Subscribe RSS

Archive for June, 2011

I Don’t Fit In Author: Jun 29

Well, that’s how I feel anyway.

For the second time this summer, my daughter and I attended a pool party at one of her classmates house’s. For the millionth time in my life, I felt apart from the group and unable to find an appropriate place to input my thoughts into the conversation. That’s not to say I didn’t say anything, but I have a much easier time communicating one-on-one than in a group, and it’s kinda hard to do that when we’re all running around making sure the kids are safe.

It was also obvious today that while, physically, my daughter is the female version of my husband, she really does have my lack of social skills. She’s content to play by herself and let others do the same and just does not understand why the other kids cannot leave her and her favorite toy of the moment in peace. She, like me, enjoys being out with a group, but seems unable to really BELONG.

I have no idea how to help either of us, and it makes me sad.

Category: General  | 2 Comments
Yep, It’s Friday! Author: Jun 24

Go see Mama M to link up with the fun!

1. What is your current favorite tv show?
Bones is the only show I watch with any regularity. I’m also a big fan of Dancing with the Stars and Glee, although I am REALLY behind on Glee…

2. What’s the worst haircut you ever got?
I don’t know that I’ve ever had a terrible cut. I have super fine, super straight hair and am so afraid of hating a style that I keep my hair pretty simple. As in, boring. šŸ˜‰

3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing?
Air guitar. *rolls eyes*

4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips?
Ummm… My daughter and I love story time at the library, and over the summer they often have extra activities. I also know that the city where we live has a local musician perform in the field across from city hall once a month. And a nearby city has nightly activities on the lake.

5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly?
If we had the time, yes. I’m not a fan of flying, and only do it when I have to be somewhere and back in a short amount of time. We’ve already done the drive from FL to NY, and recently discussed a road trip to the Grand Canyon, although it will still be a couple years before we can actually do it.

Category: 5QF, Getting to know me, meme  | Comments off
Toddler Talk Thursday – Traveling with Toddlers Author: Jun 23

Crazy About My Baybah

Do you have any family vacations planned? Are you worried, excited?

Do you have any tips to share?

We just got back from a 3 night stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and, as I already said in a previous post, I am SO PROUD of my daughter and will be posting more detailed information about our trip in the near future. I’m not sure why I was surprised that we had such a good time and she handled the change so well, this is not her first time to Disney OR away from home. At 10 weeks, she did her first overnights. At 6 months old, she spent 3 nights at the beach with us. At 14, 18, and 21 months she did weekends away from us while my husband and I remembered how to be adults. At 22 months she was an absolute angel on our road trip from Florida to upstate New York to have Thanksgiving with my husband’s family. In April she did a weekend away from us. She is no stranger to travel, whether short or long trips.

I’ve always been a planner, so for all of these occasions I was far more excited than worried. I make a ridiculous number of lists of things to pack and activities to do and ALWAYS overpack. I make a VERY short list of requirements for the trip. For example, our stay at Disney HAD to include a visit to Camp Minnie Mickey at Animal Kingdom, the Disney Jr show at Hollywood Studios, Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom, Journey into Imagination with Figment and Living with the Land at EPCOT. Anything else seen or accomplished was a bonus, and I did have a second list of supposedly acceptable attractions for toddlers (It’s Tough To Be A Bug at Animal Kingdom? NOT acceptable in my opinion. Too bad that was learned the hard way…)

My advice to anyone traveling with a toddler is to take as many familiar items as you can. This past weekend I packed both her blankies, her Beauty and the Beast pillow, Minnie Mouse, and all of her bedtime stories (although we usually only read 3 a night and there are 6 in rotation). Since most of our hotel time would be for sleep, she didn’t NEED much else, although several other toys were brought along, just in case. I also took a couple sippy cups, milk and fruit because I knew she’d eat/drink those if nothing else. I wish I’d brought crackers, but was trying to bring only healthy snacks because junk food is available EVERYWHERE in the parks, even if most of it is overpriced. šŸ˜‰

My suggestion for next week’s topic is your favorite backyard summertime activity with your toddler. I need more help than usual coming up with outside activities since it is SO FREAKING HOT out! 98 today with a heat index of 103. šŸ™

Category: meme  | 5 Comments
SO. PROUD. Author: Jun 22

I am generally not an effusive person. While all my sentiments are heartfelt, they are usually quieter and more laid back than most people. However, this past weekend, this little creature right here…

… has made me SO PROUD.

As a relaxing start to my husband’s vacation, we spent 3 nights out at Disney (more on that later), and once again, my daughter proved herself to be an exceptional traveler.

We got out to Disney around lunch time on Friday and perused the hotel before returning to our room for a snack and a nap. Despite the lack of our usual nap time “routine,” she was asleep in her pack’n’play in about 20 minutes. She slept her usual 2 hours, then happily boarded a bus for the first time in her life. (The bus rides were a highlight of our trip for her. ;)) She rode in her stroller or walked with us all over Animal Kingdom and sat quietly through a very late dinner at Rainforest Cafe with minimal complaint. We ran through the rain to board a bus back to the hotel where she took a bath, got jammies, and was asleep in her pack’n’play within 20 minutes.

This basic routine continued ALL. WEEKEND.

SO PROUD.

This may not seem a big deal to some, but how many people can say they REALLY enjoyed every minute of a theme park stay with a 2.5 year old? Even from some of the other Disney moms I follow, there are usually issues of some kind, but my daughter? None. And I’m trying really hard to remember one.

SO. PROUD.

Category: Alyson  | Comments off
Changes Author: Jun 14

The past week has been very frustrating for me. As we get closer to the birth of DD2, the more I want to just sit and cuddle DD1. I also want to keep the house in a non-embarrassing state of mess as well as give in to the organizing/nesting urge and take care of some of the clutter. But I can’t seem to DO these things. When I sit and cuddle, I feel guilty that I should be doing chores or organizing. When I try to keep the house in some semblance of order, I end up with all kinds of random aches and pains and am then stuck to the couch. It seems like every time I try to organize or otherwise nest, there is a distraction of some kind (and I have shiny object syndrome horribly) and it doesn’t get done or gets half done and looks worse than it did before.

I try to remember, as Joanna so elegantly pointed out, that these moments that I have left with DD1 are fleeting. Our days of being a family of 3 are numbered, and we need to enjoy them, because it will be awhile before we achieve this state of peace again. And when we do? It will really be time to take the world by storm with all the fun we’ll have.

I’m also amazed at how much quicker time is passing now that I’m pregnant. Sure, it seems like DD1 is racing through toddlerhood, but it’s become even more obvious since I hit the halfway point of 20 weeks. And, as Grace said, 20 weeks?!? Where has the time gone? I can now feel the babe move every day, at least one extended period plus some other small reminders of her presence. It won’t be long before others can feel her too.

I was lucky over the weekend to have my mom take DD1 for a couple hours so I could begin re-organizing the closet in her room to accommodate DD2. However, due to just way too many things (many of them not as important as I make them out to be) on my personal to-do list, we only got the shelves installed and DD1’s old clothes organized. But hey, baby steps. There are still a minimum of 17 weeks until baby arrives. šŸ˜‰

Category: pregnancy  | Comments off
Week 21 – A Pregnancy Update Author: Jun 12

A quick update on how #2 and I are doing, with a little inspiration from Joanna and Victoria. šŸ˜‰

*How far along?: 21 weeks today

*Total weight gain: About 6 pounds

*How big is baby?: The size of a banana, approx 10.5 inches and 12.7 oz

*Sleep?: Still waking up a couple times each night, but it’s only a minor inconvenience

*Best moment this week?: My big girl’s pool party with some of her classmates from last year. It was so cute to see them all together again (even if it’s only been 2 weeks), and really showed that I need to suck it up and register her for a SafeStart swim program instead of Parent/Child classes. The other kids are MUCH better swimmers!

*Movement?: Every night, and a few random flutters during the day.

*Food cravings?: Always carbs. First trimester was baked potatoes, and now it’s bagels. I can’t remember the last time I ate this many bagels…

*Stretchmarks?: Nothing new šŸ˜‰

*Labor signs?: Negatory

*Belly button in or out?: Still in!

*What I miss: The ability to go out AND get things done at home. It seems like I have to choose one over the other thanks to fatigue. šŸ™

*Complaints: Nothing big, I’m just a lil whiny about the general downside of pregnancy. Back pain, fatigue, not being able to pick up and carry my daughter as often as she’d like.

*What Iā€™m looking forward to: Our Disney weekend! We’ll be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. SO excited to have a Savanna view room so the animals can come visit us. šŸ˜€

*Nursery Progress: None. I just figured out a new layout for their room (the girls have to share), and now I need to get organizing and shopping for either a crib for #2 or a big girl bed for #1.

*What items do you still need to buy for baby?: Everything. I can re-use a lot from my older daughter, but there are a few things that either can’t be re-used, can’t be shared, or are just better options than what I did the first time around. That will get sorted out in the coming weeks as well.

Category: General, pregnancy  | 2 Comments
A Post Inspired by 5QF Author: Jun 09

I’m sure you’re all surprised to see me post for 5QF again. Not. There are a ton of small things going on around here and it doesn’t leave a ton of time to blog. I do have a couple posts in the works though, so maybe I can get some things posted in the next week or so.

Anyway, to play along, link up with Mama M.

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?
This is difficult. As a child, I wanted to be everything, including a SAHM like I am. Usually though, my dreams involved something in the medical profession. I might get there once the babes get into “real” school. We’ll see. šŸ™‚

2. What is one must have item for the summer?
Watermelon.

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don’t have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)
My daughter’s only 2, so she’s ALWAYS learning. I try to avoid workbooks for this age, and just try to expose her to life. This has become even more difficult than usual, because on top of my usual introverted issues, the pregnancy gets in the way as well.

My mom never made us keep up on school stuff over summer. She thought my brother and I were both crazy when we voluntarily took summer school (both of us the summer before our junior years). When we were real young, like K-2nd, she always made sure she knew our strengths and weaknesses from the previous year, so she could help us remember right before the next year started. Just a little refresher before the new year started. šŸ™‚

4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?
No. I wouldn’t mind learning how, but it’s not a big thing for me right now.

5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?
No. I hate mornings. If I need to be somewhere before 11am, I put everything together the night before. If plans are after 11, I might wait and get ready in the morning. If no plans turn into plans, it all depends on how much prep it will take me in order to get ready. šŸ˜‰ I’ve become a pro at prepping for activities though, so it usually doesn’t take too long to leave once I’ve put my mind to it!

Category: 5QF, Getting to know me, meme  | Comments off