Crash Landing in the Real World

We're back home.

The trip to Orlando went pretty well. Naps were limited, but the little man held it together remarkable well. I think the swimming pool helped a lot.

We didn't hit any of the theme parks (that whole pregnant with a two year old thing), but we did go to T-Rex Cafe for lunch (think Rain Forest Cafe with dinosaurs) and he got to ride a merry go round for the first time.

We stayed at my husband's grandparents apartment, but his parents drove down to Orlando at the same time. So things were a bit crowded, but everyone survived.

It was wonderful to sleep in my own bed and have my bathroom back. A little privacy goes a long way to smoothing frayed nerves.

My in laws arrived here yesterday to stay for a few days. It helps break up their drive back to Pennsylvania, but it's a lot of family bonding.

I'm still working on my nod and smile strategy. I think it's near perfected.

Hosting the in laws while my husband works for two days isn't exactly my favorite thing, but I'll survive. I'm just hoping the toddler will keep everybody entertained.

Hope everybody is doing well. I hope to be back to normal life (blogging included) by the end of the weekend.

If you don't hear from me in a week, please send a search party.

(Thank goodness for a due date the first week of January. There will be no holiday traveling for us this year. I think I'm all traveled out after this adventure.)

Float Like a Butterfly, NO Stinging Like a Bee

I will float like a butterfly, bobbing along in the wind as it blows.

I will be flexible like a flower and bend, not break.

I will smile pleasantly and nob my head at appropriate times. If necessary, I will bite my tongue.

I will even take photos and send prints afterwards.

I will survive my first in law double whammy as I spend this weekend with both my mother in law and her mother.

Not just survive, I will aim higher.

I will enjoy it (even if it freaking kills me) because I will be in Orlando with my family and Orlando is fun.

I will focus on the fact that they love my son as much as I do. I will do my best to share him. After all, he is the only grandchild and great grandchild they have and he is really freaking cute.

And someday I will be a mother in law and I'd appreciate the same treatment.

(I won't be around blogland much the next week because we'll be traveling. Can't wait to catch up with everybody when I return.)

(Also, we have had continued success with the bathroom reading method of potty training. The little man has used the potty at least once every day this week so far. So it is officially beginning...)

The Bathroom Reading Instinct

The first boss I had right out of college used to take my work and disappear into the bathroom for alarming periods of time.

Then he would hand it back to me with red ink all over it. (I really hope he at least washed his hands.)

My husband also routinely does a disappearing act with the Sports Illustrated (which I thankfully have no interest in reading or need to touch).

I've always assumed this was just a weird male habit.

Just now I'm convinced it might actually be an instinct.

Yesterday morning, my son wanted me to read him some books.

I've been thinking about stepping up the potty training so I asked him if he's liked to sit on the potty while I read to him.

Up to this point, we've talked about the potty and he usually sits on it a few minutes before bath. But he's only ever used it once, totally by accident, when he just happened to pee while sitting on the potty.

He was really excited about the suggestion to read on the potty, much more into the idea than I expected.

We were a few pages into the book and when I hear little sounds of something being dropped in water.

"J, did you just poop in potty?"

"Yes, in the water. Now read Mama."

And that was that. He was very casual about the whole thing. Like it was no big deal at all.

I tried to tell him how proud I was and what a big boy he was, all the usual stuff. He just repeated the demand for the story.

I have no idea if we'll have a repeat performance in the near future, but I know I'll be spending a little more time than usual sitting on the bathroom floor reading this week.

The Gender Question

My sonogram is scheduled!

In about two weeks, in addition to checking in on the health of the little one, I will hopefully know if I'm having another boy or a little girl.

(And yes, I'll definitely be sharing the news with you all.)

I know some people like to be surprised and wait to find out. I personally like to plan and be able to refer to the baby as "he" and "she".

Thinking in terms of "it" kind of makes me feel like I'm starring in the newest alien movie. But that's probably just me.

Since I already have a boy, everybody seems to assume I want a girl. And I'd love a girl.

But...I'd also love a boy.

I honestly don't really have a preference. I think one of each would be awesome and I think a matched set of wild boys would be fun (if a bit tiring).

I just hope for healthy.

For the record, I think I'm having a girl. No real reason, just a feeling.

(If you are a boy, little one, I'd like to apologise right now for calling you "she" for the first few months of your existence. Sorry about that.)

I was convinced I was having a boy the first time so we'll see if I can go two for two.

I'm so grateful that I'm getting to the fun part of the pregnancy. I can feel tiny kicks on occasion now and I'm really looking forward to my first peek at the baby.

And I'm sure that's more than enough baby talk for one day so I'll just end with wishing everybody a happy weekend.

Efficiently Wasting Time

Dear DVR,

I had mixed feelings about you in the beginning, but now I have to say it - I love you.

At first I thought you were too complicated. I thought I'd never learn how to touch your buttons the way you like, but we worked it out.

Then I thought I would never use you. I assumed that you couldn't offer me anything more exciting than my VCR.

How wrong I was.

Recording shows is so easy and the "record the series" function is fabulous.

And thanks to the wonderful fast forward function, I will never watch a commercial again. NEVER AGAIN I tell you.

I can now watch an hour show in about 40 minutes. So I can waste my time so much more efficiently.

When you consider all the previews and recaps in reality shows, I watch them in half the time without missing anything juicy.

I'm so sorry for doubting you.

I'm am officially hooked and will happily pay for you now that our free year is up.

You're worth every penny. (You win this round Verizon. The free taste of the good stuff has me totally addicted.)

Love,
Me

RTT - Answers, Heart Beats and Inlaws

And once again it is Tuesday...



This makes me feel really old - Jim Carrey to be a Grandfather

I bet he will be awesome in this new role.

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I don't have all the answers yet, but I think I am finally asking the right questions.

It's enough for right now.
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I went to the doctor's yesterday. I heard the baby's heartbeat again. It's amazing how reassuring that is.

I've even put on a little weight. I think the worst of the puking is over.

It's shocking how much brighter the world looks.
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I thought this was kind of interesting - What? You Don't Love Your Mother In Law?

According to the article the biggest mistakes DILs make are being thin-skinned, taking a confrontational stand too quickly, expecting equal treatment, letting things slide at the start, and failing to put yourself in her shoes.

It all seems a bit contradictory to me.

How are you supposed to not be too confrontational and not let the little things slide at the start?
I'm thankful that my mother in law is a very nice woman, even if we are very different from each other.
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Please visit the fabulous and entertaining Keely at the Un-Mom for more random fun.

What's In It for Me?

I am enjoying being a mostly stay at home mom. (I say "mostly" because I work very part time from home.)

Not to say there aren't the occasional bumps in the road or complete train wreck days. Things aren't always cotton candy and fluffy bunnies, but I have fewer bad days now then when I was working full time.

Some of the reasons I enjoy staying home have really surprised me.

I expected to love the sappy mommy stuff. And I do love the sticky kisses and big hugs, but there are a lot of other parts to the stay at home life that I really like.

Totally selfish parts that have nothing to do with being a "mom". There are some great benefits to the job.

I love that toddlers need more sleep than adults so that I have some time every day not in mommy mode.

I love that I get to spend so much time outside now.

I love taking long walks. Sure, I'm pushing a stroller, but who cares? I love that I get more exercise than when I was sitting in from of a computer 9 hours a day.

I also get to workout regularly thanks to the wonders of affordable child care at the gym. No more working through lunch and barely moving all day and generally feeling like crap.

I love that I have the mental energy and time to read the occasional book and at least skim through the newspaper daily. I was also way too drained to read much or even think of starting a blog when I worked full time.

I love that we have so much fun family time on the weekends. No more spending hours on Sunday doing laundry. I am usually able to get the errands and cleaning done during the week so we can just play on the weekends.

I love that I've gotten a chance to meet wonderful woman from all walks of life. I might not always get to complete my sentences while toddler wrangling, but I've managed to make a few great friends.

In all honestly before my son was born, I was a bit of a workaholic. I didn't even realize it until I got the chance to step away from work for awhile and get a little perspective.

I barely knew anybody that I didn't work with. I came home at night too tired to do anything, but throw together the laziest dinner I could and sit in front of the boob tube. I didn't have any hobbies. I didn't spend enough time with friends.

I didn't even realize how much I was missing out on.

I know that everybody experiences motherhood and staying home differently, but I think it's been really good for me. When the time comes for me to return to the full time working world, I won't forget what I've learned.

It's funny how I spent the first year at home whining about everything I was "giving up". It took me awhile, but now I realize how much I'm getting out of the deal.

RTT - Let's All Dance like Toddlers

And it's Tuesday once again...

(Which is fabulous because it means we all survived Monday this week.)

And here is some randomness for this week...

I just finished reading Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.

I really liked it. It's nonfiction, but reads much more like a novel than a textbook.

It is a bit of workout for your mind, but nothing intense like aerobics. Think more along the lines of a good stretch or a gentle yoga class for the brain.

I definitely recommend it.
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Desserts is stressed spelled backwards.

I'm probably the last person on earth to notice this, but doesn't it seem kind of fitting?
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I'm taking the little man to kiddie music at a local coffee shop this morning.

We went last week and he rocked out. He was full body dancing and giggling his head off.

Is anything more entertaining in the entire world than toddler dancing? I'm not sure who has a better time, the kids or the moms.

I really love this mommy gig.

For more random fun, please visit the ever entertaining Un-Mom.

Have a great Tuesday.

Happy Fourth!

Hope everybody is having a happy fourth of July! (If you don't celebrate I hope you're having a great Saturday.)

I love the summer. So far the three day weekend has been fabulous. (Which is why limited blogging is occurring right now.)

We hit the pool yesterday. My son continues his dare devil ways, but everyone had fun and lived to talk about it. I'm calling it a success.

This morning we went to a little local festival. The little man got his first balloon animal and played some carnival type games. He loved it.

I love this age. He is so easy to entertain.

My husband is currently watching the Transformer movie on Imax. I'm sure he's having a fantastic time.

The trade off is that I get to go to brunch with the girls tomorrow. I can't wait. It's amazing what a different a little mom break makes. A few hour with friends feels like a whole vacation.

Since this has basically turned into a random thoughts post, I'd like to share I have achieved a new no puking record. Puke free since Wednesday! Woo Hoo!

Since today is officially the start of the second trimester, I am cautiously optimistic. I am really hoping the worst of the sickness is behind me.

I think my sense of humor is finally returning. I know my appetite is back with a vengeance.

Take care everybody.