Adventures in Babysitting

Last night, we babysat for a neighbor's baby. Mind you, I'd only talked to this neighbor over the fence, but she must've thought we were all right seeing we have two healthy and happy children! They are from out of state so family babysitters are scarce. I can't imagine not having family around!

Their daughter was a sweet little thing! Healthy eater! I was instantly put into a setting of what it would be like to have three kids! Poor Handsome had to 'share' Mommy. He was not too happy about that, but he did relax and he actually was quite helpful, getting the baby's toys and picking up things I asked of him. Not that there was any cause, but he didn't bite his sister, no did he throw anything (even accidentally) at the baby! I think that's pretty good for a first time! I immediately took him out of the 'baby' category that I keep him in, but he's grateful to be back in that seat again today!

Sweet Pea was stuck eating her lengthy dinner through much of the sitting. Not that there was too much food, no more than usual, but the distraction of a new baby in the house added to her typical distractions stretched dinner to an hour and a half for her.......Why can't I have normal children who eat normal meals?

Of course I was told that this baby sleeps through the night. Which, for a parent whose children did and do not do that, is irritating! Well! ::huff:: That's just spectacular for you! I'm so envious of parent's whose children sleep through I can't even begin to describe it! The baby is about 7 months old. I was still holding Sweet Pea in my arms through the night at 7 months! I swear her digestive tract is funky and it never allowed her to be comfortable! Lucky me! Looking back, that is where the bond came through. I had no idea at the time, but I do now! Those are my two jealous things: children who eat well and children who sleep well. Ya can't have it all, and I must say, other than those two minor things (in the realm of what could be wrong) I'd have to say both my children are quite the keepers!

It was also very sweet to see Husband playing on the floor with a little one! It makes me sad to think we are done, but let's face it....we're old, money doesn't grow on trees and the effort that it takes for us to even become pregnant is demanding as there are a lot of people involved......not your typical Man and Woman scenario!

Sweet Pea has a Pre-school program today for Grandparents! I'm sad I'm missing her first program debut and wished I had asked my folks to tape it, but I do want them to enjoy it and not be worried about taping it! I'm looking forward to a report after work.

Big Bird Day is at the In-Law's, we're in charge of sweet potatoes (one of my favorites!) and chicken livers wrapped in bacon (one of Husband's favorites). I've attempted to start a new healthy living regime, which started yesterday. So, yesterday I did great and so far this morning things are going well. Wonder if it'll be an avalanche come Thursday! ::wink::

Christmas List

Here's what I did first thing this morning! Filled out one of those getting to know your friends lists! Enjoy!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper

2. Real tree or artificial? Always real until Husband would procrastinate so long that all were left were Charlie Brown trees

3. When do you put your tree up? I'd love to the first week in December, but Husband doesn't want it take up room during birthday party.....party pooper!

4. When do you take your tree down? after the new year

5. Do you like eggnog or boiled custard? egg nog is okay....the sound of boiled custard makes me want to hurl.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie Doll Dream House, being the youngest and only girl has its benefits

7. Hardest person to buy for? Husband

8. Easiest person to buy for? my kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, Willow figurines

10. Mail or email Christmas Cards? Mail, absolutely!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't recall one for me, but we all received leg warmers one year for Christmas from my grandmother....I went home with three extra pair, as my brothers weren't so fond of the gift! Ha!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie or Show? I think, The Family Stone.....it's got everything......

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? this year... October

14. Have you ever re-gifted a Christmas present? not that I can think of

15. Favorite food to eat at Christmas? anything. I'm happy to eat any meal that I don't have to cook!

16. Lights on the tree - Clear or Multicolored? hmm... Multi-colored, but for a while there, I was stuck on blue.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? O Come All Ye Faithful

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph

20. Angel on treetop or a star? An angel

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Eve with in-laws ... Christmas Day for the rest!!!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? not receiving ideas from the sibling gift grab bag!!!! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!

23. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? see #15!!!!

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? to sleep through the night undisturbed! = )

25. Who is most likely to respond to this? Bridg, Nicole

Birthday Drama

Well, yesterday was Husband's birthday. My shopping didn't even get started until AFTER the TV guy showed up to fix it. Of course, the thing needs a part that needs to be ordered, that will take two years to come in.....well, maybe not two years, but in the mean time I have a 'wee' TV set up which quite honestly, stinks that we don't have our big boy. I actually have to use my glasses to see the little one......crap!

Just as I was whining to my Mom that the repair man never called the door bell rang....it was him....of course. Speaking in some rough English, he said 'oh, you are home'?!? Uh, yeah, I've been waiting for your call since this morning! So as he says this I'm in my sweats and t-shirt, Sweet Pea is in her undies and undershirt after refusing to put her fuzzy pj's with footies back on......Have I mentioned that I just Love 3+ year olds?!?!?! So while repair guy goes back to his truck to grab his tools, I wisp away up stairs to throw on some jeans (and a bra-not that it matters for me mind you), put Sweet Pea in some clothes and grab Handsome out of his bed.....Dang?!?!? AFTER I put on new pants because his diaper could not hold it all in!!!!

So, repair guy appears to be very afraid of our wuss dog.....she's very non-threatening, but if a big, threatening looking broken-english speaking guy is fearful of her, then I guess that's enough for me! The kids are entertained by this guy and I hurry to fix lunch. I know what he's gonna tell me, it's the same thing as the last time! UggghhhH! This TV has just been a lemon for us! So much so that Husband wants ME to write a letter to the manufacturer about the TV that HE bought! I'll just add that to my list dear! So alphabet soup and cantaloupe fills the bellies of my peanuts and we are off the toy store! I do have to throw a Kudo's to the repair man for knocking back on the door to check on my phone number, which was wrong.....of course.

The kids did surprisingly well at Toys R Us. I got some great ideas for Sweet Pea and Handsome did alright as well. Bad news? They didn't have the large Lego's 'plate' that I wanted.....we sufficed with additional building blocks and a Diego set (we already had Dora!).

Having spent a little too much time at Toys R Us, we hurried to the grocery store.....pork tenderloin, gravy (still have to learn how to make that), apples for Husband's apple pie and milk. We run home and it's quarter to 3. I let the kids watch 15 minutes of a cartoon before wisping them up to their rest. Both not very happy and handsome took FOREVER to fall asleep!

I make the pie.

I wrap the two presents.

I throw the tenderloins in.

Husband comes home.

"Happy Birthday! How was your day?" Now, I know the response will include some Bit@H about something at work and he says...."Fine, until the end." I get some long winded story about yet another co-worker who doesn't inform him of their plans for the day, particularly the end of his day...which includes him. I'd get mad if no-one informed me, that at 4:50 pm, I had to do something that takes at least 40 minutes, which they could've informed me about a day, week or month ago! I know he's frustrated, I'd get frustrated too.

He then tells me 'you don't have to go the trouble of a nice dinner......" Really? Because he tells me every chance he can about the time I didn't give him a card for our anniversary...or was it birthday? Arrrgghhhh! Also, what's the purpose of a birthday if someone doesn't go out of their way for you?! A home-made dinner, a card (that I didn't forget), gifts from the kids, and we are to go out to dinner the Friday after Thanksgiving........

I know what men really want for their birthday, but quite honestly, by this time I was too tired to care, plus I wasn't even showered for fear of missing the repairman's call earlier in the day....I know, gross!

Depression

Listen, I know it's been a while, but I'm grieving. I have no money, I have no pals at work, my husband is all consumed with work, my legs hurt, my brain hurts....Thank GOD I have my children! Seriously, I think I'd be going nuts right now if it weren't for them! Although, at times, they drive me nuts too! But that's typical parenting. The huge TV Husband bought a while ago is out AGAIN. They are to come and fix it tomorrow, which means, it wont really be fixed for a while.......yuck. I look around at the house and there are a million things I can do, if everyone is sleeping!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.....someone who has enough sleep can do ANYTHING! Which is forcing me to start going to bed earlier than normal. Which I did, two nights last week. Hooray for me! It was a bear of a weekend as Handsome and Sweet Pea were getting colds.....

Feeling overwhelmed today. I've got Husband's birthday tomorrow and less than $50 in the checking account. Pay day is Friday and I'd like to take him to a nice dinner ....somewhere...but that won't be until Thanksgiving weekend. So tomorrow, I'd like to make Husband an apple pie, stuffed mushrooms and some type of roast for his dinner....oh, and take the kids to buy him a birthday gift. I've decided to get him some Leggo's so he can build on his own and not have to share....with his children....if he doesn't want to.....He has gotten irritated with them when they start to destroy his 'creation' before he's done.....just like your typical 3 year old..... So.... I'm hoping to buy a couple things, like this red Leggo Duplo building plate.

Priceless in the house, although if i buy red, everyone will want red and not the 'old' green one. I should probably buy two so each child and Daddy can have one...... Then of course, more Leggo's cause there's never enough..... I could buy ten of these Leggo Duplo sets and they still wouldn't be happy.
Please say a prayer for me as I'm bringing both children into the toy store tomorrow!