Currently

Since it has been a rollercoaster week full of back-to-school, return-Hadley-to-Grandma's, husband-starting-awesome-new-job, my brain is FRIED like those old egglicious drug PSAs in the 80s. Seriously, this is your brain on life.

But I still want to write and share and connect and, in essence, blog like usual.

What to do...what to do...

*light bulb*

I tend not to take part in the "new topic every week" (or, God forbid, every DAY) linky parties. Don't get me wrong. I love me a linky party as much as the next blogger. They're totally like speed dating for bloggy friends! But, if you're a regular reader, you know I have a hard time stickin' with something. Case in point: The never-ending bathroom project. I'll get there, just don't put a timeline on it. I'm defiant, especially when defiance gives me an excuse to procrastinate. I've always been the "I'll do it when I'm damn good and ready to do it and not a moment earlier" girl (my poor mother). Then, when I set my mind to it...I do it RIGHT. And in miniscule pieces at a time.

But, ANYhoo, the occasional "here's a topic, aaaaand GO" post? I'm game. Here are this week's topics....

(I heart Microsoft Publisher)

I'm growing the heck out of some man-eating tomato plants. I kid you not. The rest of the garden looks like the Land That Time Forgot (namely because *raises hand* I was a bad Garden Mama this summer...I was an awesome Hadley Mama, if that's any consolation). But, I threw three cherry tomato plants into a little plot next to our front porch instead of flowers...y'know, to make better use. I'm SO one of those folks that would love to convert the front lawn into a garden full of medicinal herbs and heirloom what-nots, but this experiment taught me something about myself: I care a tad too much what the neighbors think. These plants have grown OVER, UNDER, AROUND and THROUGH the porch. Our. Poor. Mail carrier.

Irony? I hate tomatoes. What I hate even more? Picking...you guessed it...tomatoes. Especially when there are squishy ninja ones just waiting to pee tomato juice and guts all over my roaming hand. I want to throw up just thinking about it.

We're buying shampoo (and have been for a little while now). Yep, I'm no longer 'poo free, although I'd like to get back to it. I'm a tad more worried about the sheer number of grays popping through lately and whether or not there's a more "natural" way to handle it. Oh, and especially with the Hadman back at his grandma/sitter, we're buying the heck outta diapers. And food pouches. Just keepin' it real. We're consumers. Guilty ones, but consumers nonetheless.

I'm earning my keep again. READ: School's back in session. This year, I'm really EARNING it, too. Next to no down-time in a day. But, it's a job and I'm lucky.

We're judging our finances. Seriously, we've made a Money Date (to take place during one or more baby naps this weekend) to analyze the crab cakes out of what we make and how we use it. I'm thinking of Dave Ramsey-ing our life a bit. And while we're on the subject of "judging" - I'm judging myself for the fact that I technically do not use a black-and-white, set-in-stone budget. And I really, really need to. *hangs head in shame*

Dave is embracing his new job, and I'm embracing the "new Dave"...which looks a lot like the "old Dave" but with a huge weight off his shoulders. It's a relief to me to see how well he's responding to the new gig, and that it's not a case of "the grass is always greener." When the grass is half dead and overrun with weeds, anything's an improvement. In this case, however, it's truly a luscious field rife with long green grass and fragrant flowers. I don't use this word much (and we don't look at life in religious terms), but we are blessed. And you'd better believe we're grateful. It's a refreshing change of pace for the whole family. Peace.

And, as always, we're embracing every single moment of Hadley-ness. As all babies tend to, he's growing up so fast. The crisp fall air means a change from shorts to pants, and just seeing how long they make his legs appear...and the mini-sneakers he trots around in...holy crow, it's insane. He's a little boy. Sure, he's still a toddler, at least, and isn't very verbal (if at all), and gets needy here and there, but he's SO not a baby anymore. Excuse me while I go sob into my pillow. Side note: Frost advisory tonight, but next week it'll be warming up again. Hooray for toddler shorts again, just for a few more days!! Grasping at something I can't hold.


So, that's what I'm up to "currently". Linkin' up? You better believe it. Have a slaptastic weekend, folks!


Shout-out to Nekaro, whose blog I enjoy creeping...which is how I found this linky party. (I so invited myself. I'm a party crasher, but only on the interwebs. SO not brave enough for that in reality.)