Gripes and Complaints

So as a forewarning, this post is all one big complaint. I try to keep my gripes and complaints down, at least out loud, because in the big scheme of things, I really have too much to be thankful for to complain. However, there are times when I just have to unload, to get it off my chest so that I can move on.

Here goes....we start Monday, Wednesday, Friday staff PT next week. Doesn't seem like a big deal does it? No not really. As it relates to working out, I'm not against it. I get up every morning to work out anyway so it won't be a big change in that aspect. Working out keeps me healthy, able to fit into my clothes and gives me energy to run around with the kids.

The part I'm hating about it is that the place where we'll have to meet is about 20 min away from the house. That's with no traffic. So instead of me rolling out of bed every morning around 6 something, I'll have to be up no later than 0545 now and rolling out of the garage no later than 0600, really before that so I won't have to speed. Ugh, I am so not a morning person! We'll probably run around until 730ish and then I'll be back home around 8.

This seriously cuts into my morning alone time. My time to think, breathe, read, and pray to set myself up for a successful day! The kids are usually up by 8. I'll roll in, have to take a shower, try to fix and eat a healthy breakfast and be ready to leave the house by 0845 to be at work on time. Agggghhhhhh! It'll be rush, rush, rush. There'll be no time for breakfast with the kids. Or a chance to help get them ready for the day. It'll be in and out which I hate. I already hate that I have to leave them everyday and enjoyed seeing them in the morning if even for a short time.

This isn't the first time I've had to work out at work. It's just been a few years and so I had gotten used to my own routine. Back right after I had Bug, I used to have to be at the gym around 7 and by the time I worked out, it was shower at the gym and walk across the street to the office where I ate my breakfast. I would miss hubs and baby every morning. EVERY DAY, I would go to the daycare to see Bug for lunch to get my kid fix and eat lunch back in my office.

There is no getting up earlier because doing that would seriously cut into my sleep. I'm already getting in the bed by 10 but that hardly leaves me time to chill, decompress, and spend some time with hubs before my eyes want to close. Let's not even talk about trying to clean something. I was seriously considering getting someone to clean for us but now I'm definitely leaning that way. I'll have to really look into it this weekend. Hubs won't like it but I can't do it all. I'm seriously working full time and coming home to cook dinner at least 5 nights a week, giving baths and then trying to do whatever else needs to be done. Superwoman is on her way to being burnt out quickly!

Okay, enough complaining. Got it out and now to find a way to deal with it. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm turning 30!

Yep, this year on my birthday I will be the Big 3-0!

Hooray for me! Why the excitement you may ask? Well, in my own little world, 30 feels like I've finally arrived to adulthood. Depending on who you ask, many may say I've already arrived. But the first part of my 20's were so riddled with craziness and the stupid choices of a young person that I feel like this decade of me turning 30 is like a new slate.

Now my 20's weren't all bad. I graduated from college, got married to the love of my life, moved about 8 times (internationally and cross country), had 2 kids (NATURALLY!) and a plethora of other things. We have a house full of furniture, two vehicles, and have paid enough bills for a lifetime. But I made such rookie mistakes early on. Mistakes that could've been avoided and some that I'm still dealing with the consequences. Of course many of them could've been avoided had I listened to the advice of others around me but you know you can't tell grown people anything!

At 30 though, I know myself pretty well. I'm confident in who I am and what I was placed here on earth to do. I don't know everything and as the mother of two young children, I'm learning daily what it takes to be a good parent. However these days, I'm answering more questions than I'm asking. I really feel that I'm making moves for a successful future.

Now, to decide what to do for the big day? I'm away from my friends which is such a bummer. We're all turning 30 this year and so far, I've missed 2 big parties because I'm not around. I'm wondering if hubs will do anything? He is not the romantic type, nor the planner type. I threw him a surprise 30th but I kinda don't want put all my wishes in a basket hoping that he'll do the same only to be disappointed. I'll guess we'll have to see...

A day on, not a day off!

Well as most of the world knows...today was the MLK holiday. Growing up in Atlanta, the home of Dr. King, we were forever inundated with the call to serve others on this day. Hence the quote, "A day on, not a day off." However, being here in El Paso, I don't know if anyone celebrated the day really. This a huge Hispanic community so I'm thinking (my own opinion) that they are really not concerned about MLK since he was fighting for the injustice against black people.

Anyway, I digress. My day off was pretty good. It was one of those days where I didn't even change out of my pajamas. I don't get those too often but when I do, I take full advantage. Now of course, I had a long list of things in my head that needed to get done. Though we got a 4 day wknd, Friday was spent shopping for house wares and putting them together. Saturday was the post office for over an hour, new member's class and then Cattleman's Restaurant. Sunday, church of course and then fellowship with the Saints. So that left Monday for to get the house ready for the week.

Laundry needed to be put up, boxes to be mailed, more boxes emptied and thrown away, kitchen organized and clean, bathrooms cleaned, etc. My lovely husband, God bless him, decided to wash clothes a couple of weeks ago. 6 or 7 loads he did but he failed to get them from the laundry room to their destination. Love that he tried to help, hate that it didn't go all the way through. I usually wash only on the wknd and only that what I know I can put up. Or if I do have to wash during the week, I try to keep it to 1 load because I don't want things to pile up like they were. But I got the clothes all washed and put up, a couple of boxes cleaned out and thrown away and the kitchen looking decent. I also got boxes that were supposed to go out for Christmas off. Sad, I know. I have really got to work on this procrastination thing. The bathrooms will have to wait. They aren't filthy but from experience, I know they can get their quick. I will overcome. In the meantime, I'm looking for a part-time maid.

It's 2200

Which might not mean alot to some folk but right now, it's my new bedtime. I have got to get more disciplined about getting as close to 8 hours a night as possible. I'm a much better wife, mom and all around person when I'm not tired and exhausted. Everything still doesn't get done but I do get alot more done compared to if I've only gotten 6 hours or lesso. And with me going to work everyday, it's essential to my well being and brain power.

Life at the new job is going well. Can't really say how good because everything and everyone is so new but we'll see as time goes on and the closer we get to June when we're supposed to stand up the new brigade. Seems like a lofty call to me but it could work. I've seen miracles done before.

Not much to write but I'm determined more than ever to be a better blogger. Until next time...

She slept....

IN HER OWN BED!!! All night long last night. To say that I'm ecstatic is an understatement. I don't know why I was so ready for her to sleep through the night. I was so spoiled with M. He slept through the night early on and never really had lots of nights where he woke up so I was expecting that this time around. When it didn't happen, I quickly got used to it but it still sucked.

At 9 months though, I really needed her to work with me and she was not trying to hear it. Having to start work again this week, I had to put my foot down and put the plan into effect. Of course since we're all connected in this present world these days I put it out there on FB to see what other mom's had to say. Half said suck it up, she'll wean herself and it'll be over soon. The other half said put her out and let her work it out herself. Well, since the new house is two levels and her bedroom is upstairs, I kept her in the pack-n-play with us in the room but cut off the middle of the night milk supply. She...was...not....happy. The first two nights were rough. She fought and cried and threw the bottle of water every time we tried to give it to her. She only went to sleep once she got too tired to fight. The 3rd night was better, she woke up but didn't fight as long. 4th and 5th night, she woke up and we gave her the choice of water or the pacifier, she went with the latter.

Yesterday, hubs put her in her crib for nap time. It worked well for her so I said let's try it during the night. Went threw the usual night routine and laid her down with some milk. She whined a bit but I popped the paci in, laid her down, covered her up and threw the duces. She went on to sleep. Around midnight, her usual time to wake up, I went upstairs, gave her the paci again and she was out. We didn't hear from her until it was time to wake up. Yay!

Such a milestone. My baby is moving into toddler status. *sigh* This makes me happy and sad all at the same time. Happy 'cause my kids are moving towards independence but sad 'cause my baby is almost not a baby anymore. This could mean that I'm getting those feelings of having another one but at the same time, I don't think I'm ready yet. I still need a little time to get my body back and remember I'm a woman and not a mommy all the time. But then again, I'm turning 30 this year so I'm not getting any younger. Oh well, the joys of motherhood!

In-processing

So this week is in-processing week. All week I show up at too early o'clock, stand in a group, and get direction about what agency we have to check in to or what lecture I have to hear about something to do with the Army and El Paso. Grant it, they really do the whole process for the lower grade Soldiers but us seniors get caught up in the process. The whole thing could really be taken care of in 2 days but instead it's drawn out. Not to complain too much, it gives me time to kind of ease back into the working mom mode. I tell you, 30 days had me spoiled. The kids and I had a good routine going and now we're really tweaking it. Of course daddy is at home so they are with one parent but I wish that parent was me. What does this year have in store for me?

I did get a chance to go by my new BDE on yesterday and whew, I have my work cut out for me. It's a brand spanking new unit. So new that they have nothing in place. No SOPs, no equipment, barely any Soldiers, etc. We're working from the ground up. It's good in some ways that everything we come up with will be doctrine for our unit and every BN will be on the same page. That way when they get ready to go downrange (notice I said they) that we'll be all together which should help cohesion. But that will probably add up to some very long days over the next few months trying to make the pieces of the puzzle and putting them together. Especially when the big boss gets on ground some time in the early summer.

And on the home front, my new dryer came in on Saturday. Yay! It works wonderfully. The old dryer did work but I didn't know it didn't work that well. It did dry but it just took forever. I just thought that's how it was supposed to be. The new joint came about 1400 on Saturday and I started washing about 1700. By 21, I had 4 loads completely washed and dried. I was stunned! Everything was clean and static free and almost folded. Now let's not get carried away, lol.

It's a new year, 2010!

I seriously cannot believe it is 2010! I mean, 2009 literally flew by. It was a great year and there were times of course it dragged by but looking back, 365 days flew off the calendar like Lil Wayne making it rain at the club, LOL. Don't ask me where that analogy came from.

It was my first full year in two years being home with my family for all holidays.
I had a baby girl, naturally, at home! I'm still amazed at that.
We moved internationally from Germany to South Carolina and then less than 6 months later, moved to El Paso, Texas.
I changed jobs (in the Army) and successfully passed the next level of Army training.
We took a financial peace class and paid off most of our debts. With only one person bringing in income.
And that's only a little bit of what transpired for the Jones' family in 2009.

It has truly been a blessed year! Of course there were times when we didn't know whether we were going or coming or if we should go left or right but through it all, God was faithful and brought us out victorious! I know He has so much in store for us and I'm excited to see what 2010 has to bring. This is only the beginning!