Step Inside My Head
1. This week is a three-day work week for me. We had today off for MLK and Friday is a teacher planning day. Tuesday through Thursday are semester exams at my school, so I’ll have a pretty light work week even when I am working because my students will be taking exams all week. I’m mean and am giving them a two part exam. I have heard much complaining. Much.
2. Chris is at work until late and Gracie went to bed early tonight, so I let Bean Man stay up with me until way past his bedtime. We played with blocks and his train set for a long time. While we were playing, I had him help me organize all his toys. I found some plastic bins with lids and we made one bin for trains, one for blocks, one for cars, one for flashcards and puzzles, and one for figurines (Bean calls them his “guys”). He loves to sort, so he had a really good time putting everything into the right bins. I had been planning to go through his room and do this when he was gone one day because I figured it would be a real battle, but he really liked our cleaning “game.” I hope that helps him keep his room a little cleaner, but that’s probably real wishful thinking…
3. Today I took the kids to daycare even though I had the day off. I know. I felt like a jerk. But I needed to work on a writing thing (full confession: I’m working with my agent on my book again and it feels really good to be back at it…), so I took the kids to daycare to give me some quiet time. Later in the day, I met my friend Sarah for lunch and then a long, leisurely trip to Ikea for, basically, nothing. We came back to her house and sat on the couch and just talked for another hour and a half. I can’t remember the last time I had an afternoon with a girlfriend like that. No husbands, no kids, no plans. It was really great and it made me miss my friendships before I had kids.
(Is it wrong to say that out loud?)
4. My hair is longer than it has ever been and I am dying to straighten it to see how long it REALLY is. But it takes a long time to straighten my hair. It’s a whole process. First, I have to wash it and then dry it, which takes about half an hour. Then I have to talk nice to it while I load it down with product, before I finally start straightening. And the straightening takes half an hour to 45 minutes itself. I either have to have something really important to go to where I want to look like an adult and not like one of my students or I have to have a lot of time on my hands before I straighten my hair. Unfortunately, I have neither of those things right now and so my hair remains curly and feather-like.
5. I just found Glee on Netflicks and I am addicted. But it’s the same addiction I had when I read Twilight. I don’t think I even really like it, but I can’t stop watching it! It annoys me and I think the plot is stupid and I hate spontaneous singing. And, yet, I am on Season Two already in about three days! I can’t stop! I’m annoyed with myself! I seriously think that 90% of the reason I keep watching is just to see what Emma is wearing. She has the best clothes and accessories! Those 60’s floral necklaces she wears? To die for!
6. Gracie is cutting three teeth right now and you would honestly think that she was eating her own arm off. She has learned how to screech and scream and she now randomly screams out like she’s dying. I feel really bad for her, but GOOD LORD, GRACIE! Settle down, woman! I’ve learned though from surviving Bean’s teething and now going through Gracie’s ear-piercing screams that the best soothing cure for teething babies is to get them out of the house. So, this afternoon after I got the kids home, we took a blanket out to the backyard and sat in the sunshine for a while. All that stimulation helped Gracie forget that giant teeth were bursting through her little gums. When Chris got home for an hour dinner break, he came home and played with us, too. It was a great afternoon and we were all hungry and happy by the time we came back inside.
16 Comments
Lorrie
The thoughts swirling in your head are random like mine. What cute pics of your family. It looks like you were able to enjoy a nice day outside. It’s nice to do that in winter. We sure enjoyed the nice Orlando weather over Christmas.
Jennifer@browneyedandblessed
I hear ya on the process of hair drying. Washing takes the shortest amount of time but because it’s so thick, I have to let it air dry for a good hour to two hours and then I can dry it straight. Even then it is still pretty wet when I try and comb it. Thankfully my hair straightens pretty easily with just a hair dryer. Lord help me when I have kids and I try and do this. I may just go curly.
Abby @ I Used To Have A Brain
Looking at all those great pictures, one question keeps jumping up and down begging to be asked… “You have fall leaves in Florida!?”
Allison P.
Oh, I so would have done taken my kids to daycare as well! It sounded like a wonderful day. I miss my pre-children friendships as well. Cute pics!
Tara@AMooseyMommy
Bean looks like he is growing! My hubby looked over at the pics and said he looks much bigger!
Nate's Mom @ Nate is Great
Two things: 1) Put pictures on the bins of what’s supposed to go in there. It will help Bean continue to clean. (Nate’s playroom is filled with them; he’s not allowed to move on to another activity in therapy without putting away the activity he just completed.) Two: See if there’s a lather bar in your area. They just started sprouting up around here in Conn. They just wash/dry your hair instead of having to get a cut etc. Then you can get pampered and have someone do all that work! You deserve it, mama! Can’t believe how big the kids are getting and how sweet Gracie girl continues to be. They’re both so stinkin’ cute!
Tabitha @ From Single to Married
poor Gracie! And poor you for having to listen to the teething screams. That’s never fun! Glad you have a short work week and I hope you enjoy it!
kk
man..little bean man have grown! i remember all the posts of when he first got those toys like the slide and the car..he looks so much bigger now..
Rebecca @ The Reluctant Housewife
Can you wash your hair the night before and then straighten it the next morning? My hair is a beast to straighten too, and because I literally never put any effort into it, when I did straighten it, that’s what I do. Actually, I just cut it short all the time so that I don’t have to go through that. And, I think it’s pretty normal to miss the friendships that you had before kids….
Jen @ Caved In
Dude, feel no guilt about taking your kids to daycare when you’re off. I do the same thing and just have a mental health day, which it sounds like you had as well. Distraction is key to any kid, I”m convinced. Hope she pops those suckers through soon.
Alyssa
So glad someone else uses daycare occasionally when it’s not ‘REALLY’ needed! I agree! We all need a mental health day once in awhile!
Lindsay (Young Married Mom)
So excited you’re getting back into the book groove–good for you! I’m not-so-patiently awaiting good news about this for you. And Bean is SO BIG! How fun! Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with us.
Nancy Cavillones
I hear you on the straightening front. I think it’s easier to blow your hair out with a round brush and hairdryer. Just put a little straightening cream in it. Or you could find a Dominican or Puerto Rican salon and have them blow your hair out.
Kat
I found Glee on Netflix about a month ago and then proceeded to do pretty much NOTHING but watch that in all of my free time. There isn’t a lot of it so it took a while, but that’s not such a bad thing because I got to enjoy it for a long time. As for your day off childless – JEALOUS! And no, it’s not wrong to say out loud. I agree with you. I LOOOOVE my kid but I also miss those days.
jenny-bird
My apologies for such a late response. I have two weeks of blogs to catch up on now that my holiday vacation is over. Good call on having Bean help you organize his room. Involving your kids with your day-to-day activities is a great way to show them what it’s like to be an adult. Good luck with Gracie’s teething stage. I hope she’s feeling better soon. Also, your hair looks lovely. I agree with you though; I feel like I look more professional when I straighten my hair. And lastly, it looks like ya’ll are living the good life though hectic it is hectic at times. I wish the best for you.
Holly
Omg.. your lil man, Bean, looks so old in these pics! How do they grow up so much between 2 and 3 years old?!