Hello and welcome to another abbreviated maternity-leave edition of What I’m Into! I’m typing this one-handed with a baby laying on my chest. We’ve made big progress in this household in July. As C3 turned a month old, I was getting at most three hours of sleep a night (usually more like one or two). Even with help from family and friends, I was Not Doing Well. At mid-month we and his doctor were able to identify and correct some food issues, and life did a complete 180 for all of us. Since then, Taylor and I each only have to get up once in the night, and C3 eats and then goes right back to sleep in his crib. He’s gaining weight, has started smiling adorably, and is much happier overall. Thank you Lord.
Reading
In the interest of time, no reviews this month, but I’m happy to discuss these!
The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood by Richard Blanco (3 stars)
The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby by Lauren Smith Brody (4 stars)
Love at First by Kate Clayborn (3.5 stars)
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (4 stars)
The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg (3.5 stars)
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (4 stars)
Thanks for Waiting: The Joy (and Weirdness) of Being a Late Bloomer by Doree Shafrir (5 stars)
Listening
I’m constantly working on playlists for C3! I try to have music time with him every day (usually in conjunction with tummy time).
The women of One Tree Hill started a rewatch podcast, Drama Queens! I haven’t joined in on the rewatch (yet), but I’ve seen most of the episodes four or five times, so I remember enough. Even if you’ve never watched the show, their discussions are really interesting.
Watching
The Olympics
Never Have I Ever season 2
History of the Sitcom on CNN
The Americans seasons 4 and 5
The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals
Cat People
Friends because it’s basically on TV 24 hours a day
Around Town
Places I have been with C3: Target (twice), church, McAlister’s for Free Tea Day, and the roof of a parking garage to watch the downtown fireworks!
Wearing / Wellness
CLOTHES ARE HARD. I’m still relying on a mix of maternity and regular tops. I made my first Goodwill run since January 2020 and found a few bigger shirts. The only shorts that fit are my trusty J. Crew linen drawstrings – I bought two more pairs. Still exclusively in maternity denim. I can zip up and button my “pandemic 15” denim shorts from last summer, but not comfortably enough to actually wear them.
I was getting pretty consistent with walking, but lately the heat index has been too high for me to take the baby out, even in the evening. This week I went to my first Fit 4 Mom stroller strides class and then bought a 10-class pass. It’s outdoors in the shade, so I can manage an hour with a portable fan pointed at the baby. Of course, I don’t have much to wear to class because all my exercise clothes and sports bras are too small. I found some mommy and me exercise videos on YouTube, but while the babies in the videos smile and coo at their moms doing downward dog, C3 is not having it so far. I’m trying to maintain grace and patience with myself, but it’s getting harder every day. I don’t know how to dress or live in this body, and don’t know how long I’ll be in it or if this is just my new reality.
Your Monthly Rufus
That’s all for now, folks.
Impressvie Playlist but why not just get out the flute and do something live!!
How is Rufus doing with his little brother?
Pretty well! He seems protective of the baby and sometimes tries to climb/lay on him like he does with us… we have to keep explaining he’s still too little for that. :)