Progress Report

My daughter attends a day care/ preschool every weekday.  Each evening when my husband or I pick her up, we receive a daily progress report on how Vivian acted that day and what she learned in class.  She's always gotten a green light (good) report.  Yet every now and then, there is a comment on there about my daughter's personality or behavior that leaves something to laugh about or something to be desired.

This is one we received on Friday, November 18: 

If you have trouble reading the above image, here is what it says.  "A good day but Vivian needs to work on not telling the other students what to do.  That's for the teachers to do."

Well like any normal person or mom, I immediately busted out laughing when I read those lines.  I thought that was so funny that they wrote that on the progress sheet.   I wondered how much it annoyed the teacher and how much it annoyed the kids. 

I can so picture my bossy daughter doing this.  In fact, I have witnessed it numerous times.  However, the thing about Vivian is that in her four-year old mind, she really believes she is "helping" by doing that.  For example, when she hears her friends being corrected by their parents, she repeats the rules word for word and tells her friends so.  Most of the time, I say to her, "Let the parents tell their children what to do."  Other times, I just giggle over it.  

My daughter can be a diva but so far, she's not a mean and spiteful kid.  I watch her with other children.  She's kind and helpful and will even share most of the time.  She's come a long way since the terrible two's.  However, she is Type A personality and she's got her OCD quirks too.  She has a natural tendency to boss and lead, I think.  And who I am to inhibit that?  Deep down, I find it an admirable trait of Vivian.  I can picture her being a CEO, Manager or President of a company someday in the future.  She was born to tell others what to do.  In fact, I know she'll love her baby brother or sister (coming in April 2012) because she can boss that sibling around for at least the first several years, LOL! 

Two years ago, a note like that might have bothered me.  Even a year ago, I might have worried over what kind of child I have.  But this year and even today, I know better!  So I have a few progress reports of my own that I will write below:


Here's my progress report for my daughter Vivian - You're a funny girl and I love who you are!  Don't change!


Here's my progress report for her teacher - Lighten up!  Smile. My kid is just trying to help.

Here's my progress report for myself and for other moms out there - Trust your instincts.  Know your kid.  And learn to laugh at the things that are silly when it comes to your child's education and when to take it seriously. 

Have a great progress report day everyone!  And a Happy Thanksgiving too! 

Feel Better, Write A Letter

It's no secret on here that I enjoy writing letters.  In the past, I've pretended to be my toddler and wrote from what I imagined to be her point of view.  I've written complaint letters to different household appliances of mine.  I've written love letters to my shower head, ceiling fan and kitchen counter tops. 

That got me thinking lately..... maybe I should write a book that contains nothing but random letters.  I might call it, "Feel Better, Write A Letter."  It would contain funny, short letters about the daily things I encounter like how I was recently annoyed at someone talking on the phone in the bathroom stall next to me while I peed.  I wanted to say, "Hey, I hope you're enjoying my stream of urination!"  You know, stuff like that.  But then I'd probably also include a few sweet, loving letters to my family and friends and nature perhaps as well. 

It could be a short, semi-thick book, the kind you see next to Hallmark cards in the drugstore.  Yeah, I can picture it.  A book you bring with you in the bathroom or read in the doctor's office. 

Now that I'm sharing this idea, someone will probably put it together and some celebrity will coin it as her own.  Deep thoughts from my Prison Cell by Lindsay Lohan.  Or Dancing my way to Laughter by Rikki Lake. 

So we'll see if I really pull this together or not.  But in the mean time, here are a few samples I have written:

Dear Cell Phone Talker in the Ladies' Restroom,
I realize that it's not convenient to quit your conversation when you enter a restroom.  I realize that you have no disregard for others hearing your words that should not be uttered in a public place.  You must have a very understanding friend on that other line who doesn't mind you passing gas.  I hope the recipient of your call enjoyed hearing my long stream of urination.  I had saved that up awhile - a bottle of water and a cup of coffee.  I have to wonder if anything is private or sacred to you.  Perhaps you'll share your future constipation episodes on You Tube or Facebook.  I wonder if you'll bother to put your caller on hold while you change for a menstrual cycle.  Whatever the case may be, I'm sure glad I was able to join in on your fun.

Dear Maternity Pants,
It has been awhile since our departure, over four years in fact.  I hope that you will lift me up once again and carry me through the next several months of this pregnancy.  Please give me the strength I need to keep my mouth shut and not slap a stranger when he/she asks if I’m having twins or more (just as they did last time).  Thank you for your support, literally. And let the fun begin!

Dear Dirty Sink,
Yes I know you won't clean yourself!  But how is it that you get so bloated so quickly?  Why do you always have to have a party and invite lots of friends to join you in the dirty swimming pool?  You can be such a whore sometimes.  And why are you often the most disgusting place in my house?  Hey don't look at me like that!  I'll pour some soap right down your throat!  In fact, I'll get the bleach out!  Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you?  To you, it is receiving a full body massage with a hot sponge while I scrub away the scum that you were with last night!  Fine, let's make a deal.  Let's clean up today.  Then you have your filthy mouth again tomorrow.


Dear Growing Pregnancy Boobs,
I know people are attracted to you.  My husband can't stop staring at you.  But must you act like a magnet for everything I eat and everything I drink, too?  What others don't know is that you're exhausting me.  You're dead weight.  You are sore without even doing any kind of exercise!   You don't fit right into any shirt I wear.  You're dragging and slowing me down there girls!  Shape up, will ya?  We've still got a long way to go and I'd hate to see you get left behind.


Anyway, the above is just a few snippets of my writing.  That is how I envision a book like this to unfold.  I always feel a little bit better after I write a letter, whether it's sweet, mean or sarcastic.  I usually just do it for me and to get my feelings out in the open. 

What do you think?  Would you be interested in a book like this?  Or shall I throw it in my dirty sink?

Filling in the Gaps

I can hardly believe it's been eight months since I've been on this blog.  For awhile, I thought I might never come back.  Yet like all things in life, we go back to what we care about and those tools that help shape us.  And this blog does (sometimes) give me a sense of purpose and serves as a written diary in my often-forgotten memory these days. 

Still I have no regrets over my absence.  I needed the time away.  Time to reflect.  Time to prioritize.  There were some emotions I had to deal with privately instead of publicly.  I needed to stop reading other people's lives and focus more on my own.  That is the downfall of today's technology -- too many distractions and a lot out there to scare you or make you feel bad.  However, now I'm in a place where I feel happier, more relaxed and ready to share again.

I guess I'll just start by filling in the gaps for the past several months....

March - This was the month when I began a bit of a downward spiral and when I stopped blogging.   I found out I was pregnant only to have an early miscarriage just two days later.   I can talk about it now without any problems.  It's good therapy.  But at the time, I was very, very upset about it.  You see, my husband Kirk and I had been trying for nearly eight months and I was becoming frustrated over it.  Then when I finally saw that plus sign (pink line), I was overjoyed.  Then I was quickly robbed of that happiness.  Meanwhile everyone around me was getting pregnant or having babies and I just couldn't be happy for them, not any of them as selfish as that sounds.  It was a tough time for me.  But like I said, I can talk about it now.  Miscarriages happen all the time to women and they don't always know why.  Many ladies don't even know they had one if they're not keeping track of their cycles.  I know what I went through is no big deal compared to the losses of so many others.  Yet for me at the time, it was enough to send me into hiding for a few weeks and cry for several days straight.  This was also the time when I began growing tired of my stay-at-home motherhood days.  I found that both my daughter Vivian and me were getting bored of our routine.  Nothing seemed to be going right. 

April - This month things began to perk up.  I had the chance to follow my husband to San Diego, California for a work trip.  I tagged along and took a mini-vacation and left Vivian behind with her grandparents for the first time more than one night.  I was so happy to have the time away.  Best of all, I had the opportunity to spend two days with an amazing friend of mine named Carrie.  She has become a special person in my life and one who helped me through the first rough year of motherhood.  I was so happy to meet her along with her husband and two beautiful kids.  I took the train two hours each way for two days to see her.  And the train ride was so peaceful and interesting.  I either read my captivating book or stared at the window at the hills and sights.  It was just what I needed. 



In April I also received a phone call out of the blue about not one, but two job opportunities at the local university in Pensacola, FL where I lived.  I interviewed for both positions and accepted the job that seemed like the best fit for me.  I made arrangements to begin working in May. 

May - I started my job at UWF and the transition was a lot easier than I thought it would be.  Vivian started a day care (preschool).  She did great except for refusing to potty at school for the first month.  She had a few accidents even though she had been potty-trained for over a year.  But eventually she came around and everything seemed to be working out.  I quickly became acclimated to the workplace again and realized how much I enjoyed the educational environment.  The people at my work are super nice and my bosses are great too.  Finally I feel like I may have found the place that I was meant to be working.  I even begin looking into Master's Degree programs too.  I had fun shopping for new work clothes, like this pretty dress that I proudly try on:



June - For this month it was more like the month of May except it became easier.  I had gotten used to packing lunches for Vivian, Kirk and myself.  The routine of waking up at the same time each day became the norm.  Vivian seemed happy at her new place and was making friends in her class.  I began to gain confidence once again in my work skills, especially considering I had not been in the workforce for a year and a half!   I felt valued and important.  We were bringing in extra money in our bank account.  Things were going well.  The only picture that I have to share for this month includes one of Vivian and Kirk on Father's Day.  Aren't they both just a pair of cuties?  :)



July - Hmm, July seems like a blur to me now.  I remember we took a trip to New Orleans to visit family members.  I recall thinking and saying that it had been the easiest road trip we had ever taken since we only stopped once and never worried about Vivian having to potty or getting fussy like she did when she was younger.  It is always great to see family and spend time with relatives we only see a few times per year.  We fine dined at Ruth's Chris steakhouse with my in-laws.  We enjoyed seafood at my sister-in-law's house.  We did a lot of laughing and carrying on and eating too much.  That's what N'awlin's is all about though!  :-)

August - This was a busy month full of celebrations!   First my long time friend that has known me my entire life came to visit me in Pensacola.  My pal Jynell has a son named Jayden that is the same age as Vivian.  We had a great time entertaining them, taking them to the beach, the naval aviation museum and more!  I was so happy she came to see us!



After that was my birthday, the big 33 and I had this wild idea of making three cakes for myself within one week!  You can read about the cakes I made on my other blog and see how one of them was a messy disaster that luckily turned out tasting great.  In fact, I made an awesome nutella cake that was my absolute favorite!

After that, Kirk and I celebrated nine years of marriage.  Then soon after that, my parents visited during their 40th wedding anniversary in August too.   Lots of love was in the air that month!  :-)

September - This month brought about a surprise, one that was unexpected and that I feared would not come again.  I discovered I was pregnant. After one year and three months of trying to conceive,  I saw the pink line and the plus sign.  Only this time it didn't disappear after a few days as it had in March.  It stuck around.  Soon I began feeling nauseous for half the day for two weeks straight.  I tried not to complain though.  I was happy over the news but trying not to get too excited for fear of losing another one.  Instead I focused on our a visit from my in-laws and on making Kirk's birthday special.  I hired my friend to make him a birthday cake in the shape of an ice chest full of his favorite beer.  He absolutely loved it! 



October -  I had my first visit with my OBGYN and had my first ultrasound done on October 3.  I was ten weeks pregnant and past the dangerous part of my pregnancy.  I began to relax and enjoy my news.  I also began telling people - my bosses, co-workers, friends and then everyone I know on Facebook.  I had some hilarious conversations with Vivian about her becoming a big sister and me having a baby in my belly.  I wrote some of those discussions down and will have to share them soon.  The pregnancy sickness was fading and things seemed to be looking up for me.  I learned that a possible new opportunity at my work may be coming open soon that I would qualify for and it would be more money and more freedom than what I'm currently doing.   We celebrated Vivian's fourth birthday party.  I can hardly believe my baby girl is now a girl and not a toddler anymore.  She's so gorgeous and so grown up these days.  You can carry on endless conversations with her!  



November - Now here we are in November and my life is reaching new heights!  I'm now four months pregnant and my belly is expanding.  I don't seem to mind though.  In fact, I find myself driving through fast-food joints for breakfast a few times per week without any guilt.   I find myself daydreaming about how our lives are going to change after next April (my due date is April 27).  I know it won't be easy and our family dynamic will be altered but I think I'm ready for yet another change in my life.  I'm ready to see this baby through the eyes of my daughter and with a new maturity that I didn't have nearly five years ago when motherhood began for me. 

When I started life at 30, I wondered how I'd ever find my way and if I'd ever find the answers to my questions.  Now I'm starting to see that life after 30 is really quite amazing.  And I don't care if I ever find the answers, just as long as I have this journey and these incredible people around me (like pictured below) to share it with. 

Love and hugs,