Saturday, May 31, 2008

Dogs

I am a dog person. I have always had a dog, and when I don't I really want one. That being said, I can't say no to a puppy - we now have 3 dogs.

We got the first while we were living in an apartment. He is a little (less than 10lbs) mutt. The people we got him from kept him locked up in a kennel all day, and he was not house trained. Lets just say he's made a much better outside dog than inside dog.

Shortly before we closed on our house we got an adorable lab puppy. We were originally going to adopt an older one, but H. came home with Buddy. Who can't say no to an adorable lab puppy?? Someone who has had one in the past, that's who...

When Buddy got a little older, he began digging, chewing, tearing up, etc. my entire backyard and house. He slept in our bedroom for awhile, until he chewed the corner of H.'s dresser. Then he was sent to the laundry room, with a baby gate at the door. He did okay for awhile, but began chewing the corner of a cabinet. The last straw for him was when he chewed up A BRAND NEW PIECE OF TILE!! It had just been installed (no it wasn't ceramic, but vinyl) and he decided that the challenge was worth it. Outside - he chewed the wires that connected the A/C to the house (VITAL if you live in Tx), the ignitor on the grill, and the siding on the workshop in the backyard!

So instead of putting him outside at night, or giving him up for adoption (I COULD NEVER DO THAT!!), we decided to get another puppy. Another lab puppy. What were we thinking??! We found a 12 week old yellow lab puppy. We went to Alvarado (read: tiny little town right outside of the Metroplex) to meet them. When he got out of the car I knew he wasn't a lab. They told us he was a "Golden Labrador", which is supposedly some designer breed. He was so cute that we took him home anyway.

Now, 2 months later "Boots" (named after the monkey on Dora; K. named him), is doing great. Buddy is doing so much better. For now, it seem to be the best decision I made about the dogs.

We are going to Arlington today to see a friend of mine. I lived in Arlington for about a year, and even though its full of people I loved it. Definitely have to go to the mall, as our poor excuse for a town doesn't have a real one. My brother's graduation is next week, and neither K. nor I have anything to wear.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Just a quick note...

Ever since I've had K. I've struggled with weight/weight loss. I gained quite a bit during/after pregnancy. Two years later I'm trying to convince myself that its "baby fat." During school this last semester I had to be videotaped while teaching a lesson and critique myself. I was SO focused on my weight and how I looked that I didn't get much out of the exercise.

I have finally decided to take control and DO something about it. I have found this website: www.sparkpeople.com. Its great because it keeps track of calories, protein intake, carbs, and fat. I was so surprised to see the amount of everything that I ate. Its also really encouraging.

I have also bought Wii Fit. I haven't tried it yet because it's at my mom's house. If you've played it, let me know how it is. I'm looking forward to trying it out. Speaking of game systems, how many people own more than one or two systems? H. works with computers, and really loves all the techie stuff. That being said, is it normal to own 6 different systems??

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

I think I'm a bit spoiled...

I actually woke up this morning and called my mom complaining that we were up too early. K. has always slept really, really well at night. Usually she goes to bed between 9 and 10 pm, and slept through the night until 9:30 am. If you even consider waking her up before that she gets a little grumpy and, well needy all day long. This was always a hassle because I have to leave around 6:00 am when I am driving to school but now that its done for the semester I have become a little spoiled. I LOVE sleeping in, so this was working out perfectly for both of us.

Until today. K. got up at 8:00 am. After a LONG night. And I am tired.

One of our routines at bedtime and nap time is to tuck in a stuffed Poopy (puppy) and Tutle (turtle). She WILL NOT SLEEP if these animals aren't tucked into a blanket next to her. On days that I work (yay only 3 days left!!), she takes them to grandma's house, just in case she needs to nap. H. accidental forgot Poopy yesterday, but we didn't go back to get it (although his parents house is like a mile from ours) and just figured we would substitute another puppy at bedtime.

That was obviously the thinking of novice parents. At bedtime I found at least 5 other puppies. She held on to her turtle and kept calling Puppy, Puppy!! She was even patting her leg like she was calling a real dog. It was the cutest thing EVER... until I told her puppy stayed at grandma's house. Her little bottom lip quivered and she said, "No, no Poopy!!" and her eyes filled with tears. H., who had been listening to our conversation on the baby monitor, had already gotten ready to go over to grandma's house to pick up Poopy at 11:30 last night.

We retrieved the puppy, and she went to bed with no problems. If only everything were that simple. Lesson learned.

On the plus side, I have cleaned/mopped my entire house before 10:00 am.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

upcoming events

It seems like as soon as life seems to settle down something else comes up. I am looking forward to only 3 more days of work for this semester. After that I will be able to stay at home with K. only to plan/stress about an upcoming trip/"vacation". In two weeks we are going to visit my parents for a long 4 day weekend. My brother is graduating that weekend, so there will be a TON of people at the house. Not exactly relaxing, but will still be a change of pace. Did I mention my summer classes start the very next day?

Two weeks after that is our wedding anniversary, so I am also busy making plans for a "camping" trip for the family. I say "camping" because I am NOT going to take a 2 year old camping in probably 100 degree weather. Its already been over 90 for like a week now, with forecasts close to 100 degrees THIS week. Where did spring go?? We are going to stay in a cabin on one of the lakes here in North Texas. I haven't decided where yet, but I am still looking forward to it.

K. has been extra busy lately. She is talking more and more. Sometimes in complete sentences, sometimes not. She has a tendency to leave off the consonant sounds of a word so its a little difficult to understand her. Her latest fascination is the ice maker on the freezer. Our fridge is fairly new (bought when we bought our new house in November), and I really wish I would have though things through when I bought it. I was trying to save money, so we didn't get the fancier model with built in child locks. Why pay extra for that useless feature??! I can buy the plastic kind at Walmart... So much for my thought process. She has mastered opening the little plastic locks, and succeeded in opening both the fridge and the freezer. She puts her little paws all over the ice and then whines when it is too cold on her hands. Well, that's what you get, you little mastermind.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

I wonder what life would be like without sun...

Not really though. I love playing outside, when it is pretty and sunny. Today we've spent the day playing in one of those little plastic pools. Weather has been hot, but gorgeous, so we grilled chicken and potatoes and ate on the patio. I couldn't ask for a better day.

K. has been ridiculously easy to get to bed recently. All I have to do is tell her to lay down and go through a long routine of kissing her and tucking in each and every animal next to her. At last count we were at 5 puppies and turtles. That is all that she will sleep with. I guess bears aren't good enough.

I am talking H. into building her a bed. When she was about 15 months old she started screaming through the night, never wanting to sleep in her crib. She has a small couch that folds out into a "bed", so we let her sleep on that for awhile. When she was slept through the night for a week straight, we knew it was time for a big girl bed. The toddler beds weren't good enough; I think she hated her crib mattress because it wasn't soft enough. We had twin mattress but no box spring or frame, so she is now sleeping on a single mattress on the floor. I feel bad for her, but at the same time I feel safer knowing that if she rolls out of bed she doesn't have too far of a drop to the ground.

For those of you that have toddlers, when did you put your children into their first "big" bed?

Friday, May 23, 2008

Fridays...

Since I've been working at an elementary school I've developed a love/hate relationship with Fridays. Its the end of the week, almost the weekend ... LOVE IT! On the other hand, the kids have the same feeling and are often, um, EXCITED on Fridays. I'm sure today will be the same. The kids have a "Play Day" today at school. Its basically an end of the year party where the teachers have brought in gigantic inflatable water slides and let the kids go crazy ALL DAY LONG. Seriously, don't you think 8:30-3:00, with a small break for lunch, is a bit much for kindergartners?


Of course when I heard about the play day I had to organize something of my own. I work for three hours everyday with a group of kids that need tutoring after school. Its a great job, minimal hours (which I like for this point in my life), and I get to help the kids. Fridays are free days for us, especially this late in the school year. So when I heard about their play day, my staff and I decided to do a massive water balloon fight (and of course some *structured* games...). I spent an hour last night filling up water balloons and researching games to play with them.



I'm beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea. I know I am going to come home soaked with fragments of balloons in my hair. On the other hand, the kids will love it.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Intro to us

I've been reading blogs forever, but have yet to find time to write my own. Now that school is coming to an end for the semester I have some time on my hands. I am married (to H.) with a 22 month old daughter (K.). I work part time, go to school full time, and still have to find time to manage a household.

Since the end of the semester life has been fairly simple. I have a daughter who loves to sleep until 9 am, eats regularly, and is really easy to care for. I think she is one of those kids you hear about... you know, the one who tricks their parents into thinking that parenting is easy. I am terrified of having a second child because the first has been so easy. But at the same time I am totally ready for another baby.

I love being a mom, and everything that comes with it.