Not quite a half year

A half year break from blogging that is! I've just been busy living, and if you're still reading this, please don't think I've not been reading your blogs. Trust me, there are plenty of feedings that are great opportunities for reading blogs via iPhone. This is going to be a mish mosh of thoughts and links as I'm short on time a lot these days!

Glad to know that other moms get overwhelmed http://samstermommy.blogspot.com/2011/01/mommy-pills.html I'm not taking any medication, and I think I'll make it without needing something. However, I completely understand what she's saying. Read the comments, too! One of the first comments mentions how most moms today don't have the support that our grandmothers had. I hadn't really thought of that. Amen.

Christy said this:
I've decided/realized that getting out of the house on my own REALLY cheers me up, so I'm having sitters visit us more often, and it's good for everyone.
Amen, again.
You can read more of her wisdom here.

I recently helped host a baby shower and was talking to a gal I've known since before kindergarten. She mentioned that a gal who went to high school with us who has eight (yes, 8) kids said that the hardest transition was from two kids to three. Thank you, I needed to hear that. With so many saying two to three is so much easier than one to two, I thought maybe I was doing something wrong! Don't get the wrong idea. I love having my three. It's hard work though, and there's not a lot of time to do every day things that really need to be done (cleaning and organizing around the house being the biggie for me).

Despite having zero time to sew, I went on a mini-buying spree a couple of weeks ago buying three new patterns (one for a tunic for me:) I keep telling myself that one of these days very soon, I'm going to have a bit of time to sew. When I do, wouldn't these elephants be fun?
I've noticed I have a thing for elephant prints.

So, I'm still here, just having a hard time finding time to blog, clean, sew, and the like :) I'll try not to be a such a stranger around here.

Week o'Fun

The boys were out of school this past week, so I decided we should have a fun thing every day (I sort of didn't decide this until Monday, though). However, our fun needed to be indoor fun because the pollen is crazy (check out Tasha's post about it), all of us seem to have allergies, and I don't want to take a bunch of medicine with the little bambino. Now Monday's fun was just a visit from their grandma which isn't that out of the ordinary, but it's all I had to offer. Tuesday, we went to our local county museum which has a water table to teach about water pollution, how rivers were and are used for transport, etc. It was the hit of the museum visit, and the covered wagon toy that you used a barge to float across the river fit perfectly with our start of Little House on the Prairie. They could have played at that water table for hours. We took in a planetarium show while there, too. Wednesday, we went out for ice cream after supper with Daddy. Ice cream = fun. I had low fat but should have gone ahead and gotten a mix-in of Butterfinger (it would just have been a wee bit). Thursday was another museum trip recommended by Mel. This one had some bears to see (which H is really into right now), but the biggest attractions turned out to be a puppet theater where H could put on his own puppet show with two bear, an eagle and an otter puppets and for W, the fish tanks. Maybe a trip to a big aquarium will be on our vacation to-do one day. We ended the week with meeting Daddy for lunch on Friday.

It really was a fun week, and I am proud of myself for taking the little guys out on my own some. I even did my exercise DVD four out of the five weekdays (go me! and yes, I am getting a little worried about my weight gain). I really enjoyed not having to spend four mornings rushing around trying to get everyone ready for school, nagging everyone to get moving, feeling my blood pressure rise because we are late again. It's strange, but I almost think I might have gotten more done than during a school week. Maybe it was just more done around the house. Still, it reminds me of how I actually find school days harder than just keeping the children at home. I have been wondering whether I really want to send #3 to preschool at age 2. I know lots of children really enjoy and get a lot out of it, but it costs $$, it stresses me... Just not sure. H is to start kindergarten this fall (a very short time after my due date!), but I have thought some about homeschooling. I'm just not sure I could do it. Or maybe that we could do it. H is not the easiest child to direct, and I am not pro-active about anything social (you know, making sure he had interaction with others his age, sports, etc.) I read a great post about one woman's decision to homeschool that has me thinking. For now, though, I think we will plan to give kindergarten a try.

Sanity Keepers

Sanity keeper #1 - knowing Spring is coming. Maybe slowly, but it's coming! And once it's here? H can wear what Mel has christened his jams. I think they'll be great for playing outside and lounging around the house in the summer. I used the bandanna pants tutorial from Blue Yonder Ranch.

#2 and #3 -Knitting and Reading (not at the same time, I'm not that advanced) When W is getting his hair cut, he usually looks at pictures on my iPhone. I have pictures of my knitting and sewing projects on there, and the gal who cuts his hair asked, "How do you have time to do that?" meaning knitting in this case. My first thought was, "I have to." I guess for me knitting is pretty therapeutic and, for someone who adores crossing a to-do off my list, the sense of completing something is so nice. So, I wondered, how does someone not do it? I know knitting isn't for everyone, but for me knitting and reading are sometimes my "sanity-keepers" if you will. (I wish I could say sewing was the same, but let's just say not yet, just not as natural to me yet). If I didn't have these hobbies to help me feel that I am accomplishing something and let me escape a bit, I'd be crazy (or crazier). What's keeping you sane?

Secret Life of Grime

With my turn to host book club coming up (next Friday!), I am getting ready to do some pretty deep cleaning. If I am to be honest, this is the only time my kitchen gets the good cleaning it needs (cabinet doors wiped clean, baseboards, chair rails, the works). So, I was wondering if I am the only person who has specific spots that I clean, that I wonder if others clean. I am a germophobe but not a neat freak at all. When I am in others' homes, I am looking at their decor, particularly the walls, as I tend to go bare-walled compared to others, not how clean their houses appear. However, there are a few specific places I do look at and wonder, "have they cleaned that?" Today, I was cleaning one of those: the ice and water dispenser on the refrigerator. It can really get disgusting, especially if you have really hard water (like we do). I also really like to get that cover on the bottom of the refrigerator clean (I guess I have a thing about refrigerator cleanliness). I know some of the things that often can be overlooked like the ceiling fan blades and picture frames, but what are some other grimy spots that you notice? I want to make sure I hit 'em all!

At Least It Tastes Good (and some blogging to love)

Don't worry Mel and Chris, it tastes good. However, it isn't supposed to have a depression in the center. In fact, a nice little hill would have been just right. I did open the oven door while baking (I thought that was an old wives' tale). If anyone has any other ideas why this may have happened, do tell, as I am supposed to be making it for a baby shower in a week!

I just wanted to say to please go check out Christy's blog. Today, she's written about what it's like to "work" to become pregnant. She's also written with honesty about the jealousy that one can feel when seeing others who so easily add another child to their family. I love that she is open about her feelings but not hurtful to others. It's a good read to help remind us to put ourselves in others' shoes.

Pjs, Panic, and Purell

Tomorrow's book club night, and we decided the last time we met to wear our pajamas to this month's meeting. What can I say? We are some gals who like our comfort. So, in an email, our hostess wrote that she was looking forward to "some pj's and wine - oh and food." I guess you see our priorities. We'll be discussing The Boleyn Inheritance, which I didn't really enjoy. It was quite long, and I just didn't get into it, for lack of a better description. Doesn't matter, though, I do so enjoy my nights out at book club. Even if I didn't love the book, I look forward to hearing what's going on with everyone. Great food, great wine, and great conversation. It really is a time for me to eat, drink, and be merry!

In other news, no one seems to be blogging about pig flu -er- I mean A/H1N1 Influenza. So, let me just say that, as expected, my hypochondriac self is very worried. I've already started the "social distancing" that is recommended, and it was all I could do to force myself to take H to preschool Thursday. In fact, I was a little iffy about book club. No, we haven't heard of anyone local having it, but you know, once we've heard that, it may be too freaking late! And, that, my friends, is what we call Panic! At the Mind of K! Have a great weekend, and wash your hands for the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice (or Purell them, please)!

Are You Quacking Yet?

Over the past three days, I've been living to a new mantra: Let it roll off your back, like water off a duck. When I think it, I even give a little shimmy, like I am shaking that water right off. You see, Monday night, H was throwing a a stuffed puppy around, and it ended up under our bed. I was having to fish it out first with a coat hanger, then with the handle of a toilet bowl cleaner, and I got angry -um- mad, really pretty mad. I just let loose with a scream, and W burst into tears. I apologized to both boys, but I decided that is not enough. I have to make a serious commitment to letting some things go. Obviously, I wasn't angry about having to get the toy. I was upset that the night time routine had gotten screwed up. Still, who cares? How often does anything go perfectly? So, today, when W was throwing food off his high chair tray and dumping milk on the floor, C looks at me and says, "Are you quacking yet?" (obviously I'd told him all about my new mantra, had to explain my shimmy-ing and all) And you know what? I am quacking pretty darn well. I still raise my voice, but I quickly remember to tell myself: shake it off, girl, water off a duck. Later today, we took the boys to a nearby walking park and fed a mother duck and her ten adorable ducklings some bread, and I paid attention. I noticed those little ducklings didn't stick to momma like glue, but as soon as she quacked, they fell right in line. So, my plan is to try to speak more softly (most of the time), so that when I give a loud quack, I find all my ducks in a row!

Grrr... Blogger Outage (What a good excuse)

I was hoping to have time to type something meaningful (so not true), but it seems blogger has some sort of outage scheduled (so I just have to make it brief :). I really wish I could write something meaningful, but 1) W has some sort of cold that is making him run a low-grade fever 2) today I ran around doing errands while my mom watched the boys, 3) I took H to soccer this afternoon and 4) I am going to go pick up a pizza for me and H to share. However, Christy posted her top eight books, so I can at least do that (although, really, there are so many narrowing it to eight will be tough).
1) Persuasion by Jane Austen
2) Life of Pi by Yann Martel
3) A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
4) Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
5) Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
6) The Children of Men by P.D. James
7) Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes
8) I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

I tried to mix in some classic favorites with a few modern ones. Better get to ordering that pizza ;)

Take a Breath, Count to Ten

Based on Christy's comment, I am going to try to utilize some of the methods in Kevin Lehman's Have a New Kid by Friday. C really thought H's behavior improved when I was trying to stick with the advice in there. Click here to see my post about the book. (Apparently I meant to post a part two, but that didn't happen). Basically, he says respond don't react, stay cool, and don't make mountains out of molehills. Anyway, I've also decided that my expectations are a bit high for a four year-old. No, he shouldn't be slamming doors, but maybe he doesn't understand why I just threw the toy he was asking for out the bathroom door (that would be to get it away from his little brother who is about to go in the bath). So, I come clean about what made him angry (I hope C doesn't read this one). Still, C and I had a conversation and decided that we completely expect him to act like a rational adult. I think that may be setting the bar pretty high. Also, I find that certain things bring out the contradictory boy in him (being tired, eating). He really wants to make all the decisions himself and call the shots, you know? I guess one thing I struggle with is when to let it roll off my back and when to respond. Sometimes, when he's being contradictory, I'll give him a grin, and he starts to grin back. He can definitely be a bit of a cheeky monkey. Thanks to everyone who commented I responded in the comments on the previous post.

In other news, the weather this weekend was be-yoo-ti-full! We went to the park Saturday morning (if you haven't been on monkey bars in a while, take it easy, I thought I might pull my arm out of its socket). So, we spent lots of time outside, digging in the dirt, practicing some tee-ball, and blowing bubbles! Aahhh, Spring I feel your breath in the breeze.

How Do You Handle Anger?

H knocked a hole in the wall. He slammed the bathroom door open, and the doorstop didn't do its duty. So, the doorknob went through the wall. I am feeling a bit lost. I don't know what to do with that kind of behavior. Should I spank him? Not in the heat of the moment, I am too angry myself. Do I take away privileges like a show he likes to watch? Taking away toys is pointless, unless I take a lot of them or maybe even all of them. I do have a temper, but I promise I don't slam doors. Later in the day, when I was bemoaning the fact that I don't do enough to help him learn, I said, "H, I haven't helped you learn anything today." He replied, "Well, I did learn never to knock a hole in the wall ever again." I had to turn my head to keep him from seeing my grin, but really, it's not funny that he gets that angry. He is not what I'd call a "bad kid," but he does have a temper and always wants the last word. This doesn't bode well for the adolescent years. Is it just his age (4)? Is it a phase? Does he need military school?

Sometimes I feel so alone and helpless in parenting. I am the one who is with him all day, and I just worry that I am not doing everything right. So, how do you handle your child's anger.

The Old Switcheroo

I've been practicing a little reverse psychology of late in order to keep the (relative) peace. H has decided that he is only going to do, eat, read, or watch what he has thought of himself. That's right, if he didn't think of it, then it's nothing doing, folks. One of the funniest things about this is that he will completely deny facts in order to make something his idea i.e., I say that we need to "at least try" to use the potty, by some minor miracle, he does try without a fight and does in fact pee, I say "you did have some pee in there," he says (while a stream of urine is pouring out), "no, I didn't," okay, whatever (I'm thinking), Mommy needs to get you to bed. The other funny thing he pulls is if he likes the idea I've put out there, he makes it his own and denies that Mommy had any hand in it. Something like this:

Me: H, would you like to go outside?
H (imagine a very indignant four year-old): No, I do not want to go outside!
Me: Well, I am going to go put some letters in the mailbox while you stay inside.
H (now a bit whiny): I do, I do want to go to the mailbox.
Me: I thought you might like to go out.
H (completely confident with an almost teenage-like arrogance): No, I said I wanted to go but you didn't.

So, wise mommy that I am, I've learned the ropes (sort of). Tonight I said, "I'm making a sweet potato for you." (Yes, I know this was a mistake, I said I've sort of learned). He immediately starts carrying on, "No, I didn't want that." I jump in quickly saying, "Oh, that's right you wanted scrambled eggs and green peas, not a sweet potato." Now calmer, he replies, "No, no, I want a sweet potato." Great, because it's already cooking! Mommy just pulled a fast one on you!

That's what we've been learning at my house. How to "work" our child's very strong urge to be the boss.

Don't frighten me too much about his future indecisiveness or completely controlling need-to-be-right-and-in-charge-all-the-time tendencies (where did he get those from I wonder? umm that would be from the maternal side) However, if you have a child or know a child like this, please commiserate with me via a comment.

Who're You Bloggin' For?

If you're like me, and sometimes feel pressure to blog about certain topics or not go too deep in the darker areas, you need to read Amy's guest post over at Kate's The Big Piece of Cake. After reading it, I felt the need to say out loud, "Right on, sister!" Or should it have been "write on?" Anyway, do go read it if you have a few minutes. It's inspiring me to go ahead and publish those posts that were ruled "too depressing." The thing is, this should be an outlet for me, correct? Not something I feel pressured about.

Also, I just spoke with another friend tonight who is ALSO pregnant (due in early August)! I think it's making C a little nervous :)

Chattahoochee Mama announces our next online-book-club book tomorrow! You know I can't wait to see what it will be! Check out her blog to join in!

Overheard at a Birthday Party

Yesterday, I took H to a birthday party for one of his classmates from preschool. While the children were enjoying cake, I heard one of the other moms say to another,

"I didn't realize they are out of school both days next week. My mom is coming to visit, and when I realized they didn't have school, I told her, thank goodness you're coming."

So, here's the thing. I don't feel that way about preschool. AT. ALL. In fact, I feel almost the opposite. Getting H ready and to preschool on time two days a week is much harder than hanging out at home. Trying to get W a good nap before leaving to pick H up again, that's tough. (The mom who was saying this has another little one who I don't think is in preschool or MMO as she looks less than a year old). H's preschool is 9-12. I am usually one of the first folks in line for pick up, because I try to get home in time to get lunch ready at a normal time for everyone. Of course, there's also my germophobia that comes in to play too. I know H is there with all the other children, learning in an environment I can't provide at home, sharing with other children, learning to follow classroom rules and such, but there is always that thought of all those germs. Don't get me wrong. I am so proud of H for learning to go to the potty at school. I love hearing about what he did at school, seeing what he made, but I don't see it as much of a time for me to get things done. While it does provide me with maybe an hour and a half at home while W sleeps, it also requires a lot of getting ready and driving to and fro. It's just interesting to me to know how people in similar situations can view things so differently.