Lucky

I am super lucky to have some great mom friends in the area.  They all get how hard it is to single parent and are always willing to help out.  Meaning constantly inviting us over for dinners and whatnot.  It is really nice.  We are able to talk about life and babies and relax with some wine.  It is always much appreciated and needed. 

I am excited to say we are actually planning a night out sans baby on Thursday.  Hopefully we don't talk about the offspring too much.  

I hope all you other mothers have a similar outlet.  I found these moms through a playgroup in our neighborhood that was originally organized on Meetup.com.  So if you are needing to find a group, look there.  There are so many groups on that website, it is crazy. 

It is nice finding other parents to relate to on parenting topics and life topics.  Most of my pre-baby friends are still sans baby so it is hard to connect on that level sometimes.  Because unless you are going through the same thing (teething, toddlerness, sleepless nights) you can only talk about someone's kid for so long (which is completely understandably).  So other moms are needed to help that side of my life.

I have a feeling this week will be much better than the last. 

P.S. Leland chose to sleep in his crib tonight, good but also kind of sad.

August Books

The best part about not being in school anymore is reading whatever I want.  This summer has been wonderful for that.  I am been on a big reading kick lately and hoping to share some good books.  This post is a bit late, but I have been strapped for time lately.

Here is what I read in August:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
Really great young adult series about Greek mythology.  I don't know much about this subject but the books were still really good and entertaining.  Some of the writing gets a bit corny but it is made for young teenagers, so I let it pass.  But if you read it I just wanted to make you aware of it.  

Gristle
I wrote about this book a bit more on 2nd Green Revolution.  I mainly skimmed the book but it was still interesting that parts I read.  And made me re-think my meat consumption.    

The Fourth Hand
I love just able anything from John Irving.  Seriously, he is a wonderful writer, one of my favorites.  With that said, this is a good book but not one of my favorites from him.  So I would recommend another from him, such as A Prayer for Owen Meany or Hotel New Hampshire or The World According to Garp.

Hopefully I can keep reading just as much the rest of the fall, but with little time it is hard to tell.

Any book recommendations? 

Keeping it together

I feel like things are on the verge of collapsing and I am barely keeping it together around here.  I feel like I am constantly single parenting it.  Because even when Jeff is around he is often working on school stuff.  So I am almost all the cleaning and cooking and baby rearing.  It is exhausting.  I am not able to stay on top of things at all.  I am trying not to complain but I just need to get my emotions out a bit and this is my go to for letting it out.  

I haven't taken a single photo since we returned from Michigan (not counting Instagram photos).  So you are stuck with an Instagram photo for this post.

(I was going through Leland's old clothes, this is from 6 months old.  I got a bit sad that he is so much bigger than that size now, so Heath had to make me feel better about it, and he did.)

or two.

(Leland totally posed for this photo then came over to see it.  Gaaah why is he acting so old now?)

And then there are a bunch of other random things:

• Leland sleeps in our bed now.  When we got back from MI he screamed when he was put in his crib at night, he is okay for naps still.  I don't mind it too much except I have to lay in there until he falls asleep.  If I try to scoot out too soon he reaches for me.

• Our house is in constant chaos.  I call it a good night if all the toys are picked up by bedtime and the dishes are cleaned up. Everything feels dirty but I don't have time to clean.

• Leland's dresser is still in the process of being painted, meanwhile his clothes are in a large plastic tub.  This means he likes to go through and throw things on the floor every now and then.

• But he does help put up dishes, awesome new trick.  I set up the step ladder and he hands me dishes one a time to put away if they are clean or in the dishwasher if they are dirty.  

• I have several pounds of concord grapes to deal with from a elderly neighbor, still don't what to do with them or when I will have time to do such idea.  

• I want to be social on the weekends, but every time I am I think about all the things I should be doing (see above).  

I am just hoping that things get better, that I adjust better, or just stop caring.

Anyone up for a Skype date?  Leland loves it, especially when he gets to eat dinner while Skyping. 

Friday Footage v.7

This boy has been dancing non stop lately and it is absolutely adorable.  He really has some moves.  I finally caught it on tape so I will always remember and to share of course. 

Wednesday night while watching the first NFL game of the season at a friends he kept dancing every time he heard music on the TV.  It was awesome. 

Now when I say "do you want to listen to some music?", he starts dancing and runs to the computer.  Boy knows well.  He will also dance on request.

I hope this never stops, but I know it will at some point.  Thankfully it is on tape for proof of his cuteness for difficult days in the future.  

Wordless Wednesday: Recooperating

Back from our trip but still busy, busy, busy.  Be back soon, until then here is my favorite photo from the weekend.