Look at us last year!! I can’t wait to post this evening’s photos. Eddie is loving life as Jeff Gordon and Caitlyn is a very good witch. We even dropped Eddie off with no tears this morning. I hope your day is filled with doughnuts, cider, and SPOOKTACULAR fun! Mwaaaaah haaaah haaa haaah!!
It so feels like Wednesday to me today. I don’t know why. I feel out of sorts. Maybe because I went to the gym this morning and I usually (by usually I mean last week) go MWF? I don’t know. In any case this will be a list post, because I really like lists, but also because I’m feeling a bit lazy.
1. Speaking of the gym, I’ve been going for a week and at least paying attention to what I eat, and I have lost one tiny pound. One. I wish there was some way to see immediate results. I wish I was the type of person who could do one of those crazy liquid diets. I wish that I could somehow get the lbs. to melt away. It doesn’t work that way though, huh.
2. Speaking of weight loss, I causally mentioned to Ed that I was going back on the pill because I don’t want an unplanned pregnancy to get in the way of my weight loss goals. (I have an appointment 11/9) He was actually kind of upset with me about it. He kind of thought we’d have another baby sooner than later. Well ok then. We disagree. I’m not canceling the appointment, but I will have a serious discussion with him before I start the pill. Who knew??
3. Eddie and Caitlyn were spitting last night. Their dinner, their beverages, just plain spit, you name it. They were out of control. At one point, I said to Eddie sternly “We do not spit in this house” and he said “Well can we spit in other peoples houses?” I had to walk away so he wouldn’t see me laughing.
4. I’m tired of my job and the shenanigans that go on. That’s all I have to say about that.
5. Caitlyn is on day 5 of being dry. She ran back and forth from the bathroom all last night saying that she needed to poop, but couldn’t get it out. She went in her pull-up right before bed and was actually upset about it. Today is a new day!!
6. Our local park is having an enchanted forest tonight and my FIL and I are taking the kids to walk through. I think they’ll enjoy it. Plus they get to try out their costumes before wearing them to school tomorrow.
7. Eddie still hates school in case you were wondering. He keeps asking for Ed to go with to drop him off, and I know it’s because Ed will stay and I will not. Ed can’t say no though, and usually follows us over. I kiss both kids goodbye and go. Ed has usually just left Eddie by the time my 20 minute commute to work ends. Now even at home, he wants to know where I am all the time—and says things like “Mommy, don’t leave me!!” when I put him to bed or am in the kitchen or something. I wish I knew what to do. I’m sure it’s not stay by his side for life, which is totally my inclination right now. I just feel like “my poor poor baby….” All of the time.
8. It’s supposed to be 70 degrees tomorrow for trick or teat—how awesome is that? I have to pick up crap for the kids to take to school tomorrow for their party and parade and now apparently for an impromptu Halloween party at work. I should have saved the pumpkin cookies (which are FRICKEN AWESOME!!) for tomorrow.
9. Did I happen to mention that we took all of the chocolate candy the kids got last Halloween and put it in the freezer? We have every intention of passing it out tomorrow night. Is that wrong in some way? It was all standard sealed chocolate; we didn’t save gummies or anything, so I think it should be fine. They weren’t going to eat it all.
10. I’d love to know what everyone is dressing their kids as for Halloween, or better yet, I’d like to see photos.
11. FINALLY!! I happened to hear a girls name on the radio this morning and immediately decided it was my new 2nd or 3rd favorite name for a girl. Do you want to hear it? No really, do you? It’s a name Ed would never go for, but I love it. Are you ready? It’s Sabina. I think it’s so pretty! Sabina. It makes me smile.
TTFN!!!
I don’t know what is going on today, you know, being expected to work rather than peruse blogs all day long, but here it is 4:00 and I’m finally writing when there is very little time left in my day.
I’m actually kind of sick. My throat started feeling a little bit scratchy and I felt a bit off (well more so that usual) yesterday so on my way home from the baby shower I was at, I picked up some NyQuil. I bought the capsules rather than the liquid, and somehow convinced myself that they were not working–like unless I physically tasted the green syrupy black licorice magic, the medicine just wouldn’t work–and was up all night. It could just be that I only took half of a dose, but I think I’ll pawn the capsules off on Ed and pick up a jug of NyQuil to drown away my sorrows sickness.
Our weekend was productive in an odd sort of way. We spent Saturday driving around to furniture stores for no actual reason. We are considering a breakfast nook for our kitchen and bunk beds (bump beds if you are Eddie) for the kids’ room. We went to the far away pumpkin farm as well, in search of my cookies and they did not have them. I will be making cookies tonight a la Mommy Daisy because I just can’t wait any longer. I can pawn them off at work as Halloween Treats and not buy any candy for my associates either.
After the baby shower yesterday, we carved pumpkins and I did oven fried chicken for dinner, (The recipe is on the back of the bisquick box, and is a favorite in our house) and bathed the kids. It was a pretty laid back kind of night. For what it was worth ( = not much) I was in bed by 10.
I saved the best for last though……Cait has been peeing AND pooping on the potty exclusively since Friday. She even woke us me up at 5:00 AM Saturday screaming “MOMMY!!! I NEED TO GO PEE!!!!!” Her pull up was dry, and she peed and went back to bed. It was like the flick of a switch, and she was done peeing in diapers. I’m so proud of my baby girl. Now if we could only get her brother to stay dry through the night. That’s a story for a different day though.
I’m looking forward to seeing photos of all the mini ghouls and goblins out here in bloggy land, and I’ll be posting a few of my own as well.
Hooray for Halloween!!
Like I mentioned yesterday, today was picture day at daycare. I’ve been apprehensive all day because 2 years ago, Eddie wouldn’t even go in to the room to have his picture taken (I was still on maternity leave with Cait, so she didn’t go at all) and last year both kids gave the people a really hard time—though Eddie eventually sat and smiled when they gave him one of their props to hold. Caitlyn though, was hysterical, and when they did get her to sit, she stared blankly at the camera, teas in her eyes, and snot dripping out of her nose. I have these photos displayed proudly on my desk though, because they do capture the kid’s true personalities. In any case, I hope it goes better today. They have a nice autumn background and I dressed the kids in jeans (Cait in a denim jumper) and Eddie in an orange striped shirt and Cait in a pinky/orangey and brown striped shirt. If it goes well, they will be adorable photos.
We’ve been having a really hard time with Eddie at drop off. He screams, and cries and carries on uncontrollably, saying “I want my Mommy…” or “I don’t like school!!” He’s been telling me that he misses the old school and wants to go back. I’ve asked him if the teacher is mean, or if someone is hurting him and he says no. I asked him if he gets in trouble, and he says no. Teacher says he is usually fine soon after we leave, but his anxiety really concerns me. He was doing a whole lot better until we went on vacation, and then he was sick for 4 days, so there was a good chunk of time where he was home. I don’t know if he feels like if he carries on enough, we’ll figure something out and take him home? Or if he really just hates it there? Or if he’s going through something that he can’t express? He hasn’t had any sort of separation anxiety since he was 18 months old, so I am at a complete loss as to what to do with him. I tend to make goodbyes quick, leaving him there crying. It kills me to do it, but I don’t feel like lingering will help anything. (not to mention having to be at work) Ed disagrees—wants to have him somewhat calmed down before we go and is actually horrified that I would just leave him there. In general, the whole situation sucks.
Caitlyn is easy though, like she always has been. She smiles, and goes off to play, or sits down to breakfast waving goodbye. Calling after us “BYE Mommy and Daddy!!!” She can’t get us out the door soon enough and generally doesn’t want to leave at the end of the day either.
Complete opposite ends of the spectrum.
Somehow the PMS comes on right about the time that I start to diet. It is inevitable and sometimes just seems like a cruel trick—you know like there’s good old Mother Nature clasping her hands together and cackling like a crazy person. “You will be large and in charge for ETERNITY!!! AAAHH HA HAHAHAHAHA!!!”
Seriously though. I was running errands on my lunch break (more on that later) and on my way out of the bank, all of the smells from the Mexican place, Chinese place and pizza place were wafting out in to the already yummy crisp autumn air, and I could have died. All the fried, greasy wonderfulness I could ever want….all in one plaza. There’s actually a donut shop there too. And a deli.
I sucked it up though, and headed back to work where I thoroughly enjoyed my homemade salad and Lean Gourmet Spaghetti and Mushrooms along with my XXX Vitamin Water. Not fully satisfied, I chased it with a peanut butter Twix. Ok, 2 peanut butter Twix.
What the hell, right?
Anyhoo, I had to go to Babies R Us on my lunch break to get a gift for my cousin’s baby momma’s shower this weekend. I swear, just driving by that store, my checking account becomes depleted. I bought the gift my SIL and I decided on and then just had to look at the clothes. They had full outfits for $9.99. I got 2 for Cait (one that is jeans embellished with blue cloth and a blue hoodie and the other is pink leopard print leggings with matching pink that has a leopard print kitty on it—in case you were wondering). I also grabbed pull-ups and wipes while I was there, making my grand total around $100.
In other shopping news, I scored 35% off of the clearance prices on line for the rest of the furniture we got for our living room. The bad news is that it costs $60 to ship, but the discount was about $73 so it kind of evens out. I’m so excited to have matching furniture that I can’t even believe it. We’re in negotiations about paint in the living room right now though—I want like a grayish green or sunflower yellow, and Ed wants tan. He also wants to paint my woodwork black. I don’t think I’m a fan of that idea. I’ll definitely post photos of the finished product.
Finally, tomorrow is picture day at daycare, and I think that Caitlyn might actually sit this year. Last year she was miserable and crying, and you can see the tears and runny nose in her photo. I have to make a mental note to remember the forms telling them what I want. The folks that come in to do them do a really good job, and they have a really nice set-up. Hopefully, it will all go well.
This means though that there are baths to be had and hair needs to be dried before they lay down tonight, which makes me one busy woman. I’d better finish up work and get out of here!!
Mommy Daisy tagged me for a meme in which I list 6 habits or facts about myself. I’ve done my 100 facts list as well as an 8 facts list from TFM, so I’m going to focus on my habits, if you will.
1. I set and reset my alarm clock with an OCD-like fierceness. I set it, check to make sure it’s set for the right time, verify am/pm, and then reset it just in case. I do it like 10 times in a row.
2. I am insanely particular about the way my silverware drawer is organized. It must go from left to right, forks, spoons, knives. They must be organized in the dishwasher basket the exact same way.
3. I pop my ears voluntarily all day long.
4. I can never be bothered to remember my wedding ring. I always have really good intentions of putting it on, but it never happens. Until I was pregnant, I never took it off. Now, even if I wear it out, I don’t wear it at home. I’m super clumsy and bang it on things, or I scratch the kids with it.
5. I’m obsessed with getting boogers out of the kid’s noses. Even if they’re not bothering them at all. Even if they are completely non-intrusive. I need to get them out of there.
6. I can’t handle any sort of repetitive sound (idiot bell on the car door) or flashing light (the answering machine). If I hear something I track it down til I find it and make it stop. My employees are required to turn of the volume on their pc’s because any sort of pc noise sends me over the edge.
I’m not tagging anyone specifically, but do it if you are so inclined!
1. We bought 2 snails for our fish tank. We now have a baby snail. From what I hear, they multiply more than rabbits. Maybe I’ll start a snail farm. You would think that the pet store would warn us about their spawning. They didn’t.
2. I went to Old Navy on my lunch break to spend the gift certificate I got from my mom and get some clothes for Cait. For some reason Eddie has tons of fall/winter clothes and she has none. Anyway, the store was super picked over so I ended up coming back and ordering some things online. You’re bored with me, right? This is what I got for Cait, and with the exception of the dress which I paid FULL PRICE for (because it is more than adorable), everything was less than $4. I can’t wait for the dress. (I got the black shirt in 3 colors and the pants in 3 colors too)
3. I started using Neutrogena’s complete skin care system and it is finally making a difference. I wrote a while back about how insanely horrible my skin was. I feel a whole lot better now.
4. I joined NaBloPoMo and have committed to posting every day in November. I decided that I am going to do a “Thought of the day” entry every day in addition to whatever regular entries I might write.
5. I saw my sweet niece Samantha for the fist time since July on Sunday. She is so fat and cute in her 6-month-oldness that I can’t stand it. I told my BIL to bring her over any time. What’s one more kid to watch? Eddie and Caitlyn loved her. When I told Caitlyn she was her baby cousin she looked at me with a huge grin and said “Mine Mommy? My baby??” It was adorable.
6. The kids also both had their hair cut on Sunday. Caitlyn now has a cute bob. Very cute.
Finally I just wanted to thank all of you wonderful ladies for your words yesterday. How amazing is it to have this cross country support network of people who know just how I feel? You all make me smile.
P.S. I did not go to the gym today on account of being super sore from yesterday. I always forget how hard the fist week or so is. I will be back tomorrow though. And I ate half a brownie last night. There, I’m being honest.
So I’m dieting again. This comes after realizing that not only have I gained back the weight I lost last winter, I added about 8lbs to that, not to mention the fact that I lost all of the muscle tone that I had built. Almost none of my pants fit and the ones that do are uncomfortable. I am ashamed and disappointed.
I went to the gym at 5:30 this morning, like I did all last winter. I like going in the AM when all of the old people are there, instead of the intimidating body builder types. At least the girl at the front desk remembered me; I have only been there a handful of times since the middle of May.
What is it about the summertime that makes you discard your healthy eating and lifestyle habits? I was really doing well back then and proud of myself because I was sticking with it, and seeing results despite my Thyroid Condition . I felt great, and it was an all around amazing experience. Why then was it so easy to get lazy?
I always hesitate to discuss anything about my weight, dieting or working out because it’s easy to see when I’ve failed. I can’t just arbitrarily say “YES! I’ve lost this much weight!” because you can see the truth. If I commit, and don’t follow through (because let’s face it I’m lazy and extremely fickle) you will know. And you’ll think I’m a failure.
Today feels different though, although my body is alarmed and all like, “What do you mean an apple and sugar free yogurt for breakfast? Where the EFF is my buttered bagel????!!!?!?!!”, I feel good and inspired. At least I have vitamin water to get me through the day.
The non-commitist in me says “I might even go back tomorrow, you know, if I feel like it.”, but I think I probably will. Just don’t judge me if I don’t.
I spent $138 including shipping, but $100 was in the form of a giftcard from my employees for my birthday.
Won’t I be the picture of fashion!
I hope everyone out there has a lovely weekend!
Lazy Perogie Recipe (you know you need to have it)
Per Sarah’s request, here is my affectionately dubbed Lazy-P recipe, which is actually my mother’s recipe in some shape or form because I lost her printed version long ago.
You will need:
1lb box of rotini noodles, cooked al dente
2 2lb bags of sour kraut, drained (I do not rinse my kraut because I enjoy the krauty goodness, but you can rinse it if you want to)
1 very large sweet Vidalia onion (or about 3 small onions but I really like the sweetness the Vidalia provides), diced
3 sticks of butter (you could probably tone down the butter if you needed to, but it makes it SO DELICIOUS!!)
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Pre-heat your oven to 350
Melt one stick of butter in your largest frying pan. Add onion and cook on low until its soft and starting to caramelize.
Once the onions are done, melt another stick of butter in to them and add your sour kraut. Mix onions and kraut. Liberally salt and pepper the mix.
Cook on low for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown. (I usually cook my noodles while the kraut is cooking)
Mix sour kraut and noodles in a large glass baking dish (I like to use my corning ware) salt and pepper to taste and dot the top with remaining butter.
Cover and bake for 30-45 minutes.
Some people like to add cream of mushroom soup or even some polish sausage, but I think it’s much better without it. Call me a Lazy-P purist if you must. I do like it with some smoked polish sausage on the side though.
Incubation Nation 