So Silly!

Well.  It's time for the AB 10k!  And, for some ridiculous reason I still feel nervous.  I'm totally OUT of the racing scene, there's no question!  However, I still feel nervous and I'm foolishly creating little goals for the race. Each time I talk about the race to someone, I mentally shave a minute or two off of my goal time.  Part of me thinks that I shouldn't even do the race if I can't set aside my competitive streak, but that's definitely not fun.  I have tried numerous times to get Josh to run with me, but I don't think that would work, even if he agreed. He's too fast and is too much of a sprinter.  We'd get in an argument after the first mile, I have a feeling.  

As always, I love this race and I am so happy that I'm still running and that I'll be able to participate.  When I was pregnant with Michael I was just weeks away from delivery and had no desire to run in this 10k; though I was extremely jealous of my fellow runners!  Also, around this point with my pregnancy with Michael running three was a tremendous struggle.  I got these awful side stitch cramp things.  Which made me feel reminiscent of running during middle school gym class after a lunch of 'tator tots (GROSS!) and chocolate milk (BARF!).   It will be interesting to see how the race goes for me and this babe.  It's fun to think that this is the second race that this baby will have run with me....  ; )

In other news, Michael related, I am becoming completely frustrated with the night-time routine.  Every evening he gets out of his bed at least four to five times a night.  It's not the middle of the night, it is as soon as we lay him down.  I'm trying to figure out some sort of consequence that will make him want to stay in the bed.  Time out seems silly(-he's getting out of going to sleep, which he WANTS!), we don't spank, my stern voice makes him laugh; so I'd say we're kind of up a creek right?  However, I may have (at least for tonight) gotten him where it hurts:  no cars (Wing-go, Leak Less, Lightning McQueen, Dinco Blue, DJ---all from the Cars movie)  tomorrow if he gets out of his bed one more time.  He initially laughed when I mentioned this, and then he realized that I was serious.  I asked him if he likes his new car- "Leak Less".  He said yes, and then I told him again--Leak Less will be taken by mom if you get up one more time.  So far, so good.  I absolutely refuse to start the whole laying down with him, rubbing his back, talking to him, etc, etc, to get him to sleep.  

Maybe I'm onto something....Let's hope, at least!

(The photo is from last year's race--a bunch of friends from school ran in this 10k.  We all had matching shirts!)

He really did say THAT.

(Photo from last March...)

Our son, our son, our son: is a piece of work. He is also a chip off the old block.

This afternoon I made Michael help me clean up his thousands of matchbox cars, flash cards, and animals. While we were cleaning, Michael handed me a little Easter basket that one of the daycare kids gave him last week. One of the handles was broken on the little basket. He said, "Here, Mom. This is a choking hazard."

I just wonder... Where, oh where, did he pick up this phrase? : ) Possibly his father??? Or, I suppose his mother??? He's really going to be a great big brother one day! : ) His poor sibling, however...

Once again, I managed to neglect all household duties today (mopping and vacuuming), so that I could finish The Glass Castle. It took me less than twenty-four hours to finish. This book is REALLY and truly THAT good. The story is depressing in certain respects, but the theme of survival and adversity is compelling and gripping. And the love and devotion for the author's family is also just unbelievable. (This book is a memoir.) Absolutely unbelievable. You really must find this book and read it. It's one that is good for the soul. My favorite review of The Glass Castle (by the Chicago Tribune) reads, "On the eighth day, when God was handing out whining privileges, he came upon Jeannette Walls and said, 'For you, an unlimited lifetime supply.' Apparently, Walls declined His kind offer."

Come Monday

Michael's sitter told me Friday that it's time to start the potty training process.  She gently and sweetly said that it would be a good idea to send him in with extra pants and his favorite cloth underwear.  I'm a little skeptical, but I know that he acts differently there.  He uses the toilet regularly throughout the day at her house, which just amazes me. 

 At home, when I ask him about using the toilet he tells me to set the timer, which really means-- LATER MOM, I'm playing and will not be bothered.  I know that he will likely catch on right away tomorrow and will probably not have an accident just because of Michael wanting to keep up with his peers.  He can be stubborn, though, so I think we're going to have more of a challenge at home with potty training.  

Yesterday he looked at me, and then down at his diaper, and said, "I'm peeing, Mom."  : )  I'm so grateful that our sitter is so willing to work with him, most places leave potty training totally up to the parent.  We'll see how tomorrow goes....

We've had a great day and a great weekend!  This morning Michael did a fabulous job at mass, no screaming!  And, we only brought one car, his blankie, and a tiny etch a sketch; which meant that the noise was kept to a dull roar.  We had brunch with Michael and Mary Jane and enjoyed a lovely visit.  This afternoon, Michael and I took a really long nap and then we vacuumed!  I love weekends when we hardly do a thing and stay really close to home.  

Too tired...

to do the photo albums this evening! 

Between the amazing Super Bowl, Michael sneaking into our bed in the middle of the night, Michael hogging the bed, running this am, and Josh being sick: I'm whooped!!  In fact, I should be in bed like the rest of my house right now.  I do believe it's time for another snow day!  (I kid, I kid...)  

This evening, during our family dinner, I realized how much we need to work with Michael on interrupting conversations.  It's actually, very annoying.  And, I suppose that I need to research this topic to figure how to handle the situation best. This evening the best I could come up with was something like this, "Michael, Mommy is telling a story right now.  If you would like more milk, you can ask when Mommy is finished her story.  Until then, I would like for you to sit and think about how you could ask for a glass of milk more politely."  It didn't really work, he continued to talk, interrupt, and so on.  I guess it's one of those things that just takes time....He is certainly the center of our world, and he knows this, very well.  

Any suggestions on the interruptions, comment away!  Using the phone these days is like virtually impossible.  I want to hide in the bathroom (and lock the door) when I receive a call.  Or, I just don't even bother to answer.  By the end of the day, sometimes it's just too much to try to talk on the phone and "teach" my son about manners.  I'm a little on the lazy side, I know...

How could I be mad?

When seeing this:

Because he made room so he could sit quietly in the basket and do this:

Michael is a reading fool these days! He remembers story lines and then repeats the story back to himself while quietly nestled in his little playroom.

What joy he brings to our lives!

If you would have told me that we would be re-visiting crying it out, I would not have believed you.

You can see where I'm heading with this...getting Michael to sleep has been a huge, huge, HUGE!! pain in the derriere for the past week. I'd love to use another word, actually...But, I'm working on the foul mouth that I used to have, so I won't.

It's taken about thirty minutes for Michael to settle himself this evening. Thirty minutes of whining, which then escalated into crying. Awesome.

So fun, right? And, we used our date night for politics last week? Seriously? What's wrong with us?

*******************

Okay, so changing moods, now...

Today was just wonderful! Really, aside from thirty minutes of whining when my nerves are shot; we've had an awesome day!

This morning we packed up and went on a train ride with our friends. Michael had a ball with his buddies.

We were home for about an hour, and then we headed out for a wedding. (Yes, Michael was invited.) We foolishly turned down my parent's offer to babysit.

The wedding was beautiful. Relaxed, elegant, and on the most beautiful farm...ever. Seriously. We're talking Southern Living beautiful.

I have lots of precious photos to share, so I'll probably make a montage or something. Stay tuned for a review of today's events.

Oh. And, there's a race tomorrow. Ten miles. I can do ten...

A Mind of his Own.

We must have been a funny sight.

The mom in her skirt and Dansko's with heels, the little boy pushing the lime green umbrella stroller loaded with cars and bath time ducks. Oh, and the negotiations, right in the middle of street: again, what a sight. The two year old temper tantrum and the frustration of the dressed up mama who was trying to move the two year old out of the *middle* of the empty street; probably tickled a few of our neighbors.

With that being said...

Guess who likes to PUSH the stroller of cars and ducks?

Guess who doesn't like to ride in the stroller?

Walks are *so* fun now. Life was a little easier when he didn't have a mind of his own...and, a mouth of his own..