Blogger Lockout??

I'm not sure if this will even post... I've tried so many times. It's almost like I'm locked out of the blog-o-sphere, but I'm trying. I know it's been a long, long time, but I am getting the blogging itch and I have so many new ideas for my little cottage here on the net. I think you'll enjoy it, so please come back soon. The Cottage is getting a make-over!

Martha Stewart Fans

Let the countdown begin! The new season of the Emmy-winning series, The Martha Stewart Show, will premiere on September 26t h on Hallmark Channel, and to gear up for the exciting season, Martha is launching an “Ultimate Fan” sweepstakes exclusively on Facebook starting today.

One grand prize winner will receive a one-of-a-kind Martha Stewart fan experience, including a trip for two to see The Martha Stewart Show LIVE in New York City, round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations, courtesy of Delta Vacations, lunch for two at one of Martha’s favorite BBQ restaurants, Hill Country, and two complimentary facials at Mario Badescu Skin Care Salon.

To enter, go to the Martha Stewart Facebook Fan Page located at Facebook.com/marthastewart between now and September 26th, select the Sweepstakes tab, “Like” us at the top of the page if you are not already a Fan, and complete and submit the Official Entry Form.

All entrants must be 18 years or older, and entries are limited to one per person. For additional official rules please visit http://www.marthastewart.com/412911/marthas-ultimate-fan-sweepstakes-official-rules. In the meantime, check out www.marthastewart.com for great end-of-summer recipes, craft projects for the whole family and more.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week

Click to learn more: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

Summer Rundown

We are having an uneventful, but fun summer. No big vacation plans, but I am enjoying the downtime knowing that this fall I will be busy working again. Lots of thought and prayers going into where we will be and what we will be doing. Big changes, maybe. But change is good, right? I'm just enjoying now!

Baby T had his 2nd birthday. I am such a bad blogging mama... no big post about how I couldn't handle the day or how sad I am that he's getting so big. No post with his newborn picture and a recap of his birth. Yeah, kind of over that. (At least today.) I'm excited that he's growing up. It's fun to watch him do all the different things he's doing every day and learning all the new things he's learning. I'm enjoying 2. Still sort of a "baby" but becoming a "big boy". It won't be like this forever. Best of both worlds. Stand still, time!

We took him to the zoo (just like last year) and I hope we can make it a tradition. (At least until he's too old to enjoy it. Or too old to admit it.) We had his party the next evening at the park. There were close to fifty people there. It was almost too much for him. We opened a few gifts there until he got interested in something else, opened more the next day, more the next day and to be very honest, I think there are still a couple of things in my office that he still hasn't played with yet. The child is not deprived.

His newest interest... Cars. Not the toys. The movie. We watch that about 2-3 times a day. Ka-chow! He calls it "go car go". Wonder if we should try and take him to see "Go Car Go 2"? I'm sure he'd do ok in the theater, but we have the popcorn issue... he is still too little to have it and I HAVE TO have it. You can't go to the movies without getting popcorn. I think that's a law? His father and I have discussed this and we came to the conclusion that we could both take him... one of us could sit with him (without popcorn) while the other was a few rows away (with popcorn). Then, we'd switch half way through the movie. Or, we could sneek in the puffy, no kernel kind and mix it in the tub o'corn and let him think he's having what we're having (that was my idea, cause I'm a tricky mom like that). It's so hard raising kids today! These situations keep me up at night. Obama is so lucky he just has that little "debt ceiling" thing to worry about. His girls are old enough to get popcorn at the movies.

T1 is busy doing his usual thing. Computer, shopping, cars... He's getting more interested in driving. I see drivers ed in his future. BUT, not until he starts wearing his glasses more. How DO you get your teenager to wear their glasses? Duct tape?

T2 has a summer job. He mows my father's church lawn. Hey, it pays good and he loves to mow. I think next year he might try to find more mowing jobs. He's so good at it, too! He's been spending most of his summer at my parents' house and although I miss him, he's having a blast. And isn't that what being 14 is all about?! He has a bunch of friends around his age in their neighborhood and they all ride bikes, play basketball, go swimming and explore the creek.

Me... Well, my goal was to have a decent tan by now. Uh, nope. I had planned to have a set workout routine at the Y. Nope. Oh I know, I was busy getting the house and my new office organized. Wait, another NOPE. I really can't tell you what I've gotten accomplished because it seems like this summer my mind has been foggy and I've just been doing the basic "mom" things. Cleaning, laundry, fixing meals, watching my toddler while making my teens happy, finding time for sleep... ya know just little stuff like that. I did get my hair colored last week. And it actually turned out. It's actually as light as I wanted it. That never happens. Guess I shouldn't ask for any more this week. Or month.

Don't get me wrong, I am truly thankful for all I have. I don't need much. However, I will admit I am a little envious of all my friends who are taking summer vacations. But then I think about how we are planning another trip to Florida soon and then, while my friends are here freezing in the Indiana cold, I'll be nice and warm in sunny Florida. If I want sunshine now, all I have to do is step out on my back porch.

Happy Summer!

Mother's Day 2011

And It's May

Yesterday Baby T turned 23 months old and I realized this is the last month that I'll say his age in months. And I wanted to cry but I didn't. Although when we went to pick his Easter pictures up at JCP on Saturday, there was a newborn getting his picture taken and when I saw that little ball of naked cuteness laying all curled up, I got teary. And I'm sure Baby T's dad thought I was crazy, but it was so sweet and such a reminder that by BABY T is not really a baby anymore. And he's been proving that daily by letting us know when he "pee pees" and going to the bathroom and touching the potty. He won't sit on it yet, but he'll tell everyone in the house who's in the bathroom and what they're doing. For instance, if I'm in the bathroom, he let's everyone know "Mama, pee pee! Mama, pee pee!" I can't say getting him potty trained would hurt my feelings.

Our weather has been so crazy. Hot, cold, nice, stormy... a little mix of everything. As long as there's no snow or freezing temps, you won't hear me complain.

I have to go to the dentist this month. NOT looking forward to it. I've already told the receptionist that I will be the biggest anxiety filled baby that office has ever seen. She was very nice and told me that I would be fine and if I needed her, she'd even hold my hand. I kind of laughed at her "joke" and then she told me that "No, I mean it... I will go back and hold your hand if you need me to!" Really? Well, that's nice! Do you know that I may take you up on that offer? ha Anyway, I need to go and I need to get my kids in for a cleaning, so I'm glad I got that off my "to do" list.

Next stop... check-up at the doctor's. Much easier.

Totally random... I've been thinking of starting a garden. I'm bored. I think perhaps I should start with the Topsy Turvy this year and see how that goes. I would love to have cumcumbers too, but I can't keep an aloe plant alive so I need to start out slow. Actually, my best bet would probably be to just try and grow some herbs in my kitchen window and see how that turns out. I could use the little packs of seed we keep getting out of Baby T's Dan-o-nino yogurt.

And that's all I got for now.

Gimme a "D"

Vitamin D3 to be exact.

I wish I could tell you I've been taking it and how great I feel and how it's doing this and that for my health... but I can't. What I can tell you is that I've been researching it for the last couple of weeks - ever since T2 was put on it at his allergist - and it looks like a mighty fine vitamin to me.

The nurse in the allergist's office said she takes it every day and can really tell a difference when she doesn't. I asked if it had to do with having more energy and if she felt more tired on the days she didn't take it and she said "Oh NO, it has nothing to do with energy, it has everything to do with my mood!" She said it was the difference between night and day and when she takes it, her moods are stable and she's much happier. ( BTW: She didn't need to "sell" the stuff... we already said we wanted it.)

At that moment I think I saw the clouds part and the gates of heaven open up.

Do you know HOW LONG I've been looking for something like this?! Sure.... I could take SamE or St. John's Wort but they even have warnings for their side effects. Prozac, Zoloft - no thanks! So, let's hope this works! I literally would be SO happy to find something that could even out my moods and give me a little lift.

I'll let ya know what happens.

Happy 2011 To Me... Happy 2011 To Me...

That's right. 2011. March 23, 2011 to be exact. I swear I'm gonna get better about this whole blogging thing. Swears!

So, what have we been up to, you ask? Well, all but 1 of us is a whole year older. I turned 38 last Thursday and I gotta tell you I don't feel a day older than 37. I think once you past 35, it's just a waiting period until the big 4-0. Par Tay!

My b-day was a good one. I went to a casino for the first time in my life and actually came out $110 richer. I didn't understand the computerized slots worth a crap, but I gotta tell ya that any machine you just sit and hit buttons on has to be a brain stumper. And how I lost $5 in the penny slots in less than 1 minute is beyond me. I figured I'd have 500 plays that would keep me there with the other ladies in their Hoverounds for hours. Didn't happen but that's probably ok, when old ladies start stroking the screen and kissing stuffed animals for luck, that's when I gots to go.

My attire was somewhat disappointing. I forget I can't wear heels, but about a week before my birthday I decided I'd get more "dressed up" and I found these CUTE heels that matched my cute cute sweater (for the unexpected 70 degree day) and I just thought I was so cute and are you sick of that word yet? Anyway, those heels did me wrong! Can you say 3rd degree blister? If they don't have "degrees" they should because mine is more than just a little blister, it is a major BLISTER! But thankfully that's just the one on the side of my big toe. I have 1st and 2nd degree blisters on my middle and fourth toes. I am still wearing flip flops which has been ok for that last week but tomorrow it's suppose to snow and be in the 30's. Guess my luck at the 'Spin N Win' has worn off.

Moving on... Everyone is good. The boys are good. The parents are good. I am good. Most of all God is good! And although He doesn't have to prove that to me, He does. He has. The truth is, I had a very rough start to 2011 and it took a lot of strength to get through. Strength I didn't know I had. Strength that only the good Lord above could give. And even though I thought things were at their worst, He showed me that HE has the authority over everything. He can change situations that seem unchangeable. Praise God!

So... don't give up. You might end up a winner.

Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum

I wish.

I was thinking of trying to make rum balls this year but then decided against it since my parents don't do the alcohol thing and my kids are too young for the alcohol thing and I technically shouldn't be doing the alcohol thing (breastfeeding) so... why bother. Cause I know I'd eat more than a couple.

Eh, maybe someday at a church party I'll stumble upon some and can finally cross "rum balls" off my bucket list.

In one of my father's anti-alcohol churches (which technically have been all his churches), they had a Christmas party one year and someone brought a friend who didn't attend their church and she brought rum balls. Well, one of the church ladies decided to try them (not knowing they had alcohol in them) and really liked them. And I guess she loaded up on them and basically got loaded.

Good times in the House of the Lord.

As of today, I have ALL my Christmas shopping done! And let me tell you people, this has been such a stress-free year of shopping that I'm almost sad it's done. (I said almost.) I started on Sunday and went to Target and Kohl's. Then on Monday I went to a few stores in the mall and back to Kohl's. Then today I stopped at Kohl's and Target again. And now, other than a few little things for stocking stuffers, I. Am. Done. (Well, except for the very worst part of all... the wrapping.)

Ohhh do I dislike the wrapping. And this year, I have to wrap! Can't just do the gift bag thing. (I can throw a gift in a bag with tissue paper like nobody's business!) But, I have an 18 month old who is gonna have a blast ripping the paper off his gifts and his mama is gonna have a blast watching it! So, with that thought, that's the end of my wrapping complaint.

And that's a wrap.

Want It Raw Like My Turkey?

My day started early. Baby T was up a few times because he hasn't been feeling well the last couple of days. I got him back to sleep around 7:30 and my alarm went off at 8:00.


I got up and headed downstairs to put the turkey in the roaster. I was going to do it last night and cook it at about 250 all night, but then I read somewhere that doing that at a lower temperature can cause bacteria to grow. Of course my mom has been cooking our turkeys like that for years, but it was also my way of getting out of leaving a cooking appliance on all night. I just knew I'd toss and turn wondering if the thing was gonna catch fire. So, even though it was actually only one bird... I killed two with one stone. No overnight fire and no bacteria. I like to avoid those kinds of things around the holidays. Call me crazy.


I think I mentioned before that I bought my turkey last Friday. Did you also know that I brought it home and put it directly into the fridge so that it would have plenty of time to thaw out? Well, it was still somewhat frozen this morning and I could not for the life of me get the bag o' crap (gizzards, liver, etc.) and the plastic thing to come out. And I somewhat cried. And then I called my mom. She said to put it in the sink, fill it with some water and let it sit for a few minutes. Ok, sounded good to me... so that's what I did. And then I went upstairs to check on the baby and figured I would lay down for just 5 minutes. I woke up at 10:00 when I heard my parents come in the house.


I'm the hostess with the mostess ya'll!


So I got up and went downstairs and my mom was already getting the bag out of the bird. I breathed a sigh of relief and headed back up to get in my shower.


My mom did pretty much everything for our meal, except make the green bean casserole, that was something I had to do. She doesn't like green beans. I'm not sure if that's why she wouldn't make it, or possibly it's because she made everything else? Who knows. All I know is when I got back home, it was all good.


Yeah, when I got back home.


I didn't eat with everyone. I mean, I sat there, but I didn't eat. I couldn't. My stomach was too upset. I was too upset. Not in a "crying my eyes out" type of way but more of a "why does it have to be this way" type of way.


I had to give Baby T to his dad for his family Thanksgiving. And although I'm ok with it, my stomach still gets in a "mama's gonna worry til your home" knot, every time I have to give him up. And this is the first holiday that he's had to leave me. I know half the world lives like this, but not my half. It's a big turkey bone to swallow.


I had to meet him at 4:00, which is around the time Baby T takes a nap and I hate that his routine has to be messed up because of this. And I know that he is ok and that this upsets me more than it does him, but that doesn't settle my stomach. I know kids are durable. Moms however, are another story. At least this one.


But besides all that... I had a terrific Thanksgiving and I am blessed beyond measure! Baby T arrived back safe and sound and seems to be in a happy mood. My parents and T2 got back to their home safely, in all this fog and icey rain. And now I'm sitting here with my baby and my oldest and we're trying to figure out WHERE we are going to put our Christmas tree this year.


And may I say just how thankful I am that this is all I have to worry about right at this very moment?!


Thanks!

The Early Bird Gets The Bird

I am excited! I love this feeling!

I have 98.5% of my "Thanksgiving Dinner" shopping done.

I decided this morning that today I wanted to go get everything and beat the crazy crowds. I say this every year, but this year I did it. And it feels so wonderful!

I got: the turkey, stuffing, corn, sweet potatoes (yams) and the little marshmallows to go on top, green beans, cream of mushroom soup and those fried onion things for my green bean casserole, a bag of potatoes for mashed potatoes, Amish egg noodles, rolls, cheese, black olives, green olives, cottage cheese, a couple of jars of turkey gravy (just in case), and... and... 2 cans of cranberry sauce.

And now that I'm rereading that paragraph, I forgot the baby sweet pickles. Not that that is a traditional Thanksgiving food, but we like them. What's not to like about something that has baby and sweet in the name?

Where's the pumpkin pie you ask? My mom will be covering that. Oops! and now there's one more thing... I forgot the whipped cream. I think I'll be all Martha Stewart and make that myself, instead of doing Cool Whip or the spray can thing.

And no, I'm not talking about making it MYSELF... you need heavy whipping cream for that and Baby T's pediatrician would tell you that I only make skim milk.

Anyway... so other than the baby sweet pickles and heavy whipping cream (oh who are we kidding, COOL WHIP) I've got it covered folks. Bring on Thanksgiving!

And my stretchy pants.

It's a Full House

We are still at my parents' house. We've been here since Friday. It is Monday. We will probably stay until Wednesday. Enough said? No? Well, let me break it down for ya.

I love my parents. Love love LOVE them. However, I don't want to live with them. And yes, 5 days feels like living with them.

I will live close to them, I will live in a home that has two separate living quarters with them, but I will not live with them in a single home dwelling that is the smallest house they've ever lived in. (At least since I've been around.)

I'll just say it's cozy. (Did you know "cozy" is a nice word for small in realty lingo? Stick with me kids, I have all the inside scoop on life's secrets. I know how to read between the lines.)

A day in the life around here consists of everyone getting up and trying to get in the shower first because they have one shower and the hot water does not last long. My mom is normally the lucky one and manages to get in first. I am unlucky in this area because as hard as I try to get a shower in the morning (here or at my own house), my child has some sort of 6th sense that causes him to wake up out of a sound sleep as soon as my toes touch the floor to get out of bed. My alarm could go off... he stays sleeping. My cell phone could ring... stays asleep. Saturday morning a semi drove by right outside our window and blew his big loud horn... he kept on sleepin. But let me quietly pull the covers back and slowly move my leg off the bed and he's up. He has a special gift and I fully expect him to have a future in the military or CIA.

Normally I just put him in bed with me, nurse him back to sleep and lay there watching old reruns of Full House where Uncle Jesse's hair looks like this. I call these the "Mullet Episodes" and I don't like them. I can handle the newer reruns where Uncle Jesse's hair looks like this, but the old ones like make me like wanna gag myself with a spoon or spend the rest of my day saying things like "You got it dude" and "You're in big trouble mister".

My father does not shower at home on the days he works out so you'll typically find him sitting at the table doing his crossword puzzle while my mom makes his breakfast. Then he'll head into the living room to watch his 2 daily morning shows; Let's Make A Deal and The Price Is Right. As soon as the Showcase Showdown ends, he'll leave for the YMCA and return about 2 hours later.

Meanwhile, my mom is asking everyone else what they want for breakfast like she's a short order cook. And btw... if you ever spend the night, just know that she is willing and able and READY to make pretty much any breakfast dish you can think of at any given time. Eggs, bacon, pancake/waffle mix, an assortment of cereals, oatmeal, hash browns, potatoes, mush (yes, mush), danish or some sort of breakfast pastry, bread for french toast or just plain toast, bagels, cream cheese, OJ, coffee, an assortment of hot teas, milk... these things are ALWAYS in stock in my mother's kitchen. And I'm not complaining, this is one of the reasons why I gain 10 pounds every weekend we're here. (The other would be because I eat out of boredom and stress, but we'll visit that thought later.)

So, while my dad is at the Y, my mom is busy cooking or cleaning up or doing laundry or whatever chore she can think of to keep herself busy.

I am normally feeding my face and trying to feed the baby, T1 is either getting in his semi warm shower or on the computer. T2 will usually sit and watch tv and then get right on his schoolwork so he can play with his other homeschooled friends in the neighborhood.

And that my friends, is as exciting as it gets. Seriously. By the time breakfast is over, my day becomes a blur of chasing the baby around trying to keep him out of the curio cabinets or keep his fingerprints off my dad's huge flatscreen tv, or keep him from unplugging all the lamps or turning the DirectTV off (because it sits low and he loves the little blue light - or rather he loves the almost heart attack that my father has every. single. time. he does it.) I'm not sure why my father doesn't just pick up the remote that must always be in his possession and turn it back on, but I'm in my shoes, I don't walk in his. I can't pretend to understand the hardship of being right in the middle of Plinko and having it taken from you without knowing if that red puck make it into the $10,000 slot or the $1,000 slot. It's a hard knock life.

Have Mercy.

9 Days and 2 Posts Later

Here I am trying to get into some online freelance writing and I can't even blog a sentence every day for a month. Let's hope that doesn't make it on my resume.

Well, and the fact that the picture below is just too adorable to move down the page!! I just. couldn't. do. it. (Do people still use periods like that?) I'm so out of the "blogging loop".

I've noticed bloggers using "headings" in their posts more lately and I'm liking it. I haven't tried doing it yet, but I think someday I will catch on.

I'm all sorts of behind on posting the goings-on in our lives and in some ways, it's just because I can't. Mr. R and I are doing a little court tango over the baby and it's nasty and ugly but we're getting along at the moment. Last week was the first time he got Baby T by himself. It went fine and he has been nice and decent and that makes it OH so much easier to hand my baby over to him. It is what it is. I think we'll be ok. We have to be.

I think my SAD is back. I hate this time of year. I love fall, I just don't like the cold weather and less sunlight that goes along with it. I have been grouchy and irritable and my skin is dry and I don't feel like doing anything - and then there's the anxiety. I thought it was because of the court situation, but I think it's the SAD at work. I stopped going to the tanning bed a few months ago and I may just have to start back again. I got a little scare when someone I heard about, through someone I knew, died from melanoma. I had quite a conversation with one of her best friends and it really made me think. She left two children behind and I just decided I could not risk doing that to my family for tanner skin. Yes, tanning makes me feel better about myself and yes, I feel I look healthier with a nice tan and yes, it's nice to lay in a warm bed when it's cold outside, but I honestly think it's the light that is helpful this time of year. I may just try to lay in the bed a couple times a week for 10 minutes and see if it helps. I also need to do better taking my vitamins every day and adding some extra Vitamin D. And exercise... we can't foget that. Oh wait, I have a 17 month old, check that off the list, I get plenty of that. (Obviously not the right kind though... my right arm is hurting so bad today... I played bowling and table tennis on the Wii yesterday. Pathetic!)

And speaking of a 17 month old... he is wanting to play cars and trucks with me so I'd better scoot. He has them all lined up at the gate and is saying something in toddler talk. I think it's "UMM, mom, look how adorable I am, don't you want to come and play with me?!"

Well, OF COURSE I DO!!

3 Days Late

I can't believe Halloween came and went and it's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving and soon after, Christmas. Where did 2010 go?!

So I did a crazy thing and signed up to blog each day this month. It's been a long time since I did the NaBloPoMo thing. I thought I could do it and I've already failed before I started. Oh well, we have a lot going on. I'm trying to do better, really I am.

Baby T turned 17 months old yesterday. 17 months!! Hard to believe. He's doing so much now and getting so big. He thinks he's a big boy but he's still my baby. He's still nursing like crazy and we're not even thinking of weaning at this point. He's got about 8 or 9 teeth and it seems like he's getting a new one every other day. He does great with them. Sometimes he'll get a little fussy and will chew on his fingers and I know he needs Tylenol or teething tablets (yes, I know about the recall and yes, I am still using them) but other than those very few times, he seems to handle them real well.

He's napping now and I have a very small window of time to get my dishes done and more laundry in before dinner so I better grab it while I can. We need to have a decent meal tonight. Monday we went to Applebee's, Tuesday we did the "clean out what's already opened in the freezer" thing, so tonight we need a good homemade meal. I haven't a clue what that will be yet, but I'm working on it.

Labor Day Weekend

I've been thinking about my last "labor day" this week. 15 months ago yesterday I was in labor and delivered my sweet Baby T. Today we had his 15 month well child check and as we drove by the hospital where he was born, Mr. R and I both talked about how it seems like we were just there with him. It's crazy how fast time goes and yet it seems like just yesterday. Kind of sad in a way, but exciting to watch him grow. He just gets cuter and smarter every day!

Baby T is now 21.5 pounds and 31 3/4 inches tall. He's long and skinny like his brothers. He received two of the three vaccines they're suppose to get at 15 months. Today he got the DTaP and HIB. He will get the polio one next month. We have him on a delayed schedule so he doesn't get so much at one time. We had the option of him getting just one shot with all three vaccines, but we decided to keep up with our delayed schedule. I have to say I sat and thought about it for a moment... I thought maybe it would be better for him to have just one prick now instead of two today and then another one next month, but I decided in the long run it would be better to keep them space out. It's just something we feel is best. And with the trouble he had after his MMR shot, we would rather have them given one at a time. The MMR is the only shot he's ever had any trouble with and he was pretty sick about a week after getting that one.

If you're interested in delayed vaccines, here's a great link: Dr.Sears

And BTW, as you'll read in the link, they can do the MMR separate. Looking back, I wish we would have asked. Live and learn.

We took T2 to his allergist on Wednesday and he's grown 3/4 of an inch in 4 months. He's almost 65 inches tall! He's taller than me now, I'm 5'4. His numbers were great and he's doing really good. He really hasn't had any problems with his asthma this summer and there were only a few weeks that his allergies acted up. I hope this keeps up! Maybe he's outgrowing them? I pray he is!


We don't have any big plans for the weekend and that's fine with me. I would love to go camping, but not over a holiday. Too crowded! We'll probably go to "mam" and "pap's" and cook out on Monday. Other than that, we'll just play it by ear.

Have a fun and safe weekend!

Busy Week Ahead

I like busy weeks. They give me things to do and somewhat of a schedule. We haven't really had a schedule since Baby T joined our family. It's been nice but it's time for a schedule again.

Yesterday we were still at mam and paps (Baby T's version of grandma and grandpa) and I had things I needed to get done there. I signed Baby T up for "toddler storytime" at two libraries. One where they live and one where we live. He'll get storytime twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays. I figure we'll consider that part of his homeschooling.

Today I had bills to pay and errands to run... the bank, Dollar General and to the grocery store to pick something up for dinner. We're having tacos. Fast and easy. I still have laundry to do, the baby has no sheets on his bed and we're low on towels. Mr. R will be over later to visit Baby T.

Tomorrow I have two appointments. One early and one late afternoon. I hate early morning appointments because it disrupts Baby T's "wake-up and nurse for an hour" time. We do not get right out of bed in mornings, rather we sit and nurse and play and watch tv and nurse some more and then we get up. Normally it's about an hour after we first wake up. I know someday I'll miss that morning routine.

My parents will be here most of the day. I can't take the kids to my first appointment so they'll stay with them. Then the afternoon appointment is for T2, back to his allergist for his "fall" check.

Later tomorrow evening Baby T's aunts will be coming for a visit. It's always nice when they come and Baby T loves all the attention. He'll sleep good tomorrow night!

Thursday I don't think I have anything yet. I'm going to try and set up a play date with Baby T's cousin and his memaw. Maybe we can meet for lunch or they can come over.

Friday Baby T has a morning doctor's appointment. Shots! Ugh! Poor kiddo! We also need to have them recheck his little hernia while we're there just to make sure it's not getting worse. I keep praying it won't and he won't have to have surgery.

Then sometime this week I need to take T1 and T2 "Back to Home School" shopping. Notebooks, pens, folders, etc... and new shoes. They're pretty much good on clothes but really need new shoes. I also need to sit down and figure out their curriculum for the next month.

I also need to make dentist appointments for me and the older boys, make a doctor appointment for me and other little things like that.

OH and in the midst of all this, I need to find a job. One that does not include me watching other people's children, one I can do at home so I can still school the big boys and take care of the little one, and one that is flexible with good pay and benefits.

That one should be easy like Sunday morning.

Cleaning Out My Closet

Figuratively, that is.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm tired (figuratively and literally) of dealing with negative, disrespectful people who don't really add anything positive to my life. You know those people... they're the ones that after you get done talking to them in person or on the phone, you feel absolutely exhausted and sometimes even physically sick.

Well, guess what... I have decided that in most cases, I no longer HAVE to! (With the exception of family (cause well, it's family) and anyone I may be "related to" by childbirth. And no, I'm not speaking of my children here.)

Now I know that I can be this way at times... I understand it, I don't deny it, I will admit it and I'm working to change it. That is the difference between me and those who cannot see how negative behavior effects other people, how it hurts other people and how it makes themselves look insecure. You know, that whole I feel bad about myself so I'll put you down every chance I get so I feel better and you'll feel bad about yourself like I do, thing.

Or maybe they're just horrible people and don't care.

Either way, I'm over it. I don't want to waste time in my life with negative people and I don't want to waste time in my life being negative. And I sure don't want to teach my children to be negative.

Now this doesn't mean that people can't have a bad day, that is to be expected in life. And there's always going to be stressful situations thrown our way. But how does having a bad day or going through a stressful time give anyone the right to try to bring others down? If you're having a bad day or going through a hard time, fine... feel free to share that with me, I'd love to help if I can. But when the tables get turned and you're starting to put me down, well, that's when it's going to end for me.

Example: If a friend is going through issues with her child/children and she feels insecure about her own mothering abilities, she will share those insecurities and issues she's having, but will make sure to slam the way you parent and tell you what you're doing is all wrong, too. Then the conversation goes from, "I'm having a hard time with this" to "Well, I don't feel too bad about myself because you have be doing it all wrong for the last 16 years, and your children won't amount to anything, and you should be ashamed of the way you parent your children, and you're probably going to hell for co-sleeping and homeschooling anyway, so I guess I'm not that bad of a parent after all."

Just sayin'.

Anyway, like I said, I'm done. I think when friendships get to the point where you dread talking to that person, where you start to question that person's loyalty to you and where you realize "Hey, they treat me like total crap"... Well, unfortunately you have a decision to make.

Got Roast

Baby T was up earlier than normal today, but maybe that's because he went to bed a little earlier than normal. Our nightly routine is that I go to bed when he goes to bed, or vice versa. He nurses, then I just lay him down beside me (the whole co-sleeping thing) and I lay down, but last night was a rough night for me and I just needed some "me time". Now normally I roll my eyes at that phrase ("me time") because I feel like it's a cop out, but last night the baby was tired and I was not. I was hungry and I wanted to watch the season finale of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. So, I nursed him, put him in his crib and went downstairs and made some sinful and disgusting food to go with my sinful and disgusting show and sat my butt down and watched it. Twice actually, because Bravo played it over... and over... and over... I think I finally headed back upstairs around 1:00 feeling a little guilty that Baby T was in his crib and more guilty about watching grown women call each other "clowns" and "garbage" when clearly they are "tramps" and "trailer trash" in nice houses, possibly in foreclosure. But not to worry... this kid has instincts! As soon as I crawled into my bed, he popped up in his. I got him out, put him on my lap, nursed him and he fell right back to sleep in bed with mama. And I was happy.

So now we've had breakfast and I've got an English Roast in the slow cooker. Today I made up my own recipe... I added salt and pepper, onion flakes and then covered it with beef gravy. I normally use cream of mushroom soup, but I felt like trying something different. We'll have that with a salad, mashed potatoes, carrots and crescent rolls. I'm feeling all homemakery.

Later today I will be making new lace and crinoline outfits for the boys and leopard print outfits for my dogs. Cause that's the Danielle way.

Here's a recap if your interested:

Caroline: You know what you are? You're a clown.
Danielle: I'm a clown. Really?
Caroline: Your whole life is a joke.
Danielle: You're saying this, sitting there with red hair? I'm the clown?
Caroline: Yes, you are.
Danielle: Really?
Caroline: Yeah. No matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, no matter who you talk to, okay, you will not hurt me. Do you know why? I have integrity, okay, and I sit here and I tell you the truth, okay? And when I called you garbage, I meant you were garbage."

So worth losing those extra hours of sleep.

Writer's Block or Adult ADD

Ever since I got my new laptop I have been wanting to blog every day but just can't. Sure, I could physically type a post out, but can I mentally do so? I think that is the problem. I have so many thoughts running through my head, so many posts that I want to write, so many different ideas, views and topics that I want to cover, but I just can't. It's like I can't get my thoughts together enough to write a post that's not all over the board. I'm chalking it up to the fact that I got away from blogging for a long time and I'm a little rusty. Plus, the fact that I already said I'd like to do something serious with my blog puts a little pressure on me to actually DO something with this blog. I guess I should just start blogging for fun and see where it leads me. I just have so many things going on that I really do have many topics to last for a very long time. For now, I think I'm going to reconnect with some other blogging women and get that re-established, then look into options for my blog. Just thinking about it has my head spinning. But in a good way.

Last Week

-My family was in town. The WHOLE week. Whoohoo. It was awesome.


-We did not go to the State Fair as planned due to the high temps and even higher humidity. (Didn't think it would be wise to drag Baby T out in that and we weren't really up for it either.)


-We had lots of good food and I didn't gain any weight. Whoohoo.


-My therapist let me go. He "said" there was just nothing more I needed from him and that I did what I went in to get help for and that he believes I'm strong and ok and blah blah freakin blah... I'll save the rest for another post, but for now I'll say he might just get a letter from me someday soon letting him know I believed every word of what he said to me.


-Mr. R and I took Baby T to a carnival and we actually had a very good time. (My therapist would have had a hayday with this one, but now he will never know. Because I'm all better now. And if the words "Mr. R and I... had a very good time." don't tell you how very wrong my therapist is, I don't know what will.)

-We were getting ready to leave my parents' and had the car packed, it running with the a/c on and both the dogs in. Next thing we know, the Yorkie jumped up to look out and locked the doors. Thank goodness for AAA.

-I just realized how uneventful last week really was.


-I just realized uneventful could very possibly mean it was still a really great week.