Sleepy Head

In honor of Christmas - my son is now 2 but he did spend his first Christmas in the hospital. 

Hola...

I feel as though my life has been overtaken by this horrible beast, better known as Spanish class. I have to confess that I do love the language, but the class (as any class near the end of the semester) has overtaken my life. I am eating, breathing, and sleeping spanish words and phrases because I have so many tests and quizzes coming up that I hope I'll do well with. As I wrote that last sentence, I knew I shouldn't end it with a preposition (one of my most hated rules) but I couldn't help myself - that was the best way for me to put it! ;)

Anyway, within one week (starting with yesterday) I had/have a verbal quiz, a song quiz, a test over ch. 10 and 11 AND a week and a half later I have the Spanish final. Am I worried about this? Not so much but I feel a lot like many individuals who work out of the home - overworked and underpaid.

All that said, I now must go get some homework done for Spanish along with my 3 other classes - two of which have been put on the back burner because of other more important things that are happening in my life right now - that's the phrase that no professor likes to see. At least I'm not talking about my English class...and I have to include that sentence in case Professor Blumner reads this post ;)

Sorry this post was so random - guess it just matches my life right now!

Screaming and Crying...

 As I sit here in my recliner, the sound of baby cries fills my head. I can't ignore the sound, I can't concentrate on anything but the sound. Why is it that before you have children you notice a baby's cry because it annoys and irritates you, but then once you are a parent you notice the cry because you know something is wrong and you are the one who has to make everything better. I am a parent but I must honestly say that I do not always feel like I have to fix what is wrong - sometimes it seems as though my baby cries just to cry. Almost as though he knows I am trying to relax (finally) after having a long day, but he doesn't want to allow me the time to relax and enjoy myself.

I start thinking back to what life was like before marriage and kids - it was peaceful, I was full of life, and I didn't feel like I was tied down so to speak. I love my boys and love my husband so please don't take me wrong but I think it's nearly impossible for me on nights like this to not remember what it was like when I was in high school, or even my first couple years in college.

I feel like tonight is my night to ramble so please bear with me. Ten minutes later and baby is still crying. Some people reading this might think, "What is wrong with you? Just go get the baby!" It's so much fun to hold someone else's baby, but it's so tiring to take care of your own. Is that wrong of me to say that? I guess these are just words from a tired and weary mom. My life was sailing along smoothly but the past few weeks have been full of speed bumps and obstacles. Now as I try to enjoy the calm seas for only a moment, the storm still rages in the other room and I can't ignore it (him).

Broken families...

How would you feel if your young child broke one of your most priceless items? Would you get angry? Would you try to fix the situation, and offer a solution or replacement for the broken item? We all would handle the situation in different ways. Some of us would become angry at the child and wonder why he was so careless. Others would be more sympathetic and realize the child was sad because they upset you and their one desire was to please you.

The broken item for me is not actually an item, but rather a family. It is a family that has always been near and dear to my heart - with four kids in the picture, there is not just one broken thing but several. Broken hearts, broken home, broken trust...and the list goes on. Much like the child that is sad when he breaks your special item, when a marriage is broken children feel as though they were the ones who broke it. Those kids look into your eyes and try to figure out if you are going to scold them or try to fix what they destroyed.

I could rant and rave about how angry I am with specific people in this situation, or I could step up and love the children that are broken and hurting.

So, what does this have to do with being a busy mom? Along with leading a busy life there are always obstacles thrown in my way. Have you ever been driving down the street on a windy day and suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, you see a trash can hurtling towards your car. You swerve to miss the trash can but it hits the car anyway, leaving a noticeable dent on the side of the car door. That is how this situation has been for me - the trash can (the divorce) was thrown in my path and now a visual dent is shown all over my face.

Writer's note - I am not the one going through the divorce.

Sleepy Head

Sleepy Head...

Teething Ring

My toddler has always been mischievous, but the other day he definitely put the icing on the cake!

I was working on some business stuff, when my son walked in my bedroom. He had a strange look on his face, and I could tell there was something in his mouth. So, I quickly asked him what it was that he had. I was pretty sure it was something he didn't need or knew he wasn't supposed to have.

He held his hand up to his mouth and spit it out. It was a ring... but not just any ring...it was my "wrap it up" ring. This is a large ring that I sell from Premier Designs and has several pieces that all look like they're wrapped around each other - it's indeed just one ring though that looks like several different rings pieced together. So, I punished him because he knows he isn't supposed to play with (or chew on) my jewelry.

When he was younger, I made the mistake of letting him play with my jewelry because I thought it was so cute when he would put my bracelets or necklaces on and say, "preeey." It's still cute but he has to learn what he can touch and can't touch. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes after being punished and said, "mama...arm....arm." As he pointed to his arm, I thought maybe he had done something to hurt his arm...but as I pulled his sleeve back there was my watch! I then understood that he was trying to communicate with me that he knew he wasn't supposed to have it on and he was willing to take it off.

All this to say, my ring now has teeth marks in it which unfortunately isn't covered under the company's guarantee. But, I think he now understands that he needs to leave mama's stuff alone. Here's hopin' ;)

Sleepy Head

Although this is my typical post on Mondays, I realize I missed my deadline this week and I do apologize to the few faithful on my blog! To make up for it, I put a video on instead of a picture.

Interactive cartoons...

So, I must admit that I am one of those parents who allows her toddler to watch television from time to time. The last time my son was at the doctor's office, we were told not to let him watch any television. I would definitely be able to do that if I wasn't a full-time student, and running my own business. I do put a limit on how much time he watches the t.v. and typically try to make sure the shows are good for him!

In fact, while I am typing this blog entry, he is currently watching "Little Einsteins" and I can hear him counting right along with the characters in the cartoon - "one, two, three...four"...and it's impressive to me that he's not even 2 yet and he already knows how to count to ten.

I have never seen a young child who interacts so well with these cartoons that are specifically aimed at toddlers. I think it's adorable when he plays along with the show but I have yet to catch it on video. His favorite cartoon so far is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and while he watches this show, he gets a kick out of EVERYTHING! At the beginning of the show, there is a song that he sings along to and dances to. At the end, there is a song and he once again sings (well, more like yells) and dances to the song then at the end of every show he says "BYE" to Mickey as he disappears from the screen. But, perhaps the cutest thing about him watching shows is when the character asks if they should do something. For example, he was watching Mickey 2 days ago, and Mickey says "Should we help Minnie?" And my son yells out as loudly as he can, "NO!!!" I could not stop laughing...I guess as a parent, it's funny but you may not find it as funny without kids...it would be funnier if I could catch it on video too!

So, while I go about with my busy schedule, my son enjoys singing, dancing, and counting...what's wrong with that?? ;)

Ink laptop

No I did not miss the "p" in my title. It's true, ink does NOT belong on laptops, although I don't think it does any serious damage. In the midst of my busy life, I often come across various messes that my son has made - this is HALF the reason I am always so busy!!! One mess I recently cleaned up was eyeliner on the walls in the hallway - yes my 2 year old had wandered into the bathroom, stolen some of my eyeliner, and decided it would make BEAUTIFUL artwork all over our apartment walls. If you have kids and have had this issue, if anyone ever told you to make your child clean the mess up and that would be punishment enough, this isn't always true. But, that's another story for another day.

I was on a business call for about a half hour and had been busily washing the dishes - after two days of not doing them, they had really started to pile up and I could no longer ignore them, or attempt to. I hung up the phone and a thought crossed my mind, "boy my 2 year old has been VERY quiet." Any parent who has experienced this knows that what comes next will only be trouble - a toddler is rarely quiet unless they're getting into some kind of mischief.

I look toward the hallway and here comes my child, complete with black hands and I knew immediately what he had gotten in to. ALL my business supplies are in my bedroom (which is where my computer desk is) and he had found my business stamp and stamped EVERYWHERE. I went to the bedroom, and where my once white laptop had been setting, there was now a black and white speckled laptop. The keys were all black instead of white, my papers on my desk had been stamped and now all said "Lorry Traver Premier Designs Jeweler." What a way to CONTINUE my busy day! I definitely had to walk away for a minute so I didn't get too upset!

But, to my surprise it came off so easy. I grabbed a couple wet wipes, and got the laptop cleaned off. Of course my son had to stand with his nose on the wall, a form of punishment I borrowed from my sisters - it typically works unless your toddler is good at quietly making an escape. He did that a couple times and thought he was hilarious!!

All in all, today was a reminder that if I can't handle a toddler and a baby, it's a good thing I can't get pregnant again!! Life is too busy to add anything else - but I would never trade my boys in for the world! They are my pride and joy and even though I was slightly upset about the ink incident today, I do have to admit that it was pretty funny to see his artwork; his creativity was shining through!

Sleepy Head...

Sleepy Head

No naps for you 2

Anyone have any advice for how to get a twenty-one month old to take a nap? Recently my son has decided he no longer needs naps but if I give in and let him stay up instead of taking a nap, by time 5:00 rolls around, he is a holy terror. I know many kids go through this stage so I was just curious if anyone had gone through something similar.

My husband and I have reached our whit's end and no longer know what to do. We've tried taking all his toys out of his room so he would have no distractions. But, now he climbs into his brother's crib and plays with the mobile (the mobile is various sports balls). This isn't anything to be too concerned about yet since his brother still sleeps in his bassinet in my bedroom, but once Ethan (the baby) starts sleeping in his crib, I don't want my oldest son to just crawl in whenever he wants.

We have also tried punishment - if you get out of bed, you will get in trouble. But, he must be hard-headed because even that doesn't even phase him. I think he gets that from me because I have always been known to do things when other people don't want me to do so. It's almost as though Austin (my oldest) knows that if he hollers for us long enough, we'll just give in and he won't be punished for disobeying.

And now, an hour after he was put to bed, he is still hollering "mama" and occasionally "daddy" in hopes we'll change our minds about him taking a nap and go get him out of bed.  So, once again I ask...any creative ideas that we haven't already tried before?

Couch exerciser...

I have been trying P90X for the past few weeks now, and it seems to be helping my overall energy level, health level, and self-esteem. In order to get my full workout in, I have to make sure I get up early (around 6 or 7) before my 2 year old gets up. Some mornings I fail at getting up early depending on what time I got to bed and how tired I am. Today was one of those days. Right when I turned my workout DVD on, I heard my son knocking on his bedroom door (he hasn't learned how to open it yet), yelling "MAMA!" My husband typically doesn't sleep well at night so of course I ran to his door and let him out of his room, even though I knew this meant my workout would prove difficult.

I was right! Upon walking out to the living room, my son (Austin) started asking me if he could watch "Tom," otherwise known as Thomas the Tank Engine. With my response being no, he wasn't too happy and proceeded to spill all his cheerios out onto the floor, the same floor I was attempting to do stretches and push-ups on.

I then had to pause the DVD, get my son to pick up all his cereal, then get my mindset right again to make sure I did a good job in my workout. After it had been quiet for a while, I had been so concentrated on the DVD that I had forgotten to watch what my son was doing. I looked over and there he was, drinking his whole milk, eating his cheerios, laying on his belly watching the workout on the television! Oh how similar this is to many individuals - in fact, when posting this story on Facebook, one of my friends admitted that he does this all the time! I just thought it was funny that my son did this, and yet ironic at the same time.

I forgot to mention he did attempt to workout with me - he tried to do "arm circles" which was so cute!

The Swingin’ Kids

            Imagine yourself as a new parent standing in the baby section at your local store. You are amazed at the wide variety of swings – ones that are electric, ones that play a large variety of music, and some that even have the option of swinging front-to-back or side-to-side. As you stare at the huge selection, you feel a headache coming on. Before you know it, you are walking out the store and going home to do more research before returning to that wretched aisle. That was me almost three years ago. But instead of doing more research I simply went online, found a swing that had a couple details I desired (being electric and having a mobile), and purchased the first one I found. That particular swing was the Fisher Price Power-Plus Swing. The options for baby swings are endless and the price range for these swings can be anywhere between $70 and $200 on www.babiesrus.com.   

            While this particular swing model is no longer available, there are still several Fisher Price Power-Plus swings available for purchase on Amazon.com, though the price tag is slightly higher at $180. The model I have is a budget-friendly, easy-to-assemble, and easy-to-operate swing. With a price tag of under $80 and having the option of either running off batteries or being plugged in to any electric outlet, I was sold. When I received the swing in the mail, it came pre-assembled and all I had to do was click the metal arms together, click the seat arms onto the base, and attach the side cloth panels. Within minutes I was done assembling and I never had to use a tool. Without reading the handbook, I was quickly able to figure out how the swing operated – there was a lever for speed control that went from one to six, there was a volume lever for “soft” music or “loud” music, and there was a switch for electric power or battery-power.

            New parents may not think about this but imagine with me for one moment if you would. Your baby is sleeping soundly, being rocked to the sound of a lullaby when suddenly the baby opens his eyes, pukes all over the swing, and resumes sleeping. If you didn’t do research before purchasing the swing, now you face the big question, “How do I get that stain out?” The Fisher Price swing has an adorable blue and brown fabric but the biggest area where baby sits is beige. After a few uses, the seat looks disgusting; I would much rather purchase a swing with a darker color fabric. But perhaps you are one of the lucky parents whose child does not throw up often or at all, you still want to consider color of fabric because you never know when your baby’s diaper will leak and create stains on the fabric. If you can see yourself in either scenario but don’t want to bother finding a swing with a darker fabric, rest assured that the seat cover does come off easily for continuous washing if necessary.

            One of the biggest selling points for any swing is the time it allows parents to get a break from holding baby. While some babies don’t require noise or music to fall asleep, it seems to help lull most babies to sleep. This particular swing offers a volume control as mentioned previously, and plays 4 lullabies in a loop. With the volume control, not only is baby still lulled to sleep with the quiet music, but the parents are able to sleep without having lullabies go through their dreams. I do appreciate the music option that comes with this swing, but sometimes the motor and the clicking of the swing back and forth can be slightly irritating.

            Along with the music, there are a couple accessories on this swing that make it more appealing. There is a mobile that can swing behind the seat making it easier to lift baby out without hitting his head on anything. The problem I have with the mobile is that it doesn’t move in a circular motion like most. The other option is the two pieces of fabric that are attached to the sides of the swing. These are used to cover the bolts to make the metal bars smoother in case baby bumps against it when learning to walk. There are pockets on the sides of the fabric so you can place items there for easy access such as spit-cloths, or pacifiers. These pieces of fabric velcro into place; if you have a single-child home this isn’t an issue but if you have a toddler running around, he will constantly tear these pieces off. This option would be more appealing for me as a mom of a baby and a toddler if it had snaps instead.

            Now that I have told you all the little details about the swing, I am sure every parent would like to know how safe this swing will be for your little one. I found a review on Amazon.com from someone who purchased this swing whose username is Emm “Emm” and she writes, “...it has safety features which stop the swing if anything (like baby’s arm) gets outside it…It is nice to know that baby is safe…It will also stop if she leans forward as if to fall out and I like that – the stopping usually pushes her back gently.” Out of all the features mentioned above, the most important is safety and if I know there are a few minor flaws in a swing but it’s overall safety is high, I will purchase that particular swing.

            I believe in this swing as I have used it for both my children and they have loved it. If I ever needed a break, I knew I could place baby in this swing and rest assured I would have a couple hours of peace and quiet. I love the safety features as stated above, and I definitely like the price tag on this item. There is an old saying, “you get what you pay for,” and it’s so true. This is not a poorly constructed item for the money you are paying - if you want a swing that would resemble a BMW for baby, this is not the one. But, if you want a swing that will not let you down, that baby enjoys, and that fits your budget, then say hello to the Fisher Price Power-Plus Swing!  

Sleepy Head

Crossroads...

Lately it seems as though I'm letting most things fall by the wayside as I try to figure out what is TRULY important in my life. I have been so busy that I feel as though I barely get any time with my boys. And, while I cherish every moment I have with them, they grow up too fast not to push other things to the side so I can have more precious time with them.

Instead of working on homework, every professor's nightmare, I opted to take my son to Crossroads with my husband, a friend of ours, and his nephew. It was a beautiful night for trick-or-treating and I was so excited to see how my two year old would react to the train. So many things in life he still hasn't experienced and it's so enjoyable as a parent to see what he does and doesn't like.

We (my husband and I) figured he would enjoy the ride because he loves trains so much - but boy we were wrong. He had a rough time at first, and after a while he started falling asleep, which I've learned is what he does when he gets real scared. It's his way of trying to relax...but we kept him awake because we knew if he gave it another chance, he would enjoy it. And, he did...they started playing music which helped him get a little more excited and he started getting used to the back and forth motion of the train.

It was such fun to get away from life for a while...until I got home and had homework staring at me, wondering why I put it off for so long. ;)

Surprise!

On Monday afternoon my husband told me "find a sitter for Tuesday and Wednesday because we're going away." I was so excited to have a surprise but had no idea who would be willing to watch my kids. I got on the phone and started calling friends and family. The second call I made, I was in luck - we had a sitter all lined up and I was finally going to get an overnight vacation from the kids, the first one since Ethan was born (3 months ago). Tuesday morning we got a call and our sitter was sick. That morning I called two sisters and a few friends, all with the same response "I'm too busy." So, even though we were desperate for a night away without the kids, we had no choice but to take them with us. After all, we already had reservations at a hotel - by this point my husband told me the trip was to Mackinac city. One of the places I'd been wanting to go to ever since we got married 2 1/2 years ago.

We climbed in the car Tuesday afternoon after quickly packing once I got home from school, and by 5:30 we were in Mackinac. I was excited for the next day when we'd go out and do a few things (and hopefully visit the island) but was not looking forward to spending the night in a hotel with a 3 month old and a 22 month old. Needless to say, it was pure torture. If you need birth control of a different variety, that was it for sure! My husband and I had already decided no more kids, but that definitely made the decision even more definite!

At least we got the chance to get away for a while, even if it was with the kids. As my sister said, God knew they would go with us before we knew we'd take the trip. I don't always like it when people tell me that, and this was definitely one of those times.

Sleepy Head

My youngest son during his stay in NICU this summer

Four hours of silence...

As a teenager, I never wanted quiet. I would pace the house looking for something to do so that I didn't have to worry about there being any quiet. Or I would call a friend or two and have them come over to stay for a while. Growing up, I never liked silence - it always bothered me so much.

A few weeks ago in the beginning of class, we had one minute of silence - while many people squirmed in their chairs, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Most people may think I'm crazy...but the reason is because I have two small children at home so having a moment of silence doesn't come real often. In fact, I found it hard to stay awake in that one moment of peace simply because those moments are so few and far between.

That one minute of silence reminded me of all those times growing up when I did all I could to keep the world around me noisy and as full of life as possible. While I love my children and enjoy having the noise around, now I yearn for a few moments of silence. Today, my wish was granted and my husband went to visit his folks - he took the boys with him which was a huge relief for me. I got a lot of homework done, some housework done, and even started working ahead on some assignments. Some may say I'm an over-achiever - I don't think so. I think I'm just smart and take advantage of the quiet moments when I can so I can get as much homework done as possible.

While I enjoyed the four hours of silence, I was glad to have the boys back home. Even though it's tiring and stressful to constantly have young children crying, or whining there are always moments that make it all worth while. And, when I'm old and gray I will yearn for the noise as I did when I was a teenager.

My balding two year old...

This evening, after being exhausted from my long week, I mentioned to my husband that our son needed a haircut. He didn't look too shaggy yet so I wasn't too worried about it getting done right away, but evidently he decided he wanted to take it upon himself to make sure his hair was cut.

While preparing brownies to go into the oven, my husband came walking out of the bathroom (which was where he and my son had disappeared to) laughing hysterically and the first thing he said to me was, "You've GOT to come see your son...you are going to laugh SO hard! This is hilarious!" At this I KNEW he had done something to the poor boy's hair, but nothing could have prepared me for what came next.

I walked into the bathroom and there sat my son with a big smile on his face, not knowing what his dad had done. His hair on the sides looked like it hadn't been cut, but the ENTIRE top of his head was shaved completely bald. I wanted to be mad but I couldn't help but laugh - it was like seeing my son in the future...lol. 

My husband completed the hair cut and I kept reminding myself that his hair WILL grow back...he may not look real great right now but it was a much-needed laugh for both my husband and I...and my husband had fun and it did no harm....and it's not too often I can just let go of things and not let so much bother me!

Mother of 5

Boy am I glad I don't have five kids!!! My sister had an emergency arise, and I am now responsible for her 3 children for the afternoon. It's amazing how much you do NOT get done when there are kids running around a small 2 bedroom apartment!

As my oldest runs around, playing with his toys, I realize out of all 5 of the kids, he is the loudest and most out of control. He doesn't see his cousins much and loves it whenever he gets a "surprise" visit from them! Oh how I wish I wasn't so busy so I could take the time to go visit his cousins - after all he has 25 of them! Of course, I would have to visit Texas, Oklahoma, and two cities in North Carolina in order for him to see all of them. Half of them he's never met and probably when he does meet them, will never get to know them because they aren't around enough for him to do so.

But, back to the business at hand..I thought having 2 kids in diapers was hard...try having 3 kids in diapers, one who is a chatter-box (which I LOVE most the time), and one who just sits on the couch the entire time as though sulking about the fact that her parents aren't around.

I'm a busy mom but never too busy to help out my family...hopefully this is a good lesson for some!

Sleepy Head

Nothing better than being all cuddly and warm

on a blustery, fall day! This picture was taken

2 years ago.

Not too busy to laugh...

Sleepy Head

All cozy and warm...what more could you 

ask for? (This is once again my oldest

son as a baby).

Fun fall activity

Today I decided to take some time for myself, something that has become a stranger to me, and spend some quality time with an old high school friend of mine. Neither of us had ever been to a corn maze so we thought we'd check it out and see what all the fuss was about. After talking back and forth about where the closest corn maze to us would be, a friend of mine suggested through Facebook that we go to the one in Clio. I had completely forgotten that the Elf Khurafeh group (pronounced Elf Kurafuh...and yes, I asked) constructed a corn maze every year.

Upon arriving, I was SO shocked to see only a couple other cars in the parking lot aside from the one my friend and I had come in. Most of the cars that were there belonged to the gentlemen who were running the maze. Everyone there was so friendly and explained everything to us...the confusion must have been written ALL over our faces! After paying the admission fee, we started through the corn (after being warned to watch out for deer and raccoons)...several laughing fits, short-cuts (cheating), and trying to figure out just exactly WHERE we were on the map, we found our way out.

It was a fun time and both my friend and I could not believe it wasn't busier than that, especially on a Saturday. If you're looking for a fun time out, even if your busy life can only afford a half hour, head out to the corn maze with some friends and enjoy yourself. There is one side that took us a little over an hour, and the other side took us about 30 minutes. I was so glad to be a "normal" person again, and not just someone's mom (although I love that part of my life).

Feel the burn...

So, on top of ALL the other things I have crowded my days with, I decided it's time for me to get myself back in shape. I always complain about "the bulge" but I've never taken the time or put in the effort to get rid of it. So, I have entered the wide (and painful) world of P90X. I couldn't be happier with this decision but now that I'm on day 3, I must say I am a little leery of what comes next! I am not in pain but in a LOT of discomfort so I know I must be doing something right. You know it's a VERY good workout when the day after working on your legs, you can barely sit down because it hurts so much.

So, where does this fit in with being a busy mom? Well, in order for me to accomplish my daily tasks I need to gain extra energy - my hope and belief is that once I have done this workout for a while, I will feel so revitalized and ready to tackle the day's tasks with ease. And, as hard as it is for me to keep up with my toddler and my 3 month old, once I am more physically fit maybe I'll be running laps around HIM instead of vice versa!

As I venture into this wide world, I would love to know if anyone has ever tried this program OR if they knew (or know) someone who did it and had great success. I know someone who worked at Taco Bell and when he started he was kinda pudgy - by the end, he was ripped. Not that I want to be ripped since I'm a girl...but I want to hear those stories! :)

My day off...

As a busy mom, typically my day off never ends up being a day off. I thought I would run through a typical "day off" for a mom - just to give you a better idea!

Today, I woke up at 8:00 AM to a 2 month old crying because he was hungry. I very groggily placed my feet over the bed, got up and stumbled to the kitchen where I proceeded to search for a clean bottle. After successfully retrieving the clean bottle, I put the water and formula in, shook, and returned to my bedroom to feed my son. After he finished the bottle, I was able to put him back to bed but it was now time for me to get my day started. So, I went to the bathroom, took a shower, did the necessary rituals that most women do every morning, and then got ready to go visit my parents. 

I miss the day when going to see someone meant throwing my shoes on and walking out the door. Now, I search for the diaper bag, fill it with necessary items (diapers, wet wipes, extra clothes, socks, diaper rash cream, etc.) THEN proceed to change both boys to make sure they don't leak before I am able to change them again. After both boys are changed and clean, I put baby in his car seat, put shoes on my toddler...at which time I forget where I put the diaper bag - then ensues the search for my car keys. After finding all missing items, we start out the door only to have my toddler declare "truck" because he wants to bring his construction truck WHEREVER he goes!

Once out the door, it's now the crazy battle of getting my toddler to follow me (like a duck) while I carry my purse, their diaper bag, and the infant car seat. I "click" the car seat in the car then turn around only to have what seems to be a heart attack when my toddler is not directly behind me. I look over just in time to see him jump in a muddy puddle, and I sigh deep because I know now I should bring him back inside, change him, and clean him - but I decide it's not that important to clean him off right now. Then, we go to my parents' and stay a while. Once we leave, my son gets right in the car and is ready for whatever adventure may come next.

I said I'd let you know how my typical day off goes - but that's just the beginning!!!

Sleepy Head

Every Monday I will post a photo of one of my boys sleeping - there are some funny ones, some cute ones, and even some boring ones that I'll throw in there! So, look for these photos EVERY Monday. The reason I'm putting on pictures of my kids sleeping is because Monday is definitely a day that most people wish they could just stay in bed, curled up in a ball, because the weekend flew by once again. Also, as a busy-bee mom, it's always important to remind myself to get as much rest as my kids do...or at least try! :)

This is a photo of my oldest son when 

he was first born. He was SUCH a sleepy

head!

What a rainy day...

As I peer out my apartment window and see the rain pouring down, I can't help but think "Man, my hair is going to get so messed up when I go outside," which to most of you will probably seem very petty. It has always been something my husband just does not understand – who cares what other people think? It’s true, who does care, except I am quickly reminded that I am one who does care. My mind goes back to the thought of being drenched by the rain. But, then I quickly remember that in the busy-ness of this week I did manage to purchase a couple umbrellas for just such a day as this. Not just any umbrellas – the kind of umbrellas that open and close with a simple push of the button. And, these are not your ordinary umbrellas – one is zebra print (SO fun) and one is leopard print! So, why did I purchase two of them? Well, the nice side of me may answer “One for me and one for my husband,” but that’s not true. I purchased two because in the chaos of my life I lose everything. I don’t have high hopes that either of these umbrellas will last longer than two weeks before being lost and perhaps found by someone who needs them more than I.

Why does it matter if I get a little wet? Well, typically I LOVE the smell of rain, love to jump in puddles and act like a child again, love to just stand in the rain and soak it all in (pardon the pun). But, today is yet another busy day for me - I've spent the morning preparing for a jewelry home show and around 3:45 I will leave and venture out into the wall of rain to be the glamorous jewelry lady I know will be appreciated. And, who would ever purchase jewelry from someone who doesn't have it all together? Oh if they only knew!!!

Burned Out Like Burnt Rubber...

In the Winnie the Pooh cartoon, it seems as though life is against Eeyore - every time he gets his house built to his liking, something makes it fall down. Whether that something is Roo (while trying to help Eeyore fix the house), the wind (on a blustery day), or a small butterfly. It's interesting how the creator of this cartoon and the writer of the episodes makes the "house" fall down because of something small.

Isn't this so true in our lives? Just yesterday my boys (ages 20 months and 2 months) were in the car when a vehicle driving in the opposite direction decided to turn left in front of me. I am not sure if they just didn't see my bright orange Avenger, or if maybe they were just preoccupied with something more important like texting on the telephone or eating their lunch, or maybe even brushing their teeth on the way to their significant other's house. I was so shaken after this event and had to pull over to regain my composure. As I turned around to make sure my boys were okay, I was relieved to see they were both sound asleep - I didn't cuss at the driver of the other vehicle but now that I know I could have, I wish I would have! Now, why do I tell you about this incident? Because it took something small like a VERY close call to make me open my eyes. I have been running around ragged trying to please myself, trying to please my husband, and trying to please others (even strangers) but this small almost-accident made me snap back and made me realize what is truly important in my life. Not only did this scary encounter make me snap back, but also helped me realize that I can never let my guard down especially when my boys are with me - I have to continuously be aware of my surroundings and always try to keep them safe, a mother's instinct.

My boys are the heart and soul of my life and always will be. When I realized that someone was going to hurt my boys, on accident or not, I became defensive like a mother bear with her cubs. Though as I said earlier I did not swear at this driver, I became very tense - somewhat like an angry street cat. Once the moment was over, I thanked my maker for keeping us safe. But, mostly I thanked him for giving me a reality check and making me realize that though I may be a busy bee, life's too precious to sweat the small stuff.

Sure, it's important to not sweat the small stuff and maybe that's why Eeyore is so persistent in fixing his house day after day. He may be gloomy all the time, "if this is a good day, which I doubt," but he's got one thing going for him - he knows what's important (having a roof over his head) and he has one focus and that's on his house...which others may see as just a big pile of sticks. I think we could all learn something from Eeyore!