Paradise

Why does everything seem to fall apart at one time? Our computer is still on the fritz (hence I am blogging from the office right now), our VCR went out, our car has a short in it which causes the noise of the blinker to go on and off (I swear the other day after I turned the car off, smoke was wafting out of the steering column) and Logan tore the blinds in his room out of the wall (and they were professionally installed!)

Just another day in paradise! :)

Exhausted

Yesterday I awoke at my usual 6:30 am time to cook breakfast for my husband. I usually have a piece of toast first thing in the morning, wait for that to settle, then move on to something else. However, yesterday was the day to do my glucose screening for this pregnancy therefore no carbs and no sugar. My stomach growled hungrily as I watched the few eggs I scrambled up slowly solidify in the pan. Wanting to get out of the house as soon as possible to get the testing over with (I'm pregnant, it's all about when I will eat next!) I hurriedly got Logan and his stuff ready - a diaper bag filled with the usual change of clothes, snacks, drinks, wipes, etc and his Spiderman backpack filled with books and toys to keep him entertained for a long day ahead. We got out the door and down the driveway at 9:30 am, I counted how long I would have to wait before I can eat again. I hate fasting with a passion, but especially when I could feel a little one jumping around my belly in hunger as well.

At the hospital I tried to guzzle down my orange sugar drink as fast as possible while still answering the questions the receptionist kept throwing my way. The sooner the drink went down the sooner they would click my timer for my hour wait before drawing blood. As I took my seat and showed Logan all the toys I brought him, I wondered how he was going to do sitting in this small waiting room for the next hour - not able to run around. I watched the hands on the clock slowly tick by. Finally at 11:40 am I heard my timer and started gathering the trail of toys that had emerged from Logan's backpack. The nurse drew my blood and we were out of there.

Next stop - food!

By the time Logan and I ate lunch, ran to UPS, and filled the two liquid nitrogen tanks we were carrying around, it was already time for my checkup. Again I gathered Logan up with all his things and headed inside thinking to myself how this part shouldn't take too long, all they had to do was take my blood pressure, listen to the heart beat, and measure how big my tummy is getting. However, my 2:30 pm appointment turned into a 4:15 pm appointment since my doctor was running so far behind, and because she had a medical student side kick; everything had to get done twice.

And after the appointment our day was still not done. Next the grocery store. Luckily I had decided the night before to hold off on a big shopping trip until this weekend. All we had to pick up were a few things to last us until then.

Logan and I finally pulled up beside the front of the house a little after six; Logan passed out in his car seat. I carried him inside, laid him down in bed, and kissed his cheek. Bless my little boy's heart!! A busy day most of which was sitting around doctor's offices and he was so good! I left him to sleep while I put things away and started dinner.

A restless night and the previous day's activities have left me feeling tired and worn down today. Why is it that running errands around town always makes me feel so tired? Yet there are things to be done today and work to do.

Easter

It seems I am more excited about doing holiday activities than the rest. Of course Logan is still quite young and doesn't exactly grasp the concept of it all yet. I'm sure when he is older he will be just as excited as I.

Last Saturday I set up the pots to boil our Easter eggs (yes we used real eggs.) After much anticipation the eggs were finally done and we were able to start dying. My husband, trying to save a mess from happening, tried to keep Logan locked in his high chair while he dyed the eggs. Of course Logan would have no part of this! What fun is it being trapped watching everyone else dye? I told my husband who cares about the mess! We have newspapers down it won't be that big. So Logan stood on a chair and began dying his eggs with the rest of us, all smiles.

On Easter morning, Dad (my husband) went outside to hide the eggs for Logan to hunt down after breakfast while I prepared his basket for collection. It was my job to aid Logan in the hunting as I didn't know where the eggs were hidden either. After showing Logan what to do with the first egg (find it and put it in your basket.) He was ready to go; running all over the yard, hunting the eggs down and placing them non too gently in his basket. Of course after finding them all he went out to re-hide them!

Goofing Around

You know what I love about kids? They're not afraid to be goofy, to just be themselves. As we get older, most of us start becoming inhibited about being silly. And sometimes we are labeled a disruption, or even a dork.

I remember once during Christmas at my Grandparents house (I was a teenager), my uncle bought us kids a board game and on Christmas day he sat down to play it with us. On one of my turns I drew a card that said I had to beat my fists on my chest and yell like Tarzan; I felt so foolish. As I look back now, I wonder...why? It's not like I was standing in the middle of the high school cafeteria doing this? What was the problem?

Now as a mom, I embrace my inner child! I run around like a maniac, flailing my arms everywhere and shouting funny words. (Hey, it makes my son laugh!) I make funny faces, dance and twirl around the kitchen until I'm dizzy. I don't have time to think about being self-conscious; I just be me, a mom goofing around with her son.

Stay at Home Moms

Back when my husband and I were first married and we discussed having children, the topic always came around to how more than likely - because my husband can be lazy - he would be a stay at home dad while I earned the bread to keep the family going.

However, now that I have Logan and another little one on the way, I think often of how nice it would be to stay at home and play (okay I know it's not just playing) with our kids all day long.

I brought this up to someone one time and got back, "You don't really want to stay home do you?" My first thought was that I would like to have the option at least.

Somewhere along the lines it seems that the women wanting to stay at home and tend to the children have become estranged. Like there is something wrong with her if she doesn't want to go out and "climb the corporate ladder" so to speak. Why? There is nothing un-noble about staying at home. In fact I have heard time and time again that a stay at home mom has the equivalent work load of two full time jobs. Yet, she doesn't get paid.

My husband and I were discussing this topic the other day on our way home from town. He said that it all had to do with the feminists. Now, I don't consider myself a feminist, I do believe that women are equal to the same rights as men; but I also believe that if you choose the equality route you need to buck up to your fair share also. I know several feminists and they all seem to want their cake and eat it too.

I was reading an article about a woman who, while in college felt alienated because while her friends all were excited and craving the high end jobs, she was pulled more toward staying at home and tending to her house and children. She wrote how she was lucky to find a man (whom she married) that supported her choice, and once they were financially able, she lived what her heart told her was the right place for her.

There was a quote from the article said by Tasha Tudor, "Whenever I get one of those questionnaires and they ask what is your profession, I always put down 'housewife'. It's an admirable profession; why apologize for it? you aren't stupid because you're a housewife. When you're stirring the jam, you can read Shakespeare."

Sunny Days & Outdoor Play

It has been no secret that I am craving Spring. This winter has seemed long and dreary and with 80 inches of snow fall I am looking forward to some green.

We were lucky enough to get two days of warm weather this past week. Today was sixty-five degrees so Logan and I immediately headed outside. We tromped through my garden area, it is looking so bare and neglected right now. Since we are still in the "frost" season it is too early to plant but I longed to feel the soil on my hands. I went in my little garden shed and pulled out a trowel and a small shovel, just so Logan and I could dig around in the dirt.

We had such a great time! I stood back and thought (again) of all the plans I want to do out there - I swear it changes every season!

I love seeing the light shine in Logan's eyes as we dig around and play under the warmth of the sun. I pray for more sunny afternoons where my little boy and I can run around, get dirty, and just have fun!

Teddy Ruxpin

Okay, so the picture at right is not the one I was trying to capture. Logan was lying on his stomach with Teddy Ruxpin sitting in front of him telling a story. But as every mother knows trying to capture the picture you want isn't always easy work.

I remember how much I enjoyed my Teddy Ruxpin as a child. Changing his cassette's to tell me a story or sing me a song. Of course back then with regular cassette tapes you could put anyone of them in Teddy and he would sing along. (My husband told me how he and his cousin used to make Teddy Ruxpin sing Tina Turner songs.)

Logan received Teddy Ruxpin the other day from his Grandma; and he has been practically inseparable from him ever since. When Teddy sings, Logan twirls him around and dances with him. During story time, he sits and listens while intently watching Teddy's eyes and mouth move.

Teddy was even brought to bed with Logan, I watched as Logan drifted off to sleep while Teddy sang him lullabies. And it didn't take Logan long to figure out how to operate Teddy himself, even changing his cartridges to play different stories.

I know that Logan will enjoy his Teddy Ruxpin just as much as I enjoyed mine.