Week in the life: Sunday

0630: Zane's up, to the couch we go for cuddles, why Zach makes these delicious orange muffins.

0730: Eat the amazing orange muffins. I highly recommend them if you have a lot of oranges you need to use before they go bad. Other wise I'm sure you could use orange juice instead of actually juicing fresh oranges.

0800-0840: Playing and cuddling upstairs. Zane is very sleepy, as are his parents, thanks to the stormy night. We had multiple alarms go off from our new, worthless, weather radio app. And of course Zane got up once crying just for good measure.

0900: Everyone down for much needed naps after the rough night. Zane had been pretending to go "night night" in the living room for about an hour so we figured he was ready for an early nap. No pictures from the morning because I was to lazy to go get the battery out of the charger.

1030: Everyone is up and getting ready for Jamey's birthday party. Zach couldn't understand why I was running around crazy when we had an hour to get everyone/everything ready. In that hour we only had to get ourselves dressed, get Zane dressed, pack the diaper bag, get all our things in the car, and actually get ourselves in the car.

1145: Left for the party. Zach begins to understood my frenzy after we some how manage to leave late, forget the present on the table, then have to go back and get it. Getting out of the house is much easier said than done. We were getting to the party a little early since we were bringing the Birthday Boy shirt.

Zane has recently taken to needing a book in the car. After reading it he stores it behind his head.

1230: Arrive at Michelle's house baring gifts. I brought Michelle spices, Jamey's bday present, and his birthday shirt. Jamey was a very happy birthday boy. Zane and Jamey played for a while before all the guest arrived.

It was a barnyard theme, which was very cute, and Zane loved because he could name all the animals.

 Here's the birthday boy!

1300: The party begins and of course Zane loved it. He particularly loved Michelle's play vacuum cleaner, from her childhood. We had a great time, chit chatting, eating, running around the yard, playing with Jamey's toys, eating cake, and helping Jamey open his presents.

Talisha, Hadley, Karen, and Kinsley sitting at the calm girls table. I stopped by to say hi now and then but I was busy chasing my crazy boy. How are girls so much calmer? Kinsley peacefully played in the same area all afternoon.

 The birthday boy, getting sung to, then getting his cake!

 Zane had tried to convince Miss Michelle to give him a cupcake all afternoon.

 Present time!!! We got Jamey Potsy, a must have for any one year old. Later in the evening I got a text from Michelle saying Jamey had been playing with it for thirty minutes, an eternity in one year old time. I take that as a huge success.

 Here are my work friends and I (left to right) Karen, with her daughter Kinsley, born just a month after Zane, Talisha with her new baby Hadley, me and Zane, and Michelle and Jamey. They are my  mommy support group. 

1450: Zane comes up to me and tells me "I wanna go night night." I took this as our cue to head home. He wasn't kidding either, he was asleep after about five minutes of being in the car.

1530: Arrive home and head out to the back yard to play. I taught Zane how to actually fill up the different molds in his sand box to make things, but he really just liked smashing them. Zach bagged up our yard waste for pick up tomorrow and started work on our new gate, while I enjoyed the cool weather.

 Our first radish from our garden. Zach tells me it was tasty. 

1700: Come inside at Zane's request for cheese. He ate left over mac and cheese with corn and I had the left over hamburger. Zach wasn't hungry (something I do not relate to) so he just kept us company during dinner.

1730: Early bath time, in preparation for movie night. Also, Zane was covered in sand. Zach cleans the boy while I clean the kitchen/office/dining room.

1800: Start the movie 'Rango' only after watching an episode of sheep first. The movie is pretty funny to Zach and I, but I am not sure Zane is getting it. He sticks with it for about thirty minutes but then has a burst of energy that he needs to get out.

1830: Zane decides, since daddy is using the computer, that evening rough play should be with mommy. I am not a fan of rough play because frankly it's rough and I would much rather be in charge of cuddles or imagination time. But I humor him for a few minutes.

1845: Time to go downstairs to let this boy run off some of his energy before night time. I think for a moment how surprised I was that he was running around so much when he hadn't napped much this afternoon. Then I remember that the faster Zane is moving the more tired he actually is. We run, jump, throw stuffed animals, dance, and get completely worn out downstairs. Zach and I discuss how we have to start working out again and try to figure out when we can actually fit this in our lives.

1930: We head upstairs to try to calm Zane down so he can go to sleep. Zach goes to check on our  neighbor, Jason's, progress with fixing the ditch/drainage of his back yard. He determines Jason could use some more assistance and heads out to help him. Zane and I cuddle on the couch trying to get Zane to hold still for more than two seconds. We watch a few episodes of sheep, one in which the Irish farmer makes his own windmill to provide electricity for the farm, I like it.

1950: Zane has realized that he is exhausted and requests to go night night. He finishes his milk, I sing a few songs, he gives me great applause for each one, which is always nice, then he points to his bed.

2000: I start this blog, but quickly hear Zane up and playing in his room. I head back in to put him back in bed. While cuddling, just a little bit more, Zach comes back inside so he can say night night to Zane. Daddy goes to get some more milk and I teach Zane how to say "I love daddy" just about the cutest thing ever.

2030: Zane is asleep, I have showered, and all the clothes are put away. I start thinking about the week ahead, which includes me working Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday then flying home Friday. It is going to be a much busier, exhausting week, but all worth it when we end up at the farm Friday. The dread about working tomorrow and not seeing Zane kicks in, sad face.
I finish my blog then time to get my self ready for bed.

Observations:
-I have thoroughly enjoyed the week in the life project and I am sure I will love looking back at it in the years to come. I can't decide exactly what I am going to do for my scrapbook portion, maybe print off my blogs then add a lot of pictures, who knows.
-Jamey is quite the loved little boy, there were tons of people at his party celebrating his little life. I was so glad we could be part of it. Zane did very well with the large group of people, I'm thinking he is going to love his party this year.

Gratitude:
- For the new set of friends I have made here. It's great to have girls who are learning how to be a mother right along with me. It is the hardest job ever and everyone needs a cheering section.

Favorite moment:
-The party was tons of fun, but you can't beat your son saying "I love daddy" over and over for the first time. That has to take the cake.

Week in the life: Saturday

0600: We hear mutterings/whining coming from Zane's room. Zach says he will get up with him, but continues to sleep. Muttering dies down and Zane goes back to sleep. Minor miracle in this house.

0730: Zane is playing in his room. I am thoroughly amazed that he not only went back to sleep but actually slept until 0730. I cannot tell you the last time this happened. Very exciting way to start your day. Zane and I head out to cuddle on the couch. Zane requests to watch "hot dog" during cuddle time. Translation, Mickey Mouse Club house. Thanks to the free channels I got hooked up with a few days ago we now have this on demand so we can watch it anytime, fantastic! While Zane watches that I check my email, get a coupon for Cinderella, pre-order that for when it comes out of the vault, then realize how dangerously easy it is to buy things from amazon via my amazon.com app. We watched the episode about Daisy getting a pet, do the hot dog dance, then head to the kitchen to help daddy finish breakfast.

0800: Bulls-eyes for breakfast. These go by numerous names, but are a piece of bread with a circle cut out of the middle with an egg in it. I did not grow up with these, but Zach introduced them to me and I thoroughly enjoy them. Zane has scrambled eggs, one of his favorite breakfasts.

0815: Zane throws his fork on the ground and goes to time out. This has happened at every meal  for days and is getting really old. WE DON'T THROW OUR FORK ON THE FLOOR! If I only had a dollar for every time I say that. I really think he just wants to test and make sure he will still get in trouble, the answer being yes you will.

0817: Zane's out of timeout and off to play in the living room. I had mistakenly left my iPad on the coffee table, so upstairs playtime quickly became iPad time without me realizing it. I pay bills and pack a smaller back to take to the Magic House in the afternoon.

0900: Downstairs to start laundry and play. Zane plays choo choos, helps with laundry, dances to his toons, takes a horsey ride on Zach, jumps on the couch, and plays with Tet. All his favorite downstairs activities.

0945: Nap time for Zaney boy. I go get ready for the day. We finally pull the trigger on a composter; Zach realizes how dangerously easy buy things via the amazon.com app is.

1000: I head out to run a few errands sans Zane. I am yet again amazed at how quickly and efficiently I can get things done when I am riding solo, as they say. I went to Khols to get bigger sandals for Zane, a birthday shirt and book for Jamey, and picked up some miniature ankle socks for Zane while I was there as well. I also made stops at Walgreens and the gas station, all in under an hour. Amazing.

1100: I'm back home and wrap Jamey's present while Zach starts on the lawn. Zane is still sleeping, so I get lunch together so it can be ready and quickly eaten when he wakes up. On the menu for lunch today, Mac and Cheese and strawberries. The strawberries have been amazing as of late, but don't last long so we needed to eat them all up before they went bad. They are Zane's current favorite snack/breakfast fruit.

1130: I hear little boy muttering and go get Zane. I'm not sure how long he had been awake and playing in there, but he seemed fine with it. We all ate a quick lunch then got ready for our trip to the Magic House. While eating lunch we researched a membership there and it seemed like a great deal, so our trip to the Magic House today was free with our new, tax deductible, membership.

1230: Arrive at the Magic House, happy to see the parking lot isn't crazily crowded and no line snaking around the side of the building. This is always a plus. We buy our membership then head into the craziness that is the Magic House. We haven't been since January and I was amazed at how many more things Zane could do, was interested in, and could figure out on his own. He still has no fear of the large crowd of strangers and walks confidently through the sea of people to what he is interested in. We saw all the highlights today, starting with the construction zone. I had a brief wave of emotion when Zach poured rocks down a pipe and they came out the end, looking just like wheat coming out of an auger. Didn't expect to be smacked in the face with any sadness at the Magic House, but you just never know what is going to trigger a memory I guess.

After the construction zone we went to the roof top garden/play house which was closed last time we were there. It is set up where kids can "pick" vegetables out of the play garden, if only the worker sitting out there would have put them back out. I think she felt bad that there was nothing to pick, so she threw some tomatoes down for Zane. It was fun and Zane liked looking at all the play food/dirt samples. I am in love with the miniature house. Then on to fishing, driving trucks, the pet animal hospital area ( new since our last visit) where there were many stuffed dogs and Zane's favorite toy, a stethoscope. We had a brief snack, at the very reasonably priced snack area, then made our way through toddler land, down some slides and stairs, to the water table, which always is the last stop of the day. It was a huge success and think we will get a lot of use out of our membership.

1430: Zane's changed into dry clothes and we need to make one last stop at Home Depot before heading home. Zane and I go pick out tomatoes while Daddy goes to the plumbing section. I always get sad buying tomatoes because I use to call Dad every year to ask him which variety were best. This is something Dad taught me that I actually remember, beef steak, big boy, and celebrity, all where among his list of favorites. I went with a beef steak and some sort of bush variety that I am giving a try. I have to say they were some of the best looking tomatoes I have ever bought, I have high hopes. Zane wanted to "drive the cars" while we waited for Zach, as did every other child in the store today. No one actual buying lawn mowers so much as keeping their children entertained on them.

1500: Home just in time to get my new tomato plants in the ground before the rain arrives. Zane pushes daddy's lawnmower around the yard while I get them planted. I thought good thoughts and prayed for rain as I was tucking in my plants. Also, thought Zane might need a play push mower for his bday.

1515: Zane was beyond tired, so we headed inside for his sippy cup, binki, and blanket. He fought it a little, but gave in after quite a few cuddles and songs.

1530: Zane finally asleep. I unpack our bags, get some Motrin for my worsening headache, and start this blog on the couch. The rain arrives, complete with thunder and lightening, Zach reads on the couch while I blog.

1700: The rain has subsided so we go ahead with our plan to grill burgers. Zach starts the fire, while I go to cut up the watermelon.


1715: I go to get Zane so he doesn't stay up all night. He is very cuddly. I put him in pants and his rain boots, then head outside to a very wet yard. Zach and Zane take some watermelon over to the neighbor kids while I clean up the kitchen and put the sweet potato tots in the oven. We play outside briefly and watch the storm creeping our way. Once the thunder started, Zane and I went inside while Zach finishes the burgers just in the nick of time.

Sleepy baby

 Hooray for watermelon.

 Look what we found, our first strawberry from our wild strawberry plants.

1745: Dinner time; grilled hamburgers with lettuce from our garden, steamed corn, sweet potato tots, and watermelon. Zane had eaten most of the watermelon by dinner time, but there were a few bits left for Zach and I. We had very colorful plates and everything was very tasty.

1800: Zane thinks really hard about throwing his fork on the floor. He looks at Zach and I, with mischievous eyes, while playing with his fork. Zach and I don't say a word, just keep watching him. I could see the wheels turning in his head and I am happy to report he made the decision to hand us his plate and tell us he was "all done." PROGRESS!

1815: Tornado sirens go off, much to our surprise, since it wasn't even raining here yet. Thus begins another frustrating storm watch with the useless St. Louis weather people. We turn on the TV upstairs, might as well have turned on a movie, it was useless as usual. Zach heads to Ace Hardware briefly, if that tells you how concerned we were about the storms.

1830-1930: In the basement, just in case, since there is absolutely no way of knowing if there is a tornado or where it might be. The weather woman was very concerned about possible hail damage and literally told the viewers to "Look out your window to see if there is any damage/tree limbs in your yard." Numerous people called in and talked about being in basements with very nice strangers or talked about the limbs in their yard. My head exploded, I yelled at the TV, and folded clothes. Zane danced, played some iPad, choo choos ect. I finally gave up and started watching Brandy's Behind the Music on VH1, only got as far as her getting knocked up. At some point during this time Zach went upstairs to get something and noticed that there was standing water in our neighbors yard, up past their basement windows. Being the good samaritan that he is he went and got our neighbor and helped him dig a drainage ditch in his yard and build up the dirt around his house so their basement wouldn't be flooded.

1930: Zane and I finally venture upstairs for bath time. Still not sure we are safe from tornadoes, but we were getting stir crazy.

1945: Zach comes back, soaking wet and covered in mud. I'm glad he could help prevent someone else from the hell that was our basement flooding. Zach changes clothes then cuddles Zane while I throw the muddy clothes in the wash.

2000: Book time! Tonight's selections included; No Hitting, Dinosaurs Love Underpants, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, and Zane's choice The Dinosaur Train Seek and Find Book. We made the first book choices since Zane always chooses the seek and find book and How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night. For some reason tonight he felt like he needed to wear his train hat during book time.

2030: Start bedtime routine. I lay him down around 2045 then take a shower.

2100: Out of the shower, hearing cries from Zane's room. Back in for a few more songs, then he is finally wound down for night time. The lightening and thunder probably wasn't helping.

2110: Back out to the couch to finish my blog, check weather.com to see if there are going to be tornadoes tonight, Zach starts researching weather apps on the iPad that could alert us if we were going to be blown away. Zach downloads an app that was suppose to do all these things, but oh wait, the St. Louis area is currently "down." Yeah probably because it got hit by a tornado that no one knew was coming. We give up our search and determine we will just have to go downstairs anytime we hear the sirens, even though they go off every time any place in St. Louis county is under a watch. St. Louis county is a very large area.

2200: Posting this blog then heading to bed.

Gratitude: 
- For my general knowledge of how to read radar, thanks to my Gary England training growing up in Oklahoma, so I can figure out if I am going to be hit by a tornado.
-My husband's love for grilling, because I love some grilled burgers.
-Oh and my lovely, fully finished, basement. I would hate to spend tons of time in a storm shelter.

Observations:
-Zane can say "I love mamma" and says it randomly. He did this twice today. Once in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby on the way to the car. He said it and gave me a big hug. Then once randomly while playing downstairs. Obviously these are my favorite moments as well as an observation.
-Given observation, that this major metropolitan area, in the midwest, needs some actual meteorologists working here. Maybe even some storm chasers.

Week in the life: Friday/work day

0538: I wake up before my alarm goes off, roll over to check my phone/turn off alarm only to find that my phone had turned off sometime during the night. Good thing I woke up on my own.

0545: Zane wakes up while I am brushing my teeth. On one hand I'm happy to see his smiling face and get some cuddles from my little man before going to work. On the other hand I know he won't go down for a nap until around noon.

0545-0610: Zane helps me get ready and pack my lunch. Then we cuddle on the couch until I have to leave. He gives me big hugs, kisses, and waves bye bye. Off I go to work, so sad I won't see that face for hours.

0645: Back at work for more fun. Same kids as yesterday which usually makes everything easier.

0730: Out of report and off to see our kids. There were some minor situations that made our morning busier than I would have liked, but all was well.

0900: I try to call Zach to hear about his morning, but he was ignoring me, strike out.

1230: To the gift shop with Karen for some ice tea and skittles, a little treat for day number two. This is probably why I am obese.

1315: Lunch with a friend, salad from downstairs and Doritos, just to keep things balance. Maggie tries to convince me to go get drinks after work. I try to convince her that I am old, miss my husband and child, and really just want to go home and go to sleep.

1500: A surprise visit from Jen and Beth, two nurses who have been travel nursing for almost a year. I love them both and they came by, with cupcakes, for a quick visit before flying off to Boston tomorrow. It was great to see them both, I miss them, and hope they come back to us  soon. The cupcakes were amazing as well, of course.

1615: Forgot that I have a kid that needs an MRI at 1700. Quickly place an IV and get him downstairs on time. This is what happens on slow days (mine being slow because the nurse I was training was literally doing all my work today), you forget to do things because you mind is constantly running down your mental list of what needs to be done.

1730: Evening phone call to my boys. Daddy and Zane were on their way home. Zane had a good day at daycare and was enjoying some pudding, all over himself, when Zach arrived to pick him up. Zach and I discuss options for childcare when Zane's daycare is closed. I get frustrated yet again by the whole situation and just wish my mom lived across the street instead of the random creepy guy.

1800: Get a text from Zach informing me that Zane and Tad (the singing frog toy) are having a verbal dispute. If you push Tad's belly he says "Five minutes to night night" then you push it again and he will say "Ten minutes to night night." The only way to get out of this cycle is to push his hands or feet. I guess Zane wasn't grasping that and kept pressing his belly, so Tad kept saying "five/ten minutes to night night." Zane was having none of this, responding "no night night" angrily each time. I wish I could have seen this dispute, but sadly I was still at work.

1930: Done with report and finally leaving work.  I don't know what I am going to do when I actually have to do all my work again. I walk to the garage by myself, but on the phone with Anna, who I am sure could have called 911 for me if need be. No I don't go get drinks after work, Maggie never asked again, because deep down she knows I'm old, but it's nice of her to ask though.

1940: Finally at my car heading home. Chit chat with mom on the way home.

2010: Home again, home again, hooray! Zane greeted me with an enthusiastic "my mamma" and a big hug when I walked in the door. Zach had made Roasted Spaghetti Squash with herbs for dinner. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but apparently Zach "almost threw up" when he ate it. I was slightly concerned by the fact that Zach would feed me something that almost made him vomit, but he claims it was a texture thing and wasn't sure what I would think about it. In good news Zane loved it, which is always a plus.

2015: I notice the new facial bruises that Zane has and instantly start thinking bad thoughts about his daycare. Turns out Zane was chasing Zach with his miniature oven mitt and ran head on into the side of the door frame. This is completely believable and a pretty common story around our house. I take back my bad thoughts about his daycare.

2030: Off to bed for the little man after changing a poopy diaper. Zane took his meds like a champ and for some reason Zach and I did a huge celebration/cheering for this normal activity. The celebration consisted of fist pumping, which is one of Zane's favorite activities. He fist pumps and says "Go go go" when the Cardinals are mentioned, when he sees Tigers, or when prompted by his parents. This led to a pretty wired boy at night night time. He calmed down pretty well, sang along with me during some of his songs, gave hugs/pats, drank his milk, and was off to bed. There were a few mutters from his room, but he went to sleep quickly.

2040: Zane's asleep, I start this blog. Again no pictures, but I promise a plethora of pictures from our action packed weekend. Zach tells me that his parents can come up in July to watch Zane a couple days when his daycare is closed, so we are good to buy tickets home for the fourth of July. It's a big weight off our shoulders and we are beyond grateful for their help.

1900: Zach heads to the shower, Cards winning 12-1 so I feel safe to watch my new favorite show "Scandal" that I have recorded on my DVR. I was obviously sucked in my the name alone, because everyone knows I love a scandal. There is a little politics, some juicy relationship scandals, complete with affairs with the president. I don't know how long I will stick with it, but I'm liking it so far.

- I plan to shower, finish Scandal, and head to bed. I am always unbelievably exhausted after working two 12 hr shifts in a row. Hopefully I can catch up on some sleep this weekend.

Gratitude:
- Zach and I are both very grateful to his parents for being able to help us out when our daycare is closed. I know mom is going to be sad to miss the opportunity, but I she will be busy helping to open the spice shop.
- Getting to see Beth and Jen. I never see them, but think of them often. They are dear friend and it was great to see their smiling faces and hear that they are doing well.

Observations:
-Zane loves to fist pump for numerous reasons. I never envisioned teaching my child how to fist pump, but I guess it is an important life skill.
-Zane occasionally calls me mom, which really throws me off, and makes him seem much older. I informed him today he can't call me that until he is around 13 years old.
-How can my cousin Kristen be graduating high school already and how can it have been ten years since I graduated high school?

Favorite moment:
- Talking to my bff on my way to my car. I wish she lived across the street as well. She will listen to me complain for as long as I need her to and knows she doesn't have to have ground breaking advice, I just need some support. I wish I could cuddle her twin niece and nephew too.

Week in the life: Thursday/work day

0540: Out of bed for work, slightly later than usual since I packed my lunch last night. Quickly got ready, pulled my things together.

0610: Leaving for work, no I did not see my son this morning. This is always a little sad, but for the best. On the days he wakes up before I leave I know he has to be extremely tired at daycare. He had a rough night last night, up and crying every couple hours. We are hoping he isn't getting sick, but sounds like he might be.

0650: Officially at work, sad face. I was training a new nurse today, which always throws off my day's rhythm just a bit. Also, I don't think I'm good at it, but I remember how nerve racking being a new nurse was so I try to be compassionate, patient, and overly encouraging. All of that can be draining. I try to start my day with a positive attitude (struggle, not going to lie).

0730: Out of report and on to see our patients. I can't tell you anything really about the work I did because it is against the law, however I did have all neurosurgery or neurology patients today, no random medicine kids, all dealing with the brain or spine. Not a terrible assignment, four kids, a little busy, but fine. Is that vague enough, Abbey????

0840: Done seeing all our pt. and doing all our morning assessments. The added bonus to training a new nurse, I don't have to chart anything, I just have to look over her work. That means I could eat my breakfast, chill out, and be an extra set of hands for anyone who needs them.

0900: Call Zach to see how the morning went here. He said Zane work up at 0620 happy as a lark, as though he hadn't been crying all night. He decided Zane's little foot hurt from his injuries last night and gave him Tylenol. This was based on nothing, but I felt good about it.

1030: Manage a minor emergency/airway situation with one of my patients. Almost had to call the Neurosurgery attending's cellphone, which is never good, but finally found the Neurosurgeon on call and got the situation under control.

***So the rest of the day at work consists of seeing all our pt at least every two hours, check in occasionally to make sure the minor emergency situation isn't happening anymore, do a lot of waitressing, and a little house keeping ( changing linen's ect..). I usually spend a lot of time charting, but today I just had to check over the other nurses charting and make sure she was on top of her game, which luckily she was. Luckily none of the kids I had today had terrible/terminal diagnosis's so it wasn't a horribly emotionally draining day, like some work days are.

Skip forward to 1430: I go downstairs with Michelle to get a salad and try to be a light in her life. He mother in law is in the hospital, stable, but doing a lot of tests. Any prayers you can send to her and her lovely husband would be much appreciated.

1440: Eat lunch at the nurses station while I listen in to my trainee getting report from Emergency room on our new kid. Initially the child sounded like a hot mess, but in good news arrived to the floor and was doing good, praise God, didn't need another situation on my hands.

1530: Call Zach to see how Zane's day went and how their evening is going. They are playing outside, Zach tells me he had a good day and they are having a blast. Zane actually talks to me and it is about the cutest thing ever. I told him I missed him and I loved him and he, pretty clearly, said both of those things back to me. Could have cried, but didn't. It was so cute and I could just picture his little facial expressions as he held the phone up to his ear.

1535: Brain storm how I can afford to be a stay at home mom, come up with no ideas, get slightly depressed, but move on. This is a usual part of my day right around this time.

Skip forward to 1830: We wrap up our shift, try to determine if the kid we sent to the OR in the afternoon was going to the ICU or back to us, apparently coming back but not before we leave. I guess we will see that kid again tomorrow morning.

1930: Done with report, wait for Michelle so we can walk to the parking garage together, so as not to get murdered and so I can give her birthday party decorations for her son's party this weekend. In exciting news the birthday banner I spent so much time on is being used again, hooray!!!

1948: Finally get to my car, winded because I'm fat and it is a 10 minute walk to the parking garage. Mental note I should really work out, but then can't figure out when I would fit that into my days and move on to other thoughts. Call Zach and Zane to tell them I am on my way home.

2010: Arrive home; Zach was coming outside to take out the trash as I was pulling in the drive way. Minor panic attack that Zane had already gone to sleep and I wouldn't see him at all (this was how everyday I worked was when he was a baby). But to my great joy, up ran little Zaney to the glass door, pressed his nose against it, and did a little dance of happiness when he saw me. I could have just eaten him up.

2010-2035: I eat a left over turkey burger while cuddling Zane. Zane usually likes to eat a little with me when I get home from work, which is nice. He runs around like crazy, hugging Zach and I both, saying "my mamma," "my daddy" and all sorts of other adorable things. He did have one time out situation when we told him he needed to stop climbing in and out of his high chair and then trying to climb from the high chair to the top of the table and his response was a resounding "NO." But other than that he was great. He helped pick up all his toys with out complaint and even tried to count things as he put them away.

2035: Zane and I head to his room for a cuddle. While changing his diaper he was crying and said "my toe, ouch" so we gave him some more Tylenol. His foot looked fine, though his big toe did look like he might have stubbed it, which would be a whole new foot injury.

2037ish: Zane is done drinking his milk, rubbing his eyes, and pointing to his bed. I didn't even have time to finish saying all my prayers before I had to set him down. He snuggled his sheep and I'm sure went straight to sleep.
-So for those of you counting I saw my son for exactly 27 minutes today, total. Super sad face. I can't even think about it because that is how tomorrow will be as well and I can't stand it.

2040: I take a shower, then sit down to do this blog. Zach is playing his new iPad game on the couch with me.

Hoping to be asleep by 2200 and I will wake up to do it all again tomorrow.

**No pictures today because I obviously can't take them at work and didn't think about anything but loving on my sweet boy for the twenty seven minutes I was home with him.

Gratitude:
- I guess I would have to say for those twenty seven minutes where I got to do what I love, be a parent.
-For my healthy baby boy. I never, for one second, take that for granted, but I do say extra gratitude prayers on the days I work.

Observations:
-Neurosurgeons are overly smart to the point that some times I feel like they have no common sense. But I already knew that, they really just want to be in the OR, all the time.
-Also, today and yesterday I noticed that Zane says ouch and I'm hungry (i hon), both of which are super helpful phrases to be able to say. I love this whole being able to communicate with him thing, it makes things much easier.

Week in the life: Wednesday

0620: Zane's up = I'm up. Cuddles on the couch, watching Chuggington. I have a splitting headache for some reason, possibly because Zane had gotten up twice last night, with me being in charge of the last time at 0200, then couldn't fall back to sleep  until around 0300.

0640: Zane goes to "find daddy" = Daddy's awake. Zach starts grinding his coffee with his new antique coffee grinder. Turns out that was a terrible idea. The process of grinding the coffee took much longer than making the coffee, it made a terrible sound ( not helping the splitting headache), and Zane missed the fun, oh so quick, noise of the electrical grinder. I think all parties agreed to go back to that method tomorrow.

0700: Coffee finally ground and made. Zach participates in the hot dog dance at the end of Mickey Mouse club house before heading out the door.

0720: Zane and I eat breakfast of cheerios, bananas, and yogurt.

0800: Morning playtime upstairs. I watched a show off my DVR, Zane played with his newly working toys, and enjoyed his thirty minutes of iPad time before his morning nap. I researched composters online, cleaned up from breakfast, and got Zane dressed while he was playing.

0900: Nap time #1; I try to research composters more, but feel asleep on the couch with my iPad. I had a dream where we lived in a huge house, with a four car garage, but then I opened the garage door and there were skunks, that is pretty much the story of my life.

1030: Zane's up and in a great mood. We played "pretend we're going night night" in Zane's bed. This included tickle time and throwing all his stuffed animals ar,ound his room and/or placing them in the appropriate places on his farm rug.

1045: Zane watches Timmy Time, which turns out is a spin off of Shaun the Sheep, purely staring Timmy, hence the new toys. I get dressed and pull our stuff together for our outing.

1100: Out the door to the botanical gardens. Turns out it is freakishly hot outside and everyone and their toddler are there today. We played in the Chidlren's Garden area for maybe twenty minutes before Zane informed me that he was hungry and I was dying of a heat stroke. Zane climbed on everything, slid down the big tree slides, and wanted to do all other sorts of big boy things, but I wasn't sure how to manage that with only one adult.

The Lantern Festival is coming up and seems to be much more intense than past years.

Climbing the big stairs up to the top of the tree slide. I would go up with him, get him on the slide, run down the stairs, repeat. Good work out.

 Flower bells!

1130: Lunch time with no high chairs, always a struggle/huge mess. I had brought Zane a Sammy Jammy PB&J and a squeezable apple sauce. I got a the chicken salad sandwich and coleslaw. Zane enjoyed all these things and ate the squeezable apple sauce without incident. This was really my first try with them and had envisioned apple sauce everywhere. I realized today that it is impossible to get Zane to drink out of a sippy cup if I have a cup with a straw, this too is very messy.

1200: Zane played on the sheep statues. I forgot they were there, but of course were a big hit. He sat on all of them, gave them all pats, and of course let them all have a drink of his juice. We then wondered aimlessly around the garden, a good work out for me, but probably boring for Zane. We did see the iris, which were beautiful, then headed to the car. I was socked in sweat and Zane was socked in apple juice, see above about cup with a straw.

 Zane loved this random building with a Victorian looking statue in it. 

I enjoyed the tree beside it that branches came and rested on the ground.

 And the irises were gorgeous and smelled like my Grandmother's garden.

 In a sad note they had to get all new roses, I think due to some sort of rose disease.

1300: We are in the car, exhausted and hot, after a pit stop at the gift shop to get a book. Zane's choice; Pop up farm animal book, of course.

1330: Stopped at Shop n Save for a "quick" grocery stop to pick up all I forgot to get at Target yesterday. This turned into a debacle. I bought some more fruit squeeze packets, since they were on sale, and such a success at lunch. I gave one to Zane while bagging my groceries and for some reason Zane couldn't figure it out, literally an hour after eating an entire one without any problems and acted as though it was a foreign concept. It was exactly how I had envisioned the squeezable fruit snacks to go, apple sauce everywhere, huge mess. I quickly packed our things and headed to the car. Oh wait.... we left a bag inside, like I always say MAKE TIME TO DO IT TWICE. So we ran back inside, which took forever, because we of course were in the big car cart which is next to impossible to steer. Than back to the car with my sticky sticky boy.

1400: At home for midday bath for my sweaty, sticky, boy before nap time. Here is my little burrito after bath. Yes I bathed him before putting away the groceries and he needed to remind me.

1430: Nap #2; I sit and drink probably a gallon of water, some apples and peanut butter, then start this blog. I continue trying to research composters and a possible new camera with no luck. Start a load of laundry.

1600: Zane is up from his nap and we head outside with an icy pop. Zane paints, plays with his car, plays with his sand table, paints with water, which of course turns to playing in water very quickly. We trying calling Gma, then call daddy on his way home but have to hang up when Zane gets his foot pinched in a folded up lawn chair. That meant it was time for boo boo bunny and tiger to come out. Zane enjoys boo boo bunny but always put it on other parts of his body besides the part that is actually injured, his foot in this case.

1715: Inside for dry clothes and to reheat the Taquitos for dinner.

1720: Daddy home from work, and there was much rejoicing.

1730: Left overs for dinner because I couldn't face cooking this evening. I have to say they were just as good reheated in the oven as they were the first time.

1800: Back outside. Zane had quite a few listening issues outside, so we weren't out long. Mainly long enough to kick the ball around a bit then clean up the toys/paint.

1830: Back inside with a request to watch sheep from a very emotional Zane. I'm not sure if Zane is tired, getting sick, or just testing boundaries this evening but he has had a lot of problems listening. Such as us telling him to do or not do something and he doing the exact opposite of what we said. This isn't an everyday thing, some days go by without him getting in trouble or being sent to timeout at all. He is very capable of being loving and listening, but for some reason he struggled with both of those things. So lets suffice it to say it was a trying evening.

1930: Zane went to bed early this evening, do to the above mentioned issued. Key words in that sentence being, went to bed not went to sleep. He couldn't determine what if anything he would like to watch for his TV time, he needed to be cuddled at all times, but couldn't sit still or resist the urge to hit people. Early bedtime seemed like a good solution as he appeared terribly tired. Of course it didn't go well, with puppy dog tears all around.

1945: Zane is making random noises in his room, after two attempts of cuddle/bedtime. Zach and I are pondering our parenting abilities. I have the sick feeling of dread in my stomach that I get every night before I have to work the next day. It's the awful realization that I will only see my son for maximum a hour, and most likely less. I won't know anything that goes on in his life and it never stops breaking my heart.

2000: Zane is still randomly crying and babbling in his room. Zach goes back in to try to pull that situation together. It sounds like it going well, but who knows.

2015: Sweet sound of silence coming from my babies room. I am watching a Rock Center report about what happens to people without health insurance. It makes me terrified that Zane will turn 27 and not be able to get insurance, due to his pre-existing condition, if the Health Care bill is repealed by the supreme court. It is a very personal issue to me and I seem to be surrounded by stories about it a lot lately. I'm not trying to get political, I'm just saying. Ok, time for me to get myself pulled together so I can get to bed at a decent hour. Early morning with a long day ahead of me tomorrow.


Observations:

• It is unnecessarily hot and I am dreading summer.
• How am I so fat when I am constantly either carrying, pushing, or running after a thirty pound child?
• Zane loves drinking out of a big cup with a straw, but isn't that great at it, yet!!

Gratitude: 

•  I love our backyard. Initially it seemed to small when we were buying the house, but it is actually a perfect size for us and I love our time out there.

• Having my biggest issue to deal with be why my two year old is testing his boundaries. 

Favorite Moment:

• Watching Zane talk to, pat, and love on the sheep statues. He said hi and waved at all the children and parents that were there as well. He is so friendly to everyone, and loves animals, real, stuffed, or statued. It was precious.

Week in the life: Tuesday

Here is a normal Tuesday for Mr. Zane and I.

0640: We are all awake, after a little family snooze in bed again this morning. This isn't our usual routine, but for some reason that is how our past two days have started. Once we were all up Zaney and I snuggled while Daddy got ready for work. 

0700: Daddy leaves for work, but not before getting Zane the banana he requested for breakfast. I had cheerios, sans milk, because turns out my skim milk had turned... classic. Zane needed a few bites of my cheerios as well. 

0730-0900: Upstairs playtime; today this featured mega blocks, discovering that most of his toys batteries were dead, so we took all the batteries out and made a list of what we needed, played in his kitchen while I did the dishes, iPad time, and any other toy that crossed his path. 

0900: I put a very sleepy baby to bed. I was surprised at how tired he was, so early, but we went with it. While he slept I finished cleaning the kitchen and worked a little bit on baby Richard's blanket. 

1000: Zane wakes up screaming. I thought that was a pretty short nap and turns out he was still beat. After a short cuddle it was lights out again, but he was having none of going back into his bed, so I laid with him in my bed. Again, this isn't how morning nap goes, but I went with it and snoozed with him for a bit. 

1030: I sneak out of bed to get ready for the day. Zane is cozy in his little nest on our bed. He looks so big in his bed and oh so little in ours. I could have snuggled him all day, but once I woke up I knew I couldn't resist kissing those cheeks and didn't want to wake him up.

1130: Zaney finally wakes up. I eat left over Taquitos, Zane ate cottage cheese and ham. While Zane finished lunch I packed my diaper bag, appropriately today, for our trip to the spice shop (which shall remain nameless since my bro is opening his very own spice shop in OKC soon). Zane's choice of toys to bring with him in the car today, anchoo choo and his "Where" book. 

1200: Out the door for spice shopping and the park. We got spices for us and a friend, then headed to Sonic. It was big day in Zane's life, he got his very first personal slushi from Sonic. Sonic's are not as easy to come by here in the STL so don't think I've been depriving the kid, Oklahoma peeps. 

1230: We arrived at the the first park. This park was space ship themed, which is cool, but possible a little too big for Zane. He, of course, was all for trying to climb up the rock wall, ladders, and everything else that was obviously out of his league. He did enjoy the rocks, swings, and rocking space ship (my personal favorite). 

1300: We arrive at park #2, the little playground in McKenzie Village, by our house. The old stand by that is always perfect. I got slightly sad as I realized how much bigger he is now than the first time I took him there, barely toddling, needing help with every step and slide. Now he can dominate the entire place without any help at all, he just wants me to cheer him on. He even has to bend over to walk under everything now, HE IS JUST TOO BIG!!! As you can see by the photos his dinosaur needed to come play with him. After he was done with the playground he informed me "I drive." So why not let him pretend for a bit. Tons of fun!!

1400: We get back home and I had all sorts of fun plans for the next two hours in the back yard, but Zane immediately threw a fit, wanting his "be be" (a.k.a binki). I calmly informed him that if he wanted his be be he had to go to sleep and turns out he was fine with it and was asleep by 1415.

14:15-1530: I worked on this blog, watched some TV, made a list for Target, picked up toys, all my normal mom funtivities.

1530: I hear a terrible thud coming from Zane's room. Yep he fell out of the end of his bed that doesn't have the tiny little railing on it. He was sleepy, sad, and confused. Poor pumpkin head.
After some cuddles all was right with the world and we were ready for a Target trip.

1545: Out the door to one of the most successful Target trips to date. You might be wondering how a Target trip can be so successful, well let me tell you. We got popcorn and juice to start, which we do on special occasions. Then, while wandering the toy section, guess what we found.....

That's right, that is the baby sheep "Timmy" from Shaun the sheep. I have no idea why Timmy has a whole line of toys at Target. I don't think the show is actually on in the USA, but it does show up as a suggested show for people who watch Thomas the Train on Netflix and there are a lot of people watching Thomas the train. I think it is a crazy conspiracy, but we could not be more excited with our find. He even makes sheep noises, but doesn't talk, obviously, because there aren't words on Shaun the sheep.

1630: We get home and I realize that I had forgotten numerous things I needed from Target, what with the excitement of Timmy. I did get batteries for all Zane's toys, so I fixed those while Zane played upstairs.

1720: Daddy arrives home, and is just as excited as we are about the newest member of our family. We head outside where Zane paints, plays with balls, pushes his car around, and plays in the sand while Zach grills Turkey burgers, and I put some sweet potato tater tots in the oven. We have tons of fun outside during dinner prep, then clean up all our outside toys before it's time to eat.

1800: Dinner this evening was Turkey Burgers and sweet potato tater tots. Both of these things were delicious and Zane cleaned his plate, which is a rarity. He also said "thank you" every time we gave him more tots, a small parenting victory.

1830: Bath time, which I was in charge of this evening, while Zach cleaned the kitchen. Bath time consisted of pouring water from an old shampoo bottle into his little duck watering can, then pouring it on his toes. Oh what fun! This could have gone on all night, but we had to wrap it up because a new episode of Glee was coming on.

1900: I watch Glee while Zane runs around like a crazy person in his diaper. He was sent to time out numerous times for varies issues, ranging from not picking up the popcorn that he threw on the floor, to hitting, throwing things in a fit of rage, and continuing making farting noises after being told not to. He also hit his head on numerous things accidentally, my nose being one of them, and I thought I might pass out. Zane did help pick up his toys, with a lot of encouragement and he did love dancing to the Whitney Houston tributes on Glee.

2000: After Zane's final timeout for a combination of all the things listed above we determined it was beyond night time and Zane and I headed into his room for his evening cuddle. Of course Timmy was his stuffed animal of choice this evening.

2010: I head to the shower and Zach heads to the iPad. We watch a new episode of New Girl, a show that I am loving more and more, chit chatted, and I finished today's post. Now it's time to pull the rest of the house together, go to sleep, and do it all again tomorrow!

I didn't blog this part yesterday because I didn't get to the second page of the hand out until after I had posted my blog, but on the second page it has you write what you ate and then observations, things you over heard (which is nothing), gratitude, and favorite moment. So I thought I would jot those down here too, for when I inevitably loose those sheets.

Gratitude: 

• For my fun son who, for the most part, was very loving and cuddly today. He gave me all sorts of hugs and pats, though most of them were awfully snotty. 
• Our wonderful evening routine. It works so smoothly now that I know this phase won't last much longer. As soon as things get down to a science some sort of wrench is thrown in the mix to keep you on your toes. So for now I'm thankful for how fun it is. 

Observations:

• Zane pokes himself in the eye, on purpose, a lot. He extends his little arm, then pokes himself in the eye with his pointer finger. He usually gets his eye closed before the poke, but sometimes he doesn't. He does this usually in a last ditch attempt to stay awake, but sometimes when he is bored in the car as well. What does that mean???
• We literally have half a dozen, large vehicles, that Zane could push around this house but he chose to push around the container for his shape sorter today. Why do I buy him toys.

Favorite Moment:

• This is easy; when I was cuddling Zane before his first nap, he was super sleepy, but wasn't ready to lay down yet. With his sleepy little face, he threw his arms around my neck,stood up in my lap, pressed his face against mine, and gave me the biggest hug, complete with pats, for about two minutes. I might have teared up a little, it was perfect.