If it wasn't for bad luck...

If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. My mom used to tell me that and I swear she's right.

Today started off badly. The baby woke up at 5:25am wanting to eat. Once he was done I decided to put him back in bed with me, hoping he'd doze and I could catch a few more minutes of sleep as well. Instead he decided to spit up all over my bed.

We went downstairs to change his now soaked PJs and he began to scream, waking up my daughter. She was not happy.

The morning continued with various mishaps -- a leaking refrigerator, snapped Ziploc freeze bag pump, bad poop diaper from the baby -- not to mention the HOUR I spent on-and-off hold with AT&T because... wait for it... my week old iPhone 4S isn't working. Well, the phone itself works but when I connect it to charge or sync it's not recognizing that it's connected unless I hard reboot it. The resolution? I have to go to the Apple store (about 40 minutes away) to the Genius bar and have them look at it. If they agree that's the problem, they *might* be able to replace it. I say might because they wouldn't tell the AT&T rep if they had any of my phone in stock. So... I might get one today, I might have to go back once they get more in stock. Yay!

Is it 8pm yet???

A little honesty

Over the past few weeks, there's been a whole lot of ESPN on in our house. The NFL season is quickly approaching (I don't count pre-season) and the soundbites are alway the same.

"This is our year."
"We have a great team."
"I couldn't be happier with my offense/defense/special teams."

The same thing happens at military hail and farewell gatherings.

"He/She comes to us from ___ with a great track record of getting things done."
"He/She is the perfect addition to our unit."

For once, I'd love to hear the honest statement.

"Because of our salary cap, we had to cut all our good players. We're hoping the new guys won't totally suck."
"We weren't good last year, the team hasn't changed much, so chances are we won't be good this year either."
"He/She totally screwed up at their last assignment and now we're stuck with them."
"He/She is looking to leave the military within two years so good luck getting any real work from him/her."

A girl can dream. Ha ha

Choices have consequences

Ok world, I need your opinion.

Twice today, my dd (who is 3 yrs old) made a decision, only to renege on it a few minutes later and then proceed to pitch a fit. For example:

Me: What do you want for breakfast?
DD: Yogurt.
Me: Big one or small one?
DD: Big
(I open the big one and hand it to her)
DD: Nooooooo! I want a small one. I don't want this one.
Me: You told me you wanted a big one so that's what I opened. Now you have to eat it.
DD: Nooooo. (more whining, etc.)
Me: No more whining. You said you wanted a big one, I opened it for you and now you have to eat it. I'm not getting something else for you for breakfast.

Typed out it sounds a lot harsher than I think I delivered it but that's another story altogether. Later in the day she decided she wanted to try strawberry milk (yay for trying since she's a VERY picky eater) but when she chose it, I told her that if she didn't like it, I wasn't going to buy another one. Of course, she took about 4 sips, told me she liked it, but then refused to drink any more. She then decided to plead with me that she was sooooo thirsty and please would I buy her regular milk to which I told her no.

Choices have consequences. But is she too young to learn that or for me to try to teach her?

Control freak

I can be a bit of a control freak. I'm a planner. I like to know what I'm doing and when I'm doing it. I love making lists and, consequently, crossing things off of them. One of my best Christmas presents was a label maker. 

The ironic part is that I'm also an Army wife and so my life is not my own. I've learned to write things in pencil, not pen and not to look more than a few days out when planning anything unless I'm ok with the fact that I might have to do it myself. I've gotten SO much better about things being up in the air and uncertain and have learned to be more "go with the flow." Just ask DH!

But if there's one thing that gives me heart palpitations, it's talking about our next PCS. And, today, DH met with his assignments officer to talk about what could be next for us. We already had one assignment "pulled" from us. Then, we were under the impression that we could be leaving our current location in early spring. Now, it looks like we are back to our usual summer rotation. But where to next? It's killing me not knowing and it will take every bit of strength I have left to resist pouncing on DH the minute he walks in to find out what he was told today.

I'm hoping for the mainland, but would love to be back on the east coast. Wish me luck!

Cheater

I think I might get this trait from my birthmom (ask my siblings about the Monopoly incident of 2007) but I hate when people cheat at games.

I play Words with Friends fairly regularly and some of the words people use I've never heard of. I'm nit saying that my vocabulary is so vast that I'm a walking dictionary or anything, but there are times I KNOW if we were playing in person there's no way they'd come up with the same word.

Why do we feel the need to cheat? Are we looking to feel better about ourselves? To get that little rush of victory?

I feel the same way when people purposely lose a game to a child or help the child cheat. Do they really think their child will never lose at anything? Why not expose it to them early?

I'm interested to know what you all think!

No excuses

Why do we, as women, make excuses when we can't do something whereas men can just say no? Ask a guy if he wants to come for a BBQ this weekend and the response is a simple "Sorry dude, can't." Ask a woman and the response is likely to be something like "Oh, I wish I could but I have my best friend's sister's child's preschool graduation and I haven't even gotten a gift yet. What do you get for that anyway? I've never been to one before. Maybe we can have lunch next week?"

Ladies, IMHO, let's be like the guys. Just say no. Everything that comes after that just sounds like a made up excuse.

It's quiet. Too quiet.

Today was DD's first full day of preschool. It's been way too quiet around here today. I've actually gotten things done, like my nails. That might seem trivial but let's face it, every girl needs her "me" time and when you're a mom of two, "me" time suddenly qualifies as the time you're asleep. Or maybe watching Project Runway.

I'm trying to add more "me" time to my schedule but a lot of the time that requires me relying on my DH's schedule which is less than predictable. For example, I really want to start going to yoga again. This 5-month post-baby pooch has got to go. To be fair, it's not just DH's schedule that's keeping me from going. As soon as I found a place that was nearby and not too expensive they moved to a new location and it's under construction. *sigh*

And now for my excitement for the day... the mail just came! I finally got my MacBook a skin so I'm going to put it on. Jealous? ha ha

Why Hawaii can suck

DD has outgrown her swing set. So, I've been on the hunt for a new one. I found a great set on sale from $189 to $99 at Kmart. I checked out the reviews, made sure it wasn't too large, etc. And then I saw it. "Click here for Alaska and Hawaii pricing." I clicked. I threw up in my mouth a little. In Hawaii, the same swing set costs $206! More than the MSRP!!!

My neighbor and I agreed we'd split the cost of the set so we've both been on the hunt. She suggested Walmart's Site-to-Store. Again, found a great set for a great price ($149) but Hawaii isn't eligible for Site-to-Store service. Grrrr... I've even been stalking Craigslist everyday with no luck.

Oh, and did I mention that when DH put on a t-shirt last night, there was a centipede in it?!?!?

*sigh*

You've been defriended

I'm not one to keep track of how many friends I have on Facebook, but from time-to-time I go to say hi to someone and realize that I've been defriended. Shouldn't I get an alert to tell me that someone is dropping me from their friends list? They essentially get to slink away into the internet oblivion without any explanation. It reminds me of the episode of Sex and the City where Berger breaks up with Carrie on a Post-It.

What if you had to tell the other person why you were leaving them? Heck, when I unsubscribe from an email mailing list I get asked why I'm leaving. Or click the x near a Facebook ad to remove it from the rotation. So, Facebook developers, if you're reading this, here's the list of reasons I think my soon-to-be-departing friend should choose from when they click the "remove from friends" link (in no particular order):

• Too many posts
• Posts aren't relavent
• We had a fight/broke-up
• It was a "pity" friend to begin with
• Political differences
• I just wanted to see their pics to in preparation for our HS reunion

What would you add?

Am I filling the landfills or are they?

As I made dinner last night, I threw away a decent amount of plastic items. See, in Hawaii, we only recycle #1 and #2 (which I find ironic given the whole "Keep the Country County" campaign but that's something for another day). A lot of items are packaged in #5 containers which just wind up in the trash. So it got me thinking -- who is more to blame? Me who is buying the containers or the companies that produce them that are taking the (I assume) cheap route in using #5 instead of 1 or 2?

After a little Googling, I found out that I could save my #5 containers and give them to a program called "Gimme 5" which has drop offs at Whole Foods. The only problem?... No Whole Foods near me.

*sigh*

For those dealing with the heat

I saw this on a friend's FB status and wanted to share...


I was going to complain about how hot it is... then I realized that at least: 
1.) it isn't 109 degrees
2.) I'm not 5,700 miles from home
3.) I'm not dressed in a full BDU uniform and helmet and carrying 70+ lbs. 
and 4.) there is very little chance that anyone will shoot at me or that I might drive over a bomb in the road today! 


Thanks to all who serve !!!
HOOAH!

Cinder-f*ckin-rella

"Who does it work out for Kat, really?"

"Let me think... let me think... I got it. Cinder-f*ckin-rella."

- Pretty Woman

DD is currently, well, obsessed, with Cinderella. While reading it the other day I chuckled to myself reading this line: "And while her stepsisters lived like princesses, poor Cinderella was forced to do laundry, serve meals, and clean house -- just like a servant." And I thought, just like a mother.

BTW, I had to use the "Cinder-f*ckin-rella" quote because it's spoken by Laura San Giacomo who I share a birthdate with and is from my hometown :) 

Home Sweet Home

After a lot of thought, I finally bought plane tickets to go back to NJ for a few weeks. I'm a bit nervous to travel 9.5+ hours on a plane by myself with two kids. Luckily, my kids are good on the plane (especially dd) so we should be ok. Please God, let us be ok...

30 days to a better parent

Like most parents, I try to do my best on a day-to-day basis. But with a 3 year old and a 4 month old, things an get pretty stressful. I found myself getting overly angry or upset about things that are just everyday life. So a few days ago, I vowed to myself to be a better parent. To be more patient, listen more, play more and put off chores when I can. I shut off the iPhone notification sounds for my email and games so I wouldn't be tempted and I generally have my laptop powered down so I can take a minute and think about if I really need to get on it right that second or if it can wait.

I've come to realize that part of my frustration with parenting is that I expect my 3 year old to listen. That probably sounds ridiculous but it's a real issue with me. I know she can hear me. I know she can listen. But sometimes she chooses not to. I've heard other parents say how they too catch themselves expecting their kids to be "little adults" but that's not the way it works. I'm trying to remember that.

Anyway, back to the 30 days. I am trying not to yell unless it's 100% necessary (i.e. not staying next to me in a parking lot).  I made it through two days with great success despite frustrating events. Yesterday, I had a small slip. This morning, a bigger one. Here's hoping I can get back on track.

To fly or not to fly... That is the question

I'm homesick. Really, REALLY homesick. I'm trying to decide if taking a 10 hour flight with just me and the kids is feasible. I know I can keep dd occupied and ds should sleep most of the time. But what do I do when I need to pee? Surely all three of us can't fit in a teeny airplane bathroom.

*sigh*

I really can't decide...

An over-allergic world

So you know how there are now "warning" labels on food and drinks for soy, wheat, peanuts, etc.? Well today at Target, my dd got her usual milk and hot pretzel and on the bottle it has a warning. Contains Milk.

Wow, who knew?!

Welcome

I've debated (with myself, of course) about doing a blog for a while now. In a world of Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. it seems like a bit of information overload. That being said, I'm doing it anyway.

I'm sure it will be pretty random, so don't say I didn't warn you.