Choosing Your Time Wisely

I have been up since 4:20 this morning...after waking up a couple times to take care of our daughter. Sometimes she sleeps great...other times she is up every couple hours. I'd say 3 times a night is average. Instead of going back to bed, I figured I'd get ready and get started on the day. Even as I type this I can see her on the monitor beginning to stir again.

I had a less than stellar weekend in terms of eating choices and have gained back about 4 pounds. Unfortunately, my first stage of the Transformer Dietbet ends this coming Friday and I have to weigh in on Saturday. I really need to get focused and not eat so much junk. It seems like things will go really well and then I'll have a whole weekend where we'll just eat like crap.

I haven't run since my 5K a couple of weekends back. I am just so pressed for time these days that exercise takes a back seat. We did go on a couple walks though, so it wasn't like I didn't do any exercise all week. This week should actually be great for being out -- it will be in the mid 70s until the weekend. Can anyone say fall?

I love the beginning of each new season,especially fall. I have such vivid memories pertaining to fall that are triggered by simple things-- September by Chris Daughtry, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, a Saturday morning run through a bunch of leaves.

I know that this week is supposed to be cool, while the following weeks will border the 90s, so I am trying to enjoy it as much as possible. We took a walk on Monday instead of using the elliptical, and I at least plan on taking Clara for a walk down to the grocery store to pick up some steamer bags today. 

I have been thinking more about how wisely we are using our time each day now that it has become such an important asset. I can’t believe we used to waste so much time in front of the TV (don’t get me wrong, we still watch an episode of Criminal Minds every night). It’s hard now with a child. I only get a very limited amount of time with her each day. I just want to hold her, snuggle with her and give her a million kisses. We get home each day around 5 and she goes down at 7:30. That’s 2.5 hours with my baby the whole day that I get to enjoy her sweet smiles. It just seems so unfair to me. So here I am, reluctant to do anything because I just want to be present in my time with her. My health is very important, but so is my time with my daughter.

Usually the day goes like this:

Work 7:30-4:00

Pick up DD 4:30

Home 5:00

Play with DD 5:00-5:45

DH home @ 5:45

Workout 6:00-6:30

Dinner 6:30-7:30 (cuddle with DD)

DD bedtime/Prep for next day 7:30

Shower 8:00

Bed 9:00

So how can I be better appreciating my time? Maybe not working out until after DD goes to sleep? And going to bed later? I should get used to less sleep anyway now that I’m a mom. Or I should get up earlier and work out and shower, that way it’s done and over with (if I do that I would have to use the elliptical because I am not running outside in the dark). We could have dinner after DD has gone to bed also, instead of before. 

I don’t want to get stuck in some repetitive cycle of life only to wake up one day and my daughter be an adult. I need to enjoy this time, because it is fleeting. I also need to be healthy so I can live long enough to watch her grow. And I need time to be a wife as well. I need to be present in my marriage.