Creative People

I have never considered myself a creative person. I get obsessed with perfection and if I'm not good at something, well, I often quit doing it. I just read an article on how to cultivate the creativity that lies within us all. In the article there is a great sentence that I will now butcher but it was something like "if you are not yet creative you are still in a larvae state and you will soon become a beautiful butterfly of creativity". Cheesy analogy, yes, but inspiring none the less. I have always thought that some people are just born creative while the rest of us have to go through life admiring those creative people. But maybe it doesn't really have to be like that. One thing that I haven't tried before, mostly because I am just to critical of myself, is practicing and developing my own creativity.

Most people aren't great at something the first time they try it so why not try something a few times? Then a few more, maybe changing or tweaking it. I think creative people enjoy the process as much as the final product and that is something that I will have to learn. I just want something to turn out amazing the first time so that will be a challenge for me. I am very much like that with my writing. I have a hard time letting it flow. Blogging is a little easier but usually I analyze each paragraph sometimes each sentence before I can get the fullness of the idea out. I think doing anything like that, at least anything artistic, can really diminish the potential of the final product.

Creating something takes time and I will have be patient with the time I have available. Which at this stage of my life is very little. At least I have naptime. Thank God for naps! I am very pleased by this new realization that I don't have to be boxed in to my boring bubble. Yay for my thirties! Its really interesting the way our ideas change as we age.

One thing I must mention before I finish this post is two people that inspire me. My Grandmother Bonnie and my Aunt Irene. These two women just ooze style and creativity and are crazy talented. Thanks Grandma and Aunt Irene for being such an inspiration! I would be happy with just an ounce of your creativity!

PITA

When babies start eating solids there is a brief period of time when its fun to feed them. Any first in the life of a baby is exciting but for me the fun in feeding my kids baby food wears off fast. Especially when they won't eat, then it's just annoying. Benjamin still gets the majority of his calories from breast milk so I don't worry when he doesn't eat much. All you have to do is look at the kid to see he's not starving.

Although I'm not too worried about his calories I am a little concerned about his regularity. Poor guy is a little backed up these days. I try to give him juice and water to soften things up but he hardly ever has a bottle and is not really interested in drinking it. He is not a big fan of prunes either. I can't say I blame him. So its quite frustrating when I'm trying to feed him and he clamps his mouth shut like a steel trap. I've even tried to wiggle the spoon in using gentle force but when he's done, he's done. Today I was doing my best to coax him into eating but he just wasn't having it. He pressed his lips together in protest and even shook his had back and forth. He can't even talk and his first word is still NO! He's only eight months old and already the little turkey is saying "No mommy, get that crap outta my face, I'm not gonna eat it!". You should see him stare at me straight-faced, almost taunting me like "What are you gonna do about it Mom?".

What a little PITA.

PITA is the nick name we gave Stella as a baby. It stands for Pain In The Ass. I know, we're horrible, you don't need to tell me that. We had plenty of sweet and endearing names for her too but PITA was reserved for when she was being, well...a PITA. We just like to keep it real around here. I didn't think Ben would ever earn the nickname because he is what we call our "easy baby", if there really is such a thing. But he was being a defiant little bugger today and earned himself the title.

BFF's: Healthy eating and Exercise

It seems like such a simple concept, eat healthy and exercise. It's also common knowledge that you really don't get good results, inside or out, unless you do both. But something dawned on me while I was eating taquitos, followed by a slice of apple pie, and watching Rachel Ray talk about healthy eating on the Dr. Oz show. There is no way I can personally eat right unless I exercise too. It's not just about the end result it's about the whole thought process behind eating and exercise. Are you saying "well duh" yet? You should be! This is so simple, exercise and be active and you will WANT to eat better. Who wants to eat McDonalds after their yoga class? Uh, not me. You want to fight cravings? EXERCISE! It really cuts down on the cookie's I shove in my pie hole all week. Or in this particular week, actual pie. I bought an apple pie because it was on sale, and guess who is the only one eating it? Me! TGIF because I need Monday to come real quick so I can get back on track. The beginning of the week is always the best time to start something new, that's just good sense, and I need to finish my pie.

A whole new light

I see so many mommy blogs about losing your sanity and desperately needing coffee, both of which I can totally relate to. But I think I'm starting to see life as a mom of two in a whole new light. Its not so crazy here. Don't get me wrong, potty training Stella after just bringing home a brand new baby almost pushed me over the edge, but I think I may be back from the brink! Ben will be eight months old tomorrow and I don't know, everything just feels more...manageable. We still have the occasional bad day but Stella is maturing so much (this really is true if I ignore the out of control fit she threw at the grocery store yesterday). She behaves much more like the sweet little girl she is rather than a grunting, wild animal.

I feel like I have a new perspective and I am really trying to embrace the saying "don't sweat the small stuff". There is just no time, nor do I want to make time for that. It's not like I never stress or worry but I just don't feel so defeated by things that are often not even in my control. I'm sure if you ask Mike he will say I'm a total worrier but I have to make up for his laissez-faire attitude. He is the king of "it will work out". Ya buddy, after I work it out! (love you honey:)

I got laid off a couple weeks ago, not an uncommon thing in this economy. I was only working a couple of shifts a month at the restaurant but the extra money really made things more comfortable. This is just another hick up I have no control over, so I'll have to roll with it. Plus I feel pretty confident that I can never get fired from my real job, being a mother. They may want to fire me sometimes but too bad so sad Wingfields, mommy is tenured for life!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

 

I could eat this boy up all day long! And let me tell you those cheeks are the sweetest! Benjamin Michael weighs a mere 21 lbs and will be eight months on friday...EIGHT MONTHS!! I can't believe it and it is so true what they say about the second flying by even faster than the first. He has already had his first holiday season and before I blink we will be planning his first birthday. My little Ben is such a joy and he loves his big sister and she loves him. What more could you ask for!

Growing fast

 

Stella's third birthday and we successfully sang to her with no tears! My little girl is growing up!

Health and Safety Faire

Stella and I went on her first field trip yesterday to the health and safety faire. Strange as it sounds, I was really excited about it. So far I am absolutely adoring the whole preschool experience. It is so fun to see Stella so excited about going to school each morning. Every time we go she ditches me at the door without even turning to say goodbye. She can't get in there fast enough to see what everyone is doing. She can be a little nuts-o when I pick her up. Last Thursday she started rolling around on the floor in the cubby room where all the parents pick up the kids. It was a little embarrassing to have to pry her silly little self off the floor but oh well, she is still a two year old.

The faire was unfortunately not the experience that I was hoping for but it was definitely not the first time I've been disappointed trying to do something fun with Stella. It was a lot bigger than I was expecting and we really didn't even hang out with people from her school except for lunch. Even in a good mood, making Stella wait in a line for 30 minutes is not a good idea. But this day she was a bit cranky and she didn't understand why we couldn't just walk up to the fire truck and get in. After we waited in line she got to sit in the truck for enough time to take a quick look and a picture. You can see below that didn't go over very well.

Overall she got to walk through an ambulance, hop in and out of a fire truck, make a bracelet, take a train ride and have a picnic lunch with her preschool teachers. Not the best field trip ever but it was mildly enjoyable. I'm hoping the pumpkin patch next month will be better. Have you ever seen anyone where a red plastic hat so well?