One Fine Day: THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

THANKFUL FOR: In Disney's Peter Pan, Nana the Newfoundland doubles as a nursemaid that tends to the Darling children. Since we brought Max home, Beesly has assumed a similar role. She used to sleep exclusively in our bedroom, but these days you'll find her in the nursery. She never lets the little guy out of her sight. Whenever he cries, she likes to bring it to my attention. I had a feeling she'd be a sweetheart, but this takes adorable to a whole new level. Part of me wants to get her a fancy bonnet to complete the look. For now, my shower cap will have to do. I can't wait to see these two grow up together. As for Tripp, I'm not sure he knows Max exists.

EATING: When my parents visited, they brought along a few bags of Brookside's Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters. Have you ever tried this granola goodness? It's been weeks since we finished the last bag, and I can't stop thinking about the deliciousness. It's best that we no longer have it in the house because I'm trying to be really disciplined when it comes to sweets and snacking. On the bright side, it's nice to know that with Amazon Prime I'm just a click away. You know, just in case of an emergency...

LISTENING TO: Whenever Max and I are home alone, I tend to treat our house as though it's The Ellen Degeneres Show. I usually have iTunes radio streaming on the desktop. The love nugget is in his carrier or I'm holding him in my arms and we end up dancing. In my mind, I've got the moves like Jagger. In all actuality, I probably resemble one of the old broads in the audience. Yep, I've got the mom dance mastered at age 29. Truthfully, I had it nailed down way before I became a mom. In fact, I actually look more like a granny. Thankfully Max is too young to be embarrassed, so I've got that going for me.

FEELING: I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I'm exhausted and defeated most days. I know this will pass, so I try to focus on the little victories—like changing a diaper and not getting peed on. Winning! Some days Flyboy and I just look at each other and shake our heads. One of us usually says something like "This will get better, right? It has to." Ha! To be completely honest, the Type-A(shley) in me has spent most of my life striving to be proactive. With babies, everything is reactive. As much as I try to plan or get ahead, I'm still behind. What works one moment might not the next. I'm learning to accept this new norm. I'm certainly up to the challenge.

THINKING ABOUT: I can't believe Thanksgiving is NEXT week. How did we get here already? I'm elated to welcome the holiday season, but then I remember I haven't worked on our Christmas cards, blog gift guides, or purchased a single present. Maybe with enough tinsel and garland, it will magically come together?? I think I'll just browse Anthro's holiday section—that always does the trick!

WATCHING: The Bravo TV gods decided to throw me a bone with the return of m' favorite stories. Andy Cohen, you're too kind! The Real Housewives of Atlanta AND Beverly Hills are chock-full of drama. Go on and spill the tea, ladies—I'm all ears! To top things off, my besties of The People's Couch are baaaaaaaaack. They keep Max and me company whenever we take residence on the sofa. I can't wait for the day that we can eat snacks and dissect shows together. Will we be more like the Egber family or the Zeno family? I'm shooting for the latter. I mean, have you seen their snacks? The pressure is on for Max to learn to talk. C'mon kid, I'm waiting...

READING: Now that Max and I spend most of the day together, I try to make time to sit down in his room and read a book or two. I'm certain it means nothing to him right now. In fact, it feels more like me dodging spit up as I attempt to turn the pages of various board books. At least I'm getting good practice for the day he does enjoy it. I figure it gives me time to really perfect the characters' voices. I've got a good feeling it's going to really pay off. This kid is going to be so impressed with my talent. Insert first bump here.

LOVING: Today I have my six-week postpartum appointment. Unfortunately, it's the last time I'll visit my nutty nurse. Sigh! While I'll miss the entertaining visits, I look forward to getting the green light to ride my spin bike again. Woo Hoo! Aside from the occasional Gimlet, blogging and spinning help me decompress. There's nothing like padded shorts, an uncomfortable seat, pedals, and raunchy lyrics to get you feeling like yourself again. Hey, whatever it takes for Stella to get her groove back! Don't judge.

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