My Boys and Me

So far its been a really good week.  We haven’t done anything terribly exciting, but it seems that the week has flown by.  I only babysat once this week, but have to babysit tonight and tomorrow night.  Mike is working a lot of off-duty this weekend as well.  He was in a little accident about a year ago in his work vehicle and they just NOW decide to tell him that he is going to have $50 a paycheck taken out to cover the damages.  That’s $100 a month!  He just got a raise about a month ago that was $100….so much for that.  Needless to say, my husband feels the need to work like crazy again to make up for this.  So, good thing we got to see each other a lot the past few days because we will both be busy this weekend.  Mike’s parents were so sweet and came over Tuesday night and watched Mikey while Mike and I went on a date.  We went to dinner and then saw “I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry”- very funny movie.  Even funnier was the fact that 5 minutes before we were about to head out, Mike is on the computer printing coupons to the restaurant we were going to.  Mike’s Mom and I tease him and tell him that he gets his cheapness honestly because his Dad and Grand-pop are EXACTLY the same- well maybe Mike has them beat with the coupon thing! I can be cheap when I want to, but it kinds comes in waves.  I am not going to stand in the bread isle for 20 minutes and compare the prices like my husband, but I will try and wait to buy things that I KNOW will go on sale soon.  I am also a believer in coupons- I just don’t frantically rush to print them when we are already cutting into our “free time.”  Oh honey I DO love you and its a good thing one of us is frugal. 

So, Mike is officially a TV star.  Last night he hosted a meeting for businesses and residents of the town he works in.  Little did he know that the newspaper and the local news were going to be there.  We waited up last night to watch the 11:00 news and sure enough, there was my handsome husband educating the citizens on how to prevent crime and the recent string of robberies that have been going on lately.  I felt so proud of him!  He really is a smart man and its about time he gets recognized for his hard work and intelligence.

Mikey had his first set of shots this week.  He did well.  It took him about 2 seconds after the needle went in for him to cry.  It was so sad (and I cried).  He had the lower lip out and everything and then came the SCREAM and the VERY red face.  It just reminded me how innocent babies are and how easily someone can hurt them and they would have no control over it.  He was having such a good day that day too.  He was happy and smiling and not fussy at all.  His feelings were VERY hurt!  He didn’t seem to have any after effects at all.  No fever or fussiness.  He was just a little drowsy and slept a lot.  He was reminded of the whole ordeal yesterday when I took his band-aids off.  He cried as hard then as he did from the shots.  2 months and we have to do it all over again!

So, I have started going to the gym.  This is something to be very proud of.  We have had the membership since last April (2006) and I went for the first time this week.  I actually went twice!  And, I did a cheap ab video.  I had to laugh at how silly it was and Mikey had to laugh at ME.  Thats right, my 2 month old thought it was hilarious that I was on the ground working my abs.  He probably thought it was funny that his Mommy was exercising at all.   I had him in his bouncy seat in the living room and he was watching me very intently.  I would look over and he would have the biggest grin on his face.  Thanks for the encouragement Mikey!  Really and truly, I am more motivated to get in shape and loose 20 pounds than I have ever been.  Its going to be hard.  Like I said in a previous entry, I hate exercise and I love to eat bad food.  I really don’t know how I’ve gotten so out of shape.  I played almost every sport in high school and LOVED it.  I think my major motivation (besides knowing I will no longer be pregnant again and have an excuse to look fat) was when I got the test results back from a recent checkup.  My cholesterol was high.  I am not FAT or OBESE, but my cholesterol is high?  It just proved to me that I was on a bad track…..not eating good and not exercising.  I need to do something about it now before it gets out of hand.  Its a lot easier to loose 20 pounds then it is 80!  I am proud of myself though because lately I have been very disciplined in what I eat and how much.  I’ve already lost 2.5 pounds.  17.5 to go!  I will keep you up to date on the progress.  Mike is so excited thinking he may in fact have a sexy wife after all!  I’m not sure about sexy, but I insist on getting healthy!

Braeden comes home tomorrow night from Chicago.  He has been having a great time.  He went to the Sears Tower yesterday. I am anxious to see all the pictures (I will post some).  I am even more anxious to indulge in the popcorn that he is bringing home for me (best EVER).  Wait, wasn’t I just talking about eating healthier?- We ALL have to treat ourselves once in awhile right!

I guess thats all for now.  I hope everyone had a nice week and has an enjoyable weekend.   

Here is a great quote that the pastor at my church said a few weeks ago;

“Your children need your PRESENCE more than they need your PRESENTS!” We as parents need to remind ourselves that when we want them to have everything.  Sometimes I use gifts and “treats” as my way of easing the guilt when I am really busy or don’t get to spend as much time with them during the day as I’d like.  I think we all need to slow down once in awhile and really just enjoy our kids and put everything else aside.  I in particular need to listen to my own advice.  Hope you had a good Monday.

PS.  Right now Braeden is enjoying a White Sox vs. Tigers game in SKY BOX seats.  My Dad is SO jealous.  He is a huge, huge Tiger fan.  My sister, brother and I gave him a week at the Tiger Training camp for his retirement gift this past Jan.  Of course Braeden has to cheer for the Sox.  I told him on the phone that Papa is gonna tease him and call him a traitor.

Sorry, I had every intention to write yesterday and upload some pictures from the photography studio, but there are not enough hours in the day.  I’ve been so busy babysitting this week.  It really reaffirms my belief that I can make as much money babysitting as I can doing anything else.  Although I have to take back saying that its virtually stress-free.  It has been a bit stressful this week.  Thankfully I work for a babysitting service and don’t usually sit for the same families very often.  A girl about my age owns the business.  She has about 60 sitters who independently work for her and hundreds of clients.  Basically we call in our schedule each Saturday for the following week.  That’s right, I am no executive, but I DO get to make my own hours.  Good thing too since the whole point is to avoid daycare, spend more time with the kids and work while Mike is not.  The only negative is that Mike and I don’t get to see each other much.  We are in debt to his parents for all the help they give us with the boys.  Not only do they watch them while we work (the times when our schedules overlap), but they watch them so that we can go on dates every now and then.  I don’t know how we’d do it without them, although the boys would definitely be LESS spoiled.  Mike’s Mom AKA “Grandma Peggy” loves those boys with everything she has.  She does so much for them and can’t seem to get enough.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Anyway, what a long paragraph to explain why I haven’t written.  I’ve also been preparing my world traveler (Braeden) for yet another adventure.  Tomorrow, Aaron is flying to here to get Braeden and flying back with him to Chicago (where he and his girlfriend of 4 years Nancy and her family live).  It’s pretty pathetic when your 5 year old starts visiting cities you haven’t even been to.  He will be gone a week and I know will have so much fun (White Sox game, touring a great city, swimming, etc).  I feel so sad for some reason about the trip.  I know he will have a fantastic time and that he will be in good hands, spoiled rotten and get more attention than he’s had in a long time.  BUT, its the first time he’s really flown (he was 6 months when he and I flew to a friends wedding in MI) and he’s not doing it with ME.  And, it just reminds me more and more what a big boy he is and how much more independent he is becoming (if its even possible).  I think this is why it doesn’t bother me much that Mikey is so demanding and so in love with Mike and I.  He will rarely let us put him down and when we do, we have to make sure he knows we are nearby.  As much as I didn’t want Braeden to be the toddler who screamed for me every time I left him, I WANT Mikey to be that way.  I want him to need us and miss us and be so attached to us because my sweet sweet Braeden (and I DO love HIM just the way he is) is just the opposite. 

OK, time for some funnies.  Today I was telling Braeden how much I would miss him.  I always joke with him when he’s about to go on a trip and tell him that I will cry the whole time.  Pretty sad when a 5 year old has to be the one convincing the parent that it will be OK!  Usually he says, “It’ll be OK Mama, I’ll call you.”  Today he said, “It will be OK Mama, I will hug my pillow and pretend its you.”  You are such a sweetheart B, but how exactly will that help ME when I miss YOU!

Mike always tells Mikey he is “spoiled rotten”.  Braeden has gotten into the habit of copying everything Mike says.  Today he said to Mikey, “Mikey, you are ‘small rotten’!” I guess he can’t quite understand exactly what Mike is saying sometimes, but thinks he is copying him.  Mikey is doing good.  He will be 2 months next week.  I can’t believe it.  I am dreading taking him to the Dr. for his shots.  He has to get 4!  I guess it can’t get much worse than B’s last shots…..we don’t have to worry about Mikey jumping off the table and trying to run out the door.

Not much else has been going on.  We’ve gone to the pool a few times this week, but its been SO HOT that some days we couldn’t go because I was scared Mikey would be too hot.  We met our dear friends at the pool one night for pizza and swimming.  Braeden almost drown twice that night.  Mike would be appalled if I didn’t admit that I learned a lesson.  I was catching up with a friend while laying on the lounge in the sun, and Mike was sitting in the shade feeding Mikey.  I am ashamed to say that I was not paying attention.  One minute B had his vest on and swimming contently and the next I see Mike flying across the pool deck to Braeden.  I guess he’d gone a little deeper than he thought and couldn’t get into his swimming motion (he is doing GREAT swimming, but is no pro).  I didn’t completely have my eye off of Braeden, I just didn’t realize he was going under.  I thought he was jumping up and down and could touch.  Please, please know that if Mike was not there, I would NOT have been so careless.  I knew he was watching him too, I was just the closer one.  Shame on Mommy.  But, shame on the Mommy who didn’t beat the crap out of her kid as much as I wanted to for jumping on Braeden’s back in the pool and not letting him up.  Good for my “tough boy” for elbowing him and fighting his way to the surface.  Good thing too because I was one second away from jumping in that pool and albowing and fighting the kid myself.  Two moments of sheer panic in one night.  DO NOT DO THAT TO ME ANYMORE B!

K, here are some gorgeous pictures.  They are also Mikey’s first professional ones.  My Dad always tells me its not good to brag about your own kids.  Well, my Mom did it, so I am too!  They are the most handsome two boys in this world!  Have a great weekend.

Here’s a real quick entry to explain why I’ve been slacking.  I am taking the boys to get their pictures taken today.  Mikey’s first professional pictures.  I wanted to save writing an entry until I had some great new pictures to share.  I can’t find my camera, so I haven’t been able to take any of the boys recently.  I am very upset that I haven’t been able to capture some great moments this week- Mikey’s first visit to the beach (he loves the water so much he even liked the salt water and waves), Braeden being such a great big brother and Mommy’s helper by feeding Mikey for me yesterday, and just every other moment when I look at my boys and think how beautiful they are and can’t believe that they are MINE!  So, tomorrow check back for a new entry and some new pictures.  Hopefully they turn out great.  I know Braeden LOVES getting his picture taken, we’ll see how Mikey does.  Wish me luck cuz he’s a fussy pants today!