I'm going to miss my bed

I'll go for weeks without an issue sleeping.

Crash early. Wake late.

That is, if I'm at home.

I went to visit my mom this weekend, so that broke my solid sleep pattern.  It's not that I don't feel safe or warm or anything. It's just not my bed.

That and I was afraid to roll over on the air mattress for fear that I catapult Babygirl into the next apartment Looney Tunes style.

The main source of sleep bliss is that I haven't had to travel for work since early December.  In March, it starts back up.

Angsty prep for meetings with too many people. The dreaded mingling. Packing, unpacking. Planes, cabs. Ack!

Yes, I get a king size bed all to myself for some starfish action. No man, no baby, and no fur kids to lay claim on my bed.

That is exciting.

But, alas, I am a homebody at heart. I like the sounds and smells of home.


*sigh*

Driving Miss Baby

This weekend we went to stay with my mom.  She lives about two hours away - one hour highway, one hour interstate.

Two hours of driving is a good distance for me. I'm comfortable with interstate driving. I've got a newer safer car. The only variable (other than other drivers) is Babygirl.

I used to be able to time my long distance drives to avoid heavy traffic, sun in the eyes, optimal arrival times...now I drive when I think she'll sleep the soundest.  Sometimes, it just doesn't work out that way.

Friday afternoon, I picked her up from daycare a smidge early and hit the pavement. She'd had an afternoon nap, but not a great one.  Maybe - just maybe - she'll sleep.

Nope.

Leave me breathless

I am. THE most. Miserable. Person to share a bed with. (like real sleep)

Not that the person sharing the bed with me is miserable -- no, I am.

See, I'm a cuddler. I love to be close and snuggly. During waking hours.

When it's time to hit the hay, I need my space for slumber.  I don't mind contact while I sleep - I just can't stand being breathed on.

WHAT??

Revenge of the tiny bathroom

We have two bathrooms in our house. One in the hallway that is the kids/guest bathroom, and one accessible only via the master bedroom.


The hall/guest bath has a shower/tub. It's small. It's functional.

The master bath has a huge garden tub plus shower stall. It's huge, and we love it!

The guest bathroom has an inferiority complex, and it lashes out at our guests.

New addition to our family - without the swollen ankles

 We have a new member of our family...

A 2009 Jeep Compass!

(Yes, that is my glove in the pic - I wasn't about to go back out in the cold to re-take when I noticed it)

She's comfy and cozy (with heated seats!) - most importantly she's got 4 wheel drive! 

MSM is One Year Old!

(That's like 400 years old in internet years!)

For this post, I wanted to do a retrospective of what the last year has taught me...

• Being a mom makes me gush and gush and gush, but has pushed me to the brink of crazy to certified nut-so and into a therapist's chair - and that's ok.
• A struggle with my weight and self-image can be thwarted by  facing the challenge head on to see incredible results.
• Sometimes life just throws you curveballs, for example:

• Our house has no exception to the law of gravity...
• Stomach bugs don't always hit when you're at home...
• Telemarketers have bad days too...

It has been a crazy year - I wouldn't ask for a refund for any moment. 176 posts later, I'm still here writing - and by some twist of fate - you're still here reading.

And I thank you!

Ushering in a new YOU

New year's resolutions are funny.

In November and December, they sit comfortably in the future. Something to do on January 1st.  After the stuffing and mashed 'taters, gingerbread men, and champagne are all gone.  Then the new year comes.

Oh no. Now, you have to stick with it.  You've told one too many people.

You buy the gym membership or sets of dvds.  You get the gym shoes and matching workout clothes.  Matching sports bra, too.  No sense in working out if you don't feel good about yourself.

You. are. dedicated.  You do the workouts religiously.  You're sore, but it's good.  You're doing it!

Second week, you missed a couple workouts because your legs were crampy...your cute outfit didn't make it into the wash last night...you're busy.  Next week for reals.

Third week...um, I think the dvd is still in the player. No, wait, the kids wanted to watch their movie. Nevermind.

And it's gone.  Poof.

Clutter

I am surrounded by piles of nothing.

My office, my place of mental function and bread winning, is trashed.

Of course, instead of taking 20 minutes to find a home for our camping gear and purge piles of mail...I blog.

Yep. I know.

It doesn't help that the last communal (non-bedroom) closet in the house was just emptied last weekend to install our brand new (old, but refurbished) water softener.  No more sludgy, stainy water!!  It is crystal clear!!

But alas, the goods all spilled into my office, and I'm surrounded by the stuff we've moved 8 times from apartment to house to house to apartment... and never dealt with.  This "stuff" pile has gotten smaller over the years as we lost the massive storage space to convert that room into a nursery.

Selfishness in a crisis

The natural reaction to a looming threat is to take care of yourself and your family.

I get that.

You don't go and donate to Goodwill and do a Locks-of-Love ponytail when a huge ice storm threatens.  That's understandable.

When a weather system is on it's way throngs of people go to Walmart to make sure they've got diapers, salt, canned foods, and other essentials (read: alcohol and sweets) to make it through a potential stranding.