Shopping

For most of my life, I haven't really liked shopping. It's been mostly because until now, I haven't had the best luck with getting clothes to fit, but now, I think that it's ultimately for a different reason.

Last night, Brad and I took Ella to Opry Mills Mall here in Nashville to get fitted for some shoes that she will soon need. But, while there, Brad and I both decided to look around for somethings that we had been thinking about (pants, a dress, some shoes). As we walked around the mall, I began to get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, and it was getting worse and worse the more stores I went into and the more clothes I tried on, and the more things I found myself wanting to buy.

Now, I don't really like to spend money (I have some issues that someday I'll figure out how to deal with), but then I figured out that shopping for me is a little like eating dessert. I can live without eating dessert, but the moment I begin, I want more. I can eat a serving of chocolate ice cream, and then once I finish, I think, "Now, if only I had a few more bites." More often than not I yield to temptation and go to the kitchen to get some more ice cream (part of the reason that running is so important for me!). I think that shopping is like that. When I don't go to the mall (or Target), I am pretty content with what I have, and find it easier to live simply. But, the moment I walk into the mall and see all of the clothes hanging in the stores, and the sale signs, I begin to get the itch...."Oh, I love that dress, now if only I had a sweater to go with it in case I get cold, and none of my shoes really match, so I might need to get some new ones." And so it goes.

Just like it's much easier to resist the chocolate ice cream (or Nutella, or cake, or brownies, or cupcakes) temptation if I never bring them into my house, or open the freezer door. It's easier for me to resist consumerism if I don't ever make it to the store. Now the trick is to find a way to live in harmony with my temptations..........

Keepin' On

Nothing too new or exciting is happening, but I thought that I would write about a few things:

Update on Running: It's been almost a month now since I started my running quest. It's going well, I think. This week, I walked/ran about 3 miles, with 1.2 of those miles being 2 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I'm starting to feel less and less tired when I'm running, although I'm still pretty sore. I don't love running yet, but I'm liking it more, and it makes me feel good about myself. I am having a hard time getting up at 5:00 a.m. to do my running! I still have a lot more work to do, but I'm optimistic.

Update on Mothering: Thanks for all of your advice and suggestions about dealing with a toddler. I've found that I get the most frustrated when I have agenda, such as a certain time that I want to leave the house, or a certain schedule for the evening. So, each time I find myself getting angry and wanting to yell, I think about whether or not Ella doing want I want her to is for her or for me. I'm yelling a lot less! I think that she appreciates it :) I would say that it's still a growing edge, though.

Random Thoughts on our Current Economic Situation: Some of you may know that I worry about money, sometimes more than I should. Every time I turn on NPR, or the news, or go to cnn.com, I find that the news is just bad, bad, bad (although the price of oil has dropped this week $18/barrel!). And the more I hear people talk about it, the more anxious I feel. I sometimes even find myself not being able to concentrate on work because the state of the nation's economy is weighing heavy on me. So, as irresponsible as it may seem, I'm trying not to pay much attention to what I hear on the news, I find that it makes me have a better outlook on life. Is that bad?

Tonight we had our first Daugherty Family Movie Night. Brad and Ella went to our local Red Box and picked up "The Bee Movie". Once they arrived home, we changed into our pajamas, popped some popcorn, poured a small amount of soda, and sat on the couch with our blankets. She was pretty tired at the end, but she seemed to love it. We look forward to more fun times and traditions together.

The Life of a Toddler Mom or just a grumpy lady?

So, I often find myself frustrated with Ella, and even raising my voice more than I would like. I especially noticed it after being together all day today. Ella is 2 1/2 now and is starting to flex her independence muscle. She wants to do everything, and she wants to do it her way. This works most of the time, but when we need to get somewhere, or when something needs to be done (or if it needs to be done in a particular way), I find that it's very hard to get her to do it, or to listen. We haven't made a habit of spanking, or using any kind of physical punishment, but are thinking that maybe we need to use a little to get her to respond. I often find myself yelling her name in exasperation.

So, is that what life is like as the mother of a toddler, or am I just a grumpy lady? Those of you who have raised (or are raising) toddlers, what do you think??

My Biggest Goal Yet - Can I do It?

So, most of you know that in the last year I have hit a lot of health/fitness milestones in my life. I feel like it's finally time to conquer my last fitness fear...running. For my whole life, I have been horrible at running and have hated it. I have a hard time breathing, my body moves too much, all kinds of excuses. Well, I am in the best shape that I have been in for as long as I can remember, so I think that the time has finally come.

My goal isn't to run a marathon, or even a half-marathon, but I would like to run a 5K. On September 20th, Nashville will be hosting the Chick-fil-A 5K. So, my goal is to be ready to enter as a participant in the 5K. I began this morning with a 2 mile walk along with a 1 mile walk/run. It felt good, and I have a REALLY long way to go, but I look forward to meeting this goal!

So, sometimes life makes you a little jaded

In the past few weeks and months, I have noticed that I have been approached by more people asking for food, money, clothes, etc. Even people coming to our door. We usually try to give people at least something, a meal, a few dollars, etc.

Last night, we took a quick trip to the grocery store, and while there, we took a pit stop at the restroom. As Ella and I were washing our hands, a woman came up and asked if she could have a few dollars. She told me that she had three children and would just like to get some bread, chips, etc. for them. She said that she has been asking God for a blessing and thought that I just might be it. I told her that I didn't have any cash, but that we were getting ready to check out, and if she wanted to get a few things, I would be more than happy to pay for them. She said that would be great and that she would meet us in a few minutes at the front.

We waited 10 minutes, and she never came. Obviously she didn't want the food, she wanted the money. For some reason, I felt really let down, betrayed almost. I was more than willing to help her out, but she lied to me. It led me to ask, how many people that we give help to lie to us? Should we still give anyway? What is my responsibility as a Christian?

Starring Ella

Our good friend, Jenny Selvidge, came over to visit tonight, and Ella let Aunt Jenny take some video of her. Prepare yourself for one of the cutest things ever!




Just in case you need a translation:

I had a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim,
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water (gulp, gulp, gulp)
He ate up all the soap (chomp, chomp, chomp)
And then he went to sleep.
With a bubble in his throat.
Big, big bubble pop, teeny tiny bubble pop!

When I Grow Up

A few months ago, I got a book from the library for Ella that talks about what we want to be when we grow up. Since that time, we've occasionally asked Ella what she wants to be when she grows up. We were delighted when she said that she wants to be a teacher like Ms. Allison (which means that Ms. Allison must be doing a good job as far as Ella was concerned).

In the last week, Ella's answer has changed. She was sitting at the dining room table this week, and I casually asked what she wanted to be when she grows up. She quickly answered that she wanted to be a mommy. She then qualifies it by saying, "I want to make dinner, I want to make breakfast, and have a baby in my belly." She's obviously thought about it. I wonder about it sometimes, but then I remember what an important job it is to be a mother, and I'm excited that Ella is looking forward to it.