On Sunday, Lena and I had quite a busy day. As it was Palm Sunday, the church service was a little longer than usual, which wasn't a problem, except that Lena had not had a nap yet (she usually does two - one am and one pm), and she was a little like a spider monkey on crack. It is very difficult to pay attention in church when a spider monkey on crack is climbing me like I'm one of those cat-climbing feature thingys. Anyway, we came home from church, and I immediately took her upstairs to finish the nap that she had begun in the car. She slept for over an hour, at which point I had to wake her up to go to a baby shower. More about that later.
At around 3:30, Lena was again acting like a spider monkey on crack at this very upscale home where said baby shower was taking place, so we made a quick exit and I took her back home. Once again, I attempted to carefully carry her upstairs to finish her nap. Sure that she would fall back asleep shortly, I made a quick exit to go to Wal-Mart and (maybe) get a pedicure... I have not had a pedi since September, and it's getting really bad!
Alone time for me is at platinum-premium prices right now, as Justin is working 7 days a week, and has school 2 nights a week. I take her to daycare, but only if I'm working at one of the schools subbing. I cannot afford to take her if I'm not making the money to cover the cost. So I was extremely excited at the prospect of going out ALONE!
p.s. One of the daycare ladies tried to 'shame' me because I don't take her every day, so she isn't used to everyone yet... sorry, lady! I cannot afford to take her to daycare if I'm NOT WORKING! Besides that, I enjoy spending extra time with my little darling.
I was mid-aisle in Wal-Mart when my phone began its rendition of Dave Matthews' "You and Me Together..." Knowing it was Justin, I answered the phone. Immediately, I heard Lena screaming in the background and some sort of loud gibberish coming from Justin's mouth. I went into slight panic mode, thinking there must be some sort of medical emergency, and that I would have to meet them at the hospital. "What's wrong?" I asked, all sorts of crazy emergency-type situations running through my brain. (She fell off the changing table, and blood is coming out of her ear; She ate something very questionable off the floor, and I think part of it is stuck in her throat; She almost drowned in the bathtub...) "She won't stop crying!" he screamed into the phone... "She didn't go back to sleep at all, and she has been screaming since you left! She just shit her pants, and while I was cleaning that up, one of the dogs shit on the floor in the living room!" All this came out as one screamed sentence. I very calmly said "Oh, well, I'm sorry honey. What do you want me to do?" "COME HOME NOW!" Well, since I was at least 1/2 hour from the house, I said that I would do my best to be home soon. I went through my list of what might be wrong, giving suggestions for what might make her happy for a few minutes. Number one being 'have you fed her yet?' 'No, I was just getting ready to.' Ok, that's probably the problem, since it's now 5pm and that's when she usually eats. I'll be home as soon as I can. And we hang up.
Ten minutes later, after I have frantically run all over Wal-Mart trying to find the two things that I went there for (and precariously balancing the ten items that I did NOT go there for), Dave Matthews starts singing again. I answer the phone, thinking that there must be some new calamity. "I'm sorry for yelling at you" wow... wasn't expecting that "I was just overwhelmed. I fed her some crackers and she stopped crying." I was thinking (but not saying) well, duh, feed her! That's usually part of the problem. Not that I'm a baby whisperer. I said "Ok, honey, I'm working on coming home and I'll be there soon. Try to give her some Tylenol, as I'm sure her teeth are hurting her again, and that's part of the problem." And we hang up.
Ten minutes later, as I was trying to unlock the car and get in, Dave started singing, so I answered the phone again, a little exasperated. "What are we doing for dinner? Can you go to Taco Bell?" ummm... sure. I was going to go get a pedicure... do I have time for that? "NO! I need you to come home before then, but get Taco Bell first." Ok, fine... I went to Taco Bell, and my toes are still woefully bare.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Ways Lena has changed my life...
So, I was thinking tonight about how many ways that Lena has changed my life, and I thought I'd just go ahead and write about it. I know that most of what I have to say will come across as "duh" moments to you other mommies out there, but some of this stuff you just don't think about till you have a kid.
1. I realized last night that I still love thunderstorms, but they stress me out in an all new way: listening for the tornado siren and wanting to get up and go turn on the TV to watch the radar. I did not actually get up and go watch the radar, mostly because it was about 2am, but I did lay awake listening to the storm, and praying there wasn't a tornado. The whole time I was planning how we would get down to the basement, and what I would try to grab on the way (besides Lena): cell phone, flashlight (and where is that flashlight?), blankets, maybe a random bottle of water, etc, etc.
2. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without feeling like a sherpa. I have new respect for sherpas. The diaper bag is much less necessary these days, as Lena is eating regular table food and not shitting her pants quite as often. But, sure as I don't bring it with me, she will have a blow out and we will be stuck with no diapers or wipes and no change of clothes.
2.a. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without planning it out in advance. i.e. Will I need the stroller? Will we be outside for very long? Does Lena need a jacket? Do I have the shopping cart cover thing? Do I really need the shopping cart cover thing? Does this store have close enough parking? (no, they don't)... and it continues until we get to where we are going, and beyond. My car looks like a Babies R Us exploded in it!
3. I can't go to the bathroom truly by myself (and yes, I know this gets worse once she's mobile) unless Lena's sleeping. Even then, I always have one ear cocked to hear her.
4. It is very, very difficult to pay attention in church when you have a 20-lb. spider monkey climbing all over you. I love our church, and I know that the mostly very old congregation either can't hear her or doesn't care if she's loud. But even when she's quiet, she's still climbing me like a freaking spider monkey.
5. Even though she's the smallest person I know, she still produces lots of laundry and dishes! WTH??
6. Driving defensively takes on a whole new meaning. That pounding loud music in the car next to me? All I can think is "Please don't wake her up; she just went to sleep!" I am constantly scanning the roadside for deer (or other animals that may want to sabotage my trip to town). I am constantly worried about whether she is strapped into the carseat correctly, and whether the seat is strapped in correctly. I constantly drive with my lights on. I coast a LOT more, choosing to save my brakes for when I might actually need them. I have dreams about car accidents and wake up in a panic.
7. You can never have too many diapers. Or wipes. Or white onesies. Or blankies. Or pacis. Or lovies. Or bottles.
8. The baby monitor is evil. It monopolizes my TV watching time.
9. I have never laughed so much with one person than I have in the last 10 months... she is truly a funny baby, and makes me smile every single second.
10. Teething must hurt like a sonofabitch. Thank God for baby Tylenol.
11. Sweet potatoes come out the same consistency and color that they went in... ewwwww! So does corn.
12. I have generally much more patience for the public at large... I just think about them as babies, and it really does help! Plus, most people can't help but smile and giggle a little when they see a baby.
13. There are some parenting skills that I may never acquire, but that doesn't make me any less of a good parent. Just not the same as someone else.
14. I go to bed very early, rise very early, and take as many naps as I can. I love a good nap.
15. Making baby food is super easy, and waaaaay cheaper and healthier than the store-bought stuff... why don't more people do it?
16. I do not miss my former life. At all. I do miss a good night's sleep. But, according to every parent I've ever spoken to, I will not return to good night's sleeps until after Lena grows up and moves out. And even then, it's not the same.
17. I love my husband for the man that he is, and for the man that he has become since Lena joined us. We are a strong, loving family, and I couldn't ask for more than that.
1. I realized last night that I still love thunderstorms, but they stress me out in an all new way: listening for the tornado siren and wanting to get up and go turn on the TV to watch the radar. I did not actually get up and go watch the radar, mostly because it was about 2am, but I did lay awake listening to the storm, and praying there wasn't a tornado. The whole time I was planning how we would get down to the basement, and what I would try to grab on the way (besides Lena): cell phone, flashlight (and where is that flashlight?), blankets, maybe a random bottle of water, etc, etc.
2. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without feeling like a sherpa. I have new respect for sherpas. The diaper bag is much less necessary these days, as Lena is eating regular table food and not shitting her pants quite as often. But, sure as I don't bring it with me, she will have a blow out and we will be stuck with no diapers or wipes and no change of clothes.
2.a. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without planning it out in advance. i.e. Will I need the stroller? Will we be outside for very long? Does Lena need a jacket? Do I have the shopping cart cover thing? Do I really need the shopping cart cover thing? Does this store have close enough parking? (no, they don't)... and it continues until we get to where we are going, and beyond. My car looks like a Babies R Us exploded in it!
3. I can't go to the bathroom truly by myself (and yes, I know this gets worse once she's mobile) unless Lena's sleeping. Even then, I always have one ear cocked to hear her.
4. It is very, very difficult to pay attention in church when you have a 20-lb. spider monkey climbing all over you. I love our church, and I know that the mostly very old congregation either can't hear her or doesn't care if she's loud. But even when she's quiet, she's still climbing me like a freaking spider monkey.
5. Even though she's the smallest person I know, she still produces lots of laundry and dishes! WTH??
6. Driving defensively takes on a whole new meaning. That pounding loud music in the car next to me? All I can think is "Please don't wake her up; she just went to sleep!" I am constantly scanning the roadside for deer (or other animals that may want to sabotage my trip to town). I am constantly worried about whether she is strapped into the carseat correctly, and whether the seat is strapped in correctly. I constantly drive with my lights on. I coast a LOT more, choosing to save my brakes for when I might actually need them. I have dreams about car accidents and wake up in a panic.
7. You can never have too many diapers. Or wipes. Or white onesies. Or blankies. Or pacis. Or lovies. Or bottles.
8. The baby monitor is evil. It monopolizes my TV watching time.
9. I have never laughed so much with one person than I have in the last 10 months... she is truly a funny baby, and makes me smile every single second.
10. Teething must hurt like a sonofabitch. Thank God for baby Tylenol.
11. Sweet potatoes come out the same consistency and color that they went in... ewwwww! So does corn.
12. I have generally much more patience for the public at large... I just think about them as babies, and it really does help! Plus, most people can't help but smile and giggle a little when they see a baby.
13. There are some parenting skills that I may never acquire, but that doesn't make me any less of a good parent. Just not the same as someone else.
14. I go to bed very early, rise very early, and take as many naps as I can. I love a good nap.
15. Making baby food is super easy, and waaaaay cheaper and healthier than the store-bought stuff... why don't more people do it?
16. I do not miss my former life. At all. I do miss a good night's sleep. But, according to every parent I've ever spoken to, I will not return to good night's sleeps until after Lena grows up and moves out. And even then, it's not the same.
17. I love my husband for the man that he is, and for the man that he has become since Lena joined us. We are a strong, loving family, and I couldn't ask for more than that.
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