Fail.

Well I've been thinking about updating about our Great TV Test. I've wanted to, but I seem to have failed. I had big aspirations (even expectations) of what we would accomplish. Instead one day while I was at work Glenn went out and bought Spongebob Season 2 on DVD. Its not that we've totally reverted to how we used to be, but I just haven't made the changes I was hoping to. I guess, to sum it up, I feel like a failure. While I never set out to be a TV-free household I did want us to make progress in that direction. I had visions of becoming crafty mom overnight. Yea, that didn't happen. It has been hard (harder than I thought) living in the rental. It is hard not being in our own space, not having our own furniture, or things, or anything. See, I haven't written this blog because now I just feel like I'm making excuses. We have made progress. The TV is not on as much. Mostly Beanie watches a little in the morning while I drink my coffee and a little while we make dinner. We've been getting out for late morning playdates which has been a lot of fun. And after her nap we've been going for walks or running errands. It is progress I guess, just not as much as I was hoping/expecting/aspiring to.

But, you know what? That is okay. Its okay that I'm not crafty mom. Its okay that we watch a little TV. Its okay that I know almost every word to every episode of Spongebob Season 2 right now. Most of all, its okay to recognize that progress was made even if it was a little smaller than I imagined.

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. We aren't going to be spending our days cooped up inside while the rain is pouring down. We are going to be outside and enjoying it and not sitting in front of the TV. Crafty mom time can still come, but its not something I'm going to lose sleep over.

Ten things I've learned not having cable.

10. I don't miss all that background noise. At all.

9. It is hard (really hard) to get the dishes done quickly without being able to pop Beanie down watching Spongebob for a few moments.

8. I miss some of my shows.

7. Sometimes you just have to resort to watching cartoons on nick.com. Especially if mom is feeling quite ill and its the only way you can get a toddler to sit still.

6. Its a lot easier to talk to your husband when the TV isn't on.

5. I don't ever know what the weather is going to be like. (yes, I know I can go online for that)

4. Grey's Anatomy is a really good show. Our landlord had season one on DVD here and Glenn started watching it and got sucked in. Then I got sucked in. Then we had to go and rent season two from Blockbuster.

3. Not having access to TV doesn't mean that I automatically turned into "crafty mom." I'm still working on that.

2. I have dirty dishes in the sink, laundry to be folded, dusting & vacuuming to do. Somehow I think if Beanie had just a little TV time I might be able to get all of it done. See my habits? In reality if we had a baby gate or video monitor cord that worked (need to call on that one) I would probably feel more comfortable being downstairs getting all that done while she was sleeping. In reality, if we hadn't all been sick this last week it probably would've gotten a little more done.

1. No TV + Sunshine = getting out of the house a lot more!!

We close today!!!

Yay! Just waiting for the call from escrow to state that funds have been disbursed and WE ARE DONE!! Happy Dance and break out the red wine (I hate champagne).

Our house hunting trip yesterday didn't result in as many ooohs and aaahs as I had hoped, but we did find one that we both really liked. Not sit-down-and-write-an-offer liked, but we are still very much considering it. It was a gorgeous house on a big lot. Six (yes SIX) bedrooms and three bathrooms. Well within our new price range. Big two car garage. Awesome school district. Beautiful kitchen. Big bonus room downstairs.

So, you're wondering what the downsides were right? One, it is a bit farther out than we'd like to be but not too bad. If we knew where Glenn would be working it would likely make this decision much easier. I am sort of hoping (okay, really hoping) we find out something very soon. Two, it is a short sale. Our realtor said it could take months to hear back from the back, although he did mention that banks are starting to get better with quicker response times. Three, its on septic which, I admit, is probably not as big of a problem as I imagine but the only thing I keep thinking of is a crap-filled backyard. Eeeewww!

After sleeping on it I like this house more and more. I'm interested to hear what Glenn thinks after sleeping on it as well.

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As for the TV, I did break down and let Beanie watch an episode of SpongeBob on the laptop before bed. She was uber cranky and had been such a good girl while we were looking at houses (it must be trying to get out of your carseat a million times!). Actually she was in a nutso-silly mood while we were out house-hunting. Our realtor, who had previously told us he planned on working from home a few days a week when he & his wife had children, has probably thrown that possibility out the window for good now ;).

But, it was just one episode and, like I said, she was a very good girl. And we're moving, which throws her whole world upside down anyways. My goal isn't really to completely eliminate TV forever anyway, just to drastically cut down the amount we watch. So, with that goal in mind, I think we're doing great!

Score -- Mass Media: 1, Mommy 0

So, on our first TV-less day (which I should add also include trying to finish packing and loading up the POD) Beanie decided it would be a great idea to not take a nap. Clingy, screaming, teething toddlers and moving don't mix. So, you know what, we cuddled her up on the couch with some pillows, a blanket and turned Wall-E on the laptop. I'm not counting defeat yet, somtimes you gotta do what you gotta do. And yesterday we needed to pack, which meant not having a toddler hanging off my leg all day.

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We are headed out to look at ten (or is it eleven) houses today. I just have a feeling that today we will find one! I wish we could head out and look right now but we are waiting until this afternoon when Glenn gets off work. We figured with such a promising looking bunch it would be best if we all headed out together.

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Beanie is getting not one (not even two or three) but four teeth right now. All four of her canines, or eye teeth or whatever the heck people call them. The top two cut through last week and the bottom two are cutting right now. Its funny how much teething can mess with, um, everything!!!

Unplugged.

We took the TV up to my sister's yesterday so we are officially TV-less. Beanie & I woke up this morning to Glenn watching Wall-E on the laptop. Maybe this will be as hard (if not harder) for us adults?

I'm excited to go to the craft store and pick up some things to do with Beanie. I'm going to wait until Wednesday when we're out of the condo though. No need buying extra things to move!

Speaking of The Great TV Test....

Obviously I am in sore need of some new fun activities to do with Beanie. I'm going to "steal" some ideas from my friend Jill and from this great blog with Montessori & unschooling activities, but I'd love to hear what fun activities you've been doing lately with your toddler. Please share!

The Great TV Test of 2009

On Saturday we will be taking our 46" plasma screen TV to my sister's for storage. Sorry PODS but I don't trust my TV in there with all the rest of my junk too. Our temporary rental doesn't have cable hoooked up and we've decided to forgo hooking it up in order to save some moola while we're there.

Like it or not we have come to rely on the TV with Beanie. While I don't think television is inherently evil or anything like that, we have let her watch way more TV than I'd like. No one to blame but ourselves so I am secretly glad that we will be without TV for a few months. I'm sure Glenn or I will want to catch up on The Daily Show or The Office on hulu.com and maybe we'll throw a BlueRay in every once in awhile for Beanie, but it will be nothing like it is now. No day long Sponge Bob marathon.

I know how we fell into this "routine." Its pretty hard to remodel an entire house and have it for sale with a baby (now toddler). I'm not trying to make excuses, I just know how we came to this point. And I'm glad we're going to have a major change to shake things up a bit. My intention is to blog about our progress, trials and tribulations of living without TV. I know to some it will sound like "no big deal" but it will be a great change for us (great as in big and great as in wonderful). So, tune in...lol :)

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And, yes, I changed my layout AGAIN. The one I picked out last night didn't do anything for links (you know, to make them stand out from regular text) so I decided to change. I think we've found a winner with the one I have now though, so don't expect it to change again anytime soon ;)