Thursday, February 28, 2013

Hello, Balance

The days run together with taking care of our infant Carlin for this past month, and that has been OK. But today... today I found some balance that I didn't necessarily know I needed. One word: YOGA.

It occurred to me the other day as I munched on my favorite chocolate dessert bar (that I snuck off to the grocery store to buy one morning after dropping Abigail off at Pre-K) ... that, with all of the sitting around I have to do to nurse Carlin, I better start doing something, anything to combat the fat cells accumulating in my body. I imagine them gathering in my hips, thighs and booty, and believe me, I don't need more of a booty or  more shape to my hips. Although, my hubby, Paul, probably would think differently. LOL

So, this morning I got up (more like, rolled out of bed 20 minutes later than I should have) got dressed, put Carlin on the boobie while I instructed Abigail to get dressed and keeping on her daily routine of getting ready, made myself and Abigail our full breakfast (Carlin is still attached to the boobie), got her to school and came home determined to start that yoga DVD I've been glancing at for the past few days and make myself start something that would hopefully turn into my morning routine.

It... was wonderful. I could feel everything stretch that has felt cramped up after being pregnant, giving birth and from taking care of (and sleeping with) baby Carlin. My muscles were all but thanking me for the blood flow and deep breathing, as I found myself flowing with the moves as if I never stopped doing them.

Today, I found my center again, and found that I am more strong at my core than I ever was. My balance was superb, and only once did I sway off balance in transition from Warrior 1 to Warrior 2 for the first time. Being it has been a while... probably close to 2 years.. since I have done a full yoga workout, a couple of breaks were definitely needed to get a drink of water, which was fine because Carlin demanded my attention a couple times.

It is important when doing a yoga workout that you find a routine that helps you find your breath, your center, then gently leads you into cardio, giving you stretches that you can feel deep within your muscles, stretching your spine, opening your ribcage... and then ends with gently bringing you back down to the floor into brief meditation, finding your breath again, clearing your mind, leaving you feeling ready for the day (or night if you wish). For me, starting my day with yoga has always set the scale for the day, and I do it with "SHAPE Magazine's Long, Lean & Strong DVD", that I just happen to find on sale for $5.00 one day. Still, it is the best I have tried yet.

Today, I found my balance. I do believe I will repeat this at least Monday thru Friday, for the better of my body and mind.

<3 MHM

Monday, February 25, 2013

Something About Sundays...

Sundays for us are the day of renewal. It is the day we fill the cupboards, do the laundry, clean the house...

There's something about Sunday's that seems to raise my serotonin. It is always so refreshing to wake up on a Sunday morning to my wonderful husband (who spoils me) making breakfast (he's our chef, that we won't share with the world), to the foot steps of our 5 year old up and down the hallway, in and out of her room as she dresses up in 3 different outfits and dances in front of her mirror singing her own made up versions of opera, and now to the grunts of our little man, Carlin. The teenager doesn't sleep in too late, but rarely awakes before the rest of the house.

Carlin seems to never leave the boobie. We don't offer him a pacifier or bottle, so I am both his binky and food supply, which makes it to where he pretty much is always attached. Even though gathering dirty clothes and tidying up my bedroom before going downstairs is a bit more difficult with him attached like a little parasite, it doesn't matter. These days are precious. This is exactly what I asked for when dreaming of having just one more child.

The morning always starts off busy. We eat breakfast, our teenager, Devlin, starts laundry, our toddler has already strung half her bedroom across the living room floor and couch, the hubbers (being the chef, he also does the grocery shopping) spends his time typing his grocery list on his phone and cleaning out the leftover food that will not be eaten, while Devlin divides what goes in the compost and what does not. But then he and hubby leave to "forage for food" and then there is a still in the house as my little girl, my infant and I are left on the couch, cuddling and ready for a movie.

Once the movie is over, the boys return, the cupboards get filled, I have my teenager back to help me straighten up the house, the clothes get washed, sorted and distributed, I usually vacuum.. although yesterday didn't allow for that part of the ritual as Carlin was exceptionally hungry, and after a full day of little break from nursing him, my energy tank was pretty low.

Although I do enjoy our weekly ritual on Sundays, it usually takes less than 24 hours for the house to look just as it did (minus all of the dirty laundry) before we began cleaning, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

One day these kids will be grown, and the lack of frilly tutus, tiaras, tiny toys, and all that Devlin leaves in his trails, as well as all that Carlin will soon leave in his path in addition to his cloth diaper landry... will, before we know it, be replaced with the memories of when our children were completely dependent on us.

Sure there is a sense of liberation to one day be able to only have to plan for ourselves and dreams of traveling far and wide via RV with little worry in the world are pleasing; and even to show up on our children's lawns and have them take care of us for a few days in the meantime, has crossed our minds. But these are the golden days. The days of innocence, first experiences, development of mind, body and soul before we send these soon to be grown individuals into the world, hoping we did all we could to be sure they can contribute and help advance a society.

So, I'll continue to enjoy my Sundays waking up to our little opera star, and cleaning up tiaras, tutus and tiny toys.

<3 MHM