YOHO: You Only Have One :)

While walking Bean up to the pool today, I got really sad. It's taken me about 18 months to figure out how to raise one child well (or at least do a decent job at it). We are more excited than words and tears can say, but I frequently get fearful about having two so close together. I'm sure everything will work out fine yet it's hard for me to see how I'll be able to give both children the same. I've been seeing the "YOLO" catchphrase everywhere. With a little tweak, this summer is a project in YOHO - You Only Have One - enjoying every moment with just Bean so I'll have no regrets or wishes once little Chickpea arrives in October!

YOHO Adventure #1: We took the wagon (Bean's favorite) up to the pool for a picnic lunch. He loved all the cars, trucks, and runners that passed pointing out every one. His newest thing is saying "Kiss" before or after giving one. I soaked up each sweet peck on the arm, knee, or cheek and giggle that followed while being covered in peanut butter smudges. Who am I kidding? Yes, two will be challenging at first - but to have these precious interactions with TWO babies is so worth it! :)

Acting on Intentions

I'm going to toot my own horn: I think I'm pretty creative. :)

That being said, you probably wouldn't know it as these ideas typically stay in my head. It's the acting on it part that doesn't happen. After reading The Happiness Project though, I'm attempting to change this. I had an opportunity this week to carry out my first intention.

We (my husband and I) are finding out tomorrow if our newest baby is a boy or a girl. While his parents live down the road - literally, my parents are over 2 hours away. I know they would love to be here to experience the reveal firsthand, so I wanted to come up with a cute way to involve them. After scouring Pinterest for ideas, I came up with my own twist. (Disclaimer: It was not one that I found on Pinterest under gender reveal or parent/family gender reveal.)

I decided to blow up two neutral colored balloons and fill them with construction paper confetti and a note . One balloon held "It's a Boy!", the other "It's a Girl!" They were put in a box and sealed with directions of what to do when they open the package. I ended up calling tonight to say that a package was arriving tomorrow but I didn't spill any details. :) The plan is to call and let them know which balloon to pop. While it's not an amazing idea, I think they will appreciate the thought.

Balloon innards

Goodies inside the balloon

Snuggly inside the box!

Ready to ship! The pink paper says, "It's time to see what your new grandchild will be!"

Intention turned action: Check! I cannot wait to see how my parents like it!

Living the 4th and Beyond - Happiness

It's been a while since I was last on retreat. Each year when that February weekend when the Oratory takes a group to Cape May rolls around, I sit and reminisce about how wonderful that first year was.. A college freshman trying to find my way, I stumbled upon the St. Thomas More Oratory. While I didn't take part in everything they had to offer the change that place has made upon my life and my heart will never cease to amaze me. Liam's middle name is named in honor of it - this is just one example. Oh, and I found my husband there. <3

So life has changed a lot since February of 2002. 10 years later, I have accomplished a number of things that I wanted to do in my life: graduate from college, get married, own a house, obtain a Master's degree, have children. Superficially glancing at this list, many people would say this is a lifetime's worth of goals. Honestly, it is. That's not how my mind works though.. While a happy person, I tend to focus on what I have not accomplished, what I have not succeeded at, and what I cannot do as well as I would like to. Case in point in writing this post: I used to take great pride in my writing ability, yet I look at the last word of the previous sentence and struggle with the fact that I cannot come up with a different word so it will not end in a preposition.

Type A - yes.

Perfectionist - you bet.

Maybe that explains it, but I'm forced to dig deeper. I'm fairly certain I've always had these personality traits but somewhere between high school graduation and here, I've gotten off the path of "happiness". Being the nostalgic person I am, I read my senior yearbook filled with genuine comments from true friends about my attitude towards life and the inspiration it brings. I got inspired just reading the notes! But that person is no longer ME. Am I upset with who I am? Well, not exactly. I know that I'm blessed and I am grateful for all that I have. My biggest "problem" with me is that I feel I don't appreciate these things ALL the time. I let silly, little things get in the way of the big picture - so that is what I am setting out to change.

A friend talked about The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin on her blog and I was intrigued. I got a copy from the library and began reading. While only two chapters in, I could not help to think of myself while reading it. It's like the author is me - with a few glaring differences. You know, not being a former clerk for a Supreme Court justice or having (what I presume to be) millions from writing a book being how to be happy. In the end, I believe Gretchen "found" that she was closer to happiness than when she started. That's the thing about happiness: it's a daily commitment - same with being a Catholic - you can't just say you believe in Jesus and call it a day. You need to continually commit yourself to being a good person, prayer, trying to improve, giving thanks, and so on.

Let me get back to the 4th day. Without ruining the experience for those who may one day go on such a life changing retreat, the retreat lasts for three days so the fourth day is, more or less, your next step. What will you do with all you've heard, read, experienced? To me, the fourth day was always a fresh start - almost like a New Year's resolution. So, I'm going to try my hand at my own happiness project.

[ This picture makes me giggle as a dear friend sent it to our team at work on for May 4th with the caption, "May the Fourth Be With You!" Immediately I thought of retreat. :)  ]

As I finished the book, the quote about the experiencing the journey, not focusing on the destination comes to mind. That already has changed my whole way of thinking. As Gretchen would say, "Where ever you are, that's where you start." So.. this is where I shall begin!