Countering Pinterest-Inspired Disconent

It's no secret.  I love Pinterest.  I really do.  I have gained some fantastic ideas that have truly helped with organization in my home, with recipe ideas, and I've bookmarked some super fun ways to entertain a toddler that I know I'll be referring back to in a year or so!  I've noticed something, however.  In my life, there's become a bit of a darker side to Pinterest.  As I sit there night after night scrolling through ideas, zoning out, looking at what others have pinned, I find a bit of discontent creep slowly into my mind and heart.  "Look at this amazing and spotless kitchen this woman has!  How come my kitchen never looks like that?  She must have a husband who always puts everything back right where he found it immediately after using it or she must do all her dishes the second she uses one."  "Look at this person's amazingly organized kid's bedroom!  Do real kids even live here??  There's no way Aidan's room would look like that after 2 minutes of him being allowed to play there."  Friends of mine are pinning birthday party ideas and wedding ideas and holiday ideas that make Martha Stewart look lame, and I've started doing that too, even though I know deep down my child's first birthday party won't look anything like what I've pinned.  It will probably consist of some streamers and balloons and a happy birthday banner with pizza and cupcakes and blowing bubbles for 10 of our close friends and their little ones because that's more me than themed and decorated shindigs.  It probably won't involve perfectly homemade party favors, not because I don't want to be able to do that, but because I know that's not my gift.  And seeds of discontent start to grow.  I look around my little apartment and I wonder when it will be my turn to live in and decorate a big beautiful 4 bedroom house with a perfectly organized mudroom with individual lockers for each member of my family (if you don't get that, you might not have spent enough time on Pinterest!)  I forget to be grateful that God has provided a great apartment for us within walking distance to everything important.  Am I a bad mom because I can't keep my kitchen looking like that or can't pull off a perfect party like the Moms on Pinterest?  Of course not.  But I fear that fantastic tools like Pinterest are slowly breeding discontent and resentment and feelings of failure in moms all over America.  (Come on, I know I'm not the only one!)  I don't think swearing off social media is the answer--there are truly great benefits to using things like this.  I think God was whispering the answer to me over and over again this week in several ways.  "Sarah, be grateful.  Practice gratitude.  Look around you, see what you DO have.  And give thanks."

Awhile ago (like two years maybe?) I started a gratitude journal, and started counting my blessings--big and small.  Sometimes I'd post them here on the blog, but slowly I've gotten out of the habit of doing so.  I picked up my journal again this week, and am committing to this discipline of counting the gifts God gives me each week.  I may not have a perfectly decorated master bedroom,  I may have a car that needs to be badly cleaned out and washed, and when I throw a dinner party it might not involve homemade matching place card holders, but I have so much more than that.  So so much more.  Picking up where I left off awhile ago, here's what my heart is grateful for this week.

695.  I don't take beautiful photos of my breakfast toast.  Instead I wolf it down with one hand while preparing Aidan's breakfast with the other--because morning is his absolute happiest time of day and I don't want to miss a moment of his babbling and cooing and smiling working in the kitchen.

696.  A data entry job fell in my lap--a job I can do from home any time of the day or night so I don't miss a moment of my son's little life while working.

697.  Yaki Tacos from Islands' restaurant.  Pineapple, teriyaki chicken, lettuce, tomato....deliciousness.

698.  Seeing our friend Tuhina who was in town visiting this weekend.  Wandering through Fuller together reflecting on what a rich season of life that was.  (Seriously how many people do you know who were actively practicing Hinduism when they converted to Lutheranism and felt called to ministry and are now a year away from receiving their fist call as an ELCA pastor??  I love Fuller because I've been privileged to be friends with people who have stories like Tuhina's.)

699.  Dreaming about plans for MOPS for this next year.

700.  Fresh clean baby laundry--folding those little onesies.

701.  Sweet conversations with my husband as we lay falling asleep at night.

702.  My sis booked her airline tickets to our cousin's wedding in Nashville over Labor Day weekend--can't wait to see her again!

703.  A case of diapers arrived on our doorstep yesterday thanks to my awesome in laws.  We were down to 4 diapers and I was about to send the hubby to the store.  Perfect timing!

704.  I may not know how to edit my photos or post beautiful ones to facebook, but as I scroll through my iphoto I do nothing but smile--smile at the memories, at how my son has grown already, at the people who love us and him that make up the tapestry of our lives.

705.  Getting to see two of my bridesmaids in the past week--both Jean and Jenn were in town just for one day each!

706.  Reading a beautiful eBook called Mother Letters that has inspired me, made me cry, and reminded me over and over again of the truly important things in life.

707.  Getting to have banana bread fresh from the oven with a new friend from church and her fantastic kids.

708.  Watching the US gymnastics olympic trials.  I love the olympics and it's the one time I truly become patriotic!

709.  Finding a beautiful birthday gift for my sister in law and a very fun gift for my nephew (yes, thank you Pinterest!)

710.  Watching my niece Lily do a tongue twister on video--this 2 year old truly amazes me!

711.  Our sweet babe slept 4-5 hour stretches two nights in a row!  Praise the Lord!!

712.  A husband who is SO supportive of the decisions I make regarding our son each day.

713.  Getting to read every time I nurse Aidan--so I actually get to read a lot in chunks throughout the day.

714.  Playdates with friends!

715.  Our munchkin has mellowed enough and loves getting out in my Beco front carrier, which means we get to go places now!

716.  The way my parents interact with Aidan when we skype--talking to him, showing him little toys, waving at him, trying to build a relationship as much as possible from a distance.

717.  Being part of a community of parents and people who are incredible.

718.  Summer produce.  Can't get enough of it!

719.  The Little Blue Truck, my new favorite board book--seriously, love this book!

720.  Saturday morning alone at a coffee shop doing my data entry while daddy gets a morning with his munchkin.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

7 Quick Takes Friday!

It's Friday!  I know I don't have a normal job where I work 5 days a week outside the home, but let me assure you, stay at home moms still look forward to Friday just as much as all you outside the home workers!  There's something about knowing the pace of the next day will be different, the routine might change a bit, there's opportunity for something extra and fun to happen that causes me to be excited when Friday rolls around.  Even if my husband has to work over the weekend there is still something fun about Friday.  It also means it's time for another 7 Quick Takes--quick looks at life in our household these days.  So here goes....

**1**

I have finally figured something out about my kiddo.  After much trial and error I have finally discovered that his ideal bedtime is 7:30.  I know this may not seem like an earth shattering revelation, but for me it's been huge.  He gets fussy every evening between 5:30 and 6--so I started trying to put him to bed during the 6:00 hour.  It would take forever.  It would involve an hour of nursing, rocking, bouncing, putting him down, thinking he was asleep and then having him get up 5 minutes later to start the whole process all over again.  I hated bedtime.  We had so much company and activity around here the past two weeks that he's been forced to stay up later, and what I've learned is that as long as there are people (besides me and Charles) to interact with or things to see other than the same toys he has been staring at all day, he's happy as a clam.  Fussy time doesn't exist.  So I'm now searching for ways to get him out of the house in the evenings to avoid being fussed at until I put him down at 7:30!  But honestly, this gives me a bit of my social life back.  I can now go to Food Truck Fridays with the youth or go to dinner with friends if we do a 5:30 meal.  He'll cooperate just fine.  Then at 7:15 or so, we swaddle him up, I nurse him for a bit, and he goes right down--last night for a 3 hour stretch!  Hallelujah!  

**2**

We had our first book club meeting on Monday!  I am so thrilled people actually are interested in this (10 of them showed up to discuss The Poisonwood Bible!).  There seems to be a good energy and excitement about gathering together to read great books and discuss them--and disagree about them, which was very fun!  I wanted it to be open to anyone and intergenerational and it was--we had a couple high school students all the way up to one of our senior citizens in the church--men and women--and everyone enjoyed sharing with one another.  Next month we're reading and discussing Molokai by Alan Brennert which I'm super excited to start reading.

**3**

Speaking of books...I'm almost finished with a book that I think will now be a baby shower gift for me (to select people--not everyone would appreciate this!)  Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions has made me laugh out loud and has filled my eyes with tears.  It's a journal of her son's first year of life, and oh my word does she describe life with a newborn so well!  I'll tell people not to read it until their baby is 5-6 months old and they will appreciate it so much more.  It's full of her colorful language (ie: don't read this if you're offended by 4 letter words), but it's also full of her raw faith and honesty that I find so refreshing. 

**4**

Thanks to Pinterest I've rediscovered my passion for healthy eating--and vegetables.  I feel like lately we've been eating much heavier food than normal--we've eaten out more, eaten fast food more, and eaten meals that only contain one item (like just lasagna, no salad or side dish).  Part of this is due to my baby who is a terrible napper.  But this week I started craving vegetables, and have made salads the main course for several meals.  Pinterest is FULL of delicious salads that are great right now with our summer produce--this spinach salad with chicken and avocado was dinner last night and lunch today--YUM!

**5**

I've also rediscovered an old addiction.  The West Wing.  I borrowed season 1 from friends and am loving watching as I do data entry every evening.  Aaron Sorkin is one of the best writers I have ever seen, hands down.

**6**

My little one has decided to ignore learning how to sit and has gone straight to standing--he's trying so hard to balance while holding onto our coffee table.  Oh Aidan.  Next Saturday he and I leave for 3 weeks in Minnesota with my parents--we'll see what he manages to get in to at their house!

**7**

We're off to a busy weekend--Food Trucks tonight, dinner with a friend in Pasadena tomorrow night, and Sunday afternoon/evening is the big welcome freshmen event for the high school youth group--a photo scavenger hunt at Universal City Walk and then a big dinner at Buca di Beppos.  I'm going to attempt to take the little one to all these things, so we'll see how we do!  Happy weekend everyone!

Looks of Pure Joy

I am attempting to change your diaper, which is becoming more and more of a wrestling match the stronger you get.  You seem to believe that if you're laying on your back it is merely the starting position for rolling over.  I do everything I can to keep your attention elsewhere, so you will hold still...most of the time it doesn't work.  Today your eyes landed on the stuffed animals poking their heads out of a toy net hanging above your changing table.  After I was finished dressing you I stood you up and let you reach for them and your eyes were amazing.  I wish I had words to capture the preciousness I witnessed.  Your beautiful blue eyes were turned up to the line of stuffed friends smiling at you and you stared in amazement as your little hands reached for one of them.  You grabbed hold of the ears of Roo and the smile that lit your face was delightful.  Pure innocent joy.  I hope I never forget the looks of amazement that cross your face and flicker through your eyes when you see something new for the first time.

She Treasured All These Things in Her Heart

I have reflected a lot lately on Luke 2:19, where it tells us that Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  So many little moments of my days strike me, and I think I am beginning to understand this verse a bit better.  Throughout the next year I'll post various moments that strike me that I want to always treasure as my little one grows.


You are nursing your way to sleep for your second nap of the day--cuddled up with me in mine and Daddy's bed.  You're nuzzled in my arms and your eyes have just begun to close when the clanging and beeping of a garbage truck outside our window startles your eyes wide open.  You look up at me in alarm and start to frantically look around, attempting to see what it is that startled you out of your peaceful reverie.  I smile reassuringly and whisper that you are safe, there is nothing to fear.  You visibly relax lay your head back in the crook of my
arm and snuggle in to drift off to sleep safe and cozy against me, all of a sudden unconcerned about the noisy truck outside. 

Oh Pinterest...How I love Thee

I'll admit it.  I've become a bit addicted to Pinterest this week.  If you're still out of the loop and haven't figured out what Pinterest is, it's essentially an online bookmarking site where you can "pin" things you find from around the web onto your own bulletin boards to make finding them again nice and simple.  It's as if you were bookmarking a favorite page in your internet browser, only you're doing it online and other people can see what you're bookmarking--and you can see their pins and "repin" them for yourself.  It's amazing.  The ideas out there blow my mind sometimes.  I've been pinning a lot of things this week, and then decided it was high time I start actually trying them!  So here's the round up of my pinterest attempts this past week:

Our car needed a garbage solution, and lo and behold Pinterest had just the solution!  I bought a tupperware cereal container and put a trash bag in it.  The lid keeps the trash inside even if it tips over and it's the perfect size!

Apartment carpet is just crappy.  It traps dirt like no other (and we even have a no shoes policy!)  Needless to say our entry way and traffic area always looks dingy and dirty and it drives me crazy.  I went searching for how to clean your carpet (without renting a steam cleaner) and found this idea that worked like a charm.  Mix one part ammonia (yes it stinks to high heaven, open doors and windows if you try this!) and one part HOT water in a spray bottle.  Spray liberally on the spot you wish to clean, cover with a white rag or towel and iron it.  In seconds the towel will turn dirt colored under the iron and the spot will be gone.  It was amazing!  

I have always been a good water drinker, but now that it's getting hotter and I am nursing the babe just as much as ever I am finding myself more thirsty than I should be at the end of each day--which means I'm not drinking enough throughout the day.  I loved this idea.  I didn't use 2 water bottles, just my 1 32 oz nalgene but I wrote the times of the day at various marks on the bottle so I am spreading my water drinking out.  It's been super easy to consume 3 large nalgenes a day these past few days this way--almost 100 ounces of water, and I feel MUCH better!

 I kept pinning all these recipes but never made any of them.  Until this week--I've made 4 this week and all of them were delicious!  This was dinner the other night and my plan was to have leftovers.  We didn't.  It was that good.  A super easy pasta dish with sliced chicken, sundried tomatoes, regular tomatoes and a pesto cream sauce.  Sauteed zucchini or other veggies would be awesome to add to this.  You can find the recipe here.

 As a side dish to the pasta the other night I made these asparagus.  Simple steam them, then drizzle balsamic vinegar over them and top with feta and sundried tomatoes (they also used walnuts but I didn't have any).  So simple and a great way to jazz up some asparagus (although I love them plan too!)

 Beef stroganoff is one of those meals I remember liking as a kid but always assumed it was a tough one to make.  It's not.  And it's delicious.  This recipe is to make it in the crock pot which worked fantastically.

And dessert.  We can't forget about dessert.  Tomorrow night my parents, grandparents and sister will be here, and we're having chicken enchiladas.  I wanted to make a fun dessert, and this looked delicious.  No Bake Nutella Butter Pie.  It was so simple and I'll admit I already cut a piece (I had to make sure it wasn't terrible before feeding it to company!)  The crust is pureed nutter butter cookies and the filling is cream cheese, sugar, whipping cream, and nutella (I didn't say it was healthy).  There's no baking, just letting it chill to set and then you can top with melted nutella and cream mixed together to create a ganache.  My husband is in love with this pie after only a few bites already.

So! Those are my favorite pins of the week. Anyone else tried any that are a must to pass on??

Five Months!!

Baby Boy!!  You are 5 months old! (well you will be in 3 days, but 20 of your family members are coming this week for your baptism this weekend--so something tells me Mommy won't be writing this later on, so it's being posted early!) For some reason this sounds so old to your Mommy--all of a sudden you are much more of a baby and less of an infant.  It is amazing to me how much you grow and learn and change in just 4 short weeks--from blog post to blog post a LOT of life happens in your little world.  Here are the highlights of your 5th month on earth...

You started eating solid foods the week you turned 4 months old.  Some people would say that is a little early to start solids, but your doctor thought it might help with your reflux a little, so we decided to try and see what you thought.  You LOVE chewing on anything so we figured you wouldn't mind having something else to put in your mouth--and we were right!  Most of the time you like your food a lot, sometimes you're too tired to really eat much by dinner time, but most of the time you are a big fan.  We started you on plain baby oatmeal, but after a couple days you weren't too thrilled with that.  Maybe it was a bit boring?  So we added some mashed banana and that was a hit!  You've now tried mashed banana, pears, and apples--both alone and mixed into your oatmeal, and all of them have been big hits.  Mommy makes your baby food herself--it's super easy to do and I like knowing exactly what you're getting into your little body.  So each week I peel and puree a batch of fruit for you and that seems to work pretty well for us, and it's probably cheaper than buying jars!

Speaking of your reflux -- you are finally sleeping better!  I think your medicine is finally starting to work (we had to try a different one than you were originally on)--you seem much more comfortable at night, which makes Mommy and Daddy so happy!  You still wake up several times, and I will say that your very favorite place to sleep is still snuggled in next to Mommy, but I don't mind--as I watch you get bigger and bigger I realize that my days of getting to sleep snuggled up next to your little body aren't going to last forever, so I am treasuring them while I can!  Otherwise you are sleeping in your rock and play sleeper (a new bed we borrowed for you that helps with your reflux) either in your own room (during the day) or next to Mommy's side of the bed (at night).  You still love your white noise, and you have finally started falling asleep in the car easily!  Now if I can get you on the freeway and I know you're tired you'll be asleep within a few minutes--that used to never happen!

You found your feet this month too!  You started noticing them last month but this month they have become your new best friend.  The first thing you do when I unzip you from your woombie swaddle pod after each nap is grab for your toes--like you're trying to confirm they are still there.  It cracks me up.  You also have gotten them into your mouth a few times which always amazes me.  You've gotten so much better using your hands too--you can hold toys much longer and almost always get them to your mouth.  If no toy is in your hand you can bet that your fingers are in your mouth--they are your favorite companion and I never get tired of hearing your slurping away!

You experienced your first trip into a big pool this month too!  On Memorial Day we went to a BBQ with some of the college students from church and you tried the pool.  It was nice and warm in the water, and you seemed to enjoy yourself.  Both Mommy and Daddy got to swim with you that evening and you wiggled and wiggled just as much as ever.  Speaking of wiggling--I have a new nickname for you.  I've decided "Happy Feet" is a good name for you because like the movie about the penguin who can't help but dance, you cannot stop moving your feet.  Ever.  It is a crack up to me--I just wonder what you're going to be like when you're a little older, I think you're going to be a busy little dude--always on the move!

You have started getting really interested in people's faces, and when I hold you up on my lap you try and grab for my nose and mouth with your little hands.  Today you got your fingers in my mouth and started giggling like crazy--apparently that was hysterical to you!  I have decided that your laugh really might be my favorite sound on the planet.  You don't share your laugh with that many people, or that often, but when you do--oh my word!  Little man your mommy melts into a little puddle in your hands. It is the sweetest sound ever.  Your whole face lights up and your whole body wiggles with giggles.  There's a quote from Peter Pan that says "when the first baby laughed for the very first time the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and that's where fairies come from."  After hearing you laugh, I believe it.

You roll around like crazy--you still aren't great at going from your tummy to your back, but boy if we ever put you on your back (like to change your diaper for instance!) you will immediately try to flip over to your tummy.  Once there, you will flail your arms and legs and propel yourself around in a circle.  I think you are so frustrated that you can't crawl or move forward--you'll often lay there paddling and yelling and I can tell you just want to go somewhere!

You and your daddy have had so much fun together lately!  Daddy has been able to spend a bit more time playing with you, and you've been rewarding him with smiles, which I know he loves.  Now on evenings when he's home he is in charge of bath time and it's so fun for me to be listening to you splashing around in there and hearing daddy talk to you and play with you.  On weekend mornings you sit with him and he reads to you from the Psalms or from your Lulla Bible which you were given for a baby shower gift.  He likes to take you over to the church office to show you off and let you flirt with all the ladies there :)  Your daddy is so good with you and has started having so much fun playing with you!

I didn't think it was possible to love you any more than I did Mr. Aidan, but your Mommy is pretty darn head over heels in love with you.  You amaze me every day and have brought so much joy to our lives.  Happy 5 months little Bug!!

7 Quick Takes Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  June is here, school is ending for many, the weather is heating up (at least around here!) and people are transitioning to summer schedules....as much as I don't love the heat it's kind of a fun change in the pace of life!  Here's what we have been up to these days.

**1**

Summer produce.  Oh my word, I can't think of anything I love more.  This past week I think I've eaten an entire watermelon by myself, four artichokes, and two boxes of raspberries.  Plus a couple of pluots my friend Jenn sent me--they were my new discovery of last summer and I couldn't get enough of them while I was pregnant.  I am waiting for the heirloom tomatoes and basil to arrive and create some amazing pasta dishes or bruschetta :)  

**2**

On Thursday our family starts arriving for Aidan's baptism weekend!  I think it's going to be a bit of a crazy long weekend but we're excited to see everyone!  My parents, grandparents, and sister's family arrive Thursday and Charles' family arrives Friday--it should be quite the crew!  Between now and then I'm trying to get as much data entry done for my new job as possible since something tells me I'm not going to get anything done while company is here!  So when my munchkin is sleeping I'm frantically entering stuff into a computer database, but it'll be worth it to have a few days to play with fun nieces and nephews.  When my mom was here a week or so ago we figured out the menu and grocery lists for the weekend so that's all taken care of, now I just need to clean my house up and grocery shop for everything (which will be Wednesday's project--hopefully when Daddy can watch the little one so I don't have to drag him through Costco!)

**3**

It's kind of crazy, after our family leaves Aidan and I are really only home for 2 more weeks and then the two of us are headed to Minnesota for most of the month of July.  Charles has two different camps to attend in July--a house boating trip with middle schoolers and a week at summer camp with the high school students, and those two weeks are separated by a week off in the middle.  Rather than fly back and forth a bunch or sit here for a week with no husband we decided it would just be easier to send me to the midwest for 3 weeks.  We'll miss seeing Charles when he's home for that week in between but he'll get a lot of work and planning for the fall done that week I hope!  Aidan and I are excited to go hang out relaxing in Minneapolis--both my parents will be working so I'll still be home with him alone many days, but it will be nice to have them around in the evenings and on the weekend to help me out a bit and to have some company.  Plus the hot dry valley heat of Northridge is miserable to me, so getting out of town for a bit this summer will be great!  

**4**

Our little babe is FINALLY starting to sleep a little better!  HALLELUJAH!!  It's been a slow process, and some days/nights are way better than others, but we are finally starting to get some 3-4 hour stretches out of him (usually one or two a night) which is amazing.  His new reflux med is working, not perfectly, but so much better than the first one we tried.  Sometimes he sleeps in his little bed and sometimes it's in bed with us (something I swore I'd never let my kid do but after talking to MANY friends realized that the most important thing right now is to get everyone sleep, it doesn't matter where that sleep is taking place).  It's been fun to see a bit of a natural schedule emerge out of him lately too.  Around 6:15 each evening he hits his wall and is a fussy mess, so we start bedtime and I nurse him and usually by 7 he's down in his little bed.  He'll sleep almost two hours and then eat again and then go down easily again for the next stretch.  He's been waking up in the morning at 7 AM like clock work--so he stays in sleep mode for 12 hours which is awesome.  By 8:15 each morning he's back down for his first little nap of the day and then we go from there--sometimes taking better naps than others, but at least we're seeing improvement with nighttime sleep which is a HUGE blessing!  

**5**

Last Friday I posted about our new Beco Baby Carrier that lets me wear Aidan on my front and still use my hands.  We have used it a TON this week and oh wow it has made a huge difference!  He hates his car seat, and since that's the part of the stroller he still has to sit in, well shopping and errands are tough.  He just sits in there and sweats and that makes him cranky and he loves to see what is going on which he can't do from his car seat.  Being able to carry him through stores and around church etc so he can see what's happening has been a huge help, and this carrier is SO comfortable and easy to use.  Highly recommend it if you're in the market for one!  His daddy even wore him around a church event last weekend for quite a bit!

**6**

I've rediscovered The West Wing this past week.  I need to watch something while I enter data for this new job, and so I threw on a dvd the other day.  I had forgotten how much I adore these characters and the amazing writing of this show--I'm looking to start at season 1 this summer and work my way through all 7 of them!  (I've still never seen anything beyond season 3!)

**7**

I've spent this week re-reading The Poisonwood Bible for our book club and am just over half way through.  I love this book.  So so much.  It makes me laugh, it makes me want to scream in frustration at the ignorance of one of the main characters, it is full of incredible imagery that makes one feel like they are walking through the Congo, and the characters are so fascinating to me.  I can't wait to discuss it with friends soon!