Gratitude Friday…

For all the love, today is a beautiful day! It’s cold and sunny. I love that kind of day.

I know. I’m chilly in 90 degree weather should there be a shade tree and a slight breeze. But I love winter. I love the crispness in the air. I love how bright the sun shines and how warm it feels on your face compared to the cold air.

I also love my winter wardrobe.

Today I have on my favorite black knit skirt. It’s one of those fancy convertible dresses/skirts. It could be a strapless knit dress but it won’t. I hope my skirt isn’t pining away for the opportunity to realize it’s full potential as a strapless dress because as long as I own it, it will not live up to that potential.

Also wearing my “You had me at hello” sweater. And my red Barse stone necklace that I bought a million years ago when I had disposable income.

Otherwise known as the summer of 2008.

And my black boots from Target. I have a 30 dollar rule on shoes. I just don’t see the point in spending gabs of cash on something I’ll be sitting at my desk wearing for 10 hours a day.

But come to think of it, apart from purchasing shoes for swollen pregnancy feet, I haven’t bought shoes in a couple of years.

Then again, I’ve spent enough on onesies in the past six months to fill a closet full of shoes.

You say “Shoe Obsession”. I say “Onesie Obsession”. Same thing really.

So this week has been rather odd. One because it’s the first time since the second week in December that I worked a full five day work week. Which is pure awesomeness. Except that by Wednesday night I was feeling a little like this might be the longest week. Ever.

Second, because Pumpkin has been acting rather bizarre. Not sleeping very well, spitting up a little, clingy (more than normal, or rather this new I want Mommy all the time normal) and really fussy. School actually called me yesterday to find out why my normally very happy kiddo is now very unhappy. Nurse seems to think it’s the ear infection. Could be. I asked about teething (so far we have zippo teeth). She said “we” tend to blame everything on teething and “we” really shouldn’t. I’m thinking that the “we” she was speaking about are all those deranged first time parents out there.

Oh wait. That’s us.

We’re supposed to see how she feels today and if it’s not better, take her to the weekend doctor on call. She’s already at least a little better because we didn’t have to get up last night. Huge difference between getting up three times Wednesday night and nothing last night.

Yep, three times.

Shout out to my rock star husband who handled all three of those.

I mean I was awake but it was cold outside of the covers. Besides, I have earplugs to drown out her whining.

KIDDING.

They don’t drown her out entirely.

The gratitude list this week will be equally as odd but perhaps shorter than what is becoming just a random rant of information.

1. Official Mommy Certification – Got to work Wednesday feeling like I looked all kinds of fabulous. Black pencil skirt, aqua cowl neck sweater, long glass bead necklace, black boots. You know. Head held high feelin' like I was hot stuff. Until about mid-morning when I lowered my head for some reason and discovered this big white splotch on my right boot. Spit-up. Seriously. That’s like the Mommy Seal of Authentication right? To go out in public with spit-up on some article of clothing and not for one single minute realize it until you have strutted your stuff all over the office? I feel all official now. Like I’ve hit some odd right of passage in working mommy mommyhood.

2. Ignorance is Bliss – I just can’t resist Fuzzy’s chips and queso. Despite the fact that I have no idea if it’s gluten-free or not. I figure if I eat it and I don’t get sick, I’m going with its gluten-free. That may or may not be true since several weeks ago I ate a Pig in a Blanket and didn’t get sick. And it was one of those big ones with the entire hot dog surrounded by cheese and a warm yeast roll. Basically dripping with gluten. But no sickness. I have a theory but I’ll save that for later. Right now, I am grateful to be completely ignorant of the ingredients in Fuzzy’s. And if you know them, please do not share.

3. Pink Overalls – Hello. Don’t you just want to snuggle her?

4. Selective Memory – I am blessed. I do not remember just every single detail of my life. My brother remembers entire conversations he had when he was four and my mother has managed to stock away every petty fight I had with my childhood friends. I remember none of them. Which made this week’s task, The Great Email Cleanout of 2011, simply marvelous. Because who really wants to remember every awful thing your boss ever said as you're reading though almost seven years worth of correspondence? I had more than just a little fun reading through emails such as “Spring Fever…I’ve got it bad so let’s close up shop at 4:00 pm today and get out of here. If you haven’t got it, then get it!” Or noticing the times at which I was responding to plane requests. 4:54 am. 11:13 pm. Those all make me smile now. They don’t make me feel all Kum Ba Ya and want to hold hands around a camp fire (I do remember some stuff) but I’ll take smiling over how I know I’ve felt at various points since 2004.

5. 428 Shots and Totally. Worth. It.

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