Last night after a few drinks and some crazy convo with a few gals from work, I had an ah hah moment. (thank you Oprah!)
When I started this blog, I thought that it would be random. That there would be little things that interest me, or catch my eye etc, and I would spew random nothingness into writing, hope it was somewhat readable and viola! And then I started thinking...now that I won't be working outside of the home anymore, now that I will be spending most of my days at home with my FABULOUS and super cool daughter (see where I'm going with this...) what better to write about than my adventures of staying home?! I also thought why not document some of my past experiences at work, current experiences waitressing etc? Or I could find a secret hidden talent.. crafting, scrapbooking, redecorating, sewing... (OK probably not sewing but just sayin...) and write about that TOO?
What a better way from my ex-coworkers to keep up to date in Daniland? LOVE IT! GENIUS!
I also made a promise to my worker friends, I told them even though I wouldn't be at the clinic physically anymore, I could still be there in spirit. I vowed to email them an inspirational message or quote of the day every morning. This could get interesting! And this blog may have just developed an identity. Just thought I would share.
Toodle Loo!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Bittersweet
Yesterday was my last day working at McFarland Clinic. It's heartbreaking and terrifying, and exciting all at the same time. I'm going from doing something that pays the bills, that satisfies my need for insurance, human adult interaction, and everyday drama, to something that I LOVE, and that I feel I'm pretty good at. Something that is rewarding, and amazing. Something that not everyone is blessed with the oppourtunity to do, stay home with your children.
I am entirely thankful for the experience I am being given. My husband is wonderful and would work 27 jobs if that's what it took to support our little family, just so I can stay home with Gwen. I will be waitressing a few nights a week at the resturant I worked at in college. Which makes me happy, I know a lot of the people that still work there, and it's always felt like home.
In the meantime, I'm slowly coming to the realization that this is acutally happening. That I'm going to be a stay at home mom, and get to spend every day with my beautiful daughter. And I couldn't be more anxious to start this new chapter of our lives.
I am entirely thankful for the experience I am being given. My husband is wonderful and would work 27 jobs if that's what it took to support our little family, just so I can stay home with Gwen. I will be waitressing a few nights a week at the resturant I worked at in college. Which makes me happy, I know a lot of the people that still work there, and it's always felt like home.
In the meantime, I'm slowly coming to the realization that this is acutally happening. That I'm going to be a stay at home mom, and get to spend every day with my beautiful daughter. And I couldn't be more anxious to start this new chapter of our lives.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Life ain't easy
Life ain't easy, I've been taught that since I was little. My mom and dad always told me..."life's not fair, life's hard." Growing up I would like to say that I experienced that firsthand, that I struggled, that I went without. But I didn't. I had everything I needed and most of what I wanted and then some. My childhood was full of happiness, friends, family and life lessons.
Now that I'm grown and I have a family of my own, I've slowly realized the importance of these life lessons. When you're faced with a problem that seems unsolvable, or a situtation that seems to have no answer, be patient. Have faith. Believe. Everything happens for a reason.
I'm in one of those situations right now. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, and have one of the most difficult decisions of my life to make....ASAP. I've looked at all my options, weighed my pros and cons. Do I continue working and put my baby in daycare with a stranger? Someone I don't know or trust? Or do I take a risk, give up a lot, and stay home. There's the obvious, money... can we afford daycare? or would it make more sense financially to stay home? Insurance? Retirement? And most importantly...what's best for Gwen?
I hate being in this situation. It's tough. My sister has been watching Gwen since I've been back to work, and it's been perfect. Beyond perfect. And now, for reasons of her own, and for the best interest of HER family, they are moving. Her husband has been offered a job over an hour away, and they are leaving. I'm losing my family, my friend, Gwen's aunt and loving nanny. I cannot stomach, or imagine, someone else watching my daughter, someone other than family or myself. It makes me physically ill to even consider. That's when I knew, I had to do it, I have to leave my job and stay home. If not, I feel that I will regret this for the rest of my life. I feel that I would miss out on so many milestones, so many precious moments with Gwen, moments that I can never have back.
I will deeply miss the friends I work with, the patients I see, and the stability of a great job that I've had for 4 years. But not nearly as much as I will miss my sister, my brother in law, and my favorite niece. And to think that if I continued working, I would also be missing out on my daughter's 1st year of life. Crawling, walking, talking, learning. Absolutely not. I guess it's not such a tough decision after all. This is what I must do, my duty as a mother, my new reason for being alive, to make sure my daughter is taken care of, and has the best of everything, and this cannot happen with anybody else. NOBODY can care for my daughter as well as I (her mother) can. Bottom line.
So now, after hours, days even of stressing out, worrying, taking years off my life. It's clear now what I must do...Stay home with my daughter.... and cherish EVERY second of it.
Now that I'm grown and I have a family of my own, I've slowly realized the importance of these life lessons. When you're faced with a problem that seems unsolvable, or a situtation that seems to have no answer, be patient. Have faith. Believe. Everything happens for a reason.
I'm in one of those situations right now. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, and have one of the most difficult decisions of my life to make....ASAP. I've looked at all my options, weighed my pros and cons. Do I continue working and put my baby in daycare with a stranger? Someone I don't know or trust? Or do I take a risk, give up a lot, and stay home. There's the obvious, money... can we afford daycare? or would it make more sense financially to stay home? Insurance? Retirement? And most importantly...what's best for Gwen?
I hate being in this situation. It's tough. My sister has been watching Gwen since I've been back to work, and it's been perfect. Beyond perfect. And now, for reasons of her own, and for the best interest of HER family, they are moving. Her husband has been offered a job over an hour away, and they are leaving. I'm losing my family, my friend, Gwen's aunt and loving nanny. I cannot stomach, or imagine, someone else watching my daughter, someone other than family or myself. It makes me physically ill to even consider. That's when I knew, I had to do it, I have to leave my job and stay home. If not, I feel that I will regret this for the rest of my life. I feel that I would miss out on so many milestones, so many precious moments with Gwen, moments that I can never have back.
I will deeply miss the friends I work with, the patients I see, and the stability of a great job that I've had for 4 years. But not nearly as much as I will miss my sister, my brother in law, and my favorite niece. And to think that if I continued working, I would also be missing out on my daughter's 1st year of life. Crawling, walking, talking, learning. Absolutely not. I guess it's not such a tough decision after all. This is what I must do, my duty as a mother, my new reason for being alive, to make sure my daughter is taken care of, and has the best of everything, and this cannot happen with anybody else. NOBODY can care for my daughter as well as I (her mother) can. Bottom line.
So now, after hours, days even of stressing out, worrying, taking years off my life. It's clear now what I must do...Stay home with my daughter.... and cherish EVERY second of it.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Pumpkin Patch
So my mom, sister, niece, daughter and I all went to the pumpkin patch yesterday to pick out pumpkins. WE had a blast! For Gwen, this will be her first halloween, so we're trying to go big. I told my husband before we left that I was going to bring home a MONSTER of a pumpkin. Little did I know I would have to carry my child and this beast of a pumpkin quite a ways. So mental note to self, or anyone else reading.... when selecting a obscenly large pumpkin with a baby...PLAN AHEAD! Good thing I had my mom there to help, or this sure would have ended in disaster! Here's a a picture of Gwen's first pumpkin!
Molly
I must give credit where credit is due (and also promote my favorite photogapher.) I met Molly when she married Chris, my husband's best friend. She's been around ever since. Molly didn't reveal her secret "hidden" talents to me until much later in our friendship, but I'll forgive her. She can do just about anything. She sings, paints, draws, and is an AMAZING photographer. Many of the pictures I post of my daughter Gwen, are done by her. Her photos are compelling, creative, artisitic and I can't stop looking at them. So here's a few of my favorites of Gwen, all done by Molly Long Photography.
Give her a shout here! She also has a website http://www.mollylongphotography.com/ and you can also find her on facebook!
Give her a shout here! She also has a website http://www.mollylongphotography.com/ and you can also find her on facebook!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Inspiration
My inspiration for blogging (or attempting to blog) came from a friend at work. I came across her blog one day, and spent the entire afternoon obsessively reading every post! She is amazingly talented at everything she does, not to mention interesting. They transform furniture pieces from ugly to unbelievable! Her backsplashes are to DIE for, and her brutal honesty about life deserves a round of applause. She lays her adventures of life out there for the entire cyber universe to read, and has inspired me to do the same. So this is my attempt... at blogging. Thanks to Bethany.
To see Bethany's fantastic blog press here. Check it out!!
WARNING-her blog may cause the following side effects: eye pain (thanks to hours of reading), temporary feelings of shock and disbelief, heart attack (both due to the incredible transformations of kitchens and furniture), blog addiction, and worst of all...mental illness. (aka the belief you are able to blog and even hold a candle to the addicting material of hers.)
To see Bethany's fantastic blog press here. Check it out!!
WARNING-her blog may cause the following side effects: eye pain (thanks to hours of reading), temporary feelings of shock and disbelief, heart attack (both due to the incredible transformations of kitchens and furniture), blog addiction, and worst of all...mental illness. (aka the belief you are able to blog and even hold a candle to the addicting material of hers.)
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