Monthly Roundup: August Favorites
🎶 August slipped away into a moment in time… 🎶 (“august” by Taylor Swift)
That’s how I feel about August. I have a love/hate relationship with August in general, but this year, those feelings definitely intensified. We still have a few days left of the month, but here’s what has happened in August so far.
{ONE} Thyroid surgery + health update
I have Graves’ disease and therefore needed a thyroidectomy (getting my thyroid fully removed). The idea of this was terrifying, honestly. There were a few (very unlikely) risks like permanent vocal cord damage and seizures. Thankfully, surgery was successful and although my vocal cords have a few more months until they’re fully recovered, they don’t seem to be permanently damaged.
I am blown away by the immense thoughtfulness and love I experienced from people in my life during the first few weeks of recovery. People made or sent meals, cards, flowers, coffee, gifts, texts, etc. My work family sent flowers and an ice cream delivery (which I had no idea existed but was an amazing surprise to see on my doorstep!) I’m so thankful for the prayers and all the love. One of the hardest things about the first week post-surgery was, hands down, not being able to hold or lift Vienna. When I was cleared to do that, I literally lifted her up and spun her in a circle of joy. It was so nice to hold my girl again!
Now it’s time to recover and figure out life “post-thyroid” which is an adventure in itself. So far, I’ve been feeling okay, but I definitely feel low energy and the ramifications of not having a thyroid anymore. My body is definitely in adjustment mode and I’m trying to stay patient and have grace on myself. My whole medical team has been amazing, though, and I am so thankful for that.
{TWO} Beach vacay with Vienna
Months before surgery was even on my radar, we booked a weekend getaway to Ocean City, Maryland for August. I’ve been looking forward to this vacation literally all summer because it’s the only time we’ve been able to go to the beach. And if you know me, that’s a shock, because I love the beach. This vacation also marked the first one with Vienna, and she did SO well! Beach/vacationing with a baby is very different (and tiring) but fun to experience in a new light. She loved the beach, the pool, and especially the boardwalk.
{THREE} Organization around the house
August makes me want to declutter everything and start fresh. Maybe it’s the whole “back to school” vibe of starting a new chapter, or just the itch to physically prepare for the busy season ahead, but I’ve been decluttering and organizing like crazy. We reorganized our main living space to make more room for Vienna’s toys and books, moved outgrown baby things to the basement, and cleaned out kitchen cabinets. It felt so good!
{FOUR} Books, Beach & Beyond Podcast
I’ve been loving the new podcast called Books, Beach & Beyond. The hosts? Elin Hilderbrand and Tim Ehrenberg (@TImTalksBooks). So far, they’ve interviewed amazing guests like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kristin Hannah, and Jenna Bush Hager. If you love books, you’re sure to like this new podcast. It’s a great listen!
{FIVE} Vienna Milestones
Vienna turned 8 (EIGHT) months this month. She started crawling and therefore, life just got a lot more interesting. She’s fascinated with her toys and will throw them just to crawl after them. She loves trying new foods, reading, swinging, being in her stroller, babbling and giggling, and knocking over blocks. She has 2 more teeth and chews everything in sight. Her laughs are infectious and she finds Lucy hilarious.