Week in my Life

Week in the Life: Wednesday

July 14, 2010 by melissa

So are ya’ll tired of my week in detail yet? Would talking about pee again make things better or worse?

(If it’s your first time here this week, you may wanna read this first.)

Pee has been a constant theme so far this week, right? Pee pee tantrums galore! Well, pee became the star of the show again today… at the wee hour of 4:00 in the morning (wee- get it? HA). After nearly two weeks of diaper-less bedtimes and NO accidents, we had our first one last night. Thirty minutes later, we’ve got a clean bed, new sheets, new PJs and mama goes back to sleep. Blarghh.

Enough of the potty talk, let’s move onto Wednesdays. It’s the only day where the kids both go to the babysitter’s house all day and I work, work, work. Our hump days go a little something like this:

When Big Roo comes downstairs, the baby is usually awake. Big Roo likes to hop on the bed with him and give him hugs. I like how their hair is touching in this pic.

Since I take both kids on Wednesday, I have to load my car with my purse (by PURSE I mean diaper bag), Big Roo’s backpack with his lunch and cars in it and Little Roo’s bag full of extra clothes, bibs and bottles.

At lunch, I ran to the store to fill in some groceries that we didn’t buy this past weekend. Fudge Rounds were NOT on my list but since I went before I ate lunch, they mysteriously made it in my cart (insert innocent whistling here).

(I’m skipping more pictures of me working because that’s SO boring. So real, but so so boring.)

I stopped working at 5:10 today and browned the ground beef for enchiladas. Then I headed to pick the kids up.

On the way home to finish dinner (and yes I was stopped when I took this thankyouverymuch). Daddy Roo had to work a little late tonight so it was all me (see my minute-by-minute dinner-making extravaganza below).

I held Little Roo off and on while I was prepping dinner. I had to get a picture of this because he kept trying to eat the enchilada sauce. Notice his open mouth going after the can. Haha.

As we sat down for dinner, Big Roo carefully laid out all his cars on the table. He was more of a train guy last week but this week is ALL car.

After dinner, we played for a little while racing cars. Big Roo informed me that I must race Leak Less and Chick Hicks with TWO hands, not one.

This picture is from yesterday, but it pretty much sums up most of our weeknights. We watch a movie we rented on Netflix and work on our computers. Daddy Roo usually surfs or works (he can usually leave work at 5:30 but sometimes has to work at home). I blog, work on some marketing stuff for friends or scrapbook. Tonight I’m working on this post and doing stuff for the local MS Society’s marketing committee.

Finally, can I go all Martha Stewart on you? Well, Daddy Roo did 90% of the work. We made this tonight:

It’s a blackberry crostata and it looks delish. We didn’t make it for the hell of it or to impress you guys. We just got the blackberries on sales this weekend and they would have gone bad by the weekend. Daddy Roo loves to make crostatas for whatever reason and so there ya go.

A re-cap of preparing dinner:

I got a bug in my you-know-what to write down IN DETAIL what preparing dinner was like. It was intense and fun at the same time. Here ya go, in all it’s glory:

6:28- starting dinner (ground beef already cooked)
6:29- realize we don’t have enough corn tortillas so I sub the rest with flour
6:36- simultaneously looking for Spanish seasoning for rice while making Little Roo smile with peek-a-boo
6:38- text from Daddy Roo “omw” (on my way for those who don’t speak acronym)
6:44- rice is started, enchiladas half-way rolled, picking fussy baby up
6:47- Big Roo comes in the kitchen, crawling on the floor zooming cars and asks “What you makin?”
6:50- got enchiladas in the over (baby’s in the bouncer)
6:57- feed baby (second time since I got home)
7:00- Daddy home (an hour later than usual but at least I got warning). He takes over dinner patrol.
7:13- Daddy Roo fixes dinner plates while I try to get Big Roo to potty. Big Roo smacks baby’s foot and is off to a time out (“the blue chair”)
7:19- potty!
7:22- sitting down to eat
7:24- forgot to get Big Roo milk so get it and sit back down
— EAT EAT EAT—
7:33- pick up baby and eat one-handed.
7:34- Big Roo says “I gotta poo poo!” and then runs off to the bathroom

And there you have it.

Please PLEASE tell me your dinner time goes something like this? It’s been this crazy since Little Roo made his debut and I wonder when it gets less hectic!

My notes about the process:

I spent more time documenting the day today than taking pictures. I think some days will be like that.
It helps to have a hubby who is willing to take pictures of you. To get him used to the idea, I gave him fair warning at the beginning of the week.
I’m spending LOTS of time preparing these posts in the evening, which is taking away from what I typically do at night. To compensate, I plan to write a little about what I usually do in the evenings besides blog.

Over halfway there!

Week in the Life: Tuesday

July 13, 2010 by melissa

It’s day two of my week-long project. Again, it’s tiring. Again, it’s wonderful. Wonderful to capture all these normal moments in our life.

There were no peeing tantrums this morning– yay! In fact, Big Roo was SO exhausted from yesterday that I had to wake him up at 7:15!

Today was totally different from yesterday in that I work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I’m a marketing director but have the luxury of working from home (trust me, I know how lucky I am but I do miss an office sometimes). I did a pretty good job documenting the day too. I wrote down times that things happened. And since part of our morning routine is watching Today Show while we’re getting ready, I jotted down the three lead stories (the new oil leak cap, how the girl who was kidnapped is doing and Mel Gibson’s tirade).

Here are today’s faves:

Little Roo is still sleeping downstairs in our room in the pack n play. This is the gorgeously happy face I wake up to in the morning. Squeeeee!

It’s a rarity in this house to actually have to wake up Big Roo in the morning. But that’s what I had to do today. As you can see, he sleeps with Burt the pink bear, Doggie (under his arm) and some fave cars.

Since Big Roo usually comes downstairs to our room in the morning, he always brushes his teeth in our room. Luckily there was no pee or teeth-brushing tantrum this morning.

We usually eat breakfast in the living room in the morning. On the menu? Cottage cheese and pineapple. Big Roo just likes the cottage cheese. I ate later on and had a bagel (hello carbs).

After Daddy Roo took Noah to daycare, I got Little Roo to sleep. He’s home with me in the mornings on Tuesday and Thursday. I’ve only started doing this for a week now. It’s a way to save money and spend a little more time with the guy.

My work computer is set-up at the kitchen table. How’s THIS for multi-tasking?! I’m holding the baby, eating a snack (my turn for cottage cheese) and listening to a software demo. Bam yow!

I just love this everyday shot. Here’s what the weather was like today. And you can see I need to charge the phone.

Workplace #2. I had to nurse Little Roo so I headed to the bedroom and read something on the computer while I fed him.

Workplace #3. Unfortunately the little guy didn’t want to sleep this morning. Usually I get more time to work. He rolls all over the place so I have re-situate often.

Little Roo was doing his usual flipping over and over and over. He ended up trying to get big brother’s trains.

And the doggie Trajan. He usually lays around the house either in our room or Big Roo’s. He sleeps. And wants to go outside and chase squirrels. But mostly sleeps.

On Tuesdays, I pick Big Roo up from daycare and Little Roo up from his afternoon at the baby sitter’s. He’s always excited to come home. Except today he and his friend ran towards the road when we got outside and I had to chase them. In doing so, he made me drop the camera on the concrete. I was uber-ticked off and took away his cars for the ride home. Fun stuff.

Fast forward to bathtime (I got dinner shots too- teriyaki stir fry). Daddy gave the baby a bath and I took the big guy upstairs for his. There’s nothing like that clean baby (and kid) smell.

I got this robe at a consignment shop for $3 and it’s Big Roo’s favorite. My almost bro-in-law said he looked like Huge Heffner. Hehe. I have no idea why he was making that silly face though.

For some reason, this kid didn’t want to sleep tonight. About half an hour after bedtime, I came upstairs and he was playing with cars. Surprise surprise. He finally zonked out at 9:30ish. Baby was out before 8:00.

Why Jumperoos rock my baby’s world:

Instead of a Big Roo quote, how about let’s end the day with this little token of cuteness. (And yes I know I use their real names here!)

My notes about the process:

I used my external flash today. Got WAY better indoor shots. I would marry that flash if I could.
I got tons and tons of routine shots (way too many to post).
At the beginning of the day, I didn’t think I was going to capture anything exciting. But I did (naner naner to me).
I’m not going to get the morning routine EVERY DAY and the bedtime routine EVERY DAY. I’ll only capture the differences from day to day (like I need 7 pics of Big Roo brushing his teeth in the morning).
Hoping we can get in an evening walk tomorrow.

Bring it, Wednesday!

A Week in the Life: Monday

July 12, 2010 by melissa

If you missed my post this weekend about the project I’m ATTEMPTING this week, then turn back now and read this.

Okay, you back? Good, let’s go…

My contacts are bothering me because this day was SO FRICKIN EXHAUSTING! Mondays are one of the two days I’m home with the boys and wow, they must have known I was trying to attempt something brilliant because they sure didn’t make it easy on me.

Let’s see. WHAT would the best part of my day be? Could it be the 30 minute temper tantrum Big Roo had this morning over going to pee? Or maybe when I was sweetly rocking Little Roo and he pooped seedy poo all over my shorts?

No I got it. It must have been when I went to the gym for the first time in FOUR MONTHS only to be hauled out of class because my baby wouldn’t stop crying.

Oh you guys. Today was a roller coaster! But despite all the insanity, I DID manage to capture some of our everyday moments through pictures and journaling. I mean I took like over 200 shots today and am now whittling them down to 50-75. Can we say obsessed? I work tomorrow so I definitely won’t have as many then!

Here are some of my favorites:

A blurry shot but a good reminder of what I wake up to in the morning when I hit snooze. Notice the iPhone. It’s great for late night Words with Friends or early morning news while I feed the baby.

Before Big Roo woke up, I got to spend some time with the baby. I fed him and burped him. This picture is SO blown out and imperfect but for some reason I just love it.

This is Big Roo after his morning tantrum over going to the bathroom. The kid is outta diapers and stays dry at night. For some reason though, he thinks he should hold it even longer and refuses to potty in the morning.

Big Roo likes to help me start the laundry. EVERY time he asks why the detergent doesn’t go in the other two holes (for bleach and softener). EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Heh.

Ohhh Thomas. Why do you infiltrate my life? Our house is overrun with Thomas, Toby, Percy, James and all those other creepy looking trains. But whatever makes the kid happy, right?

I just HAD to capture this because this is what Daddy Roo and I do nearly every day of our lives. Toby the Train has got to be the cheapest thing I ever bought. His battery won’t stay put and so at least once a day we’re “fixing Toby”- opening him up, popping the battery back in place and hoping it doesn’t break again in five minutes.

After lunch, Big Roo went down for some quiet time (which only lasted less than an hour today- SUCK). I stole a few minutes to check my email and Twitter of course. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough free fingers for typing.

Little Roo had some fun in the bouncer. That thing is magical, I tell ya.

Holy unflattering Batman! But here I am talking to Time Warner as to why the Internet is down (again), folding clothes and talking with Little Roo. All the while Big Roo popping onto the stairs and asking if he can come out of quiet time yet. Grrrr.

What do you do when your kid doesn’t sleep? Why tire him out of course! We headed to the park and he kept asking “why is no one here?” Me: “Because they are all taking a nap, honey.”

Big Roo was finally brave enough to walk across these without holding my hand today.

Those EYES. I just can’t get over the fact I have a blue-eyed child (Dr. says they’re gonna stay).

If we aren’t playing with trains in this house then we’re playing with cars. Big Roo called these his “flavors” today.

My favorite Big Roo-ism of the day:

During time out, he asked if he was done yet.

Me: Just a little longer.

Big Roo: Thanks, Mom. You’re really sweet. You’re gonna get a sticker.

My notes about the process:

I stopped taking pictures after dinner. I was just TOO wiped out and our routine was later than usual. I have all week to document a typical bedtime so I’ll save it for another day.
The pictures don’t need to be perfect. They just need to capture the moment.
I had to let go of the idea that each shot should be free of clutter (like clothes hampers, toys, etc). THAT’S life around here so it’s important to capture as messy as it is.
It’s hard to take notes about your day. PERIOD.
But I was able to write down some funny Big Roo sayings because I had a pen and paper at hand.
Take pictures of as much as you can. You can always go back later and delete.
Remember this is a personal journey. I’m thinking of my goal of putting this in a scrapbook when I’m done.
GET MORE of Daddy Roo. That’s my goal for tomorrow.

Now let’s see if we can reduce the insanity level a bit for tomorrow…

A Week in the Life: My Insane Project Starts Monday

July 10, 2010 by melissa

Have you ever taken one week of your life and documented it? I’m not talking snapping a picture here and there or writing down a milestone. I’m talking DIGGING IN and capturing every little thing that happens in you circle of life within a typical week.

I sure haven’t.

But I will… starting on Monday.

What is this nonsense I’m talking about?

If you scrapbook, you are probably familiar with Ali Edwards. That’s where I got the idea.

I’m always complaining about how busy I am and then of course, I do something like this. BUT I’ve been putting this off for at LEAST two months and I decided I’d better do it now before Little Roo gets too big and our daily routines go all shifty shifterson.

Why do I want to inject my already busy week with LOTS of picture taking and scribbling down what happens throughout the day? Because I want to look back in 2, 5, 15 years even and see what our life was like. What was Big Roo interested in at the time? What was Little Roo’s routine? What did a typical day look like?

We always think to capture the BIG things in life- the birthday parties, the holidays, the family get-togethers… but we rarely capture what life was like 90% of the time. THAT’S why I’m doing this.

I’m a virgin week-in-the-lifer so I’m planning to keep it as simple as possible. Each day I’ll keep a record of what we did for the day. The morning routine, the meals, the inevitable temper tantrums… all of it. I’ll take TONS of pics so I can weed them out later. I also plan to actually record VIDEOS of some of our moments. And I’ll keep little trinkets throughout the week, like receipts, tickets, artwork from daycare, that sorta stuff.

Here’s my list of supplies:

My camera
A tripod
Remote control for my camera (I’ll use my self-timer too)
Notebook
Paper
iPhone (to record videos, take notes, take pics when my camera isn’t within easy reach)

Once I’m done I plan to create a scrapbook for the week. If you want to see the full-on how-to, visit Ali’s post on The Basics of Documenting A Week in Your Life.

Well, I want to blog about this project for a couple of reasons.

It’ll keep me motivated. Each day I will upload pictures that I captured to give you an idea how it’s progressing. If I don’t, you have permission to leave me meanie comments or harass me on Twitter for being a slacker.

The more noble reason is that I’ll inspire you do the same for YOUR life. Since I just sprung this on you last minute, I don’t expect you to grab your camera and start doing this with me (although you’re more than welcome to). HOWEVER, depending on how this goes, maybe next time I’ll give you ample notice and do a linky or something. How cool would that be?

So that’s the plan, ladies and gents. I’m either gonna annoy the crap out of ya’ll or you’re going to look forward to peeking into my life each day.

Maybe even a little of both.

See ya Monday!