Were Expecting!!

It has taken me a long time (5 months) to write this post and announce this to the world.  My family and I are expecting our second child!! January 10th, 2012 is our estimated due date :))  Not only that, but we are expecting a baby GIRL!! Yes, I could not wait to find out!  I am too Type A and need to plan out the rest of my preggers time.  A girl!! Unbelievable.  I am so excited!  I love my son and he has been a blessing and a half and I wouldn't change anything about having him.  I have always wanted a girl!  So fun to dress up and the PINK :)) i know, many are haters of pink but i am pumped to use it.  OK, breathe, Kim. 

So let me rewind a bit.  I was nervous about getting preggers again because we had some complications with a pregnancy last year (lost baby) and could not go through that again.  I kept this pregnancy a secret till about week 16-17 from EVERYONE! I mean everyone, even my family.  The prescreen tests and ultrasound all had to come out within normal limits for me to feel comfortable.  It was not until the last ultrasound at 20 weeks until I could see the baby and that they could measure all of the parts to see if everything "looked" good until I could actually let myself emotionally accept this pregnancy.  Well I am ecstatic to say that all looks good and i can now accept and embrace what is happening.

Ahhh.... ok, now the crazy planning lady is coming out... The house, we have no room. How to make room for baby?  We need to renovate!  Damn Raised Ranch!  To work, or not to work? How expensive is daycare? Can I have someone else watch my baby?  Can we afford it??  How to prepare Jake for sibling?  What do we name her??  How do i agree with the hubby on a name??

OH the questions and planning that comes along with Baby #2!

So exciting!

~Kim

Marriage Poem ~ Found Online

Ok, so in reading about Brooke Burke's secret wedding in St. Barts she posted a poem.  Its a pretty popular poem but really speaks to what marriage should really be... Enjoy!

The Art Of A Good Marriage

Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end
with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

Love you J!!

Instilling Values and Beliefs in Kids

There are so many important things we want to teach our children.  How do we monitor what we are doing to make sure we are setting the right example, or handing situations in such a way that fosters these beliefs, and values in our children?  It is so hard to gauge.  You know, there are two sides to every story.  How do I know that the side of the story or the value I am working on instilling is really sinking in or that he is interpreting the situation the same way??  They say to be consistent in your actions.  I try I really do but some times different actions call for different reactions.  I know, I am probably over thinking this a bit but, that is what I do.  I want to be a good parent as I'm sure many moms/dads do.  Again, a written manual to this thing called parenthood would be helpful.

~Kim

To be a Corporate Mom or a SAHM?

That is the question...

So every couple of months I sit in my office and go back and forth as to what I truly want to do when i grow up.  Do I want to strive to be that successful corporate mom that can balance the great office life with her great family life?  OR Do I want to just stop work and be a SAHM with my boy.  I do realize that in order for me to realistically do this I would need to come up with an idea to generate some kind of income.  OR Are both of these ideas really just that, ideas....

I enjoy feeling accomplished and having something like work to go to to get away and really identify myself in the "outside" world.  I need to be able to set goals and accomplish them.  I need to have projects in my life as well.  This is just me.  Many times though my job doesn't really allow for me that sense of accomplishment nor does it give me the involvement needed.  It becomes a feeling of resentment instead of accomplishment.  I cannot be at home because i have to come in here and sit and do nothing all day, away from my son. *breathe*

Ok, or the alternative, to quit my job so i can stay at home with my son.  Now in today's economy and the financial situations of couples these days makes it impossible for that to happen for many of us.  I would need to find an alternative source of income.  I am not all about pyramid schemes, or get rich quick schemes, or anything like that.  I mean a legitimate business idea that will provide me with something to connect to and something that pays me.  I am beginning to research ideas like this to see what is out there.  Many of the sites recommend day care in your home, crafting, or real estate (renting and selling). 

I have to keep digging and really think about this alternative because as much as the grass seems greener on the other side... what you don't know you don't know.  Its better to do the research.

Are there alternatives to a 9 - 5, in office job that you have seen success with??  Anyone?  My quest continues.

~K

How do you Cope?

By no means am I an expert at dealing with the curve balls that life throws at you but I was talking with a couple friends about this and it got me to thinking.

Many of my friends, working and non working, will relax with a glass of wine, or some of them smoke.  I often see Facebook posts of women frustrated/exhausted with all of the things going on in their world and I wonder what it is that gets them past their frustrations. How do they cope?  Is it with wine, knitting, gardening, writing, verbal diarrhea to a friend, sex?  Its easy to get through life if you have good healthy coping mechanisms. It also helps if those same mechanisms stick around all your life.

I am Irish and have always shut down verbally (unless forced :)) when things are not going my way.  It is difficult for me to discuss things.  So to "cope" with this personality flaw, I have always coped with wine and writing out problems.  If things get out of control and I just need to escape and relax I go and grab a glass of wine and sit with a journal or piece of paper.  Now not in a raging alcoholic kinda way at all... just as a way to stop, sit and relax, escape or think about the situations at hand.  It a way it helps me regroup. 

What are some of the things you do when things get tough or do not go your way??  How do you cope?

Full Time Mom and Employee

Yup that is me.  On Full Time.

How do I do it??

Well I just do.

I take it day by day and really just live.  I wanted to get this off my chest so thanks for listening:

ON FULL TIME :)

My house is a mess but livable

I have dishes in the sink (that drives my hubby crazy)

I never make my bed

There are piles of clean laundry on the floor in my room (also drives hubby crazy)

Kids toys are thrown about my house

My fridge is full but not with what we need for a well balanced meal each night

I pass out as soon as I put my son to bed


BUT

I have a close family & friends that I love very much

An amazing son who I would do anything for

A Loving supportive hubby that is always there for us

I have a job

I am on time for said job (most days)

I rush to pick my son up at preschool 5pm each day (even though its 1/2 hr away)

Cant think of more...

Perfectly Imperfect.

SuperMom to the rescue!!

OK.  I am on the hunt.... I need your help.

I am having a Superhero themed birthday party for my son's 3rd b-day and have been researching this for about a month now.  I am set on invitations, decorations, food, and venue.  I have one thing left.  I would have never imagined how hard it would be to find these things.  It looks like i might have to put on my Martha Stewart hat and make the damn things myself.  God willing!

Can you guess what I have been searching for obsessively??

Capes!  Superhero capes for kids that do not cost an arm and a leg to order.

I have been to Esty, and all sites Google provided but I cannot justify paying $55 for 8 capes!!  $10 a cape!?!? Come on people... Don't kids play superhero all the time. Shouldn't moms be able to find a cape for their little boy (or party of 15 kids) :)

Well if you have any ideas I am desperate.  I do not want to subject my hubby to the craziness that will ensue if I have to make these things.

HELP!