the day will take care of itself, i'm pretty sure

I'm having a bit of trouble deciding how to tackle this day. It's not that I have anything especially pressing that must get done today (we have clean underwear and clean cereal bowls & spoons, so we're good), but I have a whole mountain of things I'd like to get done. The problem is that at best I can hope to accomplish three things in a day. Three. The rest of the day is chasing this baby around the house, saving his life or the life of whatever he found -a book, an important piece of mail, the remote control. We have baby-proofed, but the Pirate and his amazing father are not always aware of the things they're leaving within his reach -like knives, and iPads, and paperback picture books. I'm pretty sure the ratios are about 20 seconds of every minute go to the health and safety of the baby, and another 10 to 15 go to the Pirate. It results in... about three things outside of motherhood can get checked off my list on an average day. Today seems so full of possibility.

Okay. Baby is at my feet begging for a new diaper. So, I'll begin there.
And now.

UPDATE: How the day resolved.

That diaper was a full blow-out. After the clean-up and laundry, it was time to feed him. By then I was forward a little over an hour into the day. I put the baby down for his nap, did some puzzles with the Pirate, jumped in the shower, and then it was lunchtime.

AND sometime after the diaper drama and before the puzzles I remembered that today was the day my SIL's doc scheduled her C-section. Many, many texts and phone calls were exchanged today. Pictures and news finally came later in the afternoon. She's darling, a clone of her big sister, and having a bit of problems that are preventing her from being snuggled by her momma.

THEN somewhere between texts, my BFF called to tell me she's booked a flight to come see me this summer.

And because this was turning up to be a "Could this day be anymore awesome?" kind of day with the birth of a niece and the booked flight of my dear friend, I thought I'd push it and send a picture book ms off to a potential publisher.

I also managed to get some invites dropped off for a class I'm teaching later in the week, and so- overall: productive.

A shower.
A ms submission.
An errand.

AND the gym. I think that should count. Even if I forgot my gym shoes and had to WOD in socks.

it was a looooooooong night

These kids are killing me slowly. Death by sleep depravation. The Pirate howled like a baby last night for thirty solid minutes. I *thought* it was the baby and I was employing the cry it out method which I feel is cruel but entirely necessary at the same time. I've hit the place where self-preservation insticts have outrun mother-instincts when it comes to sleep. I tell myself he needs to learn how to our himself back to sleep, he needs to learne how to put himself back to sleep, he needs to... I chant this to myself like a midnight mantra. SO. I thought the screaming was the baby until... Hubs got up and said a few words to the Pirate... Then the baby took his turn, but he only cried for two minutes, which was nice. Then instead of wailing like an infant, Pirate tried the "Mom."........... "Mommmm." tactic. I've never been able to ignore that one. At night that is.

So. It was a long night. It was shadows, and lay with me, and I had a bad dream, and I'm hungry...

But that didn't stop him from being bright-eyed and ready for the day at 6:45. I tried to buy more sleep by letting him play games on his own. Then I bribed him to make his own breakfast. And now he's yelling from the living room, "Mom! It's morning! Time to get up!" 

I guess I'd better.

Happy Wednesday.

peace: my (january) one little word

 

A few years back someone started this one little word thing and since I caught wind of it, I've been picking a word of the year. This year I'm choosing the word peace. Not peace as in an absence of conflict, but the kind of peace that fills the heart and mind. The kind of peace the soul requires for tranquility in turbulence. The kind that is sourced from my Savior.



blue-eyes and freckles and holes in his jeans

Today was a bleak, gray day. It alternated between snow and rain and left the roads a slick, thick, slushy mess. I didn't especially want to go anywhere, but Pirate has been cooped-up indoors since the week before Christmas and he overheard me mention to Hubs this morning that the library books needed returned. About half way through the day he came to me, "Mom! We're running out of time! We have to go to the library!"

I love this Little Pirate, but when it comes to getting this kid dressed and out the door... The phrase "pulling teeth" comes to mind. So, not really wanting to go anywhere I decided to put it all on him. I told him he needed to get completely dressed, socks, shoes, gloves, hat, everything all on his own, and then we could go. I figured he'd loose interest and find something else to do. But no. Much to my surprise he came back a handful of minutes later with this proud grin stretching across his face. I snatched him up and he let me kiss on his cheek and pick him up into full bear hug. (Two years ago he loved it every time I kissed his face or squeezed him tight. These days he's more resistant.)("No more kisses, Mom!")

We went to the library, he held my hand. He helped me return books and pick out new ones. We stopped and sat on a bench to read Dream Train, Steam Train because he just couldn't wait until we got home. When he saw me adding Is Everyone Ready For Fun? to our bag he said, "Oh! Thank you, Mom! I love that book!" He didn't run away. He didn't use a loud voice. He didn't pitch a fit when it was time to go. In other words, this kid is growing up.

He even buckles himself sometimes when the weather is nice and/or we're in a huge hurry. (If the weather is misery and/or we have all the time in the world he suddenly is incapable.)

Anyway,

Tonight after we tucked that kiddo into bed, Hubs pointed out the fact that he is no longer a sunbeam. Tomorrow he'll be whatever the next class is. CTR 4? I remember last year I stood in the bathroom and cried tears when I dropped him off at Primary. I don't think I'll cry this year, but still. The speed at which he's growing makes my head spin a little.

my age is showing...

I have pushed a rewind button on trends and time and started (another) blog. Blogging was so 2005, I know, but like leggings and Converse I can hope the trends of Social Media can make comebacks.

Okay. I realize probably not, but it doesn't matter. I'm writing for myself and my sanity. Plus, I'm still wearing my bootcut jeans from said decade ago, so it's not like I'm someone who deeply cares about what's trendy and popular. 

All I know is I'm over Facebook and Twitter is just too noisy for my life. I've tried 9 times to get back into paper & pencil journaling again and it just never seems to stick. So here I am again. Blogging.