April 23, 2012

Learn To Run: Day 23

Two things:

1) I learned how to run.

2) I still hate running.

I don’t know what I thought would happen exactly. I suppose in my dreamiest of dreams, I would take off one day and realize that moving my legs and flapping my arms is, indeed, exhilarating. Instead I found myself cursing the day I started this blog and this project and wanting to quit after three solid days of not being able to fall asleep at night due to soreness.

Realistically, I know it would take months of slow training, hard work, and (gasp) discipline to achieve the status of “runner.” I also know that due to some previous injuries, my knees might just fall right out of their sockets if I became a track star. I guess I just hoped to prove myself wrong.

If you’re wondering, I did manage to run every day. Well, almost every day. I skipped out on Easter Sunday and then three other days due to inclement weather (every day I prayed for rain).

I lost zero pounds, gained zero pounds, and increased my running time by exactly three songs.

There were some setbacks. For example, our jogging stroller was broken for two weeks. Have you every tried jogging with an umbrella stroller? People stare. There was also the weekend I had the kind of intense “woman pain” that lands you on the couch with a heat pack and a series of texts to your spouse that involve “I’m dying” and “Can you please make me a grilled cheese?” I still managed to run, however. This was my greatest triumph.

Admittedly, there were a few moments I did enjoy the whole ordeal. One time a van full of moms slowed and gave me the thumbs up, another time it started raining and, thanks to my overactive imagination, I pretended I was running from zombies. Mostly I enjoyed the first 30 seconds of running; the wind in my hair, the air in my lungs, the exhilaration of the first beats of a great song.

From the beginning, Austin has been against the April goal, citing multiple sources who say that running isn’t actually all that great for you. Brisk walking is what I should be doing, every day, no matter what.

Okay.

Things that give me hope

1) My sister. We walk every day at 4:30. Having someone to hold me accountable works.

2) This chick (I’ve linked to her before, but if you haven’t read her exercise/weight loss story–do).

3) Waylon. He treats the stroller as his personal limo service.

Cheers to May.

 ***

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April 20, 2012

End Of The Week Snacks (4.20.12)

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Morning YouTube

Fancy a morning sob?

YouTube Preview Image

You’re welcome.

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Morning Read

Waiting For Birdy, by Catherine Newman

You probably read this book five years ago. That’s fine. I’m one of those crazies who read The Da Vinci Code ten years after all the hype and was heartbroken when no one wanted to talk about it. I mean really, did you see that twist coming?? I did not.

Anyways, if you haven’t read Waiting For Birdy, you need to quit reading this blog and order it off Amazon right this minute. I laughed so hard I cried; the best parenting memoir since Operating Instructions. I should probably give credit to Elizabeth for recommending it in the first place. She said, “her writing reminds me of you.”

Fact: There is nothing more terrifying than reading the book you wanted to write.

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Morning Allergies

More facts: There is nothing more dull than talking about allergies.

Which is why I made you this card.

I look like hay fever’s poster child. Which is disappointing as my allergies disappeared when I was pregnant and stayed disappeared until last week. Not cool. Any suggestions for what I can do while also breastfeeding besides getting knocked up again? Benedryl makes me sleepy.

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Morning Instagrams

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Morning Music

Matt Corby via Little City Radio

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Morning Pin

Whales for Waylon

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Morning Thoughts

It has come to my attention that next week is the last week before my
Month Without Internet.

I am slightly panicked.

Lately I’ve been wondering if I should pre-schedule some posts or just go completely silent. Your thoughts?

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Morning Nest

Waylon’s floor bed has recently been rated one of the hottest destinations in Hummelstown.

We expect MTV’s Cribs to be here any second.

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Morning Memory

One Year Ago: The Talk

Have you seriously not watched it yet?

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And finally, our Friday Funny from the Internets

Jimmy Fallon doing Downton
I could not stop laughing.
(Thanks Jen)

Happy Friday

***

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April 18, 2012

One Year At Motley Mama

One year ago today I started Motley Mama. I was 30 weeks pregnant, recently unemployed by a bankrupt non-profit, and bored. Even though I had occasionally blogged for the past 5 years or so, I was new to mom blogging and unsure how to begin. For weeks I belabored over the name, hosting site, blog platform and format. I Googled “how to be a successful blogger” and sent my friends polls on what site name was most attractive. When I finally launched, I was nervous and excited, hoping this would be my next big thing.

I was very naive those first few months. I didn’t realize I was competing with bloggers who were getting 20,000 hits a day. I celebrated at 200 and thought I had made it. I posted trivial posts with simple links to YouTube videos. I posted haphazardly and often without thinking, “Would I want to read this?” It wasn’t great.

Then I started reading blogs I actually liked. It started with Elizabeth‘s blog and expanded to a handful of other blogs who were writing real, honest and interesting posts that I wanted to read. It was revolutionary, really. A wake up call to start trying harder by trying less. And so I cut out blogs constantly hosting giveaways and asking me to vote for them in contests. I also stopped reading blogs heavy in fashion and DIYs, not because they weren’t good blogs, but because they made me feel inferior. Then I started writing in my own voice about things I actually cared about.

I found my niche and it worked.

Once my blog hits started to grow, so did my ego. Every day I woke up and thought I MUST GET MORE HITS and reverted back to my Google searches of “how to be a successful blogger.” I got greedy. I got ulcers. Mostly my blog suffered because I was overly concerned with people pleasing. Again, it wasn’t great.

Right around this time, heavy colic set in. I was sleep deprived and stir crazy with a high needs baby who screamed in my arms and a husband starting medical school. In these months I was forced to let go. I didn’t have time to check my stats or worry about what everyone else was doing. I only had two hours of nap time a day, and I spent one hour writing and the other hour in the fetal position on the couch. It was, despite itself, great.

One year later and as it turns out, this blog has become a big part of my life; a vehicle for writing, a means to share, and most of all–a sanity saver. It has grown and changed along a steep learning curve, with pauses for self doubt, weeping, and resounding joy.

I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned when to push through and when to let go. I’ve learned when to share and when to keep my mouth shut. I’ve learned it doesn’t matter what your blog name is or what platform you use or how often you post. I’ve learned what it actually means to be a “successful blogger.”

People often ask me how Motley Mama’s doing; if I’m making money, how many people are reading, etc. Usually they are embarrassed to ask these questions which makes me feel embarrassed to answer. Really, I feel no shame in saying that 1) yes, I feel great about writing every day, 2) no, I’m not making any money, and 3) I have around 2,000 visitors a day.

I can also honestly say that I’m no longer trying to “grow my blog” or “become a blogger”  or change the Internet because, despite my baggy eyes and messy kitchen, I’m happy. I’m writing about things I care about, things that make me laugh, and interacting with my readers. I’m meeting fantastic people and joining conversations about important things. I feel engaged and interactive without feeling overstimulated and sad. I also have a happy, healthy baby titan. That’s pretty great too.

So high fives all around, and Happy One Year to Motley Mama. It’s been fun.

***

 

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April 17, 2012

28 Reasons Why I Love My Man On His Birthday

It’s Baby Daddy’s 28th birthday today.

In celebration of this tremendous occasion, I am presenting you with a ridiculously sappy post for your gagging pleasure. You’re welcome.

*

28 Reasons Why I Love You
For Austin

1) You take out the trash on trash day. This may seem like the most insignificant of tasks, but for me it is a symbol of responsibility. It reminds me that you also change the oil in our cars and do the taxes and fix the light-bulbs without being asked. These are not the tasks of boys, these are the tasks of men.

2) You look like Ryan Gosling. Like all liberal, white girls across America, I try my very hardest not to be shallow. I say things like “Beauty is on the inside” and “What cleft pallet?” and “I didn’t even notice Adele was fat.”  But the truth is you are smokin’ and I love it.

3) You are secure in your masculinity. You wear pink shirts.

4) You’ll watch Romantic Comedies and Indie flicks with me. And openly admit to loving Notting Hill, the chick flick of all chick flicks starring the chick flick himself, Hugh Grant.

5) You say weird things. Like, “I’d really like to get back into birdwatching,” even though you were never into birdwatching in the first place.

6) You appreciate Social Networking but don’t bother with it yourself. No Facebook. No Twitter. But you’ll humor me by clicking through an album of my ex high school friend’s second baby and their dog.

7) Your phone is old. Really old.

8) Your car is older. Antique.

9) You love food. Like me.

10) You love talking about food. Even more like me.

11) You let me sleep without hassling me.

12) You let me write without bothering me.

13) You appreciate the humor of a well-timed “that’s what she said.” 

14) You fight fair.

15) You explain math without being condescending.

16) You explain “men” without being outdated.

17) You call me out when I need to be called out.

18) You vacuum.

19) You scrub the shower.

20) You put the sheets on the bed without complaining.

21) You feign appropriate concern over all my many concerns. Did you lock the door? What if someone breaks in while we are sleeping? What if they hide in the shower? But seriously, what if they did hide in the shower? Is this headache a tumor? What if Waylon wants a motorcycle? What if Waylon has epilepsy? What if Waylon is on a motorcycle and has an epileptic seizure?

22) You appreciate concerts.

23) You appreciate style.

24) You understand the value of surprise.

25) You are a great gift giver.

26) You are always the designated driver.

27) You are a first born child.

28) You are, unmistakably, the truest version of you on almost any given day. And that is something I will always appreciate. 


Happy Birthday

***

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April 16, 2012

The Crib That Never Was or Why We Went Hippie: The Floor Bed Approach

Once upon a time, a friend of my sister’s graciously gave us a beautiful crib. Word had gotten out that we were poor, knocked up post-college kids living in a shoe box (only slightly inaccurate) and weeks later, a brand new crib arrived.

For the first few months, Waylon slept in his bed like a champ. There were even a few times he slept through the night. I celebrated by doing a very special dance and then phoning all our relatives to say our baby was a miraculous wonderchild.

Rookie mistake.

Soon he was getting up every hour (or even half hour) to eat and scream and slowly I began to lose my mental faculties, promising to sleep train this child as soon as it was doctor recommended.

Then one night, I simply had enough. I was so tired that I knew sitting in the rocker for even one minute would send me into a very dark place. So I kissed Waylon’s sad forehead, placed him back in his crib and walked away. Two hours later, he finally fell asleep from exhaustion. He was three months old. It was not a good night.

The next day I left for a weekend away with the ladies from my in-law’s family. I brought Waylon and we shared a room without a crib. It was during that night I learned to nurse lying down. It was amazing.

From that moment forward, Waylon slept with us. Every night and every nap he was in our bed, made safe by the fact that our bed has always been on the ground, kind of like camping.

Some people praised us for co-sleeping, others warned against it. Mostly we were in survival mode. At one point we tried to sleep train him again when nights got rough, but it was a giant failure. He wasn’t ready and neither were we.

Fast forward to April and here we are with a 9 month old who lives in our bed. He loves it, we tolerate it. We aren’t in a rush to get him out, but we aren’t in a hurry to keep him either.

Last Friday a new king sized bed arrived for us, inspired by our bad backs and full sleeping arrangement. Ironically, the bigger bed has led us to a little trial separation, motivated by the fact that the new bed is up off the floor and too dangerous to nap in.

I thought about the crib. Waylon thought about the crib. We all thought about the crib and decided it just wasn’t for us.

A while ago, my friend Suzie wrote this blog post about Floor Beds. I was skeptical, Austin was intrigued. I liked the idea of it, but was concerned about the logistics.

One year later and it makes perfect sense. After reading a few articles and getting the approval of (a very enthusiastic) Baby Daddy, we moved our old queen mattress over to Waylon’s  ghost-town of a room and set up house.

Now Waylon plays in his room, naps in his room, and even spends a few hours in there every night, safely nestled in his own familiar stink and only one wall away from his slightly overprotective parents.


Despite a few raised eyebrows and questions of “what in the world are you going to do when he gets out of bed,” it may be our best parenting decision to date. It gives him some independence, us some space, and the ease of crawling into his bed instead of ours when one of us needs a cuddle.

If you’re rolling your eyes, I understand. It’s totally weird not to stick your kid in a crib until they’re a few years old, but the Montessori Floor Bed approach is not all that crazy if you strip it down to the basics. Really it’s just baby proofing, sticking a mattress on the floor and putting a baby gate on the door. Think of the whole room as a playpen, except there’s room for a bed in one corner and your sanity in the other.

Waylon thanks you, Ms. Montessori, and so do I.

***

Floor Bed Photo Source

More Information on Montessori Floor Beds

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