WHAT am I actually doing?!

I don't want to harp on my crazy schedule, ya'll, but since that's my life now, that's all I've got. So. Sorry.

This week has been hard. Yes, I know, it's only Tuesday. But I thought for sure I would have a routine down and I could manage juggling everything I've got going on. Well, none of that has happened and I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water, at best, most days. Honestly, I'm OVER winging it each day. I know I have a lot of variables and moving parts, but each day is SO different and I need to get a better handle on it. I am pulled in several directions regularly and by the end of the day, I'm exhausted!

On more than one occasion, I've thought, "I have SO much to do and I have a hard time prioritizing my list, so ... I think I'll just go to sleep." Don't act like you don't feel like that sometimes! I would definitely be lying if I said I never wondered why I left my job for this craziness.

Today, Silas needed more attention than usual. Generally I can put him on the floor and let him play and move all over. He's really only upset if he is hungry, needs a diaper change or, because he is on the move, gets stuck in a tight spot he can't maneuver.

ANYWAY- Silas needed to sleep but was putting up quite a fight. So, we snuggled and sang and looked out the front window to watch cars and neighbors passing by. At that moment, looking at his sweet face with his chunky, dimpled hand wrapped around one of my fingers, I knew why I am where I am and why I made the decisions I've made. I know that THIS KID is my motivation and my "why" for almost all the craziness that's happening right now. This tiny human has changed my world, my husband's world and both our priorities forever.

So yes, I get frustrated that I have days that I never actually change out of my pajamas. That I couldn't squeeze in the housework, job -work, and workout all in a day. That we're having leftovers for dinner... again. That my house is in disarray 98% of the time.

But this is what's best for my husband and son. All that other stuff is secondary and totally worth it. It will eventually fall into place and I'll develop a rhythm. It. Will. Happen. My son's sense of security, health and happiness is already apparent and THAT is everything .

A Full Plate Equals a Full Heart, Right? RIGHT?

So when I left my job, I knew life would be a little crazy working to maintain the same income I was bringing to my family. There are several goals that my husband and I have for our family this year, but there are also some goals that I have for MYSELF.

It's important to me that I'm always contributing financially to my family in some way. I stay at home with my little man, but that can so often be viewed as JUST a stay at home mom.  I'm working to combat that stigma and bring in some moolah for my family.

I want to have something in my life that's mine; something that I do to better myself. Not because I'm a mom or a wife or the daycare lady or working to build someone else's business. THOSE ARE ALL GREAT THINGS. Honestly, helping is what I do best and in all those roles, I help a LOT. It's high time I help myself.

My husband and I have some REALISTICALLY AMBITIOUS goals of erasing our debt and we're tackling it pretty hard this year already. I'm sick of the debt we have and even more frustrated that we can't do more FUN things with our money. We want to travel, update our house a bit (Pinterest is going to be the death of me), and invest our money wisely and make some smart decisions towards our future.


In addition to my other current endeavors, I'm revisiting my life as a Beachbody coach. I've actually been a coach since 2013 but I've never fully, 100% committed to this goal. Something else has always gotten in the way and excuses are easy to make. I've since become a mother and turned 30 years old. These are two things that, as a woman, can lead to some seriously low self esteem about body image. I don't want to spend my 30s feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. I want to be happy in my skin and that'll lead to an even more solid relationship with my husband, happier relationships with friends and high self esteem to show my son that there are women that are truly happy with their bodies and embrace their "flaws."

So look for posts from me about WORK about bettering your life.

+ Working for Thrivent Financial, bettering your financial situation.
+ Working for Iowa Doula Agency, bettering the birth process (and beyond) for women of Central Iowa (seriously ladies, look into this.)
+ Working for Team Lacina, working to build future leaders and strong boys (the MOST important).
+ Working to better my body, self-esteem and personal relationships by working with Beachbody. And if you get a chance, like my Facebook page....click HERE and hit LIKE to join the journey.

Hang on to your hats, friends, 2016 is going to be a busy but wonderful year. I will have a lot going on on social media, but don't unfriend me...it's all to better YOU! <3

Life Lessons Learned From My 7 Month Old.

Having a baby is so humbling, y'all. I'm reminded daily that I'm merely a temporary caretaker of this little human and sometimes I feel incredibly inadequate.

I've turned my life upside down for someone that can't even talk. There are days I wonder why. I wonder why I gave up stability and daily adult interaction for a life of diapers and periodic crying for no reason. But then I watch this little man learn and grow and it's so obvious to me why God led me down this path.

This boy teaches me something every day.

To take the time to watch an infant play every day is a gift, one that many overlook as the "unimportant" time in a child's life, boring even. Pay attention, folks. The things your child will teach you even as an infant are incredible. At the same time these things are both simple and complex.

My son is seven months old already. (When did THAT happen!?) Army crawling and scooting all over the place. ALL. OVER....and getting into everything. So, the first thing he teaches me is DETERMINATION.

Have you ever looked at a baby's face when he's dead set on getting to something? My son clenches his jaw, fixes his eyes on his goal and GOES. This determined expression is so intense and nothing will get in his way of getting to whatever-it-is (at this point, usually electrical cords). Can you even imagine going towards your goal in this way as an adult? Can you imagine how much you could accomplish with that level of perseverance? Take note, world, Silas is on a mission.

The second thing this little man teaches me is how to OVERCOME OBSTACLES. Piggybacking on determination, this kiddo sees an obstacle and tackles it. He wants a toy on the other side of Mommy's legs? He's just going to crawl right over my legs, rather than going around them. We haven't officially baby-proofed our house, but we do put up obstacles to keep him relatively corralled in the living room. Does he accept those barriers as law? NO! He has now started crawling through our end tables to get to where he wants to go.

The third life lesson I've learned from my infant son is that attitude is absolutely everything. He wakes up smiling as if he decides before he even gets out of bed that he's going to have a good day. He accidentally bangs his head into a wall because he's not looking where he's going when he's crawling and laughs it off. His attitude inspires me daily.

Finally, he reminds me daily that little acts of love go a long way. This little nugget is learning to be so loving and he can hug and kiss now (well, sort of. It's more of an open mouth resting on your face). But I'm telling you, one hug, kiss, smile or snuggle can go a long way and completely make my day. It really is the little things.


Pay attention to your little ones and the ones around you. When you think you are the one that's supposed to teach them everything, they have some of the purest and most amazing things to teach you. I've turned my life upside down for someone that can't even talk and it's the best decision I have ever made.