#Microblog Mondays 13

• Can I ever have one solid week where I wake up every day feeling good physically?  Or is that just too much to ask?  I'm beginning to think the latter.
• On a related note. . . I am improving my eating this week.  It's never TERRIBLE, but since Halloween, I've eaten one or two pieces of candy each day, and I do pick up fast food out of convenience once or twice a week.  I've planned healthy, whole foods--including vegetables--for my lunches and dinners for the next three days.  I will be staying away from the candy dish at work.  Let's see if that makes a difference.  (Thanksgiving, of course, will be its usual feast of indulgence, though.)
• I am hopeful that perhaps with better eating I will have more energy and feel more inclined to exercise.  Here's hoping.
• On a positive note, I had a productive weekend.  We had our family portrait session on Saturday, as well as getting all the usual weekend necessities done, and I even steam-mopped the kitchen and dining room floors last night!  All this despite the fact that the boys stubbornly continue to refuse to nap on the weekends (even though I offered them bribes! this time in the shape of chocolate babka!).
• The boys are talking more and more, and it's hilarious at times.  I guess I must wear makeup even less than I realize because when I put on lipstick for the photo shoot, MJ asked "Mommy, what that on your mouth?"  And they then both proceeded to stare at my mouth and experimentally poke their fingers into my lips.  LOL
• The boys, especially MJ, are OBSESSED with Bat.man.  Lately the only shirts MJ will wear are ones with Ba.tman on them.  So he now owns five Ba.tman shirts, as I refuse to do laundry daily and am tired of fighting with him every morning about what he will wear.
• AJ doesn't want to wear pants.  Ever.  It's a fight every morning, whether we pull out jeans, chinos, or sweatpants.  He wants to wear a pair red athletic shorts every day, even though the morning temperatures here are now in the 40s.  
• I'm starting to understand what people mean when they say "Three is like two, but with better language skills."

How Can It Be?

 [CAUTION: POST ABOUT CHILDREN AHEAD]

Yesterday I reserved the site and ordered the invitations for my sons' third birthday party.  (The party will be at a local railroad park that they love, and there will be not just one, but TWO bounce houses.  Probably more than we need, but I got a deal.)

How can it be that, in only two short months, the boys will be THREE YEARS OLD?

This time three years ago, I was moaning about how miserable my pregnancy had been (that post is here).  I recall feeling great mentally and emotionally--thrilled to "finally" be pregnant and to have avoided complications thus far--and feeling simply awful physically.

It's true what they say about having children: the days are long, but the years are short.

Just because I haven't shared photos of my sons here in a while. . . here are a few recent shots of them from our trip to the pumpkin patch last month.

 [PHOTOS REMOVED AS OF 12/3/2014]

#Microblog Mondays 12

Occasionally I have days when I am absolutely, and to my mind, somewhat inexplicably, exhausted.  Yesterday was one of those days.

I was awakened in the night by AJ twice on Thursday night.  (He has ear infections on both sides and was running a fever.)  I ended up being awake for over an hour with both boys (because MJ is such a light sleeper and refused to go back to bed until his brother did).  Despite that fact, I was only a little more tired than usual on Friday.  Nothing a little strong coffee couldn't remedy.

Saturday night, the same thing happened again.  Except this time I wasn't awake as long because MM took over after I'd only been awake a half-hour or so.

Sunday I woke up exhausted and continued to feel exhausted the entire day.  Nothing gave me energy.  Not coffee, getting outside in the fresh air, drinking lots of water, eating a healthy lunch (with lean protein and organic veggies).  Nothing.  I seriously could have gone to bed for the night before 5:00 p.m. and slept straight through until the morning.

As it was, I went to bed right after the boys and was asleep before 8:00 p.m.  I slept until nearly 6:00 a.m. without waking. . . just about 10 hours.

What the heck?  I am more tired these days than I was when the boys were still being awakened for every-three-hours-round-the-clock feedings.

If I ever had a whole weekend to myself, I think I would probably spend most of it asleep.

Has This Guy Been Reading My Blog & Email?

OK, probably not. . . it's probably just that my problem is a common one:

When Your Plate Is Too Full

#Microblog Mondays 11

• How can it be that it's only a little over 6 weeks until Chr.ist.mas?  I am not ready to think about holiday shopping, cards, etc., yet!  And now that the boys are a bit older, I want to actually do some fun holiday-related outings with them this year.  I'm feeling the pressure!
• On top of this pressure is the usual pressure of my daily life.  Being a full-time-working-lawyer/mother-of-twin-toddlers is really difficult.  I love my sons, and I (mostly) enjoy my job, but juggling the two is hard.  There just aren't enough hours in the week for all the things that demand my attention.
• In addition to trying to do justice to my primary roles of mother and lawyer (in, I hope, that order), I also try to be a good wife, daughter, sister, friend and citizen.  I fail regularly in one or more of these roles.
• To end on a more positive note. . . we have had beautiful weather here in Phoenix lately: daytime highs in the 80s, sunny.  (Think spring most places.)  It's made for some lovely outdoor outings--finally!