I wonder...

If I were to follow up on the email I got about obtaining a Russian bride, would she do all the laundry??

among other things

I haven't smoked a cigarette in almost two months, since my birthday extravaganza where I was with my gals...when I can't resist a cigarette. Before that it was numerous months. I used to be a regular ol' chimney, before I had the kids. I'll admit, after Liam I went back to smoking a few cigs a day, but after G, I never found my love for it again. And there's a part of me that's obviously glad about that (my lungs) but another part that's not (my ass). You see, since Grady came into the world, I've had a host of situations that have caused me to gain weight. Some of which can be attributed to my inability to stick to any diet I have tried, but some of which can be blamed on the following:
1) no more smoking . Smoking is bad, it's not glamourous, but it does help you stay thinner.
2) medication. Grady's arrival into this world was a blessing, but it also came with a whole host of issues, including postpartum anxiety and depression, both of which I am still being treated for. I know, he's over 2, but it's still here and I am working on it.
3) I am old. The mid-30's have made a considerable dent in my metabolism, and I'm still reeling from the after-effects.

Is it wrong of me to think that if I just started smoking cigarettes, drinking keg beer and eating cheese fries on a regular basis that I could get back into the jeans I wore in my mid-twenties? I wonder. I really do.

Quiet Mornings

One of my favorite things about my new dog walking career is when I return home to a quiet house. Mark leaves shortly after I get home, and then I have 45 to 60 minutes to just be before the hustle and bustle of the day begins. Having this time makes me feel so much more together, even if I don't do anything productive. But most days, I'm able to fold a load of laundry, unload the dishwasher, or something that makes me feel like I'm on my game. Yesterday I made blueberry muffins. On a weekday! Sure, they were from a mix but I added real blueberries. Grady was stunned when I told him we were having muffins. He literally jumped up and down in his crib and said "blueberry muffins for breakfast! Blueberry muffins! With butter and jam??" Doesn't take much to please that kid.

Another item for my resume

Dog Walker. It would fall under the volunteer or community service section rather than employment, but it is a new gig for me. No, we didn't get a dog, although jealousy over my new nephew Bowser led me to think about getting one for about 10 seconds.

Here's the thing. I don't get much time to myself, so I was trying to figure out a way that I could get a walk into my day before Mark leaves for school...at 6:20. Since it's dark, I don't necessarily feel safe walking by myself. Enter a pooch. But I only want to walk the dog in the morning, not take care of it and deal with it's hair all over my house (or it's slobber. I despise dog slobber). So, enter Lucy, my good pals and neighbors' dog. She's high energy and loves walking, and her parents just can't walk her enough. For instance, I walked her Sunday after she had completed a 7 mile run with her mommy and you would have thought she's been sitting on her butt on the couch all day. She's awesome.

And she's my new walking buddy. We spend a half an hour each morning together, and I'm loving it. So far I haven't even had to pick up any poop! It's similar to how Lucy's parents feel about Liam and Grady...they like spending time with them, but love giving them back.

Awww...

Mark got me some of my favorite flowers today, Gerbera daisies. They are so pretty and looked even better before I put them in a vase! :) There are nine flowers, one for each Valentine's Day we've spent together. Hard to believe!