In need of serious help...advice...anything!

Okay so Brooke is in the naughty corner as we speak. She just tried to push me because I tried to stop her from harassing her sleeping brother (normal behavior for a two year old i think). What I need help with is trying to get her to take the naps she so adamently tries to refuse. I understand that some kids grow out of them...BUT she is SOOOO tired and miserable by 4 that it is driving us all crazy. I will try anything so any other tidbits besides...
1. using a "prize item" for when she wakes up from a nap...
2. giving a treat to take a nap
3. playing music
4. giving her a doll to sleep with
5. letting her read her books before she naps
6. driving in the car (she dosn't transfer wll so i would have to be in the car for hours-
7. ????
Please! She fights it like no other- and severly needs it!

The Boy with many Expressions...

I call this first one the "George Costanza"

Who Knew...?

Apparently everyone and their mother! It had been years that people would ask me if I wanted a cup of coffee that I have replied, "No, thank you". When I replied I never had had coffee they sat in shock. I always wondered why this was so shocking? Why were people so into it? I thought they were weird for thinking I was weird for not liking it! UNTIL...I decided mommy needed a 'safe' vice. I forced myself to try it out one day. It took a few tries to get my cup the way I apparently 'like it' and BANG! It hit me...the caffeine, the warmth of the coffee and apparently the power to make one a bit happy and cheerful when not so happy and cheerful!

Scott finds this very funny-he thinks I am a bit obsessive (which could be true!)...because I have pretty much purchased a can of coffee from every place I visit...Trader Joes, Uncle Giuseppe's etc... There are so many types of specialty coffees and different flavors! Why not try them all! If you have any favorites...feel free to share!

Hide n' Seek Brooke-Style

Brooke- "MOM!"(while I am putting away dishes)
Annette-"Yes, Brooke?"
Brooke- "Where is Lucas?"
Mom thinking- What does she mean where is Lucas...he's right behind me sleeping?
Brooke- "Mom, we can't find Lucas..."
Annette- I turn around...and she says "Ya can't find him!"
Apparently we were all playing hide-n-go seek Brooke Style!

I won't see you in September...

When I returned to school after having Brooke I was devasted for the first week. I wondered what effect this would have on my daugher, myself, my family... Now that I have the opportunity to stay home I wonder what effect this will have. It may sound weird but I feel that being a working mom has a lot of benefits (and some negatives of course). I feel that Brooke learned how to be more independent, not as needy and clingy, and more appreciative of the time we spent together. I felt I learned the same. I liked that she was 'raised by the village' per say. I like that she will grow up knowing that her mother worked and handled many different things. I like to think that she will be proud. At the end of the day , I appreciated every golden minute I had with her when i came home. I made the time I spent with her count. It may seem that a small child (over a year) doesn't know any better but I feel they do.

The biggest negative or shall i say most difficult part of being a working mom, i find, is the juggling. You have to be so, so organized , you have to be a planner and you HAVE to be able to multi-task . You also have to be able to let go of somethings...like the hairballs in the corner of your bedroom, or laundry piling up for more than hmmm...4-5 days? It can get a bit tiresome sometimes...but if you are good at it (and i believe we all get good at it at one point) it is not so bad. I just always had to make sure I had scheduled some downtime for myself, and for Scott and myself (this we actually slacked a bit too much in...but we are working on getting better with that)!

Being at home Brooke and I can't get a little, lets see how do we say it nicely, tired of eachother. You can love your child soooo much but spending every minute with someone (especially if they are whining) can get to you a bit. It becomes more of a job (again these are my views and may not be the views of every stay at home mom!) and a task. I think having something else to go to keeps more of 'you' in the equation. You don't lose yourself in your children's lives as much....does that make sense?

Anyway, this is what is usually on my mind in September. New beginnings, new choices. I am happy with my choice to stay home and spend some time with my children but as I am sure you can see with this post- unsure and curious to see how it will all pan out! It is new to me...but a good new. Somedays I am sure just like my 'other' job - I will jump at the opportunity to get out early...

Back and ready to write...

So I haven't blogged in a while. Some updates...
1. Baby Lucas Scott was born on June 22, 2009 weighing in at 8lbs 15oz
2. Brooke is now a speaking, wise talking, little lady ready to throw many a loops for her mom and dad
3. I am not going back to work in September - a first for me. I am going to take some time for my other "full-time" job as a stay-at-home mom.
4. Guest room and den piece are almost 'completed'.
5. My brother Rocky and sister-in-law Marie are expecting a baby in February! CAN'T wait to be called Aunt Annette or Aunt Nettie...whichever he or she prefers. Plus can't wait to see the adorable chubby cheeks that I predict him or her to have.

I'm sure more is happening and will update...but for now I have to go intervene- Brooke is trying to feed Lucas a blueberry because "they are so yummy!"