Its like dating, again

My work hours at the hospice facility are kind of challenging. I knew that going into the job.  What complicates things is that on the days I work, I have to be at the office by 4:30 in the afternoon. Now, with MG here, that's do-able. The beginning of the shift is the busiest, I'm usually doing stuff until around 6 pm, then, I come home and field phone calls, and go out if I am needed until 8 am the next day. MM gets home between 5:30, and 6.
And so, the conundrum
when MG does leave, who is going to be home to manage the small child?
I don't know any local kids that I would want to come. The lady/friend who was watching him while I oriented to my job has since moved away. My family is not close enough.
So, I did what every one does these days.
I went online.
Specifically, "care.com"
and to my surprise, I have 2, very viable people contacting me, to watch him 2-3 times a week from 3-6 pm, in our home
One is a single mother, EMT qualified, who has a boy 1 month older than MB. This is great, because he'd have a friend to play with, and she gets little boys. She has to, right, her boy is still alive and walking... My slight hitch is this. What happens when her boy gets sick? I know, I know. MB is going to get sick eventually, too. But still.
The other lady is a grandma type who watches her grandbabies. Also boys. But she wouldn't be bringing them here, they are much older than MB. This appeals to me, too. Her kids are raised and successful, and she obviously likes kids.
I'm meeting them both this week. Not at my house, not yet. To get a feel for them. Because I am already kind of torn.
Its totally like going on a date. Kind of. Sort of.
I hope one of them is a toad so it makes my choice easier.....

One

Well.
We did it. We've managed to get MB to his first birthday. With all of his fingers and toes intact. And most of our sanity....
He's got 4 teeth, with a fifth one on it's way. He stands up without holding onto anything, (looks kind of like a meer cat when he does it.) He's going to walk soon. He's in the 95th% for height and 15% for weight. Skinny little string bean! We're thinking basketball....
His eyes are this really cool shade of hazel-grey. MM says they are just like his dad's eyes. Even the pediatrician was stumped about what color to call them.
He still has a sunny, laid back personality, even when he's teething. He can be a bit of a drama king if he's not getting what he wants, and he likes nothing better than to bang away on our computers or phones, already. Anything electronic seems to lure him in. I have visions of coming home and finding that he's dismantled the toaster someday. Probably soon.
The last year has been so much fun. So many changes, with both him, and everything else. But every change was positive, and has worked out for the better of our family. I'm at a really cool place in life, loving every minute of it, and I wouldn't change it for anything...

Quirky

I've always known I have a few Quirks. But now, in this new job, I'm finding one that I always knew was there, I just wasn't really aware of how, well, kind of prominent it seems to be, or can be.
I'm learning that one thing that drives me crazy is knowing that I need to accomplish something, but having to WAIT until it's the right time for me to do it.
Like, I'm going to go make a home visit to someone, and do all the charting and ect. ect., but I CAN'T go do that visit until 1 in the afternoon. Therefore, I can't chart anything, I can't sit here and try and GUESS what medications need to be refilled, I really can't LEAVE for the appointment, (since, say, it's probably only 10 am it only takes me 5 minutes to get to where the silly appointment is...)
So, can I see someone else in that time?
Maybe....
but they all want to see the nurse later in the day, too, they say. Or, not today at all, thank you..
In short, I kind of hate having tasks just hanging over my head. Knowing I need to do something, but yet, I cannot.
And now, I'm back to nights. Sitting with my phone. Waiting for it to ring...
this job may well make me crazy.....
and don't even get me started about the amount of staggering paperwork!

Paulettes

We are lucky people, all of us.
We live in this wonderful, small town, and for a few years, we've been having a fairly regular, Saturday morning breakfast at a place called Paulette's. We know all the waitresses, and the owners, Paulette and John. When we go there, they basically take MB from us, and he gets a walking tour of the place, going from Paulette to all the waitress' depending on who is busy and who isn't. There is one waitress, Melody, who is a special favorite of MB's. She's even coming to the house for the big summer party! And then there is Paula, who took care of our big table after MG's graduation. She knew we were coming, and had actually gotten a card and small gift for MG. As did Paulette and John. And then there is Jennifer. Her baby girl is a few months younger than MB and we are going to get them together soon for a playdate. Fun! And there's Jessica, who loves MB's clothing choices.... Oh, I could go on and on and on and on...
I LOVE this place, and the people have grown into our hearts. Oh. The food is good, too. Paulette makes the pie herself.....

No.....

MB is growing up. Fast. Little bugger is really mobile right now, goes everywhere, gets into everything. Just as it should be.
Problem is, he doesn't know yet what's going to hurt him. Or whats going to hurt something else (like the fish). So, we are now at the age where he is capable of understanding "no". If not the word, then at least the tone.
He caught on fairly quickly, too. And sometimes, he actually stops the behavior. Other times? I have to go make him stop the behavior, which really pisses him off. But he's getting it.... He's also breaking 3 teeth this week, all on the top. He has his cranky moments, but even teething he has a pretty easy going personality.
MG is all graduated now, and today she is down at her JC of choice, taking the placement test. She's moving about 5 hours away from home, to a beach town. I'm excited for her, its going to be a good experience.

Time flies

Its been almost a year since Mustang Boy was born,  and lately, that whole birth experience has kind of been flashing before my eyes.
Remembering what it was like to be pregnant, what we were doing this time last year, (I was sitting around on a modified bed rest ish life, trying not to hurt myself again).
He is getting more and more mobile. He's stood up twice on his little legs, not holding onto anything. He's going to be walking soon.
And he eats! Oh, does he eat. Funnily enough, the one food he is consistently rejecting right now are strawberries. He spits them out, every time. He cried this morning when I tried to get him to eat some.
But he loves pieces of tomato. And pickle. And pancakes, eggs, or mostly anything else we're eating. He's a funny kid. The strawberries are even fresh, from a farmers market. Go figure. Maybe he will like them, later....

I'm not ready

I have a post to write. Its not a bad post. It's not an "I'm throwing in the towel on blogging" post, nothing is wrong with the family.
For all intents and purposes, the topic of it is a good thing, really.
Its just. Well?
I'm not ready.
I don't know if I'll be ready.
I can tell you what it's about, it's not like it's a big secret.
MG is going to fly the coop this summer. Go off to the big bad world, spread her wings. Fly.
I told you I wasn't ready...
but the important question,
is SHE ready?
I guess we're gonna find out..
the best thing about home, is that it's always there if she needs it.
But I'm still not ready.