Future President?

The other night, a very normal and mellow evening at home, Greg and I were struck at how focused our kid is. Observe:


Lining up the matchbox cars with precision (well, precise for a 16 month old).

Not playing in the carboard box, but perusing an article in the cardboard box.

Pondering the woes and wonders of the world with Kona...or maybe just trying to see his feet past his milk-belly...

This little thinker just might support us sooner than we planned!

6 Days of Boycotting

Okay, so they didn't kill Meredith and I'm over it already. I can't believe I worried for a week and then was rewarded with that crappy episode. I can't believe they pulled the 'ole "character will die for all intensive purposes, go to a pergatory-like-place of her own mental concoction, battle demons until realizing there are things and people to live for, and resurrect herself in true miracle-fashion with no medical explanation thus impacting the lives of the people she almost left behind in ways she will never truly understand" scam on us.

Next week's episode better be humerous; I did not sign on for another ER. At least Mark Sloan's character was still moderately sleazy. However if he makes it through his 60 days of celebacy with an epiphany of true love and the idea that he has a soul mate, I will vomit.

Sorry for the skepticism. I'm usually fairly agreeable.

Tired in Texas

Dear Abby,

I have a 15-month-old son who hasn't slept through the night for quite a while. He makes it until about 4 or 4:30am, but then has trouble until we finally get him up, although we have been able to remain firm about not getting him out of bed until at least 6am. Basically something jerks him awake and he sits straight up and cries, eyes still closed. I'm convinced he's still sleeping because if we do go in there and give him his pacifier, he flops over like a ragdoll and goes back to sleep...for about a half hour until it happens again. It's safe to say that neither Greg nor I really gets back to a good sleep because we're nervous he's going to wake up at any minute. We've tried just about everything we've heard or read, and we still average about 6 hours of interrupted sleep a night. My eyes start burning by like 1pm at work and I yawn on my patients all day.

Help!
Tired in Texas

P.S. He is a great napper though; we never have a hard time putting him down and sometimes he'll even take my hand and lead me to his crib so he can sleep. Not surprised, the poor kid's probably exhausted!

Who's Anatomy?

If you have not seen this week's Grey's Anatomy yet, you should stop reading right now because I am about to divulge things.

For the rest of you, what in the world?! Did they kill off Meredith? Let's refresh: She was passed out underwater in the freezing cold for more than 30 minutes. She was rescued (by McDreamy, of course) and was given CPR for several minutes. She was given multiple shots of epinephrine, several shocks with the paddles, and a breathing tube with NO response. Her body temp is 81 degrees. She is blue. Oh, and let's not forget that she flatlined at the end, woke up in the "afterlife" and saw Denny, who told her she's dead.

Even though Meredith is whiny and lisps and is not my favorite character, the show is named after her for crying out loud! Furthermore, it is in the height of it's popularity and so would she really leave the show? It's like killing off Dr. House of the show House. It's like killing off Jack Bauer (ok, so technically they've already done that and brought him back, but then he is Jack Bauer).

Has anyone heard anything that might shed some light on this so I don't have to spend the whole week seeing the image of McDreamy sobbing and curled up in a ball on the hospital floor over and over in my head?

She'll probably wake up with amnesia and fall in love with Alex who turned sweet all of a sudden. Seriously.

My Valentine

I think my husband's been trumped. Here is my official valentine this year.

He bakes...



He frosts...




He does dishes!

He definitely gets to show this off to all the girls at daycare tomorrow...
Happy Valentine's Day!

Primitive Nature of Man

I walked into the office a minute ago to find the following. Oh yes, while I was making Noah's lunch in the kitchen, I apparently didn't realize his facination with the office trash can and it's treacherous contents.

Upon removing the objects from his possession, he ran into the other room, layed on the floor, and threw a tantrum. I guess we can all learn a little lesson about what will happen when you seperate a man from his drinks and hardware.

Think I'm Gonna Eat Some Worms

I was talking to my dad on the phone the other day, telling him that Noah loves to run around and play outside. That particular day was absolutely beautiful and I had the backdoor open so my little 15-month outdoorsman could come and go as he pleased, barely able to contain his sheer excitement at the great wide open (aka: 30-foot square fenced in yard), and giggling with glee while clutching bark mulch in both fists.

My dad promptly said, "Pretty soon you're gonna have to get him wormed."

Huh?

He continued. "Yeah. Kids eat poop, and you guys have a dog. You all ate poop when you were little and you all got worms. We had to give you de-worming pills, and that was that."

Again. Huh? I told my neighbor about this and she looked at me like I had four heads. Granted they don't have a dog, but I'm sure their 3 kids have been around dogs. And even though we do have a dog, it's not like we don't poop-scoop the yard. Furthermore, my family grew up in rural Iowa playing on and around farms all day. If we slipped and fell, there was a good chance we landed in large piles of cow crap or clutters of random chicken droppings. It's not like we picked it up and ate it. Apparently we got it on our hands, and ended up biting our nails or rubbing our eyes or nose or whatever. Hence, the worms.

So is this normal? Do all your kids have worms and I just didn't realize it was part of the whole child-rearing process?

Belated Birthday Post

My older sister, Jenn, turned 32 last week! We celebrated with her family over the weekend; we went to their place for enchiladas and ceasar salad, watched the Bears beat the Saints, played light-saber games with the kids, and of course, ate cake. Here are a few pictures:

We had red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and cherry-flavored "writing."

I asked Skye to smile and he did this...

I asked Trey to smile and he did this...

Then I asked the whole family to smile and it turned out great! (Dustin, Jenn, Skye, Trey, and Brice).

Happy birthday, Jenn! :)

Where were YOU when...

Greg and I were visiting some friends over New Years, and we all stayed up one night watching the news coverage of Saddam Hussain's execution. We started talking about other important events we've lived through; the phrase, "Do you remember where you were when _____ happened?" came up over and over as we realized we've seen quite a few ground-breakers in our time. Thus, this blog. I started to jot down various headlines starting from about the 80s (Iwas born late 70s), and was astounded at the sheer number of them! Here's what I came up with...and I will admit I looked up a few of the dates to refresh my memory.

Politics/Terrorism:
Gulf War, Iraq War, Somalian crisis
Iran Contra & Oliver North
Rodney Kind beating and riots '91-92
Car bomb hits the World Trade Center '93
Oklahoma City bombing '95
David Koresh and the Branch Davidians '93
Bill Clinton's Sexcapades (Monica Lewinski, Gennifer Flowers) and impeachment
9/11 Terrorist Attacks '01
Saddam Hussain's capture, trial, and execution '07

Murder/Crime
John Lennon murdered '80
Ronald Reagan shot '81
Jeffrey Dahmer '91
Mike Tyson rape conviction '92
Menendez brothers killed their parents '93
OJ Simpson '94
Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur murders '97
Unabomber '96
School shootings: Jonesboro, Columbine
Enron Scandal, Martha Stewart scandal

Deaths
Princess Diana '97
Mother Theresa '97
JFK Jr., Carolyn Bissett Kennedy, Lauren Bissett (plane crash off coast of Martha's Vineyard)
Other small engine plane crashes: Payne Stewart, John Denver
Johnny Cash and June Carter
Christopher Reeve

Natural Disasters, etc.
Mt. St. Helens eruption '80
Space shuttle Challenger explodes after lift-off '86
Exxon Valdez oil spill '89
California Earthquake during the World Series '89
Space shuttle Columbia explodes over Houston '03
Tsunami '04
Katrina, Rita '05

Sports
The Dream Team (basketball legends dominate Olympics)
Kerri Strug lands the vault on a fractured ankle to win Olympic gold for US Gymnastics
Mike Tyson bites off part of Evander Holyfield's ear in fight '97
Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan
Legends: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Nolan Ryan, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Brett Favre, Joe Montana, Andre Agassi...

Science/Popular Culture
1st Test tube baby
1st heart transplant
1st AIDS patient '82
Clonings, "Dolly" the sheep, '97
Rise of Computers
Rise of Cell Phones
Rise of Reality TV
Y2K

What else do you remember?

One Fine Day Off

Yesterday started out a bit hairy as I took Noah to the pediatrician to get meds for ear infections and wheezing. I spent $70 on decongestants, steroids, and pain killers for the poor kid (who hasn't acted sick at all, but the constant runny nose, crusty boogers, and 5am coughing fits told me otherwise).

After the doctor's visit, I packed us all up and went over to my friend Tracy's house. Another friend, Stacey, was heading over there with her 1 year old as well. The plan was to watch Thursday's tevo'ed episode of Grey's Anatomy because we had all missed it. Tracy said she'd make some snacks.

Do you have any of those friends who are just fabulous all around? Like, Giatta deLorentis meets the designer of Pottery Barn meets Miss Congeniality? Well, I do. Tracy's entire house was beautifully clean with aromatic candles lit in gorgeous hurricane vases, and placed with decorator's precision in each room. She was putting the finishing touches on a fresh mossarella Bruschetta appetizer from the Barefoot Contessa when we arrived, so she stopped to help up inside and proceeded to hand up each a mimosa made with champaign, orange juice, sour cherries, and a dash of Grand Marnier. They were topped off with thin orange slices. The kids took a nap upstairs, and by the time we got down to the kitchen, the table was set with a beautiful spinach, pear, and feta cheese salad with homemade balsamic vinigrette dressing. The bruschetta was on the side.

We ate, drank, drank a bit more, watched perilous medical-love dramas unfold within the walls of Seattle Grace Hospital, and capped of the afternoon with hazelnut coffee and pumpkin-chocolate bundt cake.

I wish all days off could be this good! My dear friend made our day feel like we were at a spa~ Thank you ever so much, Trace!

(Tracy, Stacey, and me a couple months ago--only photo I could find!)

Lazy Day

For those of you who know me, you know I'm a very task-oriented person. I have small lists of what I can get done during each of Noah's naps, and I clean up after him all day. Sadly, his favorite toy is one of those little play vaccuums b/c he can imitate what he has seen us do so much. My husband thinks I can get a little obsessed. Although he is also a very productive and clean person, he has no problem relaxing at home on a day off wearing PJ pants and a tee-shirt, and just playing with Noah. I've never really been cut-out for this; I always have at least one outting planned for each of my days off during the week, and I always "get ready for the day." I'm not an uptight person; I love to be lazy and watch TV and play with my son, it's just that I love to do it in a clean house with the sound of the dishwasher in the background.

Well, surprise. Today is different. It's 10am and I'm still wearing what I slept in last night. Yes, I have brushed my teeth, but I am unshowered and my bed is unmade. Yes, I have bathed Noah this morning, but he currently smells like pee. During his morning nap I drank coffee and watched a rerun of Charmed.

Noah and I have had a fabulous time this morning, too. He discovered how to hide behind the curtains, and that when he pops out I will holler and laugh and tickle him for several minutes.

So I will admit I have an outting planned for today, but it is to Walmart because we have like 4 diapers left. I'm determined to wear what my mom used to call "grubbies" and I will remain unshowered.

New Year. New me. Well, almost; I have to go make my bed.

Resolutions!

Hi ! I'm excited to read all of your holiday blogs since I've been out for over 2 weeks (sans any good excuse). The short version? Christmas was great; we had a lot of fun amidst the proverbial craziness surrounding a total of 14 adults, 7 kids, and 3 babies opening gifts and eating all the usual holiday treats with Christmas music in the background that inevitably woke up any baby trying to nap.

New Year's Eve was wonderful as well; we drove up to NW Arkansas to see a bunch of college friends and had a lot of fun amidst the proverbial craziness of a total of 16 adults, 6 kids, and 5 babies. There were no gifts to open but drinking games were in full swing, and the food was a delectible array of appetizers high in flavor and calories. Aside from the embarrasing Cowboys football game on Sunday, the trip was fabulous!

I decided to write down a few of my more light-hearted New Year's Resolutions because then I am bound to them. A couple of the more serious ones are still in the works.

1. Cook more meals. I've gotten out of the habit of using recipes in favor of the ever-time-saving, thrown together concoction of whatever is in my pantry.
2. Watch the NFL draft. I love pro football, but never know any of the new players. Also, it turns my husband on.
3. Become involved with the family budget. Greg has always been pretty obsessed with it, so I really haven't had to pay that much attention. I'd like to be more financially savvy.
4. Pick up a hobby. Other than changing diapers.
5. Grow out my fingernails. This has been a resolution for the past 12 years.
6. Drink a glass of water between each cup of coffee. I'm not about to quit the good stuff, but I can at least improve my morning drinking routine.

That's it for now; Happy New Year and I hope it's resolute for you, too!

Still 20s, After All These Years

Well, yesterday was my birthday, and I turned 29. Therefore I still have one more year during which to cherish being a Twentysomething.

I woke up to a smiling husband and son beckoning me to breakfast which was on the table (complete with the "You Are Special Today" plate) next to a huge, gorgeous flower bouquet. He also got me a pound of Starbucks coffee beans, a leather wallet I'd been asking for, and I get to buy a new handbag (pretentious for new purse).

Last year on my birthday, one of my very best friends, Stacey, had her baby boy! It was a great birthday present for me to get to hold him, and was especially meaningful because my little boy was only 6 weeks old at the time! Here they are just about 1 year ago..

SO this year I got to celebrate my 29th birthday and Carson's 1st birthday at the same time! I only wish I could've taken off my shirt and eaten cake with my hands. But we had to keep it clean, there were kids at the party... :)

Last night I took a 40 minute bubble bath while drinking a glass of wine, eating chocolate truffles from my brother and sister-in-law, and doing a Sudoku puzzle. I opted not to include a picture of this... I was alone in the peace and quiet of my own bathroom while Greg put Noah to bed and put in a movie for us to watch. I ended the day watching Dreamer (I'm a sucker for underdog-horseracing movies). I recommend it.

I hope you all are having a great week-before-Christmas!

Drive Safe!

The other day I was parting ways with a friend I'd been hanging out with and I said my usual line before someone leaves my house, "Drive safe!" (I know, poor grammar, but I say it anyway). Later that day I was driving with Noah in the backseat, and I was juggling my phone, my lipliner, the Christmas music station, and the wheel all at once. Good Lord I think I almost hit like 4 other cars.

Right on cue, I received an email forward that afternoon from a friend with a YouTube link about carseat safety. Holy smokes; it was not a consumer report listing of the pros and cons of various carseats like I assumed. I think it's the saddest thing I've ever seen. Maybe it's because I have a little boy, but this is not for the weak-hearted! So I'm passing it on to you--grab and kleenex before you click...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ&eurl

...and drive safe this holiday season!

Family Picture Day

During a fun day at the park, we thought we'd try to take a few family pictures. I don't think we're going to have a very good Christmas card this year...

He likes to play with mom!

He likes to play with dad!

He does not like when mom plays with dad!

Okay, time to get serious. Family photo attempt #1: I will not pose. I will go play.

Attempt #2: If you try to make me pose, I will do this.

Attempt #3: Well, at least there are no tears...

Not Another Neck Tie

Help! Last year I was on maternity leave during the holidays; I was feeling pretty good, was already recovered from the post-delivery aches and pains, and got to go Christmas shopping with a beautiful new baby who slept the whole time. Moreover, I was the recipient of oooohs and ahhhhhs in every store I entered. I had time. I was thorough and thoughtful.

This year is quite different. With a very active and very loud 13 month old, and a 3-day-a-week job, my time and patience are more limited.

Enter all my blogging friends (I hope!)... I need ideas! Like many of you, I don't have the time to peruse multiple stores thoroughly gleaning ideas for each family member's perfect gift. However, I don't want to buy the proverbial Nike teeshirt or pack of golf balls for all the guys either.

Anyone have good gift ideas for older brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law? The guys love football and golf, the gals are swamped with their many kiddos. I'm counting on your ingenuity and past experiences to help me out here! I will be in your debt...

The Other Woman in the House

We had the dog scheduled to get spayed this month. Apparently not soon enough, I realized as I looked at my Walmart list and my husband's handwritten words, "Maxi pads with wings for Kona." Poor thing is so embarrassed and just walks around with her head hung down in shame as Noah chases after her trying to unfasten her diaper -- her denim diaper trimmed in red bandana ruffles. Only the best for our little woman.

Giving Thanks for a Full House

I am happy to report a successful Thanksgiving! I've been on hiatus from blogging for a bit because all 14 members of my family were at my house for the holiday. Whew!

Last week at this time we were welcoming my dad and Carol in from Florida. Noah was immediately spoiled. So were we; they cooked us salmon just for hosting them.

Then last Tuesday night we welcomed Rachel (aka: Mimsies) and Jared from Ohio. Noah was immediately spoiled. So were we; they occupied him so we took naps.

On Wednesday we cooked and then welcomed our brother Rich and his wife, Andrea also in from Ohio. He told jokes, we all laughed, we all drank wine, and the jokes became funnier. :) Andrea bought me delicious candles just for hosting them.

On Thursday my other sister's family came over (Jenn, Dustin, and the 3 boys) along with all of the aforementioned family members so we could dive in and savor the fabulous gourmet meal we prepared. Ahem. I mean, so we could give thanks for all the blessings in our lives...

Friday and Saturday each brought some goodbyes.

Saturday night Noah choked on a carrot while coughing until he turned blue and went limp as a ragdoll and passed out cold for 12 seconds. (He's fine now, thanks to my lightning quick reflexes and current Red Cross card...)

Sunday we bid farewell to the rest and found ourselves alone in a quiet house, thankful for our family but sad they live so far away. As we were dropping Rachel and Jared off at the airport, Rachel made the comment that next time she sees Noah he'll probably be talking. Life is too short to live so far from so many of the people you love! We made a pact to live close sometime soon. Until then however, the emails and picture swapping will continue. The holidays and vacations together will continue. And, of course, the blogging will continue.

Why, Mrs. Robinson...

So I tried to seduce Greg last night. He was reaching into the pantry to get something, and with great sexy flair, I grabbed his arm and pulled him back towards me. Apparently he had one hand on the doorhandle, and, well, basically I ended up smacking him in the forehead with the corner of the door. He didn't move or say anything for quite some time. Just stood there with his lips pursed and eyes closed. He had no idea what had happened, or why, when he finally opened his eyes, I was standing there half naked with a horrified expression on my face. He asked me quietly for some advil, and by the time I got back (still half-naked), he had a huge red and purple bump above his eye. All he said was that that's gonna leave a mark, and that I might as well just go get dressed.

Rejected.

My New Prize Possession

So I like soccer, specifically the MLS. I go to most of the games here, and Greg and I watch others on TV. A good friend of ours does rehabilitation for one of the MLS teams. I was chatting with him on the phone the other day and the conversation started out talking about moving a piano or somesuch, and ended with him telling me that last time he was in L.A. working the soccer game, he asked if he could get Landon Donovan's jersey for me. Who is Landon Donovan, you might ask? Shame on you. He is one of my favorite MLS players, is on the National Team, and has gone to the World Cup several times. Oh, and he looks like this.


This was actually removed from his body and given to my friend to give to me.


And now it's on my body. According to the transitive property of Geometry, I think that pretty much means we've touched bodies.