From 'Super-Mom' to 'I Need a Nap'

It has been one fun-filled and exhausting summer. But after today (it's only 2pm), I just had to finally sit down and blog. It's been another big break in between blogs. Believe it or not, I have started 2 or 3, but just never finished them, and by the time I came back to them, it was old news and the thoughts were gone. But today, I am going to start and finish the same post! I need too...

Funny how everyone always dreads Mondays. Besides the fact that we've been having awesome family fun-filled weekends and my hubby has to go back to work, I actually look forward to Mondays. The start of a new week is refreshing to me. I try not to look at what I didn't accomplish the past week that I WANTED too, but try to make up new goals to go after! And by Wednesday or Thursday, sometimes even Tuesday, I find myself needing to already re-focus and re-motivate myself. It's a constant struggle to balance going after my dreams and what I want to accomplish for myself and for my family with Scentsy, and handle 2 busy boys...soon to be 3! So yes, things tend to get neglected, and I'm STILL trying to figure out the magic potion on how to be a perfect mom, wife and business owner...without hiring a nanny that we can't afford :) Not to mention, this pregnancy has taken a MAJOR toll on my energy level and not feeling as well week to week. So...I look forward to my Mondays and a fresh start :)

This morning until about 1pm, I kind of felt like super-mom! Grayson woke up and we had breakfast together. We came downstairs and read MANY books. Everything was going fine. I had stayed up late the night before to get all my mailings ready to go to the post office, so I just needed to email a few people and start getting ready for the day. Now I don't know if this is typical for every 21 month old or typical for a child who stays home with his mom, or if my child just loves putting me through the ringer, but I seriously can't put him down or leave the room without a complete melt down. I remember Talan going through this phase, but I don't remember it being as intense. Maybe it's because Grayson is a whole 6 months younger than what Talan was when I was pregnant, so I can't reason with him as much as I remember reasoning with Talan, but YIKES! Even reading books, he HAS to sit on my lap, and he keeps backing up onto me because he just can't get close enough with this belly! He ends up sitting ON TOP of my belly, which is uncomfortable to say the least.

After I got both the boys dressed, I put him on my bed (crying) and told him he had to sit there. I quickly got dressed and threw my hair in a pony tail and loaded them up into the car. I had to get to the post office, bank and yes...attempt to go shopping for a shirt and tie for Daddy. Haha. Again, it's Monday and I feel like super women on Monday's :) Finding just the right shirt and tie isn't like picking up a gallon of milk. It is NOT an 'in and out' process! So in the parking lot, I have a talk with Talan. "Talan. listen to Mommy. If you are a good boy and don't start wrestling with your brother and make him scream in the store, I will get you a treat. Do you understand me? I WILL NOT get you a treat if you aren't a good boy!" Something about this conversation really made him know that Mommy meant business today. Lol! (Yep, feeling like super-mom at this moment) So in we went with Talan talking my ear off about the treat he wants, and Grayson already taking his shoes off in the stroller and handing them back to me saying, "here you go!" Oh thanks, buddy! I'm choosing my battles. As long as he's strapped in the stroller, not running around, I can handle him being bare foot. We get in there and started looking. I am the most indecisive person when it comes to matching a shirt and tie with just the right color scheme together. And then to do it with a 4yr old and 21 month old. I start thinking I'm crazy for even attempting this trip, but I keep looking. The boys are starting to get restless. Talan saying "Sorry, Mommy. I won't do it again." Every time he covers Grayson's face with his kiki, which then makes Grayson scream and giggle and try to get out. Wow. I actually felt like I had total control! Besides Grayson pulling things out of the cubby displays, even then I pulled out some pretzels and animal crackers and they were as good as when we first got there! I FINALLY made a decision, made the purchase, and we left. Hooray!

Then we went to go get Talan's treat and I decided we would go eat it at the park so I could let them play some too. This is when my status went from feeling like super-mom to "I need a nap!" We get to the park and within 5 minutes Talan said he had to go potty. I thought it was weird because he had to go when we were at the mall! I told him to go by a tree and he said he couldn't because he had to go poop! Are you kidding me!?! Kid, I just unloaded you and your brother, lugged our lunch and your treat down this hill, got everything opened and situated, and now you have to go poop...with no outhouse in sight!?!? So we packed everything back up and home we went. We got home and I said that I would let him in the house to go potty and I would get Grayson situated out on the picnic table to eat lunch. What next?? Oh yeah...he didn't have to go anymore! Ha, ok Mandy, breathe. So we went to go eat on the picnic table. unloaded everything again, started eating and then Talan decided he needed to go. Oy. OK, I let him in the house and stayed outside with Grayson until Talan needed my help. In the meantime, Grayson finished eating and decided he was done and got down. Well, Talan had moved the picnic table last week to a spot kind of close to the steps, but under more shade. He's like his Daddy. It has an umbrella, but he needed MORE shade. Anyway, Grayson got down took 2 steps back and rolled down 1/2 the stairs. He caught himself somehow, laying on his back on 1/2 a step, crying. I pick him up and immediately move the table back to where it was in the first place. (NOT super-mom at this point) In the midst of calming Grayson down and moving the table back, the milk and Talan's now very soupy M&M McFlurry fell off the table and made a mess all over the cement and picnic table. It's fine, Mandy. Breathe. I got the hose out and started hearing Talan yell for me. "MOM! I need some help in here!!" Quickly hosed the milk and ice cream off of everything, got Grayson inside. And boy did Talan need my help! Holy Moly! If you don't like potty talk, than stop reading...

I go in the house to see him standing in the kitchen with poop smeared all over his thighs! What the heck did he do!?!? I bring him into the bathroom and ask, "Talan! did you not wait until you're completely done?? Why is there POOP everywhere??" His response, "Sorry Mom. I didn't mean to make you mad. I'm really sorry, Mom." Now how can you be upset with a response like that, but seriously?? It was at this moment, I was ready to stop trying and I just needed to sit and do nothing. Grayson started asking for a "baba" in his whiny voice. He only still calls milk a "baba" when he's tired and ready for bed or his nap. I get him his drink of milk (yes, now he only takes 2 drinks and he's done since it's not a bottle), change his diaper and put him down for a nap. I take a deep breath and go get Talan his milk he started asking for at the same exact time as Grayson, and sat down. Without putting a load of laundry in the washer. Without picking up our bedroom. I had to sit.

Lucky for me Grayson went down easy, Talan is pretty much always fine with just hanging out (unless Daddy is home), and I was able to start and finish a blog! Success! Now I've sat long enough and I need to go get the laundry done and email more customers. We leave for New York on Thursday! We get to end the summer going to my step-sister's wedding in New York City...with no kids! Travis and I will be married 7 years in September, and I don't think we've taken a trip without kids! And we didn't travel before kids, so this is a bit exciting :) We love our kids dearly, but to experience a plane ride with no kids will be heavenly!  What an awesome way to end the summer...Can't wait to celebrate with you Kelly and Andrew!

And when we return...it better be Fall :)