Sunday, February 28, 2010

Visit to my past life


Today for a little while, I left the kids and the husband to fend for themselves as I went out to a bookstore. This is a bookstore the hubby and I used to frequent quite often, and I hadn't been there in sometime. In fact it's been about 3 years, or since before my kids were born. As I walked in, I saw the usual crowd leisurely reading their book of choice while slowly sipping a latte or some other overpriced coffee concoction. And I found myself thinking, "Wow, look at all those people with nothing more urgent to do." I also noticed that none of them looked like moms of small children. Why? Because moms of small children don't leisurely do anything.

Also, I used to just pick whatever book I wanted and not think about what it cost. Today, the book I was considering was only available in hardcover and it was $27.99. And I thought, almost 30 bucks? For a book I will read in 2-3 days? I don't think so. I will wait for the paperback. But, I am glad for that. I am glad I am forced to be more purposeful with where I spend my dollar. Beyond helping stick to a budget, it also makes me more insightful into what is important, and selecting carefully where my money goes.

Seeing these folks at the bookstore reminded me of the days BC where hubby and would really not have much of anything to do on the weekends except for go out to eat, see movies, and go piddle around bookstores. It seems a lifetime ago. Oddly enough, I did not feel a longing for this era of my life, rather, I find myself quite happy that even though finding "me time" is a lot harder than it used to be, and life is quite busy, that my life now is so much more fulfilling. Sure, the kids can make me want to pull my hair out sometimes, but they also bring indescribable joy.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

sauerkraut and liver pudding



These are two things I can't stand the smell of. And, unfortunately, my husband loves to eat them. Of course, those of you who know my husband knows he loves to eat, and try, just about anything. I like this about him. However, sometimes that good quality leads to me having a stinking house.
He does get bonus points today though. He bought
his pork and sauerkraut yesterday for his dinner tonight, and gave me some cash to go have fun on the town this evening so that I would have a night out, and would not have to smell his food. Very thoughtful of him. But, alas, Molly has a bit of a cold and is rather clingy so I don't feel good about leaving. And its very cold outside. I will probably get out and about tomorrow for a bit. Therefore, "enjoy" the smell of cabbage I will.

Friday, February 26, 2010

I love sleep

I love sleep and I can't enough of it.

So, it is Friday night. 8:49pm. And I think within the next few minutes, I am going to bed.

Molly for the last few weeks has been up every couple of hours. I think she might be going through a growth spurt. Let's hope so, because I can't take much more! The other night she decide it was time to party at 3am. And was up for about 45 minutes playing.

I better sleep while I can!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

storytime

We went to storytime this morning at our new local bookstore, Flyleaf books. The reader was great, very engaging. However, my son after about 10 minutes wanted to check out every book on the shelves. I think Molly listened to the stories more than he did. After storytime was over, I mistakingly thought I could look at a few books for a minute. In the meantime, Emmett located an Elmo sticker book and managed to peel out a sticker. Needless to say, I bought an Elmo sticker book today!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Coming Home

You know what I love? Coming home from work. I love pulling up in the driveway, parking my car, and looking through our all glass back door into the kitchen. I especially love it when Emmett has seen me pull up and comes running to open the door and says "Mommmmyyyy!" with a big smile. That never gets old.

No matter how my day was, it all goes away when you see your kids excited faces. And most days when I get home, my husband will be holding Molly and as soon as she sees me, she will start to make her baby squeals and do her excited wiggles. It really is heartwarming. I do wonder at what age they tend to stop doing that... I am not sure when that will be. So I will cherish it as I receive it now.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Lost

Lost is on. I don't have a DVR. So I must watch it. Blog will be written during commercial breaks.

My theory right now:
Jacob is not the good guy. Everyone he touched was led astray. But, in the flash sideways we see what would have happened if they were not touched by Jacob, and therefore made more positive choices in their lives. Basically, you can't change what happens to you, but you can change how you respond to it.

Ok, I'm back. Commercial.

What about Widmore? I am not sure what to think of that. And is there more to find out about Penny and Desmond? I think Jin is a "candidate" not Sun since Sun was the only one left on the second plane crash.

I am not sure to what to make of the "infected".... Claire, Sayid. Any ideas?

Monday, February 22, 2010

if you give a mouse a cookie... mom version

Saw this on another blog....love it!

If you give a mouse a cookie.....the mom version..
If you give a Mom toilet wand, she's going to want to clean the toilet. As she's cleaning the toilet she will find her daughter's dirty underwear secretly hidden in back. (Like I would never find it WAY back there!) The dirty underwear will remind her that she needs to switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

As she goes to throw away the lint from the dryer, she will notice that the garbage is full. She will want to take it out. As she's taking the garbage out, the phone will ring. She will answer it and find it to be a $##% Tele-marketer. Hearing the annoying recording will prompt her to Google the "Do Not Call List" on her computer.

Sitting in front of her computer will make her want to check her email. She might get carried away and also check on her friends' blogs...and their friends' blogs...and their friends' blogs.....

Time going by will make the sleeping baby upstairs wake up and want to be fed. Hearing the baby cry will shock Mom back into reality and make her realize she has been on the computer too long.

She will pick up the sweet baby and feed him. Feeding the baby will remind Mom that she is VERY thirsty, so she will probably ask for a big glass of water.....and chances are, if she drinks all that water....she is going to have to go to the bathroom!!....(didn't I start cleaning that darn toilet this morning!?)

The Duggars


Ok, another confession. I am intrigued by the Duggar family. At first, I wasn't sure why. I mean, they are NOTHING like me. But, yet, I found myself with respect for a lot of things, but also confusion and disbelief at other things. To start, here are some things I think the Duggars have right:
1. They try to be positive about every situation and not be judgemental about others.
2. They finanicially support themselves with no debt. I find this quite impressive.
3. They don't focus on material goods.
4. They buy used, and shop consignme
nt.
5. They are trying to be more eco-friendly
6. Ms. Duggar breastfeeds her babies.
7. They try to help one another as much as they can.
8. They teach their kids lots of skills such as music, cooking, sewing, gardening.

If every family did all, or even some, of these things, we'd be alot better off.
However, there are still some things I just don't really understand:
1. They don't allow their children much access to television and popular media. My question is, if your faith is so strong, why do you feel they need to shelter? If your faith is so strong, it should not be so easily disrupted by being exposed to differing opinions.
2. The girls do not wear pants. Why? Is there somewhere in the bible that says girls can't wear pants?
3. Is it really fair for the older girls to have to be mother to younger children since their are too many kids for the parents to parent themselves?
4. If the doctor said that being pregnant again would be jeopardizing to Michelle's health, would they still get pregnant? A woman with a history of that many pregnancies has a higher risk of hemorrhage.
5. The whole rationale that they use for not preventing pregnancy just doesn't make sense to me.

So, anyways, I say to each their own. And they do a good job at supporting themselves, both finanicially and emotionally. I would, however, love to know the REAL thoughts of some of their children. It would be very interesting to know if any of them will break away from their parents teaching as they grow up. Will any of them rebel and wear more revealing clothes, or go to college and learn more worldly ways? Will any of them reject religion? Will any of them be resentful of having to be a mommy in their childhood? It would be very interesting to know.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Coupons are awesome

Ok, sad confession. I love coupons.

No, I haven't always been this way. In fact, BC (before children) we not only didn't have a food budget, we really didn't even look at the price of items. I would have failed miserably at The Price is Right, because I just bought what we needed without giving any thought to cost. We spend a ridiculous amount on food for just the two of us. I will say that there were some perks to that. Lots of lovely imported cheeses, organic anything and everything, etc.

But, alas, the children entered our lives and so did a food budget. I am not complaining. It has actually made me realize how much money we wasted before. And the discovery of certain things like the fact that store bought granola is a complete racket. How easy is it to buy the oats and other ingredients and make it yourself? Tastes better, makes a lot more, and you save money!

But back to the topic at hand. Coupons. And what makes coupons fun? Super Double coupon week at Harris Teeter! They will double any coupon up to $1.98. Which means my $1.50 off coupon is
now worth $3 off! I truly enjoy watching my total decrease as they scan each coupon in . It even could be argued that my 3 foot long receipt is a badge of couponing honor. The best part is looking at the bottom of the receipt to see what has been saved. Today: saved $25 with VIC specials, and another $25 with coupons. Approximately 33% savings on total bill. Yes. I rock. Ok, maybe not, but I don't care, it makes me happy.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

pictures!

Today we took the kids to Portrait Innovations to get some photos made. And I want to give them some kudos. Not only did they put up with my kids, they are also clearly very well trained for what they do. They know how to relate to kids, and it seems clear to be that their training must include some child development as well. They know what to expect of each age group. I really like that.

And we got great pics! Who would have thought that as my baby was definitely experiencing stranger anxiety and only wanted to be held. She did not want to sit alone for photographs. And then my 3 year wanted to play with every prop they had in there. (We ended up with a picture of him with a hat on, which was not exactly part of the plan, but he looked cute none the less). Herding cats....

But anywho, we ended up with some really nice shots which made all the chaos worth it in the end.

Friday, February 19, 2010

2010: year of no fear


That is my goal. I am going to go full force with trying to achieve my goals without any fear. Expect success. Envision success. Believe.

What would you do if you could not fail?

I remember seeing this on a paperweight or something like that.

Next task: vision board.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Seriously? How has so much time passed?

So this May will be my college 15th reunion. Next year, my high school 20 year reunion. I can't fathom how that is possible. I really can't fathom how old that makes me! Where has the time gone?

On one hand, it all seems like yesterday. Looking back at photos, it doesn't seem like it was all that long ago that I hung out with those folks, and did those things.

But, on the other hand, lets be real about what was happening 15-20 years ago. No one had a cell phone. Most students didn't have a computer. When I entered college, everyone brought a typewriter with word processor built in. No one had heard of the internet. We wrote letters. With paper and ink, not email. So, yea, it was a while ago.

Would I ever have guessed back then that I would be doing what I am doing today? No way. Not that I have done anything particularly out there or strange, but my best predictions would not have even been close. Funny how that is. Funny how if I had my best guess about 20 years from now, I'll probably be pretty off. Even funnier is that through all of everything, through all of what happens in life, I find that we are generally the same people we were 20 years ago. And we'll probably be pretty much the same in another 20.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Why I love breastfeeding

It is the perfect food for my baby
It never runs out
It is always the perfect temperature
It soothes an upset baby
It gives me an opportunity to just sit and enjoy my baby
It puts my baby to sleep in the most calm way
My baby never has to wait to eat
When she wakes up at night, she can quickly go back to sleep with nursing
It provides me with that lovely calming oxytocin
It transfers my antibodies to my baby
Its how we reconnect after I get home from work
There are just so many reasons.....

Take a look at: http://www.promom.org/101/

Monday, February 15, 2010

Things I love about babies

-- sweet pudgy round bellies
-- the way they sometimes sleep with on their tummies with their bums up in the air
-- how their hair is all fuzzy and stands up on top of their heads when just dried after a bath
-- how they can laugh just because you change the tone in your voice
-- how you can entertain them by just providing them some tupperware
-- how they get that look on their face that says "what? who me?"
-- baby toes
-- that you can just stare at them sleep
-- every outfit just looks adorable
-- the smell of their head
-- how the remote control is infinitely more interesting than any toy
-- that just when you think you've "got them down" they go and change on you again

Molly is sleeping peacefully next to me as I type this, and every so often takes a deep breath and makes her little baby sounds. Don't you wonder what babies must dream about?

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Ok, so let's give this another try.


Yes, I know. My last post was a very long time ago. I am sorry! I know if I say I've been pretty busy would be a bit lame. But, I did have another child since my last post! And she is now 8 months old! Molly was born on June 1, 2009 and she has been a joy.

Needless to say, she has added to my perspective as a parent, and given me new insights I could not have had any other way.

I decided to come back and blog mainly to just have a outlet to talk about parenting issues, share interesting tidbits about the kids and what they are up to, and whatever else may rise to the surface. Stay tuned....