tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88053533717445681492024-02-02T18:43:17.029-06:00somewhere in the middlea look at the journey to being everyone and just me all at the same time.just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-17238787611498700372016-02-14T16:05:00.002-06:002016-02-14T16:06:05.357-06:00I'm Moving!I've decided to try some new things in 2016 for my blog, and moving to WordPress is one of the first. If you're a subscriber (Thank you!), or have a link saved to this blog, please join me at my new home, smwhereinthemiddle.wordpress.com
Once I have everything moved in (it is) and in a set-up that I like (it's not), this location in Blogger will no longer be used. I'mjust Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-32175249527769214962016-01-16T20:53:00.000-06:002016-01-16T20:53:50.553-06:00They
...are the reason this blog has remained quiet for a year.
...are similar and completely unique.
...make chugging a cold cup of coffee normal.
...inspire me to cook, innovate, be intentional, and create. and suck all of the energy away that I have to do those things. sometimes by 6:45 a.m.
...are 6, 2, and 2.
...make me one of millions in a community of parents who share a bond over thisjust Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-56228294305356763562014-12-30T11:26:00.001-06:002014-12-30T12:07:12.842-06:0012 Things I Learned In 2014The end of the calendar year inevitably brings many retrospectives, lists, and best-of's. I have not been posting much in 2014, with most of my focus spent on two not-so tiny twin girls and their big brother. So this list of things I learned seemed as good a way as any to summarize where I've been.
I learned, in no particular order because my memory could never chronologically sort just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-46902465782026765652014-07-04T16:32:00.000-05:002014-07-07T13:05:25.439-05:00Love in the Time of Mashed BananasAll it took was a few ice bullets.
I've been scanning few articles lately about marriage. This time of year it is a popular editorial and blog topic with so many newlyweds back from their summer honeymoons. Articles about what it takes to have a happy marriage, to stay together, to not get bored, to fight less, to love more, to make it through rough times, to be a team during just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-81358604127022017202014-01-21T15:30:00.002-06:002014-01-21T15:30:59.277-06:00SixteenI can't remember my sixteenth birthday. Is that weird? What girl doesn't remember their sweet sixteen, either for how great it was, or how awful it was instead of how great it was supposed to be? Granted, that was 21 a few years ago, I have three kids, and I feel lucky that I remember to put shoes on some mornings, so I'm not entirely surprised.
I do have a strong memory just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-9503585472729912852014-01-20T15:43:00.000-06:002014-12-30T12:09:44.546-06:00Until It Isn'tIt is easy to practice what you preach, until it isn't.
A popular topic of parenting humor on social media is a list of all of the things you swore you would never do as a parent, until you became one. I read them and laugh, knowing that most of them are true of myself and probably most of the other parents of young children that I know. Many years ago I might have groaned out of just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-36808378415902419332013-11-05T14:39:00.000-06:002014-12-30T12:09:44.542-06:00Being her first exampleWhen my son was born, I was introduced to the pressure of parenting. I did, and still do, spend a lot of time thinking about the best way to teach, discipline, play, talk, be a role model, balance responsibilities, and everything else that goes into being the best I can be for the love of my child. Now I am a mom of three: my son and two twin girls. The girls are only a week old, and just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-67063167046996850472013-09-26T12:37:00.000-05:002014-12-30T12:11:21.753-06:00Hear Me Roar
Sometimes you just have to laugh.
Almost two weeks ago I started a little adventure in the hospital because the twins we are expecting tried to meet the world a little earlier than they should. Thankfully they have still not made their debut, and I hope to be waiting for many weeks until the time comes for them to join us.
On day one, I was transported from one hospital to another to be at ajust Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-54054946229994409932013-03-02T13:58:00.000-06:002013-03-02T13:59:02.253-06:00Too much good stuff...for real this timeLast summer, I started a season of reigning in the crazy. I recognized that while I had an abundance good things in my life, it was time to take a hard look at all of the activities that I said yes to and set some priorities. I do think progress has been made. All of the same opportunities are still there, tempting me and shaming me into thinking I should say just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-25512927055326957772012-12-08T20:35:00.000-06:002012-12-08T22:07:47.363-06:00Momentary HeroesDisclaimer: I am very aware that the experience I am about to describe below is not necessarily typical of all similar situations or families. Please enjoy it anyway.
We took a family vacation last week. My son is three. The vacation involved travel in cars, buses, trains, airplanes, and a cruise ship, sleeping in a hotel, and for a little extra spice, a seven-hour just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-24354940500211476802012-10-26T16:33:00.000-05:002012-10-26T16:33:22.688-05:00It's all in the eyes
There are times when I catch a glimpse of these eyes looking back at me from a mirror and it startles me. You probably don't see it, but since I've been staring back at these eyes for more than three decades, I notice the changes. Sparkle. Dull. Bright. Bloodshot. Baggy. Lively. Exhausted. I see it all.
I have so many blessings. Somejust Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-86373278519776270952012-10-05T13:32:00.002-05:002012-10-05T13:33:08.685-05:00Little VictoriesMy mom is staying with us for three weeks. It is admittedly some work to arrange the house and schedule ahead of time to accommodate a guest for that amount of time, but it is a welcome change. It is 1:00 on a Friday, the groceries are put away, a loaf of banana bread that I baked is cooling in the kitchen, lunches are eaten, my son is sleeping, and I'm sitting just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-66601947887474060902012-09-23T09:15:00.000-05:002012-09-23T09:15:23.537-05:00A different kind of churchSunday mornings have never been about sleeping in around my house. Except for instances of college, illness, or vacation, Sunday mornings have been up-and-at-em time for church. Today, both my husband and I are under the weather. Not enough to stay in bed, but enough not to bring our germs to church. Which is good, because since my son is feeling just fine, staying in bed just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-7756907158225016262012-09-16T20:26:00.000-05:002012-09-16T20:27:19.069-05:00Power (?)I took a few minutes in between cooking and laundry, ironically enough, to read an article in the Chicago Tribune today about power. The article, "Women and Power", explored the definition of power that is met by the women on the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women list, and whether Forbes' definition of "money, access, and connections," is really the measure we should be using. &just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-75880004535601088852012-09-06T20:21:00.000-05:002012-09-06T20:21:31.663-05:00"Click"
We've all had those moments. The ones where a small smile crosses your face and you know that moment, no matter how ordinary, has been impressed in your memory to last a lifetime.
Like when I was a freshman at Indiana University, on a sunny afternoon during finals week, and a gathering of people ended up on the roof of Briscoe Hall for a study break. At the moment a few people just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-52228463533466044132012-08-24T20:36:00.000-05:002012-08-24T20:37:15.390-05:00People Watching
For several years I've been in restaurants, catching flying splatters of food and asking my child to sit still and eat, while I enviously eyed those headphone-wearing, laptop-toting, coffee-drinking solo patrons relaxing around me. Tonight I am one of them, and I have to say, it's just as awesome as I imagined. These are the types of things I took for granted before I lost the just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-9376278754491866202012-08-10T16:08:00.000-05:002012-08-10T16:08:26.093-05:00Something from nothingBack in April I spent a Sunday afternoon re-potting some houseplants that were long overdue for new homes and dirt. I am so happy to be writing with good news. All of the plants are happy and well, and it is still calming to me to know that they have recently been re-potted and the ever present to-do task is done for a while.
First, the most impressive just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-11824973400666076132012-07-27T14:21:00.000-05:002012-07-27T14:21:55.047-05:00Keeping it simpleA handful of my mom-friends have spouses that travel regularly for work. There are a multitude of single parents out there who always take care of their kids on their own. I have nothing but the utmost respect and awe for all of them, because on the rare occasions that my husband is out of town for a few days, it gets challenging around here. One positive thing for me, though, just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-21398055199649169392012-07-22T16:34:00.001-05:002012-07-22T20:04:35.860-05:00More than enoughI have reached my limit before. In many ways, at many different times in my life, I've hit that point where it was very clear to me that whatever my limit was, I had found it. I am confident it's not the best way to handle it, but it takes that point of explosion before I am able to finally hand over the controls. This time, the limit reached was in regards to too many things. &just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-30979318602411338712012-07-14T23:03:00.000-05:002012-07-14T23:03:13.729-05:00...and then stop thinking.I went for a run tonight with no distractions: no music, no GPS, nothing. In the absence of distraction, my brain was overflowing with things I didn't want to think about, including the desire to be done running. I have no idea how far I ran or how long I was gone. But after about halfway of whatever that final distance was, I was too tired to focus on anything but my own just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-3876208910869260552012-07-09T21:17:00.000-05:002012-07-10T17:43:06.765-05:00Maybe next yearThis was supposed to be it. Right now. Over the past few years, every time I uttered the words "Well, I guess we can't right now, but next summer we should (fill in the blank here)," I was talking about this summer. Three summers ago I was pregnant. Two summers ago I had a wobbly, nap-taking, one-year-old. Last summer I had a determined, quicker-than-lightning, just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-62602330065125690232012-06-29T16:55:00.000-05:002012-06-30T20:53:31.556-05:00I get by with a little help from my (online) friends
This post is a part of a blog carnival with the new online community mom.me, and is sponsored by P&G. Head on over to the mom.me site to take part in the discussion about motherhood and online communities, and you will be entered to win one of five P&G gift baskets valued at $250.
How the online world has helped me as a mom
As a kid, days lasted forever. The time from any just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-87625308205619047922012-06-24T14:58:00.001-05:002012-06-24T15:03:10.209-05:00My perfect pizzaA few months ago, based on the positive experience of a friend who had done the same thing, we signed up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. In a nutshell, members pay a fee to the farm early in the season, and then get weekly shares of whatever fruits and vegetables are ready for harvest. Kind of our own farmer's market. Sandhill Organics is the farm just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-87172649754613531462012-06-22T09:07:00.000-05:002012-07-22T16:39:07.445-05:00Attack of the gnome
Six months ago I started to write a blog. The blog was some extra motivation to make good changes and stick to them so I would have something to write. Changes were made, and are ongoing, and that is good. Looking back at my list of posts, I can see that in February that annoying little overachieving gnome started to poke holes in my happy plan. In March, he took over. &just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805353371744568149.post-42622823782836131962012-04-22T21:02:00.000-05:002012-04-22T21:02:43.172-05:00Adventures in houseplanteryI really do like plants. I like to garden, I like to have houseplants, I like how they look when I take the time to tend them. I'm guessing you can see where this is going, so, not surprisingly, I don't always have the time to tend the plants as I would like. Luckily for me, the houseplants in my home have been with me since I lived in my own apartment, and they are quite used just Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788135499998988991noreply@blogger.com1