Ordering Dinner

Why is it that every time I go out to eat I tell myself that I will order a salad, but then when I get my hands on the 4-page menu I just can't help myself from looking right past the salads and on to the more indulgent items. At least tonight my meal included some vegetables (green peppers count, right?).

I really do like salad. I think when I see all of those choices that I’m too lazy or don’t know how to make it is just too tempting to order one of those things instead of a more healthful/fewer calories for the bulk salad.

I’m really going to try harder next time. I mean I’ve got 20 pounds stuck on my hips that wasn’t there before I conceived Kenna – I’ve got to do something. I am going to be working in January and I really don’t want to buy a new work-pants/skirt wardrobe. I already need to purchase new shirts since nursing a second child seems to have added even more to the expanded bosom.

Naptime? - You mean I'm supposed to sleep?

Ok, so naptime is important, we’ve already established that. But what do little people really do when mom closes the door and says it’s time for resting? Today while I was posting why moms like nap time, Morgan Jo was supposed to be “napping.” Really what that meant today was stay in your room and play quietly since it is obvious to me that you’re not going to nap. We have this routine – sometimes she naps and sometimes she plays quietly (and happily) for a while until I finish my pressing business and go into her room to tell her that “resting time” is finished.

She did finally nap today, but not until after she built and climbed Mount Everest to get into her bed. If you look carefully you’ll find her.

About the time I was finished with my “chores” and was ready to go in and tell her “resting time” was over, I realized that I had not heard her making noise in a while. She slept for well over 2 hours after playing so hard.

Naps are for Mommas

Yes, it is true that children need naps. If they don’t get enough sleep they can get quite grouchy, but the real reason that moms require naps of young children is because moms need the break! Here are a few reasons/things I do (in no particular order and not exhaustive) when my kids nap:

1. take a nap
2. read
3. get the bookkeeping done
4. pay the bills
5. investigate the policies, etc for my new job
6. eat chocolate (or whatever) without having to share
7. grocery shop (If you haven’t tried EW James shop from home service you should)
8. check e-mail in peace
9. stare off into space
10. dream about riding my bike
11. catch up on reading Gretchen's blog (www.mind-flush.blogspot.com)
12. clean my house

Happy Birthday Morgan Josephine!

On the eve of her second birthday, I am struck by how much she has grown and changed in the last 2 years. This comparison is made slightly easier given that we have a one month old hanging out at our house now. Morgan is quite a little person and besides the occasional meltdowns a joy to be around.

She had her first official birthday party yesterday. She thoroughly enjoyed it. She had grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins galore to help her celebrate. When we began talking about a birthday party she told me that she wanted to go to the Hundred-acre Wood for her party and that she needed a party hat. Well, she got both!

We did not do much in the way of decorations, but we did manage a few steamers and some Winnie the Pooh plates. She selected a very festive party hat. She actually wore for it most of the party. I think we’re going to make it the official Birthday hat.

Michael and I decided to get her a grocery cart for her birthday. So, we asked people to bring one item each to help fill it… Well, I’m sure you know how family can be. They each brought more than one item, but I forgave them. :) She has more fruits, vegetables, and various other groceries and kitchen implements that we need new shelves in her kitchen (i.e. the dining room). She also received Curious George, which we have read at least a half dozen times already.

Not so much about raising Hales

Ok, so as my first blog post for Hale Raisers I should post something about our children (Morgan and Kenna). I just can’t bring myself to do that. Since I decided that it was absolutely time to write something (I set up the site weeks ago) the most impressive thing to happen, in my mind, was the dusting of snow we had yesterday.

We did take the kids outside to play in it first thing in the morning this was after all the first snow of the season, and the first snow of Kenna’s life.


The most important aspect of the snow for me though was the realization that I really do like the warm South Carolina weather that we left. Here it is November and we already have snow in Kentucky. I know quite a few people who would be happy about this, but I’m a bit nostalgic for the t-shirt and jeans weather that I’m sure SC is experiencing as I write this. Heck most of the time in SC, it never even felt like winter until the end of January and by March it was spring. If I have to have four seasons that’s as long I want the winter to be.

A week or so ago, Mike and I took the kids shopping with us. It was cold enough outside that we all wore hats and jackets. Mike commented that the only part of cold weather that he doesn’t like is lugging all of that stuff around the store. The only thing I could think was that I just don’t like it being cold enough to need more than a light jacket. This cold weather is just made worse by the fact that all of the pregnancy hormones that keep me heated up enough to not mind cold weather are getting out of my system right when the weather is turning colder. I’ve got to stop having babies in the fall and winter!