Happy 3rd Birthday Nathan!

Happy 3rd birthday to our little Nathan. It's really hard to believe it's been three years since the birth that still makes me feel queasy if I think too much about it. If you're not familiar with the story, you can read the original blog post at: http://minthornemommy.blogspot.com/2008/01/wild-ride-induction-free.html

I just read back over it and cried.

The birthday plan is to take Nathan out to lunch while Aiden is at school. We'll be picking up daddy, so he gets undivided mommy and daddy time. He gets to pick dinner and dessert for tonight. We're having his party on Sunday and it's going to be a Pirate Party (his request).

We are so thankful Nathan is part of our family. He definitely completes us. He's snuggly, loving, funny, and a tad crabby at times. We love every moment with our littlest baby. Happy birthday, Nay-Nay.

Household Re-Do

I've never been able to stick to spring cleaning, so I always try to attack my household deep cleaning and organization right after Christmas. We have new things, so it's a perfect time to get rid of the old and find a way to organize the new. Plus, it will probably take me until the spring to complete the entire house anyway. :^)

I've purchased a few new organizational items (and if you really know me, you know how flipping excited I get over things like that. Yes, it is weird). My first happy moment came when I discovered the new small shelving for the closet in the office could hold not only all the boys' games, but also all of their puzzles. I was able to clear off the shelves on the landing to make room for coloring books and also get rid of the cardboard moving box that had been holding the puzzles (in a very messy fashion). But I hit a wall last night when I found that the storage box I purchased that was listed as being specifically for storing wrapping paper was actually almost two feet too short for the wrapping paper rolls. It was 10pm, I was tired (I'd helped in Nathan's class for the whole afternoon), the boys AND the pets were giving me trouble, and John was still at work. I've figured out a way to get around the length issue, but I never like feeling overwhelmed by a cleaning project.

I don't really think you all care about my cleaning, but it's a way to keep me focused. We're not specifically "new year resolution" people, but we do try to make changes. We're doing better than we ever have before and yes, I realize that we're only two weeks in to the new year. I've gotten myself on a better sleep schedule well enough that if I fudge on it, I end up with a headache from not enough sleep (I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing though - sleep deprivation is a major migraine trigger for me). We bought a treadmill and John's been sticking to that every day (my knee is still giving me trouble, so no real workouts for me yet). And then of course, the household organization. All in all, I feel pretty good about everything so far and I know I'll feel even better when things are organized!

Are You Kidding??

I had my first "Are you kidding?!?" moment of 2011 this past Thursday.

My dad was in town all week and we were getting ready to head out for a fun day with the boys. I grabbed my phone and saw that I had missed a call from a number that I sort of recognized. I was right - it was from the supervisor at the Cedar Mill Library. You remember that I had interviewed there a few months back. I returned her call and she said, "I told you that I was very impressed with you and that I would call you if I had another opportunity to hire you." My heart jumped into my throat. But then she said, "Would you like an on-call position that I have open?". My heart sank.

I have two kids and there's no way I can make an on-call position work. If I were called in, I'd have to be within an hour. I don't have childcare available to me that I can use at the drop of a hat. I know what kind of availability she wanted from an on-call staff member from when I interviewed and I can't give that to her. I felt like hitting my head against the wall. Days later, I'm still reeling a little bit from turning down my dream job. I felt like I died a little inside when I told her no. John has been very supportive, letting me know that he supports and agrees with my decision, that the kids and him finishing school need to come first, that I WILL get my dream job when the time is right. I just have to keep reminding myself that I interviewed once for a library position and was offered a job (even though it was a few months later). That in itself is amazing to me and gives me hope that it will happen someday.

Letters from Aiden

A letter Aiden wrote to me while I was making his lunch:

"Good day Mommy,

How do you know you love me? Mommy I love you. The End."

And yes, everything was spelled just like I wrote it. Yay for learning! :^)