November 2007

November 04

DIY....WHATEVER!!!!

okay...so yesterday we decided that enough was enough.  we needed to fix the freaking dryer.  mostly because i'm getting lazy about hanging the clothes up...it's a little hard while trying to keep an eye on a running toddler.  getting him to help only lasts for a bout 2 minutes before he starts throwing the clean clothes onto the dirty ground.  so ANYWAY, i look up changing the belt on a dryer and find that (supposedly) it's not that hard.  so step one is done, the instructions are printed out and ready to go.  this morning i get up and we decide to at least get the front cover off the dryer and get the old belt off so jerry can go get a new one while elijah and i are at a birthday party.  while this wasn't the easiest thing to do and the instructions (which were generic and not specifically for our model...hmmmm) weren't spot on, we accomplished this task.  i'm feeling all good about this thing and feeling the sense of pride that fellow blogger claire talks about when she achieves some household task.  so we go to the party and jerry goes to lowe's (home depot didn't have the part...) and all is good.  elijah falls asleep on the way home and i come in and put him to nap in his bed.  jerry had the belt and we go to work.  after a couple of hours and many cuss words, we realize that we need to pull the dryer out and use the back access panel to get the freaking belt on the pulley and engine drive (look at my use of dryer parts....oooohhhhh, aaaaahhhhhhh....).  by this time said toddler is up and cranky and hungry and demanding attention from father and mother who are trying to not say cuss words around said toddler and not slice their arms off from the sharp edges and random dryer parts.  finally with my last bit of energy (no nap for mom today) i get the !@#%$% thing to go on like it is supposed to and jerry can goes attend to a now very poopy toddler and get said toddler fed.  while he does that, i put the dryer back together (sounds easier that it is, but  I DID IT!!!!) and we load up the dryer and test it out!!  while it running nice and quiet i go and get ready to shower, because i have been lying in dust and grime behind the dryer and while we vacuumed back there, we don't have a fancy dyson and it doesn't clean as well as the fancy (read really want a fancy) dyson would....sigh...  i have just gotten my hair down and my sweater off when i hear a squeak come from the dryer.... i stop and think, it's just adjusting itself.... nope.... it gets louder and if at all possible louder than it was before we "fixed" it... SUPER SIGH.... so i get in the shower all annoyed, with a headache beating in my head and try to ignore the squeaking.  jerry finally goes and shuts it off, because really it's just that annoying.  after the shower we talk about what to do and decide to go look at dryers at lowe's...nothing... sear's...nothing...  well i say nothing, and i mean nothing we want to spontaneously spend money on.  so we decide over dinner at the food court in the mall that we will tough it out until january when all the after christmas stuff goes on sale, and we can get a dryer we really want and do some research on which ones are good and which are not... 'til then, i'll be in the back yard hanging out clothes if ya need me!

November 07

YAY!!!!

I just heard today from my friend Laura that her sister just had her twins.  I think they were only a couple of weeks early and apparently she was to be induced, but went into labor on her own!!!  Anyway, she gave birth to the baby boy around 11 (weighing in at a whooping 7 pounds!!!) and the baby girl at 11:30 (weighing in at 5.9 pounds!!!!!) both were delivered vaginally!  I'm just so freaking impressed by that and I hope they don't mind me sharing.  I've been telling everyone I know.  I mean first to carry twins that long is fantastic and then to give birth in such an amazing way.  I don't know if she had drugs, but either way...DANG!!!!   I think it's great that she was given the option.  When I freaked out for a few minutes about possibly having twins, that was my biggest concern, that I would automatically have to have a c-section...I was calmed down by several people that told me that it was possible and happens in this county, so that's good to know...not that we're having twins, but ya know...  ANYWAY, the kids and mom are doing fine and that's great news too...and I guess the most important thing...ya know all healthy and stuff.  Just wanted to say great job and announce the arrival!!!!

November 11

lazy lazy sunday

i am still in my pjs and it is 4:45.  i did do the laundry and finish up the kid's in the family's christmas gifts.  but that's about it.  elijah is still in his pjs too.  jerry is in comfy clothes.  he did go out and get us sandwiches (i am CRAVING egg salad so he got me one... nice hubby.)  elijah has played hard all morning but inside. we broke out the potato head full of potato heads and he has gone crazy with putting those together all afternoon.  he took a really good nap and i watched heros on the web while jerry watched football.  after elijah woke up we pulled out the air mattress and feather blankets and now we are chilling on that watching football and playing potato heads.  elijah thinks it's all funny.  we've needed a break.  jerry and i have both been really tired this week, so doing absolutely nothing and staying in our pjs all day has been quite nice.  part of me feels guilty that we stayed in on such a nice day, but the other part of me is completely fine with taking a day off.

anyway, it's been a nice weekend too.  yesterday we went out for breakfast and then to a park.  jerry had to go into work for a bit while elijah napped, then we just hung out.  next weekend will be more hectic.  i am going to pass your plate to get our months food on saturday.  i need to finish the rest of the family's christmas gifts as we will only see them at thanksgiving.  sunday we are going to see jerry's folks.  sometime in there we need to do all the laundry and get the house ready to go.  we leave on thursday morning and will have thanksgiving on friday afternoon.  i need to make a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie before we leave too.  when we arrive i will make a sweet potato casserole and a green bean casserole.

this past week rachel and i threw a baby shower for a woman in our play group.  we were a little worried since it was outside, but the wind died down and it was quite nice. and everyone had fun i think.  i did have a little traumatic moment.  we were playing on the playground and i was talking to another mom.  elijah moved out of the way to let another kid go down the slide and all of a sudden i see my kid falling.  there was an opening on the other side of the slide.  i thought my heart was going to stop.  however, he fell in the best possible way.  he step backwards and there was no floor (obviously) and just fell straight down and landed on his feet!  then his knees buckled and he fell backwards onto his head.  i did the stupidest thing possible which was grab up my crying kid.  i should have let him get up and come to me to make sure there was no spinal injury, but hindsight and all.  anyway, he's obviously okay and was just shaken.  it was a big fall...about 7 feet.  i was scared that he might not want to play on big slides anymore, but he was fine at the park on saturday.  it just scared me lots!

i feel like i'm fighting a cold.  my throat has been scratchy for a few days and i just feel worn out.  i went to the doc earlier this week for my eczema.  i have it on my eyelids and it is not comfortable.  unfortunately since i'm knocked up and all the only thing i can do for it is hydrocortisone cream.  so far that seems to be helping, i just look all rough and scaly around my eyes... oh well... there are worse things in life.

speaking of the baby in the belly.  i have bee feeling some beginnings of movement.  not like kicks yet, but definite movement in the belly area.  this morning in particular.   it's just so cool.  i didn't feel elijah until about 16-18-ish weeks.  i don't know if i ever wrote about it.  but when i was about 16 weeks with elijah i had to go get my heart looked at to make sure things were okay.  i guess i was the healthiest person they had seen all day and the ultrasound woman let us see the baby after finishing with my heart.  elijah was kicking my placenta at the time.  jerry said the other day that maybe that was the beginning of his happy feet (we say show us your happy feet and he starts dancing this little run in place dance.)  anyway, it was really sweet...

okay... the boy child needs attention apparently...

November 18

hmmmm...

Where did this week go?  What did I even do this week?  I'm sure we did something.  Let's see... I have decided to not make slings to sell anymore.  I couldn't find anyone who would insure me and I'm nervous in this sue happy world.  So I was a little bummed, because I had all these materials and nothing to really do with them.  The fabric I can of course find something to do with, but the rings...  Apparently the Maya Wrap was recently recalled due to some faulty rings.  Carmen was bummed because that was one of her biggest sellers, so she ended up buying all my supplies off of me.  She's going to make them herself to sell.  So that was sweet!

So with that money I got supplies to make Christmas Ornaments to sell in Carmen's shop.  I need to finish a batch tonight so that she can get them out by Thanksgiving.  I'm also knitting little bells to sell there too.  While we are away for Thanksgiving I'm going to work on some more hats and mittens.

I don't remember the rest of the week really... Thursday was rainy and then it got really really cold, and then this weekend has been a whirlwind.  I went to Pass Your Plate on Saturday and made our food for the month.  Today we went to see Jerry's mom.  His dad had to have his other leg amputated earlier this week and is in a rehabilitation facility to learn how to walk and take care of himself and whatnot.  This is a great thing, I only wish it had happened after the loss of his first leg... but everyone (including his dad) is very positive about this and I am encouraged as well.  I hope that this is a new beginning for them all!

This week is going to be a little crazy.  Elijah needs a haircut, I need to bake some pies for Thanksgiving, we have b-day party on Tuesday morning, and I need to get us all packed to leave early Thursday morning.

Elijah's sleeping is getting better.  He's staying in his room until at least 5:30-6:00 in the morning.  Last night he only woke up twice and it took less that a minute to get him back to sleep.  I hope that this trend continues.  We are still in his room while he falls asleep, but I sit in there and read my book and Jerry just sits in there.  It seems to be working.  He signs that he wants to go to sleep in his bed for nap, but he plays and gets hyper, so we bring him back out to rock for a bit and then after he settles down he gets to go back to his bed.  This is taking longer than I would like for him to settle down, but I think that it will get better soon.

This baby in the tummy is a crazy movin' baby.  Especially if I drink OJ or coke (I treat myself once a week)...man, I can't imagine what my tummy will look like once this kiddo gets bigger and I can see the movement.  It'll be like an alien....now it just feels like one.

I guess that's it.  I'm really tired this evening.  I guess even this short trip today wore me out...even though i slept a bit with Elijah at nap time...hmmmm... I may not make it through The Amazing Race tonight...we'll see...

November 20

emotional ball of...well, emotions

Today I went to pick up Rachel and MR to go walk before a b-day party of a friend.  When I walked in Rachel told me she had a present for the baby to be.  What a nice surprise.

I need to stop and give a little back story for this to make sense... Jerry wrote about this a while ago on his blog...see his fatherhood link and then scroll down to "froggie"...ANYWAY, we bought Elijah this little frog toy when he was really little and he played with it all the time.  We used it in the car to keep him calm and hooked it to his play mat and to his stroller.  On a walk he figured out how to get it off and it became lost.  I was really upset about it and maybe even cried a bit... I know it sounds dumb, but I really liked that stupid frog.  We have called Elijah our little tree frog from day one...symbolism and stuff....

So to my surprise... I have talked about this frog for ages.  And Rachel found one in a used kids store here and got it for us!  It was so sweet and I just started crying.  Rachel is used to my little outbursts.  I know that I wear my emotions on my sleeve, but when pregnant or breastfeeding, it's much worse.  I cried at a stupid Bud commercial shortly after Elijah was born...sigh...

But this is getting ridiculous.  There is a Sear's commercial out there about a little girl that loves clothes, but she has to wear a uniform to school, but next year she won't and so her mom buys her this wardrobe as a surprise for Christmas... stupid Sear's commercial...

Then I was dumb and watched Akeela and The Bee... stupid heart warming movie...

I've started ignoring commercials because I am betting that during the dumb holiday season they are only going to get worse...

Anyway, thanks to my friends for putting up with my emotional butt and a big hug to my hubby for not making too much fun of me... of course, he knows he's got to live with me for the next 24 weeks...

November 25

Turkey Day Adventures...

So we left on Thursday morning to go to my folks.  I thought that surely there wouldn't be that much traffic, and for a bit there wasn't.  But we hit Raleigh and from there until Greensboro it was slammed...moving, but slammed.  We got to my folks in about 6 hours (not bad with 4 stops.)  Elijah did really well and immediately felt at home with my folks.  He was wandering around their house finding the toys they have for him.  My folks just got a brand new TV (about time as their other one was about 25 years old...not kidding, it was at least that old...so old that Habitat For humanity wouldn't take it!!) It's really nice...flat panel, HDTV, HUGE!!!  It was difficult to come back to our boring TV today...hehehehe....

I made the sweet potato casserole that evening and unpacked the pecan and pumpkin pies.  My mom and dad made us spinach pie (one of my favorites!!) and we had dinner then chilled out with the big TV.  Elijah didn't sleep very well and gave Jerry a hard time the first night.  But was a happy guy by breakfast time.  On Friday we went to meet my Aunt and Uncle for breakfast (we left Jerry to get some rest) and run some errands at Ingles (I miss Ingles!!!)  then came home and played at the park with my little cousins.  We came back up to the house and went on and fed Elijah lunch so he could take a nap.  He only slept for about 45 minutes before he was up.  He knows how to open the doors at my folks house, so there was no going back to sleep.  But he was fine.  It was a good day.  We did a little Christmas gifting and enjoyed (way too much) yummy food.  That evening as I was brushing Elijah's teeth, he kept crying and grabbing his cheek...the whole day he had been doing odd things with his tongue...yeah, the elusive 2 year molars we have been waiting for are suddenly making an appearance.  I have been feeling his gums back there for weeks and there was nothing there...Friday night...there's a huge gaping hole with a tooth sticking out... no wonder he didn't sleep well.  Luckily we had IB with us and he got a dose of that and fell asleep and slept well for the night.

Saturday was the laziest day ever.  Elijah is all about fire lately.  When we read Goodnight Moon, he points out the fire on every page it appears.  Friday dad made a fire and Elijah woke up on Saturday and immediately started signing, Opa fire.  My dad went out in the freezing cold (before eating his breakfast) and made a fire for Elijah.  Elijah is very timid of said fire, so he stands across the room and stretches his hands way out.  It's very cute.  He'll point to the fire and say, "hot hot!" so I guess it's good to know he realizes it's hot.  Mom took Elijah out on a walk in the woods, which he wasn't thrilled about, but was fine.  Meanwhile my dad and I sat around the fire and were lazy while Jerry worked on a computer program he's developing.  We had planned on going out to a movie, but nothing looked appealing...well, we didn't want to watch anything too in depth like American Gangster, or scary like The Mist...so we just went out to lunch at My Father's Pizza (super yummy!!!) and came home to put Elijah down for a nap.  We did watch Spiderman 3 during nap time.

We drove home today and man, it was a long drive.  The weather was all dreary....yawn.  We did stop and see my other aunt and cousin for breakfast this morning.  So that was fun.  But still....

I must say that both Thursday and today the police force was OUT!  We saw a TON of people pulled over.  We also saw a bunch of dead deer on the road.  I know that it is that time of year, but there were some gruesome looking road kill on the side of the road and I just know that those had to be bad accidents.

Oh...funny story...

Thursday evening we were sitting down stairs watching football and just hanging out.  There is a big window looking out onto a footpath and my mom;s cat jumped up at the window.  Elijah loves looking at this cat (though the cat is skiddish...but through the window is okay.)  Anyway, my dad is not the biggest fan of cats (or at least acts like it) and has always threatened the cats in our lives...never hurt them, but definitely threatened them.  Anyway, the cat was clawing at the window screen.  We had just been talking about the cat's name (kitty...) and dad said, "You know what that cat's name is going to be if it doesn't stop scratching at the window..."  and I giggled and said, "dead cat dead cat..." Elijah looked right at me and then at the cat and said (and I kid you not) "deadcatdeadcat..."  I thought we were all going to die from laughing so hard.  Here is a child that doesn't say that much, and clear as day says dead cat of all things!!!   At least I didn't say something a lot worse!!!

November 27

Why don't these things come pre-programmed...

Ahhhh, potty training...sigh... so this morning marked the beginning of the training.  Here is my day so far:

8:00 - out of poopy diaper and into big boy training undies (love these because while the absorb very little, so little on can feel wet/dry, they have a vinyl outside to keep my couches from being ruined.)

8:30 - go on a walk, return home go immediately to potty.  dry undies, no pee in potty.  put undies back on...

9:00 - go to potty...wet undies, manages to pee on rug in bathroom...sigh...why didn't i already remove rugs?  oh well, they needed to be washed anyway.  boy child refuses to put undies back on... fine naked boy running around...closed all rooms with carpet in them.

9:30 - pees on floor, put boy child on potty immediately and back on with 2nd pair of undies (why do we only have 4 pairs?) he pees two drops in potty whilst i clean up pee on floor...

10:00 -  after asking every 5 minutes if he needs to pee, (answer always "no") we go sit on potty...low and behold the undies are what? wet... (liar) we sit and read and talk about wet and dry and he refuses the undies again.  fine...

10:15 - after a juice and asking every 5 minutes, boy child runs to potty and sits and goes!!!  he leaked on the way to said potty, but he almost made it... success maybe?!?!

10-30 - starts to pee while playing and i look up at the sound and cheer him on to the potty where he pees an extraordinary amount considering he's left a puddle the size of a small lake (well to ant it would be a lake) on the floor.  stays on potty while i clean up another mess... really happy the weather is warm enough to have the windows open.  both times he's peed in the potty he gets to "wipe" and flush the big potty as a reward.

11:00 - boy child says he's hungry and i convince him (after much struggling) to put on undies before eating...don't want to have to wash the high chair cover too.

11:30  - lunch... again every 5 minutes "do you need to potty?" "no"

12:00 - getting ready for nap...into a diaper... out of what? soaking wet undies...sigh...

12:30-2:23 - nap...no pee to clean up...wahoo!!!

3:00 -  convince boy child to get out of diaper and be naked again...not very cooperative...doesn't want to stay off furniture...sits on potty for almost 1/2 hour with no success...super sigh...

it is now 3:52.... he had an orange for snack and i am betting that he is storing up the pee.  if he would pee in the potty we could go outside for a bit in undies, but alas alack there is no rationalizing with toddler boy child.  i'm doubting my stamina for keeping this up for the next few days.  it's exhausting.  maybe if jerry were home it wouldn't be so bad... why don't they come out trained?  where is evolution in this matter?  opposable thumbs were more important than learning to pee in the toilet?  whatever!!!  maybe things will go better tomorrow... we are definitely having a bath tonight... i feel gross... i know pee is sterile and all, but that doesn't make it any better...

November 28

well, everyone needs a break...right?

well, elijah did well this morning... of course, rachel called and we decided that playing downtown was much more fun than potty training.  so jerry and i decided that this weekend we will tag team the training and we are resorting to bribery.  we are going to make a chart and get stickers for the chart and elijah.  it'll be easier with two.

so jerry's coworker, bonnie, had her twins yesterday via c-section.  she was scheduled for next week but went into labor yesterday.  as far as i know both mom and the the two girls are doing well.  we'll go visit tomorrow or the next day.

on monday, i took care of mr while rachel and erin went in for their 20 week ultrasound and they found out that....they are having twins!  what is the likely hood that i would know three people who have had/are having twins.  this is insane.  but also really cool.  so many babies!!!

we go to the midwife on friday for a check up and to schedule our own ultrasound.  i'm excited.  i really like seeing the baby on the screen...

okay... that's it...elijah is sleeping and i think i may join him...we got in a little late, but i always like putting him down late sometimes.  it makes night a little more difficult, but it makes the afternoon go so much faster!  be well!

November 30

It's Friday...WAHOOOOO!!!!!

So the potty training is getting better I guess.  He had no accidents yesterday evening (we had playgroup in the morning) and this morning they were limited.  He runs to the bathroom after he lets  little pee out... still cleaning up behind him...sigh... anyway, we have the chart up and that's a huge hit, so we'll see.

This afternoon we picked up Jerry, dropped Elijah off at Rachel's, and headed over to see Mary the midwife.  Everything is going smoothly.  Strong heartbeat (only ONE!) and I measuring perfectly.  We made an appointment for our ultrasound for the 14th of December.  I'm really excited!  We didn't do an early ultrasound...didn't feel that there was a need.  I am looking forward to seeing the little one on the TV.  The place we are going is a place where we went last year for some extra ultrasounds (docs thought there was something wrong with Elijah's kidneys...he just needed to pee...hmmmm....isn't ironic?) and it's really nice.  You get to see the baby on a TV screen placed above your head so you don't have to crane your neck to see the screen.  The only problem is that the appointment is at 1.  That sorta sucks.  I don't really want to take Elijah with us, but I also don't want to have to put Rachel out.... hmmm, I wonder if my folks would like to come down for the weekend... mom... dad...?  wanna come down for a long weekend?

We are getting our Christmas Tree tomorrow!!!  That's exciting!!!  I have almost all my shopping done.  We are doing only Made in the US/Europe or second hand stuff for Christmas.  This has been challenging to say the least, but I finally finished Jerry's shopping, and now it's just Elijah left.   We were thinking the Rody but now we are thinking not so much...space issues, rowdiness issues, he already has ride on toys....though nothing that bounces...hmmmm....  so now we are stuck.  I found a kitchen set that was made in the US and I went to take a look at it and the store was sold out and they weren't sure they were getting anymore...sigh... we have found a little basketball goal...that's a possibility... he just has so much already.  Well, see...

Okay...I need to check on my latest addiction....Facebook...so easy to get soooo sucked into...

September 2007

September 06

Okay, I give up...

I was trying to take a nap, but I keep coughing (which I'll come back to in a bit) so I thought, hey I haven't blogged in AGES, so why not....

Let's see.... it's been a while... The fridge is working great... nothing exciting happened after that until my folks came, so I'll start there.

Last Monday, my parents came into town.  Wahoo!!  Elijah had a cold the week before, so I was glad that he was feeling better.  He is starting to remember people better now.  So he warmed right up to them.  This was great.  Elijah has this little electric piano and he likes to push the buttons and make a beat or listen to (stupid) Old MacDonald (over and over and over and over) ANYWAY, my dad was sitting on the couch and Elijah brought in the piano and started pushing the buttons.  Dad started doing this little dance and Elijah totally started copying him.  It was hilarious.  (I'm uploading the video right and I'll add it as soon as it's done.)  On Tuesday we normally go to story time at the library, but it was such a nice day we decided to go to the railroad museum instead.  It rocked!!!  We are totally having Elijah's b-day party there.  The museum itself is very interesting.  They just moved into a new building, so there was some work going on, but not enough to ruin the trip.  They have a whole room for kids.  It has a little caboose the kids can climb in and tons of toy trains.  Then behind this glass case is a bunch of trains on tracks and you push a bottom and off they go.  There are places for kids to stand all the way around it and watch.  They are working on another huge room that is just trains and tracks.  Once it's done, it will be quite a sight.  They also have actual train cars : an engine, a box car, and a caboose.  The engine is an old steam engine.  You can pull the bell and see where everything went.  The box car is set up with a hobo exhibit.  The caboose is where the party will be.  It's also really cool.  There are places to climb and run around.  It'll be great.

On Wednesday, Jerry and I went out for dinner and this really nice restaurant, called Port City Chop House.  We had a coupon and everything.  It was soooooo yummy.  The coupon was for two entrees, a salad, wine, and dessert...my mouth is watering....sooooo goooooooddd.....  We got home in time to put the little guy to bed and then crash ourselves.  That morning we had gone to the beach.  The weather was perfect.  In fact the water temp was just a bit warmer than the air, so it was almost to chilly, but not quite.

Thursday mom and dad dropped me off at playgroup and went shopping.  Then I had a small business seminar that night (I finish that tonight.)

Then came Friday.  Jerry took the day off, so we went for breakfast.  I didn't feel great, but I thought I was hungry.  When we came home, Jerry had to run something into the office and my folks worked on the yard.  I finished a memory quilt example(my newest product) while Elijah played.  I still felt odd, but really wasn't thinking about it too much.  That evening Jerry and I went to see the Bourne Ultimatum (really good movie, but I swear if the camera doesn't stop moving around...) and mom and dad took Elijah to this music festival they have every week at a local development.  We were going to go out to eat, but neither of us were hungry, so we picked something up and headed home, put Elijah to bed and turned in....AAND THEN....

At 11 that night I woke up sicker than I have ever been in recent memory.  I will spare the horrid details, but Oh MY GOD is was horrible.  I was up all night.  Jerry was awesome.  He brought me water and a cold cloth and let me sleep on the floor.   The next morning we were supposed to take my folks out for breakfast, but I honestly couldn't move.  So they ate here and took off.  I spent the whole day with 102 temp.  I chugged Gatorade, Ginger Ale, and water and attempted to eat some soup and bread.  I slept most of the day and went to bed at 8.  Jerry let me sleep until 9 the next morning.  I felt much better, but still really weak.  By then my nose had started to run...sigh... so the nasty sickness turns into a head cold....ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????  SO now it's moved into my chest and I sound horrible and am exhausted, but at least I can eat.  Elijah and I went to story time this week and that's about it.  It turns out that almost everyone at play group got sick.  Who knows where it came from or what, I don't really care...however, if the US is looking for new torture methods...they should bottle that virus...I would have given up just about any info to make it stop...

So that leads me to now... I have this cough that is preventing me from napping...sigh...the video has finished uploading, so I'll embed it now and then maybe re-try the nap thing... I hope that you are feeling better than I am....

September 09

Feeling better now...

So I am still a little sniffly, but feel soooo much better.  I met my friend Amy at a local park on Friday and we had a very nice time chatting while Elijah played on the playground and ran around.  I knew that this park existed but I hadn't been there in a while.  I don't know why.  So I'm glad that Amy suggested meeting there.

We finally sold our futon and it turns out that we sold it to a guy that Jerry worked with one summer.  It was good for them to catch up.  Saturday was okay, but Jerry had to work once in the afternoon and then again in the evening.  I was a bit annoyed (not at him, at the situation.)  He had to go back in this morning and I don't think he slept very much last night worrying about why the run wasn't working.

So while Jerry was at work this morning, Elijah and I moved my sewing and knitting stuff into the office.  I really like that I'll have a place for everything.  We do want a new desk for the computer, but we can't find one we like.  There is an unfinished furniture place that we'll check out Friday (since Jerry worked so much this weekend, he now has enough hours to take a day off!!!)

This afternoon after running around to some stores to look at desks we went back to the same park.  This is impressive as it's now officially football season...  I was pleasantly surprised to see so many dads at the park.  During the week there is always one or two, but I would say that the number of dads at least equaled the number of moms there.  I think it's so great.  I love that Jerry loves hanging out with Elijah and taking him to the park and whatnot.  I think that if he ever got to work from home, he would take him to story time at the library too.  I really think it's so important for dad's to be hands on and Jerry really has since day one.   I think that there are some dads that think they will be more hands on as the child gets older and whatnot... I guess that's fine, but I honestly wouldn't be considering getting pregnant if jerry wasn't so active in Elijah's daily life.  He gets that things like the park, or Fit For Fun, or story time aren't for him, they are for Elijah.  He's not shy about taking Elijah out by himself, because it's about building a bond and teaching by example.  This is not to say that they don't watch the occasional sports show or whatnot, but he knows how important to Elijah's health it is to get outside and play.  They go on walks together, go to the grocery store, everything.  I will say that Jerry was cracking me up last weekend while I was sick.  He and Elijah went somewhere together and my parents had left the car seat on the porch when they left.  Jerry said it about killed him to get the seat into the car.  I guess I usually do any rearranging of the seat.  But he did it perfectly and it was fine.  He also was wrestling with the baby gate on the same day...  I showed him how to do it (it is kinda tricky to get the top and the bottom lined up just right.)  But at least he's willing to try and put forth an effort.  I know that if I'm just over it all, he is willing to step in and do what needs to be done.  He never complains if dinner isn't ready and I haven't moved the clothes from the washer to the line in a couple of days.  This really wasn't supposed to start out as a rant, but I guess it has become such.  I know that many people think that the husband shouldn't have to be so involved, working and all, but being a mom is work too and very rarely do we get a day off.  Jerry really looks at motherhood as a job and knows that we both work hard during the day.  I love that every other night, I don't have to worry about Elijah.  Our system works GREAT!!!  So to all the dads out there that put in their two cents...cheers!!!!  Those who don't, get off your butt and do something with your kid!

September 17

Fall?

The weather this weekend here has been AMAZING!!  We've been sleeping with the windows open and keeping the AC off during the day.  I went on a walk this morning at 9 and it was so nice out.  I had to go back in and get a jacket for myself and Elijah.  It's been a while since we needed those.

So Jerry took last Friday off and it was so nice to have him home.  I went to get our Pass Your Plate food in the morning.  We went to Home Depot in the afternoon.  We got a few sample paints for the living room.  I'll get to how that went in a moment.  Saturday we decided that since it was rainy day we would go to the aquarium.  So we went and got there at the perfect time.    There weren't that many people there yet and so we just moseyed about.  As we left the parking lot was almost full.  Jerry wanted to go by Old Navy to get some shirts so we did that coming home.  While he was in Old Navy I went to JoAnne's Fabrics and bought some super cute scrap fleece to make hats.  He ended up buying his shirts from Steve and Barry's so I wandered around in there reading all the t-shirts...ahhhh to be in college again!

So Sunday... It was absolutely fabulous day.  We opened all the windows, stuck some paper on the wall for Elijah to paint on and painted our samples on the wall...sigh... Well we bought three samples and don't like any of them...but now we have three huge blocks of paint on our wall, so we pretty much have to paint now.  The one we dislike the least we think we would like in a darker shade.  Maybe I'll break out the paint the builders left and paint over the stuff on the walls...sigh...  Sunday afternoon I went to Rachel's church for Care Kits and Banana Splits.  This was part of the church's outreach program.  We bought all these things to go into Care Kits of children who have be taken into emergency foster care.  The social worker can come pick up this kit (toiletries, crayons, a sketch pad, and a stuffed animal all in a suitcase) and then when they remove the kid they can grab some of their clothes and they're done.  It's quite sad to think that these will be used, but I am glad that I could be a part of this.  Rachel and I went shopping for it last week and we each bought enough stuff for two kits.   After we put the kits together there were banana splits...yummmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!  While I was gone Jerry attempted to take Elijah to two different playgrounds, but they were both slam packed with reunions or b-day parties, so they ended up back here.

Jerry and I have decided we hate putting Elijah to bed.  He falls asleep in his own bed, but one of us is there with him.  It's just soooo freaking boring!!!!  We have moved putting him down back until 8.  It takes about half an hour for him to fall asleep.  He has to be lying down or we leave the room, which Elijah freaks out!  He is out of bed and screaming at the door before it's shut.  After a minute or two we go back in and stand at the door until he is in bed and lying down.  I usually only have to leave once and then if I threaten it again, he doesn't get up.  For the most part we are just sitting there by his bed.  All this is after we have read 300000000 books and sung some lullabies.  Unless he is just dead tired we don't get out of the room before 8:30.  I guess it could be worse.  I mean he has taken to his bed, but I must say that I am very lazy and if he wakes up at 2 or 3 in the morning I just bring him to bed with me.  Though he is asleep before we even get back to the bed, and I guess it would be just as easy to put him back in his bed, but I really am just too lazy to bother.  Oh well... this too shall pass (I hope).  I may move a mattress into his room and then I could just crash by his bed...we'll see...  Jerry was going to take a week off in order for us to work on the whole sleep thing, but that didn't happen and now that we are leaving for vacation in a couple of weeks... I'm jut making excuses...

okay, I have a munchkin crawling on me....so off I go....

September 19

How do you show love for your family?

I was at Fit For Fun again today with a few friends.  There were two stay at home dads there.  It was really interesting to watch these two men.  one just moved here from the north and he was SO friendly.  He totally talked to the moms and we all responded.  I think it's great to see dads that stay at home, especially when they take a risk going into areas that are predominately stay at home moms.  I mean this guy really put himself out there.  I know there are some women that would totally snub a stay at home dad, but I wouldn't dare.  I know how hard it is to stay at home, why would it be any different for a dad.  Anyway, this guy was down on the ground with his kid and totally involved.  The other guy was very stand off-ish not only to the moms and dad, but it seemed to his kid too.  Unless, someone else's kid did something he didn't approve of and then he said something to that kid or physically moved them... He didn't touch my kid, but if he had I think that I would have said something.  I think the other mom was just to shocked to say anything...

Anyway this all got me thinking about how Jerry and I show love and attention to Elijah, as well as to each other.  There are many things that bring a smile to my face, but I can feel myself glow with love when I see Elijah run to Jerry at the end of the day and Jerry drops everything (literally) to sweep Elijah off his feet and swoop him through the air.  I sometimes sneak up to Elijah's room when Elijah and Jerry are playing and just listen.  It's pretty funny and I love it.  I know that Jerry would do anything to protect us, but I realized that what makes me feel safer than any threat of violence is the love that surrounds me everyday.  I have never had my life threatened, I hope that I never do.  I honestly can't say what I would do if someone threatened my kid, but I would hope that I would react in a rational way.  What sort of example would I be setting for my child if I can't control my impulses?  I am a big walk away type of person.  I refuse to engage with someone that is acting out of anger and hatred.  That doesn't mean that I don't feel those feelings as a result of said confrontation.  But what good has EVER come out of reacting out of these feelings?  I am not a huge love your enemy type girl, but I feel that my kid shouldn't be beating people up simply because he can.  I want him to grow into a well rounded individual.  At Warren Wilson while I was there, I never felt like I was in harms way.  I knew that if I was in trouble, even my worst enemy would help me.  That's the type of place that was, and hopefully still is.  I know this isn't a realistic of the world, but why shouldn't it be?  I mean why not help someone who is down regardless.

Maybe I am being naive.  But I really want Elijah to know that his parents love him and hopefully by showing him this will help him find his way in the world.   I want to support him with whatever choice he makes.  I just hope that his choices show others respect.  This isn't to say that if someone were beating the heck out of him that I don't want him to defend himself, but I would really hope that he won't start the fight.

I think that it's a interesting study in human behavior.  Those who think that violence and yelling is a show of love and those who think kindness and compassion is.  I know it's not so black and white and there are lots of greys... I'm not that naive.

September 21

Just to see if you are paying attention...

We are seven weeks pregnant!!!!    Normally I would have waited to say this, but with homecoming coming up in a few weeks, I really didn't want to just wear baggy clothes all week.  So I'm already showing a little.  My tummy is definitely pooched out and my boobs are looking implantish...  I'm feeling okay.  I'm tired and I have had the worst heartburn.  But anything is better than the throwing up I did with Elijah.  I will say that I am pleasantly surprised that Tums tastes better than they did the last time I took one (which was about 327480072 years ago).  I have my first prenatal visit today with our midwife.  So Elijah (hopefully) will go down for his nap at 11... we'll see.  The heartburn is annoying.  I can't really eat anything.  I'm hoping it will pass, but I have a feeling I'm stuck with it for another 33 weeks.  Oh well...c'est la vie!

We are really happy about this pregnancy and I hope that it continues to be a healthy one.

Anyway, that's all....

September 26

It's been a while

I know, but I'm just so freaking tired!  So my appointment went well last Friday.  I really like our midwife.  We did take Elijah with us and we will not be doing that again...

Anyway, I mentioned that I had been having some pain in my ovary areas and so Mary (the midwife) did a pelvic and I found out that I have a reversed uterus (nothing bad, just a little harder to feel anything near the beginning) but that it was swollen.  So that's good.  We both agree that the pain is more than likely a cyst or two resolving.  Since this happened with Elijah and the pain hasn't gotten any worse everything is all good.  I am still having heartburn, but either I'm getting used to it, or it's getting better, but I don't notice it as much.  I am still queasy in the morning, but after I force myself to eat something I'm fine.  Jerry makes the point that feeling this way is a good thing in terms of pregnancy and that this is a good sign.  I am totally in agreement with him, and so I try not to complain too much...

I have been trying to nap with Elijah, but my problem is that it takes me a bit to decompress and then I want to sleep much longer than he does... oh well...

Jerry's been great!  He's been taking Elijah every night this week.  We've moved a mattress into his room so when we get sick of going in there at night, we can just crash.  This works well, except that Jerry is a heavy sleeper and doesn't realize when Elijah wakes up.  Elijah just looks over at Jerry and then climbs on top of him and goes back to sleep...ummm.... that's sorta not the point... Anyway, Jerry gets ready to roll over to find a child on him.  So he puts him back in his bed and the whole thing starts over again... It's rather cute actually...  I slept in there this past weekend and I wake up every time the child stirs... and I am bad at cuddling him and then falling asleep...though when I do wake up I put him back in his bed... sigh... I keep telling myself that this won't last forever and in the grand scheme of things this is not a big deal.  And the thing is it doesn't really bother me... Maybe that's the issue.  I really do love cuddling with my little guy.  It's won't be too long when he will care less about hugs and kisses and cuddles... sigh...  okay, this is depressing...moving on....

So I watched the premiere of Heros on Monday and before that Chuck.  I'm a die hard Heros fan and I think that I will like Chuck as well.  They have a lot of places they can go with that storyline.  Unfortunately I don't see too many more new shows that look like can't miss...  I'm really upset that they canceled Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.  I really thought the writing and acting was good.  I think that if they had waited a few years then it may have done better.  I mean they were trying for riding on the coat tails of West Wing, and it was just too soon... oh well... this paragraph is turning into a really boring banter...

Okay, I won't bore you anymore.  We are already starting to get ready for our trip next week to the mountains.  I'm quite excited, though I wish we could spend more time up there... oh well... Oh did I mention that we are painting our living room? We started last Friday, but I've been to tired to deal with it anymore... I'm sure we'll try and finish this weekend.  Okay... have a good one!

May 2007

May 01

A beach day with no documentation

HUGE SIGH.... we had a blast at the beach this morning.  I took a ton of pics and when I came home to download them...the card corrupted... and now it won't format (which would have erased all the pics anyway...  I'm so bummed.  So we have to get another card.  You may have noticed I haven't updated any video or pics lately...well our computers haven't been talking to each other properly, so Jerry fixed that last night.  I was waiting to download a bunch of pics until that was fixed and now... SIGH... I should've gone on and downloaded them.  How frustrating!
ANYWAY, we had so much fun this morning.  Elijah and some of his friends played in the sand and in the water.  I actually went all the way in.  The water temp is 67 but the air was so warm!  On our way home Elijah fell asleep and then slept for about an hour once we got home.  Then woke up to eat and hasn't gone back to sleep.  Sigh... I made him sit quietly with me for about an hour so he at least got some rest...
Okay, I just wanted to vent about the stupid camera...
May 07

Work Work Work

YAWN!!!!  What a busy weekend!  On Saturday I hosted play date from 10 til 12, then I worked all afternoon...  On Sunday we went out for breakfast and then Jerry and Elijah went to see Jerry's folks and I worked until 4 and then went out with the ladies!  That was very fun.  The working was fun too, but it was a lot...  Have I mentioned that I have this new project?  I was commissioned to tie-dye a huge amount of kids clothing to be sold in Carmen's store (FYI by the end of the month her store will be on-line as well....she is also going to have virtual birthing classes...I think it's pretty cool....) So I spent Saturday evening rubber banding everything and Sunday dying.  This afternoon (and probably evening) I will spend rinsing everything.  So I am tired and dyed a bit...  but my test projects turned out pretty well I must say.  I'll put some pics at the bottom of this post.
The rest of last week was pretty uneventful.  Jerry watched the republican candidates debate and was disgusted at many things they did or didn't say.  He got really fired up when three people raised their hands and said they didn't believe in evolution.  Anyway, he blogged about it...  he's so funny about his politics.
Oh yeah, so on Saturday Jerry took Elijah out to the store with him.  he was going to go to just the grocery store and maybe the library, but I got a call from him while he was in Target.  This is the conversation:
"Umm, hi we're in Target."
"Okay."
"Ummm, so Elijah found something he wants..."
"Oh he did did he?"
"So....is it okay if he gets it?"
"What is it?"
"It's a surprise."
"Is it for mother's day?"
"no."
"Is it for the whole family?"
"no."
"It's just for Elijah?"
"yes."
"Is it expensive?"
"I don't think so...."
"okay."
So they get home and Jerry brings this thing in behind his back and says this is Elijah's.  It's a ride on scooter thing from Radio Flyer.  Super cute.  But get this... the reason he bought it was because there  is a picture on the side of the box that looks JUST like elijah (if he had a hair cut...)  Anyway, Elijah loves it.  He still hasn't figured out how to make it go forward, but he's really good at going backward...it really funny!
So that's that....
Oh and Elijah's word for the week is uh-oh....Everything gets an uh-oh...

May 11

one more week!

We leave on vacation in one week BABY!!!!  I'm excited to have my hubby for a week...  We leave for Edisto Island in one week.  I'm excited to just get away.  My folks will be there on Sunday, but they are staying in a different area of the resort.  It'll be nice to have a babysitter if we should need one!  My mom's so funny...she doesn't want to intrude on our vacation and promises not to bother us...we don't mind mom!!!  I'm just looking forward to doing nothing!  I do think we are going to try to go up to Charleston for a day...but if it's too hot, we may revisit that idea.
So last night, we hear Elijah cry out...when this happens we wait for a minute to see if he's really awake and then just check on him to make sure he's not up doing stuff he's not supposed to...ANYWAY, jerry goes in and comes back and asks for the camera.  I go in and there's Elijah with his head on the floor and his body on his bed totally asleep (see the photo album for the pic...) we of course fixed him so he was back on his bed...  but what a cutie and funny little boy!
Rachel just called so we are going to the library and the store with her and MR...  HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
PS check out the sweet potato production page for the tie dyes...i turned them into Carmen Wednesday...Actually I think that I might add an album here....
May 15

Is it vacation time yet?

sigh...this week seems to be dragging!  Yesterday we walked the loop and then had lunch with Rachel and MR.  Today I went and dropped off some reversible sunhats and a few slings at Carmen's.  Her site should be up by the end of the month!!!  I also did some yard work this morning.  Have I mentioned that our dryer is about to kick the bucket?  It's been squeaky for a while, but it has gotten unbearable lately.  We don't run the dryer unless we are home...so it's really annoying and REALLY loud.  So we are now hanging all our clothes out to dry.  We really want a good energy star dryer....but they are REALLY expensive.  So for now, this will work.  I think the dryer just needs a new belt, but I have no idea how to fix a dryer...sigh... the biggest thing is the diapers.  Not usually a big deal, but since we are going on vacation it's kinda hard.  So we are using disposables now and getting all the diapers (and the pail which is how we will transport the diapers in)clean to be able to pack in the car...sigh...I would have preferred to use disposables on the trip, but we'll have a washer and dryer in the condo, so why not?
So we took care of MR on Saturday while Rachel and Erin went kayaking (with kayaks I found for them, thank you very much...)   We took the kids strawberry picking.  It was really fun.  Elijah would take the bucket and move it out of MR's reach and then she would crawl after it and right as she got there, he would pick it up and move it again.  We came back here and I pumped up the pool.  While I was doing that I had MR sitting on the ground and she was just talking away and Elijah was just running around.  later when I was getting them our of the pool, I look at MR's legs and she had fire ant bites all over them!!!  She never cried, but they looked horrible and I felt SOOOO bad!!!  Poor kid.  But she never got upset and they look soooo much better...but this is the first time we took care of her and that happens...sigh... Of course, Rachel and Erin weren't even a little upset, I wouldn't be either as those stupid little ants are everywhere...but still....  Needless to say I treated the whole yard Saturday afternoon.
We picked the first blueberry off of the bush this weekend and I pulled the last three carrots and picked some peas.  I'm excited!  I think that our garden is going to be better than last year!  Everything looks really good.  I need to get out and hoe in between the rows before we leave.
That's it I guess...
May 16

yeah...

So I was just reading Claire's blog and she was talking about things she loves.  She mentioned that Planet Earth Series...I really keep meaning to watch it, but forget until it's over and then I'm all annoyed...sigh... ANYWAY, she was talking about the cool underwater creatures that were shown on one.  That made me remember the pics someone sent me after the tsunami hit a couple years back.  They are of all these really cool (and sometimes creepy) creatures that washed up on shore.  I'm going to post them in just a minute, because they really are interesting.
Is anyone else watching Notes From The Underbelly?  I'm totally addicted to the show.  It's just funny to see how some people view pregnancy.  I guess it's different for each person.  I know a whole bunch of pregnant women right now and each one of them is handling their pregnancies differently.  It's really cool.
Hmmm....I'm watching a show called My Kid's A... And there are a bunch of kids that have all these different lives...One is joining the Cirque Du Soleil, One is a 12 year old preacher, and one is a transgender kid...  It' quite interesting.  The transgender (I think...I came in in the middle) was a girl and wants to be (or rather is) a boy.  The mom is trying to find a doctor who will remove his breasts...hmmmm... very interesting... random thought....
So today I finished washing the clothes and drying them outside.  I also hoed the veggie garden and the side garden, so they are weed free-ish..I'm pretty beat now, but it's good.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow so I will pack everything and get the house cleaned up.  we aren't leaving until after lunch on Friday since we can't check in until 4.  We were going to go through Myrtle Beach, but it's bike week there...so not so much for us...
Okay, this has been a really random blog....I'm going to post pics.
May 17

okay...so maybe I was wrong...

Maybe we just don't have bunnies around here...though I find that hard to believe... ANYWAY, I just did some research on the marigold theory...Apparently it doesn't work for many, in fact some of the bunnies were actually eating the marigolds!  So many suggested blood meal which you can buy at the garden center.  Since we haven't had any trouble with the rabbits, I'm not doing anything else.  I've also heard that if you pee or spread hair around it will keep them and deer away.  I lost so much hair after EJ was born that I spread it around last year, no problems with the deer or bunnies... who knows...
I'm packed, Elijah is packed, his toys are packed....now all that's left is Jerry and the food and then we'll be ready to go!!!  I am a little nervous about the insane price of gas, but as this is probably the only place we're going this summer, I'm not that concerned.  We plan on renting bikes once we get down there, so that takes care of the gas issue once we're there.  We may go up to Charleston for one day...we'll see...
Okay, I'm going to post a video and some more pics of the kid.  Also I'm posting pics on the Sweet Potato Productions page...so check out the new stuff!
This is probably it until we get back so have a nice week!!!!
May 25

home again home again...

So we're back...got back around 4 actually.  It's depressing to come home and realize you live in an ugly place...Edisto is covered with live oaks and palm trees... it's just so pretty...oh well... we could sell our house and live in a  tent...
So our vacation... well, we got there last Friday and jerry woke up sick on Saturday and was sick for the majority of the vacation, so that sucked.  My parents got there on Sunday afternoon, that was nice.  If Jerry had felt better, I think they would have been asked to babysit.  Elijah's long term memory is becoming more apparent.  He gets excited to see my folks instead of looking at them like strangers.  He is willing to go off with them and be okay with the whole thing.  Quite nice...  I rented a bike with a baby seat while we were there and on the arm days it was fab-o.  Elijah and I went to the pool and played and walked to the beach to play in the sand.  If we had such nice bike lanes here, I would consider getting a bike, but as it is you really risk your life getting on a bike.  Jerry didn't rent a bike, so once he was feeling better, it was sorta silly to ride a bike and drive a car.  There's a great park on the island and Elijah really liked that.  He slept well at naps and at night, as did I!!!  However, he got Jerry's sickies and now has a cough that is not pretty.  If he's not feeling better by Tuesday, we'll go to the doc.  We went out to the ACE basin and walked around the plantation there on Thursday.  I got eaten by bugs there, but it was really nice.  The last half of the week it was a bit cooler so we didn't go to the beach as much.  I just felt so bad for Jerry.  He's worked so hard and he was sick on his vacation, which in turn meant I wasn't really on vacation since I was on mommy duty 24 hours a day...but we were in a beautiful place and we didn't have to worry about work and hours and stuff like that...soooo...
Anyway, we are back and our house is still standing and our garden looks good...so life is good.   Now to catch up with everyone else...
May 28

back to the grindstone

Well, not really...but yesterday I did work my little tail off.  In the morning I broke out the weedwacker and cleared out around the house, then jumped into the ditch...I got about 3/4 of the way down the side ditch and the weedwacker just stopped working.  It's electric so I thought maybe I had tripped a switch or maybe over heated the motor...but apparently not. It just doesn't work.  Since his was a gift and we have no proof of purchase, we are out of luck... Oh well, we realized we needed something that can have attachments and maybe a bit more power.  This one definitely did it's job and worked great...so, once that broke, it was lunch time and after Elijah (and I) had a nap, I hung a rack in the pantry...makes it look so much better!!! and then fertilized the garden with liquid worm poop!!!  Thought that was funny, but we found it for the lawn a bit ago and now we have it for the garden.  It's really cool stuff and they have a program for recycling used soda bottles...The company seems really environmental and we like to support companies like TerraCycle.  It's awesome...check 'em out!!
Anyway, it was a good day.  Today Elijah and I went over to Rachel's grandmother's pool and played for a bit then picked up some lunch.  It was good to see her again.  Jerry's friend, Eric, came down to visit for the day, so that was good for them to catch up.  Tomorrow we'll go to story time at the library and then I want to check out this bookstore in town.  I also want to try my hand at a Memory Quilt so I need to find some fabric crayons at AC Moore... I hope these work out.  I am hoping to have a website up before homecoming in October, though I think/hope that it will happen sooner.  I just purchased another bolt of fabric from JoAnne's, so we'll see...
I'm waiting for a video to process to add to the site and then I am going to just chill with my hubby for the evening.  I'm sad that he has to go back to work, though he worked on Saturday... but at least it's a four day week.
Hope you had a good long weekend where you are!
May 31

little known facts

or maybe they are widely known...who knows...
1. i don't make friends easily.  i tend to not always be myself and then the whole thing blows up in my face when my true colors come through.
2. i often feel that i don't belong and that i am somehow in a temporary state.... i constantly hope that this feeling will eventually end.
3. i worry that my children will have some of my same issues.
4. i do worry about what people think of me and secretly get my feelings hurt quite often...but i don't let it show...
5. i think that the whole "organic" movement is overrated and that you are really just paying a higher price for the same food...wash your food people!  i know that there are those that judge me for not eating organic and for once, i really don't care...
6. i do believe in buying in local and think that it's great that there are farmer's markets in which this is possible.
7. i think the best way to go is to have your own garden...but i know that's not always possible either.
8. my husband is my absolute best friend...he kicks butt!!!!
9. i secretly think that the country is doomed if we don't find someone who can actually make a difference...
10. i miss my college friends (and my two high school friends i still talk too) so bad that it hurts.  i wish we all lived really close...
11. i sometimes feel i lead a rather lonely existence...i am scared that my children will feel this way too...
12. i get annoyed with people who claim to be open-minded, but refuse to look at the other side of things... (another reason why i love my hubby!!!!  he keeps me in check...)
13. i don't feel like a martyr because i went through natural childbirth...my labors were only 5 and 6 hours...who knows what i would have done had it gone on longer.
14. i sometimes don't think my heart can hold all the love i have for jerry and elijah and grace... i honestly don't know what i would do if anything ever happened to them...
15. i realized today that i don't want to live in this town much longer... i would be only a little sad to leave, but i think i would be happier elsewhere...
16. i haven't attended church in quite a while... i have tried a couple down here and none of them have felt like it could be home.  i miss having the feeling of acceptance i once had... it makes me lonely and a little sad.
17. i miss acting...a lot...but i love my kids...but i still miss the stage...
18. i haven't felt like i was a part of something great for a long time (besides my marriage and being a mom...)
19. i call my folks just to hear their voices sometimes... i miss living close to them...
20. i often feel guilty about things i have no control over...i don't know why and i don't know where this comes from...
21. i often over react to small things and think they are much worse than they really are...
22. when i over react to these things, i tend to realize that i need to change direction in life.
23. i believe that life is too short to not be silly...
24. i love to skip.
25. chocolate is the one thing i can not seem to give up.... why can't brussel sprout be bad for you...those i would have no problem giving up...
26. i have missed three weddings of college friends and i regret missing each and every one...
27. i wish i would win the lottery...but i don't play it...
28. i wish i had the means to travel all over the world...
29. i wish i had joined the peace corp directly after UNCW...
i have had a crappy morning... i don't want to get into it...but it has sucked!  i've been rather tearful writing this and my adorable little boy has been coming over giving me hugs...what a sweetie...
i just needed to write...

April 2007

April 04

Getting ready

Stupid weather... I thought spring had sprung now it's supposed to get rather cold.  Sigh...  depending on which weather channel you look at it may or may not freeze this weekend.  So our poor tomatoes and peppers may perish.  I think I might cover them...it depends on how annoying it will be to do that.  Rachel's going to come over and check the mail and stuff.  I think we are going to get a timer for the garden.  Sigh...
It's not going to be any warmer in the mountains either.  We just bought Elijah's summer wardrobe, so I'm going to have to dig out his winter stuff and hope there's something in there that's Easter like...
However, today is really nice.  I have cleaned the kitchen up and I need to start packing.  But that's it really.  Tomorrow I'll keep Elijah in disposables all day so that I can wash and pack all the diapers we'll need.  Everything else is ready to pack  I guess.
Elijah's sleeping right now.  He's doing really well as nap.  He goes down fairly easily and stays in his bed for an hour, gets up and walks to the door, I go get him and rock him back to sleep and put him back down for another hour.
We were putting him to bed at night awake, and that worked for a bit, but lately it's not.  I don't know what's going on.  He screams and cries and works himself up into a sweat.  So we end up rocking him to sleep and it takes soooo much longer.  So instead of getting him to sleep by 7:30-8 it's becoming much later...the problem is he doesn't sleep any later...  So we've gone back to just rocking him to sleep ad putting him down... it's just easier on everyone.  opps he's up....gotta run
April 08

Happy Bunny Day

Soooo...
We got here safe and sound on Friday.  It was cold then, but on Saturday morning we woke up to about a half inch of snow on the ground.  While this is nothing compared to Tracey's snow...sigh...I was not expecting this... oh well, it was fun. Elijah was introduced to snow and that was amusing.  We knew it was going to be cold, so we packed well enough.  When the friends and family arrived we just made it work inside instead of having the planned picnic. I think all in all we had about 20 adults and 6 kids inside.  It worked out well.  Elijah was overwhelmed and ended up taking a 2 hour nap in a room by himself.
This morning Jerry left and I am very sad about the whole thing.  But we'll see him again soon.  He landed in Boston just fine.  His hotel is apparently really nice...always a good thing.  He hired a car to take him to the hotel from the airport and he said that was good because there were no markings on the road and he would still be driving around...  The company where is training provides transit to and from the hotel during the week and the hotel has a bar and restaurant in it.  After saying bye to Jerry this morning we got ready and went to church.  I knew that Elijah wouldn't sit still through the service, so I decided to risk it and send him to the nursery...WHATEVER!   The nursery workers were AWESOME, but he still freaked out and I forgot to leave the diaper bag, so I was going to go back and sneak it in, but he was standing at he outside door pressed up against it screaming...I had already had enough almost tears this morning with Jerry leaving, I just couldn't do it, so I went and hung out in the nursery with Elijah during the service.  It was fine.  It took a bit to calm him down and even then he kept coming over to check in with me.  I think I will start attending a church at home that has a pager system.  Eventually he'll be fine, but so many people had already come up to him to see him and stuff that I think it was just a really overwhelming day.  My dad is giving me a hard time about it, but whatever.  I feel that the bonds of trust are built at a really early age and I want my kid to trust me .  It doesn't bother me at all.  He's been a cuddly baby since day one.  I also don't think he'll do this forever...
Rachel and I have been talking about giving each other a moms morning out sorta thing (I need it just to clean my house) for each other.  I think this is a grand idea!  So hopefully, we can start doing that soon.
This week is going to be packed with stuff to do.  I really wish we could find a way to move back here...even with the snow on FREAKING Easter.  Hopefully with all the stuff to do the week will go by quicker.
Okay, it's only 8, but I am rather tired, so I'm off to go read and lie down...maybe call Jerry one more time...
Happy Bunny Day!
April 12

Almost on the way home

This week has gone by rather quickly.  Part of me is sad to go, but the other part has missed my hubby terribly.  Elijah has really warmed up to my folks and I feel bad that I am taking him away from them.  But we'll see them in a month at the beach on vacation (yes we are one of those weird people that live at the beach and go to a different one for vacation...)
Today we hiked into town (about 2 miles) and met some of mom's friends for coffee and smoothies.  Then dad brought us home (2 miles with 26 pounds on my back in the mountains...not so much doing another 2 miles...) We treated ourselves to My Father's Pizza for lunch.  Took a nap and then mom and dad took Elijah to the park while I got my hair chopped off.  We came home and ate dinner and now I really need to finish the packing, but since we probably won't leave until Jerry's plane takes off tomorrow, I feel like I have some time.  We are going to hike down to a restaurant for breakfast in the morning (only 1 mile...but we have to walk back up...sigh) and then mom will do Meals on Wheels...so I figure I'll pack the car then.  I want Elijah to get some playtime in so he's tired and will sleep on the way to the airport.  After I pick Jerry up in Charlotte we'll head home...
I still can't believe it snowed.  I'll post pics when we get home... it was wild.
I am adding a video of Elijah playing in the creek with my folks this morning.  He went down there with them while I was showering and then I went down to meet them after.  It's really cute...he's so serious about the rock throwing...
Alright, I'm off to call Jerry...
April 17

just a quick post

We got back home safe and sound fairly late Friday night.  We didn't leave the house on Saturday except to go out for breakfast.  We did stuff around the house and on Sunday we met Rachel, Erin and MR at the Mellow Mushroom for dinner.  It was a good weekend.
Elijah has a cold.  I think it was from the cold to the not as cold weather and traveling for such a long trip cooped up in a car... Now I seem to have gotten something.  I think it's just exhaustion...but such is life.
I'm going to post some pics and eventually a new video.  I finally downloaded the pics from our trip...so those will get posted.
Okay...that's all for now.
April 20

The big 3-1

That's right they say it's my birthday....
So far it's been a pretty good one.  It was supposed to be all overcast and chilly today, but it's sunny and near 70!!!  Wahoo!!!  This morning I went to the fabric store and they were having a HUGE sale, so I got the stuff I needed to make some more slings and hats.  Then Rachel called and we talked for a bit...Then Jerry took me to Red Robin for lunch... YUMMY!!!!
I don't know what's planned for the rest of the day, but I'm sure it will be good.
Yesterday we went to Fit For Fun.  It's a little like gymboree ( i guess, I've never really been inside of one before...) but it was only 3.50 for the kid and free for me.  Elijah LOVED it!  It's really well run.  There is an arts area, a table toy area, and they provide snack.  The main room is filled with all kinds of toys to push and ride and climb on.  Then there is an outside playground that was really awesome too!
Later yesterday evening I went and prepared 11 meals at Pass Your Plate.  It's a place where you go and make your meals and then bring them home to freeze and cook later.  I got all 11 made in about an hour and a half.  It was a nice little break.  I had the store to myself (of course the workers were there...but that's it.)  We've already had 2 of the meals and they were YUMMY!!!  It's so nice to not have to worry about what we're eating for the next month-ish.
Yesterday I was chasing Elijah and slipped on our floors and fell  pretty hard.  My ankle twisted and this morning I woke up all sore and stuff...sigh...31..gettin' old I guess... Just kidding, though it was annoying.  Oh well...
Okay, that's it I guess.   Life is good...and the weather is really warming up!!!!  Even better!  So Happy My Birthday!!!!
April 24

Tuesday...

We had a great weekend.  This weather is FAB-O!!!!  We went to swim on Saturday where Elijah did a great job.  He went under water twice and did really well.  But he walks under the water in the shower on his own, so I wasn't too surprised.  Sunday we worked in the yard almost all day.   When we weren't in the yard, I worked on a design for a new hat to sell.  It's a reversible hat that has a tie.  I think I have it figured out and am excited to work on them.  They are actually fairly easy now that I have it all figured out.  I also have my mom's sewing machine which is SOOO much better than the 1940s machine I was working on.  (Thanks mom!!!)  I also am starting a new line of things....I'll keep you posted once I get all the materials and start on this endeavor.
Yesterday we hung out with Rachel and MR.  That was really nice.  I felt like I hadn't really seen Rachel in a while (one on one) so we had a good catch up yesterday.  Today we went to story time.  I'm sad that it's the last one until the summer cycle...by then Elijah will be old enough to go to Toddler Time...my big boy...
Speaking of big boy... Elijah can now have a bowl of food in front of him and he can scoop up the food and feed himself!  We don't put a lot of food in the bowl at a time, but it's a big step.  So between the possibility of beginning the potty training and the self feeding, my boy's growing up...sniff sniff...
ANYWAY, after story time we went to Carmen's to check out how things are going in the store.  Talked about the new stuff and then headed home.  This afternoon we went to a neighbor's house and showed her some fabric for a sling.  So business is at least good enough to break even...that's what's important.  Did I mention that I bought a whole bolt of fabric the other day?  I had this 50% of ONE item, so I found a full bolt of fabric I liked and bought the whole thing.  I think this may be the way I go from now on.  That way I'll have enough to make a bunch of slings and if someone wants that fabric then I'll have it.   Eventually we want to start an on-line business.
So I'm off to finish watching American Idol and work on some hats.
April 27

Thinning out

We had Elijah's 15 month check up today.  He weighs 25 pounds and is 32 inches tall.  I can't remember the head stuff.  But the head and height are in the 75% and the weight is in the 50%.  He's averaging out!  The doc gave him a clean bill of health and says he's doing great.  We don't go back until he's 2 now.  Elijah did well with his shots.  These are his last until he's 5...unless we change our mind about the chicken pox vaccine.  We decided against it and the doc was very cool about it all.  If we decide on public school he has to have it before entering, but as it's not close to 100% effective and very rarely really harmful...we'll see.  I know that as kids get older chicken pox gets worse...so again we'll see.  Anyway, the doc was pleased and we were too.  We had a sort lazy day after that.  He got really cranky around lunch time and wouldn't eat his pasta, but ate some oatmeal...go figure...  Then he slept for a nice long nap.  He's back to his old self now and that's good....the whiny baby can annoy me...
We have our last swim lesson tomorrow and then I really have to get sewing this weekend.  It's just so hard to make myself do when it's so freaking nice out...  Maybe I can get my butt in gear and do a bunch tonight...we'll see.
Have a great weekend!!!
April 30

Weather and politics

This weather is great, but it also makes me wonder how freaking hot it's going to be this summer.  I'm not looking forward to a summer of extreme heat.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be close to 90!!!  So we are hitting the beach in the morning and hopefully the little one will be worn out and sleep through the heat of the day.  I planted some more phlox this morning and watered the yard, but it was really almost too hot to be out.
Our garden is starting to look a bit better.  The squash, okra, green beans, and peas we replanted are coming up and the peppers and tomatoes are looking great!
So Jerry and I watched the democratic debate last Thursday.  I must say that I was not really impressed with Hilary or Barack.  But was thoroughly impressed with Kucinich.  He was articulate and had some great ideas about how to deal with global issues without dropping bombs on everyone.  Jerry has written a really good blog entry that puts thoughts into words quite well.  Check it out!
Our weekend was good, just too short.  I sewed some on Saturday and Sunday, but still have a ways to go to get caught up.  I am hoping to have everything I want done, finished by Wednesday or Thursday.  I get the stuff in the mail to start working on the new project tomorrow!!!  I will do that this weekend, so I really want to make sure the sewing end is all done.
That's it for now.  I think I might sit outside and read while the baby boy sleeps...we'll see....

January 2007

January 08

AHhhh a new year...

So far....well... I guess this years going okay.  I've ridden the bike twice, so that's good.  the last time I rode with weights, so I did my arms whilst I biked.  We are eating better.  And we're doing okay with the not eating out or spending money.  Jerry is enrolled to go back to school to learn computer programming.  He has to take a couple courses at the local community college and then he'll enroll at State to take on-line classes.  I think it will be really good for him.
I can't believe that Elijah is going to be one on Saturday.  It's just crazy!  However, he's driving us nuts right now.  For the past two nights he has awoken at midnight and we could not get him back to sleep until after 3 both nights.  IT's not that he wants to be up and play, that I could deal with.  He screams almost the whole time.  We have tried putting him down (I mean he's already crying right?) but that agitates him even more and he ends up throwing up.  We thought maybe it was his teeth or growing pains and gave him Tylenol, to no avail.  We rock him, sing to him, cuddle him, put him down...nothing.  We can't figure out what's wrong.  I looked up this stuff in our handy D.r Sear's book and he says it might be one of the following:
teething (though I would think that the Tylenol would help...but maybe not)  it would be his molars, so maybe they hurt more?
growing pains... apparently once they are walking these happen more and more at night when the muscles have a chance to relax.
GERD (a form of acid reflux...) he doesn't throw up unless he's been crying and screaming for an hour or so, but we are taking steps to see if this may be the problem.  We've gone back to mushing up his food...this kinda annoys him.  He really likes to feed himself chunks of food, but he seems to be okay if I give him Cheerios to play with.  We keep him calm for 30 minutes after eating.  We already have him quasi-propped up in bed....sigh....
I hope that it goes better tonight.  I can see where people get violent with their kids though.  I had to hand him off last night.  I was losing my patience.  I went back into my room and just cried.  It's hard to not feel like it's something you have done to make your kid act like this, especially at 3 in the morning when you haven't been asleep in MANY MANY hours.  So, here's to hoping it goes better....
A bit ago I said that there was big news.  Well, here it is, but don't get too excited....
Rachel and I were planning on opening a childcare center in her house.  We have since decided not too.  It was fun though planning and thinking about it.  But right now it's just too much.  Though we are both passionate about childcare and down the road we may look into investing in a house to be used only for a childcare facility.  I think we would make great business partners and after we are through with the baby thing...well we'll see.
However, a friend of mine, Carmen is opening up a store in a local retail place called the cotton exchange.  She is going to have a "made by moms" section in her shop, so I am knitting some hats and making some slings to sell there.  I think it will be a nice little pocket change.  The hats take me a couple of days a piece to make and the slings take about an hour to make, so I am hoping to have about 10 slings and 5-6 hats ready to go by her opening day.  Carmen is amazing!  She teaches natural birth classes, is a doula, and now is opening up this store.  She has so much energy!
Okay, I think we are going to watch Little Miss Sunshine.  I hear that it's pretty funny....we'll see....  Oh yeah, and Lisey's Story (I'm only about 125 pages in....) is freaking awesome!  Stephen King is just an incredible story teller....
I'm on Jerry's new laptop and I can't get to my pics, so I'll wait until Elijah's b-day to post new ones.  Be well and send good sleeping vibes to my kid!
January 10

Little Miss Sunshine and stuff

We watched Little Miss Sunshine last night.  I think this is a great movie!  The family the movie centers around is crazy and yet lovable.  The family consists of a heroine sniffing grandfather, a son who has taken a vow of silence, a husband who is failing at his "9 steps to success" program, a suicidal brother, and a little girl whose dream is to be Little Miss Sunshine (well, Miss America really, but who's counting?)  All parts are acted well.  You feel these characters pains and triumphs.  While the family is rather dysfunctional, you realize that they would do anything for each other and love each other unconditionally.  The ending is freaking hilarious, Jerry and I were laughing so hard we almost cried.  I highly recommend it. There is some strong language, so not so much a family movie....
On the note of sleeping, (or lack thereof) Elijah slept better last night.  It was Jerry's night and he brought Elijah to bed around 1-ish.  He stayed asleep (for the most part) until 4 and then I took him back to Jerry at 4:30.  I still woke up completely exhausted, but feeling better about the whole thing.  Mom sent us a thing about night terrors.  While the info was good, I don't think that's what was going on.  Four times yesterday and couple times today Elijah has pulled himself up and let go of whatever and walked on his own to some destination.  I really think this may be the cause...that and I believe a molar is trying to push through.  Thanks for all the sleep thoughts and the suggestions.  I forgot I had bought any Motrin a while back, Claire, thanks for reminding me.  If this night thing happens again, I will pull it out.
Jerry starts classes today so that's exciting.  I hope that this endeavor proves to be a positive thing in his life.  Okay, I need to scrounge for some food.
January 13

HAPPY ELIJAH'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

We had a fantastic party!  Elijah did really well and ate his first cupcake in record time.  He got lots of really cool loot and is currently evading a nap to play with it.  Oh well, he only turns one once right?
Okay, just wanted to announce his b-day!  I'll update after his 1 year check up on Tuesday!
January 16

1 year check up

So the man is now 23.8 pounds (he actually lost weight now that he's a walking fool) and is 31 inches long and has a head circ of 44 cm.  Over all he is the average size of a 15 month old (about 85%.)  He is healthy.  The doctor wants us to keep an eye on the food allergy thing and continue to treat his eczema with over the counter stuff.  He said that there are new studies linking food allergies and eczema to possible youth asthma.  He wants to make sure to catch it and treat it if that looks like that's where Elijah is heading, though he didn't seem too concerned about it right now.  Elijah was fine until the doctor made him lie down (even though I was holding him) and then, of course, didn't care for the finger prick or the shots, but was fine almost immediately after (didn't even comfort nurse.)
We're starting the process of weaning as well.  I'm just exhausted from the whole thing and his teeth are cutting into me (I'm starting to develop bruises...sigh...) I'm a bit sad as I wanted him to wean himself, but we made it a year and I'm happy about that.
Okay, the little guy's eating some chicken and apples, I had better pay attention before I get some thrown at me....
January 27

yawn

What a freaking long week.  Sigh... Last Thursday after group I come home and Elijah has...well let's just say gross poop.  Thinking this is a one time thing, I don't really think about it....yeah right...sigh.  He was sick all last weekend and most of this week.  You would never know to look at him, but man he smelled.  He never ran a fever higher than 99.6, so who can say.  I am thinking it may be his molars?  Anyway, he's  been fighting going to bed and doing the waking up thing this week.  I think on average I have gotten about 4 hours of sleep a night.  Last night was better, though still not great.  Right now Jerry's trying to fight him down for a nap.  It's not really working.
I spent this morning working on slings to sell at Carmen's store (which opens next Saturday.)  Jerry took Elijah out and they came back for lunch.  It was the first time Jerry's been OUT alone with Elijah.  Everything went well.  I still have lots to do but I thought I would take a moment to write and update some pics.
Let's see last Thursday was Jerry's b-day.  The big 3-1.  We were going to have a small party on Saturday, but Rachel was sick, so we had it on Wednesday evening instead.  I gave Jerry Boondocks Season 1 and a mug with a painting by Elijah in it.  He also got some N-64 games.  All in all a good birthday.  I've just been trying to keep Elijah's clothes clean.
okay, I'd better go help....
January 30

almost there

So as I mentioned before I am making slings and hats to sell in a friends shop.  I have started a Windows Live Page for reference for the consumer.  Eventually I would like to start a web site to sell everything from, but I don't have enough inventory and Carmen isn't pushing having a set amount of product.  So I'll create as the need comes.  I have to pay her a commission, which is fine (and expected) but it means I have to sell things for a little more.
Anyway, here's the site!  Let me know what you think.  Eventually I will have pics on how to use the slings... (by eventually I mean this weekend before the grand opening of the store.
Elijah is walking very well now and into freaking everything.  It's really cool, but he's a cheeky little twit sometimes.  He'll look at us and smile and then go do something he's not supposed to and then laugh when he gets caught.  CHEEKY!
The weaning is going okay I guess.  We are down to about two feedings in a 24 hour period.  That changes sometimes.  His nights are kinda rough, but I am hoping that once he's weaned he'll sleep a bit better...we'll see.  That may be wishful thinking.  Since he's weaning, I'm giving him snacks more often.  I have moved his little table out into the area between the two rooms and I buckle him in with a sling (see the new pics) and he has a snack of fruit twice a day.  He's really doing well with signing what he wants.  He can sign more and pear (which is what we have mostly right now.  He calls dried apples pears too...It's pretty funny.)  I went to the dollar tree and got a bunch of clear shoe box size boxes and have separated his toys into them.  This way the floor isn't covered with toys.  He has about 3 boxes out a time and I plan on switching them out every other week or so.  It was driving me crazy.  Now it's all organized.  Still a mess after everything is out, but much more manageable.
Okay, little cheeky guy is making me a present to change so I'm off to do that.....

September 2006

September 01

Drum roll please....

Elijah is crawling!  Well, kind of!  He crawls toward things he isn't supposed to touch.  He also crawls a few crawls realizes he's within lunging distance and lunges. I think this is the funniest.  But it works for him.  He can push up from his tummy into sitting guess he figures he doesn't need to crawl all the way to whatever it is.   For the past two days he's been trying the crawling thing out, and today was the most he has done yet.  I am sure it is just a matter of days before he is off and running.  We still are completely childproofed.  I can't find a cord keeper kind of thing for the abundance of cords around the TV area.  And we need a baby gate.  But I think that's it.  So that's the news for today!
Now for a bit of soap boxing.  Not much really...I read this article in the NY Times about corporations and breast feeding.  SIGH....  I am just disgusted at the way corporations treat there less educated, lower salaried employees.  Okay, that's really it...I just can't write about it now.  The article is well written and makes very good points....  I'm going to go watch my kid try to crawl some more...
September 04

Big Yawn

Yes, the crawling is GREAT!  He's so funny!  We are going to be getting our exercise casing him soon.  Right now he really seems very content to stay on his mat in the living room (we expanded from number to letters...) He really likes to crawl to the entertainment center, which has a glass front, so I tried making barricades...yeah, that didn't work...we'll think of something.  I guess we could take the glass door off, but then all the components are exposed...it's not the end of the world....
I have read and heard that once a baby learns a new skill they want to stay up and practice and all I could think of was not my perfect angel....YEAH RIGHT!!!  Friday night, Elijah didn't go to sleep until 3 a.m.!!!!  It was like college, but not really...The next morning, he was up at 7:30!  sigh...  Saturday was better and then yesterday we hit the beach in the evening.  Elijah had really only had two short (car) naps.  So I thought he's be really cranky at the beach.  We got there at 5 and played in the water for a bit, then I left Elijah with Jerry and really went to get in the water.  When I came back, Elijah discovered the wonder that is sand.  He promptly started digging a hole (such a little boy!)  he would dig his little hands into the sand and then throw it over his shoulder.  He was covered from head to tow in sand!  It was soooo cute!  He only put a little into his mouth (I guess this anti-solids thing extends to sand ...thank goodness!)  I tried to wash him off, but you know how the sand is... So we got home around 7:30 and he was sooo tired, but too dirty.  SO I jumped in the shower and Jerry brought him to me and I got him all clean.  He fell asleep at 8:30 and Jerry said he only woke up twice before he handed the monitor off to me at 2:30 and that it only took a few minutes to resettle him.  I totally expected to be up with him at 3:30...but he slept until 5:30 AND THEN went back to sleep until 7:30 AND THEN I cuddled with him in bed until 8:30!!!!!  That means I got 7 hours (count 'em BABY!!! SEVEN) of sleep.  I am sure this was a fluke, but MAN it was nice!!!!  He has already taken a 1 1/2 hour nap today, so I am sure we'll be back on this three hour schedule tonight...
I'm going to go to a Le Leche meeting on Wednesday and see if I can get some advice about this non-eating thing.  I know that he's fine, but it is bugging me a bit.
Okay, Elijah seems to be giving Jerry a hard time...I'm off....Oh Happy Labor Day!
September 09

Shopping on Saturday

It's been a bit since I've had a chance to write...having a crawling baby is exhausting, but really exciting!  He's learned to open cabinets...more childproofing to do.  We went to the high society lunch  and almost all the babies are crawling.  it's crazy!  Elijah was so gentle and sweet to the other babies.  It was really sweet.  Friday I spent the morning baking for some mom's to come over this morning for breakfast after the Mother of Twins Sale.   I kept Elijah all night last night and he woke up almost every hour and nothing would do unless he got to breast feed.  It made for a long night...especially since I got up at 6 to get ready for the sale.  But alas alack.  I handed EJ off to Jerry at 6:45 and then Rachel called and I went by her house and rode with her and MR to the sale.  We got there at 7:15 and 4th in line (the sale started at 8.)  My main thing was finding a backpack hiking carrier (found it for 15 bucks!), winter clothes (found lots for ~30 dollars) and a safety gate...didn't find one of those...but two out of three isn't too bad.  I was really good and only bought 3 toys for EJ.  I bought him a wooden pull toy in the shape of a caterpillar, a push/ride/pull toy, and a stacking toy.  Overall I think I did really well.  Bonnie (from Jerry's work), Bonnie (from next door) and Rachel all came over for breakfast and brought their babies.  MR was the odd girl out, but she handled it very nicely (very aloof to the boys....)
Earlier this week we got EJ some Robeez shoes and some overalls from a consignment shop.  We got him the shoes since he'll be pulling up soon and these are supposed to be really good to learn walking in.  Bare feet are the best, but these are the next best thing.  They are soft leather and enable the baby to use his toes to learn walking basics.  As it will be winter when he's really starting to do the cruising thing and we have hardwood floors, socks are not conducive, so he needed something to keep him warm and allow him to walk.
My folks left on Thursday for England and Ireland.  I'm so jealous, but excited for them.  I hope they are having a good time.  They are on a canal boat for the first week and then spending two weeks in Ireland.  A friend of theirs is staying in their house until they return...though if a hurricane decides to hit us, she may have some company!  We were talking about what a pain it would be if a hurricane came and knocked out the power.  As we are out of town, we are the last priority to get power restored, so it would suck a little bit.  So I think we will leave if a Cat3 or stronger comes our way.
Okay, that's it for now... hope you are having a GRAND weekend.
September 14

My Eighth month old and other stuff!

So Elijah turned 8 months yesterday!  I can't believe that in 4 more months he's going to be 1!  What's that all about?  He's crawling everywhere now and follows us around.  It's really cool!  In fact, the other night we put him down in his crib on his back to sleep with his head toward the closet.  We heard something on the monitor so we went in to check: he had flipped over onto his tummy, pushed up into crawling, and turned around to the other end of the crib and then collapsed on his tummy, all the while totally asleep.  It was really funny.  I have no idea how he isn't exhausted by morning all the moving around he's doing....not that he's sleeping through the night.  Anyway, he's just so amazing.  He can play independently for a bit without me in the room (though I'm always within eyesight...me of him that is...) He's starting to associate mama and dada with the right people (not always correctly, but Jerry and I try to respond when he says them and reinforce the correct words with images....)  We think he is signing drink, and again we reinforce the sign with the actual act when he makes it, we give him drink (water).  He could just be fascinated with his hand...  when he cries we pick him up, but he's started fake crying to get picked up...so we say "Elijah use your signals," and as long as he's not really tired, he'll stop and raise his arms to be picked up.  It's really amazing that he's learning this stuff.  I love every minute of it!!!  I wouldn't trade it for anything!  Yes, it's exhausting sometimes and there are nights when I am wondering why on earth he's awake when he refused to nap the day before....but I would rather be awake with him than have no baby at all!  He's such a good baby and so cuddly!  I just love him so much!!!!!
Okay...moving on....
First off let me say that I am in NO WAY supporting Wal Mart in this little rant...but....
WalMart is beginning to carry more organic foods.  Here's an article (blog) that goes into the whole thing...
okay, I am not a huge organic buyer.  There are many reasons, but that's another blog for another day.  This is about WalMart and smaller Natural Food stores.  Okay, so I try to support local businesses, however, when local businesses change you four bucks a pound for "organic"peaches, I really can't support it.  I simply don't have the money.  So the local natural food coop is a little upset that Walmart is selling organic.  Many think the laws on Organic foods are too lax and this will make them more so.  Some are upset that the organic foods are coming from places that under-pay under age workers.  Some are concerned that the small businesses will be driven out of town.  While these are all good points, I must say that I become a little annoyed.  While I do not shop at WalMart, there are many whose only choice is to shop there for many reasons, but usually it's related to money (or lack thereof.) So are these people saying that unless you make lots of money you don't deserve to eat organic if you so choose?  Jerry brought up the issue that WalMart can guarantee sales to a mass instead of to a few limited people, so of course, organic farmers could make a much better profit selling their goods to Walmart as opposed to the small coop.  As for the laws (or lack thereof) for organics...I really doubt that Walmart coming in is really going to make the lawmakers move slower or faster.  It takes a lot of time to go to every farm and make sure they are using only organic fertilizers and no pesticides and whatnot...personally, I wash my food and really don't think that I am any less healthier than anyone else....If the pesticides were that bad, I believe the majority of America would be keeling over...and they aren't.  The argument that underage underpaid people are going to be growing the food...well look at the label of your clothes and unless it says made in the USA (and sometimes even if it says that...) you can bet some small child got paid 10 cents to make your GAP shirt...not that this is okay, but that 10 cents probably put food on that child's table that may otherwise be bare...again not okay, but then you are tacking many 3rd world countries and then you are asking to pay 150 dollars for a t-shirt...again...another rant for another day... As for putting small businesses out of business...I think that's horrible, but when you are asking people to pay a lot of money (plus membership fees) for something, you have to look at the big picture.  If you charge 25 dollars for a bag of rice and one can go to Walmart and pay 10 dollars for the same bag.... well, you do the math.  However, I don't think you are going to loose the majority of customers.  You just aren't going to gain any new ones.  I know that's horrible to say, and while I won't be going to Walmart to buy anything organic or not...I'm not going to be going to our local coop either...but then I never went there to begin with.
Okay, that' it for now.  I hope I haven't ticked off any avid WalMart shoppers or coop-ers...this is simply my opinion....If you choose to shop at WalMart, go for it.  If you support your local coop. good for you (glad to know you're making more money than I)  As for me, I'll continue shopping at the local Lowe's food, buying my regular food (insecticides and all), and vent my frustrations right here...
thanks for reading!
September 19

Not much happening

We've had a pretty laid back few days.  Elijah now has six teeth with tow more getting ready to cut through.  He is crawling like crazy and doing much in his crib.  It's really funny, if I bring him to bed with me, he doesn't move that much, but in his crib....it's like he's racing in Daytona or something.  Very cute!  Last night he was up at 1:30 and Jerry handed him off to me for a mid-night feeding and change over.  Elijah was just up from then until about 3.  He wasn't fussy or active, he was just awake.  I would rock him and put hi in his crib and rub his back and sing to him and walk around with him and nothing.  I suppose I could have brought him to bed with me and he probably would have fallen asleep and I could have slept a little as well...but you think of these things a little too late.  So he finally fell asleep and then I was awake.  I kept waiting for him to wake up (which he didn't do until 6:30....) I think I finally fell asleep at 3:45...sigh... oh well... at 6:30 I did bring him to bed with me and we slept until almost 9.  We went over to Rachel's this morning for cookies and a play date with MR and some of Rachel's neighbors.  It was lots of fun and we had very yummy cookies!
Ooooooo...last night we watched Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.  It was soooooo good.  I LOVED West Wing and was so sad when it went off.  I also LOVE Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, and they ROCKED!!!  I thought it was well written and very cheeky!  I just wish it came on a little earlier...oh well.  Sunday night was the premiere of Amazing Race.  The couple I liked the most got booted...sigh...but it still looks like a good season.
Yesterday I gave Elijah some cooked and cooled spaghetti to play with...it was freaking hilarious.  He got it EVERYWHERE.  I have pics, but they're in the other room and Jerry's trying to get Elijah to sleep...if he sees or hears me, Jerry will have to start all over...
I think we are going to go to the doctor tomorrow.  Elijah seems to have a yeast infection on his neck and it's just not clearing up.  Part of that reason is we put the ointment on him and he immediately starts scratching and off it comes.  We have tried putting it on him once he's asleep...nope, doesn't work.  We are putting socks on his little hands at night so he doesn't rip his skin up from the scratching.  Poor guy.  It's not getting worse, but it's not getting better.  It seems to follow his teeth cutting.  He'll cut a tooth and it clears up and then another one starts coming in and well, yo get the point....
okay...I guess that' it for now.  I'm off to sneak into our room for a shower...
September 20

poor parents

My folks are in Ireland and I just heard from them that Florence hit over there, so they are seeing Ireland in flood stage.  That sorta sucks!  Mom said that dad is enjoying the beer there though....so that's good!  I mean when in Ireland...right?  We're good here. Elijah has discovered he wonder that are doors.  He likes to sit at doors and open them and close them...It's pretty cute...not that I'm biased.  We went to the doc today.  I thought EJ had an yeast infection on his chest and neck, but turns out that it's eczema.  So I guess that's good...well at least to know what it is and how to treat it.
That's it right now....  Oh yeah...Elijah is weighing in at 23.6 pounds!  What a hunka hunka...
September 24

A Successful Weekend!

We had our friends over for the weekend.  It was lots of fun!  We went to some local gardens on Saturday to walk and have a picnic.  The weather was perfect.  This morning we had a leisurely breakfast and just hung out.  Jerry and I got back from Costco a bit ago and had some pita pizzas...yummy!!!!  And now he's watching football and hanging out with Elijah.  I must say as weekends go, this one was very good!
We are heading up to the mountains in a couple of weeks for homecoming at WWC and vacation.  We are taking Rachel and Erin and MR with us.  We decided to rent a van so that we could all ride together and save the wear and tear on our car.  I think it will be great! I hope the weather is good.
My parents wrote that they finally saw the sun in Ireland.  Apparently they were there when Florence hit them and then Gavin (I think...) hit while they were driving to their next location.
Jerry has a yearly review tomorrow....send good thoughts his way...while we are fine with his income, a nice raise would always be welcome!
Elijah has officially cut eight teeth now.  I'm hoping this slows down a bit.  He doesn't really seem upset by it, but I think they wake him up at night...  oh well, such is life.  My little 12 hour sleeper (not all at one time grant you) has become a less than 10 hours and no naps...We finally got him down for one today and I just snuggled up beside him and snoozed as well.  I hope that he's doing a little better while we're on vacation.
I guess that's it for now... not a very exciting blog entry, sorry...
September 26

So where's your baby from?

Have I mentioned that random people ask me this?  What do you mean where is my baby from?  My uterus....HELLO?!  It's just really funny to me.  A friend of mine from college just commented that Elijah looks Asian.  He does a bit and I don't mind people commenting on his looks, nor do I mind discussing his ethnicity.  But to ask where I got him from...like I got him a WalMart on sale or something.   Jerry made the point that if I'm not with him, then Elijah does look a little out of place with me, white Irish-y girl, but still.  When did people become so rude, to presume that I would be married to a white guy and therefore Elijah could not have been born of me?  It's just odd I guess.  I would never look at a child and think...oh, well, obviously that child is adopted or from some other place.  What business is it of mine whether or not the child was born of someone or adopted.  It's their child right?  sigh... people...
Anyway, just thought I'd write about that...okay, I'm trying to keep Elijah from pushing the off switch on the computer...Later... (BTW...my folks get home today!!!! YEAH!!!!)
September 29

Public vs. private TVs vs. bathtubs

So, we have been discussing what we really want to do about Elijah's education.  We go back and forth between home schooling, private school, and public school.  Recent studies have shown that children in private schools really don't get any better education than those in public schools.  All in all I think it has the most to do with parental involvement.  My whole issue with the public schools in this county is the overcrowding.  I just don't want EJ going to class in a bathroom.  However, that's five years down the line and who knows what will be going on then.  I obsess about these things and then I hear about the shootings in Colorado and it makes me nervous to put him anywhere...sigh...  anyway there is a small debate going on in my head and I will write more about it at a later date.
Tomorrow we are going to a friend of mine's house to tell our birth story.  My friend Carmen teaches a birthing class (ALACE...not sure what the acronym stands for off the top of my head...but it's natural childbirth classes) and is having a Saturday session in for her classes and has invited some friends to tell their stories.  I talked Jerry into going because I think it's really important for the men in the class to hear what it's like to be the man in the birthing room.  I hope that it won't be too painful for him...(he's so shy...sorta...)
ANYWAY, we are getting a new women and children's wing at our local hospital.  And apparently the higher ups have decided to cut the funding of having bathtubs on the labor and delivery ward so they can have wide screen TVs.  I'm not even talking about birthing tubs.  I'm just talking about a shower with a bathtub.  The showers on the current L&D floor are insanely small.  We were able to fit a small shower chair in the shower for me to sit on, but Jerry stood outside of the shower and rubbed my back from there.  Not that Jerry wanted to be in there with me, but had he wanted, there would have been NO way.  Anyway. at our lunch the other day, many of the women were very upset with this decision.  I guess I can understand.  I personally wouldn't have wanted to be immersed in water.  I did LOVE the shower and it felt great during hard contractions.  But that doesn't mean that other women might not want to be in the tub.  I fear though, that this society is not all about the natural birth.  So many women are all about getting an immediate epidural...this can elongate the labor...and since you can't walk or feel anything, why not pass the time away with the TV?  I guess I see the reasoning behind this, however, do they really need wide screen TVs?  It's not like there is another hospital they are in real competition with.  I don't know.  I wish there was a birthing center...independently run, that allowed moms who wanted a natural birth to do so without the stress of so many medical procedures and constant hospital paranoia of malpractice looming.  I've seen such centers that are very close to the hospital, in case something goes wrong.  I personally was very happy with our birth, but my doctor was very understanding and knew exactly what we wanted.  Now my doctor is no longer doing OB, so we are thinking mid-wife for the next baby (a few years away people...)  I have heard of people driving up to 2 hours a way to give birth in a birthing center.  The closest hospital that even offers bathtubs is 1 1/2 hours away.  Some women may not make it that far in time... I don't know... I think there should be a happy medium, where everyone gets an option... but I guess that would be asking to live in a perfect world...
Alright, the little man has been extraordinarily grumpy today and now is fighting Jerry (who's attempting to put bedclothes on the little one...) I'm off to help....