Well hello there...

Hello?  Is there anybody in there?

I realize that it has been years since I last blogged, here anyway.  I guess my Mummy Brain got the best of me.  But I never stopped blogging!  Just not here...  Anywho...

Let me get you up to speed...

We bought a house, I went to Nursing School, was pregnant and had a baby while in Nursing School, tried to sell the house we bought, currently renting it, and then relocated to sunny North Carolina!  We have been in NC for exactly one year.  In fact this time last year, we were staying at a friend's house waiting for a house to become available for us on base.  It would be another 2 months before we moved into the house we are in now.

To say that I am enjoying Coastal Eastern North Carolina is an understatement.  After the initial shock of the heat and humidity has subsided, well getting used to being a sweaty betty with a greasy face all the time, it isn't half bad down here.

1.  You are never cold.  Unless your a/c is down too low.

2.  You have your pick of the pool or the ocean.  Alligators take up residence in the ponds around here.

3.  You can run or bike outside, all year long.  Except for the 1 day it might snow 4 inches.

Yep I love it.

Of course, I do miss the snow, cuddling up by the fire, bundling up in sweaters...  I don't miss shivering myself to sleep though with cold toes!

The kids have grown so much in the past 3 years and we added another one to mix.  Baby Kevin, who will be turning 2 in September.  He is more of a monster than a baby.  Strong willed, flaring temper, dare devil, smart as a whip, cute as a button, a little sass and some charm, he has the biggest personality in a little person that you can find.

We are working on talking.  It seems that the other 2 were having full on conversations by now, but I know that isn't true.  He has so much to say!  But he definitely has no problem communicating and getting his point across!

I hope that I can keep you back up to date on all our adventures, as everyday is another 50 page chapter of our crazy existence!

So as James would say, "Relax and sit back, Joy the ride!"

Oh did I mention that Kevin doesn't like to sleep in his crib anymore?  Yeah, we have resorted to just letting him drop where ever he drops.

Potty Training

So lately potty training with James has fizzled out.  He started off with a bang a few months back when we bought his froggy potty.  He would sit on it all the time.  Then he plain out refused to go near it.  I tried the big potty and he liked that for a couple of months.  Now nothing until today.  What happened?  I ran out of diapers!  I remember using the last one from the diaper bag last night before jammy time.  When I went to change his diaper this morning, no diapers!  What is a mother to do?  Go to the store immediately right?  No, desperate times call for desperate measures...  The conversation went a little something like this...  I say, "James, we have no more diapers."  "No more?, " he replies.  "No more diapers honey.  Mommy needs you to go pee pee on the potty. Can you go pee pee on the potty for mommy?"  "Mmm-hmm."  Okay right.  So it's been 5 hours and he's sat on the potty three times already!  Fingers crossed!

Lily's new tooth!

There has been a sighting!  Lily lost her two front bottom teeth.  The first one came out January 5th, the day after she returned to school.  She said to me, "Mommy, this has been bothering my teeth."  She then proceeded to hand it to me!  It was such a shock.  I figured we would have at least a couple days of wiggling and whining but no fuss, it literally popped out.  I thought she may have had some sort of injury at school.  Sure enough, the new tooth has been spotted.  Relief!  I really wasn't that worried.  Her bottom teeth did come in at 3 months so I was expecting her to lose her teeth early.  She will be 5 in just a couple of weeks!  She's growing up so fast!

Moving???

Here we go again!  The military likes to keep things exciting!  A couple months ago we were moving to Plattsburgh, last month it is Poughkeepsie and now things are silent again.  It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't already take 7 pre-requisite classes for an accelerated nursing program that starts in May.  Of course I can stay and still go to school, that is an option.  But is it a healthy one for the family?  Do I break up the family during a non-deployment and then again during deployment?  When I start my clinicals, how am I to get Lily to and from school?  Is there a daycare that will take James from 7am to 8 or 9pm?  How am I going to study?  I know there are so many single mothers out there that go to school and work so I know it's possible and it has been done before.  Also, no written orders in sight, just talk.  So we'll see!

During a brief school break I have 3 quilts and a huge scrapbooking project on task.  Actually 4 quilts.  Two I need to finish and 2 are for baby showers.  I know the quilts are a stretch but I am making headway on the scrapbooking.  A couple hundred photos, a bin load of supplies.  I can do this!  Time limit:  just under 3 weeks.  No new pictures will be ordered until everything is pasted and scrapped.  I'll try to post some pictures of my progress.  I figure one project at a time right?

So far ten pages have been started.  I like to mount the pictures and decorate the pages and then put a heading, words or journal entry later.  I'm not sure if my system is the most efficient way to get everything done.  But when I'm back logged I do the assembly-line approach.  I'll pick out a few pictures for about 10 pages.  I usually do a 2 page layout for each theme.  So 2-3 photos a page, so 4-6 photos for a 2 page spread.  I design the page and mount the photos and embellish a 2 page spread at a time.  Now fully equipped with a Cricut, I go back to the 5 2-page layouts and finish with words and descriptions.  So far so good. 

I can't wait for the day when I can scrap one event at a time.  I hope I get there!  I still need to fill in James' baby book!  Fortunately I write daily events down in a calender so I can go back to that and look back at pictures and dates to fill in the gaps.  Time flies when you are having fun!!!

Winter

I love the cold, the snow... well in reason. If it's cold and there is no snow, I'll admit it, I get a little irritated. Last winter was miserable. It was the first winter up North after living in Virginia for 6 years. It was cold and wet, maybe 3 or 4 snow storms but mostly rain. I didn't have an electric blanket. gasp! I tell you, that thing is a lifesaver! No more getting in to bed shivering in the cold sheets... (Thanks mom!) This winter has been gorgeous. For the past week we have awoken to fresh powder. Everything is just so peaceful under a blanket of the white fluffy stuff. And so far I really don't mind shoveling, even though we bought a snow blower. It's a really huge John Deere and I just don't feel comfortable starting it yet. I'll get there I'm sure after the next couple snow falls.

The kids play in the snow just like my sister and I did. Bright red cheeks, freezing cold fingers and utterly exhausted but they keep building their snow tunnel. Nika loves the snow as well. She whips around the backyard like she was still a little puppy, helping the kids with digging their tunnels. Lily loves sledding. She is a little thrill seeker. She already loves fast rides at fairs and amusement parks. It will be just a matter of time before she is on-line to the biggest and fastest roller coaster. James on the other hand shares my sentiments of going fast, we just don't like the feeling of our stomachs jostling around. At two years old, he's not keen on sledding this year, he prefers to make snow angels and eat the snow. So cute!

I'm glad we are back up North because I really did miss this cold. But again, it's only been one and a half winters. Things could very well change in the next couple of weeks!

Christmas has come and gone! *sigh*

Wow.  Where does the time go?  It's bittersweet, really.  You spend all this time in anticipation and then the big day comes and it's over in an instant.  Now I understand why my father would tell us to slow down and attempt to take "breaks" for coffee refills or even breakfast.  His attempts were futile and within minutes, all the presents would be opened and the paper carelessly tossed on the floor.  It seems like just yesterday it was Black Friday Eve and the hubs and I were trying to decide if we should take naps before our midnight shopping excursion.  We were very organized.  We carefully perused the ads and then made a list of stores and items wanted at those stores. 

It took us 8 hours, 12am to 8am to get all our holiday shopping done.  We started at midnight at the Lee Shops then headed to the Berkshire Mall at 3am to hit Old Navy and Sears and then was outside of Target on-line before the doors opened at 5am.  Target was a little crazy and scray at the same time.  Some people were literally out of control and angry.  It wasn't pretty but we were able to get the items we wanted and then we were off to Joanne's at 6am and then Dick's and finally Home Depot.  Phew, what a lifesaver.  With all the holiday cookie baking, fudge making, cleaning to get the house presentable, and cooking of Christmas dinner, and then all the birthday parties before Christmas and Christmas parties to attend, who has time to shop for presents?  And honestly, who really has the money?  Yes we strive to get that perfect gift or two, try to set limits, but it can be an impossible feat.  In this economic climate we should all be saving for an uncertain future, but if we don't spend, the economy sinks further.  It's a no-win situation.  But on a brighter note, what a wonderful time of year.  People are happier and brighter despite the long, dark and cold days. 

As the New Year approaches, literally in just a couple of days, we start to think about possible resolutions.  I've pondered a couple.  Loose that 5 pounds.  Well I could do it in a week if I really wanted to!  Cut out sugar.  Quite impossible.  Again, I could do it for a week but I would fall off the wagon.  But maybe I should focus more on others like working on being more patient.  Or stick with last year's, finish unfinished projects.  What can I say?  I am a busy mother of two.  Well maybe four, if you add in a husband and a dog.  Technically speaking, I did start back to school this year.  I have taken 7 out of 8 pre-requisite courses for an accelerated nursing program.  There was no time for scrapbooking and quilting projects. 

Maybe I should be more thankful and stop taking things for granted.  I had a wonderful child psychology professor this past semester and during one of his lectures something he said just hit home with me.  He said if you think you are having a bad day, park outside the oncology department at the hospital and watch the people struggling in and out of the entrance.  "Those people, my friends, are much worse off."  And it's true.  Things can always be worse.  Appreciate the family and friends in your life more and stop taking those relationships for granted.  But of course, that should be a lifelong resolution.  

In the short term, I think finish unfinished projects again.  I have a plastic bin of quilting fabric and another of scrapbooking supplies.  My goal for the next couple of months is to at least finish the scrapbooking and get to the point where I can do current events.  I am registered for 2 class for the Spring semester.  Nursing school starts in May, if I am accepted.  I have a lot to do in 4 months!  Short term goals are always more attainable.  Well usually.  Fingers crossed!

It's been long overdue...

Has it really been two years since my last post?  Miss me???

So last night I was reading back through a couple of posts, and the memories came flooding back.  And my, how I have grown!  To bring you up to speed... I now have three little monsters running around, Lily is now 4, though closing in on 5 in a month, James just had his second birthday and of course our crazy dog Nika.  We have moved 3 times and bought our very first house one year ago.  A cute cape bungalow with a small gorgeous "secret garden" like yard.   I was going to start a blog about decorating the house, then I was going to start a blog about our exterior painting adventures but then I realized, I already had a perfectly nice blog and I would just add to it.  So that's what I'm doing!  So exciting!  I'm still as unfocused as ever, dabbling in gardening, quilting projects, scrapbooking, decorating, organizing, designing a wardrobe space...  I already know what you are thinking, I'll admit it, I am a domestic goddess.  ha!  In addition to my domestic duties, I have enrolled in a community college up here in NY and I am taking pre-requisite courses for an accelerated 3 semester nursing program.  I have 7 classes completed, one more to go in the spring and I have already applied to the University.  I should learn of my fate by February.  Also in the mix, another possible relocation to either Plattsburgh, 5 hours North or Poughkeepsie 3 hours South.  Ah, military life!

So... I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy some light reading about my daily adventures!

Defending myself

Very often I run into someone, friend or family, random teammate on a softball team and I am asked the following question, "What do you do all day?" The question is posed in a tone I particularly detest. A condecending tone that makes me feel like I need to defend my position as a stay at home mother, though I rarely stay at home, of a 21 month old on the verge of the terrbible two's. On top of that, I have a 5 month old lab mix puppy. What's the mix you ask? We are thinking now she is part boxer. I will explain this position in a few lines.

I am a full time mother running on overtime. So what does that mean exactly? Well it is isn't rocket science nor am I laying on the couch all day tossing bon bons into my mouth while I flick through the channels and TiVo my soaps. Being a full time mother is an extraordinary responsibility as with any job dealing with and interacting with a child. They are little sponges absorbing the ways of the world and if that view is slightly scewed, that child will grow up slightly scewed or worse! They are very impressionable and tremendously insightful. They do not like to sit around, they are busy exploring, putting things in their mouths, grabbing things off of low shelves, and quite often, enjoy sampling the culinary delights of Purina.

In the following timeline I will try to accurately represent what constitutes a typical day for this stay at home mother...

1:45 a.m. Puppy is running around the bedroom, she needs to go out immediately.
2:00 a.m. Back inside, settled into bed, puppy is barking and panting. Who's f-ing idea was it to get a puppy? Christ. Of course it was mine, complete genious.
2:25 a.m. Back inside again, still no elimination, put puppy in kennel where she should have been in the first place.
2:25-3:45 a.m. Yelping, whining, barking, scratching, yelping again, chewing... Ahh, she settling down.
3:55 a.m. Lily crying at her door. She climbs out of crib now and waits for us at the door. Better get her quick before she locks herself in again...
4:05 a.m. Puppy and daughter are now both in bed with us. Puppy is snoring. Definitely boxer.
5:30 a.m. Husband's alarm goes off repeatedly. He hears nothing. For the entire night, he has heard nothing.
5:31-5:55 a.m. Nudging husband to get out of bed so he will not be late for work but doing so carefully trying not to wake either puppy or daughter.
6:10 a.m. The door slams behind hubby in his rush to get to work and puppy wakes up. She has to go outside.
6:20 a.m. Eureka! Elimination! Come inside, fill up food and water bowls, try to climb back into bed for 10 more minutes.
6:30 a.m. Lily wakes me up by kissing me. Was I sleeping? So cute! "Mommy? Mommy? Elmo?"
6:40-7:30 ish a.m. Diaper change, fill up Lily's juice/water combo, turn on cartoons, fix breakfast. This week, Kix. "Yummy cereal mommy!" Do dishes from the night or entire day before.
7:15 a.m. Gevalia begins to brew. This week, French Vanilla. Devine.
It's hazy between 7:15-8:30 a.m. Drink my coffee, pick up cereal off the ground, maybe let puppy out another time or clean up pee in the bedroom, start a load of laundry, sometimes take my shower...
8:30 a.m. Simply Quilts, HGTV! More inspiration on another quilt project that I will never have time to accomplish.
9:00-9:30 a.m. Bath for Lily, shower for me or shower for both Lily and I.
9:30-9:40 a.m. Chase Lily around trying to get a diaper on her before she pees on the rug, clean up daughter's pee, get her dressed.
9:45-10:00 a.m. Find something for me to wear. In the process, clean up bedroom, make bed, throw laundry in the dryer, clean up hubby's clothes from the day and night before. Check email? Lily is following me around and we count everything. 1..2..3..4..5.. uno...dos...tres.. 10:30 a.m. Ahh, we are ready to start the day!

The next hour to hour and a half changes daily. It can consist of rushing to the store, dog park, play date, post office, bank run etc.

11:30-12:00 p.m. Lunch time. Today, hotdogs, broccoli and whole wheat spirals. Fill up water and food bowls for Nika.
12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Put Lily down for a nap, try to get her to stay there. Start the dishes, maybe brew another 4 cups of coffee, start another load of laundry, start folding previous load, hear Lily crying at her door, fill her juice, change her diaper, put her in her crib again b/c she is obviously still tired, I might get in about 30 minutes of cutting fabric and stitching... Come into bedroom and find folded clothes unfolded and dishelved on the floor. Look on the bed, puppy is spread out and snoring. Scoop up the clothes and throw them in the nearest laundry basket. Still trying to clean up the kitchen from lunch. I'm starting to question myself as my husband does... Why do I use so many gd dishes!? Steam basket, strainer, 3 pots, broccoli, hotdogs, pasta, 2 bowls, 6 folks (2 for lunch, 4 for prep?) numerous spoons, knives, cutting board, glasses, sippy cups... It's never ending. Puppy needs to go outside.

By 3:30 p.m. Lily is through with napping and it's snack time. This consists of crackers, cheese, apples, raisons, bananas... Might turn on cartoons to finish a square on my quilt, or it's color time. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple! Gymnastic time! Steam roller, summer-saults, chase Nika.
4:00-4:30 p.m. Run around the house trying to straighten up before hubby gets home so it doesn't look too bad and it looks like I did something all day.
4:30 p.m. Hubby returns from work! Yay! I get a break. Puppy needs a quick walk, Lily needs her diaper changed and sippy cup filled, hubby has disappeared! Phenomenal.
5:00 p.m. "What's for dinner?" Hubby, daughter and puppy corner me in the kitchen.
6:00 p.m. Dinner is served. It takes me 30-35 minutes to decide, 25-30 minutes to prepare. Hubby clears table, scoops up dishes and drops them in the sink while I grab Lily and depending upon her condition, drop her in the tub or just change her diaper.
6:30-8:00 p.m. Changes daily, rush off to the store, rush up to Alexandria to see neice and nephew, maybe go to the library, family walk, or rush off to a softball game if it's Monday or Wednesday night.
8:00-8:30 p.m. Lily's bedtime depending on when we get home, how cooperative is her disposition?
9:00 p.m. Quilts, emails, dinner dishes? Na, save them for tomorrow. I've got all day don't I?
9:45-10:00 p.m. Return from softball Monday and Wednesday nights.
10:00 p.m. Project Runway Wednesday nights.
10:30-11:00 p.m. BED! Ah, so nice and comfortable pillow top, Sealy Posturepedic Queen, so soft and wonderful... Puppy jumps up, try to get her to lay down for the next 15 minutes. Ahh, she's settled... Starts chewing and knawing on her rawhide bone. 10 minutes later, she's in her kennel. Barking, yelping, whining... 10 minutes later silence. Glorious silence. Hubby starts breathing heavy. He's asleep. Wow, how can he fall asleep so fast? Why can't I fall asleep? I'm tired, why can't I fall asleep? Say some Hail Mary's, Our Father's. That should make me tired. That will help me fall asleep, right? Try to remember the Rosary. Where are my Rosary beads? Are they under my pillow? No, they are still packed. We moved almost a month ago. Which box? Aren't all the boxes unpacked? Why can't I sleep?
12:30 a.m. Puppy is awake again, clawing at the door of her kennel, she needs to go out. Maybe hubby will wake up and let her out. He did the other night. He doesn't flinch tonight. Get out of bed so puppy doesn't wake up daughter.
12:45-1:00 a.m. Walking the puppy, this week it has been either cold or raining, get back inside, let puppy jump in bed. Immediately fall asleep.
1:45 a.m. Wake up to puppy running around and jumping up on the bed biting my hand to wake me up. Was I dreaming that I let her out earlier? And it continues like this day after day... Fun eh?

What do you do all day?!!