Happy Busy

JP has five midterms this week, one every night from 6-9 PM. A few weeks ago this would have made me a bit anxious (read: bitchy) about five days of solo parenting because a few weeks ago I couldn't have imagined handling a full-time job and a full-time Landon at the same time. But now that the day has arrived I'm not nearly as concerned. For one, my job is not particularly demanding right now - the crashing stock market has ensured that corporate deal flow is crawling along at a leisurely pace. And two, Sir Landon is not nearly as demanding as he was only a short while ago, and even better, much of that demanding neediness has been replaced by cheerful funness (not sure if that's actually a word, but Urban Dictionary assures me it is and it flows well within the sentence, so I'm sticking with it).

I'm starting to understand why so many families have children spaced 2-3 years apart. Only two months ago I couldn't imagine parenting two kids; I was just coming around to the idea of having another someday, but I insisted that the doubling of the diaper-wearing members of our household would not happen for at least another three years (so actually the number wouldn't double, since Landon should be wearing big boy underpants by then). I just couldn't fathom dividing my time into any more pieces- right now I feel like I can be a good mom (to Landon and our animals), good attorney, good wife, good friend, etc. but I didn't see how that would be possible with a needy new baby in my life. And that addition still seems overwhelming, but as Landon gets a little bit more independent each day, it at least seems possible. So while I can guarantee there will be no big announcements for another year or more- after all we can't afford to pay for two kids in daycare until JP is working, I'm happy that my mind doesn't go into a tailspin of panic at the mere thought. Life with Landon is crazy, but the happy crazy is currently trumping the pull-your-hair-out-why-the-hell-did-we-procreate kind of crazy.

As for this week, I'm going to miss JP's presence in the evenings, but more for the fun and companionship rather than the physical help. Watching him chase after Landon is often the highlight of my day- he makes all kinds of crazy animal noises and Landon absolutely shrieks with delight, shrieks you wouldn't think capable of coming out of something human and standing less than 3 feet high. And I'll miss our late night thrown-together dinners, eating out of bowls in our laps on the couch, talking about our day and how cute our kid is, but it's only five days and he's getting up with Landon each morning so they'll have some toddler-daddy time and we'll get to talk when he comes home. He might even be brain dead enough after 3 hours of accounting questions to let me win a political "discussion" - not, mind you, that I ever lose, they're usually just a draw. And I have some mid-week entertainment planned: on Wednesday my uncle the pilot has an Austin layover so we're meeting for dinner and on Thursday my sister is coming over to prepare dinner as a thank-you for her career makeover last week (which went very well!). And then Saturday my parents, a set of grandparents, and my siblings are all coming over to celebrate JP's 27th birthday and babysit Landon while JP and I finally make use of our U.T. football season tickets. And Sunday we're hosting about 50 people at our house for a very belated housewarming extravaganza.

So busy as usual, but a happy busy.