A book of firsts

I did something this morning that I haven’t done in my entire work life. That would be 13 years, sometimes working 2 or 3 jobs.

I made coffee this morning, and brought it with me to work.

I know some of you can’t live without your coffee – my mother included, which is actually why we bought the coffee maker. But although I like coffee, I’ve never felt the need to have it every day, and usually drinking hot liquids in the morning gives me a stomachache so I generally stick to milk with breakfast. This morning I felt like coffee, and the coffee at work is terrible so I ground myself some decaf beans and started up a small pot. I didn’t drink any in the car, because I’m wearing a white blouse, and I still drank milk with my breakfast. But it was a welcome addition to my morning routine today. Not that it will likely become a routine, but it’s nice to know I can get that done before work if I want.

Other firsts are that I made meatloaf last night for the first time ever, and fried okra (and wax beans and rolls). Christen’s request. This week we started making our menu on Sunday and shopping for everything. If we can truly make this a practice I will be thrilled. Tonight is stuffed pork tenderloin which I love to make and is very easy, tomorrow are tomato and mozzarella panini sandwiches (Spencer has a doctor’s appointment to check his croup and ears and I know I won’t have time for much of anything). Thursday is penne with vodka sauce and Friday is scallops with orange sauce (Christen’s birthday). General Tso’s chicken is somewhere in there if I decide I don’t feel like making something in particular because that’s something Christen makes (it was originally Wednesday’s meal but I’ve already substituted). Saturday we’re probably going out with his family for the birthdays so I didn’t bother planning a meal, and next week we start again! It was actually really easy, just took an extra 20 minutes of planning before going to the store on Sunday and since I had a purpose it didn’t even take much longer to go shopping even though I did the whole week of shopping instead of just a day or two. I don’t have much room in the freezer for any pre-made dinners, but I may try to fit some in just in case. I also got fat free cool whip and berries, and I’ve been eating a little for dessert every night to curb my sweet tooth and it’s delicious! And much better than ice cream which I’ve truly been craving.

I haven’t bought any snack food since we’ve moved, and hope to keep that up. We have some baked chips, but I’m not a chip girl so they’re safe. I also have found that I don’t have the time to snack. Isn’t that wonderful? The baby keeps me so busy, and with work and feeding him his solids I make time to sit down and have dinner with my husband but that’s really it. Eventually I plan to start getting up earlier to run and give myself a little time to myself, but I’m okay working on my eating habits first and giving myself time to get settled in the house first. I’ll just make myself sick if I overdo it, and I know that.

Spencer’s doing better, although yesterday he got clingy and cried bloody freaking murder every time I set him down so that I could make dinner or go to the bathroom or anything. I can’t figure out if it’s behavioral or if his ear infections have come back (which I was told could happen with the croup). It makes me feel so bad, but things have got to be done so sometimes he’s just going to have to cry. His follow-up appointment is on Wednesday and they can tell me if he’s really doing better. Last night he woke up at 3am and started yelling. No crying, no screaming. He would yell out like, “Hey, I’m awake – come get me!” Ugh. He needs to start learning to sleep through the night. All these bouts of sickness set him back on that front and I’m getting so tired!

Anyhow, work is doing well; I’m starting to enjoy it again. I’m still not caught up a little more than 2 months back, but I’m getting there slowly. In my profession you’re never really caught up anyhow, so I’m getting used to it. Before I left I was always caught up and sometimes I got bored so I guess slightly behind is better. They’ve started this silly customer service competition and I’ve been working on that and I’m way in the lead for my group, which makes me happy. I’m so easy.