February 17, 2012

Get Into The Groove

To say that this week has been easy and that me and KP fell into a routine right away would be a lie.  A big fat lie.  This week has been tough and challenging.  It's had it's ups and it's had it's downs.  I think our biggest struggle is time management on my part.  I want to do it all.  I want to have time for myself, time for Kendall, time to go do an activity, time to do it all.  What can I say I want it all.
By about Tuesday night I realized that having and doing it all is not an option.  Sacrifices have to be made and they have to be made so that they don't affect Kendall negatively. So what did that mean for me?  That meant that I woke up at 6:15, when Jimmy went to work, to have some me time before KP woke up.  I sat in bed, drank coffee by the glow of the bedside light and caught up on some trash reality TV.  It was glorious.  This will most likely be the way I spend my mornings from here on out.  It also meant I turned off Twitter, Facebook and emails as much as possible while she was awake.  I have also realized how much time I put into blogging every day.  It's a lot people.  I'm used to writing and/or scheduling blog posts from my desk and answering reader emails during slow times at work to make the time go by faster.  Now I have actually set aside time in my evenings to answer emails, write blog posts {like this one}, work on sponsorship stuff, etc.  But you know what?  I love it.  I love this dedicated hour or two or three that I can give to blogging now because now? it has my undivided attention. I've also had to become ok with the fact that I may not be able to run 5K everyday like I did before.  Even if I just get in 2 miles during nap it's better than nothing.
As for Kendall?  She seems to be adjusting pretty decently.  Although we did go over to my MIL's for a couple hours yesterday and holy crying fit when we left, ouch KP!  I'm trying to keep her busy, active each day.  My goal is to eventually get the days set up where we have scheduled times for eating, napping, learning, play time and even the occasional Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, ideally.  This week we've done a pretty good job with all of those.  Monday we went to the mall and made a Valentine's Day craft for daddy.
{I'm sure you could all tell that that is a heart made out of her two footprints, obviously}
And then later that night I thought we'd work on some learning.  I drew 4 shapes one a sheet of paper and literally after 10 minutes of working with her we had this.
She's a regular baby genius, I know.
Tuesday I turned to Pinterest, obviously, and tried the ole put paint in a Ziploc and tape it to the sliding glass door trick.  I had been wanting to try that since I first saw it and seeing as my child HATES paints on her fingers {hence the reason the Valentine's day craft was done with the feet} I thought this would be PERFECT!  And I was right.

Wednesday we did our first every story time at the library and it.was.adorable.  Seriously.  Kendall is always a little shy and timid when she's in new situations and this was no different.  The "teacher" was playing guitar when we went in and she's used to Jimmy doing that so that was fine but it was all the kids who knew what they were doing and she was just the newbie.  But by the end of class she was moving and shaking with the best of them and my mommy heart was full.  We'll be making that our weekly thing.  Also we will be stopping at Starbucks after every time.  Chai latte for me, cake pop for the girl.

Thursday I wanted to go ahead and get some supplies for a few crafts I had seen on Pinterest and we went to Target bright and early.  We got chalk, pipe cleaners, and more drawing paper. The pipe cleaners were a HUGE hit.

So yeah...we've been having fun.

Photobucket

27 comments:

  1. I'd say your first week as a SAHM was a success! Enjoy it! I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little jealous! And accomplishing Pinterest projects? Hello! That's big in my book! I always feel like I'm not wasting so much of my time when I actually do a few things I've pinned! :) Happy Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Could you guys be any more cute? Like woah! OMG that video of her. I DIE!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ummmm...I kind of want to do the paint in a ziploc baggie thing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a great week! Glad you are enjoying your time with her. If he hates paint on her hands, we used to do something called marble painting. Put a piece of paper in a shoebox, a couple dabs of paint, and a couple marbles. Then put the top on (taping it shut helps the littles not get into the mess and marbles) and let her shake like crazy. It looks pretty cool! When I was in toddlers they loved the ziploc bags of paint too! Fun + no mess = perfect

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks like you two had a great week! Your doing a great job :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love these ideas! Def going to try the finger paint ziplocs for sure.

    Question- what kind of hair bands to you use for KP?! My daughter has the same really fine hair, and I can't get anything to hold onto it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That sounds like a really successful first week as a SAHM! You rocked it!

    I'm sure KP is happy having you home... and if you ever feel like you're losing your sense of professionalism because you're staying home, just whip out those pipe cleaner glasses and you'll feel smarter!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm gonna steal all of these ides. Brayden HATES being messy, so hopefully the paint in a ziploc bag will work for him too. Cute!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ADORABLE!!!
    I'm new to your blog and didn't realize you weren't always a SAHM. I gotta go catch up :) It looks like you're doing awesome. it's all about having a plan

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks like you're doing great to me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I admire you mamas who get up early to have your "me" time, and I've considered it, but truth be told, I'm awful at going to bed at a good time, so, getting up early isn't a smart decision for me. Perhaps I'll give up my late nights and trade them in for early morning instead. Hmm.

    Time management is HARD. Even when you do have a routine, or THINK you have a routine, things get altered...and me? That stresses me out. I look forward to my couple of hours to myself when E goes to bed each night to do the things you mentioned - catching up.

    You'll figure out what works for you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Look at you! That's awesome how many fun things you did this week. I'm sure Kendall had a blast. It's hard sometimes to find creative things to do with the little ones but you rocked it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You might be on to something about getting up earlier. I stay up late (like 2am) trying to get in my me time..

    I think getting into a nice groove is semi- hard and sticking with it. Sometimes I catch us getting out of it and I have to get us all back on it.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. As a SAHM, it is sooooo refreshing to hear another mom say that being at home with her child actually makes it harder to get everything done. I must admit, I've read a lot of posts written by working moms that totally trashed us SAHMs and accused us of being spoiled and having all the time in the world for ourselves. Ha! I actually once read a post titled "Hating the House Moms." True story. That one really bugged me since it was written by a blogger I really liked and had established a friendship with.

    Your daughter is adorable. So funny to see you going to Target for crafty things. I did the same thing when my son was her age and the pipe cleaners were a definite fave. Target is the absolute bomb! Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Looks to me like you'll have no problem finding your groove! Love all the activities y'all did this week! Have a lovely weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I don't do the early riser thing..but I admire those that do. I just...can't. I'm an awful morning person. But! I did go and get all the supplies to do the ziploc bag paint thing. NO mess? PERFECT! Eme will love it ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. OMG, you are the best SAHM ever! What fun activities and what a fun age she is! And she has the cutest lil' pigtails I have ever seen!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Aw! What fun activities you've been coming up with!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Look at you...such a super SAHM. :) I think it's a great fit! KP is so freaking cute with those little piggies and corkers! Hang in there, you're definitely getting into your groove. I find it really hard with my schedule as a teacher, we just get into a groove (if you can call it that), then the schedule changes. I guess my kids are learning to be very flexible!

    ReplyDelete
  20. You've been more intentional in your week ish home than I have been in almost a year of staying home. Sigh.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks like you guys are adjusting just fine!!! I need to get on Pinterest and get some good ideas for crafts and things to do on the weekends with Chloe. She loved the finger paints...so I might try the zip lock baggie trick. That looks fun!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. You will def start to fall into a routine as you guys figure it out. Have fun :)

    And I LOVE the ziploc baggie thing!! Genius!! Pinterest is pretty much the greatest thing to happen to me since ABC Family.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Looks like your taking to this SAHM gig quite fabulously. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Glad you made it through your first week! Kudos, as I think being a SAHM is THE hardest job, and I only did it for 4 months while on maternity leave when I didn't need to come up with crafty ideas or fun things to do for the kid! You do need to give yourself time to get into a routine - I think you did a great job with all the things you did to fill the week with fun for you and Kendall!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would venture to say you are rocking the socks of this. Looks to me like you've done more activites in this week than I have done with Evalyn in her entire life.

    ReplyDelete
  26. LOOK at you TEACHING her all kinds of stuff!! YOu are a graet SAHM! AND, library time...sniff. I used to take Friday mornings off and take A to library time. SHe loved it and I loved that she loved it. I miss it so much and want to get back.

    ReplyDelete