Daybook: End of May

I can't believe it has been so long since I have written a post. I guess time flies when you are having fun. Here is a daybook post that I wrote up on Sunday, but didn't get posted until now. Enjoy!

Outside My Window: ...it has been a gorgeous late-spring day full of warm sunshine, gentle breezes and an occasional rain shower.

I Am Listening To: ...whatever Bruce has left on the television now that he's retired for the night and I'm up blogging, as well as, the rumbling sound of thunder in the distance.

I Am Wearing: ...a pink, short-sleeved nightgown. Actually, it is the same pink nightgown that I wore in the hospital after having Brinley. As ugly as it is--remember, I had to find something with convenient openings for breastfeeding--I don't think I'll ever be getting rid of this nightgown. After all, Brinley and I took some of our first pictures together in this pink nightgown.

Brand-new Brinley and the infamous ugly (but comfy!) pink nightgown.

I Am Thankful For: ...kisses from the sweetest little girl in the world.

I Am Pondering:... what a friend wrote about accepting and having peace about areas of our lives that are under construction. So many times we have the final goal in mind and become quickly disappointed when that picture-perfect goal doesn't happen soon enough for us. Its okay to have a blue-print or a prototype of something. Like my friend said, "You don't start out with the perfect pair of shoes. Often, they have to be lived in and allowed to mold to your own feet. Only then do they become your comfy, go-to pair of shoes."

I Am Reading: ...The Discipline Book by the Sears, Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski and Don't Let Me Count To Three by Ginger Plowman. Maybe I'll be able to get at least one of these books finished this week...maybe?

To Be Fit And Happy: Brinley and I have taken a couple of walks around the neighborhood this past week. I also recently set up her pool that has a small slide as well as a sprinkler whichshe had a blast in. We've spent a little time over the past couple of weeks doing yard work as well as time just kicking the soccer ball back and forth.

From The Kitchen: Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies

I Am Thinking: ... that it should be impossible for an individual to have a headache for more than 24 hours straight. Actually, it would be nice if headaches didn't exist at all.

I Am Creating: ... a less cluttered home--which amazingly enough seems to help create a less cluttered mind and a less cluttered heart. :-D

On My iPod: Breathing: the Master Key to Self Healing by Dr. Andrew Weil. (For those of you that are unfamiliar with Dr. Weil, he is a very renowned expert on natural health and wellness.) Although I began doing breathing exercises several months ago (and they do help tremendously!), this audiobook has wonderful reviews and I'm ready to add a little something different to my current repertoire. I figure if a $10 audiobook helps me to feel more relaxed and focused, sleep better, and feel less fatigued then it will be well worth the money.

Towards A Real Education: Starting to look into lesson planning for this fall.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty: I love this time of the year. Its warm enough to find many ways to have a good time outside, yet its not hot enough that it feels as though your body is actually cooking. The nights are still cool and very comfortable. The flowers are blooming, birds are singing and squirrels are....well, they're being squirrels.

To Live The Liturgy: As the end of May is upon us, so is the celebration of the Queenship of our Blessed Mother.

I Am Hoping And Praying: ...for those that are directly being affected by this terrible oil spill disaster in the Gulf right now.

In The Garden: Last weekend, we all worked out in the yard. Bruce mowed the lawn and Brinley and I trimmed up the flower beds.

Around The House: Brinley's nursery is coming back together. Her crib was recalled a few weeks ago because the mattress support had been known to bend or break which could have caused the mattress to collapse and a little one to become trapped. We immediately broke her crib down and she slept in her playyard until we were able to get a new crib. Since Babies 'R Us fully refunded us for the recalled crib, we ordered a new crib and matching a dresser/changer combo since the dresser we had been using was a hand-me-down from Mom and Dad. We set up her new crib immediately, but we've been so busy the past several days that we didn't get the dressers changed out until last weekend. I had no idea that was going to be an all day ordeal either. By the time I moved the old dresser out of her room, vacuumed the carpet and baseboards, had Bruce help me carry the new dresser in, unpack the new dresser, put together the railing for it, moved everything from Brinley's old dresser to her new one and cleaned crayon off the wall I was exhausted.

On Keeping Home: Did I just mention I had to clean crayon off the wall? I'm sure y'all have a pretty good idea of who put it there in the first place, but I'll fill in the details for you. While Brinley was 'helping' move all her belongings from her old dresser to her new dresser she apparently decided that the wall that her dresser had been on was too plain and needed some decorating. The sad part is, I was in the room when all this took place. While I was putting things into her new dresser--obviously my back is turned while I'm digging in drawers--I hear a noise on the wall, but my first thought was that Brinley was just running her hand across the wall. Then, when I heard her say "OVAL" something clicked, and yes folks, she had drawn an oval...and much more. She and I had a little discussion about how crayons are ONLY for paper--not for walls--and then I asked her to help Mommy clean the mess she had made. Thankfully, I live in the 21st century where there is this awesome invention called a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Most of y'all know that I try to stay away from mainstream cleaners because of their toxicity and the effects that they have on us humans and our environment. However, every blue moon, I pull out my trusty Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and quickly 'erase' what Brinley would call a 'whoops'.

One Of My Favorite Things: ...cool evenings that just beg for me to keep the window by my bed cracked so the fresh breeze can mingle with a lavender sachet that I have sitting on the window sill. My bedroom smells absolutely heavenly.

Brinley Anne This Week: ...has been a load of fun. The girl is always on the go. Bruce and I think that is how the girl stays so thin, yet can eat so much--she rarely slows down!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: In all honesty, with this headache that I've had the past two days, I haven't even thought of any plans for this week muchless made any.

A Picture I'm Sharing:

If you look closely above the electrical and cable outlets you may be able to see hint of orange crayon that my little artist decided to decorate her wall with.

...and this is the kind of help I get when I ask her to clean the wall with me. Silly girl!