Confrontation

Once upon a time, I really thought I wanted to be a lawyer.  I liked the little rush from debate.  As I have gotten older, I'm SO glad that I never went in that direction.  I really would rather avoid confrontation in my daily life.  If it is not putting my family in direct harm, I walk away.  If someone says something to me regarding offense at a facebook status, I remove them from my friends list and move on.  When someone calls me a minor name, I move on.  When someone hurts my feelings, I pout for a bit and move on.  This week however, my blood pressure has been given a run for it's money. 
1) The President addressing school aged children on Tuesday: http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/
I am SO over this, but I can't seem to let it go.  I CANNOT believe that people are so up in arms over this.  And I have yet to hear a reasonable argument for children to not see this.  Are these Americans so threatened by an education president that they cannot allow their kids to hear the message of "stay in school"?  President Bush (the senior) made a similar address.  I have to say that I don't remember it.  I hear that there was some speculation about his motives, but seriously?  Were children pulled out of school?  Were permission slips sent home?  What the hell do people think the President is going to say that is going to warp our poor little children's minds?  If you are SO opposed to the President, then wouldn't you want your children to be armed with knowledge of what they are opposed too?  If you are SO opposed to the President, then I would ASSUME you would talk to your children about this and WHY you are opposed to the man (like it or not) who is the leader of this country.  I would like to think that parents are bigger than surly teenagers that didn't get their way and so have now decided to sulk. I honestly don't understand what people think is going to happen.  Do they think that their children are going to turn into some sort of right winged robot?  And what message are they sending their children?  It's okay to not listen to authority figures as long as mom and dad don't like them?  That could come back to bite you pretty quickly.  Anyway, I have hidden several people on facebook because I sick of debating it and seeing the very lame arguments people are making.  I, for one, will be watching the 18 minute speech with my children on Tuesday at noon.  This is me now letting it go (I hope.)
2) Lack of supervision at the park:
This afternoon we went to the "spin-y" park.  I love this park.  Almost everything spins.  While spinning things make me sick, they make the kiddos giggle and it exhausts them.

We get to the park and the first thing we notice is there is an inordinate amount of children there and there are no adults.  Elijah is carrying a ball.  This little girl toddles over to him and tries to take the ball from him.  This is what essentially happened:
me: I'm sorry that's his ball.  (I take the ball back from her and give it to Elijah.  She tries to take it from him again.  I'm looking for an adult that is with the child.)  I'm sorry, but this is his ball. (I take the ball from the little girl again.)
a voice from on top of the monkey bars, across the park: Hey.  She is special needs, leave her alone.
(Um, what?!?) me: She is taking my child's toy.
girl: She doesn't understand.  She's special needs.
me: I understand that, but she still shouldn't be taking someone else's toy.  She needs to learn this and she should be supervised.
girl: (deciding that maybe she SHOULD get down and take care of her charge. continues mumbling.  grabs the little girl and gathers her entourage.) Let's go on a walk.  Some people are just rude.
Jerry: See ya.
They walk around the area a few times and each time they pass the park they make some remark.  Jerry stares at them and gives them a little wave and smirk.  They finally stop wandering around and sit under the picnic shelter that is adjacent to the park.  Talking loudly about me and how rude I am.  Whatever.  Where the hell are your parents.  This girl could not have been older than 13 and the child is 3 and (apparently) special needs and nonverbal.  To me, that would mean that this 13 year old should have been right on top of this child at all times.  So we decide to take a walk before leaving fro dinner.  As we start our walk back to the car, a woman comes up to us and asks, "Did you take something out of my daughter's hand and almost knock her over?" WHAT????
me: No.  I took a ball that belonged to my son out of her hands and explained that it was his.
woman: She is non-verbal.
Jerry: Well, she isn't wearing a sign around her neck saying that.
me: We were made aware that she has special needs.  But I feel that if a special needs child is playing on a play ground, she needs to be supervised closely.
woman: My older daughter was watching her.
me: Yes.  From on top of the monkey bars.
woman: And where we you.
me: By the cups.
woman: I knew she was lying to me.
Okay, so right here, I have to think, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LETTING SOMEONE YOU DON'T TRUST WATCH YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.
me: Yes.  She and her friend were up on the monkey bars while the other one was with your daughter.
woman: What other one?
SERIOUSLY?
Jerry: The one with the sandy blonde hair.
woman: I don't even know who that is.
REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY?
me: I would never hurt a child.  I was simply standing up for my child, as I am sure you would do.
woman: yes.  I'm sorry that she was rude to you.  I'm paying her to watch her and she is on the phone right now and (into the phone) IS IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!
She walks away.  We walk back to the car.  I'm so upset by this confrontation and the obvious lack of sense in the whole situation that I'm shaking.  I end up with a massive tension headache from the whole ordeal.  It could have gone SO much worse, but the woman obviously didn't trust the older daughter and, honestly, I would NEVER feel comfortable leaving my 3 year old special needs child with ANY 13 year old.  This woman obviously had either come from home or a REALLY relaxed place of work.  Jerry said I hand;ed myself well.  And honestly, I was SO aware that I was confronting someone in front of my children and that made me uber aware of my behavior.  I don't think that I would have acted differently if they hadn't been there, but I was aware that at least Elijah was paying attention.  So I guess a good thing did come out of it (other than the 13 year old getting what she deserved) Elijah is learning how to handle confrontation in a calm way.
All this to say that I really don't like to argue.  It makes me shaky.  It makes me want to cry.  And all around, is just bad for me.  It's not that I won't argue... but I don't like it.  This is so not what I planned on blogging about today... but alas.  This too shall pass.

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!

October 2008

October 08

There and Back Again...a REALLY long post...

So I guess I need to rewind a bit.  Getting ready for our trip was a long process, that would have been made easier had Elijah and Grace not gotten sick.  I don't know where they picked it up, but they had a fever and cough and runny nose and it was annoying.  Then the day before we were to leave, Jerry got sick.  Sigh.  I was a little more annoyed.  But fortunately, I didn't get sick.  ANYWAY, before we left, this happened:

That's right, Miss Grace decided that she would sit up a little bit (long enough for me to get the camera and take about half a dozen pics!  It's still the tripod sitting thing, but it's still a big step!  She's excited about it, being able to reach things and whatnot!

Okay, moving on...lots to cover.  We left Thursday morning.  Jerry and Elijah slept until 8-ish (and only because I woke them up.)  So we got on the road around 10.  I was super paranoid about the car trip.  Elijah has just soooo much energy and for him to have to be in a carseat for 6 hours = not so much!  But he did really well, as did Grace.  I have to say that the ride up was helped with this.  It kept Elijah busy for at least 1.5 hours of the trip!  Best of all is that as the pictures dry you can reuse them.  And if anything spills its just water!  LOVE IT!!!  (at least on the way up... but that's for later...)

So we get to my folks house and Elijah is immediately excited to be there and had my folks off and running.  Of course, Grace captured everyone's hearts as well.  So Elijah played and then we ate and then watched the VP debates.  Gotta say... not really impressed by Palin... never was to begin with, but that was her time to shine, and not so much.  Do love Tina Fey's SNL sketch of it though!!!  Then went to bed.

Friday we got a slow start.  My dad was on jury duty pretty much the whole time.  Jerry and I took Grace and met Leah at Barley's for pizza lunch.  Elijah went to hang with my mom at WWC.  We came back home for naps and dinner and then Jerry, Grace, and I went to the homecoming BBQ.  We just went for friendship not for food this year (good thing, since I heard they turned people away that didn't pre-register!)  It was a good evening.  I caught up with lots of friends.  It was really fun.  (side note: we left Elijah with my folks knowing that we would be really late.  So I left them with a movie (a rarity and special treat) thinking that Elijah would fall asleep... ummm, not so much.  He watched the WHOLE freakin' thing! ha!)  After the bonfire was lit, we decided to head up to the theatre since they were having a reception at 10 (at night!!!!!)  Grace had fallen asleep for about 2 hours in the sling, but she was WIDE awake!  So we went up for a bit and it was FANTASTIC!  I love that theatre.  It made me miss the stage (something that I haven't felt for quite a few years now).  I came across this picture in the lobby...not as young as I used to be for sure... I'm the one in the middle by the way:

This is from a (very little known) play called "Film is Evil, Radio is Good".  It is a very odd play, but it was really fun!

So after a late night Friday (for everyone!) we thought the kids would sleep in on Saturday...not so much!  We got up rather early, but dragged our feet for a bit and ended up on campus around 11:45.  We walked around a bit with Rebecca, Patrick, and Dane.  It was interesting to be on the campus and really look around.  It's changed sooo much since we were there as students.  We hooked up with Leah on the soccer field and watched the soccer games, bounced with Elijah in the bouncy houses, hung out with friends, and ate ice cream.  We left for a little rest period.  While we were at home my folks gave Elijah a BIKE!  You would have thought that the world had stopped!  He was soooo freakin' excited.  He jumped on the bike and was off.  He could have cared less when we left to go back to a casual, fun dinner that Katie had put together!  It was amazing what she did!  There was music later, but we were beat, and I really couldn't ask my folks to deal with Elijah two nights in a row (especially since he had had no nap that day.)  So after catching up with more friends at dinner, we went home.

Sunday, I went in to church with my folks and Jerry got the morning off from everything.  Elijah was still clingy and after Sunday school with my mom, had a bit of a melt down, so after I sang the anthem with the choir, I went and hung out with him.  After lunch, I brought the kids home and we relaxed.  At 2, Obama spoke to a crowd of 28000 people in Asheville so we watched on TV.  I was amazed that he was there.  It was REALLY cool!  Katie met me for dinner and then came over and hung out a bit.  It was so nice to see her and just sit and talk.  It was (as always) as if we hadn't really been apart from each other.  I miss her so much!  There are days it seems everything remind me of some inside joke we shared.  I was thinking about my days at WWC and I think that the friends I had there are the best I ever had (exception with Laura and Katrin... knew them outside of WWC and I include them in best category!)  I have very good friends here.  I haven't known them as long.  But my WWC friends (and the exceptions!)FREAKIN' rock.  After all, I did meet Jerry there...

Monday mom and I took the kids to the lake to play and walk around.  It was a nice day and Elijah learned about Geese (or gooses...hehehehe!)  And Grace learned that sand is oh so fun to play in.  We had a picnic in the park on the way home and then relaxed around the house.  I made dinner for my folks (turkey meatloaf...sooo yummy!) and watched HEROS!

Tuesday was a rainy day.  Elijah wanted to play, so my mom took him out for a bit, but it was a little chilly.  Dad finished his jury duty around 2:30 so Jerry and I went out for dinner on our own and walked around the mall (meaningful since we got engaged there...hehehehe!)  Then came home and watched the debates...another blog entry...maybe...  I stayed up WAY to late trying a new pattern on circular knitting needles.  I have been scared of them, but mom had this pattern for a grocery bag and I wanted one, so I tried it (must say that it did not turn out right, but I'm no longer scared of circular needles...still don't really like them, but not scared....)

Today we drove home.  It did not go well.  We were all tired, and Elijah didn't get that he couldn't get out of the car and play with the toys on the playground below my folks house...for the WHOLE ride home...sigh... he cried for my folks the whole way...no nap... just whining and crying.  That's not true.  He had periods of clam playing, but not a whole lot.  He kept waking Grace up and it annoyed me...but I was crabby too.  I didn't want to leave and I know now that we have the challenge of trying to get Elijah potty trained while Jerry is home until next Wednesday.

Sorry this has been so long, but I haven't blogged in a long time and this week was so much fun!  I miss the mountains soooo much and I need to write this stuff down to remember.  I'm going to post some pics to an album to match!

October 16

Alone again

during the day anyway.  Jerry went back to work today and he is going to start working through lunch.  This means I'm on my own with naps.  So I tried since Monday to put Elijah and Grace down on my own.  It worked Monday and that was it.  But today wasn't so bad.  We have finally broken the habit of rocking Elijah to sleep for nap.  He gets to watch Curious George, take a truck with him to bed, play for about 15 minutes and then he has to at least be quiet in his room.  We had a little bit of a struggle, but both kiddos are asleep for now!  WAHOO!

So since we got back last Wednesday we have been working on potty training.  I swear I would rather go through natural labor again than deal with this, but I am determined.  Yesterday was a major success in that Elijah stayed dry all day...well I should say that he kept his undies dry all day.  We put him in a diaper for nap and night and both were soaked, but it is the small victories that keep me going.  We are rewarding for EVERYTHING right now.  He gets a sticker for trying to go, a sticker and one skittle for peeing, a sticker and three skittles for pooping, and for staying clean and dry all day he gets to have a glow in the dark bracelet to take to bed.  He was super excited about the bracelet last night. I got a few packs at the dollar tree.  I think I'll have to go back and stock up.  He quasi pooped in the potty once, but I made a HUGE deal out of it, so I'm hoping that he'll go again.  He is however, trying to use the whole "I gotta poop" at naptime to avoid going to sleep.  Not okay with me.  And I let him know that today.  I hope that he gets this soon.  I am refusing to go back to diapers.  We have training pants and vinyl covers, so we are set.  He did have an accident at the park today, but I think it was my fault.  I really think he was trying to get my attention to tell me, but I was trying to sort out Grace and didn't respond immediately.  He did however, tell me he had gone pee...so that's a step in the right direction.

Okay, now... the f!#$ing washer.  They came to fix it three weeks ago.  The motherboard they brought didn't work.  So they ordered one from Kenmore and put it in yesterday.  It didn't solve the problem either.  However, for some reason we ended up having to pay for the part.  Sigh.  ANYWAY, so we go to do another load of laundry and the knob is broken.  We call the appliance place and they can't send someone out to fix what they broke until today between 10-12.  Well, that didn't work as I was going to be gone and Jerry is at work.  So we have decided we are going to buy a used machine and save up for one we like.  However, apparently this isn't a malfunction of just our brand.  Apparently this happens quite often with many front loaders.  Sigh... I don't like this solution, but if we spend even just 70 more bucks on this machine (which is what it would be just to have someone from Sears come look at it) it's the same price as another machine.  It's all rather annoying.  I mean our clothes are SOAKING wet since there is no final spin.  I have been wringing out each item into the washer and then throwing it into the dryer, then running a drain cycle to get rid of the water.  What a pain.  So I'm letting it go.  We'll hopefully something reasonable on Saturday and maybe we can sell this one for parts.

Okay, that's it for know.  The girl child is up and trying to pull my lip off....hehehehehe.

October 20

The Weekend

This is just a short post.  I am in the process of writing a longer one that will (hopefully) be my last political blog for a bit.  But in the meantime...

The potty training has taken a fabulous turn!  Elijah goes when we ask him without (as much) complaining.  He has stayed dry since Friday and as a reward gets a glo-bracelet to take to bed with him each night (thank you Target for offering 15 for a dollar!!)  He gets a M&M candy for each pee and 5 for each poop (which has yet to happen, but at least he's waiting until the nap or night diaper goes on...sometimes...  I understand the pooping is a little harder of a concept.  I'm a little worried about constipation now though.  He is holding the poop.  We try to let him do it his way, but...well, we'll see.

Grace has started solids officially.  Well, bananas anyway.  We will move on to better things just as soon as I get off my butt and make them.

We threw in the towel with the washer.  We went Friday evening to a little whole in the wall used appliance place and purchased a used Whirlpool top loader for 150 (including delivery and installation!)  Much cheaper than having to hire someone else to look at the washer and charge some insane price to fix it.  The guy that sold the washer also gave us the name of someone that might buy the front loader off of us!

So Saturday was spent doing 138927407 loads of laundry.  I still have some to do, but most of it is done, folded, and put away.

Sunday was spent weed whacking the jungle that was our back yard. It still needs to be mowed down, but it looks much better.  Now to kill all the ants that think our backyard is prime real estate for their multi-level condos!  And to do so massive black widow killing (killed three yesterday and I know there are more hiding...Dear Black Widows, there are perfectly good woods right next door...move there or face the wrath of my shoe!!!)

Today we finally got rid of the chair that was with Jerry for many many years.  It's been sitting in our garage since we moved in.  Today the trash people agreed to take it for us!  Tonight someone is coming to look at the exercise bike (that has been out there for almost as long!) and since we took the recycling earlier last week, our garage is looking like, well, a garage!  For some reason this gives me a since of calm.  I mean there is still a lot of organizing that needs to happen out there, but I feel like I can move around and deal with it better.

Okay, Elijah has been really quiet now for a bit, he has either 1) decided that mommy is right and he needs to rest quietly in his bed, 2) up to no good, or 3) taking a poop (finally!)  Whatever the choice, I will go check on him and then get back to work (I am working for a company called ChaCha!  totally crap pay, but the work is really really easy and I can work for 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there.  If I can make a little money, the the daunting-ness of paying for college out of pocket next fall seems a little less, well, daunting...)

October 23

quick update

just have to say that elijah is doing great with the potty training.  yesterday after rest time (not sleeping...sigh) when he is in a diaper and told me he had to poop...he could've gone in the diaper, but he took off the diaper climbed up on the toilet (the potty seat and chair are soooo last week) and with a little trepidation pooped in the potty voluntarily!!!!  i was so happy i almost peed my pants!!   today at the park he peed three times and had no accidents!  i know this is probably not of any interest to anyone, but honestly when we (re)started this process i told jerry i would rather go through natural childbirth again twice than deal with this.  i'm glad we stuck with it.  i knew it was happen, it was just a rough few days.  he's even starting to realize when he has to go pee on his own!

the not sleeping at nap thing is bugging the heck out of me!  jerry and i talked about it and we think that it's just his pattern.  when he learns a new skill he just doesn't sleep as well.  i have taken to putting the gate up and ignoring his whining.  but he wakes grace up and that pisses me off.  i just don't know what to do.  i end up being a total grouch because i'm tired from dealing with them.  when grace doesn't get her rest she doesn't sleep well at night.  i don't need a lot of sleep, but elijah comes to me in the middle of the night and wants jerry, so i have to wake up and take him in there to him.  then come back in and settle grace back down.  and then try to get back to sleep.  i guess my tiredness is my own fault.  i'm exhausted by the end of the day, but i just can't go to sleep.  i feel like i haven't seen jerry in ages (though we did watch indiana jones the other night...not a good movie...but nevertheless...)  we did get to go out for dinner when we were in the mountains.  and i haven't had any time away to myself since i got my hair cut when grace was 2 months old.  this is going to need to change fairly soon i think, or i am going to go crazy.

jerry just came home.  he's early.  i am guessing that he thinks maybe i need some help with the crazy boy child...and he's right, but now i have to go make some dinner.

October 28

No rest for the mommas

The one thing I don't like about being a mom is that you can't call in sick.  I came down with a cold or allergies or something.  I'm not snotty, but I have a scratchy throat and am sneezing like crazy.  No fever... but exhausted.  Nevertheless, my day simply has to start.  I did cancel plans with a friend yesterday and we didn't go on our preschool groups field trip today.  But we will get back into the swing of things starting tomorrow.

Elijah is still boycotting his naps (for the most part.)  I'm not keen on this at all. (yes, i said keen...move on...) but I don't know what to do.  I was making him watch Oklahoma with me (with Hugh Jackman...that man can sing!)  but that only got us through a day and a half.  I have tried sending him to his room and putting up the gate... works for all of 15 minutes.  Today we fought and at 3 he fell asleep.  I woke him up at 4 since that's our house rule.  We'll figure something out.

I have decided that I'm not going to post my political blog.  One, it's waaaaaayyyyy long and not even finished and two, it's not going to change anyone's mind.  It's just going to annoy me.  So, I leave it to this: The Daily Show!

September 2008

September 03

busy days, busy nights....

I feel like we are super busy these days.  But that's okay.  I feel like it makes the week go faster.

SO when we last left our fearless heroes... Erin was fighting the stupid people at the gym....well, I'm still doing that, but I'm much calmer.  Last Friday I went shoe shopping for Elijah.  I went to my usual Shoe Carnival because usually I can find great deals on clearance.  Alas, there was not ONE shoe in his size on sale.  So seeing as we had a little time, we went next door to Marshall's and lo and behold on our way out I found (drum roll please....) Spiderman shoes that light up!!!  Am I the coolest mom or what?  Not that he knows who Spiderman is, but whatever.  Elijah was happy and I was happy and they were on sale!

We then met Angela and went to the Bargain Box to find clothes for the kiddos.  I found some pants and a couple of shirts for Elijah... Grace is taken care of for the most part.  I also found a good amount of things for Christmas presents for Elijah.  But the biggest hit is a little tent house that I found for 5 bucks!!  I actually can't believe that I haven't taken pics of it yet...  Oh well, eventually.

That evening Grace and I went for some of the best ice cream I have ever put in my mouth with some friends.  It was a nice day.

The weekend was hot and I feel like we didn't accomplish all that much.  But that's okay.  Our washer is still not fixed but they say the part is going to be in on the 12th... sigh... We can still wash clothes, but the final spin doesn't work, so they are soaking wet.  I am too paranoid to do the diapers, so we have to take them to the laundry mat.

I don't think that I have blogged about this, but I am planning on going to grad school starting next year.  Well, the undergrad classes I need start next year.  I will take a year of undergrad and then three years for grad school.  I will be doing the whole thing online and I'm going for speech pathology.  My goal is to be done by the time Grace starts kindergarten.  So it's a five year plan.  This is something I thought about a long time ago, but never pursued.  It came up on a board I belong to and I started looking into it.  I know that it will be very challenging  having two kids at home and attending school, but I feel confident I can handle it.  I have superb time management skills!  Also Jerry will be in school (more than likely) so we will be able to both watch the kids and do what needs to be done.  I'm a little stressed about it, but I think in the long run this will be a huge benefit to us both financially and career wise.

This week is an exciting week.  Yesterday was preschool day.  We met and talked about musical instruments and made drums.  It was lots of fun!  Today we met Kristie at the park and played and walked down to the river where we saw and ALLIGATOR!!!!!  Big excitement... Glad that we were on the boardwalk and the alligator was in the river!

Tomorrow Grace has her four month check and shots and Jerry...sigh...is getting a vasectomy.  This is bitter sweet, but a good thing.  I don't want to go through labor again (not that I'm complaining) and I feel it's the right thing to do for the environment and for my sanity.  If we want more in the future, I am more than happy to adopt!  This also means Jerry will be home on Friday, so it feels like a short week!

Okay, that's all for now!  I hope that you enjoy the new pics!  I added some today... the baby legs that Grace is wearing is my newest design.  There are some glitches that I want to work out before I start to sell them, but I think for making up something off the top of my head they came out very cute... and I'm in the process of making a matching hat... hehehehehe!  Oh yeah, please help me convince Mother Nature to keep Hanna away from here.  I really don't want to be trapped inside all weekend with two kids and a recovering husband with no power... Thanks!

September 04

Grace's four month well baby check

So we went to the doctor's this morning.  Grace is weighing in at 15.4 pounds (90%) and is 25 inches long (75%) and her head is in the 50% (can never remember that number.)  She is very healthy and is growing as she should.  The doctor was a little concerned with her eczema and he said that she may have to go to a dermatologist this winter, but we would discuss that at her 6 month check up.  She also is having some yeast-y issues in her elbows, under her neck, and under her arms, so she got a script for that.  She was a very good baby and handled her shots (all four of them!) very well.  She got some baby Tylenol in her and she's as happy as a clam.  So yea!!!  We got back in two months and then not again until 1 year!  I can't believe how fast time is flying here!

September 07

And this is all that needs to be said about the RNC... well for now...

WARNING: may not be appropriate for young viewers.  I get all my news from the Daily Show...seems to be the only reliable news source lately!

I was going to post the actual video, but the traffic on the video is so heavy that it can't upload... so here's the link.  Check it out!

Remember I am a liberal...

September 14

A Week of Stuff

It seems like I'm only having time to blog every once and a while lately.  I can't imagine what would be keeping me so busy! HA!

This week was okay.  The weather was really humid and hot.

We went to the park with some friends on Monday and got eaten by the biggest mosquitoes I've seen since I was in Alaska.  I started out with the non-deet stuff and moved to the real stuff and still got eaten.  The only one that was spared was Grace and that's only because I had her baby legs to show off and I put them on her.  We ended up at Kristie's house to eat lunch and chill out.

Tuesday was preschool day and we talked about the great outdoors.  Along with that came marshmallows because that's what you eat when camping!!!  Elijah really liked them.  He's so funny when I give him a candy treat.  He takes forever to eat it!  We left school just in time to get caught in a huge downpour!

Wednesday we ended up at Kristie's again and she had all kinds of craft projects and stuff to do with us for Patriot's Day.  She is from NY and 9/11 has had a great impact on her life.  Not to say that it hasn't had a impact on everyone's life, but sometimes I feel like I was simply a bystander.  After two days of watching the news, we turned to DVDs of FRIENDS to help try to get the horrible-ness out of our everyday life.  There is only so much one can take.  But she was there in NY in the Bronx and I think that being that close to everything sticks with you a lot longer.  ANYWAY, we did crafts and hung out.  And when we left we got caught in the worst rainstorm I have ever been in.  I couldn't see anything.  I was so worried about the roads flooding that I continued on home instead of pulling over.  It turned out fine (obviously) but it took us FOREVER to get home.  Katie gave us a Johnny Jump Up Thingy to use because Grace's favorite thing is thing is to jump on us.  Some might say that these things are bad for kids that aren't sitting yet, but Grace is oh so close to sitting on her own (can do so for about 1-2 minutes before falling over) and oh my goodness she gets SOOOO freakin' excited when we put her in it, so THANKS KATIE!!!

Wednesday afternoon I got a call from the stupid people at the gym.  Not good news and I really don't want to talk about it because it makes my blood pressure go up.  So all I'm going to say is it looks like we may be up a creek without a paddle.  Rest assured, I am contacting the news paper and the local TV stations as these people are opening a new facility right up the road and people need to be aware.  Also am filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau...JERKS!

Thursday we ended up at playgroup at a different park than usual.  It was nice to have a change.  We all thought that it was going to rain, so we wanted somewhere where if it did rain we could get inside.  It was nice.  I brought some of the pear/apple butter that I made to share.  It's really yummy.

Friday we stayed home all day.  It was sorta nice to be home.  Elijah and I cleaned around the house and in the afternoon we made some cookies.  All the while I got irritated with people's irrational response to gas!  I mean seriously, you can't stay home for a freakin' weekend?  Whatever.  We had a quarter tank of gas and that's really all we need.  Sigh... Our local gas station ran out of gas Friday afternoon but they got more in yesterday evening.  Our gas prices (at that store) never went above 3.79.  When I was teaching I remember that some parents went insane when Katrina came through and shut down the refineries and everyone was freaked out about a gas shortage.  These moms came in with gallons and gallons of gas stored in the trunks of their cars and were comparing how much they had hoarded.   It's ridiculous.  Sigh... we got some gas this morning and will fill up later this week.  But seriously people...

SO that brings us to yesterday.  We went to Costco in the morning to get stuff for the Cookout for Change (sponsored by the Obama Campaign) and some other things for around the house.  During nap I made the kids t-shirts that said, "My Mama is an Obama Mama!!!" (I'll post pics in the album!)  They turned out quite well if I do say so myself.  The cookout/potluck itself was, hmmm, interesting?  There were a few local campaigns that showed up and kind of took over the cookout and I was a little annoyed about that, as it wasn't for local campaigns, and also I don't think a lot of the local campaign people brought food.  It was fine, but odd.  Not what I expected at all, but whatever.  My kids looked cute!!

Today, we are relaxing around the house.  There are definitely things that need to get done, but I honestly am beat.  Grace is having some issues with itching at night and wakes herself, and in turn, me up about every hour.  She seems to only be soothed by being held chest to chest or nursed.  Friday night she actually slept 5 hours straight and I woke up feeling rather refreshed, but last night...not so much.  I know this will pass, but I really just want to go back to sleep right now and that's just not an option.  I will try to nap with her this afternoon though.

Okay, I guess that's it.  We are counting down the days until we leave for the mountains (first of October.)  And I am super ready for that!!!

Totally forgot...

thanks to my great friend Angela, we are the proud owners (finally!!) of the Wii Fit and it is totally kicking my butt... in a good way.  it's my new favorite thing!!!!  Thanks angela!!!!!!!

September 17

READ THIS NOW!!!!!!

What Is White Privilege?

via My Feet Only Walk Forward by Brandon Lacy Campos on 9/16/08

Hey folks:
As much as possible, I try and do only original content on my page. But sometimes, as with Rocki's letter and this blog post, there shit that needs circulating. The following is one of those things.
This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise / September 13, 2008
For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain…
White privilege is, in short, the problem.
Tim Wise is the author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, and Affirmative Action: Racial Preference in Black and White. He has contributed essays to seventeen books, and is one of several persons featured in White Men Challenging Racism: Thirty-Five Personal Stories, from Duke University Press. A collection of his essays, Speaking Treason Fluently: Anti-Racist Reflections From an Angry White Male, will be released in fall 2008.

September 18

Check this out!

I'm really worried about this election.  I'm really worried that the women in America are even thinking about voting for a President that is quite old and who has chosen such a woman as Sarah Palin as his running mate.  I'm worried for my children if these two should get into office.  I'm worried about privacy issues that could ensue.  I'm worried that women every where will suddenly be pushed backward instead of forward.  I'm just plain worried.  So I found this article (thanks to a link sent to me by my good friend Laura) and it gave me a little peace that maybe there are Alaskan's that aren't completely 100% behind this woman.  I really don't like to blog about politics.  But this woman has me really really worried!!!!!!!   Any woman should be scared.  Anyone with a daughter should be scared.

September 20

Gotta Love the Dollar Tree for Halloween Costumes...

hehehehehe!!!  Elijah is going to be a dragon-slaying, fairy butterfly warrior in a sheer blue tutu for Halloween.  hehehehehehe...  (not enough hands for the magic wand....)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 23

what a weekend! (and a week so far!!) a picture post...

Saturday:

saw Curious George...warped boy child with huge rendition of favorite cartoon and maniacal laughing...

made it up to him by taking him to the park.

finished new babylegs design (made from socks this time) and forced (obviously) girl child to model them... she's still pretty freakin' cute!

Sunday:

in order to do mowing had to put girl child in carrier (don't know what was going through my head here...) and carried her while pushing the reel mower (kinda bad ass....)

girl child got to nap...

while boy child played.

Monday:

watched the train go on the track at Kristie's house

fixed the flannel to the wall for BIG flannel story play

and had some fun wrecking the play room and entertaining each other!!

Tuesday:

GOT TO GO TO THE FIRE STATION!!!!!

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!!!

April 2008

April 01

Note to Self:

Never ever talk about your child's sleep habits.  It jinxes everything and you end up spending two and half hours fighting a 2 year old to take a freakin' nap.  All the while knowing that the angrier you get the less likely your toddler will go to sleep.  Now you are faced with a choice... wake a child up after only a one hour nap so that hopefully sleep will come easier tonight, but deal with a grumpy PITA kid all afternoon...or let him sleep now and possibly miss part of AI tonight because he's just not tired?  sigh...

NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER talk about your kid's sleep on your blog... or anywhere else for that matter.

April 05

Still knocked up...

Though I feel like it's not going to be much longer.  Mom will be here on Thursday and I think that I will breathe a little easier... or harder if labor starts.

This past week was a good one though I'm over the rain.  I know we need the rain, but man I am sick of being stuck inside.  Twice I sent Elijah out into the back yard with his raincoat and galoshes on to just get out of my hair.  On Tuesday I went a little insane with the cleaning.  I mean, I was cleaning the inside of drawers...can we say nesting?  Wednesday we went to meet a friend at Fit For Fun and totally made fun of some of the moms there whose outfits cost more than all the clothes in my closet... it was just too much.  More power to 'em though I guess.  On Thursday we went to Monkey Joe's.  I've always been a little nervous about going there.  I was scared that an older kid would trample my kid, but it's set up really well and well run.  Elijah spent a good half hour sitting on this little fire engine thingy, but got into the bouncy-jumpy things for a while.  We were there for a birthday party, which was good, because this kiddo worked up a huge appetite.  He ate two pieces of pizza (sans cheese) and a  box of juice and wanted more... He had a lot of fun though!

Oh yeah, on Wednesday we went over and hung out with Rachel.  I got to hold the babies.  They are so freaking cute and tiny!!!

Yesterday we went over to Angela's to drop off a canopy for her yard sale today.  That was fun.  She has a good play area and K.Lo and Elijah played whilst we talked.  It was nice.

Last night though...sigh... First off, the temperature outside didn't go below 70 until this morning.  Our house was sooo hot, so I wasn't sleeping well.  At 1:11 a.m. the fire alarm went off.  We have an electric system that if one goes off they all go off... ummmm, no one else in the house woke up.  It only beeped 3 times, but still.  Fire is one of my bigger fears.  So I got up and checked all the rooms and what not.  Nothing was on fire.  So I got back in bed and then I couldn't sleep... all I could think of was that maybe there was a fire in the attic, what would I do, blah blah blah... So when Elijah walked into my room at 1:30 a.m. I wasn't really sleeping.  I took him in to Jerry and went to the bathroom (big surprise there!) and started feeling a little sick, so I just stayed up and turned on the TV.  When I left Elijah with Jerry, I thought he felt a little hot, but I just thought that it ws just the temp of the house.  At 2 I hear Elijah's little voice calling me, so I tell him to come on out and sit with me.  Jerry brings him in and he's still really hot, I take his temp...101.5...sigh... so out comes the IB.  I tell Jerry to sleep in the back room, since I'm already up and I go lie down with Elijah in the big room.  I take off his shirt to help him cool down...sigh... The child was driving me nuts.  He didn't act sick.  He was figitity and playing with a doll, so I finally took him to his room.  That didn't go over well.  I compromise with rocking him.  By this time it's 3.  I turn on Step Up and Dance and rock the boy child.  He doses on and off, but is still awake.  Finally at 4, I'm about beat and am finally tired.  So I put him bed with me and turn my back on him.  At 4:30, I look over and he's finally asleep.  THEN... I realize I am starving, so I eat a banana and lie down to sleep, except that Grace gets the hiccups...sigh.  She is so far down in my pelvis that my whole hip bone shakes with each hiccup.  I get out of bed and decide that I'll go on and eat some cereal and that way I won't be too hungry in the morning and maybe I can sleep in a bit (Fool that I am!) She finally gets over the hiccups at around 5:30.  I FINALLY sleep.  At 7:30 on the nose, Elijah wakes right up and is UP!  Sigh...  His fever didn't come back until later in the day.  Again, he didn't act sick, just had a fever.  Sigh... I never know what to do in these situations.  Go to the doc?  Wait and see if he develops any more symptoms... let the fever runs it's course?  Isn't it the body fighting something?  he didn't take a much longer nap than usual, and I didn't really get a nap, so I'm pretty tired.  I hope that I can sleep tonight.  Mary the midwife offered to write me a script the last time for something to help me sleep and I'm wondering if maybe I should have taken her up on it.  My hip hurts so bad most nights, that I don't sleep well.  I can only sleep on my right side with some relief or sitting straight up, but that makes it a little harder to breathe...

Not much longer, I know... but I just don't remember being this uncomfortable with Elijah.  Though I carried him farther back and Grace is really right up front.  I shouldn't complain.  I've had a really easy pregnancy.   I'll just be happier once my mom is here.

Okay, enough for now.

April 11

soon?

soooo.... i'm still pregnant, but things are looking positive.  i'm effacing and a little dilated and grace's head is down...way down... mary the midwife said that i would probably be 3 cm by next friday and that i'm effacing nicely... next friday i'll 37.5 weeks which is where i was when elijah was born, so we'll see.  my contractions are sporadic at best, but when i have them i actually feel them, so i guess they are doing something.

my mom is here, so i feel better about the possibility of going into labor.   already i feel more relaxed.  not having to run after a 2 year old constantly is great!

that's it for now i guess.  i know there was more, but i can't remember.... okay... now for some rest!

April 14

Grace's Room -- check

I have finished all but two pictures on Grace's room.  Once again, I used an opaque projector to draw some characters from kid's books on the wall and then painted them in.  Overall I think they have turned out well.

Ollie

Doggies

Nim's Island

Russel The Sheep

The Belly Button Book

I Love My Mommy

Dog's Busy Day

The Peace Book

Happy To Be Nappy

Llama Llama Mad At Mama

 

So there they are.  I have a gorilla from Goodnight Gorilla to do and the green Powerpuff Girl left to do.

Elijah is sick.  He has gotten progressively yuckier over the weekend, so I broke down and took him to the doctor today.  If I wasn't thinking that I'm going to have this baby any day, then I would've waited it out, but I really don't want it on my mind.  But, yeah, he just has a cold.  Oh well, they were super nice.  We so rarely go to the doc.  We hadn't seen this PA since Elijah was 2 months old!  My mom has been great helping out with Elijah and around the house and yard.

Have I mentioned that we got a new mower?  We had an electric one with a cord and that made mowing the outside of the fence really difficult.  We were going to go battery powered, but the price doubled within the past couple of months.  So Jerry went and got us a reel mower.  I have to say that our yard looks really good.  It's lowest cut is only 1 inch, so it leaves a nice carpet of grass on the ground.  It's also the best cut for grass.  I'm just happy that we are reducing our carbon footprint a little bit.  Jerry did most of the back yard and all the front in a little over an hour, not too bad.  If we lived on more than .5 acre, I'm sure we would've been less likely to buy this, but we don't, so there.

Jerry came home to work today, and he did so from bed.  He also has a cold or really bad allergies or something.  These sickies need to not get the mama bear sick.  I'm having enough issues with little feet trying to push through my skin and contractions...I do not want a cold... I might cough and a baby may come out...

Okay, I'm going to add a couple of pics to the album and then go to bed.

April 17

This week

I just want to thank my town.  Thank you for not giving me dirty looks for using the handicap stall since that's the only one I can fit into.  Thank you for not commenting on my size and instead asking when I am due.  Thank you for not giving me a hard time since my belly hangs out over my maternity pants and my shirts don't cover all the belly either.  Thank you lady at The Fresh Market who said that she couldn't tell I was pregnant from the back, though I know it was a lie.  Thank you shoppers for not staring too hard at the mom that is hanging on to the buggy to get through a contraction while her toddler sings an unknown song at the top of his lungs.  Thank you mom for helping out with said toddler and allowing him to play at playgroup, while I sit on my butt and eat yummy snacks and talk to my mom friends.  Thank you Jerry for dealing with the toddler boy at night, even though I am the one that is not sleeping and so would be the better parent to get up if need be... I mean I'm on the way to the bathroom anyway right?  Thank you playgroup moms for bringing the perfect mix of yummy fruit and healthy foods and brownies and cookies this morning and for coming over and chatting to me.

I have needed this this week.  I am feeling very pregnant and huge and sad that NOTHING fits.  I have not needed to be reminded that I am indeed the size of a beached whale that needs to pee every five seconds.  I have needed to take a three hour nap.  I have needed to see my friends.  I have needed to pretend to sleep a little bit.

Tomorrow we go for another check...please please please, at least let there be something happening in this area.  I seriously may cry...

To Grace... my birthday is on Sunday.  There is a full moon on Sunday.  And while I am not one to share my birthday well, and I'm not too sure how much I believe the whole full moon thing... I will happily make an exception for you.  You are welcome to make an appearance at anytime.  I promise to call Mary the Midwife and make sure you are born in a warm and safe environment.  Your dad will be there and your Oma will bring your older brother to come and pat you on the head.  I bet your Opa will even jump in the car and drive down immediately.  I promise that you will like it just as much on the outside as you did on the inside... Love, mom.

Here it is folks.  Hopefully the last of the belly pics.  37 weeks and 2 days:

April 19

she's still in there...

Mary the midwife says sooner rather than later.  Grace's head is farther down (though don't know how that is possible as she already feels like she's halfway out!)  i'm still thinning, but not much more dilating.  I need to relax and not stress about this.  Mary says more than likely before May.  I'm going to go on a walk...

April 20

The big 3-2

Wahoo!  It's my birthday!  No Grace yet...hopefully soon.  Jerry and I got to go see Leatherheads (quite good...) and out for a walk and early dinner.  My mom made me a Boston Creme Pie and babysat for us.  Over all a very nice day.  I gotta say that my kiddo has stolen my thunder though.   Over the past few days Elijah has acquired three new skills.  First, he suddenly has gotten the idea of matching pictures to the pieces of a puzzle without help.  Honestly, it went from him being frustrated that things weren't fitting to putting the whole puzzle together by himself!  Second, he can consistently turn flips.  He's been trying for days and would occasionally get over, but now it's consistent and he uses it as a ploy to not brush his teeth and get ready for bed.   But it's really cool, so maybe we aren't as hard on him as we should be to stay on task.  And third he learned to ride his trike all by himself!!!!!  My boy is growing up!

April 23

When you want a hurricane to come through...

It doesn't.  I guess it isn't hurricane season and all... A really strong low pressure front could be helpful.  The moon's force didn't pull this kiddo out.  I am only 38 weeks pregnant and I could feasibly go the full 40.  I guess I am really paranoid about trying to birth a 10 pound baby.  Last weeks estimate was over 8 pounds...

I have been walking a bit more, though it is not comfy.  Every night I am awakened by contractions that are, how id Jerry put it?... oh yeah, more substantial.  I almost don't want Mary to check me on Friday.  Why is it that the last trimester seems the absolute longest.  Everyday, I wake up and think today could be the day.  I try visualizing the birth, relaxing, walking... Each night, I think oh maybe this contraction will lead to another....and it does...2 hours later!

Okay, enough whining.  She will come out soon... she has too!

Elijah is now a master of the trike.  It's really cool to watch him.  Now he'll talk or sing while he's riding.  At first it was just this total look of concentration on his little face.  He almost looked mad.  But he's really good at it now.  I'm a very proud momma!

My mom has been weedwacking and mowing up a storm.  Our yard will look very pretty while she is here!

We went over earlier this week to hang out with Rachel and the kiddos.  Her mom was there and so my mom got to talk to someone closer to her age and practice holding babies.  It was a good visit.  Elijah did have a bit of a meltdown before going because he wanted to ride his trike.  So we threw it in the car and took it with us.  MR and Elijah had the best time playing together outside.  Elijah pulled MR around on the trike, very freakin' cute!  Erin is almost done with his semester in school and finishes his clinical rounds tomorrow.  I know that Rachel will be happy to have him home a little more.   She is so lucky to have her mom live in town!  I feel really lucky to have my mom here now.  There is no way that Elijah would be out on his trike if it was just me.  He's really good about staying in the cul-de-sac.  He knows he can only go down to the stop sign if Oma, Opa, Momma, or Dado is with him and tells you this 23984987 times on the way to the stop sign.  But it's a good lesson and I'm glad he understands it!

I voted yesterday!  We have early voting set up since our primary isn't until May 6th (one of my projected due dates) I figured I had better get in there and do it.  So voting - check!  I am an Obama Momma all the way.  I'm a little perturbed that Hillary won last night actually.  It freaks me out that if she wins, gets elected twice over, then our country will have been run by 2 families for over 30 years.  It's just odd.  On a mom's board I belong too, someone said they wouldn't vote for Obama because they were scared he'd get killed and it would start a whole black versus white thing.  WHAT?!?!?  Anyone could get killed for any number of reasons.  It would be devastating regardless.  It's just odd.  I never thought about murder as a reason to vote or not vote for someone.  I'm more about politics than I am about color, religion, sex, etc.  I want a candidate that shares some of my political beliefs and one that can, HOPEFULLY, bring change to this country.

This has been a lot of little tangents.  Sorry.  Please send laboring thoughts my way.  Hopefully the next blog will be a birth announcement!

April 28

still here...still preggo

i'm hoping this cold front will do something though.  friday i was 3 cm and 60% effaced... i've been having contractions all weekend that have gotten progressively more uncomfortable.  we'll see.  i've given up holding my breath.

so i'm here.  i'm going to go walk the mall after elijah wakes up from nap and hope that'll do something!  send birthing vibes please!