I can’t believe it is nearly the end of the year.  The first of the big  fall/winter holidays is already behind us.

 Halloween is over. Thanksgiving is now just a couple of weeks away.  And, well, you know what isn’t far behind    I have vowed this year, as I do every year,  to slow down and enjoy the season (LOL)!   It just seems that with every passing day, my list of things to do  only grows bigger.  I start mapping out how I will tackle the holidays EARLY!  Just ask anyone who knows me.  I always think that I have a handle on the holidays, then comes Thanksgiving and all my organization goes out the window!  Before you know it, I’m rushing around and forgetting to take in the season.  Well, not this year, I say with a chuck.  At least, this year, I am going to make the effort.  I’ll let you know how that goes

xoxo,

Tracy

I hope you all had a howling Halloween!  This is the first year that Camille kind of got the whole idea of “Trick or Treat.”  She wasn’t, however, crazy about the costume at first.  In fact, she screamed for the first 5 minutes of wearing it.  We even dressed her four-legged brother up to help get her in the spirit.   No luck.  They both dressed up as hot dogs.

It wasn’t until she saw her little friends dressed up that she calmed down. Then after just a few minutes she got the hang of it!   We did not go very far, but by the end she said ”I like this trick or treat thing!”  She definitely liked the candy that she brought home  Send your pictures of your little ghosts and goblins to our website, newsnet5.com, we’d love to see them!

xoxo,

Tracy

You can’t watch the news, read the paper, or surf the internet without seeing h1n1 or swine flu stories.  When the outbreak first started I wasn’t sure that I would get Camille vaccinated.  Now, I am positive that when we do finally get the vaccinations in our area that she will get one.  The CDC  says the swine flu has killed more than 90 children since the outbreak  started last spring.   Some of those kids were healthy, they had no underlying health issues and that is what is so unnerving to me.  So, until the vaccine comes in, I am doing all that I can to keep everyone in our house flu-fee.  I’ve become the hand-washing, hand-sanitizing, anti-bacterial wiping police.  I’m sure some of you seasoned parents think, perhaps, I might be overreacting a tad.  I’m the first to admit that as I get older I am becoming a bit of a germaphobe! I certainly know that I can’t  protect my child from every germ and illness,  but you better believe I will give it my best shot   And this time of year that means a shot to protect her.  My friend and co-worker Paul Kiska coined a phrase that he wants to put on a bumper sticker….”Paranoid parent and proud of it!”  I’ll be first in line to stick one on my bumper.

xoxo,

Tracy

Many of my loyal blog readers, thank you, know that on the day we found out I was pregnant with Camille my mother was diagnosed with  multiple myeloma.  A blood cancer.  I have been at almost all of my mother’s doctors appointments and Camille has been there too.  She is very used to his office.  In fact, when she sees the building, she knows that we are going to see GaGa.  Well, she’s picked up a thing or two at those appointments.   

Poor Oliver.  She bandaged him up.  She took his blood pressure. She listened to his heart.  He is so patient with his big sister.  I love this age!  However, her four legged patient might be running out of patience  

xoxo,

Tracy

When Camille was an infant she was a perfect angel in church, she slept right through mass! Then once she learned to walk, we all walked right into the cry room and we’ve been there ever since.  Well, this week we ventured into the  “Big People’s Section “.  We sat in the last row for a quick escape if needed.  I admit it, I bribed her with a treat if she was a good girl.  I had to whisper that bribe in her ear every so often during mass.  We did, however, leave after communion. I suppose I can’t expect perfection all at once.  All in all, she did pretty well.  As we were walking to the car, she saw a statue of Mary, she went over, touched her hand and said “See you next week Mary!”  They are pretty cute at this age

xoxo,

Tracy

My  husband and I were married  a while  before we were blessed with Camille.  Even before she came along, we were not “out on the town” people. We like spending time at home.  So, when she arrived, staying at home wasn’t something new.  Instead of the two of us, it was the three of us.   When we do venture out, Camille comes with us wherever we go And we love our family time together.

With that said,  the other night, my husband took me out on a date.  (He was trying to get out of the “doghouse”.)  We had a nice day with Camille, we went to a pumpkin patch, so I didn’t feel guilty about leaving  that evening.  It was nice.  We were only gone a few hours but it was nice to spend time with each other and talk .  

This is new to me.  When I was growing up, my parents very rarely went anywhere without us.  Actually, I can only think of a handful of times during my entire childhood they went out alone. 

I don’t think we will make dates weekly, but I do think we will go out alone a little more often. Over the past couple of years of motherhood, I’ve learned that parents need time for themselves and for each other.  Even if it’s only a few hours a month.  I think it makes me a better mother.   I hope so anyway

xoxo,

Tracy

I was thinking the other day of all the things the people in my life, who are mothers, never told me when I was pregnant.  Why is that? Why do mothers not tell mothers-to-be what it’s like to be a mom?  I decided I’m going to share some secrets.  Here we go, in no particular order. 

You will never go to the bathroom alone again, at least for the foreseeable future.  You can pick out the sound of your child’s cry in a room full of kids.  Hearing your child say “I Love You” evokes emotions that you never knew you had.  You answer the same question over and over again and it’s okay.   You’ll sing lullabies that you thought you forgot.  You will do anything to protect your  child.  You worry from the minute your baby is born.  You’ll never get a good night’s sleep again.   You  become a kid again, only this time it’s better The love you feel for your child can’t be put into words and maybe that’s why nobody spills the secrets. Words don’t do motherhood justice

xoxo,

Tracy

I knew it would happen. I knew sooner or later I would hear those three little words. “Mommy don’t go!” And it broke my heart.  For the first time, I was right smack in the middle of a mommy dilemma.  I had to go to work but my toddler was tugging at my heartstrings. 

First, it was “don’t go” then it was “I come with you to work”.  What do you say? She doesn’t understand finances.  She doesn’t understand careers.  She just understands that she wants Mommy home.  The good-bye’s are getting longer too.  One more kiss, Mommy. One more hug, Mommy. And I can’t leave while she is asking for more of my time.

I am well aware that I am not the only mother that has had to deal with juggling motherhood and career.  I also know that when I leave for work, I leave a little piece of my heart behind with Camille.

xoxo,

Tracy

I can hardly believe it, summer is gone!  My mother always says the older you get, the faster time goes.  Once again, she is right.  It  was just Memorial Day.  Now, in what seems like the blink of an eye, Labor Day is here and gone!  There is a different feel in the air, the sky looks different and  the sounds of the neighborhood have changed. Gone are the sounds of  kids playing outside, replaced by the sound of the school bus coming down the street.

 This summer Camille learned how to water the flowers and use sidewalk chalk (without eating it)     For some of my friends, it was a tough end to summer.  Several of them put their kids on the school bus for the first time! I know it was harder for them than their kids!  That’s a lesson I am in no hurry to learn.

xoxo,

Tracy

Where does a 2 year old get all that energy? I don’t understand it.  Camille has enough energy for 3 adults!  She never stops Even when she is tired, she just keeps going, although a bit crabby!  She is still taking a nap and usually  doesn’t complain too much about it.  The other day, she refused to take a nap, she just wouldn’t do it.  Well, it caught up with her.

As you can see, she fell asleep in her dinner! I couldn’t believe it, my husband took this picture as proof She was tuckered out.  She hasn’t complained about taking a nap since.  Wouldn’t it be nice to take an afternoon nap again?

xoxo

Tracy