Friday, January 29, 2010

Right of Passage


One huge childhood milestone for me was spending the night at my grandparents house. At first I was always nervous for some odd reason, it wasn't like they were strangers or anything, but just being away from my parents always made me nervous. But the memories of playing in the orchard, watching my grandmommy make pickles, "working" out in the garage with Pop-pop are some of the best memories of my childhood. Now my kids are making memories of their own with their first overnight slumber party at Nana and Papaw's house. I don't know who was more excited, my parents or my boys. The boys were squealing with excitement as I was literally pushed out the door. I can just imagine all the fun they are going to have. I wish I could peak through the windows and watch what they are doing. But I would probably get caught by the neighbors and have to explain to the cops why I'm an over protective mom just wanting to watch her kids make memories while playing with their grandparents. Geez.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Happy Birthday Baby B

This is what a happy three year old looks like...

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

You're not a girl

According to Brandon, I'm not a girl. I'm just mommy. Mommies are not girls, they are mommies.
Nathan is always saying boys rule and girls druel. Except for me, since I'm not a girl. I'm a mommy.
I don't know when it happened, but evidently I've stopped being a girl and have been consumed in mommy-ness. That's OK. I'll take being a mommy over a girl for now. I'll be a girl again after the boys are grown and I don't have to get up at 5am to go to work just so we don't have to get a babysitter. Or when I don't have to dig earthworms out of little boys pants pockets before they get totally mushed. Or when I don't have to wipe boogers off the wall. Or when I don't have to referee two little boys wrestling match. I'll be a girl again one day, but I'll always be a mommy.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

"Workin' 9 to 5!"

For the past 3 years I've been on a luxury cruise. I've played in the sun, walked barefoot in the sand, and drank fruity drinks. Granted, this was all done in my own backyard with the kids by my side. This "luxury cruise" was me being a stay-at-home mom. Getting to stay home with the kids has been such a wonderful experience. It's been fun, frustrating, rewarding, emotional, stressful, and the best gift to myself I could have ever received. But all good things must come to an end. Well, sort of. I found a part-time job that is just wonderful. I got to choose what days and what hours I want to work, I get the weekends off and paid holidays. I get to work with a friend of mine and the actual job is super easy. So now, I will be working mornings as a file clerk for a hospital. Brian and I will work opposite shifts so we don't have to get a babysitter. That's good and bad. Good since we don't have to hand our kids over to someone I don't trust (I don't trust anyone but family), bad because we won't see each other that much. A small sacrifice for peace of mind.
Brandon hates that I'm working and begs me every night before he goes to bed to not go to work in the morning. That breaks my heart but I know him and Brian will start developing a stronger bond with all the morning alone time they'll have together. Nathan could care less if I work or not. I gave him the important job of getting up by himself, getting dressed and making sure Brian gets up on time. Before bedtime, we set his alarm clock, get his clothes set out and pack his lunch box. So many new responsibilities for my little man, he just eats it up.
It's nice to get back to work and still be with my kids for a huge chunk of the day. It's the best of both worlds. I couldn't be luckier.