One of these days...

• I'll catch up on posting photos of Catherine
• I'll dust
• I'll pick up
• I'll pack up
• I'll get organized
• I'll purge
• I'll take that ever growing pile to Goodwill/Salvation Army
• I'll do something with all the food in our pantry
• I'll get the cloth napkins out
• I'll use those square appetizer plates
• I'll entertain again
• I'll hang things on the walls
• I'll put together our wedding guest book
• I'll frame photos
• I'll find a matching coffee table and end tables
• I'll update our family blog
• I'll get baby announcements made
• I'll send the Christmas/New Years/Valentines/Easter letter
• I'll finish the thank you notes
  

But not today. These days I'm lucky if I get more than 6 hours of sleep. It's a good day if I can make myself breakfast to eat in the car and remember to pack a lunch. It's a good thing if dirty clothes make it into the laundry basket. Or even near it.

These days the bar is pretty low. And I'm ok with that. I have to be.

These days, it's just about survival.

I took today off because I wanted to be with Baby Girl for her 4 month check-up and shots. As if I need a reason to spend the day with her.

Last night I told her we were going to enjoy our special day together.

She did not enjoy her shots, but her doctor said she's looking great!

Once we got that out of the way, we went out for coffee. She slept while I had a half cup of flavored coffee and half a chocolate mint brownie at our favorite downtown hangout.

Since it was quite a lovely day, we walked to our breastfeeding support group where we got to visit with old friends. Old being from when I was on maternity leave.

After that, Jen & Julia came over. The babies went down for a nap, while the mommas had lunch and talked.

At this point mid-afternoon, I couldn't keep my eyes open. The couch became my best friend for awhile. Until Catherine decided a 3 hour nap was long enough. Soon after, Daddy returned from his run (he's training for a half marathon - what a guy!), and we all made dinner together.

Now I'm preparing for a long day away tomorrow. Extra long. I've got an after work training to attend.

Less than two weeks til Spring Break!!!

• Introducing Baby to 80's music
• Cadbury Easter eggs
• Catching my baby smiling
• Seeing my girl light up when she sees her daddy
• my pink robe
  
• the fact that my friend Kate will be in town soon!
• houses
• home decor
• cake pops
• Hacienda guacamole made table-side
• HGTV
• fountain drinks!!!
• beautiful spring like weather!!!
  

Oh, Sunday night, how you taunt me. I loathe you. Loathe like I never knew possible.

Wow, going back to work as a new mom is super hard.

Good thing I don't loathe my job. I don't think I could keep doing it if I did.

We've had a great day together - our little family.

Josh was on worship team this morning, so he was at church for all three services. Catherine & I after our morning nap (oh, blessed tradition, how I miss you) had a hard time getting everything done and put together and were late for the third service.

We used a coupon for my free birthday meal for a late lunch at Flat Top Grill (yum, what a treat!), and Baby Girl slept in her car seat sitting next to Daddy. Afterward, Josh went to the Apple store while I fed Catherine in a comfy chair at Barnes and Noble. It was busy. Lots of people and activity for Catherine to take in. Yet I felt like it was just the two of us snuggling and cuddling and bonding.

Up next was Super Target and using a coupon for my free birthday drink at Starbucks (super fabulous - see photo!).

We didn't get home til after 5.

I got to work right away on preparing bottles for tomorrow. This is my new Sunday - Thursday evening ritual, and oh how it makes me love Friday and Saturday!!

I can't believe how much time I spend doing something related to breast milk lately. Pumping, washing bottles and pumping parts, swirling milk, mixing bottles, measuring, freezing, thawing, more measuring and swirling... Not to mention feeding Catherine. I almost feel as if all this is more exhausting than feeding her as a newborn. And THAT was exhausting!

Add in two loads of laundry, diapering (thank God for disposables!), a nap for baby, another feeding, and now Catherine is in her PlayPlace. She loves it! I realized it's been awhile since she's been in there, since we were gone most of today and all of yesterday (road trip to a birthday party in Lansing). I know what a good, laid back, flexible baby we have, and I am so thankful!

Josh is folding the clean clothes now. I'm so grateful for my hard-working husband. He has been helping so much with all the new craziness. Celebrating one year and eight months of marriage today to my favorite!

In the last 24 hours...

• I sprayed all over my baby's face with breast milk and yelled, "I'M SPRAYING HER!!!", clueless on what to do.
• I found out my big pay raise going back to work was a whopping 16 cents an hour!!!
• I tore my pants; the saddest part of that fiasco is the fact that I will still keep wearing them.
• I cried multiple times.
• I tore a piece to my breast pump.
• I got milk in the tube of my breast pump.
• I have felt incredibly overwhelmed, wondered how I can go on, and thought I might have a panic attack.
• I got word that my uncle passed away unexpectedly.

But

• I have been helped and comforted by my husband.
• I have been able to cuddle with my daughter and watch her fall asleep in her pack and play.
  
• I have been encouraged by my co-workers.
• I got a cakepop.
• I'm making plans for Spring Break.
• Tomorrow is Friday.
• I get to see friends this weekend.
  
• I remind myself (repeatedly) that God will not give me more than I can handle.