New Years Resolution - Paring Down

I spent one evening last week reading blogs about minimalist living. I already feel like we have too much stuff (even after a big garage sale purge last summer), so reading about the advantages of minimalist living was a "oh yea, that's another good reason" experience. I know that we will never be a family that truly lives minimally, but paring down would be nice. Less stuff, less cleaning, more reusing. It all sounds nice.

So, while reading the story behind Rowdy Kittens, I decided that instead of only keeping 100 things (which is what they did and what we will never do), I could at least get rid of 100 things. So, one of my New Years resolutions is to get rid of 100 things every week during the month of January. My math whiz of a husband responded, "Wow, Jen. That's like getting rid of 400 things! Can we really do that?!" I think so, but we'll see. I just had to promise him that I wouldn't get rid of any of his things.

So my plan is to go room by room and sort things for keeping, next summer's garage sale (which I know isn't really getting rid of them yet, but at least they'll be in a box in the attic rather than out and about in the house), resale (used children's clothes stores, Buffalo Exchange, etc.), and Goodwill. Can we do it? 400 things? We'll see.

Baby 2

Thoughts on my second pregnancy ...

1. It's WAY better to NOT be surprised by that second blue line. Makes for a much less emotional first trimester. I can focus most of my energy on managing my tired body rather than my going-crazy mind.

2. 1st trimester yuckiness is much better managed by real food, including lots of raw milk, instead of lots of packaged food simply because it's quick and easy to cook. I definitely feel better this time around.

3. But, that could also be because NOT working is WAY better than working during pregnancy. Not that I'm not working. I'm taking care of the Bean every day and usually subbing one day/week as well. But still, naps are important. Very important. And now I get one almost every day.

4. Like all one-kid moms say, I can't imagine loving another child as much as I love Riley, but I'm so excited to meet him or her (hopefully there's just one). If they're half as interesting as the one dancing down the hall with toilet paper right now, I'll be a crazy lucky mama.

5. I feel like there's something about the second that's going to transport me into a whole other level of being a mom. It's still pretty easy to balance being a mom of one pretty easy kidlet with other things I enjoy. I still get predictable breaks during the day. I'm not outnumbered. But with another one, I think parenthood will feel like a bigger, more consuming part of my life. I will be MOTHER. Ryan will leave to teach in September and I'll be at home all day with a 6 week old and 2 year old. And that kind of mothering I am unprepared for, and honestly a bit frightened by.

Summer Pics

This girl loves music

Trip to the South Getty


Rahm family vacation at St. Helens


We got a water bug!

Finally back at home, enjoying the wood floors

Lovin' the back yard sun

Back at the beach, Yachats

This girl's a beach baby!



First day of rain ... she loved it!

Eat fat, be thin

Holy canoli it's been 20 days since I've posted. The transition to being a stay-at-home-mama while the hubby goes back to school has added a bit of chaos to our schedule. As has starting another blog, which I'm super excited about and a bit overwhelmed by. But I had to post a quick link to this Register Guard article. Yea for Linda Prout! I'm glad the word is getting out!

Summer pics are coming soon! Stay tuned!

Day 3

It's Day 3 of my new stay-at-home motherhood. It has not been without internal conflict. While I am truly happy with my decision, I also miss my teaching job. But here's a few beautiful things I would have missed were I at school - Riley laying her head on my slipper for a little snuggle when she got tired because the fabric feels like her sleeping blanket. Her putting tennis balls under the couch because she thought it was hilarious when I put my head to the ground to look for them. Her tickling my feet when she wanted attention. These lovely little things make me quickly forget about my 6th graders, who, while amazing people, are much less adorable then my little 14-month-old. It's been a gift to be with her so much lately. Love her!