Month in Review: March 2022

Main Events

Almost two full years after everyone’s Last Normal Day, I have officially gone back to the office. I typically go in two days a week and continue to WFH the other days. Getting myself and C3 out the door in the morning is a little stressful, but other than that, I’m liking my new schedule! It’s good to see my co-workers again, get out of the house, and really focus on my work without domestic interruptions. That said, I still don’t ever want to be in an office building 40 hours a week again. Hopefully I won’t have to. Anyway, going back to the office has brought some fresh pandemic grief/weird feelings as I begin to process all the changes and time passed. Like realizing our cafe workers probably lost their jobs two years ago… not just now when they installed self-checkouts. Or co-workers asking about the baby, then adding, “The baby is probably in high school now.” It will never not seem crazy that I conceived, grew, birthed, and took leave for an entire human while we were all away.

On my first day back, I came home to a surprise bouquet from Taylor with the theme “She’s Going Places!” Because I am, at last, LITERALLY GOING PLACES.

We had a very wet, heavy March snow. It happened too fast to affect the roads, so my MIL and I went to the Grizzlies game while it was coming down. We got completely coated on the walk from the car. It was a nice little end-of-winter surprise, but I was very ready for it to be the end.

Reading

I’m in a little bit of a reading slump. The two 4-star selections here are the only ones that excited me much. Also, let’s not even talk about how many months behind I am on my magazines. The stack continues to grow.

The Husbands by Chandler Baker (4 stars) A gender-flipped Stepford Wives that’s also just a smidge Get Out.

We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland by Steve Beaven (2.5 stars) I bought this on Kindle sale a while back and only remembered that it was a basketball book, so it seemed appropriate to read during March Madness. It’s about the University of Evansville, which lost its entire basketball team and staff in a plane crash in the late 70s. The part directly around the crash is pretty riveting (I feel the need to discuss with someone), but the rest of the book got too detailed for me. I had trouble remembering who everyone was.

All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership by Darcy Lockman (3.5 stars) An important read for parents, especially moms, especially those who partnered up with the best intentions of equality and now are like what is going on here. You will feel some rage, but the book helps with identifying/validating problem areas and potentially improving your situation.

Ramshackle Glam: The New Mom’s Haphazard Guide to (Almost) Having It All by Jordan Reid (3 stars) I enjoy the Ramshackle Glam blog and wanted to read the book. It was okay.

Impostors by Scott Westerfeld (4 stars) I loved the Uglies series in the aughts and was excited to discover a new series set in the same universe. In this one, the secret assassin twin of basically a princess gets caught up in a war.

Listening

I got a lot out of the Pantsuit Politics episode Two Years of Covid. I’m cueing up PP more and more often in general – Sarah and Beth are doing important work. I feel pretty nihilistic about the state of this country most of the time, but these intelligent, informed women are still holding out hope, and that must count for something.

On a semi-related note, I decided to switch from Spotify to Apple Music. So far it’s been a smooth transition – I was able to import all my playlists. The only problem is, Apple doesn’t have the handful of classical pieces that have been on C3’s bedtime playlist practically since birth. I’m trying to find them for purchase, because the thought of losing them makes me want to cry.

Watching

We finished Inventing Anna. It was very enjoyable and full of memorable lines that you can later yell in her weird accent. (“I do not have time for this! I do not have time for you!” is especially useful in a work context.) (I was also fascinated by Neff’s speech pattern. Taylor said it was like a reporter from a 1940s movie.)

I’ve seen parts of Severance while Taylor is watching. It’s good, but disturbing enough that it’s probably for the best I can’t fully focus on it.

That’s all. Too much basketball on to watch anything else.

Around Town

Even though C3 still can’t be vaccinated, the covid numbers are SO low here that we can finally start living a more “normal” family life. It’s such a relief! C3 has enjoyed our outings:

Brewery with friends

Brunch at Sunrise (followed by a trip to Big River Crossing)

Senior Day at the Tigers

Overton Park

Meanwhile, the Tigers got to the second round of the tournament but lost to Gonzaga.

The Grizzlies have clinched the playoffs and are now #2 in the West and #1 in the Southwest Region. WHAT A TIME to be a Grizz fan!!!!

At Home

It’s been a big month in our backyard. Taylor spent many hours laying new sod to give us a real yard! It looks so different. I’m excited to have a place for C3 to play and for us to set up a badminton net. I also planted the flower bed a little early, in advance of the sod delivery. I shopped for plants at several places and am so glad I held out for these gorgeous coral begonias. Next on the list: lay a new deck next to the gazebo, and possibly build a safer landing for the back door.

Taylor surprised me with a real bookcase for C3’s nursery! We put it where his baby swing used to be (it has now been sold… sniff sniff). I’m so pleased with the room and feel like it’s a happy place for a baby to grow up.

My new work schedule meant I had to rethink my home office again. After taking some stuff back up to the office, I had annoying technical difficulties which are now thankfully resolved. (Pro tip: a DP cord and an HDMI cord are not the same!!) I finally had to pony up for a home desk chair, choosing a gray and white one to make it feel less officey. My cardboard storage was collapsing, so I also got this corner shelf, which holds a surprising amount of stuff.

Finally: I have to drive Taylor’s car a lot, and he has a magnetic phone mount, so I got one for my car too. It helps. Now I’m not constantly losing my phone under the seat.

Eating

I’ve been in a cooking slump too (sensing a pattern?!?), but I did make a delicious lasagna soup this month. Also, I am newly obsessed with oat milk after trying the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at Starbucks. WHY IS IT SO GOOD??

Wearing

We had a women’s clothing swap at church, and to prepare, I tried on ALL of my clothes. Took the summer bins down from the attic and everything. I got real with myself about what I need for my current life and what will probably never fit again. I got rid of two huge bins of stuff, including some things I’ve had for 15 years, and almost every skirt I owned that didn’t have an elastic waist. It was a big milestone for me. At the swap, I scored some great items, including a few dresses. It was a lot of fun! The dress on the left is actually from a rummage sale a few weeks earlier. It’s Walmart, I got it for a dollar, and I have a feeling I’m going to be wearing it a lot.

Meanwhile, I quickly realized I needed some non-athletic flats for work. I don’t know that my feet grew after pregnancy, but they’re not the same shape, and some of my shoes were too tight while others are fine. In any case, I got some Rothys-esque leopard flats and some true ballet flats. That should hold me over until sandal season.

My other favorite new finds: two Adrianna Papell tops I got at TJ Maxx for $10 each, and this Old Navy shaker stitch sweater I’ve been eyeing since the fall. It’s not as cute on me as it was on the model, but it sure feels cozy.

Beauty

I ran out of hair prods all at the same time, so it was time for a clean slate. I chose to try the Kristin Ess and Marc Anthony curly hair lines (I prefer to have two different sets of shampoo/conditioner on hand). I wouldn’t buy the Marc Anthony shampoo again because it doesn’t meet my lather needs, but everything else is good. Also, I’ve perfected my Denman brush method: brush up and out a la Manes by Mell, then hit it once lightly with a wide tooth comb before blow drying. If I finish with the brush, I get like six huge curls around my head, and it just looks awkward.

My sample of LaPalette toner ran out, so I went ahead and got a full size. In my experience, this should last well over a year. I also gave myself the gift of not having to scrub hard at my eyes to get my makeup off. You’re welcome, future me! In Ipsy bag news, Benefit Roller Lash is the best mascara I’ve tried in a while, and I am obsessed with my Elaina Badro brush. Best color payoff ever.

I am constantly questing for the right nail buffer/file that will last more than three uses, and I think I finally found it!

Wellness

I’m about to conclude pelvic floor PT after 10 sessions, and I’m thankful to announce that IT WORKS! We have solved almost every problem that led me there. I’m no longer in constant pain and have learned tips and skills that should keep me feeling better for a long time. I even learned how to stand the right way (still working on it). As a complement to my PT, I did the Emma Lovewell Crush Your Core program this month and am feeling stronger there too. The slow progress continues!

I didn’t bike as much in March. I was focusing on the core workouts and often couldn’t make the time. But I did try my first Peloton Outdoor interval run! Definitely going to do more of those on nice days.

In spiritual news, I wasn’t planning to do anything for Lent (again), due to feeling so draggy and overwhelmed. But on Ash Wednesday I suddenly decided to give up unnecessary sorrys. I’ve always struggled with apologizing for things that aren’t my fault, or just for, like, existing, and PPD/A erased all my progress in that area. Making this a Lent thing has helped, because I know people know I’m currently trying not to say sorry, and therefore I’m not worried about them being mad at me for not saying sorry. (Yes, my brain is an exhausting place.) I’ve slipped a few times. But I’m being mindful and trying to establish other ways to express support and dismay.

Baby Update

C3 might skip crawling entirely. He can now sit up from a prone position, and stand while leaning against furniture!

First Word Watch continues. He babbles all the time and has a large repertoire of sounds, but has yet to say anything clearly associated with something – i.e. he says “mama,” but with no indicators that he’s talking to/about me.

C3 has four teeth and is working on a fifth. He is still not sleeping great, but we all do our best. I figure I’ll get a full night’s sleep in about four years.