10 Things I Learned in March

At the end of each month, I write about things I learned. This practice has helped me pay attention to life, myself, and God's presence. In no particular order, here are 10 things I learned in March:

1. I love the newborn baby stage. 

Despite the fact that I'm living on about 4 hours of sleep each night, it's a joy to snuggle, nurse, and hold our little Aria. She does that infant thing where she curls herself like an armadillo, and dozes on whoever is holding her...the best.

2. With all the sleep deprivation, I am a hot mess in the mornings. 

One day I woke from a dream where Steve refused to help me with an important task. For several moments I was extra grouchy with him, until realizing that he had wronged me in a dream, and not real life. Haha. Glad my husband is extra gracious with me these days.

My husband took this photo right before I punched him in the face. And before I had coffee.

3. Having a voice as a woman means learning the words, "Stop interrupting me," "I just said that," and "No explanation needed." 

This article 10 Words Every Girl Should Learn sums up a lot of my experience as a female, and is a call to action to anyone who wants to empower girls and women.

4. Having kid #3 pushed us over into the Minivan Club. 

I assumed our Honda CRV would work for our growing family, but after squishing 3 car seats into the back seat, we made the decision to get a van. Steve worked his negotiation magic, and got a great deal on a Honda Odyssey. It is amazing, and not unlike driving a NASA space shuttle. I also learned that crowdsourcing friends' car opinions on Facebook is both entertaining and helpful. 

5. I am the gatekeeper standing guard against our home becoming an episode of Hoarders. 

We seem to accumulate all sorts of unnecessary junk - birthday party favors, sticks that the kids collect from outside, paper airplanes made by Aaron, the old vacuum that doesn't work - and I am constantly throwing or giving stuff away. No one else around here seems to be bothered by the clutter as much as I do. 

6. Infants look weird because they don't have eyebrows. 

At least this is true of all our kids. No eyebrows = alien babies. 

7. Now that I'm not pregnant anymore, I think I'm finally ready to try out Stitch Fix. 

Online shopping, personal stylist, and easy returns? Yes, please. Has anyone else used Stitch Fix? Let me know how it was! Or try it out with me this month.

8. I discovered music by Borns. 

His Candy EP is fun and addicting, and the first music I've purchased in years. Go listen!

9. Though we live on an island, we're not isolated from our global community. 

This week I had several experiences that connected me with friends who are far away. One friend sent us a really touching letter, another friend mailed us a beautiful baby gift, and other friends asked if they could visit during their upcoming Oahu vacation. I'm so glad to live in an age of interconnectedness through technology like email and airplanes!

10. I currently have an odd list of daily necessities.

These necessities include: a nap, coffee, an ebook to read while nursing (currently, reading Outlander). Bonuses: showering, changing into clean clothes, leaving the house. Like I said, hot mess.