Serves Me Right

...Going to McDonalds right before I head to the gym for a workout!

I didn't go totally overboard (though I probably snuck a few too many fries from my kids' happy meal). I got a grilled chicken club and removed 90% of the mayonaisse, and a diet Coke. But it was the Diet Coke that got me into trouble. As I was trying to get through the door to the play area, tray in one hand and carseat in the other, my Coke fell off the tray and landed on my baby, icy cold liquid swiftly emptying all around his head and pooling into the bottom of the carseat. Poor guy. Thankfully he was wearing lots of layers and had a blanket with him (that didn't get wet) so I was able to strip him down to a (coke-stained) onesie and his blanket, and go to the gym without returning home for a new outfit.

I have a new little personal fitness goal. I ran 3 miles in 36 minutes the other day (down from 38 minutes a few weeks ago). My goal is to complete 3 miles in 33 minutes by May 1 and 30 minutes by June 1. Think I can do it? I hope so! Now, if I could only stop eating myself out of house and home I'd be well on my way into tank tops and bathing suits in public.

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So Cole is 5 months now. And OH, how I enjoy this age so much more. He's smiling at me and talking to me all the time, and he's understanding cause-and-effect more, so he sees that if he makes his mouth into a little circle and hoots like an owl, Mommy might just mimic him and what a fun game that is! Must repeat over and over! He's very tactile and is always rubbing my arm or holding my hand or trying to put any available Mommy appendage into his mouth. He's still super-intense, though. He's not overly generous with smiles (especially not for the camera) but he'll study you until you're sure he's poked a hole though you with his laser-beam stare. I love that all my kids have such distinct personalities, and I can't wait to see how it all pans out as they grow.

Ashton has been slightly less pleasant than usual these days. He seems intent on stealing Cole's binky about ten thousand times a day and when he doesn't get his way, he's perfected his tantrum-throwing skills and the art of saying "No" with a dramatic toddler flair, melting into a pool at my feet. I don't give in (most of the time) but oh, brother. I get a lot of Mommy-guilt about this, because I do know and understand that Ashton is simply having a very hard time finding his place in the family. He tries to keep up with the older kids (lately he's been a little parrot, copying EVERYTHING they say and do), and he tries to stay a baby. I feel terrible because he really needs some special time, and nobody ever has a chance to give it to him. On Wednesdays, when I'm at Bible Study and the older kids are at AWANA, Andy takes Ashton to McD's to play, and I know he loves that, but I can tell he needs more.

Hopefully I can afford to fly him (and Cole and me) to Arizona soon.

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So, this summer, in true Sally style, I've planned to vacation for several days with complete strangers. It's a family from the internet and I'm actually being commissioned to do a couple of murals for them. But since they live across the state, we're going to take the family and stay in their camper in their yard, and they will keep us entertained and show us the sights and sounds of their town while we're there. Afterwards, we'll take the ferry from there to Wisconsin, and go visit my sister in Madison. I think it sounds great (and CHEAP!) and my family just does NOT vacation enough.

Well, I suppose I've rambled on enough for today. Don't be shy - if any of you ever have a comment, feel free to post!