Enjoy the Ride

We all know I love making to-do lists.  For anything and everything.  I love having my tasks organized, checking off the boxes, and knowing what’s left to be done.  Sometimes, however, I get so focused on accomplishing my to-do’s I forget to stop and enjoy the ride.

         Especially as a full-time working mama.

This morning, I went for my typical 7:30am Saturday morning run.  I had my head down, focused on completing my miles, music blaring in my iPod.  About halfway through, I turned down a path that leads into a wooded area.  For one reason or another, I happened to look up, and it was beautiful.  The trees were so full of bright green leaves, the sun was peeking out from behind a cloud, making these little jagged rays of light.  Sounds simple, but it took my breath away.  (Or maybe it was the running that took my breath away?)  Anyway, here I was, so focused on accomplishing my run… and I realized I NEVER look up to enjoy what’s going on around me.

At that moment, a guy ran past me in jorts.  Had I still had my head down, I would’ve missed it!

Anyway, about a mile later, my iPod died on me.

        

Now listen – I CANNOT run without music.  It’s like my fuel, especially when it comes to rounding out the last couple miles.  But I didn’t have a choice.  And all of a sudden, I was not only running with my head up, enjoying all of the things to see, I was listening to all kinds of sounds other than Britney Spears (don’t hate)… like the birds announcing the start of a new day, a child giggling in a stroller, and a woodpecker working on a tree.  Again, simple – but enough to give me pause.

I have to admit that Cameron has forced me to live in the moment MUCH more than I used to.  When I’m with her, I’m 100% focused on each moment we have together, especially now that I spend so much time away from her at work.  I love lying next to her on the floor, watching her play and discover new things.  She seems to figure something else out each day – it’s incredible!

But the minute I’m not with her, I’m usually all about tackling my to-do’s… putting my head down and moving down my list to check off the next box.

Tomorrow, I turn twenty-nine.  My last twenties birthday!  And I think it’s time for me to start being a little less to-do oriented, and a little more focused on enjoying the ride.  So here’s to a new year, and an improved me… A me who runs with her head up, and maybe even sometimes with her music turned off.

And by the way… who the heck runs in jorts?!

Just so you get your weekly dose of CK...J

Numbers

Four.  The number of generations that spent this past weekend together.  G Gram, Bammy, me, and Cameron Kate.  So cool!

Nine.  The number of minutes it took me to get Cameron into her diaper last week.  She is all.over.the.place.

Six.  The combined number of cupcakes and donuts I ate this weekend.  Oops.

Three.  The size diapers Cameron is now wearing.  She's growing too fast!

Twenty.  The approximate number of minutes I watch tv per day.  My how things have changed!

Seventy-fifth.  The percentile Cameron was in for her weight (17lbs 10 oz) and height (26.75") at her six-month checkup.

Six-and-a-half.  The longest distance I've run since she was born.  I'm getting back into my rhythm!

Seventeen.  The number of times Cameron dropped her sippy cup in the span of two minutes last night.  Her new favorite game.

Three.  The number of inches I got cut off of my hair last week when I FINALLY found time for a haircut.  Too bad I'm going bald, though.  Oh the joys of the postpartum hair shed.  I'm even losing eyelashes!

Forty-three.  I never told anyone... but the number of pounds I gained while pregnant.  Once I got over the nausea, I had fun!

Fifty-four.  The number of pounds I've lost since Cameron was born.  Thank you breastfeeding, running shoes, and Jillian Michaels!

Twenty-nine.  How old I'll be on my birthday this weekend.  Last twenties birthday - ahhh!

Fifteen.  The number of minutes I have to spend in a dunking booth this Friday at my school's Spring Fling.  Lord help me.

Forty.  The number of days I have left of work before I get six straight weeks with my girl... and we can spend our days doing this. 

Come on, summer break!

Happy Half-Birthday to my Girl!

Cameron Kate,

Happy Half-Birthday!  I cannot wrap my brain around the fact that you have been alive for half of a year.  How in the world are you already six months old?!  I just want you to know, bug, that these have been the happiest, most fulfilling, most incredible six months of our entire lives.

You get bigger and more fun by the minute.  I swear you wake up each day with a little more hair (thank goodness!) and a lot more personality.  We’re starting to see quite a silly side to you, which we adore.  And you’re definitely learning how to manipulate ol’ Mom and Dad.  Fortunately for you, we’re wrapped around those little fingers!

As I said, your hair is sloooowly growing, though we’re not quite ready for hairbows.  I’ve still got a good supply of headbands, though, so we’ll stick to those as long as necessary. J

You’ve got the sweetest, chunkiest legs and arms.  Your dad calls you Popeye!  You have a long torso, just like Daddy.  I mean, could you really look anymore like him?!  It’s fine with me, though, because I happen to think he’s pretty cute. J

You LOVE your “big sister” Bailey.  And she loves you, too!  You are mesmerized by her, watching her and squealing when you get to rub her and squeeze her ears.  You love when she covers you in drooly dog kisses, too!

You are sitting up all by yourself now!  Such a big girl!  It’s so cool to be able to plop you on the floor on your butt, and you’re content to just look around and play with all of your toys.  You’re also army crawling all over the place.  We can’t really leave you by yourself in a room anymore!  And before we know it, you’ll be crawling full speed ahead.  Then our lives will really change!

I love taking you grocery shopping with me, especially now that you can sit in the front of the cart.  As a matter of fact, you are perfectly content being out and about, even if it’s all day long.  You’re so easy going when we run errands, enjoying the new sights and stimulations.

When you’re sitting up, and we clap and cheer for you, you get so excited.  It’s adorable. J

Your giggles are ridiculously cute, melting my heart every time.

You’re doing great with eating baby food – You’re eating cereal/oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and a vegetable and fruit for dinner.  You especially love sweet potatoes.  We often have to work a little harder to get you to eat anything green.

You prefer sleeping on your stomach, with your butt straight up in the air.

You seem to really enjoy going on walks/runs in the jogging stroller with me.  Which is one of my favorite things to do with you. J

You put anything and everything in your mouth.  All.day.long.

You love to bang things with your left hand.  It makes us wonder if you’ll be left-handed?

You’re starting to not really care for your paci… Sometimes you want it, sometimes you wave it around and throw it across the room.

You are OBSESSED with watching us drink out of glasses and bottles.  We’ll probably be introducing you to a sippy cup soon!

You finally gave us some baby babbles with “ayayayayayaya.”  In fact, during prayers one night your dad even thanked God for the “yaya’s”!  But wanna know what put the biggest smile on his face?  When the yaya’s changed to “dadadadada.” J

We still sing “You Are My Sunshine” before every nap.

You still love your Glow Seahorse.  You also like to have Sophie everywhere we go.

If possible, you’d spend your entire day outdoors.  You love being outside!

Cameron, you are pure joy.  You are sunshine, a spring rain, and a perfect fall breeze.  You are the best part of my day.  You make me want to be better, do better, with every breath I take.

Happy Half-Birthday to a little girl who makes me feel a fullness in my heart I never knew existed.

I love you to the moon and back and more than anything in this world.

Cheese!

Happy Half-Birthday!

Ok Mom, they get it... I'm six months old.

Spring Break 2012

The spring breaks of my past have included trips to Florida, Key West, and most beaches along the east coast.  These trips were wild, crazy, sleepless, and a loads of fun as a high school/college-aged girl.  I have to say, though, that Spring Break 2012 goes down in the books as the best one I’ve ever had.

And really, it was the mundane things that made it so memorable.

All because I got to spend it with Cameron Kate!

We visited with our cousins and Bammy…

We practiced sitting up and pretty much have it mastered…

We grocery shopped together, with my girl sitting in the cart, all grown up…

We celebrated our first Easter…

We spent a weekend with Grammy and PaPa…

We let you sit in the restaurant high chair like a big girl...

We went on lots of runs together (obviously they’re exhausting for you, too!)…

We shared lots of giggles…

And we even baked cupcakes!!

And while it aches in my heart to think of going back to work in the morning, I’ll treasure these memories forever and can’t WAIT to have the entire summer to be together!

Randoms

I’m on Spring Break (WOOHOO!) which means I’m soaking in every second of Cameron… So while she takes a brief nap, I thought I’d jot down some random thoughts in my mind and things going on in my world (as if anyone really cares).  And truth be told, me being on a vacation from work also equates to being on a vacation from putting together a fluent piece of blog-writing. J

1.    We’re still working on getting Cameron to like green vegetables.  This is usually the face we get when we sneak in a bite of peas or green beans.

2.    The Birthday Cake Oreos are to-die-for.  If you haven’t had any yet, you’re missing out.

3.    We think our little girl is at the beginning stages of teething.  I am NOT looking forward to teeth for many reasons – the two at the top of the list are my fear of being bitten while she’s nursing and oh how I’ll miss those gummy smiles.

4.    Cameron is at an inbetween stage with her naps right now.  She used to always take three, but it seems as if she’s starting to drop her third “mini nap.”  She’s pretty good about napping anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours at 10:45-ish and 1:45-ish.  But the transition of dropping her third nap (around 4:30-ish) has been rough and hard to figure out!

5.    Everyone knows I love a drink come happy hour time, but my recent obsession is Skinnygirl Margarita.  I LOVE it.  And I really wanted to go buy some today, but felt terribly guilty about going into the ABC store with my baby in her stroller.  So I didn’t.

6.    We had a GREAT weekend visiting some of our most favorite people, and I must say that the highlight of the weekend was watching the kids interact. J  I am so looking forward to what is to come!

 Banks feeding "Pameron" her dinner

BFFs!

Cousins!

7.    Cameron used to be a DREAM in the car.  Not anymore.  I traveled with her by myself last Friday, and let’s just say there were lots of tears – on her part and mine.

8.    My husband was out of town for 6 days last week.  I don’t know how single moms do it.

9.    Having this week off with Cameron is making me SO wish I could be a stay-at-home mom.  Why couldn’t I win the lottery on Friday night?!  I guess in order to win, you have to play, huh.

10.  Cameron can now sit in the grocery cart while I do my shopping and I absolutely love it!  She seems to have a blast and it’s so fun having her with me.

11.  This is my favorite age so far with my little girl.  But I have a feeling I’ll be saying that with every age. J  Off to enjoy this sweet face!