The Trap of Mother's Day Out

Miles attends a Mother's Day Out program two days a week.  In theory, this gives me time to do all of the things that are difficult to do with a rowdy toddler in tow.  Usually, my to-do list looks something like this:

• Pick up a couple of items from the store
• Stop at the post office
• Make sweet tea, lemonade, etc for the week
• Bake cookies or other yummies
• Finish a dozen or so craft projects
• Clean the kitchen
• Vacuum the whole house
• Clean out Miles' room, and thin out his toy hoard
• Clean out the garage/basement
• Drop off items to be donated at Goodwill
• Do all of the laundry in the whole house
• Write blog posts
• Shower in peace
• Brush the cat
• Do some gardening
• Take a nice, long nap

Etc, etc, etc.  Often, my list goes on for pages beyond anything I could conceivably accomplish in a mere five hours.  And, in looking at the daunting to-dos, I get overwhelmed and my brain fries, and I lose all sense of what to do first.  So, instead, my 'Things Accomplished' list looks more like this:

• Go to store, pick up a dozen things we don't need and forget the one thing we do
• Drive past the post office with the intention to stop in later
• Make myself a quick lunch
• Sit in front of the television while I eat, and then get stuck there for the rest of the day.
• Try to do a load of laundry, a load of dishes, and vacuum the living room in the last half hour before I have to pick up Miles.

Sigh.  Apparently, I cannot be trusted to accomplish anything when left to my own devices. . . 

I'm just going to leave this here. . .

Friday Photos!

First Day of School - Wednesday

"I aim to misbehave" (ala Firefly)

Sir Miles Toppam Hat and Bear

Could he get any cuter? Oh, my.

Snuggles with Grandpa Troy

Chillin' with Great Grandpa

Bragging

Miles has been so much fun, lately.  I'm finding that I just adore his little blonde head a little more everyday.  I love how he likes to fall asleep holding my hand, and how he always has a kiss for me.  I love watching him play, and learn, and laugh.  I am so lucky to be home with him all the time now.

Since you all don't get to be here, I figured you might like a list of his latest antics:

• He found one of Patrick's fedoras and has been wearing it non-stop.  A common sight in our house now is Miles, sans pants, strutting around with his hands behind his back and telling people he's "cross".  Apparently, he's decided he is Sir Toppam Hat from the Thomas videos.  Minus the pants, of course. . .
• He constantly sings "We Are the Champions" at the top of his lungs, usually while kicking a soccer ball around the living room.  Random Stranger Guy even stopped me one day in the grocery store to tell me how awesome my kid is for singing Queen.  Yep, RSG, I know.  He.is.awesome.
• Miles is becoming a more serious, studious, focused child, but when he hears a bodily function, he giggles like mad.
• He's ridiculously good at operating all technological devices.  In fact, he keeps introducing me to new features on my phone and my Nook.
• He adores our poor cat.  He loves to give her hugs and kisses, and on the rare occasion that I don't stop him quickly enough, he loves to pick her up for a good strong squeeze.
• He asks non-stop for Ogre Bites - frozen bits of yogurt that I thought were called Yogurt Bites. :)
• He can successfully sign most letters in sign-language.  He still struggles with a few that require greater dexterity than his chubby hands can muster, but it is freaking adorable to watch him sign as he sings his ABC's. :)
• His memory - which has always been rather impressive - just gets better and better.  He will ask for things that we haven't had or done in months.  Recently, he's been asking to go to the Festival - even though it's been almost a year since the last time he went.
• It is now Miles' job to set the table for dinner.  He walks around the table, "Plate for Mommy. Plate for Miles. Plate for Daddy.  Fork for Mommy. Fork for Miles. Fork for Daddy." and so on.  Then, we all sit down, and Miles folds his hands for prayer, and often says the prayer (a shortened version, sure).  When he's done eating, he asks to be excused, then feeds the cat and takes his vitamin.  The whole process is so sweet.  I think it's my favorite part of the day.

There are so many more, I could fill pages. . . Guess I'll stop here and save some for another day. :)

School

Growing up, I was that 'weird' kid who looked forward to the start of school every year.  New teacher, new friends, new things to learn - it was super-exciting.  I would spend the entire summer asking my mom when we could go back.  Oftentimes, I would beg to enroll on my birthday, as a special treat.

It's exciting to watch Miles get excited, now.  All summer, when I would ask "Where do you want to go today?" Miles would ask, "School, please?"  And he would be truly disappointed when I told him, "Not yet."  At the beginning of August, we made a paper chain - one link for each day before school started.  We've taken them off one by one, and I've watched Miles' excitement grow as the chain shrinks.

Today, there is only one link left.  Today, Miles gets to go meet his new teacher, and tomorrow is his first full day with her.  We don't have to leave for two hours, and already, I can barely keep him from running out the door half-naked, ready to get back to something he loves so much.

I live for moments like this. :)

Friday Photos!

Okay, there is some serious cute happening in this post, so I'll warm you up with some basic stuff first:

A bike on the front of a bus.  Best.Thing.Ever.

Ta-Da! 

Playing in the fountains

This was such a perfect moment.

Crashed out in Mommy's bed.

Playing with cars.

Did you die of cute?  Because I think I might have.  I love this boy so much. . . <3

I suck at routine

I suck at routines.

No, really.  So much so that when I told Patrick I wasn't good at routines, he laughed and said, "I know."

But, I have a toddler, now.  Routines are supposed to help.  Actually, from the time I spent in schools, and in college studying such things, I know kids - especially toddlers and preschoolers - thrive on routine.  I know this spontaneous streak of mine is rough on him.  I remember how exciting it was for my parents to whisk me away on another adventure at any given moment.  I also remember that the rest of the time, the routine was nice.

So, in an attempt to force myself to stick to a routine, I'm going to post my routine here, and try to update it once every week or two, just to make sure I'm actually doing it.  Hold me to it!  If I go more than two weeks without updating the internet on our current schedule, please remind me!  Because it's even odds as to whether I just forgot to update, or I just flaked on routine again. . .

Anyhow: Proposed Routine - August 2012

Wake up (usually around 7:30) until 8:45 am - Breakfast and quiet tv time while I drink my coffee and become human
8:45 - 9:00 am - Get dressed and ready for the day. [Take Miles to the bathroom again]
9:00 - 11:30 am - Field Trip (even if it's just walking to the nearby playground, or playing in our own backyard - anything OUT of the house)
11:30 am - 12:00 pm - LUNCH [Bathroom]
12:00 - 12:30 pm - Quiet playtime, wind down time with Miles.  Books, puzzles, etc.
12:30 - 2:00 pm - Nap.  I'm going to try to stick to this time, so it's consistent with his school nap time.
2:00 - 2:30 pm - Snack and quiet cuddle time with mommy.  Books optional. [Bathroom]
2:30 - 2:45 pm - Learning activities (even if it's just coloring or playing with stickers)
2:45 - 3:30 pm - Miles and Mommy play time.  No electronic devices or distractions.
3:30 - 4:00 pm - Miles independent play time.  Mommy does housework, etc. [Bathroom]
4:00 - 4:30 pm - Fun activity in the kitchen - play doh, paint, water, etc
4:30 - 5:30 pm - Miles independent play while Mommy makes dinner