Rock-a-bye-bye, my baby!

Sad.  So very, very sad.  I feel like a fool though because I know that people have real loss in their lives and this loss is very superficial, but a loss nonetheless.  I can't hardly bear to even write the words.  Here goes.

I, Gwen O'Brien, no longer have a recliner in my living room.

There.  I said it.  I am a disgrace to my family.  The Hales family will disown me for sure.  How have I become such a....such a.....such an O'Brien??  I mean when I first met Jeremy and his family I thought "who ARE these people?"  With their crazy couch and loveseat set-ups.  No moving furniture?  Wh-wh-whaaaat???  I mean I love them, but WTF??

It's ok.  It's gonna be ok.  I can survive this.  I know it seems silly but this is a truly painful shift in my life.  I was born and raised on a recliner.  Well, not born on one.  That would have just been awkward and quite frankly disgusting.  But I would bet a lot of money it was the first place I visited upon being brought home from the hospital.  Which is really why I think this is so painful.  Rocking recliners are meant for rockin' babies.  And I have.  For 6 straight years I have rocked my babies in my living room and now I just have to sit on a stupid couch and stare at them.  And they at me.  BORING.  And not at all relaxing.  Or comforting.

It was this last little baby that is responsible. Yes, I have William to thank for this.  And yes, I will hold him responsible for the rest of his life.  That tiny kid has spewed so much spit up on me and that chair that it couldn't be saved.  No amount of Febreze could save it.  I have tried.

Oh I miss it so much.  This is the first blog I have ever written while slouching on my couch.  Stupid couch and ottoman.  It's true that our living room looks better with the two matching pieces of furniture in it.  It was overcrowded with my recliner and it didn't match.  But I didn't care.  Beauty isn't everything.  It's what is inside that counts.  I don't know how that is even relevant here but it sounds good. 

I refused to let the new fancy furniture bully my sweet little 1990-esk recliner.  I continued to give it all of my attention even after we bought new furniture 3 years ago.  It was perfectly fit to my body.  I had it for 15 long years!  It has lived in 2 states, 3 cities, and 8 households.  And now it is sitting sadly in the garage awaiting it's death.  I wonder if it even knows.  If it's out there wondering what it could have done differently.  I wonder if it's silently cursing the overstuffed chair or if it's stepping aside gracefully for the newer and perkier models.  I wonder if it's feeling unloved and abandoned or if it's just basking in the wonderful memories we made over the years.  I wonder if I'm even still writing about the chair.  Awkward.

I miss the glue stain where Louie ate a bottle of Elmer's glue on it when he was a puppy.  I miss losing the remote in the sides.  I miss the boys climbing up on the arms to sit and read books with me.  Wayyyyyy to much room for all of us on the couch.  On my chair we were crammed together.  And it was a good thing. 

But it had to go.  I loved you dear, dear recliner, but it was time to let you go.  And with your departure enters a new era in my life.  One of boring, matching, adult furniture. BLAH!

O'Brien Boy Stories

'Cuz who doesn't like some good ol' O'Brien boy stories....I've been writing them down quickly when they occur to blog later.  as I put them together today I was surprised how many were potty humor.  Not sure why I am surprised though.  It will be my life for the next 20+ years. 

Me: We are having spaghetti for dinner.
Leo:  NOOOO!  I don't want spaghetti.  I get so tired.  I have to twist and twist and twist and twist and twist and twist.  I'm so tired!

After Leo asked for his vitamin Justin said "Do I dare ask for one too?" 

Favorite one-liners from Daycare Bowling night:
Leo:  I took a poop.  Now let's bowl!
Justin:  I really thought there would be an audience.

Watching the Billboard Music Awards and Justin Beiber was accepting an award and thanking his fans:
Justin: THAT'S Justin Beiber?  I think I'm one of his fans.  Aren't I? 

Leo:  (while Justin was getting in trouble) Mom, you are beautiful and wonderful and I love your toenails. 

While watching me change Will's poopy diaper:
Leo:  Remember dad's big poop?
Justin:  Yeah.  It was bigger than Will's.  Because Dad is bigger.  His was HUGE!
Leo:  I have to poop.
Justin: If I had 100 kids our house would smell like a diaper. 

Justin came running out of the lake with an urgent need to use the restroom (#2). 
Me: What's with you waiting until the last minute to tell me you have to go potty?
Justin:  Wellllll, sometimes I fake it.  You know like how I fake stuff sometimes?
Me: Like what?
Justin:  Like when you tell me to go wash my hands or something and I just go upstairs but I just fake it and don't really do it.   (pause)  Sorry about that, by the way

Life Coach. Apply Within

I need a change.  Gotta change it up a bit.  Neeeeeeed to change it up a bit.  Perhaps this is a bit of a mid-life crisis.  Although as a social worker I object to the word "crisis" because in no way is this an emergent situation that needs immediate attention or requires any kind of freak out.  As if I would ever freak out.  Maybe that's the change I need to make.  Just start freaking out every few days?  Nah.  Not my style. 

But this is a mid-life thing. I don't think I realized it at first but this thing.....perhaps I will call it a re-evaluation period....because that is more my speed......anyway, this thing that is upon me is appearing as I cross over into my late 30's.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  It's now or never. Ok.  Again, "never" might be overstating it a bit.  But the now part is completely accurate. Why not now?  So I'm reaching my late 30's and I am reevaluating.  Nothing major.  I'm not about to leave my husband and children, buy a Ferrari, and move to California.  I'm not going to quit my job (right now) or dye my hair red.  It's more about self improvement.  It's about positive and healthy change.  Physically, mentally, spiritually. 

I want to be better.  Well, let's be honest. I want to be the best as that is my competitive nature but there is no such thing as the "best" person.  And in my quest to be the best I am ending up in utter failure.  So I really just want to be better.  Even a little bit better than I am right now.  But I'm doing a horrible job at managing life these days.  Sooooo.....

I'm made the executive decision that I need a life coach.  I am accepting applications.  I won't be listing qualifications because I am open to assessing all applicants.  Hit me with your best shot and I'll see if it's a good fit.

I am overwhelmed in the areas in which I want to improve.  Diet, exercise, parenting, relationship, engagement in church activities, employment, budgeting.  The list goes on and on.  I need guidance and structure and someone to hold me accountable.  I know that "they" (whoever the heck "they" are) say to make changes one at a time.  Pfooey! 

I respond well to coaching.  I was coached for a good bit of my life.  And I would like to assume that this life coach thing will not involve anyone throwing gym equipment, screaming obscenities at me, weighing me, or making me feel worthless for poor performance.  Although I have survived all of that so honestly I think I could take it. 

So I need a life coach.  I need change. I need improvement.  Maybe there's an app for that.

Backyard Fun

We have high hopes for our back yard. One of these days we will tear off the deck and pour a new patio and make it super beautiful and inviting.  Until then....this will have to do. 

Justin, our little trapeze artist

Jeremy wondering why the heck I am taking his picture.

 

Jeremy can't resist mugging for the camera after he realizes I will not stop taking his picture

Check out that sweet ass!

Uh oh.  Daddy no likey getting his picture taken anymore. 

He's thinking "I LOVE MOWING!!!!"

and now "are you still taking my f-ing picture??"

and now our dog Sammy takes a big dump right where Jeremy is getting ready to mow.