Again with the delayed re-cap, lets just blame it on the time change, shall we? It’s getting close to the end of this Dream Year, hoping to end 2013 on a high note!

• Team Colley is chugging along like a well-oiled machine. We’ve been able to find some more “couple” time, despite more traveling to see family and the daily routine.
• Joe is the energizer bunny in toddler form. I’ve enrolled him in a toddler gymnastics class and have been taking him to an open gym at the rec center so he release some of that energy without any causalities. The bonus to this is that I’ve been getting quite the cardio workout at the same time.
• Creatively, I’ve been really enjoying pursuing things with Stella & Dot I love being able to have something adult to call my own and I think that it’s given me confidence and motivation to grow. Hoping that the Holiday Season goes well for me!

Apologizes on the lateness of this post. Things have been quite the whirlwind around here, so posting has taken a back seat. I’m hoping that I can get back on track for the rest of this month. So, here’s the quick and dirty version of September:

• Team Colley is in full effect now that Shawn has been incorporated into the daily routine. I think that we’ve found a good balance with being full-time with Joe and running the house. We still need to find some more “couple” time, but we’ve been busy with traveling to see family, so that has taken a bit of a back seat. Date Nights need to come back.
• Joe is a rough-and-tumble toddler that is taking full advantage of having both of us home. Shawn and I have started doing some activities with him by ourselves, both to get some one-on-one quality time as well as giving the other person a little time for themselves.
• Creatively, I’ve been really enjoying pursuing things with Stella & Dot. I’m proud to say that I met my goal of hitting the higher commission rate my first month in! I love being able to have something adult to call my own and I think that it’s given me confidence and motivation to grow. I’ll be posting more on this later.
• Physically, it’s been a battle to get in exercise with all the travel and commitments this past month, but Shawn and I are really working together as a team with watching our diet.

• Physically, I’m hanging in there. I started doing the Couch to 5K program again, however having family in town, battling a heat wave, and having a root canal (!) at the end of the month through me a bit off track. Going to recommit for September.
• Creatively, I’ve been throwing all my efforts into my Stella & Dot business. I’m super excited to celebrate with an upcoming “Launch Party Trunk Show.”  (More on this later.)
• Baby wrangling has been going well, Joe is always quite the handful, but I’m so enjoying him at this stage. He is a ball of energy, curiosity, and fun. Things have also been a bit easier with Shawn around.
• Relationship-wise, things have been going as well as can be expected with Shawn being home now. We’re working to find a new routine and not step on each other’s toes. I think that we definitely need to plan some date nights as well as some time with our friends to help keep us sane.

Let’s break it down:

• Exercise is still coming in the form or lugging Joseph around, either in the form of walks or wagon rides, swimming, or other baby calisthenics. My left shoulder has been bothering me for a while, but it has gone up a notch this past month. Not doubt it is in direct correlation to Joe’s current weight.
• Creatively, I’m full of ideas but very little follow through. Nothing has captured my attention to the point where I want to execute. I think that part of this is due to the disorganization of my studio.
• Shawn and I have been okay, but we’ve haven’t had a decent date night in weeks. This is due to my nephew coming out to visit, being unable to book our sitter, not to mention other commitments. We have, however, been really great this month doing things as a family. Plenty of parades, carnivals, and trips to the zoo. Good stuff. Something that we need just as much as our time with each other.
• I have to say that it was a long month for me in the mommy zone. Having our nephew here for a week was awesome, but it also upped the running around factor. Joe has learned to walk -finally!- which has made things easier and harder at the same time. He’s also so strong that I am worn out physically from wrangling him all day. He has a mind of his own and will fight tooth and nail (literally) to get what he wants. The battle of will has begun.
• I’m glad to report that I’ve been getting out to see my ladies more this month, something that I feel has benefited me the most, mentally. We’ve made a pact to have dinner together at least once a month. Plus, I’ve been making an effort to stay more in contact via Facebook, email, or text in between. It helps me more that I could say, even if we are just laughing at the chaos together.

August is promising to look like a great month. Both visiting Chicago and having my sister and nephew out to visit before the school year starts, more swimming and summer fun, not to mention something I’m really excited and nervous to talk about soon that will bring about another change in my life. . . . not I’m not pregnant! . . . more will be revealed soon.

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So much for having a slow month! This one went in a blink. Hope everyone’s enjoying summer before it speeds by!

• Working out has been coming in the form of taking Joseph to the pool, either for swim lessons or for fun. Laugh if you will, but lugging a 32lb squirming toddler around in the water is a good work out. I’ve lost a few more pounds, but feel that I’ve gained a bit more muscle as well.
• Creatively, I’ve been okay. I finally finished a project that I still need to share, but since completing that, I’ve been stalled. Being busy outside with the garden has helped a bit, but I need to get my butt back in my studio soon.
• Things with Shawn have been good. The early part of the month I was getting burned out with his work and golf commitments, but we were able to go on a mini-vacaton to Las Vegas for a few days without Joe and that was just the R&R we needed. Wouldn’t it be great to have that kind of getaway every month!
• Mommydom has been good this month. Joe is always super busy, which keeps me on my toes, but he’s just a joy. He is getting better at being in the car and running errands, plus he entertains himself really well so I can get things done around the house (of course with one eye on him and my ears perked for any signs of mischief).

May was a whirlwind of a month. I feel like I blinked and it was 30 days later. Hopefully, June will go at a bit slower of a pace.

• Working out took a serious nose dive due to Joseph getting an awful cold, then passing it on to me. Full recovery for both of us took over half the month and then it was time for the family vacation.
• Creatively, I did a bit better than last month, but still not at the level I would prefer. I’ve been slaving away at a project that I’m determined to finish – I’m almost there! -which will free me to start something exciting and new.
• Relationship-wise we’ve been doing pretty good. We had a few fun date nights – a black-tie fundraising event and a night at the ball park – not to mention our family vacation.
• Mommydom had its moments early in the month with us both being sick and miserable together, but we celebrated Mother’s Day and had so much fun at the beach together that it totally made this a great month to be “Joseph’s Mom”

This month I really kicked it in gear.

• I finally got off my butt and made it to the gym! I’ve been going about 4-5 days a week doing mostly cardio. I’ve also made some changes by attempting to follow the paleo diet. I’m planning on going into this a bit more in a later post.
• Creatively, I’ve been stalled. For about the past two weeks or so I’ve been struggling to work on anything. Nothing is exciting or interesting. I’ve done a few small projects here and there, but I’m hoping to get back on track by forcing myself to complete some WIPs that have piled up.
• Mommydom has been good. Trying at times with Joe working on his first year molars -not to mention he currently has a cold- but getting that time in at the gym, plus being able to get outside, helps a ton.
• Relationship-wise, we’ve been doing well. Keeping up on the Date Nights, plus really working as a team to wrangle Joe when he’s home.

All in all, I think April was a pretty good month, here’s to May being even better!

March was a difficult month, let’s break it down and get on with April!

• Mentally, it was a roller coaster. With the twins’ day, Joseph’s 1st birthday, and a 10 day trip out to my parents, I was feeling pretty mentally exhausted by the end of the month. Not to mention the crap weather we had, blue skies and normal spring temps will definitely elevate my mood.
• Physically, I stink. I started out doing really well before we left for Chicago, but the wheels fell off by the time I got back. I’m trying not to beat myself up about this, but just going to move forward.
• Good news, I finally got my shoes! (Let’s not discuss whether I’ve broken them in yet. Moving on.)
• Relationship wise, I feel like I took out a lot of stress on Shawn this month, but we were able to turn things around towards the end. I think that there is a direct relation to the amount of time we spend together (without Joseph) be it hanging out watching Duck Dynasty or going out on our Date Nights and how well we do in general.
• Craftiness was entirely spent on Joe’s birthday. I’ll share more about that soon, but let’s just say I am glad I have another 11 months before I have to do that again.

BTW: Shawn’s birthday was on the 28th, Happy Birthday to the best man I know. I love you, honey!

I finally went and got some proper running shoes this weekend! I went to a local running store, Columbus Running Company, and have my gait analyzed and was fitted for the right shoes. Ends up that I over-pronate, so I needed something to really stabilize the inside arch. This explains why I was having such trouble with pain in the outside of my ankle and knee.

I was a bit intimidated at first about going to the running store, but I was pleasantly surprised at how helpful and encouraging the staff was there. I worked with Eric, and affable and extremely knowledgeable guy, who was great at explaining my gait and why the shoes would help. He was very patient and thorough as we tried on several different pairs of shoes until we found the perfect fit. I ended up going with a pair of Saucony Women’s Hurricane 15’s. I’m excited to put them to the test and re-start the Couch to 5k program. Wish me luck!

Did this month fly by or what? It was a very busy month, full of traveling and celebrations. Let’s check out how things went:

• Shawn and I had our trip to Whiskey, plus there were some fun Date Nights, both with other friends and by ourselves. In addition, I had a nice mini-break from things at home when I went to my nephew’s hockey tournament. All of this helped me not get into the winter doldrums I often feel this time of year. 
• Creativity wise things are still chugging away. I think that I’ve found a good routine where I work on projects during Joseph’s morning nap. It gives me a mental break and energizes me for the rest of the afternoon. I’ve been working on a couple of quilts plus some smaller projects for Joe’s upcoming birthday party.
• I had my birthday this month -38 what!? – and with that comes a little more reflection and introspection. I feel like I’m in a good place right now, but still battle against the SAHM guilt/anxiety at times.
• Physically, I sucked this month. I fell off the wagon with going to yoga class with all of that traveling going on and I feel it. I have still been trying to practice at home, but Joe makes it a bit difficult. Eating wise, I feel like we’ve done pretty well – barring a small Culver’s binge during my stint as a “Hockey Aunt.” I also STILL haven’t gone to get my running shoes. . . . I suck. I’ve been really wanting to get back on my Couch to 5K program lately, so I need to focus on this and make it a priority this month, no excuses.