Runaway Toddler!

I didn't get to post this the other day because Blogger was doing system maintenance but I still wanted to share my experience. 

It was Thursday, The Boy and I both have to get up early on these days since we have school and work.  I, not having any luck sleeping the past month, kept hitting snooze.  He came in to tell me he had school so I got up, got in the shower and got dressed.  Now, during this time, like any other morning, Dad is usually watching him and they watch cartoons, go outside, find unhealthy snacks to eat when I'm not looking - the usual grandfather/grandchild stuff.  When I was ready to go I went in the kitchen to ask where he was.  Dad replied that he was watching cartoons in the living room.  I went back and checked - no kid.  The front door was open so I went out to see if he was on the porch - no kid.  I started to panic.  I called his name from the front porch and told dad to check the backyard.  I went further out from the house calling and calling.  Finally, I heard him off in the distance "Momma, Momma."  He was across the street in the neighbors backyard.  I was so relieved to see him and so livid that my dad never noticed he went out the front door. It turns out he had let Jake, the dog, out the front door and was going to get him.  Jake usually runs all over the next neighborhood over and in the woods when he gets out so I'm so luck I caught him before he had time to venture too far away.  And now, the door remains closed and dead bolted at all times.  Kids!

My Mother's Day Blessings

Today was Mother's Day.  Not only am I blessed to have a wonderful Mother who has been a great role model and shown me how to be loving, caring, compassionate and giving but I have two wonderful children who look up to me to do the same.

I am thankful today, as everyday, to have such blessings in my life.  I know being a mother would not be possible if not for my wonderful husband who helped me create our little miracles.  He is truly my better half, my rock when I need strength and my sounding board when I've had a bad day.  I am so lucky that he puts up with me and my deployment mood swings and reassures me everyday that I am doing a great job as mommy and wife. 

I was able to sleep in till 9am this morning, but staying up till 1:30 the night before doesn't really give you the rest sleeping in is supposed to provide, but it was great none-the-less.  Once we were all up and dressed we grabbed brunch at the Golden Corral.  They were super busy but we were able to get a table right away and were lucky enough to get samples of both breakfast and lunch menus.  I'm usually not a fan of buffets but the food was fresh and delicious.  I guess it pays to go when it's busy so everything is replenished in a timely manner.  After brunch we bought groceries, chatted with Luis on web cam and lounged around the house.  Dad wasn't feeling well come dinner time, so Mom and I took the kids to a new Mexican restaurant in town.  The food was the best Mexican food I've had since I left Texas!  I was quite pleased.  They even gave us complementary chocolate covered strawberries for the holiday.  We spent the rest of the evening playing in the backyard and feeding the fish in the pond.  Poor Gabe missed his nap today so he went right to sleep when I laid him in bed.  Once can only hope that means he sleeps in tomorrow, but I doubt it, in which case I'll be up at 6:30am bright and early. 

It's Tough Being a "Single" Parent

I'm sure any fellow milspouse who has ever moved in with family while their husband is deployed can relate the the stress I sometimes find myself in.  Don't get me wrong, my parents are wonderful.  They watch the kids for me anytime I ask so that I can go to work, run errands, or see friends.  They help me pay for our essentials like food, diapers, etc. I am very fortunate that I have such a wonderful support system.

Despite all the bells and whistles that come with moving back in with my parents come the negatives.  For instance, my Dad does not understand or accept, depending on how you look at it, that he can't be the grandparent all the time when his grandchildren live with him.  There has to be a line.  I am forever telling The Boy he can't do or have something because with the grandparents he always can.  Now Mom is a little better at this than Dad, so I'll give her some credit there.

Tonight I just become overwhelmed by it all.  My dad gets so mad when I put The Boy in time-out for telling me "No" or refusing to eat his dinner because one of them mentions the word 'ice cream' as a snack for later.  I am the only parent, despite all the assistance, I am the one who has to be the enforcer -- all the time.  It stinks.  Dad told me today he didn't understand why I wouldn't give him a cookie when he asked.  I told him, in probably not the best way, that he didn't need a cookie, he hadn't eaten anything to speak of besides popcorn and whatever snacks he found while I was at work.  He had slept through lunch and it was apparent that we weren't fixing dinner due to our late lunch.  He just didn't need a cookie and I said "No."  Needless to say that conversation didn't end well, but I am his mother for cryin' out loud.  End vent.

Luis tells me all the time that I am too hard on them and they are trying to help, blah, blah, blah.  I just keep telling myself I'm not the only one who has been down this road, and this too shall pass.


On a random side note: Luis started a blog as well.  He did pretty good for his first one so please take a moment and check him out at A Soldier's Quest. 

He calls me 'Mom'

I have the most adorable two-year old boy anyone can ask for but I'm sure anyone with a two-year old can tell you how frustrating the job of Mommy can be at times.  I have to say right now my biggest frustration and pet-peeve is that he calls me 'Mom'.  Like a moody teenager, everything is "Hey, Mom" or "Ok, Mom."  I just don't like the ring to it like I do 'Mommy' from my sweet little boy.  Yes, I know I am crazy but it just gets under my skin. 

Gabe and Mommy - July 2009

 In other news I got absolutely nothing accomplished today for the upcoming trip to Texas other than a mani/pedi that I have needed ever since, well, I can't remember the last one I got, and I bought a dress for the wedding.  I'll be glad when I actually start seeing results from my weight loss and can feel comfortable in clothes again.  The gloomy weather sure hasn't helped that depression any either.  But with a little bit of sunshine this week I actually took the time to style my hair.  It's the small things in life, really.  I posted the picture on Facebook to celebrate the occasion and was greatly surprised by the amount of love and support my FB friends have shown me.  It truly lifted my spirits when I really needed it.  For that I am thankful.

Where is my energy?!

I don't know what it is, no scratch that, I know it's this deployment that makes sleep evade me.  When The Hubby is home we are in bed by 9 pm and snoozing away in about an hour.  However, trying to stay connected on opposite sides of the world makes my bedtime hover somewhere between 11pm and 1am.  Staying at home with the kids would make you think I could squeeze in a nap, but that is hardly ever the case.

Today was a pretty easy Sunday.  I was able to sleep in till about 9am with a few interruptions in sleep around 7am or so from The Boy.  After breakfast we headed off to Lowe's to get some pegs for our pantry and some recycling bins.  Mom and I have been reorganizing the food supplies so we can make our shopping lists easier.  Also, this past weekend was Sissy's first time sitting up in the cart alone.  She loved it.  She didn't know what to look at!

After that I cooked pulled pork for dinner; it was delicious, got lost driving to a friends house and watched a movie with The Boy.  He's getting so big so fast that I treasure the times when he wants to sit in my lap and give me kisses.  He melts my heart and brings tears to my eyes.  I can't imagine Sissy being as big as her brother, but I know that day is coming.