Keep Calm and Practice Self Care

It has taken me a while to learn this but when I take care of myself I am happier to take care of others.

Once again, I am not getting to my blog until late, but that is because I was able to partake in some self care today. Not much but oh what a long shower can do for the soul.

My son has been on fire today. Now that he is four months I am starting to put him on a sleeping schedule and in his crib. My son was six weeks early so we spent the first month of life in the NICU and hooked up to machines, so when he came home in December I started to co sleep with him. I was worried but also I felt I missed that first month of cuddles with him. Now that we know he is doing great, we have decided to wean him by six months, so I have started the task of breaking our habits. It’s weird I already miss him.

With that said, today was very difficult day one. He can feel we are changing him routine so he is extra aware and crabby. Instead of holding him nap or putting him in his Ergo Baby, I feed him, rocked him and put him in his crib. I am actually proud because today he did two 30 minute naps in his crib, but as you know that is not enough for a new baby.

By 4:30 pm I was over it and handed my screaming baby to my husband, who tried to calm him down while I took a 30 minute shower. Yes, I have a new baby and I cranked the music, put on a mask, plucked my eye brows, brushed and flossed my teeth and took an extra long shower, where I was even able to deep condition my hair. I put lotion on, brushed and dried my hair, sat on the toilet just to meditate for a minute, breath and remember how much I love my family.

I opened the bathroom door and was greeted with a screaming child. I threw my dirty clothes in the hamper, thanked my husband and took our son from him. With a huge smile on my face I kissed him and started walking and bouncing him to calm him down. He eventually settled. Right now, four hours later he is back with his dad, fighting to go to sleep.

I learned this lesson a couple of years back. Before my husband, kid and dog I worked as an admin. I feel admin is one of the hardest positions because you are everything and paid little. I don’t know, I love it and I am good at admin. I can multi task, remember everything and I majority of the time have a smile on my face.

How did I do it when I had deadlines, people screaming at me and a to do list a mile long. I walked away counted to ten and went outside and smoked a huge joint. Joking. But there were many times, I left went shopping, called my BFF, walked, worked out or took myself out to lunch. I got away, took care of my self, my needs and then returned with the expectation it was going to be a shit show for the rest of the day. I embraced my work because there are many people out there that A. do not have a job, B. are bored at work or C. are not appreciated. I have and love my job, I am never bored and everyone loves and appreciates my hard work.

And all it took was to stop and remember to breath and take care of myself first. With that I have created Spa or Self Saturday. We have to remember to have mommy time weekly. Even if it is just a 30 minute shower.

Thank You to my husband for taking the little guy off my hands for a bit. I appreciate the long hot shower and mommy time.

Keegan is the Best Dog

For Facebook and Twitter I tried to create a daily theme. I am not set on what I have chosen, but for Friday I am going with Fido Friday. Pets need to be healthy too. So every Friday I would like to post or blog about our Health Pets. However, today I would like to blog about my inspiration and the BEST doggy in the world, our Keegan.

Friday is almost over and I am just getting to this. It was a busy day but Keegan was the focus for the day. Due to the new baby, Keegan has not been as spoiled as he use to be. Keegan is our first son. When I met my husband he was five and this year he will be turning eleven. Since I know my days are limited with him, I do my best to included him in as much as I can.

Today was no exception. I met my dad for lunch and a walk around the lake close to where I use to work. Many times before work my dad, Keegan and I would meet up for a quick walk before a full day of work (yes Keegan spent many days at work with me). Keegan has never been good on a leash with me so many times he is in voice command and runs off leash. Keegan loves water. Some days he would not listen and go swimming. No one wants to smell a wet dog at work, so I would be make a trip back home to drop him off. Thank God I live right down the street.

It was funny because today dad and I were chatting about this one time it was hot and Keegan could not find any water so he found a small mud puddle to sit in it. He rolled around until his entire body was covered in wet mud. He looked at me and I know he was thinking “sorry mom but now I am cool.”

Today I knew it was going to be a lot of work but with baby, stroller, blanket, diaper bag and ice tea, we took Keegan for a walk and swim. Thank God for dad, he helped a ton. It was a gorgeous hot day for March and with the sun beating down on us, I had half a mind to join Keegan in the cool lake.

Today Keegan tried to catch the ducks and ran through a field of geese. He found no less than five sticks. He got a little stuck in some branches and walked most of the way back in the near by stream. The best is when he runs and runs, care free with his ears blowing in the wind. I can’t help but smile because he is the happiest dog.

When we got home it was bath time and then he crashed for about ten minutes before my husband encouraged him to go outside and help him with yard work. He followed him around like a little puppy dog until he could not take it anymore and passed out in the shade under our tree.

Once again Keegan you made my day and know I love you.

10Mar2016

Becoming A Healthy, Happy and Balanced Mom

Posted in Introduction by katrina2182

I am starting a new journey as a mom and I am looking to be more healthy and find balance to my life. My son just turned 4 months and I am already finding life to be way more rewarding but also very challenging in finding time to get everything done. I will say, without a full time job I do have more time to fill my day with different health activities vs just working, which in turn is leading me to write and share my journey as I become more healthy, happy and balanced.

I feel balance like happiness come from within. Our inter self to me our everything. It is my inner self that guides me everyday towards the items I chose to do within that day which leads me to balance and happiness. I will say sometimes I am too tired to hear my inner self and some days go terribly a stray but for the most part these days I wake up ready to take on the day.

Healthiness is a struggle for me these days because life is so fast and there are some many easy unhealthy choices out there. To be completely healthy: Mind, Body and Soul to me is my next challenge and to get there with a new child……

This is my journey. My new adventure. My new challenge and my new goal. I want to be Healthy, Happy and Balanced for my son, for my family and for my inner self.