Friday, August 28, 2009
Time to Celebrate
I turned 27 this week and I'm ready to celebrate. I happen to love birthdays, as I love any excuse to have a drink and eat cake! On my birthday my Mama took me and the babes out for lunch and cupcakes (mmm!), Mexican dinner with the family last night, tonight I am going out with two of my most favorite girls for dinner and drinks, then tomorrow it's birthday date night with the RedHead at Bonefish! I know a birthday is technically just one day, but I tend to celebrate all week. As much as I look forward to the cake (and I do plan on having cake or dessert each time I go out), I look forward to the drinks equally. It was mango margaritas at the Mexican restaurant, I'm sure we'll be drinking champagne tonight, and half the reason I chose Bonefish for our date was to drink their pomegranate martinis. Geez, I sound like a lush! Guilty as charged... I've figured out that with two babes, you have to take your good times when you can get them. It isn't often I get to go out without them so I'm milking this birthday for all it's worth! Happy Birthday to me!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Fleeting Feeling
I've had a feeling the past couple weeks as many of my friends prepare for a new school year. I've been missing them, missing setting up my classroom, missing those few precious lunches on the workdays before school begins, missing the excitement-nervousness-anticipation. It is a fleeting feeling, because when faced with the invitation to return I immediately said no and wondered if I came across as wanting to come back. I know that a few weeks in I'd be that same stressed woman, often having to complete schoolwork and planning rather than being there (really there) for my babies. I would not give up this year for anything, but that feeling was there, so I know that I will want to return to teaching (hopefully I'll be ready next year since we've only planned for me to take a year off). While I'm home this year I hope my friends will keep me in the teacher loop, let me still gripe with them, celebrate with them, and be a teacher with them...
Ballerina Mom
"Whenever she stood in line at the bank or while waiting for the bus, I noticed her feet. The right always in front & perpendicular to the left just so. Even after two children she still dreamed of being a dancer." --Brian Andreas (Strange Dreams)
This quote describes me perfectly. I have always wanted to learn classical ballet, but just never had the opportunity. I was involved in many other activities, but never in dance. I'm sure my mama would have let me, but I never even asked. So now, as I approach my 27th birthday, as a mother of two, I have decided to fulfill that dream. I started to research it on the Internet to see if I could find a studio that offered beginner adult classes and I was surprised to find quite a few. I chose one that offered a class that would accommodate our family's schedules the best and called to enroll. I went two weeks ago and observed a class. It was perfect! Two days later I went and invested in a pair of ballet slippers, leotard, leggings, and skirt. (I really didn't need the entire ensemble, but if I'm going to do it I might as well go all out!)
Then last week I went to my first class. I opted against the complete outfit (may look like I'm trying too hard) and just wore the leotard and some yoga pants. I do plan on wearing my skirt soon; it's just precious. The class went very well and it was wonderful to do something just for myself that made me feel like my own person. I am very used to fulfilling the roles of mother, teacher and wife, but this just made me feel like me. I'm anxious for my class this Wednesday (my birthday!), it's fun being a Ballerina Mom.
This quote describes me perfectly. I have always wanted to learn classical ballet, but just never had the opportunity. I was involved in many other activities, but never in dance. I'm sure my mama would have let me, but I never even asked. So now, as I approach my 27th birthday, as a mother of two, I have decided to fulfill that dream. I started to research it on the Internet to see if I could find a studio that offered beginner adult classes and I was surprised to find quite a few. I chose one that offered a class that would accommodate our family's schedules the best and called to enroll. I went two weeks ago and observed a class. It was perfect! Two days later I went and invested in a pair of ballet slippers, leotard, leggings, and skirt. (I really didn't need the entire ensemble, but if I'm going to do it I might as well go all out!)
Then last week I went to my first class. I opted against the complete outfit (may look like I'm trying too hard) and just wore the leotard and some yoga pants. I do plan on wearing my skirt soon; it's just precious. The class went very well and it was wonderful to do something just for myself that made me feel like my own person. I am very used to fulfilling the roles of mother, teacher and wife, but this just made me feel like me. I'm anxious for my class this Wednesday (my birthday!), it's fun being a Ballerina Mom.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Bonding
Tonight the Bug and I had a little mother/daughter bonding time. Bug has a fussy period sometime between 7 and 9 each night (usually for about an hour). Tonight the RedHead had my Monkey over at the golf course grooming him to become the next Tiger Woods when all hell broke loose!
The girl started screaming for absolutely no reason. No paci. No nursing. No walking around the house, so we went outside (but not before I poured myself a generous glass of Pino Grigio). We sat on the front step, a naked baby except for her diaper and a drinking mother. We listened to the summer sounds and she quieted. I thought, "Ahh, we can sit here and relax and have a little mother/daughter bonding time." Well, that lasted all of 5 minutes, enough for me through half of my glass of wine, and she was cranked up again.
So I buckled her into her carseat, put her in the car and off we went. Car rides are wonderful for putting babies to sleep. We rode around listening to Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" until she was out. That's all the bonding we need, just me the Bug and Snoop.
The girl started screaming for absolutely no reason. No paci. No nursing. No walking around the house, so we went outside (but not before I poured myself a generous glass of Pino Grigio). We sat on the front step, a naked baby except for her diaper and a drinking mother. We listened to the summer sounds and she quieted. I thought, "Ahh, we can sit here and relax and have a little mother/daughter bonding time." Well, that lasted all of 5 minutes, enough for me through half of my glass of wine, and she was cranked up again.
So I buckled her into her carseat, put her in the car and off we went. Car rides are wonderful for putting babies to sleep. We rode around listening to Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" until she was out. That's all the bonding we need, just me the Bug and Snoop.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Mirena Can Kiss It
This bleepin' IUD known as Mirena has totally f'ed (I know, very ladylike dropping the f-bomb) up my system. I'm anxious, overwhelmed and have developed adult ADD. I won't even bother with the other side effects... Trying to decide if (I had to retype the word "if" 3 times because my ADD made it come out as fi, iff, and ife) I want to stick it out or have the devilish thing removed. If anyone has comments, advice or encouragement please let me know. Going to self medicate with a margarita (maybe 2) for the time being.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Feeling a Little "Southern Desperation"
I'm havin' a yard sale. Yep, doesn't get much more Southern than that. Take all your old junk and try to sell it in your front yard to people who want to talk you down from $2.00 to $0.75 on an old alarm clock (yes I do have an alarm clock for sale). Actually, the yard sale was my friend's idea and we're having it at her house, but I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to sell some things and de-clutter the house a bit. I'm hoping to make enough money to buy what I need for my newest hobby...ballet!
Here's where the bit of desperation comes in. I went and observed a class yesterday and I plan to start next week, but I have to come up with the money to pay for my first 4 classes ($40), shoes ($20-30), and at least one outfit (leotard, skirt, tights: $~60) If I can make $150 I'll be set! I don't actually know that I had that much stuff to sell so I've resorted to including things that I really don't know that I want to part with yet. Not things that I've used recently or will probably ever wear again, but I'm just not ready to throw them out. Normally I would take what doesn't sale to Goodwill, but I've already warned the Redhead that I will be returning home with any of my junk that doesn't sale. Anyway, wish me luck! Got to get back to tagging an old humidifier, cd changer, and about 20 pairs of baby/kid shoes...
Here's where the bit of desperation comes in. I went and observed a class yesterday and I plan to start next week, but I have to come up with the money to pay for my first 4 classes ($40), shoes ($20-30), and at least one outfit (leotard, skirt, tights: $~60) If I can make $150 I'll be set! I don't actually know that I had that much stuff to sell so I've resorted to including things that I really don't know that I want to part with yet. Not things that I've used recently or will probably ever wear again, but I'm just not ready to throw them out. Normally I would take what doesn't sale to Goodwill, but I've already warned the Redhead that I will be returning home with any of my junk that doesn't sale. Anyway, wish me luck! Got to get back to tagging an old humidifier, cd changer, and about 20 pairs of baby/kid shoes...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Dreams
Lately I've been having a lot of dreams about my Mamaw. I'm not sure why these memories are invading my dreams, but they are there (at least a little snippet) each night. My mother, brother and I lived with my Mamaw for about 3 1/2 years after my parents divorced and even when we moved into our own house we spent a great deal of time at my Mamaw's. She is a woman I've always looked up to, aspired to be like, and who helped shape my childhood. These are my dreams at night:
I dream of sitting on the stepstool in the kitchen watching her make homemade biscuits and leaving a bit of dough out for the "rat" to eat. I loved that salty sweet dough.
Laying on her bed, the cool clean sheets, and looking at her curtains covered in red roses.
I dream of warm baths with a bar of Ivory soap.
Sitting on the porch swing drinking sweet tea or snapping beans.
I dream of her feeding me "soaky bread" which is toast dipped in coffee (I personally attribute my love of coffee to the fact that she started me on it when I was only 3!)
My Mamaw sitting in her chair crocheting a beautiful doilie.
I dream of days when it stormed and we had to unplug everything and go lay on the bed. "Be still and quiet" she would say.
The multitude of switches that woman had hid around the house...in her chair, on top of the fridge, they were always within her reach.
I dream of her giving me a dustrag and a can of Pledge and setting me to work dusting/polishing the furniture.
Watching HeeHaw...enough said.
I dream of her sweeping the sidewalk, vacuuming every day, hanging sheets on the line, ironing baskets of clothes. This woman could clean.
Most of all I dream of her and her house. The way she smelled and the way she looked. I dream of the way I knew her house, how no other place has ever felt more like home. I don't know why I'm dreaming of these things, but I'm sure glad I remember them.
I dream of sitting on the stepstool in the kitchen watching her make homemade biscuits and leaving a bit of dough out for the "rat" to eat. I loved that salty sweet dough.
Laying on her bed, the cool clean sheets, and looking at her curtains covered in red roses.
I dream of warm baths with a bar of Ivory soap.
Sitting on the porch swing drinking sweet tea or snapping beans.
I dream of her feeding me "soaky bread" which is toast dipped in coffee (I personally attribute my love of coffee to the fact that she started me on it when I was only 3!)
My Mamaw sitting in her chair crocheting a beautiful doilie.
I dream of days when it stormed and we had to unplug everything and go lay on the bed. "Be still and quiet" she would say.
The multitude of switches that woman had hid around the house...in her chair, on top of the fridge, they were always within her reach.
I dream of her giving me a dustrag and a can of Pledge and setting me to work dusting/polishing the furniture.
Watching HeeHaw...enough said.
I dream of her sweeping the sidewalk, vacuuming every day, hanging sheets on the line, ironing baskets of clothes. This woman could clean.
Most of all I dream of her and her house. The way she smelled and the way she looked. I dream of the way I knew her house, how no other place has ever felt more like home. I don't know why I'm dreaming of these things, but I'm sure glad I remember them.
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