Happy New Year, friends! I’m so pumped about the new year, new stuff, new job, new life, and on and on and on. To celebrate, I figured what’s better than a new baby for the new year? I’m offering $50 off any newborn lifestyle photoshoot booked in January. The shoot must take place before September 1, 2015. If you’re interested or just want some more information, please contact me at megan@crazybananas.com.
Thanks for all the love and support! Let’s do this, 2015!
Oh hey there! It’s just me, lounging in front of my Christmas tree, taking selfies in my new sweater that I’ve literally worn, like five out of the last seven days. In my defense, I am officially a real, live blogger now and it’s a super cute sweater, so I couldn’t really help myself. I think it’s in the blogger code that you MUST take selfies in front of twinkle lights in cute new sweaters or they will expel you from the union.
In other news, you’re probably wondering why I’m just now saying I’m a real, live blogger since I’ve been doing this for over 10 years. Well, long story short, this is my job now. My entire job, not my part time job or my fun side project…it’s the real deal! Earlier this week Crazybananas, LLC became an actual company with a tax ID and everything! On January 1st, 2015, this blog, my photography and my freelance writing will be my profession. Try explaining that one! Seriously, try. And if you figure out how to do it without sounding like a derpy dope, let me know. So far most of my conversations have gone like this:
Me: I created a company this week! Ahhhh! I’m so excited/terrified!
Kind, Inquiring Person: Oh, cool! So what is this company? What do you do?
Me: Um, well, a lot of things actually. I’m a writer, I freelance write and I also photograph people sometimes and I design stuff. Oh and consulting! Companies come to me to learn about how to work with bloggers. And stuff. It’s pretty varied actually…
Kind, Inquring Person: *blink blink blink*
I feel like something extremely big and important is happening in my professional like, one of those “two paths diverged in a wood” moments, but I’m realizing you never understand those moments until you’re looking back on them. While you’re actually living them, all you can do is keep swimming and try to keep your head above water. So for now, I’m going to do my best to put one foot in front of the other, breathe, and do the best I can.
Thank you so much, so, so much, for all of the love, support, comments, shares and insights. I know I wouldn’t have kept blogging without readers to connect with, so you are the ones I’m grateful for today.
Of course, I’m also extremely thankful for my family who has supported me as I worked my way through this decision. It hasn’t been easy, but here we are, and I know they are behind me. Our life is far from perfect, but I really believe as long as we keep trying, it will keep getting better. So for the rest of December, I’m signing off. There are two little people who need me to take them ice skating, a giant puppy who needs to hop through the snow like a bunny, and a husband to snuggle up to. Leading up to this big change, I’ve been working on overload, and they’ve born the brunt of my crazy. I know that doing this thing will require a whole new type of work ethic, and while I’m excited and ready, I want to make sure I start with my family’s tank full to the brim. I also need my tank to be filled, and part of the reason I’ve worked toward this change for so long, is because I believe it’s the best way to do this. The family/work balance will forever be a tightrope walk for me, but I think this is one step closer to getting my feet firmly planted.
I hope you all have an amazing holiday! I challenge you to list out 10 things you are grateful for every night before you drift off to sleep. This simple practice has changed my life in every possible way. I have found when I’m looking for the good things in my life, no matter how small, the bad things have less oomph. They just don’t pack the punch they used to. So for today, I’m thankful for:
1. Tate’s successful birthday party
2. Little boys in superhero costumes in a pink, princess castle, bounce house (see #1)
3. Lucy getting through her first semester of third grade with no big problems or issues
4. Teachers who love and care for my kids
5. Other parents who love and care for my kids
6. The ability to help out others when they need it
7. My friend Mara who is currently loaning me the latest season of Doctor Who, which I’m watching while writing this (multi-tasking!)
8. The big, dumb dog snoozing at my feet
9. My husband’s distinguished, ginger beard
10. My fully completed holiday shopping, and the fact that I don’t have to go to the Mall until December 26th (thank freaking god!)
See you in a few weeks, friends! It’s gonna be a fun ride!
Photo via Pinterest / Original Source
So, last week happened. And it wasn’t very fun. I mean, sure, there were happy bits here and there (like the photo above, popsicles are always happy), but for the most part, we were a miserable bunch. We all came down with some sort of cold/flu-like business, which seemed to affect everyone a little differently as it passed from person to person. Tate had a high fever for about five days straight, woke up about 10 times a night, was a whiny little monkey, and became the clingiest child ever to hang on to their mom’s leg. Lucy’s looked more like a regular cold, except with a horrid cough. And Miss Lu has a bit of a gagging problem when it comes to horrid coughs, which led to three nights straight cleaning up vomit from her bed/bathroom (OMG so gross I’m sorry, TMI), while she apologized. It affected me more like a sinus infection, with a headache and body aches joining the party.
Then, to top it all off, on Friday evening, Tate got whacked in the head with a swing and promptly passed out, causing us to call 911 and have our first experience in an ambulance. It was extremely traumatic for Tater and I, but everything was fine, and he was up and running around again within the hour. I’ve never been more thankful for helpful and kind neighbors as I was on Friday night. My sweet neighbor not only called 911 for me, but lent me her phone so Tate could watch Mickey Mouse in the ambulance and took care of Lucy so well, she didn’t even realize an ambulance came to the house until later that evening when someone mentioned it in passing.
Today it is rainy and dreary outside, and I’m so happy to be hunkered down with my laptop, coffee and Tate. Before I quit my old job, Mondays were my least favorite day of the week. I had a weekly presentation at 8:30 every Monday morning, and it was like being thrown in a bucket of cold water after a busy weekend with the family. Now, Mondays look much different. And after the chaos of the past few days, I’m so grateful for my Monday. I get up early to make coffee for myself and Trent, and take a good 30 minutes to catch up on emails, blogs, Facebook, Instagram, etc. before anyone else gets up. I then start the very long process of waking Lu up for school, all the while making lunches and packing backpacks. I run her to school while Trent stays home with Tate, and when I get home, Trent heads off to the office. Tate and I then settle in with some cartoons (his choice, which NEVER happens on the weekends, so he is very excited on Monday mornings) and I start in on my work. After a while, we head to the gym where Tate plays and I get those ever-important endorphins going. We usually go grocery shopping for the week as well, and before we know it, it’s time for Tate’s nap. After nap we pick up Lucy from school, and things usually get hectic again from there. But with a nice, gentle Monday morning under our belts, we can handle just about anything.
Today was a little funny around the Crazybananas house, it’s the last Friday before summer break. In less than a week, school will be out and our first summer with me at home (more) will commence. I am so very excited. In the past, summer’s have been sort of hard for me and the kids. With my old work schedule, and Lucy’s school schedule, all “summer” meant was scrambling even more to get childcare. It certainly never felt slower than the school year, in fact, it was probably more chaotic. Two summers ago we had a nanny full time, which was WONDERFUL, but so expensive. Last year Lucy went to daycare back at the place where she went to preschool, and where Tate goes, but it was still hard. She wanted to sleep in and hang at the pool, but our schedule just didn’t allow for that. I hated her missing out, and dreamed of late wake-up calls and lazy days in the summer sun.
This year is so completely different from where we were before. I will still be working two days a week in the office, and our fabulous former nanny Amanda will be with us on those days. But three days a week plus weekends it will just be me and the kids! I know it won’t be easy, and there will be days when I wish I could escape to an office, but hopefully those days will be few and far between.
The one thing I will miss are my mornings alone with Mr. Tate. For the past two years he’s been tagging along as we’ve run Lulu to this or that activity, with little regard to his wants or schedule. But while she was in school this semester and I was home, we finally got some time to hang out alone. Today we had our last lazy Friday, laying around in our PJs and playing trains, taking breaks only to watch some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It was lovely.
Next week it will all change. Again. That seems to be a theme in this here life of mine. So far, change is good. Let’s hope we keep the streak going!
