I Wonder Wednesdays

I was inspired by my dear friend over at "and then some more." And I've decided to try my hand at a "weekly edition" sort of posting.

Stifle that snickering.

If you'll notice, I put "weekly edition" in quotes. Those quotes give me a little leeway. We all know that I probably won't post every single stinkin' Wednesday. But it's good to set goal every now and then.

It is my year to be deliberate after all.

So without further ado, I present to you the first (and hopefully not last) installment of
I Wonder Wednesday

• I wonder why I can't remember all the good "I wonder" quotes I came up with earlier today.
• I wonder when our house in Indianapolis will finally sell.
• I wonder why I haven't felt like a very good Mom lately.
• I wonder if I'll ever develop a taste for bananas.
• I wonder what my kids dream about when they're sleeping.
• I wonder why my 5 year old can't seem to get a handle on his emotions.
• I wonder why WalMart has 25 lanes if they're only going to open 4 of them.
• I wonder how many Easter eggs the lawnmower man will run over in our yard.
• I wonder if ya'll know that the only reason we have a lawnmower man is because we rent our house and lawn care is in the lease. It's spoiling us, really.
• I wonder why I can't get in bed before 11:15. I try, but I can't.
• I wonder when I'll have the time to finish training for the half-marathon. Maybe I should change that "when" to an "if."
• I wonder if I should go have a snack now.
  

#4.... I'm on a roll

Okay, this is a weird one.
And interesting.
Although that probably depends on what your definition of interesting is.
But it's definitely random.
So random, in fact, that when I told my hubby about it tonight he gave me that funny-wrinkled-forehead-raised-eyebrow look with a "Really?"
And he's been married to me for almost 11 years. So if he didn't know it, I guess you can't get much more random than that.

I don't normally consider myself an anxious person. I'm pretty easy going, even keel and can adapt pretty well to change. But there are 2 things that cause me to suffer anxiety. The first one is indoor play places at fast food restaurants. Don't even get me started.
The second one is this:


I get very anxious right before taking the first sip out of a hot drink I just purchased.
Especially if it has a lid on it.
My heart races a little. I tend to hold my breath. It's kind of like the feeling you get when you're getting ready to jump off the high dive for the very first time.
I usually go through 4 or 5 attempts before I finally get the nerve up to take that first sip.

I hate having a burnt tongue.

Number Three

If I keep going at this rate, we may never get to the end of this "7 Random Things" list. And I'm sure, if that were the case, you all would be so sorely disappointed.
No?
Well anyway, I'll move on to number 3.

Although now that I think about it, there may still be a few of you that will be sorely disappointed after reading this. But for those of you who already know this about me and still call me "friend," I thank you.

There's really no way to soften the blow. So I'll just come right out with it.

#3



I got my nose pierced.
And I like it.
So there.

This is only the beginning

Tonight I sit here fondly remembering the days when I could walk into any store and purchase any outfit for my beautiful, sweet curly headed daughter, take it home and she would wear it. I could pick out dresses and skirts, jumpers and button down shirts, skorts and pants. She would wear it all. No questions asked. No fits. No arguments. Just pure unadulterated compliance.

Then something happened.
I guess she grew up and got a mind of her own.

We went shopping tonight.
We went to one store to purchase one outfit. It took one hour. I came home with one headache.

Everything I liked, she didn't. Everything she liked, I didn't.
She wanted peace signs and t-shirts.
I demanded a skirt and nice top. It is for Easter, after all.
She must get her strong will from her father, because I still have mine.

The biggest issues seemed to revolve around the "budget." Apparently it's a little tricky for young shoppers to realize that a "40% off your entire purchase" coupon doesn't always make everything affordable. As bedtime quickly approached I finally had to put my foot down. Either we're leaving the store or we're buying something that we can afford. She agreed to pay the $13 difference out of her own money and we cheerfully exited the store with these:

a cute embellished cami
(not pictured: orange tank to go under "low cut" cami.
Thankfully she does have a strong sense of modesty)

sweater to wear over cami/tank combo

fun tie dye skirt
(at least my blue jean girl agreed to a skirt with no screaming!)

Have I mentioned how thankful I am for school uniforms. I'm not so sure we could do the school clothes shopping thing every fall!

By the way, can someone please tell me when my daughter got old enough to go in the dressing room by herself to try on multiple outfits? That's just such a "grown-up" thing to do.

A Stream of Conscious Toddler Thoughts

I'm awake. Why am I still in my bed? I'm going to stand here and grunt until someone comes to get me. Hey, maybe if I yell loud enough I can wake up my brother and sister too. Oh, here comes my Mommy. Why does she look so tired? I don't know what she's talking about. What does "It's only 6:30" mean anyway? Put my feet on the floor. I'm out of this bedroom. Oh juice, I want my juice. Juice, I need my juice. Why is she not in here getting my juice yet? Oh there she is. She's pouring something. Is it my juice? I need my juice. Why can't she pour it any faster? Faster! Faster! I want my juice. Ahhhhhhh. That's so refreshing. I must go turn on the TV. Oh look. It's Curious George. That reminds me. If I pull out the second draw of the entertainment center, I can.....climb...up...and stand in the drawer.....then I can reach the Wii and turn it on. There. Mission accomplished. Oh shoot. She caught me. What is the big deal? Why can't I stand here in this drawer? Fine. I'll just go climb up on the piano so I can reach all the teeny tiny Legos they store up on top. She's not watching. Here I go. I just climb on the piano bench....up on to the next part. Why must this thing make so much noise when I walk all over these white and black lines? She's going to hear me..... shoot. She caught me. Back down to the floor I go. Hmmmm. Oh yeah. I like that spinning cabinet in the corner of the kitchen. For some reason they keep putting the cereal boxes there. I like Cocoa Puffs. Yep there it is. If I take the box, hold it like this and shake it really hard, it makes a cool sound when all of the cereal hits the floor. Perfect. Now I just have to sit down and eat. Why does she keep saying my middle name like that? Really mom, it's fine to just call me Ty. "Tyson Hunt Fuller" sounds so, so professional! And mom, just leave all the cereal on the floor. I'll eat it eventually. No need to get out that noisy vacuum. Ugh. She swept it all up. Again. Well, while she's busy putting the vacuum away, I'll just sneak into the bathroom here and put all the toothbrushes into my mouth. It always gets such a reaction out of everyone when they see me with their toothbrush in my mouth. What's the big deal anyway? Hey, while I'm in the bathroom I may as well turn the water on full blast. Then I can fill this cup up and dump it all down the front of my shirt. She'll probably end up changing my clothes, but it'll be fun anyway. Did someone just say my name? Oh it's her again. Why does she keep interrupting my fun? And why does she keep saying "Nap time can't come soon enough?" If she's so tired I wish she would just take a nap now. I can take care of myself, then she won't keep messing up my plans. Oh look it's a pack of gum. If I take this and hide behind the chair, I wonder how many pieces I can unwrap and stick in my mouth before she catches me? One....two....three.....four......five.....wow, she still hasn't caught me. I'll just take stick #6 and go show her before I put it in my mouth too. Mom? Mom, look! I can barely close my mouth. This gum is fun! Wait! Now she's pulling it all out of my mouth and throwing it in the trash can. Geez. Can't a guy catch a break around here? Cars. I'll go play with my cars. I can dump out the whole box, lay on the floor and play with them quietly. For some reason she doesn't bother me when I'm doing this.

#2

It's time for #2 in the list of 7 random things about yours truly.
You've been on the edge of your seats, I can tell. Please don't get your hopes up. I fear I may not be that interesting and I would really hate to thoroughly dash your expectations.

Nevertheless, here we are.

#2) I run.

See, I told you.

However, please note that I did not say, "I am a runner." There is a difference.

There are runners. And then there is me.
I run. Period.

My running started back in high school when my best friend coerced me into joining the Cross Country Team during my senior year. Up until that point I had been a member of the track team. In track, my events included 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay, high jump and long jump.

You don't need to be a follower of track and field to know that those are all SHORT distances.
I had reasons, people.

Then my dear Heidi begged me to join the XC team. They were one member short. They needed me in order to be able to participate at meets.
I gave in.
I caved to peer pressure.
My punishment? Long distance running.
My last XC meet = my last long distance run. Until...

Fast forward 13 years. I was at the gym working out with some friends. Not the same friends, mind you. Yet friends with just the same persuasiveness as my High School Heidi had.

One of them says "Hey! I think we should all sign up and run the Mini-Marathon!"
I politely declined. I'm not a runner. And I'm no fool. There's nothing "mini" about that race!

"Oh, come on."
"We could all do it together."
"You wouldn't have to run the whole thing."
"It'll be fun!"

One would think I had learned my lesson. But no. I gave in. I caved to peer pressure.
Again.

Then we moved. And the only person I had to train with was me, myself and I. So I trained. And trained. And trained.

Race day came and I ran every step of that 13.1 mile course.


I even had enough energy at the 7.5 mile mark to call my hubby as I crossed the brick yard.


I crossed that finish line overflowing with one of the most amazing feelings ever. Ever. So amazing that a few weeks later I signed up to do it all over again.

I know how to twist my own arm now.
But I might need to call Heidi and get a few lessons on peer pressure. It seems that I can't coerce a single soul into running this race with me.

89 days until race day.

Fresh Eyes

January is over and that word is still with me.

Deliberate.

A few weekends ago I was really deliberate about not getting any sleep and cleaning up lots of vomit. I really could have done without that. Thankfully, my body was also deliberate about not catching that nasty bug and I miraculously was the only one who didn't get sick. That was definitely a God thing.

This past week I've been focusing on looking at life with fresh eyes.
Focusing on the little things. The little things that, in and of themselves, might be trivial or even annoying. But they're the little things that remind me of the BIG blessings.
They're easy to overlook. But when I see them, I'm overwhelmed. In a good way.

First we have this:


This blue tub is full of almost every single piece of paper and project that Zane has brought home from preschool. And that kid sitting next to that blue tub sorting through and admiring all of those papers?

That would be Zane.

The same Zane who, less than a year ago, wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with learning.
I underestimated him. Big. Time.


And this:



Friday morning I put a whole PB&J sandwich in that container and packed it in my daughter's lunch. Friday afternoon when she came home from school it was empty.
The same girl who used to be consumed with so much anxiety about school that she couldn't stomach a bite of breakfast or lunch EVERY day for months is now eating 2 bowls of cereal for breakfast and WHOLE sandwiches for lunch.
Thank you, Jesus. Period.


And finally, these:


At a New Year's Eve party I felt the urge to mention to our wonderful Dr. Podiatrist friend that Ty's 2nd toe on each foot always sticks up. He took a quick look and here we are a month later with the cutest little pair of toddler orthotics to help correct all the issues we never knew he had. And to make it even cooler, the speech therapists think that maybe, just maybe, this might be why his speech is so delayed.
Isn't God cool how He works things out like that?
BONUS: Our "risky" HMO insurance covers these plastic puppies at 100% every time he needs a new pair. Which is probably every 6 months. Nice.

Little things are huge.
Fresh eyes are nice.