Buried in my own crap

The unpacking isn't going so well. I'm buried and can't dig my way out. It's making me super irritable too, I'm constantly snapping at Sam. (Like it's his fault.) Even when I get a suitcase unpacked I shipped myself a boatload of boxes so then I have those to unpack too. I can't keep up with it all. Plus? Two and a half months of mail? It's a lot. The counter is covered and I can feel Yago cringing at the thought of the kitchen counter covered in paper.

I got my hair trimmed yesterday and Petra cut the "style" out of it. Now it's just a really short bob instead of being angled. I'm disappointed but I'll let it grow a little and try again. As soon as I sat down she looked at me and said, "You lost a lot of hair, didn't you? I can see it." Um, yeah. That's great. I'm going to look like Mary the secretary. (Only Mickity knows who I'm talking about.)

Time to go dig some more. See what I can find in my mountains of crap.

Not a Love Machine

Ralphie is a toot machine. A great big smile-wearing toot machine. Watching him smile and toot makes me laugh.

I put him down for his morning nap while he was awake and he went to sleep in his bassinet. I'm so excited. I put him in the bassinet last night and he hollered for 40 minutes and then slept for 50 mins. I guess it's baby steps. At least baby steps in the right direction.

I'm really tired today and I look it. I have a zillion things to do but can't remember what they are now that I'm ready to go. I hate that. I'll run the errands I remember and then tomorrow I'll kick myself for not taking care of B and C while I was right there taking care of A. (If that makes sense.)

Compliment?

So what am I supposed to say when people comment on Ralphie's "perfectly shaped head"? I've been responding with, "Thank you." It seems weird and feels like it's dangerously close to an insult. I guess I can't complain after Yard Dart.

I'm Ba-ack!

I was just feeling all victorious that I got Ralphie to sleep in his bassinet but then the coffee pot turned itself off and now I hear him starting to fuss. Darn it. I need to win the battle of wills but I'm losing miserably. He senses my weakness.

Sooo, what a summer. What a trip back. I finally got home yesterday. I wasn't sure I'd ever get here, I was starting to think there was some vast conspiracy against my travel. The military couldn't get me home and then the commercial airlines couldn't get me home. I was getting desperate.

I have never been so happy to be in my own bed. Never. There is an indescribable pleasure derived from laying on your own mattress looking at a familiar ceiling. For the first time I stayed awake after flying home (well, pretty close) and then was able to sleep last night. Maybe the jet lag won't be bad after all. Sam went to bed last night without a problem. He woke around 2:00 am and told me he couldn't sleep. I told him to get in bed with me and he went back to sleep fine, so fine he didn't want to wake at 6:15.

I went to the bus stop this morning hoping to meet another mom but it was just me. It made me feel like I'm an overprotective loser but let's call a spade a spade.

I have to say, this could have been my best summer ever. I feel like I saw everyone I wanted to and had a good time. I visited family and friends that I haven't had a chance to visit in quite a while. I wish Yago could have been there (for parts of it) but I don't think he would have been able to hang.

Well, Ralphie's decided to not nap without his pacifier (me). I don't know how to convince him that sleeping on his own would make everyone happier. Apparently, not everyone would be happier.

My deepest gratitude to the friends I put out with very short notice, I love you guys.

Catch up

I haven't posted in a long time. I'm home visiting family and don't have a whole lot going on. The baby is getting better, not quite as cranky as usual. He's actually been good, so good it's irritating because (darn it!) I swear he was a grouchy little guy before I got here.

I've been trying to keep Sam busy but it can be challenging. He's resisting the morning routine of getting up and doing workbook pages. I'll have to beat him in to submission.

I've been trying to pump and it's not going so well. I'm disappointed on that front. I was hoping it'd be the secret to my freedom. Not really freedom, more like an occasional conjugal visit. Something to keep me going.

I'm running out of steam, mostly because I've been going to bed so late. I get up late and tired, don't get my shower early and then the next thing I know the day is almost gone.

I have taken Sam swimming and to the library. He checked out a book and then never touched it again. Grr. He wants to do things only if his cousins are too. It's funny and not a problem since we don't live here and I'm not working. I just pick them up and take them along.

That's about it for now. To Mickity: I'm reading your blog but haven't commented because I can't think of anything clever to say.

Because I think it's funny...

This is an email from Yago a while back...

So I was going to blog about this lady who wears sort of a burqa thing,but she gets around on a Segway. I googled for about an hour before Iremembered those things were called segways. But then I think my paintpicture may be a little too culturally insensitive, plus I'm not as goodwith paint as you all...

Robots

On Tuesday morning I woke Sam up for camp. (In a gentle way, not by flipping on the light...Dad.) I told him it was time to get ready for day camp. He said he was having a good dream. I asked what it was about and he said he was building a robot. He showed it to me and I was very proud of him.

Now he's on this robot kick. They made door placards yesterday at camp and his says "Warning! Do not disturb while working on robot or else!" Complete with a skull and crossbones. Last night when it was time for bed I wanted to put Ralphie down in his room thinking if Ralphie sensed a warm body to cuddle with he wouldn't wake up. (wrong) When I asked permission to enter Sam's room he said I wasn't allowed to look at the robot still under construction. I promised and was allowed entrance.

Buzz buzz buzz buzz

For those of you keeping track and writing my Mother of the Year submission, here's some more fodder:

This morning when my alarm was going off, I frantically groped Ralphie's forehead looking for the snooze button.

Raining, not pouring

They say when it rains, it pours. I think there might be a little something to that. Or maybe my car has been cursed by a garden gnome.

This morning while dropping Sam off at camp I locked my keys in the car. Brilliant. I spent a good two hours stressed trying to keep the "church mouse" quiet. I don't know how I managed to keep him quiet all that time but people kept commenting on what a happy baby he is. (I hurt myself supressing the eyeroll and biting my tongue.)

Someone finally broke in to it but now I think I'm a little bit afraid of my car...

Wearing the Pants

Dear Jacob,

When you're sitting on my lap naked while I run your bath, my pants do not become your diaper.

Love,
Mummy

Gee Mom, I wanna go home...

I checked the weather last week and it was supposed to be hot all this week. Things have changed. It's been raining. A lot. During Sam's day camp. That stinks for him, they're outside all day with no respite. It's going to be raining and in the 50's. That's not bad if you're outside for a few minutes but when you're outside the whole darn day it's freezing. I feel bad for the little buckaroo but he's not complaining so I'll keep my sympathy to myself. Lest I give a reason to complain...

If I had gonads, I'd be adjusting them right now

Because I fixed my car that died last week shortly after Yagopuchae left. I figured out that it was the battery and replaced it. (A little tidbit of information for Volvo owners out there--your battery is in the trunk next to the spare tire.)

I didn't tell Yagopuchae beforehand that I planned on changing it myself because I knew he'd fire off an email to his superintendent ordering him to look at my car. I wanted to at least give it a whirl myself. My sister told me a long time ago that she changed a battery so it gave me some confidence that maybe I could do it too.

Although Yago's car may be nicer than mine I still prefer mine. I know where everything is and how it handles. And it feels right when I sit in it. Driving someone else's car always feels funny. So yea! I got my car back!

Conversation with Sam...

Yagopuchae had his conversation with George, I offer mine with Sam.

Last week we bought a birthday gift for a kid from Sam's choir. It was a Superman toy that cost $6. A couple days ago Sam discovered his Boy Scout wallet with $8 in it.

Sam: Mom, can we play a game where you're Suze Orman and I'm calling to see if I can afford it?

Me: Okay.

Sam: But we're really playing, you can't laugh that what I want only costs $6.

Me: No way. Let's go. Okay. Sam, I have you on the line. Tell me what you want, let's see if you can afford it!

Sam: I want a Superman toy that costs $6.

Me: Let's see your stats. How much money do you make?

Sam: A dollar.

Me: How much credit card debt do you have? Do you owe anyone money?

Sam: No.

Me: How much in savings?

Sam: $355.89.

Me: How do you plan on paying for it?

Sam: Cash.

Me: Well, Sam. Since you're not using a credit card and your savings looks pretty good... You're approved! Go ahead and buy your Superman toy!

Non-believer

Yago's never going to believe this but I've swept, mopped and done laundry today. Pity he isn't here to bear witness because these things may never all be accomplished in one day again. (not by me anyway)

So the victory feels a little... well, empty. He's not here to appreciate it and Schmitty could care less.

As if on cue, Ralphie's awake and crying.

It Came Back Around

What goes around comes around...

Last year I washed a tube of Chapstick in a load of laundry containing Yago's favorite pair of pants. I ruined them and have heard about it frequently since. Every time we go somewhere and he wants to wear khakis I have to hear about how he doesn't have a pair of khakis anymore. Those were the perfect pants, they fit him just right and were comfortable.

I washed a load of laundry yesterday and Sammy had a tube of Chapstick in one of his pockets. A couple of my shirts are ruined and I couldn't bring myself to thoroughly chastise him because all I could think about were those dumb pants.

Uncalled For

I was at the pool yesterday and saw something uncalled for. Actually I saw several things uncalled for because it's Europe and men wear Speedos but that's a different story.

Anyway, a family arrived around 6:00. I noticed they were American because the kids (teenagers) were wearing wife beaters in to the pool. Europeans don't cover themselves up, they just don't care. (It doesn't matter how bad they look, they're not modest.) They get in the pool and I notice the girl, about 14 yrs old, is wearing shorts. Not even a swim suit. Her brothers finally take off their wife beaters when I realize she's just wearing a bra with a wife beater and not even a nice bra. It was a cheap, unlined bra made out of t-shirty material. Who on Earth would take their daughter to a pool without a swimsuit? I mean, stop by a store and get some cheap ol' suit. Not even a German would have sent their girl out for a wet t-shirt contest.

ANNOUNCEMENT!

I want all my readers (both of you) to immediately check out Yago's blog. He's attempting reentry into the blogging world and may need a bit of encouragement.

USAFR Punks

I'm kind of losing my mind with the Reserves. The IMA dude wasn't answering my questions via email or answering his phone so I packed up the kidlets (Dr. Laura) and went to drop in on the dude. Turns out he's on leave/tdy until 2 Jul which means he won't be in to work until after the 4th. Reading what I could find, I don't think I'll be able to get my credit towards retirement this year. Especially since I can't coordinate anything until I get back the end of Aug. Damned Reservists. They don't answer phones or return messages.

Sam had a swimming lesson today that went pretty well. Except the goal at the end of the two weeks isn't to have a swimming kid. It's to have a floating kid, they should call it floating lessons for $150. Plus? The instructor totally requires goggles. Since when are goggles necessary equipment for swimming and going underwater? Goggles were a luxury when I was growing up. I'm not sure I ever owned a pair. So people's legs are blurry, why is crisp vision so important? Especially with my kid who borders on being a pansy in a pool.

My baby was driving me a little bonkers today. He's better now, because he's sleeping.

I stopped by the gym earlier to check out the family workout area. Lame-O!! There are about 5 cardio machines crammed in to a little area without a tv or anything to look at or listen to. ...I mean besides my kids. Kids. That sounds weird, I have kids now. Hmm.

Back at the NOSC

Arghh! I swear it's like working in the NOSC again. I'm checking my email incessantly to see if I got anything new from Yagopuchae and I'm driving myself crazy. It's not that he isn't emailing me, it's just that I'm being completely compulsive about it. It was the same thing when I worked in the NOSC. I'd sit the 12 hour shift and check my email every few minutes to see if he'd sent me anything new. I think I need a schedule or something for checking email but who am I fooling? ...I'd never stick to it.

The Church Mouse

My dad calls Ralphie a church mouse, nothing could be further from the truth. I took Sam to mass today for the first time since the baby was born because they're closing down our 8:30 mass. Today was the last one and the Choir Director had some award thingies she wanted to give Sam.

Ralphie was good until the mass actually started and then he began fussing. I had to hang out in the bathroom and nurse him for about half an hour. The good part was I JUST missed the collection, a little extra money in my pocket this week... More good news? The Choir Director, most of the choir and lots of volunteers are Philipino so guess who made the brunch? That's right! A bunch of philipino ladies. We had noodles and lumpia and rice... Ralphie behaved until I was done eating and then started up again. A perfect excuse to eat and run. I guess he came in pretty handy today.