The Verdict

On Wednesday, I got up at 5 am to feed the punk, then stayed up all day. Was this a great idea? I declare that it was not. 5 am is just too early. Even if I would have gone to bed at 5 pm the night before, 5 am is just way too depressing. I was tired all day long, even after working out. I'll bet even the little guy noticed that his mama had been replaced with a zombie. So no more 5 am jump starts for me.

On Thursday, the munchkin woke up, demanding his breakfast at 4:30, so that made my decision easy. I went back to bed after feeding him. Then I got up at 7:30, took his baby carrier downstairs with me with him still asleep inside it (yes, he's sleeping overnight in his baby carrier; that's a different topic) and completed my workout before he woke up. I was able to shower and get ready when he took his 10:00 nap, and I felt pretty darn good about that. So I declared it to be my new plan.

Then, he threw me for a loop this morning... He slept until 6:00! I woke up feeling so refreshed after 8 full hours of sleep that after I put him back to sleep, I went straight downstairs to work out, even though I had already made my workout goal this week, so I was allowed a free day. Oh yes. If he can keep this up and sleep until 6 every morning, I will be in heaven. 

This is when 2-months-ago-me reads what I have just written and passes out. 6 am? I haven't been a 6 am girl since... I don't want to remember when.

By the way, thank you so much for your suggestions. My man read them and went straight out to buy some Baby Einstein DVDs for his little guy. Perhaps on days that aren't as perfect as this one, I will start to employ the TV babysitter. How much do you think he charges?

P.S. My talented friend SG took this picture earlier this week (along with some others that I will post soon). This shot was taken at the time the punk decided to empty his bladder. He knows I love pee parties.

New Thing #4

The verdict is still out on whether this new thing is a good idea. I've been a bit frustrated with my morning schedule because I've been lucky to get in the shower and be ready for the day by noon. That's one of the things that worried me about being a stay at home mom. I didn't want to be the pajamas-at-4pm type. But I can see now how it would be so easy to get there. Sometimes the punk just doesn't like to be patient while his mama does her own thing. So...

This morning, I got up at 5:00 am.

Usually I get up to feed the little guy at this time anyway, but then I go back to bed until he eats again at 7:30 or 8:00. You see, I'm a girl who likes her sleep. No, I don't just like it. I need it. I neeeeeeeeed it! I am not a happy lady when I'm tired. Some people handle a lack of sleep with grace and dignity. Me? I just feel like crying. Even now, at 10:59 am, I just might cry. I've been walking around like a zombie for the last 6 hours. Holy cow! I've been up for 6 hours? That's just not right.

The good thing is, I was able to work out for 3o minutes instead of 20 because the guy gets restless after about 15 minutes of playing by himself, and by playing, I mean staring at the wall. And I even had a small conversation with my man before he left for work. It actually consisted of more than, "Hav-mmm-gudday," mumbled in my sleep.

So my friends... I'll give it until the end of the day to decide if I want to do this again. If you have any good suggestions on how to work out and get ready before noon without having to get up 2 hours before the sun, please - share!

Are You LDS?

Yes? No? If you're not sure, I know how you can tell. The answer lies with your fingernails. The following is an actual conversation I had with the nice Vietnamese man who performed my mani/pedi last week. I shall call him Bartholomew.

Bartholomew: "Are you LDS?"

Me: "I'm sorry?" (I didn't understand the first time due to his strong accent.)

Bartholomew: "Are you LDS?"

Me: "Oh. Yes... Are you?"

Bartholomew: "No. All the LDS girls choose a light color for their fingernails."

Me: "Fascinating."

So what does it say about me when I paint my nails red, purple, or (gasp!) black?

New Thing #3

My fabulous friend Shanel just cut 10 inches off my hair! Don't worry. I asked her to. And all I can say is, "Aaaaaahhhhhh." It feels good. Now, I've cut 10 inches off before, and I've donated said 5/6 of a foot to Locks of Love before, like I'm going to do now. But I've never had this hairstyle before. Short hair with straight bangs is unexplored territory. 

If you're a guy, you're probably thinking, "You've had short hair before. This is cheating. This isn't a new thing." And if you're a guy, you're probably not even reading this blog. Unless you're married to me and therefore contractually obligated to read my words and be prepared for pop quizzes. But if you're a chick, you know that short hair with the swoop bang is completely different than short hair with the straight bang. Am I right, sistas? Can I get a whut-whut?

Wheee!

Do you think he's dreaming about riding a roller coaster?

New Thing #2

Little Sis was off school on Friday due to Parent Teacher Conferences and the end of the term. We decided to have a slumber party on Thursday night. (These cookies were consumed during said slumber party.) So, for my new thing this week...

I picked up Little Sis from school!

We had a fun day planned, including snarfing the "student special" (cheeseburger, curly fries, small drink) at Woody's, the local burger place, and spending the rest of Sister's Christmas money at the mall. She bought jeans and a jacket. No luck finding a white skirt, however.

Before the festivities began, I arrived at the school parking lot early so I could feed the little punk in the car. He was not employing the table manners I've spent hours teaching him, however, as he tooted his way through his meal. I chose to look the other way. But when he was finished, I was alarmed to see that he had blown out of his diaper - not only all over himself, but all over his mama as well. It's not usually my style to start a luncheon/shopping outing with poo on my skirt. This is my life now. Glamorous, no?

In case you missed it, I had a baby. Yes, it's true. This announcement proves it.

New Thing #1

This week, I did something I've planned to do ever since my childhood. I became a Stay At Home Mom! Officially! Tim went back to work on Monday after three blissful weeks at home with me. (Blissful for me - not necessarily for him. I can't speak for that dude.) On my first day at home with the guy, we ventured out of the house, in the snow, to visit the post office and the grocery store. We even stopped to get a sandwich from the local donut shop. And yes, we bought a donut too. I can say "we" because the punk ate it too, just a little bit later, and a little bit liquid-ier. Then I made a scrumptious dinner for the man who brings home the bacon. I made BBQ chicken sandwiches and parmesan potatoes. Boo yeah! I totally rock as a homemaker. And I will never use that word again. Because it makes me feel like going to bed early. Very early. And never getting up again. Goodnight, forever.

Anyway, I have had a full week of feeding, changing diapers, making meals like a good homemaker (doh!) and cuddling with my little man. I've even managed to get together with some friends, watch a bit of TV, work out a couple times, and take a couple naps. I think I can get used to this new life.

P.S. The punk has started smiling. It explodes my heart each time.

The Year of New Things!

I never make New Year's resolutions. I think it's my way of rebelling against the expected. I don't want to make personal goals just because I'm supposed to! Leave me alone and let me bask in the glow of mindless TV in peace! 

Well, this year I'm making an exception. I guess it's because I am now responsible to guide and direct a little person, and I want to be the best Meili I can be for the little man.

About a year ago, I came across the blog of a chick named Jen who decided that she was going to do one new thing every day for an entire year. Starting the day she turned 29, she chose one new thing to do each day, from leaving a nice note for a stranger to crushing a soda can on her forehead. I checked in with her blog daily during this project, and ever since then, it's been in the back of my mind. I want to do something similar.

I hereby declare that each week in 2009, I am going to do something I have never done before!

This is a year of many firsts by default, so a lot of my new things will be baby related. However, I could use some good ideas that don't relate directly to motherhood. Please help me compile my list of new things! And by the way, I've already been skydiving, bungee jumping, and skinny dipping, so you can cross those off your list. Okay, I haven't been skinny dipping. But you can forget about that! Skinny dipping went out the window with the appearance of these blasted stretch marks.

Here's to a Year of New Things!!!

My Son's Fiance

Last night, I spent some much-needed girl time with my friend B. Her 3 month-old daughter is betrothed to my 3 week-old son.

In high school, when we were doing this

and this,

I don't think we ever thought that in 10 years we'd be doing this:

I also don't think we realized how many conversations we would have about poo.