Stuffed!

Subject: 40 Tips For a Better Life

I'm not takingthe easy way out. I found these email tips to be relevant.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is
the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My
purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They
provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and
flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues
of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest
your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are
simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra
class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will
this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. NATURE heals almost everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey I'm thinking
of ya!
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I
am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly
don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the
most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but
happiness come through your door!
Blessed Be.

Waiting in line for an entry to my first post Ainsley marathon!

That's Fucked Up!

I thought I had a bad day. Yesterday someone asked if I had trouble writing my numbers. What, am I 3? Maybe 2 kids, not enough sleep, and too much Red Bull has something to do with it. Of course, I've been stressing about it for almost 24 hours now. What's wrong with me? I wrote *November 17, 2007 as 1/11/07 instead of 1/17/07. I am obviously a huge failure at life. I must find a therapist ASAP....or maybe a running group might be better? Or happy hour????
As I read other people's blogs, I realize I'm, to quote Barney, pretty awesome!
And that's why I love TV. And other peoples' blogs.

*Okay, apparently I do have trouble writing dates. Obviously neither of those dates is November Seventeenth. Hmmm.Interesting.

Perspective

When Harry was born, Bailey became a dog. When Ainsley was born, my job became work.

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Big!

Last night I decided Ainsley was too big for the hammock we use in her tub, so I took it out and let her lean back on the mildew-resistant pad instead. She was thrilled! She was so much happier submerged up to her tummy in water than she was lying on the hammock. She kicked and splashed and smiled. No tears. I took a picture with the camera phone but it ended up being too revealing.

Game 7!

Watching hockey

Party clothes for circus birthday

Because it makes me happy...

Curious Tidbit

It occurred to me just yesterday that for pretty much all of the working moms I know, it is more often the dads who will help out in a pinch. I listened to some Abra moms talk about their dads helping out during spring break, I read in Working Mother magazine all the time about dads coming to baby sit when baby-sitters don't show, and even today my dental hygenist said only her dad was willing to drop everything and assume daycare responsibilities for her newborn. He wanted to. Both moms said no way. They were at the height of their careers and weren't ready to babysit. Plus, they wanted to be grandmas, not raise more babies. Maybe it's a simple issue of "been there/done that" with the added combination of "never been there/never did that/want to see what all of the fuss is about!"
I can't say this is strictly the case for us, because in a jam (weddings) we've received sitter-care from all parties, particularly from my mom when Harry was born and from Kevin's mom (or "Daddy's Mom", as Harry has now started calling her...long story) when Harry broke his leg and again when Ainsley was born. I know my dad will always help out though. Then again, maybe daughters are just more demanding of their dads. Or dads are suckers. There are so many variables here, and I find it fascinating. Looks like Kevin can be my next guinea pig! Even older, female friends, however, who claim to want to babysit, blah, blah, blah...they are just too busy. Another idea, maybe we are just like the women we surround ourselves, and that's why we work to begin with.

Well kid at almost two months

2 months this Saturday!
Head: 15
Height: 20 1/2 (3rd...not even on the chart yet for percentiles!)
Weight: 10.6.7 (50%...and pretty much big enough now to skip the leg straps on the baby bjorn)

Ainsley is on track developmentally, but she has no routine yet. The doctor said it takes 6 weeks to develop a circadian rhythm, and since she was born two weeks early, we should give it another week and see what happens.

Aside from peeing on the scale, she was a perfect angel during her doctor visit, remaining calm during Harry's portion of the visit. She also had 4 shots, and cried for just a minute. Harry, however, hid under a table. He couldn't bear the thought of Ainsley getting boo-boos/shots/holes in her leg.

-Kim

If the hat fits....

This hat is from the Sullivans. When we first received it, I thought it would never fit her head!
-Kim

Miss A

Ainsley had her first playgroup today. All 4 babies (Finn, Sadie, Ruby) slept through it. Got to spend 2 hours getting to know some Abra moms over a Chai Tea at St. Elmo's.

-Kim

Home again, home again

WARNING! FREQUENT STOPS!

"daddy's little princess"

peapod

On the veranda

Careful... they're contagious!

On the way to NC

\

Tub time -- daddy's turn!

Actually awake in the car! and not crying!

That Explains a Lot

I came to the realization today that Ainsley is a Pisces. Other famous Pisces include my father, a Diva, and Bailey, the Alexandria Food Hound. Now we know why Miss Ainsley already has a flair for drama...and goes from 0 to hungry in 12 seconds!
In other news, Ainsley has her first scheduled playdate with a future Munchkin classmate! Actually, this may already be her second, but the last one included a Wizard big sister. This time all Wizards will be at school....with 4 new Abra babies, Ainsley has a ready made playgroup! I think she is also enjoying her "Miss Menike" friends. Menike tells me Julia (2 in July) keeps the boys, Alex and Brendan (both 1) away from her. "No touch baby!"

Day 2 at Miss Menike's

Dropped Ainsley off at 7:50. She was crying when we got there, most likely because I made her wear a hat, but we made her a bottle and Menike fed her. She ate like a rabid dog, just like usual. Yesterday she did just fine. She pretty much slept the whole day, and ate every 3 hours like clockwork. Menike was surprised by her consistency! She was up a lot last night though. She'll adjust.
What have I been doing while I leave my baby in the care of another? Yoga, gym, eyebrow wax later and lots of shopping. Sounds frivolous, but necessary. I am also midway through 900 loads of laundry and vacation packing for the entire family. The shopping is also necessary, since I don't actually have clothing that fits..and I have an empty AT credit card and a 20% off coupon. I don't usually like coupons....but it's 20%!
It's been asked why Ainsley is at daycare if I'm not working. Well, there's lots of stuff that needs to be done! And seriously, doesn't it make more sense to get her started and in a routine when I am NOT working? I can't imagine being focused on my first day of work if it's also Ainsley's first day in a strange environment. That would seem to me like poor planning.

It was a long, sleepy day!

Milestone 2

So guess who suddenly figured out that when she was looking around, she was actually looking at things?

I've been somewhat apprehensive about the "tracking" that, depending on which article you read, she should be doing anywhere form 3 weeks to 3 months. Although she still isn't really doing it, she certainly has discovered her surroundings.

Last night, with her over my shoulder and the normal bobblehead-ing in full effect, it looked like everything had suddenly started to register... that aha! look you get when it all clicks. She had it big time, but was quickly overwhelmed with the magnitude of it all. Her face kept moving from one area of the kitchen to the next, with oohs and aahs for each... the front of the fridge, the top of the fridge, the side of the fridge, the pictures on the wall, hey there's mommy...

It continued on, she finally really started checking out the flowers hanging over the changing table (at least until I started changing her). I'm hoping that all of this stimulation will keep her good and tired, because I sure am.

Very cool.

Milestone

Ainsley is at Menike's today. :-(
She seems so much smaller than Harry did when he started.
It's only 4 days and then we are on vacation.
She seems so little. She is so little! But it was good for Harry, and it's better to get her started now then when she'll actually miss me.