Reader of the Month: May

It’s been a while since I did a Reader of the Month post, but it’s been worth the wait when you meet Jen of Caved In: When Parenthood Collapses Around You. Jen has been reading my blog for a long time and I feel like I’ve gotten to know her through her daily comments. In a nutshell, here is what you need to know about Jen:

Jen is a gem.

She’s a new mom who takes life as it comes to her. And she’s funny. Really funny. She makes me giggle. I hope she makes you giggle, too.

What is your name? Jen

Who lives in your house? Mac (29) and Sullivan (4 months)

How long have you been married? 4 years

How did your husband propose?

It was Valentine’s Day weekend. We went out to dinner but he didn’t get me a card or flowers or anything. I thought this was the worst Valentine’s Day ever. Then he gave me a treasure map he made that took me all around our tiny apartment. He dyed it with tea and burned the edges to make it look as authentic as possible. At each X I found a letter and on the back of the map was a puzzle that, when the letters were put in, had a sweet personal message. I came out of the bedroom and he had candles lit and dropped to one knee. I have no idea what he said, my brain went to white noise. Interestingly enough, he has no idea what he said either. Of course I said yes!

What is your favorite part about being married to your husband?

Oh Lord, that man can make me laugh. Every day with him is an adventure. He’s my partner in crime in life and can make even a trip to the grocery store entertaining. He loves me for who I am, quirks and all.

What is the hardest part about being married?

Not getting into a rut. You have to keep finding new things to keep your marriage interesting. Boredom is a relationship killer.

What do you think is the “key” to your success in marriage?

As trite as it might sound, good communication is key. Also having respect and appreciation for your spouse. Don’t take them for granted.

Did having children change your marriage? If yes, then how?

Oh it definitely changed our marriage. Not necessarily in a bad way but different. Obviously the lack of sleep puts strain on any relationship. Tempers get riled up, especially if you’re a redhead like me. Also just the time we spend together has changed. Before Sullivan was born, we could go out all day and not worry about anything other than the dog. Now, we try to plan our outings around his naps. But this has given us a lot more time at home to hang out as a family and play with the baby. I also feel it’s important to nurture my marriage as well as my role as a mama. Date night is extremely important for our sanity now. We need that time to turn off baby talk and remember why we are together. Becoming a mother is just another facet to who I am, not the only thing that defines me.

When did you start blogging?

About two days before I had Sullivan. I was home on somewhat of a modified bed rest due to horrible sciatica and just started writing down whatever was in my head.

How often do you blog and how do you make time for it?

I really suck at consistency for blogging. I really try to do three or four posts per week but it’s sometimes more, sometimes less. I try to do it after Sullivan goes to bed at night. Mike is teaching me photoshop so I’m learning to edit my own pictures.

Why do you blog?

I started blogging to keep my family up to speed on what’s going on with Sullivan and our family. My parents live two hours away and my sister is across the darn country in Denver. I also have a terrible memory. There are so many things that happen with Sullivan, he changes constantly. I love the idea of having a journal of him. There are so many things I go back to read about because they’ve escaped my mind already.

What are your top three favorite blogs?

1. The Bloggess: There have been times I’ve almost had water come shooting of my nose thanks to Jenny. Love her honesty, her sarcasm, and her randomness. Who else do you know that has a boar’s head on their wall? Has this boar’s head performed a Christmas miracle? James Garfield has.

(I would just like to interject here that The Bloggess is one of my favorite blogs, too.  It’s not for the faint of heart, but it is HYSTERICAL.  Good choice, Jen!)
2. Hyperbole and a Half: Another blog that makes me snort with laughter. You have to read her posts “The God of Cake” and “How a Fish Almost Destroyed My Childhood”.
3. Whoopee: If you like British humor, which I do, you will enjoy Antonia. If you don’t, well then pass on by to the last question. Antonia lives in London with her mustachioed lover Ian and two kids. She drops the F bomb sometimes and draws inappropriate things and she’s hysterical. If you want to realize how good you had it delivering your baby, read her post about delivering her baby Oscar.

What’s in your purse right now?

And now, I shall dive into the black hole of my purse! Ok….overstuffed wallet (it doesn’t even close), iPhone (an extension of my being), about 6 different lip glosses or stains (I’m obsessed), three packs of Trident Tropical Twist gum (addiction), many receipts from things that happened months ago, a small measuring tape (this thing has come in handy so many times), an eye glass kit with a screwdriver so I won’t lose that tiny super important screw again, a burp cloth (a necessity with a baby who has reflux), and a Tide stain remover pen (I’m pretty clumsy).

Be sure to check out Jen’s blog, Caved In:  When Parenthood Collapses Around You.  Thanks to Jen for being such a good sport!