Rookie Mom Challenge: Drink a beer

Each week Temporarily Me hosts the Rookie Mom Challenge. She gives a choice of 3 activities to do each week. This week the choice was easy. Choice #1 was to wear a baby. At 25 lbs. and 40 lbs. that was not going to happen. Choice #2 was to ride a real bus or train. A good choice, Caitlin would love to ride a bus or train but Davey would only enjoy it if he was allowed to run up and down the aisle. Choice #3 was to drink a beer. So after the kids were sound asleep on Friday night, I enjoyed a beer or four. Cheers.

Weekly Winners

Determination

Watching the big boys play.

Is anyone watching?

She sparkles.

Also go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.

Museum Day

Just wanted to share that Saturday, September 27 is museum day. You can get free admission with a pass on this site to lots of museums all around the country. Check it out.

Also thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday's post. Things have been a little trying here but it is glad to know I'm not alone.

She's breaking me.

This is one of those posts that I could only write on my secret blog. I wouldn't want to admit this is the way I'm feeling right now to my family. She's breaking me. Or I'm just breaking. My daughter is really hard to be around right now. She is really grouchy, stubborn, and generally unpleasant to be around. I knew the day would come when our relationship might get more difficult but I didn't expect it to be when she is only 3 years old.

She is not eating well because she never wants anything I prepare for her. She probably is hungry but she won't admit it if it means eating what I suggest. Hunger does not improve her mood. Often I make what she requests then she refuses it.

She is not getting enough sleep since she has given her nap up. A nap is what she so desperately needs right now.

She refused to go to the bathroom before she went to pre-school today. She had an accident when she was there. I really thought she would be ok since she was around her friends. I thought she would want to have an accident there. It is the first one she has had in public. I know it is not logical but it makes me feel like I failed somehow.

She is constantly stealing toys from her brother. He plays so nicely by himself and then Caitlin takes the one toy that he is mesmerized by. How many times do I have to say "Leave your brother alone? Let him play with it now and then you can have a turn." But that is better than saying "Put your brother down. You are going to hurt him." I say that a lot too.

She has also picked up a new thing. She threatens to put us in the trash can or bite our faces. I'm not sure where she has picked up this gem.

I hate that I feel this way right now. I don't know what I have done wrong to make her act this way. I feel like maybe if I dealt with her differently she wouldn't be so difficult. Right now I'm trying to concentrate on her good qualities and hoping this is just a phase and will end soon.

What's the poop?

Last week I was walking my dog and pushing my two kids(who weigh at least 65 lbs. combined) in the double stroller up a hill. This is no easy feat. Maximus had to go so I set the stroller's brake and waited with doggie bag on hand ready to scoop up the mess. I was picking up the dog's poop. when an angry old man came out of his house to yell at me "I'd appreciate if you don't do that again on my lawn."

"Um, ok" is what I said. What I should have said was "Ok I won't pick it (the poop) up." Can you imagine the steam coming out of his ears.

Am I out of touch? I just don't understand why people care if a dog poops on the lawn as long as the owner picks it up. What do you think? Was I wrong to let him poop on the lawn even if I always pick up after him? I'd love to hear from you all especially non-dog owners.

Oh how I've missed you Internet!

Our internet, phone, and cable all went out Thursday morning. Luckily it came back Sunday morning without a visit from the company that provides all those services. I'm not sure how they fixed it but I'm glad that they did. I didn't realize how much the internet helps keep me sane while I stay home with my 3 year old daughter and my 16 month old son. Some days I don't have adult conversation from 8 am when my husband leaves for work till 6 pm when he returns. That is a long time to not have someone to talk to. I love reading the blogs both of people I know in real life and my internet friends. I talk about some of my internet friends like I know them. I guess I do to a certain extent. Dave thinks it is funny when I talk about my friends Swistle and The New Girl. The message boards are also a great way to "talk" when no one else is around. I'm so glad that you are fixed dear Internet connection! You make it so much easier to make it through the day!

Rookie Mom Challenge: Photograph a Sleeping Child

How could I not photograph Caitlin? She loves reading as you can see.

This is a part of another Rookie's Mom Challenge hosted by Temporarily Me.

Bouncing Bliss

When I think about what modern convenience I couldn't live without as a mother it has to be the bouncy chair. At least it was the bouncy chair for the first 4 months of each of my children's lives. My kids slept in the bouncy chair for naps and the night for the first 4 months. My only complaint is I wished I could plug the thing in to avoid using so many batteries but the batteries were well worth it. Not only did the chair put my kids to sleep but it allowed me to shower before my husband got home from work.

This post was written in response to the Parent Bloggers Network and Yoplait's question "what modern conveniences could you not live without?"

Weekly Winners

I know it is cheating a little but here are some more of my favorite shots from our vacation at the Cape.





Also go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.

Weekly Winners

I'm back from vacation and here are some of my favorite shots from Cape Cod. Click to enlarge photos.

Black Beauty

Beautiful Curves

Dock

Pure Joy

View from our room

Lit Clouds

Weekly Winners

Damaged Beauty

Simply Beautiful

Also go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.

Rookie Mom Challenge: Share a milkshake

This the the second Rookie Moms' Challenge that I have completed. The Challenge is hosted by Temporarily Me. The challenge was to share a milkshake. How can I go wrong? Milkshakes = yummy. Plus the promise of a milkshake even got Caitlin to try on clothes in Old Navy and run the million errands I needed to do without too much complaining.

Caitlin got the majority of the shake. She loved it!

This was Davey's first taste of a strawberry milkshake. Can you tell he was amazed by it?

Contest Winner

I used a random number generator and comment #5 was the winner, Ya Ya's Mom. Congrats Ya Ya's Mom. Be sure to check out her blog. She is a first grade teacher and has lots of interesting stuff to say. I probably won't get the package out before our vacation, which means you will probably get some goodies from Cape Cod. Or maybe I'll be really motivated and send it out before Saturday. Hmm...seems unlikely.

Sweet Dreams and Enter the Contest!

Don't forget to enter my Pay It Forward Contest. Today is the last day to enter. Click here to enter.
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So I had a dream that I was wrestling with a shirtless David Beckham for a squirting water hose. I don't think I need to get the dream interpretation book to understand this one.

Etiquette

Don't forget to enter my Pay It Forward Contest by Tuesday, September 2. Click here.

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What is the proper etiquette when you discover you have your shirt on backward 3/4 of the way through dinner with a friend? What did I do? I turned it around in the car after we finished dinner. I felt so dumb but I don't think you could really tell it was backwards.

Also do not let me order a diet coke at dinner time! I had the hardest time falling asleep. No caffeine for me after noon.