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.
  

My maternity leave ended this week, and I returned to work outside the home. It kind of broke my heart.

Things I Love Right Now - Saturday Morning/Birthday Eve Edition

• coffee
• my pink robe
• cake for breakfast
• pretending carrot cake is "healthy" because it contains vegetables
• a quiet house
• waking up to Baby rather than my alarm
• feeding my daughter
• listening on the monitor to Baby talk to herself
• taking morning naps
• browsing the kitchenware department at Kohl's
• looking for a good deal on baby clothes
• gift cards
  

We'll see if I can keep up with simple posts of Thing I Love Right Now or TILRN.

So, I was flipping through my IKEA catalog the other day.

And I remembered a time when 95% of my apartment fillings came from IKEA.
I remembered a time when the only furniture I had was a twin size bed, a nightstand, a desk & chair, and sofa.
I remembered a time when all my belongings fit into a car. A compact.
I remembered a time when I gave away all my accumulated IKEA furniture and again had just the stuff that could fit in my car.

How did I go from that to this?
What I have now:
So much STUFF in our massive house that I am terrified of packing it all up to potentially move this summer.

In the last 6 1/2 years, I've acquired 4 different bedding sets.

Sometimes I think about simplifying.
But I am too overwhelmed to start.

Have you simplified your life? How? Where did you start?

I love my baby tons.

But there's something deliciously good about getting to leave the house by myself!!!
Even if it's for literally 10 minutes.

Two nights in a row I've been able to leave and go out by myself with her at home with Josh.
If I recall correctly, these two occasions are the only time I have done such a thing.

Now I've gone out with Josh a few times with Catherine staying home with a Grandma or Aunt and Uncle, but this is different for some reason.

I don't know what it is, but I feel sneaky.

And I treasure this alone time.

Yesterday I ran to Main Street because we wanted to take advantage of their free baked good special. C was napping, and I was the only one wearing shoes.

Tonight I ran to CVS to pick up a prescription after Catherine was already asleep and Josh was heading to bed himself.

Two very simple, very brief errands.

But they made me feel like I was floating.