She Likes Purple tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1272312 2010-02-10T00:37:22-05:00 TypePad Not always easy tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c77ee53ef01287786236a970c 2010-02-10T00:37:22-05:00 2010-02-10T00:37:22-05:00 Mike and I have been bickering more than usual lately. I could come up with a dozen reasons why -- work, commuting, the effing winter that will not end, money, Kyle's birthday, yada yada -- but do you really care... Jennie

Mike and I have been bickering more than usual lately. I could come up with a dozen reasons why -- work, commuting, the effing winter that will not end, money, Kyle's birthday, yada yada -- but do you really care about why? I mean, we care, obviously, but do you? Probably not. It's just been one of those slumps, you may have them too?, but I hate them. We've been through them countless times before and it never seems to get any easier. The slammed cabinet doors and the overuses of "you always!" and "you never!" and then watching American Idol cross-armed because it's what we DO together but we can't actually LAUGH or ENJOY IT since we're FIGHTING and STOMP, GRR, RAGE.

I want to be a calm, rational, not-easily-riled wife. I want to be the voice of reason, the fixed point, the anchor for this family because that's what moms do, didn't you know? Let's rip this band-aid right off, though, especially if you're set to meet me at some point this year: I am not that mother. I'm emotional, overly-sensitive and kind of insane. I lose my temper, freak out and say things I don't mean. I fight like a four-year-old. I stew. I pout. I snap. I mumble under my breath, which has always pushed my mother to the brink.

Most of the time I go back and forth between thinking I am the best wife ever ("He is LUCKY to have me. He's never folded a single load of laundry in six years, why doesn't he give me flowers EVERY DAMN DAY MY GOD.") and someone who does not deserve him on my best day ("He's so together and relaxed and I'm a basket-case and WHAT WAS HE THINKING?"). I'm not easy to live with, love, know. I know I don't make it easy on him although, sure, he's been known to make a few people pull their hair out a time or two.

I've seen Mike cry four times in six years. Once, our wedding. Also, Kyle's birth. The other two times, insanely personal. In six years I've cried.....(calculating, calculating).....nine MILLION times. I'm like Jake the Bachelor and I'm not even watching this season. I'm just reading Miss Banshee's funny-as-hell recaps. Hell, I cried just fifteen minutes ago watching "The Biggest Loser." We're different. We're opposites. Sometimes we attract, sometimes we, you know, MAKE THINGS EXPLODE. LIKE EACH OTHER'S HEADS.

Usually, blog posts like this wrap up with nice, shiny bows about how I LOVE HIM SO and WE'RE SOUL MATES SO ROUGH PATCHES CAN SUCK IT and other blather I just can't do. Marriage is hard, and if it's not hard for you, you are either lying or a lucky sonuvabitch who I'm not convinced is sober.

I will say that I don't worry too much about writing things like this. Honestly, I think I'll really start worrying when I don't care enough about my marriage to write things like this.

Define handmade tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c77ee53ef0120a87e4191970b 2010-02-09T14:31:45-05:00 2010-02-09T15:43:28-05:00 On my Things to Do in 2010 list, I have "make Kyle a birthday banner by hand." So, putting this to a vote: does it count if it was indeed made by hand, just not by my hand? My best... Jennie

On my Things to Do in 2010 list, I have "make Kyle a birthday banner by hand."

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So, putting this to a vote: does it count if it was indeed made by hand, just not by my hand? My best friend Natalie (and her mom and Granny) made this for Kyle, and displaying it made me ridiculously happy and not at all stressed out, which are signs of a great craft project, don't you think?

Can I put a line through this list item or not?

Does it help that I made these cake balls all by myself, only getting assistance from my dad and husband during the tasting portion of the recipe?

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(Recipe here. Not for those concerned about their pants fitting the next day, by the way.)

Tell it to me straight. Although, I have a few cake balls left over if you tell me what I want to hear.

Smart Pop winner and offer tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c77ee53ef0128777832e4970c 2010-02-08T13:32:54-05:00 2010-02-08T13:35:33-05:00 We'll talk more about Kyle's BIG! FIRST! BIRTHDAY! later this week, after we've properly recovered from the sugar highs and screaming children and also uploaded some more photos (to start, there are a few here and here). But for today,... Jennie

We'll talk more about Kyle's BIG! FIRST! BIRTHDAY! later this week, after we've properly recovered from the sugar highs and screaming children and also uploaded some more photos (to start, there are a few here and here). But for today, a giveaway winner and a bonus prize for the rest of you!

From this post, about my day job, we have lucky #27 winning a free copy of the book of their choice.

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#27 is Jen L. (Jen, I'll email you for your pick and address!)

For everyone else, you can purchase any Smart Pop book (full list and info here) for an already discounted rate through our site (30% off the list price) but through Wednesday, you'll get an extra $2 off your total with the code SMARTPOP.

Go, shop, read, enjoy!