Conversations of my life

Mr. Bee: Your hair looks nice today.

Me: Thanks!

Mr. Bee: Did you do something different?

Me: Yeah, I washed and brushed it.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Drew (looking up at the counter): Oh, my Halloween candy is gone. I guess the Candy Fairy took it.

Me: The Candy Fairy?

Drew: Yeah the Candy Fairy comes and takes the candy until Christmas.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Friend: My Mom goes out to lunch every single day with her friends. It's like, how does she even have that much time?

Me: I know, my Mom goes out to lunch with a group of friends a lot.

Friend: It's really annoying sometimes.

Me: Yeah. (Pause) I hope we get to do the same one day.

Friend: Yeah, me too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lyrics to Drew's made up song:

Bow Chica Wow wow
That's what my baby said
bow wow wow
heart starts pumpin'
chica chica goo
I love you
bow wow wow
heart starts pumpin'
chica chica goo
I love you

Friday Favorites #14- 15 Minutes

It's Friday Favorites time! Oh yes it's time to pay homage to all the things that got us through the week, and give credit where credit is due! Here are my Friday Favorites this week....

I have only a tribute for my Friday Favorite- My Papa George. My Papa and I were almost born on the same day. Fifteen minutes was all that separated us from sharing May 15th as a birthday. I used to always see him on/around our almost-same-birthdays. Today would be his birthday if he were still around. I miss him so much. He was a wonderful, spirited, loving Grandpa, and I always felt lucky I got to spend so much of my life sharing our almost-same-birthdays with him. I wish my children could have spent time with him, but sadly he passed away a little over a year before Drew was born.

Of course now my children have their own spirited, wonderful, loving Papa. And this makes me very, very happy. Love you, Dad.

Okay all- now tell me- what are your faves? You can blog some FF's and then link back if you so choose, or leave them in the comments!

False and True

Everyone I know is on Facebook now, including relatives and (gasp) Mr. Bee. FALSE
Everyone I know is on Facebook except for Mr. Bee, who still isn't using email! TRUE

All these same relatives are reading my blog now. FALSE
80% of these relatives are reading my blog now. TRUE

Which means that I will no longer swear on my blog. FALSE
Damnit, I can't give up swearing on my blog! I have a fondness for my potty mouth.TRUE


I have a fondness for Drew's potty mouth. Especially when he calls his car seat a "fucking car seat". FALSE
I am not fond of it, not at all. But I still love him and think it's kind of funny. TRUE
He got that phrase from me. FALSE
He got that wonderful little phrase from Mr. Bee. TRUE
I never swear in front of Drew. FALSE
I never say the "F word" in front of Drew. TRUE

Collectively Mr. Bee and Me might want to cool it on our potty mouths/quick tempers. At least in front of the children. TRUE
My temper never gets me into trouble so it is not something I need to work on. FALSE
I still know that we are good parents, no matter our tempers/potty mouths. No one is perfect. TRUE

PS This is my BEST POST EVAH! (oh, so FALSE!)
I thought this post up while exercising today- it totally sounded better in my head. TRUE

Breathing, whining, Editorializing

Bee Family Updates:

Lets start with Mr. Calamity (Jacob). Poor boy has been a coughing mess the past couple of days. This fact has not stopped him from beating up on his little toddler friends at school, however. Every day he gets an incident report and more often than not, it is for being rough with the other toddlers. Yesterday we got an incident report that said (and I quote) "Jacob ran over to one of his friends and jumped on them and scratched his/her eye for no reason". Um, tell me how you really feel? We will be discussing this incident report with the director today. They don't need to editorialize in their report. I get it, he's a brute. He is also one of the youngest, littlest guys in there, and does not understand the word "gentle". I'm trying here people, but there is no reasoning with a 15 month old.

On super cute Calamity news, he has started to say Drew's name. Of course it comes out sounding like "Dew" most of the time, but it is adorable. I was more excited for this than when he started saying "Mama". Of course, maybe that's because he says it like "MAAAAAAMMMMAAAAA" in a wail when he needs me.

Drew is still, Drew. We are trying to break him of talking about himself in the third person. It's been a rough road. Eventually we are hoping he goes back to saying "I" but only time will tell. He had a great time at his birthday party, running around like a maniac. He enjoyed his gifts, including his new easel with a dry erase and chalk board. Unfortunately one night he enjoyed his dry erase marker all over his room. He tried to be good and draw on an old piece of cardboard. "Tried" being the operative word. It ended up on walls, his white shirt and his train table. A big "d'oh!" goes to Mr. Bee and me for forgetting and leaving it out.

And Mr. Bee? Sick Mr. Bee is trying to readjust to his early morning schedule and having trouble with his head cold. He keeps "resting his eyes" on the couch, and I have to drag him to bed.

As for, me, Janana, my hectic week is coming to a close, and I am starting to feel a little better, thanks in part to the winter thaw we are going to experience tomorrow. I'm sure it will throw everyone's immune systems out of whack, but what the heck, was anyone really healthy to begin with? I have extreme DVR backup (which will just increase due to the 2 hour Grey's Anatomy event tonight) which I will be fixing swiftly on my day off. Also, I will be heading down to the library to get a book so that I can finally contribute to the other blog I am supposed to be contributing to, Girls with Books. And I will also be drinking the wineage tonight. Expect some high quality tweets, twitterers. Janna likes to hear the sound her own tweets (and talk about herself in the third person as well). Also, yes I will be dropping the little Bees off at school tomorrow. I am not ashamed.

So woot for the Bee family... hopefully it will feel like spring this weekend, and we can pretend there isn't at least another 2 months to go of snow. Thanks for letting me whine a little, hopefully I am back to my regularly scheduled program.

Snow, Work and Drew's Spiderman Party Extravanganza Preparations....

January, Jacob's Hand and Foot Calendar

Mr. Bee has returned to work this week. He got to return one week earlier than expected, therefore never having to go on unemployment (yessss!) because he used all of his vacation time. For the year. In the first two weeks of the year. To keep the bread on the table. How can I NOT love this man? On that note, while I am happy that he has his job and can go back, I'm totally going to miss my Mr. Mom. He actually worked really hard to do a good job and definitely pulled his fair share of the house duties. I'm proud of my man. I think his being off work brought us closer. I got a much deserved break, he understood where I was coming from on the stress level, and he also got a less pissy wife (and was less pissy himself and also got a much needed break. Lest I not forgot, Mr. Bee works his ass off at work, much harder than I do). I guess I am supposed to be excited he's going back.... but I'm not. I miss him being home already. Come back Mr. Bee!

On the Drew front.... Spiderman Festivities 2009 4th Birthday Party Extravaganza preparations have begun. I reallllllllllllllllly realllllllllllllllllllllly hate birthday parties and I tried to come up with any way to get out of throwing a party. I had a great idea: buy Bob the Builder Live tickets (it's coming here the day after his birthday, perfect timing right?) and a dinner and have a quiet night out? What a nice, relaxing, stress free birthday. I should have KNOWN that relaxing and stress free is NOT something Drew would want. Out of nowhere Drew starts talking about his Spiderman birthday party. ("Lets decorate the house in Spiderman decorations and can we please have a Spiderman cake, and I asked "D" and "T" to come to Drew's Spiderman Party [yep, still talking about himself in the third person] and can we have one please, please, please?") On a side note, no, he doesn't watch Spiderman, I have no idea what his obsession is, I just know that Mr. Bee is happy that he finally likes something "manly".

Of course I caved. Sadly. I actually CRIED, I so badly didn't want to throw a party. I mean, come on, it's dead of winter and I have a small house. It's not fun for ANYONE. Anyway, my sister came up with a great idea... rent the huge play area they have at their childcare It's called the "Village" and it has little houses and a ball pit and little tables and chairs. Do it at breakfast time and then get fruit and bagels and a cake and voila, party, entertainment and food all in one! Genius. So happy, it will only be two hours and then all done!

(Another side note: my Mom made the comment "well, I guess we can't bring alcohol then". I told her, "I never have provided alcohol at my CHILDREN'S birthday parties, you and my in-laws just bring it." Oh Mom, you know I love you [and I know you read this too]! You are too funny. And yes, I have thought about getting drunk indulging in some spirits to tolerate enjoy Drew's Spiderman Party but for some reason, I think it might be frowned upon? Just a guess?)

In Jacob news... nothing new... just the same crazy guy. He's discovered that he enjoys when I sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to him. After I finish, he signs for "more". I sang it five times tonight. Who needs American Idol Fame when you have the cutest judge ever requesting encore after encore?

So to Wrap up....

Mr. Bee: Back at Work.

Janana: Tired, stressed, overworked. The usual.

Drew: Going to Bob the Builder (Nana sprang for the tickets so we could do both- thanks Nana) and getting the best Spiderman Party evar! (Alcohol not included.)

Jacob: Enjoying his Mommy's renditions, and making Mommy feel like a star. Oh and still a wild and crazay guy. (Okay, I know this is totally dated, but I can't help but think of Steve Martin when I say that.)

The Bee Family: Making it through January, one day at a time. 9 more to go! Only 2 months till spring! Although this was the first day of spring last year in our area.

Our Running Tally

The Hubby and I have a little competition that goes on in our house. This competition is called "who works harder around here" or alternately called "who has it worse around here"? Everything, down to the littlest minute details is discussed and judged. Almost everything seems to have a point value, and one of us is always ahead and the person who is ahead is the one that "works harder" and "has it the worst". The other person then must compensate.

Lets say for example (and most of these are situational- it depends on who is ahead):
He works longer hours (+3), but I clean more (+5, at least in my eyes).
He mows the lawn (+2), but I do the laundry (+4, hey it's year-round).
He makes breakfast (+2, +6 if it's served in bed), but I make dinner (+5).
I put Drew to bed (+3), but he gave Jacob and bath and put him to bed (+4, we'll give him the edge on this one, even though Drew is very difficult at bedtime).

Alternately it carries over into fun activites too.
I went to Lollapalooza (-20), but he went on 3 boys weekend vacays this year (they were shorter so -25).
He saw a movie last week with his sister (-5) , but I went out to dinner with mine last week and shopping with my Mom this week (-10).

It also carries over into who can score a babysitter too. If I score the babysitter (i.e., beg my Mom), we have to do what I want when we go out, and not sit at the Sports Bar all night like he would prefer to do.

Now the real life scenario (today):

Hubby woke up really early for work (+10). He forgot to take out trash (-5). He worked a long day (+5), came home and ordered pizza (+3). He fell alseep after dinner, therefore missing out on the never ending fun of "Bedtime" (-2). Then he was woken up by wife to check a funny smell in the basement and had to clean out a mouse trap (+100!) Afterwards he helped his his wife look for missing snowpants (+5) and didn't get annoyed when she was upset that they were not found (+10).

Janna woke up later for work (-5).Janna got the children ready for school (+10) and took them to school (+10). Janna bought milk and pop and bread at QD on her lunch break (+8). Janna picked up the kids from school (+10). Janna put Jacob and Drew to bed when Hubby fell asleep on couch (+15). Then Janna woke hubby up to check mouse trap (-20), and freaked out about missing snow pants (-20).

Oh did Janna mention that she is getting her husband a

Spoiler: show

{Playstation 3}

for his birthday (+1000)?

I am so freaking ahead, it's not even funny.

So does anyone else operate their marriage in this secret, silent code? Or do you have a different one? Do you think I should give my Hubby more points for the mouse?

And finally, what are the odds that said Hubby will finally read my blog for the first time and get his birthday surprise ruined?

I love a lot of people- Maybe you?

I read my last post, and decided that I sounded like a cranky bitch, then I read some other posts and thought, hey I'm a cranky bitch in all of these!! So here's my rebuttal against myself. I swear, people that know me in real life do like me, some even think I'm pretty nice.

Here are some things I love:

Anytime Drew is not throwing a tantrum, he is such a sweet little boy.

When Shaun and I go out alone, we have the best time, and it doesn't matter where we go (although we do enjoy our favorite bar, Revere's, when I am not preggers).

That feeling right after the baby is born that they are the most amazing being ever, and you are awesome for being able to create something like that.

Blog comments. I miss all the ones I got when this was on myspace.

Work lunches with work people. I actually enjoy the people I work with.

Lunches and shopping with my Mom and Sister, Amber, although that hasn't been in FOREVER.

When Drew is laying in bed with us and we're trying to sleep and he speaks in a whisper.

Going out with my friends when I'm pregnant and knowing I'm the only one waking up without a hangover.

My nieces and nephews. So cute.

My non- related "niece" Nya.

My friends getting pregnant.

Jimmy Johns Vegetarian Sub.

The new movies I've seen, Knocked up and The Bourne Ultimatum.

Going places as a family.

Going to dinner with friends.

Sleeping in.

Getting a lot of cleaning done in a short time.

My stomach actually being firm and hard when I'm pregnant.

People telling me Drew is beautiful. That NEVER gets old to me. That, and them calling him sweet.

People saying I look tiny when I tell them how far along I am. Unfortunately those days are over.

Watching new episodes of the Office with Shaun.

Times that I actually help someone in need at work.

Going out with my old work friends. Doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it's really fun.

Going to the movies. Doesn't matter what we see, I know we will have fun.

Family Holidays. Mostly Thanksgiving and Christmas.

MSU Mens Basketball. I love Izzo. If he ever leaves I will cry.

Any song that makes me think of babies. Examples "First Day of my Life" by bright eyes, "Somewhere over the rainbow" the version in 50 First Dates.

The movie About a Boy, also A Princess Bride, Fever Pitch, and the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, to name a few.

Watching Drew and Nate play. They love each other so much and are so cute together!

Blogging.

Thinking about blogging.

The Great Childcare Debate

So on top of all the decisions I have made in the past year (just to recap, for those not informed, my husband lost his job, got a new job an hour and a half away in Plymouth, began commuting, we tried to sell our house for 6 months, I transferred to Brighton, an hour away, had a change of heart, took a leap of faith with a temp job which turned into a permanent job and a complete career change in Lansing, we had to put our wonderful golden retriever, Autumn, to sleep, we decided to try for another child and poof! I was a pregnant a minute later, my husband's Plant closed (again!) and he was transferred to Lansing, we decided to move, then decided it was too much work this late in my pregnancy, and then decided instead to rearrange our house and fix it up instead, and then a position opened up at work that I wanted more, but I decided to give myself a break already and stick with the job I have and yes, this has all happened in the span of 12 months) you would think that the decision to change childcare would not be the most difficult.

Yet, it brings me to tears, the thought of making Drew go to another childcare. I LOVE my childcare center. They treat Drew like a little prince, and everyone knows his name. Of course it does help that my sister is their boss, but still, I think they are really attached to him, and he to them. I don't want to pull him away from his (and truth be told, our) comfort zone. The thing about this childcare is that there is a reason I love it so much- it is much more expensive than the other childcare's in the area, and with one more enrolled, I'll probably only take home enough money to cover the gas to get to work. Don't get me wrong, the other childcare centers that I visited were lovely, but they were not home. Drew spends more time awake at childcare than at home, I definitely want to make the right decision for us. So I made what some would consider a silly decision.... I accepted my Mom's help to cover the discrepancies between the two. Some might say this is a cop out- I would agree. It was not my idea, I never asked for it and she offered. I figure, at least to make myself feel better, If she babysat for my children, as so many moms I know have that option, it would be much more of a burden for them. I've also learned in the 2 1/2 years of having Drew, it is OK to accept help and handouts. So that's my decision, and I'm sticking to it. I think that is the last one I will have to make for a least, I don't know, a week or two??

Under Pressure

Just so all you childless married souls know, the pressure doesn't end with the birth of your first child. It has started again for me and Shaun. My Aunt pulled me aside at Drew's Birthday party, and in a whisper, asked me when we were thinking about having the next child, a slight desperation in her voice, as if she survives only upon the sound of cute little baby gurgles. And this is not the first person to say something mind you.

Why oh why, now that Drew is two, do people think it's okay to pressure for baby number two? Maybe I only want one child, did anybody think of that? Maybe we are waiting until I have a stable job. Maybe I want to lose the weight from having Drew before I pack on another 40 (okay 50) pounds. Maybe I want my children spaced farther apart, so I can get a built in babysitter with Drew? (My secret fantasy.) Maybe we're lame and feel overwhelmed enought as it is! Any way you slice it, it's just plain annoying. So, please, no one ask me. When I am pregnant again, I will let you know, I promise. Until then, worry about your ovaries, not mine.

Bad Mom things

Okay, most of us who are Moms have done some despicable things which we will NOT mention. Here is a couple that I WILL mention... and I would like to let everyone know that I am not proud of all of them... but some of them I am kind of proud of!

1. I have stuck a pacifer/sippy/ spoon in my mouth to clean it after it has fallen. (Hey, doesn't 65 second rule still count?)

2. I have let my son watch something borderline appropriate just to get a minute of rest. (It is only TV-14 if you don't cover his eyes during the questionable parts.)

3. I have let my son play with questionable objects. (Make-up brushes are okay, right? I'm not scarring him for life, am I?)

4. I have breastfed in compromising situations. (And I would do it again, in a heartbeat. If it bothers you, here's the great things about eyes, they have the ability to LOOK AWAY.Take advantage of it!)

5. I have missed, on numerous occasions, my pre-mommy life. (Come on, we all have. If you haven't, I must question your pre-mommy life.)

6. I have sometimes stared at pictures of my baby in awe and amazement. Don't we all think we have the most beautiful baby?

7. I have shown MASSIVE amounts of PDA in front of everyone.

8. I let him have a sip of pop (or soda, if you prefer) to get him to quiet down.

9. I have used my dog as a bribe. (If you haven't, your offspring does not love animals as much as mine does.)

10. I have cried about being a bad mom, only the next day to feel that I am a great mom.

Parenthood is a roller coaster isn't it? Yet I would not change anything about it. I also can't wait to have another one (as long as I don't think about the logistics for too long!! :)