April 30, 2006

The Murphster & The Dawsonmeister

Murphy & Dawson– April 2006

Yesterday I was doing some last minute cleaning and organizing around the house. I usually don’t do “Spring Cleaning” but Doug and I were in the “spruce-up-mood” so he began to paint the downstairs spare bedroom (FINALLY! after four years of living in our home).

I stopped to take a break and the Doodlebug wanted “marsh-a-mellas,” as he calls them. I agreed to let him have a few as long as he sat quietly. He nodded and we shook hands to seal the deal (okay I’m fibbing–he said “na na na!” which means “Now!!!”).

Our Boston Terrier, Murphy, crawled up on the sofa next to Dawson and I thought it would make a cute picture; but at the last minute Murphy sneezed (I think) so it kind of looks like he’s laughing!

Rain, rain, go away!

It’s a rainy, windy and cold Sunday here in Wisconsin. I wish it didn’t have to rain today, even though my husband says we really need it. Yes, we need the rain, but can’t Mother Nature choose a day when I’m working? I really wanted to enjoy my day off, not worry about getting rained on when I go run my errands.

Oh well…soon it will be summer and hot and I’ll be begging for rain. I shouldn’t complain.

April 29, 2006

One Lonely Bloom

My son and I went for a walk in the woods yesterday and I risked my life in the mucky, muddy banks of the Little Plover River to snap this shot of this yellow water lily. I’m not even sure if it is a water lily, but it’s still very pretty.

Realizations

Ten Things I’ve Realized Now that I’m 27

#1 Just because I’m in my ” late twenties” doesn’t mean people will automatically take me seriously. I’m told this doesn’t happen until I turn 3-0. People will always look at me as a “young girl” regardless of the fact that I’ve been married nearly five years and I have a soon-to-be two year old son. I will always be judged first by my age then by my abilities until I’m 4-0. (I have this thing with age, the older I get, the less I want to admit to being “older”.)

#2 Because my husband is 10 years older than me, I’ll always be assumed to be age 37 when with him. We went to a local tavern for a drink recently and I was expecting to be carded for my “Mike’s Cranberry Lemonade”. I got my driver’s license out and the bartender said, “Hon, I don’t need to card you. You’re with Doug and we all know how old he is.” Now I know I can’t be sure she was insulting me, but she must have (MUST HAVE) known I was NOT 37. I can’t believe she aged me 10 years…

#3 Motherhood does NOT get easier as you get older. Who the hell told me that? As I get older, my child gets older and a lot more demanding. Soon he’ll be able to talk back! Then what will I do?

#4 My parents are getting older and wiser, even though I don’t like to admit it. I have no explanation as to why this is, but my parents seem to have the answers for everything, now that they are in their 50’s. Investments, 401(k) and stocks are all the talk when we visit. I don’t like to admit they are right, but I figure their experience is worth a lot.

#5 I’m turning into my mother; it’s inevitable. I love my mom very much, but growing up she’d nag me to death and I swore I’d never parent the same way she did. But I catch myself saying things she says and doing things she does, and then one day I woke up and saw her face in the mirror! I suppose there are worse things in the world than being as wonderful as my mom.

#6 My job is important, but it should not consume my life. I love my job and I take it very seriously. I’ve come a long way in the three years I’ve worked for Travel Guard. Often I’d bring my work home with me. I’ve decided this should not be allowed. I’m not going to die if I don’t research the Descriptions of Coverages for every single product we sell. We work to live, not live to work.

#7 Those stretch marks on my tummy are not going to go away, so deal with it. I hate looking in the mirror and seeing those horrible things…but it’s proof that a person lived there once…and I do want more children so I guess I’m stuck with the things. If I accept this, perhaps I’ll have a better self-image.

#8 I can’t control what other people think of me. Life is too short to worry about this. I only have worry about what I think of me.

#9 My husband is never going to understand motherhood. Nor will I understand fatherhood. So we’ll just have to compromise and raise our son the best we can. My way or the highway is not the answer no matter how irritated I become when I’m not in control.

#10 Blogging is the best stress reliever. Need I say more?

April 28, 2006

Cleaning Chaos

Cleaning a house with children present is like rebuilding a house during a tornado.

I have just spent 6 hours cleaning only to go back and redo certain tasks because my son decided to dump all his Mega Blocks on the living room floor.

I think the neighbors heard me yelling, “No! No!Darn it! Pick those up, Doodlebug!” I have to remember not to say naughty words around him, and I felt guilty saying “darn”.

Needless to say, I eventually laid the Bug down for a nap and finished the rest of my chores. Even my husband helped. He mopped the kitchen and dining room floors for me and I am very thankful.

I’m tired and sore now, I think I’m going to take a nap myself.