brake lights
This week has not been in a shining point in my career of motherhood. My 2 1/2yo is developing a particular kind of relationship with stores that doesn't enable typical adult shopping. I'm either going to never take him shopping again, or strap him to my person next time there's something we absolutely need.
Hubby's schedule has changed gloriously. We now have evenings together. He works early in the morning at his first job and then comes home for the rest of the day for his new work at home job. He has a little spot sequestered from the rest of the apartment where he goes to work at his computer. It's nice that it's not far. He shares his computer programming delights and woes over lunch, and I just smile and nod, barely understanding as foreign computer words fly by me. He's home in the evenings. We've eaten dinner together as a family every night. This has been a rare occurrence until now. I've actually planned menus for the week. This is my third week in a row. You don't know what a miracle this is. Since I got pregnant frozen pizza was pretty awesome there for quite awhile. I go shopping at Trader Joe's while E is in school. I feel like leaping from aisle to aisle singing a Broadway tune about how I'm out all by myself.
E really is very sweet. He's growing so fast and changing so much. I can't imagine what's going on in his head. I've had some interesting exchanges with him this week, language-wise, we might not have had a few weeks ago, in sign, speaking is much too rudimentary yet, whatever. I think he's grown 6 or 7 inches in the past 2-3 months. I'm packing away the 2T clothes. It seems unreal. It's hard to feel him out, where is he a big boy? where does he not understand yet? My brain is foggy, I can barely formulate what to do. Just stop a minute and let mommy think, here have a cookie. What? you won't eat cookies either? fine. Have a Swedish meatball.
And I'm pregnant and tired. I'm not one of those people who loves being pregnant. i've had a really bad attitude about it lately. I just want to hibernate, but I can't. My body hurts like it never did with E. I sleep less and in awkward positions thanks to my growing boy's occasional insomnia--which, for the most part, seems to be abating, only one night this week so far. I bought a prenatal yoga DVD. It arrived this week, and I did the stretches and relaxing practice last night, and it felt so good. Any exercise practice that closes with my lying down on a pillow is an A+ in my book.
Coffee and I are good friends again. There was a point when the first trimester estranged us a little and then we eyed each other suspiciously. I took tea out a couple of times, but in the end coffee and I made up. The other night I made C's coffee for him and set the timer so that he would wake up to fresh coffee. I didn't even notice the karafe wasn't there. (We have a truly awesome coffee maker) We woke up to a puddle of coffee on the floor. It wasn't a tragic mess or anything; one can't really cry over spilled coffee. Like I said, pregnancy and I just don't always get each other.
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J'net....I am so right there with you! SO! I can't tell you how many times I have suggested to the family that I just hibernate til May 1....think of how everyone would enjoy me when I wake up, I am not so fun now. Tired, groggy, hazy on the details, waddly--limping along.....
hang in there, number 2 is definitely worth it!
Posted by: jonesey | January 24, 2008 10:08 AM
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I. feel. your. pain. All of it. (Well except the current state of pregnancy but I can still be plenty empathetic with that one.)
Have a couch/movies/rest/coffee/uh, Swedish meatballs kind-o-day!
Posted by: Moriah | January 24, 2008 10:13 AM
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Nettie, as you know I join our boy in his insomnia. For the past few nights I have been eating something with high carbs right before I go to bed, like plain pasta. I know that defies conventional wisdom, but it has been working for me! I am sleeping the whole night trough for the first time in WEEKS!!! I know E loves his bedtime milkie, but maybe a piece of toast, too???
Posted by: grammy | January 24, 2008 12:54 PM
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I came across your page earlier this week and have enjoyed reading about Ellis. My son is also 2 (28 months) and was bilaterally activated in October of last year. I posted a link to your blog on our page - hope that's okay with you!!
Posted by: Tiffany - Tayten's Mommy | January 24, 2008 01:14 PM
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love the coffee story, too bad it happened for real! Oooo, the thought of Trader Joe's makes me want to leap for joy but I haven't been in one since California. Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy! Sleeping was hard for me too and then I figured out that one pillow under my back and 2 for my head was much better than the body pillow, give it a try!
Posted by: Dawn | January 24, 2008 02:26 PM
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Yes, there comes a point where shopping with the kids is no longer fun. AT ALL. As we leave the car to go into Walmart every week I ask the kids if they remember the rules "no running, no climbing, no screaming (Eden), and most important: Stay next to Mama!" It works most of the time. Until I start taking too long, pass the toys, meet someone I know...etc. If I stick to the game plan it all goes well. If they break the rules, they get strapped in to the monster-kids'tank-cart. It's especially embarrasing for Jos.
I'm happy that Chris is able to be home with you guys. It's something I would miss terribly.
Posted by: katiek | January 24, 2008 03:00 PM
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Uggh, I can totally hear you about not loving being pregnant. I know it's harder with carrying two, but I was miserable much of the time, especially from the middle of the second trimester on. I would hear women all Precious-Momentsy about being pregnant, and just think uggh.
I loved feeling them inside me though.
Hey, have you seen the new baby leashes (I know, I cringe thinking about them, too, but we may need to resort to them in a few years if I'm going to go anywhere and keep track of twins) that are shaped like little animals giving the kid a hug?
Talking about hugs...wish I could give you a big one and a back rub!
Posted by: Jo | January 24, 2008 03:13 PM
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Sounds like E is exerting his independence and discovering his Swedish identity :)
We're at the point where: hubby and I go to grocery alone as a date, and leave our children at home. There ARE advantages to having teenagers, contrary to popular opinion!
Posted by: mary kathryn | January 24, 2008 03:40 PM
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We're a huge fan of the leash. I never had any qualms about them. He has a teddybear leash. I highly recommend. It gives him MORE freedom. Strapping into carts is completely laughable, he can unstrap faster than fast. The biggest problem is that he simply is 2yo, and stores aren't designed for 2yos, except for maybe IKEA. He's pretty good about sitting in the basket of the cart, if I don't take too long and don't stop to think (which is kind of hard when I have pregnant brain, even with a list. haha!).
Posted by: Jeannette | January 24, 2008 05:20 PM
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Oh, Jeannette, I know the whole craziness of shopping!!! I can't take Jack hardly anywhere these days...he wants to run everywhere, get out of the cart, can't stand leaving...etc, etc. So, I just try to do the shopping at night when the hubby is home. I get a Starbucks and just have a great time walking liesurely down the aisles. So enjoyable!
Posted by: Krista | January 24, 2008 08:36 PM
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Ethan outgrew his winter coat so today I endured 4 tantrums, one for each store that we entered. Finally found a coat in store #4. I swore that I wouldn't go home empty handed b/c there was no way I'd go through this pain again. I can't imagine being pregnant through it all. (I hated being pregnant!) Glad to hear you are at least rekindling a relationship with coffee!
Posted by: Hetha | January 24, 2008 09:34 PM
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Well, I'd hate being left out of this stream of consciousness! You started babysitting young. It had to do with the grocery store! Coffee wins for me. When we get back from the paper route Dad lights the fire and I make the coffee. I warm my half and half a little and then froth with it up with my frother and sprinkle a little cinnamon on it. One time we got doughnuts before we came home and the guy kept asking us if we wanted coffee Their coffee is pretty watery, plus all the bucks I would have to add for froth and cinnamon! I can make my own , thank you very much. It is fun to buy tea at the market. Guess I'll have to try it sometime. The tea, not the buying!
Posted by: mom1 | January 29, 2008 08:27 AM
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"I feel like leaping from aisle to aisle singing a Broadway tune about how I'm out all by myself."
Does the song go like this...
I'm shopping by myself, shopping by myself,
what a glorious feeling I'm shopping by myself!
I walk down the aisle and keep on my smile,
I'm shopping, I'm shopping by myself!
(Singing in the Rain)
Posted by: mom1 | January 31, 2008 08:26 AM