February 2020 in review

February seemed like it flew by. We’ve been having some really cold days, but also some days in the 40s, especially recently.  And here in Minnesota, that’s been so so welcome. Olivia and Emelia are interacting with each other so much more this month. It’s been fun seeing them getting so close.

I AM CURRENTLY…

Putting in more effort on myself. This is a big deal because I’ve been in this weird sort of funk with my body lately. Like, I love my maternity clothes, but I’m also sort of over them and want to find things, you know, non-postpartum.

Things that don’t remind me of pregnancy because that just reminds me of trying to conceive and infertility treatments and maybe I’m just ready to run away from all that. I’ve been loving Stitch Fix and Trendsend to find some things I wouldn’t normally get for myself.

I’ve been getting back into the swing of things with work after a four-month hiatus. I’ve picked up some new clients writing blog posts for them, and am dabbling in some social media management for a few others for a change of pace. I’m hesitant to take on too much because the baby is so unpredictable during the day. So it’s been a slow ease back into work.

CHRIS IS CURRENTLY…

Signed up for a half-marathon this May. He’s been battling a knee injury he’s had since last winter when he hurt himself right before he was to run his first marathon. Going to the chiropractor has been helping, but he’s starting to wonder if there’s more going on, such as a tear.

He did get a new office chair for the home office with a high back and replaced the wheels with ones very similar to the ones you’d see on rollerblades. I made him order me some because I took over the (very old) computer chair for my own office to replace the old kitchen chair I had been using. (We’re high class around here.)

OLIVIA IS CURRENTLY…

Loving on her sister at all times. She continues to love her art projects, particularly painting with her watercolors. She’s been super interested in our kitchen clock and loves for us to tell her where the big or small hand needs to be for when she gets a snack or needs to turn off the TV. She’s too smart for her own good and I have to check myself sometimes to remind myself she’s still only four.

She ran her first real race at the U of M fieldhouse a few weeks ago. Chris ran it with her and they were able to go around twice, and I know she wanted to do more, but the bigger kids were up next and they cut her off.

EMELIA IS CURRENTLY…

So close to rolling from her back to tummy, but has a problem getting her arm out of the way. She’s in physical therapy for her torticollis now, so we’ve been doing stretching activities a few times a day, and doing more tummy time.

She loves her hands and is constantly sucking on a few fingers to her entire fist. Toys are becoming more and more interesting to her, and she’s been working on using her hands to hold onto things, but it’s challenging, y’all.

THE GOOD

• Emelia cracks us up on a daily basis with her giant smiles and belly laughs.
• We had four kids’ birthday parties in the next few weeks, and I bought all my presents for all of them at once.
• The sun is warmer now. There are days where I can leave the house in a sweatshirt and it feels so good for my soul. Winter and the darkness are hard on me.
• I remembered to take a photo of the two of us for once.

• We all got out for a family outing to a local aquarium and Emelia fell asleep in the Tula, something she rarely does.
• I have all my clothes and toys ready to go for the kids’ spring consignment sale.
• Chris and I went out for Valentine’s Day to a new-to-us restaurant and I ate All Of The Bread.
• I got out a few times with friends out to eat and it’s been good for my soul.

THE BAD

• We still have our Christmas stuff up and have no plans in sight for putting them away. So.embarrasing.
• Emelia is definitely going through her four-month sleep regression and her naps, particularly her afternoon ones earlier in the month, were awful.
• Chris and I have been so inconsistent in our 30-day yoga challenge. We’ve been doing it for what feels like forever and still have eight days left.
• I’m still up nursing 2-3 times at night and the tiredness is insane.

ON MY MIND

• Work stuff. Namely, how much I should market myself for jobs versus the time I actually have now with Emelia with me all the time.
• How I’m going to get Emelia to take bottles since she now flat out refuses them.
• Will Olivia really participate in her dance class later in March or sit and stare and I’m out $50? Time will tell.
• Using Instagram more than I am. While it’s much easier to get new followers than on Facebook, it’s not a great platform for writers since you can’t do any links and it’s a big workaround to post about your latest blog posts or articles you want to share. Plus, my photography skills suck.
• Similarly, how Instagram is the new infertility blogging, only these are more visual with more microblog posts. It fascinates me, makes me sad and feel old-school all at the same time.

 

Read more monthly review posts here.