Slackin'

I think it's been a couple months since the last time we took a picture of our son. I really feel like the second kid or the kid(s) after the first usuallly get hosed. Isn't that the truth? You put all of your energy into your first one - you read everything about childbirth, and consult all of your parent-friends for advice, you buy everything brand new....then the second one comes and poof! You instantly know what you're doing, and stop doing everything you did with the first one. I really wanted to believe that I'd be different and stop that trend. But you just get so busy that you stay afloat by just taking care of the essentials and then call it a day.

This year has more than flown by and already the regret has sunken in. I look at the piles of things that I need to do, and only dream of the things I'd like to get done. Maybe my new year's resolution will include shorter lists and more attainable goals? Like Scarlet O'Hara, all I can say is that "tomorrow is another day." Let's just hope that tomorrow includes some more quality time to cherish life's everyday funny and quirky moments with the babies. Tomorrow doesn't hold them in your arms like the day before, or even today.

Mommy/Daddy

It's interesting how our son has referred to both me and my husband as "mama." As you can imagine, that can be quite frustrating for all of us. I can't tell if he wants me, or if he prefers daddy. I try to imagine myself in his shoes - as he's pointing and saying "mama" only to want me when he's saying mama to his daddy, and vice versa! Often times, I think he does want me, but he absolutely loves his daddy. Makes me a bit jealous some days; however, I can appreciate the late nights when he really just wants his daddy.

Bad Dreams

Somewhere along the way, our little girl started having bad dreams. Just last night, she actually got out of bed and practically ran out of her room fearing for something. When her daddy found her, he about ran into her. Today at school, she also had a bad dream that woke her up from her nap. As parents, we just want to protect our kids and make sure they stay safe - but how the heck do you help them when their minds are so active and are filled with vivid images from what they have seen on television or witnessed for themselves? The best we've been able to do is ask her what's wrong and help her understand that those are just dreams and are not real. She's been pretty good at telling us what she's been seeing in her dreams, but it doesn't make it any easier for us to see her cry and be so terribly upset with things that go bump in the night.

Warms the heart

Afternoons are the best time of day when I pick up the kids. When I greet them at the door of their classrooms, they are just a-runnin' up to me with smiles. With their arms out and high-pitched squeals of delight - I am just in heaven to hug them so close after a long day of work. It's certainly moments and days like these that I'm ever thankful for their unconditional love and affection. Even though they are getting much smarter each day, one thing they can count on is that mommy and daddy love them with all our hearts. My heart is filled with love and joy just thinking about them and how they make me feel when the work-day is done is indescribe-able.

Clap Your Hands

Last night, we put our little fella to bed and he fell asleep pretty quick. I knew that would be a bad sign...he didn't drink much of his milk, fussed quite a bit, and then just fell asleep pretty quickly. About an hour later, as the hubby and I were just chillin' on the couch, we heard him start to stir. At first, he cried, and then he got a little bit louder. About five minutes in, we heard something completely strange and it caught us off guard. We of course rushed to the room to find he was standing up, and clapping his hands.

You see, most recently, we've been trying to have him sign when he wants "more" of something. That looks very much like clapping hands - so - he was standing up, clapping his hands. He has equated the "more" sign with his milk and was feverishly asking for more milk. We both giggled a bit, and happily gave him his sippy cup of milk. He downed the sucker and then fell back asleep. Unfortunately for daddy, he didn't stay asleep, but that hand clapping was quite amusing.

At 2 a.m., he was up again and daddy came to the rescue. I was so tired, I didn't hear a darn thing. The alarm went off early at 6 a.m. and I couldn't believe the night had just flown by. I think I had some very weird dreams, but that would have to be an entirely different post altogether.

Truthful Toddler

Last night, I made tacos for the family. Tacos are such a great, easy meal that everyone loves. My little girl will down three whole tacos for dinner - and that says a lot. Even Y will devour a bowl-full of taco meat and cheese. The whole family loves it so much that they didn't even complain when I switched to using ground turkey instead of ground beef. What was interesting about last night's dinner is a great story.

On our way home, I told Roo that I would be making her favorite tacos. She then says plainly, "but don't burn the tacos mommy." You see, just a few weeks back, when I was making a batch of tacos, I was seriously multi-tasking...the meat was simmering, I was chopping up lettuce and tomatoes and threw the shells in our toaster oven. All the while, I was getting the kids some yogurt or fruit to eat. About 10 minutes into all of this - I smell the shells a-burnin' in the toaster oven. Blast! The darn things were burnt to a crisp and there was a small fire within the toaster oven...(something about me and burning things in appliances)! So of course, that was fresh in her mind...well not as fresh....but she still remembered. So she just politely reminded me to not burn them.

After dinner, she thoughtfully said, "Good job mommy. I'm so proud of you for not burning the tacos."

Who wouldn't want to bottle up that cuteness and not just love her brutal honesty?

Nothing To Do With You

What do you do when your child wants absolutely nothing to do with you? I know at some point, little girls get really attached to their daddies, but this weekend was the icing that has really stung at my heart. You carry these little beings in your belly, bond with them for those nine long months, nurture them and watch them grow. Then all of a sudden, they cannot do a thing without their daddy by their side. I guess I'm still good for the potty breaks - as only mommy can take me to the girls restroom...Oh and don't forget about getting the milk and all that fun stuff. But just to hold her and put her to bed - nope. It has to be dad. I do have some hope that my son will be that attached to me when he gets a bit older. For now, the only solace I have is putting him to sleep each night and watching and hearing my daughter with her daddy for the night-time routine.

Day of Birth

As I reflect on a solid 365 days since our son's birth, I'm reminded of just how wonderful life has been with my two gifts from God. Each day they bring new challenges, and each moment is cherished or thoughtfully considered. Today of all days, we got stuck in the worst traffic jam on our way to school and work. Roo even lamented that she was "ready to get to school." After an hour on the road to get just 12 miles, we made it to the school in time for them to start their breakfast. Ironically, I drove by the hospital where both of my kids were born and thought about that moment when I was wheeled in and prepped for my c-section to have Wyatt's day of birth. I didn't have the same labor stories as most mothers would have. Instead, I had a scheduled appointment and had very little fanfare associated with this birthing process. We checked in, got settled into the room, got prepped and drugged, and before I knew it, I was hearing the sounds of our little baby boy. The bundle of joy has profoundly changed my life, and each day is better with him in it. I couldn't be more blessed with both of my beautiful children, healthy, happy and safe.

Tonight as I put him down to bed, I was reflecting on this past year. The anguish, the tears, the nights of frustration, but especially the laughter, the giggles, and the overall joy that he has brought to our lives. We really thought we got the best of God's grace when Roo was born...or that she was a once-in-a-lifetime gift. Little did we know that much more was in store for us.

I'm thankful for today. A simple reminder of how life began as a parent, and how it will forever be changed permanently for the best.

Nighty Night

For the past few nights, our son has been pitching a fit when he is put to bed. We knew all along that some point, he would just have to cry it out...and thankfully he's been able to do that. Sure it's hard to hear him scream and say mama when he wants you - but I toughed it out and tonight was quite interesting. After his bottle, he just wanted to just play. I'm sure it had all to do with the sugar fix he had for dinner - which was right before bed time. He devoured the banana-apple-berry-walnut bread I had made the night before. Of course he ate that with his dinner of homemade vegetable beef soup and cheesy texas toast...I had no doubt that he wouldn't be ready to turn in, but boy was he funny. He sat up, stood up and just yammered away. When I told him it was night-night, he would lay down for a second and then just started talking and saying mama. When I stepped closer to the crib, he would put his head down and just talk. It was so cute, I wanted to just pick him up. Thankfully I didn't and left the room when he was still wide awake talking. After about 10 minutes, he decided he would do his usual crying fit and in less than 10 minutes after that, he was out. How did he grow up so fast? His first birthday is fast approaching. I don't know if I will be ready for when he blows out his candle.

Shopping Excursion

The usual Target run today was quite the unexpected wrath of tempers. Roo decided she didn't want to get into any cart and fought with me the whole time as I tried to wrangle one out of the line. After she lost that battle, screaming and crying, she decided to kick off her shoes and scream right there by the entry way. As I tried to get her to put her shoes back on, another mother with three little girls in tow (all in their shopping cart), walked by laughing. I wasn't sure if she was laughing at me, laughing at the situation, or laughing at how she probably dealt with a situation so similar with one of her kids. At any rate, after she got her shoes back on, we marched right back out to the car and immediately drove home. I left her with her daddy and Y and I proceeded back to the store. Unfortunately, the little bugger was so tired and he of course fell asleep. I couldn't go back home again, so I dragged him out, still fully asleep and put him in the shopping cart and whirled around Target as quickly as I could. I did have to wake him up to get him buckled in, and boy was he a trooper. As we left the store, I turned to him and said, "See, when you are a good kid, you get to have a little fun shopping with mommy. Don't be like your sister." He smiled, like he understood what I said, and we went home for his nap. I think the blow-up was partially my fault, as Roo was quite tired, and it was their lunch/nap time. But how the heck was I supposed to get my errands done if we didn't leave the house at that time. Oh the struggles!

Peanut Butter Jelly

My daughter did the cutest dance and song today when she asked for a peanut better and jelly sammich. It was pretty much the rap song that played on the radio a while ago - but she danced and giggled while asking for the PB&J. I love her innocence and sweetness when she thoroughly wants something. Her smile lights up her face and truly warms my heart.

Cry Me To Sleep

So for a while now, we have been rocking our little boy to sleep. He'd usually get done with a bottle and just about roll over, all cuddled up in my arms. Since we've switched him to whole milk and a sippy cup, things have been quite different. In fact, last night, he was inconsolable for several hours. We finally just put him in his crib and let him cry it out. He stood for a while, then knelt down, then succumbed to the dreariness of his tears. He fell asleep around 3 a.m. Boy was he a tired munchkin in the morning.

Tonight, I thought I'd give him some extra TLC. I figured he'd be dog-tired from a full day of school and even a shorter nap. We did our usual and I gave him his milk. He didn't drink but a couple of ounces and just seemed ready to jump out of my arms. So I put him in the crib and within 10 minutes, he had cried himself to sleep. I was like, WOW. Was that all I needed to do to get the boy some rest?

I know you all think that sounds so exceptionally cruel, but realizing that he can soothe himself to slumber makes me feel sort of proud. We certainly didn't help feed that pattern, but he has found a way to do it on his own. Maybe this parenting is easier than I thought? Nah.

First Birthday

In just a couple of weeks, our baby boy will be celebrating his first birthday. I sort of feel unprepared for this. I guess maybe the second kid always gets shortchanged, or maybe we try to celebrate all of his moments somehow, so another day with cake and such isn't such a big deal? On the one hand, we could throw a big shindig with a bunch of our friends and their kids, but will that make his birthday memorable for him? On the other hand, we can have some cake with our immediate family and just let him play with us. Either way we go, I'm sure he'll get a kick out of it. At least I hope so. If I can get all my ducks in a row, I can probably put together a fun little party. Maybe I am just too exhausted to do what I need to do. Nine days to decide. Will he know the difference? He won't, but I know I will.

Where's My Body?

You know during pregnancy, women often question whether they will ever get their bodies back. I can honestly say with me, the answer is hell no. As hard as I work to get it back to where it was, I just don't think it's going to happen. I think I eat pretty well, and I exercise as religiously as I can - but things have just shifted and moved in places that aren't going to bounce right back. It's frustrating to try on something that you used to wear - and love...

I'm glad my body was able to withstand the months of stretching and nurturing for my little ones, but there are days when I would gladly take back that youthful body that didn't sag, wrinkle or pudge. Alas, the body that once was, will never be again.

Milestones

I was just reading an article that talks about how parents are neglecting their second and third children...and I got to thinking, I think I'm in that boat too. Does that make me a bad mommy, or a seasoned one? Certainly, after Roo, we learned quite a few do's and don'ts...and we are much more relaxed with Y than we ever were with our first one. But I don't know if you necessarily call it neglect.

Take for instance the fact that we stocked up on baby formula and as we got closer to his first birthday, we ran out. Do we go out and buy more, or just start feeding him the good ole whole milk? Of course we shift him to the whole milk! To top it off, we even took away his baby bottles. Sure, it was a bit different for him, but I don't think we shortchanged him. If someone had told me that Roo could have started that a few weeks earlier than her first birthday, I would have said cool!

What we learned from Roo was that each child will reach his/her milestone differently and at varying paces. Roo didn't have any problems shifting to whole milk, or going away from her bottle. Doesn't seem to be bothering Y either. So, why does it bother me a little bit? Maybe because the reality of our little baby escapes each moment he reaches a new milestone. Or maybe the fact that this baby-shop is closed for good? Who knows. I certainly do enjoy not having to wash or make bottles anymore. I think that's a great milestone to achieve!

No No Drama

It seems that my kids always know when to pull my strings and make me just cringe and get frustrated when I've had a very long day. Tonight, they were both in rare form, fighting for my undivided attention and whining and crying at every whim. I can probably blame it on the weekend of late nights and complete lack of schedule as we visited family out of town. But I think in general Mondays are always rough for all of us. How can I truly expect them to just bounce back after two days of debauchery? Their hesitation going to school and their complete joy when I get them in the afternoons is always the tug-of-war I deal with daily. Maybe it's nights like these that remind me that I need to be a little more patient and to not let their tears get to me so much. Because when I hold them close and they lay their heads on my shoulders and chest, I am reminded that their patience with ME is quite forgiveable and always welcome.

Every little bit

It seems every time I turn the corner, a new bill or expense creeps up. People always told me that when you start having kids, all of your disposable income disappears. But how does this happen? Each month, we pay the bills before they're even due - a la a budget. But then toward the end of the month, right around the time it gets close to payday, we start to count our pennies.

What Is Wrong?

The worst feeling you can ever have as a parent is not knowing what the heck is wrong with your baby. Tonight I had one of those moments shortly after putting Y to bed. We had gone through our usual routine - dinner, bath and a bottle then off to bed. Before he even finished his bottle, he was fast asleep. I thought, that was easy. About an hour later though, our little boy was screaming his head off, standing in his crib as if he had had the worst nightmare of his young life. I immediately picked him up to console him, but he didn't want any of it. He just cried and tossed and turned in my arms. We tried walking and rocking and that didn't seem to appease him either. My head was already killing me and his screams just added on to the blood-pumping ache in my neck and forehead. After 15 minutes of this, he finally laid his head on my chest and let out a delightful, yet hearty belch. A few seconds after that, he let out a mini-burp and all was well. The poor little fella had some pent up gas that just wasn't moving, and he was NOT happy. Good to know sometimes, even when we don't know what to do, that our little ones will promptly let us know, in their own unique ways, that you just have to give it some time.

One Two Step

In what seemed like an overnight reality, our son has started walking. The first few steps were few and far between - he would walk along furniture and let got for just an infstant to take a mini-step. Then he decided out of the blue that he would string it all together and BAM - the walking began.

I don't know seriously how this happened. I mean, I do, but not really. We coaxed him daily, and put things slightly out of his reach to entice him. I knew he enjoyed watching his sister run around him and tease him when she had something that she wanted. He very much enjoyed walking along the couch and reaching for things. But to see his eyes light up when he picks himself up from the ground and step toward you is an amazing sight. He is typically all smiles and wobbly feet - but he definitely enjoys the freedom walking brings.

What began as a one-two step is now a full-on gallop from point A to point B. He sort of looks like an 80-year old man shuffling to get his favorite chair, but his spirit is all baby, with a grin of six teeth to show you his sheer delight.

Just the Girls

Tonight I had a dinner date with some girlfriends and brought along my Roo for her first girl's night. She was exceptionally respectful and well-mannered - and even had a little playmate there to share in the fun. It probably helped tremendously that we picked a restaurant that was low-key, a bit loud and had a gracious enough server who brought bowls and bowls of chips. She and her little friend probably could have stayed all night devouring the salty tortilla crisps and the somewhat spicey salsa. They seemed to enjoy each other's company and didn't care at all that us gals were just gabbin' away.

I was very impressed by her mannerisms, despite having a full day at school and turning right around to accompany me to dine with the gals.

Certainly, there are nights when I could be just fine having a "me" outing - but this was one super special evening because it made me such a proud mama to watch my little girl eat and converse with the best of us. Many years ahead for her to really get this, but she's on the right track!

Jealous Much?

Our little baby boy is truly growing up so fast - and his personality is certainly showing at every conceivable moment. The other day when I was picking him up from school, I had him in my arms, and took a few minutes to chat with his fellow baby-buddy. He obviously did not appreciate me speaking with another child in his presence and made it known! He quickly stared at me and made me turn my head toward him so that I would quit talking to his competition. Once I turned his way, he smiled so brightly, and sweetly, mind you - and was happier than a kid in a candy store. The two little teeth and smirky grin filled his tiny little face, and he knew that at that moment, he won a small battle.

At some point in our kids' lives, they learned that other people in mommy and daddy's every day interaction was either going to be a good thing, or straight up competition. I suppose you can't blame them for you to pay them a little bit more attention to them, especially when they don't see you all day. But to adamantly show like/dislike for something is surprising, and heartwarming at the same time.

What's for Dinner

Those words often plague me as much as deciding what not to wear. Weekends are usuallly the days when I can find a few minutes to figure out what to cook, and also prepare for the week. We often find ourselves eating out a bit more on the weekends. Hitting up the Waffle House for breakfast or grabbing lunch at Sam's or Costco while we are running our errands (and spending gobs of money buying bulk items). Our ultimate favorite has to be the bbq from Sonny's - where we can enjoy the yummy chicken and ribs, while kids eat free (Saturday nights). Not to mention, the kids can be just as loud as they want to be, and no one really minds.

Weekdays are meant to have quick meals. We just don't have enough time to really devote energy to prepare a full-scale dinner. I enjoy cooking one big thing on Sundays so that we can reheat for the rest of the week. This summer, I've also found great joy in finding quick 30-minute meals to throw on the grill (Rachael Ray would be psyched!)

I find that my best friend is truly the crockpot for weeknight dinners, and the oven is the absolute necessity for Sunday preparation. I know planning ahead takes a little bit of extra thinking on my part, something that I hesitate to do after 5:00 p .m. on Fridays through Sunday. But it certainly makes my life that much simpler when I have more important details to catch up on - or run after, that is.

Sweet Moments

This morning, I woke up to a glaring alarm and quickly dismissed it to snooze back into that ever-loving-deep-sleeping coma you can only get when you have turned off the alarm. Shortly thereafter, Y was stirring and summoned his daddy to come collect him. I'm certain that Josh was still tired, and so he brought him into our bed to get a few more minutes of sleep. Upon their arrival, Y quickly crawled over to my face, found my face and pillow and gently laid his head upon mine. How sweet was that? I couldn't have asked for a better wake up call honestly.

It's these short moments in the wee hours of the night, or early minutes of the dawn that truly remind me how wonderful life is as a parent. Certainly, I have my moments of frustration when things aren't going as smoothly as I want them to be, but all in all, life has become rich with love and warmth from my two kids. At this moment, I wouldn't trade any of this for the world.

Four A.M. Wake Up Call

You know, when your baby beckons you during the day, it can be a very sweet, endearing moment. But when the clock barely ticks 4 a.m., and you feel like you just went to bed, it can be a big ole pain in the rear to drag yourself outta bed to see what's troubling the pint-size peanuts across the way.

Our house is a split plan - with the master bedroom on one end and the other two bedrooms where the kids are across the house. Thankfully, that does give us enough time to sort of wake up to see what's going on as we stumble out of bed and labor into their rooms to calm them down.

After a nice, relaxing week of vacation time away from our usual, daily grind, the kids were certainly in for a rude awakening - or shall I say, we absolutely were! No scheduled naps, meal times or anything that resembled normal was in place while we were away. And that's sort of the idea when you are on vacation right? To take a break from the norm and enjoy what's in store for each day...that's the overall theme for vacations - for the most part.

Our little Y was OK with very little structure for the first few days, but I found myself keeping him to his schedule a little bit better than for Roo. For one, it was easier for him as he was the only baby and he didn't need all of that sun exposure. Plus, he was genuinely tired and begging each day for his two naps. Roo on the other hand, had so much fun with her cousins and just playing that daily naps were the least of her worries.

By Sunday evening, we tried to get back into a rhythm. Dinner, bath and bed. Going to bed was a bit of a struggle, but staying in bed was even worse. Not just for her, but for both of them. I suppose we had de-programmed them for a solid week, and returning back to the originally scheduled program was not what they had in mind. At least, not last night.

This morning's drop-off at school was so tearful, I felt like I was betraying them for leaving them. The screams and cries stayed with me for the first few hours in the office as I tried to weed through the hundreds of unanswered emails. By lunchtime, I had no choice but to call the school to ensure they both were OK.

Despite the craziness of the previous week, I'm sure they will settle back into their little routines and sleep through the night again. At least, I keep praying that as I try to get a few snoozes before my two alarm clocks begin their cries before I'm scheduled to get up to start a new day.

Time To Get Away

Just a few days away from the daily grind can absolutely rejuvenate the soul. If you can't do a real vacation any time soon, try a stay-ca-tion, or visit a nearby coastline not riddled with the oil. The salty seabreezes with the faint smell of coconut slathered all over are just what the doctor ordered for a bit of sanity. Certainly you can't turn it all off - as the kids still need tending to - but it certainly is nice to not have to worry about returning phone calls, teleconferences, e-mails and meetings isn't it?

Girlie Gumptions

It's amazing how quickly our little girl has perfected the art of crying, all-around drama and simply getting what she wants. On days when she vehemently displays her attitude and defies us at every whim, are also the days we take away her beloved Backyardigans or other sweet treats. She is usually very quick to apologize to ensure she can get at least get some television time, but is also learning that for every action she does or does not do as we ask, there are consequences.

Today started off well enough, with both kids pretty happy when they awoke. The drop off at daycare was a bit clingy, but not particularly tearful. After dinner, and coincidentally after her daddy left to participate in futbol, she decided that she certainly wanted some of my diet soda. She had previously asked her daddy if she could have some, and he said that she could so long as she finished up her dinner. Of course, I felt that she had already consumed quite a bit of her juice and didn't need any coke to add to her already full belly. In her mind - and I do have to give her credit - she finished her dinner and so she assumed that she was going to get her drink. When that didn't go her way, she decided to defy other things that she knew she had to do. "I don't want to take a bath," she screamed.

Bathtime was painless since I promised her if she would cooperate, we could watch one show and then she had to read and get ready for bed. She seemed amicable enough, until the show ended...

When did my little girl decide she was going to be so rebellious and exert her authority, so to speak? At times, I do take pride that she has quite the gumption to be as defiant as her lungs would allow her to be - before we put the lid on it. But at others, I am quite amazed at her comprehension of the world around her, and her ability to piece things together to fit her needs.

The child likes to get her own clothes and determine even what color hair-band will go on her head. It certainly is amazing to see her develop into this little girl with so many questions, often times the exact ones over and over again in the span of 15 minutes. I often wonder if we don't do enough to stimulate her mind - as she certainly confuses ours on a daily basis.

No Two Days Are Alike

Each day begins around six a.m., at least with the alarm chiming in telling me to get outta bed. After a few minutes of snoozing, I begrudgingly roll over and think about all the things I will do for the day. The first order of business is usually a shower, and depending on how often I opted to snooze will determine how leisurely that morning shower will be. By the time I'm done getting ready, it's time to wake up the two little creatures that keep my husband up at all hours of the night. Sometimes they beat me to the punch, and are awake or are bothering Josh befeore I put the final spritzes of hairspray on the funky morning do.

It's so funny to get Roo out of bed when she's sound asleep. Who would want to mess with a sleeping child? A bit of tickling of the ribs and her half-laughs allow her to just roll back to a sound sleep as if she were a teenage girl craving for just a few more minutes to finish up her enticingly good dream. When you ask her if she wants to wake up, she honestly whines the word, "no." But if you tell her that her brother needs prodding, she is all ears.

The days when she is up and at 'em, she readily stands in her crib and yells, "I'm awake!" You just can't help but love the honest nature of your little ones, even when it's only five in the morning.

If the hustle and bustle is too much for me in the a.m., I am able to convince the hubby to take care of Y. Sometimes that means stirring him from his deep sleep too...

When the two kids are packed up in the mommy-mobile, we all say our good-byes with hugs and kisses and we make the 17-minute trek into town to their school. After I drop them off, either with tears or without whines, I head to the office to begin phase two of the day. Some days phase two whirls around like a typhoon, with back-to-back meetings or conference calls, and sprinkled with many things to write, edit or plan. Never have I had a day exactly the same as another - and for that I'm grateful. But as the clock ticks down to quittin' time, I'm eager to pick up the tearful kiddies I dropped off in the morning to see what a great day they have had. There is really nothing better than seeing your beaming kids smile at you after a long day at the office, even if for a fleeting moment, the pang of guilt fills your heart.

Our journey home is almost always riddled with five o'clock traffic, with wall-to-wall vehicles just as anxious as we are to get where they need to get. Some of the funniest moments are shared within that car-ride. Roo often finds a way to make her brother laugh, especially if he's whining a bit from being over-tired or just plain bored. I catch him from time to time looking up at the DVD screen to see what's going on. I feel so bad that he has to crook and strain his neck to view what his sister so plainly sees and enjoys.

After we settle into the house and I've changed out of work wear to home wear, I start phase three of the day. This entails fighting with my mind to either turn on the television to allow them some distraction so I can get dinner started, or just sit with them and play. If dinner is already made, and it's a heat-up type of meal, then play is certainly in order. Nights when we didn't plan ahead, the television becomes my 10-minute babysitter. Inevitably, any trek I make into the kitchen is closely followed by a crawling one-tooth wonder and his sister singing and dancing shortly thereafter. They both always go to the same spot in the kitchen - where there's a little "shorty stool" that my hubby created for me so I could reach up to the cabinets. Something about that spot that they both just love to sit and bang whatever toys they may have in hand - or to get close enough to the spices that are just a door away.

After dinner and by the time we are drying off the kids from their baths, I'm thinking, there's not much left in me for any more phases. But I would think lots of parents know that after the kids are in bed, there's the entirely other "home" phase that has to begin. For us, that's dishes, bottles and planning for the next day. If I'm lucky, I will squeeze in a load or two of laundry, and sometimes a light workout before I hit the bed. The nights seem to get shorter and shorter for all of these activities, but somehow, we manage to fit it all in. I'm certainly thankful and blessed for each passing day that I get to see my children grow and learn. Every day is filled with happiness, mixed with crazy moments and stressed out times. For each minute that isn't the same as the next is another cherished moment in life.

Path of Too Much

Do you ever find yourself working on a small project or household activity, and then get easily distracted with other things around your said project? For example, I was going through the mail tonight and noticed that the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher all had lovely little prints all over it. Courtesty of the little fingers that come smudgingly into the kitchen every day.

I thought to myself, after I finish going through the week's worth of mail, I'll just polish the appliances. Then in the middle of wiping the appliances, I notice that the counters had dust on them. So I then take out the wipes and start wiping away. In the midst of the wiping, I notice that there are all sorts of things scattered on the countertops and start putting stuff away. While stuffing the cabinets and drawers with the things that are meant to go in there, I notice that there's dirt and hair on the kitchen floor, so I grab the broom and start sweeping. I sweep everywhere. While sweeping, I see that there's dust on the bookcase and the end tables. More dusting. As I reach down to pick up a toy that was left on the floor, I see the baseboard needed some dusting too. The list goes on and on. This is just the path to too much. I head down one thing, and end up getting distracted and irritated by something else that needs my attention. I fear that a lot of women are like me, or pray that they are not. I know this scatter-mind-cleaning drives my husband batty, as he doesn't understand the need to put things away in a timely fashion after they are used, and could really care less if we have dustballs in places that shouldn't have them.

I realize that after I sit down from doing all of these necessary chores, I just can't seem to make it stop. I make these paths for myself, without even realizing it, until by the end of the night, I'm pretty worn out from doing it all. My mind just doesn't stop until I'm really sleeping. Even then, I dream up things that are bound to get done sooner or later. They say you should do everything in moderation, but the only moderate thing I do is plan for the next project to tackle.

Long Journey Home

After 11 grueling hours on the road, we finally made it home from Tennessee. Numerous pit stops for Roo and a few parking lots outside of Atlanta made for a long ride home. What I learned was that I really need to invest in a port-a-potty for Roo, and that sometimes things just don't turn out the way you hope or plan. The best thing to do is not get too upset about it and move on. Life still happens regardless of how fast your car is going, or whether or not you are going to get home within an expected timeframe. It does make for an extremely long day when you are just ready to be home. Vacations are great for relaxation - mind and spirit. But by the end, aren't we all just anxious to get back to some sort of routine? Unless you're a millionaire, it's the routines that make or break us.

Sitting With Baby

Everyday when I drop the kids off at daycare, I do it so methodically that it doesn't wear on me as much. But when the idea of having some mommy and daddy time without the kiddos comes up - a rare occasion at that - it's a bit of a challenge. It's not that we don't trust others to watch our kids. Since the day they were born, most all of the activities I plan in my head include them. So having a night out, or a few hours without them, is just not programmed in me.

I'm one of the lucky people in this world that has wonderful family nearby who can help out when we need some husband and wife time. Those moments are really hard to come by these days, so it helps us to cherish them even more when we do get them.

Certainly finding a sitter outside of family can be quite nerve-wracking. I hear from my girlfriends all the time about seeking a good one, and keeping that special someone who is able to care for their kids. Mabye that's why we haven't pursued a sitter as an option in quite a long time. Even when I sneak out for a few hours when the hubby is watching them, I get so tickled when I see my kids light up and smile from ear to ear at the first glance of me after being away. I realize how important it is to share some quality time with and without our babies, but haven't had the heart or energy to seek out a good sitter. Maybe that's something to pursue tomorrow. For now, I will just cherish the quiet moments with the kids and laugh at their funny pursuits and inquisitive little hands reaching for just about anything that is close to them. Sometimes sitting with babies doesn't need to be for someone else, but rather, just for me.

I Gotta P

So our journey began with just a full two days of mostly accident-free potty. We were all determined that this was going to be the final day of pull ups and daipers. Her teachers were confident that she could do it, but I was a bit apprehensive. I knew our vacation trek would be a long haul and feared that she'd have an accident for sure, but it would be foolish to have a set back just because we wanted to make good time.

The first hour wasn't too bad. We stopped I think just once. But after a few unsuccessful trips to the bathroom - for she preferred some restrooms over others - we had a regular habit of checking in at the most hole-in-the-wall type gas stations where she would successfully pee. I felt bad going in each time, especially if I didn't purchase anything. Toward the latter part of our trip, I took my wallet in each time and purchased a little something as we headed out after a successful download.

It took us more than five hours to get to Atlanta, but we certainly made it in one piece and all dry. The rest of the trip up to Gatlinburg got more interesting, as she was getting more enamored with restrooms. Her first few words would always be, "Don't touch anything mommy, just hold on to mommy." She knew the routine - seat wipe down, underwear, on the pot and then go, and then washing of the hands. If she wasn't ready, it was always, "I don't need to go peepee." Thankfully, the big smile on her face after a successful trip was always well worth the stop and mostly deserving of M&Ms or Y's yogurt melts.

I hope the journey home will be just as eventful. What would a vacation be without your toddler telling you she's gotta pee?

Baby No More

In a blink of an eye, our little girl has grown up. For weeks it seems she was determined to be in control and would only use the potty when she felt like she wanted. We pleaded, we begged, we even resorted to M&Ms. Today though, I sent her off to school with a new pack of pull ups and her glittery and very pink princess underwear. We were both determined to give it a go.

Her teacher came rushing up to me to in Y's classroom to tell me that my baby girl did a great job today and stayed dry the whole day. The big smile on her face and my sheer excitement was too much to bear. I had anticipated a day like this soon, but when the words were uttered, I started feeling sad.

How is it that a child can so quickly absorb and learn just about anything you say and do? True, they are trained like all of us, conditioned like Pavlovian canines, to do things on cue. Every day of her life thus far had been filled with wet and soiled diapers, and some poor soul coming to her rescue to get her out of said clothes protector. Then without you knowing, she realizes the sensation, and has enough courage and forethought to tell someone before she does her business as she has always done.

The minutes upon minutes of agony, patiently waiting for a sprinkle or a nugget, and to sit there with her as she contemplates her next move can be just about as fun as watching paint dry. This is certainly harder than just laying her on a changing table to switch her out of one diaper into another. But the reality that her dependence on me and daddy are disappearing so quickly, that it does indeed make me quite glum. Our baby girl is no longer a baby she says so matter of factly. Mommy, I'm a big girl now.

Best Babysitter

This weekend, we enjoyed the last of the best babysitter there ever was. The pristine, sandy white beaches of Perdido Key will be lost forever as the oil spill inches ever closer. Where else can you take your kids for hours of uninterrupted frolicking in the soft sands between your toes and warm waters that coax and caress the skin?

For nearly four hours, the kids got to play around the beach, digging their little holes with their mighty pink shovels and yellow pails, and squealed with delight with each crashing wave. Sure, the tide was a little strong as the yellow flag indicated, but the sun was bright, warm and absolutely inviting. A cold little drink and the smell of sunscreen rounded out the luxury of pure nothingness.

What made the reality of the oil just miles offshore was the constant flow of beach patrol and helicopters conducting their surveillance above. The poor airplane that was advertising some fun concoction was literally lost in the sky...I don't even remember what the promo was about.

As a child growing up in Pensacola and into my college life, I had the opportunity to play in the Gulf and sink my feet in all parts of the beaches - from Navarre all the way to our beloved Perdido Key. After the hurricane seasons including Opal, Erin, Ivan and others, Navarre and Pensacola Beach were never the same. Navarre Beach eventually was renamed Opal Beach after it re-opened years after the damage struck its shores. Traces of Hurricane Ivan actually still litter the quiet town of Pensacola, including blue tarps and abandoned storefronts. It will be decades more I'm sure, before any signs of recovery will take place after this BP mess.

I'm certainly glad the kids were able to play, if even for a little while, on one of nature's best treasures. The beach wasn't nearly as crowded as Pensacola Beach was - at least based on the media coverage and what I heard - and I was grateful for the few passers-by and the small pockets of family and friends enjoying their time in the sun.

We bid a fond farewell to our beach and said good-bye to a babysitter that was so thankful to have us share in its glorious beauty. We will miss you and pray that one day, when the kids are all grown up, we can enjoy the endless flow of blue-green waters and pearly sand in all of our crevices.

Road Warrior

Each time we have a trip coming up, I become overly OCD with trying to have a clean house, laundry done, dishes out of the sink and trash taken out. Is that really too much to ask to have all of that done so that when you return home you don't have to come home to a stinky, dirty house, on top of the unpacking and unwinding to start the work week?

It's funny how a few of my girlfriends, and even today, my hair stylist, all share the same thoughts about traveling. Their husbands or boyfriends, including my very own, however, do not share this sentiment. Their priority is to worry about packing for themselves and loading up the car. You, on the other hand, pack for yourself, the kids and make lists of all the things that need to be handled before you walk out that door.

Thankfully we travel often enough that I almost have this down to a science. We have bags that have things that we don't necessarily have to unpack when we get home, so that when we do pack, all we have to do is pull the stuff out into our pile of "things to take with us."

This trip coming up, I have fulfilled part of my OCD desires, but I honestly haven't the energy to clean the house. Sure, the toys will be picked up and things put away where they are supposed to be, but taking more time to clean areas of the house that only I will see will just have to wait until next week.

In the meantime, I've gotta figure out if we can still enjoy the pristine beaches on the Gulf Coast before they completely disappear from the oil spill. I have a lot of fond memories on the white, sandy beaches, and I'm sad that our kids won't be able to make those similar memories for themselves.

For now, the house is packed and we just gotta plow through another work day/school day before we hit the evening traffic. As crazy as it always is to get out the door with two kids in tow and everything but the kitchen sink, we do enjoy our travels. They make the weekends even shorter, but the moments are ever sweeter when we get to see the brilliant smiles on their faces to see family.

Two Hours

During the week, some days I only have less than two hours to spend time with my kids, make dinner (or have the hubby throw something on the grill), eat as a family (although it's more like stuff your face, scarf down the food and take turns feeding the baby), bathe the children and then put them to bed. It can be quite exhausting and stressful as both of us try to still have some "me" time - whether that's kickboxing for me, or soccer for him on somewhat alternating nights. I have to admit that Mondays are probably are only "down" days when neither of us trying to rush out the door to get to another activity or head out of town or trek over to my sister's for the kids to play with each other. I try not to think about it as much, even when I'm stuck in rush hour traffic on the way home with my daughter asking at every red light from Capital Circle to Thomasville Road, "where are we goin' mommy?"

Within that short time frame, we as parents do have to do soooo much. As adults, we can eat dinner and talk and do all of that within a reasonable time frame. But when you have a toddler who chews, then tries to talk, then chews again while asking for water, apple juice, milk, or anything else that you don't have in front of her, you start to wonder, at what point do I just learn to eat and carry on a conversation while still maintaining a sense of time?

Some nights, we have to hurry her along with rewards of watching "Backyardigans," or eating dessert. Thankfully our little baby boy is still eating jar-food and is just as happy as can be once you've fed him his fill and give him something to play with while you eat your food. He's pretty quiet after he's been fed, and is quite happy when you share with him a little of something that you are eating too. I enjoy those moments with him as I know that just around the corner, we'll have a rambling toddler who has an opinion on just about anything, and won't be afraid to let you know.

IDK

Three little words beyond the "I Love You" in a parent's vocabulary has got to be "I Don't Know." This past weekend, our little girl was exhibiting some strange behaviors and complaining about her girlie regions. I mean, as a female, I could understand that the area can be quite sensitive and a child as young as two won't be able to fully explain her discomfort. So we just watched and waited until the holiday was over before we could call the pediatrician to see if she can get checked out. Did we think that she was not wanting to do the potty-thing, or was she truly wanting to use the bathroom, but couldn't because of pain? I - D - K.

The worst part about not knowing what could be wrong is trying to find the appropriate reaction, without over-reacting. Sure, our child has been cranky and whiney before, but this time seemed different. Every time she has had an ear infection, she rarely has a fever, and explaining this to the nurse gatekeeper at the doctor's office is always so much fun. Same-day appointments are coveted at the pediatrician's office because they are just always so booked to begin with.

In the end, I'm glad I took her in today. It gave me a sense of relief and comfort knowing that even though she didn't have anything severe, the doctor gave me an "it's OK" for getting her checked out. I would have hated it more if she got worse and we could have helped this situation early on. Sometimes you just gotta go with your instinct. You may not be right 100 percent of the time, but you can certainly give your mind the rest it needs and the answer to your IDK.

Potty Patience

Some would agree that I have very little patience to begin with. I have not an ounce of it for potty-training. On the one hand, I do want my little girl to stay a little baby. Makes for easier trips because she can just go in her diaper and we can change her at the next stop or when we get to our final destination. The "I-wanna-go-pee-pee" or "I-wanna-go-poo-poo" as her ploy to not nap or go to bed just wears out my soul. I'm half tempted to just let her go naked around the house as some parents have done over a weekend-crash-course to have their child go potty. That might make it a bit difficult to be social, but if that would do the the trick, I'd certainly try it. I even thought the reward of m&ms would work, but not as successfully as I'd hoped. She clearly knows when she has to go, but is still in control of what she wants to or not do. Can I be upset at her for standing up for what she wants to do?

During the weekdays when I'm at work and handling other issues, not worrying so much about my children, I have the reprieve of not having to think of tactics that will help out this situation. At home on the weekends, when the weather is not as pleasant to go outside, or we're all tired of watching Backyardigans for the 15th time, the thoughts of finding ways to endure potty patience can be quite consuming.

I'll continue reading on other successful ways to potty and just have to count to a thousand, take deep breaths when she sits idly on the toilet, batting her lashes and flashes her smile, squirms and states so defiantly, "I'm done," when nothing has come out.

Plan to Unplan

There's no planning for things that may go awry. Like when your baby spits up on you right after you have completely gotten ready for work and you are already 10 minutes late. Or when it's raining outside and you've forgotten your umbrella in the car or in the office, and you are at one of those locations without it. Today I learned that with as much anticipation and planning that I had waiting for my husband to fly home, that just didn't happen. I can be thankful that the flight was cancelled without him knowing until he arrived at the airport - and the reason for the cancellation was that the plane had mechanical errors thereby saving his life, but it still made me sad that we had to wait one more day.

All of the anticipation and planning that we had in our heads, with our little girl waking up in the best mood knowing that her daddy would be home that night, and me not putting anything out for dinner! Good thing I was able to whip up some kielbasa with peppers and mushrooms for a quick and dirty meal.

When your plans don't go the way that you had hoped they would, just remember that there may be a perfectly good reason for that. I can definitely count my blessings, for when the spit up comes a-spewing, I'll just change to another shirt or outfit and be late. No sense in having another plan fall through when this unplanned activity was just the thing to give you the right pause to plan your next steps.

When it rains

Downpours can usually describe the way that life works. One thing happens after another and by the end of it all, you just scratch your head and wonder, why me? Thankfully, the downpours for me are things that I can handle - in bits and pieces - not quite all at once - and with a sense of stick-to-it-ness.

Last night I had the genuine fun of burning out our water heater. Granted, the thing has been acting a bit fishy lately...we'd turn on the hot water and it would be scalding hot and then a few days later, no hot water whatsoever. Come to find out the electrical system was all jacked up inside from a drip (poor initial installation when this house was built), and that just about compounded the thermostat issue.

A few months before this, my husband accidentally turned on the microwave with nothing in it, thereby cooking the ring and exploding the glass plate within. I also recently turned on our stove to bake something to find that a greasy drip had made its way to the burning element and caught fire. Maybe it's the pyro-streak in me that thought some of this was funny. But if you think about it, all of these things could have been torrential downpours.

With proper rain gear and boots in tow, I think anyone can handle just about any monsoon. At least in smaller doses. You can easily get so wound up with everything coming at you at once, and not seeing the big picture. In reality, these are all small things that can amount to big things - if we let them get that way. I just see these situations as little droplets of problems that can be cupped in the hand, or if you wish, caught with your mouth wide open, and shifted, re-directed or just to let fall where they may. It's only an emergency or serious problem if you make it that way, right?

The sun does shine, just about every day, and even if it doesn't for one day, it's certainly not the end of it.

Simplest Things

The simplest things can warm the heart and make a child giggle like no tomorrow. Life is complicated enough and I aim to simplify as much as I can. You don't realize how time really does fly when you add more elements in your life. Whether that's children, a marriage, family, work - the more you add, the less time you have. People would always tell me when you have kids, you'll see just how fast the time goes. I can hardly believe my baby is eight-and-a-half months old, and my little toddler is two-and-a-half, with a spunky attitude and killer smile. Both of their personalities just puts a silly grin on my face and makes my soul ache, and within the blinks of the day-to-day activities, I feel I am missing out on so much.

Today we had some down time to just sit and play. That felt good to just hug and love on them as we ended the day. Don't forget to enjoy those little moments, even if they are few and far between.

Super Mama

Some of us know of these wondrous women who are able to cook, clean and have their kids behave well in public and are almost always nicely dressed and without a grimy spot on their faces. These women are often times what some of us dream to be, for whatever reason, because the idea of being able to do it all is quite glamorous somehow. I think I can blame this on the early days when the moms ran the household and kept the kids in check. When more moms started to work, we were also expected to maintain the high level of sophistication within the household too. We were the well-oiled machine that could withstand the duties of home and work, and often times would not utter a gripe about any of it. So why do we aspire to be the Super Mama? For me, it's a bit of an OCD-complex and the sheer thought of having my own mom be proud of all of the things I can possibly do. How then can we break such a vicious cycle of perfection and quest for being the ultimate mommy machine?

For starters, I can seek out help and kindly accept any offers for assistance. Whether that is babysitting, having a prepared meal, ordering in, sharing with other mamas, or just finding an hour of solace to contemplate absolutely nothing. Realistically, I know that the idea of Super Mama is not achievable because being one requires 24/7 of thinking of everyone else, and I do have a bit of a selfish streak to be so consumed by that. There is not enough time in the day to do it all, so the best thing for me is to tackle what I can and save what I can't for another day.

The last few nights have been a blessing with help from family. The urge to turn on the Super Mama switch was quite strong, but after a long day at the office and two kids who want your undevoted attention, it's better to just be plain ole Mama for a few days. You always have the time to be a mama, and the super part is your kids won't know the difference, nor do they care, if you have the Super switch on or not.

Six days without

No, not that! Well, I suppose sort of. But yesterday marked the beginning of a nearly 144 hours without my hubby. Just dropping him off at the airport was very hard. Thankfully, we had to pick up a coworker on the way to the airport, so that diminished some of the emotions that I know both of us were feeling. We had already expressed our anxiety days before the departure. But as I hugged and kissed him goodbye, I wondered to myself, does it take a bit of absence to really appreciate your spouse?

For more than two years, I've been really spoiled by not having to get up all hours of the night with the kids. He is always the first to hear the cries and whimpers of the kids, and jumps right out of bed to cuddle and love them back to sleep. Often times he would fall asleep with them, inevitably on the couch, and I'd find them sound asleep in the mornings when I would get up to start the day. Even during those first few weeks of their lives, he was right there with diaper changes, spit up duty, catching vomit in hand and cleaning up poops in and out of the tub. I knew when we first dated 18 years ago that this man would be a great dad, but never did I imagine that he would be so phenomenally engrossed and absolutely in love with his children. Something that I truly appreciate and love him for.

This first night went about as I expected, except my patience wore thin as the time kept ticking away. Roo proved that she was still in control of her bowels and insisted that she wanted to do the doo, but did not poop a bit. After battling with her for what seemed like an eternity, she finally agreed to just go to bed and try again tomorrow. Small victory. Then it was time to put Y down. He had a full bottle at his aunt's house an hour earlier and was nice and cozy, comfy with his uncle. Then, I of course had to take both of them home so they could go to bed. He certainly didn't like not being all snuggly with his warm uncle, and made it known on the short three-minute ride home. By the time I plopped him on the ground, with his tear-stained face and wails of disdain, he had fully woken up and was ready to play again. It certainly didn't help that his sister was trying to amuse him by sitting on the toilet and not doing anything but sitting. After another half bottle and 20 minutes of rocking, he finally settled down. I think I had dozed off a couple of times in between the squeaks and rocks of the glider, but I didn't care. Both of them were finally asleep and I even had some time to get the bottles ready for daycare. The last few minutes were spent savoring delicious sugar-free jello before the Lost season finale was under way.

As I enjoyed the jello and settled down on the couch for the marathon television-viewing, I sighed that I didn't have my partner in crime with me to share in the night's crazy activities. We both get a sense of joy out of bathing our kids and tucking them into bed each night. The tag-team effort almost always makes the night a little less frantic, and to be honest, having those extra set of hands pick up where the other left off is quite magical.

I'm truly counting down the hours that he'll be home, joining in the nightly rituals that have become the D and triple B's (dinner, bed, bath and bottles). Almost sounds like a strange restaurant slash bed and bath kinda store, but the real weirdness is not having him here with me.

Oh the reality

Many weeks ago when the hubby asked me if he could attend a training session across the country, I thought to myself, this is doable right? Two kiddies - one of which wants to potty train, but doesn't really, and the other an eight-month-teething little drooler who apparently only likes mommy now. I figured, this was a good idea in my head. He needed the training and the new technology would be great for him and the company he worked for. I thought, really, I could handle it. Women and men do this all the time. One spouse travels for business and the other stays home and manages the household and takes car of the kids. Even a recent article in Parent magazine made me believe I could do what that author did, which was to go toe-to-toe with the everyday moments of balancing a full-time job with the craziness of taking care of the kids too. Oh, and then the reality set in.

Granted, I knew that I would miss him terribly, as this was truly the second trip we have not taken together. The first was a trek he made with his brother through a national forest where no cell phone would reach him and I had to make do with the thought that my survivor-man would indeed survive. Little did I realize that they were searching for the Atlanta-bomber in the same area, and later I would find that the FBI was also in the same forest he was in...

Managing a household is one thing, and then being the parent of two rambunctious kids is entirely another. You never know where the crawler will follow, or whether your rebel toddler will fight with you to go to bed and potty and eat and get her carseat. The list is endless, but when you take the child out of her norm, she doesn't like it. So not having daddy was a bit out of her norm, but I really think she was just standing up for what she wanted. I guess I can't be too upset about that.

The jury is still out, but I am quite grateful for my sister who came over to be my extra set of hands for bathy time and I'm looking forward to the next few days of unknown realities that will surely make for long nights. The best I can do is believe that anything is possible, and take one thing at a time. There's something to be said about single parents who do this day-in, day-out without a sliver of help from anyone. They manage to do it, and raise children who are loving, respectful and quite normal. To those who do this each and every day with little praise and much burden, I say you are amazing in all that you do.

You are not alone

From the moment you find out you are pregnant and you realize that your life will change (understatement), there's one thing that you don't really embrace until the life inside your womb starts to communicate with you. The feeling of "alone" starts to dissipate slowly as you see your baby bump grow and you nurture the body and soul for this new being. From the wiggles and kicks, to the hiccups and heartburn, you know and feel that you are the vessel for something that has not formulated opinions, or has likes and dislikes (well, sort of - just eat a spicey meal and you'll know whether baby is agreeable)...a tiny little soul who does not know the rights from the wrongs, but is just happy to know and see you.

For every moment of each day, you are responsible for this creature that God bestowed upon you to care for. Granted, in my pregnancy days, I did take for granted how much easier it was to be pregnant rather than being a parent. When you are carrying a baby, you don't have to concern yourself with packing up the house with diapers, wipes, food, bottles, etc., just to go out for the day. Your little packaged belly rides along with you and the need for an extra set of clothes, burp cloths, and toys just don't come into play - yet.

Outside of the womb, it becomes very apparent how often you are not alone. Your little one needs you for any number of things, and you happily oblige, even if it's to be repeated over and over again.

Some days, the workweek is considered my "alone" time. It's where I sort of turn off the parent brain and focus on what needs to be done for the day - in an office, with colleagues and an inanimate computer. But really, even there, are you really alone?

Today I had an interesting conversation with a friend who struggles with her alone time. She's a wonderful artist, and a parent, but is having a hard time enjoying her creativity as she struggles with her balance of parenthood and professionalism. No one ever said this was going to be an easy road. For those of you who thought it and are doing it well, kudos to you. I admittedly, even being as OCD as I am, understand how hard it is to have your alone time and eat it too. But if there's one thing that I'm learning each day is that you must find your alone time, if even for five minutes, to be able to embrace all that life throws at you.

My mom, who can be considered saintly as she birthed nine of us, said that the most important thing you can do as a parent is to take care of you first. Have your alone time and basque in those precious moments. For if you are not right and well, there's no way you can do right for your family.

I'm grateful to not be alone and should probably seek out more opportunities to not be so consumed with the day-to-day must-do's. But that would require another lifetime that is eating up my alone time now.

So it begins

After an inspiring day with Miss Attitude and networking with PR guys and gals at the Capital Chapter, I decided it was time to put keystrokes and thoughts into a blog.

Who Way may you ask? Those who know the phonetic pronunciation of my first name will get a kick out of the name of this blog. Those who may not, can learn that Who Way is an individual who is eager to share thoughts on the daily challenges of working full time, being a parent, maid, chef, nurse/doctor, oh, and yes wife.

The alarm sounded off early this morning before 5 a.m. when my two-year-old toddler decided she wanted out of her crib and cried for a drink of milk. I explained drowsily that it was still night time and she needed to get back to sleep. Not fully convinced of this news, she stood up and I scooped her up and brought our sleepy eyes to my bed. The baby had already been up and was sleeping soundly with his daddy on the couch - an all-too-familiar place that daddy has practically lived in for more than two years.

The rest of the day was filled with fun learning, professional development and just gabbing it up with fellow communications minds. Oh and then there was that thing called work that had to be taken care of ... back to the office for the 70 unread e-mails and a press release that was getting nowhere. To top off the day, no release was sent and an event that was planned for this coming Monday was slowly coming together. So how do I go about printing out massive posters when we don't have access to a printing machine large enough to handle it, and rely on the sole graphic designer for the entire agency? That's to be determined on Friday.

Now that the kids are asleep and the bottles have been made, I decide what better time than to get "caught up." That is laundry, dishes and the guilty pleasures of Facebook, Twitter and my beloved Noles.

And so it begins my friends!