Media Free

I went media free the other evening and just wanted to share what a nice evening it was.  I was also home alone so I will admit that it was a bit quite; but I was able to reflect clearly on a few things; I was able to accomplish a lot...including painted nails and toes (yes, I can still reach them for now). 

I will have to say, I highly recommend doing this...it was a VERY nice evening!

YOU!

When was the last time you took time for YOU?

Time to relax, read a book while a candle is lit? Painted your nails; including your toes. How about whiten your teeth, do a hair treatment, pamper you!

This evening, I plan to make it a media free night which I learned from my blogging friend Stacey. I will not get on the computer, nor turn the TV on...and I am not going to answer my cell phone...it will be an evening just for me. A time for me to reflect on things in life, and time for me to organize and keep busy without all the other distractions there are.

And, yes, Sean is lucky since this evening he works; he doesn't have to partake in my media free evening!

Wish me luck as I think this will be hard to do!

A bit touchy subject..

First and foremost, this post is going to be maybe the most controversial post I have ever shared.  Let's be honest, I really debated about writing it; but hey...maybe it will lead to lots of comments.  

You see, this morning, I went to Target, you know had to get my weekly fill of Target in.  I was walking around the maternity area when a upper class younger girl and a mother joined me (those who know Target; there's only a few racks of maternity).  Well, I looked at the Mom thinking she was going to be having another child (she's maybe 40). But no...the Mom was there shopping with her 14 year-old (and this is me being nice...she could have been younger).  The Mom was stating to her daughter that she really needed to try on these jeans as her current ones are getting too tight.  The daughter, complained not wanting "that blue belt around the waist", she whined; threw a temper tantrum...I had to leave that section.  

This girl was young and her Mom had to have lived in a nice, wealthy neighborhood...just by their clothes...but the rock on the Mom's hand confirmed it.   

Now, where am I to judge; it's great that this young lady has talked with her Mom and will be going threw with having a child.   Who knows, maybe she will be giving it to a young couple who can't bear children...I am sure this baby like any child will be a blessing.   

However, on the other side of the coin where was this mother before her 14 year old was out making babies?  She's a child herself.  And, now, knowing the hormones, emotions, strange things that go on...I can't even imagine being 14 years old and going through this.  It saddens my heart that this young girl has to go through this and miss out on the other things in life such as sleep overs with girlfriends, attending school without looks from others...for crying out loud; she doesn't even have a job yet, or a license. 

Now, as you know, I don't know the full story behind all of this; however, what I do know is that there's a young girl in our area whose life is going to go through a lot in the next few months and my heart goes out to her. 

Goals...

Do you ever think of where you want to be a year from today? I have had lots on my mind lately and just wonder how much will be changing here within the next year and those that follow. And, I sit and wonder what goals of mine will get accomplished by the time I am 30 and which ones may end up by the wayside!?! Not intentionally by the wayside, but as we are all well aware sometimes its good to expect the unexpected.

So, in hopes to jot down and make public, there are a few goals of mine that I would like to share...

1. Have a baby (or two, maybe 3 by 30)
2. Buy a house
3. Build a closer relationship with God
4. Take a vacation each year (I mean who doesn't need a vacation, right?)
5. Write a book (not necessarily publish it)
6. Organize my pictures from past, and continue to take more for the future; taking pictures is a passion of mine; and I don't take enough it seems.
7. Be the best wife in the world to my ever deserving husband so we are still in this "puppy love" phase years from now
8. Hopefully at some point live my dream of being a stay at home Mom

What does your future hold?!?!

Ahhh...do you smell that?!?!

Can you smell it!??!  

It's spring!  Okay, maybe it's too soon to smell in our neck of the woods; however, it's coming you just have to look for it!   I know I have mentioned that I love my husband dearly and think he's the greatest thing since...well, sliced bread of course!  But there's something else that just makes him soo...appealing to me!  It's that he always takes the time to find the little things in life.   

Last night Sean and I went for a walk on a metroparks trail.  It was so quiet and well, COLD! He forced me to wear a jacket (I fought since I had a sweatshirt on).  Then, when we got to the car, he mentioned he also grabbed me some gloves...I laughed at his thoughtfulness.  We arrived to the trail; and let it be known, I think it had dropped 5 degrees since we left the house; I then bundled up as he helped me put on my jacket (quite the gentleman).  

We began our venture holding hands down the trail and nodding our heads to the other brave souls walking.  Then, thats when it happened...we heard the sway of the branches and both looked up hoping not to find a tree branch about to fall...and then in the midst of the Cuyahoga River, we saw it!!  Well, Sean saw it and pointed it out.  The trees are starting to bud!  Yes!  Then, looking down at the ground, there we saw daffodils were starting to peer out of the ground.  Yay....there is light at the end of the jackets, gloves and seeing your breath when you breathe.  

You see, yesterday starting out on our walk; I DIDNT want to go at all.  I was too wrapped up on how stressed I am with work, being pregnant, selling the condo, trying to be a good wife, daughter, friend, cousin, etc.  It's like I feel that I am finding myself all wrapped up in one big stress-ball.  Then, here's my husband to balance me out and point out the little things; such as the trees budding, or being caring enough to think of me being cold and pack me gloves. 

 

So, here's my recommendation.  Take a moment for you.  Take a moment to look around and see how things are changing in everyday life.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in little things or involved in day to day stress that we typically miss the beginning of spring where things start fresh and new. It's also a good time to reflect on what we do have in life and may take for granted from time to time. 

Do you ever lose sleep over...

• excitement of what is to come later in the week?
  
• knowing you have to return your neighbor's ladder?
  
• wondering if you are going to slip on saying your future child's name (we are keeping it a secret)
  
• wondering what the future child is; boy or girl?
  
• wondering if the clothes in the dryer are really dry or should I put them back through again?
  
• why I can't seem to get comfortable?
  
• who the hell thought of the idea of daylight savings again? And, am I the only one suffering?
  
• how many people know of the two states that don't take part of daylight savings?
  
• Oh, wait, was that just the baby moving?
  
• does that mean the baby will be awake this time outside of me?
  
• really; do I have to pee again?
  
• maybe I should read?  Wait, I don't have a book.
  
• I want to go to FL?  no, I want to visit my sister?  maybe I could do a roadtrip or DC?
  
• If I did go somewhere I would have to prepare for extra bathroom breaks.
• what will work bring me tomorrow? 

These are just a few of my random thoughts that kept me up last night.  I can't believe that I can't sleep.  I know, I can hear it; "Wait until the baby comes"...but here's the thing; I haven't had sleeping problems since college...why are they starting again?  Does anyone have any tips on how to catch more zzz's before the baby comes?  Really, my mind is going nonstop over silly stuff.  I even asked Sean to hold me so I could try to calm myself down (he's such a great husband, he did hold me of course and he tried his best to calm me down).  I have been skipping naps which has been horrible...but then when it's time to finally sleep; I can't!

Drum roll please...

Well, why should I keep you all waiting any longer?!?! But, I want you to know that I will be updating here the most; but want to share my other new blog...so there will be two places to check...but it will be well worth it...so be sure to put both blogs on your list. Here's the link to second blog....http://babymcguinness.blogspot.com/.

And, for all of you who found me via my sister, Amy's blog; I hope that you stay and read to learn about our new experiences on this blog as well as my other. I love people reading my blog and even more, I love the comments so I can then read your blogs as well.

Condo For Sale

Our condo is officially on the market- in little Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Our little family is growing and need to sell. If you know of anyone who is interested, please pass on the word.

Visit Howardhanna.com and look for 546 Meredith Lane Cuyahoga Falls, Oh 44223.

Bittersweet...

On November 18th, 2006 I moved into my condo; a great stepping stone shortly after I graduated from college.  That too was a bittersweet moment moving away from home, but sure enough it was something one has to do.   This past Friday evening, I signed the papers to put our condo on the market.  I feel confident with our relator and excited for what she has to bring to the table, but it's still bittersweet.  

Looking back, this condo has brought me great joys.  I feel it brought Sean into my life; when I finally realized an attempt to be open with trying new things; to spread my wings to fly.   This condo has housed many gatherings from game nights, jewelry parties, spa parties, mother day brunches, birthdays, the 'meeting' of the parents...the list goes on...  Yes, it's a tiny little condo but it has been great for gatherings of family and friends.  Now it's too tiny for our growing family. 

I look forward to the sale of the condo.  I look forward to packing and reminiscing the good times...and the few bad (such as that time I flooded the neighbor belows' bathroom....oops!) .  I look forward to finding that perfect house for us and making it our home. Most of all, I look forward to that next chapter of my life moving on from single me to on with my family!