What's up with this?

At about 1:15 every single day, I get very frustrated. My sweet little toddler works my last nerve at exactly the same time every day. I guess we both know when nap time is. I continue to struggle with patience.

Where I've been

Late last year, I contacted some former clients to see if they would be interested in my consulting services, part time. I had a taker and it is working out really well. I like being able to contribute to our family as well as to the industry I so dearly love. My main focus is remains Owen, but, I have a great opportunity to stay engaged for the day when he attends school, and even then, I can work more hours and still be around to pick him up from school. Needless to say, this has impacted my blogging. I can and will do better, please stay tuned.

The Young and Relentless - ep 1

I have been reading lots of books lately about parenting. Toddlers are tough characters, so tender one minute so outlandish the next. The most interesting thing I learned of late is that they treat their mothers differently than their fathers. In some cases, they save up all their mis-behaving for their dear old mommies. I am here to tell you this is T-R-U-E!

O vascilates between snuggly sweetie to arguing, button-pushing tyrant within minutes. The most charming characteristic of late is to never let me have one minute without doing something for him. Making play-doh guys, building block castles, you name it and he wants them all at once. Most of the time, I LOVE IT. I know he will never be this reliant on me for approval again and to cherish it. Plus, this is what I signed up for.

There will come a day when he won't let me pick him up, or make a castle for him. And then, there is the 2% of the time when I need to get to something that I just want to throw a sock at him. But, the best part of me realizes that this is a GREAT personality trait, I have it, too. It is a relentless tenacity to get whatever I want. I am grateful for this trait in him, and in me.

Girls weekend

This past weekend, I got away to Chicago to visit my long-time BFF. She lives there and we are two peas in a pod. Things that I got the check off my list...

Carried a handbag without a diaper in it
Drank cosmos til I fell asleep
Ordered Phad Thai delivery at 10 p.m.
Watched my BFF wash soy sauce out of her hair (hehe)
Slept on a couch
Woke up at 10:30 a.m.
Stayed in PJs until 5 p.m.
Had a girl date
Watched live theater
Watched a What not to weat marathon
Watched 27 Dresses and laughed til I cried

A good time was had by all, although, I really missed my boys.

Can't sleep

I have never been good at falling asleep. Most of my striving little life, it has been due to stress, panic, fear, worry and general insanity. The last two nights, I was unable to fall asleep because I was SO HAPPY. That is a new one, people. I really feel secure in my life right now, which would normally cause me great panic ("when life looks like easy street there is danger at your door" - thanks Jerry Garcia!) But right now, I am blissfully content. I know who I am, what my purpose is and what makes me happy. I know when I am not happy, how to get there. I have no earthly idea how this happened.

Up until Owen, I never thought motherhood was for me. In fact, even through his first year or so, I didn't think this would work out well. I am very different now. I hope it stays this way. I like this, A LOT. Don't get me wrong, I am still striving for the next big thing (opened a consulting business - more on that later), and trying to figure out when I can get that Benz I want, but for the big part of my brain, I feel really confident. I am the most important person in the world to someone who is learning everything from scratch. Not even a month ago this statement terrified me with the huge-ness of it, now, I feel very strongly that I am doing a good job WAY more times than not and I am even getting some delish validation (mommy, I love you soooo much!)

What a crazy turn of events, indeed.

WTF, people?!?

So, my son likes Princess dolls, what's the big deal??

What luck

How lucky am I that I have a toddler who can and will tell me when he is tired and hungry? We avoid more tantrums with this alone. He will literally tell me when he is ready to go to bed and then last week told me, let's go brush our teeth and go to bed. LOVE IT. It is on the Top 10 things I love about my kid list.

Open Letter

Dear Walt Disney Company,

I have purchased two princess products in a row whose heads had come off through gentle play after less than a week. The first one came off in less than an hour. I grew up on Disney, have my son's room decorated with limited edition cels and even got engagede at the park. I am beyond disappointed in how shoddy your product is made. I would exchange my product if I had any confidence AT ALL that the head would remain secure.

Despite my child's affinity for your products, I am sorry to report, I will not be buying any more of your action figures with seams, because unfortunately, they suck. You excel at marketing, but you are woefully inept at producing a product that lives up to the promise. Thanks for making me explain to a disappointed 2-year-old what Super Glue does and why it is needed for people who choose to scrimp on production quality to bolster profits.

Tracey