Fast Forward

Sorry for the lack of posting. Life seems to be in fast forward these days and before I know it another day has come and gone and I haven't gotten enough done.

We are set to close on the new house two weeks from today. It is all a little surreal. Kevin and I put a contract on this house, but neither one of us honestly thought it would be the contract that was accepted. Boy were we wrong.

Our house isn't on the market yet. We are looking at Tuesday or Wednesday with an open house on Sunday the 8th. We have really got to get our rears in gear.

To top it all off, I'm not sleeping very well. (Neither of us are really.) So sleep would be a good thing. Maybe tonight is our night? We hope.

mg

It's Monday... Again?

Kevin has Fridays and Saturdays off of work. Even though this has been his schedule for many, many months I can't help but feel out of whack. Every Sunday night I think to myself, ok we have to take out the trash because tomorrow is trash day.... but really it isn't until Tuesday and then on the actual Monday it's like ground hogs day.

So it is Monday. Again. And I am so ready for Tuesday. (Really, I'm ready for Friday... but who isn't?)

mg

For Sale

If you know anyone who is looking for an adorable 2 bedroom brick bungalow in mid-county STL send them our way! We found out this week that our contract was accepted on the new house and now the race to get our current house on the market starts. I am majorly stressed out! Selling this house would get me well on my way to feeling better!

mg

Counting Sheep

I am so tired I don't know if I will be able to sleep. That ever happen to you?

It sucks.

mg

Missing you

Dear warmer weather,

I miss you. It has been far to long since we've spent quality time together. Sure, you visited us last week, but I am not satisfied and I want more. I want to hang out in the yard and take walks to the park. I want to head to the zoo and hang with the animals and not have to wear a coat. (One of the great injustices of my life is that I am always cold and I HATE wearing a coat. I mean really, really HATE it...)

Come back please. I promise to bask...

Maureen

mg

To you

By us that is...

M&K&M

Happy Valentine's Day

Us- 1997

To my Valentine,

I love you all the time.

Mobert

Mother's advice

My mother suggested that when I am having a bad day, and doubting my role as a mother/wife/housekeeper/human being, I should just look at the photo in the post below and know that my daughter is a happy and peaceful soul. I'd like to think that I have something to do with her calmness and comfort, but I know reality.

Talk a good look at that photo. What is really comforting her in the photo is the glow of the TV. She is laying before it as a shrine to everything Sesame and is relaxed because it says it is to be so. Elmo sings his song and everything is right in her world.

I can't blame her. On Wednesday nights I long for my daughter to be in bed and my work to be done so that I can sit in front of the TV's cool glow and relax with a little food (Top Chef) and some Real Housewives.

I don't want you to get the idea that the TV is on 24/7. It just isn't. (I am not working full time and we have utility costs to take into account.) Madeline only ever watches Sesame Street, mainly b/c everything else sounds like nails on a chalk board to me. (Yo Gabba Gabba for example, what drug are they smokin'? The creators hit one to many raves if you ask me...)

So I don't disagree with my mother. I do have a happy and laid back daughter and a happy family to boot. For that I am thankful. Truly I am. I think mom was just trying to give me perspective. Something I know I am gaining as a mother and I am thankful that she is trying to help me recognize. Although a little Sesame Street never hurt either.

mg

This about sums it up

Madeline's favorite way to watch Sesame Street.


That about sums up how I would like to spend the next three days. See reasons below. ARGH!

Did I mention I was sick?

mg

Why, I would LOVE some cheese wtih my whine

I've been avoiding the blog lately. It isn't that I don't love you, I do. It is that I don't think anyone really wants to hear what I have to say. Until now...

#1- (be warned there is vomit ahead) The puke fairy visited again. This time is was me and not the Madelou. (at least not yet...) On Monday I thought I was coming down with a cold. By 5pm I was feeling so sick I was crying. Two hours later I was officially sick and felt better almost immediately. That is until the next morning when that cold I thought I was getting decided to kick in.

#2- I love the warmer weather, but it is hard to enjoy it when you don't want to be too far away from home and your head feels like it is going to explode. Yep, I can even complain about things that I was wishing for just days ago. I am that person. Who wants to read about that? Not me?

#3-We still haven't heard anything about the house. That's not really true... we heard today that we are in the same place we were last week, waiting. Waiting for the bank with no recourse to push for action. We are still vulnerable to a higher bid coming onto the table. We are stuck in limbo. We are between getting our house ready to be placed on the market (which is a whole hell of a lot of work) and not doing anything. We don't want to leave everything for a one week scramble if we do get the house, but what if we repaint the kitchen, do all the touch ups, replace the gutters, clean the hell out of this place and pack up 1/2 of our belongings just to find out we don't get the house?

#4- closely related to #3 is WHAT IF WE GET THIS HOUSE?!?!?! Now I know that might sound crazy, because we want this house soooooo badly, but honestly this is a huge leap for us. We will make it work and it is a huge opportunity for our family. But holy crap. I guess that is the worry for all new (larger) home buyers right? Please tell me it is. Please?

#5- did I mention I was sick?

#6- I am feeling overwhelmed with work, but not really motivated to do anything about that. That is the worst situation because I am totally to blame.

#7- did I mention this house thing was stressing me out?

Ok, I think that is it. Sorry for the whine fest. I am feeling a little better. Although Norman Gentle just made it through to the top 36 on American Idol so I'm feeling a little sick to my stomach.

mg

Hanging out with the sunshine

The sun is finally out and the weather has temporarily warmed up. I am such a happy camper I can't even begin to tell you how much of a difference that makes to my overall sanity.

How do you make a beautiful day at the park even better? You share it with some friends!

We met Leo and Becca at the park today and I snapped some photos while the kiddos ate a snack.

Leo: So Maddy, I hear you've never had fruit snacks?
Maddy: It's true... what are they?

Leo: They are really good, especially those green ones right there.

Maddy: Wow, Leo! You were right. These are yummy! Mmmm.

Leo: Is that your mom with the camera in our face?

Maddy: Mooooom!? Can't a girl have any privacy?

We had a great time!

mg

Superbowl Sunday

One week late. I am trying to get myself caught up.

We watched the Superbowl at Bry and Beth's house! It was their first official party at the new house and we were so happy to be there celebrating with them!

My Cupcake-cake. Isn't it fantastical!
Please don't submit it to Cake Wrecks.

Madeline had a wonderful time playing with her new friend Miles and Beth. They colored and played with puzzles and ran around crazy!

Kevin was totally ready for the 3D commercial break. Isn't he cute in those glasses? I think so.

Madeline was a trooper and showed us all her super hero impression.

mg

What does Madeline want to be when she grows up?

A firefighter.


My melamine mixing bowls are on a low shelf, so Madeline plays with them all the time. A few days ago she picked the bowl up, put it on her head and said, "firefighter!"

I LOVE that photo!

I have NO idea where she learned about firefighters, or that they wear hard hats, but how cute is that?

Then she put the colander on Kevin's head and announced, "firefighters!" I got in on the action too, but the photo wasn't very flattering!

mg

Madeline hulks out

hulk out \'hǝlk aǔt\ vb : to get so freaking mad you turn green and rip stuff up

Sorry the photo is so fuzzy. Her rage made the whole house shake.

I guess in Madeline's case you just cover yourself in green icing and get so freaking cute you make your parents go mad. Hulking out, in both cases, is quickly followed by a bath.

mg

Look at what I made,

Whoa, Maddy!

This story is for you DU. Although for my one story you have at least 100 more. For that you are the queen.

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Maddy and I spent 2 1/2 hours at the Magic House today with Anna and Maddie. We had a wonderful afternoon and Madeline was EXHAUSTED by the time we left. So exhausted in fact that moments after pulling out of the parking lot she began crying.

I hadn't thought to bring her bop-oo (pacifier) or her blanket. Who would want to carry that around a children's museum anyway, right? I have had this issue in the past and usually I can just explain to her that these items are at home and that is where we are heading.

That didn't work today.

Not 200 yards down the road, she is crying so hard she vomits. Yep, vomits. Lunch had been many hours before, so all she had in her tummy was water and goldfish crackers. She has yellow goo all down her coat and car seat. Ick.

I am in almost panic mode, so I put on my brakes, turn on my blinker and cut across 3 lanes of traffic. (Sorry to anyone driving on Lindbergh this afternoon at 4:30pm and thank you for not hitting me.) I pulled over on the side street, jumped out of the car and tried to clean/calm my daughter. I realized parking in the road wasn't the smartest, so I hop into the front seat again and drive to a parking lot. All the while Maddy is crying so hard she is choking.

I take Maddy's coat off of her, and am holding her trying to calm her down, which works until I suggest we get back in the car seat. So now I am like, Sh*t. How am I going to get this girl home? I call my mom. She suggests I take Maddy out of the car and try to get her to calm down. It worked, sort of.

I finally convince Madeline to get in the car and let me drive her across the street to Target. Yep, I told her her that if she would get back in the car I would buy her a new bop-oo and get her a 'blanket' to substitute for the one I left at home.

So I put Madeline back in her vomit covered car seat, without a coat because that is covered in Vomit too, and head for Target. We get another 100 yards down the road and she is so upset again she vomits. This time she doesn't have much left to gift to me so I am able to catch most of it in a wet wipe. (I was stopped at a light, so don't think I was being dangerous.)

We get to the Target parking lot, and once we stop moving she calms down again. I grab her out of the car, wrap her in my coat and head inside. I skip the cart because her pants are covered in vomit and I can hide that against my side if I hold her. We head straight to the baby section and pick up some bops and then I head to the towels and pick up a great clearance towel. We check out and I sit in the food court to un-wrap her bops. Did I mention she is FINE this whole time. Not a tear, happy and chatting with other shoppers all through Target? It is only in the car that she gets so upset that she vomits. ARGH!!!

I wrap her back up in the towel put her in the car and she is fine. The whole way home she is fine. She doesn't sleep, she just sits in her vomit soaked car seat, with her vomit soaked pants, looking out the window, sucking her her bop. Occasionally she sings.

She's fine. I on the other hand just wanted to go to bed.

I tell you this story not to invoke pity, but so that you may laugh with me. I mean how ridiculous was my afternoon?!?!?!?!?! I mean really?

I am going to bed.

mg

Dreaming

It is 25 degrees outside.

I am dreaming of this:

July 2, 2008

Soon right? Not soon enough.

**********
btw, thank you for all the love. Today has been a better day for Ms. Madelou and me. If only I could bring in some warmer weather... although I hear that is coming too. (thanks, b.)

mg

To post or not to post

I have been trying to craft a post in my head all morning. It is now 2pm and I have decided I am going to write and see what happens.

I am not having a stellar day. Madeline was up late last night, (b/c of the Super Bowl, stupid Steelers) but was up at her usual time. She's been extra crabby because of her lack of sleep, and I've been extra crabby because of my lack of sun. Let's just say we are not a good combination today. I am taking a lot of deep breaths and I called my mother, and talked to my dad and I am feeling better. It is good to know that the two parents that I admire most in this world, my own, think I am doing just fine. Even when I loose my sh*t and yell at my strong willed child (who then melts into tears making me feel like I am seconds away from having DFS on my doorstep). Perfect.

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Anywho, I hate this time of year. It is too cold to be outdoors soaking up the sun and I start to feel stir crazy. This morning I wanted to run errands just to get us out of the house, but based on Madeline's mood I cut our trip short and came home. I hate that. Why is it the one time I forget her water that is all she wants. It's like she has water-dar (like radar or gay-dar, but for water) and knows when there isn't a sippy cup within' 100 feet from her. If I had had a cup with us I would have offered it and she would have refused, but because I had forgotten it that was all she wanted. How can a 1 1/2 year old make me feel so guilty? And just because I forgot a stinkin' cup of WATER! ARGH! I can't wait for warmer days. Oh how I want to open our windows and let the warm wind air this place (and me) out!

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As for house news, there is none. I am feeling so torn about the whole process. We are cleaning out closets and getting rid of stuff and packing other things (like salad tongs that I use three times a year and the hand mixer that I use even less). Our basement is filling with boxes and I hope that someday soon we will get the word to move them all out and get the house show ready. That being said, we have NO idea when that will be! It might be tomorrow, in which case we would have to haul our rears to get it all done in time, or it might be in a month, which is much more doable, or it may never happen, which is a reality that makes it hard to remain motivated. I don't want to hope too much and work to hard to get this house ready to sell if nothing ever comes of the contract we have put on the new house. I don't want to be disappointed but I also don't want to be unprepared.

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As for other things on my mind today: Has anyone ever made their own Windex? I got a recipe online but I am not sure I want to buy the ingredients if I don't know if it is going to work. The recipe is below, you tell me what you think ok? And if you have another solution for cleaning glass, and other smooth surfaces, etc. leave me a comment/recipe and maybe I'll try it out.

Make at home windex
1/2 c. ammonia

2 c. rubbing alcohol
1 tsp dishwashing soap
mix above ingredients with water, up to 1 gallon

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That recipe reminds me of a story from my "childhood." I have always been good. As a child I was a drama queen, but I was never a trouble maker. I was always home by curfew (that is when I had one) and I was so terribly naive. In 6th grade, at 12 years old, one of the boys in my grade was hospitalized for "alcohol" poisoning. The story was that he had found some "alcohol" in his parents basement and ended up having to have his stomach pumped. I remember asking my 6th grade teacher about this incident and being really confused. I couldn't understand why anyone would drink "alcohol"? I mean that stuff smelled terrible! After a few minutes I realized I was thinking of the wrong kind of "alcohol." I was thinking of rubbing alcohol, he had drunk a 5th of Jack Daniels. The boy that it happened to was fine, and actually was in the top 10 % of my graduating class 6 years later. Turns out he was just as naive as I was and didn't know what the side affects of drinking "alcohol" were. I guess we BOTH learned a lesson that week.

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Sorry this has been so random. I am just feeling a little out of sorts these days and I just have to get some stuff out there. Even if it is crazy stories about 6th grade and my own stupidity, right?

mg

New month,

new header!

Anyone using a reader should click on over to the blog to check out the new mast head. I am pretty proud of it.

Happy February!

mg