The life of a SAHM

Somedays I wonder what the heck I did all day when I look at my list and have accomplished nothing. Most of it can be blamed on me though-get caught on the computer, unmotivated, other events that come up, cranky or sick kids, etc...I have to start my day with a 'to do' list, as I've always been that way and it feels so good to accomplish something, even unloading the dishwaster or doing laundry which I dread! Somedays I can get everything done, somedays, nothing, but that's ok too every now and then! I've always dreamed of being a SAHM and while its nothing like I imagined it would be (the work), it is also everything I dreamed of as far as my kids go on a daily basis. Lately I have been SO blessed and realize that I am SO lucky to get to be at home with them and there is always a new adventure everyday and it always helps me get through it with a smile! I have been working on a new scrapbooking project in which I capture a daily photo of anything from that day or something that is important to our daily life and I have to tell you that it has been amazing and it really makes me appreciate each and everyday more and more! It will be so much fun to look back from year to year and show and tell the kids all their early memories and happenings! While a majority of my SAHM experience is very rewarding, there are those dreaded long days and weeks that never end. Anything from having sick kids, to being sick yourself, to Chad working late or going out every now and then with the guys, to just cranky and naughty, needy kids all day, it will emotionally wear you thin. I'm glad I don't have many of them and only have 2 kids, I would definetly have gray hair fast! :)
This new year, one of my many resolutions was to make more time for myself and take better care of myself. I also learned about it from Oprah's "Best Life" Series on putting yourself back on your 'to do' list. That can be super challenging as a mother of 2 and a wife, and somedays I find that very true. Its just instinct as a caregiver to put yourself last as there are so many needs and demands to be met everyday by your loved ones. I have been wanting to read so many books and catch up on my magazines and recorded tv programs, blogging and they have been stacking up lately. So, I made a commitment that at least most every night, I can either spend my peaceful 'all to myself' time either catching up on my favorite programs from the week or I will take a much needed bath and read a book! My favorite is to take a bath in our huge tub that we have (one of my favorite things about our house!) and read a book! Last night, I did that and ended up being in there an hour!?!? I couldn't believe it when I looked at the clock and it was almost 1am, yikes?!? There is a drawback to my alone time, I enjoy it WAY too much sometimes and end up staying up late as I have lately. Most nights I'm not in bed before midnight and it will catch up with you fast or your kids sense it and like to be up before the crack of dawn?!?! So.....I got off track for a sec...back to my daily SAHM life! I have the most amazing kids (most of the time) when it comes to sleeping. They are not early risers like many are, which I am VERY thankful for as I'm am NOT a morning person whatsoever, never have, never will be I'm pretty sure of that! (I'm glad Kate Gosselin can say the same thing, it makes me feel a little better!) Most of the time they get up anywhere from 7:30-8, sometimes even 8:30-9 depending on what the night was like. It usually is always Bray that comes in our room to wake me up. I let him lay with me for a little while as it takes me forever to wake up! Brynley is such an angel when it comes to waking up. I will hear her pretty early, like 7ish and let her play in her crib awhile as long as she's content, sometimes it will be at least a 1/2 hour that she's happy playing in her crib and I am SO thankful for that! Bray is pretty good about laying with me and watching cartoons or staying in our room and getting into anything and everything! After we all get up, we eventually make it downstairs to grab some breakfast, anywhere from 8-9. Most days I can't imagine life without coffee and once again very blessed to start my day off with it! The kids aren't great breakfast eaters, so they may have a 1/2 of a banana and a 1/2 of a granola bar or a quarter piece of toast or 1/2 of a donut or whatever I have...I try to keep variety in this house, as I have to or it can get old fast! They LOVE to watch Elmo's world which is part of Sesame Street, that is on from 9:40-10. Somedays, they will watch Barney too and something on Sprout. I let them play most of the morning while I try to be ready by 11 (yes, I know I'm terribly lazy), but I set that goal for myself! We usually eat around 12:30 and again, variety. Hot dogs, pasta, PB&J's, grilled cheese, pepp/cheese tortillas, chix nuggets with at least a little serv. of veggies (usually green beans or olives) and milk of course! Curious George (bray's new fav.) comes on at noon, so I let him watch that. I try to have them down for a nap anywhere from 1-1:30 and again, have the best kids in the world and finally got them on a schedule where they sleep at the same time and they usually sleep about 2 hours. One of the last books I read was called "Naptime is the New Happy Hour" and I couldn't agree more! As a SAHM, I look forward to and cherish this time everyday! I usually am catching up on laundry, picking up the house, blogging (as I'm doing now), playing on Facebook, catching up on shows or reading, it varies day to day, but I enjoy it eminsly (I don't think I spelled that right), its a time to catch your breath and refresh yourself for the second half of your day! Once they get up, Chad's usually close to getting home and they love it! We sometimes will watch the news or go meet Dad at the bus stop in the wagon or enjoy time outside (which I'm SO SO ready for again), been stuck inside too much! I try to get dinner started around 5, sometimes we don't eat until 6:30-7, but it just depends on what I'm making. Once again, variety. Chad could eat the same thing over and over, but not me. I try to be good and make things most days. We do eat out 1-2 times a week, and that in itself is a HUGE blessing as I don't have to worry about cooking or cleaning up, I CHERISH that so much. As I read in the Jon and Kate book recently, she mentioned something about women getting jewelry, vacations or something extravagant, but something as simple as a cooked dinner away from home or Chad doing the dishes completes my day and makes me so happy, its the simple things or surprises that I appreciate as a mom/wife, not the material things like jewelry or flowers. For example, I really needed some coffee last week and after working at Starbucks for 3 years, there's nothing that compares to that coffee, so my treat (at least every other week) is a 1/2-1 pound of Sbux coffee. I had gone without it for a week and was desperate for some. Chad listened to my plea and went to run some errand and picked me up a bag. When he got home, he gave me some story about how their grinder was broke and he wasn't able to get me my coffee. So a little bummed, I shrugged it off. As Chad is, he was telling a fib and trying to surprise me and had hidden it up above the fridge in a cupboard. He was trying to get me to get in it and get Rozzum a pill and as I did get him a pill, much to my surprise, there it was!! He's so awesome about suprising me like that, it doesn't happen as often anymore with kids, but when it does, it totally makes my day/week/month!! Ok, back to my life, sorry off track again! After dinner, we do baths and the kids LOVE their baths and bubbles (most recent discovered fav!) After baths we either watch a show of ours (non violent as Bray's at that tender age) and/or play with them in the big room or catch up on some chore that needs done. We are probably not like most parents and send their kids to bed early. I would rather have 'late to bed' kids than 'up before the crack of dawn' kids, so they are usually in bed between 9-9:30. I know that will sadly change when they go to school, so I'm enjoying that while I have them at home! After they are in bed, as I mentioned above, I enjoy my time and Chad usually goes to bed as he's up at 5:45 to get ready for work. He does enjoy staying up on the weekends a little later to either play his PS3 or work on his revo or watch tv. So, that's wrap on our daily life. We really haven't ventured out and joined a playgroup yet. Every now and then I will have a few with some other friends, but I'm not "Miss Social" butterfly and while I enjoy that time every now and then, I'm much more comfortable at home with our daily life and enjoying our little family and playing with neighbor friends occasionally. I know that time will come when the kids get into preschool and then elementary and we probably wish we had this quiet time back because I'm sure our kids will be busy with sports, friends, school events and such!