Friday, June 30, 2006

Calgon Take Me Away

Can whoever stole my sweet child and replaced her with the devil please return her?

I am at the end of my rope. It has been an extremely trying week. She is a totally different kid this week. I mean she's always been a little pistol, but this isn't normal behavior, even for her. She's clingy, whiny, sassy, and insists on doing EVERYTHING around the house all by herself. Getting dressed and diaper changes have become a nightmare.

I know she missed me while I was gone and I think that explains the extra clinginess, but jeez, I've been back since Monday. I also know she's tired, so we've been putting her to bed extra early, but she lays awake and babbles until even later than her normal bedtime! UGH!!!! Today she was up at 6:30am and I was hoping she'd sleep until closer to 8am. It was a LONG morning.

Add that to the fact that I'm still adjusting to reality after my super relaxing weekend last weekend, when our biggest worries were to make it to the grounds for the 6:30pm show. I didn't have to cook, clean, do laundry, fight with Paige, drop her off, pick her up, get up early, put her to bed, etc. And I'm still really tired too. I'm thinking about napping while she naps today, but we'll see. There's so much to do around the house and we're busy this weekend. Tomorrow I have a bridal shower that's about 2 hours away, Sunday is a birthday party for one of Paige's little friends, and I might take Paige up to my sister's cabin Monday and Tuesday.

I've already washed and hung three loads of laundry outside this morning, attempted to keep Paige's tantrums and shrieks to a minimum, unloaded and re-loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the living room up from her mess this morning, sorted through a couple days worth of mail, cleaned the shower a bit, and filled her pool. I'm drained.

I still have laundry from last weekend to put away, take down, fold and put away the 3 loads of laundry hanging outside, do the sheets, towels, undies, etc., clean the house as it is completely disgusting right now, take out the garbage and attempt to balance the checkbook. Oh and wrap a couple of presents. AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!!

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Country USA Wrap Up

OK, I had intentions of blogging every day at my friends house to give a report of the previous day's concerts, but that didn't happen.

Anyway, Montgomery Gentry was my favorite show. My friend, Erica, got the best pictures of them. I can't wait to get them back! Neil McCoy was good too, and Toby Keith was just OK. He's just too arrogant for me.

Erica and I had the best time together. We went last year too, but this year we really bonded. We never got sick of each other, and just had so much fun. We went shopping, went out for lunch one day, she took me out to breakfast on my birthday and went over to her boyfriends' house a couple of times. We giggled CONSTANTLY! I think her boyfriend and his cousin that stopped over thought we were smoking something, but we were just high on coffee, I guess!

VIP seats were totally worth it, even though we had some real losers around us. There was this one old bag who was extremely heavy and kept yelling at the girls next to her to sit down because she couldn't stand and see the screen or the stage because they were standing. She made a miraculous recovery during the Toby Keith show when she stood the entire 90 minute show. Interesting. She also yelled at the girls behind her during a slow song because they were talking too loud and she couldn't hear the music over them. There's a handicap section right next to VIP and she had a cane, so why didn't she sit there? We also had a couple of women in their 60's right next to us who didn't seem to appreciate our constant giggling, yee-hawing, and who hooing during the shows. Like Erica said, you can't tell me they have Montgomery Gentry's "Hell Yeah" blasting in their cars. But they stayed for EVERY show, even though the headliners didn't start until 10:30 and didn't end until midnight.

So I turned 30 on Sunday and I think I'm OK with it. It came and went and I don't feel any different. What are you going to do?

Paige really missed me! She has been extra clingy on me and wanting my constant attention. She was so cute tonight. We were pulling weeds and the dead flowers in my petunia flower bed and she insisted on putting on my old pair of gardening gloves because she saw me wearing my new ones. So I'd pull the weeds, put them in a pile and she'd pick them up (wearing my gloves) and put them in the bucket. When the piles got too far from the bucket, she asked that I move it. Of course, she was covered in dirt, but she looked so darn cute. We were probably out there for at least a half hour. It's amazing what will entertain them.

Off to bed. I slept like shit last night because I was used to sleeping from 2am-10am the past few days. I looked pretty rough today at work!

Friday, June 23, 2006

Country USA Thursday Report

Got there around 5pm, found our seats and ate some supper. Carrots, mashed potatoes and beef tips. I think I'm going to like this VIP business! Got a mug and got it filled with beer for free. I think I'm REALLY going to like VIP!

Josh Turner was the first show we saw. He's had about 3 songs out on the radio, but he has a really good voice. It's low and deep. His show was OK. Then Gary Allen came on at 8:30pm. He put on a great show! He's more of a rocker kinda guy, really intense. I loved it. Then Rascall Flatts came on at 10:30pm. WHOA!!!! Probably one of my all time favorite shows. They really entertained the crowd and those boys can sing.

Like last year, the grounds are set up horribly. There's only one exit, so you feel like cattle being herded out along with 40,000 other people. They have about 20 people directing you into your parking spot, but at midnight when 20,000 cars are leaving, there's no traffic directors to be found. There's about 12 lines of traffic merging into one lane, and you have to leave the grounds in the lane you're in. We got so lost last night because there's no signs directing you back to the highway. We ended up way on the south side of Oshkosh when we're trying to go north. Extremely frustrating.

The weather was perfect, unlike last year when it was SUPER hot. It was upper 70's with a hazy sunshine. The only problem was that it got pretty cold last night. We had light cotton jackets, but we'll have to remember our fleece pullovers tonight.

Tonight is Blackhawk, Billy Dean, Charlie Daniels Band and Montgomery Gentry. I CANNOT WAIT for Montgomery Gentry. They are so good!

Our seats are pretty good, we're about 23 rows back from the stage. I didn't bring a camera, but my friend did so hopefully we'll get some good pix!

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

My Week

I finally have pix of my new do, but they are terrible pix of me, so I'll post them in chat with my ya yas.

Paige has found her independent streak. I'm proud of her, but it's getting old and frustrating already! She'll be in the kitchen with me, minding her own business and she'll see me shut a door and will SCREAM "Paigie shut the door!!!!!", so I have to open it back up, she runs over and shuts it herself. She has to open and shut all the doors, and cupboards, and is helping us set the table now. It kinda just started over the weekend, so we're still getting used to it. Mike was gone for the weekend, so when we got back on Sunday, he wasn't prepared for this and got an earful from her!

I found out that my OB/GYN resigned suddenly last week, so I have to find a new one which I'm really bummed about. I liked having a female doc right here in my tiny little town. Now I have to find a new one and I'll probably end up going to one in Green Bay. There's only 3 females in one of the health systems we can go to, so I'm sure I won't be able to get in with one of them for months. I'm due for my annual in August. I refuse to see a male OB/GYN.

Country USA starts on Thursday and I'm really looking forward to it. It's just me and a girl friend of mine, and I think we'll have a lot of fun. We have VIP, reserved seats which is so nice. The good shows don't start until 4:30 or 6:30 pm, so we can show up later in the day knowing we have good seats rather than getting there early with our lawn chairs in general admission and sweating our asses off in 90 heat all afternoon. I can't wait to see Rascall Flatts and Montgomery Gentry. They're HOT!

OK, better get back to work!

Friday, June 16, 2006

A Good Day

It was so hot today, but we really had fun. My parents got here about 9:30 or so, and we played outside for a bit, then took Paige to the park. Got home, ate lunch, put Paige down, then I chatted with my mom for a while. Her and Dad are really doing well. This whole thing has been a wake up call for him and he really appreciates my mom so much more now. Their marriage is probably stronger than it ever has been.

So then I ran a few errands in town, got home and filled up Paige's pool. We spent the rest of the afternoon outside in her pool and running around the yard. She had a ball with Grandma and Grandpa!

Then my dad grilled potatoes and cheddarwurst on the grill and they were delicious! Paige even ate a whole cheddarwurst! Cut up and dipped into parmesan cheese, of course. She discovered parmesan cheese the other night when we were having spaghetti and has been hooked ever since. I have to put some in a little bowl and she dips EVERYTHING in there! Even my caramel corn rice cakes and banana bread. Yuk. But as long as she's eating other foods besides a PB&J, I'm not complaining. She even ate a bunch of grapes before bed. Do they go through a growth spurt at 2? If so, I think Paige is having one. She's eating constantly and seems to be sleeping a little more than normal.

This is like family weekend for me. My sister is coming up tomorrow and spending tomorrow night. Mike is gone for the weekend, so it's nice to have company here to fill up the time. Paige and I kind of get sick of each other when it's just the two of us.

No pix of the new do yet. I didn't shower today and was looking pretty rough so I sure didn't want anyone taking pictures of me.

It's supposed to be really hot again tomorrow so I'm sure we'll be out in the pool quite a bit again. I'm tempted to just put on my swimsuit and get in there with her! Don't want to scare the neighbors though.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

She Sleeps Cont.

I finally had to wake Sleeping Beauty up at 8:30am this morning. Luckily she was in a good mood (but who isn't after sleeping for 12.5 HOURS!!!!), so I was able to get her ready in record time without it seeming like I was rushing her. I even got her little afro up in a ponytail!

Speaking of hair, in celebration of my upcoming 30th birthday, I decided to get a new haircut today. I was going in for my regular trim, and there's a picture in one of my stylist's books that I always look at but am too chicken to have it cut that way because it has bangs and I haven't had bangs since junior high I think. But today I decided to go for it. I'm still not sure if that was the right decision. My stylist really likes it (of course, she cut it) and she did do a good job with it, but it's SHORT. And as I was playing with it tonight it hit me: I have the same haircut as my mom. AGH!!!! I really am turning into my mom!!!!!!

I saw my therapist today and she helped give me a new perspective on turning 30. I'm trying to keep her words in mind. At least I'll be at Country USA on my 30th, having a good time.

OK, not really sure why this just popped into my head right now, but it's been on my mind since Monday night when I got sucked into an episode of CSI:Miami. Is it weird that I think David Caruso is hot? There's just something about his character, Horatio, on CSI that turns me on. Just had to get that out there.

She Sleeps...

UGH! I love Paige dearly, but she has the worst sense of timing. It's 8:10am here and SHE'S STILL SLEEPING!!!! Last week Friday, my day off and day to sleep in, she was awake at 5:45am What's up with that?

I've already called work twice, first to tell them I'll be in at 8:30 and then just a few minutes ago to say I'll be in at 9:00 am. Hopefully, I'll be there by 9am. Luckily, my boss is super cool about this kind of stuff, and I worked my ass off the past month or so for the 5K. Work is actually kind of slow lately and I've been really bored this week. Today I'll only end up being there for a little over 3 hours because I'm leaving at 12:15pm for a therapist appointment in Green Bay, a little shopping, and a haircut.

I heard her stirring a bit as I started to blog, but now I hear her on the monitor snoring away loud and clear. Little stinker.....

Monday, June 12, 2006

Books I'm Reading

After working at a car seat check in Green Bay on Saturday morning, I stopped at Barnes and Noble to pick up a few books. One of my message boards is for Catholic families and we're starting an on-line book study of "Catholicism for Dummies." I'm born and raised Catholic and it's scary how little I know about my faith. So I signed up for the book study and picked up the book. We're reading a chapter a week, and I read my chapter yesterday. It was GREAT! I learned more in those 10 pages than I ever knew growing up. I also picked up The Happiest Toddler on the Block as I feel like Paige and her sassy mouth are taking over our household and I'm not sure what to do about it. One of my girlfriend's at work brought me a book she read called "Raising Your Spirited Child" so I'm going to check that one out too. I bought a few books at rummage sales over the weekend too. I LOVE to read, and don't have nearly enough time to do it.

Our weekend was really nice. Friday was a beautiful day and we had a couple of high school girls (Abby and Carrie) come over in the morning that are going to baby sit Paige. Paige was of course her shy self but seemed to warm up to them towards the end. She even gave them a hug and kiss goodbye! Carrie came back over that night to baby sit so Mike and I could go see a band we really like. Paige was already in bed when she came over so it was easy money for her. She baby sits for a family that has 4 kids that are 4, 3, 2, and 1 so I think she'll be able to handle Paige! On Saturday I worked at the car seat check and stopped at Barnes and Noble. Also got myself a Starbucks latte. If we lived in Green Bay, I'd be at that store everyday! I LOVE Starbucks! I could get a coffee and read books in peace...aahh heavenly! Then we went back down to Green Bay that night to get some flowers and go to eat with some friends. Sunday I planted petunias along side of my house, and then daisies in a flower bed by my garden. Also did a bunch of laundry, played outside with Paige, and took her to the park. After supper, we were outside bumming around, and a woman was walking her little guy in a stroller and she came up to us and asked how our house selling was going because they have their house for sale too. I said it was going nowhere and we chit chatted for a while. Her son is two and I told her I have off on Fridays if they ever wanted to come over. It would be nice to have a friend in the neighborhood, they only live about 3 or 4 houses down from us.

Paige slept until after 7am this morning which was wonderful! She's been waking up before 6am and demanding to be out ASAP which makes getting ready for work quite the adventure. It was kind of nice getting ready without saying "yes that's mama's makeup, yes mama's drying her hair, no don't touch that, Paige put that down, just a minute, yes we'll brush your teeth, hold on I'll make another waffle, etc. etc. etc."

Better get some work done today. My voicemail light is blinking and my desk is a mess. Gotta love those Monday mornings!

Saturday, June 03, 2006

I'm Tired!

I have worked so hard these past two days for this 5K walk/run that I helped plan. It was this morning. Yesterday about 9 of us set up for it all day, putting packets together, putting route and parking signs, kid's run signs, gathering all the supplies that the volunteers would need, etc. I was the volunteer coordinator, so I had to kind of know everything that was going on; where do the parking and the route director people go? where do the timers and the water stop people go? where should I put this or that when I'm done with it?, etc. Thank god it's over! We had a fairly decent turnout, about 100 people. I'm hoping for a lot more next year, it's so much work to plan one of those things. We have a 5K, 1/2 mile kids run, a couple of different raffles, food and water for the runners, kids activities like balloon making, t-shirt decorating, bean bag toss, and a cookout.

On another subject, people keep asking when #2 is coming along and we say a long time yet, but I'm seriously starting to wonder if we'll ever want another one. Me staying at home is not an option financially or for my mental health, and I can't imagine getting 2 ready for daycare and paying for 2 in daycare. Plus the extra work of another one. On the other hand, I get sad thinking that I'll never ttc again, find out i'm pregnant again, be pregnant again, or have another baby. I just don't know if we'll ever be ready to have 2. Paige is more than we can handle some days, and I don't know if I want a big age gap between our kids. I don't know how some women do it that have kids 1 or 2 years apart. I'd really like to have a boy for Mike, and I myself would like to raise a boy, I just don't know if we can handle 2 little ones.

Paige is in bed right now and my to do list is about a million miles long, but I'm going to sit on my ass and watch tv or read for a little bit and then go to bed. Luckily my wonderful husband is going to let me sleep in tomorrow. Paige has a cold and has been waking up at the god awful hour of 5:30 these past few mornings. But she has gotten used to our little routine of Mike getting her up on the weekends while I sleep. They eat pancakes together and then I wake up later and he cooks some for me. I'm a lucky girl!