Gratitude, Day 3

Today, I found myself looking for things to be grateful for. Can you believe it?! Only three days into the project and I’m already looking for positives. I had a terrible night with both kids being sick and then Maddie waking up ridiculously early. I had about three hours of sleep and was SUPER cranky and martyr-y about it. But I thought “How am I going to get FIVE things that I’m grateful for today with this shitty attitude?” So I faked it til I maked it. (OK, I know. But work with me, here, people.) Anyhow, I faked a good mood so well that I ended up in a good mood. I’ve been awake and going for 16 hours and I’m STILL in a good mood.

Without further ado, here are today’s five:

1. My awesome kids. I had a wonderful time playing with both of them today. Maddie and I played pretend all day and Sam and I played, well, nothing. He’s still pretty sick, but when he was feeling up to it he was quite the charmer and it was still fun. My good mood really effected both of them and our day. I can see how crankiness begets crankiness. I’m my own worst enemy in that regard.

2. Again with the weather. I busted out some jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt that I love and I felt cute and Fall-like.

3. I got to pick up some shifts for my new job. I’m working all this weekend and Tues-Sun next week. That’s 32 hours total. I’m so relieved to have a paycheck (eventually) coming in.

4. Those shifts? Some of them are with one of my besties.

5. I got SIX honeycrisp apples at the store today.

Hrm. I realize the weather and apples are on my list more often than not. Perhaps this says something about me. Then again, perhaps not.

Laissez les bons temps rouler

My in-laws will be here this afternoon. Maddie is beside herself with excitement. As soon as I opened her door this morning (at 6freaking45) she shouted “Today’s Nana and Papa day!!!!” As soon as I woke up, I thought “I need to clean the ever-lovin’ bejebus out of this house today!!!” Not quite the same level of excitement.

Tomorrow we’re taking the whole family to the State Fair of Texas. Gerald and his parents have never been, despite being native Texans. WTH? I’ve been and I’m a yankee, for cry’n out loud! I’m pretty damn proud of my mad money-saving skillz, yo. Check it: Fair admission is $15 per adult, $11 per Senior and $11 per kid over 2. So, for all of us to go, the price was $63. Plus $15 for parking. EEEEK, right? Well, I did a bunch of digging around and will be getting all of us into the fair for $8, plus $15 for parking. Can you believe it!?

Turns out Thursdays are free for seniors. That’s $22 off. It’s also Coke day which means everyone gets in for $4 with an empty 20 oz Coke bottle. That’s $30 off. Then, it’s also Cinemark day which means you get in free with a Cinemark ticket stub. Since I go to Cinemark most of the time I see a movie, I dug through all my purses and found a stub from taking Maddie to see Toy Story 3 in June. That’s $4 off. So, I only have to pay $8 for me and Gerald and for parking. Pretty awesome, right? I’m so smug it’s ridiculous.

DIY Halloween

Halloween is only a month away!!!!

Normally, this wouldn’t really bother me but I’m planning on making Maddie’s costume this year. She’s still young enough that she won’t care if it looks like ass is slightly wonky and it’s cheaper than buying a costume. The problem is that she changes her mind every day about what she wants to be. I need to pick something and stick with it so that I have time to miraculously get some crafty talent make it before the big day.

Have any of you made costumes in the past? Got any advice for a non-sewing-machine-owning friend?

Garage for Sale

I’m going to have a garage sale. We have so much stuff that we’re not using and we’re paying good money for a storage unit to house said stuff and that’s just ridiculous. (FYI- We park both of our cars in the garage. With the heat and severe weather in Texas, it just doesn’t make sense to park outside when one has a perfectly good garage. But that means we can’t use it for storage. Hence, the unit.) Anyhow, I’m completely ignorant about all things garage sale related. I’ve never had one myself and my parents never had one when I was growing up. I’ve never participated in one in any way, form or fashion.

Those of you who have, will you give me the benefit of your wisdom? What have you learned that will help me have a successful sale? Thanks a million!

Weekenderies

So, what are your plans for the holiday weekend? I plan on cursing my emeffing neighbors who shoot off (illegal) fireworks in their yard, thus waking up my kids and terrifying my dog.

Although the above is actually true, it’s not all we’re doing this weekend. Tomorrow afternoon/evening, my dad and his wife are hosting a BBQ at their place. The kids and I will be going but Gerald has to stay home to work on a HUGE! project that he wants to have done by Tuesday. Then, we’re heading over to my dad’s church parking lot to watch the fireworks. (The parking lot happens to be across the street from the place where his town launches their fireworks. It’s the primo spot to be. Score!)

Sunday is Sam’s baptism; again at my dad’s church. Since all our 4th hullabaloo is on Saturday, we’re free for the rest of the day and all day Monday. Nothing too exciting, but plenty of fun.

How ’bout you? What are your plans for this festive of weekends?

Bright Spots

I’m spending tomorrow evening with a wonderful woman with whom I spend far too little time. The icing on the cake (or death!) is that we’re seeing Eddie Izzard in concert. I absolutely adore Eddie and honestly never thought I’d get a chance to see him in person in my lifetime. To say that it’s going to be a FABULOUS time is the understatement of the decade.

And as if that weren’t enough, in less than a month I’m meeting Donna, Shelly and Becky in Las Vegas! Can you believe it??!! Although, my first trip to Vegas with three known alcoholics social drinkers while being knocked up isn’t the best timing in the world, but soon I’ll be slaving after two kids and when will I get another chance?

I’m having a hard time adjusting to working full-time again and adjusting to Maddie having a hard time going to daycare and these two bright spots are really helping me maintain a positive attitude. Life sure is better with some BFFs!

Resolve

All right, I know I said I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, but everyone else is doing it and suddenly I’m all “HEY! I should make some resolutions, too!” I’m nothing if not a follower. Peer pressure. It’s what’s for dinner.

But, I digress. Let’s get to the resolutions, shall we?

1. I resolve to be less completely addicted to interested in social media. I don’t need to check Twitter from my phone at work every half an hour. I don’t need to update my facebook status a few times a week. I don’t need to read your blog posts AS SOON as you hit “publish.” I’ve been using my laptop as an escape and I want to be involved in the here and now with my family. I seem to have a raging case of the “grass is greener” syndrome.

Example: EVERYTHING will be better once I start working full time and I’m not stuck in the house with a three year old all day, every day.
Oh wait, I don’t like this working full-time stuff. I bet things would be much better if I just stayed home.

2. I resolve to be less selfish. It has occurred to be that I am extraordinarily selfish. I think of myself first in almost every situation. I get put-out if I’m not able to do what I want to do because of Maddie or Gerald. I get pissed if things aren’t done exactly when and exactly the way I want them to be done. I am not the center of the universe and everyone else doesn’t exist just to please me and make my life easier.

3. I resolve to stop raising my voice so much to Maddie and to simply remove her from the situation that’s causing the reprimand. More matter-of-fact time-outs and less yelling to “stop it, already!”

There are some other little things I’d like to work on improving, but these three are BIG DEALS and I want to concentrate on them for now. How about you? Are you resolving anything? If you’ve posted about it, please leave me a link in comments. I want to read them.

Play along with me, won’t you?

1. If money was no object and you could ask for one gift for Christmas/Hanukkah, what would you ask for?

2. If money was no object and you could give one gift for Christmas/Hanukkah, to whom would you give it and what would it be?

*Edited to add my answers*

1. I would ask for a new, MUCH LARGER house located MUCH CLOSER to Gerald’s family.

2. I would give Gerald all the plastic surgery he wants after he reaches his goal weight.

I really want a pop tart.

Look, Imma be up front and tell you that I got nothin’. I’m posting because it’s been a while and I feel guilty. Feel free to read out of pity or boredom, but if you’re looking for quality writing, might I suggest this or this?

I’ve been sick with strep throat, a cold and a stomach virus for the past week. Being pregnant really limits the drugs I’m allowed to take. Lemme tell you, Tylenol does JACK SHIT against some real pain. I’m finally starting to feel better, but DAYUM! I’m all kinds of crabby. I still haven’t been officially offered the job I was expecting to get, we’re still broke and it’s still Christmas. I’ve been too sick and it’s been too cold for Maddie and I to play outside. We’re stuck in the house together, feeding off each other’s crabbiness until one of us ends up in tears. It’s an effing laugh riot around here.

In the spirit of trying to look on the bright side, Monday is the big gender reveal sonogram! Thanks to all of your comments, Gerald and I have a nice, solid list of boys’ names to choose from should we see a wee little wiener on the screen.

Maddie and I are going to make fancy schmancy chocolate covered pretzels to give as gifts to her MDO teachers and our family members. She’s also made some Christmas ornaments for everyone, so that ought to go over well. We don’t have a lot of money to spend this year, but we’re giving our time and our love and isn’t that what Christmas is really about? Look at me, all Linus in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.

Moral Dilemma

I can’t remember if I told you, but Gerald and I have decided that I should go back to work full-time until the baby arrives. We’ve got some debt that we’d like to take care of and we’d like to fluff up our savings. You can never have too much money when there’s a new baby, right? Anyhow, this leads me to my Moral Dilemma.

I have an interview tomorrow for a position that seems ideally suited to my skills and I hope to be offered the position. But, let’s be honest, they wouldn’t be thrilled to learn that I’m 10 weeks pregnant and planning on only working for the next seven months. So, when am I supposed to tell them that I’m pregnant? My thinking is that it’s early enough that I don’t need to tell them before I’m offered the job (or any job, for that matter). I can legitimately wait until the second trimester to say anything because there are a lot of women who choose to do that, right? Or, should I tell them when I’m offered the position? They can’t legally withdrawal the offer based on my pregnancy, so that might be the ideal time. I don’t want to deliberately mislead a new employer, but let’s face it, I’m going to have to. At this point my pregnancy is a liability to me getting hired, and I really need to be hired.

Can any of you offer some advice?