November 2008

November 02

Just wanted to say....

check out Jerry's blog.  He's (finally) updated it and (I feel) it's worth reading!   Sorry... the link should be right now... sigh...

 

November 03

My six month old!

Holy Monkey!  Grace turned 6 months on Saturday.  I can't believe that these 6 months have flown by.  So the ladybug and I went to her 6 month well child check this morning and here are her stats:

Height: 25.75 inches (50%)

Weight: 17.4 pounds (75-90%)

Head: 17.5 inches (50%)

She's all good, except for her eczema, which is super bad.  So we got an prescription for that and some advice on other ways to treat it.  Poor thing her skin is all torn up and blotchy.  She got 3 shots and was a brave little girl.  She just woke up from her nap and has been fairly happy all day with only one dose of Tylenol.

We had a great weekend.  We went trick-or-treating on Friday and went to a party on Saturday and went for a visit to Jerry's folks yesterday.  Jerry took off today and tomorrow.  Today for Grace's appointment and tomorrow we were supposed to go to preschool day at the fair, but since it's going to rain they changed it to Thursday.  That sucks!  I just don't think that I can manage both kiddos by myself.  Mostly, because I don't think that Elijah will ride the rides without me.  Oh well, I suppose there is always next year.

I'll post pics later.  Right now, I'm being requested to play in the floor!

November 04

YES WE CAN!!!!!!

Holy crap!   I'm so excited!  History has been made and hopefully our country will turn around!  AMAZING!

November 05

The Day After (edited 7:03 11/5)

Can't Believe that my mother e-mailed me at 1:06 this morning!  I think that's the latest I have ever seen her stay up (that I can remember!)  It's awesome!  This morning I got a call from her and Rachel.  It is a great day!

I know that my republican friends are not as excited, and I am sorry.  But I was thinking.  Many have a problem with this whole insurance thing.  Do I feel that insurance is a right?  Well, I think it's a privilege.  Like your driver's license is a privilege.  Like privacy is a privilege.  I think that it's a thin line.  I think that many take for granted that they have health insurance provided by their work.  But what if you loose your job and have a pre-existing condition?  What if your child comes down with leukemia?  What if you're a smoker and your insurance company decides that you are thigh risk and they stop covering you?  I wonder then if there would be the same complaints.  So I hope that my skeptical friends will find the peace of mind they need.  I'm very happy with the outcome!  I am glad that there is actually an educated person stepping into the mess that is Washington right now.  Jerry has several blog entries in process, and I am sure they will be worth reading regardless of your point of view.  I know I read everything from all sides.

I will say that the dark cloud of today for me is California's vote to ban gay marriage and Arkansas's vote to not allow "unmarried" (I'm reading gay couples) to adopt or foster children.  It simply breaks my heart.  It is not my business who marries whom, and I don't think it should be up to the government to decide.  I think that if anything it should be left up to the church, but in reality, even that perturbs me.  And I won't go on about the fostering/adoption thing except to say that there are soooo many unwanted children in the US, that if people are going to be all PRO LIFE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO... then they better freaking start adopting and fostering kids.  If there is a loving family or person that wants to help children why the HELL should they not be allowed to do so.  It pisses me off a bit.  The only glimmer in this is that it could be soooo much worse is Palin had ever made it into the controlling chair (Lord, please help us in 2012) but that is merely a glimmer in this sad saga.

On to happier things.  We went to Kate's house for a play date.  I had to stop to pick up some bread to go with the apple/pear butter.  As I got Grace out of the car, I realized that she had had a blow out...sigh... So I put her down on the already soiled sling and changed her in the car, only to find that there were no wipes... sigh...thank goodness for extra diapers.  Poor thing.  She had to have a whole clothes change and wipe down...with only a diaper...  While, on normal days, this would have put me in a foul mood and I would have cussed (in my head of course) the missing wipes, my whole mood through the whole thing was actually okay.  I mean I was annoyed, but I just am on this cloud.

Our state is still purple.  Even though Obama leads in the actual count by 11000 votes, they are calling it 50/50.  But I so don't care.  Dole is out of office (thank God!!)  and hopefully there is hope for our state to make some changes as well.  Okay, I must be off to add some pics real quick and get outside to play with the kiddos before it's dark (STUPID DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!!!! sigh...)  Have a most joyous day!

November 07

The Fair among other things

Yesterday Jerry took the day off and we all wen to the fair.  It is a challenge for us to leave the house before 9:30 on any given day, but, amazingly, we were out the door by 8:45!  The fair here has a preschool day.  It's for kids 5 and under and their teachers or parents.  It was supposed to be on Tuesday, but since the weather was crummy they rescheduled for Thursday.  That worked out in our favor.  It seems that many of the area preschools decided to not reschedule, so there weren't that many kids there.  The fair only had the small rides open and the animal tent was open.  I was a little worried that Elijah wouldn't ride the rides without me, but after a couple, he was excited to do it on his own.  We rode almost every ride twice.  A drink and snack were included in admission, so we didn't have to worry about anything.  We put Elijah in a diaper because port-a-potties that haven't been cleaned in a while were not appealing to me.  But his diaper was dry when we got home.  I guess my little guy is growing up.  On the way out, Chic-Fil-A was passing out coupons for a free kids meal, so lunch was a big hit too!  I'll add an album with fair pics in a few.

So, for a while I have been feeling overwhelmed.  I really do love being a mother, but with Elijah reducing his nap to next to nothing and being with Grace 24/7 I have not been the best mother I feel I can be.  I feel like there is a lot of pressure to be this perfect mother and have the house clean and the food cooked.  It's not anyone in particular that puts this pressure on me.  It's mostly myself.  But I feel bad when I get upset with Elijah for doing something that is completely a toddler thing to do.  Anyway, it all came to a head a couple weeks ago.  I just feel really overwhelmed.  So after talking to Jerry and my folks, we have decided that when we go up for Thanksgiving, the kids and I will stay for a couple weeks.  Jerry will come back up to pick us up in mid-December.  It's not ideal.  Ideal, would be Jerry staying with us, or my folks moving down here... But having someone to help with the kids for a bit will be great.  I'll also be up there for the Christmas in the Valley Fair, in which my mom and I are sharing a booth.  So that's exciting.  I hope this helps me get things in perspective.  It's been nerve wracking with the prospect of grad school looming.  That whole process is sort of a pain.  I have to take 6 undergrad courses and in order to get into these courses I have to e-mail the department head on a certain day with my GRE scores and my GPAs from WWC and UNCW and the first 20 people who do that get into the on-line classes... it's all very odd.  I need to do some follow up work.  This is one of the many things I hope to get accomplished while I'm in the mountains.

I guess that's really it.  I'll go post the pics of the fair.

November 18

Colder than a polar bears toe nails...

That's one of my favorite lines in a rap...hehehehehe! But it's rather fitting today.  I don't mind the cold, but here it also gets windy and that's what I don't like.  Nevertheless, we ventured outside for a little playtime this morning.  Elijah came down with yet another cold this weekend and so we are staying at home for a bit.  He's feeling better, but I don't want to infect other kids with my kid's cold.

This weekend we were supposed to get the kiddos pics made, but alas, alack... I really didn't want a snotty nosed pic.  So we will go this coming Sunday.  Jerry worked Saturday and will work this coming Saturday as well so he doesn't have to take PTO for Thanksgiving.  A friend of mine lent me the first two books of the Twilight series... seriously bad idea.  I stayed up really late to read them.  I totally got sucked in (no pun intended...well, maybe a little!)  Jerry compared them to a good bag of Doritos...you just can't put them down.  It's not even that the writing is great or even that original, there just addicting.  I'm hoping to get the other two books before we leave for Thanksgiving.  I'm also hoping to see the movie Saturday with some friends.

I feel like I've been lazy about blogging lately.  But I guess it's because I'm sewing and knitting my butt off for the craft fair.  I have made several new designs.  I have some socks coming in to make more baby leg warmers (I hope they get here before we leave!)  I've designed some blankets, new hats, and these little teether/snuggle things.  I'm pretty excited about the fair.  I hope that it goes well.

Okay... I got some really good pics of the kids today and I'm going to post those, then off to make lunch!

November 28

The Mountains for Thanksgiving

So we left for the mountains on Wednesday.  I really don't know what I was thinking deciding that we should leave on the day before a MAJOR holiday.  What was I thinking?  We have to drive through major ACC country and EVERYONE knows that colleges are insane and play ball on the day before MAJOR holidays...sigh... We got stuck in traffic outside of Raleigh and outside of Chapel Hill.  But all in all, it wasn't too bad.  We stopped around 5 to eat and wait out rush hour.  Only to get in the car an Grace freak out.  We pulled over at a rest area and I nursed her to sleep and put her back in the car and continued to drive.  Elijah feel asleep about an hour before we got here.  Overall, it wasn't too bad.  We made it in 7 hours.

Thanksgiving Day, we really just hung out around the house.  I made cookies and a pumpkin mousse trifle for today.  It was good to just have the day to acclimate and rest.

Today the fam arrived.  I think we ended up with 22 people here.  It was nice.  Elijah and Grace were overwhelmed, but handled the day really well.  We ate (too much) really yummy food.  We took a walk in the woods and came back to too many choices for desserts (had to try them all!)  The weather was actually pretty good.  It started off chilly, but warmed up to a balmy 60 degrees.  It is going to get bleeping cold tomorrow and possible snow on Monday, but that's okay.  The kids all played.  Elijah is only 10 months older than the youngest cousin, but they are still too little to really play with the older kids yet.  This will come about within the next couple of years though.  We did some Christmas gifts and then, after everyone left, relaxed.  Elijah passed out quite quickly tonight since he didn't take a nap today.  Grace fell asleep fairly easily as well.  Overall, a good day.

Tomorrow, Jerry and I are going to try to get out to see a movie and dinner (new place in town that does both at the same time).  I have to get my fill of him in since he leaves on Sunday for two weeks!  This is the only thing that I am not liking about this plan...Jerry's absence.  I will miss him desperately.  To the point that it hurts to think about it.  But I really do need some time to relax and have some help during the days.  I am excited about the festival and I hope to make some money.  Double edged sword I guess...

Okay... that's it for now.  I am going to try to blog a little more while I'm here, so hope to be back here soon!

August 2008

August 03

HOT HOT HOT!!!

That's how the festival was yesterday.  And I must say that I sold nothing.  Nevertheless, it was fun and a good experience.  Kristie (who brought along wonderful Dawn to help set up) and I had a blast.  I brought a hand held fan that spritzed water and kept Grace in the shade and (naked) cool throughout the day.  She was soooo good!  Kristie made a few sales and that was a big bonus for her!

There is a private company here that is for rent for security called Interpol.  Every time I saw them I kept thinking of "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?" and would laugh.  I didn't know they were a security company until I got home and talked to Jerry and Kristie and I were all curious and wanted to ask them about Carmen San Diego...but never had the nerve.  Anyway, we had a blast (Kristie had a little help from the wine...hehehehe!)  And even though it was 90million degrees we had fun just talking and listening to good music.

So here are some pics of the preparations and of the day:

I'm also going to add an album with explanations.

I think over all we would totally do this again.  Maybe we'll hit a few festivals this fall and a Christmas thing-y too?  We'll see!

August 09

a great way to end the week!

This week has been extraordinarily hot!  Heat indexes were in the 100s almost all week long.  I did try to get Elijah and Grace out of the house almost everyday, but not for long.  Yesterday I got a message from my friend Kristie to come over for a cook out, so instead of enjoying the very nice weather, I stayed home to clean the house and get at least some laundry done.  I guess this made a difference in Elijah's life.  He decided not to take a nap yesterday, but I did let him come sit with me and Grace and watch some TV and rest.  I think that made a difference.  I was really worried about going out with him without a nap.  But he did GREAT!  We got to Kristie's around 5:30 and then Katie and her family arrived shortly after.  So all the kiddos played and we ate guac and chips while Dave cooked and the boys (I mean Men) hung out.  Everyone had some beers (sans me...alas alack) and we had great company!  I think we will try to make this at least a monthly thing.  We ate a little later than normal, but it was all good.  We left about 8:45 (almost an hour after Elijah's bedtime...) but Elijah was sooooo good throughout the whole evening, even when we told him it was time to go.  He did really really well!  Grace was a little fussy with all the excitement, but she also did well (until the ride home... then not so much...)  At home Elijah feel almost immediately asleep and Grace went down okay.   Jerry and I watched a little of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, but I was beat, so I went to bed.

I have to say, though, that I did not sleep well.  I kept having weird or bad dreams.  Our area of NC is having a bad out break of black widows.  We have them all around our house, but Kristie found some in her car and around her house and it was a major topic of discussion last night.  Elijah came into my room at 3:45 last night and after I put him in bed with Jerry and resettled Grace, I could not stop thinking about those horrid creatures!!!  So I was up until almost 5...sigh... oh well...

Speaking of Grace, I think she is getting ready to do something developmentally.  Probably roll over.  But lately she has been squirmy at night.  To the point she wakes me and herself up.  Then she doesn't want to nurse, she only wants to be held on my chest.  Not a biggie, I can sleep like that (I have a whole set up) it's just not the coolest position.  Yesterday though she almost made it all the way over.  She can get over onto her side and is soooo close to rolling over.  I guess I need to go on and put up the guard rail on the bed.

I have to say that I am (overall) happy with Grace's sleep habits.  She will nurse to sleep, but she doesn't have to nurse to sleep.  I think this will make night weaning much easier than it was with Elijah.  Not that this isn't a long way done the road, but it's good to know that this challenge won't be so bad.

okay, Jerry's making breakfast I think it's almost done.  There are new pics on the month 4 album!

August 13

You want some cheese with that?

First to answer questions:

I don't check my shoes before I put them on because we haven't found any spiders inside.  If my shoes are left outside (to dry or whatnot) then we shake them.  I don't like the idea of having black widows around the house, but we just check everything (sandbox, playhouse, slide, etc.) before playing on/in them.

We do, however leave Elijah's galoshes outside when they are wet and dirty...so after every use.  So I always knock them around a bit.  I was on the phone with my mom a while back and Elijah wanted to wear his galoshes into the sprinkler, so I knocked them on the ground to get any spiders out that might of crawled in...out.  I was expecting something small and creepy to come out, instead out HOPPED a TOAD!  It scared me (and probably burst my mom's ear drum, since I screamed!)  Elijah was totally enthralled.  After my heart slowed down, I couldn't stop laughing about it...

Last weekend we went to Sears to have our oil change and tires rotated.  While there we went on the never ending hunt for a Wii Fit.  Our last stop was back at Sears where Elijah spotted a Max and Ruby DVD from miles away.  We decided that we would splurge and get this video as we were both a little tired of the Curious George DVD (he gets to pick two to watch before bed.)  So Jerry took the kids to check on the car and I went to pay for the DVD.  Now I have seen this woman at Sears before.  She is older and a talker.  (Let me just say here: I have been working out 20 minutes a day with 10 minute Solutions Dance DVD ...2 workouts a day... plus playing the Wii....SIGH) I step up to pay for the DVD and stupid woman asks, "When are you due?"  WHAT??!?!?!?!??!  First off, unless you KNOW someone is preggo, it is an unwritten rule that you NEVER EVER ask EVER!!!  I looked at her (and in hindsight should not have been as nice) and said, "Oh, I just had a baby."  (3 months ago, but thanks for making feel bad about myself JERK!)   She then proceeds to talk to me and asks about the birth and all...I don't want to talk to you lady...Please shut up and finish this transaction with your head hung down in shame... sigh... stupid woman.

On Monday we needed to go grocery shopping.  We found out that a food lion close to Jerry's work carries the diapers we like to use when not using cloth, so I decided to go there for a change.  As we got out of the car, I saw a woman with 2 kids unloading a cart that Elijah likes to ride in.  So I took my time getting the kids out of the car in case that was the only one (like the Food Lion closer by.)  While I'm taking my time I'm sorta spying on this woman.  First of all the woman was yelling at her kids for, what seemed to be, no apparent reason.   She picked up the baby (in a carrier) and put it in the car, then let the toddler just crawl in.  Then she proceeded to open door after door and stuff the (I'm not even lying here) 20 bottles of Diet Dr. Pepper into whatever nook and cranny she could find.  It was seriously taking a REALLY long time.  I mean there is only so long I can pretend to adjust the sling.  So I start walking over to Elijah's side of the car and I hear this, "Put that cigarette down!  That's Mommy's!!!!"   Are you freakin' kidding me?  Sigh... Not that's really bad for you, that's gross, but That's mommy's?  I got Elijah out of the car and we went into the store (with Elijah whining about the car cart) where we, luckily, found another car cart.  I was just floored...sigh...

The other day Elijah woke up from his nap.  I had heard him moving around, but then he seemed to settle  down a bit.  So when he woke up I wasn't too surprised, but sometimes he'll come call in the chair with me and Grace and go back to sleep for a bit.  ANYWAY, he comes out of his rooms and this is the conversation:

E: Hey buddy.  Did you wake up from your nap?

e: Uh-huh.  'Ijah little wake up.  'Ijah big wake up now!  PLAY now, mommy.

E: You woke up a little but now you are awake?

e: uh-huh, little wake up, PLAY now mommy!

I guess he woke up and realized it and then went back to sleep.  It just tickled me....

And now for the girl child... She has, what looks like, three teeth coming in on the bottom and one coming in on the top...sigh... her eczema seems bad one day and then better the next then worse the next...  Her sleeping has not been good lately.  She wakes up around 1:30 will nurse and go back to sleep for 15 minutes and then wake back up.  The only way I can get her to go back to sleep is to hold her while sitting straight up and patting her back.  Eventually (like an hour later) I can scooch down in the bed a little and eventually (like another hour) roll her off onto her side.  I guess it could be worse.  I can fall back asleep in all the positions and I have the boppy under my arms to help support her and me.  My problem is I have been having HORRID nightmares after waking up and then going back to sleep.  To the point I have to get up and check on everyone to make sure they are alright.   I am sure this is all a combination of the teeth, the eczema, and a growth spurt and it too shall pass, but I am so tired in the morning that I am sick to my stomach.  Yesterday I went to the library and then we went to walk along the river to look at boats (it was such a nice day weather wise) and by the time I got home, I was so sleepy and tired that I couldn't even eat lunch.  But alas alack, no nap for the mom.  Grace and Elijah's naps overlap for about 15 minutes and that's it...sigh...

Today it is rainy and supposed to be all day.  We aren't going anywhere and I really have no plans at all.  There are a ton of things that need to be done around this house, but I'm not doing anything.

And yes I would like some cheese with my whine!!!

August 18

seriously...trampoline?

The trampoline is an Olympic sport?  Seriously?  WHAT?!?!  Obviously my Olympic dreams are not over, I can still get there...

In all seriousness, I'm sure it is quite difficult, I just find it humorous... even more so that they have different trampolines for men and women.  I just found that amusing...

On a not so amusing note... sigh... Our washing machine broke.  It stopped spinning, so instead of paying someone to come out and fix it we looked up the problem on the internet...clogged drainage pipe.  Everyone that commented on the problem said that it was an easy fix...stupid people...probably undercover repair people.  We undid everything easy enough and cleaned up the water and cleaned out the pipes (though we found no blockage) and then went to put things back together...SIGH...not so much.  I guess at least when the repair person does come they won't have to disassemble the machine.  There is just this one clamp that we cannot get back on to where it should go.  I hope that Jerry can get someone out here soon though.  I am down to one pair of shorts (just bought a bunch of new underwear, so at least I'm good in that department) and two shirts...sigh...  Also was getting ready to do a load of diapers...not so much a nice smell now in the small bathroom (especially since some toddler boy will not leave the freaking diaper pail alone!!!!!!!) sigh...

BUT...on Friday the kiddos and I met our Wednesday/Friendsday friends at this local woman's house to pick pears (don't be mad mama Jones, I'll pick some of yours when we come up I promise!)  The kids had a blast.  But Elijah and I got super eaten up by bugs.  I put on bug spray too late.  Nevertheless, the lady had toys out for the kids to play with and they had fun picking the pears as well.  I found a good recipe for apple/pear butter (the freezer kind!!!) so I'll try that later today.  It involves a bit more work than the other freezer things I've made, but not a ton, so we'll see.

Okay, there is an infant child wanting some milk...so I'm off...

August 21

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday...full of friends!!!

On Tuesday:

We went to a friend's house to meet with some other moms as a sorta laid back home school preschool.  It was nice to get together with friends and do learning activities (this week we talked about growing things and the importance of bees.)  Next week we will follow up with a field trip to the arboretum.  We only meet for about 2 hours.  I think it's good for Elijah to get as much socialism as possible, the learning environment is even better.  We will all sorta pitch in and figure out each other's strengths so that we are all "teaching".  It's also nice that the mom's stay there with the kids.  Then no one is responsible for all the kids.

Also on Tuesday, we had the repair guy come look at our washer...sigh.. our motherboard is shot and has to be replaced.  We can still wash clothes, there is just no final spin, so the clothes are pretty wet at the end...sigh...  we contemplated buying a new washer (it's a 300 buck fix) but decided we will just pay to get this one fixed and start saving for a washer that we really really want (close to 800 bucks.)  While it's annoying, I'm getting over it and moving on.  I'm still hesitant to do our diapers in the washer because i really need all the detergent out of the diapers, so Jerry is going to take them during nap this weekend to the laundry mat.  sigh...

On Wednesday:

Kate and her gang and my kiddos and I went to the Farmer's Market where it was kid's day!!!  We went on a hay ride and walked around the farmer's market and watched the ponies (wasn't paying 5 bucks for my kiddo to freak out on the pony, but they were fun to watch.)  The also had pheasants, chickens, and rabbits.  Oh my!  I have briefly discussed with our WD/FD friends about a preschool co-op and that's a possibility, but I don't want to commit to anything until I figure out what the heck is going on with grad school next year for both Jerry and myself.   Elijah is a year older than these kids, but he gets along with them very well and I adore these moms.

On Thursday:

We went to the park, took a very brief walk and then played.  I brought Dunkin Donuts (mostly because I am lazy, but also because I wanted some!) and I think they caused a little stir, but alas, alack.  I love my Thursday group of friends as well.  It's interesting to be a part of two groups are have many differences, but are similar in that I feel comfortable in both.  Granted our Thursday group is much larger than the Wednesday one, but still...

I have a whole other blog entry in my head that I am hoping to get out soon... but sometimes that doesn't happen, so to make sure (probably) the title will be "Unapologetic"...hopefully, I find time tomorrow or maybe Saturday during nap time, to blog it.  I've been thinking about it for a while and it's starting to keep me up, so I need to write it...

Okay, that's all for now.

August 25

Okay okay...unapologetic

While this is an unapologetic blog post, I'm going to start out by saying that I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, but you should get over it... I know I will.

I will not apologize for:

1) vaccinating my child.

2) being annoyed that other choose not to vaccinate their children.  I am not saying those that choose, for whatever reason, to delay vaccines, I'm talking about not vaccinating at all.  For many reasons it annoys me, but things like this piss me off and scare the crap out of me.  My girl child doesn't get the MMR vaccine until she is a year old.  Yet, it seems not to phase people that their child may expose my infant to measles.  I find this selfish.  I understand that some believe that there are homeopathic cures for any disease.  I choose to go the way of the FDA and risk it.  Seeing as my kids are allergic to many "organic" cleaners, I'm not going to risk giving them something that may be worse than the disease.  I feel that if you don't want to vaccinate your kid, it's your choice, but please don't complain about getting your child into school and all the organic remedies out there.  It annoys me.

3) giving my child a plastic container to drink/eat from.  While I think that plastic is not the best thing in the world, right now it is the cheapest.  I have a feeling that will all change as oil becomes less available, but for now, it's what I can afford.  I am really tired of being made by companies to feel like I am some HORRIBLE mother for giving my child plastic.  I guess I make the choice to not spend 14.95 on a sippy cup.  But i feel that if the plastic was really that HORRID that these, oh-so-great-companies would make a product that was affordable for everyone not just the middle to upper class of America.  Apparently we only value the fragile lives of children whose parents can afford such things.   Which leads me too...

4) not constantly feeding my child only organic food.  Again, I feel like there is not enough organic food in the USA to feed all it's population.  It's impossible.  We have to use fertilizers and insecticide in order for there to be enough food.  Of course, there in lies the problem right?  Over population and consumerism.  We have to have food to survive.  I don't really believe that all the food is as organic as one might think.  you don't know what was on the soil before it was "organic" and the stuff that's dangerous, doesn't go away.  Not to mention how the fields are plowed.  By horses?  Probably not.  Probably by diesel or gas powered tillers or plows.  What do these things put in the air?   What do the plants intake?  Or where do your "organic" bananas come from?  Are they transported by clean burning trucks running off recycled oil or hydrogen or compressed air?  I think that some people are more concerned about the food they eat than the air they breathe.  I mean by using gas powered lawn mowers you pollute the air you and your kids breathe.  But it seems to not phase people that this is the stuff that is dangerous, not the pesticides that can be washed off our fruits and veggies.  It is your right to eat organic and not use plastic (though how you buy shoes is beyond me!) I wish you all the luck in the world.  Please stop making me feel less superior to you.

5) not buying new clothes/toys for my kids.  I buy used everything except for shoes and underwear.  I see no point in buying new.  I refuse to pay more than 15 dollars on a pair of shoes for my kids.  I won't buy Stride Rite because I feel they are over priced and again... the whole class thing pisses me off.

6) owning a reel lawn mower and electric weedwacker and complaining about the work.  Because it is harder, but I feel better about letting my kids play outside.  In fact, my kids can play outside while I mow the grass and I know I'm not hurting not only their lungs, but their ears.

7) supporting all moms regardless of the following: having a natural birth, epidural, c-section, work, stay at home, cry it out, co sleep, use disposable diapers, use cloth diapers, spank, use time out, coddle, spoil, breast feed, bottle feed, formula feed... and many more.

8) for breastfeeding my child on demand.

9) sleeping with my kids.

10) not spanking my kids.  While it's fine if others want to, I believe that by spanking you are instilling a certain fear in the kid.  We both were spanked as kids.  We turned out just fine.  This is not a criticism of how we were raised, it is simply a choice we are making.

11) feeding my child fast food.  He loves it.  He gets it about once a week.  I think that life will go on.

12) letting my two year old watch TV.  He rarely, if at all watched it before he turned two and Grace will be the same way.  But he gets to watch limited amounts now.  I don't think that it will hurt him.

13) allowing my child to entertain himself.  In fact, I encourage this.  As long as he is having fun and not hurting himself or anyone else, I am content to allow my kids to play with each other and friends with limited supervision (in the house or in the back yard...not like the playground or something) and I encourage them working things out on their own.

14) being annoyed with my toddler.  He does things that annoy me.  I am sure that the feeling is mutual.

15) not cutting Elijah's hair.  EVER!  If he chooses to have his hair cut, then I will take him.  Until then, nope...

16) allowing my child to eat sweets.  I believe in everything in moderation.  He gets sweets.  He understands the words "No more, all done."  He doesn't pig out on sweets since he gets them on a regular basis.

17) feeding my child foods with corn syrup in them.  It's the EXACT same chemical make up as sugar.  Most products that have eliminated the corn syrup have more sugar in them.  See, I do read labels... I also read ALL research.

18) not buying into research provided by non-scientific companies.

19) only buying biodegradable cleaning products that have their ingredients CLEARLY printed ON THE BOTTLE.

20) being me and writing this post.  If I have offended you, chances are you have offended me first, so back at ya.  I did not write this to intentionally piss off people or even start a debate.  I have just had this all on my chest for a while.  So there.

August 28

So FREAKIN' Mad!!!!

So I have been getting calls from some 888 number and finally they left a message (because I won't answer.)  It's a financial service calling about our membership to a fitness club.  ummm, WHAT??????  I canceled our membership to a gym 3 years ago this October.  Apparently, our contract renewed itself.  We apparently are dumb and didn't see that our account was being debited until last month.  so Jerry put a stop on the account.  Now we get called 5757858675 million times.  So today I answer.  The club they are charging us for doesn't even exist any more.  Had I known that before I answered the phone the poor customer service rep would have gotten even more of an ear full.  So we are under review with the club...whatever.  The bad thing is that we don't have our original contract or the cancellation notice, because, have I mentioned, I WAS THREE YEARS AGO???????  She couldn't even find the original name of the club (it has changed names 3 times!!!)  I told the CSR that we would be discussing this issue with a lawyer.  They didn't even have a even quasi- correct address.  I mean the address they had was two addresses ago!

I feel if they can't find our original agreement then we are all in the same boat.  Obviously, we are at fault for not realizing sooner that stuff was being drafted from our account, but who the HELL renews something like that.  If they can't find our original documents then they have no leg to stand on.  I'm still sooooooooo mad.  I don't understand how they can charge us for a place that doesn't exist.  I can't believe that didn't catch this sooner, and I can't believe that they think that I'm going to give them another penny.  Sigh...

okay... that is all for now... end of rant...

June 2008

June 10

On my own again...

My folks left this morning after a breakfast at IHOP.  Elijah keeps saying he wants to go to the mountains with Oma and Opa... I'd love to send him, but I think that after a night or so, he'd want his mommy and dado.  Maybe next year...

This week was good.  But the weather was so freakin' hot it made it hard to do too much.  We played outside as long as we could tolerate it in the morning, but the afternoon was spent inside.    We got to the beach twice, once in the morning, and once in the evening.  The evening was really nice.  It was low tide and cool and the water felt great!  We met up with Rachel, Erin, and the kiddos on Sunday morning at a park, but even that was rather hot.  My folks played a lot of choo choos and fire truck with Elijah.  My mom and I took Elijah and Grace on a short boat ride while dad made some super yummy cookies to leave with us.

Jerry and I worked on getting the office organized this weekend.  We made good progress, but there is still lots to do.  We are still considering starting a web site this fall, so I needed to get stuff organized in there to see what I had and what I needed to make.   So that was good.

I do have to say that Elijah's schedule is all out of whack, but I think that it will get back on track today.  He didn't nap yesterday at all, sigh.  I woke him up this morning so maybe he'll go down easily for his nap this afternoon.

I guess that's it really.  I'll post the pics of the week, then it's off to play with the kiddos!

June 15

Happy Father's Day!

I hope that all the dads out there are having a good day.  Elijah, Grace, and I gave Jerry some seasons of Family Guy, some chocolate candy sticks, and a gift card to go to the movies.  He is at the movies now.  I don't know what he saw.  He narrowed it down to The Hulk, The Happening, and Indiana Jones.  All movies that are on my Netflix list already!  I guess that's a downfall to breastfeeding...but it's one I'm willing to deal with.  I think by October we'll be able to go see a movie or two while we are in the mountains for Homecoming.  We were going to go for a picnic on the beach this evening, but the weather keeps threatening storms, so another day.  We'll have a picnic on the floor here...or at the table.

So, we are still up in the air about launching a web site to sell my stuff.  I have had a few new ideas.  I think I may have mentioned the snuggle buddies.  I haven't tested them at You Are My Sunshine, but I will soon.  I have an idea for a card table playhouse (goes over a card table, then can be folded up...so no space.)  I saw something like this at my friend, Stephanie's' house.  I have been thinking about it since I saw it (almost 1.5 years ago...) and more so lately.  It was super cute.  I also got an idea for a dress up doll.  Rachel's mom got one for MR at a store in the mountains, and I think I can expand on the idea and make it my own.  It's pretty much a very simple doll with a piece of velcro on the front and then clothes cut out of scrap fabric, backed with interfacing, and then the opposite side of velcro...very cute.  I thought I would expand with boys and and different races...we'll see.  Of course, I will have my hats (summer and winter)... I'm on the fence about tie dying, as I have a friend that has her own website that sells kid's tie dye and I don't want to compete...  so we'll see.  It doesn't seem to be enough to have a website.  I guess we'll have the flannel boards as well.  I may make pillowcase dresses too...  But all this is a lot to do in by November...we'll see.

Jerry just got back... he went to The Happening.   He said it was really good.  He said he can't tell me what happened without destroying the movie for me... sigh... oh well... we'll live.

I'm going to get ready to go pick up our food for our picnic.  Happy Father's Day!!!!

PS After the storms have all passed, I'll be reconnected to the main server in the house and I'll upload pics then... but I do have new ones of the little kids!

June 16

On My Way To Target Today

1. I saw a woman mowing her yard in a sports bra and sweat pants.  if you are hot enough to take off your shirt... (side note...when I was in 4th grade I wrote a note to my teacher telling her I thought she was sweet, but I spelled sweet sweat (because that seriously makes much more since...sw-eat...come on...) and she read it to the whole class... I was SOOOO embarrassed and never wrote her another note!)
2. I almost got hit by a Fed-Ex truck that couldn't make a right turn to save it's life.
3. I listened to Kathy Lee Guilford and Hoodia whatever her last name is make women everywhere sounds stupid.  Honestly, how can any person turn the tragically early death of Tim Russett into a self centered rant about who she knows and where she's been... what a jerk.  I really hate the new third hour of the TODAY show.
4. Almost ran off the road laughing at some kid whose pants were almost down to his knees and he was wearing bright red boxers... ON PURPOSE.... seriously, the STUPIDEST fashion mistake EVER!
5. Decided to start the potty training train back up.  Causing me to by buy Thomas and Diego big boy undies... can't stand either of those characters, but Elijah picked them out and was happy about it.
6. Remembered to remind myself to get baby oil.  How we could have two kids in our house and no baby oil is beyond me...but we need it for Grace's cradle cap.
7. Talked to Elijah about the airport for the 12734089758917 time...but he still cracks me up!
8. Was amazed how Grace can simply fall asleep within seconds of the car starting.
9. Watched yet another person attempt to text and drive... how scary is that?
10. Was thankful the heat wave has quasi-passed!

June 17

Some days make it all worth it!

Last night before bed, Elijah broke into a death metal version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.   Jerry and I were laughing at it and wanted to catch it on video.  I love that he stopped to wipe up spit up off of Gracie and that once her realized the camera was on him, he started hammin' it up with his closed eye smile!  So without further ado....

June 19

seriously?!?!

After Elijah only taking a thirty minute nap (SIGH) and being a total grump (he lost all the toys on his floor he refused to clean up and his Curious George video) I decided we needed to get out for a walk.  So I pulled out the sit-and-stand and loaded Gracie into the car seat and into the stroller.  I hooked Elijah in and we took off.  I must say that this stroller is the best work out.  With both of them and the stroller, I am pushing well over 50 pounds... ANYWAY, we are walking and I'm talking to Elijah about this and that (he apparently is going to take a choo choo helicopter to see Oma and Opa...go figure...after today's afternoon, I'm ready to send him!) and we go by this woman's house who is planning a block party for the 4th of July.  She has a super cute little girl and I always try to speak with her when I pass her.  So here I am pushing the kids, sweating, and trying to get home to let Elijah ride his trike before having to fix dinner... and this woman stops me by saying, "Oh my, are you pregnant again?"  SERIOUSLY?!?!?  I just saw her like two weeks ago when I was walking with Grace in the sling...SERIOUSLY?!?!?!  sigh... "No, I just had her 7 weeks ago..."  "OH, well congrats!  She's beautiful."

What is wrong with people.  I know that I have more weigh to loose, but seriously, I don't look that pregnant.  In fact, if I ran into someone looking like me, I would have trouble telling if they were overweight or preggers... I WOULD NEVER ASSUME.  sigh...  so that was a great blow to the ego... I think she felt bad, but still.  If someone is pushing a stroller with a baby seat and a toddler...seriously?!?!?

Okay...that's all...

June 20

Again...seriously?!?!?! kiddo...

So after a very productive morning of playing outside on the trike and in the "agua" (Elijah only says water in Spanish...funny kid) we come inside out of the heat.  Diapers need to be changed, snack needs to be fixed...so I put down the cherrios and raisins and go change Gracie's diaper.  I come back out to find the following:

• Elijah standing at his table

• With a bottle of juice

• With the top off

• Trying to pour the juice into his sippy

• With the sippy lid on

• I asked, "Did you get that out of the fridge?"

• he says, "Yes."

• I sigh...seriously?!?!

• I make a move to take juice away

• He immediately starts trying to drink out of the bottle

• SERIOUSLY!!!!?????!!!!

• SIGH...all this with a crying, hungry, infant child in arms

• I take the juice
• He screams like I have taken his kidney

• I put up the gate to prevent further access to kitchen

• He melts into a heap of toddler screaming, "JJJJJUUUUUUIIIIIICCCCCEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  'IJAH JUUUUUUUIIIIIICCCCCEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!"

• I remain calm (somehow) and say, "I'm going to feed your sister, if you can calm down then you may have some juice.  If you are going to scream, you may go to your room."

• amazingly (and this is the FIRST time this has happened) he calms down and eats his cherrios and raisins.

• After I finish feeding Grace, he asks (again amazing...) "'ijah juice please."

SERIOUSLY....this toddlerhood thing is a mystery to me.

June 23

If you are going to be an total racist...

Maybe you should learn to spell!  This qualifies as a HUGE WTF!!!!!  I gotta say that maybe I'm glad that this person isn't voting for Obama...but maybe should have paid more attention in school...or heck, even to FOX News... for the most part at least they can spell....

Jerry took this on his way to lunch in a parking lot for a local BBQ diner.  Whatever!  I'm all about free speech and whatnot, but seriously?!?!?  Gotta love the south... Apparently they are all about the previously coked up Yale wanna be running our country oh so well now... sigh...

June 27

There's stuff to say...

It's just that our power cable is doing funky things and the battery life of the laptop isn't great.  I have new pics, but I don't think I have enough battery to upload them currently.  I will work on that this weekend.

The kiddos are good.  Cute as ever.  Elijah is totally acting his two year old self and I'm trying really really hard to have patience with him.  Grace is doing great.  She loves to talk to her bears on the mobile in her bassinet and smiling at her mama and dado.  She's getting tall!

This week has been really hot, but we are surviving.  We get outside in the morning and play inside in the afternoon.

Apparently, I smoked some crack and am hosting our playgroup here on Thursday and we are tie dying with red and blue dye!  I think it will be fun, we just have a TON of stuff to get done.

okay, my low battery light is flashing.  I'll try to write more later.

June 28

Saturday's Jam Day!

What a productive day.  It's amazing what the prospect of hot dog day can do to motivate me.  We got up this morning and headed outside to mow and weedwhack the yard.  Elijah played in his pool and Grace slept while we got the grass under control.  I gotta say that the downfall of the reel mower is that if the grass gets too high it won't cut it...hence the weedwhacker.  Nevertheless, we got a large part done this morning.  We then went to KMart to get some canning supplies and other ends and outs...then to JETER'S HOT DOGS for lunch...yum-o!!!  After running into the grocery store to get the pectin and a quick trip to Home Depot we came home, put the kiddos down for a nap and I proceeded to peel and pit the plums.  Claire mentioned freezer jam a while back and I looked up a recipe on line for plum freezer jam.  I don't mind making the jelly and jam, it's the canning that annoys me, so this sounded great.... in theory.  I ended up with 9 cups of plums + 18 cups of sugar + 2 1/2 cups of water and pectin = 22 jars of freezer jam.... GREAT... in theory... It's the freezer space that didn't occur to me...hmmmm... I'll be giving A LOT of this stuff away in the next couple of weeks, but until then I have to keep it frozen... oh well, it can sit out for 24 hours, so I'll do some massive rearranging tomorrow.  Maybe if I'm really on top of things I'll make some bread for our party on Thursday.

This next week will be crazy.  I need to get a few more supplies for the party.  We are going to finally get the landscaping tarp down under the swing set...not the mulch yet, but it's a step in the right direction.  I gotta get new sand for the sand box arrange the yard for Thursday.  That's about it.  I'm excited about the party.  I just hope it's not 5000 degrees out.  We'll have the pool and sprinklers going as well as frozen fruit bars, but still... Ahhh, it'll be fine.

I will say that I feel good about getting stuff done today.  The yard was my biggest hurdle and there still is lots to go, but the fenced in back yard is done!

I really should make a list of things I want to blog about, I know there was more...alas, alack... Once I figure out why the computer is ignoring my camera's card, I'll upload the 120892345 pics I have...plus a cute video of Grace talking to the bears on her mobile!

Here are the finished products!!!

March 2008

March 04

super fast

just thought i'd blog really quick.  we are under all sorts of watches and warnings.  it's been super warm today (75) and windy and now it is storming and windy as well...hence the tornado watch and severe storm warning.  i just wish this had come through during the day.  elijah is totally freaked out.  of course all this thunder started right as he was going to bed.  poor little guy is scared.  jerry is snuggling him in the big bed for now.

very exciting news, though, our swing set arrived today!  i can't believe it got here so fast.  i just ordered it last wednesday... we were expecting it at the end of the month. SWEET!  i got a picnic table for the munchkin off of craig's list this past weekend.

today, elijah and i went to costco and picked up some things for rachel and erin since he's in school and working and she's got the twin belly going on... i mean why not?  we were going anyway.  anything to help out.  but anyway, we got to their house and MR came out and started running around in circles of happiness to see Elijah and he just stood there for a minute.  i looked at him and said, "well, are you going to say hi?"  elijah looked at me and proceeded to pull his pants down.  it was freakin' hilarious.  we were all laughing our butts off... what the heck kid?  finally we moved on into the house and the kids spent most of the time running up and down the hall and then coming a crashing in to their parent.  it was quite amusing.

my folks arrive on thursday!!  we have a play date tomorrow and then playgroup on thursday.  jerry is taking thursday through monday off!!!  i'm really excited about this weekend.  the weather is supposed to be sunny, but chilly.  i don't even care.  it could snow and i would be alright with it... well maybe not snow... but ya know.

it seems like there was something else i was going to blog about, but i can't remember what it is...ahhh, pregnancy brain.  okay, i'd better go disconnect the computer before this storm gets too close...

just gotta explain these pics...  the first one:  elijah has figured out how to turn on his lamp on top of his toy chest/bookcase... this is how we found out how he does it...sigh...

the second pic:  this is how i found elijah when i went in to check on him before going to bed.  what a sweet little kiddo... anyway... that's that...  i added other pics to his 2 year album.

March 12

Surprises and the Babymoon

So my folks got here on Thursday.  We went to a local amusement park on Friday morning that has an indoor toddler playroom since it was POURING rain.  Friday evening I was supposed to go out with the ladies from our playgroup for one last MNO before Rachel has the twins... but it turns out that the MNO was a SUPRISE baby shower for me!  Everyone was in on it... I couldn't believe it!  We went out to dinner and then Carmen opened her store and we had a little party in there.  It was sooooo much fun!  I love being surrounded by such a positive mom force.  I know we don't always agree on everything and we all have different parenting styles, but regardless, all the women in our group are so accepting and supportive.  I feel very blessed.  I was given many fabulous gifts!  A very nice way to start off a great weekend.

So Saturrday morning, Jerry and I went to Cracker Barrell for breakfast.  It was very nice to not have to sit there and entertain a toddler while waiting for the food to arrive.  After that we hit the road to Myrtle Beach.  When we got to our condo, we were WAY early, but they let us check in anyway.  Very nice.  We were on the 17th floor across from the ocean.

  It was very nice!  The weather was rather cold and windy though... I didn't care!  We went to Broadway on the Beach for lunch and then saw 10,000 BC...not a good movie, but once again...didn't care!  We got some food and went back to the condo and did NOTHING!!!!  It was so nice!  Jerry slept until 10 on Sunday (I was up at 7 due to a starving belly, but after I ate, I sat around and watched movies...)  After Jerry got up we went to the outlet mall and walked around and had lunch.  My folks arrived around 2 with Elijah, so we went back into parent mode.

We met the parents for dinner and then came back to the condo.  Elijah had pretty much skipped his nap, so it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to put him down.  On Monday, we dropped Elijah off with my folks for a couple of hours and just sat around Atlanta Bread Company and talked to each other.  It was very nice indeed.  Now we are home and back to the daily grind...sigh...

My folks had a very easy time with Elijah and I think that everyone feels even more prepared for Grace's arrival.  Elijah only woke up at 5:30 and mom  crawled into our bed with him and he went back to sleep.  WAHOO!!!

Oh, I forgot!  The swing set arrived and has been assembled thanks to my dad and Jerry (incidentally Tom and Jerry...hehehehehe) We haven't anchored it yet, because we need to mow under it and adjust a few things, but it's all good!  Yesterday I went and picked up a basketball hoop (the little outdoor kind) from a guy selling it for 5 bucks on Craigslist.  When I got there, he said I could just have it!!  How nice!  So I think we are all good for entertainment for Elijah for a while.  I will pick up a wading pool as the weather gets warmer, but that's it for the back yard.

Okay, we have some friends coming over for a play date this morning.  I guess I should try to look alive by the time they get here!  I'll upload pics of the view and the swing set later.

March 16

How does this work?

So on Friday we go for our midwife appointment.  I actually only gained .2 pounds in two weeks.  So, I'm feeling pretty good about things.  Thinking grace just had a growth spurt a while back and that's where the weight gain came from.  Two weeks ago I was 30 weeks pregnant and measuring 31 weeks.  This week I am 32 (ish) weeks pregnant and I am measuring 35 weeks!!!  How is it possible to grow tummy-wise and not gain but .2 pounds!?!?!?!  Whatever!  Anyway, now we are almost 33 weeks and here is a pic of me now and a pic of me with Elijah at 33 weeks and 4 days...

I guess I'm not that much bigger.  I can't believe how much lower he was already.  Mary (the midwife) thinks that Grace will come early and my labor will be shorter.  We'll see.  I think she is nervous about not making it to the hospital on time (she lives a little farther away.)  We went over our birthing plan and Elijah's birth story.  She wants us to call her immediately if we feel like we are going into labor.  Told her not to worry... I don't want Jo Shmoe the doc delivering our kiddo.  So we are seeing her again in 2 weeks and we'll start pelvics then.  Grace is head down and I fell like she's trying to jam her way down into my cervix, but as the picture shows she is still higher.  It's all good!  She'll come out when she's good and ready (just hopefully not 234897071238947980754 pounds!)

Okay, dinner is ready.  There are other things to blog about, but I wanted to post these since I had requests for them!

March 18

How to say goodnight....

I know the video is long, but I think it's rather funny.  I walked back into Elijah's room the other day to find this...please note that we do NOT cover our child with toys at night... We have no clue where he picked this up, but he does the same thing for his dolls.  One can only hope that he won't do this to Grace...sigh....

March 27

Easter and play dates and babies, oh my!

So I got a call during breakfast Easter morning that Rachel had her twins!  Baby girl was 5 pounds 13 ounces and baby boy was 7 pounds 6 ounces!!!!  that's a lot of baby!!!  They came home on Monday night and all are doing well.  They are super cute and so little!!!

We went up to see Jerry's folks for Easter and his sister and her kids were there.  I totally forgot my camera...sigh... but they all had fun!

We have been so busy with play dates this week.  But it's been soooo nice out that I'm glad we were able to get out and play with friends!  I went over and helped out with MR this morning while Rachel and Erin took the twins in for a check up.  Rachel's brother was there, so that was nice.  We took the kiddos to a local park.  I don't understand people that think that it's okay to bring their really big dogs to a park and let them run loose.  I don't care how nice your dog is, if a kid is scared of a dog, the last thing they want is one running straight at them.  Sigh... we ended up leaving sooner than anticipated because of these people.  Sigh... oh well.  The kids still had fun playing and it was nice to visit with Rachel's bro.... (very nice of her to have the twins while he was on Spring Break...hehehehe!)

Elijah is sacked out.  But I have a feeling it won't be for much longer.  So I'll add some pics and relax a bit myself!  Hope you are having the same great weather we are!! (74 degrees baby!!!!!)

March 31

So yeah...

I'm definitely bigger.  Megan is right... I just wanted to live in a delusional world.  My skin on my belly actually hurts.  It feels bruised... oh poor me...  I am supposed to be taking it easy in the words of our midwife.  Not so easy when your toddler thinks it is funny to run away from you and then stop to see that you are coming after him and then take off again...sigh.  This week may be the last playgroup we go to for a bit.   There is a birthday celebration on that day... and it's actually supposed to not be raining.  I know we need the rain, but I'm going a little insane with the kiddo in the house.  I sent him out to play in boots and a raincoat this morning (I mean it's 60-something degrees...)  This afternoon we jumped in puddles and got some swinging in between showers.

I had this grand plan to make a bunch of all in one diapers to sell in the store, but I realized I needed fleece and not flannel and so I have all this super cute snuggle flannel that's just been sitting around.  What's more is that the snuggle flannel is on sale again for 2 bucks a yard and man I just want to buy it.  It really is the cutest stuff ever.  So, since I don't want Jerry to divorce me, I had to come up with something to do with all this flannel.  I came up with Snuggle Buddies.  I have made bunnies and bears.  They are really cute if I do say so myself.  I have a big and little one of each.  They are pretty much just stuffed and then I stitch on detail.  I'll get pics soon and post them here.  I think that I can sell them fro fairly cheap.  I mean I'm using less than a yard of fabric for two (one small and one big) and then the embroidery thread is a whooping 20 cents.  The fill is 4 bucks a bag and I use about half a bag per 2... so ya know.  They would be cute shower gifts or a gift for a sibling...maybe the sibling could give the smaller one to the new addition...  Jerry thought about making many different sizes akin to those stickers you see on the back of cars showing the family members.  All good thoughts....

Going back to being huge... What gives the general public the right to comment on a pregnant woman's size?  I was standing in line at JoAnne's and the cashier asked when I was due.  I've just started saying soon... you say May and they look at you like your an alien.  This woman a couple people behind me said, "well you must be having twins."  "Nope...just the one..."

I don't mind my friends talking about my size, but random people on the street... "Wow, you are HUGE!"  I mean you honestly wouldn't go up to someone and say, "Wow!  Your butt is HUGE!"  I mean you honestly can't hear it enough.  I know Rachel had it hard... though she had some good comments.  After telling someone her twins were a boy and a girl and STILL they asked,  "Are they identical?"  (this honestly happened more than once.)  Rachel would say, "Not from the waist down."  I mean people honestly just don't think before speaking.  I mean I know that I'm big.  I am carrying this little girl all up front.  Her feet are actually on top of my ribs.  Elijah liked to stuff his feet under my ribs.  She is head down though and her head is nestled down into my pelvis.  My mom is coming down next Thursday and staying until after the baby is born.  We have an appointment next Friday.  Mary the midwife will do a pelvic and do the Strep B test.  So we'll see if anything is happening.  We walked around Target this weekend and man I had to sit down through some contractions.  Braxton Hicks I rarely feel.  I have to actually have my hand on my tummy to feel the tightening.  But nothing consistent.  I'll be 36 weeks when we go in... so we'll see.  I practice squats in the shower, and I honestly feel like her head is just going to come right on out.  (Sorry hope that's not TMI!)  I guess it would be nice for her to come out nice and quickly, but I would prefer to make it to the hospital!

On the toddler front.  Last week I sucked it up and started making Elijah go to sleep for nap in his own bed.  I had been rocking him and I really like that time with him.  It's our cuddle time and most of the time I just fall asleep for a bit with him and then put him into his bed.  So it wasn't going great.  I was putting him in our bed and cuddling him.  This weekend, my super smart husband just made his nap time routine match his bedtime routine... duh!!  So it works great!  We have a little relaxing time in the big chair (usually watching 15 minutes of Curious George) and then he picks out 2 books, I read them, sing him a song, cover him up and leave.  We were sitting in the room a couple of days.  I asked him today if he wanted me to stay in there and he said, "No, bye-bye mommy."  I gave him a kiss and left the room... 10 minutes later...  I probably shouldn't write this...he'll probably not do this anymore!  But it's nice.  I will miss our little snuggles, but I'm glad that this wasn't a struggle we had to deal with after Grace arrives.  Not that there won't be regression on every front, but alas alack...

Okay... that's all for now.

October 2007

October 11

home again home again jiggity jog...

we didn't buy any hogs, but i ate some pig.  it's good to be in our home, but being in the mountains for a week made us realize how much we want to be there.  homecoming was great.  i saw lots of people.  katie was there and we hung out the most i guess.  it makes since.  we were such good friends in college and we were in the same class... but it was just like we hadn't really left.  we will be going back next year.  i think i did okay baby wise.  i was really tired by the end of the weekend, but that was fine.  elijah did really well with my folks.  he doesn't like to go to sleep with them, but that'll change as he gets older.  jerry and i went and did the downtown asheville thing on tuesday and then went to see the seeker (good movie until the end...which was just odd....i'll have to read the book i guess.)

my mom and i had a booth at the soccer game at homecoming on saturday.  that was fun.  i guess i did better than i thought i would.  it was really warm (hot really) so i didn't sell as many winter things but i did sell some sunhats and a couple of dream catchers.  i think that next year i may do tie dye as well.  mom said that she will make some beer mugs for next year.. i think that would sell better too.  it was also parents weekend there... which was odd, but whatever.

on monday aunt mavis came for a visit and we went to a nearby park to have a picnic.  the weather was great!  there is so much water (well as much as one can have in a massive drought) to play in for elijah.  at the park was a stream and my folks live near some creeks, so elijha had a great time!   he's really into throwing rocks into the water, so that's what he did for much of the time.  he also ran around the playground which was really a great playground!  he did fall once and slammed his head into a log.   as it was time to go home for a nap anyway, that's what we did.  but he had a big goose egg on his head and woke up from his nap really grumpy, poor guy.  now it's just a big bruise.  he only cried for a minute though.  oh, while we were there, i ran into my fifth grade teacher.  i really liked her and she made my transition into the mountains (we moved there when i started fifth grade) very smooth.  she's retired now, though she looks EXACTLY the same.  she was there with her granddaughter.  anyway, that was really cool.

over all the visit was really good.  i was really sad to leave.  sigh...  it's just really awesome to not have to drive to see scenery (i.e. the beach) and to go to a downtown that is more than a couple of streets and that has really neat one of a kind shops that are thriving.  oh well, hopefully we'll find a way to move back there.

i guess that's it.  i'll post pictures later.  oh we're 10 weeks pregnant now!  i'm still pretty tired, but doing okay.  i go to the doc on the 26th to hear the heartbeat and have blood work done.  in a few of the pictures you can tell very much that i am pregnant.  there were people who didn't know but didn't want to ask (very polite don't you think!!!)

okay the munchkin is up to something... gotta run!

October 14

You have GOT to be kidding me!!!!

So the other day I was out hanging laundry and Elijah was playing in the grass.  He wandered over and wanted to play in the sandbox.  So I stopped what I was doing to go over and check for bugs (ants like to hang out in the sandbox...) He's really good about waiting.  So I opened the lid and I saw some spider webs, not uncommon, but I wanted to make sure there were no spiders.  I saw a dead one on one of the toys, so I started scrapping the webs off and I turn the wheel and OH MY GOD...there was a FREAKING Black Widow spider.  I calmly (read almost total panic) took the toy over to the ditch and cleaned it out.  The spider fled before I could kill it.  Elijah (being the good boy that he can be) was still standing by the side.  I look and see more web, but think it's just web.  WRONG!!!  I start moving the other toys and cleaning up the web, just about ready to let Elijah climb in to play, but then I spot ANOTHER FREAKING Black Widow...WHAT!!!!??????!!!!!  Sigh...  That one I killed.  Poor Elijah, is standing there wondering what the heck is wrong with his mom.  I'm trying to explain to him (an almost 2 year old...right?!?) that these are bad spiders that can hurt you and we can't play in the sand, when I spot...you guessed it ANOTHER Black Widow.  Now I am convinced that I have these things crawling all over me and that this house is somehow a spider magnet or we're on the set of a horror movie...  I really hate spiders anyway, but Black Widows scare me.  I keep having this thought that Elijah is going to come show me something he found and it's going to be a Black Widow and it's bitten him.  I know these are skiddish spiders and they only bite if they feel threatened, but how much more threatening is it to have a toddler come in and play in what you thought was your house.  Needless to say, Elijah didn't get to play in the sandbox, I convinced him to help me with the rest of the laundry and promised to take him to the park in the afternoon (which we did...)  He didn't really seem to upset (thank God!) but I really don't know what to do about the spiders and the sandbox.  We have it over mulch and try to keep the grass around the area short.  I don't want to spray insecticide in something that my kid is going to play in... sigh... I guess we'll figure something out.

The couple of days back without Jerry weren't as bad as I thought.  But this weekend has gone way to fast.  Oh well.  I think we'll keep busy this week, so maybe it'll go by quick too.

have I mentioned that I am having HUGE onion bagel with cream cheese and tomatoes cravings?  I want it for breakfast and snacks... I do limit myself to only one a day... but MAN are they good!  My sense of smell is also quite acute.  I still have the heartburn, but it doesn't seem as bad...maybe I'm just used to it...

Okay, I gotta go chat about a book with a book club I'm in....

October 23

shirtless boy with a cold

That's my kiddo right now.  he came out of his room with his shirt half off asking for help.  now he has his PJ bottoms on and a hat.  He has a chest cold.  sigh... I have caught it now and being preggers with a head and chest cold is no fun at all.  elijah is just as happy as he's always been, running around.  I'm so glad that he is rather independent in his play.  I'm camped out on the couch and he's playing with all his toys and being rather cute.

This week was going to be very busy, but feeling like I do, I am now doing only minimal things.  We were supposed to help Rachel with making piñata yesterday, but neither of us wanted to expose MR to Elijah's cough.  So we stayed home and cleaned the kitchen...well I cleaned the kitchen while Elijah watched.  Today was supposed to be story time, but no way man.  Tomorrow we have a friend coming in for the rest of the week.  I am hoping that both Elijah and I feel better for her arrival.  Thursday we were going to have a Halloween party with play group, but 1) it's supposed to rain and 2) have I mentioned I feel like poop?  Friday is my 12 week appointment.  We get to hear the baby's heartbeat.  If Elijah is still coughing and whatnot, he'll come with us.  If he is feeling better, he'll stay with Rachel.  Saturday we are supposed to go to a Halloween party...so we'll see.

Oh yeah!!!  Speaking of playgroup... My friend Angela had her baby on the 20th at 1:20 in the morning!  I can't wait to meet the little guy.  She sent pics and man he's a cutie!

This past weekend, we went to the pumpkin patch and let Elijah climb all over the pumpkins and play.  I have some pictures, I just have uploaded them.  I craved the little pumpkin last night.  It's pretty cute if I do say so myself.  Elijah is going to be a train engineer this year.  Super easy and if he doesn't like wearing something, he's still wearing cute overalls.  I had him dressed up at the pumpkin patch, so you'll see it once I upload.

So after a whole summer of no rain, the city has finally put out mandatory water restrictions.  We are 21 inches under where we need to be.  The county has been under voluntary restrictions...but not mandatory.  I just can't believe they waited this long... sigh...  We barely watered our lawn all summer which is fine and we have a bunch of soaker hoses to water our gardens... of course, one needs to turn those on...

I guess that's about it.  Elijah is now ripping up a tissue and wiping his doll's nose... very sweet.. though it's his nose that needs wiping... sigh...

October 25

rain!!!! but no nap?!?!?!

So last night it finally rained.  It was supposed to continue through today, but it didn't rain all day...maybe tonight?  So for the past few days Elijah has taken only a 15- 30 minute nap!!!   This is not working so well for me.  So today, I was determined to exhaust him before his lunch.  So I put on his galoshes and we went on a walk and then splashed in puddles, came home and changed into different shoes, grabbed the little scooter ride on toy and headed back out to ride around the neighborhood.  When we got home we danced for about 15 minutes straight and then picked up Jerry for lunch.  Elijah was so tired he almost fell asleep in the high chair.   So, I'm thinking GREAT!  We get into the car and take Jerry back to work, about five minutes from the house, Elijah falls asleep.  This is usually fine.  If he falls asleep in the car, I usually just bring him in and put him to bed...sigh... not today.  I bring him in, put him down and his little eys pop right open and he is ready to get up.  So I pick him up and rock him and rock him and rock him and he doesn't go back to sleep.  I'm sooooo tired and all I want is a nap...but not today.  Sigh.... yesterday he was a pain after 30 minutes of nap.  He was crying at EVERYTHING!  I was not in the mood to deal with that today.  So I rocked him until 2:30, at least he got rest right?  Then we had some snack and then back outside.  Jerry got home around 5 and Elijah was ready to eat.  So he ate, got a bath, said good night to his toys, and we sat down to relax.  Our bedtime routine consists of the above...the relaxing is rocking in the chair and then Elijah asks to go to bed and he goes and gets in bed and then he goes to sleep.  Tonight... he fell asleep in the rocking chair.  I know he was so sleepy... but he's got to get this nap back.  I think my problem is that I'm stressing about it.  He was supposed to go to Rachel's tomorrow while we go to see our midwife, but there is no way i would push crazy baby on her.  So he is going with us.  I think I really just need to relax about it.  Maybe I'll start putting him down for nap in his room and sleep on his extra mattress and that way if he doesn't sleep at least I can.  I'm just beat these days.  Alas my 1st trimester is almost over and supposedly the energy will come back...  To top all this off, i really didn't sleep well last night.  I couldn't get some songs out of my head and then the storm came up and then Elijah crawled in bed with me...blah blah blah.....

On the bright side... the light outside today was perfect for picture taking, so I got some really good shots of Elijah playing.  I'll post those in a moment.  Jerry's taking the kiddo tonight, so hopefully I get some sleep.  I'm excited about tomorrow.  Here's to hearing the baby's heartbeat... in a way it's kinda cool that Elijah will get to hear that too.  He knows there is a baby in my tummy.  He comes over and gives the tummy hugs and kisses and brings the baby toys.  It's really sweet.  I really think that he'll be a great big brother!

October 26

12 week appointment

Today's appointment went really well.  Even with a non-napping Elijah it wasn't too bad.  He is in his shy flirting stage, so he mostly hung onto Jerry.  Mary (the midwife) thought that since my uterus is reversed that we might not be able to hear anything...I think she would have sent us for an ultra sound then...mostly because I would have freaked out!!) but as soon as she put the Doppler on my belly there it was.  A really strong heart beat (159 beats/minute) was heard and Elijah's eyes got all big.  We had been talking about when dadu came home we'd hear the baby in the belly's heart beat.  We go back in 5 weeks and then we'll make the ultrasound appointment for 19 weeks...so I guess the 2nd week in December we'll find out what we're having.  Very exciting!!  And it was only one heartbeat...Jerry was convinced we were having twins... to the point, I was fretting and planning a bit...but only one heartbeat!!!

This morning Elijah and I went to Costco to get some stuff for a party tomorrow.  Then we came home and played in the rain.  I love warm rain!!!  Elijah was really cute in his raincoat and galoshes.  We had fun, but he still had no nap...sigh...  On a message board I belong to many of the women said that their boys went through this as a phase.  I really hope that's what it is...  I need that break.  Okay... that's all I really wanted to write... Lata!

October 30

The Golden Compass

I mentioned a while back that I was reading this trilogy of books called His Dark Materials.  The Golden Compass is the first book of this trilogy.  I must say that I think that these books are some of the best young adult books I have read in ages.  I feel that they are indeed young adult books and not children's books.  I feel like a really mature 10 year old might be able to handle them, but I would suggest them for an older group...say teenagers.

So The Golden Compass is coming out as a movie in December.  I am very excited about this.  However, I got an e-mail to this link from a cousin the other day.  For those who won't hit the link (which is fine, because I probably wouldn't have hit it) it states that the author of said books is a proclaimed atheist.  There are a few e-mails that are written by people who obviously didn't read the books, but have read the hype.  It seems that this movie is going to cause the kind of controversy that The DaVinci Code caused with the Pope.  Apparently, since this guy is an atheist and his books raise questions about Christianity and allude to several Christian themes, there are some upset people.  I guess it's fine.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  What bothers me is 1) they haven't read the books and 2) it's a FREAKING work of fiction.  If you are opposed to supporting an atheist, then don't see the movie, don't read the books, but don't be a jerk.  I am not saying that my cousin is a jerk by any means.  But I feel that I was probably sent the e-mail as a sort of way of saying don't support the movie.  Some of the e-mails alluded to the death of God in the final book.  Having actually read the books, I can say that no one kills God in them.  There is a death.  That's all I'll say for right now, I don't want to give the ending away for those who haven't read the books.  There is direct relation to Adam and Eve and Original Sin...but not how we think of Original Sin, even for teens that's a bit much... maybe...

I feel these books actually show a really strong connection to family.  Granted you don't see it in the first, maybe not even the second, book.  But there is a feeling of family and friendship.  I think that these themes are much more overpowering, or at least more important than those of a underlying religious theme.  I am not trying to down play the religious themes, but I really looked at them as more of a struggle between good and bad as opposed to heaven and hell.

The heroine in these books is a young girl.  I thought that this was a great thing.  So often you see a boy or man.  She deals with many issues that would be immensely challenging.  She becomes stronger and grows through the whole trilogy.

I guess I get annoyed at people that seem to be so religious and then seem to become threatened by a work of fiction.  I personally look at fiction books, as just that...fiction.  I feel that I am secure enough in my beliefs that a young adult book is not going to waiver them.  I feel that reading enables me to carry on conversations about many different topics, not just topics that are approved by a set institution.  I am very much in to reading what my kids will read.  I want to be able to discuss topics in their literature.  I look at controversial material as a way to discuss and broaden horizons.  I feel if there is something I don't agree with I want an open discussion to happen between the members of my immediate family.  I want my kids to make up their own minds about religion, politics, everything.  It would be hard for me if my child decided to have really different views of the world than I, but as long as he is kind, honest, and caring, I will try my hardest to be supportive.   Not to say that I wouldn't fight over dinner in what I believe, but I will listen...

Anyway, I guess that's it for my little soap box.  I feel that the movie will be well worth seeing.  I think that the books are DEFINITELY worth reading.  They will be added to our kids library as they get older (along with Harry Potter...gay Dumbeldore and all )...just thought someone should say something in defense of the other side!

July 2007

July 02

FANTASIC MONDAY!!!

So far this Monday has ROCKED!!!  Jerry stayed home this morning and we went to Fit For Fun.  They open at 9 and we got there around 10 after and NO ONE else was there!  It was great.  Elijah can be really shy around other kids until he warms up, so it was great to have a place for him to play all by himself, then by the time other kids were coming in, he was all about playing with them.  This place is so cool and totally worth the 4 bucks they charge (only the kids...parents are free!!)  They have a big play area for the kids, a snack room (they provide snack!), a small toys  (like train table stuff) room, an outside play area, and an art room.  It's funny to watch kids come in, they run in and run around to all the stuff and then see something else and run to it...  Elijah really liked the ride in cars, so that's what he did most of the time.  Jerry really liked it and I think it will become a place that he may bring Elijah when they have a dad and me day.  I'll post pics at the bottom.  I think Jerry got pics of everything but the art room!
This weekend was good.  I spent Saturday sewing.  I made many slings and doll slings.  I am hoping to get a good stock to take to homecoming in October.  I am expecting another bolt of fabric this week and more rings for the slings as well.  I have about 10 hats knitted and I will bring a bunch of sunhats as well, though I think the knitted ones will sell better.  I finished ribboning 10 dream catchers (i'm going with a larger size this time.)  So Jerry kept Elijah all day Saturday.
Yesterday we just sorta hung out in the morning, then went to the playground, but it was soooo freaking humid that we went for ice cream.  We've had lots of discussions about where we want to be in a few years and Jerry says that's ice cream talk... I will never argue over ice cream.
I just found out that my friend Carmen had her baby this morning at 1:55.  Her water broke at 4 yesterday, she went to the hospital at 11 and had the baby at 1:55 (au natural).  Baby weighed in at 8 pounds 12 ounces and 20 inches long!!!  She beat Elijah in weight, but not in height!
Elijah's new favorite thing is sweet potato fries!  They are really yummy and (I chickened out and bought the store bought, frozen kind, instead of making my own...) they have no salt added...  He's also in love with sweet peas.  So he has the sweet peas and sweet potato fries with blueberries and milk on the side...crazy boy!!!
Speaking of... the man is done with lunch and is tuckered out from all the playing, so off to bed he goes!!!!







July 08

Sunday

So this week seemed really long.  I miss Rachel!!!
Monday was good.   I don't really remember what we did on Tuesday.  Wednesday, Jerry was supposed to take half a day off, but ended up working 10 hours straight...sigh... but then he took Thursday off.  This was fine, but we had play group in the morning, so we only got to spend the afternoon with him.  Friday I went out for a walk and was about to go in when my friend Carla came out, so I ended up walking about 4 miles.  That was fine, but it was REALLY hot and VERY humid.  So when I got in, I felt kinda gross the rest of the day.  I ended up with a horrid headache.  I was supposed to go to Pass Your Plate but just couldn't do it.  So Jerry rescheduled me for Saturday afternoon.  I haven't had a headache like that for ages.  Jerry took Elijah for the night and I went to bed at 9:30.  I didn't really sleep all that well, but I woke up feeling much better on Saturday.  So we really did nothing all weekend because the weather was rainy.   We had the oil changed in the car at the mall, but that's it.  I did go to PYP on Saturday and that was fun.  We got another 10 meals.  It's so nice to just open your freezer and decide what you want to eat the next couple of days and not have to really do any planning.  We get them split, so it's really like 20 meals, though each one lasts us a couple of days.  I grilled some flank steak yesterday and it was really yummy!  Today, we didn't really do anything either.  We need rain, but this sprinkling on and off is annoying.  We really need to cut the grass, it has this non harmful, but gross mold-y stuff on it and the only way to get rid of it is to mow and then sweep it off.  Every time we go to mow it rains...sigh...  hopefully tomorrow I can get it done in the afternoon.  We also need to hang the diapers out to dry... we are running low... super sigh...
My parents are back from Maine.  They drove some friends up and then rented a car to come home.  They are coming to visit in a week!!!!  Really excited!!!!  Jerry and I will go see Harry Potter when they arrive and have some dates without a baby present!!!  I hope that they stay for a bit.  Now that Elijah warms up to people a little faster it is definitely easier to leave him.  We left him with Rachel a few weeks ago and he did great!
So Carmen had her baby and I got to hold her (the baby, not Carmen) on thursday.  She weighed a few more ounces than Elijah did, and it was amazing to think that he was ever that small.  Man I am so jealous of all the pregnant women around me.  In our group there are three other women who are pregnant and then Jerry's coworker is pregnant with twins.  I forgot how difficult it was trying and being let down month after month.  Everyone says to just stop trying, but that's impossible for me... sigh... I know it will happen eventually, but I am an instant gratification kind of girl... I want it to happen when I want it!!!  I've prepared myself for the morning sickness and all the exhaustion...sigh...
Oh well....
Oh we went on a movie watching spree last week.  We watched Bridge To Terabithia...man that was a good movie...but quite sad...stupid Disney!!!  Then we watched Man of the Year with Robin Williams...eeehhh, it was okay, but seemed like a long political commentary.  Lastly, we watched Breech.  I thought it was a decent movie and well acted.
Tonight we are watching Shooter with Mark Walberg... I really like him (liked him as Marky Mark too...hehehehe) and hope that this will be a good movie.
Okay, Jerry needs to work, so I will give up the laptop and settle in with the movie, my knitting, and some Raisinettes!
July 10

My little man

He's growing up so fast.  On Friday he will be a year and half old...  sniff sniff...  Today we went to the baby story time and the toddler story time.  Then we went to get his hair cut.  His first hair cut.  Both Jerry and I have been putting it off.  He's just so darn cute with all that hair.  But it was getting a little out of hand.  So I took him into this place that cuts kid's hair.  He did pretty well.  He started out in a little car seat and ended up in my lap.  The place is really neat.  There is a doggy day spa next to the salon and there's a big window so you can see the dogs.  They have a ton of toys and lollipops (which my kid wouldn't even taste...oh well, more for mom!!)
After his hair cut he just looked so much older!  We went to see Jerry at work and now the munchkin's down for his nap.
I also forgot to tell you that last week for group I made a 4th of july cake with strawberries and blueberries... very Martha Stewart if I do say so myself...  So that's the random pic that I'll attach here.
Hope you are staying cool where you are...it's so hot here!!!



July 11

Daddy

So Elijah usually has showers now instead of baths.  Half the time I'm in the shower with him.  Tonight we were showering and when I'm in the shower, we call Jerry to come and get the wet baby when he's done.  Usually I tell Elijah to call daddy and then I do it.  Then for a bit Elijah would yell dada after I did it.  Tonight, I looked at Elijah and said, "Elijah you're all done, call daddy."  Elijah looked at me, stuck his head out of the shower and yelled, "DADDY!!!"  Jerry and I were floored.  He's only called Jerry dada or signed dad.  I was so clear...daddy... Jerry came in and answered him and then went back out and there it was again, "Daddy!!!"  It's funny, because he won't say it to his face...just when he wants Jerry.
Anyway, I just wanted to share.  Elijah really is growing up so fast.  I feel like I just blinked and BAM I have a little guy...  I was holding Carmen's baby last week and it was so hard to believe that Elijah was once that small and slept so peacefully in my arms...now I'm lucky to get him to sit in my lap for a minute to brush his hair... sigh... I guess he'll be going off to school before I know it...
Okay, this is making me sad... so Elijah said Daddy and that ROCKS!!!!!!
July 13

giggle

I love my husband.  I just finished reading his latest blog entry and it really is hilarious and quite accurate.  There are many times in parenthood that I have just wanted to sit down and cry, but then Jerry writes about it and I wonder why I don't spend the day laughing my butt off.  Anyway, check out his blog.  The entry before his current one is about Elijah as well and also very good...
Also he has a poll going and I'm curious if people agree with me on it... I know you are curious... go on click the link... you know you wanna!
July 14

18 months!!!

Holy Moly!!!  My kid is 18 months old!!!  Where did the time go?  I'm going to put a couple pics on this post of the last 15 month pics and start his new album.
Last night Rachel, Erin, and MR came over for dinner.  It's awesome that our kids play so well together.  There were spans of time that we didn't even see the munchkins.  They were just playing in Elijah's room.  After dinner they entertained us.  Elijah hid behind the curtain that covers the washer and then would pop out, MR would go crazy laughing and shouting.  It was very entertaining.  I know it's sad, but hey we don't get out much... and you would have laughed too!   I'm so freaking glad they are back in town I can barely contain myself.
My folks get here on Monday afternoon.  Jerry is taking off Thursday and Friday.  This should be perfect.  By then Elijah will have warmed up to my folks and Jerry and I can go out.  We'll go see Harry Potter one night and maybe do a dance class of some sort one evening... who knows... we'll see.  Tuesday I'll take my folks to story time with us and then maybe we'll swing by Fit For Fun.  Wednesday we'll probably hit the Beach and maybe the Farmer's Market (depending on how unbearably hot it is).  I'm REALLY excited for them to come.  I have no idea how long they are staying, but I would be fine with them staying a couple of weeks... we'll see.
Okay, I am finishing some laundry up... so here are the last 15 month pics...




July 19

YEA FOR PARENTS!!!

My parents came in on Monday evening.  They have been a GREAT help.  We sorta hung out on Tuesday, though I did have a dentist appointment.  We went to the beach yesterday, which is the only place that it's tolerable in this heat.  jerry took today and tomorrow off from work, so this morning he and my dad were outside mowing and weedwacking.  Then jerry and I went to see HARRY POTTER this evening!!!!  It was GREAT!  I mean there was definitely things left out of the movie, but overall it was really good.  Those kids are growing up...but I hope they continue until the end of the series.  Tomorrow mom and dad are taking Elijah to the aquarium and that's as far as we've gotten.  I was a little worried that Elijah would be cranky since he only took a half hour nap  but he did great.  He blew Jerry and me a kiss on our way out and went back to playing.  (side note: I went to church on Sunday and Jerry went to work, so I took Elijah with me and left him in the nursery for the first time... they give out pagers and I totally expected to get paged, but he made it through the whole service in the nursery!!!  My little man is growing up.)  I have no idea what we will do for the rest of the weekend and into next week, but I plan on getting out of the house at least once more with my hubby!
So I guess that's about it.  My folks are here and I'm really happy about that!!!!!!  I'll post some pics from the beach day...
July 25

Boo for parents leaving

SIGH... my folks left this morning.  It was so great having them here.  They did sooo much work.  They mowed our lawn (a rather large feat as the riding mower is broken and the electric mower can be tricky until you get the rhythm of dealing with the cord), weed wacked, watched Elijah (LOTS!!!) and all around were great to have around... I really wish we lived closer together...sigh... Also while they were here we got gutters installed!!!  I know that sounds dumb, but I'm really excited about it!  They are seamless gutters and I wondered how they did it, but it was really cool.  They have huge rolls of the material and they guide it through this machine and it comes out as gutters.  They just measure it and then hang it... They were done with our house in about 1 1/2 hours.  So my folks took elijah to story time and then to walk around downtown so he wouldn't be screaming to go outside while the guys were hanging the stuff.  I had 3 good hours of Harry Potter reading.  I finished the book last night.  Jerry stayed up until 2:30 in the morning finishing Sunday...crazy man!  It really liked the book, I thought that JK Rowlings did a very good job tying things up.  That's all I'll say on it.
So we are canceling our Vonage phone service.  There are many reasons, but mostly it's due to our Internet.  Our router, modem, and the phone thingy do not communicate very well, so our service was constantly going in and out.  We have changed our cell phone provider so we now get reception in the house, so we no longer need a phone.  Also there were no local numbers available so our number was based out of a town that's an hour and half from here... Anyway, Jerry has a cell phone now and that bumped our cell phone bill up, but it will still be cheaper than having a cell phone and Vonage when cancel...does that make sense?
Oh yeah!!!  We also bought edging.  It's made of 100% receycled materials.  Jerry dug the trench and we installed it the other day.  It looks really good.  I was sick of the stupid grass taking over our flower garden areas.  We need to lay some newspaper and mulch to get rid of some other grassy issues, but then I think we will finally be done with much of our outdoor garden areas.  Next will come tree removal (maybe) and planting of some different trees.  And then a fence.  I think we will be in this house when the next baby comes along (nope, not knocked up yet...) and I want to be able to allow Elijah to run around in the back yard without having to chase him around the house.  I mean now is fine doing that, but I can't imagine doing that with an infant attached to me...  so we are thinking about doing that this winter when it's not scorching hot (not that we would be installing it... but you know...)
I guess that's about it.  I'll post some pics from Oma and Opa's visit and then it's on to my next book (I'm now reading another series of books ...again young adult... )The Golden Compass is the first book and I HIGHLY recommend it.  There is a movie of the first one coming out sometime soon.  Be well!!!
July 29

Already the end of a weekend?

Sigh...
Friday was good.  I met our midwife and had my annual (not knocked up) and really liked meeting her.  She was really down to earth and talked to both Jerry and I and then after the examination I met with her in her office to talk to her.  She answered all my questions and was really really nice.  Turns out she knew a girl I went to college with.  Such a small world.
So while all this was well and good, it happened during Elijah's nap time.  So he didn't go down for a nap until 3 and didn't wake up until 5:30 (we decided to let him sleep.)  Okay...so we knew he would go to bed a bit later.  We really didn't think that would be a big deal.  So at 9:30 he finally fell asleep.  Good.  I brought him to bed with me around 1 (he wasn't really awake, but was wiggly and I really was just too sleepy to go back to come get him in 10 minutes... SO fine, we went back to sleep.  At 3 a.m. the crazy kid woke up SCREAMING... and he wouldn't stop.  So I got up and walked around with him.  This calmed him down, but he didn't go to sleep.  He was still crying, just not screaming.  I remembered that he's cutting his 2 year molars, so I went and got the IB and gave him a dose and went on and changed his diaper (not something we usually need to do, but he was really really wet.)  He let me sit down with him so I rocked him in the living room.  I thought he had fallen asleep, so I brought him back to bed...silly me... He started screaming again.  I was a little freaked out.  He kept trying to get off the bed, so I finally let him.  He was calmer for about 10 seconds and then started signing up and screaming again.  I kept signing what hurts? and he didn't respond, so I don't think he was in pain...  Eventually I turned on the TV, disabled the remote and gave him the remote.  That seemed to help a bit.  He eventually feel asleep at 5 a.m.  SHEESH... SO I thought surely he would sleep until 8 or 9...NOPE (idiot) he woke up at 6:30...(are you freaking kidding me?!?!?!)  This time I immediately turned on Sesame Street (the Spanish version) and let him watch that.  I went back to sleep (waking every once and a while to check on him.)  He feel back asleep around 7:30 and then slept until 8:20.  I was BEAT!
So Saturday we went to Home Depot with the purpose to buy the things that divert water from the gutter away from the house.  We ended up buying wasp spray, worm poop, and another roll of edging.  Yeah, we should have remembered the gutter things.  We got home in time for the bottom to fall our of the sky.  So we had a little trench the water made off of a couple of the downspouts...live and learn right?  Elijah went down for a nap and slept through most of the storm, but it got really close a couple of times and he woke up (right as I was falling asleep I might add...sigh)  Jerry worked for 4 hours yesterday, so I couldn't even hand the boy child off.  Oh well.  We did go out after the storm to buy a bed rail.  That was an adventure.  Many lights were blinking.  But it was kinda fun to try and figure out how to get home avoiding major intersections where the lights were out.  We did really well, I must say.
Today was our work day though.  We went and picked up 9 bags of mulch and the gutter things.  We thought that we would need 12 bags of mulch to do the front and side of the house (we only bought 9 b/c we thought that was all that would fit into the car...turns out we could've done 12, but we were ready to go home...)  So all 9 bags are now on the side only and we could easily put another 4 or 5 bags down over there.  So next weekend we will get more.  We put paper down first and then the mulch.  Hopefully that will help with the grass.  By the time we finished that, it was lunch time.  Elijah ate and went down for his nap.  Jerry went back to work again.  When EJ woke up, I went and installed the edging around an area off of the patio that we will fill in with mulch and then his sandbox will live there.  By the time I finished that Jerry was home so we went for ICE CREAM!!!!    Now we are home, jerry is putting Elijah to bed and I just finished watching the JK Rowling interview on Dateline!
now that you have read a play by play of my weekend...
I just can't believe this weekend is almost over.  I was so spoiled with Jerry home 4 days in a row last week and my parents being here.  Though Jerry's put in almost 30 hours of OT this week.  So he's banking it and taking some time off in the middle of the month so we can really work on Elijah's sleeping.  He's doing really well with it, but I don't have the energy to wake up in the middle of the night and get the kiddo back down in his bed (especially knowing I have to be up and be with it every morning.) It's just so much easier to bring him to bed, where (normally) he sleeps through the night.  He does sleep the majority of the night in his crib, so I am hopeful.  We'll see.  But it will be nice to have Jerry home and we can work on some more house projects.
Okay, enough rambling.  I must say that I am missing the three main blogs I read...  but I know they are all busy with moving and helping and visiting with parents...  just want them to know they are missed!