Keeping Sane

August and September are very busy months in the life of a college administrator. Program after program, late nights, lots and lots of work. I spend a lot of my time these days trying to stay calm in the midst of craziness. I try to keep in mind that I enjoy working and I know that I wouldn't enjoy being at home all the time with the Boy. Maybe most of the time, but not all of the time. I am thankful that I am finding more moms who work to share in my thoughts.

I was engaged in a conversation with a colleague of mine who is a wonderful mommy to an almost 2 year old after a meeting this week. She and I were talking about the stressors of our jobs and another coworker said, "I don't know how you two do this and be moms at the same time." I think my friend said it best. The best part of our lives is our families. Her daughter keeps her sane, just like The Boy keeps me sane. As 5 o'clock approaches everyday, my mood changes. I start smiling a little more because I know in 10 minutes, I will get to see the Boy and his enthusiasm for seeing me never wanes ( I hope that is always the case). The Boy keeps me grounded. He lightens my mood. I love listening to him talk because I know something he says will make me smile, laugh or fill me with that warm fuzzy feelings.

Some of my favorite anecdotes from this week are:

"Look momma, there is a pocket in my underwear." The Boy talking about the fly in his new boxer briefs.

"It's not bathtime yet, I am not naked." The Boy correcting me when I told him in the mall parking lot that it was bathtime.

"Who needs more hugs." This has become a staple as we are trying to get the Boy to lay down and go to sleep at bedtime. He knows we can't refuse another hug.

I thank God everyday for blessing us with this little person. He makes everyday worth it.

The Hiatus is Over

I have received numerous requests to start writing again after a break due to work, so here is my best effort after being a little brain dead.

I recently returned from 7 days out in the wilderness with a whole lot of college freshman. Overall, the experience wasn't too bad. Long, but not too bad. The Husband and I spent many days reminding the Boy that Momma would be gone prior to my departure. He totally got it. He didn't even seem to mind that I was MIA for 6 nights. Despite being removed from the house, a few duties and thoughts remained ever present.

1. I still had to sing "Jesus Loves Me" every night to the Boy via phone. Nevermind the weird looks I got from folks as I stood at the top of the highest point in the campsite on one foot, trying to keep the cell phone signal that was weak at best long enough to finish the song and blow kisses through the phone.

2. I still asked the Husband incessantly about what they were eating as if I could change the dinner/lunch menu from where I was.

3. I still worried if the house would be clean enough upon return not to have to clean it for Bible study on Friday night.

My mommy mind went non stop for 7 days as did my work mind, organizing, calculating and counting down the seconds until I could see my boys again.

The great thing about coming home after a long time away is the endless hugs and kisses you get. It also makes me feel better hearing from the Boy when I woke up from sleeping in my own bed again..."Momma, I know you will always come back." I really hope God blesses our family by allowing us to spend our lives together for as long as possible. And, if for some reason we are not able to do so, I hope He grants us the understanding that we will all be together again someday regardless of our time together on earth. That thought gives me comfort.

Boys Will Be Boys

The Boy has become increasingly aware of the noises his body makes, especially when he expels gas. I may be sexist, but I really think this is a trait that happens to boys more than girls. I was the biggest tomboy in the world when I was growing up, but I still had the sense not to talk about tooting, burping and boogers. Since my son turned two, that has all changed for me now . Bodily functions are now a part of my daily conversations. Maybe I have brought too much light to the fact that the Boy makes these noises. I started a while ago asking him to say excuse me when these things happen or to get a tissue instead of using his finger...I don't know when it all started being hilarious. I am thinking that my time away from the Boys in my life is spent in lectures about how to be gross. I should ask the Husband about that.

Don't get me wrong, I know everyone toots, burps, has boogers etc. etc. But the Boy is a jokster and his joking has become about these things. This morning serves as the perfect example.

The Boy toots....
The Boy: What was that noise?
Momma: What do you think that noise was?
The Boy: I have a drum in my bottom.

I do have to say I laughed...now I worry that as time passes, my laughs will turn into acceptance. It was still funny though. It doesn't end there, I have many more stories illuminating that yes son, you do have gas sometimes and you do have a booger in your nose sometimes. While I find some things humorous, I still try to keep the focus on the "proper" way to deal with these isssues. That is what I hope sticks or my son will never date, get married or have kids to laugh with like I do.

The Seven Year Itch

Going to the chapel and your gonna get married...this was the song parading through my mind seven years ago. The Husband and I have been married seven years as of yesterday (August 5th). I can honestly say that it doesn't seem like it was that long ago. It was the Husband's turn to plan the evening, we alternate every year. We had a fantastic night. We went out for drinks and then to dinner. The restaurant we went to was a great pick. It was like stepping back in time. For the first time in our adult lives, we ordered an entire bottle of wine to help celebrate the year's together. I drank most of that bottle...hmmm.

All I can say is, that I am very blessed, still very in love and very thankful for all that I have. Thanks to the Husband for 7 great years of marriage, I wouldn't change a thing. I love you.

Daddy Nose Best

I had to work late last night. I took a little break between 6 PM and 8 PM and went to the zoo's twilight hours with the Boys and some friends. We had a good time even though it was crazy hot last night. Well, more crazy humid, than crazy hot, but it was still toasty. The Husband dropped me off back at work, which is only a few miles from the zoo, and took the Boy home for bed. As I was heading home at 11 PM, I called to let the Husband know I was on my way. This is the conversation:

Me: I am on my way home.
Husband: Okay.
Me: How did the Boy do going to sleep tonight.
Husband: He did okay, it was interesting.
Me: What happened to make it interesting?
Husband: I will wait until you get home to tell you about it.
Me: Why, what happened?
Husband: I will tell you when you get home. You need to be home for me to tell you.
Me: Okay, I guess I see you when I get home.

The entire way home, I am wondering what in the world happened. Not a good thought when I am getting ready to be away for six nights.

In only takes about 10 minutes to get home thankfully. I walk through the door, sit bags on the kitchen counter and see a tiny piece of green paper and tweezers on the counter. I ask, "What are the tweezers for?" as I am throwing the green paper away.

Here's the story...the Husband put the very tired Boy to bed while he still has the free train ride sticker from the zoo on his person. The Boy gets out of bed a few minutes later and tells Daddy that there is something in his nose. Daddy get a tissue , but soon finds out that it is not something that you need a tissue for kinda problem. As soon as Daddy hears the Boy breathe he realizes it is not a normal problem. Daddy puts the Boy in his lap and looks into his nose. The Boy had torn the green sticker, rolled it up and pushed it up into his nose so far that Daddy had to use tweezers to get it out. Why do I have a feeling that this is just the beginning?

Strike a Pose

When you become new parents, it is a no brainer that you also become the baby paparazzi. The husband and I were no exception to this rule. In the beginning, we took picture after picture and got them all developed no matter what they looked like. Now, the Boy is 2 1/2 years old and we often for get the camera (like today when we are going to the Splash Park at the Zoo for the first time) and we hardly ever print the pictures we do take.

This week we realized we had over 100 pictures saved on our digital camera. It is now August and there are pictures from April on the camera. Feeling like we are doing a disservice to our child and our photo albums, we decide to get the photos developed. I download the photos at work and send them to Snapfish which will send them to be developed at your local drugstore. The drugstore processes the digital pics in a few hours.

Apparently some new regulations have been enforced regarding pictures since we last developed. The Husband went to pick up the pics as a surprise so I didn't have to pick them up later. I thought he had gone to fill up the lawnmower gas tank and began to worry when he was gone for nearly 30 minutes. He finally gets back home and he hands me the pictures. On the envelope is says, "11 pictures not developed, child naked." The Husband say, "Next time, you pick up the pictures." The Husband had to listen to the photo clerks explanation as to why they couldn't print the pictures and why he shouldn't send those kind of pictures to be developed.

Now, most parents think that bath pictures and silly naked pictures of their kids are cute, no real harm in that. The people at Walgreens don't think so. It is company policy not to develop pictures of kids without clothes. I understand the policy and think it is in place for a good reason. But now, the photo clerk at Walgreens has flagged my husband as a child pornographer. I think I might have to go back and explain, after all, I was really the one who sent the pictures.