Family Living: Abbott Style

Yesterday, I polished off the house by vacuuming in pearls and a dress. No joke. It just seemed appropriate. This week, Ian is working days.  For some reason, when he works days--I feel more......house-wife-ish. Don't get me wrong.  I do my housewife/SAHM duties when Ian is working his normal schedule.  It just feels way different.  I can't pin-point exactly what it is, but I just feel way more on top of things this week. Yesterday, woke up early to throw together some breakfast for my man.  Packed his lunch.  Then I tackled deep cleaning the entire house.  Washing, drying, folding, and putting away all laundry.  Cooking dinner (on the table ready when he walked in)...all while entertaining Haley and caring for her.  Even was able to sneak in a workout.  I guess I just feel like I can better take care of him with this schedule.  Ian is STUBBORN.  And often resists my help, but with days--he doesn't have...

Nothing feels like a slap in the face...like an actual slap to the face. I keep playing the moment in my head time and time again.  In slow motion.  Forward.  Backward. I think the moment that gets the most was the look in her eye right before she choose to slap me. Let me rewind.  Haley and I just returned from a busy afternoon.  Haley and my little buddy kept me company to the car wash and Wal-Mart. They both were absolutely amazing. I couldn't have asked for better behaved children. While dropping of my buddy at his mom's, I noticed Haley was reaching her limits.  I hustled home to feed Haley and myself some dinner. I knew in the back of my head that she is both hungry, thirsty, and probably exhausted.  So I was prepared to quickly prepared her dinner and to offer her a drink.  When I put her down, she went straight for the kitchen--crying, fussing, and carrying on. I have been working with her to use her words instead of the crying. ...

On average, it takes about 21 days to break or form a habit (HABIT, not addiction--drugs and other chemicals deal with an entirely different part of the brain; not to mention the brain damage etc., thus taking a few extra steps, and more time) But-taking your average Joe with your average habits--21 days. Another fact, when we decide or not decide to do something, we often look at the amount of effort we perceive it will take to do whatever it is we are debating on.  For example, if you are thinking about doing a craft, you might decide not to do the craft because it would involve going to a particular room, getting the supplies out, cleaning up, etc. Look what we, as a culture, default to doing--tasks that take minimal effort. Sit on sofa, turn on TV.  Took about 3 seconds.  Check Facebook/Twitter/Etc..  Almost instant on a smartphone or computer.  Surf the internet.  Seconds.   Our brains like the path of least resistance, so...

I am absolutely thankful for Ian taking off a few extra days this week.  The daily grind was beginning to get to me, and having him home--all day--with a lot of down time is just what we have been needing.  Not only as a family, but as a couple. I am bummed that he is returning to work tomorrow, but thankful it is only for 2 days until the weekend ( :  We have a big night out planned Saturday that we are looking forward to.  We are attending this year's wine fest with a group of my friends so it should be amazing.   Haley is now approaching 16 months.  We have our ups and downs, but I mostly love this age.  Teething didn't seem so bad when she was younger, but these recent ones of been dealing us a fit.  We are also working towards getting rid of the pacifier.  We are pacifier free during the night--but unfortunately, it is not without a fight.  She usually cries some, and requires a bit of encouragement.  I may or...