Bend, flex and lean in (Napping with Ava)

Ava will be 23 months in a matter of weeks and as two creeps up on us it is hard to believe we are also approaching 2 years of napping with her. Gasp, I know. Judges going to judge judge judge but I'm going to shake it off (HaHa).  When Ava was first born, up all night crying I used Mason's nap time to get some rest myself.  I would put her on my chest, lay on the couch and somehow rock her to sleep;  it was the only guaranty I would get any rest that day.  Mason almost always would out sleep her and to be honest still does.   I spent most of the past two years napping with Ava frustrated and not relaxing because I couldn't help but think of all the things I could be doing.  I would say that for the better part of 2016 I have completely leaned in.  I have found myself napping with her, reading books, catching up on emails or suffering the net.  I still know that my time would be better spent cooking dinner, cleaning, taking a shower, working out; honestly the list could go on forever. However, come 1pm every afternoon in our household we ALL need a little break and napping with Ava is the only way to truly get that.  The house is quiet, no one is crying or calling out for me and I guess I'm choosing that over letting her cry for two hours.... or all the other trips/tricks we have tried in effort to break this habit.  Recently, she has been giving me 15-20 minutes in her crib with a book during this time.  I have used the time to do quick little tasks or just hang with Mase.  So there, I've come clean to our dirty little secret!  I would have judged you too but honestly the peace that rolls around here at 1:30pm is AMAZING and I'm choosing GRACE over PERFECTION.

Plus, how amazing is all this snuggling!?!?!

My Uniform

When I had Mason and became a stay at home mom (SAHM) yoga clothes became my norm. I found that I was on the floor crawling around and later chasing after him. He always found dirt and his hands always found my pants or shirt. Mason has super sensitive skin so all my sweaters were set aside for another time in my life and soft and comfy was where it was at. I made sure to wear jeans and "get dressed" at least once a week to make sure I still fit in my clothes and to feel put together once in awhile.  Our morning routine was relaxed; grabbing Mason from his crib in my pjs knowing I would have time to get dressed after breakfast and that much needed cup of coffee.

All that changed when Ava came along! I will not, do not come downstairs in the morning without brushing my teeth and throwing my clothes on. My trusty lululemon get pulled out 99% of the time and I have picked up some great pieces for my uniform at Lucy as well. Total fashion rut?  Perhaps! Or I'm just being practical and comfy for my lifestyle? I'll be honest, I still have 10 more pounds of baby weight to lose which makes fitting into my clothes a challenge (why did the pounds come off so much easier the first time?!?!) and plays into my yoga wearing black, stretchy pants uniform. 

The best part about my uniform; it endures dirty hands, spitup, boogers, drool and splattered baby food all day long! I've become accustomed to being dirty by the end of the day and I'm glad I don't have to worry about ruining my good clothes. 

In short my uniform reflects my life now. It's durable, practical and comfortable. One day things will be different; the 10 pounds  will be shed (I can only hope) and life will be a little less messy. Jeans will find a place in my life and won't just be for "special" occasions but till then I'll embrace the now  and my yoga based attire. 

What's your current uniform???

Ps: there are days I actually workout and how great is it that I don't have to change before running to the gym?!?!?