CSI Pittsburgh

Breastmilk.

Baby Spit Up

Toddler throw-up

All on my shirt. We like to do things big here in Pittsburgh. Tom just arrived home and is inside with a crying baby and a tired toddler. I am outside on our patio, enjoying the puffy clouds passing by the tops of the trees that line our backyard. The other bonus to being outside-I can't smell my shirt as much. I haven't even bothered to change yet. Just sipping coffee and mustering the energy to go back inside.

Mental reminder: look into getting that material that airport hotels use to soundproff their windows. I can still hear the baby crying through our glass patio doors.

I think all the endorphines released during my morning workout (which was grueling, but great) are long gone. I really like the instructor, and the women were welcoming and very, very in shape. There is no one else even close to being new, but that doesn't bother me. I will probably push myself even harder trying to keep up with this crew.

Oh, and I have an endless supply of photos of Patrick sticking his finger in Tommy's Ear or mouth. I'll keep them coming.

No Pain, No Gain

Tomorrow is a big morning for me- At 9:00 AM sharp I begin my new mantra: No pain, no gain. Crossfit (http://crossfitpittsburgh.com/) becomes my new friend. Our babysitter arrives bright and early and I get to work getting back to my pre-baby body. I did the Crossfit program for about 2 1/2 months before my wedding in Granger, IN and loved the results. I actually enjoyed working out because you end up going to mostly the same time slot each day and working out with the same small group people, all with varying fitness levels. When I spoke to the Crossfit instructor Friday, she told me that a few guys have playfully nicknamed the 9:00 slot the "Hot Moms" class because it is almost all women, most with kids.

Where may you ask is my "before" picture? I am not quite brave enough to post that. Maybe after one month of workouts I will post a comparison, but not now. I will say that my starting weight is 165, although I actually am not as concerned with weight loss because I gained so much in muscle last time. I just want to get toned.

Here's to hoping I become a "Hot Mom"!

Romancing the Stone

Tommy is crying in his swing rather than sleeping as he should be. Laundry is still sitting by the basement door. The floors (my t0-do item for yesterday) are still not mopped. A pile of ironing as tall as Patrick continues to grow on our guest room bed (because I can never fetch the clothes in a timely manner when I hear the dryer stop). None of this matters though, because I am on my way to shower and shave my legs-we were just offered up date night by Tom's mom! What shall we do?? Both of us are sadly too tired to sit in a dark theater right now, so it looks like dinner out. Carving out time for husband/wife is long overdue in this house between all the yard work, baby and work.

On a sad note, our family bids a fond farewell for the summer to our friends and next door neighbors- they depart for the beach this evening and we won't see them until close to Labor Day. Who will share in my daily coffee binges now? Safe journeys and watch out for the jellyfish.

Growing

Tommy is 7 weeks old now and has only started smiling consistently in the last week and a half. Unfortunately, as soon as the camera comes out, the smile usually goes away. This was the best I could come up with-

Patrick moving in for a kiss.
Patrick loves sticking his fingers in Tommy's ears and mouth. Such a boy. Wait until Tommy gets some teeth. Still, there have only been a couple of incidents between the brothers so far-once when Patrick hit Tommy over the head with a flashlight, and another time when he pinched him using the pliers from his Handy Mandy talking toolbox.

Summertime

When life hands you 90 degree days, what can you do but head to the pool (while the baby stays with Baba)?

Six to Eight Hours

The directions said 6-8 hours for assembly. It was the day before Patrick's Birthday party and one week before his actual 2nd birthday. I paced, but there was little I could do at this point. Tom had decided last minute to build Patrick's swing set (our birthday present to the little guy) instead of buying the cheap metal version I found at Wal-mart. He ordered a kit online that consisted of a million pieces. The problem - six to eight hours did not apply to my husband. Not because he isn't handy or competent, but the opposite. He is such a perfectionist that he checks everything twice and sometimes comes up with his own ideas to improve on a flawed plan. So when the box was opened and the followed spread out on my garage floor (my car displaced outside until this project was done), I knew Patrick would not be swinging anytime soon. Sorry honey, I just know you too well.

The project kicked off with enthusiasm until about 1 hour into the project when Tom had to make his first return trip to Lowes after buying the lumber. Then a hanger bolt broke. Called the company and requested a new one be shipped. Received said bolt and nut 4 days later.

Weekend two: Install new bolt and nut. Call company again when another hanger bolt snaps. Continue construction minus one hanger bolt. Comfort wife who should be drinking heavily as day 3 comes to a close with no swing set. Day4 : The swing set takes form and Uncle Mike is called in to help finish up.

Getting there...
Done! Patrick has been swinging every day and as soon as Tommy gets a little older, he can join his brother. Happy Birthday, Patrick. Tom did a great job as always, but next year, we'll be getting Patrick some legos.

The Un-Joys of Motherhood

That's right, you heard me. Motherhood is not all blessings and joys. At times it is like today-being spit up on by one, thrown up on by another, a defiant two-year-old who chose a day following a sleepless night for mom to test boundaries. Tommy cried the whole way to the store and back home. Patrick lost his ice cream truck at one of the stores. I haven't slept through the night in over 6 months and trying to start back on an exercise program has been hard when I seem to lack the energy daily. Today is just one of those low days-I have snapped at both of them today out of shear exhaustion (yes, even the 6 week old who has no idea what is going on). I am frustrated with Tom who doesn't seem to understand the depth of my tiredness and seems to always respond to my "I'm tired" with "I'm tired too" instead of "I can only imagine". I just want to sleep. I also want to eat a doughnut. I want both boys to fall asleep at the same time right now so I can close my eyes for as long as they cooperate and nap.

Luckily, there are better days, like Tuesday when P and I got to go to the pool and spend some one-on-one time together while Tommy stayed home. It was blissful. We had a great afternoon. And tomorrow morning, I finally get some highlights in my hair after 11 months of letting my grays shine through. Those are the days that get us through these days.

Thanks for letting me vent.