Posted on October 9, 2014 by amberbatdorf

The week from Hell is almost over. MJ and Q have both been sick and decided to share it with Mommy as well. It even got so bad that I asked CJ to use his last vacation day yesterday to give me some help – and a much needed nap. There was no question as far as he was concerned. CJ was glad to do it. I wonder if he truly knows just how much I appreciate him. He does so much for us.

I think we make a great team. We do not have cousins who live next door who can babysit on a whim so we can go out. We do not have parents who take our kids all weekend every weekend. We work alternating shifts; give up time with each other so the kids have what they need. In our 15 minute crossover on days we both work, I give “daily report” and tell CJ when and what to give the kids for dinner before quick goodbyes and “Mommy will call you to say goodnight.” Considering everything, I think we do a pretty damn good job and it hurts me when people who are catered to try to tell me all the things I do wrong or make any other type of comment about my life.

I love my family. Every day I thank God for bringing CJ into my life and blessing me with the gift of being the mother to my beautiful children. All of them. Even the little oopsie currently cooking (for a few more months).

Poke me, tease me, spit in my eye; I will not let it break me. I may bleed, cry, need a hug from my babies, but your words and actions will never be more important to me than what I know to be truth. Such a wonderful man would not love me if I were such a terrible person. My children would not be smart and kind and beautiful if I were not raising them right. I deserve to be as happy as my family makes me ALL THE TIME. So I will be.

Sorry…

Posted on September 20, 2014 by amberbatdorf

I have been a super slacker. I promise there is good reason, it is just not something I can share yet. I have been neglecting all my forms of writing: here, my journal, and my book. Here’s to hoping within the next few days I can make a few changes to get back on track. In the meantime, I am going to post a few YCN articles just to try to get my presence back up.

I Wish They Had a Snooze Button

Posted on August 18, 2014 by amberbatdorf

I am a night owl. I love to stay up late. My college years were perfect – late nights, no classes before 10am. Ever since I became a mother, I have tried to curb this habit as my children get up at ungodly hours and you have to be just as ready to meet the day as they are or you will be sorry.

Not too long ago, I began a job; working on Monday and Friday evenings until midnight. I did not think this would be a big deal, but coming home, winding down, and not getting to sleep until after one, sure makes it hard getting up with the kiddies in the morning. Everything else that is meant to wake you up comes with a snooze function. Too bad they do not come with one too. 🙂

Free Books

Posted on August 10, 2014 by amberbatdorf

I usually never win anything, so when I do, I am super excited. A few weeks ago, I won a mystery book giveaway on Twitter from one of my favorite authors. When the package arrived, I was able to tell there was more than one book in it. I was stoked because this particular author had recently released a trilogy I had not read yet. I thought I would not have to go out and buy it. Yay!

When I opened the package, I will admit I was more than a little disappointed. This really had been a mystery book giveaway. The books were not even by the author who hosted the contest; it was a trilogy by someone else. I read the books anyway – and even put reviews on Goodreads – because who does not love free books? I still would have preferred books by the author I already knew and liked though.

These are the books I won. A trilogy about werewolves whose change is dictated by the temperature. It was an interesting take on a popular subject. The female protagonist was very hard to like at times because she was rude and disrespectful. The final ending (of the last book in the trilogy) was too neat and tidy. For the story to make sense and have a chance of being “realistic,” someone needed to die. And I knew just who I wanted to die by then…

Thanks for the free books, but next time you are giving away books you did not write yourself, a little heads up would be nice. Maybe I would not have played…Well, that is a lie. Any free book is a good book. And then if you do not like it, and it is in good condition, you can always re-gift it. But SHH…you did not hear that from me. 🙂

Email

Posted on June 11, 2014 by amberbatdorf

Today I started email addresses for MJ and Q. I read that it is a great way to share moments and media with your children as you give them the password once they are older.

As so much of what we do today is digital and easy, we cannot possibly print out all the pictures we take. My parents house was full of photo albums, but most of my pictures are lost in an electronic wasteland. If I send the picture to the kids while it is fresh in my head, I will not forget about its existence and be able to share these wonderful things with MJ and Q. They are supposed to have lots of pictures of their childhood; and embarrassing ones too! 🙂

I hope they appreciate everything I will be putting in to this project. I am pretty excited about it.

Junefest

Posted on June 7, 2014 by amberbatdorf

Ever since I can remember, the local Catholic church has had a chicken BBQ on the first Saturday in June. This eventually expanded to include a craft and yard sale as well. It has now blossomed into a wonderful thing called Junefest.

Junefest features a parade, village wide yard sales, a book sale at the library (my favorite stop), bounce house and pony rides at the park, and much more including the church’s BBQ and sale. Then in the evening, there is a great fireworks show that can be seen from our front sidewalk. Today we all got very sunburned and very tired, but we had so much fun. 🙂

Posted on May 13, 2014 by amberbatdorf

Every year, there is a catechist dinner for our church school teachers. I look forward to it for many reasons. We get a great meal, I have an excuse to dress up a little, I get a date night night with CJ…

Lately, my children, MJ and Q, have been waking up early – between 3am and 4am early. On top of being exhausted, I have been feeling poorly and that just exacerbated the situation. I made the decision to stay home from the dinner and I am glad that I did as I did not really start feeling better until this evening. Now, it is after 10pm and I am finally feeling better – like I want to move around and do things – only it is time to start thinking about bed if I ever want to catch up on sleep.

Hopefully my children will start sleeping normally again so everyone in the house can start feeling better.

Posted on April 19, 2014 by amberbatdorf

I know they say potty training boys is more difficult than potty training girls, but I am about at my wits end.

If you take MJ to the bathroom every hour – his underwear will stay dry all day, he will pee in the potty every time, he will clap and cheer for himself and get super jazzed about his treat…

He has told us while out, like at a relative’s house, that he has to go to the bathroom, we will take him, and he will go. While at home, if we wait for him to tell us, he will pee in his underwear every time. If he goes in his underwear, he knows he does not get his treat. He will fuss a bit about this, but obviously it is not a big enough deterrent to keep him from wetting himself.

I need any advice from the parents out there who have potty trained a boy. There must be something else we can try; a different way of doing things, a different treat, etc. I appreciate any ideas. Thanks.

Posted on April 17, 2014 by amberbatdorf

I was watching an old episode of Charmed and I could not help but get a little depressed while watching. Obviously, as the girls are sisters, there is a fair bit of fighting yet there are these moments between them that I cannot help but to be jealous of. There are instances of true friendship between them where they whisper secrets and hold hands. They know they can rely on one another and share confidences.

I am really jealous. I will admit it. When Piper and Phoebe held hands while running off and giggling, I cried because it is something I have never had and something I fear I never will.

When I got married, I went from having one sister, to having two. Both my sister and sister-in-law have a way of making me feel lacking. I live ten minutes away from my own sister and yet only see her when my parents visit from out of state and only talk to her when my mother forces the issue as she does not usually take my call.

I want the sister relationship I see or the one I read about in books. I want to be able to confide things that I may feel comfortable telling CJ yet know he could do without such feminine knowledge.

All I know is I will do my damnedest to be sure my children have a better relationship. *Here’s to hoping*

Amber Batdorf's Blog

stories about life – from frowns to smiles and all the miles in-between

Category Archives: Life