After a Long Break...

I'm back!  I had to go on a bit of a hiatus because, well, if you haven't heard by now, I am preggars!  Yep, with child.  And I am just now getting over the horrible, awful effects of morning sickness, just in time for the horrible, awful effects of my belly getting big and getting in the way.  But, I keep reminding myself that I only have a few weeks left (23 and a half) and it's all worth it!  I feel like such a first time mom though.  Over the past three years, all of the products have changed, what you can and can't do is different....I have to start researching all over again.  For instance, can you still use bumpers?  Some places don't even sell them anymore?  Is it against the law?  Will the bumper police come to my house and arrest me if I put them on my crib?  And yes, people, I have stroller envy.  I was way more practical with my first child than I am with this one.  I need a fancy stroller this time, I want a fancy stroller this time.  There is nothing wrong with the one that I have, but I want to be able to go to the park or downtown and be the envy of the other stroller moms there - or at least fit in.  I want to look like I am a woman on the go - sleek and sophisticated, and cool!  So if there is any advice out there on what I need or what I should get, please let me know.  Oh, and one more thing, the nap nannies....anyone use one?  Worth the money?  Does it come with the nanny?  :)

Friends ARE the best Medicine

Sorry it has taken me so long to write this but, as you all know, stuff comes up and we don't make the time for the important things!  I did want to say that over the past two weeks, I  realized that I have some of the best girl friends that anyone could have.  And even though we all live miles apart, they are still there for me when I need them.    When the stress of life gets to be too much, I can count on my dearest to lift my spirits and listen to me when I just need to let it all out!  Love you guys and thank you!!!!

And to everyone else, don't forget how to be a friend.  We all need a little reminding sometimes when life gets in our way.

Common Courtesy

On my regular, Saturday morning Target run with the kiddos, picking up a few essentials for the week - nothing out of the ordinary, right?  I don't know if it's because I just got back from the Northeast or I am just sick and tired of people being so self-absorbed...but I actually (almost) caused a scene in Target.  Really!!!  I had my things in my cart, including my two year old, and I was turning into register 5 for checkout when this man (probably my age, maybe a little older) who was obviously looking for the fastest checkout for his 5 gift bags, walked away from lane 5, stopped, looked right at me, shrugged, and got in line in front of me.  Totally cut me off.  I felt like I was back in elementary school in the lunch line.  I waited, and when it was almost his turn, I went to the front of my cart and started putting my stuff on the conveyor belt.  My mouth got the better of me and I said, "Do you make a habit of cutting in front of people?"  He looked at me, shocked that I would say something (or at least I think it was shock).  He mumbled something and I so boldly said, "I just thought that it was really rude."  To which he replied, "It was totally rude."  And then he got out of my line and went to another one.  I felt so good, so liberated.  I actually stood up for something that usually just makes me stew on the inside.  Maybe my little personal victory will make this man think twice the next time he thinks that what he has to do is so much more important than anyone else.  And maybe this is one small step in the right direction to a more courteous country.  I am officially taking a stand on inconsiderate, self-absorbed people!  Who is with me?

Is It Wrong To Think This Is Funny?

I don’t think I am the perfect mother.  I let my child eat candy every now and  then, I let him have a sip of my coke (which he calls “soda” thanks to my New Englander husband) but I stick to a schedule, he eats fruits and vegetables and we read every night before bedtime.  So you can imagine my horror when his daycare teacher pulled me aside the other morning to tell me what happened in class that day.  They were sitting down to breakfast and the teacher asked each child what they wanted to drink.  Each one responded, “Milk.”  And then she asked, “Foster, do you want milk or juice.”  To which he responded, “Ummmm, I think I’ll have beer.”

Entitled?

I know I go through spurts; I wish I could be a regular blogger and publish my thoughts every week on the same day, and I am trying.  Such is the life of someone who is trying to fit this in on top of everything else.  But, if you are reading this, you already know this.  I normally talk about my trials and tribulations with my kids or with money (or both) but today I am going to touch on something that I haven’t done yet – current events.  I try to stay away from politics because my job requires me to, especially in big election years and world news depresses me, but I read something today that I find appalling and I had to voice it.  I just read an article about Rielle Hunter’s new book (for those of you who don’t know, Ms. Hunter is the former mistress of former Senator John Edwards) (so proud to say I am from NC because of that man….) In her “tell-all” book she writes of her relationship with this man, which I find funny because if anyone ever saw him walking the beach on 4^th of July in Wrightsville Beach, there is no way they can picture him the way she describes it.  But, you are wondering what the appalling part is….well, as I am giggling to myself, trying to imagine Mr. Edwards as a dominating man in the bedroom, the article goes on to say how much Ms. Hunter despised Mr. Edwards now-late wife.  Screech…..are you kidding me?  I realize it takes two for a marriage to work and a marriage to fall apart, but wasn’t Ms. Edwards the innocent victim in this?  Didn’t her husband vow to “for better, for worse….forsaking no other?”  So, if Ms. Edwards was mad and showed her “less than Southern” lady-like behavior, wasn’t she entitled?  Wasn’t she entitled to be a little upset and maybe a little hostile towards the woman that participated in the affair that led to the demise of her marriage, all the while battling a terminal illness that she knew was going to leave her children without a mother?  Isn’t she (and all of the other women in this world that it happens to) entitled?

New Things I Learned This Week

What a week it has been!  This will be short, but I have to share the lessons that I have learned this week.  I think that others may find these to be very helpful (especially if they are the mother of at least one toddler).  First, two brothers will always compete with each other, regardless of the age difference.  Second, orange juice DOES NOT make the laptop run better, faster, etc.  And third, boogies are gross and we do not eat them.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!

Mission Accomplished

Mission accomplished – my sleepless toddler slept in his own bed all night last night.  After one hour and picking him up 6 times and to put him back in his room, he crawled in his bed and fell asleep…all night!  One week of pure you know what, and all it took was unplugging the night light and closing the closet (Thanks, Daddy).  Sheesh, I thought I was a better mother.  I should have thought of that….but I guess that’s what “tired” brain will do to you!

I Need Sleep!!

I am sooooo tired.  I know, it’s something that you hear every day from moms, especially working moms.  But really, I am tired!  After two days of driving, four glorious days in Charleston doing nothing, two more days of driving, and three nights of a non-sleeping two year old, this mom is tired.  All I want, all I need, is one good night of sleep.  Really, that’s all I ask for.  I want to go home, prop my feet up, watch a few hours of my DVR’d shows, and crawl into bed, to only be woken up by the alarm tomorrow morning, not a screaming two year old at 1:00 in the morning that won’t go back to sleep unless you lay down with him.

To set up my plan of sleep, I tried to talk with my son on the way to work this morning, explaining to him that he needed to sleep in his big boy bed, that mommy was tired.  He responded, “I’m not tired.”  And I said, “You should be.  You don’t sleep well when you sleep with mommy and daddy.”  To which he said, “Yes, I do.  (when did he figure out he knows what’s best for him…..) Looks like another sleepless night for me.  Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday.  I don’t think I could make it through another day!

I need a Wife!

I ask myself this everyday, "How do I get it all done?"  I've got the basics down, and now that I'm getting a lot of help from my husband, laundry is under control.  Here is the dilemma...my kids!  Now, don't get me wrong, I love them dearly, but boy, they sure do make a big mess.  From the playroom downstairs, to their clothes, the bathroom (really, is it that hard to wipe your toothpaste off the sink when you finish brushing?) and there is only one of me.  My husband is the world's worse at playing when you should be getting chores done (if anyone thinks that their husband is worse, I want to hear stories!!) so he doesn't help in the time management of it all.  He says, "Don't worry about it.  I'll get it tomorrow." Then tomorrow comes and goes, and the mess is still there.  I know that parenting has changed a bunch since I was young, but I remember doing chores.  Everyday, I had to set and clear the table.  Make my lunch.  Help fold laundry.  Dust/vaccuum/clean the bathroom on the weekends.  At the time I thought that I had the meanest mom ever for making us to all of the housework.  As a mom, I understand where my mom was coming from, you have to ask for help if you are going to keep up with the clutter.  Is it wrong of me to give my children age appropriate chores to help me out around the house?  Am I the mean evil step mom if I ask my stepson to help out?  I don't think so, but I am sure there are some differing opinions out there.  Oh, well, until I can afford a full time housekeeper, the kids will have to do!

Money, Money, Money....

OMG, I can't believe we are almost to the end of the first quarter of the new year and I am no further along in bettering my financial situation than I was in the fourth quarter of last year.  I have a few things that are almost paid off (whew) but a few new things that popped up due to the loss of my husband's job at the end of 2011.  So, to speed things along, I have been selling some stuff on eBay and now I have decided to have a yard sale  What better way to clean out my closets and earn extra cash at the same time, right?  Yikes....now I have to actually go through all of the stuff I want to sell and price it; and then advertise for it, make sure I have enough loose bills to make change, set a date.....am I crazy?  I just want to pay off bills (and maybe buy some new china to replace the stuff I am going to sell in the yard sale......); or maybe I should look into refinancing to start saving money to achieve my savings goals.  I guess I'll figure it out, right?

I almost Made It...

It's been 11 days, I am so close to ending my stint as a single mom, only three (maybe two) nights left and then hubby comes home.  Things have gone well, I've woken up, gone to work, kind of cooked dinner every night....so, you ask, what's wrong?  EVERYTHING!!!  Wouldn't you know, so close to the finish line and I get sick.  And not just the, "Oh, I don't feel good" kind of sick.  I am talking the whole ears stuffed up, nose running and stuffed up, fever, aches, chills....basically, the whole enchilada!  So, while I am rejoicing in the fact that my husband is packing up and getting ready to leave Florida as we speak, I am also feeling very sorry for myself, as I blow my nose for the millionth time and look for lotion to put on my sore, tender snout.

People's Measuring Stick

Everyone has heard of people trying to keep up with the Jones', but what about those that constantly try to compare themselves with others in just everyday life, not with the material things.  Everyone wants everyone elses input on this and that asking, "What do you do?  What is best to do in this or that situation?" and then doing exactly what that person tells you.  What about what you personally think is best?  Is there something wrong with going with your gut, doing what you feel is best?  There is nothing wrong with a little advice now and then, but doing everything exactly how someone else did it may not be the best solution for you.  Be confident in yourself.  Do what you want, what you think is best, and believe me, it will be the best thing for you.  Then no one can tell you that you're doing it wrong!

Three Days Down, Ten More to Go

My hubby made it to Key West, the mast is up, the boat is in the water and at some point he will be chilling poolside, cold beverage in hand, waiting for the regatta to start.....meanwhile, in Annapolis, a cold front came through, it's blowing 25 mph (or more) and it's 40 degrees, not counting the wind chill.  However, I have gotten up both mornings, dressed myself and my child, gotten out the door and to work on time!  Success.  I can do this, only ten more days to go!!!

One Week into the New Year

One week into 2012 and things are picking up.  I have so many things going on I don't think I can keep it all straight.  First of all, work is slammed.  I left work on Friday thinking, "How am I going to get it all done?"  I know I will, but not being able to work on all of the things over the weekend makes me wonder.....but tomorrow is Monday and I will put my nose to the grindstone and "make it work."  What's really on my mind is the fact that my husband leaves on Wednesday for 13 days.  I want to be happy for his that he is going down to Key West Race Week, doing what he loves and opening doors for him with his career; but, I am having a hard time.  Mainly because, while he is off, sailing every day and partying every night, I am here, taking care of all of the responsibilities at home, the kids, my work, the bills, the chores, and wondering how  I am going to do it all by myself.  Again, I know I can, but the thought of it makes me sad and resentful on some level.  How do people do it with spouses that travel all the time for work?  Is it something that you get used to or just live with?  Does it take its toll on your relationship?  If anyone has any words of wisdom, please share!!! 

Back to the Grind

Today is my last day of freedom. Tomorrow, it's back to reality.  Work, kids, school, chores, etc. etc. etc.  And this year I have resolved to find more time for myself, be a little "selfish", if you wish.  For two years I have put my life on hold for the wants and needs of others.  The "needs" are my kids, and that's a given.  The "wants" are my husband's.  So, this year, I am going to take back a little bit.  I need to exercise (who else makes this a resolution every year?) and lose 15 pounds, I want (and need) to get my haircut more often and get my eyebrows waxed on a more regular basis, and I need at least one day every other week to myself.  I need (yes, this is a need, not a want) to be able to spend some time by myself.  After two years, I feel that I am deserving of a little "me" time....is this too much?  Here's to 2012!