What a day...

Just another day in paradise - full of critters, bee stings and blood. Ah, parenthood.

As if its not bad enough that we have a mouse (or mice) in the workplace, I came home from work today to a little "surprise" - my parents had found a dead mouse in our basement playroom. AHHHHH. When J got home from work, the girls took him down and I hear them shout "It's not dead, its sleeping." Big A laughed like it was the best thing ever. She ran upstairs and screamed "I didn't know this was going to happen today!" Neither did I.

After disposing of the mouse, we headed to Big A's t-ball game - in the nearly 100 degree heat. Good times. As we sweated on the bleachers, Little A kept climbing on me and I muttered, "This is torture." As if to taunt me, I suddenly felt a prick in my finger and looked down to see a half-dead bee hanging out on my thumb. Ouch. Being an adult kinda sucks, because you can't even cry when you get stung by a bee. You just have to kinda brush it off and look brave all the while wanting to scream like a baby and get a Popsicle for your pain. Or is that just me?

We headed home and Big A asked me to change her earrings...easy enough, right? Ha! I should have known to quit while ahead. I took one out and noticed some blood...some kind of puss-filled ball had burst when I took the earring out and it was pouring out. Gross. I cleaned her ear and attempted to put the new earring in. Kids must have super-galactic healing skin because in the 2 minutes her earring was out, her skin seemed to have fused together. In the ensuing fuss, the earring flew out of my hand and went...you guessed it - right down the sink drain. Sigh. Cue screams.

I immediately blocked the sink from use and we went in her room to put on her other pair where we couldn't lose it. The ear started bleeding again and she jumped - the earring went flying. I told the girls to shake their clothes. At this point, Little A was naked except for a diaper so she said, "I can't shake my clothes, but I can shake my belly." A moment of much-needed humor. Big A peeled off her clothes and after a few minutes, I finally found the earring on the carpet. I managed to get both in her ears amid some screaming. Crisis averted.

As I put Little A to bed, she requested her usual: "Rub my back and sing a song." I began to rub her back and sing her favorite tune, when suddenly she looked up. "Just rub my back. Don't sing a song."

I think its time to call it a day.

Back to the blog....

So, as my three or so loyal readers may have noticed, its been awhile. I was actually considering being done with the blog, but lately, I've been feeling inspired again, so I'm back! I'm pledging to write at least weekly, so please check back!

So updates on me and the As...things are good! Summer is in full swing and it has been BUSY. I feel like each week is flying by in record time and we are hurtling toward the fall. And this scares me because Big A is set to start kindergarten on August 27th and that is just...major.

But to back up a bit, since I last wrote (on Big A's 5th birthday), a lot has happened. Big A graduated from preschool! It was bittersweet...she has come a long way, and yet I can't believe my first baby is about to be a school-aged kid. It boggles the mind. She had a great year and made a lot of good friends at school and had some great teachers. I'm glad we still have Little A at the preschool so at least we will stay in touch.

After school ended, the girls embarked on their summer schedule, which is a crazy mix of camp at school, a babysitter and plenty of beach time too. The girls have been lucky enough to spend two weeks so far at the beach with their grandmother (and us there for some of that time). We also joined a swim club again, so we have been trying to get there as often as possible. The girls love the water, and this year has been super easy, as they love to play together and don't really need us right there. Its a nice change, though I am still cautious about water safety since neither girl can really swim yet. Big A is getting there though.

As for me, my job is still going well. I really like it, and am starting to get to know my coworkers better and having some fun doing it. I walk during lunch almost daily with a group of coworkers, which is a nice way to get in some exercise and gossip at the same time. We also all recently bonded over a mouse sighting, which we have named Pedro. Of course, it wasn't all fun and games when I saw him stalking my office and started screaming like a maniac. I think I've sealed my reputation as a nutcase, better sooner than later. We are also planning some Olympic office games, which might include roller chair races. I'm in training.

In other exciting news, Big A has gotten in touch with her athletic side - something I never thought would happen.

Exhibit A - if you're gonna be sporty, you gotta be cute.

J signed her up for t-ball and she is a natural. Clearly, she gets that from J. He is also the coach for her team and they both are having a ball. I think this is the start of long athletic career for both of them. Its not quite as much fun for me sitting on the sidelines with a restless and active almost-three-year-old who uses me as a jungle gym and cries about everything and nothing.

Exhibit B

At least she's cute

I'm starting to think my parents were lucky we weren't into sports (or rather, they weren't into us). Saved them a lot of time on the sidelines. Nevertheless, I'm determined to unlock my inner soccer mom and cheer my girl on. It helps that she seems to have a talent for it, which is fun to watch.

Make sure to check back soon - I promise to regale you with even more tales of my oh-so-exciting suburban life!

A birthday and a fit

Today was a big day in our household. Big A celebrated her 5th birthday. She started the day with breakfast in bed and then received her coveted American Girl doll, Julie. She was the happiest of happy girls. Then J picked up munchkins for her to share at school and she got to be queen for the day, choosing the book for storytime, lineleader and whatever else qualifies as preschool prestige.

Speaking of preschool, we're down to a week and a half left of the school year. My girl has come a long way since she started in September as a shy 4-year-old. She has blossomed academically and socially, now running up to hug her friends and being excited to attend birthday parties and playdates. She even asked if she could invite her teachers over for dinner one night! I will miss those wonderful ladies who have helped give her this new-found confidence and joy in learning.

When I picked the girls up from school today, Little A had not taken a nap and she had woken up at 6 a.m. this morning (as is her new usual, sob). So it was no surprise that she seemed a little cranky. She insisted on getting in the car on her sister's side, then plopped in the middle of the car and wouldn't budge. Long story short, by the time we got home, she was in hysterics or having a "fit" as we call it around here.

I took her upstairs to her room for a time out and then went downstairs to give her some time to cool off. Eventually her screams tapered off and then I didn't hear anything else. I went upstairs to check it out and found this right at the top of the staircase:

Yup, she passed out - stone cold. And being the good mom that I am, of course I grabbed the camera immediately to document it:

Hee, well at least I know that tiredness causes fit which is useful, if obvious, information.

Kids - gotta love 'em. In the five years that I've now been a mom, I've been through so many ups and downs. And honestly? They never stop surprising me, making me crazy, making me laugh and most of all, making my heart grow.

Mother's Day 2012

For the second year in a row, I was lucky enough to spend Mother's Day weekend at the beach with both my mom and my kids, as well as my sister and two of her kids (when you have four kids, I only invite half ;-)). We once again lucked out with beautiful weather and enjoyed lots of sun, sand and some good eating. We're making memories here, people. :-)

Rollercoaster

Little A has been going through a "phase" lately. Its all too familiar to me as Big A went through it right around age 3. Tantrums, fighting me on everything, whining, getting up too early. Its enough to exhaust any mother. It's been a struggle to keep my patience, and I'm not proud that I haven't always been able to. 

But it's funny with kids. When things get easy, they throw you for a loop. And when things get hairy, they throw you a bone to let you know that the struggles are worth it. Tonight was one of those times. It was just a normal bedtime routine, but sometimes those are the special ones. I read "I'll love you forever" to Little A and found myself tearing up as I always do when I read that book.

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living, 

My baby you'll be.

Little A was snuggled into the footie pajamas she loves (she calls them "holders" for her feet), this pair featuring a pink mouse. Whatever the animal of the night is, she embodies with all of the passion of a two-year-old. I get to play too as she deemed me "Mommy Mousie." She really gets into it, crawling around and squeaking. We even planned her lunch for the next day - cheese, cheese and more cheese.

Then I went to put Big A to bed and as usual, she begged me to stay for a minute and talk. She loves our talks and never wants them to end. She tells me about her day and then asks me to tell her stories. I try to think of funny stories from when I was a kid, or just make something up - ha. 

I left her room feeling full instead of empty like I sometimes do at the end of the day. Yes, they drive me crazy on a daily basis. But then, there's this ~ my girls, sisters:

Sisters

Are you there me? It's me - Ali

Instead of rushing to pick the girls up immediately after work today, I made my way down to the fitness center in my work building (nice perk, right?). After 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer, I worked up the nerve to ask the trainer to show me a basic lifting routine. He was happy to oblige and showed me various machines. I was embarrassed that he had set the weight near the lowest notch for most of them. I asked him if I was the most out-of-shape client he'd trained. "No," he said kindly. "You'd be surprised how many people are in worse shape than you." Oh.

Then he asked me if my goal was weight loss. Ouch. My sister tried to convince me that was a normal question, but being sensitive me all I could think was that I must look so large that of course the only reason I'd be in the gym was to shed pounds. I am no longer in the realm of *giggle, giggle, I just want to tone up a little!* Nope, now its pretty clear that the past year or two has not been kind to my waistline.

I left the gym feeling like I wanted to die. But also, like maybe I was rediscovering a piece of myself that's been gone for a long time.

It made me think of the time period before my wedding, which was perhaps the most selfish time period of my life. I was caught up in planning an event that was all about ME (okay, and J but he was secondary). I was a pretty princess. I had a personal trainer at a swanky city gym. I got my nails done every week. I went shopping for honeymoon clothes and charged it to a credit card. I went "low-carb" and downed expensive chocolate protein drinks and sugar-free Jello cups. It was all about ME. And it was glorious. But it couldn't last forever - nor would I want it to.

That focus on myself has now been replaced (mostly happily) by a focus on the little people that marriage brought about. Parenthood is about sacrifice by definition. And I was glad to do it, and still am. But maybe its time to bring back a little of me. To be healthy again. I credit my return to work for this new attitude. I like working. Its hard to be away from the girls...but honestly? Its not that hard usually. And I don't mean that in a bad way, but in a "why am I apologizing and feeling guilty for providing for my family?" J doesn't seem to blink twice about going to work and fitting in time for fitness. So why should I? Not to mention that I actually like what I'm doing. I love to write and its wonderful to get recognition for it, to get paid for it. And what's wrong with that?

At the end of the day, its all about balance. Scheduling in three workouts each week is three hours that I am taking for myself. To focus on my body and getting it back to where it needs to be. To stop making excuses and start doing something. To set a good example for my girls. To show them that even though you can't have it all, you can certainly try.

And with that said, my muscles are already yelling at me and telling me that I need to slow my roll. Take my time and remember that a lot has changed since I was a pretty princess with time for daily workouts. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

The many faces of Little A

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. The other day I was trying to take a good picture of Little A - the variations I got made me laugh so hard and just totally capture her personality:

I just love her!