Priorities Smiorities

Has it really been nearly 2 months since I last did a blog entry? Holy moley. Procrastinate much? I told you early on that it was a problem I had. I'd be a better procrastinator, but I'll work on that tomorrow. Maybe.

So what's new. Man, I have a crawler. Erin decided that sitting just wasn't for her, and off she went. A full 4 months before her sister, may I add. Now, stationary Claire at this age was SO MUCH EASIER than moving Erin. Certainly keeping me on my toes!

What else is happening these past months? Erin turned 1. A whole year in the world. Went FAST this time. Unfortunately Claire and I had the flu that day, so we had to postpone the par-tay. We also tried a cake smash, but a little icing on her finger was all she was willing to do. Ah well! We did it the next week, and she had a great time.

Other big news? We're pregnant!!!

No, not really, just checking to be sure you're still awake and paying attention.

So the biggest change 'round these parts is with me. I left my job. Well, I switched jobs... left my paid position for the role of permi-mom. Yep. I'm a 'homer' now.

Never ever ever did I realize that it'd be MORE work than my old office job! Seriously, HOW do other moms do it? I cannot keep the toys picked up. There are princess panties hanging on the back on my chair. I have jam in my hair... from SUNDAY! I mean, holy cow! As one friend of mine pointed out, we have friends returning to work, returning to school, starting businesses, moving countries... and I can't organize my life enough to get in a daily shower. WHEN did this happen??

Other hand... the toys are out because we were playing racecar. The panties hung up from the 'naked dance' my daughter performed for me. The jam... well, that I'm not sure of, but I like to think it was from a sticky hug. More likely it was old jam on the back of the chair, but whatever.

At the end of the day, I sit here, feeling like we had a good day. So what chores aren't done, I need to shave and there are still dishes in the sink. It'll all wait. It's been a busy few months, and I need to catch up on General Hospital. A shower can wait. Priorities rock!

My new Priorities.

Denial Ain't Just a River in Egypt

My calendar still says January. Do I love the month? No. Do I love winter? Nope. Am I too lazy to flip the page? Possibly, but not in this case.

In February, my wee girl turns ONE.

THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING!!!   (Sorry, I had a moment there. As I was saying...)

Erin will be turning 1 year in a few short weeks. I don't know how this happened! Or WHEN! She's just a wee thing, all small and cute, bundled up in a blanket, looking up at me. She cannot be this active, crawling, little person who favors the dog's bowl, who has opinions about squash, and who thinks her mom is just the funniest...oh, wait, maybe that last part... I AM pretty funny... but anyhow...

From this...

   ......to this...

                                                                              ...and this......

..to THIS!!

Seriously. I can't do much more of this...

When will it end?  Never, I suppose. Dear Claire is 4 in May, and wise beyond her years. I haven't got a clue as to when she grew up, or how she learned all about sea otters, or where she got that sense of humor!

I don't think I'm alone in this. Others have to wonder how it all happened so fast. Does my mother still look at me and see me as that ADORABLE baby that I was? Probably, I was pretty cute back then (no comment). Maybe just seeing how fast they grow makes us feel older. That would certainly explain my denial. 

Being 28 just isn't what it used to be.

Application Nightmares

So who went and decided that Applications were a great idea for Facebook anyhow? Like Facebook doesn't suck up enough of my time as it is!

I have a farm on Farmville. It's a lovely tranquil place where I grow crops, tend sheep, and wonder what a disco cow does. I've tried a few game shows - The Price Is Right, Family Feud and the like, but they wear thin pretty quick. I had a Scrabble (and then a less interesting Scrabulous) addiction for a bit, but my they took too long to play, and I lost interest. Paradigm had me for a year or so, but Maternity leave quashed that one. I've looked at CityVille, Frontierville, Cafe Town Mafia Wars and a few others, but who has the time? There's Bejewled, puzzles, and a host of sites of quizzes. I've looked at bunches!  I've just started Zuma Blitz and I hate it, mostly because I cannot beat my sister at it. Stoopid game.

Never a day goes by where a friend doesn't send me a request for a "Thought of the Day", "Hug", Horoscope, try this, tend that, join today.... gah, enough! 

So what does it all mean? Someone out there is on the cusp of the next big application I must try. I can't take it. I haven't the time. 

I'd go on, but my crops need harvesting.

The Good Wife

So I made stew yesterday. AND cookies. In the same day. My husband asked what I'd done wrong, and what was I hiding. Hey, I can do something nice once in awhile without suspicion, can't I? The cookies were more for me than him anyhow. 

So I got to thinking. I know he was joking about what I did to feel the need to make it up to him, but I got to wondering if I really do enough to be considered a "good wife". I sometimes make the bed, and I do most of the laundry, and cooking... but I hate vacuuming and I rare dust. And I can never keep up with the clutter and toys that are EVERYWHERE. You'd think  8 people lived here, not 4. But that's normal with a baby in the house, right?

A friend of mind referred me back to this classic article about being a good wife, that was said to have appeared in Housekeeping Monthly in 1955. Take a read...

The Good Wife 

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.
• During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
• Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.
• Be happy to see him.
• Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
• Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
• Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
• Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.
• Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
• A good wife always knows her place. 

I may not do ALL these things, but yea, I'm a good wife. I'll dust off my pearls for Monday. And reheat that stew.

Oh the times, they are a changin'

To satisfy my sister who thinks I procrastinate, I have cleaned up the mound. I know you are asking, "Which mound?" to which I reply, the Christmas one. Only took about 7 hours to get to it. May be a record! Oh, the tree is still up, and decorated, but I'll get to that this weekend. One thing at a time!!!

SO big news. Erin did NOT get that second tooth. We thought she had, but, while she was in a fit of rage, I got a good look in, and nope. Only the one. That means we're probably in for another one of THOSE nights. Oh, and look what she did today...

Yep. The days of the quietly sitting baby are soon to be behind us.

My Year in Photos

Ok, so I'm trying to de-Christmas the house. I got mostly everything down (excluding the tree) ... but there it sits. A big pile of more stuff to put away. Why is it EVERYTHING looks more appealing to me than that task? I actually took a photo of the mound to show here, but I'm really too embarrassed by it all. 

So, in an effort to procrastinate on what I *should* be doing, I decided instead to do something else. My year in photos! Here we go....

January: Look at me all pregnant like! I was about 7 months preggo here, with about 2 1/2 months to go! Little did I know!

 

February:  Surprise!! A whopping 7 weeks early, Erin Alexandra appeared, weighing in at 4lb6oz. Unfortunately Adam was home, or rather driving like a mad man to get back to the hospital! Sadly he missed her birth, but considering it only took 3 minutes, I suppose I can't complain! She was in the NICU for 20 long days, but look at her now!

March:  HOME!!

April: My beautiful Claire on Easter

May:  Claire turns 3. I love this photo of her face when she first saw her new swing set!

June: We had a lovely warm June ... here was Erin's first trip of many to the beach! (That's the rez for all those SJ locals!)

July: We spent a LOT of time this year at Shubie park. The chickadees are really tame, but don't tell Claire. She thinks her mom is amazing! Oh, and that lump on my chest is Erin.  :) We love our Cuddly Wrap!

August: They say a picture says a thousand words. The look between the sister's says a million!

 

September: We had Erin baptized. Claire was shy, until the Minister splashed her. Then it was game on!  :) 

 

October:  How cute were they!

November:  I just love this one of Claire and her dad. They were deep in discussion about dirt, I think.

December: The girls met Santa. So glad I caught this moment between Erin and Santa!

Ok, on to the pile of stuff to pack up.      Soon.      My tea is getting cold.

Still Disorganized, but trying...

Holy. I'm blogging. Who'd a thunk it? Half of my friends are saying, "good for you!" while the other half think ... "Geek." Ok, so probably ALL are thinking 'geek', but whatever.

So WHY blog? Why not says I. Two kids and a home in a constant state of unruliness ... hey, I need some kind of structure, right? So here I am. Hopefully my disorganization will at least serve as a warning to others. I may even make you feel better about your own chaos!

So here we go....

....actually, I'll start later. I can't find my socks...