What's for dinner?

Why yes mom!  Thank you for introducing me to these yummy foods! 
grilled chicken
grilled fish
muffins
pancakes
bananas
green beans
rice
sweet potatoes
strawberry & banana yogurt
avocados (sometimes)
puffs
prunes (baby food)
goldfish
oatmeal
pouch/squeeze fruits

What are you thinking mom?  After I spit these out, I will promptly toss them in the floor!  No thank you!   
eggs
cheese
deli meat
any kind of pasta
any other veggies besides the ones listed above
any other fruit besides banana unless it's in a pouch
Why are you frowning?  OH, these are supposed to be yummy?  These are easy to prepare you say?  Well, I do like to keep you challenged... maybe you could ask your blog friends what food(s) they think I might like! 

I can't just live off of puffs?  Please allow me to prove otherwise!

Simplifying on Sunday

Simplifying on Sunday (how appropriate that creates the acronym SOS!) is going to be a new addition to my blog, starting today. 

It is probably not of much interest to anyone unless you really want to know of my on-going domestic and organizational challenges but I like that it gives me a feeling of doing something, of accountability and-instead of making yet another list that gets lost through the week- combining it with something that makes me happy- blogging- just seems like a win-win!

This week:

• Make 2 dinner meals, chicken casserole & taco soup (yep, just 2 is a good goal for us... you don't want to know what and how we eat through the week around here!)
• Post 3-5 clothing pieces on local classifieds or ebay
• Thank you cards for LB's birthday (must do because that was a month ago already!)
• Make dental appointment :[  speaking of dental...
• Brush LB's teeth!  He has 12 teeth and that is a mouthful so for the life of me I cannot figure out why I keep forgetting to make this part of the bedtime routine!  
• Call ob/gyn again and ask for credit check.  (We paid on a procedure that ended up being covered by insurance and our account shows a credit but we still haven't received the check.. it has been months trying to get this worked out, grrr.)
• Hang up clothes (As opposed to laying them over the hamper and telling myself I'll do it the next day.)

There, a small start.  I'm really struggling to keep up with things that need to be done at home because I spend my evenings surviving the work week and the weekends soaking up time with my boys.  Major cleaning and organizing is just not happening right now but I've got to do better with the basics!

separation anxiety is not cool

We have had a generally easygoing baby the first year who has adapted well to new surroundings or around new people.

 So, wth happened in month 13?!?

We have left LB in a couple of church nurseries only to check on him and find him crying to the point of catching his breath.  Not cool. 

When someone comes around these days that he doesn't recognize, he buries his head into mine or PC's shoulder and makes a "grrrr" noise.  Not cool, slightly embarrassing. 

He is happy in new places and situations... as long as no one speaks to him.  Mom and Dad are saying "Grrr!"

I have no idea what to do except hope this is a phase and get through it!

As a consequence, I am increasing his chores:]  

Monday Snapshot- Staying Warm

This picture just cracks me up!  You know that scene from A Christmas Story where the younger brother is too bundled up and cries "Mom, I can't put my arms down!"  This is the baby-toddler version!  We went to a theme park over the holidays and had just pulled inside a store to warm up a bit in the pic below.  It was c-o-l-d outside but LB enjoyed the sights and sounds under his two layers, hat, scarf, coat and blanket!

SAHM... if I had the choice

Live to work or work to live?  I used to think I knew which one was me and I am surprised that I am questioning it a lot lately.

We are in the situation that I don't have a choice, but I never thought I would want one.  If people IRL knew of these thoughts they would ask, where is Ms. Mac and what have you done with her!  Wow, how life and perspective can change so quickly.  Do not get me wrong.  I know that stay-at-home is work-at-home and there are good days and not so good days, but home really is where my heart is these days.  I feel guilty being away.  I feel like I am missing out at a crucial time.    

Then I think about how fortunate I am to have the job situation that I do and that I went to college for years- and years- because this was is my dream.  I worked so hard to get it.  Why am I even thinking otherwise?   

One thing that has been really hard is that before I became a mom, I worked a minimum of 50 hours a week there and several more at home.  I have since cut back to 40 hours and am scrambling during the day to find ways to make up for those hours and not take work home.  I was always one of the first cars in the parking lot and one of the last to leave.  Trying to now find more balance leaves me feeling inadequate in so many areas.

These days those last thirty minutes of the work day my mind has already gone home, to those little hands that wrap around my neck and that big smile that greets me.  To see what kind of day he has had.  To hear "mama."  

I just thought that returning from maternity leave would get- as everyone said- easier each day.  It has not.  Every holiday and break, it gets harder.