course), but there is something so great about having moms to just "do life" with day in and day out.  I love that I don't have to apologize when they come in my house, because theirs looks just like it, that I can run Sam down the street when I need just thirty minutes to post an assignment, and that my neighbor can show up with an empty coffee cup when she's been up since four a.m. and they ran out.  These new friendships are good for my soul, really good.  That's community at its finest folks. :)

8. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry now recommends that children go to the dentist before their FIRST birthday.  That would have been nice to know, oh, I don't know... a YEAR ago. I mean, are they really allowed to just change their mind like that? I'm behind on a lot of things; but, this?  I did my due diligence for this.  I checked with the pediatrician, I read the pamphlet my dentist gave me when Sam was an infant, I was ready to go "some time between two and three."  And now, here's my two year old who has never been to the dentist and I'm all kinds of panicked over what a negligent mother I am and how Sam probably has 13590 cavities already.  Moms can't win, you know?  (#letsnoteventalkaboutthepaci)

What about you, what have you learned this month?

I'm off on a weekend camping trip with Jeff's family this afternoon, so I'll see you Monday with my brand new blog design! Yay!!  In the meantime, don't forget that Google Reader (but NOT Google Friend Connect, yet) is going away on July 1st.  Make sure you are staying connected by following me on BlogLovin', Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram.  

Happy Weekend!
 

15 comments:

  1. Ooh! Swim SHORTS! Must. Go. Shopping.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm with you on the SAHM thing.... I love the extra time but the lack of a schedule is killing me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I love what you wrote about new and old friends. There are times when I feel like I must have enough friends, since I have a hard time being all that I need to be to them. So silly. I love your collage. Cute cute! Enjoy your camping weekend!
    :) Jen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Do not even worry about the dentist. Really. I just took Avery this past week and she just turned 2 in April. I took her to a pediatric dentist and she said that 2-3 was just the right age to bring your kids in for their first visit. I learned that cavities are caused by a bacteria and they don't get it until they are 2 (and even grosser, it is transmitted person to person - so if you have the cavity bacteria and kiss Sam, you can give it to him - SO GROSS!)She said that most teeth problems kids have before they are 2 is from falling asleep with milk/juice and it sitting in their mouth all night long.
    Avery screamed bloody murder through the whole exam but I am happy to say she does not have any cavities and her teeth are in good shape. Also, with the fluoride thing, my pediatrician prescribed her drops since she was an infant, which I never gave her and when I talk to the dentist about it, she said giving her a glass of water with fluoride once a day is enough - you can buy fluoride with water at the grocery store, something else I did not know.
    So there are my 2 cents. Happy Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  5. My dentist- the same one who knows about my jacked-up teeth and sees me almost monthly- just told me to get Luke in for his first visit at age two. So even the dentist doesn't know about the new recommedations. I, on the other hand, want to put it off as long as possible. Luke's sensory issues combined with the sheer TERROR that comes with the toothbrush has me terrified of taking him to the dentist. I've heard they have restraint jackets and we may just both need one. :/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Really...? I thought kiddies went to the dentist when they are two-three. Interesting. SAHMs - tough stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  7. My pediatrician really pushed the visit at a year, so we went. The (pediatric) dentist counted Noah's teeth, gave him a toothbrush, and said to come back when he was three. Most of my friends with toddlers have had the same experience. Don't stress!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this post...I love about the neighbors, because the same is happening here I am amazed that in the short time that I gotten to know them they have helped us tremendously...helping with picking up my kids and bringing them at parties too. Back to your question; what have I learned in June...I have two great kids (well behaved, liked and really good)
    My daughter totally loves her daddy - so evident on Father's day --- their special bond will help her become a great lady one day!


    My son's reading level went up three letters; in the short time he is with us he has accomplished so much and will do well in life. Both of them are striving and excelling I am really proud of them.
    My neighbors are awesome and life savers
    I truly need to blog on my blogs (for my own sanity) and will try really hard to be more consistent in July.
    Just need to shut out the bad and realize what is good for me.
    Struggling with some outside issues; which is making me blue but I know that it doesn't matter because my family is the only thing I care for and is important to me!!!!
    Lately if something happens to me directly I have become a reactor instead of calmly investigate the situation I lay blame on me and react!
    I think that is it - enjoy your weekend!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oooh can you do a post on great wolf lodge? We are thinking about taking E to the one near WIlliamsburg this summer! I too am an all or nothing person

    ReplyDelete
  10. I say the same thing about my Thomas he has two speeds...asleep and going full speed! And I too have been enjoying summer With my boy but also LOVE me some nap time!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I laughed at the "two speeds" comment, b/c I can totally relate!

    Glad you're having a fun and busy summer!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just did mine today! I loved this idea!

    http://www.hairbowsandsmiles.com/2013/06/things-ive-learned-in-june.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Loved your list.. and your photo collage! (This pale girl is a bit too chicken to get a spray tan... did you ever see that Friends episode where Ross gets one? It gives me nightmares!)

    Stopping by from Emily's. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. time to plug my husband? go see stephen quinn dds--across from alstate on 419--he was a cave spring grad himself! he is great with kids (obvi i am biased :) )

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the photo collage but I don't like spray tans. I aways come out looking a little orange-ish.
    Love #4. That is me all over!

    -Sarah

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are what makes this thing fun! I LOVE to hear from you and do my best to respond to everyone! THANK YOU!


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Pin It button on image hover