This changes everything

So, yesterday morning I had a deep rooted feeling and decided to check it out. Turns out I (and my recently strange dreams) are right...I'm pregnant. Now this wasn't a complete shock to my system and plans because my husband and I were planning on having a third baby, we're were just planning on trying about 6 months from now. So now my baby free summer is no longer a possibility and the "spare time" I dreamed about for my writing just was erased.

So we told my first two girls. My 3yr old is excited while my 1yr old cried. (I think she was just hungry but the timing was perfect regardless.)

But instead of slowing down, like any normal person would, I decided to send a query to an agent. I sent out one query to Hannah Bowman, I hope she likes it, but even if she doesn't I'll keep going. I'll keep writing during Curious George and Barbie Princess Charm School. I'll keep reading writing technique books in the short time I have by myself when the kids are asleep. And I'll bust my butt to get a lot done before baby #3 comes, (probably late March or early April.)

Feeling small

The summer has gone relativity quickly and preschool starts next week. Preschool for me means a little more time to write and read.  My little one may still take a nap in the morning and that is prime time! I have successfully re-edited my first manuscript as well as revised both the synopsis and query letter. I also have read Voices of Dragons to help me get into the correct frame of mind to continue writing my second manuscript. However, going through agent info and reading blogs I find I'm not alone.  This is both good and bad. I also found out two people I went to high school with have already published books. Although I am incredibly happy for both of them it leaves me more than a little discouraged. Some days I feel as though it is an unattainable goal, at least for me. In the meantime while I'm trudging through the heavy black mud that is trying to get published, I am going to make pizza crust for my family's movie night, to be followed by family coloring (of princesses of course.)

I'll submit soon to agents again and keep you updated.

Finally back!

Not only are we back from vacation in WI/MN, but we are almost back into a routine. The time change really messed with the kids sleeping schedule. But the girls have been slowly getting back into a decent night time. Ali is going back to gymnastics and this week she also starts dance class! (she is so excited.). We have tried to go to story time at the library, and finally able to actually have down time. We all had a blast, but as always it's good to be back. There are two things I am started to get excited about: 1. The Olympics are starting soon!! 2. Back to school shopping!! The Olympics are simply amazing, when else do you get to see athletes from so many other countries compete? I always cheer for USA and Japan. And for whatever reason I've enjoyed back-to-school shopping since I was little. Plus it's a good excuse to gather supplies for my writing! Speaking of writing, that front has taken some interesting turns. After my recent reading I've decided both of my manuscripts need something else. The most amazing part is I didn't think I could add anything else to my first MS. But the more I incorporate this change in my mind the better it sounds. At this rate I'm not sure any of my writing will ever be lassified as finished but it's still fun to do. I'm also waiting to hear from winters digest your story completion, I just checked and they are still voting. So I will make the necessary changes to both MS's and the specific additions to my second MS (I'm still working on that part.) as or the word journal I plan to start again today!

Typing in a sleep state

So, my oldest woke up early this morning and my youngest apparently has five teeth coming in and does not want to sleep. Needless to say I a currently very tired, and watching my youngest eat one of her cardboard stacking blocks. As much as I want to be I can't be upset with her, she seems so happy walking around the living room picking up any toy she finds. She recently had her first birthday so I have been really busy with that. And now I am planning ur trip to Wisconsin to see my mother and step father. The almost week long trip should prove exciting, but I'm most worried about the time change. It's just one of those things you never think about until you have small children and you think about a routine bedtime for them. With all excuses firmly in place I have only been able to write a few hundered words a day, not as much as I wanted but it's still something. I also have been researching and brainstorming and reading a new book as market research. It's different than I expected it to be but very interesting, and giving me great ideas. And my husband gave me a free "out" to sleep and I'm going to take it. Goodnight!

Finally back

The week at Turkey Run was amazing but busy. We trailed, we picknicked, we cooked out, we played volleyball, played on playgrounds, fed birds, saw raccoons, and swam (a lot). In between all of that we managed time to sit and relax and I did have time to write. Granted not as much as I would have liked, but some. I did however do pretty well in my journal and have been keeping pretty close to my initial weekly word quota! Yay me! I didn't finish my second manuscript, I didn't really expect to I was a simple hope, but I did finish a few more chapters. And the final big plus...I had inspiration for another book! I'm not sure if I'll write this one next, but I'll finish this one first.

The summer starts

You know it's summer when something happens everyday. Wether it is going to the pool, off to one of the many parks, going to gymnastics or the upcoming swimming lessons, library events or playdates with cousins and/ or friends. The relaxing summer I dreamed of simply doesn't exist. I did it to myself, planning all of the classes, free events and picnics. And I've been thinking of trying a different dance class later In July. I also know I worry too much about the girls getting overheated or dehydrated when playing outside. On top of all of this next week is the annual family Turkey Run trip. I am currently planning and prepping for almost a week of cookouts, trails and playgrounds. (Ali loves the tire swing) On the writing front, I've been slow. There have been ten minutes here, twenty minutes there, to either write or edit. I bought more paper and a notebook to keep track of my word quota. With the impending vacation I am giving myself a very lofty goal: to finish my second manuscript! For continuous writing purposes I will set my weekly word quota at the level that is manageable for managing two little ones and I'll adjust as time goes on. If all goes well I will not only have lost more weight walking trails but I will come home with a completed second manuscript! Wish me luck!

Life realizations

Not much actually happened this weekend, or in the past few days. I've been looking into what conferences are happening where. Then I began to think about the possibility of me going. Ali is still pretty attached and Katie is still literally attached because I am still nursing at night. (I'm beginning the weaning process). Now Preston and I are talking about our third, which will probably be attached for at least the first six months. After thinking about this fact for a while I came to a few realizations: 1. There is virtually no possibility of me making a multi-day writing conference. The further I thought about this, even if I somehow could get over my aversion to the price of said event, the more I realized I want to be this type of mother. I fully realized that, right now, I could hire a baby sitter, allow them to stay with Preston (probably incredibly unhappy the entire time, or some other option I haven't thought about) it just isn't what I want, that is why I haven't done it. 2. So now, not dis lauding conferences in my areseanal, I've decided to work solely on my ability to write. I'm also learning the ins and outs of on-line social networking sites. To work solely on my craft I've recently adopted a new "training technique" as it were. I have been reading The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell. I love the suggestion of having a word quota for the week. I am going to try that and make a daily journal of what I have written, if anything and how much I have written. On a more personal note some friends and I have entered the Color me Rad 5K in Indy. It's going to be so much fun. From what I understand the runners all wear plain white shirts and each carry color packs to throw. When it starts we all run and pelt each other with color, then have an awesome commerative shirt when it's done!