Beginnings

So this is a new blog about my kids and our daily life together. Their growth, development and other fun kid stuff.

Oh, and mom stuff too. Like how efficient we have to be. Take yesterday for example. Before motherhood, running a couple errands in one outing was no big deal. Now a days it is a really BIG deal. Much planning and prep required. My goals yesterday were to return a couple kids swimsuits at target and then finish their summer wardrobe shopping and hopefully buy a sheet for Sophia's crib/ eventual twin bed. I also needed to get groceries. There is a stop and shop on the other end of a big box mall from Target so I thought this was doable. I had to wait until Dylan finished his morning nap (usually around 10am) so that would give me 1.5 hours, or 2 if I am lucky door to door to be home in time to have lunch. Kids aren't good at waiting, so yes, the 2 hour outside time limit is important. Knowing we would be tight on time I prepared our lunches before leaving - dished out Dylan's yogurt, added the cinnamon, put his strawberry/pear/granola baby food in the fridge. I put a pot of water on the stove ready to flick the switch and set to boil for perogies the second I stepped inside the house. Little steps, yes, but when your kids are crying and hungry, every step counts. Dylan woke up as scheduled, I nursed him and out the door. We were fortunate to have good traffic on the way there and I got to Target by 10.30. I did my returns and bought the kids summer clothes (from a list I prepared at home after cataloguing their current collection and listing the must haves). I did pretty well, except couldn't find any short sleeved onsies for Dylan to sleep in. I also didn't have luck finding a good hat for Sophia (one that cannot be easily ripped off and that fits her rather large head. She is bigger than 2T-4T hats. Can you believe it??!

So, for most a second errand isn't a big deal. As a mother with two young kids, however, even though we were making good time (we were out of there at 11am), even a drive 300 or so feet away requires you to buckle them back into their car seats, then find another shopping cart and get them unbuckled and into the next shopping cart.

On my way over I realized I was driving on fumes. Luckily there is a Stop and Shop Gas station in that strip mall area and I get 5cents off a gallon with my store card and another 10cents per gallon off with my store coupon. Saving 15 cents a gallon is pretty big these days, so that is good. Adding a third errand into my 2 hour time frame - bad. I whipped through the grocery store, cutting a couple non-essential items off my list and was out at 11.30. Again, making good time. Got my gas and I think I fluster the cash guy with my rushing and he messed up my coupon, giving me my discount in cash rather than off my credit card (of which I almost drove off without. Luckily he ran after me, haha).

I made it home at noon on the nose, sat Sophia in front of Caillou and got lunch going. We were fed by 12.15 and kind of took a breather. I think my adrenaline rush from the morning caught onto the kids as they did not take to going down for their nap well AT ALL. yes, there was crying, horsing around on Sophia's part, but eventually, they were down for the count.

As always, my mornings seem to be super full and long, then my afternoons are gone in a flash. The kids have been down between 1 and 3 and then when they wake, Sophia usually needs some down time and then by the time she is ready for action I need to bring them inside again so I can make dinner. I feel bad that they are in bed or out of sorts during the nicest part of the day, but what can you do?