Um, yeah…I might be a redneck.

My son’s new favorite thing to do is pick out one of my fitted t-shirts to sleep in after his bath.  I have a drawer full of them, some of them dating back to high school.  I’ve got Sesame Street shirts, shirts from old soccer leagues, lots and lots of Beatles shirts, most of them being gender-neutral.  His newest favorite, however, is the one pink shirt I think I own.  It’s an old, faded ‘My Little Pony’ t-shirt.  It’s baby pink, with a rainbow and two pretty ponies kissing each other on it.  He’s chosen that one the past two times.  The main reason this is funny is because if you’ve met my son, you know he’s big as an ox.  Not fat, by any means…just solid. as. a. rock.  He’s built like a linebacker.  Imagine Brian Urlacher, only 3 years old, and shorter.  Now imagine him in an over-sized, pink, ‘My Little Pony’ t-shirt.

And since I stay home full-time with my two kids, we’ve been spending a lot of days in our pj’s lately.  I know, I know, it sounds so redneck even as I type it.  But in case you’re unfamiliar with the concept, once you have your second (or third) child, some things just aren’t priorities anymore…like clothes.  Or personal hygiene.  (Again, my apologies for the picture I’m painting of myself here.)  I consider myself a very clean person.  I’ve never had a cavity, always go to bed clean, hate dirty feet in the house…but truth be told, I have sat down at the end of a long day with a glass of wine, when both kids are finally in bed, and thought, out loud to my husband, ‘I don’t think I brushed my teeth today.’  To tell another truth, I’m not even sure if I did today either….

I try to fit in fun activities with my son throughout the week whenever my daughter is sleeping.  This can be difficult because most of the time all I feel like doing is laying down with the baby.  If it’s raining outside, we bake something or craft.  If it’s pretty, I put them both in the double stroller and we go for a long walk and he blows bubbles in the front while she sleeps in the back.  Or at the very least, we play outside in our backyard.  He loves pushing around his little, red wagon, collecting sticks and fallen leaves and I can swing in the hammock with the baby.  Today was a weird day here in North Carolina because we woke up to stormy skies and strong winds.  So I planned on an inside day, and while he was taking his nap, I began brainstorming fun things to do indoors.  Then by the time he woke up, it was 85 degrees and incredibly sunny.  I heard my mother’s voice in my ears…‘You can’t waste a pretty day staying inside!!  Get out there and play!  Go!  Go!’  So we went.
 
We stayed out there for awhile, my daughter and I on the hammock and my son in the dirt, collecting things.  It was great.  I feel like we each got what we wanted and all I had to do was step outside of my house.  I somehow felt better about myself being out there…maybe it was all the vitamin D.   After several minutes of bliss, I looked out at my son, then down at myself and started to giggle.   I’m breastfeeding outside, barefoot on the hammock and my son is running around with nothing on but a ‘My Little Pony’ t-shirt.  How’s that for redneck?

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This ‘recipe’ seems so silly to post, and I may get some serious flack because of it, but considering the topic, I thought it appropriate.  This is a cocktail my best girlfriend and I used to drink a lot before we became pregnant with our seconds.  (Ahh…the simpler times.)  As most of you know, I’m a wine lover and used to work in the wine business so I know quite a bit about the stuff.  Before my friend had me try one of these, I never would have purchased, or knowingly drank this bottom shelf bubbly, but combined with this specific type of juice, it somehow works!  Or I’m just in that mom-fog where I’m making horrible decisions. 

*Redneck Mimosas
-In a juice glass mix equal parts bottom shelf sparkling wine (I ain’t namin’ names) with ‘Simply Orange with Mango’ juice.
-Repeat as necessary.