How Do You Mommies Work Too?

Wow, I am in awe of working mommies.  Especially those with more than one kiddo (sister - that's you!).  And especially especially those with no husband or family to help them.  And a triple especially to those who have their own businesses, whose work is never ending, even after the normal 8-5.  How how how do you do it? 

How do you work all day then pick up the kids, drive home in traffic, hang out with your kiddos, give them snacks, help them with homework, make sure they don't eat electrical wires, cook them dinner, make sure they don't get it all over the dining room, then clean all the food they still got all over the dining room, wash dishes, vacuum the floor that's needed vacuuming for days, wash, dry & fold everyone's clothes, make sure the older one washes his face, brushes his teeth, changes his clothes, change the little one's diapers & get him ready for bed, put them to sleep & then catch up on all your emails you missed while you were in Mommyland? 

Accidental Sleep Experiment

I haven't even looked at this blog since my last post, which I didn't realize until looking now was over two weeks ago.  We're pretty broke because of the thing I can't talk about, so I've been extra motivated to focus on building the business.  Let's just say I'm learning really fast & hard about the legal world.  Because of some drama over someone who isn't Isaiah.  Really sad stuff.  Number one lesson - always have lots of money saved up just in case.  Lots.

We just have to keep reminding ourselves that everything happens for a reason.

And in order to focus on work more, I accidentally discovered a new genious strategy. 

One evening, after picking up Isaiah & arriving home, I was exhausted.  After he ate & I ate & we played a little.  I passed out while putting him to sleep at about 7:30.  We slept for five hours.  It was amazing because it was unexpected nap exactly when I needed it.  I fed him & put him back to sleep.

Then I had to get all my work done.  So I was working & working until about 1am when I thought why don't I just stay up all night?  Because I had to be up around 6 anyway.  I would be exhausted if I tried to sleep & then wake up at 6, then I would probably hit snooze too many times, probably be rushed getting ready (I hat e that) and probably be late everywhere I had to be. 

It was wonderful.  I got so much done.  And I wasn't rushed to do anything.  I took Isaiah to the babysitter's early.  We were early (ok on time may be a better word for it) for work stuff. 

It was so wonderful that I wanted to ignore how exhausted I was while driving and how much extra coffee I had to drink to be 100%.  Then I think it started affecting my milk production.  I was getting more sleep than I would have otherwise, but I think the coffee the new schedule required was hurting too much.

Marcus hates it.  Because it's not normal.  Even though I try & convince him that I'm getting more quality sleep this way.  And I'm enjoying my son more.  When we get home I'm not trying to work while he wants to play.  The little time I have with him these days I'm getting to spend with him instead of trying to figure out new ways to keep him happy while I work. 

See, this is what Isaiah looks like when I'm not playing.  He's so sad.

I've toyed with it more.  I'm going to sleep early (between 8 & 10).  And getting up early (between 4 & 5).  I'm still getting that quality quiet time in the morning, still getting sleep, and still getting to play with my son on his time.  I love it.  Marcus doesn't, but he's sleeping when I wake up so he can't protest much. 

Now back to work.

Speaking of work, this is us at one of my restaurants, Dive, following a photo shoot of their food.  My designer is the best.

Seriously back to work.  And I know that I still have to tell the rest of the wedding story.  Next time.

Worried About the Next Six Weeks

Isaiah is 6 weeks old!!! 

I have the go ahead to start exercising now, and I'm super excited because I'm feeling pretty not skinny these days. 

I also have the go ahead to have sex, BUT honestly I don't know if I'm ready for it.  This is quite unusual for me to say, because usually my sex drive is really really high, and I thought I would just be dying by now.  Six weeks is way longer than Marcus & I have ever gone without having sex.  But I'm feeling pretty emotionally vulnerable.  Fragile even.  I think I would be so happy if we could just cuddle. 

But even if I was ready, we probably wouldn't be able to find the time or the place.  Because let me tell you about what's going on...

We just picked up a new client that will be using us every weekday morning for the next six weeks.  We've never had anything that regular or often. 

We have several dinner events this month which is unusual.

I started my last eight week term on Monday, and it appears that it will be the most difficult yet.  We have been assigned teams, and I am stuck for the third time in the past two years, with the laziest asshole of a teammate. 

I haven't finished posting Isaiah's birth story yet!  I'm glad I posted a portion of it because I got distracted way more than I thought I would.

We have Marcus's five year old (I think I'll call him A from now on) for the month of July. 

And my mom went home today.  A quite sudden decision made during our recent weekend trip to Arkansas. 

Last week I was imagining my days without her, nursing & playing with Isaiah, & alternating between eating, sleeping & working while he slept.  I thought it would be difficult but possible.  Now I'm adding a five year old to that picture. 

I'm a little nervous about how we're going to handle it all. 

But we must.  And we will, splendidly I'm sure.  I hope. 

We can't have any problems with this cuteness in our house right?

Waiting for the Groove of Productivity

I am not sure if I've figured out the makeup thing yet.  I've tried a few times, and I can definitely tell a difference in the face & the lips.  The eyes still baffle me, even though up until a few days ago, the eyes were the only part I was able to master.  Yesterday I was asked to manage.  I wore a skirt & boots, which I have NEVER done.  I forced my boss (who is the messenger of the Man) to score me every day so I can know specifics about what to improve.  The first day he gave me a 3.5 on a scale of 0-5 (5 being the worst).  Yesterday he gave me a...  "It's good miss." 

I guess I should post a picture of the progress, but not today!!!  Because today, I am not doing anything to my face or my hair.  I am going to gaze out of my huge sun room window at the beautiful sky, but I am not going outside.  I will enjoy it from the confines of my apartment walls.

And I will get some work done.  Hopefully.  I have got lots of work & homework to catch up on. 

I have recently gotten over the fatigue of the first trimester, even though everyone has laughed & responded with, "That's what you think."  But I feel good for now!  I no longer want to fall asleep every time I sit down on my former office chair, my comfy couch named Hattie.  When I have to wake up in the morning, I usually feel great; I don't cling to my bed in agony and pray for just an hour longer. 

This newfound energy is so exciting to me.  I am not ridiculously tired all of the time.  I don't drink anymore, which translates into many things.  The money I save is so brilliant, I wonder how I used to justify spending so much in the past.  The hangovers don't ruin my days & diet.  I don't waste a lot of my time at my favorite bars or restaurants.  I don't have to put in as much friend time anymore, because they all go out & drink, and they completely understand if I ditch them because well, who wants to hang out with the boring pregnant girl? 

It seems like I would have all this extra time to be productive right?  To read all the books I have been neglecting, to pick up the guitar that's been sitting untouched in the corner of my bedroom for years, to write the works of art that have been itching to emerge from my head, to thoroughly understand the ins & outs of Operations & Supply Management, to all of a sudden build my business exactly the way I've been wanting to, to exercise, to cook... 

But you know what really happened?  I've just become obsessed with reading about having babies & being a mommy.  Blogging goes along with that because I get to write & read about it.  Cooking follows suit because I want to have good mommy recipes for my family.  I still have to watch my favorite shows online while I eat & put on makeup. 

Everything else...  Blah.  Even my business, which I'm usually incredibly passionate about!

So what is the cure for procrastination I ask?  Is it to reconnect with the things I love about what I should be doing?  Is it more time, as one friend suggested?  Or is it deadlines?  I read somewhere that a goal means nothing unless you put a time limit on it.  Or does setting deadlines take too much time? 

Perhaps it's time management which I'm trying.  Since all of my work is done at home, I've been asked by the Man to start keeping track of my hours.  Now I am keeping track of all of my hours, work & personal.  Maybe seeing where my time is going will help me allocate it better.

We'll see.  All I know is that waiting for the groove is probably not the best idea.  I think I'll have to work for it.  I'm positive that this struggle is foreshadowing of the work/life balance I constantly hear about entrepreneurs striving to find. 

I guess it's good that my vices are productive things.  Instead of playing video games.  Or reading trashy romance novels.  Or... Shopping.