Damn You, Target

I cannot stay away.  It's a sickness.  Cartwheel doesn't help either or the 5% discount using the Target card.  It's like I find deals on Cartwheel and then I have to go to Target.  Once there, I find shit I don't need, but still buy.

Don't get me started on Target clearance.  In the past week, I've bought another activity mat (to keep at my mom's house when she starts watching Baby Girl full time), two pairs of pants for Baby Girl, hooded baby bath towel, and long sleeved, footed pajamas!  I justify everything by saying she will need them eventually.

Eventually, we will be bathing her every day and this bath towel will put us at 4.
Eventually, it will be cold enough for pants and long sleeved footed pajamas.

At least clearance baby items are significantly cheaper than clearance Elaine clothes.

All baby, all the time

Pre-baby, I noticed that once my friends had a baby, it was like that's all said friend could put on their social media. I've fallen into the same trap, but not because I'm obsessed with my baby, but because I don't do anything but take care of my baby. I wish I had something other than baby related pictures and posts, but I am stuck in an eternal 3 hour cycle revolving around my baby. So it's not because I've changed, but my circumstances have changed. I guess I can't wait to go back to work to do something other than baby. Or be able to go out to a nice meal and take some more food pictures or just do something interesting that goes beyond monitoring poop color or being attached to my pump or cleaning up spit up...

You can't spoil a newborn

That's just one of the things I have heard. Also newborns aren't manipulative. And by manipulative, they cry for no reason. 

I question that last one. I'm currently holding my baby to sleep and I swear to god that after I picked her up and settled down into the chair, she opened her eyes and gave me the most devious and cutest smile. A smile that says "You just got played" or "You're my bitch" or "Sucker". Very self satisfying smile. I'm keeping my eye on you!!!

Exfoliation

Ever since giving birth, Ive put undue pressure on myself to get back to my pre-pregnancy body.  I know that logically it took me 10 months to put on the weight, I should give myself that much time to take it off.  If you know me,  I'm impatient and need results now.  It's not just the weight though.  My skin is what's giving me grief now.  I know it'll take some time to get back to normal, but it just doesn't feel the same.  It's not just loose, but different.

I read that exfoliating will help it bounce back, so before seeing a movie with the hubster, we stopped at Lush where I probably spent too much money on two tubs of exfoliating products:  Rub Rub Rub and Ocean Salt.  I use Rub Rub Rub every day  and has replaced my Dove bar and I use Ocean Salt once a week as I feel it does a bit more exfoliating than the other.  I really like how the Rub^3 leaves my skin feeling and smelling.

Taking a shower is one of my escapes as of late and if this makes it even more luxurious and decadent, then I think it's worth the extra money.

Treat yo'self!

Breathing Easier

The hubster and I had some very good friends come and visit us for a long weekend.  It was amazing, exactly what I needed.  They brought a sense of normalcy back into my life and just for a moment, I could breathe a little easier.

Just knowing that there was no judgement from my friends and that they were willing to take a crying, screaming baby and soothe her until she fell asleep was just priceless, really no words can describe it.  I don't get that sense of relief when my mom or the hubster are there for me.  Even if they are holding Baby Girl, I know that I need to be ready to be tagged back in, but with my friend, she had it covered from start to finish.  That's what a safety net feels like.

While my one friend covered the baby front, the other had me covered.  She made sure I could be myself and find myself again.  Their dual efforts really just brought me out of my postpartum rut.  They just left and I'm overwhelmingly sad.  I'll miss them so much.