Adventures in Mommyhood... Oh and pics with Santa

Those of you that know me and know my son... well he's a little accident prone, slightly clumsy, and quite possibly has suffered more concussions than I'm aware of. My poor child trips over his own feet on a regular basis because he's just too excited about EvErYtHiNg and just can't keep still. Regularly he's covered in bruises and at times I fear other's judgement on this - that I'm a bad parent, that I don't watch him closely enough, but at the end of another long day where he's been glued to my hip because he just loves his mommy so much... he will have yet another new bruise and it's a mystery as to where it came from.

So our adventure begins at Discovery Mills Mall food court where Josh and I and Reid are anxiously awaiting the arrival of "pawpaw and gi-gi", Aunt Kayla, Uncle Jon, and the infamous Rhiley and Landen... 1/2hr later we're still waiting and Reid was getting restless. We hadn't eaten yet because we weren't sure if anyone else was eating and we didn't want to eat and then have to wait on them to eat or vice versa. I should mention at this point that Reid already has a goose egg on his head from hitting the car door when I reached inside to grab his diaper bag. Totally my fault and I felt awful about it because it just looked/sounded painful but the little trooper hardly cried which is kind of a shame since it proves he's practically used to a bump on his noggin already. Anywho, Reid's running around like some other person's crazy child and we happen to see Josh's Aunt and Uncle walking our way so we all start to talk and moments later Reid runs face first into the table we were sitting at. He's eye level with the bench so he full on plowed into it and bit a huge hole in his tongue. It took a moment to calm him down and then to realize that he was bleeding pretty badly but "pawpaw" finally showed up and amazingly enough Reid stopped crying almost immediately.

Another 1/2hr goes by and we're still waiting on the rest of the group to show up. We had talked via phone a couple of times and couldn't quite understand how we were all at the same mall but just couldn't find each other. Turns out we were waiting at the food court for them and they were waiting in Santa's line for us... Who knew? At this point, I'm a little bit flustered. Not only is my child bruised and bloody for his Santa pic but we've wasted an hour plus just "trying" to meet up for the picture in the first place. Santa is on the other side of the mall so we begin our trek and Josh speeds off with Reid in the stroller while I walk with my dad who's having some issues of his own so after that nice depressing chat we greet the rest of our ensemble and have to wait another 20-30min or so for the kids turn with Santa. I start taking pictures with my own camera of the kids looking at the scenery and get scolded by Santa's elves for interrupting their professional flash... Oops, my bad.

Finally it's the kids turn and Rhiley just can't contain her excitement. She runs straight over to Santa (which is far from what we expected out of her when looking back on her sheer terror of Santa from last year) but passes his basket of suckers on the way and just can't help but snag one before she plops down for her picture. Landen was at first fearful of the snowy white beard but calmed down in time for a cute pic to be taken. Then it's Reid's turn to join the group so the grandparents can have a pic of all of them for their fridge decorations... and he literally flips out. Last year the boy LOVED Santa... this year, not so much. Maybe next year he'll be old enough to understand all of this. I mean, really the first few years are for the parents anyway, right?! We're always trying to find some way to torture our children for that special kodak moment. And back to our adventure... Reid's screaming/crying with all his might and squirming, wriggling, and writhing his whole 25lbs in my arms. I should mention I have a brand new adorable sweater with matching, scratchy, hot sweater scarf on for this traditional event and at this point I'm sweating, angry, depressed, and exhausted. Josh ended up having to join in on the group picture and then it was Reid's turn for one-on-one with the big guy in the red suit. Of course, I got suckered in to being in the picture with him this time but Santa assures me that they can crop me out if I lean back just so... They take a couple pics and they all turn out bad. I loudly get the "elf" photographer's attention and try to reassure her that I don't care if the picture turns out ugly and just to take the freaking thing already when Santa looks at me all offended thinking I was calling him ugly... Maybe I need to think about the choice of words I use. I really only meant that I don't care if he's crying in the picture, all kids cry at some point or other with Santa, it's memorable, it's common, whatever, take the picture! But I couldn't get all that out in two seconds so I settled for "I don't care if it's ugly!". And mom scores a point!

We finally get done and Santa informs me that I didn't lean back far enough so they're unable to crop me out which of course... I DON'T CARE! We decided after torturing the children for so long with just standing around, we'll let them go to jump zone to burn off some steam. It was actually a really cool place and it only costs $5 per kid to let them play for 30minutes. It was kind of nice and we took lots of pics but the third time Reid climbed to the top of the air inflated slide, he ended at the bottom and had blood pouring out of his mouth. Apparently the hole in his tongue had decided it wasn't done bleeding yet. So I grab my poor baby and try to get him cleaned up and he just wasn't having it because he wanted to keep playing. He really couldn't have cared less that he had a mouth full of blood. Seriously feeling like the world's worst mother at this point. Grandma (gi-gi) went and got him an ice cream cone to help maybe stop the bleeding. It did get a little better, at least enough for him to keep playing his full 30minutes. Afterwards we got him changed into some comfy pajama type clothes and let him ride the merry-go-round to really make sure he was worn out for the drive back home so we could all just climb straight into bed.

Honestly, all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole and cry. I was just so mentally/emotionally exhausted after it all but looking back now... I guess it was memorable and I'm sure if I give it a week or two, I'll be able to laugh about the insanity of it all.

Ahh... Christmas.

Fall

I love it.

Josh built our own little bonfire pit out back. Can't wait to roast some marshmallows!

And here's Reid running through the leaves. I couldn't get him to jump in them.

Halloween... and OrEoS

For those that know me... Halloween is my favorite holiday. We go all out every year. My secret confession - I have more Halloween decorations then I do Christmas. On second thought, Josh has been collecting Christmas lights lately. I think he may have surpassed me in all my orange/black glory.

This year, we scrambled at the last minute to hit the traditional haunted houses. Life has gotten so busy! We made it out to Netherworld and it proved well worth it. Kayla and I both arranged babysitters and met up with our parents for a night of thrill seeking adventure. Josh actually got to come with us on this occasion so it was nice to have him there. We ate at the Cracker Barrell up the road and laughed while dad unintentionally flirted with our down-home southern waitress. Poor thing got the wrong idea, but she was super friendly and the extra attention she gave dad at least kept our drinks full!

Netherworld never ceases to amaze me. I definitely was not a fan at first being a Silo-X junkie from St. Louis but the last couple of years they've been pretty impressive. The costumes... amazing and so life-like. And I'll be the first to admit I screamed bloody murder in that haunted house. As customary, every single new set/room you walk in has someone hiding in it ready to make your blood curdle. Netherworld typically has tons of props and they, like the costumes, are just as life-like. I always see if I can find the "real" guy so when he jumps at me, I don't jump back. This year... every single time I was focusing on the fake one! It was so frustrating but again - IMPRESSIVE. I want to know where they get their material from. My retirement plans involve an all out haunted house... is that weird?!? We also made it out to Horror Hill in Newnan... let's just say it was more comical than scary. There was an insane asylum patient (character) running through the woods screaming "I poo-poo on your shoe-shoe!!" Yeah, shaking in my crapped on boots, folks. Let me tell ya.

We also carved pumpkins this year. Last year, Reid was too young to really get into it but this year proved more exciting for his little boy memories. He found that little pumpkin carving knife and started hacking away. We were over at a family friend's house and their little boy even jokingly stated... "I think Reid's going to grow up to be a murderer." No, seriously... Reid was really hacking at that thing! It was a little unnerving. He got me in the back once too and it hurt but fortunately the dull blade could not penetrate my tough skin! MUWAHAHWHAHA!

Last but not least... here's some hilarious pics of Reid eating oreos and milk. (I styled his hair that day...) It amazes me that kids just know you're supposed to separate the cookie and eat the icing first, then dip it in the milk, and chug it. Nabisco is purely human instinct, I swear it.

Family Life... bits and pieces

So I'm attempting this whole blog thing yet again... Why??

So many reasons... but number 1 at the moment - to avoid work!

Life has been pretty crazy for us from the beginning. We were married back in June 2007, produced a honeymoon baby boy a short 9months later and have been busy ever since juggling work, bills, chores, and well... baby stuff.

Despite the chaos, stress, and family drama - I'd say we're doing fairly well under the circumstances. This past July we were finally able to take Reid out of daycare saving a tremendous amount of money that has since vanished to only God knows where. We spend a heck of a lot less time together as a couple but Reid gets one-on-one attention from mom or dad (whoever happens to be home) constantly, so great for him and his development, I think.

I've been working at a healthcare agency handling payroll and medicaid insurance authorizations for a handful of medically fragile babies. It never bothered me too much until I became a mom myself... these poor, sick, little children, their dead-beat families (some), the tragic stories, and the ones that just can't survive through flu season or any other illness life throws at them. It's a very depressing work environment but only makes me that much more grateful to go home at the end of the day to my beautiful, healthy son.

Josh and I have had our battles as a married couple but so far we've overcome the majority of them. Marriage is a lot harder than it looks folks! I'll be the first to admit. Honestly our first year was pure bliss and I still consider it the honeymoon phase. I think people are crazy when they say "the first year is the hardest". Please... LIFE is the hardest. Not the first year of marriage, not even close. It's the ones that follow the excitement, happiness, anxiety, and butterflies. We've had a rough time of it settling in to adulthood. We both work a LOT! Josh has shuffled through many different jobs throughout the last two and half years or so, at some points having as many as three! Now we're both steadily working 40hrs/wk but I work days, he works nights and our days off do not coordinate so little time for happy, married couple stuff. We spend lots of time catching up on the phone or having middle of the night conversations mostly revolving around Reid and his crazy, adorable personality, newest developments and facial expressions. So lets dive into that... shall we?

My son is a momma's boy in every since of the word. He's practically attached to my hip from the moment I walk in the door until bedtime... Scratch that. THROUGH bedtime. He'll sleep straight through the night if he can hold my hand or wrap his tiny little arms around my neck the whole time. Most days I love it, but there are same days where you just want the bed all to yourself, know what I'm saying?? He's never been a good sleeper. We've struggled with him since he was two months old. What I would do for those first two months when he slept like a pro... I think all those years of high school insomnia has prepared me for the lack of sleep I get now. See... there's ALWAYS a reason!

He's grown up on Fraggle Rock, Barney, and Elmo. His favorite food is McDonald's fries - there's nothing that can wipe that smile of his face when he sees those golden arches. He's decided recently that his favorite color is blue. It will be our little secret that blue is the only color he knows how to say. When Josh or I step out of line, he goes all "momma" on me with his little pointer finger shaking and a big "No, daddy!" Oh yeah... he calls me daddy. Josh is daddy-O. Still haven't a clue where he picked that up from.

We go to the park on a regular basis for walks and playtime. He decided just last week that he's too big for the infant swing and insists in sitting on the "big kid" one. I only let him swing so high because I'm terrified of him falling backwards (or forwards for that matter) and the little stinker will daringly let go when I demand that he holds on. My nerves are pretty much shot with this one and it's only just beginning...