Welcome to my mind

So today Nate asked me, "Since the 30 for 30 is over, are you just not posting on your blog anymore?" It's good to know he's interested... And I'll be honest, it's tough to find something to post about that doesn't have to do with Ann's wedding, which is this Sunday and taking up a large space in my brain. There are tiny pockets of room for other things though, so I thought I'd mention a few.

1. Cake pops. Cake pops cake pops cake pops. Starbucks cake pops make me giddy. It's a good thing for them, too, because if I didn't have all these sweets in my life, I would be unhealthily skinny. (wink)

2. Summery green and yellow. It's one of my favorite combos right now for decorations...

3. Ribbon flowers. We've made gobs of ribbon and fabric flowers for Ann's wedding, and I'm quite pleased with how adorable they are. In fact, here's a little sneak preview of what's to come.

Ribbon flowers on stems (and a tasteful jogging stroller in the background)

Fabric flower corsages for the lucky ladies in Ann's life

4. The Hal Higdon Marathon training app for my iPhone. Yes, friends, I'm back in it, and I'm hesitant to say it just in case, but I'm training for a marathon December 4 in Dallas. Yippee! Tree told me the only problem is that the weather could either be gorgeous or really cold. Really cold? Bring it on. This little ice princess would love to see some cold (although I seriously doubt that Texas cold gels with my idea of cold...). Two concerns with marathon training - 1. I am officially changing age brackets, to the 30-39. WHAT? and 2. I seriously need to cut down on my ice cream intake.

5. How on earth do I thread my sewing machine? And why won't the top thread pick up the bobbin thread? I've been all up in that sewing machine, checking the instruction manual, watching YouTube videos, and yet I still can not get this dang thing fixed. Anyone? Anyone?

6. Here's a somewhat embarrassing one. Why am I so upset about the split between J Lo and Marc Anthony? Nate has been giving me all the celebrity news lately, and he had to break this one to me gently. Not that I think Marc Anthony is anything but skeezy... Perhaps it's like a Lucy/Desi situation, but I'm still sad for their sweet little babies.

7. Nate, Milo, Nate, Milo, Nate, Milo (repeat). But since when don't these two take up all the bright spots in my brain?

And on that note, let me say good-night.

Happy heart

I don't have a lot to say today, except one cute little thing about Milo.
The last few days, I've been telling him, "Milo, I love you so much, and Yahweh loves you sooooooo much," when I lay him down for his nap.
And when I tell him, he giggles.
Like he knows what I'm saying, and he likes it.
(sigh)
My heart is so full.

6 month pics

Well how totally bizarre. Yesterday was the last day of the 30 for 30, and I basically missed it. Yes, I was wearing some of my pieces. In fact, I think I was wearing virtually the same outfit as the first day. I'll get you a picture if you demand it, but Milo had a 6-month photo shoot, so I'd really rather show you these...

Have you ever seen anything so sweet?

This face is my fault. I don't ever put Milo in the grass because I think about fire ants and whatnot, so he was NOT a fan of it.

Teething, anyone?

Yes, he will be an early reader and a boy genius.

You know for a fact I'll have more to come, and a super-huge thanks to the fabulous Delaney Harbuck for these amazing shots. Seriously, she's fantastic, so if you need some pictures I will get you her info. The week is drawing to a close - Happy Thursday, everyone!

Almost the first day

Today began marathon...
Wait a minute. I typed that much and then got a phone call from Nate. He can't switch his vacation time, so I may not be running the San Antonio marathon after all. Ironic how the timing on that worked out.

What I was going to say was that today began marathon training, and I'm thrilled beyond belief to be 18 weeks out from achieving something I've wanted since I was 19 or 20. And San Antonio wasn't the only marathon I could run. It's just the one that all my running peeps are doing, and the one I was shooting for. And I'm going to put on my big girl pants and be mature about this and say, third time's a charm, right? Because I was going to run last year and got pregnant (thank goodness - Milo is my treasure!). And I was going to run this one and can't. So the next one that comes up is mine, and I'll probably win the whole thing and rocket straight to the cover of Runner's World. Can't wait.

So let me just have a really good cry while you check out the outfit of the day, and we'll be done with this.

WARNING - extremely messy bedroom

So Nate wasn't home, and I had to do my own photography... I think that's my finger in the lower right corner!

This is how I feel about my 30 pieces at this point...

Date Night (woo-woo)

Nate and I went on our second date tonight since Milo was born. Yeah, it's been that long... Anyway, I sneaked this little number in with the 30 for 30, simply because I could. This is one of the comfiest dresses I've ever owned, and just a tiny bit shorter than what I normally wear. Kudos to Blithe Boutique for carrying stuff like this.

Every good date has to end with a squench from my babyson.

One, Two, Three and to the Fo'

Sick of Cycles (and I don't mean unicycles)

If you’ve been checking in with me regularly for the last month or so, you’ll find I’ve been rocking the 30 for 30 challenge, and giving you lots of pictures of outfits and very few personal stories. And it’s been a lot of fun. In fact, it’s been a bit of an escape for me. Posting pictures of what I’ve been wearing has been a lot easier than being honest with you, because the last month or so has been really hard, and I tend to hide out rather than spread the negative. But writing is cathartic for me, almost as natural as breathing, and without it my voice seems so little lately. I need someone to hear me. Now, let me just warn you, if what you want is an outfit pic, come back later. If you don’t want me to be a little pathetic and a little self-indulgent, definitely stop reading right now. Let me just tell you a little bit about cycles, though.

My poor baby is teething. He’s been teething for a long time now, and my usually sweet and happy-go-lucky son has not been getting enough sleep, therefore spending a lot of time whining. This stresses me out, which stresses Nate out, which makes things tense between us, which then stresses us both out even more, which I’m sure makes Milo sleep even less. Do you see this vicious cycle here? I dreamed last night that he popped through five teeth on the bottom, all at once, and based on the way things have been going, I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened. I want to enjoy every single moment with my baby, but lately I’ve been thinking, “If we can just get through this… If the next few weeks could just speed by…” So now put me on a guilt cycle and ride it all over town because all I want is to be a supremely perfect and delightful wife and mommy.

Add to that what I would call the friend cycle. Old friends, new friends… People come in and out of your life. Some stay longer than others. Some you’re glad to see go, and some you wish would stay forever. I know that people are here for seasons, for one reason or another, and I guess right now is my lonely season. I’m used to being surrounded with friends, especially because I’m such an extrovert, but in the last few months, it seems everyone is going and very few are staying… Taking steps back because I don’t attend the same church, because I don’t work in the same place, because we don’t believe exactly the same things, because I’ve said one thing and they’ve heard another… And to me, none of this changes the fact that I’m (sometimes) funny, (most of the time) kind, (always) loyal, (overly) sensitive, and definitely just me. I will laugh louder than anyone at your jokes, cry with you when you’re down, defend you no matter what, tell you “I have a great idea” at least 3 times a day, and pray the house down for whatever you need. Gross. Now I'm clawing to get out of the self-pity cycle, which I have gotten stuck in way too many times, and I'm sounding beyond pathetic. Please don't think I'm saying call me and take me to lunch (haha).

May I be honest? I’m tired of all these cycles. I might like a cakepop cycle, where I just get a different flavored cakepop every single day. Or a bicycle built for three. Or even a clothes cycle, where new clothes just magically appear in my closet and old clothes that I don’t wear just phase out… But life is a cycle, and I need to remember that the yucky, uncomfortable seasons always roll around to brand new, shiny, beautiful ones. I guess that’s all I’ve got today. Outfit of the day to come, funny stories to come, cheery Kate to come again really soon. Thanks for listening.