Rain, Fairies, Laundry and the secrets of motherhood!

The much needed rain has finally stopped after two days. This afternoon the sun peeked out and other than the oppressive humidity the day was suddenly beautiful. I tried for a few moments to convince myself that when I stepped outside I would be greeted with crisp, Fall weather - but I was instantly contradicted by the heat and water vapor. Mike tells me there is a cold front on the other end of this weather system and I'm optimistic that tomorrow I'll wake up to a chilly morning. At least I have my dreams! My computer says that the high tomorrow is only 83... humphf!

Tonight the Paci Fairy came to visit Maddie. We've been talking it up for a while - that the Paci Fairy would come and take her pacis and leave her a special present in return. She asked for the new Barbie in the Diamond Castle Doll - the one with the purple and blue dress. Mike picked it up this afternoon and even disguised his voice on the phone so she could talk to the Paci Fairy! I wrote her a sweet note and put the Barbie on the shelf of her dollhouse (where she said she wanted the Paci Fairy to leave it). I can't wait to see her reaction in the morning. I also pray that we won't have a meltdown tomorrow night.

Pumpkin the kitten is settling in well with our household. We had a bit of a scary time tonight when he kept throwing up, but he seems to have got whatever it was out of his system. The kids and I took him to the vet this morning and they gave him a shot and a dewormer and I think something must have upset his tummy.

Wyatt is such a big boy now - he's really showing an interest in the potty all of a sudden. I swear I spent more time taking him to sit on the toilet during our cruise - always during meals, too! Just as soon as I get settled it's, "I potty, I pee pee."

I did find out last night that for some reason he doesn't seem to mind a poopy diaper, but he pooped in his underwear and had a royal fit! I guess that's a good thing. We just keep having underwear time (it's safer than naked time with him!).

It's funny how similar some of us momma's are. I was talking to my online friend Krys tonight - she's the momma behind Cotton Momma - and makes the best soaps and bath salts ever! We were actually talking about stripping diapers and washing routines and the conversation eventually went to our own personal laundry habits.. I was laughing as we divulged our secrets and shortcuts...

krystynanicole says: I HATE folding LMBO

Jemima Puddleduck says: i live out of baskets of clean clothes

krystynanicole says: i enjoy laundry but folding i hate.

krystynanicole says: me too

Jemima Puddleduck says: i suck at folding and putting away

krystynanicole says: i am staring at one now that i have been digging out of for two days lol

Jemima Puddleduck says: i've washed everything from vacation and actually put maddie's stuff away, but the rest of it is in baskets

Jemima Puddleduck says: two peas in a pod when it comes to laundry - you and me :)

Jemima Puddleduck says: lol

krystynanicole says: i have been known to take stuff from the washer and put it in  the dryer with already dry clothes in the dryer lmao

krystynanicole says: i'm like ok more stuff will fit.

Jemima Puddleduck says: i did that today! lol- so i could wash dipes and not have to fold clothes

Jemima Puddleduck says: too funny

I don't know why, but it tickled me so much to know that there is another mom out there who stuffs another load of wet clothes into the dryer that is already full of completely dry clothes. The cats were looking at me with a confused expression - as I laughed in the quiet of my sleeping house.

I feel I've accomplished much if the clothes are clean. Sure I'd like them to be folded and put away, but seriously - have you ever tried to fold clothes with an almost 2-year-old sitting there ready to pounce on the stack of neatly folded items? It's just easier to throw them in a basket, pull out a wrinkled shirt and either go with the wrinkled look or toss it back into the already overflowing dryer for a quick warm-up and de-wrinkling. 

I'd never win housekeeper of the year, but I'm a pretty good mom if I do say so myself. Life passes much too quickly to obsess about having a spotlessly organized home. My kids are loved and loved well - that's what really matters.

And besides one day the kids will be gone and the laundry will still be there - waiting for me to catch up 20 years later!

Kids - 1, Parents - 0

We have this terrible secret in our house - 

Maddie still prefers- or rather demands a pacifier to go to sleep.

We've gotten to where she only has it at nap and bedtime, but it needs to go away. I swear it's starting to mess up her teeth and just the fact that she is so dependent on something bothers her father and me.

For a few weeks now we've been talking to her about when the paci's are going away - trying to mentally prepare her for when they are no longer available. 

So tonight was the night - we gathered them up from all over the house and put them in a box.

Then when bedtime came around it all went sour.

After an hour of screaming from my daughter - it was almost 10 p.m. and Wyatt was still not asleep because he was overtired and picking up on his sister's angst - I went into her room and stuck a paci in her mouth and told her to go to sleep.

Go ahead - lecture me on being inconsistent and rewarding negative behavior and all that other psycho babble - YOU come to my house and try to get her to settle down because nothing we tried worked.

Tomorrow is another day and I'm not ready to discuss the pacifiers quite yet. 

Honestly I need my kids to sleep more than I need to worry about braces and other dental issues. 

They'll probably end up needing them regardless of the pacifiers.