Friday Moments

Friday moments, as usual, with SouleMama. If you have some moments to share, please leave a comment with a link.

Sadly, we're back on antibiotics over here. The big boy's got an ear infection, so it was popsicles for lunch again one day this week.

A popsicle makes everything better, no?

Despite his healthy-baby-status, you can't  break out the "pop-sah-coes" without even distribution.

Check out that sweet cowlick he's workin' on the left side of his head.

Then one night we had an indoor hockey tourney - complete with appropriate headwear.

Hat + wooden spoon + soccer ball = hockey.

And (sensing a theme here?) the wee one was not to be left out of the festivities.

Striped hat. Striped shirt. Grey sweats. Tigger socks.
What? It's a sweet outfit.

Oh yeah, and we mustn't overlook the wee taste of spring we've been blessed with. Fifty degrees in New Hampshire, in February? Ditch the coats, man. That's downright balmy!

Cuz we loves us some sunny weather.

You, on the other hand, wee baby - you need a coat. Yeah, I know your bro's not wearing his coat, but I don't care - I'm the mama and I make the rules.

Keep all three wheels on the ground there, Evil Kenevil.

That's it, Gang. Our week in review. Not bad considering we've been blessed with another ear infection. Hope your week a good one. Yes? No? What are you up to this weekend?
xo

Don't hurry someday

I find myself wishing for "someday" to come, but unfortunately the progress of time doesn't stop when you reach that point you were waiting for.

Someday  ...


Someday he will poop in a potty, and I will be entirely uninvolved.
Someday he will rise to an alarm clock and get ready for work - in a house that is not mine, in another town or state.

***

Someday he will drink enough milk without bribery, trickery or cajoling.
Someday he will encourage me to take vitamin D and calcium, perhaps a can of Ensure.

***

***

Someday he will eat a vegetable.
Someday he will order asparagus with hollandaise in a fancy restaurant, sitting across the table from someone he cares about - while I am at home watching Jeopardy.

***

Someday he'll make a friend.
Someday I will not be the first person he calls when something big happens.

***

Someday he'll get himself dressed.
Someday he'll wear a suit that was not of my choosing, or purchasing, to an event I'm not attending.

***

Someday he'll stop trying to break the computer.
Someday I'll ask him to come over and teach me how to use, or fix, the computer.

***

Someday he'll learn to entertain himself a little.
Someday an entire day, or more, will go by where I won't hear his voice.

***

***

Someday he'll stop having tantrums in public places.
Someday I'll embarrass him.

***

Someday he'll stop being terrified of the doctor.
Someday he'll offer to come with me to a doctor's appointment where I am terrified.

***

Time's a horrible thing.  Too slow in getting to where I want to be, too fast in getting where I don't want to go.

Right now.

Inspired by SouleMama's post on monday. That mama never fails to inspire this mama.

Right now I am...

Eating popcorn for lunch. Yum.

Listening to the fuzzy hum of two quiet baby monitors. Bliss.

Proud to have finished up two recertifications for work this  month. See you in two years!

Craving something ooey, gooey, and chocolate. Hello, Betty Crocker.

Mmm.

Loving all the remarkable, kind, awesome people who leave comments on this here blog. You rock!

Thankful for the snazzy lip gloss my trendy friend sent me as a pick-me-up. Yes, I know - I am so blessed.

Sometimes, I'm a lucky girl.

Enjoying the respite from sub-zero temps. California dreamin' on such a winter's day.

"Th-now"

Sending healing thoughts to a few people who are struggling - some who are close to me, and some who I've never met.

Reading a few great books The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club) and The Girl Who Played with Fire. Oh good, good stuff.

Thinking about what to have for dinner. Stir-fry, I do believe.

Dreaming about having a real, in-the-ground garden this year. No more plants-in-pots for this mama.

Requiring a cup of tea. Better finish up here and put the kettle on, those monitors aren't going to be quiet forever.

What are you up to at this very moment?

Hanging in.

I gotta admit, today I'm feeling a little bit better.

The boys and I were able to play outside today without all the layers. Sure we still need lots of layers, but even skipping one makes a big difference to this mama.

It was warm enough to skip the epic battle over mittens for the wee one.

The wee one seemed to think it was warm enough to start thinking about golfing season, and I wasn't about to correct him.

Cute, ain't he?

The big boy, on the other hand, is still entrenched in hockey season - although he did follow his brother's lead and whack around a golf ball with his stick for awhile.

How long before I catch a golf ball travelling at 35 mph
to the side of the head do you think?

The biggest bummer of the day was forgetting to take shoes off at the door when dashing in to change a poopy diaper. Muddy shoes + off white carpet = irritated mama. But luckily, it wasn't anything a quick pass with the vacuum couldn't fix.

Dangit!

Last week I had a lot of mommy guilt, my behavior was not stellar, and sometimes catching myself in the middle of losing my temper with the kids is enough to snap me back to reality. That screaming, out of control mama is not who I want to be.

One day last week the big boy told me in no uncertain terms, "I want daddy. I want mama to go to work. I want daddy to stay home." Ouch. I tried to ignore it, but it struck a nerve.  Eventually, when he kept pushing it, I lost my temper. Yelled at him, made him cry. Guilt-ridden, I talked the whole thing over with my sister who helped me to realize that his request for his daddy made me feel like he was finally confirming my suspicion that I am, indeed, a bad mother.

Today, armed with that nugget of insight, when he again asked for his daddy - we called him on the phone. Sure, "I want daddy" still stings a little - but I can take it - I'm the mama.


The learning curve. I hate, hate, making mistakes when it comes to the kids. I should never yell at him - I feel so ashamed when I lose my temper. But, I'm learning. I am human. I make mistakes, and then I try to do better.

Today we did a little bit better. Sure, there were moments when I still felt frustrated and exhausted - but I'll take it. Progress, not perfection.

Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day, Gang.

I hope your day is filled with flowers and chocolates.

I would like to humbly thank the Hallmark company for making this moment possible.

But the love doesn't stop there.  There are so many ways to say "I love you," right?

How about heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast.

Okay, fine.  Vaguely heart-shaped. Or mickey mouse shaped. Whatever.

And homemade treats that an egg-allergic boy can enjoy.

Oh, sticky, crispy, goodness.

I think nothing demonstrates true love like sharing something that really was meant for keeping all to yourself.

My dear Hubs, I love you this much.

Then there's that defining parental-love moment, when the wee one requests, " 'gain?" After you've already read this particular book fourteen times in the last twenty minutes.



But Hubs, he never let's 'em down. "Sure, bud." he says.

Although I have to admit, I'd rather be reading that book than demonstrating my love by wearing this smelly blanket on my head. 

"Hat!"

Love. Love. Love. In all it's many forms. Sure our long walks on the beach have been replaced by taking turns with poopy diapers and middle-of-the-night rocking chair sessions, but it's all the same at the core.  Love in the trenches might not be as picturesque as those honeymoon moments in Jamaica, but there's something profound, sturdy, and comfortable here - and that  is certainly something to celebrate.

Friday moments

Friday moments with Soule Mama again. If you have a moment (or several - you rule breaker, you) to share, please leave a comment with a link.

This week hasn't been the best, or the most joyful week I've ever had - but we made it through. And even during a week like this one, I can look back and pick out a few moments that I'm happy to savor and share.

There were baby-on-the-mend moments.

I feelin' better, Mama.

There were brotherly moments with footie pajamas.

There was that one moment when I found the big boy asleep outside his new big boy bed.

Napping just slightly under the bed.

There were snacking-in-the-sunshine moments.

Let's stand in this sunbeam and pretend it's summer.

There were ecstatic I-love-my-brothers-remote-controlled-racecar moments.

Just, for the love of God, do NOT turn it on. Oh the horror.

Then there was this moment while watching "Da Bwoo-ins."

"I want to we-yah my Bwoo-ins hat, Mama."

You know, that's a pretty good assortment of moments, especially for a week that was full of funk for this mama. It may not have been the week I wished for, but it was the week we had, and we'll never have it back again. So, I'm happy to sift out some good stuff from the not-so-good stuff, and forge ahead into next week, knowing there will be a few good moments sprinkled into that week as well.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you have a great weekend.

The bath.

I'm coming to you today from the bathroom. The bathroom? Yes, indeed.

Dude, don't be hatin' on my sweet slippers.

We're in a state of flux with the big boy. His transition to a big boy bed has wreaked havoc with his nap. If he sleeps, he wakes up horribly weepy and grouchy. If he doesn't nap, then mama doesn't get a break - and I end up weepy and grouchy.

For today, we have compromised with a tub at nap time. He's quietly entertaining himself, blissfully happy and smiling, and I am sitting here typing away and feeling (I have to admit) just as relaxed as if he were tucked away in bed. The room is warm and the sound of the water is soothing, his sweet face is there for me to peek at whenever I pause.

For me, this has been one of the tricks of parenthood. Just when I think our daily routine is grooving - with things moving predictably - a monkey wrench arrives and throws everyone out of whack. Slowly, oh-so-slowly, I have learned to let go of the old routine, improvise during these times, and wait for the new routine to emerge. It has not been an easy lesson for me to grasp.

I remember when he gave up his morning nap - I couldn't handle it, I tried everything to keep our routine unchanged - which resulted in misery and frustration for both of us.

But this time, I acknowledged the change was coming, and have tried to be open minded about it. What do we all really need? The wee one needs to be in bed between 12 and 2. I need some quiet time to clean, cook, and fart around on the computer. The big boy needs some down-time. In truth, there are lots of ways for us to get our needs met, if I can loosen my death grip on the way I think the afternoon should go.

No, I do not have forty-seven bottles of baby
soap - the empties are toys, ya ninny.

I am not a type-A personality (remember the open almonds bag?) but I do like my routines when it comes to the kids, and it is hard for me to tolerate changes. I am slowly learning that when I find myself digging my heels in, thinking this is going to be awful, I am usually wrong. It's going to be different and the transition may be challenging for a short while - but if I am open minded and a little creative, we all survive.

And the craziest thing of all? The way I feel right now, hanging in the bathroom with him - it's the best I've felt in days. Sure, life is still kind of funk-y right now, but I've got this wee tiny warm fuzzy feeling right this moment - and that's something. Once again my son, my beautiful brown-eyed boy, is teaching me that changes don't have to be bad. Roll with it, Mama.

He's a good teacher, even when I am slow-witted.