Me?

Around this time last year, I loved keeping up with the few pregnancy blogs I followed (like Sharon, Sean, Erica, Brittney, and Jessica - to name a few).  At the time, most of them were all complete strangers, but I really felt connected to them through our mutual baby-growing.  I felt - and still feel - that being pregnant was such a profound and special experience.  I loved reading about these women's experiences through doctor visits, oddities, joys, as well as the struggles that are bound to happen with any pregnancy.  There were weekly updates, questions and answers about how pregnancy has affected them, and everything in between.  Then one by one, these women brought their babies into the world and into their life.  And most notably, they brought them into their blogs.

These women went from "me"-centered blogs adorned with pictures of themselves and their growing bellies as well as entries chalked full of their thoughts and experiences to "he/she"-centered blogs full of pictures of and obsession with these new, adorable strangers.  I was so excited for them and just couldn't believe how much their lives had already changed.  I figured these new parents were just so excited about their children so of course they wanted the world to get to know them.  I figured these baby entries would stick around but then once the newness of the baby wore off, they would eventually get back into the occasional entry about themselves.  Because as much as I loved getting to know these little babes, I felt like I had really invested in those mommies lives as well after getting to know them throughout their pregnancy.

And then it hit me the other day:  I am totally that mom, too.  When I go shopping, it's straight to the baby section of the store - bypassing the "women" section.  It is just depressing for me to try on clothes underneath fluorescent lights because honestly, who has time to work out?  Or moreover, what new mom has time to focus on themselves?  I am so Presley-centered these days - making sure she is dressed head-to-toe and looking adorable - and I brush my teeth, make sure I at least fit into the clothes I am putting on for the day, and barely give myself a once-over in the mirror before heading out for the day.  I've been more than "fine" in this routine but I am now noticing that things don't have to be this way. 

As Presley gets more independent (which I would still call her anything but "independent" - especially through this separation anxiety phase that she is currently in) I find I can do a little more for myself throughout the day.  For example, she has been taking a nap every afternoon.  I could utilize that time to work out at home rather than sit on my behind writing a blog (Oops...) or to do dishes or whatever the case to feel better about myself, my home, or my life.  I just don't want to resent being a stay-at-home mother and I want to be able to feel better about myself and my physique.  So here's to killing two birds with one stone and utilizing these nap times for better purposes.  As well as writing the occasional "me"-centered blogs for any and all who wonder how the woman behind the monitor is doing these days.  (You other moms, don't forget to do the same!  I love hearing how you and your children are doing!)