Early Bird Special

Hubby refuses to eat as early as 6 PM and most nights I agree w/ him. Hubby's been gone the last 2 nights and today the kids really pushed me to the max. We had a busy morning followed by a trip to the park after nap time.

I had the bright idea of going to McDonald's after the park. I figured it was a quick way to get my son to agree to go home and I didn't have to worry about cooking/cleaning up supper.

My son was excited about this and insisted we leave right away. I agreed w/ him then realized it was 5:30 when we loaded up in the car.

I was a little apprehensive about eating this early, but the kids were both being nice, it wouldn't do any good to prolong our departure, and I figured there wouldn't be too many people in McD's.

Boy was I right. The place was empty which was perfect for a mom w/ 2 kids that were bouncing off the walls and screaming in delight. Both kids were pretty good, the boy had one minor meltdown when after opening his toy, he declared he wanted a different one and demanded I exchange it.

So, while I won't make it a habit to eat at 5:30, it is good to know when taking small children out alone and want to avoid a crowd.

Supermom(s)

I have a friend I met through a mom's Meetup group. We try to get together once a week either thru a group planned activity or on our own. She has a 22 month old daughter.

Today we went to the zoo. The sun was out, first time in days, and we took advantage of it.

We arrived at the same time pulling into our parking spaces. I jumped out, unloaded the stroller, got my daughter out, strapped her in, my son jumped out, stroller was loaded w/ snacks, cups, and other necessary items.

My friend was still getting her stroller out of the trunk when we rolled up next to her car. She made a comment referring to Supermom b/c I had both my kids and stroller out and ready while she was still struggling w/ just the stroller.

I scoffed and smiled, brushing off the comment. Of course, I couldn't resist mentioning we had stopped at Target on the way and still managed to get there on time. (I was pretty proud of us for getting that done.)

There was no way I was a Supermom. She didn't know how I had struggled to get my son to put clothes on that morning, how my attitude changed when we walked into the store and the whining started, and she definitely didn't know that later today I got upset w/ him for wanting to wear his new shin guards during quiet time. (Why was that a big deal?)

My friend is a family therapist and has advised families on discipline cases among other things. She has recognized her daughter as being high needs. She's clingy, a frequent feeder/comfort nurser (she's still nursing her), hyperactive, and separation sensitive, among other symptoms.

My friend sleeps w/ her child almost every night and naps w/ her every day. She spent the first 9 months struggling to produce enough milk for her baby who wouldn't nurse yet she was determined to breastfeed. Because of this she pumped until her baby was able to attach properly to her nipple.

Her husband is going to nursing school so he spends his days in class or clinicals and when he is home, he wants to study. She could be considered a single parent most days of the week and I believe she rarely gets time to herself.

This woman is a true Supermom. I would not have her patience to handle a child that needs constant attention. One thing I love about my kids is that they both are happy to entertain themselves. She wants at least one more child. Her husband thinks that having a child w/ high needs is enough. She and I both agree that her daughter prepared her for pretty much any problem a newborn comes out having. Another child couldn't behave worse than what they've already experienced.

Sure there are some days when I have it together and can move smoothly through our daily routine w/o too many obstacles, but I would hardly call myself a Supermom. I think every mom should be called Supermom b/c she has the best job in the world. (Ok I know that was cheesy but it's the truth.)

Finding the Right Sports Bra

After the birth of my daughter in 2011, I knew I needed to do something about losing the baby weight. I hadn't lost much after my son was born so I had some extra around my middle when I got pregnant the second time.

A friend on Facebook was raving about Moving Comfort and their products.

I should point out that I'm a large chested girl (much to my displeasure) and wear a 38-40 DD. I'm sure I could wear an E if I knew where to buy that size in the big state of KS.

So this friend had posted about Moving Comfort making sports bras for large chested women so I thought I'd give it a look. I was tired of my girls bouncing around and the straps cut into my neck.

The Juno bra is the sites bestseller. I found my size on clearance (score!) and also ordered the Fiona style that was also on clearance.

When the bras came I tried them on immediately. The Fiona was beyond comfortable. The straps sat in the middle of my shoulder, not cutting into my neck and making my boobs "dip" in the middle, and felt more like a regular bra.

The Juno was a different story.

I apologize for this second picture being blurry. (I also don't know why the model looks so spaced out.)

The bottom strap has hooks like a regular bra. You'll notice it doesn't "open" in any way like a regular bra either. This means it has to be slid over your head (like a sports bra) and somehow you have to fasten the hooks.

For me, it's nearly impossible to pull this thing over my head w/ the hooks fastened. I also have to adjust the straps once it's on.

The first time I had to have Hubby help me. The second time I put it on was just a few weeks ago, I think I kept the hooks fastened and pulled it over my head. (It worked!) Then I had to adjust the straps.

I had to ask my son to throw them over my shoulder (I know I'm not proud of that). I wore this bra all day and it was the most uncomfortable thing ever. The straps cut into my neck, it rubbed a mole under my arm, and it was "big."

I'm glad other women have had such great luck w/ this bra, can you share your secrets?

I'm looking to buy another Fiona. That's my #1 choice.

Cartoon Love

I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but my son likes to watch My Little Pony on Netflix. At first, Hubby and I were like Really? That's a girl show.

Then we realized we didn't want him to share our attitude about similar things and let it go.

Has anyone else seen this show? It's pretty good. Hubby and I are ashamed to admit it, but we LOVE this show. If we miss an episode, it's a little disappointing.

Most days my son is allowed to take my iPad into his room during quiet time (how else am I going to get my nap?). If he watches an episode w/o me, again, it's a little disappointing.

When we watch a show on the TV, I'll back up to the last episode I watched. Pathetic isn't it? Then, of course, I'll tell Hubby about the episodes we watched and let him know if any are worth him watching.

We haven't gotten to the point where we watch them after the kids are in bed. That would just be sad.

I enjoy cartoons even now in adulthood. We regularly watch Rugrats, Spongebob (our daughter's new favorite), Hey Arnold!, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, etc.

My name is Megan and I love watching cartoons, preferably from the '90s. (Even if my kids aren't home!)

Dentist Appt.

When we got ready to move, I thought of all the "new" people we would have to meet. These new people are all in the medical profession. A new eye doctor, new gynecologist, new family doctor, new hair dresser, new vet, new dentist.

I don't enjoy the dentist. I don't know many people who do.

When I was a child, our family dentist was a very nice man. I would show up at his office, the lovely, smiling hygienist would get me set up in the chair w/ a smock and make idle chit chat. She would tell me the dentist would be w/ me shortly and I proceeded to wait 30 minutes for the dentist.

In college, I went to this dentist maybe twice. It was hard to schedule appts. on visits home and I never pursued a dentist at college.

After I got married, it was 3 years before I decided it might be a good idea to find a new dentist. This new dentist was highly recommended by coworkers, always a plus.

Imagine my surprise when I sat in the chair and the hygienist placed the smock on my chest, then started working on my teeth! I had been under the impression for the past 5 years that hygienists were only there for moral support to both the patient and doctor.

At my childhood dentist, the dentist would clean my teeth w/ that gritty crap that took forever to get off my teeth no matter how many times I rinsed. That was the main reason why I hated the dentist. I didn't want my teeth cleaned. That gritty feeling stayed w/ me until I got home and brushed.

At the new dentist, the hygienist would clean (the stuff didn't feel so gritty) and then would point the  sprayer at my teeth and rinse them off w/ their super pressurized sprayer! My teeth felt sparkly clean  and oh so shiny.

After moving to the Wichita area, I didn't hesitate to find a new dentist. There's only one in our town so the decision was easy. I made an appt. for Hubby, my son, and myself. Hubby's appt went great, as usual, he only has to be seen yearly. I have to be seen every 6 months. My brushing habits aren't stellar.

At my first appt, a half cavity I'd had filled right after the birth of my son had come out and another half cavity had formed on an upper tooth. I had to make a follow up appt to get them filled.

That day was last Friday. I wasn't nervous upon arrival, everything had gone great at the first one, what was there to worry about?

I sat in the chair, the head was lowered, making me feel a little like I was in my OBGYN's office. The light flipped on and the hygienist asked if I wanted nitrous. Wait, what? I thought this was just a cavity filling? She said some people get nervous. I said I was fine.

The doctor came in then and injected me w/ 2 lovely shots. Both cavities were on my left side, both top and bottom. Anyone know what that means? That's right, the left side of my face was drooping. I looked like I'd had a stroke. Hubby had a good laugh at my expense.

Back to me in the chair, I had spacers inserted. You know, to hold my mouth open? (I think that's what they're called.) While I'm sitting there w/ my mouth propped open, wearing plastic glasses, all I'm thinking is, "They're totally going to talk about me after I leave."

TV Love

I know TV isn't good for kids. I've read the studies and agree TV isn't great for developing minds. When my son was around 12 months old, he was noticing the TV, would pause to look at the screen when a song came on, but he would always go back to what he had been doing.

Which meant I was safe to watch whatever I wanted without worrying about content and language.

I grew up watching TV. My dad had the remote surgically attached to his hand. We watched everything from sports to the news to weeknight TV. Following in my father's footsteps, I also have to be holding the remote.

Hubby got used to this early on in our marriage. He accepted the fact that I was my father's daughter.

I enjoy having the TV on pretty much all the time. I like to hear the people talking. It's like I'm not alone. The quiet house feels uncomfortable (the noise of my kids is different). I know a lot of people would say, "Just listen to music," but it's not the same. The TV is like a conversation.

My son likes to watch TV, but most of the time just watches until he remembers he wants to be playing. Half the time the living room is empty and the TV playing.

My daughter is also showing a preference for TV, but she also becomes side tracked a few minutes into a show.

Both of my kids are extremely smart (I'm probably biased though) and neither shows even the slightest symptoms of ADHD or being under developed.

I'm not going to change my TV habits but I also don't leave our TV on 24/7. We do have a period during the day where the TV is off.

Valentine's Day

Let's go back a few weeks to Valentine's Day. Hubby and I stopped making a  big deal out of this holiday about 5 years ago. We usually buy each other a card and maybe a little something, but it's never anything as big as flowers or dinner out.

Since we moved, we haven't been out on date nights much. It's hard to find a babysitter in a new town.

So back to that Thursday, Hubby worked about 30 minutes later than normal. I didn't make anything special for supper but I had a peach pie I'd bought at the store. (Real special I know. I don't bake.)

My daughter had been acting clingy and whiny all day, rare for her. She'd had some diarrhea, one real special, up her back and everything.

Baby girl had milk w/ her supper and not much else (she's usually a great eater), same as every night. She was whining and rubbing her tummy. Then she pointed in her mouth and stuck out her tongue like there was a bad taste. She then proceeded to throw up milk all over the kitchen floor and some of the carpet. (You all know how disgusting milk throw up smells right?)

I have a very weak stomach. I gag just hearing someone throw up. I dragged her into the bathroom and got her cleaned up. Then ordered my son to keep her in the living room so I could clean up the floor. Half a roll of paper towels and several Clorox wipes I had the hard wood cleaned up. I wiped what I could off the carpet and put a towel over it. When Hubby came home he used our Bissell carpet cleaner to go over it. The smell was gone thank God.

My Valentine's Day I got to clean up poop and puke. How did you spend yours?