Mommy Doesn't Need A Reason!

This blog was inspired by one of this week's Mama Kat's Writing Prompts (www.mamakatslosinit.com): One pet peeve that shouldn't drive you crazy, but does.

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My son has a favorite new word...or question, rather:

"Why?"

I hate this question. Anytime I say anything to him or tell him to do something - "Why?"

"Tanner, it's time to clean your room."
"Why?"
"Tanner, don't run out into the street."
"Why?"
"Tanner, it's time to eat dinner."
"Why?"
"No, Tanner, I'm not going to buy you a candy/toy/something at the store today."
"WHHHHHHHYYYYYYY?!"

You get the gist.

The word "why" can just be used to run a conversation around in circles. It's almost as annoying as someone playing the copycat game. (Undoubtedly a game I'm sure he'll bring home from school sometime next year.)

Tanner is 5 and of course it's natural for him to be curious. So if he wants to know why the sky is blue or why it rains or why bad smells come out of Daddy sometimes, then by all means, I'll be glad to teach him a few things...I love that he is interested in learning. But I can't stand to be asked why every time I make a rule or tell him to do something or to stop doing something.

If you can't tell, it's been a long day full of "why".

Our latest conversation:

"Tanner, Mommy needs to run to the store for some wine."

"Why?"

My New Gym Friend

So I was working out at the gym today and I go to the area that is designated for floor work and ab exercises and there is a girl that has Downs Syndrome doing crunches. I find a space near her to start doing my ab exercises and I can feel her staring at me. Not wanting to be rude, I just keep doing my exercises and consciously make sure I don't give off the impression that it bothers me. All of a sudden, she starts talking to me. She is out of the blue upset and going on about how she had her gym bag with water in it just a second ago and that someone must have stolen it. I, knowing that no one has even come by since I sat down next to her, am slightly confused but try to help her...

Me: "Are you sure you had it here? Maybe you put it in the locker room?"

Her: "No. It was right here. Somebody took my bag. It's not their bag. Why did they take it? I have to find my bag. It's got my water in it." She goes on like this for about 5 more minutes. She walks off and then comes back - bag in hand. Apparently some woman mistakenly picked it up thinking it was her friend's bag.

So anyway, that drama is out of the way.

So then she starts what turns to be a very interesting conversation. I was quite surprised at her ability to have such a lengthy conversation with me. She is a very talkative girl, and very sweet.

She tells me that her dad drops her off in the morning and comes to get her after a few hours. She tells me how she loves to do Zumba and that she does it 2 or 3 times a week. Here are some especially funny little tidbits from our conversation:

(As she's rolling around on the stability ball): "I'm not even sweating. I cross train. I do swimming tomorrow."

Me: "That's great that you do that. It sounds like fun."

Her: "I need a personal trainer. But I don't have enough money. I need to lose 3 lbs."

Me: "Well I'm sure you could lose 3 lbs on your own. You wouldn't need to hire a trainer. I know how you feel, I had my 2nd baby and I've still got a few pounds to lose too."

Her: No offense but THIS (grabs her stomach) is from chocolate."

Then she asked if I would be her personal trainer for $1.00.

So anyway, we chit-chat for about ten more minutes as I'm doing some leg exercises and she continues to roll around on her stability ball. She has an air about her that is so child-like and innocent. When I told her I had to go downstairs to finish my workout, she seemed sad and said that she just wanted someone to talk to. I told her that if she wanted, she could come downstairs with me and she said, "OK in a little bit." I said good-bye and went off to finish my workout. While I did, I was thinking how great it was that she came to the gym every day even though she didn't really do a lot while there. In a place like a gym, most people are trying to make the most of their bodies and do the best with what they were given. And that is exactly what she (I will keep her nameless) is trying to do - do the best with what she was given...in so many ways.

I do hope to run into her again at the gym and that she isn't shy to talk to me. Though I have a feeling she wouldn't be!

Our 1st Beach Outing This Year...

Sunshine?

Check!

Clear skies?

Check!

Towel, snacks, sand toys, baby bag?

Check!

30mph winds?

Check...

Yep, that's right. What I thought was going to be the first nice beach day of the year turned out to be a stressful and crazy few hours with my boys.

I went with my good friend Allison and we had planned on being able to chit-chat while Tanner played in the sand and Breckin either slept or hung out with us. We had no such luck. Tanner was loud and crazy - you would think I feed that kid spoonfuls of pure sugar for breakfast. Breckin was cranky because the wind was bothering him (understandable). Altogether it was not a great experience. I have to give much credit to Allison for putting up with my circus.

We gave it about 30-45 min before we finally decided to pack it up and move up the beach access path to the play park where it was much less windy. We set out the beach blanket and played with Breckin while Tanner played on the toys, which was a little more relaxing - except for Tanner coming up every 5 minutes to ask for a snack. This kid is obsessed with food. Other than that, he would be screaming and hanging all over Allison. (She's really such a good sport, and a good friend.)

Once Breckin had pretty much had enough of this beach outing, we packed up and headed to Los Arcos for a margarita (we were quite desperate at this point!). Breckin was so much happier to be inside and out of the wind and for the most part was happy. Tanner, however, was off-the-walls hyper. I don't know what it is with this kid! Thankfully it wasn't busy in the restaurant and the majority of tables around us were empty.

I'm pretty sure I successfully made Allison realize she truly never wants children. I can't say I blame her. (Although I do love them.)

We've decided the next time we hang out, we'll make sure Jake can watch the kids.

My Husband, The Romantic. (Mama Kat's Writing Prompts)

This Week's Writing Prompt:
Husbands. A Post That Hopefully Will Not Get You In Trouble.

What can I possibly write about my husband that won't get me into trouble? My husband hates attention. He is much more private than I am. I guess lucky for me, he doesn't keep up with my blog, so he may never find out what I am about to tell you about him.

Jake is a romantic. There, I said it. He would kill me if I told you because he tries so hard to come off as the tough guy...the sports nut...the manly man. While he is all of those things in his own rite, he is still definitely one thing: romantic.

Jake loves to hug and kiss...and cuddle. More so than myself! I often tell him that it seems the roles have been reversed - he's the one who loves to show affection - I tend to have more of the "guy mentality" when it comes to that stuff. Not that I don't like any of it, I just don't always feel the need to express my loving feelings and emotions (something I'm working on). I just don't have that in my background so much. Jake, in my opinion, has an abundance of it.

It's nice to have a man that is so open with his feelings. I can't remember a day where he didn't tell me he loves me. He says it all the time. I can't remember a day where he didn't tell me how beautiful/gorgeous/sexy he finds me. He tells me that all the time too. In a world where chivalry has for the most part gone out the window, it's nice to have found a guy that still wants to make me feel loved and beautiful. And he loves to open doors for me (if I don't get to them first - again, it must be the guy mentality in me).

In the morning before he leaves for work, he showers me with kisses (even though it wakes me up). When he comes home at night, he always makes sure to get a hug and kiss "hello". I love that he's not emotionally closed off...because when the rare moment happens that I decide to be romantic, he's always so happy and responds to it.

As for me, I'm trying to make those "rare" moments happen a bit more often. I want Jake to know that I return his love for me even though I don't show it all the time. I guess I need a romantic guy like Jake...to teach me how to be a girl and accept love and affection and know that I deserve it...rather than being such a "guy" about it all the time.

Valentine's Day - What's the Big Deal?

I do not care for (read: hate) Valentine's Day.

It used to be that when I would say this, my friends would think that it was only if I happened to be single when the day came around. But I'll tell you, this will be my 7th Valentine's Day with my husband and I still feel the same way about the holiday.

Don't get me wrong, I love flowers, thoughtful gifts and being "wined and dined". But I like these things more when I get them on a random Tuesday (or Wednesday, Thursday, etc.) To be taken aback with total surprise. I don't want my husband to shower me with love and affection because he feels obligated to since every other coupled-up man is doing it for his woman. It just means a lot more when he does it because he gave himself the idea to do so - because for some reason, he was just eager to let me know how much I mean to him.

Now as a mother, I have even more reason to dislike the holiday. Just as we're getting over the hoopla of the Christmas season and every last bit of holiday candy/food is out of the house, Tanner gets a whole new load of chocolates and sweets. (Not to mention, just before that, we had finally gotten through all of the Halloween candy.) And I'm sure these "Valentines" will last until Easter. And then begins another cycle. And I'll let you in on a little secret - though I am obsessed with being healthy and fit, my weakness is sweets and I have to keep them out of reach or it gets completely out of hand! This is the last thing I need at 6 months postpartum with beach season right around the corner.

Another thing I have to deal with is that I too now feel obligated to get something sweet and meaningful for my husband to in return show him how much I love him. But we just got over Christmas, then a month later was his birthday...let's face it, by Valentine's Day, I'm plum out of ideas for things to get him. He is the hardest person to shop for as it is and within a 6-week span, I have 3 big occasions to get him gifts for. EVERY year. For the rest of our lives. And he doesn't make it easy on me or anything. No hint-dropping...or even any answer when I flat out ask him what he would like!

I'm pretty much screwed because as usual, I tell him not to go overboard or really do much at all (there are so many more things we could better use our money for), but he insists he can't do that. I guess I should just revel in the fact that I have a wonderful husband who loves me. If only he would realize that's enough for me.

Oh yeah, it's Valentine's Eve and I am still without a gift (or so much as a clue) for him. Damnit.

Happy Valentine's Day!

UPDATE: Life hasn't been Mommalicious Lately!

It's been a couple weeks since my last post! I know you must have been just hanging on the edge of your seat awaiting the moment I would stop by and dish out the exhilerating details of my Mommalicious life! Or not - whatever.

Anyway the last couple weeks have been a little crazy and I have been busy adjusting to the changes and trying to keep my and my family's lives in balance. So that is the reason for the absence. I started a new job. I had been looking for a part-time gig for nights and weekends just to have some steady cashflow while I build my cleaning business and help hubby out a little bit with the bills (the bane of our existence!) After weeks of searching for said job, I received a call from my former supervisor from the position I held prior to having Breckin. She had just started working for a new company and was looking for front desk people. However, the job required 13-14 hr days at least 3 times a week. So really, it was a full-time position. I pretty much got hired without a real interview (considering she had already interviewed me for the last position she supervised me in!) The hours are long, but since it's only 3 days a week, it still feels a bit part-time and leaves me 4 full days to spend with my boys each week (and take on cleaning jobs as I get them), while still taking home a full-time paycheck. So financially, it's even better that what I had been looking for. It's been a bit of an adjustment though...because on the days I work, I only get to see my boys in the wee hours of the morning while rushing to get them ready for daycare and then I get home at 10pm when they are already in bed. It especially sucks when I have to work 2 days in a row. But all in all, I feel blessed to have the position. It's also in the medical field, which I had no prior experience in, and I know it can be difficult to get into this field without prior schooling for or experience with it, so it may create many opportunities for me in the future.

In other news, Breckin has gotten his first cold. One of the benefits of my new job at the urgent care center is that they will see my family for free, so I took him in to test him for strep, flu and RSV - all of which are running rampant around town right now. I feel bad because I'm sure I probably brought home the sickness with me since I'm around sick people all day, even though I'm religiously applying hand sanitizer and Lysol-ing my work area throughout my shifts. Luckily it turned out to be just a chest cold. However, I just took him to his pediatrician for his 6-month well visit today and turns out he now has an ear infection. Poor little guy. So now he's got some antibiotics - hopefully we'll be rid of this soon! He's still being his happy little playful self though. I love that it's not getting him down.

Some other great news is that thanks to this new job - I have a gym membership again! HALLELUJAH! This ends my 8-month gym hiatus! One of the job's benefits is a discounted gym membership at East Shore Athletic Club (the gym I used to go to!), so I can finally truly get back into the swing of things with my workout regimen. I've been loving Insanity and the results I've gotten, but I am so ready to hit the weight room again - and the elliptical! Summer is near and my beach boys and I are going to be out there looking good! (They look good with little to no effort. Me - not so much.)

Oh, and some major news from the last couple weeks - THE PACKERS ARE THE SUPERBOWL XLV CHAMPIONS! Jake had been waiting for the day for a long time. GO PACK!

Well, that's the last couple of weeks in a nutshell. Hopefully it won't be that long between posts again! But until my next post, I'll leave you with these adorable pics: