Selfishness, disappointment and happiness

Selfishness

My birthday is in two weeks. I've had a few less than stellar birthdays over the last five years. It just always works out that unlucky way. This year, Bryan wanted to take me to Chicago to see shows and shop. I booked a gorgeous room with a view, found a babysitter and picked which shows I wanted to see. This was my present, and I was so excited about it!

Disappointment

And now a family thing has come up on the same weekend. Despite my weekend and non-refundable deposit, we have to go. I am so disappointed. I somewhat understand the importance of this family thing (inlaw thing), but I'm incredibly disappointed that A) my birthday weekend in Chicago is now cancelled and B) I now have to spend my birthday with my inlaws.

Happiness

In spite of all the recent "drama" we have had a huge milestone: Bryan finished his first (and very difficult) semester at his new university! After grades were entered, we all went for ice cream to celebrate. I'm so happy that Bryan is off for a month now, and we will see so much more of him!

Tonight we are going to a dinner hosted by Bryan's new boss for all the junior faculty and their families. This is like my favorite thing: being the arm candy at work events. We are bringing the little guy, too, so hopefully he cooperates. I'm packing a secret stash of pretzels and blueberries to use as bribes and pacifiers! Hahaha

Aaaaaaaaaand Friday, we are having our family pictures taken! I'm really excited. I asked my friends on Instagram which dress to go with, and there's an overwhelming majority for my white dress (which I wore in last year's family pictures). I do think I need to run to the mall to buy a colorful statement necklace, though! Bradley broke my favorite necklace last week at gymnastics (maybe I shouldn't throw him in the pit if he doesn't want to go...but that's another story), so I need a new one anyway!

And summer begins!

Bryan has had the toughest semester of his life, apart from that last semester before graduating with his doctorate degree. Three different classes, two of which were brand new to him, and the school was new with brilliant and perserverent students.

And it has finished!!!! Well, there's still two classes to grade and input those grades, but for the most part, he's done!

I'm so happy for him. He busted his ass this semester, and he nailed it! He really has proven himself at this new job and his new university. Moreover, his hard work has allowed me to continue to be the sole caretaker of our kid and pursue my non-office related dreams (which sometime include baking cookies and eating them warm from the oven). I'm grateful for Bryan, proud of him and so glad for him that the worst is behind him!

The summer class is one of his favorite classes to teach - and the real reason they hired him. He will teach 700+ students in two sections of this in the fall, so everything will be easier. It's a class he loves, has taught many times and will teach multiple sections of in a semester. No more three different classes! He did it!

So now begins our summer in which I let Bryan sleep in, in which we eat pizza, in which we watch movies, travel to Chicago, visit the local museum, go to the pool, hang out in pjs until too late in the day, and do whatever we want on no schedule in particular. 

It's a full month off for him, and I'm so excited! If I was working an office job (which for every other break, I was), I would be so jealous. Now I am so happy because it means a month of the three of us hanging out, playing, making memories and doing what we do best: leisure.

Bring. It. On.

My obedient one year old

In MY house, ain't no baby gonna run the show. 

Obviously, we make sure our baby gets a full nights sleep, a good nap, three meals and enough milk each day. 

One of my favorite accomplishments, much like my mother, in motherhood is raising a contentious, obedient member of the family. Here is a list of the chores my 21 month old does on a regular basis, organized by level of interest.

Loves It

Throwing diapers/trash/tissues away

Getting me a water bottle

Bringing me or Bryan our shoes

Turning on the roomba

Making coffee

Turning on the kitchen lights

Setting the table

Emptying the clean silverware from dishwasher

Checking the mailbox

Complies Easily

Picking up trains, puzzles, Lego people, movies, books, shopping cart, pillows, etc

Put dirty clothes in hamper

Complies Reluctantly

Put clean clothes in drawers

Help collecting laundry baskets for me to do laundry

Carrying things to/from the car

Getting a new diaper

Requires Constant Encouragement 

Picking up Lego blocks

Putting away batman car

Getting his own shoes

Putting away games with lots of pieces

(Note to self: Put this in the year 2 book!)

Brain dump

If I see one more pintrest pin of califlower, ONE MORE DAMN PIN, I will scream. I made cali-tots as a healthy alternative to tater tots (which we don't really eat), and I wanted to vomit. I think I hate califlower. If I could block c-flower from my internet, I would.

There's a brand new firehouse opening tomorrow right next to my house! This is dangerous. All we need is a PF Changs and I have all my favorite restaurants on the same street as our home.

Bryan's on day one of finals week, and his last final is Friday afternoon. I'm trying to be a good wife and refrain from texting him mindless updates. I've also been packing him a giant Monster energy drink in his lunch instead of diet coke which I think forgives me from any "When will you be done today?" texts.

My Mother's Day was lovely. Lazy, delicious and complete with a three hour nap for all of us. Flowers, panera breakfast, hibachi dinner and lots of hugs. I'm also doing family pictures as my annual tradition (started last year) of Mother's Day present. The only time of year we dress up and get an annual portrait...which I will frame and use as a profile picture.

Sooooo, that's probably it. Huzzah.

Life lately

Things have been oddly routine.

The routine of work and weekly schedule is pretty regular. Each morning, we wake between 6:45-7:30 depending on Bradley usually. If he sleeps in, we all sleep in. Bryan's alarm goes off at 6:45 and we snooze or we get up based on whether we hear little noises coming from down the hall.

We eat breakfast as a family each morning, and even though we all eat something different, it is such a great way to start the day. Bradley had milk, Cheerios and fruit. Bryan has coffee and whatever chocolate cereal is on the shelf. I have juice, water, toast and fruit.

I've started a technology regimen where I check all my social media and blogs and email before I get Bradley in the mornings, at naptime and after he goes to bed. It's been great to put my phone on the counter and not play or check anything when I'm with my kid. I'm so much more present (New Years resolution) and there's more to check on my "breaks."

I've continued working out four mornings a week, taking Tuesdays off to do the library program for toddlers. I'm impressed that I've committed to something for four months now. I've been maintaining a 13 pound weight loss and my runs are longer and easier than when I started. Bradley even enjoys the child watch, playing with the train table and coloring. After the gym, we go to the pool and splash around for at least 20 minutes. Bradley has gotten more adventurous. He used to only go up to his ankles, but now he is comfortable up to his chest. I enrolled him in swim lessons in June. I needed to know he was comfortable before I signed up for them!

Bryan is in the last week of classes, and next week is finals week. He is so relieved. It was easily his most difficult semester of his career, three new and different preps at a new university on short notice. I'm so proud of him! And the end is near!! We have a fun summer packed into the month he has in between spring and summer sessions including a trip to Chicago!! Ahh!

I haven't really known what to write lately since things are pretty regular. I should do a day in the life post, sometime. Also a Bradley update since he's changed so much from the last one. 

We're doing our thing and it's a good thing we've got going on.

We heart Easter

Before we had a kid, Bryan and I used to switch off who would hide eggs each year and laugh as the other tried to find them. Then we would do our favorite tradition: chocolate for breakfast.

This year, our kid is old enough to get the concept of find the eggs (we hope), and we will try tomorrow. I'm debating whether Bradley should get to forgo his usual Cheerios and fruit breakfast...

It's been a good but crazy week. Bradley had his first awful tantrum, his first bloody face (running too fast on the sidewalk), and Bryan skipped work yesterday to hang out and play.

I've been a little under the weather this week, and I've enjoyed the extra help from Bryan. We even made Mac and cheese for dinner last night...rebels!!

I lost 15 pounds. I'm impressed with myself. All it took was 3.5 months at the gym 4 days a week for an hour and eating right. It has actually had a positive effect on our bank account because we don't/can't eat out and make healthy choices. I am only 5 pounds away from what I was before I had Bradley. While it took me much longer than most moms to lose the weight, I'm proud that I finally have! Bring on the shorts and tiny dresses and bathing suits, baby!

So today, we've started a new Easter tradition, for the Saturday before to go to breakfast with our friends-turned-family Isaac and Julia and their kid. Tomorrow, we will go to the best brunch place in the morning and come home to find eggs (or vice versa). 

For us and our odd perspective on the world sans religion, Easter is a beautiful reminder of spring, fertility, dress season and chocolate. Bring it on! Happy Easter!

Bits about Bradley

He is quick to laugh. Sometimes, like today, I said, "Oh yea!" and he just lost it like it was the best joke ever. Or in the car, Bryan made a good joke and we high fived and Bradley thought that was hilarious. So we high fived, listened to him crack up, high five, laughed. His laugh is adorable and we can't help ourselves.

He has always been attached especially to me, and lately, he's become a serious sidekick. Mama everything and like a puppy, follows me almost everywhere. 

After months of not using sign language, Bradley started back up. He signs milk, all done, help, and more whole speaking them. It's interesting that he started without anyone signing to him. It's like he remembered he could sign. It's cute because they are slightly off, but they are surprisingly close.

I wish Bradley ate everything we put in front of him, but he doesn't. He will eat any fruit, bread, cracker, bacon/salami, French fry, cucumber, rice, hot dog, pasta, peanut butter and obviously chocolate/ice cream. 

He's EXTREMELY sensitive (mostly dramatic) if anything he eats is remotely spicy. I am talking crocodile tears, tongue out, wiping tongue with both hands while weeping "Picey!!" It's so sad when it happens (I may or may not have accidentally given him a chile pepper straight on his tongue). Buuuuuuuuut 9 times out of 10, it is not spicy at all. Sometimes it is plain bread that he just doesn't want to eat. 

We watched Frozen (like everyone else in the world) and there is a part (SPOILER ALERT), a really quick scene, where a boat is out to sea and then a wave crashes over it and you don't see the boat anymore. Bradley always speaks up during this part, saying "Boat! Boat" and then, every time, "All gone." When the wave pulls the boat underwater. I don't think he fully understands the scene, but I was surprised at his ability to understand what he saw and then speak what he's thinking. 

He's a weird kid. Sometimes he has OCD tendencies. We visited a museum where they had lots of pretend ears of corn. There were several baskets with maybe 10 corn cobs in them. Bradley would take them all out and line them up on the floor, side to side. Bryan would mess with his line whenever he turned around, and Bradley would fix it. Every. Time.

He figured out how to knock on doors this weekend. He just walked up to a door and knocked on it. Out of nowhere and then said Hoo Hoo. It took me a bit, but he's referencing Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? 

This kid is happy to be traveling, and is usually pretty good. But man, he's probably the most happy to be home out of all of us. Crossing my fingers for him to be so so happy that he sleeps in!

Bubbles!!

Random moments

Tying shoes, fluffing pillows, prepping dinners, prepping lunch, prepping breakfasts, driving, helping.

"Gimme some fucking fried rice."

"If you eat my tiramisu, I will literally kill you. Or smack your face."

I'm so ready for peace. This week has been weird. Good, but really weird.

Today.

Today could be another six sentence story if only I would allow myself time to process.