It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to!

Dallas playing with Joss :) I can't tell who's having more fun here!!!

I don't post many things like this, but I need to get a few things off my chest and this is my "modern" way to do it so here goes......

So, we're at the beginning of the Knowles' Family "Chaos Cruise" right now. This "cruise" got started a long time ago when all the kids were really young. It was called a cruise back then because they always took their grandparent's houseboat with a bunch of folks and hung out on one of the out-islands (smaller-less developed islands) for a week or so spear fishing, playing games, hanging out, etc. Now that all the kids are grown and married and the families that used to come have grown and expanded the name has stuck, but everyone is usually in a rental house or spread out more than just on the boat. So this year (which is my second Chaos Cruise to be a part of) is down here in George Town. The group is staying here in the apartment complex where we live. So far the weather has been great. They boys have gone out spear fishing a couple times already and final wave of folks coming will be on Tuesday.

Of course on and out-island and with our luck lately... we can't get through a day without some kind of equipment failure. Our friend O'neal has been looking forward to everyone coming to, and he's been planning to let us use his bus to haul folks around in and his boat as a 2nd boat in addition to ours. Well about a week and half before everyone comes, his bus had to go in the shop...and still hasn't gotten repaired. His boat also messed up and still isn't working. So before the week even got going, we were down to one truck and one boat for 14 people counting Joss (18 on Tuesday counting Baby Olivia). Not good numbers to be working with. Well, our truck started giving us problems yesterday, and died today again which means the mechanic won't get around to it until Monday. So, we are now bumming rides from O'neal for our vehicle needs, and hoping and praying that or luck will turn around very soon.

It's 3:07am right now, and I'm sitting here typing this instead of sleeping--- does that give you any indication of the "chaos" already???? I feel really responsible for everyone having a good time since it's down here... but I also know there's only so much I can do. Joss has been awesome and is doing really well with all the folks around. It's hard at times because when he's napping... it doesn't have to be silence in the house by any means, but some noises just don't work with babies trying to sleep....and it's pretty hard to get a group this big on the same page with that.

It's really interesting how your perspective of things will change depending on the season of life you are in too. There's been so many things just over the passed year and a half that I've viewed totally different than I did before we had Joss. After going for almost 10 months without him being on a routine of sleeping through the night and taking consistent naps... I'm probably a little more anal about that stuff than I would be if he just slept when he got tired and fell asleep anywhere. But that's not how my little man functions, and we work with that. He needs his routine of things to rest well. And so do I :)

So just for kicks...here's a few of my reflections over this short period as a mommy to anyone interested: (in no particular order)

1) Be considerate and aware of other's around you (not just for people with babies of course...but you really get a view of how self-centered we all can be when your mindset is altered to automatically include another person with every decision you make)

2) Don't automatically assume that the baby that comes on the airplane is going to ruin your flight...so try not to roll our eyes or make snide little comments about all the noise before they are even seated. Give them a chance to prove to you they can be good little flyers too.

3) I am not a perfect mommy (by any means), but there's not just one way to raise a kid. Don't criticize other's for things that work for them and their little ones.

4) Never tell a pregnant woman how BIG she is or that she must be carrying twins (especially if you are a guy).

5) Grandparents...find ways to make going to Grandma's house easier and special (this is pretty funny--- I have experience with both ends of the spectrum on this one... it's always better to go overboard than to fall short)

Those are just a few that stand out to me, and I'm not saying I've never done those things before. Just some things to consider. Anyway-- I'm going to bed. Sorry for the vent session but, "It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to" :)