Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Teary Infertile at Santa's Workshop

We took Jayden to see Santa the first day it was available at the mall. Silly me thought going before Thanksgiving would mean shorter waiting time. There was some lying miscommunication about what time Santa would be showing up that meant we were in line for well over an hour. By the time he showed up, there was a huge line behind us and Jayden was really sick of waiting in line. But, when Santa arrived with full marching band, I'll admit my frustration melted and I was sappy about Jayden's first time seeing Santa.

Even as we waited in line, the saleswoman (and yes, I am calling her a saleswoman and not santa's helper) was already working on us to buy picture packages.

I had some cash in my pocket, but not enough to even buy just the basic one printed picture. I had no idea Santa pictures were so expensive!

My parents were with us and my Dad had planned on taking some pictures. Of course once I said we weren't getting a package, they told him he had to stand really far away and the salewoman stood in the way of him on purpose.

Because I am the sappy infertile, I was emotional about this whole experience. I waited many years for this. I was so proud of Jayden when he sat in Santa's lap and listened carefully as Santa spoke to him. It was beautiful and perfect and everything I had hoped for. As I was watching, the woman said to me, "You aren't going to buy pictures for his FIRST time meeting Santa?!?" She said it like she was disgusted by me. It hit me hard and I cried. I realize she was just doing her job, but what an awful thing to do to a mom. Moms already have enough guilt about things without being made to feel like the worst mom on the universe for not spending a fortune on Santa pictures.

I mumbled something about losing my job, although it really was none of her business. One of the families I watch are going through a hard time and are not coming for at least a couple months. My income is now half of what it was and money is tight right now. I was trying to go out and have a nice morning with my family and not think about all that. Luckily the tears in my eyes sent the message to leave me alone and stop pushing. I hope because of that she went a little easier on all those mothers behind me.

Fortunately, my Dad has a good camera and was able to take pictures even from far away. We just cropped that woman out of them.

Santa!!!

Even Daddy is excited to see Santa.

The face that makes Mommy's heart melt.

Listening very carefully as Santa talked to him.

Thinking about what he wants to ask Santa for.



Thank you, Santa :)

Monday, November 28, 2011

The Case Of The Missing Mittens

My sister mentioned she was having a hard time finding infant mittens and hats so I told her she could have ours when she came home for Thanksgiving. I was surprised I hadn't already sent them to her with all the other clothes and things I sent.

When she was over our house, she brought it up again and I started searching through our hall closet for what we used with Jayden last year. I found his hat, but couldn't find his mittens. I looked and looked but all I managed to find was some more booties to give them.

A couple days went by and we were all at my parents' house. I was holding the baby and I looked down at his feet. I then announced I had found the missing mittens. They had them all along, but thought they were socks! Thank goodness they happened to pack those particular "socks" for the trip so I could notice and tell them.

I apologized to Ben for his parents and explained that's why he needs his Aunt Lisa. ;)

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Cousins

My sister and brother in law came home for Thanksgiving! It was so nice having them here. Especially seeing the new baby.

While they were here, my sister and I took the boys to the mall to pick out matching Christmas outfits for them. (I know it's cheesy, but they will look so cute!!) They enjoyed looking at each other when their strollers were close. At one point we were in different sections and Jayden couldn't see them anymore. He got upset and kept signing "baby." Adorable. I brought him over to baby Ben and then he was fine as long as he could see him.

It's always hard for me to say good-bye to my sister. (In fact, we never actually say good-bye. We always say "See you tomorrow!" even though we know it's not true.) We have a good time while she is here and I can never understand why she lives so far away. I watch shows like Parenthood and all I can think about is how awesome it would be if we all lived close by and could do things like weekly family dinners. And watch our kids grow up together and be friends.

The day after they left, Jayden was walking around signing "baby." Then it hit me. As hard as it was before, now that Jayden is old enough to notice they aren't here and miss them....this is going to break my heart into a million pieces each time.

Look how cute the boys are together:








hehe :)

The bright side about saying good-bye this time is that I know they will be back for Christmas. My brother and sister in law will also be here. I can't wait!!!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thank You

Thank you for sticking with me even though I've been a bad blogger lately.

I am so thankful for the blogging community. We've all been through so much together. I don't know how I would have gotten through the past couple years without you.

To my American bloggy friends, I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving with friends and family!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

I Need More Time.

I am obviously failing at my goal of blogging more often so I can clear out all the thoughts in my head.

I can't find the time.

Jayden can climb and get anything he wants so using the laptop while he is awake is not possible anymore. The minute he sees it, he's either grabbing it out of my hands, pressing all the buttons, or crying because I am not letting him have it. I sure wish I had internet on my phone so I could at least read blogs. Thank goodness for twitter via text!

I almost blogged last night but then I spent over an hour searching online for a doll to give Jayden for christmas. I've had no luck with local toy stores. That's really a post of it's own. The doll aisles are actually pink. Not just the dolls, but the shelves. As if they are announcing THIS AISLE IS FOR GIRLS ONLY. Then there are rows and rows of white girl dolls. Sigh. I have had some luck online, but for the most part they are really overpriced. I am sad there is not more diversity in doll options.

Even right now as I type this, I know I should be sleeping. Teething has been killing us lately. I am getting about as much sleep as when he was a newborn with colic. The last three nights in a row, he got up around midnight and I had to hold him until morning. If I put him down, he would scream. I am exhausted.

So with no time to blog, I write pretend blog posts in my head during the day.

Some of them have been pretty good.

I wish you could read them....

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year.

Adam always takes off from work on Halloween because it's his favorite day of the year. I had to work before and after school, but we had the middle of the day to go out.

We went to the zoo.






I am pretty sure Jayden's favorite thing at the zoo was the vending machines. We would walk him over to the polar bears and he would walk right back over to the vending machines. He wanted to press all the buttons.


After the zoo we went to our favorite apple mill to get apples, cider, and fried cakes.

Then we went home to carve pumpkins.

Jayden was hilarious. We laughed the entire time. He kept putting the insides of the pumpkins back into the cleaned out ones.




Then he decided to take a bite out of one of the pumpkins.


I guess he liked it because he took bites out of all the pumpkins.


Despite our baby goat trying to eat all the pumpkins, we did manage to carve three.


              My pumpkin.              Jay's pumpkin that I carved.


Adam's pumpkin.

We didn't plan on taking Jayden trick-or-treating because he's so young. We were just going to have him help us give candy out to kids that came to our house.


But then I saw a few kids his age and they looked like they were having so much fun, so I took Jayden to a couple houses right across the street. He loved it and the neighbors were happy to see him.


We have always had fun on Halloween. I love giving out candy to trick-or-treaters and seeing their costumes. But, this year was the best. Who knew having Jayden's "help" with pumpkins and just bringing him across the street for a few minutes would result in one of the best nights of my life. We had so much fun.