Countdown

With 10 days left until my sanity returns I am going to share with you my current favorite Top 10 Countdown.

Ten Things that will Happen Between Now and September 1st.

10 Days I have left to sleep alone and in the middle of the bed. It's awesome and I will actually miss this. (Hear that AG? Sleep in your own damn bed. Mommy enjoys snuggling, not sharing a bed with you and your Restless Leg Syndrome!)
9 Number of days I will consider shaving my legs but think, "ehh I have a few more days until he will come home"
8 Number of days I have left to get rid of the last pesky 5-lbs. Okay, who the heck am I kidding I am typing and eating a PB cookie. Besides, my husband loves me no matter what! (Especially after spending 9-months with a bunch of dudes...)

7 Days I have left to enjoy the shows I like watching. Good bye Real Housewives and re-runs of ANTM. Hello Mecum Auto Auction and FutureWeapons.

6 Number of times per conversation Alex will try and convince me he needs both a new truck and a new motorcycle because he has "suffered so much" since he's been gone. Good thing we only talk every few days and his suave powers of persuasion have no effect on me after 10 years :)
5 Number of times per day Alex reminds me I have to shave my legs before he gets home. He knows me too well.
4 Hours I will devote to cleaning my house this next week. For those of you who don't know me and think this sounds like a low number, you obviously don't follow my, "A little dirt and dog hair won't kill you" housekeeping method.
3 Number of opportunities my backyard spiders still have to launch an attack when I mow. That is SOOOO his job when he gets back!

2 Number of times AG will have to be content with just seeing her Daddy on Skype. The real thing is so much better!
1 Number of Sundays until he is home!

Whole New World

One Saturday a month, for 1 hour and 30 blessed minutes, I take some time to myself. I don't worry about cleaning, mowing, working out or even bathing (even though sometimes I do stink a little). My child is asleep and I give myself a time-out. What do I do during these precious 90 minutes? Well, sit and read my monthly edition of Parenting magazine of course! (See, I never get too far away from the mommy-ness).

The August issue has an editorial all about the huge transitions that come between 18-months and 3-years. Umm ya think?! AG is all of 18-months and one week old and I feel like every day it is something different. One day it is "Mommy up" i.e. "hold-me-even-though-I-am-nearly-30-pounds-and-have-to-wiggle-around-to-look-at-everything-going-on-but-no-no-I-really-do-need-you-to-hold-me". Then the next I am sprinting after her because she can't get away from me fast enough, nevermind the fact that we are in the middle of Lowes or even better - a parking lot.

Most days she has a beautifully sunny, easy-going and calm disposition. We have fun doing just about anything. Then she throws me for a loop and NOTHING pleases her and she has some need that must be met NOW; but she cannot verbalize it and no amount of "show Mommy please just show Mommy what you want" will calm her down. Those days we spend a lot of time sitting on the ground, her sobbing, kicking, screaming and me saying "Mommy wants to help you but you have to stop crying". Those are long days.

Not all of the transitions are patience testers though. Some are simple and so small, you almost miss them if you weren't watching her every move with amazement. All of a sudden, she can use a spoon. Just decided one day, "I'm going to take care of finishing this applesauce cup all by myself". It was amazing. She has also gone from casually observing toys and their function to Miss Crazy Imagination. Our baby dolls jump everywhere. Everything Addie Grace does, they must also perform. Brushing teeth, eating snacks, running errands with Mommy. They're living the life right now.

We also dress up in play clothes, eat play food and make poor Snoopy wear chapstick and necklaces. Playing with her is fun and exciting. I am sooo looking forward to the next few years when we can kick this imaginarium into high gear and really get silly. Plus I am interested to see if Alex will have a tea-party and wear a feather boa. Only things that his princess would be able to make him do.

Having a toddler is SO much better than having a newborn. Even through the whining, defiant streaks and "I want to do it on my own" moments.