I'm betting that Overwhelmed! and family are on their way home. I meant to post this morning. But you see, I've lost my mind. Truth be told, I've simply lost my ever-loving mind. I've been overwhelmed lately, emotionally and physically. I've just simply run out of time for me. I'm trying to chug down hot tea as I write this in hopes of soothing some fried nerve-endings. Have you tried to chug hot tea? Again, I've lost my mind.

Some of it comes with the territory of Motherhood. Any time I make plans to do something, they get thrown askew by the little one. A poop as we go to walk at the door on time. A sudden bout of extreme hunger that can't be met with anything that we could possibly dream to offer him. Random naps. I mean, everyone wants their kid to nap. But when you have to leave the house at 1:10pm and he suddenly is fast-asleep at 12:45, there's a bit of inward screaming.

Then we have the holidays upon us. Yesterday was Nick's first Halloween party. This evening he's going to another one with his Grandma (while my Husband and I pretend to be adults and go to a costume party of our own!). I'm overwhelmed with costumes and times, dates, plans. I feel like I need a holiday planner, akin to a wedding planner... but wearing whatever matches the current holiday at hand. Today she would be dressed as a pumpkin, complete with pumpkin earrings. Just to make me smile. And breathe. Oh, breathing.

As soon as Halloween is over but before Thanksgiving rushes in, we will celebrate Nick's first birthday party. SAY WHAT? I know, I can't get over it either. It's emotionally disturbing and draining. I've got most of the party planned out though I am concerned about being able to make Nick's own special organic cake. I haven't given it a test run. It's a carrot cake. Everyone say yum. Beyond the craziness accompanying any first birthday, the Munchkin will be in town for a visit with her Mom and baby brother (who happens to be sixteen days older than our Nicholas). I've got nerves there.

Then Thanksgiving will come and go in a whirlwind of mashed potatoes and weight gain. Followed by the hardest time of year for me. We'll be traveling East to visit Munchkin and her family for her birthday and to drop off presents for Christmas. The good news is that the birthday is more low key than the first one (whew), Josh will be with me for a majority of the time and we've packed some other activities into the visit, such as taking my Husband to NYC for the very first time. Exciting!

Oh, then our anniversary. And then Christmas slams into us like the day-after-our-wedding blizzard.

Is it any wonder that I'm consistently running late right now? I used to be on time for things. In fact, I used to be early! Pfft to that idea! I have a better understanding for the crazed state my Mother was always in during the holidays and subsequent tax season. I want to give her a big hug and say thank you for not killing us all during these hectic times.

But I don't have enough time! I'm running too darn late! Maybe tomorrow. Maybe. If I can manage to not completely lose my mind in the meantime. Hmm. Maybe. I just keep telling myself, "Make it to January 1st and then things will slow down." But it's a lie, isn't it? :)

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Jenna writes at her family blog, Family Living; Hatfield Style on a regular basis. She also writes at AdoptionBlogs on the Birth/First Parent Blog coming from the firstmother in open adoption viewpoint. And more of her personal adoption story is available at The Chronicles of Munchkinland.