The Winter Blahs

Okay, I'm done. I am done with the winter time blahs. It's spring time--time for the snow to stop (puh-lease), and time for it to be warm enough for my kiddos to go OUTSIDE.

Yet again, it snowed last night. Enough to stick & cover the ground, and be really, really cold. Wouldn't you know--the little man woke up with a cold too. One to rival the cold his daddy has been carrying around the last couple days. Except O has big red eyes to boot. Argh.

So, once again, the cold has hit our family. Of course, I have run out of homeopathic treatments so I ran to Vitamin Cottage. I loaded up, just in case--$75 later, I'm back home doping everyone up. I also ran to the grocery & loaded up on fresh fruit.

Praying for sunshine...

What I Got Done Today

No one can really prepare you for what happens when you get pregnant and then have a baby. Sure, lots of people will give you their opinions and advice (wanted or not), but it doesn't sink-in until you've experienced it.
This is even true for when you go from one kiddo to two.

With our first child we read every book, and attempted to do everything just right--no t.v., no sugar, and schedules were followed. With #2, well, let's just say I'm thrilled if I get a shower during the day.
I feel guilty because it seems like no one is really getting 100% of me. Plus, if you were sitting where I am, you'd also probably be wondering if our house was hit by a small tornado recently.

I need time. Time to help my new baby really adjust to having a schedule. Time to really help nurture my son's toddler heart. Time to clean my bedroom (really, this room even smells funny--I'm pretty sure those are spit up stains on the carpet). I'm a bit wary of being home full-time and starting a new business.

Okay, in all honesty, I'm not being fair to myself. We're still working through a major transition, and our days won't be like this soon. (I'm still working full-time at my "normal" job, trying to get this new business venture up & running, and attempting to be a full-time mommy.)

So, you might be reading this & thinking, well, instead of blogging you could be cleaning that room. Yeah, you're probably right. I guess I'm also needing time to just think. To get everything that's in my head out, so I can get things sorted & then tackle each one. Most days it's a luxury to even get that done. Usually we start the day at 6:30 a.m., and it seems like dinner time comes all too quickly. Today I didn't even have a second to brush my teeth until 4 p.m. Ick.

I need encouragement. This is what I DID get DONE today:

• Took care of a major crisis at work, despite that I'm supposed to be on vacation today.
• Assembled a new laundry sorter.
• Met the kids' needs, and enjoyed some one-on-one time with each of them.
• Wrote on my blog :)
• Finished my husband's invoicing for his business.
• Ran a couple loads of laundry

It's not everything that I need to get done, but it's the best I could do today. :)

Good Things.

Okay, yes, I'm stealing this from Martha Stewart, but the lady can turn a phrase--what can I say?

I just found this site http://www.cclponline.org/ccs/cfpi_self_sufficiency.php that allows you to enter a little information, and then it calculates & summarizes your income vs. expenses to determine what it takes for you to be self-sufficient.
It even figures in what state or federal programs you possibly qualify for--cool.
You can enter 5 different "scenarios" to test out different incomes vs. expenses. For example, I put in our current situation (both of us working), and then 4 other possibilities (me not working/earning at all, part-time, with or without state assistance, etc.).
This enabled me to see that we're actually better off with me NOT working or working only part-time than if I continued working my full time job.

I'll keep posting good things for mothers when I find them. Feel free to share your good things too! I'd love to read them.

The Nurtured Mother starts

I'm finally doing it. Starting my own business. I loved working for others, but it's time for me to really see what I can do on my own.
So, wa-la, The Nurtured Mother is born.

I'm getting everything together, a web-site, marketing/advertising, a business plan...wow there's a lot to get done.

So, why do I need a blog just for The Nurtured Mother? Well, I thought many of my clients, as well as other moms out there might enjoy my ramblings specifically about motherhood. Plus, it's a great way for me to get all the poop talk over with before my husband gets home. Then, we can have a "real" conversation. Right? Well, here's hoping.

A day in the life of...

This is a recent e-mail I sent to a friend of mine who also works at home. It made me laugh, even as I was writing it. This is really what has gone on today.

Brahms? The New Yorker?
Yeah, my working at home looks more like:
Up at 6 a.m., feed the baby, baby down for nap. Work for an hour. Get the toddler up & have breakfast. Decide whether or not I should risk a shower while a 2-year old is awake. Decide I don't stink THAT bad, so I go work while O "colors."
Baby starts to scream--yep, no real nap happening today. O wants to wear boots & no pants outside. Yep, it's time for an outing. One more sniff to make sure I don't stink that bad & off to run errands we go (with everyone wearing pants).
Post office to mail a return for a $74 nursing bra, that yeah, wasn't worth $74. As I'm trying to figure out the "automated" machine--O whispers "pee." Oh, crap. Wouldn't you know--our post office DOESN'T HAVE A PUBLIC BATHROOM. Where are our tax dollars going?!?!?!
Crap. (Note to self to stop saying "crap" or O is going to learn a bad habit from mommy.)Okay, finish this automated thing--promise the toddler a cookie if he can hold it. Slap the label on--hope it's going to the right place. Run at break neck speed to the car, all the while begging the two year old to not pee on his car seat...again.
Okay, stop at Daddy's Starbucks--who opens the door thinking we're there to "surprise" him. HA. I scream "Potty, NOW!" Daddy takes O to potty. Mommy collapses with the baby on the comfy chair for two seconds of "quiet."
O made it!! Hooray! He gets a cookie--okay, so technically it was pumpkin bread, but he's happy & we're off again.
A few more errands, and back home to feed the baby. This time a nap is successful! Back to work while O plays outside. I say to myself "Wow, it's nice outside, self. Why aren't I working outside?" So, out I go to enjoy the weather, watch my boy play, and "work." Daddy comes home. Hallelujah--I get a shower!
Lunch time, another baby feeding, and kids both down for the BIG nap of the day. Now, I'm back at my desk, answering emails to you two Ya-hoos. ;) The babes will be up in an hour & then it's time for dinner--Roast Chicken and Risotto. Bedtime for the babes, 30 minutes of quiet time with the hubby, and it's time for me to finally stop for the day.
Somehow, I'm able to get in a full 8-hour work day, AND care for two kiddos....oh, crap (crap, I said crap again)...that's the baby awake again. Here we go...