Things, they are a'changin'

I have actually been avoiding the blogs lately - the food blog because I haven't cooked anything new and when I visit it, I am reminded of that fact and this blog because I am not sure if I want to document what is going on in my head right now. You see, changes are afoot and part of me doesn't want to think about it at all and another part of me isn't sure if I am ready to.

I am going to start working at an office job again and I am thrilled with the opportunity. I have also worked out the kids' care and am excited about that too. I don't know when I am going to start so I am just going through the days now being thankful for not having to commute today. We read more together, I rock Rhys more, and we generally try to spend more time away from the house - at the gym, the park, etc. The beauty of being a SAHM is that I don't have a job that I have to leave home to do; it doesn't mean that I have to stay at home. The real beauty is the freedom of going to story time or play dates without the restrictions of a work schedule.

This new "part-timer's" attitude I have about leaving the home has had an impact on the cleanliness of the house so I spent a lot of time cleaning last week in anticipation of my Mom's visit. We had a lovely time going out for lunch, walking around parks, picnicing with Cole's class, watching Cole play tee-ball, and attending a night parade.

This is pretty much how the days are rolling these days. We are doing lots of fun things, trying not to spend too much money, but making the most of the time we have before I head back to the world of the working.

I will add more musings about this in the coming months, I am sure. But for now, just know that we are still here, enjoying life, exercising, eating good food, and enjoying each other. Basically, we are counting our blessings and that is keeping us very busy.

Bink Be Gone!

We were gearing up for a visit from the Bink Fairy on Friday Night all last week. When it came time for Rhys to put his binks in the bag to be hung in the tree, he was reluctant to do it to the point of down-right refusal. Eventually, I took it from him and placed it in the bag. He cried until I let him pull the cord for his ceiling fan...about 30 seconds later. While he does ask for it occassionally, he quickly remembers that Mr. Potato Head and the new Dump Truck replaced his two last binks and they are forever gone. He struggled to settle for nap on Saturday but seems to be back on track now. Good for him! Good for us! Now, to start psyching myself up for potty training.

Tee Ball!

Cole had is first practice. Sadly, he showed his terrible lack of experience in playing or even holding the bat and glove. At one point, he was sweeping dirt into his glove with his other hand. He will get the hang of it really quickly, though because he is really enthusiastic about it. I am very proud.

I ate all the pies...

Recently, I have found that I can eat just about anything and not gain weight. This is a new phenomenon since I have struggled with the scales all of my life. I have been skipping the gym too and still no weight gain! Finally, I pushed it to the limits and ate pizza for lunch, seafood buffet for dinner - including the dessert buffet, drank empty calories in beer, made birthday breakfast sandwiches for Chris, and ate my share of a dark chocolate cherry brownie recipe that I made to celebrate Chris' big day. I have gained 2 pounds.

Yesterday, I ate a fried chicken sandwich combo from Wendy's and then finished off Rhys' hamburger - he had maybe 1 bite...eek. Still, I have gained 2 pounds - TOTAL! I feel terrible, though...sluggish and vulnerable to illness. Funny how I can realize this feeling. I am terribly dehydrated and bloated from the sodium. I am not sleeping well and do feel flabby from the lack of toneing exercises that I was doing all last year.

Bathing suit season is in front of me and I need to work on better, healthier eating habits for the summer season of chasing my boys around a tee ball pitch and countless parks. Not to mention the fact that we are going to the beach at the end of May and I don't know if I can face a public showing of my bathing suit body.

My plan is to get back into the gym routine once we get the other car back. Incidentally, I do feel like I am getting a head cold so once I am back in fighting shape, I will be hitting the gym hard. I may even look decent by Memorial Day!

End of an era?

My very first act of independence and adultness was leasing to buy a brand spanking new car in 1998. It was a 1999 Saturn SL. It had to be ordered from the factory because they didn't stock a car with the limited extras that I required. My budget was strapped. In fact, I had to go to my boss, the president of the company, and ask for permission to get a second job to swing the payment - incidentally, my boss just ended up giving me a raise because he couldn't imagine making me get a second job just to make a car payment...after all, I was single and living in a one bedroom apartment, clearly, he wasn't paying me enough.

I had been married right out of college and moved to Northern Virginia from SC when the marriage dissolved. During the marriage, we bought a truck. He had it and didn't continue with the payments so I helped the bank reposess it knowing that it would ruin my credit...roll with the punches. The sales manager at the Saturn dealership worked very hard to find a bank willing to take my loan and recommended a bubble lease. I prayed and paced and watched the phone for a day before I heard back.

I was so excited to have this car. It was mine, all mine. Chris' car died and it became our only car when we lived downtown. When we moved to the suburbs, we got a VUE to be the second car and when I started dealing with carseats, I got the VUE and Chris drove the SL. It is well on its way to 140,000 miles and it is starting to show the wear. It "died" on Friday as Chris drove it into the driveway. We watched it being towed to the shop on Saturday and I got a tear in my eye. Is it the end of an era?

It very well could be fixed and last another year or so and that is probably what we will try to do but if the shop calls and it is expensive, we will probably donate it and get a new one.

I am proud of what that car meant to me and the symbol it became of my independence. Life goes on and I am feeling old now knowing that I have had this car for so very long and yet I remember the first time I sat in it with a mere 3 miles registered on the odometer.

Easter

The Easter Bunny came to our house this morning and then we went to church - which was so much fun for everyone. After church, we came home and I fixed dinner. We had a lovely day.

Happy Birthday Rhys!

Rhys celebrated his second birthday today. He actually celebrated it at lunch on Saturday, at Build-a-bear on Sunday, this morning by waking up with a room full of balloons, opening presents with his daddy, this morning by playing in his new sand box with friends, having a picnic, and eating cake with friends. Tonight, he celebrated with spaghetti dinner, more cake with Daddy and opening his gifts. WHAT A DAY!