It's the weekend. Supposed to stay up late and sleep in, right? Well, only half of that equation has been fulfilled. Hubby and I stayed up until 3am chit-chatting and watching the Time Travelors Wife last night-Friday (I cried throughout the entire darn movie, but even hubby shed a couple tears). Unfortunately for me, Angel is developing an awful good memory. I had promised her on Friday afternoon that I would take her to the zoo tomorrow (Saturday/today). She now knows what "tomorrow" means as well.
===7:16am I am awakened by the plop-plop of some little bare feet running into our room and then, "Mommy! We go to the zoo today!" .......... WAAAYYY too cheery for me only having 4 hours of sleep. I'm able to lay in bed for another 10 minutes by letting her climb in bed with us. Then, I steal another 5 minutes of rest by telling her to turn on the tv in the living room (note to self: when going to bed, turn the channel to Disney so she can watch cartoons BY HERSELF in the AM).
===7:32AM out of bed, but not voluntarily.
===8:15AM out the door. Go to KMart to compare cost of luggage for our trip in April. Manage to waste about 45 minutes there since zoo doesn't open until 9. Realize I have a low tire so stop at a gas station to fill it. (I'm going to be sooo mad if that tire needs patched since just replaced them)
===9:20AM Pull up to zoo gate and realize that from Nov-Mar they don't open until noon. >:( Have a *very* upset little girl. Have to pinky swear to come back and also bribe her with the park and a hershey bar to stop crying/screaming.
===9:30AM Playing at the park. Realize that it's still only freakin' 30 degrees outside with no sunshining yet!! Keeping warm by running around and in playground equipment.
===10:30AM Angel finally admits that her hands are numb. Still takes 10 minutes of chasing and threatening time-out for her to get in the van.
===10:50AM Park in Aggieville to browse the Dusty Old Bookshelf. Am hoping to find a Disney World tour book. End up finding a treasure-trove of pre-K to 2nd grade learning books, a new Nora Roberts novel, and one of those books that tell you how to fix everything with a can of coke, cheerios, and vicks vapo-rub (did you know that can clear acne?!?!).
===11:30AM Grab sandwiches at Pita Pit (love it!). Bribe Angel to sit still at a table with a bag of doritos.
===11:50AM Brought lunch home since zoo is still not open and don't want a repeat tantrum. Pop in her new Tinkerbell video hoping I can catch a nap. No such luck.
===12:20PM Leave home for the zoo. Again.
===12:30PM Stop at WalMart for......oh who cares! WalMart is my mini-vacation timeshare.
===1:30PM Zoo is open!!! Temp is finally up to about 40 degrees. mucho wamer-o.
===2:45PM Seen all the zoo. I'm tired from pushing her in the stroller. (note to self to workout more) Have to trick Angel to leave the zoo by telling her I have chocolate in the van. I'm starting to notice this bribery deal we've got going on. Not sure if I'm a fan of it, but hey, it works.
===2:50PM Have to stop at a quick shop to get Hershey. seriously.
===3:15 PM home!
===3:17 PM Angel has taken off all her clothes and is demanding a bath. I really do think I have a budding nudist-colony member as offspring. Kinda cute, but I feel embarassed for the pizza delivery person when Angel beats me to the door.
Whew. Still no nap for either of us. At least she can't quite tell time yet. I convinced her the clock chiming at 8:00 was actually 9:00 bedtime and I "let" her stay up for an extra half hour. Fell asleep on the couch for a few minutes at 8:45. I'm almost ashamed to say that -- dangit, I'm not even 30 yet and I have a hard time staying up past my DAUGHTERS bedtime!! Have at least managed to finish our estimated budget for the Disney trip in April. Now if only I could finish our dang taxes so we could have the refund in time to spend. Yeah, right -- as if the messed up gov't would d.......zzz...zzz...zzz...sorry, nodded off. Night all!
About Me
- Sandy Myers
- Manhattan, Kansas, United States
- I'm a 33 year old woman finding her own way in life, while being a mother of almost 7 yr old girl Angel, going to college full-time and working as many hours as i can to get by. I've lived in Kansas all my life growing up in SW and now living in The ne corner for 12 years. My ex is a medically-disabled/retired OIF/OEF veteran (TBI,PTSD) and my daughter is topping the scales on height and knowledge of her age. I'm just along for the ride sometimes :)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Transitioning from a woman to a mom
I've noticed that I have considerably changed from pre-baby days until now. Granted, my poor body will never recover from the 60 pounds (!) I gained during pregnancy or the c-section and breast-feeding afterwards. I'm talking about the changes in how I think, how I react, how I live. I'm sure most, if not all, moms do the following also:
1. I never think twice about wiping my child's runny, snotty nose on my own sleeve. A sleeve attached to an expensive sweater that is dry-clean only. While standing in line at Wal-Mart.
2. No matter what purse I use (or when considering a new one to buy), I always make sure there's room for a diaper (now pullup) and wipes. Then inevitably, that same purse ends up with kleenex, child strenth tylenol, at least 4 crayons, a small notepad, package of crackers or fruit snacks, a container of bubbles, a sucker or 6, at least 2 chapsticks (so that I can have one too), a couple tiny hair ties and usually my daughter's Leapster. Now if only I can find room for a cold beer in there....
3. My sense of smell is heightened, yet dramatically dulled when needed. I can smell when my daughter poops her pants from the next room, but don't gag when I have to clean it up (or that dreaded spoiled-milk vomit babies get)
4. When picking out my own clothes for the day, I actually think of how fast and how often I will have to run after my daughter.
5. After the initial panick, I actually cherish the 20 seconds of quiet time when Angel wants to play hide-and-seek in the clothing racks at Walmart. As long as I hear the occasional giggle and pit-pat of those size 11's, I know she's close enough that I can track her down.
6. I seriously start panicking when the house is quiet. I instinctly know that Angel's usually up to no-good. Occasionally it's just that she played too hard and has now fallen alseep in the middle of Blues Clues.
7. I am bi-polar. I can be sooooooo mad at my child for breaking something very expensive, but when she looks at me with those tear-filled eyes and says "I'm sorry mommy. I love you" I immediately turn softy. Superman has nothing on my personality switch.
8. When I dress my daughter for a day out and about together, I actually like to make her my "Mini-me". Nothing too extreme but I think it's cute if we have the same color-scheme going. Khaki pants, pink t-shirt, white sneakers for both of us. I guess maybe that's one of those "Does That Make Me Crazy" submissions on Kid Kraddik's radio show. :)
9. I hate kids. Maybe that's a bit strong. I dislike kids. They're loud, annoying, selfish, snot-nosed. Good in very very small doses. HOWEVER -- I love love love my daughter. And I'm quickly becoming much more tolerant around others' offspring. Don't take the training wheels away yet though. I'm a proud mama and no one else's kids will ever be as smart, attractive, witty, or creative as my own. On that note....
10. I sometimes wonder if my daughter was body-snatched and replaced with the spawn of the devil. Tantrums are horrible, but the all-day moodiness of a 3 year old is the worst. I fear when she hits puberty.
11. It's almost impossible for me to leave somewhere without asking if anyone "needs to go potty?" Yes, I did say this to friends on a night of drinking and we were bar-hopping. I have been able to restrain myself much better since.
12. Nothing -- and I mean absolutely nothing -- tops the day when your child first says "I Wuv you Mommy". :)
1. I never think twice about wiping my child's runny, snotty nose on my own sleeve. A sleeve attached to an expensive sweater that is dry-clean only. While standing in line at Wal-Mart.
2. No matter what purse I use (or when considering a new one to buy), I always make sure there's room for a diaper (now pullup) and wipes. Then inevitably, that same purse ends up with kleenex, child strenth tylenol, at least 4 crayons, a small notepad, package of crackers or fruit snacks, a container of bubbles, a sucker or 6, at least 2 chapsticks (so that I can have one too), a couple tiny hair ties and usually my daughter's Leapster. Now if only I can find room for a cold beer in there....
3. My sense of smell is heightened, yet dramatically dulled when needed. I can smell when my daughter poops her pants from the next room, but don't gag when I have to clean it up (or that dreaded spoiled-milk vomit babies get)
4. When picking out my own clothes for the day, I actually think of how fast and how often I will have to run after my daughter.
5. After the initial panick, I actually cherish the 20 seconds of quiet time when Angel wants to play hide-and-seek in the clothing racks at Walmart. As long as I hear the occasional giggle and pit-pat of those size 11's, I know she's close enough that I can track her down.
6. I seriously start panicking when the house is quiet. I instinctly know that Angel's usually up to no-good. Occasionally it's just that she played too hard and has now fallen alseep in the middle of Blues Clues.
7. I am bi-polar. I can be sooooooo mad at my child for breaking something very expensive, but when she looks at me with those tear-filled eyes and says "I'm sorry mommy. I love you" I immediately turn softy. Superman has nothing on my personality switch.
8. When I dress my daughter for a day out and about together, I actually like to make her my "Mini-me". Nothing too extreme but I think it's cute if we have the same color-scheme going. Khaki pants, pink t-shirt, white sneakers for both of us. I guess maybe that's one of those "Does That Make Me Crazy" submissions on Kid Kraddik's radio show. :)
9. I hate kids. Maybe that's a bit strong. I dislike kids. They're loud, annoying, selfish, snot-nosed. Good in very very small doses. HOWEVER -- I love love love my daughter. And I'm quickly becoming much more tolerant around others' offspring. Don't take the training wheels away yet though. I'm a proud mama and no one else's kids will ever be as smart, attractive, witty, or creative as my own. On that note....
10. I sometimes wonder if my daughter was body-snatched and replaced with the spawn of the devil. Tantrums are horrible, but the all-day moodiness of a 3 year old is the worst. I fear when she hits puberty.
11. It's almost impossible for me to leave somewhere without asking if anyone "needs to go potty?" Yes, I did say this to friends on a night of drinking and we were bar-hopping. I have been able to restrain myself much better since.
12. Nothing -- and I mean absolutely nothing -- tops the day when your child first says "I Wuv you Mommy". :)
The World of being a Mom
Well, everyone has heard it over and over again...Being a mom is hard work. And no one really appreciates that statement better than a mom herself. Yeah, dad's are in the mix too, but truly not as involved as a mom.
Being a mom is a full time job 24/7. I actually consider the hours I spend at my job as my "time off" from being a mom, but I'm always on call. :) There's no 1 title that really sums up all a mom does. If Angel gets sick at daycare, I leave work to pick her up and become "dr mom". If she's lonely or needs a playmate, I'm her friend. Hungry, I'm a cook; makes a mess, I'm the maid. On the same day, I'm also a chauffer, motivational speaker, teacher, seamstress, fashion consultant, hair stylist, circus ringleader, tech support, events coordinator, laundress, therapist, and personal assistant. Ask any mom and she'll tell you the same - probably even have more to add to it!!
I have to say, I've never really appreciated all my OWN mom has done for me over the years until I joined the exclusive club myself 3 years ago. I call her up all the time asking her opinion on what I should do, how I should do it, and how she stayed sane from raising 6 kids herself! And yes, I still call my mom when I'm sick. Nothing she can really do but still it makes me feel better just hearing her voice. That's the magical power of moms. Can't really explain it, but it's there. Kinda like Love. :)
To add to the mix of my 3 1/2 year old daughter, I have my husband Jason. We've gone through a tough couple of years lately but are on the mend. He was injured in a plane crash in Mosul, Iraq on 2/23/2007 (2 days after our 4-year anniversary) serving our country in the US Army. Angel was 7 months old at the time and Jason had seen her three times -- first at the birth (he was able to take leave for this), then we took a road trip to Mississippi right before he deployed (Angel was 3 weeks old), and then during his two weeks of R&R in February 2007. He was actually headed back to war after his R&R when the plane hit the ground. Long story short, his left arm was dislocated at the shoulder from holding another soldier from rolling with the plane in mid-air and then was hit in the head TWICE with a 500-lb equipment toughbox. He had the worst of the injuries on the plane (God was trying to keep them safe) with the dislocated arm/nerve damage, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and the term every military-wife fears --PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). I won't go into all the details and story of recovery on this blog (wait for the future), but because of the brain injuries, Jason had the temperment of a 2-year old. He appeared normal to the outside world (except for a stutter and drugged appearance, well, because he was drugged) and so it was hard for anyone else to understand that I was really raising two babies as a single mom now. Thank goodness Jason wasn't affected in other ways for his development -- it was just the temper/selfishness/impatience/etc.
Anyway, this blog took a different turn so will close off now. :) Enjoy the reading and comment if you will! A Mom's job is never done and highly underpaid, although the perks of goodnight kisses, the hugs and kisses, the cute comments, and all that unconditional love makes up for the lack of sickdays. Let your mom know you love her and all she does!!!
Being a mom is a full time job 24/7. I actually consider the hours I spend at my job as my "time off" from being a mom, but I'm always on call. :) There's no 1 title that really sums up all a mom does. If Angel gets sick at daycare, I leave work to pick her up and become "dr mom". If she's lonely or needs a playmate, I'm her friend. Hungry, I'm a cook; makes a mess, I'm the maid. On the same day, I'm also a chauffer, motivational speaker, teacher, seamstress, fashion consultant, hair stylist, circus ringleader, tech support, events coordinator, laundress, therapist, and personal assistant. Ask any mom and she'll tell you the same - probably even have more to add to it!!
I have to say, I've never really appreciated all my OWN mom has done for me over the years until I joined the exclusive club myself 3 years ago. I call her up all the time asking her opinion on what I should do, how I should do it, and how she stayed sane from raising 6 kids herself! And yes, I still call my mom when I'm sick. Nothing she can really do but still it makes me feel better just hearing her voice. That's the magical power of moms. Can't really explain it, but it's there. Kinda like Love. :)
To add to the mix of my 3 1/2 year old daughter, I have my husband Jason. We've gone through a tough couple of years lately but are on the mend. He was injured in a plane crash in Mosul, Iraq on 2/23/2007 (2 days after our 4-year anniversary) serving our country in the US Army. Angel was 7 months old at the time and Jason had seen her three times -- first at the birth (he was able to take leave for this), then we took a road trip to Mississippi right before he deployed (Angel was 3 weeks old), and then during his two weeks of R&R in February 2007. He was actually headed back to war after his R&R when the plane hit the ground. Long story short, his left arm was dislocated at the shoulder from holding another soldier from rolling with the plane in mid-air and then was hit in the head TWICE with a 500-lb equipment toughbox. He had the worst of the injuries on the plane (God was trying to keep them safe) with the dislocated arm/nerve damage, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and the term every military-wife fears --PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). I won't go into all the details and story of recovery on this blog (wait for the future), but because of the brain injuries, Jason had the temperment of a 2-year old. He appeared normal to the outside world (except for a stutter and drugged appearance, well, because he was drugged) and so it was hard for anyone else to understand that I was really raising two babies as a single mom now. Thank goodness Jason wasn't affected in other ways for his development -- it was just the temper/selfishness/impatience/etc.
Anyway, this blog took a different turn so will close off now. :) Enjoy the reading and comment if you will! A Mom's job is never done and highly underpaid, although the perks of goodnight kisses, the hugs and kisses, the cute comments, and all that unconditional love makes up for the lack of sickdays. Let your mom know you love her and all she does!!!
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