You Are My I love You

You are my I love you

I am your parent you are my child

I am your quiet place, you are my wild

I am your calm face, you are my giggle

I am your wait, you are my wiggle

I am your audience, you are my clown

I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down

I am your carrot sticks, you are my licorice

I am your dandelion, you are my first wish

I am your water wings, you are my deep

I am your open arms, you are my running leap

I am your way home, you are my new path

I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath

I am your dinner, you are my chocolate cake

I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake

I am your finish line, you are my race

I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace

I am your favorite book, you are my new lines

I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine

I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo

I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you

Waiting for Birdy: Favorite Lines

Last weekend we took a much needed road trip to Minnesota to see family and friends. With the car packed up the night before, we left on time, but not fully caffeinated. Ingrid was out cold until her seat belt straps tightened. She then opened her eyes and proclaimed "We're going to Minnesota! I so excited!" 

The car ride was unlike any I'd ever experienced with her. By that, I mean it was pleasant. Ingrid read, colored, requested movies and snacks. We've entered another stage of parenthood. A stage? No. She's growing up.

Although the car ride was nice, I found myself wishing for more. Daydreaming about the day when she'll let us know she needs to use the bathroom. It takes a present mind to remember this parenting classic: don't wish it away. 

It's an easy thing to do, really. To wish away the teething pains, the tummy time grunts, the constant feeding, swaddling, diaper bag packing, bottle washing and toy wrangling. To pine over the next stage of development. To wish for a start and an end.

After dreaming of what's to come, I remembered one of my favorite reads this year, Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman. 

I reread the highlighted sections and felt inspired to share a few. The book is about the author's family awaiting their second child. Although I'm content with one, I nodded along while reading. Now, I'm not a fan of articles, books, quotes or eCards that paint motherhood to be this magical, secret society where kids are insane, amazing and no one has time to shower. I preface this because some of my favorite lines are flowery and moving. Balance these sentiments with honesty and that's why I loved every page:

"There is the love that balloons so enormous and breathtaking that it lifts you up, past sleep, into some other kind of place, where joy is immeasurable, and fear is everywhere. Where "bittersweet" is always the flavor of the day."

"Speaking in earnest proverbs is new to me since becoming a parent. But now, every day, some or other cliche pops into my head as if it were an original thought." 

"But when I looked into that serene little face, the world stopped and started, and I became, in an instant and forever, a mother." 

"Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others with their masks." 

"There is no way to understand the joyful desperation of parenthood until it is already upon you, like a flash flood." 

"Sometimes, when I go to put the kids to bed, I breathe a sigh of relief after they fall asleep, like 'Thank God that's over with!'...'Don't wish your life away', my mom used to say when we were impatient as kids. I'm sincerely trying not to.

That oxygen mask line has proven to be my motherhood mantra.

This book armed me with more tips than some of the "recommended" reads for moms with toddlers. 

What books - not necessarily on the topic of motherhood - have stuck with you? 

Cominatacha

One of my blogger pet peeves is when people apologize for taking time off from blogging. So, rather than bore you with a long-winded apology, I'll just say that summer and blogging didn't really work for me.

I read this post about a blog lifespan and considered ignoring this space entirely.

Then, Ingrid would reach a milestone and I wanted to blog about it. We went kayaking as a family for about four minutes and I wanted to blog about it. But I wouldn't take the time to put my thoughts down. Not anymore my friends. After three long months I now have a couch and somewhat of a routine. That means more posts like these are cominatcha soon:

• The Very Merriest of Mother's Days
• Two
• New Mom Care Package
• Five Things

Soon means soon. In the meantime, here's a little glimpse of the summer:

That's it for now. Baby steps my friends. Baby steps.

Take Me Out To the Ballgame

Happy First Day of Summer (and Memorial Day, Move-in Day, First Day of Internet Access - followed by 18 days of no internet access, Last Day of Daycare, Father's Day, First Day of New Daycare)!

During this move/settling-in phase, I took an unintentional break from this space I call BLOG. Fueled by lack of internet (bye-bye Time Warner!) and the blog-break continued during this short stint of warm weather.

One of my blogger pet-peeves is when writers apologize to readers due to their lack of posts. I won't say I'm sorry but will say that I'm happy to be back. Happy to have internet again (AT&T Uverse 4EVA), happy to be settling into our first home and happy to explore our new neck of the Milwaukee-woods (aka, Wauwatosa).

A Disclaimer for the Video Below:
Ingrid attended her first Brewer game on Memorial Day. She developed an innocent but serious crush on Bernie Brewer. For those of  you who aren't on a first-name basis with our beloved mascot, let me fill you in on the details:

Bernie Brewer's profession is a beer brewer. When I was a kid, Bernie would literally slide into a mug of beer for every Brewer home run. When Miller Park was built, Bernie's house and the infamous mug moved to Lakefront Brewery. Bernie's nostalgic house was replaced with a lifeless shed and he now slides down a yellow slide and cheers as fireworks sparkle above his head.

Needless to say that Ingrid went bananas over Bernie, the fireworks, cotton candy and this song:






Next year, I'm hoping she finds joy in the Sausage Race because this year, her number one concern was "Where'd Ernie go?!?"

Happy Friday!

Five Things

Yesterday I made a good-bad decision. What's a good-bad decision? An example: online shopping for hours and then Xing out of your browser. Sure, it was fun but now it's 11pm and you didn't even get that clearance button-down. My most recent good-bad decision was to go on a mini-cleanse before Memorial Day weekend. The first weekend of summer. A weekend full of BBQs, parades, kite festivals and baseball games: all of these things involve toasting adult beverages.

I'll start this cleanse on Tuesday. Yep. Tuesday. I feel better already.

Here are five things that made the week sweet:

1. Summer Preparation: 
Summer is on the horizon and it's full of possibilities! Camping, sunshine, festivals, sandals! I love mapping out our summer plans and hope to "schedule" a few in Milwaukee. It's the most wonderful time of the year here in the good ol' Midwest.

If I ever have the patience to create these cupcakes, you're invited to come over:

photo

2. Speaking of Smoothies... 
I've been a fan of this Green Mango one:

• 2 cups spinach 
• 2 cups water 
• 1 cup frozen mango 
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt 
• A little sprinkle of chia seed 

3. Books. 

Since we have a bizarre amount of time to kill during our brief stay in the furnished apartment, I've read a few books. I've tried to read The Great Gatsby but found that light-hearted books like: Waiting for Birdy, one by Heather McDonald (surprisingly we have really similar parenting styles) and another by Ross Matthews (surprisingly delightful read).

4. Spring Roll in a Bowl 
So pretty to make and so simple! I found the noodles near the tofu in my grocery store's produce department and was delighted to discover that they rang in 20 calories per serving. Score. 

photo 

5. Chicken & Waffles 

Ingrid's going through a growth spurt. No matter what she eats during the day, she's ravenous in the middle of the night. She woke up in a haze and question-yelled "I have. I have. I have chicken? And...waffles?" I couldn't deny her request - we had both on-hand: 

Man, I love her. 

Happy Food-Related Post Friday (I guess)! Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

I blog because...

Why keep writing? Inspired by my mom's pregnancy journal, I started throwing my thoughts in this space during my pregnancy. Why keep it up? It's not laser-focused on parenting, motherhood or anything, really.

When I started my blog I followed a small group of bloggers who wrote about fashion and they were most likely Mormon (what can I say, they are nice and know how to dress). I wanted to contribute to the larger community writing about a subject I was learning. While in the newborn, new parenting trenches, it was wonderful to read other stories of moms experiencing exactly what I was experiencing - to the week. Reading these stories early in the morning (along with coffee) fueled my morning. My struggles are my own but I wasn't on my own (cliche alert!).

I blog because I can highlight life's mundane moments. Celebrate the magic that surrounds us every single day:

Bartering and counting wood chips. 

Filled with joy and fear.

She made it. Static and all. 

Apartment Woes

This transitional period, this month of waiting around in an odd furnished apartment, has been unsettling. I was going to type rough but, we're not exactly slumming it.

The shelves are stocked with well organized Tupperware and the TV is huge. So huge, I longer wear glasses while viewing. Game-changer! Other Apartment Pros include: 

• Three recliners. One stand-alone and two flanking each side of the couch. 
• Walk-in closet 
• Found $20 in the parking lot
• Proximity to the Milwaukee County Zoo and work 
• Dishwasher 
• Really good water pressure 
• An actual bed - as opposed to a bed frame. 

As I'm reading through this list, it's painfully clear that we weren't "living large" in our little lovely Bay View apartment. Here are a few Apartment Cons - or to be dramatic - Apartment Woes: 

• It's way too quiet. You might be asking yourself: "Lindsay, shouldn't this be included in the Pro list?" No Mom, it shouldn't be. There are literally dozens of people living here and apparently they never make any noise. No one ever leaves for work in the morning, comes home late or let's out a congratulatory "Wahoo!" while watching The Real Housewives of Orange County (Two words: chin implants. Anyone?) 
• Make-shift office in the kitchen. 
• No yard
• Spare mattress is propped up against the wall 
• Coin laundry
• Our bathtub was clogged for about three days. I finally was forced to shower while standing on a milk crate. Somehow I felt like I was in Water with Elephants. No, not because I felt like an elephant but, because it reminded me of what might happen on a cross-county, circus-like train trip. 
• Weird kitchen utensils. Ingrid's play-kitchen spoons work better. Honestly. 

But as great as the water pressure is (and it's almost perfect) - this place is not ours. It's a runner-up to a contest I didn't even know was happening. A few blocks from here, the real winner, our new house, awaits. Teasing us with its breakfast nook, staircase and guest bedroom. I've been limiting my posts on this lil' ol' blog because I don't want to jinx the upcoming closing or complain about a temporary situation. But, it's my blog and I'll bitch if I want to! 

Here's hoping for more positive, peaceful and productive thoughts tomorrow. 

A Little Video: Trip to the Zoo

Waiting for the train to leave the station. Ingrid was so excited she started to look worried.

Mark my words, one of these days I will hold my phone correctly/the other way. 

Happy Wednesday!

The Very Merriest Mother's Day

Out of my three Mother's Days, this one was the sweetest. Ingrid woke up wanting to read a book which was a welcomed change from the typical yogurt request (I have shugurt?). 

We called Grandma. Fixed the clog in the bathtub. Went to the zoo. Laughed really hard at otters. Rode the train. Laughed hard when reminiscing about the otters (apparently, they are hilarious). Sipped on Thai iced coffees (what do they put in those delicious things?) Took a three hour nap (Ingrid). Watched way too many episodes of Sex and the City (Me). Went to the park. And now, she's in bed a half hour early. 

We had a 30 minute window where the wheels started to come off. I wanted to pull a Zach Morris. To motion my hands in a sharp "T" shape and declare "Timeout!" 

Timeout: What happened to the bubbly, cheery dog and toddler? No, you can't have a sucker before dinner or ever because we don't have any. Please stop chasing after distant leaves your old eyes mistake for bunnies. Seriously, we don't have any suckers. 

Then, Ingrid started to sing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and asked to dance. Of course we can dance, lovely little lady. Right after my heart stops aching from sweetness overload. 

It was the very merriest Mother's Day (wording ripped from a weird Mad Hatter story). 

Happy Mother's Day!

Five Things

Happy Friday! This weekend we're down one Atkinson. With just Ingrid, Harper and I, the weekend is trending pretty girly: a Scentsy party, outlet mall stop and if the weather is right, a Mother's Day trip to the zoo. Here are five things that made the week pretty sweet:


Ingrid and I popped some tags last weekend at the University School of Milwaukee's Rummage on the Rink. That rummage sale is no joke - there were maps and directional cones involved. Ingrid literally rummaged through a pile of stuffed animals to find her prized princess pillow. I was thrilled that these books turned out to be pretty great - I was drawn to them for the illustrations.

Cooking in this little kitchen stinks. Now, when we move to our new place, the kitchen won't be much bigger but, it will be brighter, roomier and ours. Baking is manageable. Baking fish feels springy. This Salmon with Sriracha Sauce and Lime feels just about right - even in this teeny kitchen. I bet you three dollars you have all of the sauce ingredients in your pantry/fridge.

These transitional seasons are always rough for me, wardrobe wise. Currently I'm searching for the perfect: mint cross-body bag, chambray shirt dress, work/play appropriate skirts, little knot studs and work shirts that aren't stuffy. I wish this ampersand sweatshirt was somehow justifiable because, it's just so cute:

Like everyone else, I'm reading The Great Gatsby and anticipating the movie. This is my favorite quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald. By favorite I mean, it was pinned to my Words board two months ago because it looks and sounds fancy.

Ingrid went on a big swing for the first time. She was cautious, curious and mimicked the little girl next to her. She would faux pump her legs and make the tiniest micro movements. It's hard to imagine that just a year ago she was taking wobbly steps.

Happy Mother's Day! Enjoy the sunshine and thank your moms.