My Monday Musings - Where Do I Fit?

Not sure where to begin today's muse...and I'll keep it nice and short. But for the last few days I've felt out of the loop. I've don't think I've been more tired than usual but maybe I have? Tired is my perpetual state of being and I cringe to think what I will feel like when baby girl arrives.

I feel like I'm missing something and at night? My mind races. I'm thinking about blogs and twitter and the things I didn't do that I wanted to do but forgot.

And then there are the things I want to say to people but don't. Why not? I'm afraid they won't get it. Or they will think I am being a big baby. I think this is the place I am feeling most out of the loop.

So many thoughts...so little time. Sorry for being all over the place and probably being the most boring post ever!

My Monday Musings - Time to Write

I went back and forth today with what to muse about and yet here I am at 8 at night trying to get a post done. I never had enough time to really think about what I was going to write about because it seems anytime I do jump online I get sucked into the 5 things I needed to look up, catching up with Twitter and Facebook or doing something mindless that I never intended to do.

Yesterday I posted about writing and how I wanted to do it more and do it better. I think in order to do that I need to set time aside to do the writing. Even if it's just an outline or a paragraph about nothing. In the end it's something, right?

I have to admit, when I worked I felt like I had all the time in the world. Yes, even though I was in an office 8 hours a day. I was on a computer all day and it was so easy to jot down ideas or actually hash out a short story. And yet I was always one of the most productive employees in the office. I was the go-to girl. I knew how to organize my work and my time.

But now with a house, a husband and a child...I feel like I am always fighting to get a few minutes of me (i.e., internet) time without someone wanting or needing something. It is quite a conundrum but one I need to figure out and soon.

How do you organize your day and your time? Do some days feel like a battle for the time you covet? Share your secrets, please!

My Monday Musings - Mommy, Mommy

Today's musing is brought to you by the word Mommy. A word that can be said with many a different meaning. But today I am going to talk about what it means when my son whines says it.

Being a stay-at-home has it perks. I can stay in my pj's and Spencer doesn't know the difference. When we wake, we can lounge in bed and snuggle without me worrying about being late for work or him for daycare.

But being a stay-at-home can also wreck havoc. I am the one person Spencer sees all day, every day. When he hurts himself he screams for me. When Daddy is disciplining and he doesn't like what he's being told? He screams for me. I hear "mommy, mommy" more times than I ever imagined I would.

I remember when he started making sounds and everything I read said he would say dada first. Guess what? He didn't. His first word was mama. And he would say it all day long! mamamamamam It was cute and endearing and I didn't mind at all. I even would reply with dada. I wanted my husband to have something endearing but it was a little while before dada came.

Then the day came when he switched from mama to mommy. It all seemed so grown up and I realized he really was moving out of the baby/infant stage into the toddler/big boy stage. I am mommy and he never lets me forget it. Not that I would, because it is one of the best titles I have ever held.

But there are times that I wish he would call for his daddy. That he would want his daddy. Those times? In the middle of the night when he should be sleeping but for whatever reason he wakes and can't settle himself back to sleep. It's that mommy, mommy, mommy that I wish was daddy, daddy, daddy. Not that daddy doesn't try...he does. But the only thing that it creates is a hysterical child screaming even louder for mommy.

Have I created a monster? Will he really wake up one day and realize that daddy is cool beans and mommy is not? And will I suddenly wish he was calling mommy once again?

My Monday Musings - Christmas Edition

No real musings today, instead I am going to leave you with a few of our Christmas pictures. Seems that is the thing to do, as just about everyone in the blogosphere has done some sort of Christmas recap.

Our Christmas was just the three of us and we were lucky that all the 'bad' weather made for a great day...because Hubby was able to stay and enjoy Christmas. He had originally been scheduled to work. I consider that our very own Christmas miracle. Anyhoo, without further ado a few shots of our day.

My Monday Musings

Today's musing is brought to you by the holiday season. We are in it now and there is no turning back...and yet for many it's a time of stress and running around and trying to accomplish a list a mile long before the big day.



I hear and read about how many people enjoy this time of year and all the trimmings that go along with it and yet I also hear an earful from those that can't wait for it to be over. When did we get so preoccupied with so many things that it keeps us from truly enjoying the reason for the season?

Even if you aren't a Christian, there are so many things to celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice. It's a time of good cheer and kindness and yet when you go out many are so stressed you can't feel the cheer. From people being rude in stores, to stores not being able to say Merry Christmas.

I understand not everyone celebrates Christmas and I enjoy seeing how other cultures and families celebrate this time of year but is it really offensive to have someone tell you Merry Christmas? They aren't do it to know your beliefs or even get you to convert. People truly need to lighten up. I'm tired of everyone being so politically correct.

I want to enjoy the season. I want to see people smiling and holdings doors open for their fellow man. Even when I am in a funk, I turn on the Christmas music station and sing along. Nothing breaks the mood or road rage like belting out Frosty the Snowman,off key.

How about you? Do you love the season? Do you take time to slow down and enjoy it?

My Monday Musings

This week's muse is brought to you by grandparents. I usually don't talk about family, especially if it may appear to be negative but this week I am going to go out on a limb and just do it.

I don't really remember my grandparents at a young age or as a small child. It seems I just remember them as I was a bit older. I remember it wasn't my favorite thing to go visit, because truth be told? There wasn't anything fun to do at grandma and grandpa's house. The only time it was fun? If a few of my cousins were going to be there.

I vowed things would be different for Spencer (and eventually baby girl). His grandparents are young enough to want to have fun with him and spoil him rotten. He doesn't have to sit still and behave or not be heard (children should be seen and not heard mentality). He can run and jump and scream. It's great, even if I do spend time trying to make sure he doesn't break anything. But it's a big change from how I remember visits went for me as a kid.

What hasn't changed? This need for grandparents to demand kissed and hugs from the little ones. The urge to want to just eat them up as soon as they walk through the door, honestly? Bugs the crap out of me.

I remember having to be told to make sure I kiss and hug grandma/grandpa, etc. I hated it. I grew to resent visits even more because of it. I didn't want to smell the perfume or feel the scratchy whiskers. I wanted to hug and kiss them because I wanted to, not because I was told to.




It is this reason that I will never force my kids to kiss or hug their grandparents if they don't feel like it. Be it that they are in a cranky mood or just a mood period. I want them to be excited to see their grandparents and want to love on them. I don't want to see crying faces as grandma comes in for a kiss or forces one to be given. Cajoling him into it by pretending your sad or your feelings are hurt? That's manipulation and it isn't fair to him.

And shouldn't grandparents want the same? I understand loving your grandchildren to pieces but making them do something they don't feel like? How is that helpful? It's one thing to make them mind when they are doing something dangerous, but avoiding kisses and hugs? It isn't hurting anyone.

Maybe I am weird in thinking like this? Anyone else feel the same?

My Monday Musings

Today's musing is brought to you by yesterdays stream of consciousness post. There isn't a day that goes by where I feel overwhelmed as a mother. I spend more days with just Spencer than anything else and after a day of tantrums and whining, it can make you wonder how everyone else does it.

When I get a chance to hop online and I read about a mommy blogger with several kids under 3 and see all she has accomplished, I can't help but wonder. I will see how she managed to run errands, get the house clean and cook a fabulous meal and still managed to look hot for her husband when he gets home. Or maybe she works part-time and still manages all these things. I have to wonder what in the heck is wrong with me?





Add to that the fact that some blog every day and well you can just stamp fail on my forehead. For goodness sake I have ONE child. It shouldn't be this hard, right? Of course now I am pregnant and that's sapping the life out of me but still. WAH!

I have seen plenty of bloggers ask those that seem to have their act together, how they do it. You know what? I have yet to see an answer. Seems everyone is looking for more time in the day or some way to organize their day but the ones that truly have it together? Their lips are sealed...

Do you feel you have it together? How do you do it? Any tricks or tips you care to share? Trust me, a lot of us would be grateful!

My Monday Musings

Today's musing is brought to you by the letter's T, S, and A. That's right I'm going to be talking about the T.S.A. It's the #1 topic on the national nightly news, no matter what anchor you choose to watch. I usually don't put my two cents in about things pertaining to flying because I have a different insight to those things. But with this one...I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. So bear with me, whether you agree or not.

The T.S.A was created after 9/11 and when you think about what happened that day, it seemed like a great idea. But honestly, it was probably created too quickly. Many of the agents didn't have to have ANY specialized training. And in certain airport they were on power trips, which I witness more than once. Also, nothing was ever the same depending on which airport you were flying in and out of. But as travelers we adjusted and grinned and bared it when travel rules changed.

Okay, no problem. I am all for safety when it comes to flying. It's my husband's job and I want him to be safe and in turn, all those that fly with him to be safe as well. I took pride in my fellow Americans and how no matter what the rules, if someone was going to be a douche on a plane - we weren't going to take it.

Sadly this doesn't apply to the T.S.A. When they are douchey, we can't disagree. And now? Now we are subject to some serious pat downs. And I'm okay with this, because it's all in the name of safety. I mean someone who is bold enough to put explosives in their freaking underwear, is hardcore. And a little stupid - but that's another post. So pat me down if you must and get your jollies if you're so inclined.

BUT, that's right there is a BUT. Let's be realistic T.S.A. Strip searching children? Embarrassing older folks? And my favorite that I've seen first hand, making an elderly woman in a wheelchair get out of her chair so she can go through the mega-scanner. The poor woman could barely stand on her own!

Profiling may be wrong but let's get real. Does a family with 3 children, baby bags, strollers and car seats warrant a pat down? Does a child? How about someone that can't even stand alone? How about we listen to the passenger that is trying to tell you that they have an outside urine bag? Let's use some commonsense, T.S.A. People are already on edge and you aren't making things better. I am all for the pat downs, I just think you need to use more commonsense when picking the passengers.

And people, having a pat down protest? All you are doing is creating even more traffic during a busy travel time. I understand your frustration but you will further frustrate your fellow man by being in THE WAY. Get your message across just get out of the way.

No matter what your opinion on this matter...you do have a choice. You can choose not to fly. Amtrak and Greyhound will gladly take your money. Not down with them? There's always the option to drive. Over the hills and through the woods to grandmother's house you go...

My Monday Musings

When you're pregnant, it's apparently okay for people to ask the obvious when they really mean something else. Example? Someone asking my sister if I was pregnant. To me it's obvious that 1. I am and 2. It's not fat.

I let my eyebrows go and having my makeup done reminded me that I have to do a bit more than dress to look put together. Oops...

Getting my makeup done also made me realize that I am no longer a spring chicken. While the makeup looked great...getting it all off was not fun. It was like removing glue from paper.

Went to a new place to eat while I was in Florida and received the slowest service ever. And then got overcharged. The waiter wasn't even apologetic. If I hadn't asked about our food, it would have came out even later than it did. Companies, treat your customers kindly and be conscience of their time. They will tell their friends.

When did Christmas shopping get so hard? The only person it's easy to shop for? Spencer! Everyone else? So not fun...

That's all I got this week. See ya next Monday.

My Monday Musings

Just a few random things that have been on my mind the last week or so...some may sound like complaints and that's okay to, cause if I can't complain here, where can I do it?


People that won't make a big deal about special things/events/happenings in your life but expect you to jump over the moon for them. This really annoys me, it's like when something great happens to you they are ho-hum but if the same thing were to happen to them they act like it is the first time and everyone should recognize. It seems petty and I can be the bigger person...but honestly? Most of the time I don't want to be the bigger person. It's a role I've had to play my whole life.

Toddlerhood...I thought it was suppose to be sweet. And many days it is but there are some days that tear me down in ways I didn't know possible. I had no qualms about motherhood being hard. I wasn't someone that needed a child to complete me, and I wasn't fooled into thinking it would be easy. It is easily the hardest job I have ever had and I don't get a break from it. But on bad tantrum days? I feel like I've fallen down a hole chasing a white rabbit...

When I tell people we are expecting a little girl, the response is totally different than when we told people we were expecting a boy. Each and every time. It's like they are more giddy. Why aren't boys something to be giddy over? I was ecstatic when I found out Spencer was a boy!

Well that's all I got for today. Stay tuned, I hope to continue this Monday Musings bit every week.

The Lady Doth Protest Too Much

I rarely talk about my pet peeves on the blog. Not that I don't have any but who wants to read about all the things that bother me? I don't but this particular peeve has been on my mind for a while and I figured once I blogged about it, I could let it go.


People in general like to complain and some do it more than others and even better than others. I worked with a woman, who was divorced and absolutely bitter. When I met her she was in year like 14 of being divorced. And yet complained about everything. I nicknamed her Grouchy because you rarely could make her smile. She used vulgar language (in the office) and yet because the company I worked for was too scared to fire her, she stayed in her position. Granted, she was good at what she did, she just wasn't great at interacting with others.

I don't get people like this, instead of spending so much energy being angry and bitter, why not channel it into something good? Her co-workers where happy when they pulled into the parking lot and her car was NOT there. She didn't have many friends and truth be told you didn't want to get close to her, as she sucked your positive energy into her negative one.

Then there are the ones that complain about working and money. They work and work and work and never seem to be able to get ahead. And then you realize that they work so they can keep up with hobbies or vacations or keep their kids latest gadget obsession on track.

All these things are more important then their sanity. So day in and day out they complain about having to work or how much they work or how many jobs they have. It's never-ending. And if you try to tell them that maybe if they downsized or took one less vacation or had a cheaper hobby...you are the crazy one. Never mind that they are driving YOU crazy with the complaining. You just want to tell them to get over it, if they want things, they will be working until they have a foot in the grave.

These are the same folks that don't take care of their health, complain about the healthcare system and yet they have a brand new >insert expensive, latest IT thing here>. They can't be bothered to save their lives but they sure know where to find the latest and greatest.

I am not saying that people should just keep things to themselves complaining is part of our nature. We do it to vent, we do it to feel like part of the crowd. And we ALL do it. I just wonder if certain people put as much effort into being positive as they did to complain what they could accomplish?


How about you? Know any perpetual complainers? Ever told someone to stop complaining?