Ah, The Things I Thought at the Time of My Wedding

My wedding registry.  It was at a time in my life that seems so far from reality now. I thought it was VERY important.  I spent countless hours (at work) pouring over my options and asking (coworkers) what they thought of this brand vs. that brand.  Should I get black or white?  What will last me for the rest of my life?  I really should have been less obvious about how uninterested I was with my job.  I must have been so annoying.  On a side note, I found an old email that I sent to a friend who had a brand new baby and I was apologizing for not visiting yet because I was just SO busy and SO overwhelmed with my life (I have to work out and I have to manage my registry and I am so busy going out to eat!)!

Here are some things that I have done in the last year (post child) that the engaged me would scoff at:

1.  I put my All Clad in the dishwasher.
2.  I put my Wustof knives in the dishwasher.
3.  EVERYTHING goes in the dishwasher, including the olive wood cooking spatula (which I got at my bridal shower, thank you again, Mrs. Kirbyface).
4.  My LaCoste robe is NOT used for espresso on the patio with slippers on my feet.
5.  The crystal vases and matching votive candle holders are in boxes on the high shelf of the linen closet.
6.  The last of my wedding gift certificates were used to purchase baby bumpers and sheets at Pottery Barn Kids.
7.  Scott broke this bowl while doing dishes one night and I went to buy a new one and walked out dumbfounded at how much it cost.
8.  We don't use our serving platter.
9.  The new couch we got with our wedding money does not get vacuumed and I do not rotate the pillows.
10.  I do not hand wash, line dry, and iron (low heat) our cloth dinner napkins.  I have, however used them to wipe up baby puke, and dry my own tears, not in that order (or maybe in that order, who knows).
11.  I have used my white linen tablecloth only once.  I still think it's lovely but if it leaves the plastic encasing at any point in the next 20 years, it will get stained.

None of the above facts make me sad in any way.  I feel just fine with the way life is going right now.  I have been through a battle and I have come up happier and wiser.  I still have a lot of naiveté (as in things with the second baby will be easier) but for now I am just proud of myself for letting go of some of my unlivable rules and enjoying the way life is for me right now.  My floors are a little dirty, there are dishes in the sink, and my napkins are not ironed (tsk, tsk).  But look at how happy Charlie is these days!

Oh and he's 14 months old tomorrow!

Early morning bed head, ready for breakfast

Sweeping the side yard

Taking a rest in a seat that is just his size

Stealing a vacuum from a thrift store (we ended up buying this and he loves it)

Hanging out at grandma and grandpas house

Watching the ducks and cheers-ing daddy (with a full mouth).