Midweek Confessions - It's YOUR turn!

I'm a day late but Thursday is still mid-week, right!?! Time for some mid-week confessions!

1. I cannot for the life of me do those "make sure you're not a robot" things where you have to type in jumbled letters and numbers. Seriously. It took me no less then 10 tries today to post "she's so cute!"... I almost gave up. Some times I click the handicap/hearing impaired button... because apparently while not hearing impaired, I am handicapped... or at the very least "special."

2. Last night I forgot to put Parker's sheets in the dryer so they weren't dry in time for bed. I convinced him because he was "so good today" he got to sleep in his tent. Do you like that spin?! Mommy fail.

3. I started couch to 5K last night after stepping on the scale and confirming my 6.8 pound weight gain this summer isn't magically falling off itself.... it was embarrassing. I was sure I could skip to week 2.... yeah not so much. I have no intentions of running a 5k and I'm almost never on my couch so I'm going to call this operation "flowy dresses to skinny jeans."

4. I"m still *gulp* nursing Avery. Well technically, she is still nursing me since I can't remember the last time I offered "it" to her.... she just takes it... literally. For example, last night after my wun (walk/run), I was doing crunches and she walked up to me, laid on the floor next to me, pulled my tank top and sports bra to the side and self served. After she was done with that side, she announced "done!" and crawled across me to the other side. When she was done with THAT side, she said "thank you" and walked away... it has gotten THAT bad. I have decided to throw my hands up in defeat until turtleneck season. I sure hope they're in style this fall. 

5. I signed up to be room mom for Parker's class and I hope no one else checked "the box" on the volunteer sheet sent home this week. I seriously REALLY want to be room mom. It's my 1st step to being PTA president one day. Type A?  No. not me! 

6. My high school English and yearbook teacher reached out to me this week about doing a "where are the outstanding seniors of the 1st graduating class now" post. Yes, at one time, I was outstanding at more than  online baby clothes shopping and ... (is it bad I can't think of anything else I'm outstanding at? ....my husband answered "making soup" YIKES!) Anyways, I went to email her back and immediately felt a huge rush of anxiety. Did my subjects and verbs agree? Does a comma go there? What is the actual use of the "..." I love so much? It took me forever to write her back and in the end, I don't even think it sounded like me. I'm STILL trying to please my teacher... from 10 years ago. And to think I was offended by winning  "biggest brown noser" as my senior superlative.

SO... week after week I air my dirty laundry (speaking off.... the mountain is back in epic proportion) and I always write "your turn!" at the end of the post; however, no one has EVER even shared a teeny, tiny, not-so-bad confession back so this week I'm expecting REALLY good ones! (mega run-on sentence!) 

READY? 

Your turn and make 'em GOOD!

Midweek Confessions!

Time for some midweek confessing! I'm linking up with E today from E, myself and I.

1. I want a minivan SO badly! Like so badly that its embarrassing. I have a great SUV. It's paid for. Kid friendly. Has 115K on it but it's a Toyota so that's only like half it's lifespan... and I feel guilty for wanting a new car when I have a perfectly fine one. Maybe if it were a gift I wouldn't feel so bad. Anyone want to give me a Honda Odyssey or a Toyota Sienna? It would be rude of me to turn it down.

2. Tonight my husband was supposed to work so I already made plans with the DVR to watch Pretty Little Liars and do some sewing. I know I was supposed to be excited when his work project got canceled and now we get to "spend time together tonight".... but I'm disappointed about pushing back "my date with myself" until TBA....

3. Avery LOVES shoes which works out nicely because now that her feet have FINALLY grown out of 6-9 month shoes (which as a side note are SO hard to find for a child who walks!) I have gone baby shoe buying crazy! :) Think polka dots, bow, fun colors! Oh the fun shoes out there for little girls!!!

4. Recently, I've started ebaying some of Parker's clothes (that make it past one season on a 3 year old boy) and lots of Avery's clothes. It has become such a fun game for me! It's funny to see what people start bidding wars over and what people completely pass over. If you want to check out what I have listed, I'm taylorlwise on ebay. I usually list in groups of 10-12 items because it's time consuming to post items! If you have an "Avery" or know of one, you can score some great monogrammed stuff right now! :)

5. Last night at prayer time, Parker thanked Jesus for "Super Why." Amen, Parker... Amen.

Parker with his great grandmother's newspaper reader. He was SO intrigued with how big everything was!

6. I don't watch a ton of TV but I am a very faithful follower of a few shows. Army Wives is almost over FOR GOOD and I may slide into a slight depression until Modern Family comes back on to distract me from my Sunday night loss. 

7. It's almost football season! I am more excited about dressing my kids in "spirit wear" than I am about the actual games.

8. I'm STILL nursing... Avery is 15 months old... I thought weaning would be easier.... heck, I even went out of town for 3 1/2 days and we started right back where we left off within 5 minutes of me being home. Sometimes I'm SOOO over it.... particularly when she self serves in public (yes that happens... almost daily) and other times, I'm still glad we're doing it. She's my baby... she's tiny... and I'm a sucker for this face.

Avery with her great grandfather

Confession #9 should be the condition of my kitchen but as opposed to confessing it's disarray, I think I'll just go clean it! To the bookclub dishwasher! (super why fans.. did you catch that?!)

Questions I'm pondering

Why does this child not sleep for more than 20 minutes without someone touching her? 

Seriously, ya'll. She'll sleep longer, but you have to be laying next to her to rub her head or back right when she wakes up to get her back to sleep... or hold her.  I can spend over an hour trying to get her sleep and she'll nap for around 20 minutes. It's just a phase, right? I hope so! It's a good thing that she's a cutie!

Why can't Parker say his own name? 

He is the most well mannered child. He says "please" and "thank you." He knows Avery's name, all of our family members names(except Kelly) and most animals... but CANNOT (or WILL NOT) say "PARKER!" It drives me nuts! I really wanted him to be able to say his name before he goes to preschool. So instead, I'm sending him with a monogrammed backpack, lunchbox and closet full or appliqued/monogrammed shirts. Sigh.

Should I make my own baby food or buy it?

 I always bought Earth's Best baby food for Parker. I stocked up any time I found it on sale at the store so I usually bought it at $.50-$.75 a jar depending on the size. I will definitely use some of these again for Avery such as when we're out for meals or for fruits and veggies too high in nitrates, or gross ones I don't buy for myself. Here's my dilemma... my desire to be super mom makes me feel like I should try to make my own food. I tried today. I made pears and peaches and I've gotta say, I'm not really convinced it's that much cheaper, if at all. It wasn't hard to do but I'm wavering between the convenience of opening a can of organic baby food or the satisfaction of knowing I prepared Avery's food from local farmer's market produce myself. Mamas... help me out? Anyone have strong opinions one way or the other?

Are these two going to cooperate for family beach pictures in 2 weeks?

I sure hope so! I'm dying for AWESOME family pictures! So much so that I hired a photographer to take them! I just felt so strongly that we needed nice sunset, matching outfit, beach pictures! Clearly, as you can see above, I'm not too fantastic at getting them myself! Yes, I was hoping up and down, laughing, making duck noises and asking "what's on my head?" and this is still the best I got.... Avery, eating Parker's foot and Parker playing with his juice box straw.. ah... real life. I so badly want a not real life shot where they're both smiling at the same time, looking at the camera, with no stains on their matching seersucker crab outfits, sitting in sand. Is that too much to ask?

Why is Parker so suddenly into Cars, Toy Story and Dora?

Goodbye Thomas, hello Dora, Toy Story and Lightning McQueen. I'm currently still tolerating the shows themselves pretty well... but the "stuff." Let me tell you about marketing... those boogers are smart. My son is currently sleeping with a Woody doll (that he tucks in), a plastic Woody figurine, a shake n go Lightning McQueen, AND... drumroll... a can of Campbell's Soup that has Woody on it, a box of Kraft Mac n Cheese that has Car's characters on it and a soup label I pulled off his dinner with Dora.... and 3 ducks. I'm not sure what grabs Parker's attention so much with these 3 shows but he's in love... and so are the marketers of these characters. NOTE: he will NEVER wear these characters and of that, I am certain! He can sleep with as many boxes of Car's mac n cheese he wants but he will. not. EVER. wear ANYTHING. with them on it!

Will the dishwasher installer ACTUALLY be here between 10-10:30am?

Is that not the most amazing time frame EVER from an installation company?! I was thrilled! I've been without a dishwasher for 2 weeks... and it's been a LONG two weeks! When Best Buy called me today to give me my time frame, I asked them to tell me again. What? No 4 hour window? If this is the case... I'll buy every appliance I ever need from Best Buy! 

I am pondering many other things... will Daniel's seersucker shorts I ordered online fit? Eeek, I hope so,.. no time to buy another pair before the pictures! Why do random women I don't know ask me if the coffee I'm buying is for me? Why yes... see the 2 year old crying on the floor and the baby attached to me... yes, the coffee is for me... and yes.. I'm nursing. Poor old woman probably went home and called DSS on me. Will Parker's preschool teacher like him? Is he going to cry when I leave him on his 1st day? At the rate we're going, Avery isn't going to sleep through the night until she's 14. Is there anything I can do at this age to help her? Or just accept some kids aren't great sleepers? Le sigh.

Man, I have a lot of questions!

There are; however, things I do know. I am loved. I am giving it my best. I don't have all of the answers.  I am happy. I love my family. I love my life. I am blessed.

Quick Catch Up

I promise I'm not a blog abandoner. This little lady:

nurses what feels like 23 out of the 24 hours in a day. She's bound and determined to fit into her summer clothes sooner than later which is just fine with me! These "up to 7lb" and newborn sleepers are driving me nuts! Why can't newborns have cute clothes too? She's an amazing baby. She only cries when she's hungry (which is frequently) but stops the second you pick her up and get her in "position." The mamaroo is a lifesaver. She's not a fan of laying on her back flat so the mamaroo is AWESOME! She loves it. The nap nanny is great but it's a bit big for her right now since she can't hold her head up yet and slumps to the side. Such a peanut! She'll grow and I think she'll like it then. I love to sleep with her on my chest and I get giddy picking out her headbands everyday (fingers crossed her hair grows fast.... her fingernails sure do!). I'm loving having this second (and final) baby and it makes it even better that I've got my boy and girl... just perfect!

This little fella:

is an amazing big brother! He's not really shown any signs of jealousy (yet) and loves his baby sister! He calls her "baby" and will get her blanket or paci for her when she cries. It's adorable. Lately he's been VERY into jumping and counting. He climbs on something and yells "2, go!" He usually looks at me to fill in the "1 and 3." He talks constantly, although I don't catch the majority of it. Parker seems so big to me now. Laying the kids side by side makes Parker look like a giant. Changing his clothes and diapers are so different now. It's like he grew into a big boy overnight! I'm so smitten with my little family!

Obviously, blogging has taken a bit of a back seat to snuggles, family naps, laundry, diaper changing and nursing but we'll figure it all out soon enough! The good news, I've managed to get a shower every morning since Avery was born. This is a huge accomplishment for those of you who don't have kids! I've got one week to figure this whole mom of 2 thing out before Daniel heads back full time to work where he can't rescue me from his office upstairs. I know I can do it. My only setback is my own healing. I ripped open part of my c-section scar and am on some pain meds and antibiotics for that. I really need to get off the pain meds to parent/drive full time without the need for naps (these drugs make me SLEEPY). Hopefully, this week I can slowly work my way off of them and onto Tylenol or something like that. My only post pregnancy complaint is these crazy hormonal temperature changes. I got from hot to cold in seconds and S-U-F-F-E-R from night sweats! Holy Cow! I weigh myself in the morning and at night to see how much water weight I'm loosing and on average it's 3-4lbs per night. It's gross and the minute I'm done nursing 1st thing in the morning, I'm in the shower! The only good thing about these crazy night sweats is that I only have 4 more lbs to drop before being at my pre-pregnancy weight. The pre-pregnancy body; however, is nowhere to be seen! Looks like I may actually have to work to get that back.

Off to nurse... again!!!!