I've always wanted to be a mom. I loved baby-sitting families with babies when I was a teenager and I loved holding the babies of my friends once I got into my 20's. As I got into my late 20's, one of my pet peeves was when I would hear people complain about various things relating to their babies or small kids. I would think to myself, "I would love to be in your shoes and have a baby to complain about." And I vowed to myself that once I had children, whenever that might be, I wouldn't complain about it, even when times got tough.
Fast forward.... I had my first baby at age 30, my second baby 17 months later. Last night, I got home from work at 7pm. Dave had put Tanner down 30 minutes earlier, but Lacey was still up. I was holding Lacey enjoying my one on one time with her when I heard Tanner screaming. I gave Lacey to Dave and went upstairs, nursed Tanner and got him back to bed around 7:45 or so. Then I got Lacey ready for bed and put her down. It felt so good to just relax..... for about 20 minutes until Tanner woke up again. I fed him again (some of you have commented on his size; he's 20# at 3 months and this kid can eat!), held him and rocked him and got him down around 9:30 at which point I was so exhausted (because this has been happening every night), we just went to bed. The pillow felt really good... for 2 hours until Tanner woke up again, wanting to eat. I got up, nursed him, held him, rocked him and got him back down. I laid back down and was just starting to feel myself relax when I heard a scream from down the hall. As much as it hurt, I got up to check on Lacey. She was sick (diarrhea), so I got her out of bed, changed her, went into the guest bedroom and tried to lay down with her and get her back to sleep. I did this for over an hour (until 2:15) and realized this wasn't going to work, so I put her back into her bed. She screamed and I went back to my room. Just as her screams started dying down and I could tell she was falling asleep.... Tanner wakes up (2:30). I feel like crying. Dave must have read my mind because he got up and made him a bottle (I'd nursed him so much at this point, I had nothing left anyway!). He slept in ~45 minute increments until shortly after 5 when I realized that he was up for good. My day had started even though yesterday's never ended. But I am sticking to my vow - I am not complaining. I am just realizing what I didn't realize in my pre-kid days. Every stage of life has its challenges. I have to go now - Tanner is screaming his head off.
Last weekend, we had beautiful Fall weather. We decided to take the kids to pick out a pumpkin. As you can see, Tanner dressed as a pumpkin for the occasion; I'm sure he'll hold that over our heads when he gets older!
I don't know why Dave and I actually thought Lacey would care about choosing out the perfect pumpkin. As soon as she saw the Moonbounce, it was all over. I could read her mind..."pumpkin, schmumpkin -- I'm headed this way -see ya later!"
Over a year ago, just for fun I put in for some tickets to be in the live studio audience of The View. I never heard back and I totally forgot about it.... until 2 tickets arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago. Now that I had a toddler and a baby, it took some effort, but we worked it all out. I decided to invite my mother-in-law, Rita, to the show with me. Grandpa watched Lacey here in Maryland while Rita, Dave, Tanner and I went to NYC. Dave watched Tanner while Rita and I went to the show. Conveniently, the Regis and Kelly show tapes just up the street from the View, so Dave was able to introduce Tanner to Kelly. I think Dave was a little more excited about the introduction than Tanner! :)
Don't ask me how I ended up down on the floor dancing. Anyway, here I am "busting a groove!"
The guest for the day was Bill Clinton. I had mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I am far from being a Clinton fan. On the other hand, it was kind of a neat experience being in such close proximity for an extended period of time with a former President. 
Here's Whoopi with her hideous red plastic shoes.
Bill with "The Ladies." No surprise that Whoopi and Joy are the ones with their arms wrapped around him!
This is a phrase all too familiar to any loyal Cub fan. We have been waiting and waiting and waiting....... for next year. Next year eventually comes; sometimes it offers hope (like this year) and other years it doesn't (like most other years). But even the years of hope, for 100 years in a row, have ended in disappointment. I expect to live another 50-60 years. I hope a Cubs World Series will happen in my lifetime, but I believe in statistics and they aren't on my side. Therefore I am producing future Cubs fans at a rather rapid rate as you can see, and can at least hope that maybe in their lifetime, it could possibly happen. Game 3 starts in 90 minutes and they must win this game (and the next two) to stay in the playoffs. I can only deal with so much, so I am trying to not get my hopes up too high, but like any true Cub fan, I am cautiously optimistic and know that if for some reason they lose again tonight..... there's always next year.
