Happy Friday!

Happy Friday, folks! I made it through my first week of "getting dressed". And by "week" I mean Monday-Friday. ;) I also survived Jordan going back to school on Thursday. Going back to school means he's on campus (whether that be for actual class or studying) Monday - Friday, from about 8-5 and then work Friday - Sunday from 6pm - midnight. I was definitely spoiled over the summer having him home to help me with Julian ALL.DAY.LONG. This week began my first week of truly being a full-time homemaker and stay at home mom. A little daunting, but extremely exciting.

I began my week by reading from FlyLady.net Super inspiring, as I told you on my last blog post. The past four days I really got on top of the laundry, went to bed with and emptied and shined sink, laid my clothes out the night before, woke up, got fully ready for the day and "swished and swiped" the bathroom every morning. (The means I wiped down the sink, mirrors and toilet). Notice how I said "past four days"...This morning I didn't exactly "swish and swipe" and I didn't really do ANY house cleaning. We did, however, go to the San Diego zoo with a good friend (Abby Sostre) and her little boy, Desmond. It was a hot and humid adventure, but lots of fun!

Today began with Julian and I being (rudely) woken up by my alarm at 6:30 and being out the door by 8am. Ummm, if you know me at all, you know that I am SO not a morning person. :| Julian loved seeing all the different animals with the elephant and the orangutan being his favorite. (P.s. "Orangutan" is a very tricky word to spell.) He took a little 20 minutes cat nap in the car on the way home and that was it for the day! Apparently that's all a 16 month old needs to be rip roaring ready to go all afternoon! When we got home I was exhausted from being in the sun all morning so I turned on a video and plopped onto the couch until dada got home to take over for a short bit. Yay for dada!!! The only good thing about Julian not taking a good nap is having him go down early for bed. (Can we say 6:45pm?! Holla!)

Okay, next bit, the last 2 days of my "Getting Dressed" for the week:

Thursday

Paisley top - Target

Jade necklace - a gift!

White denim shorts - Express (I really do own some more "fancier" items, see???)

Friday (okay, so not the most stylish outfit, but I was going to the zoo...)

White ribbed tank - Old Navy

Black cami - Kohls

Dark wash denim - Target (in "long" so I cuffed them)

Black uber comfy sandal - Nike brand from Famous Footwear

Cool pewter pendant necklace - from my beloved Grandma Shirley's costume jewelry box

p.s. my hair definitely ended up in a pony tail right away, I rolled up my jeans even more and lost the white tank. It was SO hot at the zoo!

Tomorrow is SATURDAY! 

I'm going to focus on chores and grocery shopping! I might even "get dressed". ;)

Getting Dressed

I'm not big on fashion. Sure, I like to look cute and presentable, but what I really like is to be comfortable and functional. As a SAHM of a 16 month old I don't really feel like it is practical to be dressed to the nines every day. I don't wear a lot of jewelry. I don't cake on the make-up and I don't spend hours on my hair. I don't have the time or patience for all that stuff. Throughout the day I'm cleaning the house (which involves scrubbing the toilet, doing laundry, wiping down the litter box, mopping the floor on my hands-and-knees, vacuuming, etc), walking around outside or playing on the floor with Julian, nursing, and laying in bed attempting to get aforementioned toddler down for a nap.

Being a SAHM, oftentimes I don't feel like getting dressed or even brushing my hair and putting on a hint of make-up. That's bad. That's very bad. I should still take pride in my appearance and instill the value of "routine, put-togetherness, hygiene and self-care" to my son and future children. I also really should want to look good for my awesome husband. I started reading from the website www.flylady.net. She's really encouraged me to get myself together in the morning for the sake of my home and my family and of course, myself. I'm on day 3 of "getting dressed, fixing my hair and putting on make up". True, yesterday this didn't happen until after noon, but those days will happen. Julian was being extra clingy and needed me to take care of him more than I needed to get out of my pjs.

Now, I'm a really big believer in being natural. Letting your skin breath and bring comfortable going make-up free. Typically, in the past, I would only put on make up on Sunday for church. But, I'm making a change for myself. I DO feel comfortable in my own skin sans make-up, however when I put on a little tinted moisturizer, some bronzer and mascara, I feel better. I feel like I'm ready to really face the day. If you really feel ready to face the day without a stitch of make up, that's awesome! More power to you! Like I said, I'm a firm believer in letting your skin be bare. But for me, I have to make this change.

My make up routine is simple. I put on a tinted moisturizer with SPF 15. Right now I'm using Physician's Formula. It's light and feel like I'm just putting on a little screen. Then I I use a little bronzer to help my pale face look "alive". (Can we say "vampire-esque w/o it?!). Next I run a small amount of eye-liner over my top eyelids. Then I curl my eye lashes and apply a generous amount of waterproof black mascara. And finally, I dab on some lip gloss. It takes me about 5-10 minutes. I think because I have dark features (i.e. thick, dark (unruly) eyebrows, hazel eyes and dark eyelashes) I never really look like I'm wearing a ton of make up...even when I put a lot on. I guess that's a good thing?

Along with putting make up on every day I've also started "getting dressed". For me, getting dressed means throwing on something that I didn't sleep in. Whether that be a clean pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt or some shorts and a tank. The FlyLady suggested laying out my clothes before I go to bed. So I've been doing that. I think it's really helped. I've even picked out a necklace or bracelet to spruce up my outfits. My daily wardrobe is simple, comfortable, cute enough to be seen in public, and most importantly functional! I can chase Julian around, nurse, clean the house and run errands in it. Most of my clothes are from "cheap" places such as Target, Ross, Old Navy and Kohl's. I don't have the money or the patience or the fashion-sense to go to some fancier type place, pick out something cute and attempt to make a great outfit. I can pin stuff all I want, but when it comes right down to it, I'm not going to wear that puffy vest with the cool necklace and the awesome knee-high boots. Oh, and let's not forget the spiffy sunglasses and over-sized bag. Maybe in my dreams, but this is reality and reality says it's a no-go until I have a)enough money and b)a personal shopper.

So this is what I wore this week, so far (please keep in mind that I am NOT a fancy person. I am simple. My style is simple):

Monday

Burgandy yoga pants - Target

White boyfriend T - Old Navy

Beaded multi-color bracelet - Target

Pink/Black/White "converse" - SUPER OLD from Payless

Tuesday

Dark washed denim shorts - Target

Black comfy T - Target

Black/grey beaded bracelet - Target

Pewter heart necklace - The Parable

Silver flip flops - Old Navy

Wednesday

Pink cami - Kohls

Tan tank - Forever21

Light wash denim shorts - Target

Pink beaded bracelet - handmade by my sister, Tessa

Charm necklace - Forever21

Gold sandals - BellaB (SLO)

All this "getting dressed" stuff may not seem like a big deal to some, but for me, it is. I'm lazy by nature. I want to be comfortable. I want to lounge. I want to sit at the computer and watch movies. I want to lay in bed and play on my phone. I NEED TO STOP BEING LAZY. Getting dressed and putting on make-up is what is inspiring me to DO WORK. 

A Shamelessly Proud Mama of a Toddler Growing Up Far Too Fast

Today I nearly cried. Now, that's not that unusual of an experience for me. I'm quite naturally an emotional person to begin with. Add to that naturalness the hormones related to breastfeeding and you occasionally have a blubbering fool on your hands. But I digress.

Without a doubt, every mother has this "sudden" realization occur once in a while - my baby is growing up! Yes, yes, that was the epiphany I had this afternoon as I watched my sweet little toddler romping about, darting back-and-forth between the deck and the living room. He's running. He's walking backwards. He's walking backwards IN CIRCLES. He's learning what "jumping" is and how to "walk slooooow" and "walk FAST!". He can point out countless animals and objects in our (multiple) daily reading sessions. 

Today when we were looking at a picture of me on Facebook I said, "Julian, who's that?" (While pointing to said photo). "Mama!" He sweetly said! OH.MY.GOSH. Melt my heart, child! That was the first time he's actually verbally acknowledged who I am. I'm his mama. I love being his mama...his very shamelessly proud mama. 

The Latest Nitty Gritty

It's been a while since I've given a Rossi Family Update...aka "here's what's up with Julian these days!"

He's a handful; we'll start with that! An adorable, lovable, hilarious, precious, crazy handful. He's always been kind of a "high needs" baby, to use the phrase by Dr. William Sears. Defined by another blogger as: "a special brand of little ones that must constantly be held, constantly be "bounced" or walked around, eat around the clock, refuse to self-soothe, reject pacifiers and bottles, hate to be cuddled -- and the list goes on." Sounds like Julian!

I wanted to write this next part to just lay it all out; to answer any questions there may be on my choices and "just how long are we going to co-sleep and breastfeed". (Because, DUH, that's everyone else's business, right?)

How have I handled this "high needs" baby and now toddler of mine? I still co-sleep and I will continue to do so until we all (Jordan, Julian and I) feel comfortable with stopping. We currently live in a one bedroom apartment, so he's going to be in our room for the next two years of seminary regardless. We all sleep better in our respective beds. Our full-sized bed is on the box spring on the ground - that's where Julian and I sleep. The twin-sized mat (it's actually two mats on top of each other that end up being the exact size of a twin) is literally right next to our bed, touching it, and that's where Jordan sleeps. I can reach out and touch him, no worries there. Jordan works nights and also gets up a lot earlier than Julian and I during the school year. (5:30/6am compared to 8isham). We LIKE this sleeping arrangement. Even if Julian had his own room, he would still be sleeping in my bed. I like it, he likes it, Jordan likes it. Really, that's all that matters. It works for us and it's not harming anyone. In fact, it helps. It helps Julian and I bond. If we've had a rough day (ie: if Juilan was a pill and mommy had to pray for patience) all of that tension disappears when I am lying in bed nursing him to sleep and cuddling whenever he wakes up. It calms him down. It helps us both sleep better at night. It encourages breastfeeding. 

On to my next point. Julian is now 15 months old and I don't see any sign of weaning. And I LIKE this! Jordan likes it. Julian likes it. Again, that's all that matters. He's refused the paci. Never liked a bottle until recently, and let's be honest, I don't really need to be pumping and giving him breastmilk via a bottle at this day and age. Those who say "why don't you just pump and feed your toddler with a bottle?" Um, do you realize how much *work* that is? How *impersonal* that sounds? I've been happily and successfully breastfeeding my son for 15 months. Why would I suddenly stop a good and easy thing in favor of: using an expensive pump, attempting to get more than an ounce in 20 minutes, washing a bottle, etc when I could just: pull down my shirt, nurse my son and be done in about 1-5 minutes flat? Nursing toddlers aren't the same as nursing newborns. He used to nurse for about 20 minutes every 90 minutes, give or take. Now he nurses, well, there really isn't much of a schedule! He nurses a few times at night, before his nap, after his nap, before bed time and any other time he's feeling a little need for the milky. To him, it's not just nutrition. It's comfort. I tried to get him attached to a lovely, a paci, a teddy, or what have you. I'm "secretly" happy he didn't care for any of those things. He just wants his mama and the yummy, comforting milky I provide. Nursing Julian allows for us to have a calm, cool and collected moment together (except for when he's doing nursing acrobats). 

Why don't I wean? You may ask. Why would I? Is my question to those pondering this. The World Health Organization (WHO) states this: "Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond" And then there's this: "the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby's life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby." You can also read this article from La Leche League. Anyhow, these are just a few snippets highlighting why it's "okay" and even "beneficial" to continue to breastfeed well past 12 months of age. In fact, I'm not going to take the time to look up and post all the websites/links, but here's one quote from www.kellymom.com: "Child-led weaning occurs when a child no longer has a need to nurse – nutritionally or emotionally. A baby who self-weans is usually well over a year old, is getting most of his nutrition from solids, is drinking well from a cup, and cuts down on nursing gradually. If children are truly allowed to self-wean in their own time, most will do so somewhere between the 2nd and 4th year. Obviously, some will wean before this time and some will wean after this time, too."

I truly believe that the co-sleeping and (extended) breastfeeding have helped me to meet Julian's physical, emotional, and physiological needs. It has helped me, as well. It puts less pressure on me, for sure. I don't need to "get him to sleep in his crib", "learn to fall asleep without nursing/rocking/bouncing/whatever", have some sort of "feeding schedule that fits MY needs". I'm a stay at home mom. It's not like being this kind of parent has caused me to lose who I am. This IS who I am. I am a child of God. I am a wife. I am a mother. I am homemaker. I am SO many things.

What else has been going on in the SoCal Rossi household? (Because there's the SLO-Cal Rossi household as well, so I must differentiate. :) ) Well, on July 6th we signed a lease for a new apartment complex in Escondido. We moved out of our comfortable 2 bedroom condo in Scripps Ranch, San Diego to an equally comfortable 1 bedroom apartment in north Escondido. Our desire was for me to be able to fully focus on Julian and being a better wife and for Jordan to be closer to seminary. So far it has been awesome! I am frightfully busy...although I most certainly can be making better use of what little free time I have. Our little apartment is coming together nicely! Our neighbors are great and the area feels safe. It's still summer, so things aren't truly in full-swing just yet. Jordan starts school full-time in 2 1/2 weeks. He'll be entering his 2nd year of the Masters of Divinity (M.Div) program here at Westminster Seminary California. There is the option to get through it in 4 years, but I'm quite confident that he can do it in 3. He's studly like that. On top of his full time grad school he's also working 18-30 hours a week as a security guard. I'm not gonna lie, I think he's awesome. Sure, we're still flat broke and in the red due to student loans, but we're getting through, trusting God and working hard!

When September rolls around I plan on doing weekly play-dates with fellow church and seminary mommies. I used to be a social butterfly back in my single and pre-Julian days. Since having a baby I've become somewhat of a recluse! Eek! Not wise I tell you, not wise at all! I end up doing things like spending too much time on Facebook or watching Netflix! I need to get out and make friends! I also looked up the kid's library schedule here in Escondido. Definitely going there a couple times a week! Storytime and music for toddlers? Yes, please! Julian loves to be out and about, be around other children, and see new sights. This will be good for us. 

Of course, last but not least, I MISS MY FAMILY!!! My parents and siblings are in Templeton doing their thing and my wonderful in-laws and in San Luis Obispo doing their thing. *Le Sigh*. Oh if only there weren't 300 miles between us. I last saw them in June/July. Not too long ago, but when you're tight-knit family, every week seems like so long! Thankfully I get to see my lovely sister-in-law, Courtney, and her boyfriend, Uncle Marky, in just 4 days! We can't wait! In September I hope to take Julian and head to SLO/Templeton for a much needed visit with the fam. It can't come soon enough!

Oh, and did I mention that my 10 year high school reunion is coming up this weekend?!?! Sadly, I won't be able to attend, but I just wanted to point out that I am now 28 years old and have been out of high school for 10 years. Time flies! 

Whew! This was a LONG blog post! I had a lot to catch up on. Thanks for reading!