Today I feel more human and useful than I have in at least two weeks. And that’s despite the sore throat and sore neck I’m sporting.

The boy is feeling better. He’s eating better and he’s napping and sleeping better. Josh is working hard at work and helping out a ton around the house. He’s also doing his best to force me to take time away from the boy for myself. I made a menu and actually stuck to it (so far!) this week. Today I took Jude up to Whole Foods to pick up a few items. I also made breakfast and lunch and cleaned my kitchen. This post will make two (2!) for the day.

So, yeah. In short: I rock.

(Does anyone really say “I rock” or “you rock” anymore? Probably not.)

On to Jude news. A couple of posts ago, I mentioned the muffin tin snack tray I set up for Jude and the other kids during the Fourth Annual Frank Family Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza. I’ve been setting this up daily since the party, and Jude LOVES it. He grazes all day on the healthy snacks I put out, picking and choosing what he wants to nosh on at any given moment. I think the tray has contributed significantly to my productivity over the past few days. Sure, I have to replenish it from time to time…add cheese around lunch time…pop it in the fridge before Jude’s afternoon nap…but overall, Jude just helps himself. It has increased his autonomy while freeing me from the tedium of handing him green bean after green bean. He gets to eat as his hunger dictates, and I get to wash dishes without having to stop to dry my hands ever four minutes when he wants yet another cracker.

He gets to eat. I get to wash dishes. Hardly seems like a fair exchange.