All The Things

Well today was one of those days. One of those “this is the life of a mom” days. A day where I had to figure out how to do all the things.

I woke up with the worst sinus pressure. I just wanted to take the day off and sleep. But today was not that day. I had too much to do at work and too many Mom duties to do. Is there ever a good day to be sick? 

If you are a mom, the answer is no. 

First I had to take Taylor Grace to the doctor. The lime green snot that was coming out of her nose told me that her cold turned into an infection, an ear infection to be exact. After the doctor, I picked up her antibiotic, dropped her off to my mother-in-law, and then headed into work. I attempted to get as much done at work before heading back out to go to Talon’s school to have lunch with him and drop off some treats for his class to celebrate his birthday, as I had promised. After going back to work to finish up some things, I was convinced that the sinus pressure was definitely going to make my head explode and I’m pretty sure my body was sensing the same as I was starting to ache all over. I cut my day short, came home, and finally laid down.

Luckily T-Bone was celebrating his birthday with his dad tonight because it was a cereal for dinner kind of night at the Garrett house.

And while today would have been a perfect day to end with a glass of wine, I decided a glass of orange juice would serve me better.

But we are all out. Because my husband drank the rest of it. And I'm pretty sure he never drinks orange juice, until today. 

This. This is the mom life.

But on that note, it was so worth the smile and excitement my big cutie had when I showed up at his school today. 

And it was so worth the extra snuggles I got from Taylor while rocking her to sleep, which I usually don’t do, but I knew that congested little mouth breather needed the extra love tonight.

And on another note, its days like these that make me even more thankful for my support system—to work for an organization that gives me the flexibility to take time away from work when needed to care for my children and myself and to have co-workers fill in for me while I’m out. And for a family who is always there to help out, even when it means taking care of a sick kiddo. 

When I fall short, they are always there to pick me back up. And for that, I am grateful. 

The New Mom Funk

Have you ever been in a funk? Have you ever been in a funk and didn’t realize it? Well that’s been me for the last 18 months.

For 9 of those months, I was pregnant, and sick, and sick. And did I mention sick? For months I could barely even get out of bed much less worry what I look like. I went from wearing fitted clothing, skirts and heels to sweatpants and a sports bra. If I had to go out in public, I would put on just enough makeup to not scare a small child.

Then the next 9 months, I had a baby. A sweet, tiny-ish, adorable, sleep-sucking baby that demands every bit of my attention. That Taylor Grace, she’s amazing. She’s such a blessing to me and our family but ya’ll, that girl is exhausting! Then add her super-active in sports brother who has games and practices 4-5 nights a week, work, dinner, laundry, house cleaning, a husband and the sometimes-debilitating effects of living with leukemia, and lipstick and my big fancy earrings become a thing of the past.

I knew how it was impacting me physically (sleep, need more sleep) but I didn’t realize how it was affecting my appearance. And not in a bad way, just in a way that wasn’t the typical ‘me’. My attire to work has been more of what I call ‘comfy’ clothes. Pants, flat boots, a plain top, nothing fancy. A big part of that was because I, well, just had a baby. All you momma’s out there know how long it takes for your body to get back to ‘normal’, which isn’t the same as it was before you were pregnant, whether you lose all the weight or not. And while your body is going through all that fun changing, again, wearing fitted clothing and heels just doesn’t seem enticing.

So ‘comfy’ clothes, basic makeup, nothing fancy is what it’s been for the last several months.

And then one day while scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook, I came across a live video by Ali Scott. She was putting on makeup. I was intrigued. I don’t know if I ever really watched anyone put on makeup before. Heck I’m not even sure if anyone every taught me how to put on makeup. It’s been trial and error since my early teens. She does multiple videos a week and every time I see one, I’m like a kid watching a you tube video of another kid opening up eggs—I can’t stop watching! Seriously, if you haven’t watched one of her videos, do it. The art in makeup explains why I’ve never been really good at it. But she makes it seem so easy! So easy that I decided to give some of her tricks a whirl. And I didn’t totally screw it up, well to my standards anyways. :) 

From that point, I started to put forth some effort with my makeup again. But it didn’t stop there. One evening while looking in my closet trying to decide what to wear to work, I cast my eyes on my collection of heels and thought to myself ‘ let’s give these guys a try tomorrow’.  And guys, it was like something snapped. Where have these been all my life?

Or last couple of years?

I felt like myself again. I’m making time for myself again. For me. I’m not doing this to try to impress others, just myself. When you leave the house with two kids in tow (who you’ve managed to keep alive), rocking a pair of heels, an outfit you feel comfortable and cute in, and lipstick on, you feel like you can take whatever life throws at you that day—whether it be something big at the office, or the worst diaper blow out you’ve ever laid your eyes on.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are still some days I resort to the ‘comfy’ clothes and shoes and basic makeup, and those days I do love, but those are no longer the only days.

So if you are feeling like you are in a funk, or just don’t feel like yourself, put on some lipstick.  It works.

Confession:

So when I say I’m not trying to impress anyone, only myself, I’m not telling the full truth. I’m also trying to impress my husband. Hear me out before you judge. My husband loves me for me. The scary morning hair, dark under-eye circles, saggy mom boobs, and not toned at all body, me. He’s never ever made me feel that any of me was not okay or unattractive. But as a wife, I always want to be my best for my husband. Look my best, feel my best, act my best, do my best (at work, with our family, and in life).  I always want him to look at me and say “damn, my wife is fine!” – and he has proven that he will even when I’m not at all near my best so because of that, it encourages me to want to be my best even more.