Cranky Me

Sometimes I look at all the things I do around the house and home and I just want to scream. I probably do internally, which is why I've begun grinding my teeth. I just get so fed up with cleaning, laundry, cooking, dishes, diapers, trash, groceries, cat litter...etc, but I feel awful because those things make it harder for me to play with my daughter more and get more work done while she's napping. It's no wonder I'm cranky most of the time. I try to remember that some things like the carpets can wait for later and that we have enough clothes that I can wait to do laundry more often. I try. I don't always succeed. Which is why I am sitting here trying not to grind my teeth after I spent an hour trying to get my daughter to go to bed; when I really needed to be writing a paper. There are just so many demands on my time right now, which is fine I wanted a few more because I was reading books like crazy and getting bored with reading. Anyone who knows me well will find that hard to believe, but it's true. I was getting bored with books and reading. So, while I'm really pretty happy to be back in school and having assignments and deadlines (even if I do despise 'assignments' for the sake of assignments...aka busy work), I do wish that a few of the "other" demands on my time would demand more of someone else's time!

Travel Tips

One of my very good friends just asked me for my 'travel tips' since I spent a LOT of time traveling with my daughter when she was young; and a lot of it was travel by myself. So, I actually have a list of tips that help with airport travel. Here it is:

Tip #1: Pack more diapers and wipes than you think you need in your diaper bag. If you don't have enough you're going to find that FINDING more diapers in airports is next to impossible. Most places don't sell them.

Tip #2: Bring your own car seat. You can check it all the way through or you can gate check them, no extra cost. And we absolutely love the "Go, Go, Babyz" car seat attachment. The attachment gives your car seat wheels and you can use it to wheel your child through the airport. The child then gets the added comfort of their own car seat when you get to your location.

Tip #3: Bring food or formula, and bring a bit extra. Like the diapers (and wipes) airports don't generally sell baby food so, if you get laid over for whatever reason you may not have many options for food. The boone spoon is fabulous for airports because you essentially do it 1 handed (and that is a REALLY good thing when you're holding a baby on your lap and trying to feed them on the airplane).

Tip #4: Let them run around as much as possible before you get on the plane and/or during the layover. If they are crawling let them crawl on a blanket, if they are walking let them walk in circles around your bags, but let them move!! One, it will wear them out and two it makes them less antsy on the airplane.

Tip #5: Look for the family security lines. Usually a bit faster, but even if they aren't, people in that line at least understand why you're taking a while. And be prepared for extra searches, and all of your carry on bags being hand searched. I even had an airport pat down my child.

Tip #6: Look into renting a port-a-crib. Most big cities have decent rental places that are clean and will provide sheets. If you are going to a location where you know people you can also just ask to borrow one from a friend. Most people don't use them on a day to day basis so they might have one laying around. We also borrowed a stroller from a friend that way, but you can rent those as well from places that rent out children's equipment.

Tip #7: On take off and landing give your child something to drink (or nurse), or even have a sugar free lollipop to help get your child to suck and swallow. This will help with the pressures in their ears. I've never tried the 'ear plugs' and such that are supposed to help. My daughter would most likely just pull those out until she was old enough to understand they were helping.

Tip #8: Bring a soft blanket. Not only will your child be happy to have it with them in the airplane but it can be used as: a place to crawl on, or have tummy time, a pillow, a blanket, and also (and most importantly) as something to put between your child and the marble changing tables that seem to be the only things provided for changing your kid. I have yet to find a changing area that isn't just a shallow basin made out of marble (or hard counter material). So, bring a blanket to protect your child's head.

Tip #9: Bring a couple books and toys (not too many, but a couple). Airplanes can be boring and sometimes you can't get up out of your seat and so having something to entertain them is good. (So is peek-a-boo with the people in front or behind you if they are willing.)

Tip #10: Don't let the crabby, obnoxious travelers who look down their noses at you bother you. You have as much right to be on that airplane as they do and you are doing the best you can with a small traveler who doesn't understand the changes. If someone gives you a hard time look at them in the eye and say, "I understand. I'm doing the best I can. If you leave me alone I'll be better able to do it."

Happy Travels!!!

Hello 2011!!

I have realized that in the past couple of months I have been very remiss in my blogging and that I miss it. Blogging allowed me to vent about some of the more frustrating aspects of my life and being a parent. So, New Year's Resolution (which I will actually try to keep since I won't make them if I can't do them well) I will make at least one blog a month. Starting with this one, which will (in the obligatory fashion) talk about what's behind me and what's ahead of me.

Goodbyes...
This last year I had some very important goodbyes. I said goodbye to my Grandmother of almost 95 years in May. I am still a bit sad at times when I would really like to call her and ask her opinion or just chat.

We also said goodbye to New Mexico and our life there. This was exciting because we moved to Colorado and are now much closer to family.

Goodbye crib....this one has been an interesting journey. Who knew that after 2 weeks of crying and sleeping on the floor next to her that the best solution would be to just put the damn mattress on the floor! Toddler beds....I laugh at you!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Hellos...
Hello Colorado!!! We are now in Colorado and doing fairly well...but we are done with apartments...come the end of our lease we are OUT OF HERE!!! No more neighbors who party at all hours on all sides of us, no more neighbors who leave their dog poop all over....yes, we are going to head towards a HOUSE rental instead of apartment.

I'm starting graduate school in January (ack!! 9 days from now!!!) I am very excited even though this means that I'll be getting school loans for the first time. We will also be putting our daughter in daycare 2 mornings a week. She's ready, I'm ready, my husband is getting there. =) Luckily, she loves the daycare.

I think that might be it. We didn't have any plumbers joining us for the new year this year. We're all getting over colds (thank goodness my daughter is learning to blow her nose!!!!). We learned that you can get refills on the "cheesy mac and cheesy" or whatever it's called at Red Robin (only on the kids menu). Our cats are big and "monster-like" still. We now have WAY too many toys that make noise and require batteries. More on that later....anyone have a small tiny screw-driver? I need to remove the batteries from the possessed puzzle.

The nasty side of parenthood

I know I've talked about bowel movements and what horrid messes come out of children's hind ends....but it is nothing compared to dealing with a vomiting child. It is really horrifying; like that car crash you are about to witness and can't pull your eyes away from. What makes it worse is that your kid feels really sick, doesn't know what's happening and is terrified of throwing up. So there's vomit, screaming, sobbing, tears, and of course a growing pile of disgusting laundry. I'm not ashamed to say that I just threw a few things in the trash. Ew.

Schoolward Bound

And the journey begins...I've been accepted into Grad School so I can become a teacher of little munchkins (2-4th grade PLEASE!)so now starts the fun of getting oriented, course schedules...lots and lots of ink and printer paper! And, of course, getting my daughter into a daycare program nearby. She and I are going on our first tour next Tuesday. It's very close to our home, so I hope that I like it and I like the cost. We'll see and keep posted!! I have another one that I'd also like to look at; but I'm almost positive that it is going to cost more since it goes through preschool and into a Kindergarten program. I like the look of it online though, so it's worth looking at and discussing whether it's an option now or in the future. Luckily, it appears that I will only need to put her in daycare 2-3 mornings a week. I'm looking forward to a break from my toddler.

I can safely say that "the terrible twos" does not start and end at 2. It starts earlier and lasts longer! I can attest to the longer because I remember my brother at 3...I called them the treacherous threes and the fearsome fours...my mother laughed. I can attest to the earlier because my daughter is completely in the throes of it!! I think we have at least 10 minor tantrums a day...and usually at least one major one that gets her time-out time. Ugh. So, parents BEWARE!!!

Journey back -- this post is mostly for myself

So...I've been slightly less good about exercising in this lovely heat wave we've been having. That and moving, unpacking, costuming, the general every day throb of living has kept me from being as diligent about it as I wanted to be. So, starting this week, I'm going to try to do a bit better. My goal is to reach 135 (a nice healthy weight for me) by Christmas. I'd love that. Right now it's somewhere between 15 and 20 lbs to go. I realized that what made me so motivated after I had my daughter was that I could see changes in my body; they weren't always speedy but I could see them. The last 15 to 20 lbs won't be as noticeable to the naked eye. So, I'm going to have to go a bit deeper (I am a costumer and I make my own costumes, I don't care about sharing my measurements):

Currently:
Bust 39"
Waist 32"
Hips 41"

Sept 15(when I started cutting out my halloween costume):
Bust 38.5"
Waist 33"
Hips 41"

So for me that feels like progress and I can keep doing what I'm doing. Hoorah!

The Name of the Game

It's been a very stressful couple of weeks. My husband's show is just starting up and since it's a new school he's dealing with all of the new personalities and getting to know everyone and how to deal with everyone. My husband is one of those incredibly rare and wonderful people who are brutally honest and expect everyone else to be honest too. Most of the time this is a great thing...but sometimes, like when dealing with the political crapola that comes from extracurricular activities, it is more of a burden. I am, fortunately or unfortunately, much better at the game than he is. I have had my mistakes with it, but for the most part I can live and breathe the tiny white lies that make up the day to day how do I deal with someone who is driving me crazy and is on my nerves part. I don't do it with friends and I don't do it at home with my family, but I am good at playing that game in the work place. The cover your butt because no one else is looking out for you, and making everyone love working with you game. Sometimes I'm not sure it is such a great thing to be good at. Other times I know I wouldn't have survived toxic work environments without it. It makes me sad though; this really shouldn't be part of the education of our students. Wouldn't more honesty and professionalism be better?