You Are So Much More

My Dearest Mermaid,

This birthday post is so late it is incredibly embarrassing. Over a month late. So sorry, love.

Seven years old. Wow. Or, as you pointed out, "Only three away from 10." But I still have some time before I have to think about how you are in the double digits, so please don't rush me, my dear.

You are definitely my sassy child. Always independent, you have a hard time understanding that just because you are able to do something, doesn't mean you should.

You are loving school. Math is your favorite subject, and strongest. You are still struggling with reading, but you are doing much better. You're like me - impatient, and easily frustrated when you can't read a word quickly, not wanting to stop and take the time to sound it out.

You're fearless. I love seeing your determination and confidence. There isn't anything you can't do. You take risks that make me shake my head and make my heart skip beats. I try to walk the line between keeping you safe and allowing you to explore and remain confident in your abilities. It's a tough line to walk, and you get frustrated with me often. The words "Why not?" and "Don't worry, Mom!" are heard quite frequently in this house.

You're so incredibly social. There isn't anyone you won't talk to, and invite into your life. Again, I struggle between keeping you safe yet not creating fear of the world within you. We've had so many conversations about talking to strangers, and talking to people in general. My love, people do not need to hear about every detail of your life. You have a hard time understanding that. And with your confidence, you are having a hard time catching on to the fact that you will not be friends with everyone you meet. When the neighborhood boy stopped asking you to come over to play, you couldn't understand why. Neither could I. Except that some people are just too different to be friends. But my heart broke as I tried to field questions for WEEKS on why you couldn't go over and play. Another tough line to walk.

You are amazingly helpful. You are such a great older sister to your brother, helping to get him dressed in the morning, playing with him, comforting him when he gets upset. You make me so proud. You help out around the house so much, no questions asked, and because you are absolutely determined to own your very own American Girl Doll, you are always asking to do extra chores for money. You have $16 left to go before you can buy that doll.

You're bright, funny, happy, and a match for me in sarcasm. You keep me on my toes. You forgive easily and don't hold grudges - I'm thankful you didn't inherit that flaw from me. You love to sing and you love to learn new things.

And I am so incredibly lucky to have you as a daughter.

Happy (Belated) Birthday, my Mermaid. I love you so much.

You Are So Much More

That's Better

So far this morning is turning out better then yesterday.

Actually the whole day was tough until I started reading people's stories over at We Are The 99 Percent. Really puts things into perspective.

Also, I got my morning run in today, and that always helps cheer me up.

I'm also over at MassMoms today, talking about easy tips for writing a birth plan.

Have a great Tuesday!

That's Better

How to Know If You Really Want Kids

Think you want to have kids? Think again.

Monday mornings are tough, but the Monday coming back from vacation is always harder. I specifically went to bed early because I knew I would have to do a lot of post-vacation clean up around the house.

The Tadpole took forever to go to sleep. And then he kept waking up. Over and over again, all night long. I tried nursing him, cuddling him, rocking him. I took of his pj's in case he was too warm, changed his diaper, but whatever was bothering him did not stop. I got literally one hour of sleep, from 5:30 to 6:30AM.

I missed my morning run. I hate missing my morning run.

I heard The Knight get out of the shower at 6:30AM. I heard him come into the bedroom and I heard him say to me, "Do you know Tadpole is naked?" I grunted in response. He poked my back and I opened one extremely heavy, crusty eyelid to glare at him. It was enough to wipe the smile of his face and I closed my eyes again.

Then I heard him say, "I smell poop..."

I sat up slowly and looked around. And then I saw it. The Tadpole had taken off his diaper, pooped on the rug, stepped on it, and tracked it all over the entire second floor. Including the WHITE rug in the hallway and the girls' room. THEN he apparently played with it and rubbed it all over himself.

The Knight cleaned The Tadpole up while I attacked the rugs, swearing under my breath the entire time. I went into the girls room and started the clean up in there.

While scrubbing the rug, I looked up and saw that they had taken an entire box of maxi pads and stuck them to the bedroom walls.


*1....2....3...4...5....6...7....8...9...10* DEEP BREATH.

"Girls why did you do this?"
"We wanted to make a carpet on the wall."

Of course we found out when we started to take them down that the sticky layer does not come off unless it takes some of the paint with it.

DEEP BREATH.

Meanwhile, the Knight had finished cleaning The Tadpole up and left for work, smirking at me as he walked out the door. F*cker. I want to go to work at a place where the co workers don't sh*t all over the house!!

DEEP BREATH

I'm finishing up the rug cleaning when The Mermaid tells me that she'll take The Tadpole downstairs and start breakfast. Which she has done many times before. I smile gratefully at her, thank her, and tell her I'll be down in a minute. I finish the rug, scrub my hands until they are red wash my hands, and go downstairs where I'm greeted by the sight of literally half a box of cereal all over the kitchen floor. Not the usual amount of cereal that most parents are stepping on, I'm talking literally half a box.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!?"
"Oh, well, Tadpole asked for the box and I gave it to him and he dumped it out."

Another cleanup. Now I'm sitting here, typing this while staring at the coffee maker, willing it to drip faster.

It is only 8:45 in the morning.

Sadly, this day is not all that unusual. If you read this and still want kids, congrats. You're going to make a great parent. And you can have mine, all three if you want.

How to Know If You Really Want Kids

One Tiny Minute.

The living room is a mess and ingredients and dishes from lunch are still spread out all over the counter but I'm sitting down here anyway because I need just one tiny minute before I can face that mess.

The TV is on and the girls are watching one show because they promised they would watch quietly and not ask me any questions.

I just put the Tadpole down for his nap, finally. He has this terrible rash so I've been letting him run around naked all morning, trying to let his sore bum air out. The rash combined with his teething has left him a very cranky baby, and I sighed with relief when I laid him down on the bed and kissed his sweet little forehead. (A forehead that is no longer covered by wispy, soft golden curls because I accidentally had the barber cut his hair WAY too short. It's growing on me but I cried the first day because there was a little boy standing where my baby used to be and that's not fair!).

I still have to pick up the house, do the laundry, finish the Mermaid's schooling, and then run to the store because I forgot to buy fish food again! Maybe one day I will own a Prius and I won't hate running to the store for such little things but now in my van I feel guilty every time I have to make extra trips due to my forgetfulness.

The Earth is sick, and we have to do what we can to make her better I always tell the girls, then tell myself I will write "Don't forget fish food" on my hand in permanent marker next time, if that's what it takes.

It's rainy and cloudy and this type of weather always makes me be too hard on myself.

My one tiny minute has now turned into 15. We'll finish up schooling but maybe instead of cleaning we'll put on rain jackets and rain boots and go splash in puddles.

And embrace this rainy weather, for once.

Just Write

One Tiny Minute.

Bit by the Running Bug!

Yesterday I ran the 5th Annual Lone Gull 10K.

One year ago, I was almost 50lbs heavier and could not walk up the stairs without getting out of breath. If you had told me back then that in one year I would be almost 50lbs lighter and run a 10K, I would have laughed.

I think it's just hitting me now that I actually ran a 10K! Granted I did not run the entire time but I ran a good portion of it, and I finished. That was my goal, just to finish.

The course was absolutely gorgeous, it was by the ocean and the views on the beach were wonderful! I ran it with a friend, so it really was a lot of fun! My legs are so sore but it was really worth it!

I'm hooked :) I'm finishing up my training with Couch to 5K, and then will do a 10K program and then 1/2 marathon, then marathon, etc.

I can't wait for my next race!

Bit by the Running Bug!

This Could Easily Become An Addiction.

On Sunday I am running my first race, a 10K. My friend somehow convinced me to sign up even though the most I've ever run is 3 miles.

I should do ok, right?

It's by the ocean, so it's not a bad place to perish if I end up dying by the side of the road.

And to show you how hilarious I think the idea of me running a race is, from my FB page:

• • E posted toShelly

    I'm going to cheer you on with inspirational phrases throughout the race on Sunday. For example: Sweating is your body crying and begging you to stop.

    · · See Friendship · 21 hours ago

    • You, S, J, L and 2 others like this.
    • • 

        Shelly Or, "Run like hell and get the agony over with."
      • 
        E Oh sh!t there's a tiger behind us! Don't look!

        20 hours ago · · 1 person
      • 

        Shelly Run till you puke!

        
        
      • E Or, puke first and run second.

        20 hour ago · · 1 person
      • 

        Shelly Enjoy your pain, you've earned it.
      • 
        
      • 

        Shelly Distance chicks do it long and hard. We need a shirt that says that.

What are your favorite songs to run to? Or favorite inspirational quotes?

This Could Easily Become An Addiction.

Punched

This week I....

...got my nose pierced. It's something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. And yes, it hurt. Not so much when it was pierced, but afterwards. I felt like I had gotten punched in the face.

...got my nose ring ripped out by The Tadpole. That hurt. But not as much as pushing it back in. That hurt worse.

...am still happy that I got my nose pierced.

...also went through a hurricane (tropical storm?) We did not get hit badly at all, we didn't even lose power. But a lot of people around us did.

...got annoyed by all the people on Facebook putting updates that said things like "What a dud Irene was" or "Irene wasn't a big deal." Listen, maybe Irene wasn't a big deal for you but it was big enough to kill 23 people and flood parts of NY and NJ.

What did you do this week?

Punched