I don’t have much else to say at the moment about being a mom now, other than it is a daily trip to think that someone on this Earth calls me “Mama” and relies on me (and her father) to shape, guide, and protect her. My daughter is almost two now (in October) and I’m just…pfffp…amazed at how time flies and things change.
Anyway! This summer has been a very sunny and hot one. My second summer since moving back to my hometown. My tan has never been more golden. Kids will keep you outside a lot. Not a day goes by where my kid doesn’t say “outside?! OUTSIDE?!!!”. The cats always sit at the door watching us like they are morbidly curious, but you better believe they lose their minds if you carry them outside. Pampered little floofs.

I’m finally feeling more myself (whatever that is) after a season of grief and intense change. This damn pandemic is still raging and that’s keeping me ever-so painfully aware of my and my loved ones’ mortality. I’ve been working fairly hard at losing more of this baby/pandemic weight - 16.7 lbs down so far in a little over two months. The Noom app helped kickstart it, and I’m still following its basic rules, just not logging everything. We’d love to start “trying” again for another baby but, I’m pumping the brakes just a bit till I feel like I have more strength back, both physically and emotionally. And I’m just beginning to work on my support for singing. I really did not maintain it much before pregnancy, so now it’s all but disappeared. MOST of that is from bad technique from waaay too varied instruction, and flip-flopping to cross-over genres. It doesn’t help that I’m only singing once a week at church (no rehearsals during the summer months), and what with covid still present, and Tulsa not having nearly as robust a “scene” as LA….so I’ve enlisted some help from a local instructor. I feel like I’m in good hands and my focus is much more deliberate since my time is so precious (hello parenting!).

This summer has been so slow. I’ve had one student (who’s been sporadic) and a beautiful studio space that’s collecting dust (GASP I need to go water the plants over there!). BUT things are starting to pick up. I have a new student starting at the studio and I’m going back to the gym next week (they’re actually next door to each other). And after Labor Day the church rehearsals will start back up. That’ll be nice. I also got a call today from a priest friend asking if I could be their “on-call” soloist for weddings at his new parish. Of course I couldn’t refuse and I was honored he called.

There are many other things going on, all of which I can share but I just don’t have the mental capacity for tonight. Soon, I will share more. I have a lot to share. A lot of big anniversaries coming up - good and bad. Lot’s of thoughts and feelings and I think it’s probably better to share than keep them bottled. Until then…