Thursday, November 25, 2010

10 Days...And a bit of Thanks

It has been 10 days since my last post. Did you miss me? Well, that was all just a little prep for my readers, so you will be able to empathize (or would it be sympathize?? Those words always get me) with me beginning this Monday...when my husband goes out of town...to Ecuador....FOR TEN DAYS!

Yes, the hubby gets to go to South America on business, and I get to stay home with the kiddos. I haven't really had to deal with him going on long trips before. I'm feeling kind of nervous. But, I keep telling myself that I will be all right, as long as he brings me back a really, really, REALLY cool souvenir. (I'm hoping for a handwoven traditional rebozo.)

I'm thinking it will make for some pretty interesting blog posts, though. You know, the "Single Mom Diaries", or something. NOT that I profess to understand, in even the most minuscule way, how a single mom feels! But it will be a very new experience for me. Although, it is likely that I will be hanging out at my parents' house every day. (Hopefully getting in some P90X to work off all the pumpkin pie I'm planning on eating today.) Wish me luck!

On another note, Happy Thanksgiving. I would like to take a moment to list some things that I'm grateful for:
-my membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
-the sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ
-the Holy Ghost, and his guidance in my life
-my amazing, wonderful husband
-being a mother
-Bug and Gizmo
-my extended family
-my husband's work, that allows us to live comfortably...even though it takes him away sometimes
-soft, felted wool slipper boots
-good music
-clean burp cloths
-dessert foods

I decided to make a condensed list, with the most important things, and then a few things that I'm loving particularly today. Hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Mama is SO resourceful!

This past Saturday, the boys (hubby included) and I all went to my parents' house to play for the day. Now, I normally don't let the hubs pack the diaper bag. Or be responsible for making sure everything we need to day outings gets to the car. Because he always forgets at least one thing.

Apparently, I'm a major control freak. I've been told by those wiser than me, though, that I need to trust the hubby and let him take care of the diaper bag (or making sure that the baby's butt get sufficiently wiped, or the laundry properly folded, etc). I've been told that the world won't end if something is forgotten.

I guess that's true.

So, this Saturday, we were missing a baby carrier...AND an extra outfit for Bug. (TWO things forgotten!!! I'm proud to say that I didn't overreact. Really, I didn't.)

Enter: The old sheet. My parents' house is full of super soft, old sheets and blankets. I found a particularly soft (washed a million times), pink (came from a house of girls), loved (read: rips and paint stains) twin sized sheet. I folded it in half "hot dog style" (I can't figure out if that would be width wise, or length wise....I'm writing this post at 11pm...that's my excuse), wrapped it around and across my chest and tied a double knot. Then I popped little Gizmo in and went outside to play. I was very proud of my sheet sling. It was almost more comfortable than my ring sling. Instant baby carrier. Simple piece of cloth. No-way-to-carry-my-baby-and-still-take-care-of-my-toddler crisis averted.

Then there was that blasted extra outfit that -wasn't- in the diaper bag that I had to worry about.

Meet Bug. The toddler. The crazy, psycho, messy, climb-fences-feed-rocks-to-dogs-play-in-the-dirt toddler. It was a BEAUTIFUL day on Saturday. I mean, 70 degrees F beautiful. (In the middle of November!!) Of course, we were all outside. Of course, Bug got dirt all over his hands. Black dirt. And, of course, he wiped it all over his clothes...including a white onesie.

But, never fear...Mommy is here....to clean your clothes in the kitchen sink with a little, tiny squirt of laundry soap. Bug got to run around half dressed for about an hour while I washed his clothes in the sink and dried them in the dryer. (I wasn't going to put them in a washer load, when there were only three items on two year old clothing that needed to be clean.) I only wished that I had my washboard. (Which, I do actually have a little washboard for my felting projects! I would love to use it for clothes washing someday.)

I'm not sure that the sparse diaper bag drama could be avoided every time. But, I think I'm going to keep trying to let my husband pack the bag. But, if he forgets the diapers...then I'll write a post about how Daddy learned to be resourceful....

Monday, November 8, 2010

Announcement: Facebook

Introducing, the newly made (and most assuredly, soon-to-be neglected) Offical Facebook page for The Mother's Lamentations blog! Go have a look. And like it.

Monday, November 1, 2010

'nacks

Candy.

Horrible, horrible candy. Or, as Bug would say, "'nacks!" (Snacks).

It turns my two year old into a whining, crying, yelling, screaming, parent-shushing toddler.

Not good.

Therefore, I have divided most of the Halloween candy up between me and the hubs.

Of course, I really don't need all that candy. I'm trying really hard to lose all that baby weight that I so lovingly gained for little Gizmo (who is actually 12.5lbs already, and isn't quite so little).

Which brings me to a something called P90X. Which is, if you haven't heard of it before, a butt-kickin', make-you-feel-like-you're-dying workout program.

My sister and her husband are in town for an extended vacation. They own P90X. And, oh how I love my sister, she is actually motivating me to work out with her. I'm actually pretty good at working out when I have someone to compete with. (And, my sister is as skinny as a rail, so she makes for some good motivating envy!)

Anyway, like this post, I'm completely spacey. (It's been a rough couple of weeks, with the husband working WAY more than he's getting paid to do...stupid salary...and not enough sleep for anyone).

I was talking about 'nacks. This morning, I found Bug on top of the refrigerator. ON TOP OF THE FRIDGE! I tell you what, that kid is crazy. And he got up there for one thing. Candy. Horrible, horrible candy!

(PS- The hubby tickled Gizmo under the chin and actually got him to giggle! It was awesome!)