I'm THAT Mom....

There are a few things I remember from preschool- typewriter day, a circle rug we all sat on, the day our bodies were outlined on old wallpaper as a keepsake. Oh, and how my mom forgot it was picture day that year. I'm not sure why I remember this so clearly. I was not a girly girl growing up, so it is not as if I wish my mom would have dressed me in a cute dress rather than jeans and a carebear sweatshirt. I was too young to wear make up. But regardless, I remember it.

I was reminded of that day today as I brought Emi to her new daycare... without a change of clothes, or a coat, a half hour late, without any of the forms completed, and just in complete and total chaos.

As I hurried into the office for what I thought was 15 minutes late for a conference call (that I was actually 45 minutes early for) I felt things hadn't been that chaotic since Emi was 3 weeks old and I was pumping in the car on my way to work!

When we got home today, Emi sat down next to me and patted my back. As if to tell me "Its okay mom!" In fact, even when I said sorry to her  she said in complete excitement back "Hey! I'm okay!"  I just hope I had as much compassion for my mom growing up as Emi has for me.

Oh, and by the way, Emi had a great day at her new daycare! She didnt cry when I left, she napped well, and had lots of fun with her new friends! At least somebody had a good day!

Nine Things...

1. I hate and love the "Nine Things" post. I love it because I can inform you on some total randomness in my life, but I hate it because it never provides many details.

2. Tommy and I booked our tickets to Vegas for my birthday! I'm so excited- not only to spend time away together- but tickets were so cheap ($214 round trip plane and $77 per night for Paris Las Vegas). Noting makes this dutch girl happier than a good deal!

3. I've actually been away from Emi a few times so this is not new territory for me, but this (trip to vegas) is Tommy's first time away from Emi. I hope he is not a hot mess over it.

4. In case you were wondering, I still search for a new house every.single.day.

5. This morning when I went to three different places to try to find my husband a bear claw donute (his favorite) and failed, I realized that Ankeny is our home. Even though I usually don't feel over the top about daylight donutes- they do make a good bear claw that apparently Johnston, Urbandale and Clive cannot match.

6. This morning when I was too lazy to find Emi matching socks, I put two different colors on her feet. She looked down at her feet and up at me and said "That's funny!" I assume she means her socks and not my parenting style.

7. This week when I was mediating for an older male attorney he said 'You know, Dawn, I use you as a mediator when I got a dumb female attorney on the other side who I need put in her place." That's a compliment, right?

8. This week I received a phone call from a commercial realtor who pretty much thought because he was an older male and I was a younger female that he could push me around. He obviously didn't get the memo- but I sure gave it to him. Later in the week when he was calling back to try to push somebody around, he called a different partner in my firm (who happens to be male). This is what I call a success. :-)

9. Ankeny is also the place we should call home because our two favorite restaurants are in Ankeny (Thai Flavors and Jethros). Ok, I know Johnston has a Jethros- but it is not the same. Trust me.

Nine Things...

1. It has been so long since I have blogged I had a hard time finding the button for a "new post."

2. Emi thinks my name is honey. It is so sweet. I say "Emi, just call me honey, ok?" And she says "Ok, Honey!"

3. Speaking of Emi, she likes to talk to herself a lot. Like today she said "Hi, Emi. I like your shoes!"

4. I have some of the greatest friends on Earth, but when I watch reality TV, I cant help but wish those people were my friends too! (Hello Giuliana and Bill!)

5. Not a day goes by where I dont have a conversation with another female attorney about how we picked the wrong profession.

6. I love Bubble Tea. Ever have it? Grab one at A'Dong's next time you are in the downtown area.

7. Every day I reminded that you can't help people who can't help themselves! Ugh!

8. I pretty much always see people blow their inheritance. It make me question why I try to save so much money when Emi will just blow it on something I would never approve of!

9. Emi got a new stuffed dog named Pepper. She likes to point at it and say "It's a monkey!"

Nine Things....

1. Every time it snows those big beautiful white snowflakes I am brought back to a day or two after Emi was born, sitting at the hospital, watching the snow flakes fall down. The.Best.

2. I wish the Olympics were on every year. I love watching it!

3. I'm fairly certain I missed my call as a winter Olympian. Sport of choice- Skeleton- because I'm a fearless biatch. C'mon, you didn't really think I'd be an ice skater, did you?

4. I secretly love cleaning my house while listening to Christian Music. Emi loves it too.

5. In case you are wondering, I do still have my houeskeeper, but I still have to do laundry, pick up, and organize everything.

6. Oh, back to the Olympics. How awful was that when Bob Costas was unable to commentate? Nearly ruined my Olympic Experience.

7. You guys.... I'm totally in to Thai Food right now. Pad Thi Noodles.... the best! Try Thai Flavors in Ankeny. You won't regret it. Oh, but don't overestimate your spice eating ability. Seriously, you're crazy to order more than a zero or one. Even Tommy eats only a three and he loves spicy foods.

8. I love the full conversations I have with Emi now. For Example:

Emi- "I want ipad."
Me: "Sorry, honey, I'm using this Ipad. You need to go get Daddy's, okay?"
Emi: "Okay, Mommy!"
Emi while walking over to Tommy grabbing his ipad "I need the ipad daddy!"

9. Looking forward to a fun weekend with the family!

At Arm's Length and with Oven Mitts On

There is no doubt about it, my parents give great advice.

For example, anytime my mom hears somebody complain about their husband, the response is "They are all the same so you better just stick with the one you got." I have often repeated that to myself my friends. In fact, while having lunch with a friend the other day, listening to my friend complain about her husband, she told me she often repeats my mom's advice.

My dad, well he gives good advice too. The difference between my mom and dad's advice and commentary is more... colorful.

Here are some tidbits he has given lately:

"When you were studying for the bar exam I saw you sweating drops as big as horse turds."

"Oh yah? Well I categorically deny everything."

"You need to deal with them at arm's length and with oven mitts on."

Was I a B$&@H?

After these two conversations this week, I was left wondering "Was I a b$&@h?"

Me: "I am inquiring as to the status of my jewelry repair."
Customer Service Representative. "Oh yes, it was ready for you to pick up the 18th."
Me: "Well I'm not sure why you charged me $15 to ship it if thought I was going to pick it up."
CSR: "We will overnight UPS tonight and refund your shipping charges. Thank you."

Me (On Thursday at 1pm): "When will my dry cleaning be ready?"
Dry Cleaning Place: "Monday after 5pm. Is that okay?"
Me: "I guess that will have to be okay if that is the best you can do."
DCP: "Maybe we can do at 4pm on Monday."
Me: "Don't worry about it."
... Three hours later I check my voicemail and have the following message... "Hi! This is the drycleaning place. I just want you to know your dry cleaning will be ready on Friday after 5pm. Thanks!"

Nine Things...

1. Isn't it so annoying when you have a blog that you just love reading, and the writer fails to post for weeks!?! Ugh... and story of my blog!

2. Emi has been sick since last Sunday. I have brought her to the doctor twice. Which has resulted in two temperature readings, a few swings at the doctor,  and me getting yelled out by the doctor for not giving Emi a flu shot because she more than likely had the flu.

3. Emi did not have the flu. And it took everything I had not to yell at the doctor for sticking that q-tip up my kid's nose for no reason.

4. Emi turns 2 on Monday! Crazy, right?!

5. One of my biggest pet peeves is people announcing to groups of people a concept that they don't understand and certainly do not apply to their life. Ugh... Some people are SO annoying.

6. If I could do it over again, I would either be a stay-at-home mom, urgent care doctor or teacher. But really I only want to be a doctor when I feel broke or a teacher when it is summer. So I probably would be a stay-at-home mom.

7. I'm kind of surprised that I never became a county attorney. Never even tried.

8. I wish I'd get to writing my book already. That's the ticket to retirement! You're never too young to plan!

9. I've been feeling seriously old lately. People guess me for years beyond my age. I don't love it.