"Time is of the essence..." Part 3

I am having trouble getting things done on a daily basis. Sure I start off with high hopes, I am ready to go with my "to do" list, freshly marked, with shiny blue ink. Sometimes it can be shiny black ink, that's right--I mix it up! I'm a wild one! I will freely admit it! But, boy do I love a "to do" list. It's the promise of productivity--so to speak! I love crossing stuff off my list! It is such a great feeling! The problem is that I so easily get distracted by shiny things! There are so many shiny things! And kitties! I very frequently get distracted by kitties! I love kitties! They are so cute and fuzzy! Ah, see! There I go again! So to go along with my "Time is of the essence..." series (can we just take a moment to reflect on the fact that I have a series? This post happens to be part 3 of the series--it is a mini-series, if you will!) Okay, we are done reflecting or getting distracted, whatever you want to call it! Where was I? Prioritizing! I have found that prioritizing is definitely the way to go...

This works especially for people who get distracted or have small children (although I feel distractions and small children are synonymous! If you want to talk about attention spans?) But we won't! Because right now we are talking about prioritizing. Okay, so here is how this works! You take your "to do" list and grab a shiny red pen! Yes, I just said--shiny red pen! We are way beyond the blue and the black pen here. We are about to embark on a whole different realm of craziness, the red pen is the way to go. Now, write down the 3 most important things you want to accomplish today! For example, I am the mother of a four and half month old so my priority list would be... Shower, caffeine intake, and then food (perhaps an energy bar of some kind.) See? Then I would take my blue pen or black pen (your choice) and I would write down whatever else I would like to accomplish for the day, i.e. dishes, laundry, dust, vacuum, clean living room, bathroom, bedrooms, closets, litter box, pay bills and make dinner would probably be in there somewhere-- I suppose!

This works and I will tell you why! So here it is... as follows. As long as you get your priority list done for the day-- as far as I am concerned, you have been productive! You got done what you needed to get done... And if you happen to have occasion where you are able to venture further down on your "to do" list without getting distracted--well I say, "well done you!" And could you let me know how you did it? Oh, look a kitty!

"Time is of the essence..." Part 2

I have wanted to expand on my previous post for quite awhile now, but I have been having trouble trying to find the time to do so. Ironic, I know, since my last post was about making time and how "time is of the essence..." I had it all planned out! I wanted to talk about multi-tasking an how hard it is to find the time to do things, so I end up using this particular skill--a lot! But I wasn't quite sure how to convey such a concept into words. I suppose I could tell you stories about my day to day, but honestly, I didn't feel like boring you to tears! I thought about giving you tips and tidbits- that I have found helpful along the way, but the writing just seemed to fizzle out!

So here I am thinking about how to write this, how to talk about multi-tasking in a way that--Oh, wait a second! Can you hang on? I have to put some laundry in the washer, I'll be right back! Okay, I'm back! Sorry about that! Oh, hang on! Let me just switch hands. I've got my little boy in my lap here, holding him with one hand, while I am trying to hunt a peck with the other! All right, where was I? Oh, right, multi-tasking! This is where I got stuck the other day, so I decided while I was thinking I might as well do some exercises! It was really funny because while I was doing some sit-ups, my little boy thought it was hilarious as I was sitting up and down-up and down! It was quite entertaining for him! Oh, I think my little boy is hungry! I should probably feed him and while I do that I can read my book!

I find that multi-tasking is a skill that... Wait a second! Time to switch the laundry over. On my way I should probably put the little boy down for a nap and while I am at it I should probably feed the cat and then figure out what we are having for dinner. I worry sometimes that this whole concept of multi-tasking could get away from me! I fear at some point my husband is going to come home and find diapers in the litter box, socks stewing in the crock pot and our cat, Gratch in the dryer! (At which point I feel as though I would be obligated to change Gratch's name to Fluffy!)

Oh! I just heard my little boy on the baby monitor! He is awake from his nap. I have to go scoop him out of his crib and then change his diaper. While changing his diaper, we will talk about life, love, politics, any future colleges that he might like to attend and of course, make funny faces at each other!

We are back! I am just going to turn on the news so I can listen to it while I write. Oh, and now my little boy just spit up all over himself and wait a second... Yup! All over me! We have to go change, thus creating more dirty laundry! See, even my little boy embraces this whole multi-tasking thing!

Well it is now the end of the day and even though I feel like I have not fully conveyed this whole concept of multi-tasking to you--it is time for me to call it a night! We will just have to do this another time--perhaps over lunch! Because now I have to put my little boy to bed and then go spend some quality time with my husband. It is our time together to watch television, talk, relax and you guessed it--Fold the laundry!

"Time is of the essence..."

Now I know it has been awhile since I have last posted, but today I have finally gotten a chance to sit down and write. Why you ask? Because in the three short months since I have become a parent, I, Amy Collins, have learned a few things... Now don't go acting all surprised at this stunning revelation! Okay, fine! I was pretty surprised by this myself! Yes, it is true... I can learn! Mostly I learn things by stumbling sideways and tripping over backwards into a situation, but I do learn. I absorb, I adapt, I figure things out! So this is what I have learned since becoming a parent... I have learned the true meaning of the phrase... "Time is of the essence!" Yes, timing is everything! You see my little boy just went down for a nap, so I have decided to take this opportunity to sit down and write. But now that I know that "time is of the essence" I have no illusions that I will be able to finish this blog post today! Because this nap that he is taking, could be twenty minutes, or it could be two hours. Who knows? All I know is that I am on a time table, I know that the clock is ticking, I know that I have a "to do" list a mile long sitting over there in the corner. And yes, it's mocking me! But I also know that I need to write. And now my little boy is awake!

So I guess this blog post will have to be filed under the status of: To be continued...

Parenthood...

It is hard to describe what it feels like to become a parent! It is unbelievable! Mitch and I are still finding this awesome experience- somewhat surreal! The other night I was talking to Mitch and it completely dawned on me that we were parents! Don't misunderstand me, I didn't just figure that out ( I am not stupid--well, that is a topic for a whole other blog post),but when Robbie was born, I had accepted in theory that we were parents! I was his mother, Mitch was his father, but the word parent-- I think the reality of that word hit me the other night! I was saying to Mitch that Robbie was going to refer to us as his parents! Like he was going to say to his friends (most likely in an embarrassed tone) "These are my parents!" It is quite literally surreal!



So, how are we doing in this new role called parenthood? My poor little guy! As if life doesn't provide enough challenges--he has me for a mother! The other day I was changing his diaper and I was kind of struggling--I had one hand on him, so he wouldn't roll off the changing table and I had another hand on the wipes! In order to avoid utter calamity, my full attention was on the box trying to open it and extract a wipe, without sending the box and the baby flying! The next thing I know my little guy is crying like crazy! So I look over and his face is all wet and I am standing there confused, trying to figure out how his face got all wet--and that is when I realized... "Oh no!" My poor little man! He has me as a parent!

Sibling Rivalry!

It has been a whole month since our baby, Robert Mitchell, has come into our lives. Things have been pretty chaotic! We are all still trying to get used to the little guy, crying and waking us up in the middle of the night! The constant feeding, diaper changing, and you know, the whole life changing thing in general! But now, Mitch and I are doing our best to get back to a somewhat normal rhythm! And I think we are starting to adjust quite nicely, despite the sleep deprivation!

However, I believe there is still one member of our family having some trouble accepting the fact that he is no longer the only baby in the house! Our cat, Gratch, has not quite gotten used to the idea that this little guy, Robbie, is here to stay! There have been just a few signs, albeit subtle, that there could be some sibling rivalry taking place! Now mind you I am just basing this theory from the pictures shown above, I mean I could be wrong! I don't know, what do you think?

Pregnancy is a Piece of Cake!! Or Not...

So, I totally got busted by my doctor last week! During my last appointment my doctor had asked me what I ate for breakfast that morning- and after a painfully long pause--I then sheepishly replied… “Cake!!” This response was of course immediately followed by a scolding, that more or less resembled me cowering with my tail between my legs and my doctor standing over me waving her finger, while hitting me about the snout with a rolled up newspaper!! Okay, that really didn't happen, but for dramatic purposes... Let's just say that it did!! Apparently, my blood sugar levels have been a little on the high side, thus beginning the portion of my pregnancy, that I will now bitterly refer to as "The Great Cake Ban of 2011!!".

Yes, it is true!! No more cake for me! Well, let's be reasonable, the doctor did say that I need to WATCH my sugar intake! So that to me would translate to--limited cake! After all the baby really likes cake and of course it is what I have been craving! I am being a responsible parent and making sure that what little cake I do consume--needs to be washed down with a glass of milk! Therefore creating a more balanced diet!

In all fairness--I have been doing a lot better! After my scolding--I have only had one piece of cake (with milk!), this is opposed to the week before my doctor's appointment where I had more or less devoured about 3 boxes of the Little Debbie's Snack Cakes! So you see there is improvement!! Also, this past week instead of cake for breakfast--I have opted for a healthier breakfast which consists of a bowl of Multigrain Cheerios and a banana! And I have been consistently eating more healthy snacks, such as low fat Cheez-its and grapes!

I am by no means perfect! But for the sake of my health and my baby's health--I vow to do better with my diet and watch my sugar intake! And by extension, making the remainder of my pregnancy a piece of cake!! I mean piece of fruit!! I meant piece of fruit!

Fat like Pudgy

Me and Pudgy

Okay, so I am fat! I get it! Maybe it is because I am almost 8 MONTHS PREGNANT!! But that doesn't mean that people have the right to remind me of this on a daily basis! Recently, I have become the subject of much public commentary and scrutiny! Now mind you, I am not talking about my well meaning friends and family who are just as excited as I am about this baby! I don't mind it when they point at me and say in an excited fashion "oh look you've popped" as they rub my belly and squeal in delight! It doesn't bother me! In fact I am quite proud of my baby belly! Especially when people say... "Oh look at your belly! You look adorable!" It actually kind of makes me feel good about myself!!

I am talking about the comments that I have recently received from people who--I honestly don't think they were thinking before they opened their mouths! And really, I am not trying to be bitter! In some ways I have to laugh about this--because otherwise, I just have no response...

Here are just a few of the comments that I have received:

"Oh look at your belly! Are you sure you are not having twins?"
"Are you sure you are not farther along than what you think?"
"You are due in April? Wow! You are big! April? Are you sure?"

And my personal favorite:

"You are due in April right? Because you look like you are about to go any day now!"

Seriously! Who says that?

I just don't know how to respond when people say things like this! The only thing that goes through my mind is... "Wow! Did they really just call me fat?"

Personally, I think an appropriate response would be for me to punch them in the face! But, "society" kind of frowns upon that! So I am left standing there feeling kind of awkward and dumbfounded! Not really sure what to say! I honestly don't think these people are trying to be rude! At least I hope not! I think they are trying to be funny--but, word to the wise... DON'T PISS OFF A PREGNANT LADY! We are very vulnerable and EXTREMELY HORMONAL and very self-conscious! And I bet you if I did punch them in the face--there would not be a jury in the world that would convict me!! So tread lightly people!

Now having a big belly isn't all bad! There is an upside to this... Like I said before... I am very proud of my baby belly!! And, it has proven quite useful, both in form and function! For instance, when I am walking down a crowded hallway people tend to pull over to the right. It's as if I am an ambulance complete with sirens and red flashing lights, people feel as though they need to make more room so I can pass! When I am in line trying to get food, I immediately get bumped to the front! Nobody wants to be responsible for making a pregnant lady wait for her meal! I get first dibs on the bathroom and I get to sit down whenever I want to. The term "standing room only" no longer applies to me.

Also, in terms of function, my belly makes a handy tray table where I can rest my plate while I am eating! And, it is the perfect place to prop my book while reading!
So you see, I don't mind my baby belly! And more importantly--it isn't everyday that I get to be fat like Pudgy!!