Why God Created Sister in Laws

Jimmy's sister Nancy came to visit yesterday. She lives in San Diego, so we don't see her a ton but it's always fun when she comes to town. Brynlee loves her, and gets super excited when she knows she is coming. Brynlee kind of says her name like " Nasty" though. Hopefully we can break that habit.

Here is a conversation Nancy and I had last night.

As I'm trying to get ready for work-

Nancy: Do you get hit on a lot?
Me: Uh, no. Never actually.
Nancy: Oh well I was just watching you, and you're really pretty!
Me: Well thanks!
Nancy: You just must give off that "I'm unavailable vibe"
Me: Yeah...that must be it. Sure.

See you need a sister in law to tell you stuff like that! ;)

Thanks Nancy, you can come over anytime!

Tough Things

This has not been a good few weeks for pregnant people I think. My best friend Carla has been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for the past 5 years. After 2 rounds of IUI, and 2 rounds of IVF she was pregnant with twins. A few weeks ago she found out that one of the twins heart stopped. On Friday she found out that the other twins heart stopped as well. Ugh.

Yesterday I took her to get a D&C, thinking that this feels oddly familiar. I've recovered quite well from losing my baby, if I do say so myself. I try not to dwell on it and actually find myself happy. Happier than I've been in a few months. But once in a while my mind wanders and I realize that I should be like 12 weeks pregnant right now, and am not.

I see people that had babies around the time when I had Brynlee all having more babies and being pregnant again. It feels like we are in a race and I'm now falling behind. I know that is a strange way to think of it. People share stories about how they had 6 miscarriages. I know they are trying to make me feel better, but I'm not sure that helps. Because then I think " Wow, what if Brynlee is the only child we have.". It wouldn't be the end of the world. But in my mind we would always have more.

Carla had her procedure done at the fertility clinic she has been getting treated at for months. As I sat with her yesterday surrounded by people all desperate to just have one child I realized how lucky I really am. How lucky so many people are that they don't have to deal with the devastation of trying to have children and not being able to. How lucky I am to be able to try to get pregnant again soon, and not have it cost me $13,000. I am truly blessed. And so are all you super fertile people out there. So when your kids act up and drive you crazy, think of how lucky you are to have them at all. Because there are so many people desperately hoping to be driven crazy by kids one day.

Poison Control

As Brynlee got into my perfume yesterday ( this one was my fault, I left it where she could get it) I started to think about all the stuff she has gotten into in the past few months. This kid is a terror! Make up, pain, Vaseline...(that was a fun one, It took like 3 baths and dish soap to get that off because she was covered in it), endless amounts of food- And one other not so funny thing.

I don't think I blogged about this one, and if I did sorry. I can't remember anymore. The older I get the less my brain functions!

In August I had a sinus infection and was taking antibiotics. It was a Saturday and I had to go to work. Jimmy was making breakfast, and I was getting dressed. I thought he had Brynlee, and he thought I had Brynlee. Turns out no one had Brynlee, and she was running a muck. As I'm tying my shoes Brynlee comes in and tells me she has medicine. I looked in her mouth and sure enough there was a white pill which I promptly plucked it out of her mouth.

I was confused, what could that be? I went into the living room to see my purse dumped out, and my antibiotics spilled everywhere. They are supposed to be in a child proof bottle! I started to panic and tried to count how many where missing. I couldn't even focused I was so panicked. 5! 5 were missing! Me, being full grown and supposed to take 2 per day.

On a side note, I remember watching Family Feud with Robbie once. He started talking about who he would bring on that show... and I was not mentioned. He told me I'd crack under the pressure. I was slightly offended, at the time.

However this day proved just how right he was. I was so panicked I started looking in my baby book to try to find the number for poison control. Jimmy, ever cool as a cucumber just googled it and made the call. They told us to expect some vomiting, and perhaps diarrhea. But she would be ok. I immediately started balling my eyes out because I was so relieved.

I went to work and called Jimmy like 100 times to check on how she was doing. I was racked with guilt. This was totally my fault. Not only did I leave my purse where she could get it, I'm super dumb and didn't screw the lid back onto the child proof bottle all the way. And then when it came time to calm down and act quickly I completely buckled. Great!

However Brynlee was fine. She didn't seem sick at all.

About 1 week later I was cleaning out my purse and found 4 loose pills in there! So, counting the one I plucked out of her mouth she actually ingested NONE of them. I can look back at this and laugh now, but at the time I felt like the worst mother on the planet. I learned a lot from this experience though, and hopefully I won't have to call poison control again anytime soon. And if I do, I hope I can be as under control as Jimmy was!

Equality!

This time of year rolls around every year. I think I actually posted about it last year. If I wasn't so lazy I'd look back and check, but that is a lot of posts to look through.

I just don't get the Victoria's Secret fashion show. I do not get it. How is it that 100 lb women parading around in overly expensive underwear can be aired on a national station like CBS.

Ok I get why guys like this show. I mean duh. But it seems more like a thing that would be aired on Spike. Or the Playboy channel...

CBS you disappoint me.

Here is what really rubs me wrong. No equality. I think there should be a fashion show of just super hot guys walking around in bedazzled boxer briefs or tighty whiteys. And they should air it on NBC and Justin Beiber should provide the music. It's only fair right?

My former roommates are frequents at the local Hooters. I don't get that one either. Ok once again I get it. But whey don't women have a place to go? I've envisioned this and I see it making a ton of money. It would be a place where all the guys are hot and shirtless. There would be chick flicks playing on big screen TVS ( think The Notebook, Legends of the Fall, 27 Dresses, etc). All the food would either be fried, dipped in chocolate or salads. It would be great!

I'm not saying that I would go to this restaurant, or watch my all male fashion show that I've cooked up in my head. But it would just be nice if women out there had the option.

Needless to say I did not tune in last night. As if American girls don't have enough issues with body images. I don't need to see super humans strutting their stuff to add to that. What's funny is if there was a plus size like fruit of the loom fashion show with normal sized people in it strutting around in underwear I don't think I would be so bothered. Maybe because they would be projecting a healthy and more importantly REALISTIC body image.

Now that I've got that rant out of my system, it's back to snacking on all sorts of Christmas goodies. Take that Victoria's Secret models who only eat limes and diet coke. Carmel popcorn never tasted so good!

Blushing

The older Brynlee gets the more she does some things that are...well a little embarassing. Nothing like kids to thrust cold hard reality in your face.

Incident #1- On Thanksgiving, a guy was drinking a diet coke. Brynlee went up to him and told him that he was drinking "Mommy's soda". I explained to her that he could have one too, but she wouldn't accept it. She kept following him around telling him to stop drinking my soda. Eh hmm. You know you have a diet coke addiction when...

Incident #2- On Sunday Brynlee saw an older lady coming into the church building. She loudly proclaims, " There is a big Grandma!". Mortified, Jimmy tried to tell her that she wasn't a BIG grandma. Nope, in Brynlee's mind she was just that. And she continued to call her that all through church.

Incident #3- Since it finally stopped raining, Brynlee and I decided to celebrate. It's been raining for the past week, and for Californians that just won't do. We got our sunshine back today, thank goodness! Anyhow Brynlee and I went to get donuts and then go to the park. We walked into the donut shop and she walked up to the counter and told the lady she wanted " A chocolate donut, please". Ok. Maybe we take her to get donuts too often. I'm not sure a 2 year old should be able to order a donut with such assertiveness. However the donut lady thought she was so cute that she gave us an extra donut for free. :)

So, basically I drink too much diet coke and Jimmy gets Brynlee donuts too often. I'm not sure who to blame for the "big Grandma" comment. It was really strange. There were plenty of other big grandma types there, but she took to this lady I guess. Ah kids!

No Use Crying Over Spilled Make Up

Most Saturdays I work during the day. Jimmy is home with Brynlee. I got home last Saturday and asked him how she was. At first he said good, then said " Oh wait actually not good. She got into your make up."

Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ran in the bathroom and quickly did damage assessment. In Brynlee's defense, I knew this was coming. The other day she watched me put on my makeup and was enthralled with it. I put some clear powder on her and she was so excited. I went over the make up rules with her over and over. She can't touch the make up without me. I asked her if she is supposed to touch my make up. She gave the correct answer of No.

At this point I'm still trying to figure out exactly what she understands. She definitely understands when she is not supposed to do something. But I'm not sure she understands cause and effect yet.

After going to cosmetology school I've sadly developed a love for more expensive things. I've seen and experienced first hand that target make up and hair products just don't hold a candle to the professional stuff. This is unfortunate because I don't have a ton of money to go by these expensive things. I did however splurge on a foundation that I love love love. I love it. Did I say that? It's like magic. And feels weightless on my skin.

At first I was afraid that Brynlee had gotten into that one... and then I remembered in my infinite wisdom that I keep that foundation in my medicine cabinet, away from the rest. She did manage do dump my back up Revlon foundation all over the floor, carpet and everything else. Apparently she burned right through my bare minerals blush. And my make up brushes need some TLC. But she did not get hold of my prized possession.

I asked Jimmy if he got in trouble and he said " Oh yeah". She is old enough now in my opinion to listen. I want her to learn not to touch things because I say "No", not just because I've hidden them out of her reach. However when it comes to things such as knives, cleaning chemicals etc I'm not willing to gamble with those. So those are still out of reach.

Unfortunately my makeup had to fall on the sword for Brynlee to learn a lesson. She will have to learn lessons the hard way it looks like. She touched the stove the other day while I was cooking and burned her finger. She got a big old blister and scared me to death. Seems like I get to learn these lessons right along with her. Motherhood. It's a wild ride!

Cared For

After I had surgery last week I needed a little TLC. Wednesday Brynlee's day care was closed, and I wasn't sure what kind of shape I'd be in physically (or really mentally for that matter) and figured I'd need some reinforcements. I decided to call in the best. My Mom. Or parents rather.

It's funny how even when you are 28 you still want your Mommy to take care of you when you don't feel good. And with good reason. If your Mom is like my Mom she is the best at playing nurse. Even though it was the day before Thanksgiving and they were both super busy at work, my parents both took the day off to take care of me and Brynlee. On Wednesday morning my Dad picked us up ( because I was told I couldn't drive due to heavy pain meds) and took us to their house.

I spent the day cuddled on the couch being waited on watching lifetime movies. It was awesome. My Mom got me drinks. She got me pillows. She got me blankets. She made me a grilled cheese sandwich. All the while they both wrangled Brynlee so she would leave me alone and I could rest. It was honestly an amazing day. Which is pretty amazing all things considered. I found myself not wanting to leave this care palace. Not that Jimmy doesn't take care of me, but no one does it like my Mom.

Despite the rather depressing turn of events around Thanksgiving I had a lot to be thankful for this year. I have a wonderful group of family and friends that really banded together around me during a hard time. Jimmy basically took care of Brynlee from Friday (when we got the bad news) to Tuesday when I had the procedure done. And then he took time off work to take me to the Dr even though his department is super super busy this time of year. My parents came to the hospital to make sure I was OK and then took care of me when I needed it And paid for the procedure, since unfortunately it was not free. Donna took time off work to take care of Brynlee so I could go to the Dr. My friend Tessa got my shifts covered at my job so I wouldn't have to worry about calling in sick during a busy time. And she brought me candy and diet coke after I had the procedure (she knows the way to my heart!). Not too mention emotional support from countless other family members and friends. I am truly cared for.

Now if someone could just make this extra 5 ish lbs go away I would really appreciate it. If i'm not going to be pregnant I want to be back at my pre pregnancy weight. And am impatient. I want it now! The fact that it's Christmas time is like a dieting nightmare. At least after you have a baby even though you are large you still have a baby to show for it. Now I just have some baby weight and no baby. I was in Costco yesterday and had to leave immediately because there was tasty food everywhere. Alll over. Since I actually enjoy eating again now it's even harder, because I just want to eat all the time. And that is what I did on Thanksgiving. It was delicious. Some things are worth the 5lbs!