August 2025 in Review

It's only a few days into September, but it's been a whirlwind the past couple weeks. I have to pause and remind myself that Albert has only been in Kindergarten for three weeks (as he reminded me today is day 14). I have only had one week of school so far. Since I'm teaching labs, there are no class meetings this week since it is the week of a Monday holiday (Labor Day), so that no sections fall behind. When I look back at what we did during August, I can see why I feel so whirly.

The month kicked off with the Dopey Strong 7 Dwarves Challenge. Each day, we were supposed to dress up like a different dwarf and add a few strength moves into our running plan. Then on the 7th day we were supposed to do all the strength moves. I'm not a big fan of run streaking but there were only three days in the month that I didn't at least walk a mile (Aug 8, 10, 12). Sometimes I wonder why I track everything, but then I remember that tracking helps me make sense of the pain I'm in when I can't understand or remember why my feet hurt so much.

  

There was also a collaboration between Valley Runners and the Goodr Cabana. A group of us from Glendale, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, Winnetka, Burbank (all over the 818) met in Venice Beach every Saturday throughout August.

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And to end the month, Crowned Athletics inspired us to dress up for World Princess Week.

I had fun with the challenge, and it got me to do some micro-blogging reflecting on what the Disney princesses mean to me.

CREATIVITY. As a mom, I get creative with my son as we paint, build, dance, cook, sing, and play. As a teacher, I find creative ways to incorporate all that into a college environment. Keeping everyone's spirits up while still enforcing safety rules and regulations. Chemistry doesn't have to be boring! I've got a dream. I want to make chemistry accessible to all students, allowing them to enjoy and learn. 👩‍🔬🥼🥽🧪 Rebel princess 👸✊ My first thought of creativity was Rapunzel, who had to pass away the hours locked away in a tower. But I think I'm a rebel princess at heart. Every day, finding creative ways to resist the empire. @crownedathletics #spacebuns #onebadmotherrunner

STRENGTH in motherhood is sometimes carrying your child, carrying your 50 lb folded stroller as you board the bus, bringing in the entire load of groceries from the car to the house in one haul. 🛒🛍️ Sometimes strength in motherhood is breaking generational trauma, escaping the unreasonable expectations of society, and giving other women a leg up. We all show our strength in different ways, and sometimes just showing up as the best version of you takes strength. 🥂 🙌 Here's a high five to celebrate all of the invisible unpaid domestic labor. Sometimes we carry the weight of the family on our shoulders, And even though every day isn't a ball, We still find big and small ways to sparkle and shine through. Thank you for being a part of my family, And thank you for helping to keep me inspired! #gratitude #strengthinmotherhood If I could add one piece to my Powerful Hermana set, it would be the Force Fighter flow tank top. 🛸💫🚀 I recently introduced my son to the Star Wars movies, and I was so inspired by Rey Skywalker. I'm not sure if she is considered a princess, but she is definitely a role model of strength. She never stopped fighting for freedom, and she never lost hope. No family is perfect, but finding your identity and drawing strength from your ancestors has always been a powerful force for me.

KINDNESS. The story of The Little Mermaid reminds us to practice kindness with our own bodies. There may be some part of your body that you wish were different. #bodypositive Ariel is doomed to want something she cannot have. She is willing to gamble her voice in exchange for the opportunity to experience her heart's desire, but only for 3 days. And if she is unable to achieve a nearly impossible task, she loses everything. The mermaid princess reminds us to appreciate everything our bodies can do. Today I am grateful for my legs. 🦵🧜‍♀️ 🐚🐠 Thank you, legs, for being my favorite form of transportation. Today I am thankful for my voice. 🎵🎶👩‍🎤 Thank you, voice, for allowing me to express myself. Staying inspired is sometimes a challenge. I have to do whatever motivates me to get out there and stick to my training plan. 

BELLA IN SELLA. is a phrase that I learned from the cycling community 🚴‍♀️ #cyclomania. It means riding a horse or bicycle and looking good while doing it. Often, I wear bright colors while riding or running for safety purposes. If you're seen, so much the better, because it lowers the risk of getting into a collision. And a close family member of mine was killed while running because she was hit by a minivan. But sometimes, like this week, I enjoy dressing up just for the fun of it. I find inspiration in the stories I grew up listening to. I wanted to represent Belle today, who didn't start out as a princess, but through her kindness, she came to love the Beast. I identified with Belle because she loved books and was a gorgeous brunette, like me. And, like her, I fell in love with a man who had a great bookshelf. 📚 # Bibliophile: I get to refresh my memory on Disney princesses, villains, and heroines by telling bedtime stories to my son as he falls asleep. He doesn't consciously remember every story, but I know he hears me. He puts princess figurines all around our bedroom for protection. Loving the energy from @fit4mom_west_sfv this morning. Showing up and being surrounded by kindness, moms supporting other moms, makes the journey of motherhood so much better. #communityinmotherhood #raisekindhumans #momssupportmoms #ourvillage #motherhoodsisterhood #worldprincessweek

GRACE. If you are newly postpartum or raising small children, you've got to give yourself grace. It's going to take time to get your energy back. Motherhood has been a powerful motivator for me. I want to be able to keep up with my son, so I keep pushing myself to stay strong and ready. Initially, when I thought of grace, I thought of Mulan. I'm not sure Princess is part of her back story, but she was a strong influence in my childhood. I was a tomboy. I ended up in a male-dominated career field. I've always tried to keep up with men and fit in among them. To be just as smart, fast, and strong. Mulan did what she did to protect her father and bring honor to her family. She was an epic failure at being a #tradwife but an epic success at leading an army. She exceeded her family's expectations and ended up with an even better match than any matchmaker would have found for her. Mulan reminds us to gracefully pursue our destiny, even if it doesn't fit with society's expectations for us. I thought about the graceful movements of a swords(wo)man. I realize that the modern military is different than the fighting style depicted in Mulan. I feel grateful for our military service men and women. Thanks to our veterans and first responders as well. ⚔️ Finally, I thought about how some workouts are tough. You have to give yourself the grace to suck sometimes. The law of averages will balance it out eventually with a workout that kicks ass in a good way. Today I felt so strong, graceful, and fast. ⚖️ Keep showing up. #ownthecrown #stronglooksdifferent

BRAVE. The brave thing I did today was bring my kid to work. His school has a holiday but my school did not. Today's theme got me thinking about various times in my life where I took a leap of faith. One of the biggest leaps I took was when I moved to California. I knew the cost of living was going to be really high. But I also knew that ultimately it was where I wanted to be. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out, but I was brave enough to go for it with the faith that I would figure it out. The second biggest leap of faith that I took was going through IVF. It was so expensive with no guarantees. It was like going through puberty again at 39 years old. I had to confront some of my biggest fears and misconceptions about becoming a mother. Thankfully for us, it only took one round. I'm so grateful that I was brave enough to take these leaps of faith. Finishing my PhD at UC Riverside was such a significant moment in my life. Training for and completing the LA Marathon (while wearing my Changed Fate set) was no big deal after becoming a doctor and then becoming a mother. If you're thinking about chasing a big goal or taking a leap of faith in the direction of your dreams, consider this a gentle push in that direction. Be brave.

STROLLER MILES. On my way to inspire the next generation of chemistry and biochemistry graduate students with my stroller and kindergartner, I dictated a lot of these microblogs while walking to and from school. Thanks to my bestie, Mykel for reminding me that it's okay to parent in public and that allowing students to see the joys and challenges of having children is a good thing. It's essential to make the work-life balancing act more visible. And this is also a post of appreciation for @bobgearus. I brought all the necessary items for my child and myself, as well as the supplies for my students. We had a fun day on campus. I love this stroller so much. I'll forever remember this as the vehicle that made all of our Disneyland dreams come true. BOB is an acronym for Beast of Burden, which is also a great song by the Rolling Stones. My Changed Fate set gives me powerful mama bear vibes when I need to remember how being a mom is my superpower. I also love how Merida was the shot caller in her story. She repairs the strained relationship with her mother and learns how to be more selfless. Even though Fit4Mom now pairs with Thule as their official stroller, I will never forget the BOB as my favorite part of strolling with my mini-me. My stroller model is BOB Revolution CE = City Edition which weighs ONLY 23 lbs.

I tried my darndest to get through August without overdosing on ibuprofen. However, on August 31st, I finally took some ibuprofen, which relieved the pain in my feet. It was an increase in miles, too much, too soon. I forgot how school drop-off adds extra mileage to the week. But as I say, we're trying to ease into the school year, and it's okay if there are some growing pains. Albert asked me to make him a social battery indicator so that he can have time to recharge without us bothering him too much. He's always had a high emotional intelligence, and this just shows that he can ask for a way to communicate with us.

   

Another thing Albert did recently was create two paintings contrasting a poor person's house, which was small, only one story high, and made of reclaimed materials. Versus a rich person's home, which he called the Eiffel Tower, which was multilevel, taller than trees, and made of gold. And for some reason, the poor person is during the day, and the rich person is painted at night, surrounded by stars. This is likely due to my lighter teaching load, which results in less income, and we often discuss this. We tell Albert that we can't afford some things because mommy won't be bringing home as much money. We discuss how we'll need to acquire more items on Buy Nothing, as we can't purchase them. September was a "normal" paycheck, but it will probably be the last "big" one for the next 6 months.

I saw the hashtag #RecessionCore and others, such as #economytok or #costofliving, to express a theme of economic hardship and austerity. We're not the only ones affected by this change in lifestyle. #budgetfriendly #economicanxiety #savingmoney #thrift #tariffs I've never been overly concerned with being trendy, and I know I'm talking about budget here, but here are some things I did buy this summer (or last summer) that I (still) love. 

• ENERBLOOM Women's Yoga Jumpsuits Workout One Piece Rompers with Pockets Bodycon Backless Bodysuits Padded Berry Red X-Large. I wore this on a run, and someone told me I was a whole vibe. I had a SheFit bra underneath and my sequin headband. $19.99 I also wore it to the pool as a swimsuit. I don't know why they don't make more swimsuits like this.
• Neely Gracey, the mom and running coach, recommended this product as the most comfortable item for summer, and I wholeheartedly agree. I bought one of each color and walked out paying around $50. I like them a lot. I'm glad I bought them when I did. This athletic all-in-one dress trend reached Crowned Athletics, and they sold each one for $118. I know, girl math, but I feel like I saved over $300. https://www.costco.com/elle-sport-women's-active-tank-dress.product.4000293912.html
• WEBGGER 12 Pack Sequin Headbands Elastic Stretch Sparkly Fashion Headband for Teens Girls Women Hairband Sport Head Band Party Favors Multicolored now $5.94, usually $9.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Z2TH288 Honestly, these are the best for summer. The airflow through the sequins is peak performance, and the sparklyness and color choices in this variety pack make my heart happy. I didn't bring one on my trip to Nebraska this year, but thankfully, I had left one the previous summer, and it was still there for me to use while I was visiting. Honestly, lifesaver. Somehow, the sequins are a great way to keep baby hairs from straying. I can't stand when my hair tickles my neck.
• IDALOP 20 Pairs Cute & Colorful Striped Quarter Crew Women's Colored Socks, Size 9-11 $19.99 So I'm midlife. I have mostly ankle socks. But I noticed when I wear a short skirt, it looks like SO MUCH LEG all the way down to the ankle. People nowadays say that ankle socks are out. So I got these crew socks. I wouldn't care fashion-wise but I do teach college-age students and I don't want to appear too out of touch.

I also found three pairs of jeggings at ALDI this week. Light blue, dark blue, and light grey. I have some Levi's jeggings that I purchased in the Spring 2023 semester for $27 each. They're finally starting to show daylight in the inner-thigh area after 5 semesters (2.5 years). So these ALDI ones are about half the price. I can't comment yet to their durability since I haven't even washed them yet, but I will use them to teach in for several years probably. I tried on XL and L and the large I couldn't even button / zip. There was a gap in the back of the XL but I guess I can wear a belt. https://www.aldi.us/product/serra-ladies-premium-light-blue-jeggings-m-0000000000072022 $12.99

My aunt noticed my Instagram is looking more colorful these days. I appreciate all the people who inspire me to keep being expressive. I'm glad summer is over, but is it really? We just had our AC fixed today, thank goodness. I know we're in for a few more months of heat. Sometimes it's in triple digits even through the end of October. Albert and I decorated the house yesterday for fall. He was insisting that it be fall but not spooky. Which means leaves and pumpkins, but not haunted houses and jack-o-lanterns.

Albert is dedicated to being a ghost for Halloween, and I've got 3 costumes already, so that the whole family can participate. I'm not sure we're doing the Boo at the Zoo or the Enchanted Halloweekends at the Discovery Cube. We've let all our memberships go. So we need to find a trick-or-treat thing we can do for free. I'm trying my best not to buy the Bath & Body Works Disney Villains collection. I know it will sell out quickly, but do I really need more lotion and hand soap?

It's the weekend of the Santa Monica Classic and the Disneyland Halloween Half-marathon. I'll be sitting these races out and preparing for the Bimbo Global 10k on September 28th. I haven't done that one before, but registration was free, and it's closer to our house. I received a free sample of Ever&Eden Premium Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, but I'm not impressed with it so far. These are more of my favorites that I buy again and again and use daily.

• Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick - Hawaii 104 Act Compliant (Without Octinoxate & Oxybenzone) - UVA/UVB Face and Body Protection - Unscented for Sensitive Skin - Travel Size 0.45 Oz $12.50
• Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide Protection, Hypoallergenic Mineral Sunscreen for Babies, Tear Free and Fragrance Free, 4 Fl Oz Tube $20
• Banana Boat Kids MAX Protect & Play Sunscreen Spray SPF 100, 6oz | Clear Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen Spray, Kids Sunblock Spray, Kids Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen SPF 100, 6oz $14
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 & Zinc Oxide, Water-Resistant, Hypoallergenic & Tear-Free Baby Sunscreen, 3 fl. oz, 3 pk $37
• https://thinksun.com/products/think-everyday-face-sunscreen-2oz-naturally-tinted  $16.50

In my efforts to save money, I also cleaned out my cabinets and put all my backstock of personal care products in rotation. Our good friend used to work at Paul Mitchell and would always gift us products whenever we visited him. So I have some shampoos, conditioners, and gels that will be on our bathroom shelves until they're gone. I lived so frugally when I started this blog, while in grad school. I know how to do it, I just wish I didn't have to.

Finally, I realized we're only six weeks away from the Mission Inn Run. I'm totally looking forward to that. I haven't thought about my outfits for race day. But I have time to come up with something. 

what constitutes swimwear

And why show ALL the skin? I was purchasing a swimsuit for my son and looking for a long-sleeved rashguard or onesie. It hit me that I should be purchasing a long-sleeved suit for myself, too. I'm tired of putting so much sunscreen on and possibly missing a spot in the middle of my back that I can't reach or forgetting to do my chest and getting severely burned, hence accumulating new skin damage.

At my Fit4Mom workout, we discussed what swimsuits typically look like and how impractical they are for motherhood. I was feeling really good about wearing whatever I would wear to a workout (yoga shorts and a sports bra), but then I came across an infographic that said you can't wear non-swimwear to a public pool. Luckily, we usually go to the beach and to the private pool in our condo complex, so there are no lifeguards telling us what is acceptable and what is not.

Here are some of the recent purchases I've made that make me happy.

Barbie Tank Hot Pink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SPXZYD7

Barbie Tank White https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C9JZ1JPZ

Adult Rash Guard Swim Suit with shorts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNPWXQJX

CRZ Yoga Shorts with pockets https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C9C34NFY

The Heartbeat Powder, Magenta Purple, Light Grayish Blue, Black

High Waisted Full Coverage Swim Bottom https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XFLZ66N/

https://latchedmama.com/products/latched-mama-high-waisted-swim-bottoms-with-pocket

https://latchedmama.com/products/latched-mama-maternity-postpartum-gathered-nursing-swim-tank-1

https://latchedmama.com/products/latched-mama-lace-up-nursing-swim-top

https://latchedmama.com/products/latched-mama-ruffle-nursing-swim-crop-top-1

https://latchedmama.com/products/latched-mama-long-sleeve-swim-zip-nursing-cover-up

https://latchedmama.com/products/latched-mama-sporty-swim-skirt-with-boy-shorts

Hot Mom Summer!

women's history month

I am sitting here in office hours and before this I was staring at my reflection in the mirror and I was struck by how I don't look like a professor. I mean, when I think of a professor, I think of someone wearing a tweed suit with suede elbow patches in an imposing leather chair. But I'm wearing jeans, sneakers and a lularoe shirt. Partly because I live in California, and I don't think tweed is something that gets worn here ever due to the weather being so nice. But partly because the dress code here at CSUN isn't a thing. Some people dress like they just rolled out of a dumpster. Which is fine by me. 

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A post shared by Kayla Kaiser (@hamerk02)

Pinterest thinks my fashion style is Dark Academia, which I didn't even know was a thing. But it is kind of how I picture a professor dressing.

When I worked at Claremont, I did wear clothing that could be classified as Dark Academia, but it was certainly more colorful than this. I don't wear muted colors very often.

I'm thinking about Women's History Month and the contributions of women to academia and STEM fields. I'm thinking about why more women don't want to enter academia or if they do, sometimes how they get pushed out. I'm thinking about my own biases and concepts of what a professor should look like and how it causes me to feel some cognitive dissonance when I AM a professor but my reflection in the mirror doesn't look like what I think a professor SHOULD look like. It's a mind trip!

I'm thinking of classism, sexism, racism, homophobia, and wage gaps. I'm thinking of how teachers are expected to make teaching their vocation, excluding any possibility of having a life outside of work. How we are expected to work all the time, making it difficult to balance raising a family and maintaining friendships.

https://www.cta.org/about-us/history

Expectations of society: You may not dress in bright colors, dye your hair, or wear short skirts. You must clean the schoolhouse. You can't leave town. You can't go on dates or go downtown. You have to go to bed early. You can not have a spouse. Yeah. I've read that teachers were once highly paid, but then someone got the great idea to let women do it, and the reason was that women would do more work for less pay than men.

I'm not even sure what the point of this blog post is, but I know I watched the movie "Nyad" last night and it was so powerful. She was so determined and didn't accept that she wasn't strong or young enough to do something that had never been done before. And she was willing to fail hugely before succeeding even though society wasn't very supportive of sponsoring someone her age.

I just have to remember that I AM MAKING HISTORY right now. By existing as a woman in STEM. By wearing bright colors as a teacher. By providing an alternative to the pale male and stale professor tropes for the next generation, to possibly see themselves in acadmia. Like Diana Nyad, I'm doing it.

acceleration

It seems the semester is accelerating or maybe perhaps I am just now recovering from COVID-19 and starting to function near full capacity.

I wanted to post because I haven't been doing the microblogging that I used to do on my Bumper group over on Reddit. The active posters moved over to Discord and I just can't keep up with all the activity over there. There is an active Bumper group on Facebook as well, but it's largely photos and links and there isn't an easy way to see all my archived activity to cut and paste the text over here. So I guess I'll start posting here as much as I can or at least with the goal of several times per month.

My kiddo's word list seems like it's rapidly expanding now. He talked himself to sleep last night with an endless stream of half-nonsense and half-perceptible speech. He says funny words like butt and fart. He can say "ice cream cone" very clearly when he wants one. He says "green bike" every day as he runs to the garage to go to school. I'm so glad he finally loves the bike! 

He says "ka-kee" for cupcake, "tee-kaa" for tic-tic. He says "cow" for milk and "ka-koo" for popcorn. He is trying to say something for chicken nuggets but I can't really distinguish it. I'm not sure what he says if he wants just string cheese but he definitely says "hot cheese" for mac & cheese. He doesn't want to be called baby Albert anymore, just Albert. He lets me know about things that are fast by saying "beez" which I think means Blaze. He says "Gook" for both Goofy and his scooter. He says "chee No" for chicken nuggets.

When we're getting dressed, he is starting to have opinions about what color shirt he gets. I ask him for the color of the day and he tells me. "Led" is red. "Gold" is orange. "Lello" is yellow. "Geen" is green. "Boo" is blue. "Pup" is purple. "Gee" is grey. "Back" is black. "White" is white. He is refusing to wear a long-sleeved shirt over his t-shirt even though the temperature is in the 60s on the way to school.

Every day he wants to "pick car" which means going to a store that sells cars, looking at all the cars, taking about 30 minutes to touch each car and comment on it, and then ultimately buying one (or not). He loves to "choose" for himself. "Buy ka-kee" is also a recent hobby which is to go to the store and buy 12 cupcakes, and eat only the sprinkles off the top of every single one.

He says "cup" instead of cut. He talks about getting a haircut. He loves going swimming, he says "pool wa" which means he wants to go in the pool water and swim. Swimming is totally fun now, Albert climbs in and out of the pool using the stairs. He jumps off the side of the pool and tries to grab his floating cars. He is very independent and can motor himself pretty well from one area of the pool to the other. One day he even was doing a backfloat on his own, which he rarely allows.

I'm thinking about Halloween already, it's not too soon. In 2021 we represented three of the four Hogwarts houses. Albert was Gryffindor, I was Hufflepuff, and Mike was Slytherin. That was our first year of trick-or-treating at the LA Zoo. I think the only thing I bought for that costume was a onesie for Albert and a patch for Mike. In 2022 I bought two pairs of PJs from Old Navy. One was a doctor and I made cardboard cutouts of an ambulance to camouflage the BOB jogging stroller. The other was a firefighter and I made cardboard cutouts to dress up our cargo bike as a fire engine.

We went on a costumed bike ride which was on campus at CSUN. It was cool to see everyone that dressed up but unfortunately, the pace of the ride was so fast, we got dropped almost immediately. This year, I got Disney PJs of a racecar driver for #95 Lightning McQueen ($30). I plan to make cardboard cutouts of a racecar and attach them to our beach wagon. I bought a steering wheel that makes sounds (Disney Pixar’s CARS 3 LIGHTNING MCQUEEN Rev N' Roll Steering Wheel by eKids, $15). I got two "pit crew" t-shirts for Mike and me to wear to coordinate and support Albert ($20 each, Kohl's). So I guess I really went in this year. I am ordering decals to be color-printed to make the racecar more realistic and I was considering buying spray-paint to make the red car and yellow lightning bolt quicker to paint.

My husband thinks it is time to take another formal family photo for our Christmas cards. I'm not sure. I actually love the photos they take at Disneyland for free. Well, it's free to get your photo taken. You have to get Genie+ to download the digital version. I dunno.

I kinda feel like it's time to buy running shoes again. I am loving my Lularoe shirts that I wear for work. I am loving my pull-on skinny jeans. I don't care that skinny jeans are going out of style, they're practical for biking to work. Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Women's Size Totally Shaping Pull-On Skinny Jeans. I wear and wash them every night after lab. I went by the size chart and measured into a size 20. Disregard what Amazon recommends based on your other orders. I feel so grateful that I have a wardrobe I can just walk in there and grab something without overthinking it.

I'm struggling to set a date to go back to Disneyland. I definitely want to go at least once per month so I guess I just need to set the date and commit to it. Spirit Jersey: peach ($43), blue ($64), purple ($35). Minnie ears ($19), running skirt ($15) via Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace. I found out that if you're in Anaheim but not at the park, you can go to Target or Walmart and find Disney merchandise for much cheaper, I think I got this shirt for $6.

I did buy myself a bunch of mom appreciation gifts (and one dad appreciation gift). Instead of buying $1000 of clothes to get these incentives during World Breastfeeding Week 2023, I just bought the incentive gifts. I think the color-changing cup is 100% fun and I love it. I love the phone grip and the keychains. I'm not wild so far about the twist-front nursing tank and the ribbed nursing tank but maybe they'll grow on me. I also got a pair of LM leggings ($26) with no pockets. They are more comfortable than the leggings I got from Amazon.

I got a legging organizer from Amazon but I'm finding it more useful to organize my son's outfits. I can roll up together his shorts and shirt that match and he can see them and pick/choose what he wants to wear. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMYV21TN/ 

We're trying to be on a spending freeze and we're crossing our fingers about the student loan forgiveness. I should be eligible now, but the repayment for all borrowers is resuming next month, so there is certainly a flurry of activity as borrowers try to get loans forgiven or in forbearance. They are saying it will be 30-90 days until my paperwork is processed.

Mar Apr 2023 thoughts

3/1 - Visited with Diana Chulak, Program Manager of the Family Focus Resource & Empowerment Center here on CSUN campus. She gave me a binder to organize all of the IEP documentation.

3/10 - Soooooo nervous. My kiddo's Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting starts in 30 minutes. On zoom of course. I don't know why I'm nervous. There's nothing I can do now except participate and follow through and remember DO NOT AGREE to anything right away. I got permission to record the meeting (audio only) so that I can just be in the moment and listen to it again later. He is aging out of early intervention (EI) and aging into whatever services are offered by the public school system. We're gonna find out what they offer at this meeting.

On the plus side, kiddo is aging out of Parent & Me 2 swim lessons and aging into Guppies, Tadpoles or Starfish. Either way, a parent does not have to be in the water.

Update: The IEP meeting was fine. They are offering 1-on-1 speech therapy once per week for 1 hour. They believe he can speak in 3-4 word sentences by July. I'm not skeptical but yet I am. He has not made progress in 7 months of similar therapy. But they said 3 years brings a language explosion. So I am hopeful? I'm so hopeful that he will be able to catch up, but I'm also mindful that he may not. We started EI on the advice of his daycare teacher. Since our Marchling is an only child, we don't really have a frame of reference. He is not delayed in comprehension, just speech, so it's easy for us to forget that he is so different from his peers.

Update update: We had an assessment for EI on April 3rd. He may or may not continue to qualify for their services. They may offer a diagnosis whereas the IEP did not. The person who did the assessment said that there is a new program for ages 3-5 offered through Regional Center and Albert would be a good candidate, she will recommend that. She didn't speak to any specific diagnosis, and it didn't seem that she thought he had any of the major issues (intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism).

Update update update: What if we want more therapy and our insurance covers it... does the IEP allow us to get extra sessions covered by insurance? Or what would be the documentation needed by the insurance company?

What we did for this was take the IEP to the year 3 pediatrician appointment (March 28th) and asked her for a referral. This worked but we're still waiting for the referral to arrive in the mail.

3/23 - Oh boy. Trying to process. Birthday. Anniversary. Spring. Easter. Spring Break. Busy. Vacation. Behind at work. What are my priorities?

My To Do list for break included some sewing projects. Stuff that I can't do when LO is here because needles are dangerous and I don't want to sew through my finger.

Break is slipping away. I did an 8-week fitness challenge and it felt so hard to keep up with. I was just happy when it was over.

I think my kid has cavities in his molars. I feel horrible about it. I was so smug that he likes brushing his teeth. But I didn't really make it a priority. He was pointing to his mouth and saying ow ow. Like ouch. I thought he just had seeds from Blackberries stuck or something so I kept giving him water to rinse and swish it out. We were outdoors so I said "look up at the sky with your mouth open" and I could see them. I normally let him brush his own teeth and I haven't stuck my hand in his mouth because he used to bite my fingers when I was checking to see if his last molar had erupted. But I feel like I should've taken him to the dentist every 6 months as recommended. Hindsight I guess. Or maybe I'm overreacting. I'll get a professional opinion soon.

Pediatrician appointment on Tuesday of next week. I delegated it to my husband. He has been having to do a lot more since my teaching schedule is 5 days per week this semester. DH took LO to the initial appointment with the new speech therapist and they had to wrap up early because of a poopy diaper.

I know we're behind on milestones. Stuff like weaning, sleeping in his own bed, potty training, talking, first trip to the dentist. Gosh. I am not feeling like a total failure, just like so tired. The thought of having to get serious about setting boundaries and changing up our routine seems daunting. Like when we started to add solids (purees) on top of breastfeeding. Like just one more thing on top of the heap of things that were already making me feel overwhelmed. Like the straw that broke the camel's back. I guess that's how I feel about this dentist/toothbrush/cavity situation.

4/3 - Milestone Monday: New word = cupcake.

4/4 - Today I thought: it might be a good day to wear lipstick. I haven't worn lipstick for years so I don't know what that means. I also considered coloring my hair, which I haven't done for more than a decade, so I don't know what that's about.

Also, if you're not interested in coming to work in a wearable blanket, I don't wanna know you. We've had the longest, coldest, wettest, windiest winter here in Southern California. And understand, I grew up in blizzard country (Nebraska) but I moved here to get away from the cold. I didn't have a lot of long-sleeved shirts, sweaters or coats. I didn't own the appropriate outerwear. This winter I've had to purchase a bunch of it, it's been expensive, but now I have the warm snuggly stuff. And I am enjoying it. Maybe you wouldn't wear the giant snuggly shapeless garment, or maybe you would wear it around the house but not to work, but I am not afraid to sport it and I love it.

4/25 - Swim Lesson Update: kiddo was promoted to GUPPIES on his skills not his age. So proud!

September 2022 Thoughts

9/1 - I'm back at work after having the summer off. My LO is in daycare. I kept him home Monday and Wednesday because I only teach Tues/Thurs/Fri. He has a kind of runny nose and slight cough but it doesn't seem like it's contagious. My husband is supposed to stay home with LO on Tues/Thurs/Fri but he was unwilling to do so on Tuesday. Today DH is out sick at home and LO is in daycare. So far I feel fine. I think maybe I'm just too stressed out to get sick right now. I had a bad migraine over the weekend, which I think was from stress.

It's a lot to get kiddo back in daycare. I had to remember so many things. The forms, the emergency kit, the shoes, the medications, the photos, etc. DH was just not involved in getting anything ready for our return to daycare. I can manage all of this. But I also want to get a massage. I have been internalizing this stress and I can feel it in my back. Also, I haven't been working out as much so I feel my posture going downhill.

We kept the kid out of swim lessons on Tuesday just in case of loose stool, which the daycare said he had on Tuesday. It's hard because when the kid is home with me he wants to lay around and breastfeed all day, which may have generated the loose stool. The day after he went to daycare, on Wednesday, his poops were solid. Today, he is meeting with a child psychologist as part of addressing his speech delay. It will be our second visit. I'm praying that this additional intervention can help us get kiddo caught up with his peers. He's about a year behind.

We're in a heat wave now, so it's cabin fever for everyone. The temp is supposed to be 112 deg F or something like that. It's hard to have a (possibly) sick kid and (possibly) sick husband and we can't leave the house. And we don't know if anyone has the same thing. I know the kids can't go outside at daycare if the outdoor temp is above 92 deg F so I do have some sympathy for the daycare teachers with 12 screaming two-year olds in a smallish room. I hope their sanity is holding up.

9/4 - John Lasseter movie marathon. Ice Age, Frozen, Zootopia, Princess and the Frog, Tangled... I think we will do Ratatouille and Brave next. New CARS movie comes out Sept 8th on Disney+ day. LO is a big fan of the Cars movies but not Planes.

Its in the triple digits here so we can't go out. DH is sick so we are quarantining just as a precaution. We are going to Disneyland next week to use the last day of our SoCal resident 3-day summer pass. That's why I am stuck on Disney and Pixar. LO is enjoying watching with me. It's fun to see what parts he laughs at.

I was raised on Disney movies but haven't seen all the ones that were released when I was in college and early career without kids. So from 1998 until now I guess. It's fun catching up. Any suggestions for what to watch tomorrow?

9/5 - I am so sick of my husband being sick. When will he ever be well again? I feel like we keep ending up at urgent care over and over. Why can't he take better care of himself? When he's sick then I have to take care of everything around the house. With school starting and LO going back to daycare, I'm taking out the long shirts and pants that are size 3T. I am sewing LO's name into his clothes. I asked DH to give me a break by taking kiddo into the shower and instead DH let LO play trains for an hour. That's fine. It's too hot to go outside anyway. But I have been solely responsible for getting the kid back to school and I want my partner to do his share of parenting duties.

I stayed home with kiddo last week on the days I could. DH had a fever on Friday but he doesn't now. He says his head still hurts but it's like come on dude. LO is actually running a slight fever. You're not. I asked you to bathe him. Instead DH took a nice long shower by himself and kiddo sat on my lap. DH is constantly taking the easy road and I am tired of carrying on with the hard work.

I am worried that LO has HFM or something like that. I thought it was his 2 year molars but now he has what looks like a cold sore above his upper lip. I don't see any blisters on his hands and feet and he had a upper respiratory thing the week before school started with a runny nose and now he has a kind of wet cough. Like I said, we'll probably be visiting urgent care this week. I hate how DH makes me out to be the bad guy when I ask for help. I am just about out of ideas and patience.

A bit of light googling tells me use a humidifier, push fluids and rest. But I feel like this is week 3 of trying that. DH has been sick for like a month. Okay maybe 2 weeks. He has Type 2 diabetes now and I just read that he should check his blood sugar every 4 hours if he is sick because illness and infection aggravates the diabetes. I am really at my wits end. The man loves junk food. I can't be his mother. He has to care enough to monitor himself and eat healthy.

Sorry for the rant. I am just suffering over here mentally and I worry that what DH had (fever, vomiting, headache) is coming my way (and LO's too), but when I get it, I won't be able to lay around doing nothing for 4 days. I have a job and a tiny human that do not accept my resignation.

9/9 - I thought this group would appreciate... I was hoping that kiddo would never have to wear a mask. I thought, surely by the time he is two years old we will have solved the pandemic and he will never need to be bothered. Fast-forward to now. I have an appointment next Wednesday for LO to get vaccinated. His first dose. Last time we had an appointment they asked us to leave because the doses never arrived so I'm praying that everything goes well this time. Also, kiddo has to be wearing a mask to enter his classroom every day for daycare. Today was a 10 minute struggle and finally his teacher came out and helped. Kiddo just wouldn't put it on for me. I just wanted to say if your kid doesn't have to wear a mask every day, consider yourself lucky. I know our school plans to continue masking until the end of the fall semester at least (Dec 2022). I just never planned on mask-training my kid. He got this ugly cold-sore type thing on his face, which we all think was due to him chewing the mask and it rubbing on his skin. It went away over the Labor day long weekend. Ugh. TGIF

9/15 - Yesterday was V-Day for my Marchling. Yes it was fitting that it was on his half-birthday. He was exactly 2.5 years old. He got the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine first dose. We will go back in 4 weeks for the second dose. I almost cried when I saw his name on the white COVID-19 vaccine card. We waited so long for this day. He did have a massive poo in the evening about 10 hours after getting the shot, but I'm not sure if it is directly related. No fever. I just love seeing how he faces scary experiences like this so bravely. I'm proud of my little buddy.

9/18 - Ran MUD GIRL. It was fun. It was stressful. It was a group effort. My hands hurt afterwards. Kind of like how you feel after packing up all your stuff and moving into a new house after 4 days of hauling boxes. If I were to do it again, I would wear capri-length leggings (not shorts). I would still wear a hat or visor. I wore contacts and sun glasses, which I would do again. I would definitely wear all the sunscreen. I would arrive early, in which case you could run the course twice. I have no idea how trail runners prevent rock from getting into their shoes, maybe tall socks? That hurt. I also would have worn gloves. My hands got a little (lot) scratched up.

9/19 - Forgot to order Fitlicious. Ended up going back to Mashup Mom. It was delicious and a good change of pace. However, it was a lot of work (>10 hours) cooking everything. It took up all my time on my days off (Monday, Wednesday).

I got a free bookshelf from Buy Nothing and attended Fit4Mom at the Vineyards.

9/21 - Kiddo is tripping ALL over his feet these days. Knees are all bruises and scabs. Face is all black and blue. Our daycare said he looks like a Cobra Kai. 🐍 He already has huge feet and is outgrowing his 3T pajamas. He is so hungry and sleeping a lot so I am guessing he's in a growth spurt. But I'm not ready for my baby to get any bigger 😭. I have a huge pile of long pants and long sleeves in 3T to sew nametags in 🧺✂️ 🪡 🧵. I am ready for fall. The cooler weather is giving me life.

I moved a bookshelf from the garage to the upstairs and populated it with books. I attended Fit4Mom at Mason Park and I was the only one there. I had a good chat with the instructor, Jessica and we talked about the podcast https://www.maintenancephase.com/ 

9/24 - Went to the Fall Family Event at Warner Center Park but didn't do the workout. My back was really hurting. Not sure exactly how I injured it. The pain got worse on Sunday. It hurt to sit, lay, stand, walk, everything.

9/26 - Bubs is really into mannequins. He likes to go through family roles like mama, dada, baby, grandma, grandpa, etc. He gets concerned when mannequins don't have heads, feet, arms or hands.

He likes comparing body parts too. Mommy's feet, daddy's feet, Albert's feet. He tickles our feet. He is a giggle monster. He doesn't like it when his pants are too short. He is growing so fast.

People keep asking how much he weighs now and I have no idea.

I canceled our Disneyland reservation because my back was still hurting AND we are in another excessive heat warning (triple digits) and it was just too hot to enjoy the visit. I bought some fall flowers to cheer myself up. I figure if I would have spent $35 to park at Disneyland, I can spend $22 on flowers for my own yard. I got Marigolds (yellow and orange), Mums (yellow and orange), Zinnia (orange) and Celosia (yellow) to give that thanksgiving vibe.

9/29 - Every time all my online purchases arrive, I think, okay now I have everything. I'm not going to buy anything else. But of course something comes up and I make another purchase.

Our cargo bike got stolen out of our garage last month. We bought another bike almost right away, but I also had to replace my helmet AND the shade canopy AND the bell AND the flag AND the little snack bag AND the phone holder. And I'm still discovering things that were in the cargo bike when it was stolen that I'm having to replace. Like the tool bag of all my favorite tools and my favorite portable air pump. I'm trying to be cool and positive about it. But it's been a lot of work getting all that stuff replaced.

Also on the day I bought the replacement bike, I took it out for a test ride. I got a flat tire due to a thorn. So I had to replace the tire and then take it to a bike shop to get the brakes adjusted. They also took a look at one of the disc brakes and bent it back into place. I bought some lube so I can just get all the spinning parts lubed up and then I think we'll be good to go. But I'm sure I'll think of something else it needs. I was able to find pads for the 3-point harness at the most recent consignment sale.

If you are cargo-bike curious or just into women cycling with their family, the movie MOTHERLOAD is really cute. I also read an article about a mom on a cargo bike who competed in the Disaster Relief Trials, and I do believe that a bicycle will be a great resource in the event of mayhem or natural disaster. I'm not a full-time doomsday prepper, but I am prepping adjacent.

October 5th is California Clean Air Day. October 9th is CicLAvia, a day where the city of Los Angeles closes some streets so that pedestrians and cyclists can have a stress-free day to play in the road. These are my deadlines for having the new bike ready for LO and myself.

I bought a set of tiles, which pair with my phone and Alexa and can help me find stuff if it is lost. For example keys. But I also wonder what would have happened if I had one of those in my bike or bike bag. Could I have found my lost/stolen bike? Also, if I had registered my bicycle with the campus PD, would that have made any difference?

Also I almost lost my keys this morning. Also I lost my wallet one time during the summer. Mombrain is so challenging. Also the tiles cost $99 for a set of 4 and I'm already wondering if I should have 8 or if I should just stop losing my shit. My back is 95% good, but it is not 100% better.

May 2022 Thoughts

5/9 - I am having the WORST anxiety today. Thank goodness for deodorant and the Calm app. I just wanted to stay home with kiddo today. 1 week until school is over and we go to Disneyland.

5/13 - My sister is 7 weeks postpartum and I'm glad I got her a Mother's Day / birthday gift. 

5/14 - Got in the car today and it was mega stinky. Found some horrible goo in the cup holder of LO's carseat that got smeared everywhere. Smelled like vomit. Took the carseat apart and washed the pads. It was stressful putting it back together but I think it's all right now.

Had to take the bus to LO's first swim lesson which was actually pretty fun. So it all worked out but nap schedule was upset. Had to do baby spa time this evening to moisturize after the swimming pool. We don't routinely use lotion but kiddo was reaching inside his diaper and looking very uncomfortable.

Got an extra large patio umbrella in anticipation of outdoor time this summer. Heading to Disneyland on Monday. Packing and meal prepping tomorrow. Feeling optimistic about the end of the semester. Booked a spa day for DH and myself on LO's last day of daycare for the semester.

Selling on the consignment sale this time instead of buying. Want to reorganize a bit and declutter. With LO getting taller and using a chair to climb up higher, there are fewer and fewer safe places for junk to pile up.

5/18 - Our trip to Disneyland went awesome. If you want to read more, I wrote a detailed debrief here: http://bikecar101.blogspot.com/2022/05/metrolink-to-disneyland.html Kiddo was so good on the trains and buses. Now I feel more confident in planning for our 4 hour plane trip in July.

5/19 - Sometimes I feel like I spend my whole life refilling things.

5/21 - Sold some stuff at the consignment sale instead of buying. Volunteered to check and bag orders. It was humbling. Bagging was such hard work. Close quarters. Lonely. Heavy lifting. Sitting on the dirty floor. Bending over a low table. Honestly I have so much more respect for how it all works. My sales were $15 higher by doing a 3 hour volunteer shift. I sold 15 items for a take-home of $208. We have more room in our garage by getting rid of stuff. 

Now I have to list and move the remaining items that didn't sell via Buy Nothing. I am so grateful to the volunteers who have sorted and bagged my previous orders. I've shopped 8 consignment sales virtually. Before that it was pre-pandemic and I was still pregnant. On one hand it's amazing how we've all adapted to survive quarantine. But on the other hand, we missed out on so much.

LO had his 2nd swim lesson which he cried through the entire 30 minutes. But when I asked if he was ready to get dunked, he would say "yeah." I'm so in love with his determination.

We were given the recommendation from daycare to get kiddo assessed for speech therapy. I can't help but wonder if his speech delays are anything to do with COVID isolation. I don't want to admit that we need help. As an educator, I feel like I've failed. And also I just started watching Game of Thrones and *spoiler* on Season 1 Episode 5 there is a woman breastfeeding an 8 year old. I worry that my son doesn't talk because I try so often to keep him calm and quiet by breastfeeding.

The Latched Mama podcast had a story about picky eating and they mentioned that pandemic babies don't know how to behave in a restaurant and we are no exception. Some former students took us out for Korean BBQ. Granted they wanted to start eating at 7pm (LO's bedtime) and we didn't get a babysitter because of the pandemic we don't have one. Kiddo was a mess during the meal and we had to run out at 8:30 because it was such a shitshow. Huh. Whatayagonnado? Sorry this was such a ramble. Thanks for reading.

5/23 - Milestone Monday. Cute phrases like "I did it." And "thank you." The language is getting easier to understand. 

So helpful at the grocery store. Closes open doors. Climbs in and out of carseat in minivan. 

Fetches things by name. Will deliver food to parents. Will agree to diaper changes if wet.

5/25 - Kinda sad. Had a "pinning ceremony" on Zoom today. It was so anticlimactic. But it was fitting for the end of a hard year where we transitioned back to in-person instruction mid-Spring semester. All the Deans and Vice Provost were there but I couldn't see them since I was zooming from my phone. I was breastfeeding and babywearing during the ceremony and it just felt like the extension of what we survived during WFH and the maternity leave during a pandemic. The head of faculty development brought me to tears by saying outloud that the antiracist work we are doing matters and is one way we can keep the university a safe place to learn.  

LO was running a fever but I didn't realize it because our Air Conditioner was broken and I thought he was just hot. After the AC got fixed, during the Zoom ceremony, two grown men saw me all tits out behind the camera,  I took kiddo's temp and it was 100 deg F. This caused me to be a no-show at My Gym and it was supposed to be our first class and we have 2 weeks unlimited but now the dude is sick. 

Had a solo night out at the roller rink to celebrate this anticlimactic ceremony. It was good. The CSUN Oasis Wellness Center has some suggestions to unwind at the end of the semester. One of them was "soul date" which I Googled and turned up no hits. Maybe they meant solo. But I think Rainbow night at Moonlight is definitely a soul date.

5/28 - Kiddo threw up in the carseat today. So scary. I hate when he's behind me and I can't tell if he's breathing. Canceled swim lesson. 

On the bright side, now we are home to set out items for Buy Nothing to clear out the garage. Heading to Disney California Adventure on Tuesday. Hope kiddo is feeling better by then.

Another lingering effect of COVID... We still have to make reservations for things that used to not require reservations. For example annual pass holders for the LA Zoo still have to have BOTH a ticket and a reservation. On one hand, it's a blessing because it (maybe) limits the crowds. But on the other hand, it's just one more thing mommy's gotta do to get out of the house.

News and Reviews

Update to Month of Mama. Reviewing items now that I've had a chance to put them into action.

Velvet Disney Ears 10/10

New shoes 10/10

F4M swag 10/10

Zyia running belt 10/10

SheFit bras as swimsuits 10/10 

I also got a skirt from Five Below and two bottoms off Amazon. I also got a clip tank from SheFit. I want to see how it works and it was discounted by 50% regularly $45.

CRZ YOGA feeling naked biker shorts. 10" love them. Just ordered 2 pairs of the 8" inseam.

Kindred Bravely Simply Sublime nursing bra 10/10 and bought a second one in the color Twilight.

I do like the KB Bamboo Nursing & Maternity Tank after all. It is breathable and good to nurse in. 8/10. Because after you wash it, it's confusing to turn right-side out. And if you wash the pants more often than the top, they discolor at a different rate.

I wear KB Everyday Lounge Joggers as much as I can when they are clean. Have not really worn KB Bamboo Maternity & Postpartum Lounge Shorts but it hasn't gotten super hot yet. Maybe I just need to hang them where I can see them. 8/10

Okay so I put on the KB Eleanora Bamboo Maternity & Nursing Lounge Dress in Oatmeal Stripe today and it was not good. The sleeve length was not right. The midsection hugged all my rolls. The pockets didn't lay right. I kinda looked like a pig in a blanket even wearing Spanx underneath. I'm gonna offer it to my sister. 0/10.

Latched Mama floral nursing hoodie. 10/10 Love.

LM Blissful lounge nursing dress. 12/10. I live in this.

Printed pleated nursing dress. 10/10

LM Midi Nursing Tank Dress 10/10. Thin and breathable, comfortable for play. OMG if they were in stock I would buy a second.

LM Pleated nursing dress 10/10

LM Flutter sleeve pleated nursing dress 10/10

LM Nursing midi wrap dress 10/10

LM Maternity Labor Nursing Robe 10/10

OMG what could I say about each of these items? I love them so much and I love myself for buying them. It has elevated my summer wardrobe 1,000,000% and makes it simple and quick to pull a lewk together. They hide all the flaws. They keep me cool. They are perfect for discreely breastfeeding my toddler. LOL as if such a thing exists.

LM Printed V-Neck Nursing Tee 2.0 I am actually obsessed. I would live in this. Flattering. Easy to breastfeed in a carrier. Great for walking around Disneyland. I bought 2 more when they were on sale for $15 off. 

Goodr sunglasses have been a big hit with me and kiddo. The OGs are good for me and the BFGs are perfect for hubbie.

I treated our family to the Fit4Mom Gather meal plan, since it was half-price for May (regularly $17.99). It is a 30-day recipe book with a calendar, snack suggestions and shopping lists. There were some mistakes or ambiguity but I forgive that because it did give me lots of healthy snack ideas for kiddo and some new recipes that were quick, easy and yummy. Gather: A 30-Day Family Nutrition - it is worth full price. I feel like it was more toddler-friendly than Mashup Mom. We got our groceries at ALDI and it was on average $16.27 per day. But if you consider it is HEALTHY and FRESH then it's worth it.

So we have been sitting in the parking lot of the Discovery Cube for an hour because kiddo fell asleep on the way over and I didn't have the heart to wake him up. Thank goodness I filled up the gas tank. Too bad gas is so expensive. This nap is costing us $$$.

Heading to the Color Run this weekend. Hope it is super fun for all 3 of us. Debating whether to bring the stroller on the run or let kiddo walk. He is super into walking now. Got my suitcases out to pack for my Nebraska trip. I know, it's 4 weeks away, but weeks go by fast when you're looking after a toddler every day.

Also, I am obsessed with this Think tinted sunscreen, which of course is sold out.

Month of Mama part 6

Had a wonderful self-care week. CJ Grand spa on Friday and we have been doing FIT4MOM's family nutrition plan called Gather. Heading in to a week of workouts. Got a couple new swimsuits in my Amazon cart because my other suit is just NOT okay for swim lessons. The top is just not able to hold my boobs properly. I had considered wearing my SheFit bras as swimsuit tops so I think I'll just go ahead and do that.

I've had a chance to wear my purchases from Latched Mama. Love the dresses so much. Love the nursing t-shirts too. Just so soft and comfy and flattering and not causing me to overheat. Love love love.

Also have been wearing my Kindred Bravely stuff. Love the Sublime bra so much I ordered a second one. It's amazing when you upgrade your wardrobe, you really feel taken care of.

Tried out the Goodr sunglasses today. So fun doing a try-on session with the whole family. Love how the OGs fit over my glasses and as expected the BFGs fit my husband very well.

Our son's daycare sent home all of his stuff so he's officially out for the summer. I'm happy to report we were able to change our swim lesson day/time from Saturday at 1:30pm to Monday at 11:00am. This is good because the other one was during naptime which made him extra cranky.

We made hotel reservations and bought plane tickets so it seems like the summer is locked down. I did the Curly Girl method for 16 weeks and I conclude that it is awesome. It was affordable after an initial shock buying stuff that I did not really use. I could write a whole post about just that. Hope I can get a haircut someday. Maybe before school starts again in the fall.

Month of Mama part 5

This month has been busy in the best way. I'm having a TON of anxiety about the end of the academic year and a return to 24/7 time with kiddo. It's not that I don't want to be with my kid, I think it's just the stress of any transition comes with uncertainty and I put so much pressure on myself to do everything well. So grateful for Fit4Mom for providing me the scaffolding to frame my life around so that I can lean in to my community and not feel like all the programming is up to me.

F4M Mothers Day Mega Class

We had a super-fun mega class on Mother's Day weekend. There were a lot of swag items given out. Fit4Mom is planning a Fun Run this weekend instead of Strides 360. And we're doing a group trip to the Zoo on the last week of the month. The next Body Well session doesn't start until July so I will miss some of it. But I'll probably still sign-up for it anyway for the accountability. June will be a month to shape up and do a class (almost) every day.

End-Of-Year Celebration @ Daycare

It was our son's first graduation ceremony LOL. Actually just a party in his classroom with all the families of the children and then a reception with cookies outside on the patio. We got to see the toys he likes to play with. It was sad to think that he won't be seeing his friends every day. But we've planned some other activities to keep him socializing and learning.

Swim Lesson @ Water Wings

Kiddo had his first swim lesson which was awesome. What was not-so-awesome was that something fermented in our car and it smelled really bad and we localized it to the car seat so we had to take it out and take it apart and wash it and let it dry and put it back together and reinstall it in the car. Meanwhile, we had to go to a swim lesson on the bus which was totally fine, easy and fun. Kiddo really enjoyed it. It was good practice for our Disney trip and it gave me confidence to see how easy it was.

F4M Gather Meal Plan Week 1

I was totally on the Mashup Mom ALDI meal plan until kiddo started getting older and pickier. The Fit4Mom Gather meal plan was written by a mom of a 3-year old so the recipes are more little kid friendly. So far, the rainbow of foods has been really good, everything has been quick to prepare and tastes great. We took these 4-oz food portioning containers down to Disneyland and they were absolutely perfect for having grab-and-go healthy snacks throughout the day.

Train and Bus Adventure @ Disneyland

We had the most fun at Disneyland. As I told my mom, you're parenting no matter where you are. So whether you are stuck at home driving each other crazy or out there in the world trying to stay sane, it's all a day in the life of being a mom. Here are just a few of the many faces of Albert at Disneyland. He loved running free. Simple things like stealing my sunglasses and spotting Mickey mouse brought a big smile to his face. He loved Tom Sawyer's Island the most and had a very hard time leaving it. I had so many moments throughout the day where I thought, "this is what childhood is all about" just kids being kids and a whole huge park centered around imagination.

Coming soon: JUNE 11, 2022

Our next big adventure and pretty much the only thing I have on the calendar for June so far is going to be a fun run down in Carson near CSU Dominguez Hills. 

March 2022 thoughts

3/5 - Put kiddo in the silk ring sling for the first time today. Did a haircut and a shower. It was even better than I had hoped. I can't wait to use it this summer in the pool, in the ocean and more often in the shower. Got it used on Poshmark for $60.

3/7 - Even though I take an absurd amount of photos and video of LO, I feel like it's not enough! We had to give our daycare photos of anyone who is authorized to pick up LO and I realized I have so few pics of grandma and auntie. I was watching videos of kiddo and wishing I had more than like 1 every other month. Why do I wait until he is doing something super cute? I just need more!

3/9 - bae has a cough. mama is tired.

"allergies" and Zyrtek. Is he gonna cough for the rest of his life? WTF. He's been coughing since week 1 of December 2021. Like ~15 weeks.

3/11 - I tried to do too much today. Almost started crying on a work Zoom call because I nearly had a panic attack. Trying to balance caring for a sick kid, doing a good job at work, being a good friend / sister / daughter / wife. I wish I could take a Tylenol PM and sleep for 14 hours but I'm still breastfeeding.

3/12 - Man-colds are the bad joke of the universe. LO has been sick all week. I caught it and have been one day behind LO. Now DH has it and he's confined to the bed, taking NyQuil. I feel it's so unfair. I have had to function through it all. 

Kiddo was so whiny last night, I strapped him to my back and walked around our condo complex and found every single unit number from 1 up to 129. It was actually a really fun game and saved my sanity.

3/13 - Self-Care Sunday. Woke up at 5:30am. Put DH in charge of LO. Slept 3 hours. Still feel like crap but it was much needed.

I'm working through LO's naps this weekend instead of resting because even though I'm sick too, I know I'll be keeping LO home from daycare during the week and I need this time to make progress on work stuff. But it sucks. My head hurts. I'm coughing. Kiddo is also teething. He's been biting, scratching, whining, refusing to eat... it's been so rough. It's his birthday tomorrow and I think we're just gonna treat it like a normal day and pray that kiddo is better by next weekend when we will have a party with friends and family.

3/15 - I have never wanted to do a primal scream until now. My sister miscarried at 9w 6d. No heartbeat. I'm so freaking sad for her. Aaaaah!

And I can't do a primal scream IRL because I am sick. I am a teacher. I took all my sick leave as maternity w/ my Marchling. If I scream IRL, I will lose my voice and then I won't be able to talk.

She had her D&C today. I wish I could be there but I live 2000 miles away. My other sister is due 3/19 (any day now). I wish I could be there for her too. So much joy and sadness. Aaaaah!

3/21 - 2 year pediatrician visit today was a mixed bag. Kiddo wearing a mask is just not happening. LO doesn't wear hats or hoods so I don't know how a mask is going to work. LO is growing well and walking strong. Dr. said we are doing a good job as parents.

My middle sister had a miscarriage last week at 10 weeks, which was really super sad. My youngest sister is 41 weeks tomorrow. The timing of these events with LO's 2nd bday is filling me with too many feels.

My husband's uncle died on Friday and we just found out today because they didn't want to ruin LO's bday party with bad news. LO's party was on Saturday. MIL was at the party but FIL was a no-show and now we know why.

I'm not whining. I'm on Spring Break which is absolutely fabulous. Celebrating 14 years of marriage next week. This is one of my favorite times of the year: spring!

I have been researching taking LO to Disneyland and had considered going this week or next. But now I understand you need a ticket AND a reservation and the next available isn't until May. So now planning for Summer. 

But also I want to go "home" for a few weeks in summer to spend time with sisters / cousins / grandparents. Guess it's not too early to get those plans going.

My kid has insisted on wearing ONE pair of shoes 24/7 since Jan 30th. That's fifty days and fifty nights. And today I realized that my two year old has athlete's foot. 

We change his socks at least 2x per day but now I guess we'll be using a cream to treat the fungus and throw away his favorite shoes. The pediatrician said athlete's foot isn't bad, it's toenail fungus that is really hard to treat.

Edit to add: he doesn't have toenail fungus thank goodness

3/19 - Sleep Saturday. Our pediatrician said that night sleep should be uninterrupted. If night nursing 3x per night is happening, then LO should be weaned in order to sleep through the night. He should be consuming 6 oz cows milk during the day, or equivalent dairy intake. 

She didn't say that I should stop breastfeeding but that sleep is important and we should be doing everything we can to help him sleep continuously through the night. I don't know what we should be doing other than what we are already doing. 

I was just saying to DH this weekend that I would be extremely motivated to wean and get LO into his own bed and room if we were TTC but I'm 41 and we're not trying for another and I haven't got my period yet and it's kinda nice not to buy tampons. 

I guess I figure LO will eventually want his own bed and own room and we can absolutely do that when he asks for it. Right now kiddo and I cosleep in a queen bed and DH has his own king bed. DH snores super loud.

3/18 - Feeding Friday. LO's bday party menu was all his favorite things. I've never seen him so happy to sit at a table and eat. Mac & cheese, watermelon, grapes, strawberries, applesauce pouch and goldfish crackers. And mini oreo cookies. There were 6 kids and they all ate at an oversized adult table. My heart melted. I love seeing my kid eat. He's in the 4th percentile for weight, so I just can't help but feed him anything he will actually eat.

I babysat for another kid. Same age as my kid. It was interesting to see how different they were. My kid loves to feed himself. He's really good with a spoon and fork but is picky about what he will eat. This other kid had a bigger appetite and ate a broader range of foods but didn't want anything to do with touching the utensils. He wanted to be spoon-fed. Just interesting to see a different kid.

Our kid loves picking fruit from the garden. I should get some stuff in the ground now. Or make a playdate to do berry you-pick.

3/23 - I feel so late to the party. Tried to look into swimming lessons today for LO and every class is full! The words SOLD OUT are just ringing in my mind and I am having major FOMO.

I think swim lesson enrollment is rolling month-to-month. But just like Disneyland... I have to plan Now for May. I just didn't know.

3/24 - Spring break is giving me life. I have been taking my LO to Fit4Mom workouts and seeing him imitating lunges, high knees, jumping jacks and push-ups is so cute. I am sleeping better after these workouts. 

My sister is in labor now, her water broke overnight. I'm beyond excited for LO to gain a new cousin and for my sister to become a mom.

3/27 - I got so upset with my husband today. Last night I called him ungrateful. Today, he got whiny after being at the zoo for 1.5 hours. I told him that he is responsible for planning all weekends in April. Mommy will be visiting local spas. Alone.

I don't think he gets how much work it is being the default parent. I have given him a glimpse of it two weeks ago when LO was sick and DH had to stay home from work Tues/Thurs. DH was so worn out from those days! I feel like he doesn't have enough energy to chase after a toddler.

Right now DH and LO are taking a nap. They have been asleep for nearly 3 hours (from 2-5 pm). What he seems to forget is that LO only sleeps 12 hours in a 24 hour period. LO slept 1 hour in the car on the way to the zoo. This to me means LO will only sleep 8 hours overnight. Which means he will have a wake window from 5pm to 9pm and then wake up at 5am. Who does overnights? Mom.

3/28 - Trying not to get too caught up in social media. Sharenting isn't my gig and I don't aim to be an influencer. I share because I live 2000 miles away from my parents and sisters. And because I love when social media surprises me with happy memories from the past.

TLDR: We had a super fun weekend and I didn't take any pictures.

3/30 - I've been at work for 5 hours now. Working continuously. I feel I've barely made a dent. I was so caught up in planning for and executing LO's birthday party, taking care of him when he was sick, that I am just a whirlwind here at work with no clear TO DO list or priorities. I love my little guy and think about him all the time. I feel parenthood occupies 95% of my brain function.