Only the Beginning

So here I am sitting at my computer.  Carter is fast asleep in bed.  That was a little bit of a fight tonight.  Casey is helping his brother with a project.  So here I am sitting at my computer thinking about everything that's happened the past couple of days.

Carter has started preschool.  He's doing well.  He cries when he's dropped off.  Then when he's picked up he cries.  I think though that is from relief.  I really think he's enjoying it.  His teacher has said that he's doing good.  We are now talking about next year getting him in full day preschool and if we want to hold him back for kindergarten.  His birthday is in June.  If we enroll him in kindergarten as soon as he's eligible, he'll be one of the youngest in his class.

I didn't realize how quickly time was flying by.

Hopefully in a couple of weeks Carter will be loving school.  And before I know it, he'll be starting kindergarten.

The Beginning of Something Good

It's amazing how fast time flies when you're having fun.  It seems like just yesterday I was dating my husband in high school.  Now, we're married and have a very independent little boy.  Tomorrow my little boy will start part day preschool.

A lot of people say that preschool is not a big deal.  You have to understand that Carter has been going to Grandma's since he was ten months old.  This will be his first time away from family and really interacting with other kids.

I'm so excited for this new endeavor.  Yet I'm also nervous. 

My son had a few issues with VBS this summer.  He didn't want to be left there without Mommy.  He peed his pants the first night.  He cried and cried and cried.  They called me wanting me to come and pick him up.  Needless to say, he didn't finish VBS out.

So tomorrow, Grandma is taking Mr. Carter to his first day of preschool and Mommy will pick him up.  Can't wait to hear how my baby, or should I say big boy, does on his first day.

Saturday Morning Missions

It is rare to find a mom that isn't looking for a bargain.  And there's many ways to find those bargains.  Weekends, for the average mom, are spent hunting for the best bargains.  They dig through piles and boxes.  They even barter to get the best deal possible and occasionally they triumph with the ultimate find.  If you haven't figured it out yet, you are not from the mid west.  We are yard sale hunters.

Today was probably the second time I've went this year.  I'm not a morning person so it was a late start.  There weren't many listed in the paper.  We started around ten and the first sale was a bust.  Second sale though, was awesome.  They had listed in the paper of having a Total Gym.  They still had it and only wanted $5.  Sold! From there, it only got better.  I found some great clothes for me.  Then I found some clothes for Carter, including a suit for 25 cents.

We then went and had lunch at a great little Mexican restaurant.  Before heading home we stopped by a new shoe store in town.  I had a 20% off coupon that was burning a hole in my pocket.  I found a pair of New Balance sneakers for Carter for $20.  They are the super cute ones that have Big Bird on them.  He is going to be looking awesome come Wednesday when school starts.

Finding my bargains are one of the best feeling ever.  You get a sort of high from it.  And then of course you have to tell everyone about them.  (Which I'm doing right now.)

So now I have a few more clothes to add to the closets and fitness equipment to find space for.

Sacrificial Parenting

What would you do for your children?  Climb Mt. Everest?  Swim the Nile River?  Quit your job?

When Carter was born, it made more sense for me to stay home and care for him then to go back to work.  I enjoyed spending time with him.  I enjoyed occasionally sleeping in.  The problem, however, was that I'm not house wife material.  I don't like to clean and really didn't like to fold laundry.  Wait, I really didn't like to clean either.  This lack of cleaning caused a lot of marital strife.

And then the "solution."  I decided I'd go back to work.  I'd be making enough to pay a babysitter and then we'd have extra to save to buy a bigger house.  We'd have more money to do things with Carter.  I looked at my going back to work would give Carter more assets and opportunities.  And at the time I thought that was better.

Now looking back I may have done things differently.  I may have tried harder to become a good stay at home mom.  I may have tried to give my son what was really important,  time.

Today, no matter how much I'd love to go back to those days, I feel as though I can't.  I'm trapped by bills, car payments, lack of square footage.

Carter will soon be starting his preschool career and as much as I'd love to be the one to take him and pick him up, I will be at work that day.

What would you sacrifice for your child?

Independence Day

We have a new battle on our hands.  Carter is now an independent boy.

This morning after using the potty, Carter went and got a pull up.  I told him no that he was wearing underwear today.  He returned with a brand new package of underwear.  I offered him different ones, but no they would not do.  We opened the new package and had to go through each pair until we found the right pair.  A 2 second chore took us 5 minutes.

Tonight was a McDonald's night.  On my food run I grabbed some burgers, fries and a soda for Casey.  Upon my arrival home, Carter wanted a drink.  I offered him some of my tea.  We offered him some of Daddy's soda.  No, he wanted his own drink.  We told him that Daddy's soda was Carter's soda. No, he wasn't going to fall for that either.  I ended going and getting him a cup and pouring some of Casey's soda in it.  Problem solved.

I guess he hasn't learned that "God loves little children who share."
*wink*wink

V Day

Okay, I know it's August and school is about to start.  I'm not going crazy.  I watched Valentine's Day tonight with the best mother-in-law in the world.  (I'm not a suck up am I?)

I liked the movie.  I'm not saying it's my favorite movie ever or anything.  One thing struck me though.  Ashton Kutcher's character asked George Lopez's character how him and his wife had made their relationship last.  George replied that he had married his best friend.  All I could think about was how Casey is my best friend.  We enjoy doing things together.  Or should I say I enjoy tagging along when he's doing his things. 

I can honestly say that I take and interest in cars, drag racing, and home repair because my best friend enjoys them.  (Okay I admit I don't think he enjoys home repair, but we'll pretend he does.)  I hope that as Carter enjoys these things also.  I want my son to be raised with memories of going with the family to car shows or laying out under a car with Daddy.

Having these common interests builds a bond and relationship that will last years and generations.  What's more important to me though are memories being created, but that's another day.

Eleven years ago I met someone that would become my best friend for life.  About four years ago a being was created that would consume my life in ways I never imagined.  Now I can call that small being my best friend also.  Although his favorite activities usually include riding me like a horse, but I enjoy it. 

To my two best friends, the two loves of my life.

Why a blog?

I know some people are thinking "What's so interesting about ____ life?"  And I've thought that about myself.  I work almost everyday and come home.  Sundays are spent going to church in the morning and then hanging out with family.  I don't take trips abroad or even to the big city.  We are a very low key family.  I got to thinking about it and "Why not me?"  There's many moms out there that are just like me, struggling with work, motherhood, and staying true to themselves.  Therefore a blog was born.

Today was a great day.  We went to church this morning and then came home and did laundry.  I've been trying to get caught up on laundry for like five years and I feel like I might actually accomplish it.  It might be a month but I think I'll do it. 

My close friends and family also know that I'm a cluttered person.  I recently had a realization that I must change my ways.  I saw an episode of Oprah that was on hoarders.  That was my wake up call.  I have now donated 3 trash bags of clothes to Goodwill and cleaned off my dining table.  That's a good start.  ;)