Charlie and Livy Kissy Face

Livy: Hi Charlie!
Charlie: Hey girl.

Livy: This fro yo was really good. 

Charlie: Rock on. It's the only way I eat fruit these days - covered in ice cream.

Charlie: Look at all those trucks driving by...

Livy: My spoon is awesome.

Charlie: There's nothing like a good truck watching afternoon.

Livy: Are you sure about that?

Charlie: Oh yeah, there's red trucks, green trucks, blue trucks. My favorite ones are the blue tru...

MMMMMUUUUUWWWAAAA!

Charlie: What were we talking about?

Charlie and Livy Cruise the Plaza

Charlie Beach! (Siesta Key 2013)

Kindermusik camp: what's the big deal?

When I was a senior in high school, I spent two weeks babysitting two kids, all day long. I thought it would be easy money. I thought we would watch movies, play a little bit, go swimming, take naps. More movies, maybe those kids would want to read books or play quietly inside while I read magazines and talked to my boyfriend on the phone.

What really happened was those kids dragged me around their neighborhood on rollerblades, on bikes, running, no breaks, no movies, no naps. They were go hard or go home. I was so tired that I would fight falling asleep while driving home each day. Once I had to pull over, and actually bumped the curb.

That was one of those moments, you know, when you realize how wrong you are in your assumptions about something. Babysitting totally kicked my butt.

I guess that was really just my first taste of what motherhood would be like. I don't often feel like a "new mom" (which I think means clueless in a cute way) but this week, I do. And it's all because of Kindermusik Camp.

Let me explain.

Kindermusik is a music class for children, they listen to music, play, interact with other kids, etc. This class is everyday for one week. It's only one hour a day. I was so excited about this class because it is Charlie's first organized activity. And it's fun. He loves it. He smiles the whole time.

The thing is that for that one hour, you are also playing with your child and doing all of those things, moving them with the music, holding them, swaying them, squatting with them in your arms, chasing them around the room. Like, I had to squat with Charlie in my arms for the length of one song so that he felt like he was going up and down. It's a workout. It's a good workout.

So, ok. that's ok. Harder than I thought, but I can handle it. The thing is Kindermusik class must be followed by an hour of entertainment so I can stretch Charlie until his ONE nap at 11, because if he is anything like his mom, he would pass out if we went to our nice comfy home right away, which would put us back on a two nap schedule. THAT may seem crazy, but it's a thing.

Ok, so I can do that. One day we went to Chic-Fil-A and played on the indoor playground. The next day we went to an event at the library where there were lots of different kinds of trunks to touch and look at.

But Wednesday, Wednesday was the hardest day of all. WHY? Because on Wednesday, we also go to gymnastics. Supervising and helping a one year old through an hour of gymnastics is very challenging. I would compare it to a moderate interval training workout. Really. REALLY.

Am I a wuss? AM I? Wouldn't you think that those two classes would be no big deal? I've done triathlons! I've run a half marathon! I know tae kwon do! And here motherhood is, kicking my butt.

Note: I just read my last post, in which I am super excited about the upcoming Kindermusik camp. ha! It IS fun, I would do it again - just to clarify.

Life at the moment

Here's the thing: I love writing this blog. I like looking back at everything I've posted in the past. It helps me take a step back from everyday and realize that this is actually a life I'm living here.

I haven't posted in a while, but there have been several moments that I wanted to blog about. There is always something in the way, some schedule we have to meet or Charlie gets sick or I get sick or something.

I want to get back to blogging. Regularly and with attitude.

I think the last post I wrote was before our trip to New Orleans in March. So much has happened since then. Charlie is WALKING. Can you believe it? And talking his little head off. He is my main excuse for not having the time or the energy to sit down and blog. I really just want to do stuff with him. We swim, because he is really a fish. We started a toddler gymnastics class, which is awesome because it's just playing with your kid on really cool, big soft toys. Next week, we go to Kindermusick camp, which I think it where you sit in a circle with other parents and toddlers and do little dances to music. There is so much to do with him, and it's so much fun. Like if there is a park you've been to a hundred times, and you're like, "eh, it's just the park," It's a totally different park with a kid. It's a better park.

Preston, or Husband as I sometimes refer to him, recently finished his teacher certification and applied for jobs. He is so fabulous that everyone wanted to give him a job. There were bidding wars and limos, private jets and island getaways - ok, so there wasn't any of that, but every one loves him and wanted to hire him. He accepted a position as a history teacher and assistant baseball coach at a very small school right outside Nacogdoches. He told me the other day that when he was younger, this is what he imagined himself doing.

I am just trying to keep up with my rockstars. I feel like my job is to play with Charlie, which I really like. My job feels like summer vacation everyday. I mean, not that every day is perfect, but it's mostly really fun. I've started sewing again. I've made three rompers for Charlie and I'm about to make a dress for my friend's daughter. Can you believe that it seems like little boy clothes are harder to make than little girl clothes? Really.

And now, Charlie just woke up, it's 6:45 am, which is sleeping in for him, so my blog time is over. I hope to return soon. Like in two days. fingers crossed.