THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

LETTERING VIA EASY, TIGER

THINKING ABOUT: This is going to sound absurd to many of you, but one thing I feared most about motherhood was the idea of attending playgroups. Do I have to?! Gulp. Sharing this publicly makes me want to cringe because I'm certain it will rub some of you the wrong way, but it's honestly this introvert's worst nightmare. While I'm willing to accept this as MY truth, I really don't want it to impact Max negatively. Recent outings and routine errands make it clear this kid could really benefit from more socialization and interaction with other people. He gets SO giddy when he sees other littles out and about. It's adorable, really! For the past few months, my parents and Flyboy have encouraged me to drop Max off at the local Child Development Center during their walk-in hours (a few hours maybe 2-3 times a month?!). They figured it would be a great opportunity for Max to play with kids his age and give me some relief. I'm not entirely sure why it's taken me so long to rip the band-aid and try it, but we're going to give it a shot this morning if there's space available. Trust me when I say I have NOTHING against daycare; I just don't know if I deserve the luxury of dropping him off and spending time apart. I mean, what could I possibly do in Swell Rio with this potential free time?! I have two more weeks until my next deadline is due and I've run every imaginable errand on my list. I suppose I should stop over thinking things, enjoy being alone, and have faith the time apart is best for both of us. Oh, and bonus points for not having to attend playgroup!

THANKFUL FOR: We stocked up on a bunch of pantry staples at Trader Joe's last week. I love preparing cauliflower rice with some of our meals, but grating the veggie can get messy and tedious. Thankfully, we stocked up on six bags of the frozen stuff when we were in San Antone and it's been a HUGE lifesaver. The convenience factor is making it hard for me to pace myself. It's SO good!

EATING: We're halfway through Whole30 and many aspects of this nutritional reset have not gotten any easier. Flyboy and I often find ourselves asking if we even WANT to finish the thirty-day challenge. From what I understand, programs like this are intended to help find ways to improve your eating habits and are meant to teach you that food doesn't have to rule your life. Oddly enough, it feels like food is ruling our life NOW more than ever. Don't get me wrong, there are a handful of positive aspects to Whole30 that we both can appreciate, but we can't help but wonder if it's really worth feeling snippy and lackluster for TWO more weeks. He He! Then again, I suppose this is the sort of thing you'd expect when a stubborn married couple that has watched one too many episodes of Naked and Afraid embarks on the Whole30 challenge. We keep waiting for the other person to be the one to call it quits and tap out. If I've learned anything in the past 17 days, it's that a life with this few cocktails is bound to lower my Primitive Survival Rating (PSR).

LISTENING TO: After Flyboy watches the morning news, I typically switch the channel to PBS in an effort to lure Max into a little low-key entertainment while I prepare breakfast. In an age where most parents are trying to limit screen time, we're trying to get our tot to sit still for five minutes per the recommendation of Max's doc. It's weird, I know, but it was the unofficial "homework" given to us at our last appointment. Ha Ha! So while I pretend Max is seated on the sofa engaged in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood—when in all actuality our Texas Tornado is barreling throughout the house in destructive mode—I've decided how much I hate the token tune they use every time Daniel Tiger learns a lesson. It's AWFUL! I seriously want to strangle that bratty tiger and can't help but wonder why I continue to listen to these syrupy jingles every damn day. I think it's time I pursue other options on Hulu or Netflix because clearly Danny Boy just doesn't do it for any of us in this house. When we show up at Max's next wellness check and they ask about our progress, I'm going to blame it all on the Land of Make Believe and Prince Wednesday. "It's Such a Good Feeling", my arse...

WATCHING: Because it's been far too long since we've dished on Bravo, let's discuss RHOBH, shall we?! I truly adore Yolanda, but this season's plot kind of feels like "Does Brooks have cancer?" part deux. Snoooooooooze. On the bright side, all of the catty gossip allows us to see everyone's true colors. Last season, I found Lisa Rinna to be a fun and quirky addition to the group. This year, I wish she'd just STOP stirring the pot. Last season, I found Eileen to be fairly dull, but this time around she appears to be the most genuine and reasonable gal in the bunch (even despite her AWFUL taste in bags...). Fun Fact: According to my mom, I was actually named after Eileen's character, Ashley Abbott, from The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. Yuck it up, chuckles!

READING: Since my college roommate recently left Glamour magazine to assume his new role as managing editor at Fast Company (cough, boasting roomie, cough), you know I've been poring over every page of the publication with pride. While very little about me screams cutting edge or progressive in terms of business and technology, I've found that I'm enjoying my subscription way more than I ever thought AND I'm learning a lot in the process. For instance, Belle Beth Cooper's recent article, How I Became A Morning Person, Read More Books, And Learned A Language In A Year, was equal parts impressive and inspiring. Suddenly I'm assessing little habits that I'd like to see result in a big, long-term outcome, and I'm genuinely excited. Fellow goal-getters, this is a MUST read.

LOVING: Max can finally wear Crewcuts and NOT look as though he's swimming in his clothes. Hooray! The colorful chino options are endless, my friends. The future of dressing my dear babe looks bright. I see many coordinating ensembles ahead. Squeeeeeeeeee!

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