THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

VIA IONUT RADULESCU

THINKING ABOUT: Praise be. I'm getting my hair cut next week and I can't tell you how stinking excited this makes me. I've literally been looking forward to this appointment for WEEKS! I'm going to just sit back and let her do her thing.   

FEELING: I keep looking at last year, specifically some of the struggles I experienced with Max and I'm so grateful to have that chapter behind us. I know I touched on it a bit on the blog but didn't get into specifics to protect him as he's getting older and he doesn't need everything shared on the Internet. Truthfully, things got pretty bad. I felt overwhelmed and defeated. I wasn't sure how to "fix" things. If you're going through something similar, take heart. It will require hard work and consistency. Like so many other stages of parenting, you will have to revise your "game plan" and approach the phase with a new set of perspectacles, but you will eventually come out on the other side and see your hard work has paid off. Max is a totally different kid now. He's matured so much these past few months, and I really enjoy spending time with him. Sometimes I forget how far we've come, but I'm truly proud of our progress.

THANKFUL FOR: My parents are coming this weekend, and I'm so stinking excited to have them visit! They haven't been here since November, so it was a thrill to get to wash the guest bedding in preparation for their arrival. With Flyboy out of town, it will be nice to have some company and discuss subjects other than airplanes and dinosaurs.    

WATCHING: Beesly is on the mend after having a stomach virus last week, but I'm still hesitant to feed her anything besides chicken and rice at this point. Our reigning queen Berner appreciates her home-cooked meals, but clearly misses the occasional cheese stick and Pirate's Booty cheese puffs from Max. Aggressive is never a word I would associate with our girl; however, she's become rather "assertive" lately whenever she hears Max noshing on his favorite snacks. As soon as he gets down from his high chair, she will rush over to his side and lick his face and fingers just as a mama bear would clean her cub. He thinks it's the sweetest, but I see nothing but a slobbery mess. 

READING: On Sunday night I finished Where the Crawdads Sing and HOLY COW now I understand all the hype! You guys, that ending!! Gasp! I did NOT see it coming. Did you?? For those of you on the fence about this one, I will admit I wasn't entirely sold on the book until the halfway point, but then I became so invested in Owens' bestseller, it was all I could think about. Seriously. There were a few times Flyboy would look over at me while I sat in silence considering what might be next for the Marsh Girl. He'd ask, "Is everything okay?" I felt a bit silly, but I had to tell him my mind was racing about the book and what would come next. It was incredible! I didn't want it to end.

     

EATING: In my attempt to eat snacks that are protein-packed, I recently gave Epic Bars (the chicken sriracha flavor) and Wonderful's Chili-Roasted Pistachios a shot. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed both products and now I feel the need to share my two-cents with anyone who will listen. Whenever Flyboy's away, I don't cook for myself as much as I should, and by the end of the day, I'll settle with a dinner of Cheez-Its and a Topo Chico. It's an unhealthy habit that's been going on for years and I'm trying to be more intentional about how I fuel my body in his absence. It's easy to become lazy, and I've found that having healthier options around helps me avoid repeating this old habit.     

LISTENING: Last Saturday on our way to Michael's Max asked, "You ever think we'll go back to Texas? I think I'd like to visit Del Rio again." Tickled to death by his random question, I responded, "Umm... Maybe? But I think I'd rather visit Austin instead. What would you do there (in Del Rio), you think?" To which Max replied, "Maybe just sit in the sun by a pool and read the newspaper." I couldn't help but giggle. The thought process of a five-year-old is rather entertaining. 

LOVING: My trusty hot-pink Tippi bit the dust a few years ago, and I've been itching to find a new replacement ever since. Picky about the specific shade of pink, I decided the hue had to be just right before I could take a chance. Enter the Margot Crewneck Sweater in NEON FLAMINGO! She's a beaut, I tell ya! The fit is TTS, and the weight of the sweater reminds me of the cashmere t-shirts J.Crew has sold in previous years making it a perfect layering piece.    

How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!