Mental Health Awareness Week

Things are as busy as ever here! Oscar has now entered his 4 month sleep regression. This means the SO and I have also entered a sleep regression. It's amazing how sleep deprivation will slowly try to kill you. (This is our current favorite bed time story.)

I was doing ok and then Friday I hit a low. I'm not sure if it was just exhaustion or PPD (postpartum depression) but I felt it hard at about 4 pm. I could feel it coming on and luckily the rain had stopped. For me, depression often means I don't leave the house. Knowing my triggers and warning signs is a huge help. So I bundled the little man and I up and decided to treat myself to an afternoon coffee from the local coffee shop.

Fall is creepin' in. On our walk - without coffee

Folks, I got there and the damn thing was closed. My heart sank. I looked up my other favorite coffee shop...also closed. I could feel the anxiety start to swell so I texted one of my friends. She knows my triggers and lives close by so she is someone I can text if I am starting to feel not so great. Radio silence. I knew if I went back home I would feel even worse so with all of my plans falling apart, I walked to Rite Aid, bought myself a Pay Day and a seltzer and took a slow walk home. Instead of going inside, Oscar and I sat on the front desk and I tried to absorb as much vitamin D as I could until the SO came home.

Saturday Kate DiCamillo, my favorite author of all time, was here in Boston for the Boston Book Festival. I had a tough decision to make but my body and mind needed a break, a nap, and not to wait in line in 2 hours in the cold and rain. So I stayed home, took a long shower (glorious!!), and then took a nap. I also decided not to go to a baby shower that I probably should have attended. But I needed to say no to that as well. Both were the right decision.

This past week was Mental Health Awareness Week. Whether you are a new parent like me or someone who struggles with mental health - take care of yourself. Make a plan, know your triggers, surround yourself with support.

Here are a few links from around the web that lifted my spirits this past week.

Remember when I dropped my phone in the tub? Well that accident turned out ok when my new phone ended up being way better. Also, thank god I finally have a savings account. Check out what these parents did when their kids do what kids do best.

A furniture makeover. (Literally, less than an hour ago I dumped hot chocolate on our white couch. Perhaps this will be inspiration for me too. And I know, who the f owns a white couch anyway. Serves me right.)
Art.

I took this photo on my new phone. Felt like a rockstar. Thanks phone!

New phone. Toes.

Alistair, who is still not sure about us having a baby

I've been trying to work on my book whenever Oscar sleeps. That has proven to be a little fruitless. Often he will only nap if he is napping on my lap so it's been hard to do anything with two hands. However, I did read this article about children's literature and backstory and it has helped me while I edit my first draft...or think about editing my first draft.

One thing that I have been able to do, when there are lap naps, is read and watch videos. Mas recommended I Mom So Hard, two moms who have a youtube show about how hard it is to mom. Seriously, I've cried laughing at about 90% of these episodes. I have to muffle my laughs to keep from waking up Oscar. But man, these women are hysterical.

If you do nothing else with your internetting, give these ladies a watch. I highly recommend the spanx and princess episodes.