Tears of Joy

This evening I was able to lay on the couch and read my book while Bryan worked on the basement toy box project and Anna PLAYED BY HERSELF. Those of you with easy children, not children like the kind whole series of books are written (think Ramona, Junie B, Clementine...), might not quite understand the magnitude of this event. I've been dreaming of this day. I cried when I watched her talking to her dolls. I cried because I was so happy to see her engaging in her toys and using her imagination.

I don't know what made playing by herself so difficult. The dyspraxia - she didn't know how to play? The high energy - she couldn't calm herself enough to sit and focus? Her age - she just wasn't mature enough to play by herself?

I don't know what's caused the change. This wasn't the first day, but seeing her in the basement on the couch while Bryan was in a different part of the basement working, and I was upstairs made it really clear that she can do this - she can play by herself. I think the start of playing by herself has been a combination of things:
1) OT has helped her find her balance, her threshold. She is able to sit and focus so much more now than she ever could. We also use a brushing technique to help calm her each night at bed and when she starts getting physically agitated and hyper.
2) Pre-school has helped her both learn new things and play with friends in a smaller and calmer atmosphere than daycare. I think since the craziness is reduced, she can focus on her activities a little more.
3) She's maturing and getting older. Maybe it was finally her time.

Don't think I don't enjoy playing with Anna, because I love myself a few games of Candy Land and feeding Pink Baby her bottle, but the energy behind her constant demands for attention and control can be very exhausting. It's just a nice break from always monitoring, anticipating, and fighting for balance. It's so normal. It feels good to write that so I'm going to do it again. It's so normal.

Today I am thankful for:
1. a loving daughter
2. a daughter that can "read" with expression. Knuffle Bunny Too is a favorite right now.
3. a great book, French Lessons by Ellen Sussman

Apple Orchard Trip x 4

Last Saturday we were able to make our annual trip to the apple orchard. I like going in September rather than October because 1) the apples are better and 2) it's not as crowded. I don't really do crowds. We had a great time eating doughnuts, playing at the playground, and taking a tractor ride. We skipped the petting zoo this time since it annoys me that you have to pay for every little thing. Bryan and I have been eating our apples for lunch, and they sure are delicious. I skipped the apple pie this year to stay on the happy side of health. Pie's not my favorite anyway. I think I would rather go back and have some more doughnuts. Enjoy pictures from this year and all the previous years; it's fun to see how much Anna has changed. I hardly remember her being so little.

It's all about the slide!

My 2 favorite people.

Last year - Queen of the Hill.

2 years ago - I think she tried picking up each and every pumpkin.

3 years ago - Sweet baby in her cherry outfit. I love that outfit.

The sunscreen we put on her got in her eyes and made her hair crazy, but she looks happy hangin' with her pumpkins.

Today I am thankful for:

• 
  
  Chicken Taquitos for dinner - very tasty. I made the chicken in the crockpot this weekend with a jar of salsa and some sriracha hot sauce. I also added a can of black beans to the mix.


• 
  
  OT for Anna - it seems to help her have good days at school and she's somewhat calmer at home too.


• 
  
  a better week at work than last week
  
  

Let's All Go To The Movies...Daddy Warbucks

It's September, and it's been hotter the past few days than it was all summer. The extreme heat canceled any outdoor activities for us, and Anna hasn't earned her trip to Monkey Joes (for following directions without a fight/attitude/or overall stubbornness). So I thought we could try (gulp) a movie.

Anna has been a little more interested in TV lately. She says she wants to watch, but usually only for a few minutes before something better comes along - like helping me with dinner or several games of Candy Land. She will watch her "purple Barbie movie" for a little longer - especially if she has popcorn. Side note: Barbie movies are lame and make very little sense, but she likes the "purple" one, so whatever.

I checked the movies and times for the local dollar theater, and decided we could try Winnie the Pooh at 3:40 - no nap interference, not too long, and before dinner. I figure we are only paying $1.50 per ticket, plus the snacks, so if it's horrible it's not a devastating loss.

We did a prep conversation about movie theaters and how to behave in a theater before we left home and again when we got there (yes, this is my life, a constant prep session so Anna knows what to expect and how to behave). She was so excited. She loved the theater - the noise, the dark, the big screen, all the seats, and let's not forget the popcorn. The movie wasn't a big hit for her. She didn't not like it, but I guess it was no "purple Barbie movie." She tried every seat in our row, some more than once, did a lap around the row in front of us (then got a warning that she had to stay in our row bc if you give an inch with her she'll take 1000 miles), took 2 bathroom breaks and was telling me I should go so she could go for a third, ate half a bag of popcorn, asked questions at a level 3, and thoroughly amused me throughout most of the film which was just over an hour long.

When we were leaving she said, "I did a great job at the movies!" I told her she did a good job for her first time at the movies, but she had to work on staying in her seat next time. While watching the previews, she was laughing and responding to the trailer for the Muppet Movie, so maybe when that hits the cheapie theater (in the Spring???) we could try again.

Really, it was pretty fun. I was happy we made it through the whole movie, although we were close to leaving when she started wandering down the aisle. She's not the first or last kid to talk through parts of a movie, and she seemed to like the experience if not the movie itself. So I'll call it a win.

Today I am thankful for:

• a new adventure today


• a 3 day weekend


• sleeping in

Mother May I...

Take one GIANT leap forward?
Why, Anna, yes you may!

What a difference a week makes. It's like a complete reversal of the previous week. I don't really know why - comfort with routine? a really beneficial OT session? just because that's how Anna rolls?

She started official preschool on Monday; it goes from 8:30-11:30 everyday with wrap around daycare the time before and after. She has a few friends from the summer session in her class as well as a few new friends. Her teacher is Mrs. Meaghann, and Anna seems to like her. They worked on the "little letter A, and the big letter A, /a/ /a/ /a/." It's so exciting to hear her talk about what she's learning. The class behavior system: each child has a pocket with 3 sticks, at the end of the day each child earns a sticker for each stick remaining in the pocket. As of Thursday, Anna had all 12 possible stickers. On Friday, she told me she did not make it to treasure box yet, so she must have missed a sticker or two, but I am SOOOOOOO proud of her for all her good choices.

We decided to let her earn stickers for 2 things this week: going into her classroom without any problems and following directions without fussing or having an attitude. She's been doing a great job earning her stickers this week. She has to earn 10 stickers to choose a reward (Orange Leaf, Chick Fil A, Monkey Joes). She responds well to this sort of reward system, so for now we will stick to it. If she's starting to have a hard time I can remind her that she's trying to earn stickers, and she usually changes her attitude.

A reminder for me: Just one day at a time.

Today I am thankful for:

1. LHSC Carnival - Anna had a blast (and a good attitude)


2. good conversation at the admissions booth of the carnival where I volunteered


3. Farmer's Market tomatoes - I am in love with home grown tomatoes right now

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

That's the old saying, right? Well, that's how I feel right now. Anna and I had a great summer. She was making good choices, following directions, and making life relatively easy. Now - not so much.

The past several weeks have been very trying for all of us. Because I started back to work Anna has to get up at 6:20ish each morning and go to school all day everyday. Her daycare also moved to their new building. I'm hoping these are a few big changes that she's still adjusting to, and once she feels good with her new routine things will calm down a little. Another possible reason for her behavior - just a phase.

I get so embarrassed sometimes. She doesn't get what she wants and she's on the floor crying and wailing. I stay calm and remind her that she never gets what she wants when she acts like that. She will usually stop quickly, but the damage has already been done. Or she is running around, pulling on my arms, and acting wild and crazy - also embarrassing. Once she gets to this state, it's already too late; there's no turning back. I just have to survive it enough to get to the car where I drive home wondering what the hell is wrong with my kid and what I could have done differently. Why does everything have to be so difficult?

On the positive side, she did earn her trip to get ice cream by getting ready every morning (clothes changed, teeth brushed, and hair brushed) by the time her timer went off. She earned a sticker each morning for 2 work weeks for a total of 10 stickers. I'm really proud of her for this accomplishment. She was very motivated to earn stickers for her chart. We might work on something else for the next two weeks. We have two choices: 1) going into her classroom each morning without problems or 2) making it through the day without whining aka: being ok with "no". We'll have to decide this weekend what would be better to work on since both are important.

Today I am thankful for:

1. a really sweet class


2. a trip to the Farmer's Market (where we saw Will and Sarabeth)


3. the promise of ice cream later today

Summer Fun Driftin' Away...

I've mentioned in previous posts how this summer with Anna has been the best one yet (her 1st summer was nice too, but she was a newborn). We've been able to enjoy a lot of fun activities with little to no drama (most days). She usually wakes up around 7:00 and says, "Can I have some yogurt? I don't want to stay home today." Bryan and I are homebodies, so we aren't too sure why she doesn't like staying home. She would always rather be outside than inside, too. When I choose activities for us I make sure we can be back home for her nap around 12 or 12:30; if I mess with her nap or don't give her one she is very unmanageable, so we stick to routine!
These are some of our fun activities from this summer:

• Arboretum Children's Garden (I think it is $3/person): There are water features, paths, learning stations, and a garden to dig in and water. It's great fun on a sunny day.


• Swimming Lessons: Anna took 3 sessions at the Tate's Creek Pool and did so well. I'm really proud of her swimming ability. We are going to look into joining the YMCA so she can swim all year round. We also swam for fun before swimming lessons and on weekends.


• Chick-Fil-A: Always fun to eat some Chicken Minis (yummmmm) and play in the play land.


• Library: We don't do story hours since she can't sit still for long, but we love going to the library to check out books and wander around.


• Jacobson Park: What's better than feeding the ducks and playing on the giant playground?


• Explorium: We went here for the 1st time today. It was enjoyable, but I think it's just a once a year thing since the learning stuff is over her head. She did have a good time playing and exploring.


• Our very own backyard: We have a swing set, baby pool, water table, and giant bouncy ball to play with. We like to also play with her car, bike, bubbles, and chalk in the front yard.

A few more places I'd like to visit on the weekends while it's still warm:

• Lexington Horse Park


• McConnell Springs


• Salato


• Raven Run: We only made it here once, but I would love to go back.


• Cincinnati Zoo: We have passes, but haven't been in a while. We love the zoo because of the animals and the walking around.

All around it's been a fun summer. We've stayed busy with the above activities, had a nice vacation to Hilton Head, a trip to Cedar Point, and Anna started daycare 2 days a week at LHSC. I'll be going back to work full time next Monday, and Anna will start daycare full time at LHSC's new center (in the old JR Ewen building). Pre-school will start on August 22; I'm excited for her! She's made a few friends at daycare, so hopefully at least one will be in her class for the year.

Today I am thankful for:

1. a few more days to sleep in


2. a few more days to have fun with no real commitments


3. library books

Royal Wedding!

I wasn't initially into the Royal Wedding, but last Sunday I started watching royal coverage about Princess Diana and her wedding on TLC. I was hooked after seeing all the excitement, preparation, and grandeur of her 1981 wedding. I set the DVR (on both TVs - the little TV so I could watch while getting ready for work, and the big TV so I could enjoy all the sights). I also taped and watch the Lifetime movie about Will and Kate.

I really like sleeping, so I wasn't planning on getting up early to watch, but Anna woke up around 3:30. I heard her pitter-patter on the floor, but she never came in our room, so I went co check on her (she had gone back to her bed bc she's trying to sleep in her bed at night and get high-5s in the morning). Then my over thinking started, and I couldn't go back to sleep. The one time a year I was totally OK with it!

I was so nervous watching! I calmed down when I saw her get into the car though. My thoughts on the wedding:

• her dress was amazing - the lace, the sweet-heart neck line - the pleats - the back - everything was so pretty


• Prince William looked very nice in red


• it was so sweet when Prince William looked over at her and said, "you look beautiful."


• the singing was amazing even if I couldn't understand the words to the songs


• they really look like they love each other


• the Queen looked so snazzy in yellow


• the ceremony was beautiful and the festivities were so fun to watch

I loved watching every minute. Maybe that's silly, but I really enjoyed my peek into the lives of these famous royals. I really hope they have a happy life together.

NOT Up For Adventure

I AM COMPLETELY ANNOYED WITH BLOGGER RIGHT NOW. IT WILL NOT KEEP THE SPACES I WANT BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS. I WILL CLUE YOU IN TO WHERE I WANT THE SPACES :) I know my limits. I respect my limits. I sometimes challenge those limits, but in little ways - like a new exercise video. There's a reason, well several reasons why Bryan and I have waited to have another baby. One of those reasons is that I'm respecting my limits. I do not like to overwhelm myself. I like to be healthy and productive with a smile on my face rather than drowning in stress and freaking out. !!SPACE!! I recently had the chance to push my limits beyond their breaking point. I was so tempted; it sounded so fun - on the surface. But when I looked deeper, and really thought about life, I knew I wasn't up for the adventure of Disney World. Or to put it another way, I wasn't up for the adventure of Disney World with my baby. Bryan's sister has 3 kids under the age of 4, and she is brave enough to take on Disney World. I (with 1 kid) am not brave enough for Disney. !!SPACE!! It was a really hard decision. I want to provide Anna with fun activities and experiences in life. She loves spending time with her cousins and Mimi and Papa (who are also going). But...in the end it comes down to the fact that she can't handle over-stimulation multiple days in a row especially if sleep and routine are thrown off. I can't think of a worse place to try to keep stimulation down and sleep on schedule. This is what happens when Anna has too much stimulation, is out of routine, and doesn't get enough sleep.

• Day 1: good, great even.


• Day 2: listening is at a 2 or 3 (out of 10), tantrums begin, meltdowns over EVERYTHING, aggressive behavior (usually hitting).


• Day 3: listening is at a 0, it is a full on cry fest, aggressive behavior (hitting and kicking), with super tantrums (those are the ones where she's so out of control the only thing that helps is playing in water or soapy bubbles). We've only ventured here a few times (thankfully): Kings Island and this past Christmas.

During all that time Bryan and I are trying to keep it together, help her every way we know how, and usually failing miserably. So, you see why when I REALLY thought about it, it wasn't such a hard decision. Flying down on Wednesday, going to the Magic Kingdom on Thursday, Animal Kingdom on Friday, MGM on Saturday, and plane ride on Sunday would lead to the complete emotional breakdown of my entire family all at the astronomical cost of $3000-$4000 (which is completely insane, I may add).

She'll be ready one day - probably when she's 8 or older. And that's ok because she most likely wouldn't remember a trip as a 3 year old, and I would only remember it as the trip from hell. She will have to get to the stage when she can verbalize her feelings and needs (such as: it is too crowded, and I'm tired. I need to go back to the hotel and swim for a while.) One of the books I'm reading is helping me help her work towards this skill (identifying what's wrong, and how to fix it rather than being irrational, aggressive, and out-of-control). Although the behavior of my spirited baby has improved greatly as she's gotten older and as Bryan and I have found ways to help her succeed, she still has limits, and as her mother I have to respect those limits until she can do that for herself.

We'll do something else fun those few days of Fall Break. Keenland will be open, and what's more fun than teaching your kid the value of money at the race track?

Today I'm thankful for:

• Anna - spirited and all


• a long talk with my mom


• a sound mind


• checking off things on my to-do list


• Bryan helped with the Junk Depot!!!

Don't Be Jealous...

Jackson trying to blow out his candle! He is a really funny and entertaining kid. Anna loves baby Drew.

Now that it's Spring Break I can finally check off some things on my to-do list around the house. So like I said, "don't be jealous" of all the fun I'm going to be having.

Saturday: this was actually fun - we went to Jackson and Drew's birthday party. We had a blast and enjoyed seeing family. Anna of course had to help the boys open their presents, and luckily they aren't as controlling as her, and did ok letting her help. We'll see what happens at her party when Jackson tries to help her. I can hear the screaming now!

Sunday: We ended up staying in Cincinnati for the day. We went to the park and had Zip Dip (the world's best creamy whip). Then we went to my Grandma's house for my Uncle Mike's 50th birthday gathering. It was good seeing my other family, but the previous day's excitement led to a troubling day for Anna. She does much better on a schedule and sticking to a routine.

Monday: I caught up on the laundry and grocery shopping I didn't do yesterday. And much to Bryan's dismay, I went to Target and Old Navy to buy myself some comfortable and cute clothes for the summer.

The plans for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: clean out Anna's toy room so we can turn it into a "big girl bedroom" for her. I will get a few baskets to keep some things in the living room, but most things are going to the basement. Bryan has started on the fireplace, so next winter it will be good to go!

Wednesday: clean out the office. The office is currently the Junk Depot. I can only see a few square feet of floor due to the overwhelming piles of junk. It's a slow process, creating a Junk Depot, and I have a feeling it will be even slower cleaning and clearing the Junk Depot. Wish me luck.

Thursday: Oil Change, tires rotated, drop clothes off at the re-sale shop, return things to Old Navy, buy stuff for Anna's birthday party. So far she wants a "purple-Hello Kitty-Belle-Dora" party. I think she's going to get Hello Kitty and purple, but we'll see what the party store has to offer.

Friday: catch up on all the things that I didn't finish or keep Anna home from daycare and we can do something fun.

Today I'm thankful for:

• 
  
  daycare, so I can get all these things accomplished with little to no interruption


• 
  
  good books


• 
  
  cute clothes


• 
  
  a silly daughter

Carbless

That's a new word I might have made up - it means I am off carbs for 2 weeks! I'll be honest, it really is no fun, but I don't know what else to do. I've been 10 lbs. heavier than my best healthy weight for a year now, and my healthy eating and 4 days of exercise each week isn't working. My pants are too tight and trying on clothes is painful; let's face it- the muffin top has got to go.

I was this same weight about 8 years ago, and I did a combo of unofficial Weight Watchers (stuff from my mom, but no meetings) mixed with the South Beach diet, and it helped me loose 8-10 lbs. I thought I would give it a try again. That means for 2 weeks I'm off carbs, but because of my limited diet choices I have not cut the fruit out. I'm hoping cutting out the breads and grains will be enough. Then when the 2 weeks is up, I will add only the healthy whole-grain carbs back in (100% whole wheat). I was doing a good job of only having the healthy grains during meals at home, but eating out and snacking started adding on the pounds. French fries here, a graham cracker there, add in a granola bar after school, and that = not feeling so good about myself.

So if I'm staring longingly at your cookies or mashed potatoes or chips, just know I miss my carbs. I sure do hope all this pain is worth it!

Today I am thankful for:

• will power to not eat the cupcakes I'm bringing for my ESS group tomorrow
• outdoor recess
• strawberries and blueberries

Real Grown-up Married People!

Notice the changes???

Please disregard my extreme sloppiness. I can't help it, I was just made this way.

Plus the camera makes it look worse :)

NO, I'm not a bed maker...unless I get a new bed room set or company is coming over. Deal with it.

I know I still need curtains. I get around to it.

Isn't it pretty?

I don't know if I'll keep the horse farm picture above the bed. It might be a little too small.

Bryan and I have been putting off buying bedroom furniture for a long time. We've been living together for 7 years now, and we just now got a bedroom set. Part of the delay is my extreme pickiness - if we're going to spend money on something, I want to REALLY LOVE it, not just think it will do. So we've been taking baby steps: last year = buy a king size bed, Christmas = get bedding for said king size bed, Presidents' Day = buy a bedroom set, today = delivered and set up. I really love it. In the words of one of my students, "It's awesome."

Today I am thankful for:

1. my new bed room set
2. a date night with Bryan last night (we saw Hall Pass - very funny)
3. Anna's taking a nap which will hopefully restore her listening ears that she woke up missing so we can have a lovely afternoon
4. warm and sunny days

Balance, Sweet Balance

This past Christmas I found myself at Dick's (Sporting Goods, that is) buying Bryan a North Face coat and some snow pants. When I was in line to pay I saw Power Balance bands; a lot of athletes wear them to improve overall balance. My step mom wears one because she's always up on what's hot, so I was aware of their existence. The boy working at Dick's said he thought it was all in one's head, and they probably don't work. I decided I was already spending enough money, and spending another $30 on something that might be a bunch of hooey wasn't such a smart move. So I left the Power Balance band on the rack and in the back of my head.

You may know that I have inner ear/balance issues. I've had to cut out lots of tasty things from my diet, and I was taking a water pill to help reduce the possibility of my inner ear holding excess water and causing the vertigo spells. Well, I stopped taking the water pill, but it makes me nervous if I let myself think about it. So when Bryan and I were out shopping this Monday, I decided to go back to Dick's (yes, still the sporting goods store) and buy a Power Balance band. I figured, it couldn't hurt, so might as well try it and hope for the best - the best being that my vertigo spells stay away and my overall balance improves.

I've been wearing my band for 4 days now, and believe it or not, this thing actually works. I can't really say for the vertigo bc I haven't had any for a while (knocking hard on big fat pieces of wood), but for my overall balance - totally improved. Small movements like turning around or going from lying down to standing or sitting don't give me little sways. I've been doing my exercise videos every night this week (that's a whole other post about my disappointment and disgust over my muffin top, and the positive thinking I have for the 2 bikinis I bought for the beach this summer) and going from the floor to standing doesn't take several seconds to adjust. No, I don't have any super human skills, but small differences are definitely noticeable! I'm super happy and excited about my Power Balance band, plus I totally look like an athlete with my rubber hologram wrist band...ha ha ha, I'm so hilarious :)

You might not have balance issues when you're just standing on two feet doing nothing or when you're doing your SHRED video like I do, but you still might like to try one. A few things to consider before buying:

• the mall supposedly has a kiosk with buy 2 for $30.
• Power Balance provides a money back guarantee with a receipt within 30 days if you do not notice any improvements, so I didn't really need to sweat the $30.
• They are a little cryptic on their website as to what a Power Balance band really is and does, but it does say each person will have different results.
• the website has all the colors and styles available (bracelets and necklaces)
• FAQs on the website too.

Today I am thankful for:

• the funny things Anna says!!!!
• Bryan made dinner for the 2nd night in a row!!!!!
• tomorrow is Friday!!!!!
• even though it rained all day, it was not snow!!!!!
• I only pack my lunch on Thursday nights. It's small, but less!!!!!
• proving to myself I could do my exercises all 4 nights this week despite fatigue, sinus headaches, and a mild cold (I know, I'm such a whiner)!!!!!
• exclamation points!!!!!

What A Week.

This has not been my favorite week. It started with Anna having the stomach bug last Friday through Monday. Then Bryan got it on Wednesday, and he's still in recovery mode. I'm crossing my fingers and toes I don't get it.

Then I had to do a Math in Focus Parent Night. It went well, but it's stressful planning and mentally preparing for talking to a room full of parents. I felt much better once it was over.

Add the full moon in with all this, and you get a room full of wild first graders doing ridiculous things. One of my boys came back from the bathroom yesterday with this story: "Mrs. Rosier, there was a toilet in the bathroom full of poo. Then an older boy locked me in and dared me to flush the poo." I asked if it was the older boy's poo, and he said, "no, it was someone else's poo." I told him I was sorry he had such a traumatic experience in the bathroom, but I don't know if he believed me because I had tears running down my face because I was laughing so hard.

Now for the good news: We tried a new recipe last Sunday, Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables, and Bryan liked it even though it was meatless (I know, it's supposed to be Meatless Monday, but it's easier to make a new recipe on a Sunday). It made enough for us to freeze for another night. I will make it again for sure, and even add more veggies than I did this time. I have all the ingredients to make these Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls. I'm just waiting for my family to feel well again.

Today I'm thankful for:

• another sunny day to spend outside
• $40 Kohls Cash to spend
• 80s movies on ABC Family today - Can't Buy Me Love and 16 Candles

House Plans

Our house has always been nice, but there have been some things we'd like to change. Bryan was taking measurements yesterday, so maybe we'll be getting to some of the changes when the weather warms up.

The things we'd like to do:

• put a fireplace in the basement - this will be a big expensive job, so I don't know if the following projects will actually happen...
• tile Anna's bathroom and fix or replace her toilet
• replace carpet in Anna's bedroom and toy room (which will turn into Anna's bedroom, I think)
• put shelves with toy baskets in basement
• buy a bedroom set for us (we'll give Anna our dressers)
• get the bed Bryan bought from Craigs List stripped, then stain it for Anna
• buy a mattress for Anna's new bed. I already have the bedding!
• paint living room, dining room, and Anna's bedroom - and accessorize as needed
• clean and organize the office which currently is the messiest disaster area in the house
• put hardwood floors in the living room (this one's a long way off)
• buy a flat screen to be hung over the fireplace (this one's a long way off, too)

Neither of us plan on getting an extra job, so I'm not really sure how long this will take. We tend to be REALLY picky, and we only like to spend money on things of nice quality - even if we have to pay a little more. One of Bryan's qualities that I admire most is his ability to do HOURS of research on things before buying anything (like the fireplace), so it takes us a really long time to buy things.

Good luck to us!

Today I am thankful for:

• a day off with roads clear so Anna could go to daycare, and I could get the house cleaned
• Anna seems to be free of sinus congestion and is in a much better mood than last week
• 3 Jillian Michaels DVDs for some variety in my weekly exercise
• $1 bin at Target has foam stickers that Anna loves to play with - for like 15 min at a time!!!
• Anna is doing awesome wearing panties - no more daytime diapers!!!!
• Anna's bedtime routine: get PJs on, brush teeth, then we each get to read a book. Anna "reads" No, David, and it might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

How will I do it?

Yes, how will I wake up at 5:30 tomorrow????? This is a serious question because for the past two weeks, plus 2 snow days I have been sleeping in until 7:30 or 8:00 (that's sleeping in at our house). I feel so well rested - like I could get a ton of stuff done around the house with all my extra energy (but I won't because I'm usually doing what Anna wants to do).


I've had a great break and Christmas. Our travels were safe despite the snow, and it's always fun to hang out with family. My best Christmas present: Nikon D90 camera. Bryan found it on Craigs List for a really good deal. It's only a few years old and the previous owner hardly ever used it. These are 2 of my favorite pics from Christmas morning:





Anna's favorite gifts are the dress-ups from my Aunt Donna and the Beauty Shop dress-up and play restaurant food set from my dad. She actually loved everything she got, and had a blast just opening the presents, but those are the things we've played with over and over and over again. She did really well during the break considering her routine was all messed up, she had to travel a long distance in the car, and she went to a lot of over-stimulating family parties. Our strategy that works the bestwhen a tantrum or breakdown is coming: take a cool down (like a time out but before the screaming, kicking, hitting, biting start). She goes to her room with her baby and calmly recharges for a few minutes - works like a dream and she really likes it.

I've had a lot of fun hanging with my family, playing with new Christmas gifts, shopping, baking, and having some quality alone time, but it will be good to get back to our routine. I actually miss my kids at school and am looking forward to seeing them tomorrow - just not so early.

Today I'm thankful for:

1. potty training is off to a great start. She was definitely ready. I'm so proud of her.
2. the healthy foods stocked in my fridge.
3. Anna's nap time - I got my report card labels finished.
   

Goodbye 2010

It's been another great year for my family and me:

• Bryan and I turned 30!


• Anna turned 2 - and has grown and changed so quickly.


• We welcomed 2 nephews: Drew and Brady.


• I started my 5th year of teaching - yes!!! I now have tenure at a job I love.


• We enjoyed a vacation with my dad and family in Michigan.


• We bought a new car - thankful for the extra space and the 4 wheel drive.


• We saw our friends get married in the Bahamas.


• We became super tech-savy with our iPad and iPhones.


• We enjoyed fun trips to the Cincinnati Zoo and Kings Island.

I'm very thankful for all our blessings. We are healthy and happy, and always finding fun things to do. I'm looking forward to what 2011 brings!

I'm thankful for:

• a really wonderful family
• my new iPhone
• Anna has officially started successfully potty training this morning
• a fun morning playing with new Christmas presents
• getting caught up on sleep
• a new year and new adventures

My Pants are Too Tight

I haven't been thrilled with my body over the past year or so. I don't know what happened. I don't think I started eating more or anything, but BAM! there it was - 8 lbs. that decided to make themselves at home on my stomach, butt, and thighs (notice, my lbs. never make it to my boobs!). And yes, I just wrote boobs on my blog :) So, I've been trying to get around the exercise with dietary changes or do a little exercise here and a little there, but I have to face it - regular exercise is the only way these 8 lbs. are going to leave me. Now, what kind of exercise? I guess my video since it's the only thing I can manage time and effort wise. Here's to me and my latest push to have a happy and healthy body!

Today I am thankful for:

• a fun day at home with Anna
• 2 hr. delay tomorrow
• Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet - seriously so fun to read

Weekend Wrap-Up

What I didn't do this weekend:

• ride in the car 5 hours each way to and from New Riegel, Ohio
• go to our friends' wedding
• hang out with out-of-town friends
• wear my super cute dress and high heeled shoes
• go to the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo
• play in the snow

What I did do:

• got some Christmas shopping done
• got caught up on Glee
• lounged around
• played with Anna
• cleaned the house
• took a the personal day I had planned and had a date day with Bryan: a little shopping, lunch at The Pub, and saw Due Date (which I highly recommend - so, so, so funny)

While I'm sad I didn't get to see our friends get married and hang out with out-of-town friends, I'm glad we didn't make the long trip. We were just there for Thanksgiving, and the trip can be a little much in so short a time. Bryan was sick with sinus/cold stuff on Friday, so it wasn't going to be a good idea to make the trip. I guess I'll have to find somewhere else to wear my raspberry high heals!

Today I am thankful for:

• watching Anna use her imagination to make and eat cake in her kitchen
• Secret Santa week at school - it's so fun to give and receive fun gifts
• a relaxing weekend
• hearing Anna sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

Life is funny that way...

I called my sister today to wish her luck on her surgery tomorrow. She is getting a bad stomach-area hernia fixed and her tubes tied. She is of course worried and scared - normal for any mother, I think. But the funny thing is that she's sad about getting her tubes tied. Why funny you ask? Well, if 10 years ago you would have told me that my sister would be the motherly, I want to stay home with my kids, I want a house full of kids kind of person I would have laughed in your face. I never pictured her as the super-motherly type, and she didn't either. She's only getting her tubes tied because having another baby could be very dangerous because of her problems during delivery. What adds to the irony is that I would be just fine with Anna (although I do want to have another baby), and I don't want to stay home; I wouldn't have imagined that it would be like that.

I always wanted to be a mommy; in fact, it's the only thing I did know I wanted to be when I got older. I feel blessed many times over with Anna - her smile, her laugh, her jokes, her speech, her hugs and kisses, her curiosity, her love of life. I also feel confused, stressed, frustrated, and stuck at times. People told me motherhood is tough, but it's one of those things you don't get until you're in the muck of it trying to keep it all together, trying to stay sane when the only thing you really want to do is scream and run away. It's no surprise to you that the toddler years have been very trying for me. There are moments when I wonder if I've done anything right, when I wonder if I can handle one more whining screaming tantrum, when I wonder why she can't just follow my directions so she stays safe. I either cry or get over it or maybe stew about it for awhile. Then she does something really special, something really great, something without giving me a bunch of shit first, and I think: I can do this, it's working, Bryan and I are great parents, we have an awesome kid. My faith is restored, everything will work out. We can totally handle another kid (someday)!

Parenthood is a roller coaster, and one I'm happy to ride on. Even when life turns out to be different than I expected, it's all good.

Prayers for Jen, please!

Today I am thankful for:

1. a goodnight sleep last night
2. my new Pampered Chef Biscuit cutters! I use this recipe for buttermilk biscuits (halved).
3. a supportive husband

YIKES!

I know Halloween is over, but I had quiet a scare yesterday morning...
I was in Anna's bathroom calling for her to come in and have her hair done, and what do I see out of the corner of my eye?????? A MOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I screamed - very loudly, and ran out of the bathroom, still screaming. Anna had this "what the hell" look on her face. She obviously didn't see the little varmint come out of her linen closet and come after me.

So, my hero (aka Bryan) set 3 traps - the snap kind with peanut butter, not cheese. Country boys know everything. But here's the even worse part - he went out of town for work later that day, so I had to come back to the mouse house with just Anna. I'm not gonna lie - I was mostly scared and grossed out (I actually felt my chest tightening during the school day when I thought about it). So anyway, I did a quick peak at the traps and two of the traps had dead little mice. Good: dead mice. Bad: more than one, means still more. I moved the empty trap to Anna's bathroom and stuffed the bottoms of the doors with towels, and no, I did not remove the dead mice. I left those there for Bryan's return, because like I said, mice are gross. I actually went to sleep because Bryan assured me that mice like food and water, neither of which I had in my bed or Anna's bed. I still dreamed about those little rodents, but I'm pretty sure they left Anna and me alone. Aren't you proud of me for sleeping in my mouse house without Bryan to protect me? I sure am, but that doesn't mean I want to do it again. Anyway, he did his good husbandly duties today and cleaned everything up when he got home (including the 3rd dead mouse in the trap I moved), and reset the traps in case there are still some hiding out.

The reasons why I hate mice:

1. they are uninvited guests
2. they pee and poop on your stuff
3. they eat anything and ruin your stuff
4. they might touch you
5. they can smush their bodies and fit through small spaces
6. I see no real purpose other than grossing people out
7. they have tails (I have a tail issue. Maybe someday I'll tell you about the panic attack I had when I was in the education room at the Louisville Zoo, and the zoo person wanted me to look at and touch an opossum. OMG it still makes me ill.)
8. they are like little thieves - getting in your house and ruining your stuff. I know I already said that in #1 and #3, but I really hate mice.

Today I am thankful for:

• Carol offering for Anna and me to sleep at her house
• Bryan coming home and cleaning up dead mice and their droppings (see #2)
• not being a single mom that has to deal with mice all by myself
• funny students

PS: I know I was supposed to post Halloween pictures, but the blog doesn't like to upload my pictures. I might try again later.

PPS: Have you seen Annie's Eats? That nut is at it again - her Thanksgiving plans. No one even likes brussel sprouts.