"I'm not a failure!"

I read this blog entry that was posted the other day on the mommy's board I frequent and it really spoke to me. This is one of the most helpful blog posts that I've ever read! I have been suffering from panic attacks of sorts more than usual lately. I find it hard to get through the day sometimes. My daughter can be a stinker! My dishes are never done, my house is always a wreck and the laundry will never, ever be fully caught up. But if you judge according to what you see on Facebook, some blogs, and Pinterest, it feels like unbearable pressure to be perfect all the time. Reading this blog post is very uplifting. I felt a lot of stress melt away this week. I have to stop putting so much pressure on myself before I crack! This house will probably never be as clean as my parents house or some of my friends, but that's ok. Because Zoe is happy and that is all that matters! She and I read stories, listen to music, she dances, we play with mega bloks, she sings, and she is learning new words everyday! Our life isn't perfect, but it's ours and I love it!

"About me" post

Last April, I became a mother to a beautiful baby girl. Every day with her is an adventure. We've had our ups and downs and I think the reason I wanted to blog is to keep a record of my experiences as a mom. I have a 17 month old daughter, Zoe (so named for the bad ass second in command Zoe Washburne from Firefly!) She can stress me out in a flash and completely tear apart a room in less than five minutes. She spends her day doing all the things that she knows that she shouldn't do... like play in the cat food, or dump cat food into the cat water dish or vice versa. She revels in making a mess and will only help clean up long enough to set up another mess. Although, strangely enough, she will help the local librarian with clean up after the craft part of Story Time. Even meticulously picking up the tiniest specks of paper slivers left from cutting out the craft of the day! She definitely keeps me on my toes. And exhausted. Everyday, she proves to me that I am definitely getting older! I can no longer survive on 4 hours of sleep every night. I need coffee to make it through the day and I also like to take naps now... though I often feel too guilty about the state of the house to actually nap. I have almost no down time to relax given her strange hours. Each day is a lesson in priorities. Nap... or dishes? Eventually I hope I can figure out how to balance both the house chores, sleeping and having a toddler! (Also, please bear with me, because most of these posts will be written in a haze of toddler induced exhaustion!)