Fun

Why do I start getting excited at this time of the year? Not because the weather is finally cooling down. Because it really isn’t cool yet in Houston – just less miserably hot. But because we get to start planning Fall, Winter, and holiday fun stuff(!). Like the Turkey Trot, the 5k my family has done on Thanksgiving morning for what feels like my entire life. There was a gap in there of a decade or two when it actually didn’t exist or we just didn’t do it. But it was such a significant part of my childhood, I was thrilled to start doing it again after I met my husband and was making my own family events and traditions.

So, we got registered for it today, and I am thrilled. Do I think I will be fit enough for it by the time it comes around? Not really. But I’ll still be able to handle a 5k even if I suck at it. Again. (I did it last year postpartum, and the year before at eight months pregnant, and ran the whole thing both times, despite having not exercised since the first few weeks of my pregnancy.)

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Aching to sleep

My head is aching. I can barely stay awake. It’s only 21:40, but I am exhausted. Fortunately, my daughter seems to be, as well, and she is passing out hard on top of me right now.

Thank you, God. Let’s get some really good sleep tonight. In your name, I pray. Amen.

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Makeup

A two-year-old was gifted a set of fake makeup at her birthday party today. No powders or rubs or anything – just a plastic version of everything, plus brushes (which are probably also fully plastic, but the bristles were very soft, so it feels weird to call them plastic, even though they probably are). So, nothing to clean up or clean off of anything. Just pieces to pick up and put away into the box at the end of the playing.

But it set in motion a conversation amongst the adults about makeup. All the women present were moms, and the men were all dads. It was interesting to see how we approach it differently. But it was very endearing to have the grandpa of the birthday girl tell me, in a quite serious manner, that I should make myself a YouTube channel and share my views and approach with all the little girls out there, as he put it. His own daughter had been part of the conversation, sharing how she approached makeup. Yet he said nothing about her views. So, he wasn’t just being nice to everyone. He really meant what he said.

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Laughter

I spend a good chunk of my day either bordering, experiencing, or recovering from tears. On days like today, when I feel, somehow, extra tired, it feels like a constant battle not to yell and cry half the day long.

And yet my husband comes home and instantly – and this always happens – has our daughter happily yelling and giggling and full-on laughing for the whole time they spend together before whatever comes next. I don’t know that she giggled like that even once with me today.

While it’s adorable to witness them having such fun together, it also has me doubt myself immensely, considering that I might be doing an awful job parenting.

And maybe I am. I’m beyond exhausted, and not in a cute, good way. In a miserable way. I literally need some sleep and a rest from near-constant overwhelm every single day, all day and all throughout the night.

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Bedtime routine…

My daughter fell asleep tonight right when I had planned to go shower. So, I worked on some researched I’d been wanting to do (though, on my phone, which was annoying), and let her sleep on my chest for maybe an hour and a half. Then I got up to go shower. When I moved her to my shoulder, she woke up, but put her head right down and closed her eyes.

I asked her if she was ready to shower, once we got to the bathroom, and she said, “No,” with her eyes still closed. So, I went to out her down. But she didn’t like that. I then told her that, if she didn’t want to shower right now, then I had to lay her down. She didn’t fuss that time, and let me lay et down on a pillow thing on the floor of my bedroom, eye shut the whole time.

She slept there my whole getting ready for bed process, face-down, half buried into the pillow. Just as I was considering waking her, she woke on her own. I gave her a super quick solo shower, then dried her and put on a diaper and a set of pajamas (which she did pick herself still), and got her in her bed and nursing and passing out within ten minutes total. More like five, really. Even I was impressed.

Now, we both get to sleep. So, goodnight.

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Projects

Basically, all I want to do this week is do physical activities for a bit outside, and then sew the rest of the day.

My daughter, of course, wants to do the inverse. Makes for a total catastrophe in the house after I sew for more than an hour (filled with interruptions, of course, equating only about twenty minutes of actual sewing progress).

But I really need to clean up the house. For the mental health of all of us.

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Surprise!

God came through in a beautiful and unanticipated way today. No, my husband didn’t get much work, but he did get it confirmed that he gets to stay in a hotel for the next two weeks, instead of in his car. He’ll still have to stay it in later and probably often, but this was s happy surprise. I’m so glad he gets a good, comfortable, cool, and clean place to sleep each night for now.

Thank you, God. Amen.

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Starting again

My husband gets to start sleeping in his car again for work. Hopefully, it will be a very brief period of time during which he has to do this… again.

God, keep us safe and whole and well. Help my husband to find ease, safety, and good sleep, especially while he is away for work. Help him to have a comfortable bed each night and easy, good sleep. In your name, I pray. Amen.

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Sleep

That point at which you are so tired that a half hour passes in about five minutes… yeah, that’s where I am right now. Fortunately, my daughter passed out and I didn’t, so I’m not in my bed and ready to get some good sleep these next few hours. And hopefully even longer than usual.

God, guide us, please. Keep us safe and well and whole, and make us sleep well and solid hours tonight and each night, that we be refreshed and excited and ready for the next day and all its wonderful possibilities. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2026