Crabby Mommy

There's a new mom in town. And, she's not cuddly mommy...she's crabby.

I'm not by nature a moody person.....but I've morphed into a grump (according to my friend Gail) this week. No one likes being sick, least of all a mom who is used to taking care of everyone.

I have never been sick as often as I have been since becoming a mom.

And, Seth has never been sick as much until he went to nursery school.

Other moms warned me that this happens. Being the devoted vitamin popper that I am, I rush for the Vitamin C and Echinacea at Seth's first sniffle....both for him and me.....but my typically faithful pills failed me this time 'round. Guess the germs were just too strong.

I've had a cold for a week which has now blossomed into a scratchy throat...and I am with little voice at present. Try explaining that to a four year old who likes to make conversation, particularly at bedtime. Never mind attempting to raise your voice to get him to listen.

And, of course, I'm wiped out from not sleeping great since I can barely breathe when I lay down. Thank G-d for Afrin!

So....in addition to feeling crabby, I am feeling badly for not being there for nightly cuddle time with Seth.

It's hard to explain to a four year old that mommy just doesn't feel well. I should really try to nap when he's in school, but I've never been one for an afternoon snooze.

I hope tonight he will understand when I state with conviction yet again that mommy is under the weather. I know he feels badly.....but not badly enough to pass up our nightly game of "lobster" (you have to be there), under his blanket before putting on his favorite CD and hoping he'll drift off, so I can do the same.

She Walks!

Okay, I'm getting all excited because baby took a few steps while holding onto her little pushcart. But I counted nine consecutive steps on her own, unassisted by us, across the living room floor.

I'm excited about her walking. So many women say it is a mixed blessing when their children start to walk. They also say that about crawling, but I found that once baby crawled, she became more interactive and fun.

Sure she got into things. Okay, she is still getting into things like my cooking magazines (ripping the covers off them) and the carbon monoxide detector (removing it from the wall). But all in all, I'm enjoying her mobility.

Now we'll have to do the babyproofing a little higher up than before. Gone are the days of leaving things on a chair because they are out of her reach. I know I'll be chasing her around even more than before. But I look forward to her toddling.

A friend of mine keeps lamenting each stage of her baby's development and growth. Oh, she is no longer a baby. Oh, I can't believe she won't be a toddler for long. I'm not feeling a sadness or missing the previous stages.

Is it because I'm a constant overachiever myself and always striving for more more more that I am content with my kid's development. I'm just not missing the earlier stages as much. I'm trying to cherish each one as it comes and welcome the next one.

Admission from the Potty Challenged

We took Seth to the pediatrician this week. He has a nasty cough. And, while we were very concerned about it, the pediatrician seemed more intrigued about the fact that at age four he is in pullups.

I admit it. We are a potty training challenged family.

We have tried. Last summer we had it partially nailed...so I thought....the #1 bodily function, as they say. My son was pretty consistently alerting us when he had to pee. #2 has never worked. Once we got lucky, and he pooped in the potty, and we celebrated....thinking he was now on the path to bathroom success. Well, that lasted a day, and he was back to having constant accidents. Even his new cool Spiderman briefs couldn't motivate him to speak up.

Once he started nursery school, it seemed that he digressed completely, since it
changed his daily routine. And, he now rarely, if ever, says he needs to go potty....whether for #1 or 2. On top of it, he denies when he does it in his pullup and doesn't even mind walking around in it.....until we have to use 1/2 a tube of Balmex to treat his irritated skin.

What's a mom to do?

So....we are now consulting a parenting pro to see what light she can shed.

Bribery hasn't even worked......not even a supersize rescue helicopter that he couldn't wait to get his hands on.

I have joked that he won't walk down the aisle in pullups when he gets married one day. But, since we have a long way to go until the wedding, we have to somehow get with the potty training program sooner than later.

Catching up on ZZZs

Will I really never get any real rest until she graduates? Or ever?

Right now, at over 9 1/2 months, baby is waking up at least once during the night and can't be calmed unless fed an entire 6 oz. bottle.

Last night, she went to bed at 8:30pm after most of a bottle, woke up at 12:30am and had a full bottle, then woke up at 4:00am, was soaking wet through her diaper and clothes so I changed her, then was inconsolable until I gave her...another bottle. She sucked it down like she hadn't eaten for years then immediately fell asleep in my arms.

I thought "Good, she'll sleep at least until 8am" so I can catch a 1/2 hour nap in the morning if I crawl back into bed at 7:30am after my husband left for work. A few minutes after he left, she was awake. My dreams of crawling into bed and dozing for just a little while were dashed. She was up.

Trying to be sneaky, I decided to feed her the morning bottle in her dark bedroom and wrapped her in her favorite blanket, rocking her as she fed. She snuggled into me after finishing, and I was sure she'd go back to sleep. But this baby is too wise for my games.

She started babbling and clicking her tongue (our little language) so I had to click back and then she was awake and ready to start her day. And I was utterly exhausted already.

When does it get better? When will I get some uninterrupted sleep or even just a nap?

Up, Up and Away!

Next week is going to be odd for me.....but I am psyched. I am going away for four nights to visit a friend in North Carolina.....sans hubbie and my son. Don't get me wrong....it will feel strange and no doubt I'll miss them.....but I need this time to myself. To reclaim myself, so to speak.....the me I was before I became mom and even Mrs.

Other than attending the local NC fair, I have no particular vacation agenda, and I like it that way. What a change of pace not to have a schedule. I aim to wing it, and have some girlfriend bonding time....something I sorely miss.

While I've made some new, dear women friends in the last few years since I've become a mom, many of my other friends....including those who are single.....I don't get to see so much, if at all these days. Life has become so very busy for everyone....and connecting sometimes feels like a luxury.

I hate to pack....and have much to take care of before I leave. And, being the planner that I am, I am already anticipating coming home and falling back into my daily multi-tasking routine. But, I'm going to try my darndest to live in the moment while away. Seth will be well taken care of by our nanny and my husband. I hope Seth won't cry a lot when I leave.......it will surely break my heart. But at the same time, I want him to understand that while mommy sometimes leaves, she, G-d willing, does return. I hope in his heart he will know that I'm always there for him.....and assuming I return with renewed spirit, I'll have that much more to offer.

Confessions of a Night Owl

I have never been a morning person. So...I ask this....Is it possible to become one after 40+ years of mostly relying on my inner clock vs. alarm clock?

We got invited to a four year old's birthday party today that started at 10AM....and for me, it was killer to hustle and get there relatively on time.

I love being a night owl and always have. I could stay up past midnight in a heart beat. And, as a writer, I find that my creative juices often flow best in the late hours.

But, my son and I are not in sync. He typically gets up around 7AM, give or take. During the week, our live-in nanny attends to him.....and I am super grateful for that. But, we will not have a nanny forever....and sooner or later, I will have to rise to the occasion....like it or not.

So....other than going to bed earlier....I ask... what can one do to transform themself into a chipper morning person? And....let's add to that that I don't drink coffee.

I actually got an idea at the kid's party today. One of the moms was discussing how their child ate little for breakfast before the party but made sure to have their morning chocolate milk. Suddenly, it gave me a thought. What if I had chocolate milk for breakfast? That's one way to get some caffeine in my system. I could go the Nestle's syrup route. Or maybe a little Yoo Hoo? (Used to love that as a kid.) Or.....hmmmmm......maybe I should go the healthy chocolate soy milk route? I wonder.....how would that taste in my Special K?

Suddenly breakfast and the morning might be sounding a bit more appealing..........I can try to give it a shot.