Psst, follow me!

Yes, I’m catching more of the blog party participants tonight.  I’d love to link to every blog that I go to, but since I have an evening off I have a feeling it’d be a HUGE list!  If you’re not listed but notice that I had stopped by, it’s really nothing personal!

Three P’s in a Pod: Very cute title that caught my eye.  Stop by her blog, she has a great writing style and I fell in love with her description of her kids.
Mommie Daze: I’m beginning to think it’s “cute title” night.  Nice introduction post from a mommy on the other side of Lake Michigan from me.
Kimmie & the Sprouts: Are there any moms with satellite or cable who aren’t singing the title of this blog?
Creative Triplet Mom: Moms of multiples fall into the “honorary saint” category in my book.  I have a hard time with one!

I may be back to party later, but now it’s time to change out laundry, do the dishes, sweep and mop.  Oh yeah, and get munchkin bathed and into bed.

What a skewed sense of “nice”

Yesterday, I opened the back door at work and was amazed.  I wasn’t freezing my butt off for the first time since I can remember.  “Wow, it’s a great day!”  I got home last night and Bob Lindmeier, our meteorologist, said the high was 33 degrees.  Living in Wisconsin, I think we have a warped sense of “nice weather” by this point in winter.  I’m sure that if I drove downtown today, I would see students in shorts and t-shirts.

The snow is slowly melting, the geese are flying north, spring is finally on the way!

Tuesday morning party crashing

Here are some of the parties I crashed this morning.  There are some great ladies blogging!

Desperately Seeking Sanity.  Here name is Heather and since we share a name and she had a catchy title, how could I resist??
Who Has Time to Scrapbook.  Another title that caught my eye.  I tried paper scrapping once.  I don’t have the time or the patience for it!  That’s why I’m now a proud digital scrapper and even spent some time designing my own kits.
Mid-Life Bliss. I watched a special this weekend about being truly happy in mid-life (yes, I know I’m not quite there yet) and it was fascinating.  Made me think that someone needs to do a program like that for younger women.  Since I enjoyed that special, this blog was one I had to read.
Gigi Photography.  I crashed this party yesterday, but I wanted to make sure everyone knows that this woman has some GREAT photos on her blog.  I’m a sucker for maternity photos.
Infertility Chronicles.  Since we’re able to get pregnant but I have a huge problem staying pregnant, I felt a sort of connection here.  I’ve been pregnant five times but only one stuck.
Lisa C Writes.  The newest partier when I logged on this morning.
A Whole Lot of Nothing.  Don’t we all feel this way about our blogs from time to time?

Okay, it’s 8:10, my daughter is still asleep, my coffee is empty, and I really should get ready for work!  If you stop by today, be sure to leave me a link to your blog so I can return the love tonight!

Housework and toddlers

Who knew how much fun housework could be!  I know, you think I’m either nuts or sarcastic, but I’m not.  Okay, so I am, but not this time.

I’ve mentioned a few times that we’re looking into Montessori for Khaila.   I’ve heard great things about their philosophies, my step-mom’s sister works at a school, and my step-mom, coincidentally, brought up to me how she could imagine Khaila going there around the same time I started thinking about it.

I’ve often thought that a two year old couldn’t possibly be old enough to help out with housework other than teaching her to pick up her toys.  After reading the Montessori site, I decided to allow her to be a part of our family.  Their philosophy is that by allowing your child to help you are showing them respect and showing them that they are full members of the family.

I wasn’t sure how it would work out, but I asked Khaila to  pick up some empty bags and put them in the garbage.  She did that and then started to ask me if other items were garbage.  Luckily, she seems to know what is garbage and what’s not and she asks before throwing something away.  The next task was laundry.  I put the basket in front of the dryer and she started loading the dryer, piece by soaking wet piece.  When it was time to load the washer, she tossed the dirty clothes on top of the washer and I would push them in and make sure that laundry was evenly distributed.  When we do dishes, I fill the second sink for rinse water and she gets up on a chair and pulls the clean dishes out.

To see the look of accomplishment on her face reassures me that I am doing the right thing.  I used to think that it would be “mean” to expect her to help out more.  Now, I think that it would be worse to NOT let her help me.  She doesn’t have the attention span to complete a task but that’s okay.  I let her help me as long as she’s interested and then she goes off to play while I finish up.  Just having her there with me for a little while has made all the difference in the world.

I’m currently trying to find non-toxic cleaners so she can help me wipe down the counters and we’ve switched to vinegar water for the windows and glass.  If you want to have fun with a toddler, give them a paper towel, spray the TV or the windows, and race to get it clean.  Then, run to the next window and do the same.  Usually, we can get all of the windows and glass done in our house within five minutes and we’re laughing hysterically by the time we’re done!

Oh, the irony

This morning, I posted about the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.  I giggled about the name of their site and went on my way.  By “my way” I mean I grabbed my coffee.  Got to drink two sips before I had a toddler saying she wanted coffee (she calls her morning milk her coffee).  Get up to grab one sippy cup of coffee so she can watch Dragon Tales.  Sit down to read more blogs.  “Mommy, want Care Bears.”  Get up, explain to her that the Care Bears are sleeping and Dragon Tales are awake.  Sit down to enjoy the lukewarm cup of coffee.

“Mommy, I’m stinky.”  Get up, change diaper, get toddler dressed.  Getting her out of her favorite nightgown and into day clothes is my morning workout.  Get her settled in for Sesame Street, put coffee in microwave, jump in the shower.  Within mere moments, “Peekaboo!”  I have a toddler who wants to shower with me.  Since she had a bath last night AND was already dressed, I told her I’d be out in a minute, go watch Elmo.  I finish my shower at a rate that would impress most military recruits, get out of the shower only to find that A) my daughter is half naked since her socks and pants are on the toilet and B) my husband grabbed the last towel.  Ask Khaila to get me a towel and after standing there drip-drying for a few minutes, I run, still wet, to the bedroom with no heat and find that she listened for the first time this morning and was watching Elmo.

FIVE minutes for mommy??  Some days I’d settle for TWO!