The trials and tribulations of working moms...

For the most part, we do ok getting up and out of the house in the morning. We have our routine, and it is down to the minute. If anything goes wrong, it sets off a chain reaction that can (and does) get us off schedule. I try to do as much as I can the night before.....we lay out clothes, we make lunches....but sometimes, things happens that just throw a wrench in the whole sha-bang...

Case in point...

1. The other day, after a long day at work and at daycare....we were changing into our PJs and I realized Mo was wearing 2 pairs of underwear.....It took me a minute to figure out what happened, then I remembered rushing to put her clothes on that morning, and just putting her new underwear on without taking off the ones from the night before. Daycare must think I am extra protective of my daughter's private parts.

2. We arrived a daycare a bit late the other day....and I realized I managed to get her in the car, with all her things, except shoes. I had carried her out of the house and put her in the car....and forgot to get her shoes. I wish I could say this was the first time....it has happened before. Poor kid, couldn't go outside to play. Lucky, both were rainy days.

Wake Up Call

The past few weeks, I have noticed that Mo's clothes are way too small for her. All of a sudden, she has just shot up....her pants were seriously 2-3 inches too short. Today, we were at Target, and thought we would pick up a few things.

We kept looking for things her size, and were having a really hard time. Then it dawned on us....we are no longer shopping in the infant/toddler section. We have moved to the other side of the store.....for big girls! Over in that section, we found a ton of stuff her size, but it seemed so old......a bunch of Hannah Montana, and "I love Rock-n- Roll" shirts....no cute cupcake or ladybug shirts.

We are not in Kansas anymore....

Lights, Camera, Action!

Mo's pretend play has taken on a slight "directive" tone. Some might call it bossy.....but we like to think of it as she is flexing her directorial muscles for when she goes to Hollywood!

Lately, her scenario of choice is where she is the baby, I am the mommy, Scout is the mema......and we are trying to figure out what our baby's name is. Mo's dialogue coaching goes something like this....

"Mommy, you the mommy. Mema, you the mema.....and I am your little baby. Mema, you want to name me 'Shabby', but Mommy, you say, 'No, no, no, no....we will name her Mo.' "You ready.....ok, go."

This goes on for HOURS.....and we play it almost every day......every once in a while, I will add a line, or Scout will change the name....and Mo, will give us a sideways look, and say "No...that's not how you do it."

Love and Snuggles

Last night, Mo was so snugly. We were reading books before bed, and she just curled up as close as she could and snuggled into my neck.....she kept saying, "I love you so much, Mommy." It was a very special moment. I was telling her how special she was, and how lucky I was to be her Mommy.......then the other shoe dropped....

Mo: Mommy, I will still love you when I am a teenager.

Me: Yes, baby....and I will love you no matter how big you get.

Mo: When I am a grown-up, I will still see you..........when I can. You know, I'll be busy.

Let's just hope she puts us in a good nursing home.

The Hipster Chuckie Cheese

For those of you who do not live in Portland.....there are a few things that reign supreme here......good food, funky restaurants, and micro brews. All of these things, Scout and I enjoyed before having Mo.

Now, when we go out to eat.....the thinking has changed.......we have a checklist that determines if where we go....

1. Do they have a kiddie menu?
2. Do they get the kid's food out fast?
3. Will Mo be sufficiently entertained while we are there?

We aren't that choosy......I mean, really....

Tonight, we went to a local brew pub in our neighborhood...we heard it had great food, and a kid's play area. We thought it might be the perfect place for all of us.....kid friendly, but not a kid restaurant.

We walked in and got seated, but honestly, the first thing that hit me was the noise level. There were about 10 kids in there.....and they were all SCREAMING. One kid was throwing a full out tantrum in the back (why the parents didn't take them out, I will never know). If we hadn't been so hungry, we would have left....but we decided to tough it out.

As our meal went on, we watched kids in the play area taking toys from each other, and screaming. Toys were flying through the air. Parents would sometimes intervene, but most of them were kicked back, drinking their micro brews. It was every kid for themselves. Mo wouldn't even go into the play area, it freaked her out too much. It was a free-for-all!

We made it through dinner....food was ok, not great...we left with most of our hearing intact. Safe to say....we will not go back.