Sleep Meme

Variation on the previous theme - and my first meme!
Via Ahistorically

1. Do you use an alarm clock to wake up?
Yes - although my toddler tends to wake up 5 minutes before it goes off.

2. What time does your alarm go off?
Weekdays: 6:40 am / Weekends: not at all!

3. What sound does it make?
NPR - National Public Radio

4. Do you hit the snooze button? How many times?
If the alarm goes off before son does - then yes, and as many times as possible.
FYI - Tapping child on forehead, does NOT work as alternate snooze.

5. If you have a partner, do they have a separate alarm?
No. Same kid, same clock.

6. Does your partner get up at the same time, earlier or later?
Generally the same time.

7. Is your clock set ahead? If so, by how much?
No.

8. What's the first thing you do when you get up?
Rescue son from crib of visit the bathroom.

9. Do you eat breakfast? If so, what?
Weekdays: Son's leftovers, or bowl of cereal.
Weekends: local bakery goods or if time allows - waffles or pancakes w/MAPLE syrup of course!

10. How long does it take you to get ready? For what?
1.5 hours - 1 hour to get son changed, give bottle, feed breakfast, dressed, daycare bag packed and out the door. 1/2 hour for me, and then off to work.

11. On the weekends, what time do you get up?
Whenever baby is up - usually around the same time as weekdays - 6:30ish.

12. Do you lounge or do you jump into action?
Usually child demands the "jumping" into action!

13. In an ideal world, what time would you get up?
Whenever.

14. How many hours of sleep do you typically get?
5-7 hours at night. 8-9 hours 1-2x a week w/hubby's help!

15. How many hours of sleep do you want to get?
8-10 hours EVERY night!

Check out the Doze family...

If I could put time in a bottle...

Where does the time go? It seems like a constant struggle to find more time.
With 168 hours in a week:

• Subtract 40 hours for work (on a quiet week)
• 8 hours for commuting to/from work
• 49 hours for sleep (on a GOOD week!)
• 12 hours for general commuting and errands
• 3 hours for laundry (again - on a GOOD week)
• 9 hours for cooking/son's lunch prep/etc.
• 3 hours on dishes (those baby bottles take SO much time!)
• 4 hours for general housework (and I should REALLY do more!)
• 1 hours for appts (medical, dental, hair, vet. etc.)

That leaves me 39 hours for spending time with my husband and son. Roughly 5.5 hours a day? Where is that time? Let's try breaking THAT down:

• 2 hours daily changing son's clothes and diapers (takes LONGER now that he can squirm!)
• 1 hour daily trying to get son to eat his food
• 1 hour daily for MYSELF (I use that term loosely: pay bills, clip toenails, shower, force meds down cat's throat, etc.)

OK - that leaves 1.5 hours a DAY to actually spend quality time with my husband and son. And you know what - I think we're lucky most days if it is a half hour. No wonder I missed my son cutting his last tooth, and my husband wonders if I won't be "tired" anytime during this decade?

I know many other working (including SAHM's) mothers struggle with these same challenges - but I still am mystified. How is it that (housework not included) I spend more time at work than with my family?

I will admit that breaking down my time was somewhat revealing. Maybe I can find ways to carve out more time for my family (really - who ever looks at my toenails anyway). Ah - I dare to dream.

Dog as Life Coach

I received this in an e-mail today. I don't know who originally wrote it, so I'm sorry not to give them credit here. But in my challenge to seek life balance, this seems like the perfect mantra! Enjoy!

If a dog was your teacher, you would learn the following:

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy-ride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
• When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
• Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
• Take naps.
• Stretch before rising.
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you're not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

May you you find your inner golden retriever!

Moving...

So my family is moving. Moving is not foreign to me - I attended 5 schools by 7th grade after all - but moving this time seems so very different.

• Packing with a toddler in tow is a challenge. Pack an item in box - turn around - and its now 3 rooms away in the remnants of his leftover dinner.
• After marrying late - my husband and I merged fairly complete households 7 years ago. We're just now unearthing the extra coffee pot, blender, toaster, dishes, the "bachelor" mason jar glassware collection, etc...
• We're making a local move over a 3 week period - which I thought would be SOOOO luxurious - boy was I wrong. Looking for your shoes - they may be in a box in the basement; they may still be in the unpacked car; they may be in the other house; they may be in my son's dinner...
• There's also the 2 households of dishes, laundry, boxes, diapers, and let's not forget the 2 mile trail of goldfish crumbs my son has left along the way.
• There are contractors EVERYWHERE I turn. Painting the outside of the old house; painting the vaulted ceiling living room of the new house; replacing flooring at the old house, cable technicians determining if we even GET cable at the new house; paint chips everywhere... I can't seem to take a shower in EITHER house without a contactor dangling off a ladder nearby!
• My husband has finished packing "his stuff". When did OUR kitchen, linens, wedding gifts, and all of our son's belonging become MY stuff?!?
• AND after all of this - I CAN'T FIND THE ADVIL!

By the way - have I mentioned it is a WONDERFUL new house?!

Old House: 140 years old, floors slant 10 degrees South to North, on a busy/noisy/dangerous main road, 1/3 acre, NO closets (why would the original house of the town 'madam' need closets?!) - but a great first house with lots of charm.

New House: LOTS of closets, 23 years old, 6 private acres, lake in walking distance, QUIET except for the peepers, barn, lots of trees, a stone wall, large vaulted living room which will be great for rehearsals, a BRAND new $16,000 kitchen, wood stove, nice wood floors, 50% more square footage, 4 bedrooms, beautiful tiled bathrooms...the list goes on and on.

Well...I've rambled long enough. Thanks for reading - Jotting this all down may have saved my non-Advil'd head from exploding!


PS - Keep your chin up Bernie!