one a day.

lately i've been lighting more candles around the house. i know that it's a very tangible way to bring calm and a little bit of peace to days and evenings that can feel hectic. it's almost like, 'hey, there may be piles and messes everywhere, but at least my house smells nice right now.' i forgot how busy summer can be - in the very best way. my sister and i were agreeing the other day that going back to work with babies can feel like a roller coaster: some days you feel like you're doing okay (coasting along even!) and then - bam! - other days you feel like your life is a complete disaster, spiraling out of control with the hefty, untouched task list following you in your wake.

similar to my thoughts in this post, i feel like i've really been channeling the small tasks these days...because, otherwise, the to-do's of life would and could seem too overwhelming at times. i've learned that most evenings after work i can usually get only one personal thing done (if that) outside of feeding ourselves (and andy does most of the cooking lately), baby, cleaning up the kitchen, bath time, bedtime, and getting ready for the next day. so it's the small things: wiping down the kitchen counter at night....or writing a (usually much belated) email...or putting away some laundry....or showering + putting on lotion...or doing a load of wash (that will most likely sit in the dryer for days).

...but always knowing that my little william is clean, fed, and tucked into bed.

it's about managing the expectations (and the guilt)...and really amplifying the small, good moments. jokes with andy, baby kisses...crawling into bed, exhausted.

an example: last week we were both hoping to vote in wisconsin's primary election, but only andy made it (with this cute, politically-conscious baby, i might add).



i still consider that a victory.

solo runs rarely happen these days, but when they do, they are delicious. i've found that the blocks melt away under my feet just because it feels so good to be running...to be outside doing my own thing...to simply be exercising.

we've ignored piles of dishes in the sink as we've left the house to go see family. we've neglected a basement that needs some purging & reorganization after heavy summer rains...a yard that needs some weeding...a car that needs some vacuuming...to enjoy time with visiting friends and people we love.

priorities just shift.

the past two weekends i've finally spent some time scrubbing sinks, mopping floors, wiping away cobwebs, going through the basement. the nursery got a deep clean.

we'll never catch up and there's always something (the other night our mixer stopped working in the midst of andy's cookie-making blitz)...but i find that there's still that feeling of accomplishment in getting things done, albeit on a much delayed timeline.

now, strangely, i find a little more satisfaction in the cleaning...knowing that there's the same rhythm & reassurance of completing tasks when the day-to-day has changed so drastically.

...just trying to keep it small & simple around here.