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? 

Getting Adjusted to a Stepmom

Yesterday (Day 2 of the meal planning & new roomie) was hard.  Marcus & I worked an event (wake at 7am, take the kids by 9am, pack equipment at 9am, restaurant at 10am, event at 11am-2pm).  Then afterwards we had to finish moving all of our catering stuff to a new storage.  Moving boxes & catering equipment, shelving units & glass racks is not very fun at 2:30 in the afternoon in Dallas, TX in the middle of summer.  Which is one of the reasons for the move into a climate controlled space. 

Marcus finished while I picked up the boys & came home.  The plan was to have a snack then with Marcus, go to the store to buy BB some clothes because we are very very low on clothes that fit.  Marcus took much longer than we anticipated so we tried to do some homework while we waited.  BB was frustrated because he wanted to be playing, Isaiah was frustrated because he wanted to play with BB, & I was frustrated that there was so much chaos.  Finally I decided to leave, fearing that we would end up being at the store at bedtime if we waited much longer. 

When we arrived at the store, I got out to get the stroller ready & BB asked if he could take his football.  I said no, thinking there would be lots to grab his attention in the store & we didn't need anything to potentially lose.  But then I thought, ehhhh whatever, let him take the ball.  But he didn't hear me say that; instead he said well I'm taking MY BALL!  And went to grab it.  I said he wouldn't be taking it now. 

Pout pout pout, but I want to.  I asked if this is what he did when his mommy said no.   

No. 

So why are you acting like this with me?   

Because I want to take my ball. 

But don't you think you should listen to all adults & all the people that love you including me like you listen to your mommy? 

Yes. 

Then he went for the ball again like saying the right answer would land him what he wanted. 

Oh no, I said, still no ball.  You have to have a good attitude to start with to get the ball.  You can't fix it now to get what you want.  You can have a good attitude in the future, but you're not getting your ball now, no matter how many questions you answer right.  Pout pout pout. 

He ran to the door while I was putting Isaiah into the stroller. 

BB!  Get away from the door right now.  I walked over.  You know your daddy's going to be here soon, & you are getting in trouble. 

Nooooooo!!!!  He cried bloody murder then cried & cried & cried & wailed in front of the store.  We waited & waited.  Marcus called only to say he would be 20-30 more minutes & asked to talk to BB.  Yes sir.  Yes sir.  Okay I will.  He hung up the phone.  Okay Jewels, I'll do whatever you say. 

I explained that I would always tell his daddy about the way he is acting.  So it's best if he always does things that his daddy & mommy & God would be proud of.  He said he understood. 

He was okay after that.  We got several items before Marcus got there & it was instantly better when he arrived.  Of course he informed me that all of the things I picked out for BB were too small now.  He had moved on to the next size. 

It was fun after that.  The boys enjoyed their daddy.  Isaiah refused to come to me.  Instead he insisted on helping Marcus do everything. 

I planned on not cooking because I knew shopping would take up the whole evening.  And guess where Marcus picked to go eat?  Tacos.  So I had another taco salad, minus everything good about it & it was worse than the one I made the night before.  Hunnie how is your salad?  Marcus asked.  Well hunnie, it's not so delicious without the cheese & the sour cream.  Some queso as an appetizer.  And a margarita.  Blehhh, Mexican food is no good on this diet. 

And now...  Watch as Isaiah roams the aisles of Old Navy. 

 Awww....

Mornings With My Boys

We shouldn't do this because we wake up too late to do any kind of relaxing.  But this is our typical morning anyway.  A little news...

A little iPad...

And a lot of Isaiah...

Introducing the Other Brother

Once upon a time, Marcus had another son.  Not BB, another one.  Here he is. 

He is about 17 months old making him 8 months older than Isaiah.  Which means he was born shortly after I got knocked up. 

Marcus & I started dating a few months after he was conceived.  I knew about him before I made the decision to be his girlfriend.  I've never mentioned him on here because it wasn't until he turned one that Marcus told his parents about him. 

We'll call him MB for middle brother.  Because BB says, "I'm the older bruder, Isaiah's the younger bruder & ______ is the middle bruder, right Jewels?"  Yes he is.  And when we take pictures, he will say, "This is half of our family, right Jewels?"  He is very protective of his family.

Now everything is good, well as good as it can be.  I'm sure each of the players have their own issues, but we are all coping with them.  And at least everyone has MB's interest at heart. 

He lives moderately close to Nana & Papa's (my new roomies) so his mom drops him off almost every Sunday.  This past weekend he got to hang out for the whole weekend.

Turns out having a 17 month old, a 9 month old, & a 6 year old (plus the 3 cousins) can be quite the handful.

Marcus & I were exhausted at the end.  And I couldn't even think about working the whole weekend.  So I'm so glad I got the important things done on Friday. 

Saturday night MB couldn't go to sleep, and well, Isaiah isn't the fastest to go down either these days.  So the two brothers played in bed with me & Marcus for a few hours into the night. 

Before that we went to the Bass Pro Shop & I got to show Isaiah the fishies for the first time.

They were both pretty fascinated.  With the fishies & each other.

We tried for a second to get a picture with the boys.  It was not happening.

Isaiah was kindof being a whiny baby.  But I managed to capture some cuteness. 

And he lightened up when I gave him stuff to play with.

That was a good trick.

Little Things

I have been dreading our most recent move.  From our apartment in Las Colinas to Marcus's parents' house.  No one forced me to do it - it was my idea to make the move because we needed to do something drastic with our finances after the unexpected court-involved drama we've been having for the past 6 months.  Lawyers are soooo expensive.  So much so that my mother-in-law reminded me that it wasn't too late to go to law school & become one.  I'm good Mama Briggs. 

I've been dreading it because I'm so afraid of living in other people's spaces.  Something often goes wrong with relationships when living together is involved.  And even when it doesn't, I feel like my personal creativity & growth is stifled.  Also I'm worried that it will throw off the rythm of our family growth.  I guess that could either be a good or bad thing.  As I'm writing this though, my fears sound kind of crazy. 

Anyway, I have been dreading the move, but I am so thankful that we have this option.  That they are kind enough to welcome us to their home. 

Which is why I'm so happy that I realized something tonight.  After a week of stress piling up because we didn't really plan the move well enough (I do not recommend moving trying to move with a 9 month old hanging around), my mother-in-law asked me if she could watch Isaiah so I could take a shower.  I was confused for a second, I guess because I couldn't believe that someone was offering me a moment of peace. 

And then I almost cried a little because it was the most amazing shower ever.

I realized in the shower that there are a few little things that have the power to make a place to stay really really horrible or really really awesome.  For me it is the water pressure, finding a parking space, how short the walk is from your car to your door, & sunlight. 

In the last place, we could never find a parking space, the walk varied from long to very long, there was never any sunlight, and the water pressure in the shower & the kitchen sink were so so bad.  I cringed when I experienced them. 

But when those things are just right, for me, life is beautiful.  All of the stresses of the world can exit to the background for those moments. 

When you don't have to carry your groceries across a parking lot, up 3 flights of stairs & down a long hallway.  When the sunlight streams into your room onto your baby's hair.  And when the water in the shower is just perfect.  You can relax and think, everything is going to be okay. 

(This face tends to work the same magic.)