Halloween Parade

Today was the Halloween Parade at Grant's daycare center. I haven't missed one since Brianna started there at the age of 2. I was a little sad that Brianna was no longer there today, I always loved seeing them together. Next year, it will be Grant and Chase!

Here is Superman getting ready to fly! Notice how my excellent photo skills caught him with both feet off the ground! (or it could have been dumb luck!)

















Here Superman is scratching his head wondering where he left his belt and cape. (Well, apparently he left them in the classroom because at 4, the rules say you must refuse to wear at least part of your costume!)




























Here is Superman running away from his kryptonite, the dreaded mommy hug!


















Superman needs a hair cut!

3rd time really is the charm.

When you have your first baby, you are stressed. ALL the time! Stressed about food and diapers and clothes and blankets and bottles and Binky's and sleep and... well... everything really. There is no time to enjoy the baby because you don't know that nothing is wrong, that there is no reason to worry. You don't love the first baby less, you just worry yourself into a state of panic about the little things, and then the big things feel like mountains.

With the second child, you are overwhelmed. It is a real challenge to learn how to accommodate a new human being while still providing all the love and attention that the first child needs. You don't worry quite as much, but probably only because you don't have time to. The adjustment to child number 2 is one of the hardest things you will ever do, and still you love them endlessly.

Child 3 is bliss. You have worked out all of the worry and stress on the first child. You already know how to multi-task thanks to child #2. You've been "there" before and been through everything along this road. Or maybe you hit a rough patch but you know how to get the help you need and still deal. With child 3 you can finally enjoy every minute. Not just the perfect minutes, but all the minutes. You might even enjoy the crying minutes and the smelly minutes and the messy minutes, because you know that you will make it through and this little person will be a blessing in your life for a long time. And that makes you love the ride more than you ever imagined you could.

Or at least that's how it is for me.

Happy Birthday Grant!

The blogger in me missed it, but on Sunday, Grant turned 4!

We had a lovely party the night before, just family and some close friends. On his actual birthday, we pretty much ignored it. I actually just let him believe that his party day was his actual birthday. When your only 4, it's easier that way.

This coming weekend, we have a Chuck E Cheese party for his classmates from school. I think I might be insane to voluntarily put myself in the mouse house BUT- it was cheaper than the bouncy place that every 3rd kid has their party at! AND- I don't have to clean up afterwards!

Pictures to come... maybe... if I get around to it.

Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy.

If you'll pardon my low-tech-ness today... I don't have time to figure out how to post this better...

This was posted on my facebook today by an old friend and it really spoke to me. If you haven't seen it, check it out and tell me what you think. Let me just say, it made me think and I AM happy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

I think when I go back to work, I will share this with my students and see what they think. I'm sure the responses of the 11 and 12 year olds will be priceless!

I dare you not to laugh!

This morning in the grocery store...

Brianna says, "Mommy, I know how to spell tight! T- I- T!"


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Her dad and I just about died!

I must be REALLY crazy

I'm thinking of going back to school... again.

I have a Bachelors in Education. I have a Masters in Administration.
Someday, I might get my doctorate.... but not now.

Now I am thinking of going for a second masters in Technology. Or maybe not a masters... maybe just enough classes to get a teaching certification in tech.

Adam thinks I'm crazy in a nutty/incomprehensible way. I only plan on teaching for another 2-3 years before trying to be an administrator. However- If I have to keep teaching exactly what I teach now- I will go crazy in the loony bin/straight jacket/padded room way.

What better in this day and age to become an expert in than in technology?!?
I'm looking at online classes.... Hmmmm....
What working mom of 3 wouldn't love to go back to writing papers and completing projects?
What kind of crazy do YOU think I am?

Who needs this?

Does a 4 year old need his friends at a birthday party?

We are obviously having all our family and close friends over to celebrate Grant's birthday. We always do, for both kids. That will be a dinner at the house "thing".

He wants a friend party too. I don't remember if Brianna had a friend party at 4... 5- yes, 4- I don't think so. However, Grant has attended birthday parties for about 6 of his friends, and more invites came this week for the upcoming month or so.

• I feel like he will notice, and feel shafted, if he attends birthday parties of friends but doesn't host one.
• Will the friends, or more accurately, parents of friends notice and think I don't like them?
• Is the expense worth it? The last thing the kid needs are cheap toys...
• Where to go? What to do? Is it too late?

Mommy is a bit of a wreck over this. It should be easy but, it's not. I need to decide FAST. If I'm going to do this, I have to get it booked and get the invites out by next Monday. UGH.

Randomness v.1

- My husband got his wallet back, minus the cash, but we had already cancelled the cards. Now we wait for the new cards to arrive. All the hassle, less reason!

- Chase has been sleeping nights in his bouncy seat next to my bed. I need to get him sleeping in a crib but I'm too lazy to walk to him when all he really needs is the paci shoved back in his mouth... Maybe soon.

- Grant is adorable! He is always saying funny things that I just can't believe are coming out of his almost 4 year old mouth. They are less funny by the 50th time he says them.

- Grant really should have a "kid" party for his birthday but I just can't seem to get my s**t pulled together. Maybe more on that another day.

- Brianna is a fashion girl and it's driving me nuts. Only certain items of clothing are good enough, and some of those only get worn once before being deemed not good. I can't even buy clothes with out her, or she won't wear them. She's 6!!! not 16!!!! UGH.

- I am determined to be busy this week! Today I tackled both Target and the grocery store. Tomorrow- I'm thinking projects around the house. Later in the week, topics include shower grout, toilets, and taking outgrown clothes out of closets.

What fun my life is!

An open letter to the man who stole my husbands wallet

Dear Sir,

You SUCK! I can't believe that of all the locked lockers at the health club, you chose my husbands to break into! What were you thinking???? Clearly, you weren't thinking. I mean, who takes a hammer to a gym locker, pulling the door off, in the middle of the day? Did you think this was a smart idea? Why that locker? Why my husband?

What you don't know is that we will get you! Well, the police will, if they haven't already. The club employee who was using the bathroom peeked around the corner and saw you. He recognized you, and gave the police your name. The police know where you live. We are looking forward to seeing you in court! Obviously you are not a bright man.

I suppose I should thank you for not taking his clothes or car keys. Especially the car keys. However, if you had taken the car keys, you might have gotten away with more. Because you left the keys, the club was able to find my husband in the club and alert him immediately to your stupidity. He then was able to alert the police and get things rolling quickly. After calling the police, he called me. I was able to cancel or freeze every credit/debit card before you could do any damage! HA! I hope you enjoyed the $45 cash. I hope jail/prison is worth it for $45!! The club is pressing charges for the damage and the police say the combination of offenses is a felony! HA!!! HA, HA, HA!

Next time watch Law and Order first! You could learn something! Or get the psychiatric help you need. We won't miss you.

Sincerely,
Pissed!

Survey says...

At one month old... Chase is 21 inches long and 9 pounds even. This is a full inch growth in length and 1 lb, 5 oz in weight.

Scarier-- This puts my son firmly in the 50% for weight and height. I have never had a child top the 25%!! Chase is our family giant! We hope we will continue and someday be a whopping- normal! :-)

(If you've met my husband, you'd know that normal height is an excellent achievement for one of our children.)

One Month Old!

Professional photographer, I am not!

Out of the mouth of babes...

At dinner tonight, Adam and I were talking about seasonal allergies.
Grant asked me "Mommy, what are allergies?"
I said, "You know what allergies are."
He replied..."No I don't, I'm only a kid!"

When did my "kid" get so smart???

4 weeks in a blink

It is absolutely unbelievable to me that 4 weeks have passed since Chase was born. It has been the longest and fastest 4 weeks in memory. He is such a wonderful baby and I really feel that our family is so blessed every time I see his beautiful little face. I am beyond even that joy when I see him with the rest of the family... he is so loved.

+ Brianna and Grant can not get enough of him. We've actually had to make rules and limitations on the frequency and placement of all the kisses! They love holding him (with help) and feeding him (with help) and fetching his things (mostly).

+ He sleeps! I've worried about jinxing myself by saying this too much, but I am going to get over it. Chase actually sleeps at night. (Parents of small children- please don't hate me.) He falls asleep after his 10:00ish feeding, and wakes only to eat again as needed. After each subsequent night feeding, he goes right back to sleep mostly. AND- he is not sleeping ON me. He sleeps in his bouncy seat just next to my bed. We hope to switch to sleeping flat soon but...

- He spits up, a LOT. and sometimes with minimum projection force. We are working on this and in the meantime, the kid LIVES in a bib.

- He is a formula baby. (I type this with regret and resignation.) I breastfed my first two children exclusively for some months before introducing bottles and formula. I enjoyed breastfeeding and know that medical science has proven that it is the best nourishment for an infant. (ie- please don't lecture me) However, in the first 3 weeks of his life, I endured 3 bouts of cracked and bleeding nipples. I had to watch my son vomit my blood instead of the food he should have been getting. I tried to heal... I pumped... my supply decreased... I increased pumping... I cracked and bled more. Finally, with much tears and stress and concern, I gave up. Chase is happy on the formula. I feel I did my best.

I love this little man endlessly. It is still amazing to me how much love the human heart can hold.

So much....

I have SOOO much to say about my wonderful new son and how much he has already enriched our lives.... except that every time I sit at the computer I am holding a sleeping baby and typing one handed... including now.

I will try and get back to y'all when I have 2 hands!
In the meantime...

Fair of Face

Hi all, this is Jo's sister Jamie with an important message from our family.

Baby Chase was born a little early this morning - around 3am, mere hours prior to his scheduled c-section date. This makes him, officially, the only person in our line of the family currently running early for ANYTHING. 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and 20 inches long. Mom is out of recovery and doing well. We are, of course, very excited.

Just wanted to let you know, per the request of Jo. I'm not sure when she'll get her hands on a computer, but I'm sure details will be posted here just as soon as she does. Happy Monday, everyone!

WHAT a day!

*My day started around midnight.... heartburn yet again! No big news there.
*Around 1:30, I began vomiting profusely. (Do you know what sucks most about that? When your a grown up- you have to clean up after yourself, there is no magic mommy to help!)
*Around 2:00, I began having contractions every 8 minutes or so. This actually sort of thrilled me but they didn't seem to getting any stronger.
*By 4:00, I was worried and called the doctor. He agreed that we should head to the hospital to be checked out.
-- after that things get a bit blurry for a while--
*By 6:00 it had been determined that I was not in labor, I was dehydrated and have the flu.
I'M DAYS AWAY FROM MY DUE DATE AND NOW I CATCH THE FLU!!!???!!!

The rest of the day was spent with IV fluids, sleeping at home in bed, and a big decision.

This baby is probably big... He might even be stuck already... We will have a cesarean section on Monday morning. I can't say I'm happy about that, but I'm not unhappy either. I'm understandably concerned about the whole major surgery aspect and the recovery, etc. I am sort of thrilled to know that the end is in sight.... not some generic end where you wait around for mother nature to flip a switch.... a real end. The end to the heartburn and back pain and cramping and puffiness. And back on the other hand, this is my last pregnancy, I never imagined that it would end this way. At least I have lots of time this weekend to hang out in bed and relax. Never let it be said I can't find the bright side!

No News

I worked myself up so much last night that I didn't fall asleep for a long time thinking about if I was going into labor or not! Here I am... 24 hours later... no baby, no labor, no progress.

I think I may have entered a phase where I just want it so bad, I'm willing to believe any twinge that supports my wishes. Tonight again, I just feel sore and icky and hopeful all at the same time. I won't keep myself up worrying about it though.

I actually have a VERY busy day tomorrow that I would like to make it through without labor. HA! Like I have a choice... we shall see...

Knock on wood?

I hope I don't jinx things but I am feeling very good about tonight being a labor kind of night...
(Jamie- don't tell mom!)

I am feeling very uncomfortable with lots of .... I don't know what to call them.... sort-of, almost, contractions? I'm ready!

I will probably log in tomorrow with no progress made... that's ok though. The 3 of you who read this will forgive me right?

I did it!

I finished the book! It got a little better as I got further in but overall- very forgettable.

I just couldn't let myself start another one 'till that one was done. I had a lot of quiet time this weekend and reading was my activity of choice. Even a not-so-great book was better than nothing!

What say you?

I started a book... nothing important, I picked it out randomly at the library just because it had the little green "Mystery" sticker on the spine. I'm in chapter 4 now but it is going really slow. I am considering just not finishing it. I have to return it to the library on Monday.

When you start a book, do you have to finish it?
(A literal book, not the figurative kind!)

When you get everything you wanted...

When you were a child, what did you want?
More toys? Be a ballerina? All the candy you can eat?
As you grew, how did it change?

I always wanted to be.... a mom of 3, a wife to a great man, a teacher, successful, have a house, enough money to not worry, have friends to rely on, freedom and love.

What do you do when you have everything you want? Is it what you always thought it would be?

As we wait for baby number 3 to make his debut, I find myself questioning my life a bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sorry or regretful for a single thing, BUT- what is next? and why am I not content with my own dream come true?

Life- Confirmed!

On Thursday and Friday of this week, I attended a conference to help improve a newish initiative my school took on. I attended the same conference last year, and have been to several other training's on the program. I think, because I've heard so much of it before, the conference was not only boring but only marginally helpful.

HOWEVER- Returning to a "normal" work type schedule was lovely! I can't believe I'm saying it but I genuinely enjoyed getting up and looking nice for the day... talking to adults about engaging topics... learning new ideas and challenging my mind. Most of all, I enjoyed coming home to the best family on earth.

BUT- I enjoyed coming home to them because I'd been away. I loved hearing about their days and snuggling on the couch. I needed to be AWAY so that I could enjoy them more in the time we had.

THEREFORE- I am destined to be a working mom. Even if you gave me a couple million dollars (anyone, anyone?) I would still work for a living. I am a better mom because I go away during the day. If I stayed home all day everyday, I would only disappoint myself and grow frustrated. I am not the crafty, activity, field trip mom. I learned that definitively this summer.

I hope someday my children make their own choices about which life style is better for them. If Brianna, or Grant for that matter, want to stay at home with their children I will fully understand and support them in that choice. I only hope they will understand my choice as well.

I'm not sure I was right...

I have a standing policy to NEVER turn down a night out! I don't get that many opportunities and constantly wish I did, so when a friend asks if I can go out, I go. I don't care what the plan is- I'm there if at all possible.

In about an hour I need to be a couple of towns over to meet up with the ladies for dinner and a movie. Dinner, a necessity... Julie & Julia, not my choice but looks interesting. Going out- not really caring!

After sitting at the conference the last 2 days- I missed my kids and being at home. I'd like a quiet night at home in my sweatpants to reconnect with them and my hubby. However- it's girls night out tonight.

Oh Well, of course I'll make the best of it. Or at least the best I can do without liquor!

Modesty is over-rated

I don't mind tooting my own horn! I've been SO good about posting this week!

However- today I spent my ENTIRE day driving to, attending, and driving home from the world's most boring conference. And GUESS WHAT???? I get to do it all again tomorrow!

Why do I volunteer for this crap? Oh I know... I'm a wonderful person who is willing to go the extra mile when no one else will do it! Just ask me!

A day of torture and bliss!

After many, many days with the rambunctious children at home and mommy getting frustrated that they just can't seem to entertain themselves, the kids went to camp today! (Bliss).

The first item on my agenda for the day was a 3 hour glucose tolerance test. This is a more advanced test they give to preggo ladies if they fear you are showing signs of gestational diabetes.
- First you have to fast for 12 hours (torture)
- Then you have to have blood drawn (torture)
- Then you have to drink this VERY sugary drink, something similar to flat Sprite with extra sugar added to make your teeth ache. (torture)
- Then you can have nothing but water for the next 3 hours while you sit around the hospital. (torture)
- During that time they make you pee in a cup AND take blood every hour. (torture)

After the Oh-SO-FUN glucose test, I drove myself straight to my favorite restaurant for a lunch that was way to expensive for a normal day, alone. But after not eating a single thing for over 16 hours now, I figured I deserved something special, not drive-thru crap! (Bliss)

I followed that up by one of the best massages I've ever had. (BLISS!) If you ever go in for a pregnancy or maternity massage, you have to call around and find someplace that has the special pregnant/belly cushions. It is this great series of cushions they put on top of the normal massage table and it has a lovely cut-out/dent for the big-ole belly! It was the first time I've laid on my front in probably 5-6 months and even without the wonderful massage, I could have just laid there and enjoyed the weightlessness of the belly for the whole hour! Baby liked it too, he was kicking up a storm!

The moral of the story is... Who cares? I am relaxed...

Since turning 6 years old...

Brianna has perfected the following skills:
- teenage attitude
- yelling at her mother
- stomping off to her room to pout
- flipping out over "nothing"
- being stubborn
- doing things before asking if she can

She has taught herself these new skills and is working on perfecting them too... as long as she can do EVERYTHING by herself:
- Getting breakfast
- Pouring drinks (milk and juice, not THAT kind of drink people)
- using a chair to get down dishes she needs
- cooking anything that can be cooked in a toaster
- using the interactive cable guide to select shows on the TV (and turn to them herself)
- getting dressed, usually in clothes far to dressy for the day's activities


Mommy is FRUSTRATED!!!! Growing children are tough! especially without the aid of liquor!

Tender Topics

One of our favorite restaurants, the kind we go to AT LEAST once a week, is over the highway and past a very large cemetery. Sometime last spring, the focus of conversation in the car stopped being all the cars racing under the bridge and became the dead people sleeping in the cemetery. (These are the kids words, not mine.)

I have tried and can't pinpoint when or why this transformation happened... no one we know has passed, not even a pet. It just suddenly seems that we can't drive past this, or any significantly sized cemetery, without one of my children commenting about the dead people. That's what they call them... the dead people.

It wouldn't be such a big deal if we just were able to comment quickly and move past it. Each and every time is followed by a few questions about the people resting there. "Why are they dead? Who put them there? Why do we bury dead people? What will happen when we die? Where will the bodies go?" And so on....

Brianna handles all this well, she is able to conceptualize things without seeing them so seems to understand more and isn't scared by it. Grant on the other hand often ends the questioning session with a question or two vocalized in a shaky, fearful voice. "What will happen to me when you die Mommy?" was the one I had to face yesterday. Can you hear my heart breaking?

I think I put him off a bit by telling him that Mommy wouldn't die for a very (x30) long time. (Grant likes it when we repeat one word over and over to stress something.... it's a phase.) Then we played the "I love you more" game and he was on to a new topic.

One of these days I won't be able to distract him. The thought brings tears to my eyes.

This is normal...

This summer, our plan was to get all these big projects done.
- Redecorate guest room (floor to ceiling) and move Brianna into that room.
- Redecorate Brianna's old room for new baby.
- Sort through a dozen (more really) bins of clothes to get rid of girl stuff we won't need and get boy stuff ready for new baby.
- FIND all the baby stuff I know we've kept, and need, but didn't label well in the many, many bins.
- find time to have fun with kids and not just be TV/auto pilot parents.

I can say we've done really well on the first two and I LOVE the kids rooms!
I'm still working on the many bins but still have quite a bit to do.

The one thing I am getting increasingly disappointed with myself is the last one. My kids are watching far too much TV and not getting out to do enough fun stuff. We've done a couple fun things, and Adam is pretty good about finding ways to entertain them outside or in the basement, but we don't GO anywhere or DO anything. Movies, the Zoo, Splash Parks, the Pool, that kind of thing, the stuff we NEVER do during the school year, it should be the stuff summer memories are made of... and we suck at it!

Sure there are excuses aplenty.... pregnant, tired, projects, cost, etc. Bull****! I need to do better at this! I'm going to work on it!... just not today. :-)

Pet Peeve!!!

Don't make plans with your friends on facebook wall! UGH!

Several of my work friends keep making plans to go out or have mommy playdates at the pool. They do this by posting openly on each other's "wall". Is it too sensitive if I feel excluded when 2 people I know, and am friends with, have plans and I see they didn't think to invite me? AND no- they don't know each other better, or for longer, or in other friendship ways...

Lost... Reward offered!

LOST- Mommy's patience! Resembles the ability to deal with 2 children and/or husband without yelling, getting frustrated, and holding head in hands. Was last seen at home but may have run away due to advanced state of pregnancy.

REWARD- Advice leading to even partial return of maternal patience will be rewarded with hugs, heartfelt thanks, and possibly tears. (Do not fear the tears, they come whether we want them or not.)

TIMELINE- Family would like to see Patience returned home prior to birth of baby (about 5 weeks from now). If Patience is still lost then, we fear it will never return willingly! HELP!

Productivity is overrated!

This week was VERY productive around our house.

Monday we primed "The barn room" with 2 coats of low-odor primer. We could still see some of the darker details through the primer but we hope a colored paint will take care of that. While Adam and I did that, the kids watched a movie and/or sat in the doorway watching us work. (This was their choice, not ours!)

Tuesday we were exhausted and shopped instead of worked. We bought the paint for the walls and ceiling. We also bought 2 clearance mattresses so we will have a functional guest room and Grant will get a real mattress instead of the crib mattress in his toddler bed.

Wednesday my parents came to help us! I LOVE my parents and they are great helpers. We rented a truck and moved a full room's worth of furniture into mom and dad's basement. We had planned to paint more after that but underestimated the energy and time it would take.

Thursday mom and dad came back to help again because they felt bad that they couldn't help more on Wednesday. Mom, Dad- we love you! You are allowed to feel tired! Anyway- they came back. Dad and Adam painted the ceiling and then walls of the Barn room, now to be known as the green room or Brianna's room. Mom and I cleaned out my large closet. This will be the temporary home of bb2b when he comes in August. (Our room is not quite big enough to host the pack-n-play but the closet has more than enough space.) The closet transformation is almost as drastic as the newly painted room. I don't have pictures of that, but it was BAD before.

Today is Friday. I hoped to do nothing all day but that is never a reality. We have plans to grocery shop. Adam and Brianna might finish some painting trim in her new room. We will pick up the mattresses we bought and maybe get them put on the beds.

I can't believe all we did this week. And for the record- the kids are NEVER allowed to change their minds about which rooms they want or what color it should be. Or they better save up the money to hire someone to paint! I am EXHAUSTED.

Next week- prime and paint bb2b's room, formerly known as Brianna's room. It's bright pink!

Where does the time go?

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted! Actually, that's not true. I totally believe it, I am on the computer everyday but since I don't need to escape from work, I don't think about updating my blog. Just look at every summer since I've started this turkey! Very, VERY few entries. Oh well...

Here is an update.

I have been sleeping late and napping a lot! This is good because baby-boy-to-be (bb2b) does not let me sleep much at night. What with the heartburn, crazy dreams, itchy skin, and sore belly, who can sleep? Other than that, I am feeling fine. bb2b is still full breech, his head is up under my ribs and his adorable little tush is down. We hope he will turn in the next 4-6 weeks but my Dr is taking a "better safe than sorry" route. We have a c-section scheduled for a couple days before my due date if he stays turned around. I am nervous, scared, apprehensive about the C but am trying to look on the bright side- no middle of the night rush to the hospital in pain! 8 weeks to go...

We took the kiddo's to Key Lime Cove. What a fabulous 24 hours! We stayed in a lovely room, swam as much as mommy and daddy could handle, ate decent food, it was great! Thanks mom and dad for the gift certificate, we love you! This is part of my master summer plan where we will do one special event each week, a field trip or mini-trip of sorts. We did it one week and not the next. Week 3 is TBD.

Brianna had a lovely 6th birthday. She started the night before with a sleepover with cousin Hannah and a visit to Chuck-E-Cheese. She had a blast on her sleep over and reportedly only got a little homesick at bedtime. (Mommy missed her a lot and even though I got a lot of cleaning and prep work done with her gone, I don't think I ever want to miss a minute of her birthday again!) Later on her birthday we arranged a gymnastics party for her and 14 of her little friends at the local gym. She LOVED that! Afterwards we had our family and closest friends back to the house for dinner from Moe's. Moe's is Brianna's favorite restaurant and is on the family's top 10 list. I highly recommend their catering!

Both kids are taking gymnastics on Mondays and swimming lessons on Tuesdays. They go to "camp" twice a week so mommy and daddy can get stuff done. We are ready to prime and paint "the barn room" so Brianna can move in there. Then we will prime and paint Brianna's pink room into something more appropriate for bb2b.

Be prepared for cop-out photo entries of all this for a while!

School's...out... for... summer!

AH! Finally I have made it to the end of the year. To the end of the craziness. To June 11!

Summer finally beckons full of painting the house, gymnastics and swimming lessons, naps, family day's, and maybe more naps. :-) The end of the summer will be marked by our last addition to the family. I couldn't be more excited for the next 10 weeks.

Now if only the weather would cooperate...

Holy Cow! Look at the time!

I just spent the better part of 2 hours reading my own blog archives!

I started looking at spring and summer of 2005 to see if I'd written down anything about my pregnancy with Grant. That would have been about the stage I'm at now and I wanted to compare.

I kept reading...
Every Post...
though spring of 2008.

At that point, I actually remembered the things that happened and they weren't as funny anymore. I should have been working... oh well.
I LOVED my trip down memory lane!

I'm sliding in... covered in chocolate... someday.

Have you heard the one about how you should go to your grave by sliding in sideways, covered in chocolate and wine instead of being perfectly preserved? That is what I want.

Mindy over at Mama Drama says it another way:

"No special care for any specific part of myself. My body is a temple and like most ancient ruins, it could use a little restoration, but it has historical value if nothing else.

As for my house....that's a wreck too."

Amen Min... Amen!

It sings to me!

It is common to find that a particular song brings you back to a time or place in your life. I find that this is never more true for me than with each of my pregnancies. Pregnancy is such a time of confusion, amazement, concern, joy...of every high and low... that music and stories reach out and grab those hormones by the horns and just don't let go.

With Brianna, it was "In My Daughters Eyes" by Martina McBride.

With Grant it was "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" by The Dixie Chicks.

With Baby #3, I can't get enough of "It won't be like this for long" by Darius Rucker.

I guess I'm a mellow mama! You should see the whole i-pod playlist, I've titled it, For my kids.

Countdowns

30 days until my "baby" turns 6!!!!
14 more days to arrive at school
10 more actually "teaching"
8 days until we've been married 10 years
3 days until my 3rd Trimester

um... HOLY COW!!! and I wasn't really thinking cow...

The Last First Time

Today, someone rubbed my belly.

It is the first time for this pregnancy. I didn't find it overly upsetting like I used to because, even though I am not friends with the woman, it is the last, first belly pat I will ever get.

I'm not sure I'm making any sense.
The whole thing makes me a little sad. And Happy.

About Time!!!

Today we have been home from our wonderful Florida vacation for 6 weeks. And rather than tell you all about my life, or Brianna, or Grant, or the as-yet-nameless baby's life, I will post pictures!

Kids in line at Disney World:
Kids after Disney World:

Kids at Gatorland:

Kids at the beach:

Where am I? I am on a cruise enjoying being seasick and very, very, full (alternately!).

Lovies!

I won't bore you with all the excuses why I haven't posted in forever.
Here are some OLD pictures that show why I am SO excited to bring a new baby into my loving family.

And we're off!

We are 90-95% packed! In the morning after we get ready for school we will add all the daily necessities... make-up, shampoo, blankies... and we will be all set.

Adam and I get off work at around 1:30 on Friday.
We will rush home, pack car. Triple check house.
Pick up kids at school between 2 and 2:30.
Drive 90 minutes to Rockford.
Wait in Dinky airport with nothing for kids to do but has free parking for mom and dad.

At 5:35 CST we will be in the air, Orlando bound!

What made me decide to do this all in one day?
1. I am insane and not at all realistic sometimes.
2. It saved us over $60 per person to fly on Friday vs. Saturday.
3. Who wants to wait for vacation?

See you later alligator!

(singing off key)

Memories.... light the corners of my mind.... misty, watercolor memories... of the way, we were....

Today at lunch, we somehow started talking about proposals. One of my co-workers had this amazing proposal, something any girl would love! Her husband was waiting for her in her classroom when she arrived one Friday morning (she's a teacher). He said, you have a substitute on the way, write up your plans and lets go! They spent a romantic day, and night, at the beach and a nice hotel where they got engaged. The next night, they were supposed to have dinner with friends but he had another surprise-- an engagement party for all their family and friends.

What a great proposal!!!!!

And then in my wanderings today, I clicked upon this. I hope that woman loved her proposal too!

So I started thinking about my own proposal- the only one I ever plan on getting- and how I ruined it for myself!....

Adam and I designed my ring. I really loved this process and sure it took some of the surprise out but, I picked my own ring and love it as much today as I did over 10 years ago! WELL... on the day the ring was set to be finished, Adam was supposed to pick me up and we were going to go get the ring together. But when he arrived at my house, he told me he'd forgotten his checkbook at home, 45 MINUTES AWAY! I thought we would have to drive all the way to his house and then back again before getting my ring! SO- I started looking around his car for the checkbook. Adam is a notorious joker and I was sure he had the checkbook but wanted to joke around for some reason. I checked under the seat, I checked the glove compartment, I was turning around to check the backseat when he stopped me. He reached in the center console (which I had forgotten he had and I never would have checked there) and he pulled out a little white jewelery box. Right there, at the stop light at Book Road and Route 75, we got engaged. In his car. And we went to Subway for lunch afterward (also the site of our first date so slightly more romantic than it sounds).

Who knows what his proposal would have been, could have been, should have been.
But I still have a good story to tell!

stalling

I totally have work I should be doing....

• grading
• planning
• cleaning

I don't want to!

I've been sitting here reading back through old posts on this blog and thinking about all the things I'd forgotten. I mean, I remember the basics but when I go back and read the details... Shew! Especially Grant's first year! And I think about this little baby I'm growing and what it's first year might be like and WHY did I actively fight to have another one?

Then I think about my kids now... and how Grant tells me he loves me at least 10 times per day. And how Brianna is learning to read and wants to know everything about everything. They are so amazing, and wonderful, and loving, and perfect. And how can I not want more of that?

I like to take silly quizes!

This is what I do when I'm supposed to be working! Your IQ Is 115

Your Logical Intelligence is Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Exceptional Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Exceptional

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

You Are Apple Juice

You're very likable and quite popular. It's hard not to find something to love about you. You are playful and fun. You try to bring levity to situations. While you are entertaining, you're not very hyper or mischievous. You are laid back, low key, and even a bit sensitive.

What Kind of Juice Are You?

Things I am happy about...

• I wasn't queasy or nauseous this morning.
• Grant and I are both feeling better and back at work/school.
• 4 more wake-ups till Florida!
• Brianna seems to have missed the flu boat even though we keep forgetting to give her the medicine the Dr gave us to prevent the flu.
• Adam seems to have missed the flu boat too.
• I'm not superstitious.
• One week from today I will be getting on a cruise ship with my hubby.
• I bought ice cream and chocolate syrup... yum...
• The project I LOATHE at work will be done tomorrow at 8:00pm!!!!

IT'S A GOOD WEEK!!!!!

Time goes by so fast...

Last week I had the flu. I missed 3 1/2 days of work, slept 16-18 hours a day, and had no appetite.
This week, Grant has the flu. He's missed 3 days of school, lays around all day, and has no appetite.

It's one thing to be the sick one. I can force myself to eat for the baby's sake. I can make myself sleep. No one misses me at work and quite frankly, I enjoyed the break.

I HATE that my little guy is sick. I HATE that my independent 3 year old has been reduced to wanting to be held and carried everywhere he goes and asking for help with simple tasks. I HATE that he doesn't understand why he can't go play with his friends and color and draw and have fun all day. If I could take his sick away and put it on myself again I would do it in a heartbeat.

I LOVE my parents. They are both retired and my mom stayed home with Grant on Monday. Both my parents are there today so he can stay home and I don't have to miss any more work. They are the most amazing people. Someday I hope I can do that for my grandchildren!

Good Grief!

1. We had a girls name all settled and now Adam isn't sure anymore. He wants a name that's foolproof to pronounce, but doesn't like/want any "classic" names. BABE- You can't have your cake and eat it too!

2. I have PILES of work that need to get graded and another pile is coming tomorrow. Can I make myself work... No. I sit during all my work time and look for cute cruise wear on e-bay or read silly blogs. I will be super frustrated soon and melt down but still, no working today.

3. Had a lovely weekend staying home, out of the rain, and reading a good book. Now I'm just an hour or so from the end and all I want to do is read it. I stayed up way to late last night reading and made myself sick this morning.

UGH!

HLOL!

Jenny: We use those child safety plugs all over the house to keep Hailey from jamming a fork in an electical socket but I don't really see the use in butt plugs. You think Hailey's going to jam a fork in her teacher's butthole? God, they freaked out when she just bit another kid in her class. Imagine the parent-teacher conference that I'd get if she stuck a fork in her teacher's butthole.

I have GOT to stop reading blogs while my kids (students) are working silently. The muffled laughter and tears coming from the teacher are SO distracting!

Sick of being Sick!

(My apologies if I've already used that title somewhere.)

I am 15, almost 16 weeks pregnant. That is 2-3 weeks into my second trimester; almost 4 months pregnant! I should NOT be sick anymore!

When the "morning"sickness started in late Dec. I was about 6 weeks. At that time, it was actually reassuring to be feeling sick. It meant that all the hormones were working and that little bub was growing! Throughout Jan. I was nauseous all day, everyday. By February, I got through it by chanting the number of days left till the end of my first trimester. When 13 weeks rolled around (last week of Trimester 1), I was overjoyed to feel the nausea lessening. I thought it would only be a matter of days till it was gone all together!

Here I am 14 days later, and I am still sick every morning and most evenings. I even have the joy of random puking! I am no longer reassured or willing to "grin and bear it"!

In related news, that might mean it's a boy. I was far more sick with Grant than I was with Brianna. It would figure... we had a boys name all picked out but now we aren't sure. We ARE sure about a girls name- we're just not sharing yet.

Blogs I adore!

This made me cry today. I treasure my children and my career and I feel so lucky everyday. I hurt knowing that others are sad and concerned. I wish I could help in some way!

This made me laugh out loud. Snarking is a great anecdote to sadness!

2nd Trimester

I am finally in my second trimester of pregnancy... officially. This means I am 14 weeks pregnant today. I am feeling somewhat better, the all-day/morning sickness is going away and I am not quite as tired as I used to be. I do still have my moments of both but it doesn't encompass my whole life anymore.

Now I have to wait for new things....
- Thursday I should be able to hear the heartbeat for the first time
- Within a couple weeks I should be able to feel the baby moving
- A couple weeks after that, other people who are crazy enough to touch my belly will be able to feel the movement
- in 6 weeks, we find out the gender and get ultrasound pictures!

I will have to see what my Dr. says at my check up this week but I'm pretty sure I've lost about 8-10 pounds in my first trimester. Given my overweight starting point, this is a good thing. It does not mean anything is wrong with the baby... keep your crazy comments on that one to yourself!

Happy Monday!

Old News...

If you are my real life friend, or found me through my facebook link, you probably already know but...

I'M PREGNANT WITH BABY NUMBER 3!!!!

I've never been good at secrets but I've waited and waited. I am now 13 weeks pregnant, the end of the first trimester. I've started feeling like a functioning human being again and to prove it, today I actually got a project done that I started before beginning morning sickness. I cleaned my room and reorganized part of my closet.

My other kids are thrilled about the news. Brianna has known since around New Years... Grant just found out last week but immediately began telling everyone he knows. Neither of them really understands how, why, or what will come next but they know that they will have a little brother or sister at the end of the summer.

My due date is Aug. 24. Not the best timing for a teacher...
Actually, that day is the first institute day for next school year. I will get to be hot and uncomfortable all summer and then miss 3 months of work with the newborn. If things had worked out more quickly, I was hoping for a May birthday. Clearly, my body had other plans. No regrets though! Better late than never!

I've added a link in my sidebar if you want to read more about what led up to today. That page is called, A Diary of TTC. However, since I can barely update one blog, let alone two, I will probably post everything here from now on. I will try and refrain from TMI.

SOOOOO glad to be out with the news! 6 months and counting... here we go!

Funny, Silly, Girl

Brianna has such a personality! Sometimes it bugs me and sometimes I have to hide the laughter behind a well timed cough...

Yesterday, she informed me that she had "The Cold". I said, yeah, mommy has a cold too. She replied with... "Mommy, I have the whole cold, you can't have any."

This morning, she was eating breakfast and drinking a glass of milk, a normal day. I heard her sigh, "Ah, this is my kind of milk!". (And she's right, we do keep 2 types of milk on hand. We call the soy milk "Grant's milk" and the skim milk "Brianna's milk".) It did sound a bit like a woman with her first glass of wine after a busy day.

I love that little preteen wannabe!

too busy to write

In the last 2 weeks, since posting...

Student teacher started working with me.
Trying to train her and do my job.
Wrote proposal for a "new job" within my school.
Quarter ended with subsequent piles and piles of grading.
Flag team practice just about every day with one 14 hour competition.
Lost competition but will learn from the experience.
Kids are fine, growing, changing, playing, etc.
Adam hurt his neck and now goes to Chiropractor 3x a week.

Is that all I did.... feels like so much more!

Will I ever get my work done?

I am about a week (or slightly more) behind in my grading. It's embarrassing, REALLY!

I can't get ANY work done at home with the kids around and wanting attention of all things.
I can't get any work done on my "plan time" with all the socializing to be done and stupid emails to be forwarded.

Available time at work is spent working on self-induced projects that have nothing to do with my students, planning flag routines and contests, cleaning my classroom in some vain attempt to convince myself that if my classroom were cleaner I might get more work done in it.

I keep hoping things will get better but I don't know how! Tomorrow, things get even busier for a while. Tomorrow, I begin working with a student teacher.... I'd like to start by saying it's an honor to even be chosen... Thank you to my fellow nominees, to my coworkers, and to of course my family... I couldn't do it with out you!

In all seriousness- I am very excited by this but it will change everything and while that seemed great a couple months ago when they asked me- now, I'm not so sure this is the best time. I won't regret it but I will be further behind (if that's possible) for the next few weeks. UGH!

E-mailtainment

This morning I forwarded a silly email to some friends. In less than 2 hours, 2 of my people responded one of which was Jamie. Jamie's friends then copied me on all their responses... still in that same 2 hours. It was a series of about 10 emails.

I just want to tell everyone I REALLY appreciate the e-mailtainment! My students are watching a movie I've seen about 100 times and I am procrastinating on SO much work! You guys are the best! Love it!

Back to School

There is something about being a teacher in which you never really grow up.

Remember when you were a kid and you had this sense of melancholy about returning to school after a break? On one hand you want to see your friends and socialize, on the other hand you don't want to actually have to pay attention and get up early.

It's the same for the teachers!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Thank you to my children for the WONDERFUL handmade cards, to my dear, wonderful, husband for the generous spa gift card and very sweet card, and to all my family and friends who have called or emailed with nice birthday wishes!

I got everything I wanted!

Feedback Please

A group of coworkers all agree that they want to do something together, say, sponsor a needy family or two. Then, one person becomes the point person. That one person is always the point person, but has made a point of asking for more help on previous projects. This project, she doesn't ask for help specifically, but hints at needing it. She gets marginal assistance, more than usual, so clearly the coworkers got the hint. She ends up taking care of every detail and planning point her damn self! No one even checks to see if it's getting done. They just don't ever think about it, or let her know they've thought about it.

Can she be mad?

If you scream at a tree in the woods, will it fall down on your least favorite coworker?

What a day

Today, I have to attend a wake. I didn't ever meet the deceased, but I teach her son.

This week, 3 children ages 12, 7, and 1 lost a mother to cancer.

Tonight I will go home and hug my children until they scream and run away from me, just because I can.

Today, I strongly dislike my...

1. Job
2. Co-workers
3. Location
4. Sinuses
5. Pants
6. Boss

Brianna won't let me say hate because it's a "bad word". Which I suppose is something I taught her... because it's something my grandma taught me.

I am trying to find joy in...

1. The holiday season
2. My loving family
3. My work schedule
4. I am alive to be mad and feel pain.

Please enjoy the music while your party is reached...

There's no music, just a lack of "party" aka- Me- to be reached.

What if that silly cell phone music just played forever?

Flack Gobbler Palin

A blog I read, sent me to This, and I found out that if I were Sarah Palin's daughter, Flack would be my name!

Adam would be Ammo Canal Palin.
Brianna would be Crop Shooner Palin.
Grant would be Tape Boise Palin.

I thought it was pretty funny.
What is your "Palin Name"?

I'm not so sure...

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Doris!

You are a Doris -- "I must help others."

Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.


• * Share fun times with me.


• * Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.


• * Let me know that I am important and special to you.


• * Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.

In Intimate Relationships

• * Reassure me that I am interesting to you.


• * Reassure me often that you love me.


• * Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.

What I Like About Being a Doris

• * being able to relate easily to people and to make friends


• * knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better


• * being generous, caring, and warm


• * being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings


• * being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor

What's Hard About Being a Doris

• * not being able to say no


• * having low self-esteem


• * feeling drained from overdoing for others


• * not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish


• * criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should


• * being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tume in to them


• * working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings

Dorises as Children Often

• * are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism


• * try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding


• * are outwardly compliant


• * are popular or try to be popular with other children


• * act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention


• * are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Dorises), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Dorises)

Dorises as Parents

• * are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)


• * are often playful with their children


• * wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"


• * can become fiercely protective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Things families shouldn't share

But don't have a choice.... GERMS!

Brianna was sick...
Then I was sick...
Now Grant is sick...

But he is so cute with his hoarse little voice. He still doesn't stop talking, he just sounds cuter somehow.

Heaven forbid Adam get sick! He's the biggest baby of us all!

So, I am at work

And Brianna is at school... for now. Although she made it through the night with no problems, and was more or less herself this morning, I am waiting with one ear for a phone call to come pick her up.

SO- I do nothing at work! Except this:

1. YOUR REAL NAME: (Edited out)
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle) johizzle
3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color and favorite animal) red dog
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (your middle name and street you live on/or neighborhood if it's a number) Kate Summerfields (I like that!!!)
5. Star WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name) Oshjo
6. YOUR SUPERHERO/CRIMINAL NAME: (Your 2nd favorite color and favorite drink) blue diet coke
7. IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, 1st letter of your last name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of your dads name, 1st letter of siblings first name, and last letter of your moms first name). ohooije
8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (parents middle names) Kay Charles (like that too!)
9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets). Black Gretel
10. Your hood name: (first 3 of your first name and add -iqua) johiqua

Can you hear my heart cracking?

My baby, Brianna, is sick. :-(

I received a call from the day care today that she was complaining of a stomach ache and was teary eyed. When I picked her up, she still said she had a stomach ache and was just listless. No fever, but no appetite or energy either.

By dinner time, puke city. Now she is sleeping on a blanket, piled on a couple towels, on her bed which is now cleared of all the usual stuffed paraphernalia that normally graces every free space. We are hoping for a good night but planning for the worst.

It's times like these that my heart just breaks a little. I can't to anything to help her, she doesn't understand why. Baby- I love you and hope you wake up feeling better! Love, Hugs, and Prayers are all I can offer right now. Someday you'll be a mommy Bri- then you'll understand.

Funny!

Today, Adam and I were speculating on what Grant would be when he grew up, so I asked him...

ME: "Grant, what do you want to be when you grow up?'
GRANT: "Tall enough to reach the Cocoa Krispies!"

What to say?

Not much...

Halloween went well, spread over virtually the whole week so, we have candy EVERYWHERE!

Kids are good. They play nice, they fight, they gang up on us, they love us dearly.

House is good. Went to HOBO today. Bought a decent rug so no one is playing "tackle" on the hardwood in the family room. $50 for a 8x6 rug... pretty good really! That place is a little like a garage sale, or Marshalls, or something. Odd items, for clearance prices. Works though...

Work is still crazy, but not the "earth shattering, who has time to breathe" kind of crazy we were experiencing a week ago. Looking forward to 4 day week this week (Tuesday off for Veterans Day).

TOTALLY enjoying that we have absolutely ZERO commitments this weekend and next... not a single thing on the calendar!

I think that is all for now....

Happy Friday

Today- I am working from home! This is my fancy way of saying I called in sick so I could stay home, run errands, grade papers, and clean up.

The house is a disaster but I've never been so happy to see it a mess! Yesterday we had hardwood floors installed and they are beautiful! Dusty, but Beautiful! Well- actually- EVERYTHING is dusty! If you've never seen this done, they actually cut the wood to size on site, which means IN THE HOUSE, which means- sawdust, lots of it! They did what they could to clean it up but it gets in the house and settles over the next day or so. Which means that now- about 18 hours after completion- there is dust on every surface on the first floor of my house.

SO happy though!
:-)

Another successful birthday

Yesterday we had Grant's Birthday Party. It went very well! The family was all there, the food was delicious (Thanks Moe's!), and he loved his presents!

I was so funny to see him exclaim over each new gift. Even a bag of new clothes was met with genuine excitement and the comment, "Look, New Clothes, Wow!" I hope at 13 he accepts gifts as well as he does at 3!

I love my little boy to pieces! And this week, when he drives me crazy, I will try and remember how cool he was on his birthday.

Temper, Temper!

My children have each had a temper tantrum each of the past 3 mornings.
Over things like using the potty and how many donuts are to be eaten.
While getting ready for school.
When we are already late.
Because mommy can't find anything to wear.
And daddy is rushing her.
Because, oh yes, it would be such a good idea to drive together and drop off the kids together and work together and have to leave work at the same time together and spend time at home together.

I love my children, I love my husband, I need a drink!

Have I mentioned yet...

We are working on potty training Grant.

His teachers have been bugging me since August to just put him in underwear. WELL- since I'm the one who has to do all the laundry, I held off. Finally last week, with his 3rd birthday around the corner, I gave in and sent lots of underwear and dry pants to school.

Everyday I pick up Grant, and his zipper bag full of wet underwear.
Except for yesterday! GRANT HAD A DRY DAY! I've never felt so happy to see a cubby with no zipper baggie!

Yeah Baby! You go boy!
Let's keep it up!

Thought this was funny...

This has always been one of my favorite songs from the 80's and thanks to Jenny finding this on YouTube.... Too funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HE9OQ4FnkQ

Cutie Pie!

Grant's language has finally reached a point where not only is he clearly understandable, but he understands the context of phrases. I am constantly floored by his knack of using the right phase at the right time!

While tickling him last night, I stopped to cuddle him close for a minute and he breathlessly said, "Oh, I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe!" I laughed so hard- I couldn't either!

When picking him up from his bed this morning, he said "I love you mommy, but I'm too tired to get up." I made him repeat the "I love you" part at least 3 times!

When his sister did a new gymnastics trick in the family room, he clasped his little hands together and said, "That's so cool Bri- Good Job!".

Too cute Grant-man! I love you too!

And it got me thinking...

Jamie's comment on my last post made me think...

How did I feel about having two kids who were more independent and vocal? Why did I want another little one who couldn't talk or help themselves in anyway?

And I realized- I don't mind that they are helpless- I kind of like it. I like being the provider of all things good; food, dry diapers, cozy clothes, comfort, love.

I have no delusions- I'm sure I was frustrated from time to time when my kids were babies. Like the nights that Brianna would cry unless we bounced her; she especially liked going up and down the stairs around 2 am! Like the month I returned to work and Grant absolutely, flat out, refused any style of bottle we could find.

BUT- I never held it against them, they were babies, that is what they were supposed to do. Actually, now I think I hold things against them more, and get more frustrated. When Brianna waits until the last possible minute to tell me she has to go potty and we are running through the Target or Jewel. Or when Grant chooses to get angry and throw or hit rather than using his words, words I know he darn well has by now.

I am some sort of crazy person- I prefer the helpless little baby. At least I know what to expect!

Bittersweet

Today I mailed the invitations to Grant's 3rd birthday party! I can't believe that my "baby" is going to be 3 years old soon. I still look at pictures of him as a baby and I can remember exactly how he liked to be held. I can remember all the nights I slept with him on my stomach because it was the only way we could both be asleep at the same time.

It's been no secret that I'd like a 3rd baby. However, as Grant gets older, and the possibility of a 3rd baby seems less likely, I feel more nostalgic. I know that children get older, and I love the kids more everyday, but I L.O.V.E. babies! I love holding them and cuddling and how they snuggle up and fall asleep. 3 and 5 year olds don't do that...

I have a proposal...

When children have birthday's, where is the present for the mommy?!?

Who carried the child and nourished it for 9 months? Who gave birth to the screaming watermelon? Who nursed and stayed up more nights? Who's the first one the day care teachers call to pick up the puke-monster?

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't give up a minute of any of that... but give a girl some love!

Every child's birthday is also a Momday! It is the day we changed our lives to be a Mom, and we love you, but it's our special day too!

Help?

Oh Loyal readers who are few and far between...

How do I track my "business" on a blog?
How would I know if I am getting hits, etc, if people don't comment?

If you know me- e-mail me please!

www.yearbookyourself.com

This is totally what I WANTED to look like in 1990....

But I would have loved 1966 too....


Thanks to Jenny at Bloggess and Good Mom/Bad Mom for the link!
I've successfully wasted quite a bit of work time today thanks to you! :-)
LOVE IT!

Seriously rambling

I just noticed that in changing my background and updating my system with blogger... I've lost some of the things I liked about my blog. I lost my links to other blogs I read. I've lost my list of categories that my posts fall under. I lost my "about me" section.

I suppose I'll get around to fixing it... someday!
Until then- whatever is my new mantra.

I have increasingly noticed over the years that unless faced with a immediate need, I don't want to or can't make a decision. ESPECIALLY at home. As a teacher and team leader at school I make thousands of decisions on a daily basis. What to have for dinner or what errands to run just seems to difficult come evening time.

Is there some amateur psychologist who'd like to tell me why in more detail?

I don't like Ike

I just wanted to send a heartfelt hug and my prayers to all those in the path of Hurricane Ike. It's going to be nasty and I hope you are safely away from the danger zones.

Especially to my friends at Mama Drama and Good Mom/Bad Mom.
Stay safe with your babies of all ages!

I really have nothing to say

I am trying really hard to post more often. And today I have a little extra time but I'm not sure what to say...

Brianna is loving Kindergarten. Everyday she comes home with a folder full of little work and she talks about all the friends (but she doesn't know their names yet). It's great! Best side affect for our family- she sleeps GREAT! Between getting up early and go-go-going all day long, by bedtime, poor little dear is wiped out! Soon it will be dark outside earlier and we may even make her bedtime sooner.

Grant is a great kid too! He talks ALL THE FREAKING TIME! Even his "teachers" at daycare say that he just talks to them constantly. It can be really cute sometimes... SOMEtimes. He fell into a table the other day and really hurt his head. Like- we Googled the signs of a concussion- bad. He seemed fine pretty quickly but it was 2 days before he even let me move his hair around to see the spot on his head. However, he loved the children's Tylenol and now asks for it when he's hungry. Good thing mommy knows better! Silly boy!

Adam and I are just as crazy as always. Work is finally settling into routine after all the start of school nonsense. I still feel scattered about half the time but I'm not sure that will ever go away. We signed the kids up for Gymnastics this fall and that starts tonight so...

That's all I can think of right now. What do you want to see/hear?
I am working on a photo fashion show of all Brianna's new school clothes! Still a few more outfits to wear...

Huh?

So- I don't think I have yet commented on politics on this blog. I am perhaps the least political social studies teacher EVER. I care about politics and who represents me however, I am just a bit too practical about the exact size and scope of my single vote. I vote... I don't obsess over it.

I watched most of Sarah Palin's speech last night. Jamie had some reviews of it that I sort of agree with. But mostly, I just kept thinking of the same thing. I would want to be friends with her but I don't want her a breath away from control of the nation. She seems like fun and I admire her resolve and family confidence. I would love to have a conversation with her and share mom stories and hear more about her kids and life and argue with her about our ideals. I don't want her telling the world who can, or mostly can't get an abortion. I don't want her influencing the education world in which I work and in which my children are learning. Just because she seemed fun... it's not a reason to put her in control of anything!

Ahhh, the quiet!

I have just successfully dropped the 2 amazingly wonderful children with Grandma and Grandpa for the night. Adam is at his fantasy football draft. We have wonderful dinner plans later but for now the house is silent and I have a massage scheduled in 45 minutes.

Honestly it's a little too quiet. I love it but... I had to turn the radio up REALLY loud on the way home to fill the silence.

A couple day's from now I won't believe I even just said that!

This touched me today

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.

'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.'

'No', she said

'Maybe it's our behavior.'

She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall.

By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget that.'

By the way, this is a true story.


Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U S. Veterans.

I doth overreact a little...

Yesterday I received a phone call from the daycare center that another student had scratched Grant's neck during circle time. They applied ice and gave hugs and it was all good.

When I went to pick him up, I had to sign a copy of the "incident report".
I read it... the written version sounds like Grant was the one scratching others, not the victim.
Except...
I CAN SEE THE SCRATCH MARKS ON HIS NECK!

SO- I don't sign it. I ask that the teacher who witnessed the event rewrite it properly. She looks at me funny and agrees. WE SHALL SEE LATER TODAY....

They probably throw out the little form later but DUDE- Grant is the victim here... VICTIM!

So Cute!

This morning, rather than let the kids come in our room to watch cartoons, Brianna went in Grant's room to play. I wandered that way a little later to see what was up.

Brianna was sitting on the ottoman of the chair, Grant was in the chair, and she was telling him a story. He looked mesmerized so I hid around the corner to listen.

She was telling him a story about her dream from the night. She described a pink castle floating a blue sky riding on a cloud that was shaped like a fluffy white bunny. She said that her cousin Hannah lived there and she was just visiting for a party. She described her dress, Hannah's dress, the party food, and all the games.

Either she has a GREAT imagination or GREAT dreams!
WOW!

Thanks Brianna!

So, for Christmas last year, Brianna got a digital camera designed for kids. Today, I got around to downloading the pictures....

Here's a blurry one of Aunt Jamie showing off something....

Here's a decent one of Grant, just a LITTLE off center....

There were a LOT that looked like this....

"Baby Carole" showed up quite a few times....

As did lots of AWFUL pictures of mommy...

Just because...

It's been awhile.

I have been working 2 days a week on a new program for our school... Educators out there... PBIS? I'm a little stressed about work, but not really because of the new school year. I am NOT excited to start again, and that stresses me out. I know that boredom is a common problem in teaching... this is my 8th year doing EXACTLY the same thing. I am going to have to spice this up somehow!

Grant is doing pretty good in his new bed. We do have to check on him more because he has a tendancy to get out to play... then fall asleep somewhere else. Once we found him basically standing, but leaning on an ottoman for his rocker! If we don't catch his strange places, we get VERY short naps!




Brianna is getting excited about Kindergarten but is still cautious. We found out her teacher's name and next weekend we will get to go see the classroom. We meet the teacher for an "interview" on the 28th and she starts class on Sept. 3. I just know the time will FLY!



Adam ran his second triathalon this morning and everything went very well. We will have to wait to see if he beat his brother again but I'm just glad that he's happy with his performance. He's decided to keep training through the off season and try and do a longer triathalon next year. I am so proud of him! From couch potato to triathalete in 8 months!

I'm sure it will be a while again now... school next week.
And lets face it... I'm not good about updating anyway!
:-D

Monumental Day

Tonight, my baby is sleeping in his big-boy bed for the first time! (Hopefully pictures soon)

And my crib, which has cradled my 2 children for the last 5 years is in many pieces in the hall. Where it will end up is still a battle....

I vote for the basement.
Adam votes for the curb.

It's looking more and more like he's going to win the big argument.
And I'm going to be really sad for a while.

Assvice central!

Also known as... how to give advice about something you (thankfully) know nothing about!

Saturday, after enjoying a lovely evening with my mom, dad, and sister, I received a frantic phone call from a friend. She wasn't even making sense at first. She babbled about not knowing who to talk to and she thought of me and she couldn't tell her mom...

I finally got her to just tell me!

That evening she'd found out her husband of almost 5 years had been cheating on her. She found some inappropriate text messages and photos on his phone. Turns out he'd been fooling around in some form or another (including everything) with a co-worker for almost 6 months.

She kicked him out of course, and is desperate to figure out what to do. They have 2 little girls (2 and 9 mo). He of course had to give a lame-ass reason... their sex life at home just wasn't hot anymore, it was like a job.

HELLO. TOGETHER 12 YEARS. MARRIED 5. 2 KIDS. JOBS. WORK. LIFE. DUH!

So anyway...
What do I say to that? I found myself saying stupid things like;
"Take it one day at a time."
"Write down what your feeling to get it off your chest."
"Try and sleep, you need to stay healthy."

Well, really, I just listen a lot but...What the heck should I say?
Can anyone help me here?

And to think, last week I was going to complain about my husband. Thank God for my boring little issues!

plans change

I was going to post tonight about feeling sad, and having no one to talk to, but then I was skimming my "usual blogs" and following some links and I found this.

I never read this blog on a regular basis before tonight, but now I've read some of the archives, and cried a lot.

I still feel sad, and maybe sometime I'll feel like talking about it.
But I also feel SO DAMN LUCKY to have my children and my husband and my health.
So life's not perfect... I'll get over it.

Best Laid Plans...

Yeah.... so I said I was going to post more often this summer since I am home and have a much faster Internet connection... clearly, that was a pipe dream!

Updates since the last post:

1. Cleaned house like a mad fool for a week to prepare for Brianna's 5th Birthday party.
2. Successfully coordinated 2 birthday parties for Brianna. One for kids at a local bouncy place and one for family and close friends at our home. ALL IN THE SAME AFTERNOON!
3. Took a whopping 1 day off.
4. Attended major birthday party for cute niece who is actually one day older than Brianna.
5. Cleaned house some more... did some working out... threw surprise birthday party for mother-in-law (with help from all her kids, I just hosted), and had not one but 2 "girls nights" in the same week.
6. Took hideous wall paper down from Grant's room... which people... seriously, there should be a law! If you put up hideous wall paper, you must remove said paper PRIOR to new ownership! We spent large portions of 4 days on this and we still have to repair, prime, and paint!
7. Decided not to go for new job as assistant principal. The timing and situation just don't seem right. I'm taking it as a sign...
8. Prepared for big vacation of the summer!

When all is said and done, June FLEW BY! I can absolutely NOT believe that it is July. We leave on the big vac-a tomorrow. First time the kids will see Disney World, I am very excited, they think they are excited but really just don't know what to expect.

Maybe I'll get around to an update when we get back... Ya'll are used to waiting for me, right?
:-)