THURSDAY THOUGHTS

A print by Morgan Day Cecil to frame and display in Max's nursery.

THANKFUL FOR: When I returned from my trip to Iowa, I learned the toilet in our bedroom was on the fritz. Water was leaking everywhere! After maintenance stopped by to fix it the first time, it started happening AGAIN. Noooooooo! If there's one thing I know for sure about pregnancy, it's that having a loo nearby is a necessity when you're getting up four to six times a night. It sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth. Waddling down the hall in the dark is not ideal, so I called and put in another work order. On Tuesday, they assured me the problem was fixed for real this time. Ugh, I couldn't be happier! Convenience is a beautiful thing.

EATING: If you're looking for something delicious to try, you should pick up a bag of Trader Joe's Sweet and Spicy Pecans. We recently got a care package from my parents, and they included these. On Monday night, we added them to our salad and it was a-mazing!! Sad to see them go, I think I might have to try The Modern Locket's recipe hack. It's worth a shot!

WATCHING: My mom mentioned this particular YouTube video, and then my sister texted a link. Must be pretty good, right?! I checked it out, and it's a hoot! Have you seen the baby that stops crying when she listens to Katy Perry's Dark Horse?? Hop to it. 

FEELING: On Tuesday evening, Flyboy came home from work and we sat down for dinner. I had an appointment with my kooky nurse practitioner (NP) that morning, and he wanted to know how it went. While he shoveled food into his mouth and sipped on a glass of Vino, I gave him the nutty play-by-play. For those of you interested, it went something like this: 

NP: "Did we ever figure out your due date?"

Me: "Um, yes. I believe it's October 12th."

NP: "Oh, okay. Sounds good!"

Me: Lays there with belly exposed and utterly confused. This is DEFINITELY not the first time we're meeting.

NP: "Still doing your Kegel exercises during commercial breaks and red lights?"

Me: "Yep."

NP: "That's what I love to hear."

NP: "So I guess I'll be seeing you in another four weeks..."

Me: "Wait, when am I supposed to meet the doctor? I'm at 30 weeks."

NP: "Oh, right... Go ahead and tell the appointment desk. They'll set something up."

NP: "Everything looks good. Do you have any questions?"

Me: "As far as nursing goes, will they have staff available after the baby is born to help if I need it?"

NP: "Maybe. It really depends on the nurse that's on duty."

Me: "Well, is there a class I can take?"

NP: "We don't really have those resources here."

Me: "Okay, I guess I'll look online..."

NP: "Great idea. Go ahead and enroll in Breast University. It will cost you $25. I'll write down the web address."

Me: Tries to hide smirk. Is this for real? Do you get a free t-shirt when you graduate?

After sharing the highlights of the appointment with FB, I sat there and watched him shake his head. All I could do was just laugh in bewilderment. You honestly can't make this stuff up, my friends! In most cases, a scenario like this would have me stressed beyond belief. Surprisingly, I've learned to embrace these details as part of our Swell Rio story. 

THINKING ABOUT: I spend a lot of time wondering about the person Max will become. I think about my personality and Flyboy's, and I pray he shares more traits with his father than he does with me. I'm sure this feeling is natural, and in a lot of ways it's been fun to daydream about. While I'm confident I can bring a lot to the table as his mom—I have a few good attributes—I worry my neurotic and anxious ways will rub off on him. Oh, the horror! As we get closer to meeting him, I pray I can show him the best version of myself. When I say this, I don't mean I'm aiming for perfection—I'll never get there. I know that learning and making mistakes is a natural part of this process, or at least that's what I keep reminding myself. I guess I'd just like to be a little less intense and to live more in the moment. As much as I love wearing my Type-A badge with honor, I wouldn't mind showing him a laid back and sillier side of me. So when I saw the print featured above on Etsy, I knew I needed to add it to Max's room for several reasons. I liked that it was a subtle nod to Where the Wild Things Are, but it also acts as a great reminder (mostly for me). I want to encourage his creative and curious side. I want him to have a zeal for life, and I realize this all starts with me. While I currently define "wild" as going a day without vacuuming or preparing breakfast for dinner, I'm willing to kick things up a notch for the sake of this kid.

LISTENING TO: When it comes to dinner time, Beesly is a real diva. Finicky doesn't even begin to describe her feelings toward food. Some days she likes a little sprinkle of beef broth, and other days she likes me to mix in a slice of cheese. Dry kibble is just a drag, you know. And yes, I realize I created this monster, which makes it even worse. Anywho, each night I prepare dinner for both pups and it's important I make supper a big production in honor of Queen Bee. Instead of a dinner bell, we play Pharrell's hit, Come Get It Bae. I really think Beesly likes it when I substitute Bae with Bee. I should probably get started on the rest of the lyrics...

READING: Liz of Sequins and Stripes posted this quote on her Instagram yesterday, and I just knew I had to share it with you. In fact, I think it's one of those passages I should jot down for future reference. "One day she finally grasped that unexpected things were always going to happen in life. And with that she realized the only control she has was how she chose to handle them. So, she made the decision to survive using courage, humor, and grace. She was the queen of her own life and the choice was hers."

LOVING: This Bobbi Brown bronzer is everything. My cousin recently got me hooked. It's way better than the shimmer brick.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!