The Doctors Wife

Fight The Frump- Skin-care

It's Friday and we are fighting the frump with Fussy! Today we are talking skin-care. Skin-care is such an important part of taking care of yourself and keeping pre-mature aging at bay. You should be removing make-up, cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting (sun-screen) daily, but today our focus is on serious skin care. I'm talking facials. Have you ever had a facial before? Most spas offer facials tailored to all different skin types so you can get some serious, professional help for any problems that you may have. Dry, oily, sensitive, damaged, acne prone, you name it. Today I went in for a facial because lately my skin has been a little, hmm..what's the word? Oh yes, crazy. Apart from being relaxing, my skin looks 100 times better than it did this morning. So ladies, take the plunge, splurge on yourself and make an appointment today! You are worth it!

Thanks to Fussy for hosting- head over to find other Frump Fighting tips, or post one of your own!

Empty

I took Hannah on a little day trip to visit a friend (and run a few out of town errands). I have posted before about how amazed I am at the preparations that have to happen to go on a simple day trip. So last night I realized that I needed to wash jeans if I wanted something to wear today besides slacks. (slacks in the car for 3 hours? I would be a wrinkled mess!) So I put all of my jeans into the washer, did a little picking up around the house, some list making (for the trip) and went to bed. This morning I got up and got myself in gear. After I got out of the shower I remembered my jeans. One cycle in the dryer usually doesn't get a load of denim completely dry, so I turned the dryer on to finish them off. I finished getting ready (sans said jeans) and got Hannah ready and the diaper bag packed. I went to go get my jeans out of the dryer so I could finish getting ready, and imagine my surprise when I opened the dryer and it was empty. Apparently I never actually put the jeans into the dryer. So I ended up wearing stuffing myself into a pair and heading out the door. Not a great start, but I had a great day!

Only One

My mom and I had dinner at a new bakery/cafe by our house the other day for lunch. The food was good and we enjoyed the atmosphere, however there was one thing that made the whole experience a little weird. I had Hannah with me, and when we went to be seated I could not find a high chair. I asked the waitress for one and she responded that she would be happy to get one. A couple of minutes later she returned and explained "that someone else was using the highchair, but they were almost finished and she would bring it over when they left." Wait...what? One highchair? Seriously? Let me add that this is not some tiny little two table bistro- it is a size-able, spacious cafe and right smack dab in the middle of suburbia. Weird!! Their dinner menu sounded really good, and my mom called tonight to see if we wanted to join them and try it out. She made a joke about calling ahead to reserve the high chair. I laughed, but then wondered what we would do if someone else was there with a baby. When we arrived there was a couple in front of us with a toddler and I immediately began to scope the restaurant for the highchair. The woman turned around to me. "Will you need a highchair?" I replied yes, she smiled "Well, they only have one, and we can put her in a booster seat, you can take it" I was touched that she was being so considerate as her husband brought the high chair over. But then I thought, seriously...only one?!

Wait...it's Monday?

Today has felt like a Sunday- Mike was off and I have therefore been in weekend mode all day. I got to sleep in (what a wonderful husband I have!) and get some much needed sleep. We got ready for the day and ran errands. Nothing too exciting but the weather was gorgeous! (unfortunately it is supposed to be cold again tomorrow) We spent the evening catching up on some tv (I love you DVR!) and now I am so ready for the Project Runway finale! I keep thinking that tomorrow is Monday, so we'll see if I remember that tomorrow is actually Tuesday in time to make it to Gymboree. (Could this post be more random?!) Hopefully tomorrow will be a little more cohesive!

Stress

I have been a little stressed out. We have had so much going on and it is starting to get to me. I haven't been sleeping and last night I started to shake. It didn't last very long, but it really made me stop and think about everything that we have had going on in our life right now. I got out my journal (something I haven't really done since I started this blog) and tried to write everything out. I felt better, but it still took me several more hours to fall asleep. So today I took off for some solo time while Mike played with Hannah. I know I need to make some changes before this gets totally out of hand. So I did a little shopping today (retail therapy- what can I say?) and got a few fun things for spring, I am going to make an appointment for a facial (the stress is making my skin insane) and eyebrow wax (I cannot be trusted with tweezers, I cannot stop myself and would end up with no eyebrows), a mani/pedi (because I think it's time for some pampering) and an appointment for our couples massage. I'm also going to try to get to bed earlier, and it's time for some diet changes. I am usually pretty picky about what we eat, (lots of natural/ organic, several vegetarian meals per week, etc) and I have been a little lax and we have been eating way too much meat and dairy. Seeing what Angela is doing for her husband to aid in his cancer treatment has reminded me how important it is to feed our bodies properly, and encouraged me to go back to a diet that is healthier for us. (oh comfort food- why are you so bad?) So I'm going to try to cut the meat down to three meals per week, and dramatically cut back on the dairy. I'm also going to try to decrease the sugar, as I have been hitting the sugar a little hard. So today I'm going to bed feeling so much better. I feel like I have a plan and am making positive changes before the stress get totally off the chart.

Fight The Frump- Hosiery

Ok ladies, today we are Fighting The Frump with Fussy! To me nothing is frumpier than panty hose- they run, they bunch and are in general bleh! But they are a necessary sin, there are times when hosiery is appropriate- so what's a frump fighter to do?

Let me introduce you to thigh-highs. Say hello to your new best friend. Not only are thigh highs much more comfortable (no more bunching, sagging, wedgie inducing discomfort!) they are sexy. (Trust me when I tell you that your husband will be delighted when he discovers that you are wearing thigh highs as an "everyday" item.) You will feel sexy too- and everyone knows that if you feel sexy you will be exuding confidence and men find that irresistible!

Another great option is the "all in one" this has attached lace garters and also oozes sex appeal. (a great option if you are afraid that your stockings will fall- also super comfortable!) I am proud to say that all regular panty hose has been removed from my wardrobe and thigh highs and all-in one's reign supreme. They are not at all hard to find- Victoria's Secret, Fredericks of Hollywood, Hanes, and Calvin Klein all make them. (I am sure that there are others, but I am familiar with these brands) Trust me- this is an item that you will want to add to your shopping list (and your husband will thank you!) So fight the frump and get some thigh highs today!
Thanks to Mrs. Fussypants for hosting- head over to check out more Fight the Frump ideas, or post one of your own!
*My linking went a little crazy! Find Victoria's Secret, Frederick's Of Hollywood and Hanes by clicking- the links should be fixed!

Show Some Love

My friend Angela over at The Painted House could use some bloggy love. They just received news that her husband has non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I am heart-sick for her family. She is a fellow doctors wife with young children, and she and her precious family have been on my mind. Angela is taking this news with strength and grace, but she could use your prayers and encouragement. Let's bless her with kindness and compassion, so won't you please stop over and share an encouraging word?

The Baby Bandwagon

I mentioned last week that I was out of town visiting some friends that I hadn't seen in awhile. I had lunch with my friend Tami (a former co-worker) and I met her at her (my old) office. Many of my ex-coworkers hadn't seen Hannah since she was 3 months old. Everyone though she was a doll, and it was fun getting to see some old friends. While visiting, the inevitable question came up; "When are you going to try for number two?"

I wrote a post awhile back about my struggles with infertility, and while I definitely want to have more children, I am not sure if it is something that will happen for us. That is the thing with infertility, you just don't know. Mike and I have had many discussions about the right time for us to actively try for a second child, and I am the one who has reservations. It is not being pregnant or having another child that is giving me the reservations, it is the idea of going through all of the emotional drama/ pain/ roller-coaster that is infertility. I never thought I would have any reservations about trying to conceive again, but I have just been so caught up blissfully enjoying Hannah and the life that we have built, that I just haven't been focused on that. It is like the whole battle to get pregnant is such a distant memory, like it was such a long time ago. But lately I find that my focus is starting to pull a little, and I am starting to think about baby number two. I desperately want more children and I really, really want Hannah to have at least one sibling.

When I look at Hannah I know that she was worth every disappointment that I ever faced trying to get pregnant. She was worth every pill, every shot, every procedure. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. And that is what confuses me about my reservation about getting back on the baby bandwagon, I know that it is worth it, and even though there are no guarantees, it is worth the risk.

What my reservation comes down to is I know the person I was while trying to get pregnant. I was emotionally a wreck and that person is what is causing me to hesitate. I don't want that woman who felt so desperate to come into my life and steal even the slightest bit of the joy that I have.

I know that we may not face the same difficulties the second time around, but if we do, I don't want it to take such large role in my life. I now that what is needed is balance. I will have to balance my desire to grow our family with the blessing of taking care of the family that I already have. I will have to balance any disappointment I face, with the sheer joy I feel when I look into Hannah's eyes. Because looking into my daughter's eyes I know that the reservation I feel, is fear of disappointment. Because now I know without any doubt the risk is worth it. And I can't let fear of disappointment stand in the way of something that is so, so much better.

15

Guess who weighs fifteen pounds?

Hannah had her weight check on Friday and she was right at 15 pounds. Our pediatrician was pleased with her progress, but we have to go back again next month to make sure she is still on her tiny growth curve. I am happy with her weight gain and am so much more relaxed. That's the funny thing about motherhood- when the pediatrician first mentioned that Hannah needed to gain weight, it freaked me out. I obsessed over what she ate for about two weeks before I finally chilled out. I consider myself to be a rational person, but for about two weeks I was not rational at all. Do you know how many calories are in a 4oz container of organic bananas? 90. In a YoBaby yogurt? 110. I could list off the calorie content of all of Hannah's food and that is kind of ridiculous. Motherhood can make you neurotic about the strangest things, I never thought I'd be counting calories for my 9 (now 10- oh my!) month old. But I did, and still am to a lesser degree. Motherhood is a balance of worrying about your children to a healthy degree, but not obsessing about them. I am trying not to obsess. Trying. I am sure I will not always succeed, but I will try.

About Last Night

So last night was a great Valentine's! I made dinner (and can I just say I thought it was delicious?!) and we enjoyed a quiet evening at home. It was very relaxing and Mike and I enjoyed getting to talk (Hannah was in bed). And guess who remembered to take pictures?!

Chocolate brownies with strawberries...mmmmm!
I hope you had a great Valentine's Day!