travel cups

Is it seriously my birthday today? The day might come and go without this sinking in – at – all. There is so much going on around here. Not only are we adjusting to the back-to-school schedule (yesterday, between us, Isaac and I made 6 trips total to and from the kids’ schools — 30-45 mins each trip!), but Elijah chipped a major chunk off his front tooth Wednesday night (emergency dental appointment), all of my licensing partners are asking for new artwork by the end of the month, and I still haven’t figured out where we are going to put this baby — who could come at any time — but will be here by the end of the month no matter what.

We have two kids’ rooms, one office, one open office, a loft, a turret-like play room… a closet. Do you bunk a newborn boy up with his 14-year-old brother who sleeps like a log, or with his 6-year old sister who doesn’t? Neither is the obvious choice. Or do you turn the teensy turret into an adorable nursery — that may only fit a crib and a nightstand. Nevermind the room is right over the front door (doorbell, barking dogs), it’s insanely bright in there, and there’s no sound barrier (such as a door). Or do you move the teenager into the office and the baby into the teenager’s room? Isaac is convinced no teenage boy should have a downstairs room by himself — much more a reflection of Isaac’s teenage years than a concern over Elijah as a mischief-maker. Besides, we kind of need the office. 

I don’t know. I’ve been telling myself that we’ll just set up a bunk for the baby in our room for a while till we know what he’s like and see how he does with sleeping & such. This is still ‘the plan.’ But, what I realize now is that his STUFF still needs a place. So, where do we put the clothes, the diapers, the blankets, the toys? My room, C’s room, E’s room, the loft, the office — same contenders.

These are things a mother should probably address in the 2nd trimester before her energy is thoroughly drained. Alas, I spent all of my nesting energy on meeting deadlines and getting my business obligations squared away so I could focus on the baby when he gets here. Not a bad plan, really. But his baby stuff? I have to wash things and put them away — well, somewhere.

So, here I am. Tick, tick, tick, tick… the timer is about to chime. He’s coming out of the oven.

I should probably forget all of this for one more day and just go do something fun, huh? Antique-shopping would fit the bill.

Before I do, I have a birthday obligation to meet — my annual birthday giveaway! I have four new Pocket Posh books out with Andrews McMeel Publishing that – are – stinking – fabulous. I’ve got two prizes for the guy or gal who can cheer me up / calm me down / get me jazzed / sooth my swollen legs with a funny birth or baby story, a great joke, amazing advice, etc.** Your call.

Each winner can have his or her pick of one of my new travel mugs and one of our new Pocket Posh books. (Which I have learned are the PERFECT things to keep in the car for school-pick-up-line boredom. PERFECT.) They don’t just have clinical definitions and such — they have history, and interesting facts, and smart stuff. They’re really cool.

• 120 Words To Make You Sound Intelligent
• 120 Words You Should Know
• 120 Words That are Fun to Say
• 120 Job Interview Words You Should Know

** I reserve the right to be completely befuddled by all of your fabulous comments and to resort to the Random Number Generator for help if picking a winner is too stressful for my rotund self.

And, before I forget, can I say it is FAR easier to shave swollen ankles!? This fascinates me.