Temptation

Oma sent a package.

We're not allowed to open it until Thursday.

What Naptime Looks Like in Our House

How Low Can You Go?

I am a compulsive list-maker. I don't think I have always been one, but the practice has grown out of my realization that I am extremely absent-minded. Seriously, thoughts fly through my head at such a rate that if I do not write something down immediately, it's gone. It doesn't matter what it is - an item for the grocery list, a task I have been meaning to do, a question for David, a thought for the blog, a decision about what's clean enough to wear that day - it comes and goes in seconds. So I have lists. Everywhere. And it helps.

I'm not one of those types that wants a big, expensive planner either. If I had one, I'd just have to remember to buy the expensive refills, and who wants to do that? Disposable stuff works better for me. If I were to receive in my Christmas stocking a pile of Post-it notes, markers, and gel pens, it would make my day. Right now my "planner" is an 80-cent yellow spiral notebook I bought at Target.

My list making is compulsive, and if I analyze it, it probably feeds my legalistic, type A personality. I write everything down - even sometimes a reminder to brush my teeth (which, come to think of it, I forgot this morning). If I make a list, and then I decide to do one or two things not on the list, I write them down later, just so I can cross them off. Sick, I know. But if I put a positive spin on my compulsion, I could say that writing lists helps me to prioritize my day, look at what is really important and what needs to get done. It helps me focus.Confession: I usually write "devotional time" down at the top of my list each day. (And you know what? When we are criticized at church occasionally for "having a devotional time so we can cross it off our lists" I, for one, do not find that to be such a terrible sin. I feel like I have practiced discipline.)

All that to say - I have had to drastically lower my expectations for today. It's almost one PM and I have accomplished very little. (To those who may raise an eyebrow at the fact that I am blogging, writing was on my to-do list today, so I am not wasting time. So there.) I do not like lowering my expectations. I hate to say it, but it's true. I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. But I find myself, over and over again now that Abigail is in our lives, changing my idea of how a day should go, and what I should manage to accomplish.

Case in point: today I have managed to get up, get dressed, feed her, do some dishes, write three emails, and blog. Still to do? Laundry, make the bed, exercise, type up notes for a church meeting, find the location for the H1N1 vaccinations, write notes to two friends, go grocery shopping at Aldi and Target, and start cleaning for the Thanksgiving weekend, and call two long-distance friends. Oh, and brush my teeth.

I am fully aware that (if I'm lucky) this list will take me several days to accomplish. But don't worry, readers. Brushing my teeth has moved to task #1. I'll start now.

Peanut Butter Cookies and Coffee for Breakfast Do Not Help Lose the Baby Weight

But they were good.

I overslept today. My alarm was set and went off, but I apparently had other plans. I don't remember my alarm, but I do remember opening my eyes, rolling over, and looking at the clock at 8:30 AM. 8:30. That's ridiculous.

I have an excuse, though. Babystyles has changed her routine lately. She's not sleeping through the night anymore, waking up one to three times during the evening to fuss about something. And then she's sleeping late into the morning to make up for lost time. Like right now - it's 9:16 and she's snoozing peacefully. I just went into the nursery and turned on the lights and pulled her blankets off of her - but still she snores.

It makes sense, I guess. She wasn't napping much during the day, but she was sleeping through the night. Then I tried to encourage longer nap times during the day, and now she's waking up overnight. Though I'm annoyed and tired, it's hard to decide which I prefer - an uninterrupted night of sleep, or a chance to do my own thing during the day.

I guess it's time to try a real, honest-to-goodness schedule. A consistent wake time in the morning and a (more) consistent bedtime at night.

But, poop. That means I'll have to get up earlier, which means I'll be tired and sleepy more often - and at the times when she's most awake. Seems like an unfair trade off.

This Little Piggy

I have found over and over again in the past year or so that people expect me to know things I do not know. At first it made me angry. But now it's happened so many times, I'm beginning to think maybe I should. At least, the way they communicate with me, I feel like I should. I feel like I have the word "STUPID" stamped in red on my forehead.

Take today, for example. David and I need to get vaccinated from the Swine Flu. Abigail is under a year, and nursing, so we're considered high risk. That much I know. Have I researched Swine Flu at all? Not really, except to recognize symptoms. And do I understand how vaccinations work (other than they put some of the virus into your system)? No. So sue me.

This afternoon I called the doctor's office to find out about scheduling an appointment. I left a message stating who I was and that my husband and I were interested in getting vaccinated.

An hour later I get a return message on my voicemail, "Hello Mrs. Yeager. All we have here at Dr. Santi's office is the nasal vaccination, not the injection. Thank you." Click.

Soooo... what does that mean? (And of course, you all, being grown ups, already know. But I DID NOT.)

I called back. Here's how the conversation went as best I can remember:

Me: "Hi, this is Brittany Yeager returning your call. I, um, guess I don't know what the difference is between the nasal vaccination and the injectable one. Can you tell me?"

Nurse: "Well, all we have is the nasal spray. Although, Dr. S says if you are healthy, you could risk getting it."

Me: "Risk getting it? Why is it a risk?"

Nurse: "Well, you would have to see how you feel afterwards. There's a window of time in which you could come down with H1N1."

Me: "Well, my husband and I have a five month old, so how are we supposed to get vaccinated and not put our daughter at risk?"

Nurse: "Oh, yes, well. You have a five month old. The nasal spray is a live virus."

Me: "Which means...?"

Nurse: "Well, it's a live virus."

(Suddenly the light goes on in my brain.)

Me: "Are you telling me then that the live virus is a risk because it's possibly contagious? That I could pass it onto my child? But the injectable version of the vaccine isn't live, and therefore safer for the family?"

Nurse: "Yes."

Me: "So, does Dr. S recommend we come there and get the nasal vaccination, or should we go to the health department?"

Nurse: "You have a five month old? You should go to the health department. They have the injectable vaccine. It would be better."

Me: "Okay. Thank you."

Click.

So, maybe it's time for me to admit I'm not as smart as I think I am. I should have known this stuff. I should have researched it. I should have understood it. Which means, I guess, that not only am I not that smart, but I guess I'm kinda lazy, too.

Or maybe people don't know how to answer straightforward questions.

What the Squirrels Did

Classy, eh? I'm sure our neighbors loved us.