Regularly Scheduled Monthly Update

So, I was just thinking, You know what I haven’t done in a really long time?

Update this blog? Change out of my one pair of maternity jeans? Yes and yes. But also, wash my floors. And then in walks Christopher with an empty sippy cup, which he hands to me and remarks, “Mama, I all done juice!” [Pauses as a big I’ve-done-something-bad-and-you’re-probably-going-to-want-to-kill-me-but-Look!-Look-how-damn-cute-I-am!-It’s-hard-to-kill-me-when-I’m-this-cute!-grin crosses his face] “I SHAKE IT!!”

ENTIRE. Living. Room. Showered. In. Orange. Juice.

Cute-(wet)-and-still-alive-but-definitely-in-trouble-toddler in never-ending time-out.

Floors? Well, no excuse not to wash them now. Twice.

So, as long as I’m knocking things off of the to-do list, what’s up? How have you been?

If you’ve emailed me or had left a comment that I’d normally reply to or have asked me a question in the last few months, let me tell you something that you’ve probably already figured out by now: I never got back to you. You see, there was this thing, and then this other thing, and then that came up and then … well, I got busy. I’m sorry! Let’s focus on the positive…

The laundry room? IS DONE!! (99.9 % at least – I still have to hem and hang the curtains. This will get done circa 2008 so we are letting that last .01% slide for now). In my husband’s defense it has been 98% done for some time now but those last finishing touches (like putting the knobs on the cabinets so that I can open them) seem to take forever. Anyway, it no longer looks  like  this . Photos are down there on the right somewhere, if you’re interested.

This pregnancy? Progressing along perfectly, although much more quickly than I remember from the last time. I am 23 weeks, but I confess that I had to look that up. Often when asked my due date or how far along I am I look at the person blankly before remembering, Oh, yes, I’m pregnant. Well, that would explain the heartburn and the reason I’ve been wearing these jeans for fifty-two days straight! And then I start counting on my fingers, give up and just blurt out some random number because, honestly, I lost track a long time ago. I am too preoccupied with work and showers and weddings and home improvement projects and holidays and birthdays and a two-year-old who just refuses to stop talking, just for one second, so that I can think. When did he go from the occasional “mama” and “dada” to non-stop 24/7 verbal diarrhea?

Christopher’s favorite phrases as of late include, “I want it”, “I need it”, “I found it”, and “I did it” as well as the ever popular, “I DO IT MYSELF!” He has opinions on what he wants to drink, what cup his drink of choice should go in AND what color top should go on the cup. God forbid I put the blue top on his milk when he wanted the red one … the tears, the pouting, the drama! He wants to dress himself and pick out his own shoes, as well as mine, and many mornings have left me contemplating whether I should just do as he says and put on the snow boots with my t-shirt and jeans or endure the protests while I slide on my flip-flops and lecture my toddler on the finer points of accessorizing.

We are also getting ready to move him into his “big boy” room. Or, in other words, we are kicking him out of the nursery to make room for the new baby. The first of the many, many hand-me-downs to be bestowed on this poor second child. Christopher will be getting the room adjacent to the nursery. All we have to do now is paint it, buy furniture, decorate it … hopefully it will be ready sometime before he’s eight. I’ve picked out the linens and purchased the paint, which is significant progress considering our track record for getting things done in a timely fashion. The main goal right now is to paint to the walls before Christopher finds the paint can and decides to do some redecorating himself.

Comments

[Leggy]

Glad you are still around. Laundry room looks great- what a difference.

[Diana]

Loving the new laundry room.
Hey, maybe if you let him redecorate it'll get done before he's eight!
Just a thought.
Glad you're progressing nicely in the pregnancy.

[Alison]

"[Pauses as a big I’ve-done-something-bad-and-you’re-probably-going-to-want-to-kill-me-but-Look!-Look-how-damn-cute-I-am!-It’s-hard-to-kill-me-when-I’m-this-cute!-grin crosses his face]"

I hate that look. :)

Laundry room looks great! Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl? Or are you waiting? :)

[Jenny]

You are pregnant, have a toddler...and your hemming your own curtains? Are you being sarcastic or have you just become my personal hero?

[Colleen]

One word for your laundry room: JEALOUS! As in, I am very jealous because my current laundry room is smaller and makes your old room look pretty good! I love the countertop with the divided hamper underneath, the floor tiles, okay, ALL of it!! It looks great! Your 2 year old son would be a perfect match for my two year old daughter! Since when do two year olds care about their clothes, accessories or sippy cup lids?? My older daughter could have cared less, and I can appreciate that SO MUCH MORE NOW! It was in the 50s here today, but I allowed HRH, the two year old, wear a summer dress because she "wanted the pink one!!!!!" I agree with you, sometimes it's just easier to let them have their way! I guess people would tell you and me both to "choose our battles carefully". Glad to hear the pregnancy is going well. Isn't funny how the first pregnancy you know EXACTLY how far along you are (as in, "I am 26 weeks and 2 days") and with the second you make stuff up or just say when you're due because you have no clue how many weeks you are?!

[Catt]

"Enjoy" the voice of the first kid because I can tell you from experience that you will not hear that second kid for years. Why? Because old "Diarrhea Mouth" will talk for him/her. For the better part of two years my daughter (the second kid, 3 years behind her ever-helpful brother) mostly grunted and pointed. When I would say "good parent prompting" things like, "What do you want sweetie?" my son would say, "Mom, she wants the ball" in a "DUH" tone of voice. Yeah kid, I had figured that part out, I was just hoping to hear her say it.

Also, for the record, my "Diarrhea Mouth" is 14 and he STILL cannot stop talking (though not necessarily to me).

[Stacy Quarty]

Glad you're still around.

I too frequently forgot how far along in the pregnancy I was with baby #2.

How about some belly photos?