A Week to Remember

First off, apologies for not having written in nearly a week - I'd meant to be more regular! But, at least I'm writing every few days and that's certainly better than I've ever done. So I'm alright with it.

Here's an update on this week's meals.... they went pretty well!

For Tuesday's menu, I made a meatless lasagna (which I'm going to start making WITH the meat now...) with a salad (spring mix, topped with chopped almonds, parmesan, and raspberry vinaigrette), and some wonderfully crusty Italian bread. The lasagna came out alright. I've done better in some respects, but I definitely think lasagna is one of those recipes you have to tinker with over time to really get that "family secret recipe" effect. So, I'm going to be patient with that one.

As for the bread.... I have to take a moment to rave and rant about this bread because it is THE BEST I have ever tasted. (This is the second time I've gotten it.) The best parat about it is that it's only three bucks at Meijer, and it is called an "All Natural White Mountain Boule." (That's what the label says.) And wow.... if you just pop it in the oven to crisp for a few minutes, it comes out perfectly chewy on the inside and the epitome of crispiness on the outside. It's heavenly. And I love it.

Wednesday night, I made double baked loaded potatoes with broccoli. Not much of a sophisticated dinner, but it was delicious and filling. We each had half a head of broccoli, so I'd say we both had our vegetable quotient for the day! And the potatoes came out great.

Thursday night was my victory night.... it was perfect. I made omelets and hashbrowns (the way my Mom makes them, which is little cubes of potatoes fried in tons of butter). It was perrrfect, I tell you. The omelets had sausage, finely diced green pepper, and shredded cheddar cheese.

And that's the cooking update. :)

So..... I've had an epiphany. I think I've realized that all I need (in order to feel productive and motivated and just...better,) is to get out more. Cillian and I visited a good friend and her little boy today for the afternoon and it was a wonderful time. Just the thing I needed. I came home mentally and emotionally refreshed, made dinner (fettuccine alfredo, fresh green beans, salad and bread), cleaned the kitchen and commenced to finish the laundry and straighten the upstairs. So, I'm thinking about starting to go to some kind of support group for mothers and see how getting out of the house on a regular basis goes. That and setting up more "playdates." (I put it in quotations because they're more for me than for my three-month-old at this point.)

Today was a very, very good day. I got a lot done, had a shower, visited a friend, got to drive, and came up with the beginnings of a new piano composition (something that has not happened in months.) Glory to God for all things!

A further explanation for my previous post, "Hypocrite," so as not to be misunderstood (I fear it may have been misleading): I am not depressed, as I may have led some of you to suppose. And I am fortunate not to be suffering from any baby blues. I am simply adjusting and trying to figure out what's "real." I apologize for any misunderstanding I might have projected by writing as I did. I assure you, I am completely happy! I have recently learned that I really need to be ok with what I am capable of accomplishing, whether it be simply getting showered one day or cleaning the whole house the next. I am not superwoman (yet...haha), and I shouldn't beat myself up for not meeting my lofty expectations - though they be for myself. I have to be a realist for now, not an idealist. I'll be much happier with things if I just accept that I can't do everything. So there you have it!

It's been a very good week. I feel more balanced and much more grounded. I'm realizing it's ok to be emotional if I have to be, because I've never gone through so many changes (and changes of this monumental nature) in such a short time before in my whole life. I'd be in trouble if I wasn't being somewhat emotional. So this week was somewhat of a milestone because now I have a feel for what direction I need to head toward. One step at a time, Natalie... one step at a time.

I'm excited for the weekend. Both of our families are coming tomorrow to celebrate my birthday a day early with us, and I'm eager to see all of them. It'll be a fun time. Two more days until I'm entirely LEGAL!!!!

I think I'll leave you with the Quote of the Day...

"In marriage the festive joy of the first day should last for the whole of life: every day should be a feast day; every day husband and wife should appear to each other as new, extraordinary beings. The only way of achieving this: let both deepen their spiritual life, and strive hard in the task of self-development."

~ Fr. Alexander Elchaninov, Diary of a Russian Priest (from the book "Preserve Them, O Lord")

That is one of my favorite quotes of all time from one of my favorite books of all time. Very spiritually enriching.

The Purpose

I've decided that having just one blog simply is not enough. I began Question for Character (my other blog) nearly two years ago and I have succeeded in being very irregular about posting on it - irregularity being an unfortunate tendency of mine. The main goal I wish to accomplish with this new blog is to write regularly - just something, anything, every day (or as often as I can manage) - and to keep things current. The purpose of this blog is for me to have a consistent outlet. Writing has always been my favorite way of expressing myself and "thinking outloud;" it was always among my favorite subjects in school, and certainly not a skill I wish to lose. So having this new blog also shares the purpose of keeping up the practice of writing.

As for the name... I decided on Acclimation Central since that is, in a nutshell, what my life is right now - a constant adjustment. As a new wife (tehnically, I really am still a little newlywed) and more recently, a new mother, life has been more topsy-turvy than I would like to admit, and for the sake of my husband and his highly tolerant sanity, I think having an additional outlet (hence this blog) for all my mental goings-on would be beneficial to figuring things out day by day without crashing from overload.

I also want to keep this blog as a document of what I do each day in the hopes of becoming more organized in life, more motivated and hard-working. I want to write about my sweet little son and what it means to be his mother. I want to write about my goals, and basically, my journey to becoming "back-to-normal" which essentially means physically and emotionally back in balance. Somehow, since I got married, I think I've gone through so many big changes that my mind hasn't had a chance to catch up. And it's leaving me a bit emotional and imbalanced (which is difficult to confess, as I've always thought one of my better qualities was being well-balanced.) So, to put it plainly, the fundamental purpose for this blog is for me to write about my life every day, my thoughts, and what I'm doing about them.

Welcome to my world. I am Natalie Christine Wilson. I am twenty years old, a wife, and a mother, the oldest of three married to the second-oldest of six. I have a fantastic husband, a wonderful family, and an excellent family-in-law.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog and that you will leave me any advice, comments, or questions you may have for me as you read. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Natalie