A while back I went to a friend's home party featuring Usborne Children's books. As a book lover I was very impressed with the quality and selection of books. Of course when you go to these types of parties you get encouraged to throw one yourself. I have NEVER thrown a party like this. But my friend Lynelle and I decided to co-host one together. And so last night we gave it our best shot and were so thankful to all the friends that came and supported us.
I thought I would offer up to anyone the chance to order from them. We will be submitting our order in a week or so. So you can visit the Usborne website and click on Sarah and Lynelle.
At Paula's party I ordered these activity cards. They are sturdy two sided cards that have wipe off marker or wipe off crayon activities for the kids. Like the party consultant shared, I separated the 50 two-sided cards into piles of 10 and looped them together with metal rings. This keeps the cards secured and not floating all over the car or my purse. Moms at the party that had these cards spoke up and said that even their 10 year olds loved doing them. And I have witnessed Charley and Henry enjoying them already. They are a little tough for them yet but growth is great! And writing with a wipe off marker is always fun. Here is a sample:
I also purchased this book called There's a Mouse in the House. It is the cute story of a mouse that journeys through a house on the search of something yummy. But this book is different because it comes with a small card stock mouse that slips through slots on each page and follows a path through the whole book. Both my boys LOVE this book.
If you are interested in ordering any books you can save on shipping and have them shipped to me and I can deliver them to you (if I see you). Otherwise the shipping is pretty reasonable. As the holiday season quickly comes upon us this is one way I am planning on starting my Christmas shopping.
This is my superhero (he is just missing his cape).
He flies in (almost) every evening during the 6 o'clock hour.
Looking all handsome and put together.
He greets me with a kiss that isn't usually enthusiastically reciprocated because I am bent over taking something out of the oven or wiping up some mess.
He hunts for his little boys who tend to hide in the same damn spot every night, waiting to pop out and roar at their daddy.
But he greets us with his daddy smile and enthusiasm, even if I haven't showered and am covered in flour, dirt, or just that days sweat.
He listens to us all share our random stories that we excitedly tell him without realizing that we are all rambling at the same time.
He is the guy who reminds me that "Sarah, it's supposed to take 10 minutes. They need that." Even though it irritates me to high heaven at the moment. But I also know he isn't judging my moments lacking patience at the end of the day because he also gets that I have been dealing with it all. day. long.
In the last week I "got out" a few times, something I have vowed to do a little more often. And I got to leave and wave at my boys watching from the window. I got to return on Saturday to little excited voices roaring at me from hiding places. And man did it feel good. It reminds me that daddy gets that superhero feeling every night when he walks through the door. Just like Oprah starts her day out with a never ending applause.
He deserves it. He has a wife who by the end of the day is hobbling around like an 85 year old woman; who is only on week 24 of this pregnancy. He gets up every morning early and commutes to work. But most importantly, he comes home and is our Super Daddy!
1. A napping potty trained 2 year old. Thank you to my M.I.L for calling and distracting me and letting him work the fussiness out and pass out.
2. Completing my sewing project for the month - all by myself...well minus the question of how to get the machine to work...the power button helps. 2 more pillowcases completed.
3. Bigger kicks from this little munchkin. There have been moments today where I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.
4. A son who remembers at 7:40 that he has a dentist appointment at 8:30...and the ability to get showered and out the door and there on time! No cavities by the way!
5. The weather is absolutely beautiful today. Our windows are open and the breeze blowing through our house is incredible. This is fall in Minnesota.
I think I can officially say that Henry is daytime potty trained.
WOO HOO!
I know we will have the occasional accidents.
But for the most part the kid is sporting some high class cartoon or (my favorite- that I found on HUGE sale) adorable GAP 'ellerwear'.
This step in his life was TOTALLY accomplished with his doing. We did encourage but there was not any forcing. If he woke up and wanted to wear diapers we went with that. The last couple days we have braved the underwear out and about.
I was ready to try this because he gave sitting on the big toilet a try last week. (For those of you who have not gone through this with your boys...this time around I had him sit facing the "wrong" way. This way he could lean forward and it automatically aimed down.) I didn't know this trick with Charley and spent a lot of time wiping pee up off the floor. The only issue with this strategy is that you have to take his shoes and pants off in order for him to straddle it. So out and about that could be a pain. But I can see that the standing option is already going to work for him.
Yesterday, when we went for a hike I was going with a mom who has been through the potty training thing recently and many many other times. So I knew she would be supportive. Henry didn't have any accidents. Towards the end of the hike his little friend showed him how to "water a tree" and Henry stood and watched in awe, but was too shy to give it a go himself. Later, he came up to me and told me "I water tree." And off we went. Success!
Charley had a dentist appointment and at the dentist Henry stood on a stool and peed into the toilet for the first time. So proud!
Today at his school they have a little REAL potty for the preschoolers. He proudly stood and peed! WONDERFUL!
We arrived home and he wandered off to poop in the potty all by himself!
So I think I can say the kiddo is potty trained. And with the nuk gone. We are 2/3 of our way to having him ready to be an official big brother. We still need to move him to a big boy bed and then hopefully into Charley's room. Which, I think I have decided we are going to break into two steps...big boy bed in Henry's room first and then move it into Charley's bedroom. We are having some morning issues with Henry - waking at 5:30 and not wanting to go back to bed. And this is not going to fly for my Kindergarten needing sleep son.
So my final reflections: Daytime potty training really does go best when you let your child lead the way. Switching back and forth between underwear and diapers is VERY confusing. Henry repeatedly checked with me on what he was wearing. So I am guessing most kids should not switch. Commit. And third, the second child was way less stressful - maybe because the older brother set an example, helped encourage, and reminded both mama and Henry that candy was at the end of the stream!
Fall has begun here in the heart of Minnesota. The trees are starting to lose leaves, a little too quickly for my comfort. First, I like to see them turn vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges. But with some torrential rains and some wind we are starting to feel the urge to rake.
This morning Charley didn't have school so we set up a hike with some friends who are opposite us with the Kindergarten routine...meaning we have AM and they have PM. They also still have a napper - all hail to that lucky mama. And we don't nap in our house anymore....or so they think.
The actual wooded path was WAAAAAAAYYYYY too muddy today so we stuck to the paved path. We are lucky to have some friends that have boys that match up to Charley and Henry almost perfectly.
I love fall for activities like this. Summer is typically too hot for long hikes. Winter it is too exhausting lugging the boots. Spring is nice but it isn't as beautiful. Today we got to experience the initial crunch of fall leaves under foot.
The boys spotted a snake. The other mom's initial reaction, "Grab it!" I presented her with the -YOU ARE MOM OF THE DECADE AWARD- immediately. By the way, the snake got a way.
When hiking with four boys you know that sticks make wonderful swords, sabers, and guns. And as two moms of boys we laugh uncomfortably at the violent play - thankful to have each other in this moment, because we get it. And that makes it all better.
We hike for the reward - a yummy picnic lunch with the sun warming our backs to an uncomfortable temperature. But knowing that these days are numbered.
Days off from Kindergarten have a different feel to them. Last year when preschool had a day off it threw off our routine and I was thinking - what are we paying for if they don't have class AGAIN. But today... There wasn't a rush out the door. The three of us could enjoy a morning activity together. And there was a feeling of savoring the time with my two boys when they are both fresh.
Saturday morning I got to go spend some time with two really good girlfriends. Gals I got to know in college and through my wonderful husband. We hit up a children's consignment sale and then had a LOOOONG lunch including delicious Bloody Mary's...mine was of course virgin. There was serious talk, goal setting, laughter until tears, and tears until laughter. So good for the soul.
They were serious, and though they didn't yell at me, they were firm, like my sister recently, in pointing out that I need to make time for myself. I can not wait for someone else to do it for me. I need to speak up to Ed and tell him what I need and when I need it. I need to tell him to remind me that I need to go when I get invited. He could even remind me that I can go.
Escaping to a coffee shop with my computer or my "What to Expect when you are Expecting book" for an hour is something I can do at least once a week to renew and realize life.
The days are long the years short.
As good friends they pointed out that no one can read my mind, especially my husband. They recognized all that I do as a stay at home mom and reminded me that taking care of me from time to time will make our family stronger.
I, of course, came home and overwhelmed Ed sharing some of my thoughts - and I think like any guy - he can not understand how my morning with my friends was at all fun. "Did you cry?" HAHA! Men and women are so different. He listened though and supports all of what I shared. He agrees that 13 hours a day of rationalizing with 2 beings under the age of 6 can be draining - especially when they are tired or acting creepy.
So I am vowing as one of my goals to make more time that allows me to renew and revitalize so that my mornings are greeted with a smile. Maybe this means a quick brisk walk at dusk, grocery shopping alone in the evening, setting up a morning play date for Henry so I can clean a bathroom without a side kick, or escaping the bedtime routine by visiting a coffee shop.
I used to have Bunco with friends once a month. I used to be on the Mom's Club board and that meant a meeting with wine once a month, at least. Lately, I opt out of any evening activities. It is just easier.
This baby is going to arrive very soon and my good friends reminded me that it is going to be harder for a long time to escape alone. I am going to have a little miracle attached to my boob. Which, is going to be wonderful, and I won't want it any other way. But going to the coffee shop with the little bundle will not be the same...I will of course be praying that she/he doesn't have a blowout, a fussy time, need to nurse, etc. High Alert mothering will begin again come February.
So it is up to me. Just like, all mothers and fathers, have to remind themselves that they need to speak up to make their needs clear. It will only build a healthier and stronger family.
This blog post popped up this morning and went along with some of my thoughts about weekends. I have high expectations of family time and have a hard time leaving the family to go do something fun on my own. When Ed is home I am more aware of my mood and how it impacts the rest of the clan. And when she describes her husband there are things she says that match my description of Ed to a tee (sp?). I, like her, am so blessed to be married to such an engaged father.
And, on another note, this video was posted and is just completely inspiring.
You are coming up on your third full week of school and boy are you making us proud. I had no idea what feelings I would have on a day to day basis about your school experience. Would I freak out over little things that didn't seem right to me or weren't the way I did them when I was in the classroom? Would I be overly worried about missing you and missing out knowing what you do in this new big building? Was the school going to meet your needs, challenge you, notice you, and recognize the special boy you are? How would I feel when you came home and shared stories about your day? And what would we hear from the teacher and how would we feel about those thoughts?
The last 2 1/2 weeks have been wonderful so far. You are entering and exiting the building from the front and back. You are walking, riding in the car, and getting picked up friends. You are jumping out of the car in the pouring rain and running up to the school yelling, "Bye Mama!" You are asking for our phone number to share with new friends. You have been happy with the snacks (cucumber slices, grapes, bananas, and celery sticks) I have sent (all fruits and veggies like the rule said).
We have heard from your teacher a bit and though I won't go into detail. I am SO very proud of you. You telling me about your book bag book made me SO VERY PROUD. Your daddy should be extremely proud too because it is daddy who you want to read with every night. And he doesn't rush and he continues to grow your love of reading. I am thrilled that the school is seeing you and getting to know you and will be getting you involved in things that will challenge you and help you enjoy your school experience.
And I am reminded that when you ask to "play school" or "do school" in the afternoons I need to jump on that and not brush it off. Because all the little things that your quirky personality loves to do is proving to make your mama so proud that she calls her mama at 10:20 pm to share the joys of being your mother.
Keep working hard young man. We are blessed to call you son.
It rained almost non-stop for 24 hours. This morning when we woke it was blustery and cold. After getting Charley off to school I was determined to quench a craving I have been having....
Brownies!
I have never made them. They are something I have never craved, but seem to enjoy when one is placed on a napkin and in the palm of my hand. The last few days I have thought about brownies...warm ones, melt in your mouth, chocolaty brownies. So after our bitter walk dropping Charley off to school I decided to try my hand at homemade brownies. And having Henry as my baking assistant is never a bad choice. He is becoming a little baker.
The recipe I found advertises it as being a ONE BOWL BROWNIE! And it was! Wonderful!
One Bowl Brownies!
Ingredients:
2 whole eggs
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup flour
4 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla (oops I forgot this, I just realized)
1/2 cup nuts ( I don't like nuts in my brownies so I opted out)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
****
Mix the brownie ingredients.
Grease an 8x8 pan (or double the recipe to fit a 9x13 pan)
Pour batter into the greased pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
I opted to double the recipe because, well being pregnant I knew I would indulge every time I walked by the pan. And an 8 x 8 would be super obvious to my husband and boys if I happen to nibble more than my share. But hey, I am eating for two and it is time to start enjoying the eating part of this pregnancy.
They turned out WONDERFUL! I will search no farther for a brownie recipe. This is it, with or without the vanilla!
So blustery mornings are meant for brownies. Really, they are!
2. I am working on adding a button up top that will link to my recipes. Hopefully making them easier to locate. I am still figuring out how I want to organize them. But coming up I have a white chicken chili recipe, an egg bake, a brownie, and....something else that I can't think of.
3. Today when we did an early morning errand run to Target there was a man blowing leaves in the parking lot. It is a REALLY REALLY windy day so there wasn't much success in what he was doing and with the start of fall there are only a few leaves fluttering about and I find they give this time of year character. I am not sure if that man was being paid but I thought it was kind of dumb. He was also blowing very closely to cars...it was almost like he was snooping around the cars. It made me uncomfortable. I'm just sayin'.
4. This morning Henry and I made our first homemade brownies and they turned out GREAT! I doubled the recipe so they would fit in a 9 x 13 pan instead of the 8x8...that way when Ed gets home it doesn't look so obvious that I indulged every time I walked through the kitchen. Baking with Henry is pure joy.
5. Henry and I also pulled out the classic Candy Land game and he creamed me twice! We haven't played that just the two of us....ever. I wish my camera battery hadn't been drained because the expressions he had during the entire two games were priceless.
6. Friends that knew me before kids know that I was a homebody even before children came along. And still now when bedtime rolls around, even though I love to pass it off to Ed, I don't have any desire to leave the house. The best off duty time to me is cozy at home. Tomorrow morning Saturday morning will roll around and my hormones will shoot all over and poor Ed will wonder why he looks forward to weekends...but, this Saturday I have plans with girlfriends for the morning. And even though I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing them I still have this nag in me that has me wanting to just be home. Even though I know my soul needs for me to leave and see friends and get away from the walls of our house and the little voices and behaviors of my boys. So though I can't wait I also have this lazy feeling. I am VERY lucky to have friends that keep asking and keep encouraging and reminding me to get out.
7. I am at the stage of the pregnancy where I love my belly and I am still full of energy and sleeping pretty good. This is the honeymoon stage they talk about. I want this stage to slow down and allow me to enjoy it for a bit.
My blog routine is getting back into the swing. My issue is when I have moments to blog I like to write and post immediately. I wish I had more patience to write and schedule the posts so they are more spread out. But I am an immediate publishing kind of girl. So we'll see how things play out these next few days...will there continue to be 4 posts in one day (like today) or will I be able to contain myself and spread them out.
Get yourself some Simply Apple and warm it in a mug and step outside tomorrow morning, take a deep breath of fall air, and realize the slow Saturday that is possible in your house.
I called Ed just now just to tell him what we have done this morning.
I am proud.
I am Supermama - HEAR ME ROAR!
Boys woke at 6:30. Me too and I was not super cranky.
Fridays they get to watch a cartoon - happy boys.
Breakfast - cereal and banana and a glass of apple juice.
Got dressed without fuss. (I just threw on a hat)
Went to Target and got a few groceries (mainly snacks for the soccer game tomorrow).
Ran home and the boys listened to music in the car (their request) while I threw the groceries where they went.
Dropped two meals off at friends houses.
Got home in time to walk to school in the blustery cold winds.
Charley got to walk into the building with his neighbor friends - yipee.
Henry and I hustled home because it is CoooooLLLLLLLDDDDD!
I blogged about our Apple Math project while Henry talked to Super Why on the TV.
Time to bake brownies!
And that was all done before 9:20 AM!
ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
And thanks Honey for humoring me and listening to me brag about my efficient morning.
My boys like projects. Charley always has. So in September we do little apple crafts. This week the boys practiced their cutting and cut out their apple trees (Henry just cut his trunks). Then the boys had to glue their trees together. Finally, Charley had to solve math problems and glue them on the appropriate tree. Henry had to glue the correct number of apples on the tree, according to what number was on the trunk. I helped him with his. He is getting good at his one to one counting but still skips or repeats.
You will notice a theme this week. It is about slowing down. I am working on this. It is my fall goal. I am trying to make choices that work best for our family. Like this morning my hormones had me spinning and heading to pick up my laptop and spending an hour wandering the mall with my little Hank was perfect.
This pregnancy is picking up speed and I want to relish each moment of it. Henry and I are gifted with these mornings together and I want to savor each one...maybe tomorrow we will bake brownies together. And Charley is growing up and finding so much joy in life. He shared that he is looking forward to the next four days because...1. tomorrow he gets to watch a cartoon before school 2. Daddy is home on Saturday 3. Daddy is home on Sunday and 4. Monday he gets to go to the library at school.
My question for you...what blog do you wake up hoping has posted. I have a few blogs..well all on my sidebar and more but there are a few that make me REALLY happy when they post. And the days they take a break I am just a little disappointed. So what blog do you love....I am always up for finding a new favorite read!
Many you have heard Henry talk about his teacher. He had her last spring and all summer he proudly told people that his teacher is Ms. Shari. When Charley got his teacher assignment it took Charley a week or two to remember his teacher's name. But Henry remembered Charley's teacher's name the next day. And after answering for Charley when someone asked he would inform them that "My teacher is Ms. Shari." He is so proud. Here is a picture of his teacher.
She is an amazing lady who has a wonderful way with children. Last year we were enrolled in another mommy and me type class at a different school and Henry would hardly interact or play. But as soon as he met Ms. Shari he was a different little boy. We are blessed.
So with Charley and Henry I drank very little, if any, caffeine. I would have a pop late in the pregnancy if I was driving a long distance. Other than that I cut it out of my diet. With this one I have been enjoying one a day...sometimes every other day. I ran out of Dr. Pepper the other day and vowed to not buy any more during the pregnancy. But of course, today I am craving it.
So here is the sad truth about what I go through for my fix...never more than one a day and always before noon.
1. I have called neighbors (thanks Kirsten!) and asked if they had any and sent Charley on a "Mission" with 50 cents in hand. This doesn't just give me a pop fix, it also gives Charley a moment away from me to run off some energy and grab some fresh air.
2. I have blogged about my bad days and my craving and have had friends appear or leave a mystery Diet Coke on my porch (Thanks Paula!).
3. I have friends who drop their kids off for a play date and also hand over a Diet Coke (Thanks Lynelle!).
4. And today I pretty much held a little boy hostage in my car so that his mom would deliver a Diet Coke to my window in exchange for her son, because it was POURING rain and I would melt if I got out of the car. Just kidding- she had an umbrella because she would melt too. No for real she came out before I could get out...darn it because I wanted to get a peek at her kitchen remodel.
All of these instances have occurred when I have sworn off buying it to have in our fridge. And it lasts for a while and then I go back to buying it. I hope that all of these friends who have helped my sanity know they can call on me at any time for a jar of homemade jam, a bottle of wine, or a can of....well probably not Diet Coke since I will most likely be on one of my "No Diet Coke kicks," but maybe a can of cream soup, an egg, or a cup of sugar.
1. Henry wore big boy underwear all afternoon/evening the last two days! He even went into the bathroom both days and pooped all by himself. Here is my issue...he has only gone on the potty chair. He has not attempted sitting on the big potty. How do I transition him to that...because we can't go anywhere until I know he can do the BIG seat.
2. I really don't mind rainy days. They make me happy. And today we have a day of rain again.
3. My computer is done being fixed. It actually was done on Monday but Ed thought he could pick it up and then I thought I could but things have come up. So this morning Henry and I will venture to get it and I can finally download and edit all the pictures I have been taking in the last week! It has been driving me crazy not having it.
4. We started a grocery budget again, we decided to try $80 a week. I went on Monday and spent $79! And it is almost Friday. So we are going to make it ...I think. Yipee!
5. Playing around with my blog layout again. Just hang in there with me if things seem screwy from time to time. I hate having things too mashed together and yet I don't want to waste my borders with empty space. I want my pictures to be large....trying to simplify.
During our quiet morning at home today Henry wandered off to go potty. He proudly came out and announced that he had gone poopy! WOO HOO! SO Proud of him!
Yesterday at the doctor he had to get his throat swabbed for strep. After it was done and he was crying he told me, "Go get Charley now." Poor guy is still dealing with this every morning predicament.
When I say no to something he responds in the most defeated voice "NEVER EVER! I NEVER EVER!"
He is falling asleep without his nuk and staying asleep through the night but he likes to listen to us me tell a story as he falls asleep and when he wakes in the 5-6 o'clock hour he is up for the day.
He can take Charley down and is the one to start all the physical romping these days. It is very frustrating.
During lunch he initiates the catch up with Charley. He asks with a tip of his head, "Hey Char, what you do at school today?"
This morning I heard him saying "Eli! Eli! LieJah! LieJah!" after he saw a new picture of his cousin Eli that I hung up.
He is our Henry and he is one of a kind. And Ed and I catch each other's eyes throughout the evening with smiles over the little things he says and does.
One of my favorite authors is Jodi Picoult. I just finished her latest book called House Rules. Once again she did an super job telling a great story from lots of perspectives that kept me reading to find out what happened in the end. Not only does she tell a story but she also teaches you about the subject matter she is focusing on in her book. In House Rules you get a peek inside the world of Autism, more specifically Asperger's syndrome.
While reading her book there was a passage about REAL MOMS. And I really liked it. So I thought I would share. It was on page 156-157. She describes the days when cereal boxes contained the prize and how you suffered through the cereal to get to the bottom of the box to get the magic ring or mystery decoder wheel at the bottom.
"I cannot admit this out loud. In the first place, we are expected to be supermoms these days, instead of admitting that we have flaws. It is tempting to believe that all mothers wake up feeling fresh every morning, never raise their voices, only cook with organic food, and are equally at ease with the CEO and the PTA.
Here's the secret: Those mother's don't exist. Most of us-even if we'd never confess-are suffering through the raisin bran in hopes of a glimpse of that magic ring.
I look very good on paper. I have a family, and I write a newspaper column. In real life, I have to pick superglue out of the carpet, rarely remember to defrost dinner, and plan to have BECAUSE I SAID SO engraved on my tombstone.
Real mothers wonder why experts who write for Parents and Good Housekeeping- and dare I say it, the Burlington Free Press- seem to have their acts together all the time when they themselves can barely keep their heads above the stormy seas of parenthood.
Real mothers don't just listen with humble embarrassment to the elderly lady who offers unsolicited advice in the checkout line when a child is throwing a tantrum. We take the child, dump him in the lady's cart, and say, "Great. Maybe you can do a better job."
Real mothers know that it's okay to eat cold pizza for breakfast.
Real mothers admit it is easier to fail at this job than to succeed.
If parenting is the box of raisin bran, then real mothers know the ration of flakes to fun is severely imbalanced. For every moment that your child confides in you, or tells you he loves you, or does something unprompted to protect his brother that you happen to witness, there are many more moments of chaos, error, and self-doubt.
Real mothers may not speak in the hearsay, but they sometimes secretly wish they'd chosen something for breakfast other than this endless cereal.
Real mothers worry that other mothers will find that magic ring, whereas they'll be looking and looking for ages.
Rest easy, real mothers. The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means that you already are one."
It is 7:41 and I have already had many Real Mom moments.
Henry slept until 6:10, but then started yelling for me. Instead of rejoicing that he slept 25 minutes later than yesterday I went in to try and coax him to sleep a little later...causing more yelling (by him). Which woke up Charley with a bad dream who refused to go to sleep...both of them yawning at me as they complained about wanting to go downstairs. Why didn't I just get up Henry, it would have maybe not woken Charley up. ugh.
Immediately they started romping on the floor - yes, the volume of my voice escalated, the hall light was smacked on, and I demanded they find something to play or they are to report back to their crib/bed.
Ed leaned over with a kiss to say "Have a good day." and I could tell in his voice he knew I was already tired and crabby. I hate when he leaves knowing that I haven't shaken my little mood swing. Which is slowly moving from boiling to simmering as the sun finally appears (or at least it is lighter out -it is another rainy dreary day so the sun is not shining)
Yesterday at the store we bought some donuts. Poor Henry suffered through a strep swab and I just wanted to bring a smile to his face. Yesterday they split one donut mid-afternoon. Real Mom moment...this morning I will pair a donut with a banana and call it Breakfast. And I have a feeling that for those few moments while I enjoy my donut, my mood will start to swing the other way...especially when I realize that the breakfast dishes this morning will be minimal and the biggest mess will be the sprinkles and chocolate frosting that is going to coat Henry's body.
What are your real mom moments? The moments that lack the balance of a breakfast with eggs, fruit, and toast...but rather put smiles on everyones' faces, get you through the moments and moods, and restart the next moments with a little sugar high.
I think the most important line in Jodi's passage above is the last one:
"Rest easy, real mothers. The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means that you already are one."
We have survived another early morning (5:45) without any cartoons. On Friday we did decide that Fridays deserved a cartoon - so that is our new tradition!
We at pancakes - since my boys were starving since I deserve the Mother of the Year award and fed them only a small slice of cheese cake for dinner last night. Ed looked disappointed by that but he didn't do anything about it.
Henry has a doc appointment this morning because yesterday his right ear slowly got more and more swollen and is now sticking straight out. It is actually quite amazing. He also has a runny nose. So we will be taking it easy this week.
Charley is packed for his second full week of Kindergarten. His take home folder is packed with papers to return and two envelopes with money for parties and a field trip. As he carried it TO his backpack both envelopes fell out. I think I will email his teacher quick and tell them they are coming.
It is raining so I will drop him off...yes wussing out of the walk in the rain, but I need to run Henry to the doc quick after.
Charley was just stomping by in his shoes. Yes, muddy. Yes, I am speaking calmly and typing very softly right now.
My tailbone is still really sore. I slipped carrying Henry down the stairs and fell down 5 stairs. Baby is still kicking in there and things seem just fine and dandy...although I am a little more hesitant to plop down on a hard chair.
My computer is back in the shop. It is going to cost us a little...$97 on top of the new cord. But still fairly cheap for computer repairs...I think. Obviously, I have had two good reminders to slow down and be a little more careful. The pregnancy clumsiness is in full swing.
We will have a quiet afternoon here once we are back from doc, Target, and picking up Charley. I will make my meal group meals and do a few loads of laundry. Henry might get a nap in otherwise a cuddle and a cartoon and maybe a little craft is in their future.
Life is good this fine Monday morning...besides the mud on the floor, the mound of laundry to do, the doc office awaiting us with more germs to spread, and the runny nose waiting to be wiped by my little monster who is sporting his Green Bay Packer Jersey today - GO PACK GO!
1. A friend who took my two BOYS so I could get my girl thing on and get my hair cut. I so appreciated being able to enjoy the shampoo and head massage. I wasn't looking out of the corner of my eye or getting glared at ...even though my boys are really very good at places like that. Thank you friend!
2. I have a really good friend that is pregnant! I haven't known her pregnant or with infant. I can't wait to share our third child journey together...they will be under three months apart...I think! I can't wait until more people know the exciting news!
3. Peanuts and candy corn mixed together...'nuf said.
4. Knowing that I am happily through the first half of this pregnancy (the first chunk took it's time). But I can see this second half is going to fly by. As of today I am now 22 weeks. They moved my due date up! I want this half to slow down because I want to enjoy every kick and moment of anticipation. And I don't want the snow and holidays here just yet.
5. Our first full week of Kindergarten has been good. My big moment this week was standing back outside of the school and watching him walk in all by himself amongst the "herd". I have raised him to fly and he is soaring!
This post by Clover Lane sums up the feeling you can get from reading blogs and then wraps it around to realizing the potential in yourself and your family. Great thoughts.
And on our weekend menu is this recipe for Sherried Tomato Soup from none other than the Pioneer Woman. Every food post she writes draws you in, makes your mouth water, and leaves you feeling and thinking "I can do that."
This morning I volunteered in Charley's classroom for the first time. Henry tagged along and was a big helper. I had a little time before my assigned task was to take place (I was asked to take pictures of each of the kids). So I headed over to the volunteer table and we stapled a large stack of field trip slips. Henry did the stapler and I held the papers. We made a good team. They also have an area of kitchen and toy type stuff that Henry could have kept busy with but he was very adamant that he wanted to help.
Here are a couple things I got to witness:
1. All three kindergarten rooms were quiet and busy the entire time I was there.
2. During the first fire drill I realized how much I, as an old first grade teacher, appreciates those Kindergarten teachers for getting them to walk in lines and master the hustle of the fire drill. The line thing is still a bit of a challenge for the half day kids.
3. Charley has talked about one little boy the last couple of days of school. He wants to exchange phone numbers so they can have a play date because this little boy knows a LOT about Star Wars. When this little boy came out to the hallway for his picture he informed me, "I know your son." HAHA! LOVE THAT! He tried to give me his phone number but it was going to take a good 30 minutes to get it out and it wasn't going to be correct. So I explained I would connect with his mom one of these days.
4. Walking out of the school I saw a 3rd grade girl use her foot to dispense the paper towels. Um....I use my foot to flush toilets but I guess I assumed when I touched the paper towel thing that only hands or elbows touch that handle. I know better now.
5. Henry walks confidently through out this school and he will be SO ready for Kindergarten when his time rolls around.
6. While sitting there I realized so much of what I miss about teaching. And yet, while I was looking at the volunteer table I realized how much I didn't miss. Because if the volunteers don't show up guess who is stapling those field trip forms, cutting out the cornucopias, and tearing apart book orders. Yep, that is the stuff I don't miss.
I think Henry and I will make a little time each week to venture in to do a little something. But we'll see how it all flows. The routine this week is pretty much chaos. My sister is lacking emails from me. I have had to blog in big spurts. I have not gotten a little nap (I know, poor Sarah.) and the pick up drop off thing needs a little tweaking so we aren't sitting too long waiting at either end.
But as the week comes to an end I can see it is going to be a great year - for all of us.
This is my baby. Well, he is not really my baby anymore. He isn't really a toddler either. He is pretty much a preschooler who isn't quite old enough to go to preschool. And it was time to end the nuk addiction. We ended Charley's nuk addiction at the age of 2 and it was the hardest thing we had to battle with him. We I kept putting off Henry's nuk intervention but finally I decided it was time. It just so happens that I chose a night when Ed had to work late so I had to do the first evening all by myself.
With Charley we did a similar thing..I bought a box of presents and told him that in the morning he got to pick one of the presents to open. The truth about this strategy - neither boy could give a crap about the presents during their breakdowns. The presents were my way of making myself feel better during the horror of the cry out and my way of telling myself they would love me again in the morning.
The first night Henry cried for about an hour and 20 minutes. He finally fell asleep when I went in and told him a story about fishing with grandpa Bob. It had lots of monotoned counting...we counted worms as he scooped them in the garden, we counted fish that their friend Paul had caught, and we counted eagles that flew overhead. Counting. Henry woke up around 4 that morning but a book on tape put him back to sleep and he actually slept until close to 7am...I think.
The next night we skipped nap and he fell asleep with a story within 10 minutes. Heavenly. He woke though at 5 and was up for the day.
The third night he cried for a while but fell asleep on his own.
And so it went. The box of presents slowly dwindled and soon they were gone. He still asks for a nuk but he doesn't demand it. He is able to fall asleep some nights on his own. We had a babysitter one night and he and she survived and was sleeping within 30 minutes of her putting him down. However, we do still struggle most nights with getting him to settle down. Dropping the naps has helped him fall asleep much more peacefully and timely (more on that in a bit).
The big question...will we give the next little miracle a nukkie like we did Charley and Henry. I am guessing we will. I love that they have something that soothes them. I love that it is something I can take away..where a thumb is that much harder to take away. And with breastfeeding I really think they sometimes need to suck more since sucking isn't always as vital. And I don't want to be a human pacifier. So I am guessing that the horror of this month will pass and come January, when this new little family member arrives...we will swaddle that babe up in his little burrito wrap and pop that HUGE green nukkie into his/her mouth and sigh as we gaze at the miracle that at that moment rests peacefully - forgetting that 2 years from that very moment we would be asking ourselves WHY! WHY! WHY! did we let the nuk enter our lives one more time.
I have pretty much given up all TV except this darn Prison Break obsession and it will be all done by the end of the weekend....if not sooner. Since I haven't been watching any regular TV lately I am out of the loop on when things are starting up and what new shows should be on my list of things to watch. So tell me friends...what are you looking forward to watching this fall and when does it start?
I think How I Met Your Mother starts next Monday and that is the one show Ed and I enjoy together.
Or is there another show that Ed and I would both enjoy that we should commit some time to. I have really enjoyed watching TV with him. So much better than going to our own rooms and not being together. Is Weeds good? or True Blood? Mad Men? Do tell!
Where is it normal to buy HUGE pickles from men half clothed in Renaissance apparel. Yep, the Renaissance festival.
Ed's mom and I started going to the festival when it was just the two of us...and Charley was a baby in my belly. We would shop the pottery and art, watch the shows, and eat all the food we pleased. This year we ventured there with both boys.
We went at the end of the day...from 3:30-7. Henry walked the entire time. We enjoyed some yummy treats, watched the games and shows, and browsed a few shops. Charley and Henry were pretty shy about things this year. And I need to remember this year of trying to coax them into doing some of the rides and activities. Because I give them a few years and I will be instead saying, "You may pick two rides..." because with possibly three boys it could get pricey watching them all dual each other in the sword fight booth.
They never completely relaxed because there is so much going on and I must admit that a lot of it is a bit bizarre. An over abundance of cleavage, men in tights, people biting into giant turkey legs like they do it on a daily basis, and swords all over the place.
It is a little boys dream. And I am glad that I can find plenty of enjoyment in the whole experience myself. Someday, I would like to go with Ed and friends and spend the day sipping wine or beer from the large pottery mugs they sell. Watching people all day - because it truly is an exceptional people watching extravaganza!
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