The Lemon Water Challenge

Well, first let me say that unless I get that pantry in order TODAY, I failed the clean-one-thing-each-month challenge put on by Melissa.

I admitted that I am addicted to Diet Coke. I'm not a big water drinker. Every now and then, I'll get a taste for it and if it is good and cold, down it goes.

So anyway, I'm trying to kick the habit. If you read the labels on the coke cans, you know that it's toxic. But how to do this is my challenge.

I don't want to substitute tea. Unless it is southern sweet, I don't care for it, and I am trying to kick the sugar habit too. I don't like coffee. Juice gives me gas. (sorry, that should have waited for my 200 things post) What's left? Water. I actually don't mind water if it is flavored, but I don't like the fizzy water. And I don't want artificial sweetners - another reason I am ditching soft drinks and that of course is that it is totally terrible for you.

I decided tonight that I am going to flavor my water with lemon slices. That is agreeable to me. Anyone else given up soft drinks and survived? I think I need some hand holding here.

Wish me luck. To my health,

~R

Pete turns Eight

Well, it's a week later and we survived not having a big party for RePete and now it's time to deflect the advances of the party bug with Pete. It doesn't help that he has been inviting anyone who will listen to his "party". Luckily I've been there to remind him that we aren't having a big party this year. He's so persistent. We are celebrating with RePete, BN, my sister and my nephew. Pete asked me if I sent them all invitations....

As you can see, how shall I say this...Pete has always made me strive to be a better person. He arrived after 18 hours of serious labor with a perfect conehead. Oh yes, he knows all the intimate details of my birth canal. And on January 30, 2004, he introduced us to parenthood. He had a serious bout of jaundice and had to be hospitalized with the big lamps. It was very emotional because his levels were so elevated and I was post-partum and having trouble pumping, but in the end it all worked out.

Most babies start out with blue eyes, but not Pete. His were a rich brown from the beginning and BIG! I melted everytime I looked at him. I won't sugar coat it and say it was easy. When he was happy, he was really happy and when he was mad, he was really, really mad. No middle ground with Pete. No gray areas. It's either black or it's white. It still is.

For his entire first year, he cried everytime we got in the car. BN took a job in Charlottesville in Pete's 3rd month and we made many three hour trips between our two homes. Let's just say it took its toll on my nerves. And you never met happier parents who jumped up and down with glee when Pete turned one. Just by turning his carseat around to face the front, all the screaming stopped and he was perfectly happy in the car. Backwards=screaming. Frontwards=happy. See, no in between.

He has always had an incredible vocabulary and every night we had to read no less than five books to him. He always had to choose them and there could be NO LESS THAN FIVE. Because of his height and vocabulary, people always thought he was older. They were always amazed by it.

He loves exploring and has an awesome imagination. He still tends to focus on one thing at a time and it absorbs him. I've always thought he should be an actor or at least be in local productions. That's our next venture. I think he'll love it.

He was Buzz Lightyear for about 2.5 years. "To finty and deyon!" he would say.

He's been a terrific big brother to RePete. Sure he casts him aside sometimes, squeezes him a little too tightly sometimes, but mostly he tries to play nicely with him and teach him things...like how to pee outside...

And this is about as far as I can go with pictures. He hasn't changed much in his appearance for the last few years and BN will have my hide if I show our babies to the world. So I'll leave you with this one.

Those big brown eyes get me everytime.

~M

Shooting bird's heads off!

I never thought I'd ever hear one my children say this. I just really didn't and it caused me to spew chili on the table tonight. Not that it was hilariously funny or at least probably not to anyone else, but to me, it was something else.

Pete: "It's not like it's deer season, so he had to shoot the bird's head off."

WTF???WTF???WTF???

Our little neighbor friend hunts with his Dad and Grandpa and tells Pete all about it. We have no intention of taking him hunting or allowing him to hunt with others. We only eat chicken, turkey or fish as a meat source and you hardly need shotgun experience for that! We don't believe in hunting for sport. So our boys will never hunt while under our roof. And btw, I know a thing or two about hunting; my stepdad took us with him.
~R

Fun Monday

AOJ and the Lurchers have asked us to show them our bedside tables. Unfortunately, I signed up for this assignment AFTER my Potpourri post where I showed my bedside table.

BN and I only use our bedroom for two things. And reading and watching t.v. are not the things. But I tend to keep any book I am reading on the bedside table because when it is time to get ready for bed and I am reading, I will usually be so engrossed in the book, that I carry it with me and continue reading while I dress and brush my teeth. Even while removing my contact lenses. And if BN isn't finished, I'll lie down and read another page or two until he turns off the light. So that is why I have books on my table and little else.

100 things

Well, I didn't know about "100 things post" with the old blog so never did it and now I've gotten carried away with the 365 thing and missed my 100th post by about 20, I think.

I think this will be hard to compose because, well, I tell everything to anyone who will listen. Actually, I'm not such an open book, but I've certainly told more than my share on here, but here goes. Just don't hate me when I'm done. My heart can't take it.

1. I have OCD qualities. If the pancake mix says "makes 6 pancakes", then dadgumit, at the end of cooking I better have 6 pancakes.
2. I love handwashing dishes. As a youngster, it gave a me a moments peace and I'm finding it does the same thing as a oldster.
3. I have five 2-year degrees. I wonder if I can trade them all in for a PhD?
4. Actually two of them are 3-year degrees but there isn't a name for it, so it gets shoved under 2-years.
5. I'm not currently using any of them.
6. Unless you count Interior Design. Everyone wants free advice.
7. I love painting.
8. I wish I had an art studio. I will have one in our next house.
9. I was touched inappropriately by an old man when I was eleven. But I thought I misunderstood. I never told anyone and always wished I had.
10. I am a soft drink addict. Diet Coke, my choice of poisons.
11. I love routines.
12. I haven't had one since I had Pete.
13. I used to wake up at 7am sharp without an alarm clock.
14. Now I wait until I hear the boys stir to get our of bed.
15. And only with misgivings. I need to go to bed earlier.
16. I want to quit blogging.
17. No I don't.
18. Yes, I do.
19. Maybe later.
20. I am a bit claustrophobic. I can't have covers over my head or have anyone too close to my face for too long.
21. Sometimes this affects my ability to wear turtlenecks. I feel like I am choking.
22. As long as I don't look in the mirror, I still think I weigh 130 lbs.
23. I also think I look 25.
24. I'm wrong on both accounts.
25. I love school supplies.
26. Even though we don't need most of the stuff on school supply lists as homeschoolers, I still buy them.
27. I have stockpiles of school supplies.
28. I also love stationary. I don't use it, I collect it.
29. I don't use it because I have been typing so long that my hands tire quickly when I write.
30. And my tiring hands write so poorly.
31. I used to have beautiful penmanship.
32. Oh and stationary and cards with birds on them are a bonus.
33. I love ketchup and spaghetti sauce, but hate tomatoes.
34. I love onion rings, but hate onions.
35. My Mom would make special sauce for me that did not have huge onion and pepper chunks.
36. It's not really the taste I dislike, it's the texture or the crunch.
37. I always wanted to be an artist growing up.
38. I had several pieces show while I was a teenager.
39. My Mom's need for us to get college educated and therefore not need to depend on a man, took away that drive.
40. I didn't want to paint for money. Or rather I didn't want to HAVE to create. It takes away the passion.
41. I chickened out of leaving for college on the day I was set to go, car packed, family kissed goodbye.
42. Then sat on the steps and called my Mom and asked if I could stay.
43. We've been through a lot, my Mom, my Sister and I.
44. I didn't want to leave them.
45. I used to live in a chicken house. It was converted into a house, but it's beginnings was to house chickens.
46. I know how to catch, clean and cook all kinds of fish.
47. I also know how to use an axe and a chainsaw because we had woodstoves when we lived with my stepdad.
48. My last name changed when I was 13.
49. Imagine how weird that was going on summer break with one name and returning to school in the fall with another name.
50. My dad had a new family to take care of.
51. My stepdad thought it made him look good to adopt those poor girls under his name.
52. I've always hated his last name.
53. Even now, when I fill out forms and they ask for maiden name, it takes everything I have to write his name down.
54. He's dead now.
55. My dad and I have reconciled but we'll never be the same.
56. Anyone who says children don't need a stable male figure in their lives is wrong.
57. I'm living proof.
58. And so is my sister.
59. Don't worry, we're fine.
60. But we'd be so much better if our dad had chosen us.
61. Example. I've always been at the top of my class.
62. I've always been a top performer in my jobs.
63. I have little REAL confidence.
64. So I put up a facade.
65. I am uncomfortable around men in general.
66. It's the ones most like a father figure that I am drawn to.
67. Okay so now I'm depressed, let's move on. Thank God for BN.
68. I have tons of beautiful jewelry, but never wear it.
69. I don't like tedious facial routines. Wash, scrub, toner, wrinkle cream, etc etc.
70. I wear big dark sunglasses to ward off wrinkles.
71. So far it has worked.
72. I wanted to upload my Ipod with new music (it was handed down from BN) and realized I know longer know what I like.
73. I love shopping for the dumbest things. Like dish towels and dental floss.
74. I love the dentist.
75. They say I am a model patient. Clean teeth.
76. I got BN to start flossing when we first married.
77. He has thanked me ever since.
78. I love nail polish, but it makes my nails brittle.
79. My hands look like my Mothers.
80. I love that.
81. I waited six long years to move back east after leaving home.
82. Now I wish to move back west.
83. We will in a few years.
84. I really want to ski a black diamond hill.
85. I am too afraid to leave the bunny slopes.
86. In fact I am afraid of anything fast. Biking, skating, skiing, driving.
87. I enjoyed my time in the military.
88. I had a cake job, as they say.
89. We were subject to the same rules as pilots, so I never had to stand watch.
90. I didn't chip paint.
91. I was an Air Traffic Controller.
92. Even after the Navy, I was quickly promoted at all the jobs I've held.
93. I still don't know why.
94. I really struggle with staying home with my kids.
95. I love them.
96. I hate the monotony.
97. I hope my children become just like their father.
98. Being around me so much is bound to wear off on them, though.
99. I hope to travel the world someday.
100. But only if BN is by my side.

Ignore any grammar or spelling errors. It's late, I just vomited this up and this is way too big to proof.

Okay, so now I want to erase half of what I said, but I won't. It's raw, it's me.

~R

Potpourri

EDIT: Beckie from Give It a Try guessed correctly first. The painting below reminds me of Willowtree. He doesn't post too many pictures of himself, but I ran across a few a while back reading his posts and this image stuck. email with your particulars.

RePete update: Since that wonderful day of January 10th, RePete has not had any accidents. He still tells me everytime he has to pee but now I am not allowed near the bathroom. It does this Momma's heart good to hear his pitter-pattering feet run to the bathroom, hear the seat lifted (can I get an AMEN), hear the steady stream IN the pot, not all around the edges (raise the roof ya'll), the lid drops, the toilet flushes and out he comes, pants all askew. Poop? Still wants his pull-up for that and I am being patient.

Shrek Chi-Chi-Chia: What a gross looking and totally stupid this thing is. I remember when they first came out in the '80s. My Mom got one as a gag gift from work and we grew the darn thing. I'm sure I thought it was really cool back then, but then again, big-banged hair, pin-striped jeans and those short Peter Pan boots, blue mascara and Members Only jackets were also "cool" in the eighties. Don't forget the big comb in your back pocket. PSYCHE!! NOT!!

And, see that big book on my night table?

No? Let me get closer?

Now, see that big almost 1000 page book on the top of the stack. The Memoirs of Cleopatra as told by Margaret George. I've had this thing as a work in progress for 6 months. I've also read numerous other books, magazines, blogs, etc in that 6 months. I enjoyed and recommend this book, but it was tough going in the beginning. I HAD to put it down and come back to it many, many times. About half way through, which happened about 3 days ago, I decided the book had to go. I had to finish it. I learned a lot and am so happy to be living in the present. And I am crazy enough to want to buy her other two historical fiction novels. I'll be giving another book report sometime 6 months from now and 6 months after that!

Anyhoo, I was looking through stuff the other day and came across "artwork" from my teen years. When I was 17, I painted this picture. He reminds me of someone, any guesses? A prize, maybe?

~R

You know you are getting old when...

You hold onto the handle of the treadmill to get a heart rate reading and when you check to see where you fall, you have to look closer to 40 than 35 years old.

The upside of that is according to the chart on the treadmill, I don't have to work out so hard.

So now I'm just vegging and hanging out.

Hey, just doing what I'm told!

~R

Look Who Is Four

RePete came into our lives in January 2004. It's almost hard to remember and yet sometimes feels just like yesterday. He was such a happy baby and I fell in love with him that very first day. I don't know if it was because he is the baby (my last) or because he was such an easy going fellow, but we connected right away and I didn't experience anything but joy after his birth.

He was a whopper and was very furry. Still is.

This was the one of the first photos I staged with him. I just loved how they turned out.

When his hair grew, I was in heaven. It was so curly. I swore I'd never cut his hair. Of course, the stifling Virginia heat made me think otherwise. I wonder how long his hair would be now...
Did I ever tell you I used to be a Human Pacifier? I was for about a year. It's shameful, I know, but a Momma will do anything for her baby.

He's so full of gusto. I know no matter what he tries, he will succeed.

See? I worried that he refused to use the pot and then one day, just like my wiser friends told me, he just up and did it. I wonder what he'll do next.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BOY!

~M

Monday Funday

Thanks to Vicki at Catch the Light for starting this one year ago. You can read how she started it all way back when. For this week she wants to relive the first Fun Monday ever.

Here's the assignment. For those of you who did NOT post a picture of your view from your front door, then your assignment is to post a view from your front door. To do this you stand in your doorway looking outside and take a picture. That simple. We (I) want to see what you see when you look out your front door.

For those of you who DID post your view, link back to that post you posted a year ago, and then re-list your very first post ever. We want to see how far you've come baby! Also, if you can, post the comments you received on that post.

We live at the end of a very long street dead center of the cul-du-sac. According the Feng Shui experts, this is wrong, all wrong. And we did a no-no. There were two tall trees flanking the front of the house and we have a pear-variety tree in the front of the yard. As per fung shui, you can overcome the nasty vibes of having cars coming straight at your house by planting 3 trees. They should form a triangle at the front of your home.

Well, the evergreens were of the holly bush species and those dang berries and prickly leaves aren't good for growing boys. Not to mention Mommas who love going barefoot. So we cut those trees down. Now our fung shui's all messed up. I truly believe it is the reason we haven't sold our house yet. I think it's time to plant some new trees or buy some little mirrors. That's another trick to send the bad chi away.

And no, I am not CRAZY! So stop muttering under your breath.

We just had our first snow of the year and it was pretty falling yesterday but it didn't drop very much.

Pete has on the green coat. You didn't think I'd let my son out in short sleeves and no hat did you?

In fact by the time my boys and hubby finishing rolling the snowballs around our yard to make the snowman (don't laugh - he's small but darling), the yard was clean!! They had a great time and I had fun watching them from inside. Brrr.

Have a great Monday! Don't forget to go back up top and click to see what everyone views from their front doors.

~R

Weekly Winners - Jan 13 - 19

Thanks to Sarcastic Mom for making us look a little harder through the lens.

If you want to join in the fun, click this big button and enter a world in which you may never return.

Ring Around the Moon - we didn't get any ice or snow, just rain.

I haven't seen these birdies in a while.

Ooo look, you can see some rain drops.

Here's the sun setting over Suffolk, VA. Actually, I was driving down 58. Shhh.

~R

You heard it here...

My sister knows I deprive my boys of the fun things in life so she bought them THIS...I'll keep you posted on his progress since I know you must as excited about it as I am. Pete is tickled pink.

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My boys will pick Wendy's (fast food chain) any time day or night. After the gym today (yeah, I know) I asked where they wanted to grab lunch and both exclaimed, "WENDY'S!!" I commented to them that if they keep eating at Wendy's, they'll turn into chicken nuggets.

Shortly after that we pulled into their parking lot and RePete starts crying out, "no, not here, not here, I can't wanna be a chicken nugget."

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My sister has a son, almost 13, and she drives him to school each morning on her way out. One of her neighbors has a daughter about the same age and she has become the outcast on their street (you know how young girls can be) and asked if Doodah would mind letting her daughter ride with them to school for a while. Of course it was okay and Doodah and Tbone got to hear all the sordid details about how the other girls were treating her.

Tbone, being a male, looks at her after a few rides and says, "why don't you all just fist fight and get it over with so you can be friends again?"

Why not, indeed?

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How long does it take Pete to complete a math worksheet? Oh about 30 minutes, while I tear my hair out in the background.

How long does it take Pete to complete a math worksheet when a friend is sitting on our porch waiting to play? About 8 minutes. Perfect score.

~R

Crockpots

To crock or not to crock is the burning question on my mind. Holly thinks she is an undomestic goddess. She even said so right here. In reading her comments, I found that she was not alone. I include myself in that group. Sure, every 3rd year or so of my marriage, my adoring husband has looked me in the eye and proclaimed this meal my best ever and in 17 years of marriage that equates to almost 6 meals out of 18, 615 meals give or take a few. Those odds are not in his favor.

Today I tried the crockpot. I bought a whole organic chicken the other day and since I knew I would be running most of the day and exhausted at the end of it, I decided to try to cook the whole chicken in a crockpot. I know you can do it. I've read about. So I washed that little chickie off and placed it in the crock, added some flavorings and closed the lid. That was 10am this morning.

At 4pm, I knew the bird was done, thermometer check confirmed 180 degrees, but we don't eat until 6pm. There was plenty of juice in the pot so I figured it would be just fine. I left the crock on low and went about other things. At 6pm sharp, BN walks through the door and I start putting food on the table.

After attempting to choke down the chickadee, we finally gave up. But not Kubi. She continued her endless figure eights around my ankles until I said fine, you want to choke on this chicken, then choke on this chicken you will. I don't normally agree with feeding animals from the table, but I figured what the heck, it's meat. Cats like meat.

Here she is...

She had two servings. It may look as though she is dry heaving, and she probably was. All I could think about while watching her eat was those scenes where the dehydrated man crawls up and with a dry, scratchy voice and says, "water".

If anyone knows where I went wrong (probably cooked too long), lemme know.

~R

Being a Woman Today, Part IV

I've talked to other mothers and found out they are experiencing the same situations. I've talked to other moms who said they don't bother cleaning the house anymore unless someone is visiting and then they wipe the green ring out of the toilet and call it a day. lol. I've seen the glassy eyed stares of other stay at home moms who either won't admit they are tired or who are so zombied by it that they don't know what is wrong. I've thought of putting both boys in school and going back to work but I don't think that is the answer. I don't want that to be the answer.

Instead I talked with BN about how I felt and because he is a wonderful husband, he asked how he can help. I could be snarky and say he should have been helping all along, but I remind myself that it was I who decided to become the stay-at-home-housekeeper-cook-errand-runner-homeschool mom. I remind myself that he never asked me to do these things although he easily fell into the new schedules and that the standard response - kind of Mars vs. Venus inspired - is that I shouldn't have to ask. You should know how I feel, just isn't the way to handle things. I know better. (If you need more clarification on the Mars vs Venus thing, check out this post on Straight Up and Slightly Dirty. So funny.)

So tonight I admitted defeat. I told him we needed someone to come in and clean bathrooms, vacuum and dust, sweep and mop and I felt like I could handle the rest. He has chosen instead to do these things himself. I'm feeling better already. General pick up takes a few minutes here and there. I can play games with the boys or go over lessons while I work through those loads of laundry. Because we've been able to get good quality time in during the day, the boys will be less antsy and I should be able to get dinner done without having so much fuss. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?!

I realize now that I can't do it all. I've certainly tried. And more importantly, I don't have to do it all. Somewhere along the way, I've created in my mind the perfect Mother/Wife (hence the name of my old blog - NASW) and have been flying by the seat of my pants ever since.

Some days, the house will be a mess. Some days, I won't have clean underwear. Some days, frozen pizza is the food du jour. And some days the boys will have to play quietly and let me have a breather. One day soon when they are older, they'll learn the intricacies of scrubbing a toilet. Part of raising a boy is to prepare him for his future wife. Make her womanhood even more wonderful than yours. (talk about paying it forward) And according to my much older and wiser friends, ah hmm, much wiser anyways, things get easier as they get older. I've witnessed this with my nephew who will turn 13 this year and I have hope that it is true.

So after almost eight years, I've come to the conclusion that the grass is the same on all sides of the fence of motherhood. Whether you work outside the home or in it, it's a damn hard job being a woman today but I'm glad I get to experience it.

By the way, I still plan to grocery shop at night.

~R

Being a Woman Today, Part III

First business, my apologies to my bloggy friends. I had a guest who arrived here Saturday and just left Tuesday about noon. I'll be catching up tonight and tomorrow night. Thanks for stopping by.

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A year and half ago, we made the decision to pull Pete out of school and homeschool. Adding yet another duty to my list of many. I relished the chance to spend that time with the boys. I knew this was one thing that could not be sideswiped by chores. It's been a long year and a half. The agony of finding out what, educationally speaking, makes your son tick was no easy task. And it's an ongoing process, constantly evolving as he grows. And then there's RePete who is not really ready for formal learning yet, but who can't just be set to the side to take care of himself. He needs constant supervision and attention and some days, I feel ready to explode.

I always joke to my friends that I have the school's telephone number on speed dial, ready, so that any moment I can call and re-enroll Pete. I never pick up the phone but the thought is always there.

For the past little while, I've been dragging my feet, literally. I can't get motivated, can't get excited about anything, don't want to do school, don't want to cook (of course, I've never wanted to cook), don't want to clean, don't want to play with the kids, don't want to talk with BN in the evenings. I've been depressed and overwhelmed. Mostly overwhelmed. I've felt less than.

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It's at this point in my writing that I sit back and reflect on all the wonderful people who have stopped by and commented. I started this series because I was going through a low point in my SAHM career. I think we all go through those, even out of the home moms. Sometimes I think, "Pull yourself together girl. Think of women in the olden days. They had wringer washers, not high capacity. They used woodstoves for cooking and heating, not flat-top ranges that self clean or central heat and air that is regulated to keep you perfectly 72 degrees." I could go on and on. I can state the obvious - that I live a somewhat charmed life.

So I need to give thanks that we are all healthy and well-fed. I need to give thanks that we have a warm home and dependable cars. I need to give thanks that I am married to an honest, hardworking, loving man.

Well, I feel better now. So back to whining.

~R

Being a Woman Today, Part II

(The days were filled with so much guilt that I was emotionally exhausted and soon I was back at where I had begun. I had to question whether having this other self was worth it.)

In the end, my answer was no and so once again, I put my career behind me and stayed home with Pete.

Backing up a bit, I have to remember that BN and I had many talks about me being a stay at home mom. It was important for me that he value what I was doing. It was important for us both to understand that staying at home with a child means more than just physically being at home with your child. It meant the time I was at home was spent with Pete. Whether we were building blocks or visiting the zoo or attending Mommy and Me gymnastics, it was done together. Housework, errands, cooking were all still things that were split between BN and myself. Being a stay at home mom IS a full-time job. It's much like the daycare worker. They don't clean and run errands. They pay attention to the children through learning and playtime. A stay at home mom is no different. Or is it?

Gradually over the last almost eight years and another child later, I reasoned with myself that, well, since I am at home all day, I probably should be the one to take over all the household duties. I reasoned that doing this during the day would give us all more time in the evenings and on weekends to just do family things. No grocery shopping, no bathrooms to clean, just family fun. BN was able to go to work, come home, and play with the boys and spend time with me and on the surface, for the most part, it has worked out that way.

But slowly, I was changing. I felt more tired, cranky, short-tempered and more. When BN came home, I wanted to take off. It's impossible to grocery shop with the boys, so I tended to shop at night. Instead of playing with the boys, I did load after load after load of laundry. Because we were home all day, the house is always in a state of mess. So I picked up all day. Because I can see the dust on the furniture, I was compelled to put playing a game with the boys on hold and instead vacuum and dust. I had stopped being a stay at home mom and instead was just staying at home. Not at all what I wanted for them.

~R

Being a Woman Today, Part I

Nine years ago, prior to my first pregnancy, I felt like my husband and I were equals. I worked a full-time job, he worked a full-time job. I cleaned the house, he cleaned the house. I cooked the meals...he ate the meals. Okay, so we were almost equal. But no matter that slight difference, I never felt overwhelmed or "less than" anyone.

Fast forward a year and Pete arrives. We decide financially speaking I can stay home, we decide emotionally I should stay home. So I stayed home. I couldn't imagine leaving that little butter ball of joy in anyone's care but my own. But postpartum and a child who is "more" in so many ways nearly put me over the edge. After several calls from my previous employer pleading for me to come back, in Pete's tenth month I negotiated a deal to work part-time in the evenings.

I walked out the front door just as BN was putting Pete down for the night, so I technically never left him. I started feeling better. I coped better during the day with Pete but the lure of the job kept tugging at my shirt tails. By the end of Pete's first year and the end of breastfeeding, I felt freer. I also let my ego and the promise of a cushy position take me away from my baby. So on Pete's first official day of being a one year old, I took him to daycare. He cried, I cried and 6 hours later I returned to pick him up. The evenings were filled with so much "catching up" that it was physically exhausting. The days were filled with so much guilt that I was emotionally exhausted and soon I was back at where I had begun. I had to question whether having this other self was worth it.

~R

Weekly Winners - January 6 - 12

I've decided to join a ring for people who like to take photos. A jillion photos a week is usually the norm. Unfortunately some of my best work involves pictures of my kids and I can't show those here. Some of you know where to find those and it has been updated.

If you want to join in the fun, click this big button and enter a world in which you may never return.

For the rest of you, here's what I have to offer this week.

Potty Gamer

Fall Be Gone

Winter Blanket

Sunset over the Rappahannock, Tappahannock, VA

~R

2008 Clean-up Challenge

I was over at Melissa's and saw that she has decided to clean one hot spot each month and I thought, that's reasonable. So many times we get bogged down in life - either with many little ones running in and around our feet - or maybe a life altering event caused us to neglect our home - or maybe you are a procrastinator - or maybe just plain lazy!

Whatever the reason for "those" areas of your house that need to be cleaned, I think Melissa is on to something. So I have decided to take her up on her challenge by starting with my pantry. I showed the before in a past Fun Monday. Here it is again.

So, for the month of January, I will clean-up, reorganize, and declutter my pantry. I might even find those cookies I hid from my boys.

~R

Get another job!

My poor RePete has been plagued by 4 cavities in his almost 4 year old mouth. We brushed and flossed and avoided too much sticky, sugary things but he got them anyway. Our pediatric dentist retired and handed his practice and all of his patients over to a newer, younger dentist. He sucks!

After giving RePete this drink that made him loopy, they also used nitrous oxide and wrapped him in a blanket (to control arm movement) and filled his first two back in July. They decided he was just too afraid of the dentist to be able to do anymore fillings, and to avoid "traumatizing him" any further, they let me know that their new procedure for these "types of children" would be to send them to the local hospital and put them under while they x-ray and fill cavities. Obviously, I said, "I don't think so. You aren't putting my three year old under for cavities. ARE YOU HIGH?"

I started searching first by asking for good recommendations on the local homeschool yahoo group and then by researching those and doing my own checking around. I decided on a family dentist this time instead of a pediatric dentist and I am so happy with my choice.

We went in for his consult on Monday and he sat in the chair and allowed the hygienist to take x-rays. Imagine that. No drugs or sedation of any kind. Then we were able to come back on Tuesday (not three months later as happened with the ped dentist) and get one of the teeth filled. They did use nitrous oxide and he complied just fine. They filled his tooth without any unconsciousness or binding blankets. RePete left the office smiling and gave the dentist and hygienist a high five. He cried everytime we arrived at and left the ped dentist.

I was talking to my sister about this (she's a nurse) and she said they are probably just tired. The family dentist sees all ages and so is refreshed when a difficult child walks in. The ped dentists deal with difficult children all day and are just tired so they do what they know will get the job done the most efficiently. (ie blankets, drugs etc. and now putting them to sleep)

The new dentist and her hygienist took time with my baby. They even had to delay the next patient because the extra time and TLC they took with RePete caused his visit to run over. Even running behind, they kept a slow and steady pace.

I can see where my sister is coming from but I just think if you are tired of your job, it's time to move on. If anything, I would think the ped doctors should have the most compassion and understanding and be able to take a few extra minutes to calm and reassure the little patient. I think it's about the bottom line, the dollar. It's no coincidence just about every ped dentist has an orthodontist right next door. Don't even get me started on that. That is a whole nother post.

Anyway, for anyone looking for the very best for their families, don't overlook "family" doctors.

~R

My eyes

I don't know if you noticed the duck picture being a bit blurry and if you didn't then, nevermind. BUT, I am having trouble using manual focus on my camera. I look through the viewfinder and adjust until it looks j.u.s.t. right and of course the 2inch by 3inch viewer shows a great shot. When I download my pictures, many of them are out of focus. I can't keep taking fuzzy pictures of my little fellows.

It's time for me to demand a different prescription from my eye doctor. I've been wearing glasses and contacts for about 12 years now and even with the help, I still can't see perfectly. My vision isn't really too bad, just slightly off. I have a slight astigmatism, which is the culprit, but the only way to correct it is to OVER correct my vision. I haven't wanted to do this and neither has my doctor, but I think it is time. I wonder if it will make my vision worsen by over correcting it? Is it really worth it so that I can control my camera rather than relying on the auto focus. We shall see.

Here's a picture from the lake behind the in-laws. I loved how the leaves floated on the water.

This one gave me the creeps, like a scene from Titanic.

~R

Free at last.

This is the beginning of my freedom. Freedom from diapers, pull-ups and the like.

It all began innocently enough with the morning changing of the pull-up. Because RePete had worn it all night, the sides had dug into his tender little hips and it hurt a little when we removed it. I explained that it hurt because he was too big for pull-ups and that undies were soft and didn't hurt. So RePete wanted to wear his underwear today. That was at 8:30am.

He held it and held it and held it some more. We went to his gymnastics class where I let him know that Ms. Donna wouldn't let him stay in gymnastics if he wet himself. So he held it some more until we got home at 2:30pm. I saw him walk off looking for some place "private" and knew I had to act fast. So I picked him up and ran to the back bathroom and yanked his pants off and he walked right up to the potty and HE PEED IN THE POT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!!! Just 13 days shy of his fourth birthday.

I ooohed and aaahed and poofed my chest out the way only a proud momma bird can do, and he smiled. He too was proud of this moment. We called Dad at work and RePete told him the news and he said he would pee in the pot again next time. I can't wait until tomorrow morning about 8:15am when he has to poop. I can't believe I can't wait.

I used to anxiously wait for dates for dinner, now I wait for poop. Such is my life. And what a glorious one it is.

~R

Ralph

We were driving to the park today and out the blue Pete asks what Grandma Bobbie's middle name is. I tell him it's Jean and that Bobbie isn't her real first name, it's her nickname.

Pete decides he wants a nickname.

Me: "Do you have anything in mind?"

Pete: "No."

Me: "How about Ralph?"

Pete: "Ralph? Noooo!" (but said in the same way you would say DUH!!!)

Me: "Well the only thing related to your name that I can think of is Jerry."

Pete: thinking...thinking..."I know. You can call me Mr. D."

Me: HUH??.....

~R

Ducks

We have a few ponds around here but this one in particular is a favorite for the ducks. It's pretty shallow, so a cold spell, like the one last week will freeze this little pond over. I always find it amusing to see the ducks standing on the ice. They appear to be ice skating.

This past Sunday, we started out on our "three hour tour" drive to the in-laws and passed the pond, partially frozen. The ducks were skating away - I think I heard Abba in the background. I whined a little to BN about missing a great shot of them and he turned a quick U-E so we could go back. Of course once we got back around, they had found a hole for fishing and I missed my shot. Oh well, they were still cute with their little hineys in the air. I'll get them next time.

FUN MONDAY

Lisa at Lisa's Chaos wants to see our pets. I like to recycle and since I did this whole write-up on my pet way back in May 07, there's a good chance most of you haven't read it. I only had three loyal readers back then, so the other two of you who are new should enjoy this.

Name that Cat (originally posted May 17, 2007)

I would be remiss if I did not introduce the fourth member of our family. Ain’t she cute? Not really. Like most cats, she is mostly biotchy! We adopted her when she was 1 and her name was Disco. Yeah, we thought the same thing, and since we were going through a jazz period, we decided to call her Cool Cat or CC for short. She actually seemed to like this and came running when we called.Because we always had outdoor cats and dogs when I was growing up and CC had been an outdoor cat, we left it that way. UNTIL we found her and a stray cat on our roof eating a big piece of ham from who knows where.

After CC was forced into being agreed to be an indoor cat, she started looking lonely and about that time a dark gray cat started hanging around. A LOT. CC was fixed so it wasn’t that, although that didn’t stop him from trying. (sheesh, men) He had a flea collar on but hung around our house so much, we decided finally to steal him make him an indoor cat too. We loved Gray Cat! He was so muscle-y and could jump from the floor to the top of the fridge or cabinets in a single leap. He was awesome and so lovable. UNTIL the punks that lived behind us asked me if I had seen a gray cat hanging around. Seems they had lost him. I told them no, but that I would keep an eye out for him. Turmoil sets in because I know he must belong to them but we wanted him. Even though the punks behind us acted like hooligans, I just couldn’t keep something that wasn’t mine, so I set Gray Cat out on the front porch and decided if he didn’t leave, I would bring him back in. He stayed most of the afternoon and then he left and we never saw Gray Cat again. We were all sad to see him go and we always wondered his fate.

Shortly after Gray Cat left us, a girl at work was giving away kittens. I immediately asked for one and she gladly agreed to have her boyfriend meet us after work with a girl kitten. She was so cute and the color of a perfect little pearl so I named her Pearl on the way home. (and she will be my pearl and I will call her pearl and she will be my pearl) CC was not happy but she mostly just avoided Pearl until Pearl was about 6 months old and became very playful and unavoidable. As Pearl got older and changed from pearl colored to tabby, we noticed something peculiar about her nether regions. Either this girl had a big puddin’ or something was wrong. So at her next vet check-up, the vet confirmed that Pearl was a boy! BN was working on his black belt in Aikido at the time and had to learn a lot of Japanese so Pearl became Kubi, which is Japanese for neck. BN thought Kubi was so clever that he started calling him Little Kubi and started calling CC, Big Kubi. Poor CC now had yet another name. But since Kubi ends in that eee sounds, she came running just like before when we called her.

Unfortunately, Big Kubi never really did take a real liking to Little Kubi and because his hair was so fine, even at 3 years old, we decided to give him to a friend who had just lost her own cat. We hated giving him away, but that fine hair really irritated BN’s allergies and we never could break him from spraying the house so we felt that was best. I visited Little Kubi and he really prospered in his new home. When Little Kubi left, Big Kubi didn’t show the same sadness she did when Gray Cat left. So again, I felt better about letting him go to a loving friend.

Big Kubi or just Kubi (since there is no need for distinction now) will be 10 years old this November. Old girl has been through a lot with us including 3 moves and 2 rambunctious boys. She lets them dress her up and she sneaks up and sleeps on the foot of Pete’s bed, and she endures their crazy kind of love. She loves her treats and those little mice with fake fur. She growls and grunts and hisses at BN when he rough houses with her, but you can tell he is her favorite because she always walks up and PLOPS down next to him to get more. She also plays hide and seek with him. Weird.

And at night, like right now, she waits for me to pull out the throw blanket and settle on the sofa so she can snuggle up beside me in her nighttime nest. I love whats-her-name.

Dirty Little Secrets

I have a confession. Actually two. #1 I accidentally stole a Sept 2008 Parenting magazine from the doctors office today. And for some odd reason I thought that was last year since it's 2009. Wait it was last year. I meant last, last year. #2 "I don't like my kids these days" was the headline that grabbed me.

The magazine was in my hands when the NP handed me the new prescription for Repete (letter size paper) which I laid on top of the magazine while she and I talked. I walked out and after realizing I still had the magazine, decided to keep it since I really wanted to read that article. Pete is still asking why I stole it. Which leads me to #2.

The full title is "I don't like my kids these day" Mom's guilty (normal) secrets

I think the long, long December I just experienced contributed to some of those feelings. Pete is also considered a tween and he is starting to act like one.

• Knows less than he thinks he does


• Argues his point well past my tolerance levels


• Antagonizes his little brother


• Never does anything wrong


• Is always "being yelled at" (his words)

And on and on.

I'm going to go read this article now and find out why I shouldn't feel guilty.

~R

ps if anyone knows how to make that way-too-cute knitted pom-pom necklace, I'm all ears.

It's finally over.

This will be short. We head to the in-laws today to finish up what has become a very long Christmas. My MIL and BIL own a restaurant and they closed the doors on January 1st so last weekend was just too hectic for a family get-together. Today is Christmas with the inlaws.

Come back tomorrow for Fun Monday.

~R

It ain't right!

(Pete has confiscated my old point and shoot)

It's bad enough for a mother to desperately watch the clock just waiting for the little hands to tick their way to bedtime...for the kid's, that is. Especially, when the kids have been naughty and you've just had enough.

It's another thing to watch that same bedtime clock when the kid's have been good. Although you've enjoyed their awake time immensely...Photoshop is calling.

~R

YMC-A55holes

I went to the gym today as I do about every fourth month ready to have someone else watch my kids while I enjoyed a brisk walk around the indoor track.

Before I even get there, a friend we are meeting calls to tell me the new age restrictions. As of 1/2/08, the Child Watch only caters to children 6 weeks to 7 years old. The Interactive Zone, which caters to the older group, doesn't open until 3pm. Your children 8 and over can work out with you if you like. AS IF.

Pete turns 8 this month. So I ask the front desk what now? He can't go in the child watch. He can't go in the Interactive Zone. I don't want him to workout with me anymore than he wants to workout with me. He wants to play. Where would they like him to go? Should he sit in the lobby and THEY can watch him? I walked off before she could even answer.

Front desk girl tracks me down and shows me the fitness schedule. It shows things like cycling, aerobics, yoga etc. Pete doesn't like his bike so cycling is out. He would NEVER dance around with a bunch of women, so that's out. Yoga, give me a break. It's about quiet and inner reflection. He only knows one volume - LOUD - and his world revolves around him and he believes the world shares that view. Yoga? Out! I thank her for nothing and leave her in my dust.

My friend finishes her workout and takes a peek at the so-called "child friendly" schedule the desk girl had shown me. Not only do many of them require the child to be 12 to even attend, but the one that took place during my favorite workout time slot...Prenatal Yoga.

I can't believe Pete and I missed out on that one.

~R

Thank You

Thank you to Kaytabug for sending me a real live Birthday card way back in early December. Her card helps save the oceans. What a sappy treehugger. Sweet!

Thank you to Robin for sending me a little gift for entering her contest even though it had ended already. Just never mind the empty candy wrappers. She called it a Surcie and even though my family has been in North Carolina since its beginning, I've never heard this word. Fun!

You girls are too nice!

~R

January

You know what stinks worse than having a December birthday? Having a January birthday. And guess what December kid has two boys with birthdays in January. Yes, that's right, I do!

I had decided this year that I didn't want to have birthday parties for the boys and it's for a couple of reasons. Their birthdays are a week apart and it's a whole lotta work! Last year was the first time we had an official party for RePete. Our friends have children Pete's age and Repete's age or at least very close. We've been lucky because when we get together, they each have playmates their ages. So last year, I got the bright idea to have both of their parties together and we had it at our gymnastics location. They throw a great party and everyone had tons of fun. BUT it was so chaotic with so many children present that I needed a serious nap when we were done (but of course couldn't take one) and these parties are expensive. We don't have the luxury of having a party at the park (FREE) or having one in our backyard (FREE) because it is freezing outside. I did give Pete a Spy party at home two years ago, but after I bought all the entertainment and prizes and goody bags and food, I wasn't any better off.

So it is the curse of the winter baby to have to find suitable indoor places to party-hardy and it is the curse of the winter baby's parents to shell out the big bucks. These past few months, I thought instead of spending it all on parties, why not have a great family getaway. Something the boys would really love and BN and I could enjoy too. And really, my boys do not need more presents. Not just because Christmas just passed, but because they do not need anymore toys!!!

So BN agreed this would be a fine idea. RePete doesn't really care yet. Pete? Not happy. He wants all of his friends to come over, sleep over, eat, drink, bring presents and be merry.

Guess what? RePete turns four tomorrow! Aghhhh!! I had to get a few things at the store today so I picked up cake mix, icing, special plates, streamers, those blowie things and a card. I feel like the worst Mom ever. Then I called BN at work and said, "Did you remember tomorrow is RePete's birthday?" and he said, "Uh, not really." OMG we are the worst parents ever. So BN is going by the store at lunch to pick up his presents.

Pete's is next Wednesday. Aghhh!!

I think we are going to stick with our original plans. Next Wednesday, we'll have cake and streamers and presents from us. Maybe next weekend, I'll let the two neighbor boys come over and spend the night as a special thing for Pete. No presents. And then we'll head to The Great Wolf Lodge as a family.

Aghhh.

~R

Organization

I am bound and determined to find the best way to organize toys for the boys. Actually organize is a grand notion. I just want the floor to be clear and prevent the Lego bruising and late night tumbles that occur on a regular basis. How hard can it be to shove stuff into drawers. I do it all the time - hence the junk drawers. So here's the before and the after.

And I'm taking bets on how long the ATST remains upright? I'm guessing 3.5 days.

~R

365 & Happy New Year

Yes, that's right. I'm blogging 365 days this year which is pretty incredible since I only started last April so have not completed a full year yet in my regular blogging. It's also incredible and unbelievable because I've already ditched one blog - NASW- may she rest in peace - and since starting the new one in October 07, I've sworn to quit blogging about 85 of the 86 days or so I've blogged. So we'll just see what we'll just see.

For the first time in the history of my marriage to BN, we celebrated New Year's with other people. At least it is the first one we remember. Neither of us really drink and neither of us want to be on the road with all the people who do drink, so we've always been content to stay at home and watch the ball drop with one another. For the first 10 years of our marriage, everyone we knew was single and always went places to drink and celebrate. We didn't want to be on the road. Then we started having kids and not only do we not trust other people with our boys, but we didn't want to be on the road.

Now we have friends who have children and celebrate at home like us. This year we took our friends up on the offer to get together at their house. Children were welcome. That's our kind of partying. Yeah, I know, Woo-Hoo, right. Well it was.

The women played a game of Dominoes called Mexican Train (not sure why it's called this) and it was my first time ever playing Dominoes and I won! The menfolk all brought their personal Macs and played Command and Conquer together. The kids all played and played and played. I have to say we had a lot of fun, were in good company, and made it home safely. (they only live 10 minutes away on the back roads)

It was so exciting for our boys to bring in the New Year. They didn't have a clue what was going on until we counted down the ball dropping and Pete asked why and I explained that it was now 2008 and he asked if it was January and then he understood. I got to kiss three handsome men and I wasn't drunk.

How was your New Year?

~R