TGIF!

This week flew by! Probably because I was off on my day's all week and was a tad confused.  I also got a great amount of sleep with a newborn in the house.  We had book club this week and that was fun to adult and eat yummy food! Tonight my parents are coming over and we are having a pizza party.  I'm also going to have my mom try to give Adeline a bottle since so far it's only been my husband or one time I did.  Plus, my mom is retiring in a month and wants baby time which will allow me to volunteer again at the schools and maybe substitute again (we will see on that!).  This weekend I plan on getting a long over due and needed hair cut and color.  The 8 year old requested we watch a Hallmark Christmas movie and OSU plays PSU.  Today's plans include going through some clothes and posting some maternity/baby clothes for sale.

My favorite picture from the week:

I had a few this week!

The high of my week was book club!  We had a fun time at a members house talking about The Only Woman in the Room! Consensus was that we liked it but some thought the writing was so so and that the ending was hurried.  I agreed about the hurriedness towards the end.  I'd be interested in learning more about Hedy Lamarr! Or heck, any body during that time period who has a story.

The low of my week was  I can't really think of one, minus the stupid weather turning into winter.

Meal plan for the week was  

Monday -  Pulled Pork (from the frozen freezer stash), baked potatoes, salad, and grapes

Tuesday -  Chicken Chili Soup (from my frozen freezer stash), leftover mashed potatoes, leftover mac and cheese, sliced cucumbers

Wednesday -  Homemade chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, salad and grapes

Thursday -  I was at book club enjoying soups, rolls, salads and desserts, they had fried chicken and grapes!

Friday - Pizza and salad!

The best money I spent was on I don't even know that I bought anything besides Dr. Pepper this week!!

What I’m listening to  Hallmark Christmas music station when the 8 year old is in the car.  Podcasts any other time.  I listened to a great episode of Oprah Super Soul Conversations this week with Chanel Miller who has raped by Brock Turner.  She has written a book and I really want to read it.

What I’m watching Hoda and Jenna!! It's become a thing. I was bummed that a few days were bumped because of the impeachment inquiry.

What I’m reading:  First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen.  I'm not really feeling it, but every few pages it catches me again. Also, lots of board books to Addison! My favorite of the week was Pout Pout Fish!

My plans for the weekend include having my parents over tonight, getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow, and hanging with my family!

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

The Only Woman in the Room

My book club’s pick for November was The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict.  It is based on the very real person, Hedy Lamarr, a Hollywood actress.  However, that label would not do justice to what Hedy actual was and did.

The book starts out with Hedy at nineteen and performing in a theatre in Vienna, Austria.  It is early 1930s and the government in Austria is in upheaval and there are threats from Germany.  But to young Hedy, life is fine.

She is the only child and doted on by her father.  She shares that he spent many afternoons humoring her and answering all the questions she ever had.  He gave her knowledge and attention that most young women of the time did not receive from their fathers and a thirst for learning/knowledge.

Young Hedy, is courted by a very important and rich man in Austria, Friedrich Mandl, who owns many factories that produce war weapons.  Her father, who has never before said a word about her dating life, informs Hedy, that it is important for her to date him, even though he is quite older than she.  Her father feels that to make Mr. Mandl mad, would be bad for their family. 

Hedy’s family is Jewish, but only so much as though her parents were raised Jewish.  They are not religious.  However, in the early 1930s in Austria/Germany that did not matter to those intent on hating Jewish people.

Hedy ends up marrying Mandl after a whirlwind courtship and spends time in his lavish houses and a CASTLE! However, he doesn’t treat her well and she realizes that even though she gave up her acting career, she’s still playing a part.

She manages to escape from Mandl and make it to Hollywood where she becomes a movie star.  However, she feels immense guilt for escaping and not doing more to help fellow Jews.  One line that stood out to me was whether she wondered if she was over estimating her importance of not saying anything of her knowledge of Hitler’s plans.  I felt with the knowledge she knew, she was over thinking her importance.  As another part of the book shares, the fact that she is a woman, kept  many men from doubting her.  I highly doubt any of them would have done anything with what she could have told them, strictly becasuse she was a woman.

I am leaving out a lot of details mainly because YOU SHOULD read this book.  It reads fast and is fascinating.  I also will leave you with the tidbit, that we can thank Hedy Lamarr for Bluetooth technology. 

Marie Benedict also has historical fiction books based upon Carnegie’s maid and Einstein’s wife.  I am planning on checking out the book about Carnegie’s maid soon!

What is the last book you gave 5 stars? What historical person have you read about fiction or non-fiction that you learned information and enjoyed the book?

TGIF!

I really feel like I got the bum deal of enjoying the seasons of 2019.  My favorite season (summer) happened during my most tired and biggest part of pregnancy.  And I feel like I wasn't the most fun mom this summer for the kiddo.  Then I gave birth and fall happened in the throes of the first 2 weeks of a baby and then it freaking snowed.  It started on Halloween, melted and a week later more snow fell and we have had some sort of snow action ever since.  I don't think I can handle this winter if it's all like this.  I hate snow.  I hate feeling stuck in the house.  I mean I hang in the house a lot, but it's by choice.  When I feel like I have no choice I get antsy.  Especially because I have a newborn who I have to hide from all of the germy people this winter.  I may go crazy.  And I may have to hide all carbs and chocolate.

My favorite picture from the week:

The high of my week was we survived it? I am so glad that it's Friday.  I'm not enjoying that Adeline has been waking up grunting/need to poop around 430-615.  Like it may take that whole time.  And she may eat once in there but just makes so much noise.  Usually she's not in pain but for those of us wanting to sleep it's annoying.  I suppose we could move her to her own room but it's just so easy to have her next to me.  The problem with this time then being that she has me and the husband up for the day usually about 4:30 with some cat napping involved and then SHE falls asleep while he has to get ready for work and I then have to get up to get the 8 year old ready.  And then takes lovely naps and her mother is caffeinated and wide awake and cannot nap.  And then the cycle continues ha.  Which, this seems like a huge complaint for the high of the week, but when you literally do nothing but stay in a house and only leave to take a kid to school, this is what you get.

Okay, for real the high of the week was last Sunday when my mom, 8 year old and myself went to see a local theater production put on by 6th-8th graders! Made sweeter by the fact that the kid won free tickets to another performance next June!

The low of my week was  see also my high ha.

Meal plan for the week was  

Monday -  Cheesy Chicken Burrito Bowls, grapes, guacamole/chips, roasted broccoli

Tuesday -  We used the leftovers from the burrito bowls and made quesadillas, grapes, roasted sweet potatoes, guacamole/chips

Wednesday -  Roasted Tomato Soup (made with tomatoes from our garden, we made a huge batch and froze it), celery,broccoli, ranch, cheese bread, grapes

Thursday -  Skillet Chili Mac and Cheese, grapes, rolls, broccoli/ranch

Friday - leftovers, grapes, celery/ranch

The best money I spent was on I got another halo fleece swaddle sack in size small and matching dresses for the girls.  The 8 year old is super into matching and wearing shirts that say sister so when I can make it happen, I do! I am going to give them as Christmas gifts because the size for Adeline won't fit until closer until then anyway!

What I’m listening to  old episodes of All the Books, Up and Vanished, and Hell and Gone.

What I’m watching finishing up  the third season of Jamestown and then will be on to mixed-ish or Christmas movies!

What I’m reading:  The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen and I HIGHLY recommend it!

My plans for the weekend include MSU vs. UofM football! I will probably make a bean dip for that.  We also have my nephews 10th bday party.  I need to go grocery shopping by myself and I am hoping to vacuum and mop the floor.

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

Thankful times Ten

I had been toying with the thought of a thankful series and when I saw Lisa post these 10 prompts, it was just the push I needed! 

1) I’m most thankful for my ability to Multi-task.  I will feel lost if I don’t have about 234234 things going on at once.  And if I don’t have options I tend to do nothing.

2) In this moment, the thing I love most about my family is how they love my kids.  They are constantly checking in on them, sending them things, coming to cuddle them, and attempting real and meaningful relationships with them, not just stopping by for a few photos to brag on later.  They know actual information about them and can hold conversations with the 8 year old effortlessly about her interests. 

3) Something that made me smile today was my poor littlest girl had some gas issues but she ended up taking a nap laying stomach down on my arm with her legs dangling in my lap.  We sat snuggled up for over an hour, but it was just sweet.  Toots and poop and all.

4) The best thing I smelled today was the lotion I just put on my hands.  I feel like I am in a constant lotion/hand washing cycle and my hands are suffering!

5) One of the memories I’m most grateful for is introducing my oldest to my grandpa.  He adored her.  I loved my time spent with him and my grandma growing up and even though he was older and less mobile when she was born, he held her, loved on her and it was beautiful.

6) Thank goodness someone taught me how to think for myself and to appreciate learning.  Thanks, mom and dad! My lord did I grow up in a backwards place and am amazed daily by social media how I came out of that so differently than most.

7) The strongest part of my body in this moment is jokingly I answered on Lisa’s post it’s probably my boobs.  They are working over time right now!

8) Even after a rough day, the things I’m most grateful for at work are my employee is pretty cute!

9) I’m so grateful that my legs carry me through the many trips up and down the stairs to do the endless loads of laundry.  If I designed my house, my laundry would be on my main floor.

10) I felt a little burst of energy today when I went to pump and chugged water and hurried up to get all my stuff done before Adeline woke up from a nap! Nothing gets the heart going like trying to get all your stuff done before the baby wakes!

What is something that made you smile today?

November Goals

I promised myself that I would use this pregnancy as a body reset and start intentionally being healthier and move my body more.  Now that I am almost 5 weeks postpartum and my body has had the initial “just have birth so I lost a ton of weight’ I want to keep at it.  Plus, as soon as my midwife gives me the go ahead I want to start doing some weight lifting and walking on the treadmill this winter.

I am overweight.  When I was pregnant I initially lost about 5/6 pounds in the 1^st tri.  Then throughout the pregnancy I gained back to my original weight and when I gave birth I had a weight gain of 9 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight.  Which is awesome.  I did not restrict myself while pregnant, but my body naturally wants fruits/veggies and doesn’t really do carbs and cheese while pregnant.  So that’s helpful.  But I also didn’t want meats and ate a pretty fruit/veggie/dessert life ha.  I also drink waaaay more water.  So it was a good starting point.

Since I gave birth I’ve lost 25 pounds.  I am sticking right there for the last 3 weeks.  I am not restricting myself because food is marvelous again and I need to eat all the lovely things I hated for the last 9 months.  That being said, I have the worlds largest sweet tooth and especially while nursing.  So I am trying to indulge but also eat smarter.  Hence, why I now have November goals!

Goal 1: Eat 7 or more fruits/veggies servings a day.

Goal 2: After I get okay from the midwife incorporate treadmill walks and lifting.

Goal 3: Finish my book club book.

So far I am kicking butt at goal number 1.  It’s helping that I make scrambled eggs with veggies at least 2 times a week.  And that I have cleaned the fruit/veggies as I bought them and we are eating them as snacks/with every meal more frequently because of this.

Goal 2 I am going to start on (hopefully) after my apt next week.  My very tentative and hopeful plan is to try for a mile of walking on the treadmill 2 or 3 times a week.  But I have a newborn, and life is unpredictable.  So even if I have to wait until Saturday/Sunday to make it happen the week is 7 days long.

Goal 3, I need to finish reading Bury Your Dead and then I will start on it!

What are your goals for November?

What I read in October

October may have been the worst month of my entire reading life.  I abandoned a book because it needed to be returned to the library, and I just couldn’t get it done and I was sad because I really wanted to read it (The Alice Network) and I kept falling asleep when I was attempting to read.  Darn newborns!

I will say I consciously chose to mindlessly scroll the internet instead of reading a lot, but I needed the nonsense.  I do have a ton of books downloaded on my kindle app which I have access to on my phone, so as I’m not as sleepy and feeling disconnected I may start to read some.

The TWO books I did finish, I did enjoy.  I read Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand in one afternoon/evening.  I was stuck under a newborn and it was a quick fun read! It was part of her Winter series, that is about the Quinn family on Nantucket.  It wrapped up a few storylines and left open a few others.  If you are looking for a fast read, Christmasy series for the winter months, I’d recommend this one. It’s a very light read and there are 4 in the series.

The second book I read was my grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry by Fredrik Backman.  This book is about a young girl whose a bit ‘different’ and her grandmother is her best friend.  They have a secret language and have some crazy adventures.  Then her grandmother does and sends her on another adventure.  There is a lot of about the fairy tale world that her grandmother invented for her and those parts did put me to sleep a bit more than the actual dialogue and plot happening in real time with the characters.  Very cute story though!

I’m not the only one in this house whose reading has slowed a bit.  The 8 year old has been spending a lot of time with her sister instead of reading, but I think the highlights of her October were more Boxcar children books, starting to read the I Survived series, and reading a book about the Disney movie Descendants.  Almost every morning she reads, ‘On the Night you Were Born,’ to her sister or she read aloud from the book she is currently reading.  Another favorite one she likes to read to her is ‘Dream Big Little One,’ by Vashti Harrison.  I love that book too.  She actually requested we google some of the book to learn more!

What did you read in October? What's on deck for November?

TGIF!

We have almost survived our 2nd week alone! Adeline had a bit of a growth spurt this week and I started pumping.  Big milestones around here.  Adeline also took a bottle from my husband twice! This is something that Isla struggled with so we wanted to make sure we kept up on it this time.  Plus, my milk supply is better than it was with her so when I pump, I already have enough for a bottle.  The first time we tried the bottle she did scream at him for about 10-15 minutes and I had been gone at book club.  She did end up taking it after I got back home.  He just had to face her away from him in a sitting position.  So she took 2 ounces and then still nursed with me a bit later.  The next night I had pumped and I froze some, but had about an ounce leftover.  So in the middle of our nightly stock up feedings as I call them, he tried the bottle again and she took it.  We are going to plan on keeping this up, as I am planning on trying to pump once a day and then either freeze it all or save an ounce or two depending on what our plans are.  So far I already have 7 ounces in the freezer and coming from my lack luster pumping last time, I will take this as a win! Especially since I am breastfeeding her on demand 24/7 currently.

My favorite picture from the week:

The high of my week was trick or treating as a family of 4! As the 8 year old said, "it was the best and worst Halloween."  It rain/snowed and the weather was HORRID for trick or treating but it was a fun night.  We went to our local mall to do indoor trick or treating for the first time ever and did that for 20 minutes and then hit up a neighborhood.  Adeline slept the whole time in the mall and then woke up and needed nursing when we hit the neighborhood, so she and I stayed warm and nursed in the car while they did some trick or treating.  Then we headed back towards home and went to some friends/relatives houses.

The low of my week was  that even though Adeline is doing great at sleeping at night she makes so many loud noises/grunts/gurgles as she is trying to pass gas/poop that it keeps us up when we could be sleeping.  And I think it bothers her a bit because she has been napping longer in the morning than she had been.  We have a doctors appt next week and I will mention it, but I really don't think there is much else I can adjust that we aren't already trying.  I really don't want to move her to her room yet, but it may have to happen because of the noises ha!

Meal plan for the week was  

Monday -  Chicken Pot Pie, baked potatoes, and grapes.  The pot pie was a frozen meal from my SIL!

Tuesday -  husband had leftovers, 8 year old had a pbj/carrots, and I went to Olive Garden with book club!

Wednesday -  Stuffed Shells, also from my lovely SIL, carrots, celery, and grapes

Thursday -  leftovers

Friday -  Chili (that I made and froze last month) and grilled cheese!

The best money I spent was on the hands free pumping bra.  I never bought one the first time, and just did a DIY that was easy enough, but this time I splurged because my DIY this time isn't as good of a fit.

What I’m listening to  Christmas music in the car! My kiddo and I would listen all year.  We just don't do the snow!  Also, many many podcasts. :)

What I’m watching working on Season 2 of Jamestown from PBS! Excited to start watching Christmas movies soon with the kiddo.

What I’m reading:  The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams.  Reading is hard right now.  It makes me sleepy and sometimes I can't be sleepy! But I did read Little Blue Truck this week!

My plans for the weekend include hopefully a Target run.  I need to get the oldest some more gloves and winter boots.  I may order them online, but I would like to look in store.  Depending on how my husband does grocery shopping tonight I may need some grocery items as well.  Also planning on football watching, reading, and being lazy.  Sunday, the oldest and the husband are going to my nephews baptism/out to lunch and the baby and I will chill here.

What are you watching/reading/listening to?