somewhat crafty: July 2008

How am I doing?

I have been asked this a lot so I might as well "publicly" respond.

My back is tired, not sore so much just tired.
My feet and legs swell up easily which is uncomfortable.
I'm tired mostly from lack of sleep. Grey wakes up early and I can't fall asleep till late. He also has been terrible at napping. So I'm tired.
I'm hungry all the time now especially late at night. And I have heartburn.
I am feeling crampy and get the occasional contraction, usually at night. They wake me up to pee then I can usually fall back asleep. More annoying than productive, I think.
The baby's head is very low in my pelvis. I waddle now. Her head is pressing on something and I get shooting pains down my thighs because of it. This doesn't encourage me to walk which of course would be helpful.
Mentally, I'm okay. I thought I might have the baby yesterday because that is when Grey and Amara were born. Then I held out hope for today so I could have one baby per summer month but I doubt that will happen. Now the only day I'd not like to have the baby is on Grey's birthday or one of the days surrounding it. It would make birthdays easier.
Emotionally, I'm okay. I know by now that inside is easier than outside even if I can't sit, sleep, eat, breath, or move comfortably.

So that's how I'm feeling.

Can't blog. Too busy

Too busy with this.

P.S. Don't let your kids see it or you won't ever get a turn!

Big things are happening....

I imagine we will be visited by a mythical magical creature tonight. What is the going rate nowadays? We told her we thought it was a dollar for the first tooth because its a special occasion. Can we still get by with a quarter next time?

Mmm, spaghetti

Submitted for your amusement

Freedom

Thoughts have occurred to me a few times, though I continually push them back, that my freedom will soon be lost. I'm starting over again and loosing the freedom that a mom of toddlers and school aged kids has. Because of the way I feel compelled to parent I will be literally attached to my child and unable to leave her for more than an hour for the next year. And still after that I'll only be able to take 2 hours away from her.

I'm excited to meet this little girl, to feel all the wonderful things that being a mother of a newborn brings, but I'm not looking forward to loosing my mommy-free time. I've got some great friends with whom I have a wonderful time. I really enjoy, and even need, my weekly get away for 4 hours or so. The big kids have a great time with dad and the next day I'm told about the wrestling they did and the Star Wars they watched. I think its a great deal for all. I've really come to rely on this "coffee time" to keep me sane and the rest of the week I'm a better mom for it.

I feel selfish for wanting time alone. When I had only one child I didn't feel I needed it and kept her with me nearly all the time. By the time she was an unmanageable-in-public two year old I was happy to slip away for a couple of hours (but still worried about her the whole time). Now that I have two children I'd be happy to spend an entire day without them. Kids are a lot of work and to have some time in which I am not responsible for anyone but myself is a great pleasure.

I know there isn't much choice about it now. She's coming and soon. For now I'll try to focus on the good and find other ways in which I can relax and have time alone. It might even turn out well. We have a "gym" at our complex and perhaps I could take half an hour to walk on a treadmill. That would certainly be better for me than the latte I usually have during my ME time.

Forced nesting

I have a lot of things I want to do but little motivation or energy, so I just glare at the offending ares of my home that dared to get dirty and disorganized. Glaring isn't helping so I decided to pick an area and just straighten as best I could. I forced myself to move and do.

I choose my bedroom. After all, a midwife or two will be in there soon and it would be nice if they could walk through without tripping.
Mostly it was just putting things away like shoes and clothes. I put as much in the closet as I could, vacuumed, etc. Its not close to public presentable and never will be - we just don't have enough room! Then I did the weird Hollywood bathroom vanity in our room. I was ruthless with throwing out toiletries. If I've not used in the last couple of months I'm probably not going to ever use it so it gets dumped!

Then Mar tells me that the trash is overflowing. I start moving overflow (because the kids just keep piling it on top even if its completely full) to a new bag and then I notice a smell. This of course is not shocking because it is an enclosed cabinet with trash in it but I felt I needed to do something about it.
Half a bottle of Citra-solv later and its better and very orangey!

I want to do more later but for now the back must rest!

I think the kids' closet is my next victim of half done yet satisfying cleaning.

Is this interesting to anyone but me (well, probably Chey who wishes she could come be involved)? Probably not but its what's happening here.

Oh, Doogie!

You have grown up, certainly, but my childhood crush still remains.

Harold and Kumar was surprisingly funny and NPH's (that's what he's called apparently) small part laughed me into tears.

and I find this new commercial quite enteraining

But this week Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog has really shaken my funny bone.

Enjoy!

Friends

These are some of my friends:

This is Brandy (she's the one on the right).

If I ever need advice for homeschooling, parenting, or some great recipe she's the one I can count on. If I'm feeling down, especially about myself, she can put it in perspective and give me a nice compliment.

This is Cheyenne.

She is a total ball of mush and sentiment (but don't tell her I told you) as well as cynicism in just the right proportions. If I need a laugh I can always count on her to dole out the funny.

This is Karen.

She's a ball of sunshine and generosity. Always understanding and always there to help you in the just the way you need her.

This is Gabrielle.

She has so much love to give and hardly a negative word about anyone. Her positivity beams from her. I love seeing the world through her eyes.

This is Pamela.

The woman that introduced me to all the other women. I appreciate her dark sense of humor and practical look at the world. I, and so many other women, are thankful for her dedication to natural birth.

There are other, many others, that I learn from, share with, and I am thankful to have them in my life. I truly do not deserve such wonderful people in my life but I'm so thankful to have them (even if they do make me wear funny hats).