A Day in the Life, These Days

(This account of a day in my life is now a week or so old, but as all our days seem to be simultaneously the same and different, the lapse in posting time has little bearing on the message of this post. 😉)

• was awakened by Jacob at 6:38 a.m.
• This was a few minutes later than usual, because he happened to catch Bryant on the way out the door.
• I have been trying to get up before him (Jacob) to do my Bible study, and have mostly been successful in this new-ish habit, but I took this morning off (mostly because I worked extra on the study the night before).
• read a chapter of Because of Winn Dixie, as well as a picture book requested by Lydia 
• She's not usually up this early - I typically just read a chapter or two to Jacob, and she's sometimes in on some of it, too  - but since she was and made the request, we obliged.
• made breakfast 
• It was Waffle Wednesday, so this meal was frozen waffles, scrambled eggs for J, yogurt and PB for L, and bananas.  They also had some of the smoothie I made for myself.
• (Wednesday is the only specifically designated breakfast day except for the occasional Waffle Thursday, as well.) 
• Lydia was supervising me while munching on a frozen frozen waffle, and Jacob was rebuilding his fort from the day before then working on his independent school work and piano practice.
• did Lydia's hair while she ate
• L requested a princess exercise video, so turned it on for her while J and I finished breakfast 
• They typically do one together and later in the day, but this is how it went down today.
• did my hair and make-up while I drank my smoothie
• J requested an army exercise video next, and Lydia did it with him, so I took the ten minutes to start getting myself ready.
• went through our "morning basket" routine - Bible reading, prayer, Awana verse practice, and picture book
• Today, we did this in the kitchen while they drank their smoothies, because the living room where we typically do it was fortified - literally.
• went downstairs to do our daily calendar and J's math lesson
• Lydia took it upon herself to write all the letters in the alphabet on the dry-erase board. So far, we'd worked on A-H, so she required some assistance while Jacob and I were discussing how to write fractions.

• kids had ten minutes to play in the reconstructed fort while I got dressed and filled water bottles
• went to Mimi's Pantry for Kids for homeschool board game playtime
• I played a couple rounds of Wheel of Fortune with Jacob (This is the reason we went, in the first place - he'd seen the game on the shelf (when we were there for story time the week prior) after he'd just seen the show for the first time.  Knowing I loved the show, he wanted to play the game together.).  
• Lydia played Candy Land with others. 
•  I worked on my Bible study a bit while they both played with others, then had the provided snack and library time.
• kids played in the fort for a bit, then quietly read library books (without being asked) for fifteen or so minutes while I made lunch and caught up on some correspondence
• I was only interrupted once (to referee a fight about which fort entrance was to be used by whom).
• The unsolicited quiet reading happens probably once a week, on average, and it never ceases to feel like a small miracle and true gift from the Lord.
• Lunch was requested mac and cheese (with non-requested but still-enjoyed sides of cucs and strawberries). My lunch was random roasted veggies and bacon and turkey lunchmeat that was on its way out that I threw together with some feta, pecans, and dressing and called it a salad. 
•  We ate outside because it was beautiful and the dining room was also still fortified.
• kids requested an outside rest time, so I assisted in taking out perler bead projects and playdoh with tools to separate work surfaces (along with iPads so they could listen to their audiobooks like they typically do during rest time)
• went inside to spend about fifteen minutes cleaning up lunch things, sending a couple Marco Polos, cleaning the bathroom, and gathering work gloves and tools to go work in the yard
• After about five minutes of working on my own, Lydia joined me in picking up sticks, pulling weeds, and cleaning out flower beds (after I helped her clean up the playdoh things). She was the best helper - doing things without being asked (i.e. bringing over empty buckets when others filled up, finding sticks beyond the one I may have pointed out, and asking what needed done next). 
• Jacob finished his perler bead projects, then he swung while still listening to his beloved audio book while Lydia and I kept working. He asked to go inside after about 15 minutes of this, and then, Lydia did, too. I said, "Sure - just be sure to be kind to one another." 
• I didn't see or hear from them for about 45 minutes while I continued to work outside then iron the perler beads (which took longer than normal, because he used two different kinds or something and they weren't "fusing" as they should have without some special attention...).
• kids heard me coming up the stairs, so my presence was requested in the living/dining room to get a tour of the new and improved fort
• was gleefully informed that Mango the (stuffed) cat had been found two months after her missing person report had been filed
• Phew!
• prepared requested (right on schedule, at 3:15) snack
• I sent them to the front step with it (cashews and Bugles).
• handed the parenting baton off to Bryant (he got home shortly after snack) after kissing him hello
• retreated to the basement (as he and I had previously planned) to practice my "audition" music for worship team at our new church
• I was also able to deal with a few items of business and correspondences from earlier in the day as well as write Jacob's independent work list for the next day. 
• This all took about an hour, and afterward, I went outside to see their progress on various projects.
• squeezed in a quick shower while Bryant warmed up the soup I'd thawed from the freezer for supper and got the kids started on it
• Not an ideal day for soup, but we're trying to clear out the freezer.
• watched some of the eagle footage while we finished up 
• This is not something we typically do at the dinner table, by any means, but it's been a regular part of our days for weeks, now, and they wanted to show Bryant the babies.

I don't know that this picture was from the exact day we watched, but I just have to share here. 
She had three wiggly babies under there for literal hours! 
After the winter we've had, I could sooo relate to her (though it made me even more thankful for our warm, spacious home).  Bring on the memes!

• cleaned up from supper, got the kids' things ready for Awana, then saw them out the door before I left to attend Bible study (6:30-8:30)
• got home and debriefed with Bryant
• checked on some potential event tickets, reviewed my daily to-do, and checked on tomorrow's list
• found out there were no new episodes of our show (The Rookie) available
• Bryant decided to catch up on some reading, and I decided to document this day, because it's these details that are so difficult to distill when someone asks, "What have you been up to?" or "How was your day?" So, I thought I'd just get it all down on "paper" while it was somewhat fresh.
• set tomorrow's alarm and turned out the light around 10:30 p.m.

If you made it this far, kudos and thanks to you!  This - these seemingly insignificant days and the rollercoaster of emotions, both in and outside of myself - is all part of my job, my calling, right now.  Raising up our children to know and love the Lord and to love others is seemingly the simplest job description, but man - the job sure entails a lot, to say the least.  It is, however, the most important thing I can be doing and the most important thing I will ever do, and viewing life through this lens makes it much easier to find joy, meaning, and purpose in these often-mundane details.  Of course, I am not always successful in viewing it all this way, but through ceaseless prayer and with an affirming, supportive husband by my side, I remain grateful and fulfilled in this particular season of motherhood.

SAHM-ly,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

making new friends (This week is full of play dates!)

Lydia saying, "This is unbearable!"

(The fit during which she declared it wasn't my favorite, but the fact that she used it in context sure was.)

GF Golden Oreos

Post About Homeschooling, The First

This post has been a long time coming and is a product of finally having time and headspace to process and write.  While I often set aside and have been given the time and space to do hobby sorts of things like this, I don’t always have the headspace writing requires.  This has come as both a surprise and an annoyance to me, because I just want to finish the posts I have started, but I do not want to force it and I do want to do it well.  

All that to say, this is still not necessarily a comprehensive collection of my thoughts and feelings surrounding this decision/subject.  I am sure more will come as we continue on this journey.  In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions that you do not find answers for here!

8/22/22

My student (with a little help from his dad) brought me an apple!

We had been contemplating homeschooling for many years and just kept waiting to make the final decision till we absolutely had to do so.  Since Jacob has a summer birthday, we didn't necessarily have to make the decision this year, but because he basically started to teach himself to read this spring, we pulled the indecision plug and landed on the side of homeschooling.  Of course, I immediately began collecting books/games/curriculum/manipulatives from ALL the places - garage sales, consignment sales, curriculum sales, Prime day, etc.  I also started pooling personal and virtual resources - connections with and through friends and family, in addition to their recommendations of books, podcasts, websites, etc. 

While it was so wonderful to be collecting these things, it only added to the already-existing overwhelm that was the prospect of homeschooling.  The physical piles were a picture of the mental chaos (for lack of a better word) I was feeling.  It took a full day of finally putting things in their physical places (which could only happen after we switched the kids' rooms and moved some things around...which was also reliant on several other moving parts) for me to begin to see the path forward.  The time I spent sorting through, organizing, and housing all of the physical items also allowed me to process through if/how we were going to use those things.  It gave me time and space to determine what our days might look like, what I wanted to teach, and how I wanted to teach it.  I was literally ordering my mind as I was ordering our space.

Once I got over that hump, glimpses of excitement and readiness replaced the feelings of chaos and overwhelm.  I felt (mostly) prepared for this undertaking, and I felt good about the plans I had in place.  This also allowed me to more easily talk and share excitement about it all with Jacob.  I had it all set up prior to our California trip, but did not plan to start till afterward.  He was chomping at the bit, though, after seeing the "new set-up," as he called it.  The new things and the new arrangement excited him, which was truly an answer to prayer, as I was not sure how the transition to school would go coming off such a fun and busy summer.

We found that cube shelf - exactly what we were going to buy new - on Facebook marketplace for a fraction of the price, cube drawers and all!

This is Jacob's "station" (his word, not mine).  He loves it.
I change the message on his letter board each week. ☺

The first week, we did everything everyday.  We haven't done that since...haha.

One of my biggest concerns was how/what Lydia would do while Jacob and I were "doing school."  I needn't have worried.  She is great at independent play, is often interested in what we're doing, and she has even started to chime in when we are reciting phonogram sounds!  There are things we do that she can easily be involved in, and if not, she has several of her own toys and activities available in close proximity.  As I mentioned in the room switch post, Jacob is an early-riser, so we often have a good chunk of time to get a couple lessons out of the way before Lydia is awake (but sometimes, we still use this time to play Legos together☺).

It was a divine stroke of genius to grab this second daily calendar from a garage sale.  She happily transfers her magnets from the board to a basket to the floor to the basket and back again several times a week, if not day.  I can't imagine trying to keep her from doing this with the magnets/calendar Jacob and I use daily on the same regular basis.

There have been several really affirming days, moments, and experiences since we embarked on this journey.  There have also been several hard days, moments and experiences.  I heard both "I love doing school with you!" and "I hate school!" on the first day ("hate" was new to his vocabulary, at the time, so he was trying it on for size).  However, the times I find myself second-guessing the decision to homeschool are often followed by moments and experiences I am so grateful to be able to share with my "students."

A few examples:

• the time we interrupted/supplemented our "formal" history lessons with reading the posted history of the park we went to for recess

• being able to grant this request to sit and enjoy the view at snack time

•  snuggling up to read a chapter from our book each day

• raising a well-rounded kiddo who, during our walk downtown, comments on how much he likes this part of the city...with his "fluffy" (steamer) in hand

• fielding questions about whether or not snails can pick up radio signals with their antennae while observing the one we unintentionally brought home from a hike this summer (turns out, the "cool shell" had a resident...and we have kept it alive for several months, now!)

• this field trip to Union Station that provided a history lesson...

...as well as lots of entertainment and delight about trains of all shapes and sizes

• taking advantage of living so close to so many cool, free(!) experiences/opportunities

(When in Rome (or Crown Center)...)

The question I assume is on your mind (only because it is the first many ask when they find out we have chosen homeschool) is "Why?"  (Right? 😉)

Our answer: Our main objective is to provide quality, individualized Christian education for our children.

The next question: What about socialization?

I could refer you to many and various resources in answer to this question, but you could also likely find them on your own.  In short, I only worry about it when I allow others' questions and opinions to allow me to worry about it.  We do have a small group of homeschool friends with whom we meet for nature studies and playtime on a nearly-weekly basis.  I am also prioritizing playdates, library story time, and other trips "out into the world," esp. this kindergarten year when the academic component is less rigorous.  If Jacob has had time to develop a relationship and rapport with someone, he is happy to interact with them, share ideas, and is often considerate.  He can hold lengthy conversations with adults and is polite and generally friendly when interacting with strangers.  I think that's a good start, for now.  (In complete transparency, I could have left that answer at the first sentence.  The ones that followed are my real-time stream-of-consciousness thoughts as I continue to explain/affirm this decision in my own head.  There is probably more to be said, certainly more to be learned, and likely more to be implemented, but I will leave it at that, for now.)

Another, perhaps: "Do you enjoy it?"

Yes, I do.  I did not anticipate how much it would increase the level of purpose I feel in my/our days.  Aside from the formal curriculum we are using for a handful of subjects, our days and activities don't really look much different than they did before we were "officially" homeschooling.  Through this new homeschool lens, however, I am realizing even more that EVERYthing can be educational!  We will not have to formally document/report anything for another year or so, but I am trying to be in the practice of at least thinking about the purpose behind everything we do, and in all humility, it makes me proud of myself for having implemented so much education in our days prior to having on my "homeschool goggles."  (Is it oxymoronic to say "In all humility, I'm proud."?  Ha!  I think you know what I mean.)  

While I don't know that I enjoyed it, per se, I knew I was "all in" when I found myself researching how to pin bugs for a collection.  Who knew there was an actual, official way to do it?!  I will happily report that while they might not be quite up to specification, these dried nicely in position, and along with others, have been moved to more formal spots on a larger piece of Styrofoam...next to our collection of leaves (that are also research-based-ly preserved).

If you have more questions, I would be happy to talk and/or write more about it all.  In the meantime, thanks for continuing to follow my/our life's journey, no matter where it leads!  Appreciate you!  

Educationally,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

recess at the pool!

all of Lydia's new words, lately

Junior Bake Off 

(J and I started watching this together (we're doing one episode a week), and it's been so, so fun!  I love sharing it with him.)

J the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, V Bad Day

Happy spring!  Isn't it amazing what coming out of "hibernation" can do for the body and soul?  And relationships?  It felt like we hadn't seen our neighbors in months, and now, we see them nearly every day!

Coming to you today to expand on what I originally intended to be a short Instagram post.  Not the first time I've had more words to share than I thought we appropriate for a caption.  

If you're familiar with the book the title of this post references, I'll tell you that Jacob's day on Monday may not have went down exactly like Alexander's, but I'm fairly certain he'd use the same adjectives to describe it.  It was truly the worst day of his life...in my memory, at least.  To be fair, there may have been worse days very early on that I've either forgotten due to the he-can-do-no-wrong newborn phase or due to mom-brain.  

Either way, Monday was a day like no other, for him (and therefore, me).  For at least 50% of his awake, non-eating time, he was whining/crying/lamenting and inconsolable.  Usually, if I ask him what's wrong (Are you hurt?  Are you sad we left the park?  Did you want that toy instead of this one?), he'll stop crying at least long enough to say "Yes," if not longer, to hear me out and make a plan to make it better.  On this terrible day, though, everything was wrong and nothing was fixable.  We even ran and errand and went to the park, and while these outings provided a bit of reprieve, it was short-lived.  (For example, while we were are the park, he simultaneously wanted to stay there and go home...)

This unexplained behavior/emotional roller coaster of a day left me feeling baffled and exhausted.  I didn't say as much to anyone while it was happening (mostly because I was trying to appease the unappeasable kiddo and/or trying to get anything else done), but I'd filled Bryant in a bit.  When he came home and saw things hadn't gotten better after naptime, he promptly sent me out of the house.  I had planned to run some errands after he got home that evening, but he told me to be sure to get supper while I was out doing those, and generally, take some time to myself.

I enjoyed a lovely meal - outside!
SPIN Pizza had sent a triple-points promotion I didn't think I'd be able to take advantage of, but I did!  You know how I love to take advantage of a deal. 
It was delicious and wonderful.

While I didn't think my time away was necessarily necessary, Bryant (once again) knew me better than I knew myself.  I needed quiet and peace and stillness.  I needed be able to relax and know someone else was in charge of J for a bit.  I needed to receive their videos where both said they loved me (J's was unprompted and included a blown kiss).  I needed to come home to find a tiny garbage truck, which I knew was requested (because they're currently J's favorite vehicle), drawn complete with details I would've never thought to include.

Driving down the road to pick up those two trash bags, of course.

As usual, I do not intend to brag, though my amazing hubby deserves to be bragged about. Rather, I just want to be transparent share this "low" among so many "highs" that come across our feeds.  Jacob really has been a pretty easy kiddo thus far, and people often comment on how happy and easy-going he is, and he IS.  He has his not-so-happy moments, though, and apparently, days, as well.

(While we're on the subject of transparency: Jacob has also developed a grabbing/pinching habit...both at home and at library storytime.  At home, I can react and correct, as needed, but it's so hard to know how to break him of this habit in public.  He doesn't do it hard enough to hurt anyone at the library, so those kiddos just look at him like, "Hey, man - what are you doing?!"  By the time I notice and get to him to tell him "No," the moment has passed, and he doesn't necessarily have any visible remorse.  We practice gentle touches both in and out of context (immediately after an incident, as well as unrelated to one), and we talk through how we should treat people (even by name) SO often.  I'm having a hard time not being self-conscious about it, and I struggle to remember this behavior is not a reflection on me or our parenting.  Of course, we're not telling him to grab people and/or pull hair - quite the opposite, in fact.  It's just his way of acting out/testing boundaries, at the moment, and I feel bad it is sometimes at the expense/discomfort of others.)

Anyway, the next day, he was almost completely back to his normal, mostly-agreeable, happy self (which I quickly realized I often take for granted).  We went to CFA for some free breakfast, and even saw a (green!) garbage truck in action while we were there.  The day was not without some tears and whines, but it was definitely more normal for us both, and for that, I was very grateful.

My CFA date. ♥
He was up for taking a picture, but apparently, was going for the "16-yr.-old after mom's already taken 473 pictures" look.
I showed him the picture and asked where his smile was... 

...and he voluntarily went back and tried again.
☺

I just couldn't pass up this jacket for $3 at a consignment sale last season.
Also, he chose to wear his church shoes, rather than his every-day tennies. ♥

Thanks for letting me safely share all of this.  I realize this kind of day may be the norm for some kiddos (with or without behavioral diagnoses) and probably seems trivial for those who are dealing with children's health issues, etc.  Some of you may be thinking "He's almost two - this is just the beginning of the "Terrible Two's," of course."  For us, though, this was an uncharacteristically bad day, and again, I wanted to share about it out of appreciation for my husband AND in an effort to keep it real up in here.  😉

With greater distance from the end of my rope than two days ago,
Kensy
😉

Favorites of the day:

open windows

new friends

...especially ones who bring you little tiny cinnamon rolls...

...and sweet primrose plants...because she knows you love little things.

This face.
(Brought to you by a fun egg decorating contraption Bryant's family brought on their recent (super fun) visit).

Living the Dream

As you may already know, Bryant works one weekend every couple months.  To compensate for working the weekend days, he gets two days off the week prior.  While working the weekend isn't awesome, it is convenient to be able to schedule various appointments and get things done on those weekdays.  He and Jacob also usually have a boys' day, giving me a whole weekday to myself!  You'd better believe I make the most of it, and this time around was no exception.

After having breakfast and some playtime with the boys before they headed out on their own adventures, I took some time to work on a couple things for church (I haven't shared about it here, yet, but I started a weekly mom's group and was also asked to help host a women's conference next year).  

Then, I headed to my haircut appointment at The Glam Room.  I don't usually give unsolicited recommendations, but you guys - if you're in KC, you need to check them out.  (If you're not into knowing alllll the details about finding a new salon you love, feel free to skip the rest of this paragraph...)  The first time I walked into The Glam Room was after my stylist of three years moved out of state and I was looking for a close, affordable-yet-reputable salon that could get me in that same day.  I happened upon The Glam Room and took the only appointment available, which was with a stylist named Cassandra.  I know I've already written too many words about this, but it was seriously unlike any haircut I've had before.  Before doing anything besides shake my hand, she sat down with me and asked several questions about my lifestyle, my "beauty" routine, my hair, my feelings about my hair, good hair days, bad hair days, etc., etc.  It was not at all intrusive, but rather, refreshingly introspective and considerate.  She proceeded to follow the normal wash/cut/style routine, but included a complimentary deep-conditioning treatment and lovely conversation all the way through.  She also gave me several tips/facts/insights about hair in general and my specific hair/style that served me well in my routine and hair care between haircut appointments.  This week's visit was only my second, but it was just as good as the first.  After finding out my thumbs were cracked from the dry weather, she suggested doing a paraffin dip.  I told her it probably wasn't in the budget, but then, she got permission to do a complimentary dip!  Ya'll know how I love "freebies," and this one was just so thoughtful and practical; I (obviously) really appreciated it.  She also sent me out the door with a little bit of an upgraded style, since I was accompanying Christmas carols for the Fab 50's group at church that evening.

I know that was a lot, but I just wanted to give credit where credit was due.  I sure hope you're still reading, though, because I have some more really amazing things to share with you.

My next "appointment" that day was lunch with my BFF.  I've told you before, but I'm going to tell you again: we're living our dream living in the same town as adults.  I know I'm so blessed to have a best friend from childhood, in general, but it is just beyond that we get to continue to do life in such close proximity.  *all the praise hands and heart eye emojis*

Anyway, we met at Succotash for lunch.  They serve breakfast food all day, so of course, that's what we had.  It was delish.  I will be back.

♥

Our next stop was ScrapsKC.  I can't possibly explain everything about this place, but in short, it's a craft supply thrift store the benefits the homeless community.  Just writing that sentence knowing you're going to know about it, now, seriously makes me excited.  They call themselves a "Creative Reuse Center," and say of themselves, "ScrapsKC inspires creativity in art and education, positively impacts the environment, and provides hope for the homeless."  Not only do they have an overwhelming inventory of all sorts of craft/building/creating supplies, but they provide several services for the homeless AND they serve teachers in the area by allowing them to shop for their classroom for free.

This is how we felt about ScrapsKC.
The picture doesn't do our feelings justice, though.

We found soooo many treasures, and we didn't even feel like we saw everything in the hour and a half we were able to spend there.  We resisted purchasing some of these treasures, but there were several we couldn't resist.  I won't list them all, but wanted to share one thing in particular:

I was on the look-out for some scrap leather to try my hand at making earrings with my Cricut.  I found several beautiful pieces, including one I was extra excited about.  I also found one little package of earring hardware, so was able to put these together: 

The reason I was so excited to find the buffalo plaid pattern was because I'd just finished making a Christmas shirt with the same pattern!  The K-Mart down the street is going out of business, so I scoured the store for some plain shirts to personalize with some iron-on vinyl, and I was so excited to find a couple and be able to make this shirt for just a couple dollars:

Neither projects turned out perfectly, but they're good enough for me
(and surely good enough for the couple times I'll wear them each year - haha).

The fun continued the next evening with a Favorite Things party with Kansas City friends!  While I was sad to miss out on the one in NE this year, I was so glad to be part of this gathering with sweet friends.  We had delicious appetizers and desserts, good conversation, and a fun time sharing some of our most favorite (and practical!) things.  (If I haven't shared with you about "Favorite Things" parties, yet, please ask.  They're the best.)

I came home to a sleeping baby, folded clean laundry, and a husband meal-prepping in the kitchen, pulling freshly baked biscuits out of the oven. 

Please know that I realize how incredibly lucky/blessed/fortunate I am to not only have the time and resources to spend a day like this, but also a husband who encourages me to do so.  I do not share this to brag, to evoke any sort of jealousy, or to put myself above anyone else.  I'm simply grateful and thought I'd share.  Also, I wanted to spread the word about all the awesome places I've been discovering!

A word to the mamas reading this: if you're in need of a day like this, but for whatever reason, are unable to get it, please reach out to someone and try to make it happen.  If you're in KC, I'd be glad to watch your kiddos, pay for a ScrapsKC shopping spree, do your laundry, bake you something, whatever - seriously.  You deserve it. 

Refreshedly,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

Favorite Things parties

holiday goodies, both sweet and savory

new friendships (I know I've listed this more than once, recently, but it's just something I'm really glad about, lately.)

Glasses and Ponytail

Coming to you live from nap time!  So, this one is gonna be short and sweet. ☺

Jacob's latest favorite thing is my glasses.  I don't know when or how the obsession started.  I don't know why he's so into them.  What I do know is that he says his word for them starting the moment I walk into his room in the morning.  I also know he's talking about them throughout each day, whether I have them on or choose to wear my contacts.  If I'm wearing my contacts and we're home, he sometimes goes to our room to the place where the glasses are to ask me to put them on.  If we're out and about, he asks where they are (if I'm wearing contacts) or comments on them (if I'm wearing them).

The kicker?  After saying his word for them, he often makes the sound I make when I'm prepping them to be wiped off.  You know, the "h" sound you make when you're huffing on them to fog them up before cleaning them?  He makes that sound at any mention of glasses - whether he's the one doing the mentioning or he hears someone else say the word.  Again, I don't know how or when this started; only that, apparently, I clean them often...probably because someone is always getting tiny fingerprints on them...

The boy also loves when I have my hair in a ponytail.  I can't remember when this obsession started, either, but I'm pretty sure it was several months ago.  He loves to play with my ponytail.  He looks for it when my hair is down.  He gets excited when he sees me putting in a hair tie.

The reason I'm sharing these quips, other than their obvious adorableness, is this:

If I'm in "glasses and ponytail" mode, it's probably because my hair is on day 2 or 3 and my eyes were too tired for contacts, which needless to say, usually means I'm not "feeling my look" as much as I could be.  But, in Jacob's tiny, sweet opinion, these are my best days!  He loves glasses days, and he loves ponytail days, and when they happen on the same day, he can't get enough of his mama (even more than usual).  On these days, when I'm potentially down on myself for not taking time to fix my hair or put on eye makeup, he's looking at me with so much joy and excitement.  

Please don't read into any of the self-image/vanity/whatever stuff that may be associated with this post.  My intention is not to fish for compliments or make you concerned about my own self-image.  I'm simply sharing this little nugget of a lesson I'm learning in motherhood that's probably bigger than I realize (or have time to write about, at the moment).  It just makes my heart happy, and I thought it might do you good to hear it, too.  To me, it is such a picture of the love God has for us, despite our "dirty hair" and "unconcealed faces," if you will.  ☺

I had intended to keep this all to myself and just post a picture of Jacob's outfit on Instagram, because I thought he was looking especially cute today, but instead, I'm writing this post and sharing a picture of us both.  ♥

And some of him, of course...

Enjoy the weekend, friends!

Out of time to come up with a witty salutation,
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

those precious red baby Chucks

my trusty Norwex optic cloth (ha)

the super generous b-day gift from my in-laws - a Cricut!  (this is what my margin time has been devoted to, lately)

Margin

I'm writing to you during a time that is listed on my calendar as "hobby time," which is something the cool kids these days would refer to as "margin."

This word, "margin," began showing up very prevalently in my life several weeks ago following a conversation my husband and I had about needing to make time during the week for us as individuals to do things we want to do.  We had kind-of made a plan to implement this, and then, "margin" started showing up everywhere.  The concept came up in sermons I heard and conversations I had.  It was discussed on almost every podcast I listen to, both new episodes and ones I was catching up on, and even mentioned by name on a couple.  Then, we started a worship team Bible study; the title?  "Margin."  I couldn't believe it.  I thanked God over and over for such clarity.  This message He was trying to convey was coming through more clearly than any of recent memory.

While it may be a sort of buzzword these days, and therefore, might seem fleeting like most trends, I think the concept of "margin" is very important.  Creating time for your own enjoyment, personal development, hobbies, whatever it may be, can allow your brain to be used in a different way, your heart to be opened, your mind to be cleared, and your body (and dare I say, your soul) to be refreshed.  Taking this time for yourself can allow you to reconnect with yourself, which in turn, can lead to better/stronger connections with those around you.

I realize this all might sound a little lofty or unrealistic.  Me saying, "Take time to find yourself!" "Find some quiet space in your life!" "Do what you love!" might conjure thoughts of a girl in a sunny field of wildflowers with her face to the sun, a yogi in child's pose, or a leather chair and warm beverage, and you're rolling your eyes.  You're thinking, "Yeah right.  Who has time for that?!"  There are certainly circumstances and seasons in life that seemingly make any downtime or spare moments impossible.  Whether it's a matter of time, money, lack of childcare, whatever - this idea of "margin" can feel unattainable for many.

However...

I've heard many times that you make time for the things you value most.  I've read articles about the fact that we spend so much of our time doing things we don't actually need to spend time doing.  Statistics show our screen time is off the charts.  People are often heard saying, "I'm so busy!" and "I'm too busy!" and having to start saying no's, because they've said too many yes's.

It wasn't necessarily easy for us to find this "margin" time in our what-we-thought-was-already-pretty-full weekly schedule; it took some thought, effort, and a little trial-and-error.  We've made it work, though, and are better for it!  We are able to spend time doing the things that somehow got pushed completely off the "to-do" list by the more pressing items (By the way, it's still really difficult for me to not use "necessary," rather than "pressing" in that context.  I'm still working on defining the things I want to do as necessary; to put "self care" in the "necessary" category; to prioritize myself right up there with everyone else.).  We each get to spend a little time each week doing something that will refresh and recharge us.

So far, my personal margin time has been spent differently each week: I've gone bargain shopping with coupons in hand (one of my favorite things to do).  I've watched shows (at home in the guest room with doors closed - haha).  I've spent time stamping and organizing my stamping supplies (both things I enjoy).  And, as may be obvious, I've written blog posts!

My husband's "margin" time has also looked different each week and always looks very different from my own, because we're different people with different personalities and interests.  This is not to say that we don't enjoy spending time together.  Nor has this "margin" time taken the place of our weekly date night or other quality time together.  Rather, it is separate from and in addition to these things.

It IS possible to do this for yourself...and it's important!  It doesn't have to cost money.  It doesn't have to be out of the house (though if you're at home most of the day, I'd encourage you to make this a priority).  It doesn't have to be super exciting, adventuresome, or new.  It just needs to be what you want it to be, and for some of you, that might mean you need to let yourself figure out what that is, first.

I know this level of mandate is a little uncharacteristic of my posts, but as you've just read, this really means a lot to me.  I feel so cliché saying it, but as I get older, I'm learning more and more about myself and what it takes for me to be at my healthiest.  This is not something I'm working on alone; my husband has played a major role in this part of my personal development.  Without his encouragement (sometimes it's had to be more strong than others), I wouldn't have ever considered allowing myself to prioritize myself (that's my Enneagram 2 showing...and that's a whole other blog post - haha).  He's on his own journey, too, and I'm so proud of him.  So thankful to get to do life together!

Anyway, please seriously consider this for yourself.  I'm no expert, but would love to talk through it with you, if you want!  Would love to hear anything you're willing to share.

Until next time, friends. ☺

With margin (because "margin-ly" is too close to "marginally"),
Kensy

Favorites of the day:

my son - for so many reasons

cooler weather, open windows, prospect of fall, etc.

Aldi

Things I've Learned As a Mom 1.0

1. Baby fingernails peel off.  Somehow, this came up in the delivery room with our doctor...and somehow I had no idea of this fact.  We haven't used fingernail clippers on Jacob, yet, because really - they're still soft enough to just peel off.  Full disclosure: Yes, I've used my teeth to start the process a couple times.  I've never been a nail-biter; who knew I'd bite my kid's nails.  But still - I'm sharing this for all those moms with babies who may also not know how easy taming those talons can be.  You're welcome.

2. Moms planning to breastfeed their babies should invest in some comfy, quality nursing bras/camis/tanks/tops before giving birth.  I know sizing is a little tricky at that time, but postpartum clothes shopping is trickier.  Not only can it be difficult to actually get to the store, but also, who wants to try on clothes at that time in their life?  It's not fun or enjoyable.  Period.  There is the option of online shopping, which is totally doable, but you've gotta have something to wear in the 2 days before Amazon Prime can get your purchase(s) to your door. ☺

3. It's ok to give your baby more than the Dr.-suggested amount when supplementing while breastfeeding.  Whether it's formula or pumped milk, it doesn't matter - if he's hungry, he's hungry.  You may cry the first couple of times.  It may hurt your feelings/pride/sense of self-worth.  In the end, however, just know that you're giving your baby what he needs.  I knew this before becoming a mom, but implementing it for myself was harder than I thought.  There's a lot more to be said about it, but it's easier to discuss in person.  I'm sharing a bit here, though, because I think the breastfeeding/formula/feeding struggle is real for so many, and I want to provide a little solidarity for those who have been/are/will be in the same situation.  Also - I'm obviously not a doctor, so please consult your own when figuring out what is best for your own little one.

4. Commemorative plaster/clay newborn foot/handprint molds are mostly not worth doing.  Unless you want to lose your sanity/test your marriage/cry all the frustrated tears, I'd recommend skipping it.  I mean, you could wait to do them till your sweet babe is a little older/bigger and you are not quite so much under the influence of postpartum hormones, limited sleep, and so many other things that aren't going quite as you'd hoped...but then you wouldn't get the oh-so-tiny little prints to remember forever and ever.  Your call.

6. Baby smiles can pretty much fix anything.

7. Sleep when the baby sleeps, but only if you can peel yourself away from watching them sleep.  ☺

There are probably several more things I could add to this list, but will leave it at that, for now.  Would love to hear/read any additions you have to the list!

Motherly,
Kensy

P.S. Thanks so much to those of you who checked in after my last post.  I didn't mean for it to be quite the pity party it may have come across as - simply a glimpse into the reality of new-motherhood - but I sure appreciate all the positive feedback and support!  ☺

Favorites of the day:

zucchini bread

fall ☺

This birthday card from a former place of employment...where part of my job was caring for 2 sweet kitties.
They signed the card! ♥