moosh in indy.

I’m going to ask you to do something for me, and you’ll most likely do it because I am currently sitting in bed wearing footy penguin pajamas (available here) with my ridiculous glasses (see post here) and to top it all off (literally) I have one of Cody’s old socks balled up in my hair (tutorial here.) I feel you’ll be more inclined to do this little favor for me because I am obviously someone who does not take themselves too seriously.

I also put picnik costumes on my one eyed, extra toed cat whom I love more than toast, butter and fried chicken combined.

Clearly I am someone to be trusted.

Are you ready for the favor you’re going to do me?

Here goes.

Chill out.

That’s it.

There’s no need to be so uptight.

You have two ears and one mouth, which means you are supposed to listen twice as much as you speak. You also have two arms and only one right hook so that clearly means you are to hug people far more often than you are to punch them in the jaw. You’ve got two feet so you can walk away from trouble and even better?

You have all the potential in the world to be the bigger person without gaining a pound.

Be kind to each other.

That’s all I ask.

photo credit

It’s no secret that I’ve been feeling tops lately.

When I try to narrow it down to just one or two things that are really doing it for me…I can’t. I think I’m just at a point where everything seems to be humming along at a manageable pace. Yet at the same time I am actively trying to keep *this* up more than I ever have. I have a reason to fight and I am fighting.

Hard.

Could it be just one thing? Sure. Could it be the perfect harmony of all the things I am doing? I guess so.

But I also feel as though I should add a disclaimer here.

I still have moments of struggle. Hard ones where I feel overwhelmed and beat. At one point I had to ask Cody to come home so I could dig out, I knew if I tried to do it all on my own I would have crashed and everything I have so well balanced right now would have shattered into unrecognizable pieces that couldn’t have been recovered easily.

I guess you could say that it’s not so much about being happy as it is about having a really strong rebound.

I use my SAD lamp every morning as soon as I wake up. Vivi lies next to me in bed for a half an hour as we soak up our daily artificial sunlight. I don’t think it really matters what kind you have, what matters is that you use it and use it everyday.

One of the things I do each day when I sit in front of my SAD lamp is read scriptures. Out loud. Not only does it give Vivi something to listen, it makes me really focus on them. I am capable of making a grocery list, a laundry list and tactical war plans in my head all while attempting to read something. I have really tried to pay attention to what the scriptures say…especially now that I’m hot and heavy into Isaiah. Dude is heavy. God is important to me and I have felt that by starting my day out with Him I’m better prepared for what may come. I would think reading anything uplifting would have the same effect for those who do not actively practice any particular religion.

I pray at least twice a day. Sometimes out loud, sometimes in my head, sometimes on my knees and sometimes curled up in the fetal position, what matters is that I do it.

I take an iron pill, vitamin C and fish pills every morning with my breakfast. A really good Omega 3-6-9 combo will supposedly have every good effect under the sun on you, including mental well being. Hooey or not, I take them and always have. Also? Eat breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. Being hungry doesn’t do anyone any good.

I keep busy. Obviously. This one is pretty self explanatory. But I have also learned how to say no.

I keep the bad stuff out. No bad TV shows, no bad books, no bad movies, no bad influences. It’s really hard to hate anything when you don’t let hate into your life.

I take my medication every night. I finally feel as though I am on the right one for me. I am capable of highs and lows, ups and downs but without any dramatic side effects or mood changes (well, every 28 days there’s some *minor* mood fluctuations.) I feel…dare I say it…normal.

Then of course there is the big kid, the baby, the cats and my husband. I love my home. I love everyone who lives here. I love hanging out with them. My home is a safe refuge for me where I can keep the bad out and for the most part only let good in. I think everyone needs a place where they feel safe.

Home is my safe place.

Hopefully this continues for a very long time.

While I am here…I’ll just be around, you know…smiling and stuff.

There are some toys that just seem to stand the test of time. Toys that I played with as a little girl that are now popular with my little girl. Toys that my own parents played with and still have tucked away in a basement. Some of the most popular toys were complete accidents while others have a history that includes war and possible racism.  

Continue reading on Babble...

mustache teether from little alouette.

eared hoodie from plum bunny.

floral romper from tea collection.

one eyed cat from the humane society.

husband found at radio shack circa 2000.

Lovey, wankie, softie, woobie…no matter what you call it a majority of children will become wildly attached to one particular object in their childhood and woe be unto you if it ever goes missing. Especially if it is a one of a kind. There’s no telling what your kid may become attached to, an old camisole of yours, a stuffed animal from Aunt Ruth, a blanket from Target or a Coach handkerchief. In Addie’s case, it is a piece of purple furry fabric with velvet ribbons coming out of it that I made for her when she was 6 months old.

Continue reading on Babble...

Also on big babble...traveling with bigger kids without losing your mind.

The time has come where what’s mine is Vivi’s and what’s Vivi’s goes into her mouth to be gummed to death. While teeth still haven’t made their appearance drool and endless chewing has, which means I have to be extra vigilant about what that baby sticks in her mouth.

Continue reading on Babble...

Also on Babble...I love my frivolous video monitor so so much.

I stood up in church on Sunday and thanked God for the perfectly simple life I have at the moment.

I know that the perfect or the simple part won’t last forever and that in any given day there can be imperfections ranging from mild to overwhelming.

But I am happy.

And I would be a horrible person if I didn’t look around at all that I have and not revel in gratitude. Today was one of those days when stuff got done. The laundry is all folded and put away, a majority of major surfaces are tidy and swept and everyone had a pleasant attitude and three square meals.

I feel as though the things I love have swelled up like toasted marshmallows and swallowed everything else that is unpleasant and painful.

I am being smothered by puffy love marshmallows.

I get to wake up and spend 7 uninterrupted hours with this face. This perfect chubby face. She sings to me, I kiss the bridge of her nose. She lays her head on my chest and I tickle her back until she snorts.

At two o’clock the big one comes home and I get to spend four hours reveling in just how much the big one loves the little one. Addie would do anything for her baby sister, the love they share has thawed any cold places I ever had leftover in my heart.

At six o’clock the biggest one of all comes through the door, changes his pants and plays on the floor until both of them are fast asleep.

At eleven o’clock I get to crawl in bed with the biggest one, shove my cold toes between his knees and fall asleep curled up by his side. He lets me, even though I know he’s not comfortable and very tired of my cold feet invading his warm places.

As if that all weren’t enough to revel in everyday, there are these cats. These purring, furry, loving cats. Wink crawls between my legs as I sleep and purrs whenever I stir. Percy is famous for walking across my lap and rubbing his rumbling face so hard against my cheeks I can do nothing but abandon all I am doing and scratch his fluffy parts.

We’re not going anywhere for the holidays, which is fine, because I have more than I could ever need right here in these four walls.

************************

With the holidays approaching I am growing evermore thankful to have a family of my own, my life is full of simplicity and rich blessings and I have never been more content.  I’m grateful to be participating in this project with Hallmark to share my experiences with my life as a very special occasion.