Ok, I realize that this could totally be a fluke, but I find it to be quite amazing.

I went to the store last night to grab a few things, and when I got home, Ed had Caitlyn in the bedroom, changing her diaper. (no, that’s not the amazing part…haha) He said her diaper was dry, but that she was grabbing at it and saying something which he interpreted to mean diaper. So he put a clean diaper on her and we put her in her pajamas.

A little while later, she was grabbing at her diaper again saying the mystery word that Ed thought meant diaper, and tried to pull down her pants. “Pa-eee? Pa-eee?” She said POTTY! I never in a million years thought she knew what she was talking about, but I decided to take her in the bathroom anyway. What could it hurt?

I got out Eddie’s retired potty seat and sat her on it. She freaked out hard core-I guess she was afraid to sit on the toilet. I set her down to put the seat away, and before I could get her diaper on, she peed all over the floor. I think she actually knew that she had to pee.

I’m sure that since I’m discussing it, and am actually excited about it, she won’t be potty trained until she’s 4….but seriously, how cool would it be if she were potty trained at 18 months?

In other news, Ed went on a sales call at Bob Evan’s today, and when he asked to speak to the manager, out came my ex-boyfriend. He’s the assistant manager. He and Ed were talking and the guy was like “I know you from somewhere…… Ed goes “yeah, I’m Sara G…’s husband. The guy paused and said, “So how are YOU doing”?

Jackass.

Not a whole lot else is new. I’m going home soon. I worked out really hard today, and I’m already sore. Ed is working in the AM so I can’t go tomorrow, which means I can sleep in a little bit. I had 2 late nights this weekend and was up early both days. I hate being old.

"Sunday"

Yes, it's Sunday. It's been a long weekend. I actually went out on Friday and on Saturday which 100% never happens.
Friday was my work christmas party. We have it at the end of January every year, probably because it's cheaper. I hung out with all the girls and guys that work for me all night and had a great time dancing the night away. I danced so much that I no longer feel bad about only making it to the gym 2 times this week. (The weather has been complete crap, especially at 5:00 am when I've been going.) Best part of the night.....I won a whole rack of booze! You get chinese auction tickets just for walking in the door, and I only put a few in that bag, but I won.
I ended up being up early with the kids yesterday morning because Ed left for work at 6:30 am...blech blech blech. i ended up parking them in fromt of the tv and dozing for a while, but we ended up having a nice day. We visited Ed's mom in the hospital and had lunch in their cafeteria (Ed loves cafeteria food). Then last night, FIL watched th kids and Ed and I went to dinner and saw "Smokin' Aces", which was good. Another late night though; we were in bed at 1:30 am.
So, I was up early again this morning, because God-forbid the kids sleep any later than 7, even after they've been up late, but whatever. Ed and Eddie are at the train show now, and Cate is taking her nap. I too should be napping, but I'm too coffee'd up.
Work completely sucked last week and I'm not looking forward to going back. A lot of issues, nothing I'm up for talikng about right now; It's just all too stressful. The mandatory overtime was cancelled though, so that's a plus. It's an extra plus for me, since I don't even get paid for it, being salaried and all.
I don't know, I feel like I've been on a roller coaster these last few weeks. I haven't scheduled any vacation time yet this year, so maybe I'll do that soon.
Ok, back to work before the girl wakes up.

Is this not the cutest thing ever? My Dad sent me some pictures from Eddie's birthday.

Ok, I promised a happy entry for today.

Last week at daycare, they told me that Caitlyn would start visiting the 18-month to 2-years room this week because she is ready. She speaks more than an average 18-month-old etc. When I dropped her off this morning, her teacher told me that today would be the day, and to drop her off next door.

Although Eddie is in the 2-3-year old room, his class begins their day with the younger kids until more teachers arrive, so I got to drop them both off in the same room. If you could have seen how excited Eddie was to have his sister in there with him you'd have choked up. I definitely did.

He put his arm around her when she got a little bit uncomfortable, being in an unfamiliar room.

"You wanna have some breakfast with me Cate?" he asked her, and pulled out a chair for her and then himself.

"EAT!" she yelled and sat down with him. She was a big girl eating at the table, rather than in a high chair. She was a big girl eating with her big brother.

I got to watch Eddie be a proud big brother and a concerned big brother today.

I am a proud Mommy today.

I have to tell you honestly, my kids are driving me crazy. I mean 100% insane. If it’s not one it’s the other, but usually they team up.

Caitlyn has been a walking temper tantrum since we were at the dr. on Tuesday. I don’t know if she’s still feeling ill from the shot (she had the chicken pox one, and I know that one can get sore), or if it’s the molars, or what. If she’s not screaming “No! Mine!” and snatching something from you in a fit of rage, she’s crying hysterically “Wa Wa Mommy” (I want Mommy, which is the phrase Eddie uses every time he cries) with gigantic crocodile tears—like the world is ending. I think I could take it if something was really wrong, but ridiculous things set her off—dropping her juice cup, me breaking a cookie in half rather than giving her a whole, her blanket being on the love seat (where she can actually get it), or not being able to brush her own teeth. She’s taking me over the edge.

And then there’s her brother……

Eddie is good all day at day care. I hear about how great he is every day, great listener, great eater, very happy. He changes 100% as soon as I walk in to his room to pick him up for the day. He refuses to put his coat on, pulls his shoes off, jumps up on the table, spills out bins of toys…you name it. I’ll admit that some days he’ll give me a hug first, but then it’s always the same. I end up having to yell at him or threaten him before we even go over to get Caitlyn. Yesterday, he ran out of daycare in to the Business Park, and right out the door all the way to the car. What am I supposed to do? I had to carry Caitlyn and run after him like a crazy person. So I ask him ”do you like it when Mommy is mad? Do you like it when Mommy hollers at you?” The answer to both is no. I’ll admit, once we get home he’s good, and happy. Shows me his good manners. Everything is good until bedtime and then the shit hits the fan. He’s up and out of bed, and needs water and this and that and everything under the sun. Needs to sit on the couch for a few minutes. He’s never asleep before 9:00 and usually it’s even 9:30.

I don’t know. I’m writing this and I hate how it sounds. I have the 2 greatest kids on the planet, not a couple of hellions. I guess I just wish that the evening was sunshine and roses, you know, we snuggle on the couch and have a snack and laugh and sing. I guess it doesn’t work that way. I know it will be better, that this is just a certain block of time in their childhood, and that we definitely have more good times than bad, but right now it’s never-ending.

I also want to mention that going to the dr. on Tuesday made Eddie so nervous that he pooped 2 times while we were waiting, and then threw up all over the exam table while the dr. examined him. Who knew he had a nervous stomach?

Ok, I promise to share happy stories tomorrow. Tonight will be a good night.

Here’s something I don’t even believe- I have been to the gym 3 times this week. !! 3 TIMES !! I’ve actually gotten up and have gone at 5:30 AM, right when they open. This way, I’m not sacrificing my time with the kids in the evening, since they’re still sleeping. The funny thing is, I actually like it. I’m not just showing up, doing a few things, and then leaving like I did in the past. It’s like I actually have something that is mine-my own piece of time. This is going to be good.

In other news, Eddie’s 3rd birthday was Sunday. Where the time has gone I don’t know, because I swear he was just my 10lb 2oz roly poly newborn. Any now, he’s this three plus foot tall walking, conversation holding person. His obsession lately has been the school bus, and what’s going to happen when he goes to “big boy school”. (This of course is 2.5 years away) “And the bus will come to my house, and I will get one it then the bus driver will take me to the big boy school and then I will walk in to school and then later I will get back on the bus and the bus driver will take me home and then I get to go back tomorrow. Right Mommy? Riiiiight??” He makes my head spin. He’s also watched the same Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode twice a day every day for the past 2 weeks. He thinks it hysterical because it’s called “Goofy on Mars” and he purposely says “Goofy on Yarjs” and laughs hysterically when we correct him. He’s a weird kid.

Caitlyn is nearing 18 months old and has actually been in her terrible 2’s since she turned one. If you even look at her the wrong way, she loses it. She wants what she wants, when she wants it and you’d better not get in her way. When she does get her way, she is the sweetest happiest little girl you could ever imagine. She talks as well as Eddie did at her age and loves to sing and dance, play with her tea set, jump in Eddie’s bed (which she can now climb in and out of by herself) and zoom Eddie’s cars. Unfortunately though, she did have a small bout of the barfing flu yesterday, but was fine today. I knew she was sick when she sat still and actually let me hold her. It’s a rare occurrence, let me tell you. So, she threw up once in her crib, and then slept for the rest of the night with no issues. She was absolutely fine this morning, thank goodness. I was told yesterday that they plan on moving her in to the toddler room at daycare next month, since she is so verbal and already eats with a spoon. I know that she’s smart, but she’s just so little still. I’m not sure how I feel about it.

Not a whole lot more to report today. I’m starving, so I’m going to eat my Lean Cuisine and get back to work. I’m hoping to post Christmas and birthday pictures this weekend, as well as pictures of our trip to the children’s museum on New Years Day.

Way late Halloween Photos of Crazy Buzz Lightyear and a very sad giraffe.

Caitlyn thought it would be a great idea to stand up in her crib and shriek at the top of her lungs at 3:30 this morning. She found it even more amusing to wake the entire house up. What I heard was the glass breaking screech followed by an almost identical one from Eddie. I had just fallen back to sleep as Ed got home around 2:30 from work.

I ran in to their room like a crazy person. "Mommay!!" Caitlyn is screaming. "Get meeeeeee out" Eddie is saying. I got Eddie out and plopped him in bed next to Ed. He cries for me for a minute, but Ed managed to calm him down. Caitlyn is still screaming. "Screw it" I thought, and went in to the kitchen and made a bottle. What a horrible lazy mom I am, I know. She shrieked like a banshee the entire time I was out there. As I walked back in to her room, she laid down go back to sleep. When she saw me again, the screaming started back up. She took the bottle though and was quiet until 6:00.

I went back in to my own room to retrieve Eddie. Ed tells me that we need a towel. What??? Eddie has peed out the side of his diaper making a huge pee puddle on my bed. Glorious. Cleaned him up and cleaned the bed up. Got him back in bed by 3:45.

When my alarm went off at 5:42 it felt like I hadn't slept at all. I'm really glad today is Friday.

On a recent particularly tiring day (as if any one of my days is not tiring...) I finally got Eddie in to bed around 9:30.

He carried on a bit...

"I don't feeeeeeeel good. I have to sleep in yoooooouuuur bed"

"I'm not ready to go to bed yet", I say, "I have some work to do"

He becomes more insistent, and I begin to lose patience. I bargain with him.

"You stay in here until I'm done working, and if you're still awake, you can come in Mommy's bed"

He agrees, but only after I promise to come back and check on him in a few minutes and give him a football to play with.

I putter in the kitchen, feeding the cats and putting dinner away. I wait a few more minutes and go in to check. He's still awake, of course and asks "Are you workin' in the kitchen?" We talked for a few minutes, and I told him I'd be back after I was done with my work.

I sat down on the couch and settled in to my work which consisted of watching Seinfeld and paging through a magazine. He played quietly in bed for what seemed like hours. Finally, he became quiet, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I waited a few more minutes, shut down the house, and headed to bed myself.

As I passed his room, he stirred. I stepped in to check on him and he rolled over and looked right at me. His face, round and pale as the moon, and his sparkling blue eyes shone up at me. He held his football up, smiled and in his so cute, so sleepy voice said "wanna play catch Mommy?" He tossed the ball up, grabbed it, and rolled over back to sleep.

I don't know what it was, but in that moment my heart swelled. "God, I love this kid", I thought. Minutes ago, I had been irritated and just wanted "me" time, and now, I just wanted to scoop him up and hold him forever; wanted him to be just this age forever.

I stayed in his room and watched him sleep for a few minutes, and then finally went to bed.

How lucky am I to have two wonderful, sweet, and healthy kids? I take it for granted so often, and lose my patience and get nasty. Moments like that one can be so humbling. It caused me to take a step back. I pray for the presence of mind to step back before reacting negatively. I pray for patience. Most of all, I pray that Eddie and Caitlyn remain exactly as they are today....a prayer I know is useless...but I still pray.

Funny...

It’s funny, this job; the job of raising a family. I don’t mean funny/weird, I really mean funny. We went to The Taste of Buffalo last weekend and before we left, I was telling Eddie where we were going. “We go to Taste of Buffalo Mommy?” Yep! “We gonna eat the buffalo Mommy?” No, we’re not eating buffalo. “We just lick them?” I nearly died laughing, and have been telling the story constantly since then. The way that his mind works amazes me. I just love his thought process. I’m not sure what we ever did for entertainment before we had kids, but I am more entertained now than I’ve ever been in my life.

Good news- Eddie has gone on the potty 5 whole times now!! We’re very successful if we put him on right before his bath while the water is running. Two times ago, he thought he was just ‘tooting’ and actually pooped. He was so excited to see his ‘toots’ in the potty. There was no explaining to him that even though he thought he was just tooting that poop came out. Now he thinks he gets a sticker if he farts while sitting on the toilet.

Caitlyn is just being Caitlyn. When we put her in the pool outside, her main goal is to get out and power-crawl down the driveway. There seems to be some sort of game that I’m unaware of, where you stuff as many driveway stones in your mouth as you can in as little time as possible, while a frantic Mommy runs after you. I wonder if she learned it at daycare. She still refuses to walk-crawling is just faster. Her favorite word is still “EDDIE!!” Oh, and still with only 2 teeth, she is boycotting all forms of baby food. I have my work cut out for me with this one.

There isn’t a whole lot more going on. It seems like the summer is almost over without ever really beginning. Before we know it, we’ll be in winter coats and hats. Time sure does fly!

P.S. Here is a picture of Ed and me from my high school reunion. I can't believe it's been 10 years!!!