Work In Progress Wednesday Ed. 1

My crit partner, Kate, began a really cool idea since we're all writers and such called work in progress Wednesday, where I update everyone on the status of my current WIP.  Since I'm so excited about current WIP, I thought I'd play along.  Now, I'm not fancy like Kate and know how to put those cool little wordometers here, but I can tell you, I made progress this week.

First off, I drove the Squirrel Mobile (Hubby's dilapidated Kia Rio) over to Starbucks on Tuesday evening.  I sat in the corner sipping a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, next to the door I might add (in 40 degree weather) typing away at my chapter 9.  I finished it up and started 10 before my enthusiasm waned and I headed home.

It was the most relaxing time I've had since becoming a mother, I tell ya.  I could focus 100% on me, knowing my kids were well taken care of by their father (let's just say it's a good thing he doesn't have hair!) and I was totally into this writing.  My work wasn't as choppy and flowed from my fingertips.  No kids yelling from the living room as I sat on my bed, trying to ignore them after Hubby got home.  Nope, I just wrote with no worries.

Well, I will admit I was a little worried over the lack of good music Starbucks played.  Note to self:  Must bring IPOD with more appropriate mood music.  Frank Sinatra, James Blunt and other bland elevator music doesn't put me in a mood to write a romance novel with tragic elements.  But in their defense, people aren't there to listen to head-banging melodramatic rock, either, so I guess we both compromised.  I'll bring my IPOD and they'll please all the OTHER customers with their music...and I'll still get my frappuccino, a quiet atmosphere and we'll live happily ever after!

I'm almost to the black moment with my WIP.  My characters are getting in deep and everything about to ripped out from under them.  I hate writing the black moment, but it does drive me forward to hurry up and give them their happily ever after.  In approximately 2 more chapters, I'm to the dreaded day where my heroine and hero can't tackle their obstacles...yet.

My goal is to finish up chapter 10 and start 11 before Sunday.  With a gym class tonight, Hubby gone tomorrow and the circus on Saturday, I'm going to be hard pressed but I think I can do it!

Somebody send me some cheerleaders!

2 Years Old

My dearest Chicken on your 2nd birthday:

I know one day you'll be older reading this thinking, "Aww, Mom, do you hafta get all mushy on me like this?"  Well, son, yes.  I do.

The truth is, the second I saw you, I fell in love.  You were God's special gift to us for a totally different reason than Punky was.  With Punky, it took us 3 years to get her.  But God decided to give us to you with no worries, no tears and no struggle.  I bonded with you from the delivery room.  I'll never forget your big newborn eyes looking up at me as you nursed.  It's one of the most special moments as a mother I will always cherish.

Then, you grew into a baby, and a chubby baby at that.  You were so rotund, people couldn't help but smile at you.  You were a mama's boy at first and always had a special smile for me.  I LOVED seeing you smile and eventually hearing your laugh.  You weren't in any hurry to talk, but you made up for it physically.  You walked at 11 months and haven't stopped going strong ever since.  It was like having a little live-in Michelin baby walking around.  

As you grew into a toddler, I was amazed at your love for your eldest sister and now, your baby sister.  I thought you'd be really ticked off being sandwiched between two girls but you've taken it in stride and became an awesome big brother to Cupcake.  Not to mention you and Punky have a bond that I'm so proud of.  You are blessed to have siblings and I hope you always know that.

You also love your Daddy so very much.  Hearing your sweet voice call out, "DADDY!" when he comes home from work as you run to hug his knees fills me with a sense of pride that only you can give me.  And you do the same thing when I come home after being away.  There's nothing I want more in those moments than to hold you close and keep you my little boy just a little longer.

But sure, in the grand scheme of time, two isn't that big, right?  You're still little, but I know it will pass so quickly.  Sometimes I look at you and see the man that you will one day become.  Those baby blues will knock some girl off her feet.  I can tell you right now, Son, you will make me proud.  I see a tender heart in you, affection, and an adventurous side that will provide you with endless possibilities.

This year you learned to talk.  One day you were barely saying ten words and then the next you came up to me and said, "Mommy, Iunt bite too-tee." (I want a bite of cookie).  From that day forward you put more words together and I can tell you're finally getting the hang of it.  I'm learning your language and even though I still have to interpret a lot, you're getting clearer and clearer.  And even a little sly when you throw in a "Peeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssse!" when you don't get your way.

You also learned how to go potty.  You're not completely trained yet, but we're going to get there soon.  I think you learned by watching Punky for the most part so this year, we're going to work on that!

Son, there are many days you get overlooked, or put off because of your other siblings.  I truly know why people talk about the "middle child syndrome".  There will never be enough time in the day for me to tell you how much I love you as often as I want to, or how much you - my special and only son - hold a place in my heart.  I hope you never doubt that or feel inadequate.  I pray our relationship will grow and flower into a unbreakable bond.  I want you to always be able to talk to me, even if it's in your own language.

And I promise you, no matter what you say my heart will understand you.  Because you'll always be my little boy.

I love you,

Mommy

P.S. To the circus we go on Saturday, in honor of your birthday!

On even ground...and fully clothed

I present to you Captain Chicken Sparrow, evil pirate who kidnaps young maidens.  Don't let the half-smile and baby blues fool you, he uses them to his advantage to lure you in. 

Captain Chicken Sparrow kidnapped Princess Alexa, who is desperately looking for a way out of the large ship she is in.  Captain Chicken Sparrow is proud of his handiwork and continues to torture Princess Alexa via stolen sippy cups, rough treatment of her Barbie's and stabbing her mercilessly with his foam fighting sword.

But somewhere along the way, Princess Alexa and Captain Chicken Sparrow form a truce of sorts and become friends.  They start to share, hold hands and realize there is nothing more fun than to play together....and forming an alliance to overthrow their true captain, Captain Mommy.  But Captain Mommy is on to them...

Or else!

Last night we all sat down at the dinner table for some yummy salmon patties and corn casserole.  Punky sweetly asked me to sit with her, so I sat down next to her.  Hubby and I began a discussion about...well, I forget now.  But as usual, I was getting into the conversation and talking excitedly and being a little boisterous.

Punky very gently put her pudgy hands against my forearm and looked at me very seriously.

"Be nice to each other, Mommy....or I'll rip your face off!"

Ahem, Hubby?  This one is all yours.

It's just simply time.

Has anyone ever noticed how opinionated some people can be?  I mean, half my friends - wait, who am I kidding? - all of my friends would categorize me in the opinionated column, but why do people deem it necessary to PUSH it on you?

If there's one thing I do when I offer my opinion on something, I ALWAYS tell someone before hand that it's just that - my opinion.  I never expect them to adhere to it, to take my advice or even listen to me.  I'm just not that kind of person.  I hope my friends know that I'm never meaning to be pushy or arrogant.  I'm sure most of them do know that, but I'm on record here, just so they know now if they didn't before.  Make sense?

There are about to be changes taking part in my life.  BIG changes.  As in, I'm joining a gym.  I'm spending more time away from home after the kids go down for bed at 7 pm.  I'm going to network with other writers.  I'm going to write.  It's a lot to accomplish in some 3 hours every evening before I keel over from exhaustion, but it's just time.  I've complained until I'm blue in the face about what's wrong.  Now it's time to make it right.  I think in the long run, I'll be happier.

I can either sit on my butt and be like my mother - overweight, miserable and depressed my whole life - or I can do something about it.  Yes, I'm going to complain about how tired I am, more than likely.  I might even feel that there's no relaxation time, but you know what?  I don't care anymore.  I've got to get some semblance of a life back.  Make some friends that will actually go out and do something with me, maybe even meet some other writers that dream the same things I dream about.  It would be nice to do that, I think.

However, I'm pretty sure there will be "opinions" about that.  Am I shirking my duties as a wife and mother?  No, because being a wife and mother will always be first in my world, even before me.  Am I prepared for the life being a novelist entails?  Probably not, but I'll never know unless I do it.  Do I really want to lose those 20 pounds I've been harping about for 8 years now?  Oh yessssssss.

Hi.  Nice to meet you.  I'm Stephanie.  This year is MY year.  Keep your opinions to yourself, please.

Dear Anonymous

Dear Anonymous in Baltimore, Maryland (and I'm pretty sure I know who you are):  

Why do my kids rarely wear clothes you ask?  

Less laundry.

Was Wednesday really the last time I posted? Yikes!  Time got away with me!  Anyway, because I need a laugh today, here's some pictures that will hopefully put a smile on your face!