For weeks Charlotte has been telling me that one of her male friends at school is her boyfriend.  I vacillate between ignoring her and telling her she’s too young to have one.  My unconfirmed assumption is the idea of a boyfriend came from one of her friends at school who has an older sister.  Older siblings always clue in the younger ones about these things and they report back to the kids at school who are the oldest in their family.  It happened to me.  As the first born, I didn’t hear much about shaving until my friend’s older sister told her about it.  She started shaving her legs before I did, of course, so I felt a bit immature in that department.  With Charlotte she is clearly taking all the older kid talk and running with it, as she told me the other day she likes Justin Bieber and has mentioned Taylor Swift.  Neither is listened to or talked about in our house.  So far all this stuff seems pretty harmless and/or I have yet to determine how to handle it.  I do recall re-enacting the scene from Grease on the playground in first grade in front of a boy I thought was cute.  The one where Sandy throws down a cigarette, stomps it out and says, “What’s happenin’, Stud?”

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  Worked hard in class today.  It helped that my partner was another mom who really seems to give it her all.  I was able to do SOME of the planks today with my knees off the ground.  That was a huge improvement.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

A big day in our house as Thomas wore underpants to school for the first time.  He has been doing so well going on the potty at school that his teachers told Daddy yesterday to put him in them today.  Of course all of his big boys (as we call them) are stuffed in some bin yet to be unpacked.  So on the way to school we stopped at WalMart to buy some.  Driving there I realized I forgot to put an extra pair of pants in his backpack should an accident happen.  Thankfully a new pair only costs $3.50 so we got those, too.  No surprise Thomas picked out Toy Story underwear.  He selected the ones with Woody on them out of the 3-pack.  And wanted to put them on right away.  Why not?  I dropped down and did a quick change in the boys department, switching out the Toy Story pull-up for the new similarly-themed underwear.  Charlotte was flustered by this public display and told me it was not appropriate–in those words.  Sorry, Sissy, your mom was in a hurry as usual.  Back in the car, Charlotte and I reinforced to her brother how much more comfortable big boys are than those scratchy pulls-ups and diapers.  And you wouldn’t want to poop or pee on Woody’s face, would you?  I asked Thomas.  “No”, Charlotte chimed in, “then his face would be all brown.”

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  I wrote the check this morning to commit to the next 10-week session.  This is the hardest I’ve worked out in my life so I need to continue right up to the day I have to put on a swimsuit!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

The best news of the day was delivered to me when my back was turned.  Unfortunately I was unable to face the exterminator as he was checking snap traps under our stove and in the pantry.  This morning was his 4th visit to our house in as many days.  Monday’s traps didn’t work and by yesterday morning there was more evidence the mouse was still around.  The corners of the mini bagels and bread bags had been chewed.  The new traps worked.  Overnight the mouse perished in one under the oven.  Thankfully.  I still can’t open the pantry door, however, because snap traps will remain there until Monday morning when the exterminator will return for a 5th time to verify no more friends and family of the deceased are hanging around.  Perhaps the most disgusting details of the whole ordeal are that it was a deer mouse that jumps instead of runs and pees with every pounce.  Sorry if you’re eating.

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  Another intense class.  A lot of push-ups and other upper body work.  Can I just say I hate burpees and any variation of one.  You start on your stomach, jump up to your feet, then jump straight up and drop back down to the floor.  Repeat… Repeat… Repeat…

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

Thomas is a big boy now.  Yesterday after school he had his first official playdate with a 3-year-old classmate and new neighbor.  The boy’s older brother is Charlotte’s good friend and classmate, so he was planning to come to our house and his mom kindly offered to keep Thomas at her place.  I was certain when Dave pulled up for the exchange to happen Thomas would want to go with Sissy and Daddy.  He didn’t.  He stayed at the friend’s house and told me later they played basketball.  How funny.  Their mom texted me afterward that “Thomas is sooo sweet.”  It melted my heart to read that.  Immediately my mind took me to the basement recliner couch where for the first two months of his life I nursed Thomas around-the-clock and slept with him on my chest.  Two years later he’s independent enough to play without Mommy and Daddy nearby.  He’s still my baby, though.  We have this thing we do where he says, “Mommy!” and I reply, “Baby!” then repeat again and again.  It’s so much fun and too cute.

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  I am fully prepared for my shoulders and hips to be aching tomorrow.  We threw a ton of elbows against the kickboxing bags today and dropped to all fours for a “fire hydrant” maneuver that involved raising each leg to kick the bag.  Again, the music helped motivate me.  Ja Rule pumped me up!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

The pendulum has swung.  Today is a much better one.  Before I had the kids out the door to school, two plumbers were bringing in the basement bathroom bathtub.  And another crew framed the entire basement yesterday, so the plan to finish it by the end of March is on track.  Exterminator came back to check the traps and to clean up the droppings–his suggestion and one I didn’t argue with.  No evidence of the mouse still being there, he said.  He will be back tomorrow morning to confirm.  I welcome his help as I discovered mouse droppings in the kids’ Valentine candy stash.  Sick!  We absolutely love the house though, more than I thought we would actually.  The gas fireplace has been on every morning and night and I told Dave last night how cool it will be to get ready next to him now that our master bath has dual sinks.  Yet that will rarely happen because we have opposite schedules on weekdays… and he followed up my comment with the fact that he’ll be moving to the basement bathroom once it’s finished.  Fine, be that way.

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  Felt so good to be back in class today!  A lot of cardio plus squats holding a dumbbell overhead and ab work with a dumbbell between your feet.  That was tough.  Oh, it was boy band day so the music made me smile.  Think Backstreet Boys and Hanson.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

I should have known after things went so smoothly with the move during the weekend that all heck would soon break loose.  It did.  This morning I opened the pantry door to discover a pop tart in a little plastic bag was on the floor, knocked off the shelf.  Thinking one of the kids did this as I was picking it up, I had a mild heart attack when I noticed a big corner was chewed out of it and the bag.  There’s a mouse about the house!  (To quote one of Thomas’ favorite book titles.)  The old me would have started screaming and running for high ground.  The new me lives in a ranch and can’t escape ground level, not to mention the two little ones in my midst who are not afraid of mice and don’t realize the degree of their mother’s phobia.  I turned to Facebook for guidance and had so many comments, good and bad, within 2 hours an exterminator who had replied was at my door.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t answer it right away as I was down the hall with a 2-year-old standing in the tub who had poop down his leg.  The same poop that now dots our new carpeting in 3 big spots where he left a trail.  I should have guessed today would be the day he decides to abandon potty training and have a blowout in his pull up!  To add to the chaos, 3 guys were at the house doing radon mitigation and a crew was out front getting ready to start work on the basement.  So all this opening and closing of the door that leads to the garage means either the mouse may run out or invite the rest of his family in since the pantry is conveniently located by said door.  An inspection revealed no evidence a mouse had been in the basement, but it had been behind the washer and dryer in the main floor laundry room and droppings were found in the pantry.  Enclosed traps are now set there and blocks have been placed strategically in the garage to prevent more.  One plus in all this I was so grossed out I couldn’t eat!  I missed my fitness class AGAIN as after rushing the kids to school I had to spend over an hour at the car dealer due to a tire pressure problem, overdue oil change and tailgate that won’t stay open–really sucks when moving stuff in and out to have it fall on your head.  So let’s see $150 later and I was back home to find the $130 invoice for the mouse ordeal.  Good thing the manicure I went to get after all this only cost $8.

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  Already talked to a group of ladies in my new neighborhood who plan to do the next session.  Group discount available.   My plan is to join them.  (See above entry for reasons why I missed class again this morning.)

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

One of the most entertaining things about my job is the viewer interaction that results via phone, email and face-to-fact contact.  I have detailed countless examples on this blog and I know for a fact there will never be a shortage of new material.  Today, in addition to a thousand other things, I had to stop by the courthouse.  The security guard recognized me as I walked through the metal detector.  “I thought you were so much taller in person,” he said surprised.  What?  At 5’11, I can tell you I hear the opposite every week.  Thankfully I’m not too much taller, as many of my co-workers already look small enough to be my children.  In other bizarre developments, a male viewer called last night inquiring about my husband’s job.  I spared him the salary details and Dave’s Social Security number.  A former hairdresser waited on me at the hotel restaurant yesterday.  She went on and on about how great my hair looks and how soft and bouncy it appears on the air.  Let’s just say I left her a much larger tip than I had originally planned.  

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  Again missed class due to the big move.  Unfortunately, I have screwed up my right knee wearing high-heeled boots and carrying a lot of heavy stuff around.  So I will be back Monday with a brace on.  Don’t forget you can still sign up for the next session.  Call 319-231-2199 for details.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

I could get used to life in a hotel.  This morning the valet brought the car around for me to take the kids to school.  Then when I returned the beds were already made and fresh towels were in the sparkling bathroom.  So I did what any pampered guest would do, I closed the blinds and laid down for a nap.  No need to prepare lunch when my friend, Darlene, met me at the restaurant in the lobby.  How nice to hop on the elevator and arrive to be seated three minutes later.  Tonight the kids will be able to swim in the pool and hot tub.  Then I won’t have to wash their towels.  It’s almost like an episode of Diff’rent Strokes.  We’re living in the high rise.  Fortunately Dave is hotter than Mr. Drummond!              

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  Missed class to return the moving truck and stop by the bank.  Reminder you can sign up now for the next session.  Eight different times are offered.  You don’t have to attend the same time every day and you’ll still get the same great workout.  Call Ryan at 319-231-2199 for details.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

I know so many of you have been here.  You start the process of packing boxes for a move in a very calm and organized fashion… then hours into it you realize you need to just get all the crap out of there so you find yourself stuffing Wiggles DVDs in the same box with vacuum bags and 30 bottles of over-the-counter medicine you’ve purchased and never fully used for your sick kids.  Three hours ago I was bouncing down the road behind the wheel of a 17-foot moving truck and now I just came out of a 2-hour staff meeting with our company vice president who’s in town.  Does my life have the worst timing or what?  A life-sized Rapunzel doll is currently riding in the back of my SUV alongside countless pairs of little girl socks and a bin of random books and toys.  It’s my attempt to keep some sense of normalcy in the kids’ world by being able to break out familiar play things when we are ping-ponging from our house to a couple nights in a hotel to a completely different place we’re calling home.

Next Level Extreme Fitness (NLXF):  Had to miss class for the closing on the sale of our home.  Registration for the second session of NLXF started Monday.  It begins March 28.  Call 319-231-2199 to sign up for one of the multiple class times and for info about an Early Bird Discount.  Free daycare provided!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32

Have to thank all of you for your kind words and supportive insight via blog comments.  It is much appreciated, especially in light of all the balls I’m currently juggling.   I have yet to make time to reply personally, but will get to it.  Wanted to post an email I received, sure some of you will have an answer (of course I kept the compliments in!):

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 32