Work at Home?

I am a teacher, therefore there are periods of the year in which I have extra time on my hands.   Recently I've had a lot more freed up time as I'm done doing work for my Masters program.     Enter huge sigh of relief.

That free time, while it may not be a lot, it is still time I would like to consider productive.   I recently delved into the world of article writing.   So far I've written six articles for a fantastic website all based on education.

www.brighthubeducation.com

This has given us a bit of extra money to put towards the random things that come up around the house.   These articles are based on my full time job, teaching art.

 I've also been looking into other ways to make a bit of extra cash on the side and have found myself addicted to Varagesale.   Buying and selling things around the house for the boys has become a little hobby of mine.  

The other day I found 8 pairs of pants, and 8 shirts that fit H for five bucks!  What a deal, especially for a little boy who just destroys clothes.  

Keeping myself at home with the boys, while generating extra income is ideal.  The blogosphere has many great ideas, yet I find myself worrying about the legitimacy of these opportunities as many of them are scams.

Someone has to stick around to wrangle these little monsters!  Have any of you found legitimate ways to boost your income while at home?

Back again?

Back on the Bloggy train.  My how things have changed.  My sweet family welcomed another joyous boy into our clan.  My last cryptic post was regarding the news we found out we were pregnant.   

Thomas and Harrison have become the joys of our lives.  It is amazing seeing two brothers play, and love on one another.

Grad School is over, HURRAH!   I officially hold my masters of arts in teaching.  I am grateful it is over now as I would never have the time to do it now with two active boys.  It was hard enough to finish with a three year old and two week for my last six week course.

Harrison has grown, his vocabulary has expanded, and motherhood has become harder.   How simple it was with one child, and how complex it has become with two.

Balance, and Patience have become my center focus as I seem to have little of both.  

 Sweet Thomas is almost walking at 11 months old, and he truly brings such sweetness to our lives.

 Harrison has entered the 'terrible threes' but man is he cute as ever!

To a renewed focus!

Mickey Mouse Club, How I love thee...

This is very new to us.

TV watching.

Now this is not new to mommy, heck mommy could spend all day watching reruns of project runway and any other reality TV show that dominates my DVR at any given time.

No, no.... this is TV watching for my son.

He actually sat still on my lap (not even a bottle) to sit and watch the entire Mickey Mouse Club...... introduction. 
Yet I'm not discouraged.  This is a baby step for us.  One in which Mommy is, dare I say, very excited about.

My kid doesn't sit still, ..... E.V.E.R.
This is one bad habit I am happy about starting.
In fact, I don't feel one ounce of Mom Guilt about it... (How Bad is that).

I can't even imagine the joy I will feel the day he sits still for an ENTIRE episode.

This is our Saturday Morning Scene, what are you up to?

Balance and the Internet.

I feel as if the two don't go together.   Or perhaps motherhood and the internet 

I have become a passing blogger, and 'tweeter?'...

It comes in Phases, most often when my son allows it, where I can go on the computer for a prolonged period of time to type something up that has some kind of meaning.

 I feel as if twitter must have been created just for moms, who only have a small passing moment to post something.
   Where no one really cares if it makes sense.

Which leads to the fact that I've had a lot on my plate lately. 

A husband who is doing lots of side work ... which equals me being a stay at home mommy...

A son who has decided he wants to push me to my wits end, each and every day...

An alternative craft fair I'm taking part of in November...

My home which we've decided to continue renovating...and so it begins, living in a construction zone. AGAIN.

Me thinking it was a good idea to do 'limited internet' through Verizon  (via tablet trying to save a buck) versus unlimited, which has made me watch how much time I spend on the internet.  Ughhh... BAD decision.

Anddd.......My desire to be outside enjoying every moment of this gorgeous weather.

           I think I need to take a moment to define my form of  "Enjoying" has become since child.

                Enjoying the outdoors with a one year old 

 Not allowing my son to pick up or eat gross objects including:

         Dog poop

         Dead crickets

        Dead animal gifts from my cats

         Rocks, sand, grass, enter any various object here that can fit in a mouth.

Chasing said child around yard with magazine in hand, my new form of lounging around in the yard.

Setting up and breaking down his backyard each day with the ridiculous amounts of toys necessary to keep him occupied for maybe 10 minutes.

Lathering him, and ultimately myself with 10000 spf in waterproof lotion so we're both slippery all day.

Which leads back to chasing said child around, the lotion only makes things more 'fun'.

Emptying, washing, and refilling water table/pool, and dealing with all the lovely bugs that accumulate.

Trying to include some form of a nape so I can sit on my butt for more than two minutes.

Am I missing anything mommies?

Now, the hubby has the baby in a fluke moment this week so I'm going to continue to lay on my porch with Sex and the City reruns on tv... A Cold beverage next to me...

  All the while looking forward to a work meeting tonight to just get away and enjoy a Margarita without having to worry if my kid is throwing food at the next table.

Sleep Sleep Sleep, apparently that's all I blog about....

I know sleep comes and goes throughout motherhood.

But DEAR GOD, when will I get it again!!!!!

Clearly I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown due to my sons lack of consistent sleep.  Is it crazy of me to think that perhaps my 13 month old son might start sleeping through the night??  Is that a totally off the wall thought.

I feel terrible, I feel horrible, but most of all.....I feel jealous of all those other moms out there who have a great sleeper.

Just last night, he fell asleep at 6:45 for the night,...... in parts because he didn't have a good afternoon nap, it was a car nap that lasted 20 minutes if that.

(Which in looking back, my lack of consistency with nap time may be a big big factor in all these sleep issues)

He then woke at least three times before 10 with stirring.

Fast forward to Hubby and I being asleep in bed.

We brought Harrison in bed with us because it was soooo hot out.  AC is in our room only so he slept between us.

He woke another two times from 11 to 3 in the morning.  I, being too lazy, decided it was just 'easier' to put a water filled bottle in his mouth.  He falls right back asleep with that.

I'm just prolonging bottles, and making it harder for myself later.  I know.   But, I want sleep now.

So.... the Hubby gets up for work and sure enough the baby gets up too.  At 5:30 am.

What. Is. Going. On.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh......

So my baby boy that was on the verge of sleeping through the night only two or so months ago has now regressed to newborn stage.



I

Need

Coffee.

Beach Day with a Toddler...

Harrison and I went out with some friends yesterday to the lake.

We had a blast!   Even with nap times a bit off, and rain showers at the end of the day... my little man still did amazing.

Now of course, I relied on a couple of things to ensure that this day would go smoothly.

First off,  I packed my essentials.

-Around 12 bottles/sippy cups to ensure variety, and that when one drops in the sand I have another available immediately.

- "The Cage"  this thing has become a mind saver.  If you follow me on Twitter you might have seen a couple of picture posts involving me inside of said 'cage' with my son.  It makes him happy, which makes me happy.
     Plus, sitting inside of it with him takes some of the mommy guilt away.  Part of me feels bad I use it the other part says ... Hallelujah!!!

-  Radio Flyer wagon.  This was a baby shower gift that I've now put to lots of use.  PERFECT for dragging sheets, chair, cooler, and Heck... yes ... BABY all down to the beach.      (Wish I had gotten a picture of that.  Harrison piled in with all our beach junk)

- Snacks, Snacks, and more Snacks... because of course he doesn't want anything I've brought, he wants everything your friends have.  Thank goodness for generous mommy friends who understand.

- Cloth diapers.   Now, I went on a little cloth diaper break, and I've gotten back into them since I've been home.   They've been amazing, and work 12,982 times better than those stupid swim diapers that they just pee right through anyways.  The cloths.... termed affectionately 'clothies' by me.... slide perfect under a swimsuit and hold pee a bit better... and much better if I use the plastic liner.



So if I put all these together correctly, and the hour on the clock hits that magic spot...

I get a sleeping baby in the shade in his amazing "baby  cage"  (I need a better name for my trusted friend, a more affectionate term...)  and I get a very happy mommy on the beach getting to flip through a beach classic, Cosmo.

Thanks Cosmo for the 50 Sex Tips...
   That is now a section I pass through with little to lets be honest, No interest.  Sorry Cosmo...

Ahhhhhh..... A relaxed..... Mommy.   Brings me back to the days where I was able to read a full page only once.
Not three times over.... and still having no idea what I just read because I was interrupted 20 times by a toddler eating sand, rocks, bugs, or yanking at my magazine wanting to eat that.



So relaxing time quickly came to an end when the thunder rolled on in.
Packed the baby up.

Gave him a container I was bringing back to Wallyworld, one of those cylinders with the powdered sugar flavor packets inside, because I figured the rattling noise would entertain him.

It did.

Surprisingly so.

Almost half way into the car ride I smell this super sweet smell.

SHIT.

Pull over to discover this ...  ..  little cutie.

He and his carseat was covered with the red powder.  He looked like the joker.

Worst part about it I had promised hubby I would stop into the store to pick up dinner.

.... Definitely had to bring him in looking like that, baby wipes only went so far.

Just another day in the life with an active toddler, and a spacey mommy.

Well I guess I know what Foot and Mouth is now...

Well...

There was a reason for all the crabbiness.

Harrison and I were hanging out all Friday afternoon, he was a bit fussy again, I attributed it to those damn teeth.

We ran an errand to Walmart, he was his chipper self, flirting with all the Walmart Folk... sigh...
   Got home, and he was kind of weird, not really himself.

Super tired, and actually just kind of laid his head on the couch and fell asleep.  Super unusual for my little guy.

I scooped him up and cuddled with him on the couch.  
Lucky for me I had just bought a 'fancy new' thermometer that you hold to the babies temple.
    It was a random purchase for me at Walmart.   Perhaps 'Motherly Instinct"?   Ha..

Decided to try it out because heck, my kid was pretty freaking hot, and was sweating all over me.

Put it on his forehead...

Waited for the little beeps...

....
....
....

104.2    What the F***

Panic ensues, try it one more time...

Waiting for the beeps....

.....
.....
.....

105.1  Holy hell!

Never have I seen a temperature that high on him since his birth.

So I proceed to panic of course, and being by myself waiting for my husband to come home I of course, call my own mommy.

In a panicked state, crying.

Now, I've read enough books to know what I'm supposed to do when a temp gets this high, but all the sudden my son was becoming lethargic, head on my shoulder, limp arms and legs.

In between my call to my mother, and my kids doctor my sweet baby boy lifts his sweaty head up from my shoulder, looks me in the eyes, and gives me a kiss.

My sweet baby...

So my mother decided she was booking it over, and I start stripping the little man down and start a cool bath.
We climb in and he is NOT happy.   Crying, upset, totally pissed off at me.

So... Start trying to push kids Advil down his throat as the doctors office suggested.   That was a nightmare, from the kiddo who usually takes medicine willingly, I literally had to hold him down, pry his mouth open, and shove that stupid little dropper in his mouth.

Mother shows up as I have him in front of the A.C. with me, his poor little legs starting to get goosebumps, she swoops him up in a big hug.  My poor little boy looks so young again.  Cuddle him for about an hour, recap what the hell happened in an hours time.  He was completely normal, minus the teething crabbiness, all day long.

Sure enough, my little guy starts becoming more aware, and is ready to go once that medicine kicks in.

My mommy panic moment is finally subsiding, and I'm starting to chill.

Great, .... I'm the 25 year old woman who still calls her mommy crying.
     Ughhh.




All in all I took the H-man to the doctors on Saturday because Friday night was hell here.  Turns out he has Foot and Mouth, with little ulcers on the back of his throat.  No wonder the kid wouldn't eat or drink, the doctor specifically showed me the little things, and I cringed thinking I'd be quite the baby too if they were in the back of my throat.

Foot and mouth is basically caused from the fact that like typical one year olds do, they put gross objects in their mouths,   ALL.....   OF .... THE..... TIME....

So rounds of Advil, and Tylenol the past couple days and finally this morning Harrison has woken up himself, and is currently running like a crazy man around the house banging, playing, and torturing the cats.

That's my little boy.

Losing my Patience..

Big mom fail.

H after the three hour long nap he took...

I've been losing my patience lately with my son.

Like walk away lose my patience because he's absolutely driving me up a wall.

This makes me feel like crap.   I'm home all summer long with him, I'm so lucky to have an opportunity and a career like this that allows me to spend so much time with him.

Hmmm... maybe that was a sign

Even at this very moment he's pulling on my arm and crying even though he's fed, changed, and has a gazillion toys to play with.

He's finally become a wicked Mommas boy.  Like to the point of drive Momma batty he's so clingy.

That maybe he wasn't feeling good?

I get what I ask for, I cuddle him to sleep, I go the second he cries at night (much to the displeasure of my husband, and against my pediatrician).  I enabled this little boy to become so attached so why am I losing it when he wants to hang on me?

This week has been a tough one, parenting wise.  Harrison has decided lately that he was going to change any and all routines that we may have had.  He's waking up at  5:15 for the day, then takes a nap at 6:45-7:00 and I am beyond getting back to sleep.  I guess I'm just exhausted, I'm trying to run errands day after day, which is so hard with a one year old that doesn't listen, and is in a screaming phase.  For example, going to the DMV resulted in me having to hold my kid by his armpits while they took my license picture, so he wouldn't run way.

Times like these give me a  new found respect for single parents.  How do they do it?  I can't even imagine the way they feel.

  So I suppose parts of me are frustrated based on lack of sleep, and the fact that my one year old son thinks it's still necessary to do multiple wake ups during the night.

Sighh...

Then I finally realized on Monday, (that things are not all about meeeee, me, me... you think I'd know this by now)  after a day of hell that maybe there was cause for this behavior, like maybe my son might be in some pain?

Duh.....

Mega mom fail.




He has twelve thousand sharp little razors trying to break through his gums, and I'm over here losing it because I think he's just being grumpy.

And all is well after a little bit of Oragel.

And a closing thought.   If I want to keep all my fingertips in tact, I need to go back to the Oragel sticks.

Baby and sleep... Apparently the only two things on my mind.

I don't get it.


I JUST don't GET it.

Harrison, if you are that tired why don't you continue to sleep through the morning?

Why do you insist upon waking up at 5:15, when Momma decides to drag you into bed, pretend like you're going to sleep for 45 minutes, then pop your head up ready to go for the day?

But, not only that.   After twenty minutes awake you're ready for a nap and Mommy is up for the day.

I was never one of those people that could 'sleep when the baby sleeps'.   I can't nap.  It drives me Crazy.

So now my beautiful son lies next to me on the couch while I type away and he snoozes.

I am beyond jealous.

I wonder what a full night of sleep, or uninterrupted sleep feels like.  I haven't slept for two years, sighhhh.
At least H does a bit better than his cousin.   My SIL is up 4-5 times a night with her one year old, talk about exhausted, I can't complain.

Now as i typed this post my son decided that the ten minute nap he took was sufficient for this morning.

He needs routine, I need to become more disciplined as a mother to enforce a routine, I think it would benefit all of us.

Perhaps this would've been best done months ago, and my 'free spirit' mentality of mommyhood has kicked me in the ass.

9:30 & Shaking the headboard...

Why are you up my son?  Seriously, it's 9:30.  So cute though, I don't mind.