Witty Wednesday: Midwest Inspiration

Here's me, trying something new. I love quotations and sharing them - via a cute card, at the top of an agenda, or whenever something reminds me of someone. So . . . I'm thinking that maybe I'll start "blogging more" by sharing a weekly quote. On a Wednesday. We'll see . . . maybe someone can help me with a better title.

At any rate . . . there are two quotes I found that I think it'll be great to share with you. Especially those of you who identify with the concept of "the midwest people." [I found these quotes in my Midwest Living Magazine - a gift that gives me new ideas for place to go and things to do in this area of the country. Thanks, Mom!]

"Let's just say we Midwesterners choose what works, and only what works, and leave the rest behind. That's why we're the ultimate test market, and why marketers proclaim: 'If it doesn't play in the Heartland, it won't play.' I consider 'Midwest' as an honest, approachable, easy style of personal vision." - Amy Butler (Ohio Designer)

"William Maxwell used to say about Illinois that it was his 'Imagination's Home.' There is something about the Midwest that I've tried to get into my stories: the odd politeness of the people here, their secretiveness, their wish to do good.' - Charles Baxter (Minnesota professor)

You Can't Be Stressed Around a Baby

While home for the holidays, I did a little reminiscing with one of my aunts.

When I was in grad school, I spent every Tuesday afternoon at her house, holding her babies. My cousins. Three of them. You see, the twins were born in November, and they already had the lovely Hailey, who at that point was around 16 months old (if I’ve done my math correctly). Let’s just say that she was also a baby – just not the newborn variety.

As you can imagine, their household was a little insane, and needed a little assistance.

And so I became the Tuesday Girl.

Every Tuesday afternoon I spent approximately 4 hours at their house – I held, fed, changed diapers, fed, rocked-to-sleep, changed diapers, and occasionally entertained, 3 very small girls.

It was great. And exhausting. And perfect for a grad student in housing.

You see, grad school is stressful. It’s especially stressful if you also have an assistantship in residence life – it feels like a full time job, while also going to school full time, and trying to figure out how to supervise staff and appropriately manage a crisis and hold students accountable. Really great stuff – but stressful to try and balance it all and pay for school and figure out “what’s next” in life. So . . . yeah. .. . it was stressful.

But I had my secret weapons: Avery, Anna and Hailey.

Why, you ask?

Because you can’t be stressed when you’re holding a baby. They’re smart. Like dogs, they can sense how you’re feeling. And if you’re stressed? Then they’re stressed. And then they quickly become miserable. And when they’re miserable? They cry. And since you probably don’t want to join in (especially when there are additional small beings that might join in on the crying), you want to console them. And while you’re consoling the baby, it helps you console yourself. Or at least pull yourself out of whatever cohort-ridden drama you’ve found yourself part of, and stop thinking about that next thesis chapter you have to write, or how you’re going to fit in four classes and a practicum alongside your assistantship next semester.

All you have to focus on is holding a baby. Maybe trying to make her smile, or giggle, or calm herself because you awakened her for her afternoon snack. It’s not about you. It’s about the baby.

I was reminded of this when I saw the girls for Hanukkah. They are now 11 and 12 – and the oldest might now officially be taller than me (I’m not sure what I find more unacceptable – her extra 2 inches or the “bye shorty” valediction I received from her. Probably the latter). Anyway . . . my aunt and I reminisced about the days of jotting down every bodily function, memorizing the book “Moo, Ba, La la la” and ‘the Anna dance.’ Those were the days! Though, I do enjoy talking books with them or taking them down in a game of Uno or Who Gnu!

After that visit home, I got to meet Baby G, my bestie’s firstborn.

He.Is.Adorable. Clearly - look at that face!!!

Many of her siblings and their families were present, so I tried to be kind, and not steal or monopolize the baby. Though, I might have once (or twice) said “I think your brother-in-law is hogging the baby.”

[He WAS!!!]

But who could blame him? G is gorgeous and smells amazing and . . . you can’t be stressed when you’re holding a baby! And so I backed down and tried to focus on other things. But it was a good reminder that perhaps I need to volunteer at the hospital to hold babies. It might be a really healthy way to get some stress to disappear.

Come on . . . you know you’d wanna hold this adorable nugget!

I recommend you find someone in your life with a little one [asking a stranger is REALLY awkward, and probably a really bad idea], and volunteer to babysit. Chances are high the parents might need a night out together, and you can get some de-stressing in.

** Side note: I might have spent more time trying to google 'antonym of salutation' to figure out what to call Hailey's farewell statement. What the heck? I've shared the great blog I found along with the appropriate word: valediction. You learn something new every day . . .

New Year’s Resolutions

I don’t normally believe in making resolutions for the new year. I think if you want to make a change in your life, you should do it. And do it now. Not wait for a new year to begin.

Having said that, I’ve decided that NOW, conveniently, I’d like to focus on some things for the upcoming year. [What can I say . . . sometimes I also like to change my mind. J ]

My friend Erin and I often talk about trying to find balance, living in a new town with a new job. [Yes, I know that I have been here now for just over a year, however, the job is big, so I’m giving myself two years to call it “new” . . . deal with it.]

It seems as though we can do one thing outside our jobs – we can work out, be social with other human beings, or we can manage our life [clean our house, cook good meals, do our laundry in a timely manner, organize our closets, etc.]. But, apparently, we can’t do it all. Something, and often, TWO-things, always fall off the plate. I have spent the last year attempting to have a social life, which worked out for the most part, but I also tried to do that other stuff, thus, seemingly failing at much.

It’s okay, however. I’m going to let it go. But for 2012, I’ve decided that, per my usual self – I do want to try and do it all. I’d like to get up early and work out in the mornings so I can be social in the evenings – and maybe cook, clean and organize a little in there, too. [But not too much – let’s be real – I can’t completely change who I am!!!]

In addition to working on balance, I also want to blog more. I enjoy the process of writing, but haven’t made much time in the last few months to make that happen. I had originally thought I’d try to blog every day – but who really wants to read a post every day? So I’m going to come up with a more manageable goal – but I’m going to be more intentional about writing. I’ll also share at least one weekly quotation and photograph to mix things up a bit. I’m working on some catchy titles for those now. (If you have any ideas, feel free to toss those my way!)

To start the new year off right, I’m going to share both with you today. This picture is an amaryllis I got from my aunt for Christmas. It bloomed yesterday. What better message than a brand new flower in a brand new year?

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” - Edith Lovejoy Pierce