Time well spent

Sometimes I have a hard time relaxing.

I don't know how many times Matt has told me to stop folding the laundry and just talk with him or play with Reagan. 

To just relax.

Is it just me or did adding a tiny little baby triple the amount of laundry we have?!

I get caught up with life way too often.

I always want my house to be clean.

To have dishes and laundry done.

To have meals prepared.

For Reagan to hit his milestones.

And I often am so stressed about those trivial things that I don't take the time to just relax and enjoy life.

Matt often tells me that I set the mode for our house.

Whether I am angry, stressed, sad, or happy and content...it affects him and Reagan.

On Matt's long days; days that Reagan doesn't even see him...and sometimes I don't either, I am often in the angry/sad/stressed mood.

Last week was no exception.

I was frustrated and Reagan was grouchy.

(He is almost always fussy on those days...probably partly because I am not my happy self, but I also thinks he knows it is getting close to bedtime...and his dad isn't home yet. And I think it just throws his schedule off)

My house was A MESS.

I didn't make dinner.

I instead made a quick trip into Cedar to get some TK hoping Reagan would fall asleep.

...and since no one who reads this blog knows what TK is other than maybe my sisters, I better clarify by saying Taco Bell.

Well...

1. He didn't fall asleep.

2. I then still just had a fussy baby...and then I also felt guilty about eating some delicious TK too...

I was finally over it and decided to take Reagan to a park nearby that we had drove by earlier.

I just left everything like it was.

We got there and ALL the baby swings were taken.

Of course.

What am I supposed to with a baby at a park?

He can't crawl...he can't really play with anything.

My sole purpose in going was for the swings...which were currently being used by children far too big for them.

I was totally annoyed.

So...I got his stroller out. And we walked around and around and around the park. Probably 3 or 4 times.

And everyone stared at us.

For those of you that don't know Reagan...the kid is loud.

He LOVES to be outside, so he was talking away and giggling...and everyone kept looking at us in search of the loud baby.

And...after numerous laps...

The kids were still in the swings.

So I took him out of the stroller and plopped him under some trees to just sit and play.

He loved it.

He had never seen pine needles before, and they totally fascinated him.

He may or may not have eaten a handful of them.

He probably played there for a half hour.

I took a lot of pictures.

I listened to a couple of kids that looked about 13 break-up...and then about 15 minutes later they made up.

I read part of a book.

It was relaxing. 

The kids finally left...and we took over the baby swing area.

He loved it.

Of course.

So we swung for awhile.

And then we went over to play in the leaves.

And he loved that too.

And again with the eating them.

Always.

 I need to remember to take the time and slow down and enjoy each day.

Reagan could care less what the house looks like.

I know he prefers spending time like this with us.

The only thing that would have made it better in his eyes is if Matt was there.

We watched the sunset...and then headed home.

My house was still a mess when we got home.

And then I had to postpone cleaning even more because I had to give Reagan a bath when we got back because he was a sneezy itchy mess...but it was worth it.

And when Matt got home that night he said..."I'm glad you aren't grouchy tonight, that makes my day so much better"

I'm ashamed to admit that I typically don't greet him with a smile and a kiss on those days.

And by typically...I mean hardly ever.

It's like I don't realize that he has had just as long a day as I have...going straight from work to class.

I need to remind myself to slow down and enjoy life...and not worry about how my house looks, or that I make gourmet meals everynight.

I need to remember to focus on my family.

And spend genuine time with them...and just relax and have some fun.

...and to try and not be grouchy and Wednesdays and Thursdays, because my hubby who works so hard for us and my sweet baby who is so innocent and sweet can totally tell when my attitude is bad.