I really should be working right now. On something. My To Do list is disgusted with me. I think I can actually hear it laughing when I pick it up and look at it. "Right . . . like you're actually going to accomplish one of these tasks today? What makes today so different than the last twelve times you picked me up?" Stupid list.
The problem is that like most of my life, these things I want to do are pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of living. I mean, does anyone but me really care if all the clothes waiting for the next child are in the properly marked tote? Has anyone actually been in my office closet lately to see that my gradually growing gift stash isn't separated into bags marked with which person they're for? Yet I'm stressing out because I can't keep my mind or my body in one place long enough to accomplish anything!!! Aaarrrggggghhhh!
I think probably the worst part is that I don't have 8 other moms around me to feel my pain and sympathize with me anymore. I feel so validated when I'm not the only complainer! I guess in this little kingdom which is my home I will have to fight many small battles often, rather than trying to conquer all the invaders at once. Laundry room today, alphabetized spice rack tomorrow . . .
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Happy Days
Life is good.
1. My baby is 9 months old today, which seems ridiculous, but is a fact I must face. The happy part of that is that she is so smiley, and when she smiles it's like she's modeling her 6 little teeth for the world to see. Little wrinkled up nose and squinty eyes - how cute can she get?!?
2&3. I've got superpills now that have made life much nicer than 6 weeks ago, and I've got superhusband who is coming home early to watch the girls and make supper for me while I work. How great is that?!?
4. I took the poodle, the gumball machine, and Galadriel out trick-or-treating last night, so I'm stocked with candy. That makes for a happy momma!
5&6. With Halloween over I'm looking square in the face of The Holidays and, for once, I'm prepared (even bought a couple gifts already!) and ready for the excitement. I'm thinking we'll have to hang the tree from the ceiling to keep Carmen from pulling it down repeatedly, but other than that I'm feeling pretty optimistic. And what great timing, this whole "green" movement, and recycling, saving the planet, etc . . . I have no money anyway, so when I give my niece my old jewelry box it's a recycled heirloom, not just cheap Auntie Jenn offloading household items on unsuspecting relatives! ;)
7. Tonight's the time change, so I get a extra hour of sleep! Yet another reason that life is good. That's assuming that I get to bed on time, though, so I'd better go finish my cleaning. That's a bit of a bummer . . . I'll just have to pop in the Carpenters CD while I clean . . . that makes everything better . . .
Cheers!
1. My baby is 9 months old today, which seems ridiculous, but is a fact I must face. The happy part of that is that she is so smiley, and when she smiles it's like she's modeling her 6 little teeth for the world to see. Little wrinkled up nose and squinty eyes - how cute can she get?!?
2&3. I've got superpills now that have made life much nicer than 6 weeks ago, and I've got superhusband who is coming home early to watch the girls and make supper for me while I work. How great is that?!?
4. I took the poodle, the gumball machine, and Galadriel out trick-or-treating last night, so I'm stocked with candy. That makes for a happy momma!
5&6. With Halloween over I'm looking square in the face of The Holidays and, for once, I'm prepared (even bought a couple gifts already!) and ready for the excitement. I'm thinking we'll have to hang the tree from the ceiling to keep Carmen from pulling it down repeatedly, but other than that I'm feeling pretty optimistic. And what great timing, this whole "green" movement, and recycling, saving the planet, etc . . . I have no money anyway, so when I give my niece my old jewelry box it's a recycled heirloom, not just cheap Auntie Jenn offloading household items on unsuspecting relatives! ;)
7. Tonight's the time change, so I get a extra hour of sleep! Yet another reason that life is good. That's assuming that I get to bed on time, though, so I'd better go finish my cleaning. That's a bit of a bummer . . . I'll just have to pop in the Carpenters CD while I clean . . . that makes everything better . . .
Cheers!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
School Daze
So it's September already - as if you didn't know that. Allison is in 1st grade, which means I've stepped into lunch-making world now. Yes, so my daughter who used to say that broccoli was her favorite is now whining for EasyMac. Is EasyMac even considered food?!? (Okay, sorry to all those of you who send your kids to school with EasyMac.) But seriously, what's the difference between eating sandwiches and fruits and veggies at school versus at home? She told me today she likes to have a warm up because she likes to be in the kitchen. However somehow I don't think she was meaning for me to send her with supper left overs from now on!
Carmen is *thisclose* to crawling. It's so fun to watch her try, yet I am kind of dreading the impending mobility. Time to get out the gate. And the vacuum. And the Heimlich Maneuver directions.
Meanwhile I'm keeping busy with cooking and cleaning. Yep, that's it - just cooking and cleaning. As soon as you're done with one it's time for the other, you know. Which is why tomorrow is so special. Tomorrow we leave the girls with the babysitter and head down to the Fremont Oktoberfest!!! Hooray for beer!!! Dozens of beers just waiting on tap for us to try. And this year, I'm not pregnant, so I can hold the little glass without fear of prosecution!
I'm feeling like a vacation is in order, so I've begun to count the days until our annual trip to the Sol Duc Hot Springs. (We're currently 22 days out.) I'm also going to stop by the doctor's office to see if there's a reason (other than being a wife and mother of 3) for my lack of enthusiasm. Doc is a naturopath, so maybe she can prescribe a special tea for me. Maybe something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRuNxHqwazs
Yeah, that would be good . . .
Carmen is *thisclose* to crawling. It's so fun to watch her try, yet I am kind of dreading the impending mobility. Time to get out the gate. And the vacuum. And the Heimlich Maneuver directions.
Meanwhile I'm keeping busy with cooking and cleaning. Yep, that's it - just cooking and cleaning. As soon as you're done with one it's time for the other, you know. Which is why tomorrow is so special. Tomorrow we leave the girls with the babysitter and head down to the Fremont Oktoberfest!!! Hooray for beer!!! Dozens of beers just waiting on tap for us to try. And this year, I'm not pregnant, so I can hold the little glass without fear of prosecution!
I'm feeling like a vacation is in order, so I've begun to count the days until our annual trip to the Sol Duc Hot Springs. (We're currently 22 days out.) I'm also going to stop by the doctor's office to see if there's a reason (other than being a wife and mother of 3) for my lack of enthusiasm. Doc is a naturopath, so maybe she can prescribe a special tea for me. Maybe something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRuNxHqwazs
Yeah, that would be good . . .
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Growing Pains
Today I was thinking back to being pregnant and taking a nap each afternoon. I miss those days. You know, you always read and hear, "Sleep when the baby sleeps". But realistically, that only applies to new moms or moms with housekeepers!! When in the world am I supposed to do the tasks that take two hands if I'm sleeping when Carmen is asleep?!? I suppose it would help if I weren't up until 11:00 every night, but it's not like I've been up watching TV or sitting twiddling my thumbs . . .
In other news, my garden is doing well. We've had two pretty solid weeks of great weather, and I must say that for the Seattle area, my corn is very impressive! One problem is that we have 4 zucchini plants. Yes, I did say 4 zucchini plants. I will be able to feed a small African country with the number of zucchinis I will have in about a month. And who in their right mind ever wants them when offered??? I mean if I were to offer strawberries they'd be gone in a flash, but you practically have to hide zucchini in people's belongings in order to get rid of them, because if they eat zucchini at all they probably planted one, and will soon have dozens of their own! We did have our first garden salad Tuesday, and that was delicious. Next will be carrots and peas, and then the peppers and tomatoes. . . yum!!
Tomorrow is my baby's last day of being 3. Okay, I know Carmen is my baby technically, but it hit me about 3 weeks ago that Marnie was about to turn 4, and I just kind of had a melt down. I've never been so sad about one of my children's milestones! They're always bittersweet, but the sweet usually wins out. Not this time. I'm really bummed about this, so tomorrow if I'm moping around just holding Marnie like she's an infant all day now you know why! Saturday dad is off work and we plan to head downtown. There are a couple parade/street fairs going on, and we have to pick up Great Grandma and Uncle Fritz from their cruise ship down on the waterfront, so that should be a good way to spend a birthday. The party is Sunday afternoon. We have plans for lots of playing in the sand and sprinkler, which are still Marnie's favorite activities.
I really need to get on an exercise schedule. But that's for another post. Good night! (As soon as I get the kitchen cleaned up . . .)
In other news, my garden is doing well. We've had two pretty solid weeks of great weather, and I must say that for the Seattle area, my corn is very impressive! One problem is that we have 4 zucchini plants. Yes, I did say 4 zucchini plants. I will be able to feed a small African country with the number of zucchinis I will have in about a month. And who in their right mind ever wants them when offered??? I mean if I were to offer strawberries they'd be gone in a flash, but you practically have to hide zucchini in people's belongings in order to get rid of them, because if they eat zucchini at all they probably planted one, and will soon have dozens of their own! We did have our first garden salad Tuesday, and that was delicious. Next will be carrots and peas, and then the peppers and tomatoes. . . yum!!
Tomorrow is my baby's last day of being 3. Okay, I know Carmen is my baby technically, but it hit me about 3 weeks ago that Marnie was about to turn 4, and I just kind of had a melt down. I've never been so sad about one of my children's milestones! They're always bittersweet, but the sweet usually wins out. Not this time. I'm really bummed about this, so tomorrow if I'm moping around just holding Marnie like she's an infant all day now you know why! Saturday dad is off work and we plan to head downtown. There are a couple parade/street fairs going on, and we have to pick up Great Grandma and Uncle Fritz from their cruise ship down on the waterfront, so that should be a good way to spend a birthday. The party is Sunday afternoon. We have plans for lots of playing in the sand and sprinkler, which are still Marnie's favorite activities.
I really need to get on an exercise schedule. But that's for another post. Good night! (As soon as I get the kitchen cleaned up . . .)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Back in the Saddle Again
I'm not sure how I am currently living the last few hours of June 2008, but it's true. A lot has happened since March, but I'm not sure I could tell you what it was!
Since we got home from our 2 1/2 week road trip to Jamestown, ND and Eau Claire, WI, I have begun the process of getting Carmen onto a schedule. I've got a spreadsheet and everything!! Making that was the easy part. The listening to her cry in her crib is the tough part. Now, I know, there are those of you who would never even think to let a 5 month-old-tomorrow baby cry it out instead of holding her until she drifts gently into dreamland, but you forget that I am not a good mother! So here we are on day 4 of soothe-yourself-to-sleep training. It's going okay, but it's unusually warm here, so she's not sleeping very well.
Other news in my life . . .
ummm . . .
I'm sure there's something else going on for me . . .
well, when I think of it, I'll get back to you! For now it's off to clean up the kitchen without waking up the tiny giant. Hope your June went well!
Since we got home from our 2 1/2 week road trip to Jamestown, ND and Eau Claire, WI, I have begun the process of getting Carmen onto a schedule. I've got a spreadsheet and everything!! Making that was the easy part. The listening to her cry in her crib is the tough part. Now, I know, there are those of you who would never even think to let a 5 month-old-tomorrow baby cry it out instead of holding her until she drifts gently into dreamland, but you forget that I am not a good mother! So here we are on day 4 of soothe-yourself-to-sleep training. It's going okay, but it's unusually warm here, so she's not sleeping very well.
Other news in my life . . .
ummm . . .
I'm sure there's something else going on for me . . .
well, when I think of it, I'll get back to you! For now it's off to clean up the kitchen without waking up the tiny giant. Hope your June went well!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Take One Down and Pass It Around
So we have the plague right now. Well, some of us do. Allison started it last Friday and is on the mend, but last night Marnie was running a temp. I'm just praying that Carmen avoids this bug, because it's a terrible cough and nighttime fever. I really don't need my 6 week old landing in the hospital!
You know, God may have made women with less physical stature and strength than men (usually), but we sure cornered the market on endurance! Until last night I hadn't slept in my own bed or for more than a two hour stretch for a full week. Yet each morning I get up and try to run my household. (Not that I've really been so good at that job this week, but still, I do my best!!) Caleb is a great help, don't think he's laying there sound asleep through it all or anything, but he can't feed the baby, and he's so busy and stressed right now with work that he doesn't wake as easily as I do. So I keep exercising my endurance by pressing on each day. Round two begins tonight with Marnie, I expect . . .
Spring feels like it's just waiting to pounce here in Lynnwood. I'm looking forward to getting my garden planted in the next week or so! The house just feels like a stagnant, congested box right now, so I'm itching to pull the plastic off the windows and begin a huge spring cleaning event. Should be interesting to see how much I can get done between feedings and naps with Carmen strapped in front of me in the Snuggly!!
As long as I'm not next in line for that cough, that is.
You know, God may have made women with less physical stature and strength than men (usually), but we sure cornered the market on endurance! Until last night I hadn't slept in my own bed or for more than a two hour stretch for a full week. Yet each morning I get up and try to run my household. (Not that I've really been so good at that job this week, but still, I do my best!!) Caleb is a great help, don't think he's laying there sound asleep through it all or anything, but he can't feed the baby, and he's so busy and stressed right now with work that he doesn't wake as easily as I do. So I keep exercising my endurance by pressing on each day. Round two begins tonight with Marnie, I expect . . .
Spring feels like it's just waiting to pounce here in Lynnwood. I'm looking forward to getting my garden planted in the next week or so! The house just feels like a stagnant, congested box right now, so I'm itching to pull the plastic off the windows and begin a huge spring cleaning event. Should be interesting to see how much I can get done between feedings and naps with Carmen strapped in front of me in the Snuggly!!
As long as I'm not next in line for that cough, that is.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Shopping is Best!
When my little sister was about 2 or 3 we taught her to say, "Shopping is best!" when she saw the Buffalo Mall out the car window. (Yes, the mall in Jamestown, ND is called the Buffalo Mall - what else from the city with the world's largest Buffalo?!?!)
Today I took the girls on an outing to Costco (at lunch time on a Saturday - am I crazy ?!?) and Babies R Us. We made it through Costco okay, but just as we sat down to our hotdogs, sure enough Carmen woke up hungry. So then I made the mistake of moving us out to the car so I could nurse Carmen. Ketchup and mustard held by a 3 year old is never a good idea!! We did escape with only minor staining, and thankfully neither glass of pop ended up upside down on the car seat or floor, so that was a triumph!
I lost Marnie at Babies R Us, which is actually a great place to lose a child because unlike in, say, Nordstrom, the people in this store understand just how slippery those little things are and you are not a bad parent for forgetting one in the diaper bag aisle! Thankfully my friend Karol works there and Marnie found her and was "Helping Abby's mommy clean up this mess".
Now that I'm on #3 (and still have no money) it's almost difficult to walk through Babies R Us and not stop every pregnant woman and say, "You really don't want to buy that brand new - there's this great consignment store over by Fred Meyer . . ." or "Have you checked Craigslist first???"
I did end up using a giftcard from my shower, but I'm keeping the tags on everything until I can check Goodwill and my consignment store, just one more time . . .
;)
Today I took the girls on an outing to Costco (at lunch time on a Saturday - am I crazy ?!?) and Babies R Us. We made it through Costco okay, but just as we sat down to our hotdogs, sure enough Carmen woke up hungry. So then I made the mistake of moving us out to the car so I could nurse Carmen. Ketchup and mustard held by a 3 year old is never a good idea!! We did escape with only minor staining, and thankfully neither glass of pop ended up upside down on the car seat or floor, so that was a triumph!
I lost Marnie at Babies R Us, which is actually a great place to lose a child because unlike in, say, Nordstrom, the people in this store understand just how slippery those little things are and you are not a bad parent for forgetting one in the diaper bag aisle! Thankfully my friend Karol works there and Marnie found her and was "Helping Abby's mommy clean up this mess".
Now that I'm on #3 (and still have no money) it's almost difficult to walk through Babies R Us and not stop every pregnant woman and say, "You really don't want to buy that brand new - there's this great consignment store over by Fred Meyer . . ." or "Have you checked Craigslist first???"
I did end up using a giftcard from my shower, but I'm keeping the tags on everything until I can check Goodwill and my consignment store, just one more time . . .
;)
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