AfrIndie Mum

what's up with us

so i haven't been around much. i apologize again.  i think i'm taking a little break from the blog - and i feel guilty about that - like i didn't want to need a break and really, i do.  so - taking a break - but not really - i'll probably still post.

what we're doing is boring, but necessary.  work was supposed to be over with yesterday - but they just hired someone today - and that person won't start until the 22nd of may.  so they wanted me to stay - but i'm not going to.  i told them i'd work from home when i could. so that's what i do during zade's naps. i couldn't for another day take her to the nanny. it's not anything to do with the nanny - she was great.  but for the past month and a half my poor kid hasn't been able to have a schedule because of the work situation.  by the time we got home after morning errands or a walk to the park, it was too late for her to have a full nap - so i've had to wake her up mid-nap to take her to the nanny.  it was just hell on poor z - her whole life has been all messed up since hubby went to work - and i feel like it's all my fault.  so this week i dropped the hammer and told my boss i wasn't doing it anymore - that if they truly needed my help - they could deal with me working from home whenever i can manage. 

so now zade and i are getting into our own little routine.  i still can't wait for work to be done - but these days - our happiness and well being gets to come before work.  so everyday, we make sure we get to do something fun and educational for zade - beyond just normal everyday play.  she sees a friend, goes to the park, runs around outside, goes to the zoo, etc.  and every day i get the house cleaned and we run at least one errand.  we're slowly working towards more zade things and less maintenance.  hopefully soon. 

so today.  zade is napping.  i got an hour of work in.  i'm eating lunch.  will shower soon.  tried to find zade's swing in the garage and decided that was what husband's are for (well, really only becuase he made the mess and i'm not cleaning up after him) so he'll get to that when he gets home tonight.  i'm looking on craigslist for used backyard toys.  i have procured a slide and a kitchen and am working on some sort of climbing structure or play house.  i will put out our table and chairs and buy an umbrella soon.  and soon the backyard will be somewhat functional and zade and her buddies can enjoy that whenever they like while the mamas sip lillet. 

this afternoon we will take a walk to visit friends and their new baby.  tonight we will go to last thursday for the first time this year.  we're just focusing on living for a little while right now.   and soon we'll be more normal.  also - once i can locate where i organized my camera charger to i'll post some photos of my marathon home organization 2006! for you. 

very exciting stuff brewing around here, huh. 

educational fun

anyone have any good ideas for educational things to do with 18 month olds?  i'm running out of ideas and need some help. 

twins

we received another call from our homestudy agency (not the agency we're going through to actually adopt).  there is a woman in portland who is pregnant with twins... a boy and a girl... African American and probably Native American.  she is due in june, having pre-term labor and is in the hospital in an attempt to stay pregnant until mid-may.  she is being forced by dhs to place her children for adoption, or they will be taken by dhs at birth because of circumstances beyond the control of the mother.  this is sad, but from what i can tell, open adoption is probably her best option at this point, all things considered. 

they want to show our profile to her.  unfortunately, i don't think hubby is quite up for twins just yet.  sad. 

organization and decluttering

yep - that's what i'm working on these days.  i'm sorry my blog is so boring right now.  i'm wanting to post, but the only things available for discussion are my work (boring) or my marathon home organization 2006! (why would you care, right?)  so... i'm boring, ergo boring blog.  really - apologies all around. 

the marathon home organization 2006! is under way.  i have a list!  i have motivation! (hey - where did you come from?) i have supplies from storeables!  i have a baby that naps for four hours a day!  so i am having myself a pretty-up-the-house marathon.  organization, i've learned in my first few weeks as a sahm, is key to being able to keep me and my family afloat. 

today i conquered two of the four boxes of hubby's family china.  they are neatly and safely packed away.  away from the mold that was growing on the boxes, yuck, now in pretty canvas boxes.   and i began the tackling of the laundry area.  now the proud owner of a whole laundry system, i feel my laundry doing experiences will be much more pleasant.  don't you agree?  i like to do laundry.   

intersperse above activities with work if you care to know of my real-time schedule of daily activities. 

and, so, back to the boring-for-you-fun-for-me marathon! i must go.  there are laundry detergent spills to sweep and change to sort.  whee hee! 

housekeeping

that's what we're doing today.  z is down for an early nap - let's pray she stays there.  she needs a good, long four-hour nap today.  she's still got masses of molars coming in and generally souring her typically lovely mood good sleeping patterns.  she's doing well, adjusting slowly to having me at home instead of papa. 

i'm in my last few weeks of work and wishing it was over.  i've got so much shit to do and not enough time and i'm just done with it all.  i feel bad for them, though, so i'm giving them what they need right now.  this week is going to be insane for us.  this is our only calm, relaxing day ahead, so we're trying to take it easy and enjoy it.  i'm ready to focus on my 'to do' list, but i just can't get to most things until work is done. 

to answer the couple of questions i received from the last video post, zade's buddy is the fabulous foo-monkey, who, when they moved from seattle, bought a house just four blocks from us.  we're all enjoying having them near, especially after the horrible commute from seattle they used to have to make to see us :)  zade has become fast friends with foo and happily squeals "yash" when we ask her if she wants to play with fifi or when we pull up in front of her house.  unfortunately, the foo is sick and we are having a moratorium on play time these days so as to not get z sick. 

the cd to which they are boogying down is unknown to me.  you'll have to go ask foo's mama, miss bite my cookie.  it's a mix that one of her online buddies sent her.  if you'd like, i can ask to borrow and burn it for anyone interested.  just leave me a comment. 

ok, well, i just wanted to say that i'm busy right now, but should be finding lots of free time after the next few weeks are past.  if you haven't seen me around the blogosphere lately, it's becuase i haven't read a blog in ages.  i do miss the extra time i had when i was working full-time :)  but i'll be back soon.  it's not that i'm not interested in your and your lives - i'm just treading water trying to keep the afrindiefamily afloat for the moment.  i promise i'm not quitting my blog and i don't want to lose my readers.  i'll be back to normal soon. 

big smooches to all. 

it's 9:30 p.m. and i've eaten half a wedge of brie,

my daughter, who remains awake at this late hour, (thanks again molars), just grabbed the other half-wedge, pooped, and is now being changed by her father.  she's wearing a striped dress and a very unmatching, baggy pair of striped pants for pajamas.  we're watching house.  some days as a sahm aren't as pretty as others.  but i still like it.