Enjoying Everyday Life

Thinking good thoughts is the way to overcome the habit of thinking bad ones.

If there's one thing anxiety & depression has taught me is to avoid negative thinking and concentrate on the good, even if my days look the same. I give all the credit to God because without Him I know that I wouldn't be as strong as I am today. Aside from being grateful that there's a pill that helps to keep my anxiety under control I think that a big part is the way we think. 

There's been a few nights where I've woken up in the middle of the night and I can feel anxiety trying to creep in. I begin thinking about my health, the what if's and that's when fear tries to take hold of me. Thankfully, I know how to calm myself {and thankful I haven't experienced any depression at all since this first happened back in late November}. I immediately begin to pray and begin to think happy thoughts then I repeat: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, over and over until I'm completely calm. This is what works for me. Thanks to God for prayer!

I no longer think chores are mundane anymore. I've just accepted the fact that it's better to go along with my responsibilities with grace than complain about or avoid them. That's part of life.

Keeping my attention on everyday blessings is good therapy. 

Sometimes, to change up routine I put on upbeat music in the afternoons and Riley and I begin to exercise and sometimes dance. We were doing lower back stretches and Riley was having a hard time keeping up ... that made him laugh. 

When Sydna saw this next picture of Riley she burst out laughing. He was dancing to children's music. He really gets all into it especially when I dance along with him. So you can imagine how silly we both looked ... but that doesn't matter, we have fun when we dance.

Mid morning snack, "scream" cheese. He offers me a bite after he's taken several bites and is covered in slobber. Um, I'm not hungry but thank you though.

He watched The Mask for the first time several days ago and when Jim Carrey's character puts on the mask for the first time Riley didn't know what to think. His face was like: what in the world!

I like it when he agrees to color or do art projects because these are mellow activities, he he.

And coloring is relaxing too. I enjoy coloring ... maybe that's why I'm constantly looking for new coloring books to buy him.

My boy is getting so big.

We had lunch with Jacob again on Wednesday. We love seeing him in the middle of the day even though we know that Riley will cry once we take him back to work. Riley talks non stop. We have to remind him that he shouldn't talk when he's got food in his mouth and boy is he loud too. My son is a very talkative little guy.
Jacob had teriyaki and I had spicy chicken stir fry. I totally love stir fry. Great flavor and healthy because I get to eat lots of veggies. Seeing this picture is making hungry!

I'm still not a fan of seeing his playroom messy but I make it a point not to get upset about it because at least the mess is in his playroom and not all over the living room. When I do finally tidy up in there it also gives me the opportunity to get rid of toys that are no longer age appropriate ... but I have to be sneaky about it because if he notices that I'm separating toys he'll ask me what I'm doing and there's been times when he's put toys back and has told me, "don't give them away ok". So smart!

Here he's whining because I had told him to pick up the blocks and he didn't want to. I told him that if he doesn't like picking up toys that he shouldn't be making messes. Then he says, " but I want to play and you have to help me put them away because I'm little". Geez!!

Riley now definitely doesn't fit in his highchair ... so two days ago we finally retired the highchair. It was bittersweet.

He usually runs away from the vacuum but when I vacuumed the living room yesterday I asked him if he wanted to help me and surprisingly he said yes. We have very thick carpet and even on a high setting it's still somewhat heavy to push back and forth. I knew he wasn't going to be able to push it for long so I then asked him if he needed help. He said yes and also said it was too hard, lol.

I don't drink coffee as much as I used to, not even decaf but when I do Riley makes sure to get the last few sips. He loves coffee.

Enjoying everyday life with my husband and kids has always been priority but more so these past few months. Life is precious and life is always changing and tomorrow is never promised. Simple everyday happenings are blessings too.