Never thought it would take this much energy

I really love my kid, but it is hard to be by myself with her all day. She is my little side kick and we do so many things together, but sometimes mommy gets selfish and wants grown up time. I don't really like to go out that much and I don't really need adult time like all night out...I just want to go to the grocery store by myself some time or talk to other grown ups.

The hardest part about being laid off is that they money that I would have had for child care is gone, so I don't get to take adult time in the middle of the day. I can't do a ladies lunch anymore or meet people after work at the driving range. I can go to the driving range, but I have to push her carriage and set her up to watch me and play and only buy a small bucket of balls in case she doesn't want to golf any more. Everything revolves around Elle and that is a blessing. I am glad I do not have to make her fit my arbitrary schedule...but I would love a bit more arbitrary in my schedule!

Swimmy Swimmerson

Tomorrow I am going to sign Elle up for fall swimming lessons! She loves the pool so much that I am going to try to harness that fun feeling all year round!

Why buy toys?

Elle's birthday is coming up and I am going to suggest to her friends and family that they wrap up all their old magazines in boxes and bring them over. Also, for close friends who want to give more than paper...I will suggest they throw in a few old water bottles.

Elle has a laundry basket full of toys. She prefers playing with old magazines, empty or partially full water bottles and ... the laundry basket. She will take every item out of the basket, turn it over and push it around. She walks behind it like a real pro. Then she will turn the basket right side and sit in it. Did I mention that she has Vtech Sit and Stand walker that her grandparents bought her? It is fun for me, but I am going to tell her granny to spring for a bag of garbage instead of new toys!

Napping is no fun...but I love it!

That is what Elle says. She fights that nap tooth and nail. She rubs her eyes, she whines and when she gets into the crib she screams...for about 20 seconds without fail. Like I am murdering her. Then she falls asleep! And mommy tries to clean the house, work or get something done.

Baby Book

I don't know how good Elle's baby book is going to be. I am not great at remembering to write stuff down...I think of the cutest and funniest things to write and then forget by the time I find my pen.

Any suggestions on what I should be tracking?

The new Teen Mom

Some people know that "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom" are my guilty pleasures. I think I no longer enjoy the programs but watch because I genuinely feel bad for the people on the show. I feel so grateful that I have help with Elle. I feel so grateful to have had the first 29 1/2 years of my life to be VERY selfish so that I now feel ready to give Elle everything. I feel grateful to have my own home to give Elle a stable living situation.

Dirty Faced Kid

When Elle was a tiny baby...she stayed in my arms and I dressed her in little outfits and she was so cute! She was always clean and always had that nice baby smell.

Now she is a wild woman. At 8 months old she wants to be crawling on the floor (or GROUND! Gross) and rolling and touching everything. Her knees are always dirty and I wash her hands 50 times a day. Even worse, she likes to feed herself and it is cute...except that her face is stained with blue berries and beets and little streaks of dried yogurt. I take her to the sink after every meal and wash her face and hands and arms...and remove her bib. But somehow, mommy always misses something. Elle delights in her new found freedom and messyness. She is never happier then when she is 'running' away from a washcloth or a clean pair of pants.