Shop. Click. Checkout. Pick-Up.

     Recently I discovered the awesomeness that is 'online grocery shopping'...since my husband deployed I've been re-learning how to multi-task with a toddler. My son isn't a bother when running to the market or a big box store. However - there's something to be said about the anxiety I felt about having to go to the market with a 102 degree fever and an energetic toddler. I was down to the bare minimum and knew we needed groceries ASAP. I live 30 minutes north of my parents, who both work full time, 45 minutes north of my in-laws who work, and my brother was deployed as well, my brother in law goes to school and works...so calling in a quick favor wasn't going to be easy. Out of desperation I searched for grocery stores that delivered and decided that if I could find one in my zip code I would suck up the delivery fee. Turns out the two grocery stores within 7 miles that offer delivery services, don't currently have delivery at those two stores...awesome. Enter Klein's Shop Rite stage left! I was well enough to put my son in the car and drive the 4 miles to the store, and they had a first time use coupon! I was in heaven, I carefully typed in all of the items I needed and was able to shop the circular from my couch with tissues in my lap. I usually use coupons to save money - but this time I needed things that generally don't have coupons like cow's milk, produce, frozen veggies for stir fry dinners etc. I was even able to order cat litter and cold medicine - heck if you needed it they have diapers and formula and shampoo available. I'm so in love with this service, I scheduled my delivery time and they told me how much my order would cost. The next morning I pulled into the designated pick up lane 5 minutes before my selected arrival time and they had my truck loaded, my visa swiped, and I was on my in three minutes - no joke! I didn't even have to get out of the car! The young lady was so nice to me, and her customer service was amazing! Because of all of those added perks, I'm happy to say that I'm not sick, and my toddler is not rambunctious, and I just placed my grocery order online and I don't even feel guilty about paying the $10.00 this time! Grocery pick up scheduled for 5:30 PM this evening! I have more time to actually spend with my son tonight, and that means that we'll be able to build forts, play with robots, cook dinner together, and read two books at bed time instead of just one. What would you do to streamline your routine and give yourself the gift of time?

Dental Drama

     Over the past decade I've neglected my Dental check-ups but bot hygiene or routine. Now that we have acceptable dental coverage and the bank roll to cover the gap I decided to make my first appointment in about 10 years. Gasp. True story folks, I'm not proud of it and I was terrified of the possibilities. Root Canal? Cavities? Plaque monsters? I don't recommend waiting more than 6 months between cleanings at all - I was filled with anxiety as I sat in the waiting room of a dental practice I've never been to. I looked them up through our insurance to make sure that we were covered. As for knowing the Dentist, the Dental Assistants...I had no clue. I was introduced to my Dental Hygienist, she was so incredibly nice and funny and didn't pass judgement at all when I admitted that I hadn't been to the dentist in a decade. I cringe just saying that! After the x-rays, cleaning, and accessory films - I had a perfect check-up! Apparently the fact that I still have a baby tooth in my mouth is impressive. I've know this for years, after I lost all my baby teeth and my adult teeth came in, our family dentist at the time discovered with x-rays that I still have a baby tooth in my mouth with no adult tooth underneath. He sealed it and capped it to keep it safe and protected, knowing that until I got old and lost all of my teeth it would stay with me. My lucky baby tooth. Ironically, my late father died with the same baby tooth in his mouth and no adult tooth underneath. One of my cuspids is backwards, which I knew when the orthodontist fitted me for braces back in middle school, instead of turning it around, we simply straightened it where it was...no complaints there. Something strange - that I can't explain...when my son was a little over a year old (so about a year and a half ago) he was teething and I swore up and down that I was teething too. Sympathy gum cutting if you will. Sure enough I have a para-molar, it's 80% smaller than the rest of my teeth and doesn't seems to be bothering me, and it's not impacted or causing any irritation to my jaw or gums. So, little para-molar gets to stay! This post is UN-compensated and I have no affiliation with Waterpik or companies and products of the like...but I'm so sure this is what saved me and kept my teeth and gums healthy and clean. I use my Waterpik everyday! I'm sure that without it - I would have several teeth with cavities and several teeth that would need to be pulled and drilled. So thank you Waterpik!

Wordless Wednesday

Being Still

As a mother you know that one day that tiny baby you birthed will grow up, and your bond will change. Nothing stays the same, ever - and that's the way life should be. Time passes quickly these days and most of my time (spare) is spent sending letters, emails, videos, sound bites, and packages to my deployed Husband. The time I spend with our son, now two and a half, is precious and at times frustrating. I see the little 7 pound 4 ounce baby I gave birth to on that hot day in early June 2009 - but he's under the impression that he's 12 and will soon be borrowing the keys to the car.

Every day I find myself emailing my Husband, and calling my Mother telling them about his latest 'dance move' or expression. I can't wait for him to do something astounding, as he always does and share it with his Father! Tonight after he successfully WORE his dinner, and proudly I might add - he told me he needed a bath because he was dirty. So we cleaned up after dinner and went up the stairs for his bath (mind you he's also two and strong willed) he walked my bathroom and looked into my large soaking tub (which hasn't been used in a long time) and saw some dust and promptly informed me that he couldn't take a bath in the tub because it was dirty. Before I could even respond he yelled with joy, "Wait Mommy! Turn the water on and the dirt will go away, that a great idea- right?" Within mere minutes I was calling my Mother to relay the conversation. A mixture of pride and astonishment colored my every thought since he made that observation. Every parent thinks they're child is incredibly smart - as they should. Parents are a child's biggest champion.

The rest of the evening was down hill at best - you know the terrible two roller coaster! Until - my son let me rock him to sleep. He's so busy, running all the time and you can see the wheels spinning constantly. We have a bedtime routine...after dinner there's a bath, a sippy cup with milk, and a book snuggled in my bed. After we're done reading we talk about all of the things we are going to do the next day and how wonderful it will be since we're together and how happy that makes us. Then when it's dark and we can see the stars on the ceiling from his 'Twilight Turtle' we snuggle and listen to the 'Life Scapes' CD on his room. After a few minutes we get up and walk into his room still holding hands, he climbs into his toddler bed and asks me to hide him. I pull the hand made quilt over his head and give him a kiss. He quietly tells me, "I Love you Mommy" and I simply shut his door. Sometimes I'll hear him talking quietly to himself on the monitor and playing with a stuffed animal. He never gets out of his bed anymore - and within a few minutes I hear him snoring.

Tonight was different, tonight he cried when it was time to get out of the tub. He cried while I diapered and dressed him, and he cried when I brushed his teeth and when I turned out the lights. All of the crying squashed book time and as I lay there in the dark of my room listening to my child cry for his Daddy...my heart sank. Instead of being angry, or trying to pacify him with something else...I just sat in the dark and held out my arms. He pushed them away and cried for a good 8 minutes. The whole time I didn't retract my arms or say a single word. He finally leaned into my arms, picked up his cup and drank his milk. He drifted while laying in my arms in the dark and I heard his breathing even out - it was peaceful. The crying was over, the growling and snarling and thrashing about like a rabid animal. The terrible tot was once again my sweet little baby. I got up and then scooped him up and he whimpered like a puppy - I carried him into his room and sat in our rocking chair. I gently rocked and he nestled into my shoulder and then I saw it...I saw the sweet little baby who now with his head on my shoulder covered my torso completely with his. His legs now hang off the side and I have to tuck them under so they don't hang off the rocking chair arm. I stood and rocked him in the middle of his room - feeling his weight as he clung to me. When he sleeps - and he's not so busy he's still that tiny little baby. When he's climbing up the book shelf to turn on the TV - he's my rabble rouser.

For that thirty minutes that I was quiet and didn't say a word - my son went from 60 to 0. Being still...was all it took.

Wordless Wednesday