Hello Doctor, yes, I think I need some blood pressure medicine

Tonight I took Jake to our local Chick-fil-a for dinner. Hubby had to work late and I needed to stop by CVS (which I won't bore you with my savings, but I had some GREAT ones today) so I decided Jake and I would go out on the town (plus I had a coupon for a free kids meal).


Jake and I ate our nuggets and then I decided to let him play in the Play land area. There was an area which was designated for toddlers which had items for Jake to turn and fun mirrors. This entertained him for about 5 seconds when he decided to climb on the slide. I thought I'd let him play for a minute. He began to climb up higher and higher, so high I could not see him in the tube of the slide any longer. I began to panic instantly. I knew I could not climb up after him or else I would be paying Chick-fil-a for a lot more than a few chicken nuggets.

I watched his shadow closely and saw him get to the top of the slide. I hoped he would just turn around and slide down, but of course he did not. He continued to crawl through the tubes, 15 feet above the ground.

Occasionally I could see him through the clear areas of the tubes and I would occasionally hear him talk or say "Mom" when he was responding to my scared calls to him to come. back. down. the. slide.

There were three little girls playing in the play land while Jake was and the oldest was probably about 5. She was very responsible and was my helper in watching Jake. I am certain she saw the terror on my face and heard the nervousness in my voice and she would occasionally say "He's in the red one" and then a couple minutes later she would say, "He's in the blue one now!" and so on.

She was an angel to me tonight! And was nearly the only thing that kept me from having a stroke as my blood pressure rised rapidly the longer Jake was playing 15 feet above the ground and I could not get to him!

After playing about 15 minutes Jake decided to begin to head toward the slide and the steps to come down out of the play land. He could not figure out the steps and again I could not get to him due to the tube around the steps, so I attempted to explain to him how to get down, which to a 21 month old who is having the TIME OF HIS LIFE, this is total gibberish.

Finally my little 5 year old friend was able to coerce Jake to the slide and down the tube. I was able to grab him at the end before he ran back up it and out the door we went. I was NOT going to let him get away from me again.

As we were walking out to the car Jake was talking and talking. I could not understand what he was saying until he said "kids" (at least I think that's what he said). I believe he was telling me about what a good time he had playing with the other kids.

He was so sweet and he was so happy playing in the play land. I guess I am going to have to get some blood pressure medicine and accept the fact that my little man is getting so big and independent.

*Sigh*

This motherhood thing is an emotional job and I'm only 21 months into it.

Works for Me Wednesday -- Fast Oil Change

It's Wednesday already? I need to get with it today!

A few months ago a friend gave me a coupon (imagine that!) for a free oil change at Valvoline. If you are not familiar with the Valvoline oil change stores let me give you a little lesson in oil changing (Ha! Ha!). Valvoline provides drive through oil changes. This entails driving up, pulling in to the station and stopping. You never have to get out of your car and the crew at the store will change your oil, check all your fluid levels and top them off and ensure all your lights and turn signals are working.

I had never used a drive through oil changing service. I have always given in to the Wal-Mart-I'm-going-to-wait-atleast-2-hours oil change service. I was impressed with the speed and service with Valvoline.

I pulled up and was in and out of the service area in 5 minutes, which is great for a busy mom!

This could have been faster is I hadn't popped my trunk instead of the hood or actually responded when they wanted me to flash my high beam lights instead of staring blankly at them like a deer in the headlights (ha, it's a pun and I know it). I was nervous...it was like my driver's test all over again!

Ok...back on track now.

I am not certain of the price of the oil change at places similar to this (remember I had a free coupon!), but I believe it is slightly more than the Wal-Mart 2 hour wait, but for time saving, the money is worth it to me! Plus, I'll spend more at Wal-Mart trying to waste time after my regular shopping is done to make up for the price difference.

Drive-thru oil changes work for me. For more Works for Me tips visit Shannon!

Another year older...another year stressed

Today is my 27th Birthday!

I am nearing 30 way too fast. For some reason this birthday is hitting me a lot harder than any in recent years. I think it has something to do with the big 3-0 approaching fast.

I still feel like the same person, but I know that I seem to get a little more uptight in my old age. And if this continues too much I am not sure I can even live with myself.

I don't know if my uptightness is because I just seem to encounter more stressful situations or acquire more responsibility which leads to stress, but for some reason I am not the carefree, shrug it off person I was 10 years ago.

I crave to be this person again. I wish I could let the stress of being a mom roll off my shoulders along with the stress of paying bills and working...you know all that adult stuff.

I guess I am not able to hide my stress anymore because this year's birthday gifts have been telling me that I need to relax. Hubby got me a gift card to get a pedicure, which I requested, I need a little pampering! My sister sent me a manicure and facial set, which I am looking forward to using and my sister-in-law gave me a neck and shoulder massage-er (spell check told me that massager was not a word, so I made that one up). I definitely need a neck and shoulder massage because all that stress hangs out right in that area.

I guess I need to get a grip and relax a little, huh?

So, for year #27 in the life of Jessica, my goal will be to relax, live life for the moment and enjoy the little things while letting the big things sit in God's hands.

Yep, I'm a mom!

Lately I have realized that I am really an official mom! How do I know? Well, let me tell you!


This week at work when I saw electrical outlets uncovered I immediately thought I needed to get some plug covers so little fingers would not find the outlets. I don't work with little fingers...I work with adults...there is NO need for plug covers!


If I go somewhere alone I go over to the passenger side of the car to get Jake out, even if he is not there.


3 out of 5 days I end up at work with some type of kid stain on my clothes.


A few weeks ago as I got Jake out of the car seat and helped him to the ground he immediately grabbed my hand. I nearly cried...he was sooooooo precious!

I don't even attempt to find television shows I am interested in on Saturday mornings. I immediately find the Disney channel.

Due to the Saturday morning cartoons I can now sing the theme songs to all Nick Jr. and Clubhouse Disney shows.

I have acquired a love for grilled cheese sandwiches!

I have "Brown Bear," "Very Hungry Caterpillar," and numerous other children's books memorized.

And my favorite, I constantly hum, "Deep and Wide," "Little Light of Mine," and "Go Diego Go!"

I may need to brush my teeth

Sometimes I am simply odd.

For example, for dinner tonight hubby stopped and picked up fast food on the way home. My order was the hamburger without onions and onion rings.

It doesn't make sense does it? Hubs hates ordering that for me, but he does...and I eat it up.

And it's yummy!

There is just something different between deep fried onions and simple plain onions, especially when those onions are on my hamburger....yuck!

Happy 4th of July!

Whew! It is only 6:25 p.m. and I am completely worn out!

This morning I used the cool morning temperatures and my time off work to trim bushes around our deck. Once I was done with that we ate lunch and then left for the parade in town for the 4th of July festivities.

That was our mistake.

Don't get me wrong, I love parades and I enjoy spending time with my family. What I don't like is that the parade was right in the middle of Jake's nap time and that does not go well. I was surprised that Jake slept for about 45 minutes before the parade began. However, he woke up and immediately began the where-am-I?-oh-my-gosh!-I-am-not-at-home screaming. The crying did not stop, except for a brief 5 minutes when the parade first began. However, he then remembered he was not at home and there were lots of people all around him that he did not know...and the screaming began again.

Needless to say we left early. I think we only witnessed about 1/4th of the parade. And what did he do as soon as we got home. Oh, no he did not resume his nap, nope...he immediately began to run and play like the one hour scream fest never occurred.

UGH!

Well, once we returned home I began to prepare dinner as my in-laws were coming over. I got the grill started and away we went...this all went rather well despite losing a steak and a hamburger, which fell through the grill slats.

The debate on attending the area's firework show is being worked out. I have a feeling we will be here at home, probably asleep, collapsed from today's activities at 10 p.m.

I hope you all have had a Happy 4th of July.

Thanks to our troops and all the men and women who have defended our country.

I'm a ROCKIN' GIRL BLOGGER!

Guinevere has awarded me with the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award!!! I am so thrilled and honored. I'd like to thank my husband for giving me time to blog....well, I won't bore you with an acceptance speech, but I want to name some other people Rockin' Girl Bloggers!

1. Jessie at Seriously Though. Jessie and I go way back, to high school days. I love this girl and her accounts of life as a new mom are honest and funny. Love ya girl...you are definitely a Rockin' Girl Blogger!

2. Janelle at Everday Stories. Janelle is the mother of 3 boys, from 5 to toddler, that is an amazing feet, especially considering she also works full-time. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. So Janelle, you deserve some recognition!!

3. Jessica at Itty Bitty Bits of Me. Jessica and I have way too much in common, I believe it has something to do with the name. Jessica is also a mom...to two beautiful little girls. She is also honest about the fun and struggles of being a mom, which is why she ROCKS!! We aren't alone in this world of raising kids...we have all the same struggles!

4. Lisa at QTPies 7. I have only one thing to say...she is the mother of 7 kids. (I think I see a theme here with my nominations!)

5. Ang at The Toy Box Blew Up! Ang was my first roommate all those years ago in college. Love ya girl! And, yes, she is also a mom, to Mikey!