Well, Hello Tuesday

Apparently, when I go on vacation, I go on vacation from everything, blogging included.  Maybe because this last vacation was without the munchkins and well, let's be honest, they do provide the ample fodder that keeps this blog trucking along. 

Without kids, you say?  Why yes.  Shaun was his usual sweet self and schemed a way to get me on a little 4 day getaway BY. MYSELF.  And he kept the kidlets for most of the time, which kept me relaxed, (except when I called at 11pm and thought I heard them running around and yelling in the background... that was a bit of a moment).  It was awesome. 

And I came back and dove right into the motherhood/wifey/me that I had left.  And it was just as awesome.  (Shaun actually brought the kids into the airport to surprise me when I got off the plane.  Hearing them screech "MOOOOOMMMMY!" and run at me was just about the most awesome thing ever.  I had told Shaun that my only requirement for the trip was that when I came back, they had to greet me with as much enthusiasm as they greet him EVERY. DAY.  (I know, right?)  They delivered with great gusto.  I was pleased. 

Anyway, here we are, getting back into the swing of things just in time for us to get all out of the swing with the holidays.  Craziness.  But that's how we like it 'round here. 

Plate Spinning

I don't know where I first heard the analogy, but it's a good one.  Walking through life is a lot like being a plate spinner. 



Each of those plates represent a different piece of your life that you have to pay a certain amount of attention.  Kids?  Plate.  Husband?  Plate.  Housework?  Plate.  Cooking?  Plate.  Friends?  Plates.  Exercise?  Plate.  Sleep?  Plate. 

If you start frantically spinning at one that might be slipping, it's not long before you find 5 other ones slipping. 

So you have to take a deep breath and give what you can to all the plates.  And if you have more plates than you can handle?  You have to let 'em go.  (Personally, I'm all for dropping the housework plate...)

Anyway, my plates were flying all over the place for awhile there and I was having a crazy time trying to scrape by with the bare minimum to keep them all from crashing down, (which would have resulted in me taking a very long nap... so... win for the sleep plate?)  And blogging?  Blogging became one of those little cup saucers and I shoved it into my back pocket.  Somehow, I thought that some things, like, you know, feeding these little people were more important.  (True.  They get very cranky when hungry).  But I got a day to myself and got some things in order that were otherwise neglected.  And now?  I feel sane(r).  Plates might get shaky, but they're up!

Anyway, I have a litany of blog posts in my head and I'm slowly starting to write them out.  So I'm working on it.  If you've stuck around?  Thanks.  I do appreciate your comments, both in real life and on here.  I don't know that I've mentioned that.  But yes, I'm a sucker for attention a fan of feedback, so thanks again :)

I'm Alive... I'M ALIVE!

My Mom left me a message today that said, "Ohhh JEN!  Where arrrrre you?  Maybe you should just text me and say, "I'm alive!"

(I have to say, the message cracked me up.  Though I was half-tempted to email her and say, "I'm ALIVE!  But I've been kidnapped by a group of Nigerian terrorists and all you have to do to set me free is send your bank account number and they will wire the sum of $42,203,234 to your account... then, they will transfer it out and in exchange, my freedom and 20%!"  Heh.)

Anyway, I am alive and well and pregnant and all that.  Shaun whisked me, the kids, the dogs, and the majority of our household possessions into the family vehicles and up into the mountains for a little family vacation.  In exchange for the getaway, we sacrificed cell and internet service.  It was actually really nice!

But we are glad to be home.

With 549 pictures, 2 pounds of sand, and 470 acorns to show for it.

But the pictures, in particular, will have to wait til tomorrow.  Right now?  I have a date with my bed.  Shaun's at a soccer game.  I think I got the better end of this deal.

Either way... here's one to tide you over :)

Sassy little monkeys, no?

Ouch.

Today, from the waist down, I have rubber bands for appendages.  My arms feel like spaghetti.  And do not even get me started about my abs.  Just don't make me laugh for a few days.  If I had arm strength, I think I'd punch you.

There was a day when I could run circles around most people.  A workout?  Ha, I laughed in the face of workouts.  I'd play 3 hours of soccer then head off to climb or something.

Even in college I was playing soccer at least 4 or 5 days a week.

I was in shape.  Good shape.  I didn't get winded climbing stairs, to say the least.

Then I met Shaun.  And we got married. 


Shaun and I like food.  We REALLY like food.  And after we got married, we ate a lot of it.  And spent a good amount of time sitting on the couch watching movies while we did it. 


But we started soccer-ing again...  and life was again ok on the fitness front.


And then I had 3 kids. 

Now, I thought that chasing them around and hauling the MEATBALL everywhere was an amazing workout.  


Then I met Jillian Michaels.


Heh. 


She scares me.


My body feels like I've been flogged. 


I'm choosing to believe that it's because the workout is hard and not because I was such a fledgling weakling that 2 days of a 30 minute workout has practically crippled me. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to waddle to the kitchen to eat some m&m's celery.

Good Morning To You, Too

This morning, upon seeing me groggily emerge from my nest of blankets and comforters, Bean looked up and me and chirped,

"Mama!  You look like a MONSTER!"

Gee, thanks kid. 

Oy

It's been awhile, no?

We're mostly settled in at home after a 2 week vacation in Texas. 

I think I have a vacation hangover. 

Anyone want to sponsor a vacation for me?  Alone?  (Ok, maybe Shaun too?) 

No one?  Fine. 

I'll settle for 5 minutes alone in a bathroom. 

(And now for something completely different.  A completely unrelated picture of my squishy ball of cute.  Come on, you know you love it.  I certainly do.)

Greetings!

Many well wishes from the great (flat) (mostly) state of TX!

Please excuse the lack of posting, as we've been and will be a bit buried with fun for awhile. 

10 Things

It's been a cranky few days around here for this pregnant woman.  I will not go as far as to say that I have been acting a trifle insane lately and if that wonderful guy that I share this house with dares to even mention that fact, things might get ugly.  Ahem.

Anyway, today's been a rather nice day.  And I haven't yelled at anyone.  So I figure it'd be nice to write down 10 things or so that I'm thankful for so that when I my head starts spinning around and I lose my cool a smidge (heh), I can remember what it's like to be at least partially sane. 

So here goes:

(And I make no promises about the introspection or deepness of this list...  None).

1. My laundry chute.  I love this little quirk of construction so much that when we started putting in the downstairs bathroom, I strongly requested that we construct some sort of cabinet to ensure that the beloved chute would stay.

2.  Rural surroundings.  We're not far from suburban life, but on our street, I can easily walk out into the front yard in my PJs and not see a soul drive up or down our road for the entire day.  Not that I'd ever walk out in my PJs.  Not me.

3.  Sesame Street.  Both of my kids love Sesame Street.  So much so that I can actually catnap while they watch and feel refreshed enough afterwards to function through until bedtime.  This will come in handy when the new little guy comes along.

4.  The internet. I feel connected to the outside world.  I think motherhood had to be a bit lonely and scary in the past.  Yes, I think it still can be, but it's nice to know that I can tap out a quick email to a friend or google something and touch the world outside of our house when I need a connection. 

5.  Our yard.  It's shady 80% of the day.  It's surrounded by trees.  It's fenced.  And my kids love, love, love being outside.  (And I love not having to chase them for being too close to the street).

6.  This bizarre MD summer.  For some weird reason, we've had the most humid-less summer I think I've ever experienced.  We're in mid-July and on most days, we can go out in the morning and it's almost chilly outside.  It's a good summer to be pregnant. 

7.  My pillows.  Amy gave me two pillows that are currently the love of my life at bedtime.  Love. Them.  Then there's the Temperpedic pillows.  And the two super soft feather pillows.  And the huggy pillow.  I sleep in a nest, not a bed. 

8.  Special K.  It's the best cereal in the world.  Special K with fresh strawberries and whole milk = Mommy's little miracle breakfast. 

9.  The rare times in my day when I can pee in peace.  Pottying in peace is highly underrated.  You think it's funny to pee with the door open when you're in college.  Then you have kids and you wonder whether it's too much to have the designers of Fort Knox craft a door for you so that you may handle your business alone.  In private.   

10.  That 10 spaces weren't nearly enough for all the awesomeness I've got going on in life.  I need to remember that when I'm feeling less than awesome. 

Happy Monday, friends.  What are you thankful for?

Brain = Fried

In lieu of a normal post this morning, I leave you with this gem of knowledge:

At 12am, when your smallest outside-the-body munchkin is fighting sleep because she's convinced that a party is going on while she's supposed to be in her bed, you trying to corral her onto your lap is a bad idea.

It will result in a head thrown back into your face, giving you a sore and bloody nose. 

Just saying.

And for now?  I'm going to take a nap. 

Whew!

The last few days have been kind of all over the place.  I was sick, felt better, felt worse... now I feel better.  Shaun got sick and is still fighting it off. 

It rained. And rained. And rained.

C has been acting VERY strange.  I know she's getting two more top teeth and they're almost out, (you can practically see the edges about to poke through).  She's been ridiculously cranky and irritable while awake, not eating well and taking really long naps.  And get this:

She's sleeping 12+ hours straight at night.  I have to wake her in the morning.

No fever, no runny nose, nothing.  Just incoming teeth and a newfound appreciation for sleep.  And crankiness out her ears. 

So part of me is a bit concerned, but she seems to be coming out of the cranky, so I'm not worrying too much.  I'm getting sleep!  Woot!  Now if Shaun would get better and stop tossing and turning, I'd be set. 

Anyone else experience this?

Anyway, I've been taking pictures and have a few stories to post, so hopefully nap time will offer me some time to do that.  For now, off to the library and out to enjoy the SUN!

Question...

So...  I have a question...

How on earth do you stay organized and keep your houses relatively neat in the day to day? 

Maybe it's me being dead tired with two small kids and one on the way that makes it so darn difficult to keep my life in order, but whatever it is, it's frustrating the heck out of me not being able to get things done.

And I know that when this new one comes, it's not going to get easier. 

So, that's where you guys come in!  Help a woman out and give me your best tips to keeping things neat and organized.  It doesn't matter if you have kids or not.  Or for that matter, it definitely doesn't matter if you're neat.  I know everyone has ways to keep some aspect of their lives somewhat organized.  My hope is that perhaps, maybe, um, possibly I can compile enough great tips that I'll make progress.

Because some progress is better than no progress.  

Help!

Mean Maraca

With my kid and her superhero hearing picking up every. single. word. breathed. when I get mad in the car, I think I need this hack.

The Mean Maraca via Parent Hacks

It reminds me of the time that Shaun got cut off by some crazy lady and instead of getting mad and yelling, we drove up next to her and took a few stuffed animals from the back and made them dance in the window at her.  We were laughing too hard to be mad anymore and she?  Well who knows, but if she didn't think about her craziness a little and loosen up, I'd be a little concerned about her lack of a sense of humor.

Weekly Preview

I might not post anything substantial today as I'm working on Bean's birthday post and a post about the CPSIA nonsense.

I think last week I managed to hit 4 out of my 6 intended posts.  Not bad!  This week, here's what's on my agenda:

• A product review and giveaway on Wednesday.

• Bean's 3rd birthday post

• Possibly merging my archives by the end of this week.  Possibly.

• Another cloth diaper post.  Finally.

• A baby update after Wednesday's appointment.  (We need a nickname!)

And copious amounts of pics and stories from around here.  Because the four of us are finally well, I'm really, really hoping to venture out and DO things.  I'm tired of being in my house 24-7.  Goofy germs.

OH!  And we're supposed to FINALLY get snow tonight and tomorrow.  If that's the case, we will absolutely have snow pictures.  There's nothing my kid would want more than to gambol around in the snow on her birthday.  (If we don't get snow, I might cry big salty tears and sequester myself in bed until I'm given a ticket to a tropical island. Because if we don't get snow?  I wanna be somewhere WARM!)

That's all for now!  Happy Monday!

Every. Single. Stinking. YEAR.

I put all of my Christmas paraphernalia away at least a month ago.  And because we were relatively organized this year, I assumed that I had gotten it all into the appropriate boxes.

Apparently... I forgot what happens when you assume. 

Look what I finally noticed staring at me from the kitchen shelf:

 

Sneaky little booger.   

Today's Breakfast

We needed a little "yum" in our lives

 

How's your day going? 

Minor Note

For those of you who know us and send Christmas cards to us, and you don't have our new address, drop me an email and I'll forward it along. 

Yes, we moved in April.  No, I haven't passed out the new address.  I chalk it up to having a 6 day old baby at the time of the move. 

Anyway, getting Christmas cards is my absolute favorite thing ever.  This year Bean is all about mail, so I thought I should probably get the address out there so we can actually get some cards.

(And yes, as soon as I get my act together and get a decent picture of either the two kids or all of us, I'm sending ours out too!  Holla if you want one).

Yes, I said holla.  I'm so cool.

Ramblings

Took Miss C to the doctors today for a weight check today and found that she had gained a few ounces, but no more.  She's now officially a peanut.  A small, cute peanut with lots of smiles.  20th percentile.  But the doctor isn't worried.  In any case, we're going back for another weight check at 8 months.  So long as she continues to increase instead of plateauing, we're in good shape.  A good small shape.

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Speaking of today's doctor's trip, I totally ran late and didn't get to eat breakfast so afterwards, I stopped at the bagel place and picked up a bagel.  After a second of thought, I decided that I would be ever so nice and pick up a bagel for my bagel loving daughter to share with her daddy.

Best of intentions.

But the drive!  It's so LONG!

Yeah, by the time I got home, both bagels were happily residing in my belly.

I just can't help myself.

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Bean has an interesting taste on Christmas as of today.  When asked what she wants, she now says "NOTHING."

She saw a bunch of things on the dining room table that came in the mail and asked what they were.  I said, "Christmas presents".  Shaun asked Bean what he should get her for a Christmas present and she said,

"Nothing!  I don't LIKE Christmas presents!"

She means it.

But weirdly, she has very sweet ideas of what to give everyone else.  C is getting a bagel because C loves bagels.  (That's true).

Not sure where this all came from, but it's pretty funny.  I don't think she'll object to opening some packages on Christmas morning, but we'll see.  :)

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I got to take a two hour nap today while my girls slept for 2.5 hours each at the same time.

I felt like super mom.

Or really, after the nap, I didn't feel dead tired, which was pretty super. 

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Best part of being used to waking up every few hours?  A nap doesn't result in that awful post nap hangover grogginess anymore.  It's just par for the course.

Hey Blogger!

Two things that I think would be pretty darn sweet to the blogger populace:

1.  Number the comments.  Oh holy moly, (moley?)  (what does that mean, anyway?)  (Any relation to that song that goes "Mooley mooley, mooley mooley, mooley mooley!"  Does anyone know what I'm talking about?)   Someone find me a way to number comments in blogger so that I don't have to count for giveaways.  Generally, I'm not popular enough to have to count to any number higher than 20, but that cloth diaper giveaway that I'm doing?  It's got more comments than I have fingers or toes, so we might have some difficulties.

2.  If people chose to use word verification, make the things that the rest of us need to type funny...  words like "oompa" or "chimichanga" or "smoosh" are lovely choices.  I think that'd make a sometimes frustrating task ever so much more fun.

Just my thoughts.  Carry on.  :)

Just a Thought...

You know in the beginning of football games on TV when the announcer is introducing the players and they flash their name and pictures up? 

The "pictures" are actually short video clips.  The guys stay so still. 

But every once and awhile they blink or sniff or something.  (And it ALWAYS startles me)

I really wonder if that's where J.K. Rowling got the idea for her wizard pictures. 


Anyone?

Politics According to Miss Bean

Shaun to Bean a few nights ago,

"Who do you think should be President... Obama or McCain?"

Bean looks thoughtful and then says,

"Daddy!"

Hehe.

"Ok kiddo, who should be Vice President?"

No hesitation, she points to herself, "MEE!"

Now that's a ticket I can get behind.