Randomness...

Sometimes, I feel like I don't blog because I have nothing of any significance to share. Things at home are just well, same ole same ole! You know how it goes.... so I decided to implement a discussion on these random thoughts I have...

This morning's random thought - I thought long and hard (while in the shower) about why my house is always a FREAKIN' MESS and I am convinced that everyone's else's is just neat and tidy at all times. This makes me feel like a household failure. A failure as a mom... wife... happy homemaker. Oh - wait... I am NOT a happy homemaker.

That's it people. I really do DETEST all things "household chorish"! (is that a word?)

When I get home at the end of my day... after working all day long... somehow throwing something together for my children to eat... dealing with their evening shenanigans.... doing the bath thing (or sometimes not - for days - until they smell and I realize I am a HORRID parent)... and getting them to bed... the LAST thing I give two shits about doing is picking up the mess that they evening's activity created. Really. I am lazy at heart. It's true!

I would rather watch some crap TV show and rot my brain for an hour. After all, I used it all freakin' day!!!!!!! I would rather read a book that inspires me. I would rather stare at the freakin' wall and think of nothing at all. Seriously.... and I am content to do this in the midst of toys... dirty dishes... clothing piled up (hey at least I DID the laundry) and whatever else may be strewn about.

IT'S TRUE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! I am a closet slob. Come to my house and it will be picked up. Okay, maybe don't open closets or go in the basement... but it will be picked up... for I at least have to do a pretty good job of this every two weeks when the cleaning ladies come. But not today.... it's a mess... you can totally tell they are due to come this Thursday....

Although, I wonder how much more I would have to pay them to do the picking up too? WOULD BE WORTH EVERY PENNY!

I am generally put together... most of the time. Okay, okay, my car too is a freakin' disaster.. but generally.. I dress well... my hair is always done.. makeup on... but this is all at the expense of my house.

My house is clean... but shit is everywhere...... and it doesn't keep me up at night. I'm not ashamed. I can peacefully drift off into slumber.... while a pile of clean clothes sits at the bottom of my bed.

This is my truth.... I will never be good at household shit. Ain't gonna happen. No. Way.

And random thought number one.....

To be continued....

Walking, Drinking and Other Milestones...

BREAKING NEWS - LUKE CAN WALK!

Okay, it's not completely BREAKING news... he decided to start walking last Friday, March 13th! I predicted, as I watched him "practice" ever so slowly walking up and down our hallway, that he would be running by this weekend... and I was right! The boy has started walking and running and he is NOT looking back! Crawling is SO last Thursday!

He is officially a toddler now. And, really, it's no different for us, as it seemed like he isn't really getting into anything more than he was before. He was just getting into a LOT before! He is trouble on two legs now... but he has always been trouble!!

He had his 15 month appointment last week... and at it, we learned that he weighs over 26 pounds and is more than 32 inches long. He's pretty much wearing 18-24 month clothing exclusively now.... he's just our big boy!

He has also started drinking:

Don't call Child Protective Services on me.... the bottle was empty. Soon after this picture, we had to replace this glass bottle with a nice plastic Coke bottle as he kept dropping it on the hardwood floor and then, the ceramic tile. Amazingly, it didn't shatter... but the writing was on the wall.

Luke and I currently have a bit of a cold. His started at the end of last week and has prevented him (and me!) from getting a good nights' sleep. The boy is a grump of crazy proportions!!!! Not eating well (no great change there, he is a PICKY little eater) and whiny. WHINY!!!!! Needs to be held and not just held... but you have to STAND when you hold him? Don't they outgrow this?? It's exhausting... especially when MOM is sick too! I woke up with the scratchy throat and swollen glands this morning. Lovely. No time for this. I get sick every time one of the kids do. When do MY immunities kick in!?

Ally is doing quite well, but this past week has apparently turned 15. We seem to be getting a lot of teenage attitude lately! Not terrible... (nothing like we've had in the past!)... but she's talking back and talking bratty and sometimes I want to smack her. Can I say that? :-) You know what I mean here! Enough is enough sometimes! You CANNOT talk to me that way!

Scott also started having her do "chores" around the house for money this weekend. HA! She was somewhere with him and wanted something.. I don't know what it was. A special juice or candy... and Scott said NO! The girl thinks we are made of money and just does not really understand why we don't buy anything and everything (an example of do as I say not as I do - must NOT take her shopping with me anymore - HA!). At any rate... Scott told her she could earn some money to buy the things that we didn't want to buy her.... so she promptly came home that night and cleaned her room and the living room (scattered with toys - why we HAVE a playroom, I will NEVER know...).

The best part was that she sang "Money, Money, Money" (from Mamma Mia) the entire time! Seriously FREAKING HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!! She was so just doing it for the cash. The girl likes cold, hard cash.....

A dollar later... two rooms of my house picked up! Totally worth it. I am thinking we can really escalate this and save some serious coin by getting rid of our cleaning ladies! :-)

Okay, maybe not quite.....

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I hope you all have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!!! Whether you are drinking the day away, working (like me!) or taking care of your kids.... ENJOY yourself a little Irish in some way. Some green... be it beer or otherwise!!!!!

And a Happy Birthday to Papa!!!!! Scott's Dad's birthday is today... so all the boys are off for the day to play golf with him (it's going to be 70!) and drink some green beer. We will have dinner for him at our house this evening when the women in the family finishing working and watching the children. ;-)

Have a GREAT day everyone!!!!

"C" is for Cookie...

Our little guy is looking more and more like a toddler and less and less like a baby every day. He's just such a little man... and I love it! What I do not love lately, is his little temper! They boy has some anger issues that he needs some therapy for I fear! He likes to hit you after he kisses you and he also hits out of frustration. This is not a good thing.

He's so much more aggressive than Ally ever was. Boy/girl difference I am sure, but still... it's hard to get used to! He is more destructive... as he will happily bang toys on the TV... color on the walls and furniture and take a sharp object and gouge the crap out of an end table. I will not be investing in new furniture anytime soon... as this boy is destined to destroy our household in no time.

He also loves Cookie Monster. Lately, we have to give him his "Cookie" and sing him the "C is for Cookie" song at bedtime. He looks up and smiles and you and then, contentedly drifts off to sleep. He is SUCH a good "fall asleep-er"... but lately he really sucks at staying asleep! He has reverted to waking in the middle of the night. I know we've all been fighting this cold, so it's hard to know if he's not feeling well or if he's just back into the habit. But, it's awful either way.

If it weren't for his big baby blues and that dimple... I might have to sell him on the black market...

What is a mother to do with such a cute terror?? :-)

Cousins...

Ally's cousin Natalie came for a visit this weekend!!!!! We were so excited to have her stay and play! She is just the sweetest little girl and a joy to have over! SO EASY! She and Ally play so very well together and Ally was just so happy to have her.

We went to The Treehouse in Chelsea yesterday with Aunt Jane and cousin Grace as well. The girls had a blast playing the afternoon away, eating pizza, cookies and drinking pink lemonade! It was quite the junk food fest! There was some girl drama as the day wore on... but that is always to be expected. A little "she won't go on the slide with me and I want to go on the slide" crap! We left soon after all that started!

All-in-all the girls were just a dream together. We came home and they watched Kit Kittredge: An American Girl while Luke was napping. I can't believe they were both able to stay awake through the movie! I, myself fell asleep on the couch!!! :-)

Today, Papa took both girls to the Michigan State Gymnastics meet. We got the girls ready to go:

The best part will be when Natalie's daddy picks her up! Scott's brother Mark, went to U of M so we know how much he will appreciate this MSU t-shirt we put her in! HA!

They are so freakin' cute together!!!!! Poor Ally's nose is still so raw from her horrid cold... but other than that, they look adorable!!!! They both had to have pigtails. Natalie has this long, gorgeous hair that was so fun to do! Ally was coveting her straight hair and saying how badly she wished her hair were straight!

I hope they are having fun and that Papa is surviving! Aunt Jane and Grace are there too... so he has some support crew!

Busy, full weekend for us, with new babies and visits from cousins! A good time all around! Today I am trying to catch up on domestic crap... laundry... picking up (two girls are a whirlwind tornado!).... and preparing for the week ahead...

Welcome Baby Boy Wimsatt!

Our very good friends, Kristen and Mark had their baby boy this past Thursday, March 5th at 10:45 pm! The "not so little" guy came into the world weighing 9lbs 7oz and 22 inches long! My super hero friend Kristen had him in about 2 hours with no drugs... she joins the ranks of motherhood... and is adjusting just fine (well, as fine as you can after having just given birth and now trying to figure out how to CARE for this new life!!!). The family goes home today after a few nights in the hospital.

This was the boy just an hour or so after coming into the world! Alert and gorgeous!!!!!! Content in mom's arms.

Congratulations Mark and Kristen! We couldn't be happier for you and your new edition!!!!

It's Getting Harder and Harder to Breathe...

Holy hannah this cold SUCKS!!!! I woke up today not only extremely stuffed up and unable to breathe through my nose, but completely and totally dizzy. I am so dizzy I can barely see straight! I am truly hoping some sudafed helps here cuz this is unbelievable!

Yesterday, I picked Ally up from Nana and Papa's right after she got off the bus (along with Luke too) because my in-laws have the evil cold as well and I didn't want to burden them any more than needed! Ally was a wreck. Of course, she wanted to spend time with her Nana and most definitely did NOT want to come home. Once we get home, she is more than fine.. but the process is always an ordeal.

She was NOT looking good last night and actually asked me if she could NOT go to school today. She never asks such things as she absolutely LOVES school, so how could I say no to that??? She is obviously not feeling well. So, Luke, Ally and I are all home this morning... feeling miserable together. Luke seems to be handling it the best of all of us. He finally slept from 7:30 to 7:30. He's been having a tough time getting through the nights lately and waking at 6:00 am! Not acceptable!!!

So, everyone slept until about 7:30 this morning and we all got up and have had breakfast... I am pouring coffee down my throat as fast as I can in hopes that it, too will help me! I can't remember the last time my head was this congested and I was this PLUGGED!!!!! I can't stop sneezing or blowing my nose. SUCKS!

My creative little girl is sitting at the table next to me, making "glasses" out of paper! I kid you not, this kid amazes me sometimes with her creativity! She created paper glasses because she saw on the Today Show, a segment on glasses. She is now coloring them. I am beyond impressed. I have the creativity of a rock. ;-)

Luke is stealing her crayons and knocking over her box of crayons and generally trying to be a pain in the butt. She is completely patient with him. More patient than I am most days! She still continues to impress me when it comes to relating to her little brother. This morning she asked me "Mommy, is he the ONLY little brother I am going to have?"

HAHAHA!!!!! Oh yeah little girl..... this is it. No more little brothers or sisters for that matter! No more babies for me!

Which leads me to respond to some blogs I've recently read... it seems like a lot of women out there (that I come into contact with) are experiencing "baby fever!" As I read all of this, I cannot help but feel.... "what is wrong with me????" I have to admit... I have NEVER experienced such a phenomenon. Not at all. Not even before I had my two babies... I was never really crazy into having a baby.

Does that sound awful? Don't get me wrong... I love my children. I cannot imagine life without them... and I remember the feeling of really crazily wanting Ally. I miscarried my first pregnancy and I was devastated by the loss... so I was pretty crazy with wanting to have a baby right away just to KNOW THAT I COULD, ya know???? It was hard to lose your first and wonder if you would be able to conceive again or carry a baby to term at all. But, we had Ally, no problems, no complications.... pregnant on the "first try" after we could start trying again! LOL!!!

After Ally..... it took me a long.... long... long time before I was really ready to have another. I will freely admit to anyone who asks, that I was quite content with just Ally. But, Scott was another story... even Ally jumped on the sibling bandwagon. And, well, I wasn't opposed to it... I was just and am still not that "baby fever" girl... so I was content. Life was full for me... I didn't feel a part was missing.

Don't get me wrong! I love Luke! I cannot imagine life without him and I am thrilled we chose to have another... it is ten times the work (not just two times for some reason!) and he is a bigger challenge as a baby than Ally ever was... but he lights up our lives and he was meant to be here with us. This I know in my heart.

But, I am so done! :-) No more babies for me. No fever. No desire. Does this make me crazy? Different? Odd? It's hard to read all the blogs out there and wonder what is wrong with me that I do not possess this feeling at all! I hated being pregnant. The thought of the first six weeks of sleeplessness gives me hives.

Wow... how do I get off on these tangents? Forgive my rant.... my head is beyond not clear today!!!!!

Smooth Sailing...

Ally is doing GREAT! The surgery only lasted about 10 minutes.... she went in at 9:00 and we were talking to the doctor afterwards by 9:15. At about 9:30 we were allowed to go see her and we were totally out of there by 10:00!!! All's well that ends well!

She was a huge trooper! I was so very proud of her. The nurses said she was just a model patient. She absolutely "popped right up" when they brought her out of the anesthesia. That's our girl. She kept the nurses smiling and laughing and was so gracious to everyone. What a girl.

After we left, I took her to Blockbuster, where we rented Kit Kittredge and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Should make for a fun filled afternoon. I am still holding out that she naps at some point, so I can as I am completely exhausted. Woke up with the evil cold and got absolutely no sleep last night. Ugh. I am barely holding my eyelids up here and I've had more caffeine than anyone should!

Luke appears to have woken up with the evil cold too. When I spoke with my mother-in-law she said he had a horrid runny nose. Ugh. We're all goin' down.... :-) Hard to get healthy when you can't rest yourself because you're taking care of sick and recovering kids! Ah, I know. It's called parenthood! I should suck it up.....

I'm glad everything went well and here's hoping the healing happens with no infections or any side effects!!!

Surgery...

I am so happy to share that Ally was so brave prior to being taken back for surgery! She did NOT have to have an IV put in before she was put under. She will be put under via a mask that will send the meds in when she breathes. So much better than I thought!!!! She will have an IV when she wakes up that they will have put in after she is under. What a relief!!!!

This mornig was an absolute debacle. Luke was up half the night. Ally coughed the night away. I got no sleep and then, Luke decided to wake up at 6:00 am so that made all of us trying to get ready and out of the house on time a challenge. OMG - the kid was a disaster this morning!!!!! He better be teething or something. He's a little beast!!!

I woke up with the evil cold that Ally has had for a while and Scott came down with last week. It SUCKS! :-(. I was hoping I would escape the wrath, but no such luck. I am keeping my fingers crossed I can maybe catch a little shut eye this afternoon if Ally sleeps. Wishful thinking that won't come true I'm sure, but a girl can dream!!!!

Well, Ally should be in surgery right now and out very soon!!! So far, so good!!!! Will keep you posted...


-- Post From My iPhone

I Heart Chicago..

Do you ever feel that you belong somewhere? I do. Sometimes I really feel like I belong in Chicago. Yes, it's still the Midwest and it's as cold and dreary as Michigan... but there is something about the city of Chicago that brings me great joy and peace. Maybe it's because I DON'T live there... I don't know... but every time I go, it feels just like home.

This past weekend, Ally and I went to Chicago to stay with the Hopsons. Ally and Isabel are just the cutest pair ever and this weekend was no exception. They spent the weekend listening and dancing to Hannah Montana, playing with their mom's iPhones, putting on makeup, giggling and just being girls. It warms my heart to watch them and see, in them, the same friendship their moms have. How lucky are two best friends to have daughters that are best friends?

Let's see how they feel about one another in their teenage years. :-)

The weekend was full of shopping, sushi, martinis, talking, laughing, dancing, and hangovers. Everything a girls' weekend SHOULD be!!!!! The little girls went without the martinis and subsequent hangovers. HA!

We went to Rise... our absolutely favorite sushi place. They make the BEST ginger martinis in the world. Beth is partial to the key lime martini... but I'm a ginger girl.

We went to Moe's Tavern after Rise and drank more than we should have and danced the night away.....

Beth's wonderful husband, Scott watches the kids so we can have this time together when I go. We love you Scott!!!! You truly do rock to put up with our silliness and drunkenness!!! Not to mention, the additional people living in your household!

Ally never wants to leave when we go. It's the hardest thing getting her out the door and yesterday was no exception. I really had no desire to leave either as I am always so comfortable when I'm chillin' at the Hopson's casa.

We got home late last night and Ally and I are two tired girls, but it is always worth it for time with friends. Tomorrow Ally has her surgery at 9:00 am. She has to be there to register at 8:00 am and cannot eat breakfast or even drink any water. That should make for an interesting morning as I can already hear the whining.... "But I'm so hungry.... and thirsty...." I can hear it as clear as day in my mind's ear....

I hope it all goes well. It is a minor surgery, yes... but still always worrisome to have your child put completely "under."

Keep us in your thoughts!!!!!