HappyMama

I was having a “mom’s night out” recently at a nearby coffee shop/bookstore.  I walked through all the aisles of books, and this one jumped out at me for some reason, I’d like to think a divine one:

I didn’t intend to buy it, (if I must have a book, I usually get it from Amazon,) but after sitting there skimming it for an hour, I decided I couldn’t go home without it.  You see, it’s a marriage book - one of a million out there - but with a unique message.  It’s entire thesis is that almost ALL problems in ALL marriages are caused by the HUSBAND - and can be solved by a husband willing to change his behaviour.  The nerve of this author (who is, get this, a MAN) cracked me up.  And here’s the kicker:  he’s exceedingly convincing.  My word of warning for those of you who are more particular about language than I am, it is written in a “man to man” style which includes some crudity.  But today a miracle happened, my husband actually read some of it, and he was laughing.  At a marriage book.  Very cool.

Well I am certainly pregnant. 

1. Hubby and I watched the movie, Juno, this weekend, and at the end when they show her in labor, I just started bawling.  No idea why.  (Besides the obvious combination of sympathy and personal dread at going through the same thing.)  I had to leave the room, I was so embarrassed.  I also started crying recently while listening to the George Strait song, I Saw God Today.  And then today, I watched the movie, The Rookie, with my 5-year-old sports fanatic son, and when “Jimmy” got called up to the big league, I couldn’t keep the tears back once again.  Really, I’m only like this when I’m pregnant.
2. I have gained 21 pounds so far this year.  My husband has lost the exact same amount!  He has done it by eating less and better.  We’ve flip-flopped eating behaviours; he sips on green tea at work and goes to bed slightly hungry, while I’m the one buying ice cream and hiding candy all over the house.  I have been craving crepes lately, rolled up with cream cheese inside.  (The kids think these are great treats!)  We eat them when dad’s not home.
3. I flip through the book, What to Expect, occasionally during each pregnancy.  There’s a page in there that warns pregnant women to be careful, as the change in our center-of-balance can make us, well, clumsy.  Hogwash, I always think when I read that.  Until today, when for no apparent reason at all, I fell flat on my face walking out my front door, down 2 cement steps.  Mostly hurt my pride, but my shins are covered with lovely scrapes and bruises, and I cut open the hand that was carrying a DVD in a plastic case, which cracked open.  I am officially, but temporarily, a clutz.

12 weeks to go.  Sigh…

A Happy Song - little Charlie Green, just to make you smile!

My latest vice  craving has been for Orange Julius.  Mom & dad used to make these for us occasionally as kids.  Now that I’m “all grown up” I get to make my serving as big as I want, ha ha ha.  I’ve been using this recipe.  Unlike my other vices  cravings this one is caffeine and alcohol free.  Not calorie free, granted.  Not cheap, either.  But hey, if momma ain’t happy…. I couldn’t post on this blog!

In my never-ending attempt to lower our monthly grocery spending, I took the 3 kiddos to Aldi’s today.  It’s supposed to be the cheapest place to shop, short of a food pantry, and the biggest “draw-back” is that their products are in constant flux; you never know for sure what’s going to be on the shelves.  Well that doesn’t bother me.  I’m a flexible person. 

Other things bother me.  The first time I went to Aldi’s was in a different state.  I just stopped by one day, infant in tow.  My first surprise was that you needed a quarter to use a shopping cart… which of course I didn’t happen to have on me.  So I lugged that infant seat around the store only to get to the check out to find out another irritating thing: they don’t supply grocery sacks.  You’re supposed to bring your own.  Or they charge you. 

Well today was my second time going to Aldi’s, now in a different state.  I thought I was prepared - I had that quarter in my hand!  (And a dime and a nickel, because I couldn’t remember what it was!)  And I had 3 boys ready to help carry anything I just couldn’t pass up buying.  Wouldn’t even need a grocery sack.  Well, I walked slowly all around the store, trying to make mental notes of prices on basic items while trying to keep the kids from putting candy into the cart… And eventually I went to the checkout counter with my treasures, only to discover that they accepted neither my local check or any credit cards.  Cash only, sorry.  COULDN’T THEY POST THAT ON THE FRONT DOOR?

Aldi’s lost a customer today.  It shouldn’t be this hard to get a good deal on cucumbers and canned fruit.

My 5-year-old:

 ”Mom, is there anything you can’t see?”

after being discovered with his brother, hiding in the hallway closet with an illegal stash of cookies…

should a 5-year-old spend on CHESS?

I considered entitling this post “I’ve created a monster…” 

Of course, he loves playing all games.  He has an attention span that seems unlimited.  Today, however, I found myself saying to him, more loudly than I meant to:

“I can’t just sit and play games with you all day!!!”

Fortunately, there’s this very helpful website I found which not only teaches the basics of the game and has a huge variety of free games to play at all levels, but teaches strategies of the game.  (I’ve known how to play my whole life, it seems, but never had much patience for strategy…)