goodbye diapers...soon.

Kid#2 has been doing really really well with potty training. Her big sister suddenly decided to be trained about a week before her third birthday. Kid#2 turns 3 tomorrow. So she's not quite going to make that, but she's going to come close it seems. The last few days she's been really really aware of having to go potty and tells me and we go and there's dry diapers and no problems. We've been using the Huggies Pull Ups, in pink princess of course, and I think Huggies has a problem. They've placed disappearing artwork on the front of the pullup. So if the child wets, the artwork disappears. This does NOT encourage the child to stay dry. This encourages the child to pee to see how cool it is when they disappear. So, to avoid the problem, I've made a big deal of NOT making them disappear, and I promised we can make the disappear at bathtime, with water. So we're good I think, but whose stupid idea was that. A better idea would be to have some sort of angry artwork appear when they pee, something scary. For kid#2 that'd be a stuffed ladybug. I know. Whatever. Better luck next time Huggies.

Your children are keeping me up at night

I couldn't sleep last night. I kept thinking about the neighbor kids. Ya, not my own, who were sleeping peacefully. These kids are new to the neighborhood, and nice kids. The oldest is 7, a girl and a new friend to kid#1, the other is 5 and a boy. It turns out they have a rule, where the oldest can only go play with her friends if the young one can tag along. I don't have any 5 year old boys to entertain him, so it seems like an unfair rule to everyone. The older kid, my kids, me, and the 5 yr old boy. I don't understand why they don't get to have their own friends. They are a military family, so I'm certain that it comes from moving every few years and having to rebuild friendships over and over. My dilemma is trying to figure out how to allow the older kid to play with mine, while sending the little one back home to make his own friends with kids his own age. I think the result is going to be that neither of them are going to be able to play with the local kids. Allowing the one to play means essentially committing to babysitting the other. I feel bad for the kids and a little bit angry with the parents.

Top of the Muffin to ya

Low rise jeans = muffin top. I don't know why it took me so long to figure that out. I've been buying medium to low rise jeans under some delusion that if its beneath my annoying belly bulge it makes it less noticeable. I'm completely inept at sucking it in, so obviously my logic is flawed. So I recently gave up on my 5/6 jeans with the too low rise waist from Maurices and accepted that I'm really a size 8, with a mid rise. Beneath the belly button, but not so close to the panty line. I found a great pair at Younkers, from 9West. They fit great and I think once I wash/dry 'em they'll fit even better, not worse like every other pair I own. So. Step one in dressing a bit more trendy: check. I also managed to buy a cute tank and wrap/cardigan thing that looks great, with an awesome long necklace from Deb. I feel more trendy just owning it.

style and time

I need more time. More hours in the day, more days in the week (those would obviously belong to the weekend, no one needs additional work days). I want extra time so I can spend all the time with my family that I do now, still get my work done AND have time to go to the gym, plan meals, and shop for a wardrobe that would make Maggie Mason proud. Somehow it seems unlikely any of that is going to happen. So now, I just have to figure out how to get up earlier to fit a few more things in, and keep my eye out for stellar style deals. I want to wear more tights and skirts...first I have to convince myself I can pull that off.

potty training

I was dreading potty training. Because kid#2 is much more opinionated, difficult and busy than kid #1 was, particularly when it comes to pinning her down to sitting on the potty and trying to pee. She's actually doing really really well though, peeing whenever I ask, and if I make sure to ask every couple of hours, she can keep a diaper dry all day. It's pretty great. Sure, I'm not diaper free yet, but it's definitely cutting down on the number I need to buy right now. It's slow going, but she's still a month away from being three and I think anything is possible in that time. She's a smart kid, she will figure it out.

i wish

I wish there were more hours in the day.

I wish I wasn't lazy and didn't waste the hours I do have.

I wish I had an elliptical machine or treadmill...and room to put it somewhere.

I wish I could join the gym, and go, and still have enough time with my family.

I wish everyone in my life was more organized.

i suck.

I'm not exercising. Ignore that last post. Instead i've decided to try not to snack so much. If anyone would read this, maybe i'd feel some accountability for that promise. But no one does, so I won't. But i'll try I guess. Exercise class starts up in September again, so i'm looking forward to it. I just wish I had some side passion that I could devote myself to, but then again, if i did, i'd neglect other things like work and my family. I just keep telling myself that when the kids are older, then I'll do all those things, like join the gym and actually exercise and get fit, learn to run (like couch to 5k), write a book (about what? i have no idea), make appointments for the dentist and massages and whatnot - all the things i put off because its too difficult to work around kids and also work a regular work week. Working from home is catching up to me i think. I can do it, and I do it well, but it's starting to take a toll. Jeez I'm complainy.

exercise

It's hard to get up at 7am and workout. even for 20 minutes. that sounds pathetic. but i'm doing it...that's not pathetic, right? Jillian Michael's 30 day shred is ridiculous, but effective for a quick 20 min workout.

Craigslist

Craigslist is awesome. It's a giant garage sale with so little overhead I've found myself wishing I could sell everything I own, just for the simplicity. Saturday night I posted an ad to sell some baby furniture that we no longer need. The toddler has outgrown her pack n play, highchair, and travel system, so Craigslist yeilded four interested parties, one of which took it all for a great deal for her coming grandchild and cleaned out my storage area, all before 11am on Sunday. LOVE IT. Now...what else can I sell.

Jeans

Wouldn't it be nice if jeans made of denim were still available? without all the spandex and stretching. I'm tired of the thigh grabbing jeans. What happened to good old jeans that didn't shimmy when you walked?

Life List

I guess this will be my life list record. In no particular order.

1. Vacation in Greece
2. Learn to cook one actual meal
3. Learn CPR
4. Vacation in BoraBora, in an over the water hut


Obviously, more to come. I'm not going to retro list things I've already done, like visit Hawaii, Aruba, Cancun, get married, have kids, buy a house, etc. Those things are kind of old news and not really life altering.

Actually i just discovered the 'lists' widget from blogger, so the Life list will be a widget in the sidebar. it's better there anyway.

New Purse, I love you

So my former D&B purse started to yellow. I took good care of it, stored it in a rubbermaid bin, didn' t leave it sitting in the sun. I don't know why it started to yellow, so I contacted D&B and they recommend I return it to them for evaluation. A couple weeks later, I was given the option to trade it in, and given $70 toward a new one (at $140+). I love D&B purses, so I didn't want to keep the old yucky yellow one, and who doesn't want a new purse...so...I did it. This is my new favorite thing ever. My favorite purse for sure.

Blended Shadow Little Nina - in HOT PINK. That's not mild or easy on the eyes pink, its HOT fuschia pink. It's so awesome.

Here I Go

I've been thinking about actual blogging for awhile. I think for now i'll mostly use this as a storage spot for my life list - inspired by MightyGirl.com of course. I didn't think it was that important, until I started thinking of the things I wanted to be sure to do in my lifetime and pair that with my memory loss due to child rearing. I better make a list or I'll never remember what it is I want to do.