Life Lately | November

I haven't been here in a while and the honest, boring truth is that we're suffering through lack of sleep that is reminiscent to having a newborn in the house. There's a few things that I think are contributing -- namely Daylight Savings (GD you) and moving into a big boy bed in his own room -- but the general gist is that we're usually awake somewhere around 4am most days. 

Duke is a terrible sleeper. I've whined about it enough over the years that you know, but I thought we'd sorted that out. But this is what I deserve for thinking I'd figured anything out. Motherhood is a gift, but it is also a gift that punches you in the face every few months to keep you humble. I keep reminding myself that "this is just a phase" but I repeat it so often that it's starting to sound like a chant and like I'm in a one-woman cult. I guess the perk is that I get a real jump on the day. I could be productive, but mostly I just chug coffee and say "please don't talk to mama, yet" with my extra morning hours. 

Anyway,  the big event this month was obviously Thanksgiving. 

We had a lovely houseful, which is my favorite way to spend any holiday. More food than we could eat and a good playlist that nobody minded hearing on repeat for 5 hours. Then we all piled in the living room and watched A White Christmas until people started dozing off and trickling out the door. 

Duke learned how to use the automatic timer on my camera, so I was also treated to posed photos of him / candids of everyone else. He also has a new "look" he's been practicing. It's not unlike Blue Steel, frankly. 

In the following days, I have found evidence of further practice with the automatic timer. 

In other Duke related news, he moved into a big boy bed, in his big boy room this month. He's been sleeping in a toddler bed in our room for a long time (his whole life?) and finally grew out of it. He knew that a big boy bed wouldn't fit in my bedroom, but cheerfully enough he looked forward to moving to the room that was formerly a room where all his toys and clothes lived. You already read the first paragraph so you know this has not been smooth sailing, but we'll get there. 

I'm bringing it up again because it was mostly emotional for me to see his bedroom evolve again. I just remember standing in that room, so big and pregnant 6 years ago, with all this stuff carefully prepared in anticipation for the little boy who would live there. Every change - taking out the changing table, moving in a book shelf, putting up posters, etc - feels so monumental because it takes it one step further away. It's like another physical representation of my baby growing up. I don't hate change. I hate how quickly it feels like it's slipping by. What I wouldn't do, for one minute, to walk up the stairs, take a right and stand in a door way looking into a room with a crib and changing table and the smell of baby powder and see a baby in that bed with his arms stretched out for me. 

Just one minute though, because that age was hard, and my nostalgia can be firmly filed under "with rose colored glasses." But for that minute, boy would it feel good. 

But growing up, he is, and it comes with all kinds of great quips. I've noticed a lot of peeks into his personality these last few weeks, just little chirps he makes when we're playing games, and whatnot, and I think he's bringing home some things he picks up from his classmates at school. 

Kindergarten is interesting. It's fine mostly, but it's also the first time that he's really absorbing things that come from other households. Things like a few weeks ago, when he casually told me he think he knows "how Dad got you pregnant." It was the "got you pregnant" part that startled me the most. Like, that's a pretty grown up phrase. He doesn't know at all, actually, which was good to hear. His theory was that Ryan took out his pocket knife and surgically parked a baby in my tummy, which sounds violent, but not as bad as him actually knowing. 

Also, a few days ago, he was being a little turd, and I reminded him to be nice to me because I'm the only mom he gets to have. He chirped immediately "not if Dad doesn't love you anymore and gets a new wife." And this is how I found out the drama going on in one of his friend's homes. Yikes. 

School is so fun. 

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Let's see - a few other recently enjoyed things:

My sister and niece spent a weekend visiting and we had the nicest time wandering around downtown in Traverse City. Two hours were spent playing Uno at Brew because I randomly had a card game in my purse. That will never be random again - I'm forthwith traveling with a games at the ready forever.

 

Early part of the month, when Duke was still in-cast. Ryan acquired a minibike and off they went. 

The Christmas tree is up. The lights are nice since it's basically dark ALL THE TIME now. 

Went to go see Ticket to Paradise a few weeks ago. First of all, I love going to the movies. Get me a frozen coke, $12 candy, and a reclining chair and I am in. The movie was cheesy and delightful, but I know I'm getting old when I identify with he parents more than the adult daughter. The premise is that a divorced and still acrimonious couple have to unite to thwart their daughter - who has recently graduated from law school, spent the summer in Bali (maybe? Somewhere tropical for sure), and decided to give up her career to marry a local. 

I was on the parent's side on this one. Girl, ya making a mistake. 

Leaning into the cozy months and becoming lazier by the day. These couches are getting much use. 

But still hosting Peter Parker in our home. 

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Cheers to December! I saw a poll on instagram last night, asking if December is the Friday of the year, or the Sunday of the year. I'm firmly on team Sunday. Monday is looming and boy does Monday suck, so I'll be la-la-la pretending it doesn't exist for the next several weeks. No Sunday scaries just yet!