Momnesia The Book

Rise and shine

   

I remember the "sleep" I got when my kids were infants. In the morning, I would add up the bits and pieces of shut-eye I had managed to capture the night before, and it would equal something like 45 minutes. Then I would cry. Then I would get out of bed and start the day.

So believe me, I'm happy that my kids are a wee bit older now. But I ask you: WHY do kids have to get up so early in the morning? Maybe it's just my kids, but come 5:45 a.m. Claire (3 yrs old) appears at my bedside shouting, "It's daytime!"

I groan, open my eyes and I see her face, right up against my face. "Get up!" she instructs. "It's daytime!" This is especially irksome on the weekend. "People aren't up yet, Claire," I tell her. "Just stay in bed a little longer."

She ignores my pleas. "It's daytime!" she shouts again, pulling at my pajamas. And unfortunately it is light outside. (Darn you, daylight savings time.)

So I drag myself out of bed. You just can't argue with daylight. Or a chipper three year old, for that matter.

She's a doctor and she works out a lot

In the book we talk about “Easy Outfits.” Our idea was that if you have a few ready-made ensembles, getting dressed will be one less thing you need to think about.

 

Here are a couple ideas from the book:

 

  

  

 

 

This concept started with the work out outfit. I frequently don the work out gear and proceed to engage in NO exercise whatsoever. Unless managing to strap my three-year-old into her car seat is considered a “work out.” (Which it should be.)

 

Anyway, I started with that idea and tried to think of other easy outfits. Brainstorming... brainstorming... A few ideas, but nothing great. Then later, in the shower, it hit me: scrubs. Scrubs! They are the perfect ready-made outfit. Official, authoritative, cool.

 

I actually did an Internet search to see about buying some (they come in a wide range of styles, it turns out). I haven’t made the purchase… yet. But I’m pretty close. I figure people will think I’m a nurse or doctor who works out all the time. My only concern is that it will go too far. That I will be called on to provide actual medical assistance at some point. Like the classic scene in Seinfeld (“Is ANYONE here a marine biologist??”).

 

“Is anyone here a medical professional?” someone will yell, as a kid lies on the ground with a hurt leg. All heads will turn to me. Me and my official scrubs. I will, of course, sprint away faster than anyone could imagine. But I’ll yell back to them, “Sorry! It’s time for my work out!!”

 

Howdy.

Y'all, I'm headed out of town -- to Nashville, TN.

I'll be spending Memorial Day weekend with Momnesia co-author Shannon Seip and our friend Debi. The three of us were roommates in college, and we meet up once every year (this will be the 13th time). Nearly every year, we go somewhere new. Boston, Portland, New York, etc. There have been a few repeats, but mostly new places. I've never been to Nashville, so I'm excited.

Quick Momnesia Moment for you (of course!). I was talking to Shannon about where we would meet at the airport and I said something about arriving on Friday night. She replied, "No, we're all getting there on Thursday." I was like, "No, I'm sure it's Friday." Sure enough, our flights are on Friday. Shannon was gearing up to go to the airport an entire day early. Mm hm. Momnesia.

I'll leave you with this, a picture from our first reunion (Madison, WI). Ah, to be that young again! :)

Enjoy your weekend!

The People are on their way...

My three-year-old has had a fear -- for a long time -- that whatever she wants, it will be snatched away before she can get to it. Specifically: it will be snatched away by "The People."

Behold this common exchange:

Me: Let's go to the store. We have to buy milk.

Claire: (suddenly panicked) We gotta get it before The People get it!

No matter what it is, she is certain The People will find a way to get to it first. Toys. Food. Gasoline. It's always the same: "We gotta get it before The People get it!" She is yelling. She is adamant.

My six-year-old, of course, has a lot of fun with this one. "Claire, I think The People are getting the baby stroller you wanted!"

Naturally, I nip this teasing in the bud.

I do, however, admit to using The People to my own advantage from time to time. "Claire, you need to let me strap you into the car seat! You know we have to get to the store before The People get there!"

Works every time. (I know. I'm evil.)

Classic

So we were really excited yesterday when the Orange County Register published an article about the book. Complete with a couple pictures! I had to chuckle, though, because in the photo of me and the kids it looks like Claire would rather be anywhere else. Check it out:

 

The poor kid was wary of this "photo shoot" from the moment the photographer appeared. He was totally nice and great with the kids, but Claire remained suspicious throughout. When her baby doll (an innocent bystander!) got pulled into the mix, she was doubly suspicious. Hence, her expression in the photo.

Kate, meanwhile, switched into performance mode. She kept edging me out of the photos, striking dramatic poses, etc. When she saw the paper, she was beside herself that her doll made it into the picture. That was WAY more exciting than any of us being featured.

She even ran to her doll and said, "Kailey! You're in the paper! You're in the paper!" And I have to say, Kailey the doll did seem somewhat impressed. More impressed than Claire, anyway.

Share a moment, get a bookmark

   

Don't let this happen to you!

We love hearing about your "Momnesia Moments." And as a thank you, we want to send you a bookmark created by Adrienne Hedger (me!), illustrator and co-author of Momensia.

Just e-mail us at share@momnesiathebook.com with your Momnesia Moment and we'll send you a bookmark. It's that easy!

  

Momnesia Moments

Moms chime in...

"I was getting ready to go out to dinner with my hubby and I tried pulling on my favorite white pants. I was shocked when I couldn't get them up my legs. Duh! I was seven months pregnant and they weren't maternity."

A handy guide

Ah, the BabyBjorn. A convenient way to transport your little one around.

Just one drawback: Since baby is facing out, you have no idea what's going on down there.

Is baby grimacing? Is goo pouring from his nose? Has he spit up all over himself? Who knows? All you know is that the top of his head looks fine.

What you have to do is watch how others react to your child. Their facial expressions will indicate whether you should worry or not. To make it even easier, you can use this cheat sheet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait, something is missing...

I was thinking about toddlers today. How they go through that stage where they have to carry *all* of their possessions around with them. Is it a security thing? Or are they scared that some ne'er-do-well will ruin their stuff if they set it down *even for a second*?

Whatever the case, it usually comes down to a scene like this: You are on a tight schedule and you need to run to the store for one little thing, so you're shouting, "Get in the car!" Your toddler rounds the corner, sporting this look:

Oh, and by the way, you better strap her into her car seat without disrupting the teetering pile. (After you have located the purple blankie, of course.)

 

Momnesia Moment

   

Moms chime in...

Hi, it's Adrienne Hedger, your blog host. I'm chiming in this time because I remembered a recent momnesia moment. (Isn't it ironic that you know you have momnesia moments, but sometimes you just can't remember them?)

Anyway, I was driving home and thought of something important. So I got out my cell phone and left myself a voicemail at home. Five minutes later -- FIVE -- I got home, saw that I had one message and thought (with surprise), "I wonder who called me!"

Mm hm. Momnesia.