Tuesday thoughts (aka word vomit)

I came across this post on Facebook last night that really put some things into perspective for me. Isn't that the way sometimes with those viral posts? I've been feeling pretty tired the last week. Lucy has had a cold for a couple of weeks, and both girls have been waking up at ungodly hours leaving me with very little morning alone time to recharge my batteries. It's been getting darker, and chillier outside. I've been neglecting housework and meal prep and staying up too late reading. I spent the last week burning the candle on both ends. I mentioned last week that I was simultaneously wanting a weekend away with Brian and a weekend alone in my house to clean. But the truth of it is, when I'm away from the girls, I miss them a lot too and I do want to be with them.

The post I read last night was a gentle reminder that it's OK to feel like motherhood is hard sometimes. Because it is. No one would say that it is easy. It's a transition to a level of selflessness that was not required of me before I had kids. With two kids, my time for myself is spread even thinner. When I look at how much our girls have grown though, I try to remember that these busy days of messy floors, board books on repeat and towers out of blocks are fleeting.

At yoga class last night, I yawned through the entire session. Exercise can have this effect on the body anyway, and I've learned to accept it, but when I came home, I felt invigorated, rested, and rejuvenated. The simple act of letting all of my thoughts and worries slip away for 90 minutes has profoundly affected my ability to cope with the busyness of life, and I think I am forever a yoga convert. I missed the class last week and I honestly believe it is one of the reasons why I felt so overwhelmed all week long.

So today I am gently reminding myself to rest if I need to. To take a few minutes to check in with myself and take some deep breaths. I am grateful to be finished The Husband's Secret (more on that next week!) so that I can sleep peacefully tonight & not stay up reading way past my bedtime ;)

I'm definitely experiencing # 2 this morning.

Anyway, that's what is on my mind today. :)

Friday's 5 - my first of 2014!

I love this link-up because it gives me a chance to a) make a list, which I love to do and b) share random things that might not fill out a whole blog post but are still interesting and worth sharing!

If you want to read other's posts, you can check out the link-up with Darci, April, Natasha and Christina. I always find some interesting new blogs to follow and I love reading other blogger's 5 things!!

This week, I wanted to share some interesting links that I came across in the past couple of weeks.

ONE

I came across this health manifesto from Greatist.com on Amber's blog last week and I think it is a cool thing to print off and remind yourself about where you're going this year!


TWO

Over the holidays, I did some yoga videos and Molly "did yoga" with me (AKA she jumped around and pulled the mat out from under me even though she had her own mat! ;) haha). I came across a toddler yoga video HERE that I'm going to try with her sometime!

THREE

I enjoyed THIS set of tips for being healthier this year. Quite a few good tips. Thanks, Buzzfeed. :)

FOUR

Helene over at Helene in Between polled her readers about the best blogger of 2013 HERE and I found a few new blogs to check out from the comments section! The winners were announced on her blog on Wednesday...you can see the winners HERE.

FIVE

This is a cool approach to New Year's resolutions that you can fill out, print off and glance at throughout the year.

via LaurenConrad.com

What are your 5 for this Friday??

10 Things on my mind today

1) Very few people have been blessed with the ability to whistle/sing in tune. This is particularly true for Sleigh Ride...sigh. Someone I know has been whistling it CONSTANTLY...and out of tune.

2) Public transit either brings out the best or the worst in people. These days, it seems like the worst as people scramble for seats on the bus...but I have seen some kind gestures too.

3) It is usually best to assume that my 2 year old wants to try something herself first, and then ask for help if she needs it. This goes for getting dressed, getting into chairs without being lifted, etc. etc. etc. "Me do!" is a common phrase out of her mouth these days.

4) Marriage is not easy. I always knew this, to an extent, but we have had a long few weeks with my husband working a lot of overtime, so I am feeling like we need to rest and re-charge over the holidays. Marriage requires constant patience. I also discovered this blog/book in the past few weeks that has really changed some of my thinking (and self thoughts) about my husband.

5) A book is more of an actual escape to me than TV. If I'm watching something on TV, even if it's gripping, I find myself turning to my phone as well, or my computer, or just generally distracted. With a book, all my focus is on the pages. I also found this blog post interesting this week.

6) My first pregnancy was easier, in many ways, than this one. Fortunately, I do not feel exhausted all the time as I did a couple of months ago...but I am finding it harder to do certain things such as pick up toddler toys at the end of the day. Also, there is that whole caring for an independent little person each day on top of my own self-care...that definitely amplifies the lack of free time ;)

7) On the same note, it takes hardly anything to make me cry during this pregnancy. And I don't usually mean crying over my own sadness about something. I mean things like this WestJet Christmas video:

or this:

James Van Der Beek posted this on Instagram this week. Link here.

or this:

Basically any photo of a soldier reuniting with a family member has the same effect on me: tears

Yep, all tears, all the time. And in some ways, I actually like those cathartic tears that are for someone else's sorrows or joy. Furthermore, even though I only really watched two seasons of Glee, I've been listening to a lot of their Christmas music this year and my heart breaks for Lea Michele and listening to her sing duets with Cory Monteith (R.I.P.) I want to get caught up on the show someday, but I'm not sure if I can watch the tribute show for him (definitely can't while I'm pregnant or I will be soaked in tears!!)

8) I really wish that all saxophone players could either sound like Kenny G, or Braddy G (my extremely musical cousin Brad who doesn't like that nickname, haha!). The saxophones in my concert band have been absolutely demolishing the most beautiful Christmas piece ever written, O Holy Night. Each time I leave rehearsal, I have to listen to version for a little bit to get it out of my mind. Now, obviously, we cannot all be accomplished musicians, and I'm not anywhere near a professional french horn player, but it is painful to the ears.

9) Yoga is good for the mind, body and soul.

10) Keeping this image in mind anytime I am frustrated instantly vanishes it and makes me long to see my little toddler. She has transitioned into her big-girl bed like a total champ, and I love her with all my heart.

5 on Friday November 1!!! (link-up)

Hi everyone! Happy Halloween candy hangover day! I can't believe it is already November. Time is flying by these days...soon it will be Christmas! In 53 days, actually! ;) I'm linking up with Darci and her buddies (each word is a link to the blog hosts) for 5 on Friday today!!

1)   We have some exciting news in our house that I haven’t shared yet on here…Baby # 2 is coming into our lives in a mere 153(ish) days!!! I am 18 weeks along now (due Apr 3/2014) and feeling (mostly) great (more on that in a later post). We found out on the same day that I was laid off in July, so it was bittersweet at that particular moment, but we are overjoyed to be adding to our family and Molly can’t wait to be a big sister!!! We are planning to share the news with the Facebook world this weekend!! (haha)

Here are some cute little announcements I found that I might use for inspiration sometime even though most people in our lives know already:

All images via Google here, here, here and here.

2)      My little sheep had a great time trick-or-treating, but we didn’t really make it around our neighbourhood much. We were visiting my in-laws and a couple of friends which required driving and taking on/off her costume, so by the time we were ready to hit up the neighbours’ houses, she was worn out and on a sugar high. So 5 hours worth of costume making for about 1 hour of fun and photos? Not bad for a 2 year old, I guess!! The funniest thing she did this year was instead of saying "trick or treat", she would just say "treat"...she knows what she wants!!!

3)      I got back into yoga a bit this week in an effort to stretch out sore muscles and there is a plethora of amazing prenatal yoga videos on Youtube!! I was delighted to find a few that I like so I can switch it up!

4)     This quote brought a smile to my face this week.

Via Etsy

5)      I am BEYOND excited for the Veronica Mars movie coming out in 2014. I can’t wait!! They released an updated trailer this week, so if you happen to be a diehard fan like myself…check it out HERE!! I told hubby that we were going to go see it on opening night and he said “Umm…I’m not.” Haha. If you have never seen VM, you are missing out! I am totally on Team Logan (obviously) and I found it interesting that she is with Piz in this trailer, but apparently they haven't been together since college, they just recently met up again. Yes, I guess you could call me a Marshmallow.

Via http://www.captionite.com/view/37627/

Happy weekend, bloggy friends :)