Sometimes I can’t believe where I am, sitting here a married woman of almost 6 years with two little girls, when most days I still feel like I’m 22. When I was younger, like I’m sure many teens probably do, I figured being a grown up was so dull. Work, cook, sleep repeat. Boringggggg. Now that I’m here I laugh that from the outside it probably does look rather mundane, and maybe most days it is, but somehow I love it all the same.
Yesterday, I got to meet Julie and Tanya for breakfast at Sun Up.
I could stop right there because breakfast out sans kids?! What is it, my birthday? It’s not, but I was able to enjoy a fancy-schmancy poached egg meal and chatting with my friends for what turned into over two hours. The irony is that we talked babies almost the whole time (I’m so excited for Julie and Ryan!!), but just being out and having an uninterrupted conversation started the day out on such a bright note.
Did I mention I even wore real clothes?
A fashion icon I will never be, but I’ve been wearing a little less yoga pants and more real clothes. Stitch Fix (affiliate link) has been hooking me up with some great pieces lately that are comfortable and easy to throw on which are two of my main objectives in life right now. Do I need to add that I’m wearing less yoga pants because I finally had to toss the maternity pair I have been wearing for 4 years because they finally split at the seam? No? Ok, never mind then.
I should probably mention that yesterday morning was possible because I finally found a wonderful nanny. Can you call them that if they are only watching your kids 3 hours a week? …perhaps just a sitter? Either way, I love her… and her handwriting.
And I love that she works on letters, shapes, matching and other fabulous things with Hailey while I’m out. File this under another mom-win, as learning trumps mom guilt, right?
Of course my favorite thing about being a mom is obviously the reasons I am a mom, my kids. It can be tough on the days when the three-year-old is tired and grumpy or the 9 month old wants nothing more than to continuously pull her sister’s hair, but some days the stars align and afternoons look like they’re straight out Pleasantville. Yesterday was such an afternoon, as Hailey decided cleaning was fun.
She willingly crawled around wiping up Koda’s paw prints (there are a lot of those), then continued to clean her toys and her kitchen. Such an occurrence needed to be documented.
And somehow my one-nap baby stayed content playing in the little kitchen, which freed me up to play in the big kitchen.
Making lentil soup for lunches and working on bread machine naan while the girls play around me now qualifies for a rocking afternoon.
Recipe coming soon-ish, once my burned fingers have time to heal and I can make it again to take better pictures.
But it’s a keeper.
Yes, life right now mainly consists of diaper changing, afternoons playing at home, cooking, cleaning, getting excited about having time to dry my hair and an early bedtime- a life I might have considered rather dull at one point, but now I know the truth, that it doesn’t get any sweeter than this. I couldn’t be more grateful to be exactly where I am.
What mundane details about your day to day routine do you secretly love?
Is life at the age you are at what you pictured it would be like?
Why or why not?
Taca @ A Side Of Dessert says
I loooove this post! I enjoy so many little things of my day – like that morning cup of coffee! It’s usually quiet time and it gets my day off on the right foot!
emma @ be mom strong says
Love this post as well! I LOVE working out before the girls get up and having a homemade chia tea while checking blogs and social media. It’s my favorite time of the day 6-7AM. Yes, I do love being with the girls, but I treasure my ME time!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh Emma, I totally agree. There is something magical about that morning hour/s when the house is quiet. I don’t even mind when my alarm goes off at 5:15 anymore because peaceful mornings are so wonderful. And as for your working out in the morning too, I’m so impressed!!
Tiff says
look at you getting out and about! I’m glad you found someone you like. I think we’ll be switching to a nanny after baby 2, but it’s more like 30 hours, not 3. Haha. I just hope we find someone good!
John J. says
Those clothes look great on you, “hot mama”! And, keep teaching those kids how to clean. We failed on that one :). Good luck!
Brynn says
i love your posts. Maybe because this came at a perfect time (someone didn’t feel like sleeping much last night). But my favorite time is listening to lullabies at night after bath time. Something I never thought I’d be saying, but it’s the sweetest time.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I love this post and I love seeing the girls growing up! It’s such a special time so it’s awesome to have it documented 🙂
Naan in the bread machine?! I hope you share the secret soon!
Sherry says
Enjoyed the post. Even without kids in the house any more, I still enjoy that first cup of coffee in the quiet morning hours. You look great in your new clothes–casual and put together!
Angel says
I’m very intrigued by all this bread making. Looks delish! What bread machine do you use?
Brittany Dixon says
I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-BB-CEC20-Supreme-2-Pound-Loaf-Breadmaker/dp/B002XVUAOU
My parents gave it to us for Christmas one year and we’ve loved it!
alex says
I never thought about the future. It never occurred to me to…Which helped me out with expectations…I had none, so I am loving it all!!!
My son loves to clean too, I am super excited!! I need to get him a little vacuum!
Kim says
where is that top from in the second picture on the right? Striped with the coral design? I love it!
Brittany Dixon says
Thanks! I got it through Stitch Fix. The brand is THML and it’s the most comfortable shirt ever 🙂
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Sounds like a fun morning out with some girlfriends. Hooray for finding a great babysitter!
I honestly don’t know if I am where I thought I’d be. I guess I thought I’d be married which I am. I think I thought i would have been in the house we just bought last month already and maybe with a baby on the way. I’m not worried about it though. I’m feeling pretty happy with where I am.
Sarah S says
AH time out without the kids is glorious, I’m actually doing that tonight! Love the clothes that you get from Stitch Fix it has me so tempted to try them out. My body is definitely different post partum but really I’m kinda of stuck on how to dress myself. Might need some outside help!
I always wanted to have kids and the first few months with my little lady was hard but lately it has been such a blast.
Maria says
Oh I hear you about the 22 thing! I still wonder what I was thinking growing up so fast 🙂
To be honest, I thought I’d be bit further along at 31 (you know, house, 1.5 kids, dog), but I’m happy that we’ve waited a bit for those things as I’m enjoying life without a ton of responsibilities at the moment.
Caitlin says
I just love this. The end.
Heather says
Right with you on feeling more like I’m 22 than in my 30’s. Sometimes it feels so bizarre that I’m a mom of two. I can’t say that I ever pictured my life the way it is now – honestly I never really pictured kids in my future. Ha ha. Funny how things can change over time.
Lauren @ Oh Hey I Like That! says
Reading your blog makes me so excited to one day become a mom! Honestly, at this point in my life, I thought that I would already be married with a couple of kiddos, but I know that it’s on the way, and once it is, I will be turning to you for advice!
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
I always appreciate your thoughts and perspective on being a mom. You’re positive, but real – thank you for that! 🙂 I can SO relate to everything you’re saying here. Maybe my life is boring and mundane to some, but really, I would have it no other way.
Irina says
Your posts always make me feel better when i read them at work 🙂 I reallly appreciate the positivity you bring. I miss my girls all day. Most days are crazy: I forget to eat breakfast between feeding, changing, dressing, loading in the car in the morning, and then it all starts in reverse in the evenign :), but it is so nice to hug my babies and to get some love from them in return, and of course it is all worth it, because I can’t imaging not having them and having all this “meeeeeeeeeee” time.
Thank you for motivating me to get out of my “crazy” comfort zone, thouhg, and bring more balance to my life, like breakfast and wearing non-stained adult clothes (although I go to work every day, I tend to stick to my uniform of 2 pairs of pant and a few tops), and may be even starting on these 30lbs.
Laura @FitMamaLove says
The loving to clean phase is awesome! If I give each of my kids a baby wipe, they’ll clean the whole house!
Elisa Johnson says
how do you manage diaper changes, lol? My 6.5 month old can be a little sh@$ about it!! It’s the only time he cries! Won’t stay put no matter what i try. I have to literally restrain him all arched back over my leg on the floor! Ah but i love him!
Brittany Dixon says
Honestly EVERY diaper change is a battle. I don’t remember it being that bad with H, but K is a crazy baby! Don’t feel bad because I have to do the same thing and basically hold her down- haha!
Kari says
I know its going to be a good day when I put real clothes on 🙂 I absolutely loved this post…mom life is no joke!
KatieTX says
As a former babysitter for all of high school and college and a now mom, I TOTALLY understand why the stay at home moms hired me. You really need your “me” time. I am back to work now but found my 3 months of maternity leave incredibly isolating. I really missed adult interaction. So glad you got to have a breakfast out with friends; so refreshing.
My husband and I laugh now how much “free” time we had just a few short months ago…like what did we do all the time!?
Liz says
Lol to your daily yoga pants! My sister gets on me everytime she see’s me because I’m always in my heavy rotation of yoga pants. Life is definitely not where I saw it going in my early twenties, I didn’t want to get married or have kids until I met my husband. But this is the absolute best way it could have turned out.