Candidate for MOY*--That's Me.

Remember how I said that Brook-Brook was on a sleeping strike?  Monday we had it confirmed that no, she's not just rebelling, she has strep throat and a double ear infection.  This is one of those moments that you realize that parenting is full of ups and downs, and just like when your child yells in a public bathroom, "You poopin', Mommy?" this is one of the 'downs.'

I am happy to report she's back to her happy, clapping, paci-sharing self today.  And went to sleep with no issue.  Antibiotics saved the day on this one.  

*MOY=Mom of the Year

She's a Rebel.

It got real today.  The sweet child of mine who has peacefully slept without issue the majority of her short 10 months is rebelling.  Sleep is over-rated in Brooklyn's book.  Over-rated for the past three days.  My assumption is that she would much rather be pulling my ear, sharing her paci or just generally being held while sleeping rather than rest peacefully in her crib.  What's the harm, one might ask?

The result:

She's a delicate flower full of modesty, just like her mom.    And I don't know what it means that she looks more like me when she's crying.

It Takes a Village (Why Mommy Sickness is BAD)

This week I was Sick.  I used that capital for a reason.  I missed four days of work.  Four.  That has never happened for sickness before.  What I thought was a springtime cold/sinus infection combo turned out to be strep.  Strep throat without the sore throat.  I broke down and went to the doc-in-a-box after two days of feeling like general ass and resting and not getting any better at all.  When the peppy nurse asked if I wanted a strep test in conjunction with the flu swab, I shrugged--it really seemed unnecessary.  She also asked what my pain level was on that stupid scale.  I had no idea how to answer, even after looking at the smiley faces that then turn sad.  I felt like crap, but I didn't correlate that to being in pain.  Is that dumb?  And really, did my answer make a difference?  I wasn't having crippling stomach pain, suspected strain or broken bone or even a migraine.

Being sick as a mommy is no fun a'tall.  Not that being sick is fun in the best of circumstances, but still having to get up and get other people dressed, make bottles, feed small people and wipe hineys just seems cruel.  I know I'm whiny.  It's a good thing I have a husband who is a nurturer and a mom who generously agreed to help me on her Spring Break.  It takes a village, people.  Especially when a mommy is a whiny sick mess.

Turning the Corner to Old Age

I fell asleep sitting up last night.  My husband woke me to send me to bed after he heard me snoring from across the room.  I was also jealous of my sister for being in bed at 8:30 last night.  Y'all, I am OLD.  Old and pregnant.  Life is hectic.  Hectic but good.  The exhaustion is worth it.

Baby Stuff is 'Spensive, Y'all

It is easy to get swept away in the romantic pretty-making of decorating a nursery.  I get that.  My sister sent me a link to this bedding today.  Yep.  You read that right--free shipping on a crib set for only $494!

If there's one thing that parenting has taught me, spending that kind of money for something that will be used for around two years and thrown up upon, shat upon, and peed upon is a bit foolish.  Did that stop me from wanting the $375 stroller this weekend?  Nope.  I didn't say I wasn't a fool.  I'm just a fool whose income doesn't allow for such luxuries. . . otherwise . . . there would at least be a great internal debate.

It's a Milestone

Post number 201.  Yep.  That's kind of a milestone.  200 random posts.  14 followers.  Clearly, I persevere in the face of daunting odds.

Lazy Bargain Hunting

A bargain is a total rush for me.  But I also really don't love to have to work for a bargain.  I'm lazy.  Lazy and cheap.  Sometimes this works in my favor, mostly by accident.  I'm convinced that the huge consignment sales are geared to me--I'm the perfect customer.

With the impending arrival of Jose (Tres, for some), came the realization we need just a couple of important items--a double stroller and a pack-and-play.  And y'all, it's consignment season.  I hit two today.  Despite my $8 entrance fee ($5 for parking and $3 for shopping), the first stop was a bust.  I had sweet Brook-Brook with me and one look at the lack of furniture and then no stroller that was fitting, along with the line wrapped around the room convinced me to cut my losses.

Enter sale number 2.  Turns out that many were swayed by the lure of the big sale and the smaller one was calm and fully stocked.  Ha!  There it was, the double stroller.  One hundred dollars cheaper than retail.

It has a little bit of wear and tear, the seats need to be cleaned up, but it will accommodate an infant seat and sweet Brook-Brook with no problemo.  Now, it's not the uber-fancy stroller that I took for a test drive today in buybuy Baby, but remember how I'm cheap?  Yeah.  So the price tag of $375 +tax, I had to walk away from that five-foot long dream monstrosity.

To top off the score, I got some adorbs hairbows on super-sale, 3 pieces of work-worthy maternity clothes for $12, 2 cute polos for the Ell-monster for $5, a Hanna Andersson dress for $6 and a couple of other fab spring outfits for next year for B-B.  

It was a successful day. . . until I spent 20 minutes wrestling that damned amazing stroller into my car because I couldn't figure out how to make it fold up.  I kept hoping someone would take pity on me and come to help, but no such luck.  I think I don't look pregnant enough yet.  I mean, because people are much more likely to help a super-pregnant lady, right?