Done!

Something unsettling happened this week. I had a period scare; I was over a week late. If anything, it just confirmed the following: We are done having kids. I am done having kids; I’m pretty sure Tim would have been okay if I wanted to just stop at one, but I wanted two and I wanted a brother for my baby boy and I got that, and now… I’m all done! Get me out of the chair and away from the table or I will start screaming and throwing my chicken nuggets and diced banana on the floor.

Needless to say, I was actually giddy when it arrived!

I like things how they are, thankyouverymuch. My boys are easier today than they were yesterday. And they’ve been getting progressively easier as they’re getting older. Maybe the word “easier” is being used a little too loosely here; they give me a hard time and I’m sure those hard times will just keep getting harder as they get older, but they ARE easier than a newborn baby, for crying out loud. Newborns, or infants, or anything younger than one year olds, are SO hard, yo.

They don’t cry when I walk out of a room; actually, I think they might just like it. They very rarely projectile vomit. They walk! Nate walked around his first birthday; Matthew was more like 15-16 months old. And he’s a tank of a child. 30 pounds at almost-2 compared to his brother’s 36 pounds at almost-4. They walk right beside me, they hold each other’s hands nicely, and we just walk like Real People into places. Sure, they might dead weight themselves as we’re walking out because they don’t.want.to.leave, but they still walk.

If Nate would stop coming into our bed in the middle of the night, I would be getting a full night’s sleep. But! Technically speaking, they do “sleep through the night”… which in my book means I don’t have to change or feed or rock them. If I just have to move over a little to let him squeeze in beside me, that’s fine, he can sleep next to me and rub my cheek as long as he wants to as long as he lets me sleep. I can sleep through his many verses of Old MacDonald, but I can’t sleep through a reflux-y baby screaming all night long, while my ‘pretty useless during the day – definitely useless through the night’ husband snores beside me. I like feeling rested when I wake up, even if they drive me so hard into the ground that I’m crashing by 3pm.

We can just get up and go places. We like that. No bottles or worrying about breastfeeding in public, or if we’ll need a blanket in the restaurant, what if it’s cold? No baby food! They can eat anything, anywhere, anytime! No worrying about naptimes, Mattie still takes a nap every day obviously, but he can skip and not be too, too, too out of control.

They have real personalities. They’re fun, and funny, and interesting and just plain ol’ cool little guys. I like hanging out with them all day long. I actually like my “job”. I’ve wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember, and when they were infants, I loved it, I thought it was everything I’d been waiting for, but really, this, right now, is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. School, and all the art projects and birthday parties and sports, and watching my boys be friends, playing together, fighting or sharing, snuggling or smacking, I love their interactions. I’m happy to keep moving forward knowing that we won’t be back in that place of caring for a newborn.

I’m sure that my uterus will still ache just a smidge every time I see or smell or even think of a brand spankin’ new baby, but after this last week, I know for sure that it won’t be mine. Well, not on purpose, anyway.

Rain, Rain: GO the eff AWAY!

So, stupidly, I planned this week’s menu without looking at the forecast. It's rain, folks, from today clear through till Wednesday night.

Smart. It’s not one of my strong points.

The menu consists mainly of meals that I need to cook, in whole or in part, on the grill. We don’t have a covered patio or anything in the back yard. This means Big Trouble or Big Change of Plans.

I’d prefer not to change The Plan. It's a delicious plan.

Monday:

Chicken Fajitas
Corn on the Con
Salad

Tuesday:

Grilled Pizza (thanks DMC!)
Salad

Wednesday:

BBQ Chicken
Fruit Salad
Corn Bread

Thursday: (my parents are coming over)

Cheeseburgers
Baked beans
Salad

Friday:

Chicken
Pasta
Salad
Garlic Bread

Saturday:

Steaks
Baked Potatoes
Grilled Asparagus

So, now, I have to decide first if you can even grill in the rain? Would that be stupid? I have rain boots and a matching umbrella! ???

If grilling in the rain is not possible, do I pull a major white trash move and grill out front where I can seek shelter? I mean, it’s L-town, no one would even notice, probably, right?

But if I do, do I have to put my sofa out there too? The picnic table? A lamp?

Nice and Normal

We had a pretty good weekend over here.

My parents took the boys overnight on Saturday night. We dropped them off around 2pm on Saturday, then Tim and I did a little shopping before we came home and did some stuff around the house. I reorganized the kitchen cabinets, Freecycled a lot of junk and ate Jelly Belly’s; Tim worked on the yard and washed our cars. We’d already marinated a couple steaks for dinner, but at the last minute changed our minds and decided to go out instead.

I called PF Chang’s around 7, thinking that an 8:30pm reservation would be just perfect. All I could get was 10pm. Wow. 10 P.M. We hadn’t eaten that late since before we had kids… a period of time that we lovingly refer to as our “Glory Days”.

It was surprisingly… nice… to be out having dinner that late. There wasn’t a single child in the restaurant. In fact, the whole place was full of adults. No crying, no screaming and it’s not the kind of place with balloons, so it was really (here’s that word again)… nice. Calm, relaxing, we ate slowly; we weren’t two steps ahead of the waiter, asking for take out containers during appetizers and requesting the check as he delivered our meals. We ate like normal adults. Isn’t it peculiar that we felt weird acting normal?

By the time we got home and ate the desserts we brought with us, it was close to one in the morning, which was fine because we got to sleep in until around 11am. It was really (here’s that word again, again)… nice. And weird too. Yep, nice and weird, just the way I like it.

We picked the kids up around 2pm on Sunday, and we took them to the lake and then spent a lot of time outside. Later, we grilled the steaks we marinated the night before and it was a nice, relaxing evening, even with the kids. But there was the regular fussing, fighting and "OMG shut up!" moments, but that's our "normal" and, you know what? That's just the way I like it, too.

Yep, pretty good weekend over here.

Ten Things I'm Loving Right Now

1. Old Country Music

Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, David Allen Coe, Hank Williams Jr., I'm sooooo loving some older country these days. Ho' down!


2. Bare Escentuals Warmth

After hibernating through the winter months, I need a little warmth on my skin. And this one doesn't look fake. Bravo, Leslie!


3. Pirates!

Arrr! I love me some pirates and skulls. Actually, I dig the whole scene. These fuckers have made it hard to justify my pirate love, but, really, I just dig the make-believe pirate scene. I'd have made a good pretend pirate, I think. I look good in tight pants and blouse-y tops.


4. Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Latte

This whole love affair started at Christmas. Because -- OMG -- They had peppermint whipped cream. They don't have that anymore, but I've carried the Peppermint Mocha addiction straight through Patty's Day and now that's it's warming up, I'll just ask: Peppermint Mocha Fraps, anyone? Or should I ask, 17 grams of fat, anyone?


5. Clorox Greenworks Toilet Bowl Cleaner

I just like it. As much as one can like a toilet cleaner.


6. The weather

It's creeping towards spring and I love warm, yet breezy days. This rain can hit the road though.

7. Brie Cheese

Tim and I go through these wacky dessert/snack phases like soft pretzels with Cheese Whiz, brownies with peanut butter or s'mores but right now, it's Brie on buttery crackers, spread with raspberry jam. God damn, it's good.


8. V-8 Splash

It's such a yummy fruit juice. It's sugary sweet BUT, don't fret, it has vitamins!


9. My slippers

I got new ones at Wal*Mart for $9.97 and they are the best slippers I've ever, ever owned. They're very old man looking, which was the inital attraction, but now that's just a bonus.


10. Softlips

Remember Softlips? From high school? I found some at Target earlier in the winter, became an addict and I've blown through six tubes of it already. It's tingly, and I get tingly when I think of all the memories that it brings back.

Maple Syrup... Mmmmmm. Zzzzzzz.

I accidentally overdosed on maple syrup today.

The result of a self-induced sugar coma is laziness. Jot it down.

Things started out okay. We got up, got dressed and out the door in a timely fashion, which never happens, so that was a Bravo for me! We met some friends for breakfast at Cracker Barrel and that’s precisely where my day ended.

I ordered the Momma’s French toast breakfast, because I am, in fact, A Momma, and it does, in fact, include four (count them!) slices of French toast, two eggs (scrambled, for me, with cheese, naturally), and I chose sausage as my obligatory breakfast meat. Why stop there, you’re wondering? I know! I couldn’t either! I also got a side of hash brown casserole.

*insert a variety of barnyard animal noises here*

I did share nicely with Mattie.

Nate had a kid’s meal of two pancakes and a side of bacon.

I doused my French toast in so much of their amazing 100% pure maple syrup and then I had a little dipping pool of the shit on the side, to dip my already too maple-syrup-y French toast in. I actually feel a little sick thinking about it. Then, I had three cups of coffee, trying desperately to give my body energy after I weighed it down with all that food.

Then we left. And I was left feeling very full and sleepy.

And that’s where the day officially ended. I did not lift a finger for housework or cooking or baking or anything that I didn’t HAVE to do. I haven’t even gotten the mail yet. Maybe I’ll live on the edge and leave it there till tomorrow. Ooooh, the mailman will think we’re on vacation!! How exciting!

I set up the sand/water table my kids got for Easter in my kitchen because I’m cool and fun (and plain stupid) like that. Just water, no sand, so I can easily say “It’s just water, people!” except I won’t say that, all that I will say is “It offered hours of fun, people!”. After I got sick of the mess, I put the cover on and they’re still playing with their cars on it. Not that stupid of an idea in the end, people.

What did I do while they enjoyed this wet, indoor fun? I learned a lesson. No, not that I shouldn’t let them play with water inside, that would be too OBVIOUS. Here’s the lesson: I can guiltlessly ignore my kids when I’m on the computer or the phone but if I’m laying on the couch, it just feels wrong. I know this now, because that’s what I did. I curled up on the sofa, under a blanket and everything, and I tried to watch a movie but it... just felt wrong. Too stereotypically lazy, I guess. Jot that one down, too. Mommy guilt can be a bitch.

Just like Mother Nature can be a bitch. The reason my kids were playing with water INSIDE is because it was raining today. After ALL I do for her, she rains when Nate is on school break, can you believe it? So, when Nate threw the banana I handed to him directly into the trash, I left it there. I could have gotten it out and put it in with the composting, the bag was empty, it wasn’t gross or anything, but I’m spiteful like that. No potassium for you, Earth.

Too much sugar makes me lazy and nasty, too, apparently. Yay. Another reason to stick to the diet.

Harry Kalas

Our city was saddened when we heard that the announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies, Harry Kalas, passed away this afternoon. Harry was found in his booth at 12:30pm, just before today's game against the Washington Nationals, which for some reason makes me feel so peaceful. Here's a man who spent 21 of his 73 years announcing for the Phils, and he dies right where he loved to be.

Harry Kalas started announcing for the Phillies in 1971, seven years before I was born. Those that know me even a little bit know that I’m not a sports fan. But, I grew up in a house where my dad supported Philadelphia teams, and my husband is exactly the same way (if "exactly" means "much more obsessively obsessed"). So, I grew up listening to Harry’s voice. A summer evening ball game won’t be the same without it. Falling asleep on the sofa on a Saturday afternoon was easy if the game was on because Harry’s voice was so soothing. Being at the game, hearing him shout “It’s Outta Here!’ made up part of the whole experience.

Very sad news. RIP Harry Kalas. Philadelphia will miss you.

My Everyday Style

I was discussing blogging about this very topic yesterday with my friend, Amanda during one of our many daily chats. She said I should, she's sick of reading about people's kids and then I said "Yeah, but I dress so boring, all I wear is jeans and a tank with a tee" and she was all "That's what I'm wearing! What, are you calling me boring, bitch?" (Oh, we're allowed to talk to each other like that. We go way, way, waaaay back. If real life were Harry Potter, she'd be my SecretKeeper.)

So, here's my everyday. I don't consider my self a boring person, of course... who does, really? But, I'll admit my wardrobe isn't very exciting. It's bountiful, sure, but full of lots of boring duplicates, of the same boring things, in every boring color they make Boring in.

Jeans. Everyday in the winter, spring and fall. And even some days during the summer but I never wear denim shorts. I really like my jeans to be old and broken in. And hanging off my ass so bad that I need a belt. Also, I LOVE holes, and rips and tears and stuff. In fact, my favorite jeans have a hole in the knee so large that I live in fear of falling asleep before Tim... I know he'd betray me and throw them away.

Tanks and Tees. I like V-neck tees because of my big ol' boo-bays. Crew necks make me look like I have one giant boob, I think. And I like wearing a contrasting colored tank under my tee, for what, I don't know? I think it makes me look skinnier? I like wearing different colors? I like it when Tim tells me I don't match? Therefore, I always wear one.

Cardigan sweaters. I'm obsessed, it's a sickness, really. They are so very cozy, and in the fall and spring, I often opt for a cardigan instead a jacket. I have all kinds of styles but prefer ones with huge pockets for toting chapsticks and treats. I wish I could say I wear brightly colored ones, but folks: it's always brown, black, tan, gray, ivory or white.

Shoes. I'm not one of "those" girls. Nope, not me. Again, I prefer my shoes to be broken in, just like my jeans. And then I wear them 'til they break. And then I cry and try to find an exact replacement but by then, so much time has passed, they're discontinued. It's traumatic. Right now, I'm real into my Pr!vo's. and my pseudo-Converse slip-ons from Target. They're both comfy for my wide ol' clown feet.

Jewels. I always wear my wedding band & engagement ring. Duh. And I usually wear my pearl earrings and my diamond studs simply because I wanna be like Prince. I also usually wear two of my Nana's pearl bracelets and my Name Disc Necklace, which is engraved with my boys names.

Nail Polish. My nails and toes are painted either Sweetheart pink or Eiffel For This Color blackish-wine nail polish at all times. I find the darker color to be so grossly obvious when it chips, so my polish color depends on how busy of a week I'm having.

That's it. Isn't that boring? I wish I dressed like Carrie on Sex and the City.

SO! I think that buying some fun things would be a spiffy idea. I've been DYING for jeans just like THESE! Also, I've been coveting this PinTucked Tunic Dress for weeks, although I think I'd still wear it with jeans because - wowzers - is it short and with two little boys, I do a great deal of bending and crouching and crawling and running and jumping and dancing and sometimes they like to hide under my dresses in public and jeans just make that all seem like not a Big Deal. And, honestly, my ass hanging out a dress does not make for a pretty picture. Just trust me.

Can I Be a Teenager for Two Seconds?

Okay, first, dudes, 90210 last night was whack. Drama! Angst! Craziness! All in pure 9-0 style... you know, ridiculous but all-consuming. For an hour, anyway.

I felt so sad for Silver, but you now who I feel worse for? That Mr. Matthews, aka Ryan. Good God, does he get blamed for just about everything, or what? Poor guy.

Next week Donna's coming back and YAY for that! I just love it when the old cast is on the screen, I can feel my lungs filling up with a scream just thinking about it.

Okay, moving on...

Second, I am in love with the song "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. Weird, I know. I don't even know one other song Miley Cyrus sings. Or any of Hannah Montana's hits. I just really like the message it sends to young girls. I don't know if I necessarily completely agree that it doesn't matter how fast you get there or that it's not about what's waiting on the other side, because sometimes, it is but really, overall, it is very important to focus on the teensy steps that get you there. Bravo, Miley!

A Com-post!

During naptime today, I was reading some blogs... you know, just killing the long, boring hour I endure all by myself now and then, because it's almost impossible to get two napping kids these days.

Anyhoo, I stumbled across a composting post over at This Young House's blog. I'd been thinking about composting a lot recently, it just seems like something my family would be good for, considering the amount of produce and coffee we go through in a week. And I've been bored with my efforts to be a better friend to the planet; I could do more, I should do more. But... I didn't know. Us, composting? God, wouldn't that, like, smell real bad? With two little ones, don't we kinda deal with enough stuff that, you know, smells real bad?

Growing up, our next door neighbors were Composters. They had a small, shallow hole in the ground, and they would fill it with their scraps, turn the dirt and then the whole neighborhood would be offended by the ungodly smell.

After doing a smidgen of research I discovered that with no container and no lid, it's no wonder!

The Youngsters made it seem really easy to make your own composting container with this step by step DIY guide. And just now, using a Rubbermaid container I'd already owned and some dry leaves that I stole from under my neighbor's tree, I crafted my very own composting bin! It was EASY, and using a power drill is always a good time.

I'm very excited about it, especially since I have Big Plans to start a garden this year, and once I use up some of the compost I've made in my garden, we'll buy a real, commercialized composting bin and just start again but I'd really like to see if it works out well for us first. Right now, I've got the boys snacking on apples, a fresh pot of joe brewed and the dryer running so I'm bound to catch some lint! Snack + afternoon coffee + finished laundry now = composting fun!

It looks ridiculously easy, and there's so many things you can compost; I'm amazed. Obviously, you can compost anything that's organic in origin, such as all fruit and veggie peels and cores, stale chips and dry cereal, pastas and rice, but you can even compost unusual things like dryer lint, paper towels, wool socks... the list is crazy... there are soooo maaaaaany things I just toss into the garbage, it's unreal. And - thank God - I now have a place for all that leftover chicken manure!