Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way (Mostly)

Friday's events certainly got me thinking about my family and I know I am not alone when I say that. I know our issues don't compare to what they are going through and are anything out of the ordinary or can even really be described as "issues".  For that I am thankful.  I feel so bad for those parents and I certainly wish them well.  I have moved on from thinking about the horrific what if's to the much more common day to day life that is my family and I have to say, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Charlotte has always been a tough cookie when it comes to bed time and just sleeping in general.  I think that in any 2 week span, there will be one night that she hasn't cried for mom and dad and ended up in bed with us at some point.  Evelyn used to be the all night sleeper but now is up a few times a night.  Molly and I haven't had much sleep in the last few months.  A lot of the sleeping issues has come from a cold that seems to not want to go away for Charlotte and Evelyn.  As much as we miss sleep, want the kids to sleep well and obviously want the kid's colds to go away, that being said, I almost wouldn't have it any other way.  As much as Charlotte kicks, moves, slaps, etc. during the night, I like feeling her warm little body next to us. Is there anything better than snuggling with your 2 year old?

It's hard to say that Evie waking up crying a couple times a night is something that I am fine with.  I know she will learn to go back to sleep (and we are working on that). But in a weird way, I am looking forward to telling her when she has kids, "yup, I know, you were like that too.  It'll get better".  So in that respect, I wouldn't have it any other way.  (Seriously though she can start sleeping through the night now.  The story has been written and is ready to be used at a later date.)

Charlotte definitely is a 2 year old.  She is the sweetest, funniest, smartest, little girl that I know.  Watching her figure out mom's iPhone is just amazing to me.  I love it when she randomly says, "Dad, I yuve you". However, she can throw fits with the best of them.  I know I am not alone when I say that I am ready for the tantrums to stop.  However I know that they will and this is just part of the deal.  Not only will she grow out of it but Molly and I are learning how to be parents because of it.  So in that respect, I wouldn't have it any other way.  (Insert last parenthetical line from the last paragraph here and change "start sleeping through the night" to "stop the tantrums". (Parenthetical, proud of myself for that one.  I hope I used it right.))

What I am saying is that these things we, as parents, deal with on a day to day basis suck at the time.  But I know it is part of it and eventually they will be gone (happily in most cases).  Thinking about these things made me realize, for me, that I wouldn't want it any other way because later on down the road I can look back and say to"yeah those times were the pits but everyone comes out better for it in the end."  In a weird way, I will probably miss the lack of sleep, and terrible 2's.  I don't know, maybe I am crazy.

My little family is exactly that, mine.  I love them all very dearly and miss them when I am not with them.  If being able to spend time with my family means dealing with the occasional tantrum and sleepless nights, then I gladly will do that and wouldn't have it any other way.  (Although a little more sleep welcomed :))

Just a Material Girl Living in a Material World

i don't know what my problem is but when there is a latest and greatest version of some kind of something i already own, i feel the need to get it.  i make fun of the people that spend $400 on the iPhone 5 when they just spent $400 on the iPhone 4s, however, i have come to realize that i am no different than these people (other than i WISH i had $400 to spend every 3 months on something and not feel guilty about it).  IPhone? no. Nook? yes.  i have the original nook and have had it for 2 years now.  in my head i would complain about how heavy it is when i am reading in bed (it would make my thumbs tired).  so whilst we were at my in laws for thanksgiving, we do the annual perusal of the black friday ads.

i oogle over the things that will never be marked down enough for me to buy them. for example, if that 50" tv were marked down 95% instead of 40% i would do it.  (Hear that Best Buy?!)  anyway, a certain something caught my eye in the Target ads, Barnes and Noble Nook Touch 50% off!  as soon as i saw that, i knew i had to have it.  to make a long story short, they ran out of them at target somewhere between midnight and 8 am when i got there.  however the BN store just down the street had plenty to spare.

as i do with any purchase that is of the extraneous verity, i am gung ho about it until i have the item in my hands and is time to go to the register.  this is a moment that pisses off Molly (luckily for her i hadn't done my annoying research/talk myself into buying it by annoying her with my explanation on why i should by "x" thing because i just decided the night before...and she wasn't with me at this time of purchase), myself and everyone trying to use the isle that i am in.  i freeze in the middle of the isle and stare at the ceiling.  weird i know but then i get all these thoughts like, "do i need this? i have a nook at home.  what would i rather do with the $60 that i could come up with now but know i wouldn't buy that either without this weird frozen ceiling stare."  finally i snapped out of it and said to myself "screw it! what's $60? plus this is my one "me" item this year."

i buy it, go home, us it that night.  then comes the other annoying thing i do, pick it apart ( "i like it, it's nice and small but since it is a touch screen i am having a hard time with placing my thumb on the screen and it makes the page turn.  oh wait, if i leave my thumb there, the word just highlights for the dictionary, i can handle that.  it's hard to see the last few lines when it is sitting on my chest, the other one had that scroll bar at the bottom giving it a little more height so i.......blah blah blah.)  and makes molly say "ohmygod" real quickly and quietly under her breath but just loud enough for me to understand that i am absolutely ridiculous as she rolls away from me.

My name is Danny Simon, i have a wife and 2 girls, a dog, a cat, 4 guitars and 2 Nooks.