(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m a planning/organizing geek. Or maybe freak is a better fit.

Either way, when I realized just how short of a time-frame I would be packing up our household (mostly solo), I grabbed a pen and paper and Made A LIST! Then, I drew out a master schedule, day-by-day and assigned tasks accordingly. Visit from Sister and Brother-In-Law, no problem! I left those days blank. Birthday Party? Check! I got it covered. Until a couple of days ago, I was not only on target, but possibly a little ahead of schedule.

Then, Mr Crabby Pants took a little tumble, and landed just so as to end up needing a staple in his head.

Ok, I got it. We’re moving along. Of course for some reason that song “Kryptonite” keeps  popping up in my head: If I go crazy, then will you still call me Superman? I attribute this partly to the Superman bandages I bought to prevent him from DIY staple removal.

What I did NOT plan on, was being rear-ended on my way home from church yesterday. It’s T-minus 3 weeks to till we are rolling out-of-town here and CAR REPAIRS were not on my master list! Thankfully we’re all ok. But, seriously, I need to be able to access my trunk.

I’m waiting for a claim rep to get in contact with me, “Sometime before 5″, according to the Customer Service Rep I talked with yesterday.

Can you hear my fingers drumming? Can you???

We learn from watching others.

Simple as that, from the beginning of time.

These days I’m equal parts amazed, astounded and appalled by what Mr Crabby Pants can get up to just by watching me.  For example, I found it amazing when he decided he wants to start using the toilet (going through the motions) at less than 18 mos old. I was appalled when he removed the “childproof” cap from a bottle of children’s ibuprofen I had on my dresser. You see?

He’s not the only one who watches and learns, though. I do too. I have been watching and learning from other moms for years before I became a mom myself. In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing some of the Top Tips that I’ve learned:

1: Never sit down to breastfeed a baby without a large glass of water within arms reach.

2. Sleep when your baby sleeps. Hard to do, I know, but essential for survival when said baby is pulling all-nighters.

3. Read to your baby. Even if it’s boring grown-up stuff, they will grow into readers by your example.

4. It’s ok to not feel comfortable breastfeeding in front of your father-in-law.

5. It’s ok to feel comfortable breastfeeding whenever and wherever that screaming baby demands it.

6. A full body hug from Mom can sooth any owwie.

7. Finishing what your child doesn’t eat is natural.

8. Singing with your kids is fun.

9.It’s ok not to use the phrase “Use Your Words”, because you don’t know what that means.

10. Sometimes, Mommy needs a time out too.

5 minutes all to myself……….. I’ll take it!

If only in my dreams.

Happy Mother’s Day!

For days now, I’ve had a  Jimmy Buffett song in my head. Here’s a small taste:

Life is much too short for some folks
For other folks it just drags on
Some folks like the taste of smokey whiskey
Others figure tea is too strong

I’m the type of guy who likes it right down the middle
I don’t like all this bouncing back and forth
Me, I want to live with my feet in Dixie
And my head in the cool blue North

In a small suburban garden
Not a single neighbor knows our name
I know the woman wishes we would move somewhere
Where the houses aren’t all the same

Jimmy, I wish you would take me
Where the grass is greener
I really couldn’t say where it may be
Somewhere up high on a mountain top
Or down by the deep blue sea

And there we’ll do just as we please
It ain’t nothing but a breeze

What does this mean???? It mean’s we’re moving. We’re leaving Texas and heading up to the Midwest. Not my hometown, but closer. My husband has been presented with a Golden Opportunity and he’s taking it with both hands and a huge smile on his face.

As I explain all of this and the implications to Miss Sassy Pants, I try to keep my thoughts together. I’m excited and anxious and a whole host of things. I hope we like it there, I hope her school is every bit as fabulous as ours is here. I hope she and I can make friends. On and on. My sweet and sassy girl looked at me at this point and said. “We will, it’s what we do. It’s my talent.” So it is, and I’m so proud of her. I could burst.

I’ve always been one to jump into a new opportunity with a full and hopeful heart. My husband is thankfully like-minded and I’m happy to say our darling girl is following suit.

So keep us in your prayers for a smooth transition, because it’s happening and it’s happening FAST!

In honor of all you other less-than-perfect-parent out there,  I will confess my top 5 “sins”.

1. I celebrate, support, and even champion The 5 Second Rule. I refuse to throw away perfectly good food due to the wild whims of a toddler.
2. I have been a complete failure at getting either of my children to sleep in a crib. Like, ever.
3. I laugh at my kids. There are days when you either laugh or you cry, and I chose to laugh. Even at inappropriate moments.
4. I wear my “postpartum uniform” of yoga pants, a nursing tank and a t-shirt on days when I just don’t feel like getting dressed; often accessorized with snot stains, sweat stains and other stains I don’t care to examine too closely.
5. I yell and growl when frustrated, and more than I realized. I figured this out when the baby started to growl back. OOPS!

Parenthood is tough stuff no matter how you slice it. None of us are perfect. Have a wonderfully, imperfect day and hug those kids!

Foreshadowing? Maybe.

At the ripe old age of fifteen months, my sweet baby boy has managed the new skill of climbing unassisted out of his play pen. It seems that the aluminum frame and mesh side panels that I painstakingly picked out and purchased a year ago is just no match for my little monkey. He’s not too tall, he’s actually on the lower end of the growth chart… He’s just strong and fearless and determined.

All I wanted was a safe place to put him when his sister was feeling a little less than sisterly, or if I wanted to vacuum, or run out the car for a load of groceries… you get the gist.

I packed it up today. After taking multiple pictures of it from different angles so I can list it on Craigslist!