Three Years

Today is our third anniversary.  Three years. 

Wow, back then I had no clue that where I am today is where I would be three years later.  Back in Chicago-land.  Back in school (and almost to graduation).  Back to a healthier weight (I was at my heaviest on my wedding day).  A mom.  That's the biggest one.  Never thought I would be a mom. 

In marriage counseling.  Maybe that is the biggest one.  You don't get married and envision the day when it all falls apart. 

We've both grown and changed in so many ways....and unfortunately we didn't grow and change together.  So now we see this therapist every week who attempts to help us mend what we broke.  Ugh, it's tough.  It's really tough.  But I can't help but think ahead to our 4th anniversary....  what will I say on that blog?

It's crazy how life throws things at you that you normally wouldn't even consider as a possibility.  I guess that's why it's so good that we aren't in control.  Well, completely.

Aaanyway.

I forgot to mention yesterday that we found a new childcare arrangement for Kage.  I put in her very first "two weeks notice" and committed to the new day care lady.  There were many reasons for my decision to move her....but overwhelmingly the reason was the commute.  It was at least a 30 minute drive from our door to hers.  And that just isn't cool.  The new place, is maybe 5 minutes.  And the lady is amazing.  Super friendly.  Super clean.  A great mom.  And has a 15 year old daughter that loves night and weekend babysitting.  Can't beat that!  So mid July, Kage will be making the transition.  I hope that she's as happy with our decision as we are.

Lucy and Kinley have started wanting to take naps together.  Or....Lucy naps all day in the glider and Kage wants her to stay in there when she goes down for her nap.  But you can see why this is not a good idea.  Instead of going to sleep, Kin "shares" all of her sleeping pals with Lucy.  Even the paci gets tossed to Lucy.  And then Kage cries because Lucy won't give it back. 

It's just not a good idea for them to share a nap time.

Bored so I write about a board...

What I've been praying for, and wishing would happen, did.  Kinley put herself to sleep for both naps and bed time.  Although bed time was a little more of a struggle.  For both naps, she cried for maybe 5 minutes and then went to sleep.  And she slept for almost two hours for the first one and about an hour and a half for the second.  HUGE jump from her normal half hour nap.  AND, she woke up quiet and played nicely in her crib until I came to get her.  That hasn't happened in months.  It was like a different baby. 

Last night we were watching Survivor when she started getting super fussy.  I asked her if she wanted to go to sleepy and nurse and she huffed and puffed and cruised over to where I was sitting on the couch.  So off we went to her room to rock and nurse.  She nursed both sides and was still restless so I had Richie come up and tell her good night with me.  We put her in her crib and left.  She cried for about 7 or 8 minutes and we went in to comfort her again.  We walked back out and she cried hard for about 5 minutes.  Richie and I went back again to comfort her and I had Richie hold her next to her crib until she calmed down.  I had to leave the room because she knows how she can manipulate me and get her way and she uses that to her best ability!  haha  So I walked out and she cried.  After she calmed down, Richie laid her back down and she fell asleep.  And she's STILL asleep!  That's from 9:00 last night!  Woohoo!  But to be honest, I feel like I'm neglecting her.  I hate that she falls asleep by herself.  :(

I woke up a little early this morning.  A bad dream was haunting me and every time I closed my eyes, it picked up right where it left off.  I hate when my dreams impose a behavior on Richie that he would never have in real life.  But that's what happened.  I know that it's my past experience with my ex-husband that does that to me.  Behaviors that he had and what they did to me emotionally are still buried deep in me and fortunately they only come to life in my dreams.  So I was up in time to see Richie off for work. 

This new job is really taking a toll on him.  They work *a lot* of hours.  A lot.  He's gone from 5:30 in the morning till about 6 at night and come to find out yesterday, they work full days on Saturday too.  The paychecks will be amazing....but it's wearing on him.  I hate it and am going to try my best to make his time at home easy and relaxing.

It's funny how my goal of emptying the pantry and refrigerator makes me feel accomplished but makes Richie panic.  Last night he said "we have no food!  go to the store!"  haha, yet he ate a hearty meal and had lunch for today!  I admit it's getting a bit bare around here (I almost took a picture for this blog, but then realized that you probably don't care how empty (accomplished) my pantry looks and probably wish I'd quit blogging about stupid food!).  I may go shopping today.  We're out of Gatorade and Richie needs that for work and like I said, making his time relaxed and easy....remember?

Last night we were discussing ways for me to be able to bring in a little income without leaving the house, cause let's face it.  With his work schedule, there are no hours in the day that I could work.  Aside from Sundays, but that's family time.  I'm thinking about doing tutoring.  In the evenings a night or two a week?  What "qualifies" you as a tutor?  I would think that being two semesters from graduating with my degree in eled makes me qualified?  Maybe not?  Anyone have experience with this?

And yes, we had to order a new power cord for the Dell last night.  Kinley's trauma to the adapter is not fixable even though I've wrapped it up in packing tape.  So we did what good little money savers do and searched it up on ebay.  Paid 9.99 with free shipping!  Score!  From the Dell store, it was 65.99.  No joke.

I'm in search of a bulletin board.  I want one for my kitchen.  We have SS appliances and I guess you aren't supposed to use magnets on them.  So where can I put all of my stuff?  I have my ongoing lists for the stores that I need to go to....menus....our "what we spent this week" list and ummmmmm, I don't know.  Other bulletin board stuff that I want to put on there.  So I'm searching for a cheap one that I can make cute.  What do you have in your kitchen to keep you organized?  Or do you not keep that stuff in your kitchen?

If you haven't today, remember to VOTE FOR KINLEY!  I know I'm annoying the crap outta you for this voting thing....but I have hope.  I know that she's not going to win the Fan Vote prize.  There are entries with like 100K votes and Kinley has like, 60.  But they are also choosing 20 faces in each category to win, regardless of votes.  So I'm just hoping to get a few votes to help get her noticed?  I don't know.  Just vote.

Quiet Around Here

I honestly have no clue how it is already 1:30 in the afternoon. Oh wait, maybe time got away from me when Kinley refused to nap today? That's probably it. Yeah, it's been one of those days. It started perfect...she got up at 7 (after I had gotten up at 6 to get Richie out the door for work), nursed, played, had breakfast, played some more, nursed and then went to sleep. Ideal! So I jumped in the shower only to hear "yayayayayayayayayayaya" when I got out. Ugh. Thirty minutes after I put her to bed, she decided she'd had enough.

That was where the day got away from me.

She's so tired that she almost fell asleep in her highchair during lunch. So I tried rocking her and nursing her to sleep but she was more interested in how hard she could pull my hair while she twisted it through her fingers...or how she could shove her fingers into my nostrils. Nap wasn't happening. So I decided that today would be a good day for her to try putting herself to sleep. It's been ten minutes and I still hear her playing. Not crying, though.

We have to meet the fourth and final pediatrician today at 3. Not only has the child not had her bath yet today, but she's also going to run out of time for that nap. She's going to be a real peach during that appointment! :)

I think my errands will wait until after Richie gets home from work. Did I mention TGIF?