September 2007

September 06

Okay, I give up...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

September 09

Feeling better now...

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

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

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

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

September 17

Fall?

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

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

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

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

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

September 19

How do you show love for your family?

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

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

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

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

September 21

Just to see if you are paying attention...

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

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

Anyway, that's all....

September 26

It's been a while

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

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

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

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

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

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