Ways being a mommy has changed me:

• When bad shit happens to kids it really upsets me.
• I am a huge bitch to any person that hurt us or might hurt us.  Huge.  
• Insomnia has reached a completely new level that isn't good.
• The amount of love I have for this kid astounds me.  I didn't know it was possible.
• I have someone that really looks like me and not just because he looks Asian.
• I am shy and insecure and am pretty sure I'm doing it all wrong all the time.
• I clean.  All the time.  Picking up.  Dusting.  Washing.  Putting away.  Sorting.  Laundering.  Scrubbing again.  
• I buy purses based on whether or not a sippy cup, snack cup, a couple diapers and a Ziploc bag of butt wipes will fit.
• I skip articles in the New Yorker because holy shit, who has time for a weekly magazine full of words and no pictures??

Ways being a mommy has not changed me:

• Mario Impemba tweeted this today and I couldn't stop laughing: "Endy Chavez just took Verlander deep to start the game."

pressure. is. on.

I'm already getting emails asking why I haven't submitted my bracket.  Ummm.... because I have until noon on Thursday so I will be completing it at 11:59 a.m., bitches?!  Oh so stressful.

I think that is why I woke up with a killer migraine this morning.  I wanted to die.  And then I heard Henry's little singing voice on the monitor and I still wanted to die but I at least was happy to be alive.  We got up and I wondered how the hell I would drive to science class when I could hardly see and I was almost puking every time Henry yelled at the cats.  He yells at the cats a lot in the morning.  They pretend they don't like it but I suspect they don't mind because they're the ones that show up in his room first thing in the morning.  And if Henry cries before I get into his room to get him up, Barbaro Garbey paces the hallway and cries herself.  So annoying yet kind of adorable.  Mostly annoying. 

Anyway.

We made it to science class and had a blast.  We made slime!  Then after class we went to the play room for a while and then I made Henry leave because it was so nice outside and I wanted to explore the river walk with him.  He loved it but wanted to run after every biker, runner, and/or walker we came across and there were lots.  We decided to go grocery shopping and head home.  It was a good choice because then we played outside for a long time.  It was a little windy and kind of cold but Henry loves to be outside.  After his nap we went to the park and then came home and played outside some more.  When I tried to take him in, he did not want to go so we stayed outside for even longer. 

I love spring!  It was a little bit chilly with the wind so my mom stuck her hat on Henry thinking he would take it off right away.  He didn't and walked around looking goofy for a while and of course I took lots of photos and couldn't stop laughing.  Poor adorable sweet kid.

oh the stress.

My NCAA men's basketball bracket picks are due Thursday at noon.  I know nothing about any of the teams, including the U of M.  I think maybe tomorrow after science class Henry and I might come up with some sort of game outside to fill in my bracket.  That's about as scientific as it's going to get.

Yay, science class!  Yay, March Madness as long as I win some money but not that that is even an option because that's illegal I think and now that I'm a mom I don't do illegal shit no seriously I rarely even go faster than the posted speed limit at least not if Henry is in my car but sometimes when I'm in the D and Henry isn't I still run red lights and I.  Am.  Not.  Lying.

the sick.

Henry has been sick.  I have been sick.  I can't remember the last time he slept through the night.  I knew last night might be rough because of the time change but instead it was rough because of the sick.  He woke up at 5:30 a.m.  That's 4:30 a.m. pre-time change time.  Ridiculous.  After pulling all the tricks out of my go-back-to-sleep-it's-way-too-fucking-early trick bag and nothing worked, we got up at 6:30 and I wanted to cry.  I wouldn't let him take a nap until around 12:30 when he was pretty much falling asleep while walking across the kitchen.  Hopefully tonight will be better because we are both exhausted. 

The weather was beeeeeeeautiful today.  We spent lots of time outside.  Went for a bike ride, which was all fun and games until his foot got stuck somehow under his little bike and then he refused to get back on the bike which sucked because we were a quarter mile from home and he just wanted to cry and would only move if he was carried.  By me.  But once we got home he was fine running all over the yard and the neighbor's yard.  Especially once the neighbor came out and offered him a cookie.  Hell yeah he'll take a piece of cookie and then the next thing I knew he had eaten the whole damn thing.  They were really good cookies. 

I decided I would go to bed early tonight because it's really later than the clock says because of the time change you know.  And yes, I know that's wrong and that it's really earlier because of the time change but wtf I haven't slept in days and nights and I.  Need.  Sleep.

The sick.  Tomorrow we'll be better. 

bad day.

Henry has a cold.  He couldn't sleep last night so I spent much of it with him in the rocking chair.  As long as he was sitting somewhat upright he could breathe so we rocked and rocked and rocked.  I was freezing because everytime I tried to put a blanket over my shoulders or my legs, not anywhere near Henry, he got mad and pushed it off.  Seriously.  I would think he was finally asleep so I'd very stealthily pull the blanket back up and he'd very stealthily push it off.  He was in his sleep sack so he was nice and cozy and like I said, my blanket wasn't even touching him so it wasn't like he was too warm with it. 

We've pretty much ditched the morning nap but at 9:30 a.m. he practically climbed up on his dresser to grab his pacifier and he now knows that he only gets his pacifier at nap time and bed time.  I told him he could have it and he would have to take a nap and he didn't shake his head "no" (he doesn't say yes but if he doesn't want something he will shake his head no so I usually ask him questions and if I don't get a head shake, I assume it's a yes) so I got his blankie and laid him down and haven't heard from him since.

He was supposed to go out with his Gpa today.  They've been trying to go out and do guy stuff at least once a week.  I don't think he's going to get to go today unless he feels better.  I hope he feels better by tonight because I am exhausted. 

Ah sweet, sweet parenthood.  I love every minute of it.  Well, maybe not the snotty minutes.  It's still an honor and a privilege to be the one he runs to when he needs cuddles and being the one to make him feel better. 

the best day addendum.

So that last post was about the best day with Henry.  The best day without Henry includes eating family style starch lunch in an Amish buggy with two of the best friends one could ever have. 

Just wanted to clear that up. 

I would post a photo but I'm not sure my Amish lunch eating best friends would still be my Amish lunch eating best friends anymore. 

the best day.

I meant to write this post yesterday because it was the best day.  But then the best day slowly went downhill as I realized that I hadn't yet kicked the sickness and I came down with another round of fever and all the fun that brings with it.  I figured I would have tons of time to write something coherent since Henry was begging to go to bed at 4:30 p.m.  I didn't let him go to bed until 5, hoping he would stay in bed until at least 6 in the morning.  But shortly after he went to bed I started to feel like shit all over again.  I had spent much of Sunday in bed shivering and moaning and in paaaaaaiiiiin until I would have to run to the bathroom and have flu-like symptoms that I am positive you don't want to ever read about.  Ever. 

But back to the best day.

We went to Henry's second science class and it was a ton of fun.  The topic was push and pull so there were lots of activities with trucks and playing with modeling clay and more painting.  Henry isn't so into the painting.  Hopefully that will change because I already love his art projects.  He played with the kids and at one point he was handing blocks to another little boy so that little boy could build something.  So cute.  And then at the end he helped clean up, which hasn't been his strong suit in the past. 

He was tired for class but he stayed awake in the car on the way home with a little trick I like to call, "FOOD" (See?  I told you it's my fault he's on the big side!  But not to worry too much, his pediatrician assures me he is still healthy) (very healthy) (also, it was snack time anyway so it's not like I was feeding him just to keep him awake in the car) (Just mostly to keep him awake in the car).  Note to self:  put twice as many Cheerios in the snack cup as you think will be necessary because at least half of them will end up in the car where he can't reach them. 

We got home and since it was starting to warm up outside, I opened the sliding glass door so Henry could get out to the screened/glassed in porch.  I tried to help him over the door jamb which is uneven and full of tripping obstacles.  He didn't want my help.  I watched him figure out how to get outside and how to get back inside.  He did it over and over and over until he was a pro.  So proud!

He wanted to take a nap at 11:30 which is early but I figured science class tired him out so put him down.  My little champ slept for almost 2 hours!  Yay!

After naptime we put our light jackets on and went outside.  It was the first time Henry and I had gone exploring the back yard together and it was perfectly magical for both of us.  The wind was blowing and the birds were singing and the ground was muddy and the squirrels were yelling at us.  He stood and watched it all and then tried to mimic the crows and he tripped and fell and laughed and did it again and oh my god I didn't want it to end.  When he finally did reach for my hand to help him over a big tree root, I realized that his hands were freezing so we had to go inside. 

Just everything about the day was wonderful and I kept thinking that this is what I dreamed of when I found out I was a mommy.  It was perfect.

So then the early bed time.  He went to sleep just fine but shortly after that I realized he wasn't feeling well and was sniffling and coughing in bed.  He still sleeps with that damn pacifier in his mouth but when he's stuffed up, he obviously can't have it and he wakes up a lot and cries out. 

He still didn't feel great today but really wanted to go outside again so of course I took him out.  He walked down the street and in the neighbors' yards and just had a great time.  I had to run and catch him to bring him home or I'm sure he would have walked all the way down the street.  

I know, I'm sure this is boring for everyone but me.  But I just feel like I need to share the happy stuff and this, this is happy stuff.

Oh, and he actually stayed in bed until 7:15 this morning. 

i'm not gonna lie.

Henry is a big kid.  I'm sure it's my fault because well, isn't everything?  While I worry about his weight and that he is so big he isn't healthy, part of me wishes he would hurry up and grow so he can fit into his Public Enemy t-shirt that reads, "FIGHT THE POWER" on the back.

Kids are such fun!