Octoblur Happened Again

I don't know what it is about the month of October, it seems to end before it begins!  It has been a frenzy over here!  We are all so happy to be getting out of the house, finding cooler weather, and taking part in fall activities.  This month, Jackie and I took a trip to Indiana for Jenny and Nick's wedding.  It was a wonderful time!  I learned that Jackie is a great little traveler, he loves his Indiana family, and that even when you're scared to do something (air travel with a 2-year old), sometimes you just gotta see what you're made of.  If you don't shoot, you don't score, right?  Thank you to all of you who helped make our family visit happen!  We'll be back!

 

Happy 14th, Kayleigh!

Today's the day you turn 14,
The best sum of two 7s I've ever seen.
Your beauty, courage, talent, and wit,
When it comes to perfection, you're as close as it gets.
I've known you since the tender young age of two,
and for the person you now are, I am so proud of you.
I love you Kayleigh.
Happy birthday to you!
9.23.14

Wonderful Weekend With Friends

Last weekend, I got to do what I haven't done in like, 3 years! which was spend some good quality time with my friend Jo Ellen.  I finally got to meet her youngest, my Godson Benjamin, as he and his Mama flew in from Denver so that we could all have a weekend together.  We had the best time ever!

The two boys were like little old men friends, no surprise--their mamas practically came into the world at the same time and don't remember a time not knowing each other.  It was so cute to see each one interact with the other.

We shared lots of laughs, a few tears, and even though it went by very quickly, I am so rejuvenated from the "therapy" of being with a lifelong bestie.  Here are some snaps of our time together!

The Back Page #16: The Cheese Stands Alone

• Whoever coined the phrase "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer" forgot to mention anything about the proximity of your wine glass.  Because keep that extra close, folks.

• Dr. Scholl, do you have any plans on designing a gel insert for slippers?  Cause let's face it, the high heels have retired and the gym shoes put themselves in a garage sale last year.

• The Farmer in the Dell is a nice little tune.  But I do disagree with the ending.  "The cheese stands alone?"  No.  No it doesn't.  It stands with me.  And we're making nachos.  Hi-ho the dairy-o.

• When you go to the store with your 2 year old, it's basically like playing Truth or Dare.  Like, truthfully, no--we don't really NEED to buy donuts.  But I don't dare you to take them out of his hands and put them back on the shelf.  There's definite flaw in that logic.

• Why is the word abbreviation so long?  

• I sometimes wish I had my own personal jester.  Oh wait, I DO have a jester.  "Jester minute, I can't wipe the booger off your hand until I'm finished going potty!" 

• I was informed by a random mom onlooker that allowing my toddler to use a binkie would be damaging to his future oral health.  I just leaned over to her, thanked her for her concern, and explained to her that I was pretty sure orthodontia is cheaper than psychiatry. 

The Waterpark...(A Quick Story)

So, our day at the water park was...well, let me start over.  It wasn't an actual water park.  It had water, a pool, a splash island with two fun toddler slides, and a big, menacing, bucket perched on hinges so that it could tower over us and soak everyone within a 5 mile radius.  And it happened approximately every 32 seconds.  Joy. 

It was so much fun for Jackie.  He got to showcase all of his water moves.  He explored with and without his water shoes.  He stayed above water, and then he plunged in like an injured sea lion, only to pop back up with a smile on his face as he happily rubbed the water out of his eyes.  He gained confidence by the second, and since we haven't enrolled him in official swim lessons yet, I was happy with his progress having no formal training. 

I followed him up the stairs.  Down the stairs.  Around every corner of splashy surprise until I saw him catch my eye as he told me with just a look that he was ready to try the slides.  Oh boy.  I wasn't ready.  Being there by myself, the math was simple.  One of me was not enough to ensure that this didn't end in a heart attack with a side of disaster.  How could I be both at the top to make sure he goes down ok, and also at the bottom to catch him at the same time? 

No matter because I didn't have time to wonder.  He was already up at the top, and he was pulling away from me, pleading for me to let go of him.  I let go.  But then as he disappeared down the slide, it dawned on me. 

$#!t!  I gotta go too. 

So, I thump-thumpity-thumped down the toddler slide and found Jackie waiting for me at the bottom, clapping and cheering for me.  The little sweetheart.   

After we left, I had to change Jackie's clothes and put him into a dry diaper.  Note to self: don't give your toddler Pringles right before he's going to sneeze four times and spray them on every square inch of the back seat, plus on you.  There's your share, Mommy.

Post Story Disclaimer: I have no pictures of this adventure.  And that's for the best.

New Rules For 2

So a mom, a pediatrician, and a two year old walk into a bar.  The doc sits down and orders a shot of Tequila.  The two year old asks for a Sprite, light ice, extra cherries.  The bartender looks over at the mom, anticipating her request.  

"Wait, what?  Someone is actually going to wait on me??  She asked in disbelief.  

[Joke ends here due to excessive fictional content.]

"Balancing it all" is a misleading phrase if you ask me.  It sounds like having to keep a promise you didn't know you were making.  If life is a juggling act, then some balls are gonna fall.  There are baby steps some days and giant leaps on others.  Besides--juggling acts aren't all they're cracked up to be.  (Think swords and anything on fire).

This being said, here are my life adjustments inspired by living with a 2 year old. 

New Rules For 2

• Knowing you don't have to keep everything.  Seriously, when you get the itch, just pitch.

 

• Filtering out scrutiny.  As much as needed.  And ignoring dirty looks.  Oh, no she didn't.  The nerve!

• Just buy more paper towels.

• Allowing yourself room to step back and watch.  Many others have done this before. 

• Being flexible and then some.  Switching gears easily is a skill no sane parent is without.  It's kind of like having required Adult ADD.  Just go with it. 

• Reminding yourself that dinner doesn't have to be cooked by you every night.  That's what pizza and take-out numbers are there for.

• Just buy more wine.  Or have it delivered too.

• Realizing that even though you took the time to make and serve vegetables, don't do your victory dance just yet.  If they lay there, cold and dejected on the plate, count that as a win next to having them cold and dejected on the floor.

• Knowing that hurry up and go to sleep cause it's starting ALLLLLL over in a few hours.

• Just buy more band-aids.

• Learning to accept that word "no."  It will be thrust at you 24/7 for the next several months.

• Understanding that "crazy" has a new meaning now.  Like, 5 years ago, you may have thought that your neighbors or Black Friday was crazy.  Now, it's that you have to lock the door and hide in the bathroom just to be able to go pee by yourself. 

• Just buy more M&Ms.

• And finding that time for a date night so that you can temporarily step back into the grown up world and remember why you got on this ride to begin with.