melted smoosh

tomorrow I'll be eight weeks postpartum with baby number five (which my eighteen-year-old self would find simultaneously unbelievable and also inevitable!).  while each baby, delivery, and postpartum experience is unique, there are some essential components to a smooth recovery. the way in which all of these things is accomplished may vary, but ultimately, you need to feed your baby, feed yourself, tickle your brain, and care for your body. here's how I've been doing all of that this time around!  1) the Willow Go wearable pump. oh my goodness, you guys. this is such a game changer. I am pumping exclusively for George (minus the occasional bottle of ready-to-feed formula when we're out and about). there is absolutely no way I would still be pumping if I had to sit down with my trusty double electric Spectra four or five times a day. my insurance pays for a new breast pump every three years, so I decided to try out a wearable mostly because my sister had such a good expe...

every year, I feel like Christmas is a balancing act between the spiritual, the fun, and the mundane -- and what saves me from losing my mind is the mantra "decide once", a la Kendra Adachi . I have decided that I order photo cards from Walgreens using a same-day pickup promo code (rather than wading through all kinds of assuredly beautiful cards from other sites). I fill stockings with mostly consumables, including toiletry products. I wrap using mostly gift bags -- so much faster! we eat clam chowder for dinner on Christmas Eve. we go to Christmas mass on Christmas Day, rather than the vigil the night before (well, Nick is at ALL the Christmas services, but I take the kids in daylight hours). I keep a locked note on my phone to track gift ideas and ultimate purchases. all of this frees up mental space for things that do shift from season to season! I want to strike a balance between enjoying a beautiful, special experience with my family while still maintaining my equilibri...