Moody days still happen even when you're a parent.

Today is one of those days where my perk-level is pretty low and I have no idea why. Could it be due to the movie popcorn I ate by the handfuls yesterday? Or the gluten-free cake? Or maybe it's because I haven't got my fitness on in a few days? Maybe all the above?

Danny and I successfully sent off our wedding invites, so you'd think I'd be pretty ecstatic. Well, I was over the weekend but perhaps I'm coming down off that high? At any rate, I didn't want to go without blogging for so long and although I'd rather this be a lighthearted, giggle-fest there are going to be some days where that just ain't happening.

Thankfully, seeing Han, I know, will brighten my spirits. Maybe not completely but at least when I'm around him.

For now, I'm looking forward to tomorrow and I'm trying to lift my spirits by looking at the images below.

The trials and tribulations of feeding a new human.

I thought feeding a baby was going to be easy. Ok, minus the breastfeeding bit. That I knew would be hell and it was. But, when it came to solids, I thought: easy peasy. Haha, uh no. Han is just a few days shy of being ten months and we are still having issues. This kid just ain't having it.

We tried purees of fresh veggies, rice cereal (and yes, mixed with formula), mashed shit in those meshy thing-a-ma-bobs, and baby-led weaning (BLW). BLW is the only thing that seems to be working, but Han still has trouble with properly swallowing. When easily swallowable bits happen to hit that uvula of his, let me tell you, GAG CENTRAL! He gags himself so hard he vomits. #palmtoface

Ok, and let me be honest here...Danny and I, well, we really aren't the best at keeping up with a schedule. We REALLY need to work on that because it could be why Han isn't taking to solids as well as we would like. I think we just need to shake ourselves out of our twosome routine because well, we are a threesome now (ew, get your heads out of the gutter!).

Our new pediatrician suggested we see a speech pathologist, which we did. Once. Oops. I really need to schedule that next appointment. The first one went well (according to Danny - I had to work). She said he's definitely interested in food, so that's a plus. We just need to monitor him and get back to her with how he does.



So starting today, we get him on a schedule - otherwise known as a new routine for all parties involved. Crap, I forgot we are more than a threesome! We're a fivesome! Pentasome? Or however you would say it, minus the sexual connotations, obvs.

Beauty products I now covet.

Since becoming a mom, I'm now obsessed with YouTube makeup tutorials. As I said in my last post, I've reclaimed my me-time and this is how I'm spending it. And I love every minute of it. Really, my coworker, who's also a first-time ma, is to blame. She introduced me to my first professional makeup artist YouTuber, Sharon The Makeup Artist. And down the rabbit-hole I fell.

Now I want to buy makeup (much to Danny's chagrin) ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME. Of course, as a new mom, I can't really hit up Sephora and leave with $200+ worth of glorious beauty products and be able to feed my kid much less Danny and me. So, I covet and I covet...oh, and covet some more. Hey I gotta build my arsenal anyway and I just gotta realize, it will take time...

BUT I WANT ALL THE MAC LIPSTICKS NOW!

*slow breath-in, slow breath-out*

Ok, just kidding...sort of. I mean, I can control myself. In the meantime, here's my makeup/beauty wish covet list thanks to the various makeup YouTubers or Vloggers or whatever the 'F' they call themselves.

Sure it doesn't look like much (or maybe it does?), but that shit adds up! Well, for reference here's the "what's what" break down:

Mama beauty can and does exist with the reclamation of ME-TIME.

When I was baking my boy, a friend of mine gifted me a Parents magazine subscription. I never thought I'd love flipping through a mag dedicated to child-rearing, but there ya have it. One area I sort of found odd was the section on beauty. There are make-up tips, hairstyle tutorials, and even fashion suggestions. I looked, thought it was odd a section more slated for Real Simple than a parenting mag existed, and moved on every month without any more thought.

Well, as a mama now, I TOTALLY get it! For months I've neglected any beauty routine I had in favor of sleep, breastfeeding, and any other new-baby-in-the-house duties. It's been 9 1/2 months, and we have established a pretty good routine. Han sleeps through the night, takes regular hour+ naps, bottle-feeds himself (I mean, we still make the bottles), diaper changes "ain't no thang," and he can entertain himself for a good long while - in other words, the dust has settled. I find I have time on my hands. Wow. Never thought it'd happen - says every new mom, I'm sure. Haha.

So that's why that section in Parents magazine exists. It's for all the mamas out there who have reclaimed their me-time and want to fall back into a beauty routine or heck, start one! Because let's face it, feeling good about oneself can be a bit difficult when your hair is endlessly in a sloppy (re: not cute) bun, dark circles haunt you with every glimpse in a mirror, and the only clothes that seam to fit are stretch pants and your future hub's sweatshirts.

It's kind of nice of Parents magazine to remind me that it's ok to be a mom and have a beauty routine that makes you feel good. That doesn't necessarily mean I have to style my hair, do my make-up, and be fashion-conscious EVERYDAY in order to be one hip mom. It just means, if I want to and since I have the time, why not put on some foundation, throw my hair up in a messy (re: chic) up-do, and don a pair of fabulous statement earrings?

Unashamed work selfie (filters included because the lighting in my office SUCKS)! I'm getting there. My brows are OUT OF CONTROL, but I have an appointment on Saturday to tame those wild animals. And I'm going to practice filling them in even! I must admit, it's nice having the time to get pretty even if my baby beasty and future hubs don't care what I look like. :)

How do you like to spend your me-time?


Parents magazine issues: March 2014; August 2014; & October 2014 (Han hands not included ;)
     

Is it so wrong to want Leslie Knope as a BFF for my birthday?

Well actually, Saturday the 24th was my day o' birth. It was a low-key affair and that was fine with me. Hung with a couple of mama buddies and my gorgeous baby beasty. Danny made me vegan banana bread for my b-day cake and it was super yummy and ever so comforting. Mmm.

So yeah, another year. Another day of rumination. I just can't help it. This year my thoughts went to friendships and kindness. I have friends and I appreciate them dearly, don't get me wrong. But sometimes, I can't help but think about that one friend I lack. The one that feels like an appendage, you know what I mean? And yes, I feel that way with Danny but he doesn't count. I'm talking about that hardcore bond with a gal I'm not sexually and romantically involved with.

I look at the world around me and I meditate on the negativity that tends to cloud people and then I just start craving kindness. Kindness can definitely be elusive at times. And being acerbically sarcastic from time to time is always a hoot, but everyday and to the people you love? Heck, even to strangers who haven't done anything harmful or nasty. SMH. Doesn't seem right. Mindy Kaling brought up such a good point in this article, "The time I waste on being mean could be better [spent] on thinking up a fun workout playlist or finding a cool recipe for my slow cooker." YES! My sentiments exactly.

I don't know. Perhaps it's my old age, but is it so wrong to want kind people in your life? I'm not saying all the people in my life aren't kind, I just feel like I'm missing that one friend who is beyond kind. Who teaches me to be kinder and appreciate things MORE, but at the same time shares the same interests as me. A person who is so close to me we finish each other's sandwiches sentences.

Maybe the crux of this feeling of mine is my recent obsession with Parks and Recreation. Well, duh. I guess it took me writing about it to have an "ah-ha!" realization. And here's that realization: I want Leslie Knope for a BFF, dammit!

I'm 34 now and I find myself having this heart-wrenching longing for a friend I can call at all hours of the night for advice, gossip, and celebrity bashing. Who lives super close. Someone who is genuine and KIND. A gal who openly and joyously celebrates our friendship as much as I do. Is a person like that fiction? Will I ever meet my Leslie Knope? Am I having a mid-life crisis 20 years too soon? Maybe finding someone like that is like dating - meaning, I'm just gonna have to put myself out there to find The One.

Ok, so that folks is the end of my "birthday thoughts" segment for at least another year. But if I could impart one thing to you, gracious reader, it is this:

Ovaries before brovaries image    
It's cool image

As old as it took me to incubate him.

It's been a crazy week. I started weaning myself off Zoloft and let me tell, my hormones are CRAY CRAY. Nothing as bad as before I started the Zoloft, but I can definitely tell my brain is trying to settle into the new dosage. Basically, I'm super antsy. I just applied for my dream job and I was bouncing off the walls with excitement, nervousness, stress (happy and not so happy), and anxiety. Dang man, it was exhausting! Once I turned the application in, I finally cooled down a bit.

Hence my belated post about Han's 9 month milestones. I must say, I'm happy we waited to take his photo for the weekend and in the light of day. I didn't even use an Instagram filter! This is definitely my fave of the series thus far and no, it's not because my stems make an appearance. Although this happens to be my birthday month and I got to choose his outfit and record and the color of words are kinda my fave, so there's all of that. In regards to my record choice, Han will be a super fan of the semi-local Joanna Newsom in his very near future. I simply CAN'T WAIT till we belt out "Inflammatory Writ" together! YouTube, look out! Well, without further ado, here are my lil' beasty's monthly milestones:

• Practices walking, constantly!
• Climbs on everything. His fave thing to do as of late is climb up on his Darth Vadar chair and look out the window with his feline bro, Monpetit. It's sort of the CUTEST. 
• He continues to suck on food, but has yet to successfully swallow bits on purpose.
• Babbles "mama" and "dada" like it's never going out of style. I'd like to think he now associates those words with us. Just the other day, I sat on the floor in close proximity to him and he looked over, smiled wide, and started walking/crawling over to me all the while squealing: "MAMA!" Heart. 
• He's super hyper and LOVES when he can escape our makeshift baby gate.
• While we watch TV, read, or play on our phones he'll happily entertain himself with his toys - at least for an extended period of time before he begs for our attention.
• Although he can hang in his Pack n' Play for a good while, when he's done he ferociously squeals and shakes the railing like a possessed baby. It's very Chucky-esque; i.e., adorable. ;)
• Received his Polio vaccine. Well, the first round. 
• Teething, but still no teeth. That's why his fingers are in mouth and he's started sticking his tongue out again and blowing raspberries.

Hmm, guess that's it for now. Remembering this stuff is super hard. I suppose I could make it easier by keeping a journal nearby, so I can write down his milestones...but that's like so early 2000s. Ugh. And because she's my fave and her unique musical talents need to be spread around, here's Ms. Joanna majestically crooning the delightful "Inflammatory Writ."

And heck, why not - here she is at the Inherent Vice premiere in a swoon-worthy ensemble.

And because I'm clearly obsessed with her and the title of this song is the year of my birth, here's a video of her performing one of my favorite ditties off her most recent album. 

What a beaut.

Joanna image

What a 30-something's closet fantasy looks like.

No 9 month milestone post today. #fail - womp womp. I know I said I'd have one in my last post, but I have a good excuse! Danny wants to wait and take Han's photo during the day on Saturday, so the light will be better. I can get behind that. In the meantime, I'm going to post about a fantasy of mine: an organized closet. Hot stuff, am I right?

The closet in need of organization (well all of 'em really) is Han's. "Ooh la la" the possibilities because that is by no means an organized closet...yet. Han shares a room with our office, which is still not decorated/organized. We've been working on it for...oh...hmm...a year plus. Ugh. Yeah, we're procrastinators. And I can't even blame having a baby on it because we were totally like this pre-Han!

I'm obsessed with design blogs, mags, and books. It seriously is like an addiction now, and yet, can't seem to keep up with design in my own home. I so want to - SO VERY BADLY. For a while there I was feeling extremely guilty for my mess of a house. Although Danny thinks our place is fine - I mean, sure it's not Hoardersville but it could really use a good scrub, an everything-has-a-place organization plan, and a style scheme per room. I'm not gonna lie, part of my postpartum depression grew from this guilt. Then I stumbled across this article by blogger Kristen Howerton. These two photos in particular really spoke to me: