1) Being sick for 5 days. 2) Not leaving the house for 5 days. 3) A Toddler who gets up 10 times in one night. 4) Only getting 2 hours of sleep, after being sick for 5 days. 5) Having the headache the size of Africa. 6) Hitting my ankle on the table, for the 10th time in one day. 7) Being so dizzy that I can't walk straight, past the table. 8) Homework. 9) The heaps of snow that encompass my driveway, front yard, and backyard. 10) Not working out, all week. 11) A 3 year old who says "I don't love you anymore, because you're grumpy" (ok, this one made me cry) 12) Crying for no reason at all. I hate being sick. It makes me emotional. 13) Dishwashers that don't empty themselves. 14) Laundry that doesn't fold itself. 15) The fact that the USPS wants to take away another day of mail service. 16) Facebook for being so dang addictive. (Brittany Stickel Sinzinger... look me up. haha) 17) Spilled milk. When it's done in a certain toddler's bed. Changing sheets, in a toddler bed, is almost impossible when the room won't stop spinning. Try it- it's a free acid trip! 18) My guilt for not being able to do what I normally do, while sick. 19) My dog, who likes to follow me like Mary's lamb. 20) That I was able to come up with 20 things that made me grouchy.............. today alone.
Snow storm '09 has hit central Ohio! We are literally snowed in. From what I can tell and from what I've witnessed: there's a layer of snow (about 2 inches), a layer of ice (about 1.5 inches), and more snow (probably 5 inches)... It's amazing.... and slippery... and dangerous... and I am glad I am at home, warm, and safe! Here are some pics I took with my phone (hence the not so great quality).
This is our backyard. See how our fire pit is almost swallowed by the snow? Poor fire pit!
This is our front yard.
This was taken a few hours ago. I think there's been snow added to that number!
If you live in a warm place... please don't tell me about it. I will cry.
**
PS- Did I mention I had the flu from Saturday night to yesterday afternoon? Can I tell you that I don't even remember posting on here, a couple of days ago. Yea. That's bad. Thank goodness the hubby has been taking care of me... and keeping me drugged, apparently.
I look at this photo and all I see is Andy... but it's really Adam. Same hair. Same silly face. Same type clothing. It's all Andy. He is his daddy's little clone.
So, it's no secret that Andy and I want more kids. One more, at least. We were talking to Adam about it, and trying to see if he wanted to have a brother or a sister, and what he would name him/her. So, here's how the conversation went:
Me: Do you want a brother or a sister?
A: You can have a brother, like Matty, in your belly.
M: You don't want a sister?
A: Well, maybe.
M: What would you name her?
(and after going through many names he settled on one)
A: Tinker Bell
M: I like that. What would you name a brother?
(Again more names were gone through)
A: A-Customer.
CUE Mommy and Daddy cracking up!
M: A-Customer? What?
Andy: Buddy, that is a GREAT name!
haha. So Tinker Bell and A-Customer.
*****
And, to make me want a baby even MORE.... Matthew slept in his big-boy toddler bed tonight. SIGH. I only cried a little. I will try to get a photo.
*****
Also- don't get any ideas... I'm not pregnant... we aren't trying... we're just talking and dreaming up what it would be like.... CRAZY, is what we decide it would be like. ;)
I know. I've been absent. But with good excuses. I have been SWAMPED with life. Ashley is successfully at school. I am sad, but I am also just REALLY tired from the traveling. 3.5 hours in a car isn't so bad... but it IS bad with two children! AH!
So anyway... to make up for my absentness (is that a word? no. who cares.) I give you something that my friend Elaine first did, and then she gave me a letter, so that I could come up with 10 things I like that start with the letter "T"! (whoa. All kinds of grammatical issues there. Again. I don't care.)
1) Time. I love time. I wish I had more of it.
2) Tea. I just recently started drinking hot tea. I really like it...with honey.
3) (baby) toes. I love those cute little chunky toes. :)
4) Thomas the Train. For entertaining my boys, of course!
5) Toast with peanut butter. M m m m m . That's all. It's just GOOD.
6) Tank tops. I wear one everyday, under my clothes. I have them in all colors, styles, brands...etc. They rock.
7) Toe polish. My piggies are never naked. I always have on toe polish!
8) Tongues. Ok, not really. I think they're gross. I mean...really gross.
9) Tantrums. They rock. I like them as much as I like tongues.
And the #10 favorite thing I like, starting with the letter "T".....
10) TOUCHDOWNS made by the STEELERS!! WOO WOO. Going to the superbowl...we're going to the superbowl... and I'm having a party...woo woo woo. {{Imagine me dancing around here...because I really was}}
I hope you feel more enlightened to know these fun facts about me! Have a nice day! :)
Sometimes I feel like I live in the Twilight Zone or Freaky Friday (minus switching places with my mom...which really would be interesting!). Sometimes I wonder if all mommies are this "lucky."
Here's how my Friday has gone. OH weekend, where are you?!
I woke up this morning and had a foot in my armpit. Thankfully it wasn't Andy's (this time!) but Adam's. OH, and he had drooled all over my pillow (MY pillow. The pillow on which I was NOT sleeping!).
I crept out of bed, in order to allow more sleep for Adam, and crept into the shower. You all know how well I succeed at taking showers! Only to be followed 2-minutes later by... the dog. sigh. At least it wasn't a kid.
Got out of the shower. The boys woke up. I bathed them, as well, because we were going to hit the road as soon as possible.
Not so much.
Turn on the news and see that they are serious about this weather. It was -12 degrees and with the windchill it felt like it was -30. Ok, so we'd wait until it was at least ZERO to leave.
So, I cleaned the house. Vacuumed. Folded a load of laundry. Played a game with Adam. Ran the dishwasher (which should have been done last night, but never got turned on! grr. I hate when that happens!) And then I had about 5 phone calls in a row.... which lead to....
Adam pooping his pants (oh yes, that's right!) and attempting to hide it from mommy... smearing it ALL over the bathroom floor, himself, and the toilet.
Shower #2 for Adam. Another cleaning for the bathroom. AND one more load of laundry in the wash.
OH yes- and a text message to daddy SHOWING him the bathroom. Lucky daddy. :)
Now?
The kids are napping (well, kinda. I can hear Matty talking to himself and I am sure Adam is jumping on his bed)
Mommy is eating (scarfing down) a bowl of soup. (hey, at least I am actually eating something!)
And I think my DVRd episode of Grey's Anatomy is going to get played.
Mommy needs a vacation!
~~~~
Oh- and did I mention my dad had his knee replaced this week?
(He's gonna shoot me for this... but I can't help myself!)
He's doing really well! He's walking a whole lot more than I expected! I get to "daddysit" him next week, because he can't be alone. Should be... interesting keeping the boys from hitting his leg! eek!
~~~
I'm gonna go "rest," until Adam comes out of his room, without any sleep, and insists upon staying up because "it's not dark outside, so I can't sleep yet!" sigh.
Driving today was interesting. Schools sent kids home early. It’s negative something outside. Winter…STINKS! But…I got some great photos of my kiddos today. We played outside. And there’s always hot chocolate to ease the cold.
I'm going to admit it...
I'm *not* doing well.
I'm *not* okay.
BUT
I feel at peace.
I know it's what is meant to be.
I know this is what happens eventually.
My brain and my heart aren't matching up here.
My Best Friend is moving 194.14 miles away. 3 hours 12 minutes away.
Sunday my little sister moves to Indiana and out of Ohio. My one time "baby," one time pest, and most recently... my best friend. I'm freaking out a little bit... I keep telling my brain that this is what is meant to be, that she will be fine, and that she is going to succeed beyond all measures... but my heart is so sad. My heart is missing her, already.
So, as therapy, I wrote this letter...
Dear Ashley-
I’ll be honest, I’m sad. I’m sad that you are 18 years old. I’m sad that it makes me even older (blah). I’m sad that I won’t get to see your beautiful face, as often as I get to now. I’m sad that we might not stay as close, as we are now. I am sad that you are growing up and don’t “need” me as much as you once did.
I. AM. SAD.
BUT
With that sadness, there is great happiness! I am so blessed to have you as my sister. I never once thought of you as anything less than my “full” sister. There is nothing “half” about our relationship or our sisterhood. Since the day you were born, and you were placed in my arms, you were my full-fledged baby sister. (umm…even that day I accidently dropped you. My bad. Sorry!)
There is happiness in my heart, knowing that you are succeeding in life. You are intelligent, confident, and an amazing young woman. You have such a heart for the Lord, and such a desire to grow in Him, and that is (and always has been) an inspiration to me.I am thankful that the Lord has given you such a loving heart and that you have allowed Him to shine through everything you do!
I never knew this day would be so hard. I feel as though one of my own kids is going off to school. I suppose in a way that is true. I took it upon myself to “mother” you in many ways. From changing your diapers and insisting upon feeding you, when you were a baby; to going on college visits and actively being a part of everything. I am so thankful for all of those days. I am so thankful you allowed me to be a part of those special times.
Dear sister, best friend, and beautiful woman, I wish you the best in this new chapter of life. I pray that the Lord lifts you up and helps you shine, in all that you do.I pray that you have fun, learn lots, and strengthen your being. I pray that you build strong, lasting relationships, with fellow believers; that you impact many, with your wisdom and charisma; and that you exude greatness, in all areas of your life.
And this verse just keeps popping up everywhere I turn. The Lord has shown me this verse, and He has had me use it with many areas of my life, and others’ lives and now I feel it is to be used by you. Pray this when you are weary. Pray this when you feel like you can’t study one more minute! Pray this when you are homesick. Pray this:
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
1) am not a lover of chocolate. I know. shocker. 2) like to eat lemons like oranges. 3) like pickles. You know, those really big ones. Sometimes they sell them on sticks, at the fair. 4) grew up not wanting children. Now, I can't imagine my life without my boys. 5) have changed my major 3 times- hence why I am still in school. 6) actually like school. Maybe I'll just be a professional student? 7) am a true emotional thinker. That is why I married a logistic. 8) like to text. I won't lie. I love it. I'm as bad as a teenager. 9) have a government approved phone, for military personnel, that will supposedly stand up to any form of trauma, because my husband is tired of me breaking phones. Apparently, if I break this phone.... then I've got something on the military. 10) didn't get my license until I was 18. 11) don't like to drive. 12) think snow is the worst form of weather. Why do I live in Ohio? 13) have always wanted to live in Toronto. It's still one of my favorite places to visit. 14) always have cold feet. 15) drink way too much coffee. 16) like to paint, and even have one of my paintings hanging in my house. I wish I had more time to paint.
My friend Rose, over at A Little White Space, tagged her readers, she was tagged by Tracey. I accepted the tag.
Matthew, Matty, Matt, MachewPechew, Matticus, Matt-Matt, Little Bit, Shorty.... So many names in such a short time.
I'm not sure how this happened. I'm not sure how I fell in love with yet another wonderful boy. I wasn't sure it was possible. I wasn't sure I could love another child, as much as I loved Adam. AND it took merely seconds, and I did. Oh, Matty, my sweet little boy, mommy loves you SO much. You are an amazing, intelligent, and charismatic little boy. You think you're as big as your brother. You're his shadow, in every single way. You try to climb the counters, you try to climb mommy, you TRY.TO.CLIMB.EV-ER-Y-THING! You love taking photos with mommy's camera, or the "cheeese, mamera" as you call it. You like chasing the dog and cat around, yelling "Dog, dog! Kit-tay! Saaaaadie! Sameeeey!" And eventually you body slam one of them, cracking up at your accomplishments. You really are an amazing child, Matthew! You're so different from Adam, so uniqly made, and I am SO in love with you. I can't possibly list everything you do, or everything I love about you-- there's just TOO much to list. You might sequentally be the #2 child, but you are as equally AS loved and as equally AS important as the #1. WE love you, Littlest Bubba!
1) Taking the Christmas photos off of the camera. All 500 of them.
2) The fact that Ashley is leaving (me) in 13 days. 200+ miles away. (Maya- where in Indy are you? Can you watch my little sister for me??)
3) Organizing my cabinets, drawers, and pantry. I always say I am going to do this and then I don't.
4) Laundry. What else is new here?
5) God. Yea- He tells me things sometimes, and sometimes I don't listen. That usually leads to some form of disappointment on my part. I want to listen this time.
6) Confrontation. I'm a people pleaser. This is a bad thing. I usually get walked on and I tend to do things I don't really want to do, because of this. This should stop.
7) Eating more candy. Why avoid this any longer? really?
8) Photos (yes, again). I know, you want to see photos. Come back tomorrow.
Ugh. I am in a funk. Andy has been off for the past week and a half, the house is in shambles, we've spent a lot of time at home (which really isn't good...I need outta here!), we've had a lot of house guests in and out, Adam puked for a day, I can't seem to get the motivation to do anything, and well... I am SO. READY. FOR. A. NEW. WEEK! I love my hubby, but OH my... I need him to go back to work. I love my house, but OH my... I need out of it! I love not having classes... but... no, I love not having classes. Seriously, though, I need structure. I need a schedule. I need things to do! So, I am ready. BRING IT ON, January! :)
(And on the baby front)- I really just wanted to mess with you all. I know, I know, I know...we are behind on the baby making train. But think about it... did we really have time to make another kid in 2008? NO. Do we really have time NOW? Not so much. I will let you know, though, that you will all be amongst the first to know, when we *ARE* pregnant again. I promise.
Have a great rest of the weekend, friends! :)
Ugh- and no photos. Why? Because I still need to get the Christmas ones off of the camera. I know. slacker.
1) Being sick for 5 days.
